tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-45714497487962156962024-03-13T11:10:04.190-04:00Bodacious business cardsTom Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11382119491604433679noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4571449748796215696.post-43906237612423919472019-04-14T18:46:00.000-04:002019-04-14T19:46:53.721-04:00 Cropping tips for business card design<b> Cropping tips for business card design</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ZU7O9kZNuVmHmtQXUZYcyv5GyNJ2Y18Y2HyjaToYRMSWQBffgtxeObGUq0XPjBtePgKOc8oGYwJSXZ8901PO0eH2EMPa68QAFevAweY5ECKOhu-jdzM02kkAXETXp0E1IsTcbeE31Q/s1600/crop-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="357" data-original-width="600" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ZU7O9kZNuVmHmtQXUZYcyv5GyNJ2Y18Y2HyjaToYRMSWQBffgtxeObGUq0XPjBtePgKOc8oGYwJSXZ8901PO0eH2EMPa68QAFevAweY5ECKOhu-jdzM02kkAXETXp0E1IsTcbeE31Q/s400/crop-3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
This is an advanced topic for Adobe Photoshop users.<br />
<br />
Starting with an average size digital photo (3872 x 2592), composing and cropping the image down to business card size (615 x 1062)can be a challenge. To solve this problem, I created a Photoshop template with an outside border, an inner translucent border, and a transparent center rectangle. I copy and paste this template image into a separate layer in the digital image I'm working with, and I can move the business card sized crop frame around the larger image so I can easily visualize and select the business card composition.<br />
<br />
The frame, by itself, is not much to look at:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX4pdjwEJ-sPrPFt7C5M8xuzX9EHi5tpOc-_04gsBcRyjetQI0kglkIwodhqjB_8aJUVd7shsJCM1Tvr4tsMcGl4kbFWzczUFmA2SUEemrcIAGZBORkLczzEKMhbwx0d9Pyelydyb5TQ/s1600/screen-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="302" data-original-width="468" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX4pdjwEJ-sPrPFt7C5M8xuzX9EHi5tpOc-_04gsBcRyjetQI0kglkIwodhqjB_8aJUVd7shsJCM1Tvr4tsMcGl4kbFWzczUFmA2SUEemrcIAGZBORkLczzEKMhbwx0d9Pyelydyb5TQ/s320/screen-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
For this example, I am using a free stock photo from Dreamstime.com. This particular photo is 3000 x 2400 pixels, much larger than business card size. I have pasted my cropping frame to three different layers in Photoshop and I move them around to select likely compositions. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0e_cUd8tWoEOlg_mjeBzusXGHEUxF3zUBkAcigxtRZqvsplBmAqnChfXOHfZHt6_iymiz3Gz71H0-Smzc8ggPjmBzn41ZSVnhBCEwZonRUPbSyARUbKXFaUYmehGcfBLT3fzW8zBIIw/s1600/dreamstime_xxl_40465468-8x1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="800" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0e_cUd8tWoEOlg_mjeBzusXGHEUxF3zUBkAcigxtRZqvsplBmAqnChfXOHfZHt6_iymiz3Gz71H0-Smzc8ggPjmBzn41ZSVnhBCEwZonRUPbSyARUbKXFaUYmehGcfBLT3fzW8zBIIw/s320/dreamstime_xxl_40465468-8x1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
The Photoshop business card frame file is created to standard business card technical specification, with a tenth of an inch extra room on each side for full-bleed overlap. By copying the cropping template file image and pasting into the working photograph in Photoshop, the relative size and dimension of a business card is easily visualized, as seen in the image above. <br />
<br />
The floating crop-frame can be re-positioned anywhere on the larger image. The framed area of the photograph will be selected using the Photoshop selector tool to grab and copy an exact-sized copy of the photo.<br />
<br />
Once you have framed the business card composition you like, use the Photoshop slector tool to grab <b>both</b> the transparent inner rectangle <b>and</b> the wide translucent white border of the crop frame. Then switch to the underlying photo layer, copy the contents, open a new file, and paste. These are the result:<br />
