Monday, April 30, 2007

Make Artistic Graphic Designs

Are you a student of graphic design? If you have taken time in extra reviews and put “graphic design” and “drawing” into any search engines, you’ll get almost the same result = descriptions of graphic design programs at many design schools. Baffled? Well, it’s like this: As a student interested in graphic design, you have to take drawing and not actually a degree in fine art.

The truth is, you don’t need to be able to draw sensationally, but your skills as a graphic designer would edge out if you have drawing abilities. Still it is possible for you to be a designer without having any drawing ability.

Putting art into your graphic designs can be done with your actual ability to draw. Here are several reasons why getting into a good drawing class can become a significant part of your graphic designing career:

• Opens up your eyes to all details - Drawing does not only entail the creation of beautiful art, it also triggers in us the ability to really look at a subject in a realistic view. Through drawing, we could look at the negative space and the positive space of our creations. It enables us to look perceptively at the white space in a design, its texts and graphics.

• Makes you become sensitive and attentive to details – by getting us to really look at our drawing or design, drawing also awakes in us a certain sensitivity and attentiveness to particular objects that will truly turn out to be interesting subjects.

• Teaches you about composition – getting into a good drawing class draws out knowledge about making good composition. Principles in good drawing compositions apply also to graphic design.

• Gives you knowledge on color – drawing will teach you about tones and shades, even if you draw only in black and white. You’ll also learn some color theory that you could put to good use in creating graphic designs.

• Gets you to distinguish good art – a single or couple of drawing class can never make a great artist out of you. But, abilities such as being able to distinguish good art can be honed in you after taking up a drawing class. As a graphic designer, you may eventually have to hire an illustrator and this ability of yours can be put to good use.

Don’t give me a line about some people that can never learn to draw even as they have the graphic design skills… Early on as kids, all of us have expressed ourselves by drawing anything. So now that we have the complete and matured mental faculties, all of us can learn how to draw. Time and practice are all it would take. Great talents and skills are always the result of never – ending practice. By learning to draw, we could also get the most essential elements of creating artistic graphic designs.-30-

For comments and inquiries about the article visit http://www.digitalprintingcompany.com

About Digital Printing Company
Digital Printing Company offers high impact digital printing solutions from prepress scanning and graphics design to customizing documents using Variable Data Imaging technology. They specialize in short run printing of books, manuals, and flyers, as well as large format printing of posters and trade show graphics. For more information, visit their website at http://www.digitalprintingcompany.com

By: Kristina Chu

Sunday, April 22, 2007

When Your Graphic Designer Costs You Money

So how do you know when your graphic designer costs you financially and emotionally?

When a file is not prepared correctly… When you go to press and have your media material produced in prints, and find out that the file was built incorrectly, then that's the time when your graphic designer will cost you money.

Many pre-press operators have complained about having to correct graphic designers work. To have a file prepared incorrectly can have drastic financial and emotional consequences to the owner. The time needed to rectify the problem can cause major delays and additional expense. This is due to the graphic designer's understanding that his job is done when he produces the design that you require.

It is therefore necessary for a graphic designer to understand the basic principle of what you see on screen may not be the same when it comes off the press. A designer should know how to correctly build a bleed; check that the panels fold correctly; and that color separation is well understood. The list goes on an on. If these issues are not properly addressed, the customer will most likely pay for additional costs because a print house or service provider will definitely charge extra for fixing the problem.

When no press check is done… Not only that the customer would be paying dearly, he or she will also suffer emotionally when no press check is done. The job would definitely come out less or even worse than what the owner is expecting. The customer will be left with the frustration of having no alternative but to accept additional job for the revision of the graphic designer's output. This is particularly stressful and definitely teeth-grinding when it is a last-minute job for a presentation or a trade show. The customer is left with nothing.

When your graphic designer make more than a few major mistakes… Especially with regards to a website, a designer must be able to understand that it is not just optimizing images or putting text on a page and uploading it to a remote site. The graphic designer must understand how search engine optimization and basic HTML work. If not, well, the website may just be something for the drawing boards. And that would be another expense for the customer because he or she has to go back and re-design another website.

So when times like these do occur, and your graphic designer cost you much money and emotional stress, it's time for you to hit the high road and look for another. There are a lot of people working as graphic designers for the web and print. Many of them are well trained and understand what it takes to create a great and working media material. You just have to discern and look a little further for the designer that will give you your money's worth.

