My local perspective on ideas, theories, and anything even remotely related to the industry. I intend to write with the approach that graphic design is more closely related to science than it is to art. This may feature guest writers from time to time, so if you are interested in submitting a post contact me!
Why is the Color Black Represented with a “K” in CMYK?
The K in CMYK stands for “Key”, but the answer is much more interesting than that. The “key plate” is said to add the “detail” to a printed image. This is true in that the black plate in a four color process print pushes the contrast and creates “detail”. Many people suggest that the theory of using K instead of B because it may be easily confused with “Blue” is a myth. While it is highly speculative what the reasoning is, there are context clues as to why it may actually...
read moreWhy isn’t “Rich Black” made up of 100% of CMYK?
Here’s a great example of why graphic design leans more towards science than art. When designing something for print, the topic of “Rich Black” may come up, so here are a few questions to think about before continuing: What is “Rich Black”? Why is rich black not made up of 100% of CMYK? When should rich black be used (and avoided)? What is “Rich Black”? Rich black is a combination of black with one or more other colors. If you have ever used the color “Registration”, you have utilized...
read moreSubtle Mirror Trick – Photoshop Tutorial
I originally posted this on my old blog, but by popular Internet demand I’ve relocated it here! Here’s a fun trick you can do somewhat easily with Photoshop. I love the subtlety of this photo manipulation because many people don’t realize it has been taken under the “knife.” In this tutorial, I will teach you how to make your camera disappear and trick your viewers with this optical illusion. What you’ll need is a camera, a big mirror and a basic knowledge of Photoshop. The theory behind this image is that you’re combining...
read moreAbout
Chris is a freelance graphic designer from Syracuse, NY who specializes in print.