Bachelor of Graphic Design Digital Design Software & Tools 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In Adobe Illustrator, what type of graphics does the software primarily create?
- Raster/bitmap graphics
- Vector graphics (Correct answer)
- 3D-rendered graphics
- Animated GIF graphics
Correct answer: Vector graphics
Adobe Illustrator is a vector graphics editor, creating artwork based on mathematical paths that can be scaled infinitely without loss of quality.
Question 2: What does the term 'DPI' stand for, and why does it matter in print design?
- Digital Print Interface — affects file size only
- Dots Per Inch — determines print resolution and output quality (Correct answer)
- Design Program Interface — refers to software compatibility
- Document Print Index — tracks print job numbers
Correct answer: Dots Per Inch — determines print resolution and output quality
DPI (Dots Per Inch) measures print resolution; a standard of 300 DPI is required for professional print quality to ensure sharp, clear output.
Question 3: In Adobe Photoshop, what does a 'layer mask' allow designers to do?
- Lock a layer to prevent editing
- Hide or reveal parts of a layer non-destructively (Correct answer)
- Merge all layers into one
- Change the blending mode of a layer
Correct answer: Hide or reveal parts of a layer non-destructively
A layer mask allows designers to hide or reveal portions of a layer non-destructively, using black and white values to control visibility without deleting pixels.
Question 4: What is the primary advantage of saving a file in Adobe's native .AI format versus exporting as a PDF?
- AI files are smaller in file size
- AI files retain full editability of all vector elements and layers (Correct answer)
- AI files are universally compatible with all applications
- AI files automatically embed all fonts
Correct answer: AI files retain full editability of all vector elements and layers
Saving in .AI format preserves all native Illustrator data including editable vector paths, layers, and live effects, which may be flattened in a PDF export.
Question 5: In Adobe InDesign, what is the 'pasteboard'?
- A clipboard for storing copied text
- The area surrounding the document page where objects can be placed temporarily (Correct answer)
- A style sheet for formatting consistency
- A tool for creating master page elements
Correct answer: The area surrounding the document page where objects can be placed temporarily
The pasteboard is the gray area surrounding InDesign's document pages where designers can temporarily store design elements outside the printable area.
Question 6: What does 'rasterization' mean when applied to vector artwork?
- Converting vector paths to editable points
- Converting vector artwork into a pixel-based bitmap image (Correct answer)
- Grouping multiple vector objects together
- Applying a gradient fill to a vector shape
Correct answer: Converting vector artwork into a pixel-based bitmap image
Rasterization converts resolution-independent vector artwork into a fixed-resolution bitmap image made up of pixels, which cannot be scaled up without quality loss.
Bachelor of Graphic Design Digital Design Software & Tools 1
In Adobe Illustrator, what type of graphics does the software primarily create?