40 sensational print portfolios

February 18th, 2010

Examples of good printing art

Print media do have their very own appeal and requirements. As a source of inspiration and also as a survey concerning what colleagues in this branch have already come up with, we have looked for 40 of the most appealing print portfolios. You’ll find a lot of posters, flyers and catalogs, but also books or product packings. It’s remarkable that a large number of artists are not only producing print designs but also logo and web designs. Thus there are results well worth seeing for every designer.
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Best of Adobe Photoshop tutorials

February 3rd, 2010

Instructions and workshops for professionals

Photoshop is Adobe’s most popular program. Therefore you can find hundreds of tutorials on the internet. However, it’s not easy to spot the real gems. We have put together a best-of list for you – a link to numerous articles, which will certainly be an inspiration and may broaden your Photoshop knowledge.

This is about 3D text effects, sophisticated compositions, painted artworks and cool posters. Nothing for beginners, but definitely something for the more advanced user. After all, the results are surely worth a glimpse.
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50 outstanding Adobe Illustrator tutorials

January 26th, 2010

Creating vector graphics

Adobe’s Illustrator is probably the most used program for creating vector-based graphics. As vector graphics can be scaled arbitrarily without a loss in quality, they are the ideal basis for any print product, from business cards to posters.

We’ve got hold of  50 amazing Adobe Illustrator tutorials for you, which not only lead up to fine results, but which also contain a lot of insider knowledge for advanced users. Characters are brought to life here, info graphics are created and areas are filled with patterns and designs. (more…)

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50 free icon sets for your projects

January 20th, 2010

Useful symbols

Icons, also called pictograms are symbols which can easily convey information. In order to facilitate usabilty, they are often used on the internet and in programming. However, common symbols used in emails and social networks may also be of interest on printed products, such as business cards. Although the usual formats are .ico and .png, some icons are also offered as scalable vector graphics. Generally, these symbols are a magnificient source of inspiration. (more…)

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The use of writing

January 20th, 2010

Writing describes the overall image of graphic symbols and signs compiled in a system to convey language, design, messages and ideas to others.
It will be silently and nonverbally, consciously and especially subconsciously remembered by the reader.

Subconsciousness shapes a person and is responsible for the fact that we are sometimes immediately accosted and attracted by certain designs, meaning products as well as labels. You are able to address exactly this subconsciousness.

You need to learn what happens between the letters, the words and lines, because only with this understanding you will be able to develop an outstanding design. (more…)

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Fonts that speak to you

January 13th, 2010

Nowadays we are surrounded by design at any place and any time.

We can see the most different design structures everywhere.
Brand names, slogans, perfumes, chocolate milkshakes, even bus tickets convey a very particular message to the reader with special and specifically selected fonts.

But what is it that makes the design this appealing and attractive?

Why do fonts strike a chord with us?

Typography should not be boring.

The same font should not appear repeatedly.
The essential key to excellent graphics is a simple but impressive, down-to-earth but at the same time interesting, very familiar but also newly interpreted font design.

One example: “Helvetica”.

This font was developed by Max Miedinger 50 years ago. At that time expectations of the design and the message it was supposed to convey were very different – unexpressed but still perceptible and catchy. Even today there are hardly any designers who do not honor and appreciate Helvetica. It is used without limits for any design and provides answers to any kind of product. There are many global companies who decided for “Helvetica” as their business and logo font – with a lot of success.

“Arial” by Robin Nicholas and Patricia Saunders is another respectable and seemingly “simple” font. The typeface became famous because of Microsoft Word and it is surely among the world’s most popular fonts.

“Taller Evolution” by Studio Kmzero is an example of a likewise popular, but a little more fancy and fresh font.

And there are so many more …
Just try them out! They are italic, bold, thin, narrow, wide, elongated, straight, diagonal or feature only capital letters… Use the fonts horizontally, vertically, upside-down and sideways – but use them. Try out your own designs using different graphics and typographies. You will be surprised at how diversified your designs will appear simply by using different fonts. Flyers, posters, advertising bills, labeled pictures, graded documents – there are no limits. You make the rules. Be inspired.

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The procedure to place an order (3)

December 22nd, 2009

The final steps

Now that you’ve submitted all your data regarding your project – log in with your e-mail address and password.

In the “object name” field you’re asked to give your order a name. Please make sure it’s a meaningful name, which describes your project best. If every business card is called “business card” even we get confused.

In the second field it’s up to you to specify how you’ll transfer your data to us. You can choose between “Upload” with your browser, “FTP upload” to our server or “Email”. “Upload” is the easiest way for submitting a rather small business card file.

Once we’ve got your data, we’ll verify them: either with the “Base check” (for free) or the “Premium check” (additional charge) with error correction and feedback within 60 minutes after receipt of your data, which is certainly a good idea for a more complex order. Everybody knows how tricky bugs are and it’s definitely worthwhile having them eliminated by our specialists to avoid spoiling your order. However, for our business cards we can go for the free base check.

On the right you’ll see a purple “Services & Specials” box. Here you’re able to “Request sample copies” (additional charge) or “Change sender or delivery address”.