Granny's Mettle is a 30-something, professional web content writer. She has created various web content on a diverse range of topics, which includes digital printing topics, medical news, as well as legal issues. Her articles are composed of reviews, suggestions, tips and more for the printing and designing industry.

Her thoughts on writing: "Writing gives me pleasure… pleasure and excitement that you have created something to share with others. And with the wide world of the Internet, it gives me great satisfaction that my articles reach more people in the quickest time you could imagine."

On her spare time, she loves to stay at home, reading books on just about any topic she fancies, cooking a great meal, and taking care of her husband and kids.

For comments and inquiries about the article visit http://www.graphicdesignsunlimited.com

By: Carla Ballatan

Thursday, April 19, 2007

Business Opportunity for Graphic Designers

As a graphic designer, you are sitting on a gold mine. You have a skill other people do not have, and you can use that skill to earn a good living.

But, it's very sad to see most experts in graphic design work for others.

It's time for a change!

Let me tell you a secret.

With the power of Internet, you can start an online business, and make as much money as you can, without having to quit your day job.

It doesn't matter whether you're a professional designers, or just a normal graphic application user, you can tap into a very lucrative graphic design business you can run from your home.

No, I'm not talking about creating a complicated design for big companies. I'm talking about a very simple design you can do in just 30 minutes and charge business owner between $40 - $90 (or more) per job. You'll be amazed to discover that you're going to do a very simple project, which is very high in demand.

What business am I talking about?

Introducing...

How to start an online business in virtual product cover design.

Here are some facts you should know:

1. Internet has enabled many people to start their own online businessess. And among the hottest products & the easiest to sell is information product. Everybody needs information, and people are willing to purchase if it can solve their problem.

2. Besides information product, software is among the hottest products to sell. No wonder the richest man on the earth is selling software!

3. In order for these kinds of products to sell well on the Internet, 3D virtual representations are needed for the customers to see before buying them.

As a graphic designer, you can provide your service to these business owners by creating virtual covers for their products. Examples for these covers are e-book cover, software box cover, CD covers, e-zine cover & newsletter cover.

You can charge between $40 - $90 for 1 design. Imagine how much money can you make simply by designing these covers?

Here's an idea how you can add value to your service and charge more:

Besides designing product cover, you can also design matching website header, footer, background image, and order button.

A typical website selling ebook has the following graphics:

- matching header graphic

- product cover

- order button

- matching footer graphic

This is considered a complete project. You can charge between $90 to $150 for a project.

Who is going to be your customer?

It's obvious. Every marketer who sell information product owners may become your clients. It doesn't matter whether the products they offer are for sale, or just to give away, they'll need virtual covers for the products.

How & where to find the customers?

Here are some ways you can follow to find customers:

- Promote your service at classified site.

- Promote your product through your signature in email and forums.

- Go to Google, and search for 'Internet marketing forum'. You'll find many product owners there.

- Promote your service at Google via Google's pay-per-click advertising program, called Google AdWords. You can get a customer from as low as $0.05. However, for you to promote your business effectively on AdWords, you need to have a good guide. Here's an excellent resource how you can advertise properly on Google: http://www.virtualcovercreator.com/adwords/

How to get started?

Of course, as a new player, you'll have to compete with other product cover designers. Here are some powerful tips you can get started fast:

1. Introduce your service by giving away, let's say, 5 FREE cover designs. In return, ask them to provide testimonials on your service. This will boost your credibility. Hence, more sales.

2. Create a website for your service. List down your offer, put customers testimonial, and don't forget to have a page for your design showcase.

3. Offer a discount for members of an Internet Marketing forum that you visit.

4. You'll need to open a PayPal account to accept payment. An alternative way is using ClickBank or 2checkout.

You are now ready to take order.

How to save time and earn more.

The easiest and fastest way to create product covers is by using Photoshop Actions. Some called them Action Scripts. Actions are some sort of plug-ins that automate the cover design process.

Basically, here's how they work:

- Run Adobe Photoshop

- Load the Actions into Photoshop

- Click on a button to run the Action

- Edit the template with relevant images & text to suit your need

- Click on another button, and your flat cover will be transformed into 3D cover, automatically.

Here's a site where you can find Photoshop Actions for ebook cover & software box cover: http://www.virtualcovergenerator.com

Imagine how many covers you can create in a day? And the best part, how much money can you earn in a day?

