Ok, so it has come to my attention that some people who purchase stuff from Go Media’s Arsenal surprisingly have no idea what they’re buying. But they buy it anyway. Strange…

Vector Packs are NOT software

Some people call it software. Some people call them programs. Some even call them plugins or brushes. Well, truth is, they’re none of those! Some folks have called us asking how to install the design software or wondering why these magical things aren’t creating designs FOR them. Well, I’m here to explain this to all the n00bs. And don’t worry, we’ve all been a n00b before. I had no idea what vectors were until after 3 or 4 years of using Photoshop to do all my graphics. It was uncomfortable to learn vector software at first, but it was SO worth it once I wrapped my brain around the whole concept of vector graphics. So, if you would consider yourself a n00b, this article will whip you into shape. At least enough to feel confident that you can use some Vector Packs!

So what the heck IS a Vector Pack

All products listed in the “Vector Pack” category on the Arsenal are just that, packs of vectors. It’s just a collection of various vector shapes that you can copy and paste into your artwork or design. We organize the vector packs into themes such as Heraldry, Splatters, and Hooladanders (our word for flourishes). When we release new vector packs, we like to bundle a bunch of those themed packs into a Set and offer them at a discount. So you’ll find that a “Set” of vector packs contains 7 different “themed” packs which sell individually for about $15. Or you can just buy the entire Set and get all 7 themed packs for about $52.

Now some people aren’t sure what a vector is. I suggest if you really want to understand what a vector is, read the Wikipedia entry on Vector Graphics.

Open Vector Packs with Adobe Illustrator

The Novice Graphic Designer most likely uses Photoshop to do all their designs for print and web. Which I would say the majority of non-designers probably think Photoshop is how all designs are made. Not true. Photoshop is exellent for photo based design and web design. But it is NOT the optimal software to use Vectors in. Adobe made a special program (more…)

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This is an article written by guest author Sean Hodge from AiBURN, a blog about design, creativity, inspiration, tutorials, and vector graphics.

Introduction

Lettering and Typeface design is a creative endeavor that requires constant sources of motivation, influence, and inspiration. If you dream of painstakingly designing the next amazing Open Type Font, desire to craft beautiful Hand Drawn Lettering, or feel the urge to create original Typeface Designs then this article is for you.

1. Bring Your Analysis to the Process

Learn how letters function alone, as typefaces, and in real world design systems. Logic can take you a reasonable way when analyzing. Though more formal tests are tools that can be used as well. Analyze letter-forms for functionality. Looks for faults in typefaces and ways of improving them. This will develop your visual eye, appreciation for the details of letters, and understanding of the totality of a typeface design.

Platelet is a font released by Emigre. This typeface design was inspired by California license plate systems. The font solution gave greater legibility to a monospace typeface design.

Consider how the letters work within the typeface itself. What isn’t working? Try analyzing a free font. The time it takes to design a polished font is remarkable. So, download a free font and (more…)

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Some of you may know, I’m a typography nut and I have created a few fonts for Go Media’s Arsenal. This article is little precursor to a more extensive article that we’ll submit later on about finding inspiration for typeface and font development.

As a designer I have found that you can get inspiration from anywhere. The process of creating typography is as much like creating any other type (pun intended!) of art as painting or drawing. Typography can give a political, social, psychological, or economical statement. Often the fonts I design reference my own opinions of how our world functions. A true mark of an exceptional type designer is someone who can stimulate you visually and intellectually. In this article I’m going to break down some of the ways in which you can utilize some skills you might not know you already have!

1} Carry a sketch book with you everywhere. My sketchbook of choice is a Moleskine. You can find them at your local Barnes and Nobles. I write my thoughts and ideas in it whenever I’m out and about and get hit with inspiration. Ideas will come at you so fast you have to be able to write them down or you’ll forget them. Plus, if you have a doctor’s appointment it’s nice to have something to do while you wait in the lobby!

2} Become a student of typography. There definitely is a difference between breaking the rules, and breaking them well. How do you know the rules? You need to study (more…)

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Part Four of Seven Easy Principles to Becoming a Master Designer.

Sorry for the long delay in releasing this latest installment of Seven Easy Principles to Becoming a Master Designer. We have been slammed here at Go Media and I literally haven’t been able to touch anything except paying projects for the past two months. Enough complaining. On with the show!

This lesson is all about layout and spacing. One mistake I see young designers make frequently is that they cram everything too close together. They try to put too much content in too small of a space. Space is your friend! Space does many things for you. It makes your copy easier to read. Space makes your over-all composition easier on the eyes of the audience. And space also makes your design look elegant. You’re telling the audience: “we’re so rich we can afford to use this entire poster to communicate this one little message.”

So, there is a basic strategy for the layout (spacing) of your design. And that strategy is: HAVE ONE. What I mean is – have a plan. Have a system. This is the first thing. Unless your GOAL is to make the entire layout look random, you’re going to need a plan. This is usually accomplished with a grid. The grid can be any style you want. But you need to have an underlying system to what you’re about to do. Here are a few examples of different grids, just so you can get a sense of how different or unique your grid can be.

Now, here is some of the same content laid out three different (more…)

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Part Three of Seven Easy Principles to Becoming a Master Designer.

Read Rule 1 and Rule 2

Good contrast in your design goes hand-in-hand with your color selections. Contrast is the value difference between the colors on your design. Value is how bright or dark the color (ink) is. Ever see a blank white canvas and as a joke someone says: “Hey – it’s a white cow in a snow storm!” This is an example of no contrast. White on white is no contrast – you can’t see anything.

Elementary right? I mean what kind of stupid tutorial is this? I’m explaining that the piece I’m designing needs to be visible?? (more…)

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There’s a cool new site out there called Emptees that’s showcasing the art of t-shirt design. There doesn’t seem to be a commercial slant like Threadless, and it’s more of basically a hub for inspiration. Some great artists are posting their designs there and it seems to be taking off. The site was created by the fine folks at Big Cartel so if there would be a commercial slant, it would be to try to get these apparel designers to sign up for their own Big Cartel store which is cool by me.

But anyway I’ve signed up and posted a few of my own apparel designs. I plan to post more eventually. There are lots of new designs posted every day by all the different artists and they are awarding the most favorited designs. I think it’s a great idea! If you’ve got some of your own shirts you’ve designed, might as well post them up so the community can give you feedback.

http://www.emptees.com

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