Questions tagged [tools]
Questions regarding hardware or analogical tools (but please use software-recommendation for software ones!)
294
questions
124
votes
7
answers
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How to change the color of the artboard in Adobe Illustrator?
It is practically impossible to edit a white illustration on the default white artboard background.
Hiding the artboard makes the whole work area receive the artboard's white color.
So, is there a ...
- 3,668
72
votes
15
answers
9k
views
Is there a good resource or tool to help build a palette/color scheme around colors I select?
No matter how nice the composition, flow, and lines of my design are, if I am not copying directly from nature, I have a very difficult time picking a decent color scheme. It either looks too drab, ...
- 1,470
46
votes
24
answers
158k
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Why are Apple Macs used so much in the graphic design industry?
Why is it that graphic designers more often use an Apple Mac? I am studying graphic design and I am hoping to do some freelance work in my spare time. I have a unit in my studies to discover why Macs ...
- 477
40
votes
1
answer
55k
views
How to delete the path between two nodes, but not the nodes themselves in Inkscape?
I have a contour object, and I would like to delete a part of it (a line).
So I converted the object to a path, selected the Edit paths by nodes tool and deleted the unwanted nodes, now I have the ...
- 503
34
votes
2
answers
149k
views
How to align objects side by side with a specified distance between them in Illustrator?
I am creating an animated sprite list in Adobe Illustrator. I finished creating the sprites and used the Horizontal/Vertical Distribute Center commands to distribute the objects equally in some area.
...
- 443
34
votes
9
answers
29k
views
Are graphics tablets worth it?
I've always felt curious about graphics tablets, but I've never even used one. Most people I know either give up or love them.
I'm not a big illustrator myself, but I do the occasional doodle and ...
- 997
33
votes
15
answers
238k
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How to set the rotation point and use Transform Each in Illustrator?
I have a triangle I'm trying to rotate in Illustrator using the Object->Transform->Transform Each command, but I can't figure out how to set the rotation point like I can if I just use Free ...
- 475
25
votes
7
answers
36k
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Learning to draw: start in the pen and paper realm or the digital space?
My question is should I start with paper to learn to draw or learn to digitally draw with Photoshop or Illustrator or any image manipulation application.
I am thinking of using a book or some other ...
- 353
22
votes
8
answers
5k
views
Is creative writing needed to be a graphic designer?
I want to be a graphic designer but I'm awful at writing copy, editing, coming up with slogans and catch phrases.
Do I really need to learn Writing, Spelling and Grammar and such to be a successful ...
- 23.1k
21
votes
5
answers
5k
views
How to make a circle with grid on the outside ring
I made something like this:
I did this with the Ellipse Tool and the Line Tool.
Now the circle is accurate, but the lines inside are very inaccurate. Is there another tool that does the same thing ...
- 311
16
votes
6
answers
4k
views
What analog tools should every designer have today?
Prior to the proliferation of software, namely Adobe and Aldus, a designer needed an entire toolbox full of things to get a job done.
From t-squares and triangles, to ruling pens, masking tape, photo ...
- 211k
16
votes
6
answers
4k
views
How do big design companies share art files
Many projects with many files all uploaded by humans on one server will get messy, by definition. Even if they have a structure, when 1000 of people work on projects there will be made mistakes.
How ...
- 163
16
votes
5
answers
1k
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Web-based workflow solutions for graphic designers (hosted and self-run)?
There are some common tasks in almost every graphic designer's workflow that are made immensely easy by the Internet, but are often clumsy to handle through traditional channels like E-Mail.
...
- 2,646
14
votes
1
answer
77k
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How can I find the coordinates of a pixel in Photoshop CS4?
Lets say i create a new document of 800px x 800px and I take the cursor on a particular point in the document. How would I know which pixel this cursor is at this moment?
- 301
14
votes
1
answer
2k
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What tools would Monks use when DESIGNING a large illuminated letter or pattern?
The answer here: https://graphicdesign.stackexchange.com/a/35128/2611 got me thinking about how illuminated letters were designed.
There's a lot of resources out there discussing illuminated texts ...
- 23.1k
13
votes
2
answers
137k
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How do I hide guides in Photoshop?
I am working with Photoshop and I was wondering if you can hide the guides temporally just like in Pixelmator?
- 187
13
votes
7
answers
106k
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How create rounded corners for a layer or selection in Photoshop
I have a white screen area 142x113 px in Photoshop.