Mohd Fairuz maintains a website on ecover design resources. On his site, you will find software, templates & articles related to ecover design. To learn more how your can create amazing ebook cover or software box cover, go to his website at: http://www.virtualcovercreator.com

By: Mohd Fairuz

Wednesday, April 18, 2007

Marketing Hat for Graphic Designers or Wannabe's

Many people think that the quality of any graphic design is determined by how aesthetically pleasing it is: Although making the card look good is important, this couldn't be further from the truth. The only true measure of any design, at least commercially, is "How well does it pull?". By pull we mean what type of response does it elicit? Does it pull in calls, or pull people into the store? In essence, does the design accomplish what it set out to do?

From this fact it is not a reach to come to the conclusion that the merit of a graphic designer is based on the performance of his or her designs. You may be able to put together the most beautiful ad that the world has ever seen, but if it doesn't make the phone ring it isn't worth the paper that it is printed on.

By giving clients designs that are not only attractive but, more importantly, that get them the response they need to turn a profit, you are making it much more likely that they will be willing and able to come back to you for future services. In short, if the ad doesn't make your client any money, you don't make any money in the future.

The following text is a breakdown of the different actions to take and ways to make sure that your beautiful design is also a big time moneymaker for both you and your client.

Chapter 1: “BE” the Target Market

There is a monkey loose in your office and you can't seem to get any work done. The only solution is to catch the little distraction and FedEx him back to the jungle that he came from. Question: How do you catch a monkey? You have to get into his head, think like him. You have to “BE” the monkey to find out what is going to bring him close enough for you to catch him.

What does an annoying monkey have to do with Marketing Design? Keep reading.

Every potential customer is like the monkey. They are going to do whatever they want unless you can persuade them to listen to you. You have to get into their head, think like them, “BE” them. A monkey is a simple animal so you can probably get his attention with the stereotypical banana.

Human beings on the other hand are extremely complex. Then you add in the fact that the mailing list is targeted and it can get quite challenging. Following are a few examples:

1) Product = Wrinkle Reducing Eye Cream.

Who do you need to “BE”? Probably a woman over the age of 40. Try it. Pretend you are a woman over 40 with crows feet (wrinkles around the eyes, for all you guys) and they are getting worse and worse each day. Did you do it? Are you her? Good.

Now, how bombarded with advertising is this woman over 40 that you’re being? Just think about it. PLENTY! So how are you going to communicate to her in an ad to get her to respond?

You may have a headline that pushes the button of how upset she is about those crows feet like, “Crow’s Feet Getting Worse as You Age?” You may want to show a before and after shot.

2) Product = New Golf Ball that goes farther and straighter than the competition.

Your target market is Senior Citizen golf enthusiasts in the state of Florida. So what is the number one benefit of this particular product for that target market? To answer that question you should use three things:

• Reasoning

• Experience

• Research

In this golf case, in particular, I can tell you from others’ stories that the older the guy, the straighter the ball goes. Practice makes perfect and older people have generally had much more practice. Also, as people get older they start to lose strength over all. This means that they will start to lose distance on their shot. It is relatively easy to tell that the distance factor is going to be the biggest benefit and therefore should be the focus of the ad.

Sometimes it's really easy, most times it's not.

3) Product (Service) = Refinancing.

This example has you trying to determine the biggest benefit of refinancing a mortgage for families with a household income of $75k, revolving debt of $15k and 2+ children. Sound complicated? It can be. Maybe the benefit is getting cash to pay off their debt, maybe it's paying for college, or even lowering their monthly payments. There is no real way to tell just by looking at the situation. Now you are going to have to do some research.

Chapter 2: Research the Target Market

Research can be as in depth as actually phoning some of the people in the target market and conducting surveys, or it is often as simple as talking to your client about his experiences with past customers. Start with the easiest action and survey your client. Here are some good questions to ask:

1. What do your top five customers have in common?

By this I mean, what do your top five customers' orders have in common. Do they all purchase a certain add on? Is there a service that none of them take advantage of? This will help tell you what a "good customer" actually is to that client.

2. What is the most-often-stated benefit of your service?

Is it product? Is it service? Is it price? Ask them, they know and you need to know for obvious reasons.

3. What do they think is the most beneficial part of their service to their customer?

Many companies have already done the research, or have been doing it long enough to just give you the information out right.

It is not always obvious what is going to be the benefit that is going to pull the most response. Use your three assets (Reasoning, Experience and Research) to get as close as possible. As time goes on you will build up your experience, but in the beginning you will need to rely more heavily on your Reasoning and Research. And the easiest and fastest thing you can do is to “BE” the target market.

