Do you want to step up your digital marketing and create innovative social media graphics with professional quality? Photoshop is the go-to editing tool for graphic designers around the world, and for good reason! With the multitude of tools available, you can conjure up beautiful visuals for your posts, stories and ads. Read on to discover all you need to know about creating stunning social media graphics in Photoshop.
1. Gather Your Materials for Your Social Media Graphic
Grab the Brush and Easel
When creating social media graphics for your business, start by gathering the materials you need for the project. Choose a design program you are comfortable with and make sure it’s updated with the latest features. Whether you opt for a professional program such as Adobe Photoshop or use a free, cloud-based program like Canva, you need the right tools to create a persuasive and visually appealing piece of media.
Stock Up on Supplies
Don’t forget to include any necessary images, fonts or logos. If you’re working with photos, pick photos with a resolution that supports larger display media. Aim for high-resolution photos and graphics, as this will help your social media graphic stand out against the competition. You may have stocked up on resources you have and create a library to refer to, or if you need to find specific graphics, sites such as Shutterstock and Adobe Stock can come to the rescue with a few clicks!
Choose Your Colors
Finally, select your color scheme and ensure the final output is cohesive and harmonious. Choose tones that align with your organization’s existing branding, or create a unique palette to reflect off-brand and seasonal campaigns. To avoid having your design look washed out, use two to three primary and two to three accent colors for a balanced look. Experiment with different hues but, if unsure, you can’t go wrong with light blues and pastels to create a sleek, professional design.
2. Planning Your Layout for Your Social Media Graphic
Organize your content
When planning a social media graphic, having a clear structure helps keep the message concise and maximizes the impact. To start, decide which elements should be included: the headline, logo, visual, body text, and any relevant external links. Once the elements are identified, outlining the layout makes it easier to adjust their composition.
Before finalizing your design, determine the priority of each element and focus on how they blend together to make the most of your space. Choose fonts carefully; decorative fonts can throw off the entire aesthetic and add clutter. Make sure the type is easily readable, with a clear hierarchy of sizes.
Organizing the elements of a graphic to create visual flow is integral to making the text easily scannable. Try using the rule of thirds and open spaces to create an aesthetically pleasing image that still passes along a message. Don’t forget to consider fonts and colors to create unity within the design.
3. Designing Your Social Media Graphic in Photoshop
Creating your own custom graphic is a great way to stand out on social media. Here are some design tips to remember while working in Photoshop:
- Start with a template: It can save time to start with a pre-existing template that’s already been designed to spec. You can find a variety of freebies on the internet or design your own template that’s ready to customize.
- Leverage typography: Instead of relying solely on imagery, switch it up with unique fonts and custom typography. Experiment with layering multiple fonts with varying sizes, weights, and colors.
- Make it cohesive: Take elements from your core brand identity and make sure you use them in your design. This could include colors, patterns, shapes, and text.
That being said, design is just the beginning – be sure to also consider things like sizing and dimensions. When it comes to the production side, make sure you keep dimensions consistent across different platforms and device types. The same post should look equally beautiful on desktop, mobile, LinkedIn, and Twitter.
4. Enhancing Your Social Media Graphic with Fonts and Colors
Choose Attention-Grabbing Fonts
In the digital realm, first glances matter. With the abundance of captivating images readily available, you need to find a way to stand out. An excellent start is to choose fonts that draw the eye. You might consider bold, italic, and serif fonts to get yourself noticed.
To go a step further, you can select fonts that are unconventional and yet still attractive. Script-style fonts have been popular for some time. If you really want to capture the eye, go for fonts that are more decorative or handwritten.
Choose Striking Colors
Color has a powerful effect on digital design. You don’t have to be a professional graphic designer to understand the basics. If you desire a more vibrant aesthetic, you can opt for bright colors with high contrast. Want something more subdued? You can select softer hues with low saturation.
But even if you decide to use a brighter color palette, the effect can be toned down with the right blend of softer shades. That way, the overall image isn’t overwhelming and your design looks inviting and calming.
Putting It All Together
When it comes to creating a stunning visual for your social media content, the approach is simple yet effective. Choose fonts that will draw attention and colors that will enhance the aesthetic.
By following the basic guidelines and spending a bit of time on the details, you’ll be able to create eye-catching visuals to liven up your page. All it takes is a bit of creativity and experimentation – and suddenly, you’ll have an impactful yet attractive image that will help you stand out!
5. Exporting Your Final Social Media Graphic
Once you have completed the task of graphic design for your social media account, the next step is to export your design into the best format for sharing on the network. Exporting your file is an essential step, as the wrong format can mean it does not look as good as it should.
Your exported graphic should always be in a JPEG or PNG file, as this is what is supported across social media websites. Other formats such as GIF and AI have specific functions, so use them only when required.
When you save the file, make sure to make the file size as small as possible. This is important because loading speed affects user experience when they are viewing your page.
- JPEG – Best for Photographs
- PNG – Best for Graphics with solid colors and logos
- GIF – Best for animations, if supported
- AI – Best for designing vector illustrations
Creating a social media graphic in Photoshop doesn’t have to be intimidating. With just a few steps, detailed above, you can become an expert graphic designer in no time! Get creative and have some fun with it; the possibilities are endless.
