Graphics Frequently Asked Questions

This guide may help beginners in starting graphic designing. I dont invent these terms. They are
widely used by professional artists or even for laymans like us. Definitions are short and precise. Hope
this helps. If I had mislead some terms please correct me. If you have any other info to share, feel
free.

CONTENTS
Press CTRL + F to find this questions here.

A. Terms
 What is Graphics?
 What is gfx?
 What is fx?
 What is an Avatar?
 What is a Signature?
 Is it the same with Tags? What is their difference?
 What is a Large Piece/ Large Art?
 What is a Signature LP?
 What is a Wallpaper?

B. Basic Graphic Imagry

 What is a Pop- out Imagery?
 What is a Digital Paint?
 What are Vectors/ Vexels?
 What is a Photo Manipulation?
 What is a Typography?
 What is a Line Art?
 What is a 3D?
 What is a Pixel Art?
 What is a Sprite?

C. Where do I get resources for my graphics

 What are Renders?
 What are Stocks?
 What are Screenshots?
 What are C4D?
 What are Wireframes?
 What are Brushes?
 Where do I get Brushes and how do I install them?

D. Ready To Get Started

 What programs do I need to make graphic designs?
 Where do I get Photoshop?
 Is there any tutorials I can find to get started?

E. How Am I Classed?
 Novice/ Beginner
 Moderate
 Intermediate
  Professional

F. What are the Elements of a Signature?

 Flow
 Focal Point
 Lighting
 Depth
 Effects
 Color
 Text

A. BASIC TERMS

What is Graphics?
 Graphics is an art with vividly realistic definition.
It is an art of drawing, sketching, painting or any form of imaginary applications
from thoughts to reality.

What is gfx? I always see people use that.

 Gfx is short term for graphics.

What is fx?
 As you pronounced it, it is also called effects.

What is an Avatar?
 Ava = avatar. It is the small image near your forum name.
http://i44.tinypic.com/2vbseo4.png

What is a Signature?
 Sg = signature. It is the small image placed under your posts. It has your
name/ nicks on it.
The sig dimension used in this forum should not exceed 400x150px. It can also
be a vertical or an irregular sig.
http://i.imgur.com/I5dcw.png

Is it the same with Tag? What is their difference?

 Yes. People use them interchangeably. Tag is like a signature but without your
name on it, still claiming it as your own
.

What is a Large Art/ Large Piece?

 LP = Large piece
 LA = Large art
 They are just the same. These are large images like wallpapers exceeding
600x400px.
http://i.imgur.com/sDKou.jpg
What are Signature LP?
 SLP = Signature Large Pieces are signatures larger than 500x300px.
It is a normal signature but the reason with its size and dimension are the
images added outside, aside from the signature itself.
It can be with or without image borders.
http://i.imgur.com/hM2AA.png

What are Wallpapers?

 WP = wallpapers. These are used as desktop background.
http://img134.imageshack.us/img134/8837/004fs0.jpg

B. BASIC GRAPHICS IMAGERY

What are Pop- out Imagery?
 POI = Pop- out imagery. An image popping out the base of a signature.
http://fc01.deviantart.net/fs45/f/20...uringReign.png

What are Digital Paintings?

 DP = Digital Paint. This is actually a paint only made through digital programs
like Photoshop etc.
http://fc06.deviantart.net/fs71/i/20..._MartaNael.jpg

What are Vectors/ Vexels?

 Digital art manipulated through the use of Pentool.
They are used as web icons, logos etc. Some people also use this term as for
images that are mostly black in color.
 Also, dont get confused between the two. They have similar definitions but
they differ in the software they are used.
Vectors are made from Illustrator, Flash, Inkscape, and Corel draw. Unlike in
Photoshop or Gimp they are called Vexels because they are made from Rasters
(rectangular grid of pixels), that's why they are called Vexels = pixels. =)
http://img12.imageshack.us/img12/485...rediariesi.png

What are Photo Manipulations?

 As for the word itself. It is the blending of two or more different photos
creating a vivid imagery mostly pertaining to Fantasy.
Photo manips are also used if you wish to edit or manipulate your own photo.
http://i.imgur.com/weI12sY.png

What is a Typography?
 Simply the use of text editors to create a 3d text image.
http://i1173.photobucket.com/albums/...ps27931654.png

What is a Line Art?

 Consists of entirely lines sometimes with minimal shading.
http://i39.tinypic.com/efi1og.jpg
What is a 3D?
 3D are a 3 dimensional form or appearance by the use of 3Ds Max, Blender or
even C4d.
http://i39.tinypic.com/2zdy5bk.png

What is a Pixel Art?

 Pixel arts are the old digital graphics we see today. They are made pixel by
pixel.
http://www.mobilarian.com/attachment...1&d=1379867057

What is a Sprite?
 Or rather termed as Pixies because they are enormously small.
They are typical pixel arts that are used for characters and other moving objects
in video games. Sprites can also be used as renders for gfx designing.
http://i.imgur.com/HUXul.png

C. WHERE DO I GET RESOURCES FOR MY GFX?

What are Renders?

 Renders are cut-out/ cropped images people used in graphic designing. You
can find more renders here:
http://www.mobilarian.com/forumdisplay.php?f=134
http://www.mobilarian.com/showthread.php?t=882034
http://img14.imageshack.us/img14/7816/render007.png

What are Stocks?

 Stocks are actually photos made by Professional photographers. Stocks has
awesome pose by models which are good for graphic designing.
Stocks can also be used as background for renders.
http://img17.imageshack.us/img17/1425/lnx4.jpg
http://www.mobilarian.com/forumdisplay.php?f=134

What are Screenshots?

 SS. These are images captured through game or by pressing PRT SC in your
keyboard.

What are C4Ds?

 C4D = Cinema 4D. They are HD images that so widely used by Professionals
creating a massive realistic effect.
C4d also pertains to the software itself. C4Ds include: Effect, Fractals, Bubbles
and Abstract.
You can find more C4ds here: Deviantart
http://fc08.deviantart.net/fs15/f/20...eamsfade77.png
What are Wireframes?
 Wireframes are line-drawn model consist of entirely lines made from C4D.
They are used as renders too.
You can find more C4ds here: Deviantart
http://i42.tinypic.com/35luj3o.jpg

What are Brushes?

 Brushes are high definition vector imagery that made designing easy and
flexible.
http://www.mobilarian.com/forumdisplay.php?f=134
Deviantart

D. READY TO GET STARTED

What programs do I need to make graphic designs?
 Adobe Photoshop is commonly used by both Professionals and beginners.

Where do I get Photoshop?

 From the Adobe website http://www.adobe.com/downloads/
 There are also other useful software made by Adobe that will help you but it is
beyond this guide if I'am going to include them.

Is there any tutorials I can find to get started?

 Yes definitely. There are thousands of tutorials on the net.
You can also find tutorials here:
http://www.mobilarian.com/forumdisplay.php?f=57

E. HOW AM I CLASSED?
 You can get classed by non-professional classers in every gfx forums.
They judge you by 'the every details' of your work depending on these categories: Depth,
Lightning, Flow, Compo, Focal Point, Text and Color.
http://www.mobilarian.com/showthread.php?t=14890
 Dont take it personally if you've been classed as Novice. It is after all for your own
good, so you could improve what you need to improve.