Now back to the targeted family that we want to refinance their home. Pretend you are a family man or woman with a household income of the $75k with revolving debt of $15K and you’ve got two kids! Kids can be pretty expensive. So, why would you like to refinance?

Chapter 3: You Want the Customer to do WHAT?

Since you've now figured out what the customer needs to hear to be interested, next you need to figure out what it is you want from them. What are you trying to accomplish? Sometimes it is as simple as getting them to go to your website for more information. Other times you are looking for them to pick up the phone and actually place an order. Whatever it is that you want them to do you need to state it clearly on the promo piece.

For example, if you want them to call and talk to a representative, the card should very clearly say "Call today and speak to one of our representatives for more details." This simple statement tells the customer exactly what you want them to do. It even tells them when to call - "today". Believe it or not, people like to be told exactly what to do in advertising. You should make it easy as possible to make the requested action. The more your prospects have to think, the less likely they are to actually act.

Another key part of the call to action is supplying the proper accompanying information along with the request. In this case, the phone number should be prominent and be the closest element to your call to action. Common sense would seem to tell you that as long as the phone number is somewhere on the promo they will find it and give you a call. The reality is that if the number isn't right there for them to see, your response rate will drop considerably.

Make sure that the call to action is bold and easy to understand. And keep any important contact information in close proximity to the call to action.

These are the three most important steps that a graphic designer needs to take to make a piece that will be aesthetic and pull at the same time. Pull = a call, a walk-in, a buy, a response – all for more money in their door. Which, by the way, gets you remunerated for your services and is actually your exchange for a job well done. Their customers buying means your customers are pleased and wanting more of your services. And it’s a happier, prospering world.

Joy Gendusa founded PostcardMania in 1998; her only assets a computer and a phone. In 2004 the company did close to $9 million in sales and employs over 60 persons. She attributes her explosive growth to her ability to choose incredible staff and her innate marketing savvy. Now she’s sharing her marketing secrets with others. For more free marketing advice, visit her website at http://www.postcardmania.com

By: Joy Gendusa

Tuesday, April 17, 2007

Hiring a Graphic Designer

You’ve come up with a great product. You’ve got the sales letter written for your website. Now you need the graphic design to complement your product and the text that describes it. Not being artistically inclined or adept at the technicalities of computer graphics, you decide you need some help.

You may be thinking, "I’m not sure I can afford to hire a professional graphic designer." The truth of the matter is that you most likely can’t afford not too.

Why?

A poorly designed web site, or a site that is glaring “homemade, homemade, homemade” gives the impression that the product or service it is promoting is of the same quality. As you’ve heard before- People do judge a book by its cover. Your book’s cover is your web site.

Fact of Life on the Internet- If your entire site doesn’t look professionally designed you’ve got major problems. At best making a profit with a poorly designed website is going to be a struggle.

So… you decide maybe your site does need the touch of a pro. Who do you choose?

As you begin your search you’re obviously going to try and make sure you get the best “bang for your buck”. Before you make a decision make sure all your questions are answered, preferably in writing. Some questions that you will definitely want answers for are listed below.

1) Is this person a professional? (Ask to see samples of their work)

2) Is this person trustworthy? (Ask how long they’ve been in business, and if they can provide references)

3) Are the prices fair and reasonable? (Make it clear you will be getting more than one proposal on the work you need)

4) Will I get the quality I need? (Make sure upfront that the professional you’re hiring will do revisions if necessary.)

Many of these questions can often be answered while viewing the designer’s own site. It will give you an instant review of their work. Often there will also a page containing samples of their work. If not, don’t hesitate to ask.

Andy Eaton has created a 10 day ecourse, which includes informative articles, training videos, special offer discounts, plus lots more - finally learn to create your own amazing ecover graphics. simply send a blank email to arpgraphicslist@graphicsecretsexposed.com or visit http://www.graphicsecretsexposed.com

By: Andy Eaton

Wednesday, April 11, 2007

Jobs - Rise of Graphic Designers

If you are the type of person that can combine your artistic skills with your writing abilities, then the job of a graphic designer may be the position that is most suitable for you. To be effective, a graphic designer must be able to reach out and convey the proper message to the intended recipient, be it the reader or the end-consumer. He is able to achieve this by the use of text blending with visual art. The final image projected must contain the precise message, otherwise all the efforts of the graphic designer will be for naught. The jobs of a graphic designer can also refer to that of web designers, photo editors, layout artists, illustrators and image manipulators, among many other titles.

