Unit
2 P4
Hardware
The
most important piece of hardware for creating graphics images is a graphics
card, which is the piece of equipment that renders out all images and sends
them to a display. However these can be very expensive.
A
monitor is a vital piece hardware, it provides an electronic visual display for
computers. When creating graphic images the images you are creating can be seen
on the monitor screen. If you did not have a monitor, the designs you create on
a graphics tablet will not be displayed on a screen to visualize. Samsung
U28D590DS - 28" TN LED-back lit LCD monitor
You
will need a keyboard in order to type up words that you would like to create a
graphics image with, and these words can be seen on the monitor screen. If your
graphics designs include words, you will need a keyboard. Logitech Wireless
Solar Keyboard K750 Wireless Keyboard - wireless - English - US
A
mouse is a very important piece of hardware. It allows you to move around the
monitor screen and provides you with the ability to open software programs with
just a click of the mouse. Logitech Proteus Core G502 - 11-btn Mouse - Wired -
USB
Hardware
input
A
digital camera would be ideal when creating graphic images, you can take photos
with the camera and sync them to your computer and use the image to create a
graphics image. You can edit the photos, use them in designs etc. Canon Power
Shot G16 Digital Camera - Black
A
graphics tablet enables a user to hand-draw images, animations and graphics on
the tablet, this would be ideal for creating graphic images because it allows
you to draw them as if putting pencil to paper, and the image that you draw is
then displayed on the computer monitor screen. Wacom Cintiq 13HD - 4-btn
Digitizer, stylus - Wired - USB
Scanners
can be utilized when creating graphic images, you can place an image on a piece
of paper onto the scanner, and the image will be scanned, read and copied. The
image from the paper will them be displayed onto the monitor screen ready for
you to use when creating a graphics image. Fujitsu Scan Snap iX500 - 600 dpi x
600 dpi - Document scanner
Hardware
output
Printers
allow you to have a hard copy of the graphics images you have designed on your
computer, they will copy the exact image you see on the monitor screen onto an
actual piece of paper. This is useful as it means you do not have to log onto a
computer and load up the graphics image to show someone, you can hand them your
hard copy that you have printed instead. HP LaserJet Pro M1132 MFP Monochrome
Laser - Printer / copier / scanner
Projectors
can allow you to produce a larger image that renders what you visualize on your
computer screen, which can allow you to present to an audience to describe and
explain the graphics image you have created. Optoma H180X WXGA (1280 x 800) DLP
projector - 3000 ANSI lumens
Vinyl
cutters allow you to control the machine via the computer; the computer
dictates the movement of a sharp blade. which cuts out images from a piece of
material. If you are making signs, banners etc a vinyl cutter is vital.
Computer designed vector files with patterns and letters are directly cut on
the roll of vinyl. Vinyl cutters are mainly used when making signs, banners and
advertisements. Advertisements seen on the side of vans, Lorries etc. Summa
SummaCut-R D60FX 24" Vinyl Cutter
File
storage devices are the data storage devices that are used in the computers to
store the data. Without them the digital data you have on your computer
wouldn't be saved, unless you had a memory stick. This is essential when
creating graphics images because the image you are creating cannot be saved to
the computer without storage devices. "File Transporter by Connected Data
Private ""Off-Cloud"" Storage Device"
Software
Photoshop
is very useful when creating graphic images because it allows you to edit
images exactly how you desire. You can also use images loaded from the internet
and upload them to Photoshop and use the image to merge into your graphics
image. Adobe Photoshop CS6 - PC -
DVD-ROM - EU English
Adobe
illustrator is a vector graphics editor that can be installed onto a computer
system to aid the creation of graphics images. It provides a more efficient way
to design graphics images. Adobe Illustrator CS6 - PC - DVD-ROM - EU English
Serif
is a great software available to download, it allows you to precisely draw
graphic images, use painting techniques, and easy to use graphic tools for
making logos, graphic images etc. Serif Draw Plus X6 Academic 20 User Pack
(Boxed Product)
Photo
manipulation is a downloadable piece of software for image editing, allowing
you to enhance, correct or neaten up an image. These images you edit can be
used in your graphic images.
The
system that I recommend using is a Mac. Because most graphics designers use
Macs above other computer systems as it is much more suited to creating graphic
images. Apple Mac OS X computers are especially useful for designers and many
creative professionals choose to regularly update to the latest Mac
hardware. Generally, “Macs” are
mentioned in the same sentence as “graphic design,” and rightfully so for their
excellent graphics and font capabilities, and ease of use.