The Graphic Designer's Digital Toolkit [Paperback]

Allan Wood (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 28, 2005

Being a successful graphic designer today requires more than knowing the essential features of industry-standard software applications. It also requires an understanding of how to integrate these programs into a seamless whole while producing work that conforms to design principles-and client expectations. This fully revised edition of The Graphic Designer's Digital Toolkit, 2nd Edition provides a comprehensive overview of the "Big 4" digital design programs used in industry today-Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe InDesign, and QuarkXPress. The book examines the essential features of each, then reveals in practical detail skills and technology into effective design for print and Web media. This project based book features a highly visual introduction to the essential tools and functions of each application from the perspective of the working designer. Readers are then given the opportunity to put what they learn to work by tackling design projects from concept to completion, with assignments drawn from the everyday world of professional graphic designers.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Allan Wood is Associate Professor in the Visual Communications Branch at McIntosh College in Dover, New Hampshire, where he also serves as the Program Chair for the school’s Photography and Digital Imaging program. Drawing on his extensive experience in industry, owning his own business, and as a curriculum developer, Allan has developed a number of innovative courses at McIntosh that teach contemporary graphic design and web design concepts and technology. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 640 pages
• Publisher: Delmar Cengage Learning; 2 edition (September 28, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1418011584
• ISBN-13: 978-1418011581
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.4 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,056,323 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Allan Wood has served over 12 years as a college professor, and as the Program Chair in the Graphics Design and
Professional Photography accredited programs at McIntosh College in New Hampshire. In 2006, he was awarded a second place standing for Educator of the Year in Computer Design: Graphics and Photography, among 80 colleges participating.

Drawing on his extensive experience in the graphics industry, which includes owning his own full-time business, and over 20 years in the classroom as a teacher and curriculum developer for traditional and online courses, Allan has developed many innovative project-based courses. At the college level he has developed and taught courses in Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign,
Web Page Design, and many photography courses. Allan also has a Master's Degree in Education in Instructional Design and Online Learning. Allan's future plans involve more independent projects in teaching at various institutions, faculty training, and continue developing curricula in computer graphics and photography. Visit www.cengage.com/community/mediaarts&design for more information. Additional Web Site: www.digitoolkit.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good for beginers., November 23, 2008

By 

Corey N. Thrasher (Vinton, VA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Graphic Designer's Digital Toolkit (Paperback)

This book is good for some basics and it helps you get around your software.

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Frustrating - errors interfere with learning, February 9, 2006

By 

Astabeth (Decatur, AL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Graphic Designer's Digital Toolkit (General Interest) (Paperback)

I bought this as a textbook for a college course. While the intro to Mac was helpful, and the author sets up and goes through real-life type projects in a logical manner, the many errors in the book interfere with learning. For example, the reader is told to press 'm' to access the move tool when pressing 'm' really accesses the marquee tool. Often when the examples are worked step-by-step they don't look like the finished product as shown in the book, especially when using text. Overall disappointing. And I've only gone through the photoshop part so far. I would have given them 3 stars if there was an errata page online that could help me. But there's not.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A good choice for use in a classroom setting, February 27, 2006

By 

chkmtn "chkmtn" (Denver, Colorado) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Graphic Designer's Digital Toolkit (Paperback)

I found this book to be very useful in the introduction to digital graphics I teach at a community college. Because we have to go over OS X, Photoshop, Illustrator and QuarkXpress in one semester, time is limited for each of these software programs. However, by choosing the tutorials in the book that address specific techniques needed to complete the semester projects, I can cover a lot of ground in a relatively short time. This procedure worked especially well in the Photoshop chapters.