Thread: Graphic Design Stuff

OK, I've concentrated in the last year or so on getting some decent professional pictures taken of me, including some fabulous ones by Tracey (photo/traceylove). (Go have a look at my gallery- write me nice comments...)

I need to get a business card/postcard designed and made up, but I don't know the first thing about it, and my friend who I would normally ask such things is snowed under at work, and she really doesn't have the time to faff about with photoshop and get things printed for me.

So I'm looking for pointers, recommendations, offers of help, pimping of one's professional design services (or those of one's spouse, sibling, best friend). I'm perfectly happy to pay for a pro job, but it would be really helpful to know what sort of charges to expect.

I'd prefer to work with a UK person/company, just because it would seem to be easier to integrate between design and production, but hey, with the strong pound maybe it could be financially interesting to work with an overseas designer/printer.

(PS, I've cross posted from the BritBhuzzers and UK Pro BDer groups, so I'm sorry if you keep getting this)

All hints, tips, words of wisdom gratefully received.

Bea,

If I was figuring out my card with your choices, I'd be going for that green skirt shot - perfect framing for text, and I love the graphic composition and colors of the photo.

But, my taste is rather minimal and I prefer suggestion to the overt - which runs contrary to most BDer's approach who need to advertise for work and such.

Originally Posted by danidance

Bea,
But, my taste is rather minimal and I prefer suggestion to the overt - which runs contrary to most BDer's approach who need to advertise for work and such.

I like your taste, and fortunately I don't *need* to advertise for work. This is not my primary source of income. So I just need to have something that I can hand over to people to give them my contact info, website details & so on. I want it to be visually interesting and well presented, rather than it needing to scream *I am a bellydancer book me book me*

I love that skirt shot myself, and Sarah Harraway, the photographer, has a very interesting "eye". The other one I like is the one with the pink veil in a halo around me! I'm just not sure how it could be used compositionally, which is where I'd really appreciate some advice from a pro.

Also, that's just a very small sample of the pictures I have at my disposal now.

I use microsoft publisher and design my own. It's fun! It also allows you to add layers and such.

One of my students does an amazing job, but she's in the USA. Her email anyway is zeline@fairpoint.net.

As for printing, I highly reccomend andrea@pgmi-ccc.com. I got double sided photos glossy and really rugged cards printed for $80 for I believe 2000? What the hell I am going to do with 2000 cards? But hey, it was cheaper than 500 locally!

Hi Bea,

If you have any Microsoft program on your computer you can make a nice business card design yourself. I made one for my pet sitting business and I get compliments on it all of the time and I am NOTTTTTTTTT a computer person by any means at all. I too, liked the green dress pic. and the red one where you a proped up on your arm. It shows alot of clevage for my taste but I am a bit of a prude :) Nice pictures Bea.

***edit***

here is a link to the template I used for my business card. You can design around this all you want.
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/te...33.aspx?pid=CT101043091033

Bea -

here's 5 minutes worth of photoshop - the fonts suck but just look at placement idea. Sometimes it helps to visualize options.

Originally Posted by danidance

Bea -

here's 5 minutes worth of photoshop - the fonts suck but just look at placement idea. Sometimes it helps to visualize options.

Thanks Dani- that's great! In my head, I'd only "seen" the whole picture (your second example). As soon as I saw your first example I was slapping my forehead and saying Duh! to myself, because it looks so much better when you put the image over to one side.

See this is why I can't be trusted to design anything myself!

if you still need help, i ll be glad to help.
im a professional graphic designer.
just send me the pic you want to have in your card to: josy@magadans.is

Bea - for that image you may want to flip it so that your other hand that is holding the veil shows - you can flip the image in photo shop without flipping it's position on the card, i.e., the placement would be the same but your body would be flipped in the picture...that might or might not be better.

Originally Posted by beafarhana

Thanks Dani- that's great! In my head, I'd only "seen" the whole picture (your second example). As soon as I saw your first example I was slapping my forehead and saying Duh! to myself, because it looks so much better when you put the image over to one side.

See this is why I can't be trusted to design anything myself!