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Most designers couldn't exist without stock photos. So where's the best place to find them? If you're looking for pay as you go images or subscription services. Look no farther. I've assembled the best of the best in this post.
I always have people ask me about using online printers. Well, here's what I know: There are tons of online printers out there. I've checked in with several of them regarding prices etc. 4Over is a big one, as is Vistaprint. I've seen some samples of their work. My personal favorite and the one I use most frequently is OvernightPrints.com. I've used them for countless projects ranging from letterhead and business cards to postcards and brochures. I can also speak for their customer service. During the time that I've been using them, I suffered a hard drive failure (more details about that in another post). While trying desperately to recover my files, I made a call to Overnight and they sent me copies of every file I had ever sent them. No questions asked, no fees. They were friendly and very helpful and understanding. The company will definitely keep my business in the future!
Rather than talking "about the book", I'm going to include a short excerpt for you to enjoy:
Let's face it. Being successful as a designer often means we must be everything to everybody. Need business cards? No problem. Need an event banner? Got it right here. And thus is the life of design. To me, that's the best part. I love learning new techniques, new ideas and new technologies that increase my 'value' as a designer. We've already talked a little about ebooks and the new opportunities emerging for designers in this area. But, I realized that we can't talk intelligently about ebook design until we really get the basics of book typesetting down. Today we are going to cover frequently asked typesetting questions. Feel free to leave comments below with your own questions about the trade and we will address those as well. What program should I use to typeset a book? To create a professional book typeset you will need to use a page flow software.
These softwares will give you optimum results and do in fact take a lot of the 'grunt-work' out of typesetting. The top three typesetting softwares are:
If you are looking to do this long-term I personally recommend Adobe InDesign. having worked with all three InDesign is by far the most powerful and most widely accepted software there is. The basis of my course here on typesetting will be focused around using InDesign. Can I use Microsoft Word to typeset a book? Technically, yes you could. Would I recommend it? No true designer has ever recommended designing in Word. :) Be aware that Word will not have the features and functionality that professional typesetting software has. What are the parts of a typeset page? Your basic typeset page will include at least three elements:
Optional elements will include:
Check out my 'typesetters' glossary. Got more questions? Comment them here or email me at [email protected] Among some of the most creative and impressive marketing moves of all time, chances are you will hear tales of early Starbucks. While trying to increase brand awareness, they hired people to drive around with a Starbucks cup glued to the top of their car just above the driver's door where it would be found if the driver had inadvertently sat it down while getting into the car. Brilliant? Not yet, it gets better. As other drivers and those considerate enough to marvel at how he had gotten this far, and motion or speak to him regarding the cup, they were given a coupon for a free coffee at their local Starbucks. Now, it's brilliant. Not only did it raise brand awareness but also drove new potential customers to the store who had the potential of being turned into loyal customers
For a graphic designer faced with the decision of getting things printed, dealing with print houses can seem like a daunting task. There are so many to choose from and tons of things to take into account, when selecting a good one. What should you look for in a printer? 1. Request Samples. If you've never used the company before or seen their work elsewhere, request samples of their printing. This is fairly common and shouldn't cost you anything. Nearly every day I get sample printing, papers or packaging in the mail from companies that are competing for my business, and you should too! 2. Check the weight. Make sure the printing will be done on a nice weight paper. Not to heavy and not too light for the job. If you are getting business cards printed, you don't want a lightweight card that will be easily crumpled. Instead, you want a sturdy card stock that will stick with your customer for at least a couple of years. 3. Color matching. Does your printer have a disclaimer on their color matching? If they do, be wary. Printing in color is a tricky process, so be sure your printer will back up their products. If their ink comes out the wrong color, you and your clients should NOT be left holding the bag! 4. Logos. Some printers, especially the cheap ones, give you a cheaper rate if you allow them to print their logo on the backside of your piece. Depending on your client, your job, or your budget, this may or may not be an option for you. But, it should be a question you ask as you are getting quotes and selecting printers! 5. Finishes. Ask whether or not your printed pieces will have an UV coating on them, a gloss or other finish. This addition will drastically change the way your final print turns out, so you need to be ready for anything! My favorite printer? I love OvernightPrints.com. They are fast and affordable for excellent quality.
Recently, I observed a friendly debate between colleagues discussing the pros and cons of creating a business card that relied on die cuts, embossing or spot UV coatings. Is a business card really a good investment? Will it make the difference between being thrown away and being treasured? My opinion? It’s up to the designer and the client. While there are definitely budget constraints that should be taken into effect I do believe that money spent on designing a dynamic business card is well invested.
Recently I heard an insightful illustration about 2 business owners in the early 90s. Both businesses were fairly successful selling the same product: Radios.
Joe, the owner of the first store, knew everything there was to know about the radio business. He sold them, repaired them and could rattle the brands off without even thinking. When asked "What business he was in" he would throw his shoulders back, stand a little straighter and reply, "The Radio Business."
With the holiday season in full swing, it seems that everything has sped up to a frantic pace. My client's jobs have been no exception. While most of them maintain a great attitude actually getting work produced is often a huge struggle during this time of year. From emails that don't get returned to phone calls and increased traffic while commuting to meetings, it all but makes you want to throw in the towel and close the office doors for the season. So what can you do to help deal with the added stress of balancing your work, your clients and the holidays? I've recently been reading a great book written by a Creativity Coach that I am honored to know, Romney Nesbitt. In her book, "Secrets of a Creativity Coach" Romney shares some of the tricks and tips she's found to staying 'centered' as you deal with the stress of this time of year, or busy work days etc.
The sales rep that I had spoken to set me up with a free order of these cards as well, so that I could see their quality first hand, no strings attached. If I liked the cards, we could do the giveaway, if not, no problem. All that to say, when the cards arrived last week, I was very pleased with the results! The card stock and gloss quality are as good as any I've seen and what I've dealt with from a customer service angle thus far has been great. Next Day Flyers specializes in quick turnaround on everything from business cards to brochures. All that to say . . . . TODAY if you’d like to receive 500 FREE (TOTALLY FREE) business cards from Next Day Flyers, all I need you to do is comment on this post with what you want the cards for and the sales rep from Next Day Flyers.com will be selecting a winner on Wednesday and I’ll announce it here at the blog! Be sure to include a valid email, because if you’re the winner, They will need to contact you for your shipping address! Here are the specs on what you’ll be winning:
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JP Jones wears many hats. Among them are graphic designing, web designing, social media marketing, teaching, book publishing, blogging and writing. Read More.
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