There is a huge stigma about tracing in the art world. It is considered a cheat by some, however there is no shame in using references to achieve better work. Tracing just enough to get forms down so things are recognizable is completely acceptable and well-regarded amongst many professionals, as long as enough is then changed to respect the original work and not commit copyright infringement or art theft.

In order to avoid copyright infringement, Graphic Designers should do as much freehand as possible. However, poses and ideas cannot be copyrighted, so many will trace over forms in order to achieve proper proportions and posing without needing to worry about copyright. Additionally, as long as less than 10% of the original is used, it does not violate copyright laws.

That’s not to say that people have not been caught totally tracing and barely changing other works. That is like plagiarism for the art and design world and should not be tolerated. Not to mention, it could lead to serious legal repercussions. Keep reading to learn more about tracing in Graphic Design.

Do Graphic Designers Ever Trace Instead of Freehanding Their Work?

The long and short of it is yes. Graphic Designers may trace. It would technically be incorrect to say that Graphic Designers never trace or that they always trace as these are both absolutes and people are not absolute. However, in order to keep it within copyright laws, a Graphic Designer should not trace too often or too much.

Here are some instances in which a Graphic Designer may trace:

• Poses of people or animals
• Shapes, forms, and general likenesses
• Over something given permissions for commercial use
• If they are using less than 10% of the original work
• Just enough to get an idea across

It’s actually relatively common in the professional world to use commercial use stock imagery or imagery that the designer captured themselves as references in order to make illustrations that are properly proportionate. Poses cannot be copyrighted, so many designers will trace over base poses just to make sure that things are going to look right down the line. In this instance, it’s merely using resources. Going too far however falls into art theft and copyright infringement, especially if the tracing ends up looking identical to another person’s artwork.

What is Copyright in Graphic Design?

In 1970, the US passed a Copyright Act which protects creative works from unauthorized use, replication, distribution, or modification of someone’s original, tangible work. The most well-known instance of copyright infringement is plagiarism, which is when someone takes pieces of written work and attempts to pass it off as their own. However, it also applies heavily to Graphic Design.

Copyright covers anything that is:

• Written on paper
• Recorded digitally
• Typed electronically
• Tangible work
  • Seen
  • Heard
  • Touched
  • Read

That means as long as something can be proven to have been made by someone, they are granted copyright of that. So heavily tracing and barely modifying work in which permissions for use was not obtained, such as in free for commercial use stock, can result in copyright infringement.

What is Copyright Infringement in Graphic Design?

Graphic Design has to abide by the same laws as everyone else does when it comes to copyright. Not being careful or going too far can hit a Graphic Designer hard with copyright infringement, which potentially can lead to legal repercussions including paying for damages against the owner.

Here are some common instances of copyright infringement in Graphic Design:

• Using someone else’s logo or something near-identical
• Using imagery that was not approved for commercial use
• Using more than 10% of another work
• Using any artistic or written work without a license or written permission
• Using characters, imagery, or designs of someone else’s without permission
• Using downloads without paying for their use

Typically, just because it was found on a Google search does not mean that it is fair game, which is a common mistake for amateurs. Also, just because some other company or person seems to be getting away with it, doesn’t mean that the cycle should continue.

How can Graphic Designers Avoid Copyright Infringement?

While tracing over poses or getting just enough to make sure posing is correct is totally acceptable for a Graphic Designer, going more than 10% is copyright infringement. Instead of pushing luck and assuming nobody is going to bring out the legal team, it’s best to avoid tempting fate.

Here are ways Graphic Designers can avoid copyright infringement:

• Never use more than 10% of another singular work as reference
• Ensure anything found and used has commercial use permissions
  • If they don’t, find something else or try to obtain them
• Give credit where credit is due
• When in doubt, use something else
• Using a “commercially usable” library of templates (like Placeit.net)

Remember that ideas also cannot be copyrighted, but anything made tangible can be. If it’s recognizable as someone else’s work, it is way too far, however. In the end, being considerate typically is enough to avoid copyright infringement even when tracing.

Conclusion

Tracing has a massive stigma against it as it is seen to be lazy and lacking talent. However, this is mostly by amateurs who think that using references is cheating. In reality, it is simply utilizing the resources at hand. Many professionals including Graphic Designers will trace just enough to get posing, proportions, or ideas across which is perfectly acceptable.

However, going too far can lead to copyright infringement so it is important to know about the copyright law, what it covers, and how to avoid legal repercussions. Always be sure to use no more than 10% of someone else’s work when making a design and freehand as much as possible.

Your social media profiles should be crystal clear who owns them, and your logo is the best way to do that. Your logo serves as your calling card and the face of your company. It is what people associate with your brand. As such, you want to display it proudly with every social media post. A social media kit can help you achieve that goal.

While you do not need a dedicated social media kit for your logo, you are doing you and your company a disservice by not having one. A properly designed kit can help your social media feed logo express the trust, credibility, and authority you want regardless of the platform. It also helps improve audience engagement through perfectly-sized brand awareness and familiarity.

A proper social media kit provides clear version guidelines for each social media platform. By reading further, you will learn tips on designing and using your logo on the most popular social media platforms out there.

What is a Social Media Kit, and Why Does Your Logo Need One?

Media kits are nothing new. Companies have used marketing media kits for decades, usually as a cardboard folder mailed or hand-delivered to their marketing agents and various news sites. Social media kits just bring the practice to the digital and social media world.

Sometimes called social media style guides, social media kits establish and define the high-resolution visual representations and behaviors of your brand. Tailored to each social platform, you base your kits around your long-term goals and the metrics you need to achieve them. A logo social media kit defines how to design your logo and brand graphics for each platform and their customer base.  

