Website Graphic Design

Graphic design is not the same for web or print although it does share common components. The resolution and the software used for graphic design are different. Color combination are also different. The graphic designer needs to be in touch with the latest graphic design trends and have all graphic design resources and tips at his disposition. Good graphic design is crucial to a successfully web site design project and most professional webmasters, web site designers and web developers should have a fairly good grasp on advanced if not basic graphic design trends. Graphic designers in Canada the USA and Europe usually have a better grasp than other outsourcing countries because of the influx of fashion.

Graphic Designers Tools

A multitude of graphic design tools are at the disposition of your web designer to get the job done. Often the webmaster will try to accommodate the client and use the same software as to reduce file format conflicts. In other words, if the client has PDF files you use Acrobat, if he has PSD you use Photo shop ect...unfortunately most open sources solutions to Photoshop like Paint.net and Gimp don't work as well as Photoshop so the graphic designer has to adapt to the client's needs and not vice versa. If the client has no prior graphic design templates available our graphic designers will create the graphics from scratch using the software application of their choice. The resolution for websites is 1.3 megapixels versus up to 8 megapixels for print. So on that point there is a very large difference between online graphic design for websites or digital information versus analogue print pixels specifications. What about colors? Usually it's best to stick with 256 colors for web site design, however many more can be included and the possibilities with high definition screen is approaching the resolution of print...however, too many colors will make the web page load more slowly. So even if there is a trend towards faster ADSL connections, some cities in Asia and central USA and Canada still have dial up connections. So it it better to keep colors under 256 and preferably at 64-128.

Web 2.0 Graphic Design and Trends

How can you make your home page look modern and avoid outdated web page design? One way to do this is with appropriate graphic design that follows trends and online "website design fashion". These days web 2.0 is the rage and a good graphic designer will observe and learn from the hot websites out there. Some common trendy website design graphical trends are rounded corners, attractive large typography, thin borders on tables (sometimes accomplished by CSS versus graphically) . Pastel colors are also very popular these days. Glossy buttons, shinny effect, gradients and reflections are also popular. Strong embossing is out and so is overuse of special effects (usually created in Photo shop).

Why Choose a Graphic Designer/Web Developer From Canada or USA?

Graphic design and web site design trends usually originate in western countries like the Canada and the USA. Outsourcing website and graphic design to developing countries can sometimes result in outdated trends in graphic design that might be a few years old. Another problem is also communication, it is hard en ought to explain simple ideas in English to a non-English speaker. Explaining graphic design is even harder since it's already difficult to put images into words, even between native Canadian or American native speaker to another. Graphic design and web development should be managed and conducted in the native language or both the web design/graphic firm and the client.