Many people who are new to design feel a bit lost at first. This article will share with you some fundamental graphic design principles I have relied on over the years. As a bonus, I will also show you how you can get Vistaprint coupons and receive big discounts on your online print orders.

The first thing you need to remember about design is to keep it simple. Good designers limit the number of colors and fonts they use, in order to avoid a cluttered look. In addition, remember to use consistent design. For example, if one title is blue in your brochure, keep other titles in the brochure blue as well .

A second principle is to use a grid when designing. By using a grid, you will virtually ensure that everything in your layout lines up well and looks clean and organized. Most design programs will provide the ability to display a grid behind what you are designing. If you look around at well designed pieces, especially websites, you will notice that they are all designed on a grid. Of course, there may be occasions when you want to break this rule. But in most cases, using a grid is a key component of good design.

Remember to pay attention to the resolution you use when you design for print. This is difficult for some people, especially web designers, to remember. So what should the resolution be set at for print? Most people recommend a resolution of at least 300 dpi. If you go under 300, there is a risk that the image will come out looking blurry or unclear.

The last tip I have is to know how colors will appear when printed. Often times, colors on your screen can look different when printed. For this reason, many designers use swatches, which are booklets that show you how a color will look when printed. I like to use Pantone and CMYK swatch booklets the most.

Design is complex, and some people devote years of their lives attending design school. Thus, you should not try to become a great designer right away. However, following the tips on this page will get you on the way to creating well designed items. To get the best prices on printing, I recommend using Vistaprint coupons, as this will allow you to save as much as 50% off printing. In fact, using Vistaprint Coupons is one of my secrets to keeping expenses manageable for my business.