As such, a good logo social media kit ensures your logo fits your brand goals. It does this by ensuring your logo meets the image requirements of each social media platform.

Your customers access social media through various devices and portals of varying shapes and sizes. Your social media kit defines the proper logo alignment to ensure your logo remains clear and professional on all of them regardless of scale or resolution.

While you could theoretically ensure this compliance without a media kit, it becomes much harder to do so, especially if you outsource your logo development to a marketing agency or designer. The kit serves as your instructions and requirements for the use of your brand on your social platforms.

A properly defined logo social media kit:

• Ensures brand credibility and professionalism
• Prevents errors, fails, and awkward design moments
• Quickly onboards new employees and partners

How to Develop Your Logo Social Media Kit

Because you must modify your logo for each social platform, you want to start your media kit with a logo you can easily manipulate. Complicated graphics may look nice on paper but can look unprofessional on a mobile device.

As such, you want to store your logo files in the PNG graphics format or something similar. PNG files are easy to resize and compatible with most social platforms. You also want to do the edits on a desktop computer so you can have easy access to all your logo files during development.

You also want symbol-only versions of your logo as they work best in small spaces such as your social profile pictures. Symbols are easier to recognize in the social media space and provide a bigger brand impact for your customers.

Other things to consider:

• Include your logo somewhere in your cover photos, either as the entire image or embedded on top of another.
• Stay consistent across all social platforms by using the same logo design and color scheme.
• Test your social media logos on several devices and resolutions.
• Understand how each platform displays and uses your logo, including border style.
• Follow the graphics guidelines for each social media channel and adjust your logo accordingly.
• Ensure your logo is easy to see and recognize.
• Optimize your logo for smaller, mobile-friendly screens with contrasting colors.
• Avoid using a logo that grabs too much attention, as it will diminish your brand message.

Specific Social Media Kit Tips for Logos

You use social media to let your customers see and interact with your brand. A well-defined social media kit for your logo will go a long way towards building that community. However, to do that, your kit must define how your logo will look and interact with every social media channel your brand uses.

This means you may need a separate version of your logo for each platform. To help you out, we provided some design and valuable tips for the most popular social platforms below.

Facebook

Facebook requires that your logo be no smaller than 400 pixels (px) wide and 150px tall and upload as either a PNG or Jpeg file. You can upload larger logos, but they are very strict on the file format. If you store your logo in SVG or another format, you must convert it.

Twitter

Twitter requires all logos to be a 400-by-400 square pixel PNG or Jpeg image. The platform will display your logo with every post or “tweet,” which is limited to 240 characters. Therefore, you will want to ensure your logo looks correct when repeated multiple times on a single screen. 

Instagram

The Instagram photo and video sharing app can use your Facebook logo, but it is recommended that you use a separate file that is at least 110px by 110px but no larger than 180px by 180px. However, you must upload a jpeg file, as Instagram does not accept PNG.

LinkedIn

LinkedIn requires that your logo be no smaller than 300px by 300px. They also only accept PNG and Jpeg images. Otherwise, you can design your logo as you would for any other B2B channel.

YouTube

The video platform has no minimum size requirements but recommends that your channel logo be larger than an 800px by 800px square. Beyond that, YouTube accepts Jpeg, Gif, BMP, and PNG image files.

Pinterest

Pinterest has no size requirements but recommends keeping your logo as a 165px-by-165px square PNG or Jpeg image.

Conclusion

A well-established social media kit for your logo can ensure it correctly represents your brand through all your social media channels.

If you need help designing your logo for your social media efforts, Placeit can help you define the right social media kit that will keep your brand consistent while meeting the specific requirements of each platform.

With countless companies using logos to represent their brand, chances are that you have noticed or heard of various logos having hidden meanings. Logos with hidden meanings can attract customers, relay information, and build on a company’s mission statement. However, some logos may just be one word or a simple picture. Does every logo have a hidden meaning behind it?

Not every logo has a hidden meaning behind it, but that is not to suggest that hidden meanings are uncommon. Plenty of big-name brands include hidden meanings in their logos. Adding a hidden meaning to your logo can improve your company in several ways.

Continue reading to learn more about whether every logo has a hidden meaning behind it. While you can find logos that do not have hidden meanings, companies often use white space or add aspects to their logo to give it a hidden meaning. Sometimes, you might not even recognize the hidden meaning upon initial inspection.

Does Every Logo Have A Hidden Meaning Behind It?

As mentioned, not every logo has a hidden meaning behind it. Still, some of the most notable logos have hidden meanings. Including a hidden meaning in your logo is a great way to add layers to the mission of your company or organization. Hidden meanings within a logo create an entirely new aspect to the marketing strategy of your company.

Logos with hidden meanings are not only meant to draw attention to a picture. As you will learn shortly, adding a hidden meaning to your logo can be an effective way to improve your brand, send a message, and more. So, if hidden meanings within logos are so effective, why does every logo not have a hidden meaning?

Not every logo has a hidden meaning because the company might not see doing so as a practical approach. Sometimes, being straightforward might be the best option. A logo with a hidden meaning can be useful, but not to the extent that a logo without a hidden meaning is ineffective.

A logo is a visual representation of a company. It is not always necessary to add layers to your logo. If a company or organization prefers to keep its visual representation simple and to the point, it does not automatically mean that the company is void of creativity or a valuable mission statement. Frequently, logos reflect traditional values of a company that might not need to be displayed through a hidden meaning.

Why Do Logos Have Hidden Meanings?

