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40 sensational print portfolios

rreuter — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 10:17:16 +0000

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.

pixeltierra

Illusion Workshop

Jesse Willmon

Foxies Graphic Design

Okapistudio

I shot him

Giancarlo Fajardo

Zaum and Braun

Vincent Mazza

X3 Studios

Point Five Design

Spike Press

Nine Leons

Nathan Sanders

Michel Ferreira

FTDesigner

Commonbrand

Niki Brown

Derrick Aviles

Paul Swagerman

Sassy Monkey Media

The Design Company

Allen Antonelli

Zen 777

B.N. Weiss

design by silnt

Flourish

Lucky Devil

Moxie Design Studio

Booreiland

Perimeter

F. Claire Baxter

Sizzle Media

Kidd 81

Lowres

Matts Gallery

Kulturbanause

Adrian 3

One Way Studio

Pack Network

Best of Adobe Photoshop tutorials

rreuter — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 14:47:02 +0000

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.

How to Use Texture and Lighting to Create Rounded Artwork

Creating a Glowing Sphere in An Inverted Image

Create amazing water-drenched photomontages

Master 3D type effects

Combine textures with vectors

Create frozen liquid effects

Create a Feathered Crow Illustration

Create a Funky Perspective of a Model Riding Digital Volume

Create A Slow Motion Bullet Shot Effect

Frozen and Burnt Face

Design a Realistic 3D Baseball Cap in Photoshop

How to Create a Chilling Photo Manipulation in Photoshop

How to Create a Planet Icon Set in Photoshop

How To Create a Post Apocalyptic Photo Manipulation

How to Draw a Portrait in Photoshop

How to Mold Paint Splatter to a Face in Photoshop

How to Turn Humdrum Photos into Cinematic Portraits

Combine Photo Elements to Create a Surreal Photo Manipulation

Abstract Design Composition tutorial

iPhone Gift Ribbon

Making of a Scary Mental Hospital Scene

Making of the Imaginary Paint Dancers

Manipulate Smoke to Create Hyper-Real Images

Make a Vintage Magazine Ad in Photoshop

Photo Strip

Dazzling Dance Photo Manipulation

The Maiden and Hummingbird Photo Manipulation

Creating a Spy Fly Photo Manipulation

How to Create Product Labels in Photoshop

So You Think Im Fat Do You?

Add Fantastic Color to 3D Text

Super Cool Retro Poster in 10 Steps in Photoshop

Expressive lighting effects

Create a Trendy Typographic Poster Design

Create an Awesome Grass Texture in Photoshop

Create a Stunning Text on Wild Fire Effect

Create striking portraits

Screen-print effects

Make an Inspiring Artistic Poster with Drawn Elements

Na’vi Avatar Photo Manipulation

The new way to create 3D text

Human Statue Effect: Cursed by Medusa

Building a textured visual treat

Create dynamic backdrop lighting

How to Create Eroded Metal Text with Photoshop

Painting Perfect Skin

Painting via Adjustment Layers

How to Draw a Classic Hand using a Graphics Tablet

Create mile-high type art

Create a Steam Powered Typographic Treatment

50 outstanding Adobe Illustrator tutorials

rreuter — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 07:52:56 +0000

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.

