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Why pay a Graphic Designer when you can do it yourself? |
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The most important factor to consider is that the majority of printers will not accept files from: Word, Powerpoint, Publisher, Paint. If artwork is supplied from those softwares then they will charge for converting to something they can use, at anything from $40 - $100 per hour. Unless you have the proper design software & know a bit about what you are doing then I'd advise against at all times and that's not me just saying that so I get extra work.... Think of it like this, it's no different to painting or tiling your house, sure you can do it yourself if you try, but a professional job not only looks better but it saves you lots of stress & mistakes. Plus the finished image it projects is different. So the question is: Do you want to project a professional image & stand out above your competitors? |
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5 thoughts to consider when updating your brochure |
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Tuesday, 19 July 2011 22:51 |
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1: Forget you know your company... look at your brochure as a potential client would view it. • Does it tell you everything you'd want to know if you had never seen it before? • Does it contain TOO much? People get bored very easily, too much text will put potential clients off reading further • Is it engaging? Does it interest you & make you WANT to read further? • Do your photos SELL the product. A poor photo will put people off, better to have no photos than a bad photo! 2: Ask someone who doesn't know your company or products... let them give you feedback with fresh eyes on the business - Ask 3 or 4 people. Llisten to their advise as they will be seeing your business as a new customer would. 3: If you have a Tri-fold brochure... watch how others open it, what is the first thing they see? Is that where you have the strongest message? 4: Try to keep dates and prices off your brochure. Prices or Special offers can be added via a cost-effective single insert, daily/weekly/monthly to suit you... or state that prices & Specials are listed on your website, facebook page, twitter etc... which will ensure your brochure remains current for longer but also gain you visitors to your online mediums. If you do have to list your prices, then maybe go for a lower print run - yes, the unit cost per leaflet will be more, but you'll use them quicker, so can update sooner... a low unit cost does not mean much when your brochures are sat in a box doing nothing! 5: Remember to highlight ALL your calls-to-action , not just your phone number... Do you have a Website, e-Newsletter, Facebook or Twitter page? Then make sure that is highlighted on your brochure and tell people so that they can interact with you! |
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CMYK vs RGBI am often asked what the difference is between RGB and CMYK... RGB is how your computer monitor displays the colours you see. Everything is made up of Red, Blue and Green in various strengths to make each colour, including black. If you are having your business cards, letterheads or posters printed digitally then what you get will be very similar to what you see on-screen as most digital machines use RGB printing. However, some people do get a shock, a totally different look. That is because our computer monitors are not all calibrated the same, what I see on mine could be a lot different to the same colours on your screen. Also, monitors are back lit, the light comes through the colours enhancing them & making the colours much more vibrant and bright than we can ever achieve on paper. CMYK is how professional Offset printing is performed. This is how magazines are printed and is how I will print your products (unless specified) The CMYK stands for: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Key... so instead of how you see your colour on your monitor or from your office Laser Printer, made of Red, Blue & Green, we will print in 4 colours. Black can actually be made up of the Cyan, Magenta and Yellow but an additional run of black is used, and that is called the Key as it 'locks in' & enhances all the colour making it a sharper image. Therefore, if you have set up artwork in RGB, it will have to be altered before being sent to press and the final colours printed may differ than those original intended. If you have any concerns over colour and especially colour matching, always discuss this with your Graphic Designer or Printer before committing to print. |
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