Now that you understand that not every logo has a hidden meaning, you might be looking to learn more about why select logos do have layers. Hidden meanings behind logos can be an extremely advantageous attribute. A hidden meaning can tell customers what to expect from the company by simply drawing their attention away from the surface-level design of a logo.

Suppose a logo has a very well-hidden meaning within its logo. It might be difficult for people to recognize the hidden meaning. Upon realization of the hidden logo, you may feel differently about the company. In a way, knowing something unique about a company’s logo when others around you are not aware of it can be a company’s way of drawing you in. You may feel more connected and inclined to be a customer if you pick up on the hidden meaning of the logo.

Other times, it might not be so hard to notice a hidden meaning behind a logo. Logos can have double meanings that better exemplify the mission of a company. So, while the logo itself might be notable enough, a hidden meaning in the logo might represent a general idea of what the company does or symbolize its main goals and purposes.

Logos have hidden meanings because they aim to engage their customers. Your familiarity with a company might make you think of its logo. If the logo has a hidden meaning, your recollection of what that meaning is can be a reminder of both the company itself and what it stands for.

Companies Whose Logos Have Hidden Meanings

It can be helpful to see large-name companies whose logos have hidden meanings. Below are a few notable companies that utilize hidden meanings behind their logos:

Company	Where Is the Hidden Meaning?
Amazon	The arrow under “Amazon” points from A to Z, showing that Amazon offers a wide range of products. It also resembles a smile, ensuring customer care.
FedEx	In the white space between the “E” and “x” of the FedEx logo is an arrow, suggesting that FedEx works towards fast deliveries and consistently moving forward.
Tour de France	The “R” in the Tour de France logo is a cyclist, while the “O,” “U,” and sun act as the parts of a bicycle.
Beats by Dre	The famous “b” inside a circle in the Beats logo can be seen as a person – a.k.a. A customer – wearing headphones.
Cisco	The lines above “CISCO” in the Cisco logo are electromagnets representing the internet. They are also in the shape of the Golden Gate Bridge, a notable landmark in San Francisco, the city after which Cisco is named.

There are plenty of other companies that take advantage of adding a hidden meaning behind their logos. Next time you come across a logo, try figuring out if you can see a hidden meaning within. This might teach you something more about the logo and the company that it represents.

Should You Include A Hidden Meaning In Your Logo?

Adding a hidden meaning to your own logo can be a great way to include individuality in your design while also appealing to your clientele. If customers notice a hidden meaning in your logo, they may be more likely to remember your company.

You do not have to incorporate a hidden meaning into your logo, but doing so successfully could give you an advantage against the competition. Plus, it is a creative way to speak on the mission of your company.

Whether you choose to add a hidden meaning to your logo or not, you can accomplish all of your logo-creation endeavors through Placeit. Placeit allows you to create your logo with templates, examples, and individual designs to ensure that your logo reflects the professional aspects of your company, organization, or anything else.

Takeaway

Every logo does not have a hidden meaning, but those that do might have a better chance of attracting customers. Whether the meaning is deeply embedded within the logo or stands in plain sight, a hidden meaning can be very effective.

Professionalism in the workplace is highly valued. However, what it means can vary greatly from company to company, from generation to generation, and especially between professions. While many people from a variety of professions have tattoos, depending on where you work, you may have to keep them covered. In the art world, it is quite different and if you are a graphic designer, you may be wondering if you can have tattoos, visible or otherwise.

For the most part, a graphic designer having tattoos is not an issue with their employers. While many graphic designers choose not to get tattoos for personal reasons, in that industry, having tattoos is often seen as a good thing as it indicates creativity and innovation.   

While having tattoos may not keep you from getting or keeping a job in graphic design, you may choose not to have one. If you do choose to have one, there are going to be some things you need to be careful of when picking or creating a design. Read on to find out why some graphic designers do not want to get a tattoo and some things you should be aware of before getting a tattoo.

Why Do Some Graphic Designers Not Want Tattoos?

While many people who create art for a living have a tattoo or multiple tattoos, graphic designers can often be hesitant or downright opposed to getting a tattoo. There are a few common reasons for the reluctance. These are not a surprise as they are why all kinds of people will forego getting a tattoo and include such reasons as not wanting something permanent on their skin or not being able to choose a design that they can be sure they will always like.

However, there are other reasons for not getting a tattoo that seems to be pretty specific to graphic designers and includes

• The lines of the tattoo won’t be crisp. No matter how talented the tattoo artist is, drawing on the skin is much different from creating lines and designs with a computer. Skin twitches and moves when a person moves. Even the most experienced tattoo artists cannot have the same level of crispness that comes from a design made with a computer.
• Trust issues. It can be difficult when you have a specific idea of how you want your tattoo to look, but the tattoo artist may have a different style or not know how to get the exact typography or font that you like. Some people are very outspoken and may try to tell the tattoo art how the tattoo should look. This can, in turn, cause other issues.
• Tattoos fade over time. Tattoos often need to be touched up as the years go by because they will fade, blur, or smear with exposure to the sun and natural skin aging. For graphic designers who value crispness and attention to detail, this aspect and the upkeep can be a big reason not to bother getting a tattoo at all.

What Kind of Tattoos Are Appropriate for a Graphic Designer?

Even though many in the graphic design field choose not to get tattoos for the reasons listed above, many others have tattoos, love them, and consider them an important part of their self-expression and creativity.

