Handy Hints for Folio and Graphic Design

Third year Interior Architecture students are expected to complete a portfolio as part of their course work. Students have put together a list of handy hints to assist future students in their coursework.
Good luck, Danielle Smith, Janelle Mirabile, Maria Mantecon, Melany Masel

1) Plan your portfolio to communicate your thinking, technical skills, ideas, interests and experiences. It needs to reflect what you do well, how you think and what you'd like to do more of.
2) Start saving all your work as soon as you begin first year on both backup disks and hard copies (make sure you keep them neat and ordered) this will make your life easier when creating your portfolio.
3) Always mount all your work on at least 10-sheet card.

Here are some technical tips for general computer design and folio design.

PROGRAM USAGE
There are several design programs available that have distinctive purposes, a combination of these programs will allow you to achieve efficient, professional results. However we recommend you use the programs that your are most competent with and manipulate them to suit your needs.

IMAGE EDITING
Generally used to modify/digitally enhance a single image
-Photoshop

VECTOR DRAWING
Used to create images and logos etc. to get crisp lines
-AutoCAD
-Freehand
-Illustrator

PAGE LAYOUT
Helps to bring elements together (eg// images, text, layout)
-Quark
-In Design (this is the ideal program for folio layout, it is fairly simple to use and is available on the computers in Lab219 (Building 201) It allows you to setup a standard template for each page with grids and gutters and therefore simply place images and text into the existing layout.)

There are several design programs available that have distinctive purposes, a combination of these programs will allow you to achieve efficient, professional results. However we recommend you use the programs that your are most competent with and manipulate them to suit your needs.

IMAGE EDITING
Generally used to modify/digitally enhance a single image
-Photoshop

VECTOR DRAWING
Used to create images and logos etc. to get crisp lines
-AutoCAD
-Freehand
-Illustrator

PAGE LAYOUT
Helps to bring elements together (eg// images, text, layout)
-Quark
-In Design (this is the ideal program for folio layout, it is fairly simple to use and is available on the computers in Lab219 (Building 201) It allows you to setup a standard template for each page with grids and gutters and therefore simply place images and text into the existing layout.)

SCANNING
When scanning images you must consider the output device (where the images are going to be printed) or the application of the images, such as for final submissions and folio layout design etc.

The following guide is for scanning at 100%:

OUTPUT DEVICE RESOLUTION
Screen (Internet & looking at PC) 72DPI
Most Printers 150DPI
Offset Printers 300DPI

When Scanning Plans or Black and white line drawings (Technical Drawings etc.) choose LINEART option on Scanner Settings Dialog box or BMP. Note that if lines do not appear complete then use CURVES & adjust the THRESHOLD & AUTO LEVELS in Photoshop etc.

OUTPUT DEVICE RESOLUTION
Most Printers 800DPI
Offset Printers 1200DPI

IMPORTING DRAWINGS FROM AUTO CAD TO PHOTOSHOP / IN DESIGN
This is very useful when you want to transfer drawings, 3D models etc. into a page layout for folio development or for final design submissions etc. The output resolution is high and the line weights remain on the drawings also. However this option can only be used on your home PC and is unavailable in the University computer labs.

Follow this guide to import your drawings.
In AutoCAD click on:
FILE->
PLOTTER MANAGER->
Click on Add-a-plotter wizard
NEXT->
NEXT-> (follow prompts)
Select ADOBE, POST SCRIPT LEVEL 2
NEXT -> (follow prompts until setup is complete)

When you want to save your drawings in PLOTTER set printer to POST SCRIPT LEVEL 2
Tick box - plot to file
Setup the image normally
PLOT->

You can then open the saved EPS in Photoshop / In Design etc.
Set resolution to 300DPI

COLOUR
In the image programs you can decide which mode you wish to use, however most printing companies print using CMYK.

Greyscale True Colour RBG or CMYK

MOST ACCEPTED FILE FORMATS
When saving your images/layouts these are the most accepted file formats
.eps
.tif
.jpg
World Wide Printing prefer .tif

FOLIO BINDING
Remember to consider the binding at the early stages of folio design...you do not want to discover at the last minute that you cannot find the correct sleeves to suit and the pages do not sit correctly etc.

SOME AVAILABLE FOLIO SIZES:
285mm x 362mm including binding area - 282mm x 334mm (working area) - LANDSCAPE SLEEVES
A4 (working area)
A3 (working area)

CONTACTS:
1) LIFE EDITIONS
creators of fine books

Sarah Irwin
15 High Street, Fremantle 6160
PO BOX 589, Fremantle 6959
www.lifeeditions.com
p: 08 9430 6445
f: 08 9335 6489

2) CURTIN BINDERY

Located in the Curtin Library

Sandra Malkin
Telephone: 9266 7151