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[paste]

I'm trying to find some sources so I can get a grasp on the fundamentals of graphic design.  Basic principles, if you will.  Anyone know some particularly good books or websites?

[Theophilus]

Google "Video Copilot". Best video-motion-graphics tutorials.


As for other stuff, just google I guess. Google works best when trying to learn.

[paste]

Thanks, but the amount of information google presents is somewhat overwhelming and unfocused.  Also, it seems to be more about getting graphic design jobs.  And thank you for the tutorial site, but I'm less interested in tutorials, more about general principles or theory.  Also, I don't have After Effects  I'm not asking anyone to do any research for me, but if you know of any sources off the top your heads, that'd be cool.

[mankoon]

I was going to post something useful but then realized they were both type related...
Maybe it's still useful?
Good starters book on how to use type:
http://www.amazon.com/Stop-Stealing-Sheep-Find-Works/dp/0201703394

Inspirational site, again about type:
http://ministryoftype.co.uk/

and this one is another inspiring site but posts art of all kinds
http://ffffound.com/

So... maybe not what you're looking for but fuck it, inspiration drives anyone further.

[emacs]

Dribbble is a great place to find inspiration.  For tutorials, check out Smashing Magazine and tuts+.

[gimymblert]

Before digging into tutorial be sure you grasp the basic:

http://www.vanseodesign.com/web-design/7-design-components/

Browse this blog, there is a lot of raw good material.

EDIT:
While this site specifically target webdesign, the basic are the same for any graphic design.
You should have a look here too:
http://www.vanseodesign.com/web-design/teach-yourself-design/

[paste]

Thanks, that's pretty much exactly what I was looking for.

[Richard Kain]

Compositional balance. Sight lines. The dynamic energy of diagonals. Color theory. The proper application of contrast.

You're talking about a pretty big subject. But I think's healthy that you're taking an interest. A strong grounding in sound Graphic Design principles helps any artistic effort, and is especially good for proper interface design.

[Jrsquee]

Learn Ye The Elements & Principles of Design! It's what you use to do anything in art/design. It's how you communicate non-textually.

Here are some starting points for you:

http://www.amazon.com/How-See-Reading-Manmade-Environment/dp/0316603120
http://www.amazon.com/Visual-Grammar-Design-Briefs-Christian/dp/1568985819
https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Visual_language

[XRA]

Point, Line and Plane

that was one of the most clearly beneficial fundamentals I learned, having to do hundreds and hundreds of thumbnail sketches exploring all types of compositions for expressing different concepts/etc..  gradually bringing in new rules or constraints (like using perspective, or using only lines to create plane, etc).