By KD Deshpande
Images are a vital part of the equation for most designs. Visual content is 40 times more likely to be shared on social media than other types of content. It’s become prominent and thus necessary to have at least some basic knowledge of design. Thankfully, we live in a wonderful world where anyone can make the jump from novice to designer. That’s where Simplified comes in, making this achievable with its wide range of tools and resources. Want to explore how you can enhance your creatives with free-to-use images?
Let’s get going!
Turns out, the use of images, from good to great, is a reasonable leap. And it all starts with a good foundation and understanding of some key designing hacks. So if you want to become a better visual communicator, here’s a taste of the powerful graphic design tips for a simplified know-how.
Match Colors Within Your Images
Creating color harmony is one of the most effective ways to make your designs stand out.
One way to create harmony is to have a theme and stick to it. Moreover, this will help to match the colors for your graphic elements – such as fonts or text holders – with a branded background image.
Use Images & Save Frequently Used As ‘Components’
When you use images on our website, simultaneously save them as components. We’ll tell you why. ‘Components’ is a unique Simplified tool which helps you get quick access your repeatedly used elements without any hassle.
Simplified Tip: To create a component, simply: Right click on an element > Save as component
Add Visuals As Backgrounds
Learning how to create background visuals is where your creativity really start to flow.
Whether you’re using an image as a background or a series of colored shapes – there are endless ways to experiment!
Related: The Link Between Design and Marketing
Use Images & Shapes To Illustrate Information
From creating informative infographics to a unique text holder, this is an important skill which helps you think outside the box and create original designs. Shapes are great tools to use when creating interesting social media posts. Use images with informative text wow your boss during a company presentation!
Many people are surprised at how much they can accomplish using shapes & icons.
Play With The Opacity Level
Feel free to inventively use images and experiment with its opacity. You’ll be surprised at the results. In the example above, a slight transparency is applied to the leaf icon & the background image was darkened to make the text more legible.
Use Images Like A Pro With Simplified
When you sign into your account, first thing to do is play around with the designing tools at hand. This will give you new ideas and inspire you to work on your creatives with improved efficiency.
There are tons of free to use images, that’ll get you wiring your vision to the imagery. Perfect way to kick-start your project!
Step 1: Click on ‘Images’ on the side panel
Step 2: Search for something in particular, for example ‘Beach’ or ‘Food’, in the Search Bar.
Step 3: Refine your image resources from the top right corner.
On Simplified, you can use images from Shopify, Pixabay, Shutterstock, and much more. Plus, you can sync your Google Drive that’ll help you further quicken the access to images!
Step 4: Experiment! Adjust image size, add suitable texts and perhaps you can even insert your logo. Further, explore and use filters to enhance color.
Step 5: Export! As JPG or in PNG format
Images and text are two foundations of any design. Combine them, and they’re a powerhouse of visual communication.
Check out the video below to see how you can use images to up your design game!
Try not to underestimate the power of simplicity in your design. The use of images can help bring a certain aesthetic quality to your image while also highlighting the most important elements. Keep your images simple and use the space around objects to bring attention to significant elements.
“Creativity is nothing but a mind set free.” –Torrie T. Asai
Practice makes perfect, and design is no exception. Like any other skill, the more you practice the better you’ll become. So get on a Simplified designing journey today!
