Mixed Deck — All ACA Topics Flashcards

In Photoshop, what is the 'Fill' percentage on a layer different from 'Opacity'?

Answer: Fill affects only the layer's pixels, not layer styles; Opacity affects everything including styles

Fill controls the transparency of a layer's painted content only, while layer styles remain at full visibility; Opacity affects both.

What is the primary purpose of contrast in graphic design?

Answer: To establish visual hierarchy and emphasis

Contrast helps create visual hierarchy, guiding the viewer’s eye and emphasizing key elements in a design.

A client wants their social media graphics to 'match the website.' What specific information should you request?

Answer: Existing brand assets including logo files, color codes, fonts, and the website URL

Existing brand assets provide the source-of-truth for visual consistency and must be collected before designing coordinated materials.

During a project kickoff meeting, the team is discussing the project's scope. What is the primary purpose of defining the project scope?

Answer: To establish clear boundaries, deliverables, and objectives for the project.

The project scope statement clearly defines the project's goals, deliverables, features, tasks, and deadlines. Its main purpose is to create a shared understanding among stakeholders of what the project will and will not include, which is crucial for preventing scope creep and ensuring the project stays on track.

What is the primary advantage of using SVG format for web graphics?

Answer: SVG files are resolution-independent vector files that scale without pixelation

SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics) is an XML-based vector format that scales to any resolution without losing quality, making it ideal for icons and logos on the web.

Which Photoshop adjustment is best suited for shifting overall color tone toward warmer or cooler tones while preserving tonal relationships?

Answer: Color Balance

Color Balance provides separate sliders for shadows, midtones, and highlights, allowing you to shift overall color temperature without affecting tonal relationships.

In Adobe Illustrator, what is the function of the 'Transform' panel?

Answer: It displays and allows editing of an object's position, size, and rotation numerically

The Transform panel shows exact X/Y coordinates, width, height, and rotation angle, which you can edit numerically for precision.

You have spent a significant amount of time creating a complex selection of an object. To avoid having to recreate this selection if you deselect it, what is the best practice for storing it for future use within the same document?

Answer: Save the selection as an alpha channel.

Saving a selection creates an alpha channel, which is stored within the Channels panel of the Photoshop document. This channel can be loaded at any time to reactivate the exact same selection, preserving the work.

In Adobe InDesign, which option in the Text Frame Options allows text to start at a consistent optical position regardless of the first character's ascender height?

Answer: Cap Height

Setting the First Baseline Offset to 'Cap Height' aligns the top of capital letters to the top inset of the text frame.

What is the function of a 'style guide' or 'brand standards manual' delivered to a client?

Answer: It documents rules for consistent use of logos, colors, fonts, and other brand elements

A brand standards manual ensures that anyone applying the brand follows consistent rules for visual identity.

A client requests changes to a logo after final approval was given and files were delivered. What is the most professional response?

Answer: Refer to the contract to determine if revisions are included or bill for additional work

Contracts define the scope of work; additional revisions beyond that scope are typically billed separately.

In Adobe Photoshop, what does the term 'non-destructive editing' refer to?

Answer: Using adjustment layers and smart objects to preserve original image data

Non-destructive editing uses adjustment layers and smart objects so the original pixel data remains unchanged and edits can be reversed.

What does the Expand option under Select > Modify do?

Answer: Grows the selection outward by a set number of pixels

Select > Modify > Expand enlarges the selection boundary outward by the number of pixels you specify.

A designer is choosing fonts for a new website. For the main headlines, they select a bold, decorative serif font. For the body paragraphs, which of the following choices would create the most effective and readable combination?

Answer: A clean, simple sans-serif font that complements the headline without competing.

A common and effective practice is to pair a decorative or complex headline font (like a serif) with a simple, neutral body font (like a sans-serif). This creates clear contrast and hierarchy, making the body text highly readable while allowing the headline to stand out.

A designer wants to ensure a red color in Photoshop looks the same when opened in Illustrator. Which feature helps achieve cross-application color consistency?

Answer: ICC color profiles embedded in the file

Embedding an ICC profile tells any color-managed application how to interpret and display the file's colors consistently.

When should a designer use 'small caps' instead of uppercase letters?

Answer: When typing acronyms or abbreviations within body text to match visual weight without shouting

Small caps match the x-height of surrounding lowercase text, making acronyms blend naturally without the heaviness of full caps.

In a professional design workflow, what is the purpose of 'version control' for project files?

Answer: It tracks changes over time so designers can revert to earlier iterations and avoid losing work

Version control preserves a history of file changes, allowing designers to recover previous states and track project evolution.

In Photoshop, what is the difference between 'Opacity' and 'Fill' in the Layers panel?

Answer: Opacity affects the entire layer including effects; Fill affects only the pixels, not layer effects

Reducing Opacity fades the layer and all its effects together, while reducing Fill only fades the pixels, leaving layer styles like drop shadows at full strength.

What is a 'drop cap' in typographic layout?

Answer: An enlarged first letter of a paragraph that drops down to align with multiple lines of body text

A drop cap is an oversized initial letter that descends into the body text, spanning two or more lines.

In Photoshop, which feature highlights colors in an RGB image that fall outside the printable CMYK color gamut?

Answer: View > Gamut Warning

View > Gamut Warning overlays a highlight on any colors that fall outside the CMYK printable gamut, allowing correction before converting the image.