I select half of this area and tried Select ⇒ Modify ⇒ Smooth but it does not work the way I expected. I tried decreasing the ...
- 281
10
votes
3
answers
1k
views
How to prove an image has been released under Creative Commons?
Assume you use some images with a Creative Commons license. The creative commons license states that the license cannot be revoked if you acquired the images while published as Creative Commons.
...
- 261
9
votes
6
answers
6k
views
What is the best software for creating exam paper template?
I regularly create exam papers in Photoshop with two types of pages: left and right.
We create the questions in Word and then add them into Photoshop. However, this process takes a lot of time and ...
- 211
9
votes
6
answers
9k
views
Adobe Fireworks - the best replacement?
Okay yes back in 2011 and 2014 similar questions were asked.
But now that it is on the cusp of 2020, my question is who HAS FOUND a replacement to Fireworks that they LOVE and would highly recommend?
...
- 189
9
votes
2
answers
4k
views
What printing techniques or folding tools can I use to hand fold a commercially printed design without it cracking?
I recently created some tickets that were professionally printed then hand folded into an origami heart shape.
We used 170 GSM paper and I'm not sure what ink the printers used.
They arrived ...
- 8,324
9
votes
3
answers
67k
views
Adobe Illustrator error creating text constrained by shape (Area Type Tool)
I am newer than new to Illustrator, but am trying nontheless to design a logo for my friend.
The most basic of operations is to create an ellipse, correct?
I have created a circle with this tool, ...
- 91
8
votes
8
answers
9k
views
iPad in Graphic Design: actual usage
Most of my work I perform on MacBookPro, but also I have a retina-iPad device which I never use for any type of graphic design, thus I am looking for solution to the underuse of this costly device.
...
- 10.6k
8
votes
4
answers
25k
views
How do you call "Charte Graphique" in English?
This is not really a translation question - more of a designer vocabulary.
How do you call the set of visuals, logos, designs, colors, fonts... that make a whole design project?
In French we would ...
- 183
8
votes
3
answers
4k
views
How can I automate the process of cutting intricate shapes out of paper?
I am trying to find whereabouts and name for this kind of automatic paper scissors, source of image here. I understand it so that one plugs in image with formats such as vector and raster and then it ...
- 1,067
8
votes
2
answers
540
views
Inkscape adds handles to corner nodes after node deletion
In Inkscape, when I have the following:
If I remove the red node, the neighboring nodes magically get handles, I guess because Inkscape tries to keep the appearance with fewer nodes, resulting in ...
7
votes
3
answers
2k
views
How to convert object fill in to fine lines?
I am trying to find a way to convert a solid object fill in to millions (more or less) lines?
for example:
I am okay to use any tools but ideally I want output in SVG format (not necessary tho)
...
- 73
7
votes
6
answers
56k
views
What computer hardware matters to a graphic designer?
I've had my MacBook Pro since 2007 and I'm starting to think about what the next system might look like. I'm not made of money, but if upgrading a component helps to make me a more efficient worker ...
- 16.4k
7
votes
5
answers
89k
views
How to enable Paint Bucket instead of Material Drop Tool on CC 2015?
I'm using photoshop CC 2015 and I can't select Paint bucket anymore, only this annoying Material Drop Tool is shown instead of bucket in the Tools.
any ideas?
- 220
7
votes
2
answers
3k
views
What is an "Eber rule?" (Ruler to measure type)
I heard someone mention a tool that was used for specifying type in the pre-computer days, called an "Eber rule."
What was it and how was it used?
Is it the same thing as a font ruler? And did I ...
- 71
7
votes
7
answers
65k
views
Why doesn't the gradient tool appear over the object I've applied it to in Illustrator CS6?
Why doesn't the gradient tool appear over the object I've applied it to in Illustrator CS6? I have to click and hold down to adjust the size of the gradient on an object or just use the gradient ...
- 109
7
votes
2
answers
487
views
Affinity Publisher vs InDesign?
I'm hearing alot of things about Affinity Publisher lately. First client today explicitly mentioning they would rather have their stuff done in AP instead of ID.
Asking from a long-term, well ...
- 29.6k
6
votes
4
answers
925
views
What is the name of hobby grade equipment to create photos where the background can be easily removed?
I know that in movies they use green screens or similar to be able to edit out the background from shots. But what is the name of a piece of equipment or setup I need in order to take a picture of say ...
