Hardware And Software – Graphic Design
Hardware- Graphics Card
A graphics card (also known as video card) is a vital internal component of a personal computer (PC). The graphics card is vital for more than just gaming, it displays visual images in forms of pixels. It is integrated into the motherboard and can be effectively used 3D modelling, video editing. Types of Graphic Cards-There are two types of graphics cards. Integrated graphic cards are utilised in the vast majority of laptops and in a small minority of pre-built PCs. Discrete graphic cards are a more popular option for those who play games, edit and render videos. Dedicated graphic cards contain more power but for an additional cost.
Integrated
A graphics unit that is prebuilt into the motherboard. These types of cards can be found in most laptops and some Personal Computers (PC). Graphics Card that are built into laptops cannot be easily replaced or upgraded. Whereas PCs with an integrated graphics card can be changed by adding the new graphic unit, downloading NVIDIA drivers and selecting your new card. Integrated graphics is suitable choice for users that browse the internet, stream movies or create documents.
Discrete
An ‘extra’ component that can be added into your PC. This is a popular choice for those who play games, edit/render videos as it speeds up the image processing time. For example, a user would be a graphic designer or video editor. There are many companies that develop and create new Graphics Card. Two main popular brands that constructs graphic units are NVidia and AMD. Graphics Card widely used by streamers, video editors and graphic designers are the Nvidia GTX 1080ti and the AMD Rx Vega 56/64. Both these products are mid to high range in terms of pricing. Nvidia constructs its Graphics Card with ‘Cuda’ cores whereas AMD uses ‘Stream’ cores. Cuda and Stream cores are very similar carry are created to carry out the same task. They both handle the data transfer between the graphics card, furthermore the transfer of data can rely on the number of cores.
The difference between the two brands is that Nvidia utilises bigger, more complex cores and runs on a higher frequency. AMD using less advanced ‘cores’ and technology means that the price of the graphic cards they offer are generally cheaper than it’s rivalry, NVIDIA. But this also means that Nvidia in terms the performance and the technology of their graphic cards has no competition which allows them to obtain a higher profit. This allows them to construct new and advanced Graphics Card than their previous series. Unfortunately for AMD due to reduced sales, the budget they have to improve their Graphics Card is less which ultimately means their research will be limited. A graphic designer would prefer to work with a PC build that contains a discrete graphic unit. To work efficiently they would require a suitable GPU to speed up image processing and rendering time. Cuda cores allow NVIDIA to process, render and create videos/images efficiently as they are more advanced. The most suitable GPU to purchase would be the NIVIDIA Series. This is because although AMD is more cost effective the focus of their graphic cards is to ensure players get the best gaming experience. Therefore, AMD may struggle some areas such as video rendering.
Central Processing Unit (CPU)
A CPU is the main powerhouse of the computer. The CPU calculates and carries out basic information which are passed on from the operating system. The CPU you have would determine factors such as how many browsers you are able to have open without hindering the performance, the speed at which videos can be rendered and how efficiently software such as Photoshop, premiere pro and many others can run. There are two main distributers of processors, Intel and AMD. There are many generations of processors made by both the companies. For example, high-end processors would include the ‘i9’ series for intel whereas AMD has the ‘Ryzen Threadrippper’ series to compete. Mid-range processors would include the ‘i5’, ‘i7’series or the AMD Ryzen 5 / 7 series.
In terms of integrated CPUs AMD is the popular choice. This is due to the ‘Vega’ graphics technology that is used in its hardware. However, if a separate CPU can be utilised Intel would be a more well-balanced choice due to the higher base and boosted clock speeds their CPUs can handle. Yet, AMD is better equipped to tackle multi-tasking due to their higher core and thread count. When it comes to graphic design Intel would be the most suited choice. Intel focuses its performance in all areas. AMD, in terms of gaming would produce the same results but in other aspects the performance when compared to Intel is still not comparable. If the user is prepared to expend the budget it would be advisable to buy an Intel product due to its versatility and performance in editing and rendering software.
Mouse
A mouse is an example of a hand-operated input device. It is mainly used for the convenience of moving around and the manipulation of objects on the computer screen. The mouse detects the movement and sends information to the computer in order for it to carry out its actions. Mice come in many different formats such as laser pointed, trackball, and a mechanical mouse. For example, there are, Gstick, wireless, optical, trackball and mechanical mice. Wireless Mice work without a wire or a cord. Most wireless mice use radiofrequency technology to communicate with the PC. They can be either activated with batteries or charging beforehand. A Gstick mouse is used to create a more authentic and natural feel as a mouse. These mice are also wireless and aesthetically look like a pencil. It works just like a traditional mouse does but its purpose is directed towards more creative persons. For example, a graphic designer may use this as they need to create and draw illustrations. It is more accurate than a traditional mouse when it comes to drawing. An optical mouse is a simple device that uses ‘digital signal processing’, ‘an optical sensor’ and a ‘LED’.
