Hey Blogees!
Still waiting to hear from you on the next topic to discuss (Book Review, Personal Thoughts, Design Techniques, etc....). In the meantime, I wanted to share with you top three e-mails that I subscribe to (as well as the perks :-). Give these sites a whirl.
Commarts Daily
This Daily E-mail feed features news articles, advertising designs (ranging from commercials to print work), and a featured website.
Why You Should Subscribe: It's a great way to catch up on design news from one of the leading design magazines in the country (without the $45 .
Creative Market
This online design store offers fresh, amazing design solutions for your next project
Why You Should Subscribe: Receive a $5 credit for signing up. Receive notifications on free items or new items on the market.
Graphic Design Blender
An online blog featuring business and life articles for designers.
Why You Should Subscribe: Free E-Book when you sign up. Fantastic articles on different facets of design life.
So there you have it, three great e-mails to sign up for (as well as the perks). If you have any suggestions, I'd love to hear them. Don't forget to suggest a topic for the next blog. Until then, have a great week! Cheers!
Friday, April 26, 2013
Friday, April 19, 2013
Print Production
There is the saying "You should not judge a man until you have walked a mile in his shoes." This principle applies to many areas in life, especially the realm of design. It's easy to get upset at the guy at the print shop for being so hard to work with. What you may not realize is that he's probably swamped with other people trying to get their work done ASAP! As somebody who is now working on the print side of the fence, I want to share some pointers that could be useful before, during, and after your next encounter with the printer.
Before
Research
Before you start your next print project, Find out what printers are in your area. Research on the quality of the work, and if possible, who else they have worked for (i.e. businesses, not-for-profits, etc.). Also find out how much they charge for certain items (like business cards, flyers, posters, etc.). Ask them about quantity as well. This could help determine budget costs on your next project.
Plan
After you have decided on which printer to go with, plan your time accordingly. Find out how much time your printer will need in order to print your project. Add a couple of days to that to make room for revisions, as well as provide time for the printer to produce your work without rushing it.
Design
Once you have determined your time, find out what paper sizes (8.5 x 11, 11 x 17, 12 x 18, 13 x 19...) and types (text, cover, C1S…) are available for use. Design your project so it makes the most use of the paper. For example, maybe instead of doing 8.5 x 11 flyers why not do 5.5 x 8.5 flyers and get double the quantity. Also, design a template that you could regularly use. If you are working with a printshop that offers design work, ask if you could use one of their template to layout your project. If your project has a bleed, make sure to provide crop marks and design with an 1/8" bleed. This will allow some leeway in case the paper shifts (which it does) during production. Lastly, make sure to use the correct format for your printer. Do they take PDF's? Do they prefer Adobe files. Find out before hand before you get your project printed.
During
Schedule
You've done the research, planning, and designing for your document. You're now ready for production. Here are a few tips to make sure your project makes it safely through the next stage (as opposed to having a really shoddy product and angry client). If you scheduled a date to bring in your project, make sure to get there on time, or earlier. Being late with your project could result in additional charges for rushing the project, and a higher likelihood that something bad will happen to it. If you are dropping a project off and picking it up later, make sure to be readily accessible for corrections / modifications. Provide your printer with your phone number and e-mail and phone number. If they do contact you, make sure to respond quickly to make sure that your project moves forward.
Prepare
Even though you have prepped the document the best you can, there is bound to be an issue of some sort. It could range from a simple typo, to being the wrong format / layout. Be prepared to provide corrected / modified files as quickly as possible. Make sure to save in the compatible format and provide all the necessary files. For example, if your printer uses Indesign CS4 for printing, package the file (so it will have the necessary fonts and links), and make sure to save your file as an .idml file (for older formats). Hopefully, with these helpful tidbits, your project will come out on time, on budget, and on target.
After
So you've made it through the prep, design, and printing of your project. You're done right? Wrong. There's still a couple of things to take care of, payment and follow-up. When you started the project, you received a quote on how much it costs. Keep tabs on any changes or additional charges that could come up. When the invoice arrives evaluate the actual invoice and the estimate. RESPECTFULLY ask about any additional costs or charges that do come up. If there are no issues, don't cause one by paying late or griping about the price. If the printer did a good job, show your appreciation. Send a Thank You. Recommend the printer to fellow designers or businesses. Perhaps even build a working relationship with them. This appreciation, commendation, and connection could prove beneficial for future clients, discounts on future work, or both. Even if the service is lousy, handle the situation discretely and respectfully…Then find a quiet place to vent. There are other printers out there and you will find the right one just for you.
I hope that this article is beneficial for your next printing endeavor. Do you have any questions, comments, or suggestions? Post them here. I'd love to hear from you. Thanks!
Next Post: Up to You! That's right reader! You determine the next blog post. Anything! A Book Review? Process? Design Advice? Q&A? Submit in your ideas. Hope to hear from you soon!
Before
Research
Before you start your next print project, Find out what printers are in your area. Research on the quality of the work, and if possible, who else they have worked for (i.e. businesses, not-for-profits, etc.). Also find out how much they charge for certain items (like business cards, flyers, posters, etc.). Ask them about quantity as well. This could help determine budget costs on your next project.
Plan
After you have decided on which printer to go with, plan your time accordingly. Find out how much time your printer will need in order to print your project. Add a couple of days to that to make room for revisions, as well as provide time for the printer to produce your work without rushing it.