While generally, the attitude towards tattoos in the graphic design field is relaxed or even encouraged, you should always be careful when you get one because you want to make sure that you choose something that does not inadvertently express something which will offend the people you work for or any of the customers you may be required to interact with. Some things to avoid tattooing include:

• Hate. This could be anything that portrays an attitude of sexism, racism, or discriminatory symbols. It is especially important to look into the history or meaning of any symbols you may be considering. You may think it is just a cool or artistic symbol, but it could be sending a message you do not want-for example that you enjoy drugs or that you are part of a gang.
• Obscene. What is obscene may vary from person to person, but to be safe it is best to avoid getting tattoos that depict gruesomeness, violence, nudity, or that are on more private areas of the body (like high on the leg or the lower back). If you like a tattoo but are not sure if it would be acceptable in a workplace environment, make sure that is in a place that is on a part of your body that can be easily and adequately covered.

The bottom line is that your tattoos are seen as a way of expressing who you are. As a graphic designer, you want to be sure that you express in your unique way what you enjoy or that is important to you and give a sense of your style. However, you also want to do it in such a way that does not cause any offense or harm to the people you are working with or will be working with in the future.

Conclusion

At one point in time, professionalism was a specific standard. However, as time has progressed more things are considered inconsequential to professionalism or may even be an indication of your professionalism. One aspect that has changed greatly has been whether or not it is okay to have visible tattoos in the workplace. While some companies and generations still hold to tradition, many other career fields are okay with and even embrace tattoos.

Also consider how most graphic design work can be done virtually nowadays. Whether that means working on Illustrator from home, or on Placeit from your smartphone, you may not need to physically go to the office anymore.

One such career field is graphic design, although many graphic designers choose not to have tattoos for a variety of personal reasons. For those graphic designers who do have tattoos, it is important to choose your tattoo carefully. The goal is to make sure that your tattoo gives an accurate portrayal of you and your creativity. Just as important, you do not want to inadvertently cause offense or hurt with anything obscene, offensive, or hateful.

Graphic design is an exciting career that will make the most of your interest in the creative arts; however, graphic design is by no means an easy job and you may find yourself wondering if professionals in this field work a lot of overtime. Especially if you are considering a career in this field, it is important to be realistic about the expectations associated with a job as a graphic designer.

In general, graphic designers can expect to work some overtime, especially if they have many clients and a lot of projects. The amount of overtime a graphic designer will have to work often depends on the environment they work in, the number of clients they have, and other factors.

Though working overtime is not always a bad thing, it can certainly complicate the idea of a good work-life balance. Keep reading to learn more about how much overtime graphic designers have to work, along with some general factors that can influence these numbers.

Do Graphic Designers Have to Work Overtime?

Choosing a career field can be daunting, and if you are considering going into graphic design, you will want to know the typical workload associated with this profession. Graphic designers can expect to work a full schedule with the occasional need for overtime hours.

The following sections will discuss some factors that impact just how much overtime a graphic designer has to work.

Type of Employment

Typically, graphic designers fall into three categories of employment, and each category will have different expectations for graphic design.

• Freelance: A freelance graphic designer works on a project basis, completing various design tasks for their clients. While a freelance designer has control over their schedule, they may also find that it can be difficult to balance client expectations. Especially at the start of their career, freelance designers may have to work plenty of overtime hours to make ends meet.
• Self-employed: A graphic designer may own their own company or firm. While this can be a good option for delegation or setting limits for client loads, having your own business can mean that a person will find themselves with lots of administrative tasks. Like freelancing, those just starting can expect to face a lot of work to cover their expenses.
• Working for a company: If you are employed by a company, your overtime workload will depend a lot on your employer. Some employers expect a lot from their graphic designers and will load them up with projects, while others honor a more respectable work-life balance.

If you are considering working as a graphic designer for a company, it is best to ask them what their expectations are for hours and overtime if you are concerned about maintaining a healthy work-life balance.

Type of Design

How much overtime you have to work may end up depending on the type of projects you are designing. If you work for a magazine, advertising agency, or any company that has tight deadlines and turnaround times, you may find that you are fitting in a lot of overtime hours when people are expecting you to produce content on a strict timeline. If you are concerned about overtime, it may be best to avoid these fields.

However, other graphic design companies may have projects with roomier deadlines and projects with long-term turnaround times. If this is the case, you will be less crunched to meet deadlines, but it is still important to practice good time management skills so that when a deadline approaches, you will not need to spend overtime hours to complete the project.

Stage in Your Career

Depending on your career stage, you may need to put in more hours to make ends meet. Especially if you are a freelancer, building your portfolio and reputation will take time. Managing this expectation of time investment can be easier if you remind yourself that you are doing this for your career growth.

Additionally, if the hours become unhealthy you can practice setting boundaries with clients or yourself to avoid undue stress.

Your Clients’ Expectations

A lot of the hours you work will come down to what your clients expect from you on each project. Demanding clients may set shorter deadlines and also require multiple edits from you. While this is an unavoidable step of the design process, you can be clear with clients about your limitations and strive to create a client base of people who will respect your work hours.

Do Graphic Designers Get Paid for Overtime?

Many people may not mind working overtime if their compensation reflects the added commitment. Fortunately, if you are employed by a company as a graphic designer, you are entitled to payment for any hours worked over 40 in the course of a workweek.

Keep in mind that this may not hold true if you are self-employed or a freelancer. Especially if you are a freelancer, you have a lot of different clients. This means that while you will likely not exceed over 40 hours with any one client, your total hours worked may run over this number.

To avoid working unpaid overtime, you can do the following:

1. Carefully note the hours you work and report overtime to your employer
2. Manage your client load as a freelancer so you do not end up working more than 40 cumulative hours each week
3. Hire additional staff or distribute tasks equally across employees if you are self-employed

These strategies can help you maintain a work-life balance while making sure you are justly paid for the hours you put in.

