Digital Graphic Design Tools and Software
What the domain tests
Digital Graphic Design Tools and Software tests file formats, colour modes, resolution arithmetic and the working methods of raster, vector and layout applications. Expect short practical tasks (set up a document, prepare it for print) and theory questions on why a tool or format is chosen.
Core rules
- Raster (Photoshop, GIMP) is a pixel grid and softens when enlarged past 100%. Vector (Illustrator, CorelDRAW, Inkscape) is mathematically defined paths and scales cleanly; use it for logos and type.
- Resolution is pixels per inch of final output: 300 ppi at final size for print; 72 ppi is the legacy screen figure and CSS uses 96 ppi. Never upsample a small raster and call it high resolution.
- Formats: PSD (layered working file), TIFF (lossless print), JPEG (lossy, photos), PNG (lossless with transparency), PDF (delivery), AI/EPS/SVG (vector).
- Colour: RGB for screens, CMYK for process print, spot/Pantone for an exact brand colour, grayscale for single-colour work.
- Layout apps (InDesign): master pages, paragraph and character styles, threaded text frames, links panel, preflight and package.
- Work non-destructively: layers, masks, adjustment layers, smart objects, and keep the layered master before flattening.
Worked example
Prepare an A4 poster (210 × 297 mm) at 300 ppi. Convert to inches: 210 ÷ 25.4 = 8.27 in and 297 ÷ 25.4 = 11.69 in; multiply by 300 to get 2480 × 3508 px. Because it is for press, set CMYK, add 3 mm bleed on all sides (216 × 303 mm), keep text about 5 mm inside the trim, and export a PDF with crop marks and embedded fonts.
Traps
Building a logo in Photoshop at 72 ppi; sending an RGB JPEG to a printer; forgetting to embed or outline fonts; saving over the only layered file; confusing millimetres with pixels and setting the wrong artboard.