Graphic design is quite an essential tool for people who are involved into marketing and advertising. To further emphasize this point, you only have to look around you to see that the presence of graphic design is everywhere - from the logo in the pen you are using to the images being displayed on your computer screen. For as long as there exists goods and services that are being offered to the consuming public, there will be a need for graphic designers. Graphic designers are responsible for creating the image that appeals to the consumers.

The job of a graphic designer requires that your creative juices are continually churning out new ideas and concepts. However, though the creative aspect of the work will depend largely on you, discussing the product or service with your client is equally important. You necessarily will need the requirements of your customer before coming up with your graphic design be it a logo, a brochure, a pamphlet, among others. The approval of said client is likewise needed before finalizing the design. The graphic designer has the luxury of choosing whether he wants to keep a full time job or go part time or do freelance work. The latter option presents more flexibility although the advantage of having a regular job provides you with a steady stream of income.

As a graphic designer, keep in mind that there are media forms, which you can tap to work on or even specialize. These are print, film and electronic. The final decision on what path to take is in your hands since the opportunities in any of these fields are unlimited. If you prefer making newspaper or magazine layouts then you may choose to concentrate on print materials. If you are a film enthusiast, you might want to show your creative side in preparing the credits that appear before and after a movie or a show. With the advent of the computer age as well as globalization, the computer has become an integral part of society today. Marketing techniques are no longer limited in the real world but has penetrated the virtual world as well. Nowadays, companies, whether small, medium or big-sized companies, want to establish and maintain their respective web sites in order to widen their advertising spectrum. Hence, the demand for graphic designers is expected to continue to be on the rise.

By: Michael Russell

Monday, April 9, 2007

Cover Letters for Graphic Designers

Why are cover letters so important? They provide the prospective employer with a brief review of your skills and abilities in the form of a letter. Letters are written much differently than resumes and can have a lasting impact on the reader. The best news is that writing one it isn't that hard, especially if you have already written your resume.

If you are wondering whether you need a cover letter or not, the answer is "yes". Employers are expecting a cover letter, but more important than that, you have an extra page to sell yourself if you write one. Even if you are an excellent Graphic Designer, you still need to convince the employer that you are worthy of a job.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, "Among the five design occupations, graphic designers are expected to have the most new jobs through 2014; however, job seekers are expected to face keen competition for available positions."

What does that mean? It means there are design positions available, but you are going to have to work hard to get the really great jobs.

One other note of interest: "Many talented individuals are attracted to careers as graphic designers. Individuals with a bachelor's degree and knowledge of computer design software, particularly those with Web site design and animation experience, will have the best opportunities." That is also according to the BLS.

Graphic Designers, generally speaking, are in a good labor market right now. That's wonderful news, certainly. You should not encounter difficulties in obtaining work.

What about that awesome position with the top salary that you have your eye on, though? Do you think the competition for that position will be greater? You bet it will. That means your credentials will have to be presented in the best light possible if you are to get the job offer. So, how do you write a great cover letter?

The cover letter builds on the resume and leads the employer toward it. Its goal is to get the employer excited about the resume. It is a sales tool, just like the resume is. Sell yourself in a compelling and exciting way. Inject energy and let your best qualities reach the employer through carefully written examples and anecdotes. Don't just state what you are capable of, show the employer what you have done in the past with vibrant language that attracts and invites the employer to want to know more.

You are a part of a significant sector of the labor market. You have to be your very best to get the great jobs. What skills and abilities do you have that you can offer the employer – and – how can you do so in a way that makes the employer pick up the phone and call you for an interview? Be personable, but professional at the same time.

Let your cover letter generate interest in your resume, then let your resume grab the employer's attention so that you are invited in for a face to face meeting.

A cover letter isn't likely to persuade an employer to grant you an interview on its own, but it is part of the whole package that WILL encourage an employer to want to get to know you better. Make it an exciting and enjoyable read and you will find yourself being offered the Graphic Designer position you apply for.

Carla Vaughan, Owner/Webmaster Professional-Resume-Example.com

Carla is the owner of Professional-Resume-Example.com, a web site devoted to assisting candidates in the job-search process. She holds a B.S. in Business from Southern Illinois University and has authored several books.

For more information about cover letters, follow this link: Amazing Cover Letters

By: Carla Vaughan