Conclusion

Life as a graphic designer can be very rewarding, but it can also be a lot of work. It is a common occurrence for graphic designers to put in overtime hours, though how often this happens will depend on a lot of factors such as clients, your experience, and the way that you are employed.

Fortunately, if you are employed by a company you can receive additional compensation for the overtime hours you put in. Additionally, you can use time-saving design tools like Placeit.net to make your life easier. Working smarter, not harder, is the best thing you can do for yourself to avoid working overtime.

Being an animator is a fun and exciting career in which you get to demonstrate your creative talents daily. Animation is one of the many career paths available to someone with a degree in graphic design and vice versa.

A degree is always an asset if you want to get ahead in business and as an animator. Yes, you can be an animator with a degree in graphic design. In some cases, no-degree is required to be an Animator or Graphic Designer, because your skills will always speak for themselves. However, having a Graphic Design Degree will always be a huge advantage in any creative career path.

Animation is a good career path for any creative artist. Graphic design is a valuable degree, but you can have any degree related to this specific field if you want to succeed. Reading below will help you learn more about what it takes to be an animator.

What Does an Animator Do?

An animator is an artist who sketches images to create a cartoon or some other form of animation. They can draw two-dimensional or three-dimensional art. Animators have artistic knowledge and talent, and they tend to have extraordinary drawing and sculpting skills.

Animators create these images for all different kinds of media. This image creation includes animations for movies, video games, and digital graphics. Animators often work among a creative team and focus on a specific role. Some of the essential skills an animator must possess include the following:

• Ability to problem solve
• Creating game art
• Good time management skills
• Meet deadlines
• Produce high-quality graphics
• Good storytelling skills
• Ability to work with software and editing tools
• Ability to work productively with a team or alone 

As an expert animator, you are expected to be open to change and creative ideas. Success depends on your skill level and work ethic.

Should you Have a Degree to Be an Animator?

It is recommended that animators have a college degree if they want to climb up the ladder in their chosen profession.

One of the career options when you become an animator, is graphic design. It is a related career path, and you will benefit from an education in graphic design if you want to become an animator.

Most employers want their employees to have the education to benefit them when working in this field. A bachelor’s degree in this area can help you sky-rocket to the top. If you want to go even further, a master’s degree can also be beneficial and worth the time and effort.

It is contingent on how far you want to go in your career. An animation degree usually involves a bachelor’s degree in the following areas:

• Computer animation
• Fine art
• Graphic art

The prominent role of an animator is to be creative and artistic. You will also need to know how to use the relevant computer software.

Learning and studying graphic design can prove helpful because it will get you ready for the creative atmosphere of animation and help improve your work ethic. Being efficient in drawing, sculpting, and painting is crucial to being a successful animator.

Many animators have education and jobs in cartooning or graphic design. You do not necessarily need a degree in graphic design to become an animator, but it will help you be more competitive.

Any degree related to animation that requires artistic talent will benefit you and how far you will go in your career. So hit the books!

How to Become an Animator

You need a certain amount of education to succeed as an animator. You may also want to consider additional training upon graduation. The following are steps you need to take if you are serious about becoming an animator:

Get an Education in the Field

A bachelor’s degree in animation helps students improve their art skills and teaches them how to use the appropriate technology to work in the field. There are a plethora of specialties in this field. Some of these include:

• Gaming
• Visual effects
• Special effects
• Animation for websites
• Animation for movies
• 2-D and 3-D animation

Make sure you select suitable courses for you. You need to choose the courses that best suit the specialty you are interested in.

Get Valuable Work Experience

Many employers want their animators to have some work experience. Undergraduates who are achieving an education in the field can serve an internship as part of their graduation requirements. There are also many freelance jobs or volunteer jobs you can try.

Create a Portfolio

If you want to demonstrate your abilities, create a portfolio. It should include recent work samples. Artists can modify their demo reel to suit the position for which they are applying.

Many employers ask their potential candidates to submit a DVD or link to a website with the portfolio and a demo reel. Generate something that stands out from the competition.    

Graduate Training

This training is an option for serious students. Some solid programs can help you expand your storytelling abilities, and learning more about computer animation will expand your knowledge.

Through lectures and other meetings, learning more will help you network with top-notch animators in the film and game design industries. Once you have completed your education, you can apply for jobs. Who knows? You may even land your dream job.

Below is a chart with different companies and what their average salaries are:  

COMPANY	AVERAGE BASE SALARY	AVERAGE BONUS & STOCK	AVERAGE TOP SALARY
Pixar	$57,000	$20,000	$77,000
Disney	$83,046	N/A	$125,000
In The US	$54,743	N/A	$80,311
ZipRecruiter	$62,591	N/A	$92,000
Electronic Arts	$80,814	N/A	N/A

Most companies start with a base salary, adding insurance as part of the package. Pixar gives you a good deal, as there are bonuses and stock options. The other options in the chart did not provide as much information; however, as you can see, it pays to be an animator!

Conclusion

You may not need a degree in graphic design to be an animator, but any degree related to the field will surely catch the eye of a potential employer. The key to being a successful animator is to have a good work ethic and get a quality education.

If you’re here, you’re probably thinking about going into graphic design as a profession. As an introvert, you may find it difficult to function in certain workplace settings. However, introverts have a lot to offer today’s businesses, particularly in fields like graphic design.

Graphic design allows introverts to use their personality traits and creative skills to tell a story that fits a brand’s message and make people feel something. While some interaction with other people is necessary, much of this job is done alone, including making everything from logos and websites to digital illustrations and infographics, making graphic design a great job for introverts.

Introverts are well-suited to a wide range of creative jobs. The reason for this is that they offer them the flexibility to focus on their talents and do not ask them to cope with large crowds or public speeches. For those who are interested in learning more about why and how introverts are ideal graphic designers, keep reading!