Texture

Painting-Tutorial

Blueprint-Style Text in Adobe Illustrator

Vector Figure shading

Cafe Style Coffee Art in Adobe Illustrator

Create a Character Mascot with Adobe Illustrator CS4

Comic Book Style Graphic Design

Creating trees in Illustrator

Digital manga illustration

Pixels and vectors

Retro car vectors

Create a Fun Icon of Frozen People on Ice

Create A Grisly Zombie Illustration With A Pen Tablet

Create a Super Happy Octopus Character

Create a Themed Repeating Pattern in Illustrator

Create a Vibrant 3D Pixel Type Treatment

Creating a Surrealistic Hand-Drawn Illustration

Design with Swirls and Flourishes

How to Create a Landscape Wallpaper for your Desktop

Digital Art Tutorial

How to Create a Web Site Mascot

How to Create a Rocketing, Vector Aircraft Shuttle

Draw a screaming little girl in Illustrator

How to Create a Vector Goldfish in Six Steps

How to Create a Smokin’ Western Type Treatment in Illustrator

Draw a happy monster illustration

How to Create a Vector Illustration and Prepare it for Micro-Stock Sale

How to Create an Open Book with Illustrator’s 3D Extrude & Bevel Tool

How to Create an Abstract Vector Design in Illustrator

Vectoring Hair

How to Create Smoky Brushes and Type In Illustrator CS4

How to Make Realistic Skate Wheels in Illustrator

Illustrate Image Into Vector

How to Turn Glasses into a Great Geek Icon

How to Turn a Client Approved Snack Label into a 3D Looking Snack Pack

Illustrator Make with Mesh

Create incredible 3D type-based infographic art

Chinese Bamboo

Creating Omspace 3D cylinder graphic in Illustrator

Make a Torn Vector Desktop Wallpaper with Angled Text

OWL DiNG Tutorial

Designing a Sleek Pencil Icon

Disco Ball Tutorial

Save Time With Save Selection

The making of a chocolate bar character

Trendy Geometric Lines Design Tutorial

Create cool infographics

Working with Client Changes While Illustrating a Hippie Bus

Creating convincing characters

Tips for Working with the Gradient Mesh Tool In Illustrator

50 free icon sets for your projects

rreuter — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 11:32:42 +0000

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.

Bagg & Box Telecharger Icon Pack

Shopping Cart Icon

Cemagraphics

The City Icons

Iconshock

Shopping Cart

Simpsons Mail

Lecoupdulapin

Apple LED 24″ Display Icon

Apple Mail Icons

Yoritsuki icons

Free Hand Drawn Doodle Icon Set

Practika

Finance and Applications

3D Cartoon Icons Pack

De Freu-Icon Pack

Dellipack 2

Heart: A Free Social Icon Set

Milky – A free stock vector iconset

ecqlipse 2

Black Neon Agua: iPhone Theme

UMI Icons

iConPack

Paper Clip

HydroPRO

Icon Set

nova

Office Space

Old school icons

15 Free Origami Icons

Trash Can Replacement

Set of Stylized Icons

From Russia with Love

Plastic Iconset

Web Developer Icons Set

Kidaubis Chinese Wind Icons

Snowe Doc

Goodies

Wooden Slick Drives

Container Icons

I’m not a Patriot

Smashing Retro Icon Set

Antares Icon Pack

OldSchool Icon Set

Sketchy Paper Icons

Sticker Pack

Freaky Crema

Birdies

Simplicio

Old Bottle Crowns Icon Set

The use of writing

azionare — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 10:54:26 +0000

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.

There are a thousand fonts conveying different messages and various feelings. Each font conceals its own statement wanting to be discovered and applied.
Which font is suitable for which topic? Should it be an eye catcher or simply well-readable at first sight? What are the tasks it needs to fulfill?

This concerns topics such as objectivity and reliability, distance and endurance, relaxation and a feeling of security, coolness and fun, of humor and familiarity.

As an example, the design of your business card includes several of the aspects referred to above. Approach the design in an objective way at first and deal with firmly selected attributes that provide your card (which should basically be a reflection of yourself in the smallest possible format) with a respectable impression. You want and should create a certain distance between yourself and the reader. This distance expresses itself in respect, which is then followed by persistent sustainability in the best case. However, you wish to enable the reader to feel relaxed and to assure him. Mix this with a pinch of coolness and a little wit – because what would life be without humor? You’ll be surprised how quickly familiarity will develop between you and the reader.

Answer the following questions to yourself: who is meant to read this? How should they read it? Which emotions do I want to arouse? Because emotions will stick. With the customized typographical means you are able to put your message down on paper.

Simply try it out yourself! There is hardly any message that cannot be strengthened and confirmed by a certain font. There are no limits to your creativity.

Fonts that speak to you

azionare — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 14:47:28 +0000

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.

The procedure to place an order (3)

azionare — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 08:13:57 +0000

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.

The procedure to place an order (2)

azionare — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 09:28:13 +0000

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…

The procedure to place an order

azionare — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 14:11:23 +0000

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…

print24.com What is it?

azionare — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 10:44:11 +0000

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.