inkd: an istock for graphic design?
June 5, 2009
Does a stock market for graphic design represent a threat or an opportunity for graphic designers? Hard to say, though certainly it appears to be a viable resource for end users, or just about anyone short on time or inspiration.
These aren’t the typical junk layouts you see floating around cyberspace. I’m willing to bet more than a few folks would give up $39 for a well crafted business card design. Then again, no template can emulate the life experience of a top notch graphic designer. Still, inkd could be a boon to the design challenged who have no budget!
Graphic Moment Online
May 20, 2009
If you’re one of those students who longed for the days the teacher dimmed the lights and rolled out the film projector, this is for you!
The Graphic Moment Online Edition: Bleeding Edge, The Movie (suitable for general audiences).
New Tools, Same Old Traps
May 6, 2009
OK, I love the web, and likely you do too. Still, I’ve been hard pressed to understand how “social networking” comes into play for business marketing. Most of what I’ve seen falls into the category of shameless self promotion. And that’s a shame.
Certain hard truths will always be unavoidable, be it in print, direct mail or on the web. Foremost among these, nobody else cares about your self-serving PR message. On the other hand, if you’re willing to share your knowledge and gifts with world and do so without the expectation of reciprocity, the universe will amply reward you.
Giving away the store may not be what your sales department is looking for but on the other hand, generosity is the only message that will ring out above the din of myriad competing sales messages that buzz overhead like mosquitoes in a swamp.
There’s no quick fix here, but if you’re willing to invest in a valid online strategy, I’ve posted some audio that might be useful. It’s from a webinar entitled Taking Your Brand Online hosted by John Jantsch with an all-star panel including Guy Kawasaki, Chris Brogan and David Meerman Scott. Grab a latte and put in an hour with some of the most interesting online personalities around. (Note: Click on the article title above if you don’t see the play button)
Under The Hood
April 22, 2009
There’s no doubt about it. We’re in the golden era of buying printing on the cheap.
Pull out the stops. UV coating, process color, full bleed, paper thickness approaching that of 3/8” plywood. Got Photoshop? Go to town! Creative Suite on your PC? The sky’s the limit. Except…
Have you seen the fine print in WYSIWYG? It usually contains the following statement: “your mileage will vary.”
Last week a talented web designer brought in a snazzy new project, a retro-looking photographic business card design. I know what he was going for, and really it looked amazing on screen. How would he know that the final results might approach a mudslide in his living room? A file preflight confirmed that he was way over the legal limit (for ink density, that is).
The slick, powerful software suites we all take for granted have induced prepress amnesia in many a user. The symptom: unfettered faith in the display screen. Sometimes it pays to kick the tires and look under the hood. That might be a lot cheaper than going to press twice.
If you’re a tire kicker, check out this overview of prepress color separation.
Sending us PageMaker files for print
January 7, 2009
Still use PageMaker? You’re not alone. It’s the original publishing package, and as such it will always reserve a warm place in our hearts!
The program has a great feature that collects your document, all needed fonts and linked graphics for print. Using it saves time, and gives you the best results when handing off the files to our graphics department. Here’s the rundown:
In PageMaker, there is a plug-in under Utilities named Save for Service Provider. Using the Save for Service Provider plug-in, the user can copy the publication, all linked image files, fonts, and other files required to print the document. Save for Service Provider also helps resolve broken links by prompting the user to locate the folders containing linked files. Similarly, this plug-in can also check the status of links and fonts in a PostScript file generated by PageMaker 6.5.
Optionally, a concise report of the information we need to print from a PageMaker or PostScript file can also be created. The report includes details about fonts, linked graphics, a summary of the print settings, as well as information about who to contact regarding the publication.
To save files and generate a report using Save for Service Provider:
Choose Utilities > Plug-ins > Save for Service Provider. The Summary dialog box opens. The plug-in works on the active publication if the Check Pub is clicked.
Click Fonts, Links, Printing, or Colors to see a detailed report on that aspect of the publication or PostScript file. Print the status information by clicking Print at any time.
If the Links dialog box shows one or more linked files needing attention, click Relink or
Relink All, and navigate to the correct image files.
To save the publication, click Package, and set options as follows:
From the Report Type pop-up menu, choose Formatted (for a PageMaker publication) or Text only (for an ASCII text-only file).
Select Auto Open Package Report if, after saving the publication and associated files, the user wants to display the summary report in a new window on your desktop.
Select Update Links to bring out-of-date links up-to-date in the original publication before making a package.
For Include, select Copy Fonts to avoid missing fonts at print time, and then select the kind of fonts—All, Type 1 (PostScript), or TrueType.
Click Notes to enter contact information, such as the user’s name and phone number, any comments on printing the publication, and then click OK.