The movement is detected by the changes sensed in the reflected light. Most surfaces will be able to reflect light; for example, a table. Other surfaces such as unfrosted glass will not be a viable choice, as light is poorly reflected causing it to not function as it should. Trackball mice are quite unique in terms of its design. It contains a ball which when rotated can detect movement causing it to respond. It can be controlled by the palm of the hand, the thumb or fingers. A common use of this mouse is for CAD workstations. Mechanical mice are integrated with a rubber ball in the base of the device. The mouse detects movement and moves the cursor as the user spins the ball in any direction. This type of mouse is not as popular as its successors. A Gstick or a wireless optical mouse would be the most suitable choice for a graphics designer. A wireless optical mouse would remove the hassle of having a wire, therefore it allows more freedom when moving around. A Gstick would also be a viable choice for those who prefer to use a mouse that’s designed to look aesthetically like a stylus, using this ‘mouse’ it would make software like Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator very convenient to move around, edit and illustrate on.
Graphics Tablet
A Graphics tablet is a hardware input device that allows users to draw digitally with a special stylus. The Graphic tablet is a canvas that allows what is drawn on it to be projected onto a computer. When it comes to graphics tablets, ‘WACOM’ is a very popular choice among professional artists and graphic designers. WACOM has a variety of graphic tablets and some even have a built in Windows Operating System. For example, an affordable tablet is the ‘WACOM Intuos CTL-4100WLE-N Small Graphics Tablet’, it retails at £89. 99 from Currys PC World. However, there are also other options such as the ‘iPad Pro’ and ‘The Surface Pro 4’ (by Microsoft). The ‘WACOM Intuos CTL-4100WLE-N Small Graphics Tablet’ is perfect for beginners. This graphics tablet can be very useful for a graphics designer, the price is affordable, it is very lightweight weighing at 230g and has Bluetooth connectivity which means that it is portable.
A disadvantage of this is that it dimensions (6. 0 x 3. 7 inches) could be a little small. If you have a bigger budget you could purchase the ‘medium’ size. The iPad Pro is very versatile, it can be used for illustrating and graphics design. There are 2 sizes available a ’10. 5’ and ‘12. 9’ inch display. The screen resolution is a very respectable 2,224 x 1,668 at 264 pixels per inch (ppi), has 120 mHZ refresh rate and has its own processor and OS system. However, the price can be a little steep on Amazon as it retails at £552. 00. The Surface Pro 4 is amazing for sketching and graphic design, it has a dual form factor which means you can use it as a laptop or tablet. It comes with a 12. 3-inch screen, weighs around 770g and has a screen resolution of 2736 x 1824 at 267 ppi. As it’s a Surface Pro it comes with an OS, processor and graphics card. This gives it extra power and longer battery hours than its competitors.
However, these specifications add to the value for a total of £605. 00. If only a tablet was purely needed the ‘WACOM’ products would be recommended. As its considerably cheaper as it would benefit beginners with a small budget. Unfortunately, most of these products do not come with an OS and acts as an external piece of hardware. If there was as bigger budget and the user didn’t have a PC at all The Surface Pro would be highly recommended. Its dual form factor is advantageous as it can be used as a laptop or tablet which makes it more versatile. There is a built-in processor and graphics card that is specially suited for graphic design, furthermore its very lightweight which means its portable. this could also be suitable if you had to work outside of an office or home.
Software- Adobe Photoshop
Adobe Photoshop is a software that is used to create digital art by rasterizing images. It’s an editing system that is layer-based and enables the user to create and alter images. Photoshop has unlimited uses for example: photo editing, website design, graphics creation and project layout. Adobe Photoshop is used by photographers, video editor, graphic designers and artists. The software is available for use only by purchasing the product on the Adobe website. Adobe Photoshop as a ‘single app’ will cost around £19. 97 on a monthly contract, this also gives access to a 100GB of cloud storage, premium fonts, social media tools and your own portfolio website. Cloud storage allows the user to continue his work anywhere on any system. This function is especially useful for graphic designers work from home. It also comes with your own ‘portfolio website’, as a graphics designer its important to have a portfolio so that other can see your work and potentially hire you.
Adobe Illustrator
Adobe Illustrator is very similar to Adobe Photoshop; however, Adobe illustrator is a software that works on vector images whereas Adobe photoshop works on raster images. This software is mainly used to create your own graphics work. Adobe Illustrator is used to create mainly logos or images that are printed into a product. It is a product that allows the user to explore their creative side and produce finished illustrations. Mathematical constructs are used to create vector graphics. Adobe photoshop is a pixel-based program. This means that scaling images or fonts lose its quality the more they are stretched. However, in illustrator as it uses vector graphics, the images or fonts when stretched will not lose its quality. This means that illustrator will give you a better finished product as its not resolution dependent. Both these products are favourable and useful for a graphics designer. Adobe illustrator gives the user the opportunity to create and produce their own unique ideas. Adobe Illustrator is more of an editing software, as it allows you easily modify pre-made images or graphics.
