Although graphic design often starts with pencil and paper, the majority of professional graphic design work is edited and submitted digitally. With this in mind it might not be known to some people that there are different tools that can be used digitally to help either improve the quality of the work or to speed up the editing process. These tools are known as peripherals in the computer world. In this post I will discuss three peripherals that greatly affect graphic design work.

1. Monitor

One of the major factors when working with digital graphic design is color accuracy. By this I mean that a color you see on one screen might look like a different color on another screen. Different models of monitors have different levels of color accuracy often measured by either sRGB accuracy or by Adobe RGB accuracy. sRGB is a color space created by HP and Microsoft and is used more often than the Adobe RGB. The main advantage to using Adobe RGB is a wider color selection. However, not all monitors are suited for Adobe RGB and if not checked could lead to color errors when printed. Be sure to check the color accuracy when shopping for monitors. If you don’t see it listed don’t be afraid to use the Q&A section to get more information on the product.

2. Mouse

A color accurate monitor is needed for all great design work. These next two peripherals can either be each others substitutes or working side by side. Either way, in order to create digital graphic design work you’ll need an I/O (input/output) device that will allow you to draw, edit, and submit your work. The most common peripheral is the mouse. The mouse is the first device used to draw on a computer, but not all mice are created for the same purposes. Some mice are intended for playing video games, other are designed to be ergonomic and help prevent injuries such as carpel tunnel. When it comes to graphic design, there are two major features to be looking for in a mouse. The first is if its ergonomic, you want a mouse that feels good to use because you will more than likely be using it for long periods of time. The second feature is if it has buttons intended for performing keyboard shortcuts. It makes editing a lot faster if you can save or undo with the touch of a button on your mouse. Keep these features in mind but know the right mouse will be based on preference and the only way to find the right one is to try different types until you find the right one for you.

3. Drawing Tablet

If you’ve tried some mice and didn’t find one you like or if you just want to try something new then a drawing tablet is the next step in graphic design peripherals. There are three major types of drawing tablets: pen tablets, screen tablets, and stand alone tablets. First I’ll discuss pen tablets. These are the most simple and cheapest of the three types of tablets. They come in several sizes and may included built it shortcut keys similar to a mouse. What makes them stand apart from the other two is they do not have a screen. With a pen tablet you draw on it like a sheet of paper with a special stylus but you have to watch your monitor to know what changes you are making. They do not necessarily have to be used for drawing, you could instead replace your mouse with a drawing tablet. The next kind is a screen tablet. This is similar to the pen tablet but instead of having to watch your monitor it comes with a built in screen so you can draw of the screen itself with a near 1:1 drawing performance. Some screen tablets have better screens that allow more accurate drawing so its best to read reviews and research their specs before making a purchase decision. The final type of tablet is a stand alone tablet. The stand alone tablet differs from the first two because it does not require being plugged into a computer for use. Stand alone tablets have a computer built into them are drawing tablets best for those who need the ability to use a drawing tablet while having to change location several times a day. These are also the most expensive due to both having a screen and computer capabilities.

Not all great graphic design work came from people using peripherals such as these but they do help improve quality of your work and decrease the amount of time it takes to create them. Hopefully I’ve helped you by introducing new tools to help you along with your graphic design careers.