Graphics (from Greek graphia) are visual presentations on some surface, such as a wall, canvas, computer screen, paper, or stone to brand, inform, illustrate, or entertain. Examples are photographs, drawings, Line Art, graphs, diagrams, typography, numbers, symbols, geometric designs, maps, engineering drawings, or other images. Graphics often combine text, illustration, and color. Graphic design may consist of the deliberate selection, creation, or arrangement of typography alone, as in a brochure, flier, poster, web site, or book without any other element. Clarity or effective communication may be the objective, association with other cultural elements may be sought, or merely, the creation of a distinctive style.
Graphics can be functional or artistic. The latter can be a recorded version, such as a photograph, or an interpretation by a scientist to highlight essential features, or an artist, in which case the distinction with imaginary graphics may become blurred.
History
The earliest graphics known to anthropologists studying prehistoric periods are cave paintings and markings on boulders, bone, ivory, and antlers, which were created during the Upper Palaeolithic period from 40,000–10,000 B.C. or earlier. Many of these were found to record astronomical, seasonal, and chronological details. Some of the earliest graphics and drawings known to the modern world, from almost 6,000 years ago, are that of engraved stone tablets and ceramic cylinder seals, marking the beginning of the historic periods and the keeping of records for accounting and inventory purposes. Records from Egypt predate these and papyrus was used by the Egyptians as a material on which to plan the building of pyramids; they also used slabs of limestone and wood. From 600–250 BC, the Greeks played a major role in geometry. They used graphics to represent their mathematical theories such as the Circle Theorem and the Pythagorean theorem.
In art, "graphics" is often used to distinguish work in a monotone and made up of lines, as opposed to painting.
Drawing
Drawing generally involves making marks on a surface by applying pressure from a tool, or moving a tool across a surface. Common tools are graphite pencils, pen and ink, inked brushes, wax color pencils, crayons, charcoals, pastels, and markers. Digital tools which simulate the effects of these are also used. The main techniques used in drawing are line drawing, hatching, crosshatching, random hatching, scribbling, stippling, blending, and shading.
Drawing is generally considered distinct from painting, in which colored pigments are suspended in a liquid medium and are usually applied with a brush. Notable great drawers include Michelangelo, Rembrandt, Raphael and Leonardo da Vinci.
Many people choose drawing as a main art style, or they may use it to make sketches for paintings, sculptures and other types of art. The other term is Engineering Graphics, preferably the language of engineers that simulates Three Dimensional capability of engineer to plan and Implement his ideas. It comprises Projection, Development, Perspective, Section, Intersection, and Isometric ideations.
Printmaking
Woodblock printing, including images is first seen in China after paper was invented (about A.D. 105). In the West the main techniques have been woodcut, engraving and etching, but there are many others.
Etching
Etching is an intaglio method of printmaking in which the image is incised into the surface of a metal plate using an acid. The acid eats the metal, leaving behind roughened areas, or, if the surface exposed to the acid is very thin, burning a line into the plate. The use of the process in printmaking is believed to have been invented by Daniel Hopfer (circa 1470–1536) of Augsburg, Germany, who decorated armour in this way.
Etching is also used in the manufacturing of printed circuit boards and semiconductor devices.
Line Art
Line art is a rather non-specific term sometimes used for any image that consists of distinct straight and curved lines placed against a (usually plain) background, without gradations in shade (darkness) or hue (color) to represent two-dimensional or three-dimensional objects. Line art is usually monochromatic, although lines may be of different colors.
Illustration
An illustration is a visual representation such as a drawing, painting, photograph or other work of art that stresses subject more than form. The aim of an illustration is to elucidate or decorate a story, poem or piece of textual information (such as a newspaper article), traditionally by providing a visual representation of something described in the text. The editorial cartoon, also known as a political cartoon, is an illustration containing a political or social message.
Illustrations can be used to display a wide range of subject matter and serve a variety of functions, such as:
- giving faces to characters in a story
- displaying a number of examples of an item described in an academic textbook (e.g. A Typology)
- visualising step-wise sets of instructions in a technical manual
- communicating subtle thematic tone in a narrative
- linking brands to the ideas of human expression, individuality and creativity
- making a reader laugh or smile
- for fun (to make laugh) funny
Graphs
A graph or chart is a type of information graphic that represents tabular, numeric data. Charts are often used to make it easier to understand large quantities of data and the relationships between different parts of the data.
Diagrams
A diagram is a simplified and structured visual representation of concepts, ideas, constructions, relations, statistical data, etc, used to visualize and clarify the topic.
Symbols
A symbol, in its basic sense, is a representation of a concept or quantity; i.e., an idea, object, concept, quality, etc. In more psychological and philosophical terms, all concepts are symbolic in nature, and representations for these concepts are simply token artifacts that are allegorical to (but do not directly codify) a symbolic meaning, or symbolism.
