Design Companion for the Digital Artist

The Design Companion for the Digital Artist provides the missing elements in the digital artist's library. While many people can learn how to use QuarkXPress, PageMaker, Adobe Illustrator, Macromedia Flash, and other graphic applications, books designed to teach specific applications simply can't deliver information on what looks good. This work focuses on just that—fundamental and proven methods of building and designing effective and attractive pages. From where to get ideas to how to deliver them most effectively, this book introduces concepts such as the proper use of space, the best way to arrange elements on a page, what people see, and much, much more. Whatever book the reader is using to learn the technical application of digital tools, the techniques and issues provided in this book will dramatically improve their results. A Hard Look at Creativity; Developing the Concept; Abstraction, Symbolism, and Visual Metaphor; Putting it all Together; Shape/Container Relationship; Layout; Line; Type; Color; Paper, Binding, and Finishing; Using Pictures Effectively; Publication Design; Illustration; Corporate Identity; Point-of Purchase Display and Packaging; Advertising Design; Web Design and Multimedia. For digital artists.

Valan Evers lives and plays in South Florida. She has been on the faculty of the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale for the past 12 years. Her digital illustrations have appeared on magazine covers and were featured in the book, CYBERDESIGN: Computer Manipulated Photography by Rockport Publishers. Her work was chosen to be included in the 1999 release of the book, Digital Photo 1, by the prestigious publisher of fine art books, Graphis. Most of her work hangs in galleries, private, and corporate collections. She also has a limited edition of posters and postcards. Her abiding passions (besides making art) are diving, underwater photography, and mythology. She earned her Masters Degree in Computer Illustration/Underwater Photography, and did her thesis on digital narratives of oceanic mythology.

Erika Kendra lives in Los Angeles, where she operates under the guise of The Right Brain. She has been editing and designing books for the printing and graphic design communities for five years; she also provides desktop publishing and digital prepress consulting and training for the printing industry. When she isn't being manipulated by her cats, she can usually be found reading archaic literature, attending Renaissance festivals, or enjoying the Southern California sun. She earned a BA in History and a BA in English Literature from the University of Pittsburgh.