Graphic design is the art of visual communication that combines text, images and illustrations, colors, and shapes.

The graphic designer uses these elements to create posters, brochures, websites, magazines, books, billboards, logos, and other media.

Graphic design is present everywhere. From billboards on the street and buses to magazines and newspapers; from product packages to websites.

Some of the most common forms of graphic design are:

Advertisements
Logos
Websites
Business letters
Posters
Product packages
Magazines and newspapers layout
Book covers
Brochures
Billboards
Credit cards
Banners
Sides of buses
Postal cards
Frills
Newsletters and bulletins

Many different softwares are used for graphic design. Some of the most popular are:

Xara
Pos. Photo
Magix Xtreme
Corel Draw
Photoshop
Printing workshop
ACD Canvas Print
Painting
Scribus
InDesign
Illustrator
QuarkXpress
IStudio Editor
Corel Ventura
Adobe PageMaker
Adobe FrameMaker
PhotoPaint Skill
Adobe FireWorks
ArtWeaver
Luxury paint
Deneba Canvas Print
GIMP
iPhoto

A graphic designer needs to have many skills to be successful. Some of them are:

* Ability to use Photoshop and understand the basics of photo manipulation.
* Ability to work with vector-based graphics, which is essential for logo design and other types of illustrations. The most used program for this purpose is Adobe Illustrator.
* The ability to use page layout software. This type of software is used to create print jobs, including covers for books, magazines, newspapers, and brochures. The most common programs used for this purpose are InDesign and Quark Express.
* The ability to use flash
* Generation of ideas. A good graphic designer has the ability to come up with great new ideas all the time.
* Basic business skills. Every graphic designer should have a general knowledge of marketing, sales, and accounting. These skills are really important for freelancers and freelance graphic designers.