Basic Graphic Design Terms

 

Design Principles

• Alignment: Arranging elements for visual order.
• Balance: Distribution of visual weight.
• Contrast: Differences to highlight elements.
• Emphasis: Making key elements stand out.
• Harmony: Visually pleasing element combinations.
• Hierarchy: Organizing elements by importance.
• Proximity: Grouping related items closely.
• Scale: Size relation to create focus.
• Symmetry: Balanced arrangement across axis.
• Unity: Cohesive visual effect.

Color and Visuals

• Analogous Colors: Adjacent hues on color wheel.
• CMYK: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black color model.
• Color Theory: Interaction and effects of colors.
• Hue: Base color type.
• Palette: Selected colors for design.
• Pantone: Standardized color matching system.
• Saturation: Intensity of color.
• Shade: Color plus black.
• Tint: Color plus white.
• Tone: Muted color variant.

Typography

• Body Copy: Main textual content.
• Font: Typeface style and size.
• Kerning: Letter spacing adjustment.
• Leading: Line spacing.
• Lorem Ipsum: Placeholder text.
• Sans Serif: Typeface without strokes.
• Serif: Typeface with strokes.
• Tracking: Consistent letter spacing.
• Typography: Art of arranging text.
• X-height: Height of lowercase letters.

Image and File Types

• Bitmap/Raster: Pixel-based images.
• DPI: Dots per inch, image resolution.
• JPEG: Compressed photo image format.
• PNG: Lossless format with transparency.
• Rasterize: Convert vector to bitmap.
• SVG: Scalable vector graphic format.
• Vector: Mathematical graphic format.
• GIF: Raster format for animations.
• TIFF: High quality raster format.
• PDF: Portable document format.

Tools and Techniques

• Bleed: Extra image area beyond trim.
• Clipping Mask: Shape used to hide parts.
• Drop Shadow: Shadow effect for depth.
• Gradient: Smooth color transition.
• Grid: Layout organizing framework.
• Mask: Hide/reveal parts of image.
• Mockup: Realistic design preview.
• Overlay: Layering elements over others.
• Render: Final output generation.
• Slice: Divided image part.

Branding & Marketing

• Brand Assets: Visual identity elements.
• Branding: Creating brand identity.
• Collateral: Marketing materials.
• Logo: Symbol for brand recognition.
• Style Guide: Brand usage rules.
• Swatch: Color sample.
• Watermark: Transparent copyright mark.
• Portfolio: Designer’s showcase.
• Visual Identity: Brand's visual personality.
• Workflow: Design process steps.

Layout & Composition

• Composition: Arrangement for clarity.
• Layout: Overall arrangement of elements.
• Negative Space: Empty space aiding clarity.
• White Space: Design breathing room.
• Grid System: Structural layout guide.
• Column: Vertical content division.
• Margin: Space around content.
• Padding: Space inside a container.
• Alignment Guides: Helpers for lining up.
• Baseline: Imaginary line where text rests.