Can Introverts Be Good Graphic Designers?

Graphic designers are artists who combine their skills with technology to tell a story that fits a brand’s message while evoking emotion and action. You can typically find them working on projects for advertising and media companies. They also work with print agencies, software developers, and web designers or on their own, working from home.

In general, introverts get more energy from time alone than from time with other people, and they tend to pay more attention to their thoughts and feelings than to what other people are doing and where they are. 

If you’re more of an introvert, you might be better at jobs that require more one-on-one interactions rather than jobs where you have to face a lot of people at once. Those are the kinds of roles introverts tend to thrive in. They also want to be able to work independently on one thing at a time and not be swamped with work or too many ongoing collaborations. 

Because of the many different places graphic designers can work, this career choice is great for introverts who have an eye for design and a flair for art. To figure out the initial idea of a project, designers often meet with the marketing team or their clients. They then take their skills to a quieter place, designing graphics, layouts, and concepts, deciding the size of illustrative material, making edits, and creating prototypes.

With platforms like Placeit.net that provide branding and market tools that anyone can use, much of the work of a graphic designer can be done without any collaboration at all. This is even better for those who really prefer to work alone.

Why Introverts Thrive in Graphic Design

Many jobs in the arts and in marketing are good for introverts. That’s because they let them use their strengths and don’t make them spend too much energy on public presentations or crowds of people. They are also one of the best at-home jobs for introverts who want to work from home all over the world.

When you work in a creative field, such as graphic design, not only could you thrive, but you could be an asset to the business client as well. Here are some of the main reasons introverts work well in graphic design careers.

Introverts Work Better When Working Alone

Not all jobs in the digital marketing and technology field require a lot of collaboration with other people. After the initial planning process, much of the work in graphic design is done alone, and there isn’t a lot of collaboration or input from other people.

This is where introverts really come to life. Introverts aren’t typically put off by long stretches of time working alone. Quite the opposite, in fact. Research shows that introverts have better moods and more energy when they spend a lot of time alone.

Not only that, introverts tend to be more introspective in their thought process, giving them the ability to shut out the world around them while they work. This means they can more easily come up with possible solutions to important problems, share their ideas, and make well-thought-out decisions. Because of this, they can be better graphic designers by being an asset to their team or client while also working on their own.

Introverts Have an Innate Ability of Listening

Introverts are known for processing information internally compared to their more social counterparts. They tend to be more alert to new information, and they also tend to spend more mental energy by analyzing that information deeply and thoughtfully. Because of that, they take as long as they need before they share their thoughts with other people.

As a graphic designer, you need to be a good listener so you can figure out what the design team and the client want. This works out for introverts because they are typically good at listening to other people’s problems. This helps them figure out a better way to look at the project and determine a visual direction that works.

Committed Focus and Attention to Detail are a Must

Like we mentioned earlier, introverts are naturally observant people. As a result, they are unlikely to miss any detail. This is especially crucial in graphic design since they won’t be scrambling to make up for something that was missed previously. 

Introverts have a keen eye for detail, but they also tend to see the broader picture. They tend to gather and analyze data and then use that information to make sense of it. This is a skill that is a must in graphic design, as it helps you gain an understanding of customer behavior and find solutions that meet their demands most effectively.

Final Thoughts

These are just a few of the reasons graphic design would make a good career for introverts. If you’re an introvert with an eye for the arts who enjoys working alone on meaningful projects, it’s worth a shot.

A career in graphic design, rather than a more traditional career path, gives you the opportunity to work on your own terms—especially if you’re working for yourself.

And remember, there are plenty of tools and resources out there that can make completing design projects a breeze.

If you’re thinking about a career in graphic design, you might be wondering if getting a degree is worth the investment. After all, the traditional education route is definitely not the only way to a successful career. 

Graphic Design Degrees are usually graduate and postgraduate degrees that are given by schools that specialize in visual media, visual communication, design theory, and typography. If graphic design is your passion, getting a Graphic Design Degree is definitely worth it because there is plenty of money to be made in the industry, and a degree may be required for higher salary jobs.

Graphic design is a diverse discipline that can suit a variety of personalities and skill levels. While schooling may be helpful for some, this isn’t always the case. Good news! We’ve got all of the information below, that you’ll need to make an informed decision about majoring in graphic design.

What Does a Graphic Designer Do?

Graphic design is a wide field that includes things like visual media, visual communication, design theory, and typography. It has been around for a long time, though today, we often think of graphic design as something that happens with new media, like websites, mobile apps, and interactive animation and motion graphics.

Students who study graphic design have a lot of different job options. In general, graphic designers do the following:

• Meet with clients or the marketing team to determine the scope of a project
• Create visual elements like logos and illustrations that can be used to help people understand the brand message
• Communicate ideas through images and the layout of websites and printed pages
• Stay up to date with software and computer technology so that you can stay competitive

Graphic design is essential for marketing and selling items, and it is a key of component branding. As a result, graphic designers often collaborate with those in advertising and promotion, public relations, and marketing.

Job Outlook for Graphic Design

From 2020 to 2030, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicts that the number of graphic designers will grow by 3%.  Even though that number doesn’t seem very high, as more and more businesses go online, they may need graphic designers to help them make their websites look good and work well.

There also are expected to be about 23,900 jobs for graphic designers each year over the next decade. Most of the job openings are expected to come from people who change jobs or leave the labor force, like when they retire.

Do You Need a Degree to Be A Graphic Designer?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Graphic designers usually need a bachelor’s degree in graphic design or a related field. Not only will majoring in graphic design sets you up with an extensive portfolio, but you’ll learn from professors that are usually still active in the industry.