Computer Graphics
Computer graphics are graphics created using computers and, more generally, the representation and manipulation of image data by a computer.
The development of computer graphics, has made computers easier to interact with, and better for understanding and interpreting many types of data. Developments in computer graphics have had a profound impact on many types of media and have revolutionized animation, movies and the video game industry.
There are two Types Of Computer Graphics
1) Raster Graphics / Images
2) Vector Graphics / Images
1)Raster Images
Raster images are made up of a whole lot of tiny dots, called pixels. To illustrate this concept, we will use a sheet of graph paper. Each square on the sheet represents one pixel (see Figure 1.1). Let's start simple and create a black and white circle that is 20 pixels in diameter (see Figure 1.2). The number of pixels determines the resolution of your file. The computer stores this file by recording the exact placement and color of each pixel. The computer has no idea that it is a circle, only that it is a collection of little dots.
Each pixel has a coordinate, and the contents of that pixel are recorded and saved in a file. In this example, we see each individual pixel, and the circle is very blocky. By adding more pixels, thereby increasing the resolution, we can make that same circle appear smoother because the pixels are much smaller. Of course, the higher your resolution is, the larger your file size will be because the computer has many more pixels to keep track of.
Where the problem arises is when you try enlarging a raster image. Because the resolution is set, when you scale the art, in reality, you are just enlarging the pixels, which results in a jaggy (or pixelated) image.
Photoshop makes images out of dots (pixels). The program recognizes individual dots each with a color value and a location in space (this is called raster graphics). In Photoshop, if you wish to work with something that you recognize as an object in an image, such as box sitting on a table, you have to select the box (show Photoshop the dots you want to manipulate).
2)Vector Images: An Objective Approach
Vector art is different in that instead of creating individual pixels, you create objects, such as rectangles and circles. By noting the mathematical coordinates of these shapes, a vector program can store files in a fraction of the space as raster images, and more importantly, be able to scale images to virtually any size without any loss in detail. Unlike raster images, the vector circle appears smooth at 100% (left) and just as smooth when enlarged 800% (right).
Adobe Illustrator is an almost supernatural program for generating print and digital artwork. Illustrator’s drawing tools provide micro-control over drawings. Its gigantic set of graphical effects, combined with its almost limitless control over sizing, scaling, perspective, and fills, allows Illustrator to give expression to any artistic inspiration. There’s no other design software that provides such powerful control over lines and curves, fills, and color effects.
Illustrator’s unique set of graphical tools are based on vectors—mathematically based curves. Vectors give Illustrator its muscle, versatility, and subtlety, but many artists find vectors unintuitive and even frustrating.
Adobe Illustrator is a charting program. It deals with objects such as squares, circles and irregular shapes. It stores these shapes in files as geometric equations with an associated size, location and
color value. These objects can be resized, re-colored and moved in relationship to each other (this is called scalable vector graphics). When you make a selection in Illustrator, you are selecting an object and you can move that object in front or behind other objects in the image or change the size of the object relative to the other objects in the image. Illustrator is an ideal program to use for drawing illustrations and charts or creating posters with drawings and a lot of different size lettering.
Vector-based graphics are quite different. Adobe Illustrator is the most widely used vector art program, but others include Macromedia Freehand and CorelDRAW. Macromedia Flash is also based on vector graphics. Other graphical software options, such as Macromedia Fireworks, are hybrid programs that combine both vector and pixel editing tools.
Vector art is defined by line segments that are controlled by anchor points. The enlarged section of the illustration in Figure 1-4 shows that the birds in the drawing are defined not by individual pixels but by many curved lines.
Figure 1.4 Each bird, and each element in each bird, is defined by a set of curves.
CMYK vs. RGB
CMYK stands for cyan, magenta, yellow, and black (called K because printers sometimes refer to the black plate as the key plate). Mixing these colors creates a gamut (range) of colors. It's easier to think of colors in CMYK because the mode seems to follow the rules that we all learned in preschool. Mixing cyan and magenta (blue and red) makes purple, mixing yellow and magenta makes orange, and so on. Today's printing presses use the four CMYK inks to produce printed material in color. For jobs that you want physically printed, you should choose the CMYK color mode.
RGB stands for red, green, and blue and is used to display color on TV screens, computer monitors, and other electronic devices like digital cameras. Unlike CMYK where you start out with a white sheet of paper and then add colors to get to black, RGB works in reverse. For instance, when your TV screen is off, it's dark, and when you turn it on and add red, green, and blue, the cumulative effect is white. The RGB color mode has a significantly larger gamut of colors than CMYK does, especially in the area of bright fluorescent colors. For jobs that you want displayed on the Web or video, RGB is the color mode you should choose.
