create this layout!

Posted on April 2, 2018October 5, 2021 by graphicsgrrrl@gmail.com

create this layout!

graphics grrrl

In this video, I show you how to create this cool layout in Illustrator and Photoshop that you can use for a direct mail postcard, flyer or magazine layout!

Watch my step-by-step video below and be sure to grab the FREE practice template which includes the layered Illustrator file with all the art elements– including the high-resolution image here:

FREE design template download!

Photoshop makes quick work of resizing and color correcting your images!
Get a FREE 30-day trial of Photoshop here.

Illustrator creates scalable vector artwork and can be used for 1- or 2- page layouts!
Get a FREE 30-day trial of Illustrator here.

While you create this cool layout along with me, you’ll learn: where to find good stock art for your projects, how to resize an image in Photoshop, the correct way to set up your file for professional printing, how to use the pen tool to create unique shapes, how to mask out a photo to put it in that unique shape, and how to use the pathfinder tool to divide shapes– just to name a few topics!

Creating this impactful design, you’ll learn:

where to find good stock art for your design projects
which file format and color mode images should be for print projects
how to resize images in Photoshop
how to set up your project’s folder structure
when to use InDesign vs. Illustrator
how to import this high-resolution image into an Illustrator layout
how to break down the components of good design in order to duplicate them!
the difference between linking vs. embedding images
how to create a bleed to set up your file correctly for professional printing
how to save your layout out as a pdf
how to arrange artwork in layers
how to align artwork to be centered on your artboard
how to create basic shapes with the shape tool
how to use the pen tool to create unique shapes
how to show your rulers and pull down guides
what the minimum amount to bleed images off your artboard is for professional print setup!
how to set solid leading
how to use shortcuts to save time
how to use negative space to balance art elements in layouts
how to use the pathfinder tool to divide shapes to create a unique shape
the difference between the direct select tool and the select tool
how to change the stroke and fill color of a shape
how to mask a photo
how to move a photo while it’s still masked!
how to put registration marks and color bars in your printer pdf
how to save these colors to your swatches panel to reuse over and over!
how to sample out colors from a placed raster image in order to colorize your vector artwork

For best results, I encourage you to watch the video once and then watch it again, this time pausing it wherever you need in order to follow along!

Click to tweet:

create a portfolio-worthy layout: step-by-step in this video!

~graphics grrrl

I use a subscription-based stock art agency, iStock, because it allows me 25 downloads a day vs. paying per image. This is what works best for me since I work on a variety of projects for many clients. You may have different needs and can opt just to download what YOU need! I really like that istock has a streamlined search to find work by the same photographer or find similar images—a great time saver!

I highly recommend iStock! They also offer free weekly downloads when you join iStock with my affiliate link!

Watch my step-by-step video below and be sure to grab the FREE practice template which includes the layered Illustrator file with all the art elements–
including the high-resolution image here: