Wait! Don’t Print Those Business Cards
They are boring!
They’re printed on that standard paper, using standard process inks, just like every other card you’ve seen lately.
The text is lackluster, the result of software defaults.
The logo doesn’t look quite right, and it’s lost in the cluttered layout.
Worst of all, there’s no memorable message or emotional appeal to the reader. I mean, now [...]
Graphic Design, Death and Opportunity
Graphic Design: The Corpse and Your Opportunity
Over a decade ago typographer and graphic designer Kathleen Tinkel wrote:
Armed with our Macs, we presumed to compete with our creative partners (typographers, illustrators, airbrush artists, retouchers and more), helping to put some trades out of business. But the computer isn’t as capable as a talented artist or skilled [...]
inkd: an istock for graphic design?
http://inkd.com
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 [...]
Newsletter Confusion
You know how to build a campaign. It’s Marketing 101, just the basics. A good list, creative design, a great offer. Bingo.
We’re told it’s all about the numbers: reach and repetition. Write a great headline, use the right tools, hire a Flash whiz, get an account at Constant Contact. Hang in there. This strategy works. [...]
The social side of printing!
As many years as we’ve been printing, it’s still tough to remember all of the envelopes sizes that can be used for invitations and announcements. Here’s a quick rundown, just in case your next holiday card is on tap:
Where cost is an issue, Baronial style envelopes have a great price point, but they’re usually only [...]
The Holy Grail of Graphics
Not all file formats are created equal. For maximum quality and flexibility, true vector format files such as EPS or AI are often your best choice. Need a logo or drawing in your brochure or business card? Use Adobe Illustrator, Freehand or Corel Draw for the job. Or ask your graphic artist/designer to do the [...]
The United States of Bland
This morning I ran across a display ad in Sunset Magazine; it was a tourism piece for the City of Portland, Oregon. Regardless of the ad’s merit, it does make a point that resonates well today: that most cities across the country lack much individual personality. Everything looks so mind-numbingly bland. The same strip malls, [...]
Un-Confuse Your Marketing!
People send mailers for all the wrong reasons.
Are you thinking about sending out a flyer or mailer? Stop! Why are you sending it? Unless you have a clear picture of your reason, you’re cooking up a recipe for disappointment!
Most people who send out flyers are thinking DRM, or direct response marketing. Compare that to “branding” [...]
How to build a better PDF
It’s amazing how many ills can be cured by the simple PDF. It’s like the aspirin of desktop graphics. Still, aspirin can’t cure the common cold. Similarly, pumping a dozen fuzzy snapshots into a Word file before converting it to PDF won’t give your annual report that National Geographic look you’re going for.
So, as many [...]
What’s on (Adobe) TV?
If you’re tired of Reality TV and have already seen the season finale of LOST, why not check out some programming that’s actually useful?
In recent years Adobe has bolstered its product support with a lot of online options, including its newest addition, Adobe TV. There are a number of “channels” including a lot of programming [...]
William Alpert is a seasoned entrepreneur and 35 year business veteran. His California based companies design and create printed and electronic marketing materials for Fortune 500s, entrepreneurs as well as advertising and graphic design professionals. He is the author of InkBlot, a weekly journal on business marketing in the internet era. 