Computer Animation
Computer animation (or CGI animation) is the art of creating moving images with the use of computers. It is a subfield of computer graphics and animation. Increasingly it is created by means of 3D computer graphics, though 2D computer graphics are still widely used for stylistic, low bandwidth, and faster real-time rendering needs. Sometimes the target of the animation is the computer itself, but sometimes the target is another medium, such as film. It is also referred to as CGI (computer-generated imagery or computer-generated imaging), especially when used in films.
To create the illusion of movement, an image is displayed on the computer screen and repeatedly replaced by a new image that is similar to the previous image, but advanced slightly in the time domain (usually at a rate of 24 or 30 frames/second). This technique is identical to how the illusion of movement is achieved with television and motion pictures.
Computer animation is essentially a digital successor to the art of stop motion animation of 3D models and frame-by-frame animation of 2D illustrations. For 3D animations, objects (models) are built on the computer monitor (modeled) and 3D figures are rigged with a virtual skeleton. For 2D figure animations, separate objects (illustrations) and separate transparent layers are used, with or without a virtual skeleton. Then the limbs, eyes, mouth, clothes, etc. of the figure are moved by the animator on key frames. The differences in appearance between key frames are automatically calculated by the computer in a process known as tweening or morphing. Finally, the animation is rendered.
For 3D animations, all frames must be rendered after modeling is complete. For 2D vector animations, the rendering process is the key frame illustration process, while tweened frames are rendered as needed. For pre-recorded presentations, the rendered frames are transferred to a different format or medium such as film or digital video. The frames may also be rendered in real time as they are presented to the end-user audience. Low bandwidth animations transmitted via the internet (e.g. 2D Flash, X3D) often use software on the end-users computer to render in real time as an alternative to streaming or pre-loaded high bandwidth animations.
What is Media?
In general, "media" refers to various means of communication. For example, television, radio, and the newspaper are different types of media. The term can also be used as a collective noun for the press or news reporting agencies. In the computer world, "media" is also used as a collective noun, but refers to different types of data storage options.
Media refers to any kind of format used to convey information. Mass Media refers to those types of media that are designed to reach large numbers of people.
The various types of mass media are:
| · Television (cable, network, satellite, etc.) · Radio · Film & Video · Print (newspapers, magazines, direct mail, etc.) · Photography · Electronic (E-mail, the Web, etc.) |
Type of Media
1. Print media:
Print media refers to publications that are distributed in a printed form on paper, such as newspapers, which must be delivered to customers in physical form either through hand delivery or physical purchase.
Purpose
Print media is one of the most common ways for people to stay informed about current events, technology and other special interests.
Features
Print media is extremely varied in terms of what sorts of topics are covered; normal newspapers typically report relevant current events, but other periodicals may be printed purely for entertainment or made for a specific interest, such as fashion, fitness or a certain sport.
Benefits
Print media is relatively cheap and does not require access to technology, such as a computer, to use. Periodicals and magazines are also extremely portable.
Example :
Books, Newspapers, Magazine, Newsletters, Brochures, Posters,Bill-Boards, Hand-outs
2. Digital media:
Digital media (as opposed to analog media) are usually electronic media that work on digital codes. Today, computing is primarily based on the binary numeral system. In this case digital refers to the discrete states of "0" and "1" for representing arbitrary data. Computers are machines that (usually) interpret binary digital data as information and thus represent the predominating class of digital information processing machines. Digital media ("Formats for presenting information" according to Wiktionary:media) like digital audio, digital video and other digital content can be created, referred to and distributed via digital information processing machines. Digital media represents a profound change from previous (analog) media.
Digital data is independent of its interpretation (hence representation). An arbitrary sequence of digital code like "0100 0001" might be interpreted as the decimal number 65, the hexadecimal number 41 or the glyph "A". See also: ASCII, Code.
Florida's digital media industry association, Digital Media Alliance Florida, defines digital media as "the creative convergence of digital arts, science, technology and business for human expression, communication, social interaction and education".
Example:
3. Interactive media:
What do virtual reality, rock-climbing walls that show you how to climb them and Web 2.0 have in common? They're all examples of a new trend in media communication. Read here to find out about Interactive Media Design, a new spin on traditional ways of reaching out to people.
Interactive Media vs. Regular Media
Traditional media is a one-way street. For instance, advertising is generally seen as a process in which companies present a view of their product and viewers can only consume it. By contrast, Interactive Media is a dialogue, as viewers take a much more active role and media producers become interactive storytellers.
Technology of Interactive Media Design
Much of Interactive Media Design consists of taking advantage of the opportunities offered by new technologies. In 2008, the Wellington Zoo in New Zealand employed Interactive Media Design in crafting a new campaign. According to Adforum.com, the zoo created a cell phone application that used the phone's camera to scan a newspaper ad about the zoo: a 3D model and information about the animals there would pop out on the user's cell phone screen. Interactive Media is also sometimes linked to 'Web 2.0' ideas about letting the people who watch a media presentation help to make it up as well. Interactive Media Designers, then, should also be familiar with the use of social networking.
