Definition of Graphics and Design Programs
Graphics and design programs enable users to create, modify and output digital images. A broad range of packages are available, offering everything from basic photo fixes to tools to create intricate pieces of artwork. Many graphics and design programs are available for free, while other professional-level applications cost hundreds of dollars. Most applications support a wide variety of image file formats.
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Program Types
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Graphics and design programs can be split into two broad categories: vector-based illustration and image editing. The former type store pictures as a series of lines, shapes and points which can be scaled to different sizes easily -- such programs are used to create clip-art, logos cartoons and other similar designs. The latter type focus on bitmap images and digital photos where the emphasis is on modifying and tweaking existing images rather than creating new graphics from scratch, although they can also be used to create digital artwork if required.
Key Features
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Vector-based illustration programs include features and tools for creating and modifying shapes, positioning and aligning objects on the screen, copying and transforming objects and producing a variety of natural-looking effects (such as paintbrush and pencil sketching tools). Image editing packages offer users the ability to tweak brightness and contrast levels, crop and resize pictures, duplicate particular areas of a picture, combine images together, and apply a range of effects such as blurs and color-processing filters. There is often some overlap in features between the two program types depending on the application.
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Examples Of Use
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Graphics and design programs can be used to create content from scratch: a digital cartoon, for example, a logo or emblem, or a virtual landscape. They can be used to modify existing images, whether it's something simple like increasing the brightness and contrast or something more complex such as removing an object from a picture by cloning parts of the background. More powerful graphics and design programs can also combine pictures together, overlaying a watermark on top of a photograph, for example, or creating a composite image that blends two photos together.
Popular Programs
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Many different graphics and design programs are available. Free options include Windows Live Photo Gallery and IrfanView, which both focus on photo management but offer basic editing tools as well. One of the most advanced open source image editors is GIMP, which includes layer support and a wide variety of effects. Serif produces two low-cost packages, the vector-based DrawPlus and the bitmap-based PhotoPlus. Popular packages in the professional design market include Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator, which are both part of Adobe Creative Suite. A cut-down version of Photoshop, Photoshop Elements, is available for home users.
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Resources
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