- 247
6
votes
6
answers
16k
views
Color mixer that can mix 3 or more colors?
I'm looking for some sort of service, tool or application – even manual techniques – where you can digitally mix/blend 3 or more colors (i.e. not 2 as in most applications out there) and get the ...
- 1,465
6
votes
1
answer
5k
views
Is there no capitalize button in Inkscape?
I do not see an option to set a phrase as uppercase with the click of the button. Is there no such feature, or am I missing something?
- 291
6
votes
3
answers
21k
views
Why doesn't the Shape Builder Tool let me select this specific shape?
I'm just starting to use Illustrator and I was watching some tutorials, but they don't have this problem. Why is this happening?
6
votes
1
answer
9k
views
Illustrator eyedropper: What effect does different 'Pick up' and 'Apply' settings have?
Double-click on the Adobe Illustrator eyedropper icon, and you get a useful panel of advanced options that allow you to control what it picks up and what it applies. Two columns, 'Eyedropper picks up' ...
- 27.1k
5
votes
1
answer
15k
views
Illustrator: what is this black dotted box? How can it be disabled?
It's not part of the artwork and doesn't seem to be hurting anything, but I get this on a lot of client logos and I'm wondering how to get rid of it.
I think it's part of the artboard, but can't ...
- 279
5
votes
2
answers
14k
views
What is InDesign used for?
What is Adobe InDesign used for as opposed to Photoshop or Illustrator?
- 985
5
votes
5
answers
285
views
Design software that allows reuse of common elements, like the DRY principal of programming
Often when I am designing for the web (be it mocks, or full spreads of websites) I have many repeating elements throughout my document. I am looking to follow the Don't Repeat Yourself (DRY) ...
- 275
5
votes
3
answers
4k
views
What's the fastest-drying pen?
I'm talking about real pens, not software!
I love drawing with Sharpies except that I often smear the lines with my sweaty wrists!
What's a similar black drawing pen/marker (felt tip or otherwise) ...
- 297
5
votes
1
answer
2k
views
What makes a Moleskine notebook so good and when should someone invest in them?
What makes Moleskine so frequently cited as the go-to sketchbook for artists.
StackExchange offered us Moleskine notebooks (though I still never got mine!). There's countless pages on the web ...
- 23.1k
5
votes
4
answers
1k
views
What are the best tools for testing how a website will look on different platforms and what are their pros and cons?
What are the best tools for testing how a website will look on different platforms and what are their pros and cons?
This includes knowing how my layout/fonts display and functionality in various ...
- 8,481
5
votes
2
answers
10k
views
How to preview colors when using the color picker in Illustrator?
When using Adobe Illustrator, how do I preview my changes when I'm using the color picker to change the color of an element?
Picking the color of an element is dependent on what's around it, so I'd ...
- 275
5
votes
4
answers
2k
views
3D character modeling tool
I am working on building a Strategy Game (it will be in 2.5D), and for graphic design part we are using Illustrator and Photoshop for designing (including designing characters). Now we want to start ...
- 205
5
votes
2
answers
17k
views
How to find which brush was used in a layer in Photoshop?
In a new layer, I selected the shape of the letter U and used a specific brush to brush in that selection in Layer 16 (in the screenshot below).
Now I can't figure out which brush I used to get this ...
- 51
5
votes
3
answers
3k
views
Is there delete anchor point tool for multiple anchors in Illustrator CC?
I'm looking for a way to remove multiple anchor points from path, but keppeing path intact. Now i select multiple points with lasso tool, then hit delete, then select 2 new end points and join them. ...
- 51
5
votes
3
answers
12k
views
How to input 'Registered Trademark' Glyph in Inkscape?
I went to: Text → Glyphs → and found the symbol. However, I can't get it from the window box to the artboard.
I've searched Google & YouTube, but cannot find the answer. How do I type ...
- 611
5
votes
1
answer
3k
views
Designing forms for printing in InDesign
I have to make a lot of forms in InDesign. Not interactive forms, just forms that need to be printed. It's really a pain making all the checkboxes, radio buttons, lines and text fields and ensuring ...
- 697
5
votes
3
answers
5k
views
What to look for in projectors to use in murals
To paint murals we will use an old 20th century overhead projector and transparencies to project images on a wall and draw preliminary outlines. Bulbs for the projector are getting hard to find. I'm ...
- 427