| Years |
Artistic Skills |
Technical Computer-Graphics |
Portfolio |
Software |
Years |
| I |
Basic digital retouching and color correction
of photos. Can customize clip art, but may not be able to
draw. |
Object: Basic Bézier-curve
vector drawing using manual (pen) tool, not just autotrace
or freehand tool. Can use many features of drawing programs.
Bitmap: Basic Photoshop skills, working with preexisting
materials. |
Has created elements used in Web sites, presentations,
or multimedia projects. |
Object (“Drawing”):
Illustrator / Corel Draw
FreeHand / Canvas
Bitmap (“Painting”):
Photoshop
Painter / Photo Deluxe |
1+
1+ |
| II |
Has basic drawing skills. Can
create attractive new images, usually in mannered,
iconic, or flat clip-art styles. Has some digital photo-montage
experience. Can create realistic drop shadows, beveled buttons, “warp” existing
artwork in perspective. Understands lighting for three-dimensional
objects and can maintain consistent lighting throughout a
scene. |
Object: Multilayered Bézier-curve
drawing, optimized for printing.
Bitmap: Intermediate-level Photoshop skills include layers,
ink modes, simple mask and channel operations, filters. Understands
all Unsharp Mask parameters in Photoshop. |
Editorial illustrations in smaller publications.
Advertising illustrations for smaller company campaigns. |
Object (“Drawing”):
Illustrator
FreeHand
Bitmap (“Painting”):
Photoshop
Painter / Photo Deluxe |
2+
2+
|
| III |
As above. Also, can create specific moods through
lighting, shadow, and color. Can integrate object and bitmap
elements seamlessly. Intermediate-level drawing skills. Can
create numerous objects in several styles without looking
at a reference. |
Object: As above. Also, can
troubleshoot problem files.
Bitmap: Advanced Photoshop skills include
color separation; understanding of dot gain (for press) and
gamma (for Web); real understanding of resolution, line-screen,
and color-palette issues. Can perform a range of moderately
complex channel and masking operations. |
Editorial illustrations for national publications.
Advertising illustrations for Fortune 500 campaigns. |
Object (“Drawing”):
Illustrator
FreeHand
Bitmap (“Painting”):
Photoshop
Painter |
3+
4+
2+ |
| IV |
As above. Also, can create digital work that
is indistinguishable from traditional illustration.
Can alter photographs so that only a forensic specialist
could tell they have been altered. Results comparable in
quality to a Level IV traditional illustrator (see Illustrators,
p. 9). Note: Level IV digital artists are much less common
than Level IV traditional illustrators. |
Can create stunning effects
with all kinds of graphics programs. Is able to achieve desired
effect rapidly without consciously thinking about how it’s
being done. Mastery of issues and tradeoffs related
to various file formats, compression algorithms, color
management (calibration, etc.), advanced prepress, et al. |
Illustrations have been reproduced in much
the same contexts as a Level IV traditional illustrator;
and / or in major CD-ROM games or TV animations, top Web
sites. |
Object (“Drawing”):
If any, possibly
Illustrator
FreeHand
Bitmap (“Painting”):
Photoshop
Painter |
2+
5+ |