For some areas of graphic design, getting a degree is the best way to get into the field. Many programs focus on things like motion graphics, animation, design theory, project management, portfolio development, and so on. These things could be learned on your own, but it’s much easier and much more effective to get them from someone who knows what they’re talking about.

Still, graphic design is a broad field with many different skillsets, and it isn’t necessarily essential to have a college degree to begin a successful career in graphic design.

Because of the ease of today’s technology, many can get started in graphic design without any formal education at all. High-quality branding and marketing tools let anyone from a small business to a large corporation make amazing visual assets for their brand, even if they don’t have any technical or artistic skills. As long as you have the skills and experience, you can look into a lot of different jobs in graphic design without having to spend a lot of time in school.

Is Majoring in Graphic Design Worth It?

Though technology and design software make it possible for anyone to jump into design without any experience, if you are serious about a career as a graphic designer, then a degree in graphic design is a solid investment. Here are some of the key reasons why you may want to consider majoring in graphic design.

A Degree Could Be the Deciding Factor in Landing a Job

One advantage of majoring in graphic design is that it helps you stand out among the competition. Many businesses state that if they had to select between two talented designers, they would choose the degree holder over someone who is self-taught.  This is because employers feel that candidates who have a college degree are more job-ready than those who do not.

While anybody can learn the fundamentals of design software, a degree demonstrates to an employer that you’re serious enough about your personal growth to invest in it. Having a degree on your resume displays your self-worth and dedication to growing as a professional.

It Helps to Build Your Portfolio

Landing a job in graphic design is all about the portfolio. Employers and clients want to know your skills and style, and they want to see proof that you can do what you say you can.  

As a graphic design student, you get the chance to create portfolio pieces with an experienced industry professional. It is possible to build a portfolio on your own. However, many companies will not even look at your portfolio if you do not have a degree indicated on your resume.

Final Thoughts

As you can see, there are several compelling reasons to get a degree in graphic design, with the most important being that it gives you credibility and experience in the design world. While a degree isn’t always required, you should absolutely take your time and thoroughly weigh all of the advantages and drawbacks of a graphic designer job so that you can make an informed choice about your education.

If you want to try your hand at graphic design before committing to a lengthy program, Placeit.net provides high-quality branding and marketing tools that allow anybody, regardless of technical or creative abilities, to create professional level designs.

Adobe is a highly recommended software that has been around for quite some time. They have a few competitors, but no one seems to match up to the superior software. The Adobe Creative Cloud also comes with a large collection of different apps that can cover anything your imagination wants to create.

Adobe Creative Cloud is expensive because of everything the software has to offer. It is a collection of over twenty apps for:

• Photography
• Video
• Design
• Web
• UX
• Social Media

There is also have a wide range of color palettes and fonts. It is expensive because it has everything you will need.

It does not matter if you are a professional or just dipping your toes into the water of creativity, Adobe has an app for you. The cost can seem a little off-putting as it is quite expensive to use the software. Read on to find out the top reasons why it is not only expensive but why it could be a good choice for you.

Adobe Creative Cloud Is Packed With More Than Enough Apps

From photographers needing to touch up images to book illustrators, Adobe Creative Cloud has an app for everything you could imagine. This is the biggest reason behind the software being so expensive you are not only getting a photoshop app, but you are also getting everything.

Let’s look at the apps that are included with Adobe Creative Cloud and what you can use them for.

Photoshop Apps

Five main apps can be used for photoshop when using Adobe Creative Cloud. There are basic to more advanced apps that can be used for all of your photoshop needs.

• Photoshop – The basics app
• Photoshop Camera – Take and share photos
• Photoshop Express – Edit your photos from anywhere on the go
• Photoshop Lightroom – Can be used on any device
• Photoshop Lightroom Classic – The app created for a desktop

These apps are perfect for making the most out of your pictured. Whether you are editing pictures for a wedding or an inspiring artist. You will be able to create the perfect images.

Graphic Design and Illustration Apps

These apps are perfect for those wanting to create an image from nothing. There are added features to help those that are new to drawing or just need a little extra help.

• Acrobat DC
• Adobe Fonts
• Adobe Fresco
• Adobe Stock
• Capture
• Illustrator
• InCopy
• InDesign

You could illustrate a children’s book or create a great magazine cover. The options are endless.

Video Apps

If you are wanting to bring a story to life or create animations with these easy-to-use apps.

• After Effects
• Animate
• Audition
• Character Animator
• Media Encoder
• Premier Rush
• Premiere Pro

Whether it is a 2d animation or audio added to the video these apps will help create a great visual. Many of the photoshop apps can be used for illustration, social media creating videos, etc. This list is just a simple overview of all of the apps included in the Adobe Creative Cloud package.

Plans For Everyone – Discounts for Students and Teachers

Cost is a huge factor for those wanting to use new software. Adobe Creative Cloud is quite expensive but thankfully they do have different plans to pick and choose from. If you are only needing a few of their apps to use illustration you can only pay for those apps.

It is less expensive to buy the whole bundle though if you plan to use a few apps. Individual apps and those that come in packs of two or three are roughly $10 a month. The whole bundle of Adobe will set you back almost $60 a month.

There is one great thing about this software if you are a student or teacher the whole bundle will only cost $20 a month for the first year. You can also choose to pay early, pay yearly, or promo codes. All of which will change the overall cost.

Ability To Work Anywhere – Mobile, iPad, Desktop

Another great feature that sets Adobe Creative Cloud above and beyond others is the ability to take it anywhere. Almost all of the apps can be used on a desktop, tablet, and even your phone. Whenever you get the creative bug, you can get to work.

