Read This Before you Hire a Graphic Designer
When you own your own business, there’s never a dull moment. That’s why I wrote ‘Turn Eye Appeal Into Buy Appeal’. It’s the do-it-yourself graphic design handbook that makes marketing your business as easy as 1-2-3. There are some projects, though, where it pays to hire a graphic designer. When it’s time to hire a graphic designer, these 5 essential tips can save you a lot of time and money:
1) Figure out if you can do it yourself. If you are not a professional graphic designer, you could spend days – even weeks – to make a brochure or flyer that a professional designer could do in a matter of hours. For major projects that will be a big part of your marketing campaign, you’ll want to take advantage of the experience a graphic designer can offer. Once you find the right designer, you will have access to a consistent style of graphics for all your marketing pieces.
2) Check out their samples. Do you like what you see? If their portfolio includes the design elements that you are looking for, then you’ll know if their style is going to mesh with your style. And of course, you’ll want to see how their style will work for your type of product or service.
3) Get references. Your best place to start would be by asking friends and colleagues if they can recommend someone. Also, many graphic designers will include testimonials either on their website or correspondence. Don’t be shy to call… it’s why they’re there! You can also check with local printers. They usually know firsthand what the designers working style is. The website for the American Institute of Graphic Artists (AIGA.com) has a free listing of designers all over the country.
4) Interview your prospective designer. Talk about the size and scope of the project, what your expectations are, and any deadlines you may have. You can get a sense of their work ethic, and see if you will work well together. This gives the designer the chance to ask you questions, too. You’ll know upfront if they have the time and skill to take on your project.
5) Get it in writing. Once you’ve found the right designer, make sure all the details are outlined in the proposal or contract. Get it in writing and make sure you know what it does (and doesn’t) include. Don’t forget to read any terms and conditions (such as a deposit) and make sure you’re comfortable with them before you start the project.
Now you can go out and hire the graphic designer that’s going to make your marketing campaign come to life!
Karen Saunders is the owner of MacGraphics Services, a unique design firm for today?s entrepreneur. Whether you outsource your promotional pieces or are a do-it-yourselfer, Karen takes the mystery out of marketing. Learn the Top 5 Mistakes that can cost you money by signing up for her FREE e-course, available for a limited time. To take advantage of this e-course and find out how easy it can be to attract more clients, http://www.macgraphics.net/FreeStuff.php.
Learn Photoshop Now – Read More
Photoshop vs Photoshop Elements: Which One Is Right for You?
In this article, I’ll discuss 2 excellent softwares for manipulating digital photographs and images - Photoshop and Photoshop Elements. Hopefully, after reading this, you can make an informed decision.
Photoshop and Photoshop Elements differ in three main areas: price, ease of use, and features. Let’s go over each one.
1. Price - Adobe Photoshop costs a whopping $699, while Photoshop Elements is $99.
For many, the price will dictate their choice. Keep in mind, some professionals use Elements even for their work. They use workarounds such as add-ons and other tools to get Elements to do what they need to accomplish. But more on that later.
2. Ease of Use - With Photoshop geared towards professional image users, you can expect it to be more difficult to use. Elements has a more intuitive, more user-friendly interface.
However, if you’re already familiar with photo editing software, such as earlier versions of Photoshop, then this won’t be much of an issue.
3. Features - As you might have guessed, the differences in price and ease of use stem from differences in features. Photoshop has functionalities which Elements doesn’t have… and vice versa.
For example, Photoshop has more robust features for manipulating the finer details of a digital image. Here are just some features in Photoshop, which aren’t in Elements:
- CMYK and LAB color modes
- Ability to work with 16-bit and 32-bit images
- Layer masks and layer comps
- Adjustment layers for color balance, curves and selective color
- Advanced text formatting, including putting text on a path
But don’t ditch Elements yet. It also has features you won’t find in Photoshop, such as:
- Automatic red-eye removal
- Cookie cutter tool, background templates and artwork
- Photo Organizer, which lets you tag photos and later find them quickly through tags. Photo Organizer also lets you share your photos by creating online galleries, slideshows, photo books and more.
As mentioned earlier, many Elements users find they can do with Elements a lot of the things Photoshop can do. Some of the functionalities are there but need to be “unlocked.” Add-ons and tools for Photoshop Elements are developed by users of both software. Both are powerful software for perfecting your digital images. Choose the one that best meets your needs within the resources you have.
For more information on “Photoshop or Photoshop Elements” Click Here, Act Now
Learn Photoshop Elements Now – Read More
If you seriously want to create digital photos that wow others, you’re likely to look for image editing software. Adobe has a family of Photoshop software that helps users take their digital photos from ordinary to amazing. With the choices available, it can be hard to decide which one is right for you.
Learn Elements Now. Adobe Photoshop Elements is the member of the Photoshop family, which was made for non-professional consumers who want to get professional-looking results without professional-level skills or the high ticket price. Here are 5 reasons you should choose Photoshop Elements:
1. Powerful editing features - Anybody who has taken digital pictures needs to remove the occasional red eye. Photoshop Elements helps you do this with ease. But there’s a lot more you can do with Adobe Photoshop, things you probably never imagined you could do in your home computer or laptop. These include changing skin tones, erasing unwanted bystanders on travel pictures, combining the best of two photos to make the perfect one, and many more. The best part is, it only takes a couple of minutes to achieve these effects..
2. Add text, graphics and decorative edges – Transform your pictures into more effective communication pieces. Add text, shapes and other graphics and even decorative borders and edges. It’s like scrap booking on your computer – but much easier, faster and mess-free.
3. Turn your images into physical products – Share your photos through physical products you’ll be proud to give away to friends and family, or as marketing pieces for your small business.
4. Share your photos online – With the optional membership in Photoshop.com Plus, you can share your best photos online. Photoshop Elements provides templates – some have animation, some allow dynamic interaction. Using these templates, you can have an interactive online album in mere minutes.
5. Organize photos – Photoshop Elements enables one-click transferring of photos into your computer. Photos are automatically organized by date and time, as well as tagging with any keywords of your choice. This allows you to sort and find photos quickly. The optional membership in Photoshop.com Plus also comes with automatic online backup of up to 1,500 photos.
There’s no doubt Photoshop Elements makes digital photography fun and rewarding. Photoshop Elements makes a lot of tasks – from editing photos to transforming them into digital and physical products, to organizing and storing photos – fast and easy. It’s a good choice for the consumer who doesn’t want to spend hours learning a complicated image editing software like Adobe Photoshop CS4.
Even though Photoshop Elements is easier to use than professional level software, it nevertheless has a learning curve. For more information on “Photoshop Elements” Click Here, Act Now
What is a good book to read to learn photoshop elements 6 for a mac computer?
I have photoshop elements 6 and a mac computer. I need to find a book to learn more about photoshop. Any advice on a good book? Thanks!
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