Although it is our recommendation to seek a professional graphic artist like ours here at Creative Printing we understand the desire to save money on set-up cost. Below you will find some tips to help you insure your files are production ready.
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Blog posts tagged in color
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Do you ever wonder why you feel calmer in a brown room? On a cloudy, rainy day, do you want to wear comfortable pants and a sweatshirt? Gloomy days tend to make us want to lie around and not be motivated. Could this be due to the color?
As we previously discussed there is psychology behind color and how it makes you feel. Let’s take a look at a variety of different colors and find out how they make you feel.
Do you ever look at a sign going down the road and think, “That is too much”? The key to designing signs, business cards, etc. is to make them stand out and not look too busy.
The less you use in designing the better. You want people to read your signs and cards.
Let's take a look at some Tips to show how less is more in Graphic Design.
- Often people think that every area of white space has to be filled. This is not the case. White space is okay!
- Don’t use too many effects. This will take away from the message you are trying to give.
- Avoid using more than 3 fonts per design. This will make your design look unprofessional and busy.
- Don’t choose a font just because you think it is cool. Be sure it goes with the theme and is the right height so that it is visible.
Letter Height Visibility Chart
- Avoid using too much information. If there is too much, potential customers will skip it all together. The less that is on your card or sign the more it attracts attention to your main points.
- When using graphics or pictures, make sure they look professional and only use one or two. Too many will make your design too busy.
- It’s important to have a focal point, something that draws your eye and then everything should flow out from there. You want your eyes to move to all parts of your design.
- When aligning your text, don’t feel like it has to be centered. Left or right justified looks more professional.
- Remember when choosing your colors, that different colors affect the way you feel.
- The best way to ensure that your text will be clear at a long distance is to use a high contrast color, such as White on Black. Blue on Green is more difficult to see from a distance.
11. When choosing colors for your company logo or any design project, it's important to look at the color wheel. You don't want to choose colors that are beside each other. Choose colors that are across from one another, so that they stand out and better.
12. One more important tip to remember is to trust your graphic designer! Their skills and experience will bring your images to reality. Don't be afraid to ask questions.
As you see there are many factors to consider when designing your company logo, business cards, signs and more.
At Creative Printing our friendly design team is here to help you! So when you’re ready to begin your design, come on in and let us help you Get Creative.
Ever wonder why you feel cheerful at Christmas? Could it be all the red and green lights? Have you ever felt tired in a blue room or full of energy in a red room? Colors can change our mood, make us motivated or feel tired – – the colors that surround you may be the reason for your lack of productivity or lower creativity! The human eye sees about 7,000,000 colors. That’s an incredible amount of color!
Artists and interior designers have long understood how color can intensely affect moods, feelings and emotions. According to about.com, color is a powerful communication tool and can be used to signal action, influence mood and cause physiological reactions. Certain colors can raise blood pressure, increase metabolism or cause eyestrain.
Let’s find out how different colors make you feel.
Red
- (Think passion) stimulates, arouses, increases awareness.
- Elevates a room’s energy level. It’s a good choice when you want to stir up excitement.
- Pumps the adrenaline.
- Draws people together and stimulates conversation.
- Love.
- Has been shown to raise blood pressure, speed respiration and heart rate.
- It is usually considered too stimulating for bedrooms or classrooms.
- May trigger feelings of anger in some people.
You've worked on a design with your graphic artist. You've decided whether your business cards should be matte or glossy. You've settled on the quantity of new brochures to order for your small business.What's left?
Once the design and layout of your print job are finalized, you'll be asked to review a proof. A proof is a document or image that will show you exactly what your item will look like when it's printed. This is your last opportunity to change your mind about design elements and to check all the details to ensure there are no mistakes.
Here is what to look for when you review a printing proof:
- Check the colors. Make sure the colors you see are what you expected. Do the font and background colors coordinate with your company logo?
- Check the graphics. Make sure the correct, current version of your company logo is being used. If you've been thinking about redesigning your logo, consider doing that before ordering new print supplies that will soon be outdated.
- Check the text--including phone numbers and addresses. Your print professionals can help with colors and graphics, but they might not realize that your office phone number ends in 2354 rather than 2345. Check and double-check these important details.
- Take a step back and review the overall print job. Is it generally pleasing to the eye, interesting, and easy to read? Remember, this is your last chance to make any changes, so if you have reservations, now is the time to speak up.
What happens if there is an error or change needed on your printing proof?
Don't worry! We'll make the changes and create a new proof for your review. You'll have to sign off on all the changes and approve the proof before we proceed with the print job, giving you final control over what we print.
We understand budgets and deadlines. A careful review of your printing proof can save you both money and time, important resources for any small business.
Business cards are the most important marketing tool that your company uses. They are often the first representative of your business and easily the one that sticks around the longest. How can you make sure that your business cards are doing everything they can to promote your business in a positive way?
Here's what you need to know:
1. Go with the pros. Running a small business on a budget--or starting a new business from scratch--might require some creative financial planning, but don't skimp on business cards. DIY cards look cheap and make your potential clients think you don't care about the details. Hire a professional printing company to print your business cards, and show your clients that you're serious about your business.
2. Short and sweet. Don't try to write a novel on your business cards. Only include the information that is actually pertinent, such as company name, your name, basic contact information including your e-mail address and website.
3. Don't be cute. Every small business owner wants their business cards to be memorable, to stand out from the crowd. Don't try to do this by being cutesy with your business cards. This means no knock-knock jokes and no cartoon characters (unless you happen to be in the cartoon business). Instead, stand out by using a sharp design and textured paper. Or, if you're really feeling adventurous, consider something really out-of-the-box like a structural aspect, like this business card with tear-tabs:
Or these clear plastic business cards:
4. Use a smart design. The design of your business cards should be appropriate for your business. If you run a landscaping business, don't put wine glasses on your business cards. Choose graphics and layouts because they represent your business, not because they're your favorite color or because they remind you of your favorite vacation spot.
5. Catch the typos. Handing out typo-ridden business cards is a death sentence for your marketing efforts. Be sure to check and double-check spelling of names and especially addresses and phone numbers. And if you get a new number or your website URL changes, it's time to get new cardsand toss your old ones in the recycling bin.