Before you finish, use your normal process to create a PDF version of your Pagemaker document, and include that with the files your send.
Specify a location in which to save all necessary files. Put all of the files in a single folder. Then compress that folder, into a single archive file. In Windows, you can do that by right clicking the folder and selecting “send to..compressed folder.” There’s a similar function on the Macintosh by usiing the control key, while you click on the folder. This will bring up a menu from which you can select compress.
Send your compressed folder as a file attachment, or preferably use the send files feature on our website. That’s it!
Recession Busting Graphics Software
December 23, 2008
This article appears on EzineArticles.com
NEWSFLASH:
We’re officially in recession. Isn’t that a shocking revelation? Unless a bailout is coming your way, maybe now’s a good time to save some green on your company’s publishing software needs. People often ask me “what’s the best software choice for my newsletter?” (or brochure, business card, mailer, etc.) Of course, no single software package fits everyone’s needs. This is my list of top picks for professional grade tools, available on the cheap.
Word Processor
Go-Go Clinton/Bush years: Microsoft Office: $420
Obama’s change: Open Office: FREE at http://openoffice.org.
It’s hard to believe that more people aren’t using this amazing, fully functional office suite, which is available for a free download. Once a bit rough around the edges, the last few years of open source development have added a lot of polish to the program. It includes a word processor, spreadsheet, database, powerpoint alternative, and even a draw program.
Page Layout
Real Estate Boom: Adobe InDesign CS4: $694
The Bubble Bursts: Scribus: FREE at http://www.scribus.net
Sure, I’d love all your projects to come in from clients using QuarkXpress, or Adobe’s flagship Creative Suite. Then again, Scribus represents a rock solid contender in the page layout category, once you get used to the quirky looking user interface.
Photo Editor
Dow at 11,000: Adobe Photoshop $630
Retire on tomato soup for dinner: GIMP : FREE at http://www.gimp.org
Let’s face it; you probably don’t need more than a few of Photoshop’s tools, commands and functions. All of its most important functions can be found in yet another open source project: GIMP. It’s nothing like the program you may have seen a few years back, while poking around in Linux. There’s even a hack to give it the look and feel you’ve grown to love (or hate) in Photoshop.
Open source software has come a long way in recent years, thanks to the generosity of the programming community. All of these programs are available in Windows and Mac versions, and the resulting output files are fully supported at Copies&Ink.
In upcoming posts: We’ll talk about some of the key features in these programs, and how they might apply to your work. Keep posted!
United States Postal Service new NCOA rules
December 22, 2008
Starting November 23, the USPS will require that all presorted mailing lists be cleaned using the National Change of Address (NCOA) directory. It’s a 95 day rule. Your list needs to get cleaned at least every 3 months. If you’re busted for sending “dirty” mail, your postal discounts will be forfeited, and you’re liable to pay fines or penalties.
Here are the new rules
Obviously, this is not a do-it-yourself job. It requires special tools and direct access to the most current version of the Postal Service’s Move/Update database.
NEED TO NCOA UPDATE YOUR LIST? Do it for FREE
Copies&Ink has special access to the NCOA database. Here’s what we will do to bring you into full compliance:
If you choose, we’ll process and mail your materials for the lowest available postage rates.
Keeping your list clean is a good step along the path to being “green.” You’ll save on postage and printing while less undeliverable mail ends up in the landfill. Besides, wouldn’t you want to know if your customer or prospect has moved (or died)? In any event, you’ll need to certify in writing that your list is ready for prime time.
FREE NCOA UPDATES
EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY: Copies&Ink will update and certify your list AT NO CHARGE if your project is printing and/or addressing & mailing at Copies&Ink. Contact our customer service department and ask for the NCOA promo. Offer expires Jan 31, 2009, so act today!
LOW COST NCOA UPDATE SERVICE
We’re also offering a special $27 rate for NCOA processing only (any list up to 2500 addresses), no printing or mailing services need be purchased to receive this price. Offer valid until Jan. 31, 2000.
TO GET STARTED or for additional information, fill out our quick form below. You can optionally attach your mailing list file in Excel or text formats.
cforms contact form by delicious:days
OPTIONAL: Attach your mailing list using the file upload button above.
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Clipboard on Steriods
November 12, 2008
OK, this is simple, cool, and best of all free. It’s a Macintosh utility that expands your clipboard into cubbyholes. Each time you copy to the clipboard, you fill a new cubby without overwriting your last clipboard copy.
Using a menu bar item, or keyboard shortcut, you simply select the content you need and paste it wherever you want. Simple and elegant.
It’s called Jumpcut. Download it from the author’s Sourceforge page.
