Online Graphic Design Degree Guide: Design Tools

There are several tools that every graphic designer should possess. Once your basic skills as a graphic artist have been enhanced, additional tools can be introduced into your projects as your budget allows. From presentations to publications, and website design to logo making, the world of graphic design has greatly expanded, allowing limitless opportunities to novice and professional designers. The following resources provide useful information, tips, and tutorials for graphic design tools.

Adobe Illustrator

• Illustrator How-To Guides: Explore the newest features of Adobe Illustrator CS5 through these how-to guides from popular graphic designers.
• Design Business Cards in Adobe Illustrator: Tutorial for designing business cards in Adobe Illustrator, as well as several templates to help get you started.
• Free Tutorials – Illustrator Techniques: Learn how to create merging light room catalogs, simple backgrounds, book covers, layouts, and more.
• Step-by-Step Illustrator Tutorials: Free printable Adobe Illustrator tutorials, including how to create 3D logos, abstract backgrounds, and splash graphics.
• Adobe Illustrator Tips, Tricks and Tutorials: List of tips, tricks, and tutorials for graphic designers working with Adobe Illustrator, such as drawing with live paint.
• Illustrator Tutorials and Effects: Find over thirty free animal vectors, Adobe Illustrator training course for beginners, and many tutorials for basic and advanced designers.

InDesign

• InDesign CS5 New Features: Two and a half hour tour of all the new features of InDesign CS5, including exercise films, working in presentation mode, and creating documents with interactive features.
• The InDesigner: Regularly updated information, podcasts, and tutorials on how to use and advance your graphic skills with InDesign software.
• InDesign Secrets: Find tons of articles, tips, and information on new features of Adobe InDesign, as well as video casts.
• FAQ on InDesign: Reader questions are answered about working with InDesign, such as simple shortcuts, the use of layers, and avoiding mistakes with character styles.
• Instant InDesign: Focuses on enhancing your skills as a graphic designer while working with InDesign, as well as provide learning template designs.

Photoshop

• DaFont: Large collection of font to use on your Adobe Photoshop project that can be installed on Windows 7/Vista, Windows XP, and Mac OS X systems.
• Brusheezy: Browse thousands of Photoshop brushes that are free to download to add details to your Photoshop projects.
• Photoshop Video Tutorials: Collection of free Photoshop tutorials that will teach graphic designers how to create various effects using basic PS tools.
• Marcofolio: Get Photoshop advice, ideas, tutorials, and much more from an experienced graphic designer.
• Psdtuts+: Find hundreds of tutorials, articles, tips, and freebies, such as using “Photoshop to create 3D typography” and putting together a “mixed-style collage”.
• Tutorial9: Photoshop tutorials on drawing and design, interface design, photo editing, and Photoshop and text effects.

Dreamweaver

• Dreamweaver Downloads: List of Macromedia Dreamweaver macro files for download, including objects and behaviors.
• Tutorials List at Dreamweaver: Basic and more advanced Dreamweaver tutorials, including how to make extensions and CSS tips and tricks.
• Dreamweaver Basics and Tutorial: Find a brief overview of the Dreamweaver software, learn about the newest features, and create rollovers, templates, and more.
• How to Install and Use Dreamweaver: List of articles on how to install and use Dreamweaver and its features.
• Dreamweaver Tips: Several links to Dreamweaver tips, such as how to clean up FrontPage, Excel, and Word coding.
• List of Dreamweaver Tips: Use the tips found here to expand your knowledge of Dreamweaver and incorporate new features and designs into your DW projects.

Flash

• Free Basic Adobe Flash Tutorials: Beginner Flash tutorials, tutorials on Flash animation, Flash action script tutorials, and publishing Flash.
• Adobe Flash Tips and Techniques: Collection of Flash tips, techniques, and tutorials used to create games and other fun projects.
• Flash Perfection: List of Flash tutorials for website creations, as well as helpful tips and information created by top notch graphic designers.
• Quick Tips for Flash: Here you will find tips on how to use Flash in a number of categories, such as performance, productivity, workflow, and publishing.
• Macromedia Flash Tips, Tricks and Tutorials: Informative tips on various aspects of Flash to help graphic designers succeed with this tool.
• Flash Animation Tutorials: Free Adobe Flash tutorials, including symbols, buttons, text, sound buttons, Flash effects, and masking animations.

QuarkXPress

• User Training for Quark Products: Instructional video that are easy-to-follow and teach step-by-step methods on various features of QuarkXPress.
• Basic Level Tutorials: Here you will find several tutorials designed for those who are beginner users of QuarkXPress and its tools.
• QuarkXPress Tutorials: Simple tutorials for QuarkXPress, such as “Using anchored picture boxes as bullet points” and “Single layout mode”.
• Tips for QuarkXPress: Learn more about using QuarkXPress through these easy to understand tips and techniques.
• QuarkXPress Tips and Tricks: List of keyboard shortcuts when using QuarkXPress, as well as other helpful tips and tricks.

Acrobat

• Tutorials – Adobe Acrobat: Find over four hundred Adobe Acrobat tutorials, such as how to design a PDF portfolio and combine files in Acrobat X.
• Adobe Acrobat Tutorials: List of general Acrobat tutorials and general guides, including a step-by-step method of splitting PDFs into separate files.
• Tips, Tricks and Shortcuts: Several tips, tricks, techniques, and shortcuts for working with Adobe Acrobat.
• Help and Tips for Adobe Acrobat: Find answers to common problems when downloading and using Adobe Acrobat files.
• Adobe Acrobat Tutorial: Introduction to Adobe Acrobat and several tutorials on how to create eForms, links, basic navigation, conversions, and more.
• Five Great Acrobat Tips: Links to five of the best Adobe Acrobat features with valuable tips for graphic designers.