California Graphic Designer Certification (GDC)
EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
(VERIFIED ANSWERS) PLUS RATIONALES LATEST
VERSION 2026 Q&A |INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
1. Which color model is primarily used for print design?
A. RGB
B. CMYK
C. HSB
D. HEX
*Correct Answer: B. CMYK – CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black) is
used in print because it represents ink-based color mixing, unlike RGB,
which is for screens.
2. What is the primary purpose of a vector graphic?
A. To display photographs
B. To allow infinite scaling without losing quality
C. To compress image files
D. To create pixel-based artwork
*Correct Answer: B – Vector graphics use mathematical paths and
shapes, so they can be scaled infinitely without pixelation.
3. Which software is industry standard for vector graphics?
A. Adobe Photoshop
B. Adobe Illustrator
C. Corel Painter
D. GIMP
*Correct Answer: B – Adobe Illustrator is the professional standard for
creating and editing vector graphics.
,4. What does DPI stand for in digital design?
A. Digital Processing Interface
B. Dots Per Inch
C. Design Pixel Index
D. Digital Print Image
*Correct Answer: B – DPI measures print resolution; higher DPI means
sharper printed images.
5. Which file format is best for logos that need to scale without losing
quality?
A. JPEG
B. PNG
C. SVG
D. BMP
*Correct Answer: C – SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics) maintains vector
data, allowing logos to scale without quality loss.
6. In typography, what is the leading?
A. The thickness of a font
B. The space between characters
C. The vertical spacing between lines of text
D. The height of lowercase letters
*Correct Answer: C – Leading refers to the vertical space between lines
of text, affecting readability.
7. Which principle refers to the visual weight balance in a design?
A. Contrast
B. Alignment
C. Balance
D. Repetition
*Correct Answer: C – Balance ensures that visual elements are
distributed evenly, creating stability.
, 8. What is kerning?
A. Adjusting space between lines
B. Adjusting space between individual characters
C. Adjusting paragraph margins
D. Adjusting font size
*Correct Answer: B – Kerning modifies the space between individual
letters to improve legibility and aesthetics.
9. Which of the following is NOT a common color harmony rule?
A. Complementary
B. Analogous
C. Monochromatic
D. Disruptive
*Correct Answer: D – Disruptive is not a recognized color harmony; the
others are standard methods to create pleasing color combinations.
10. What is the difference between raster and vector images?
A. Raster is pixel-based; vector is path-based
B. Raster is infinite scale; vector is fixed
C. Raster is always black and white; vector is always color
D. Raster is smaller in file size than vector
*Correct Answer: A – Raster images use pixels, which can blur when
scaled, while vector images use paths and remain sharp.
11. Which design principle emphasizes the importance of content over
decoration?
A. Unity
B. Functionality
C. Emphasis
D. Hierarchy
*Correct Answer: B – Functionality focuses on how the design serves its
purpose rather than purely decorative elements.
EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
(VERIFIED ANSWERS) PLUS RATIONALES LATEST
VERSION 2026 Q&A |INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
1. Which color model is primarily used for print design?
A. RGB
B. CMYK
C. HSB
D. HEX
*Correct Answer: B. CMYK – CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black) is
used in print because it represents ink-based color mixing, unlike RGB,
which is for screens.
2. What is the primary purpose of a vector graphic?
A. To display photographs
B. To allow infinite scaling without losing quality
C. To compress image files
D. To create pixel-based artwork
*Correct Answer: B – Vector graphics use mathematical paths and
shapes, so they can be scaled infinitely without pixelation.
3. Which software is industry standard for vector graphics?
A. Adobe Photoshop
B. Adobe Illustrator
C. Corel Painter
D. GIMP
*Correct Answer: B – Adobe Illustrator is the professional standard for
creating and editing vector graphics.
,4. What does DPI stand for in digital design?
A. Digital Processing Interface
B. Dots Per Inch
C. Design Pixel Index
D. Digital Print Image
*Correct Answer: B – DPI measures print resolution; higher DPI means
sharper printed images.
5. Which file format is best for logos that need to scale without losing
quality?
A. JPEG
B. PNG
C. SVG
D. BMP
*Correct Answer: C – SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics) maintains vector
data, allowing logos to scale without quality loss.
6. In typography, what is the leading?
A. The thickness of a font
B. The space between characters
C. The vertical spacing between lines of text
D. The height of lowercase letters
*Correct Answer: C – Leading refers to the vertical space between lines
of text, affecting readability.
7. Which principle refers to the visual weight balance in a design?
A. Contrast
B. Alignment
C. Balance
D. Repetition
*Correct Answer: C – Balance ensures that visual elements are
distributed evenly, creating stability.
, 8. What is kerning?
A. Adjusting space between lines
B. Adjusting space between individual characters
C. Adjusting paragraph margins
D. Adjusting font size
*Correct Answer: B – Kerning modifies the space between individual
letters to improve legibility and aesthetics.
9. Which of the following is NOT a common color harmony rule?
A. Complementary
B. Analogous
C. Monochromatic
D. Disruptive
*Correct Answer: D – Disruptive is not a recognized color harmony; the
others are standard methods to create pleasing color combinations.
10. What is the difference between raster and vector images?
A. Raster is pixel-based; vector is path-based
B. Raster is infinite scale; vector is fixed
C. Raster is always black and white; vector is always color
D. Raster is smaller in file size than vector
*Correct Answer: A – Raster images use pixels, which can blur when
scaled, while vector images use paths and remain sharp.
11. Which design principle emphasizes the importance of content over
decoration?
A. Unity
B. Functionality
C. Emphasis
D. Hierarchy
*Correct Answer: B – Functionality focuses on how the design serves its
purpose rather than purely decorative elements.
