If you aspire to work in graphic design, then there’s a good chance you’ll be designing for a variety of mediums. Most notably, print and digital design remain highly relevant areas of graphic design, each with its own unique characteristics and evolving best practices.
With a better understanding of the differences between print media vs. digital media and the graphic design considerations for each, aspiring designers can enter the field with the flexibility and adaptability they need to succeed.
Key Differences Between Print and Digital Design
When comparing print and digital media, designers need to be aware of several distinct differences, particularly when it comes to resolution, image quality, color mode, and formatting constraints.
Resolution and Image Quality
First, consider the simple yet important fact that digital images are generally measured in pixels, which offers a lot of flexibility in terms of formatting and conforming to different screen sizes without losing image quality in the process. Conversely, with print media, designers have fixed dimensions to work with. They may need to create designs to fit on something as small as a business card or something as large as a billboard.
Color Mode and Accuracy
Print and digital media also differ when it comes to their use of color. Print media, for example, uses cyan, magenta, yellow, and black (CMYK) color formatting. Digital designs, on the other hand, use either RGB or HEX. When designing for print media, designers must ensure they use the correct color format. Otherwise, they could end up with printed colors that don’t match their planned designs.
Layout and Format Constraints
Another important difference to keep in mind between print and digital design is that once a design is printed, it cannot be changed or altered in any way. Digital designs, on the other hand, can be easily changed as needed. Likewise, digital designs make it possible to incorporate interactive elements in web design. They are inherently dynamic and thus must be responsive to viewing on all kinds of different devices.
Typography in Print and Digital Design
It’s easy to overlook the importance of typography in print and digital design, but selecting the right fonts and font sizes is a critical part of a designer’s work.
Font Selection and Readability
Generally, designers have a little more creative freedom when it comes to choosing fonts and typefaces for print design when compared to digital design. That’s because when a font is printed onto paper (or a billboard or any other medium), it will look the same no matter who is viewing it.
With digital designs, on the other hand, fonts may show up differently on the screen based on the browser being used and other factors. With this in mind, designers may be a little more limited in their choice of fonts when designing for digital media.
Font Size and Scaling
Font sizes and scaling are two additional design considerations that professionals must consider when designing for print versus digital media. Choosing the correct font size for the print medium is especially critical as a font too small will be unreadable to your audience. With digital media design, there’s a little more flexibility because users can generally zoom in or adjust the font sizes on their devices to improve readability.
User Experience in Print vs. Digital
User experience in print designs versus digital designs should also be considered, especially as it relates to audience interaction, navigation, and flow.
Reader Interaction and Engagement
Generally, print media does not offer much in terms of interaction with audiences. As a result, print designs need to be especially eye-catching to gain a viewer’s attention. With digital media, however, there is the potential for a lot more interaction and engagement. For example, designers may use interactive elements like links, animations, and buttons to encourage users to engage with the design. Print designers, on the other hand, may need to focus more on the page layout and quality of print materials.
Navigation and Flow
In digital design, navigation is critical, especially when incorporating interactive elements. Specifically, navigability makes it easy for users to find the information they need by clicking, tapping, or scrolling around. Print designers don’t have the same ability to add links or other navigation elements. Instead, they need to rely on “flow” in their design that naturally carries readers’ eyes through important information.
Design Constraints and Technical Considerations
Both print and digital media also have some special considerations when it comes to such technical constraints as file formatting, printing and screen calibration.
File Formats and Compression
When digital or print files are saved, they are sometimes compressed as a means of minimizing file sizes. The potential issue with this is that if files are compressed too much, this can have a negative impact on image quality. Print and digital designers need to know which types of files to use for their designs to maximize quality without creating massive files.
Printing and Screen Calibration
Print and digital designers always need to be conscious of what the end product will look like in their final medium. For print designers, this means ensuring that the correct resolution (usually 300 dpi) is used to ensure a quality print on just about any material or medium. Digital designers need to consider how their designs will display on different types of screens.
Accessibility and Readability in Digital vs. Print
There’s no overstating the importance of accessibility in digital design and print design. In fact, each area of graphic design has its own standards and best practices for accessibility and readability.
Accessibility Standards for Digital Design
Digital designers need to make sure that the content they create is easy to read based on their typography and color choices. Selecting fonts that are easy to read (including universal serif and sans serif fonts) and choosing high-contrast colors can ensure accessibility for readers of all backgrounds. Similarly, navigation can play an important role in accessibility in digital design, especially when it helps people find the information they need more efficiently.
Readability Considerations in Print Design
For print designers, there is often more of a focus on the legibility of printed fonts and designs. Color choices are just as important here, as colors that lack contrast may be especially difficult to read on the printed page. Material choice can also be critical here, as some materials accept ink more readily than others, which could affect readability.
Cost and Distribution Factors
Digital and print design also differ significantly when it comes to production costs and options for distribution, both of which should be taken into account when creating new designs.
Production Costs in Print Design
The cost of printing physical designs can be high, although specific costs can vary based on the type of medium being printed on. Regardless, the physical production of print designs tends to be notably more expensive than that of digital designs, which can leave less margin for error.
Digital Design and Distribution
Digital designs, on the other hand, can be distributed easily and cost-effectively. Plus, when a design is finalized, it can be published instantaneously.
Real-World Applications of Print and Digital Design
So, what does it look like to work in the world of print or digital design? While no two roles are exactly alike, there are some practical and real-world applications in each of these areas of graphic design.
Print Design for Branding Materials
Print designers are often responsible for creating designs for marketing or branding materials, such as:
- Brochures
- Business cards
- Pamphlets
- Billboards
- Promotional items (like t-shirts and pens)
Digital Design for Marketing Campaigns
Digital designers, on the other hand, may also work on marketing materials, but this often includes such marketing components as:
- Infographics
- Website banners
- Digital advertisements
- Company logos
Regardless of the component being designed, graphic designers need to be mindful of digital interface design for things like websites, applications, software programs, and more.
Learn More in a Graphic Design Program
Designing for print media is decidedly not the same as designing for digital media. That said, graphic designers need to be prepared to adapt their techniques and strategies to create designs that capture the audience’s attention while ensuring accessibility. Likewise, as best practices for print and digital media design continue to evolve, designers must be prepared to stay on top of the latest trends to remain relevant in the field. Programs like RMCAD’s Renew initiative can be invaluable in this regard, offering alumni the opportunity to refresh their skills and stay current with the latest industry advancements. Through this program, graduates can take select courses at no additional cost, helping them maintain their competitive edge in the ever-evolving field of graphic design.
Looking to deepen your own understanding of print and digital design principles? Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design’s Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design can help aspiring designers take their talents to the next level with extensive coursework in print and digital media design, accessibility, typography, design thinking, and more. This program is also offered online for those who need added flexibility and versatility in their scheduling.
Get in touch with our team to learn more about our design program, or get started with your online application for admission today.