The credit coupon box is definitely something nice here. We’ll launch promotional campaigns for our customers – not all the time but every now and then. You’ll find information about them here or at facebook or twitter. In order to make a bargain with our current campaign, please enter “coupon0005” or “coupon0010”. That way you can save 5 or 10 $, which you can spend for your Holidays. This voucher is valid until December 31st and can be used once per person/order. Our customers in Canada shall try: “coupon0050” or “coupon0100”.

If you want to add any remarks, use the “Comments” field on the left.

“Proceed to shopping cart”

In your shopping cart you’ll find your order now. The “i” icon in the “Product” column on the left shows all the data of your order. You can review everything again and there’s still the chance to edit or even delete your order.

If everything is fine “Go to check out” and specify your method of payment. You can choose between PayPal or credit card (MasterCard or Visa). It’s also possible to change your billing address here.

Finally, don’t forget to carefully read our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy. If you agree mark the checkbox.

That’s it: “Complete the order”.

You’ll receive e-mails of every step your order takes throughout the production and you’ll be notified when your business cards will leave our print shop.

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The procedure to place an order (2)

December 18th, 2009

Now we have reached the column on the right.

To provide your business cards with a surface protection, you could choose a premium UV coating here. However, it depends on the paper you choose. It doesn’t apply to your currently selected 12 pt cards.

If you want to see what your business cards look like, you can get a proof: Either a “Paper Proof” which is a printed sheet of paper, or you might find a “Screen Proof” to be sufficient for checking our quality beforehand, meaning that we’ll send you a file to look at on your PC screen.
However, since such a proof is available for an extra charge only and will also prolong delivery time, you should think twice whether it makes sense for business cards.

Finally, you have to specify how many business cards you want. Go to the “Quantity” field. Here you’ll find a list of quantity figures together with the associated prices.

The last field on the right tells you now the exact price that we’ll charge you, as well as the date when your business cards arrive at your door.
To get a summary of your order, click “Quotation” on the top right of the “$ Price/Delivery” field. A window pops up showing all details of your order.

If you want to know the shipping costs involved, use our “Shipping Calculator” below the “$ Price/Delivery” field.

It might be a good idea to get an overview of your order data now. Let’s go back to the left side and call up the “Fact Sheet” from the top of the second line (Print Data). It will also give you a clue about the specifications required in your data file, which you’re going to send us.

Having completed all entries here, click the blue “To the shopping cart” button.
Now it’s time to get registered, unless you’ve done this before.

To be continued…

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The procedure to place an order

December 17th, 2009

Placing an order at print24 is very easy.

First of all, make sure that you have selected your country from the drop-down list at the very top of our print24 homepage. Otherwise things might get confused.

Now let’s assume you need a couple of business cards.
Click the “Calculate” button (which is normally already active by default).

Now click the arrow button on the “Product” line to open the list of products and select “Business Cards”. By the way, if you hover your mouse pointer over the blue i icon that you can find on each line, you will get more detailed information on each related item.

Let’s assume you prefer to use your own print data, selecting this option from the second line.
You might as well go for our FreeDesign tool, but this will be in the focus of one of our blogs to come.

As business cards are commonly single-sided, keep this setting in the “Pages” box.
Also the format of 3.5’’ x 2’’ suites your needs.

To give your cards a solid look, select “12 pt Board coated” from the “Paper” list.

Now we come to the color options. Here you’ll find a long list to choose from. But why bother too much? “4/0 Color CMYK” is the best deal here any way. By the way, whenever you come across the BestDeal symbol you can be sure that you won’t find any better product on the web.

In the “Processing” field let’s go for “Trimming, corners rounded” for a change. Who says that business cards should always have square corners?

To be continued tomorrow…

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print24.com What is it?

December 16th, 2009

Where is print24 available?

It’s available in 21 countries in North America and Europe, located in big cities including Seattle, Calgary, Berlin, London, Paris, Milan, Madrid, Vienna, Zurich, Amsterdam, Brussels, Dublin, Luxemburg, Warsaw, Prague, Copenhagen, Oslo, Stockholm, Helsinki, Lisbon and Athens.

What are the advantages of online printing services?

Online printing allows the production and delivery of printed materials. It’s no longer stationary and restricted to regional providers. It enables complete price transparency by offering consumers the opportunity to easily compare the offerings of multiple vendors, regardless of their geographic location, to determine the best printing partner.

Web-to-print gives everyone including individual consumers, small and medium-sized businesses, large enterprises and the public sector the opportunity to have high-quality printing at an affordable price. And the best of it: You don’t even have to leave your office or home. All printed products are delivered to your door within 1 – 7 days!

How will your data reach us?

Ready-to-print data can be sent to print24 by email or uploaded online, or you can create your own design by taking advantage of our FreeDesign software that offers a range of templates.

Calculation tool to determine exact prices for varied options

To help you get the best products for your money, print24 offers a calculation tool allowing you to try out several parameters such as paper quality, color and delivery method, so you can determine the exact price and adjust the parameters as necessary before placing your order.

How to contact us in case of questions?

If you have any questions at any stage of the ordering process, print24 is easily accessible through a live online chat, toll-free number, or a call-back request form. Through these services as well as our client quality review tool and the guestbook on our website, we at print24 strive to foster an interactive relationship with you, our customers, and enable you to send your feedback/requests directly to our management team for further improvement to ensure you are happy with your end products.

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