You are also able to work on your tablet, save that work, and pick up where you left off on a different device. There are a few apps that are only for a particular device but for the most part you can go back and forth seamlessly.

Adobes Included Apps Are Very User Friendly

Adobe Creative Cloud may seem very intimidating when looking into the whole bundle of apps. Thankfully the apps are extremely user-friendly. You will be walked step by step on set up. You will also be able to watch hundreds of helpful videos online.

Other than being very user-friendly there is also a great feature called crash recovery. For those that may accidentally turn off their device, the battery dies, or the app fails. It takes a lot of work to create works of art so knowing you are protected can ease your mind.

Easily Collaborate With Adobe Creative Cloud Libraries

Adobe Creative Cloud has a large online library filled with work from users around the world. Here you can meet new people, view their work, and showcase your own. This can open you up to new ideas or give you the chance to collab with someone to create a work of art.

If you are good at one side of a project you can find someone who can pick up where you left off and bring your project to life. This will help you become better at your craft and not leave you stuck on a certain project. If you sell your work this will also mean more money.

Adobe Creative Cloud Is Worth The Higher Cost

For someone who wants to use an app every once in a while, the bundle would not be worth it to you. If you are one of the many that would use the apps in the bundle daily it will be a great idea and worth the higher cost. The apps are top of the line, and you get a lot of the money.

For those of you looking for a more beginner friendly tool for graphic design, Placeit.net is a highly recommended option. You can create designs from pre-made templates, making it a lot easier to create professional designs.

A transparent PNG can be an incredibly useful tool for any business or individual. Logo PNGs with no background can be placed on promotional graphics and products without having to worry about unsightly borders. If you’ve ever dabbled in graphic design, you’ve probably asked, “Why is my PNG not transparent?” too many times.

PNGs can lose their transparency in a number of ways, from being read incorrectly in a browser, to compression, to incompatible conversions. There are a few solutions you can use for each scenario to retain the transparency of an image.

Here are the four reasons why your PNG files aren’t transparent.

1. Browser PNG Transparency Issues

Some browsers, such as Chrome or Firefox, have issues reading transparency in PNG files if they’re not tagged correctly in the image optimization exclusion list. Your browser may read the image as AVIF, a newer optimized format for browsers that reduces file size. Unfortunately, reading the file in this way loses details and transparency in compression.

The easiest way to solve this is by adding “.png” to your comma-separated exclusion list. This should allow the browser to read the full PNG without compressing it, so the transparency will transfer to the final image. Be aware that allowing your browser to read an image as a PNG may cause loading speed issues. PNGs are larger files, and may take time to load in or may not load at all.

These issues may also be caused by other settings, and will vary from browser to browser. To see whether a particular image will load correctly in your chosen browser, you can look up a PNG transparency test. These tests include a selection of PNG images with different settings, including bit size (from 8 to 64) and transparency modes (more on that below).

Simply open the test in your browser and find the image with matching settings to the PNG you wish to upload. This will show you how it will look. From there, you can see which settings look best on a particular browser and adjust your image accordingly.

2. Compression Loses PNG Transparency                                                   

As mentioned, compression can cause a loss of transparency with PNG images. If a PNG is compressed enough, the details of the image will be lost, and it may appear to have a black background that cannot be easily removed.

The solution to this would be to use a specifically transparent-friendly compression software that will bring the compression along to the smaller file size. You’ll also want to make sure that your image remains a PNG, as JPGs don’t often support transparency at any size.

You may also choose to make your image smaller from the beginning. Be aware, though, that this will mean the PNG retains less detail overall and may appear blurry or pixelated when shown on larger screens.

3. Conversion to JPG Loses Transparency

JPG is a significantly smaller file size than a PNG. If done correctly, you can convert a PNG image to a JPG file without losing quality up to a certain size. Unfortunately, there are some things you simply can’t transfer to a JPG, and transparency is one of them. Transparent backgrounds are not supported at all in JPG images.

Some websites may require JPG files instead of PNGs and may convert your image automatically. This means that the transparency of the background on your image will be lost in translation from one format to the next.

There’s no easy way to prevent this with uploads. However, if you’re using an editor, you can simply check to make sure your image is exporting in PNG format rather than being converted upon saving. Unfortunately, transferring an image back into a PNG format will usually mean having to redo the background’s transparency.

4. Using Alpha Channel Transparency Instead of Indexed Mode Transparency

There are different ways to make a PNG image transparent. Some PNGs use alpha channels to determine color; this means that a percentage of opacity is assigned to a certain layer of color from 100% (totally opaque) to 0% (totally transparent). Setting the background of a PNG image to 0% in the alpha channel causes it to become transparent.

Unfortunately, some browsers do not read alpha channel PNGs correctly. Instead of being transparent, a 0% background will be read as black, and the image will lose its transparency. In order to maintain it, the PNG can be converted to indexed mode coloration. This means that the colors are managed by a background code system that saves the computer memory and makes the file size smaller.

To convert an image to indexed mode, you can use an editing software. Most programs will have an option to select the color-coding method or mode for your image before it’s exported, giving you more control over the color arrangement and retention. For example, if using GIMP, you can select “Image,” then go to “Mode” and select “Indexed.”

How Placeit Can Help

Online graphic design tools are becoming more common, and Placeit is one of the best.

Placeit has three goals – make it easy, make it repeatable, and make it affordable.

Placeit allows you to click “Background Color” and then “Transparent” to remove the background of your design in a single click.

They have over 90,000+ pre-made templates to customize, and you can download them straight to your computer.

Hopefully this article helps you create, and use, your PNGs with a transparent background.