Design
Once you have determined your time, find out what paper sizes (8.5 x 11, 11 x 17, 12 x 18, 13 x 19...) and types (text, cover, C1S…) are available for use. Design your project so it makes the most use of the paper. For example, maybe instead of doing 8.5 x 11 flyers why not do 5.5 x 8.5 flyers and get double the quantity. Also, design a template that you could regularly use. If you are working with a printshop that offers design work, ask if you could use one of their template to layout your project. If your project has a bleed, make sure to provide crop marks and design with an 1/8" bleed. This will allow some leeway in case the paper shifts (which it does) during production. Lastly, make sure to use the correct format for your printer. Do they take PDF's? Do they prefer Adobe files. Find out before hand before you get your project printed.
During
Schedule
You've done the research, planning, and designing for your document. You're now ready for production. Here are a few tips to make sure your project makes it safely through the next stage (as opposed to having a really shoddy product and angry client). If you scheduled a date to bring in your project, make sure to get there on time, or earlier. Being late with your project could result in additional charges for rushing the project, and a higher likelihood that something bad will happen to it. If you are dropping a project off and picking it up later, make sure to be readily accessible for corrections / modifications. Provide your printer with your phone number and e-mail and phone number. If they do contact you, make sure to respond quickly to make sure that your project moves forward.
Prepare
Even though you have prepped the document the best you can, there is bound to be an issue of some sort. It could range from a simple typo, to being the wrong format / layout. Be prepared to provide corrected / modified files as quickly as possible. Make sure to save in the compatible format and provide all the necessary files. For example, if your printer uses Indesign CS4 for printing, package the file (so it will have the necessary fonts and links), and make sure to save your file as an .idml file (for older formats). Hopefully, with these helpful tidbits, your project will come out on time, on budget, and on target.
After
So you've made it through the prep, design, and printing of your project. You're done right? Wrong. There's still a couple of things to take care of, payment and follow-up. When you started the project, you received a quote on how much it costs. Keep tabs on any changes or additional charges that could come up. When the invoice arrives evaluate the actual invoice and the estimate. RESPECTFULLY ask about any additional costs or charges that do come up. If there are no issues, don't cause one by paying late or griping about the price. If the printer did a good job, show your appreciation. Send a Thank You. Recommend the printer to fellow designers or businesses. Perhaps even build a working relationship with them. This appreciation, commendation, and connection could prove beneficial for future clients, discounts on future work, or both. Even if the service is lousy, handle the situation discretely and respectfully…Then find a quiet place to vent. There are other printers out there and you will find the right one just for you.
I hope that this article is beneficial for your next printing endeavor. Do you have any questions, comments, or suggestions? Post them here. I'd love to hear from you. Thanks!
Next Post: Up to You! That's right reader! You determine the next blog post. Anything! A Book Review? Process? Design Advice? Q&A? Submit in your ideas. Hope to hear from you soon!
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
Thou Shall Not Use Comic Sans By Sean Adams, Peter Dawson, John Foster, and Tony Seddon - A Book Review
Hey Gang, sorry for the delay of this post. Life in the graphic design and print business can prove challenging at times! However, I'm glad to be back am really excited to share with you about the book, Thou Shall Not Use Comic.
Brief Summary
The book is a compilation of wisdom and knowledge from noteworthy designers (including Sean Adams of Adams-Morika). The compilation consists of 365 different rules or "commandments". These commandments are broken down into six, color-coded categories ranging from Type and layout, to imagery and design. Each author takes one rule and explains it further in a brief "Commentary" section.
The Pluses
+ The book is nicely broken down for easy access and quick reading.
+ The book offers, when appropriate, helpful exceptions to a commandment, usually in the form of another rule.
The Minuses
– Some language
My Personal Take
Thou Shall Not Use Comic Sans should be a standard part of anyone's library. Whether you're curious about design or a design veteran, this book provides insightful instruction and helpful advice to help you on your design journey.
Where Can I Get My Copy:
Hard Copy
Alibris , Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Books-A-Million , and E-Bay
Digital
Kindle , Nook , eBook , and iPad
I hope this book review was helpful and informative. I would love to hear what you would have to say. Please feel free to leave a comment or suggestion!
Next Time: Helpful Tips for Print Production
Brief Summary
The book is a compilation of wisdom and knowledge from noteworthy designers (including Sean Adams of Adams-Morika). The compilation consists of 365 different rules or "commandments". These commandments are broken down into six, color-coded categories ranging from Type and layout, to imagery and design. Each author takes one rule and explains it further in a brief "Commentary" section.
The Pluses
+ The book is nicely broken down for easy access and quick reading.
+ The book offers, when appropriate, helpful exceptions to a commandment, usually in the form of another rule.
The Minuses
– Some language
My Personal Take
Thou Shall Not Use Comic Sans should be a standard part of anyone's library. Whether you're curious about design or a design veteran, this book provides insightful instruction and helpful advice to help you on your design journey.
Where Can I Get My Copy:
Hard Copy
Alibris , Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Books-A-Million , and E-Bay
Digital
Kindle , Nook , eBook , and iPad
I hope this book review was helpful and informative. I would love to hear what you would have to say. Please feel free to leave a comment or suggestion!
Next Time: Helpful Tips for Print Production
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