Interactive Media Design Work
Interactive Media Design is more than just being savvy about web trends and hot new gadgets. Designers in Interactive Media also need to know how to create aesthetically appealing, inviting concepts that make people want to participate in the first place. In this sense, Interactive Media Design is just bringing traditional media into the 21st century. Designers will need a solid foundation in the history of media.
What Is Site Design?
Site design for blogs, businesses and informational websites can be a major factor in the success of the site. Many people now hire professional website design companies to create websites that will be user-friendly and attractive. The world of site design is part artistry, part business sense, and can be part of a lucrative career for talent website builders.
With literally millions of websites to choose from on the internet, a well-designed site is meant to draw users in. Common considerations include ease of use and attractiveness. Site visitors need to be able to quickly understand what a site offers and how to navigate the various pages of the website. Experts in site design can make simple, fully comprehensible websites that are fully customizable for any client's needs.
web design is noted for its web development, software development, web designer, designer solution, creative web design & development, professional web consultants, e-business, online software solutions , e-branding strategies, software development, web marketing, programming, promotion, interactive web site designing, Interactive flash, web promotion, database driven sites, Digital Imaging , photography, Content deployment, search engine registration, portal and Web designer in UK and India. We architect web software development solutions in ASP.NET with SQL database and PHP with MySQL database.
Interactive Web Design
Interactive website design allows some kind of interaction with users. The most common device used for this luxury is Common Gateway Interface or CGI.
Guestbooks, membership signups, newsletter registrations and similar tasks use CGI. Some of these interactions like product purchases, which handle sensitive information require security measures for protection of that information.
Interaction with users usually involves the use of HTML forms which are used to collect the information from the client and CGI scripts which handle the processing of the data.
The testing of HTML forms and CGI scripts on your PC will require the installation of a localhost server. The Apache server is the most commonly used server for this purpose.
Our website also offers free CGI scripts and HTML forms that you can copy or download and use as templates.
We recommend that you use our HTML forms and scripts for handling non-sensitive materials. Tools for credit card transactions and shopping carts which require a secure environment, will be supplied by the web host that you choose.
Ajax
Ajax (shorthand for Asynchronous JavaScript and XML) is a group of interrelated web development techniques used on the client-side to create interactive web applications. With Ajax, web applications can retrieve data from the server asynchronously in the background without interfering with the display and behavior of the existing page. The use of Ajax techniques has led to an increase in interactive or dynamic interfaces on web pages. Data is usually retrieved using the XMLHttpRequest object. Despite the name, the use of XML is not actually required, nor do the requests need to be asynchronous
Like DHTML and LAMP (Linux, Apache, MySQL and PHP), Ajax is not a technology in itself, but a group of technologies. Ajax uses a combination of HTML and CSS to mark up and style information. The DOM is accessed with JavaScript to dynamically display, and to allow the user to interact with, the information presented. JavaScript and the XMLHttpRequest object provide a method for exchanging data asynchronously between browser and server to avoid full page reloads.
Examples
Some server-side scripting languages:
7. ASP DOT NET
PHP/MySQL
Database driven websites are becoming more popular as the tools for creating them become easier to acquire and use.
Adding PHP and MySQL to the localhost is a fairly simple process for Win98 and ME users. Visit our PHP and MySQL guides for details.
MySQL is a relational database management system (RDBMS) that runs as a server providing multi-user access to a number of databases. The MySQL development project has made its source code available under the terms of the GNU General Public License, as well as under a variety of proprietary agreements. MySQL was owned and sponsored by a single for-profit firm, the Swedish company MySQL AB, now owned by Sun Microsystems, a subsidiary of Oracle Corporation
Content Management Systems (CMS)
Most web hosts these days offer the option of creating your web site with a CMS.
Many CMS software packages employ PHP and MySQL. Most of them have built in features for membership registration, article posting by members and administrators, feedback forms, polls, forums and more.
Interactive Website Features
Contact us for information on getting features like these for your site...
- Flash Animation
- Custom graphics, banners, buttons
- Fully Featured E-Commerce Shopping Cart
- Fully integrated database directory systems
- Password protected directories
- Guestbook
- News Headlines (self-updating)
- Tell A Friend
- Photo Slideshow
- Online Poll
- Custom Error Pages
- Database Powered Links Page (editable by client)
- Banner Rotation System
- Financial calculators suite
- Online Postcard System
- Online Newsletter
- Dynamic Events Calendar (editable by client)
- Web page editing system
- Online Message Boards
- Article Management System
- Online Photo Gallery
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