<div style="clear: both;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUAWRd_RMlMZA5dmZRqcSNqnnA7exl5dBssavvZirNK9ZUVvhdtXyv_9V5uxAUxs_cdY2zDSMJmbph9os3BeucUQ-sQwFUa3Skzp-3ePpH-A9npCPQTq_n34iVyCUU6b76Vrv-LA13Fw/s1600/crop-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="357" data-original-width="600" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUAWRd_RMlMZA5dmZRqcSNqnnA7exl5dBssavvZirNK9ZUVvhdtXyv_9V5uxAUxs_cdY2zDSMJmbph9os3BeucUQ-sQwFUa3Skzp-3ePpH-A9npCPQTq_n34iVyCUU6b76Vrv-LA13Fw/s320/crop-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJmy_tkTJxU91N-hx60t8t18VwoiBnfpyBEH-TeDT-NRwfQH1UUpO80_1TZrjqiwPWw_qW20jhpW25vhyC0zZlaWLSc2h5I_ioUAJRG9eaesX4WMHW7mGZ4vAQEXyZ1dxoyEn9LSUjmA/s1600/crop-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="357" data-original-width="600" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJmy_tkTJxU91N-hx60t8t18VwoiBnfpyBEH-TeDT-NRwfQH1UUpO80_1TZrjqiwPWw_qW20jhpW25vhyC0zZlaWLSc2h5I_ioUAJRG9eaesX4WMHW7mGZ4vAQEXyZ1dxoyEn9LSUjmA/s320/crop-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRpRQ6Asrw6c_90MN2_l9fUNClKSmzjGavcbAzC8jU5LlKYGK-b_BlFwQAOrruxjcqUM1zbGO7Xu47gIcUizH1eY7soF6MYFKBC089j7JBDj4neE4wnOmenCeOoaMwmfNoT7xUW6wDQQ/s1600/crop-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="357" data-original-width="600" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRpRQ6Asrw6c_90MN2_l9fUNClKSmzjGavcbAzC8jU5LlKYGK-b_BlFwQAOrruxjcqUM1zbGO7Xu47gIcUizH1eY7soF6MYFKBC089j7JBDj4neE4wnOmenCeOoaMwmfNoT7xUW6wDQQ/s320/crop-3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Here is another example. <br />
<br />
For this example, I am using <a href="http://www.dreamstime.com/res160670" title="Links to Dreamstime stock photos">Dreamstime</a>
stock photo of Multnomah Falls, # 921724 by Polish photographer Leszek
Wilk. This particular photo is available for free download from
Dreamstime, subject to its Limited Royalty Free Licenses (RF-LL).<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSI0dSNm5dbgflWX9ScUswbGfvjJmCyzQxC4pcdglVoGwKcQPL8wl8a6LzrEOYr_yjk4gKGvwYXStTlO-J7KvJ15NXBsEcVXFvziew2aa6-P0WULL9gFV87xr3z26axdNggogOmeeJjg/s1600/PStutorial-01-working-image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="373" data-original-width="511" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSI0dSNm5dbgflWX9ScUswbGfvjJmCyzQxC4pcdglVoGwKcQPL8wl8a6LzrEOYr_yjk4gKGvwYXStTlO-J7KvJ15NXBsEcVXFvziew2aa6-P0WULL9gFV87xr3z26axdNggogOmeeJjg/s400/PStutorial-01-working-image.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin5_O0ZtdpBmyS1grhZmxJKLC-yY2Ewy6x9r7vd0exrsEVyfuw4Y4VCdcvUN4hOJSIISe0OIw4i3sVhgg113iaRO7jew6VwNr-CdZ84Vw6fJ9IGzv4uIecwyXyRTipXqQ1vbDtOAtJhQ/s1600/PStutorial-01-layers-box.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="161" data-original-width="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin5_O0ZtdpBmyS1grhZmxJKLC-yY2Ewy6x9r7vd0exrsEVyfuw4Y4VCdcvUN4hOJSIISe0OIw4i3sVhgg113iaRO7jew6VwNr-CdZ84Vw6fJ9IGzv4uIecwyXyRTipXqQ1vbDtOAtJhQ/s1600/PStutorial-01-layers-box.png" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZpMcEi2U3W9NCNny9qbiJW0kBDX6cNtvJUbJ4P5bbZdlbutpsB6KaCvk_s7PXC-jVYMo4hw_PI9htVYJC_PKo2eM2dstwHpldS4hztQsZ_dO9r6G2hJA7IQThQFzGNrex5CBZrE7D9Q/s1600/PStutorial-01-bizcard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="167" data-original-width="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZpMcEi2U3W9NCNny9qbiJW0kBDX6cNtvJUbJ4P5bbZdlbutpsB6KaCvk_s7PXC-jVYMo4hw_PI9htVYJC_PKo2eM2dstwHpldS4hztQsZ_dO9r6G2hJA7IQThQFzGNrex5CBZrE7D9Q/s1600/PStutorial-01-bizcard.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
I hope this helps.
<br />
Here's is the finished product ready for sale on Zazzle.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.zazzle.com/z/lzao2?rf=238769370457645507"><img alt="Dark forest personalized business card " src="https://rlv.zcache.com/dark_forest_personalized_business_card-r90cf9c0d39824f17a8575339a30127c5_em407_1024.jpg?max_dim=325" style="border: 0;" /></a>
<br />
<a href="https://www.zazzle.com/z/lzao2?rf=238769370457645507">Dark forest personalized business card </a>
<br />
by <a href="https://www.zazzle.com/store/Bodacious_Bodega?rf=238769370457645507">Bodacious_Bodega</a>
</div>
Tom Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11382119491604433679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4571449748796215696.post-49342754770015565912019-04-12T10:59:00.004-04:002019-04-12T11:00:36.537-04:00What is a business card?<b>What is a business card?</b><br />
<br />
Everyone has an existing idea of what a business card looks like and what it is for. Apply basic principles, a business card *could* be and mean anything I want. It is a 2" x 3.5" piece of card stock, of various thickness, with printing on it. These days the printing is full color. A "business card" is nothing more than a miniature billboard with anything I want to put on it.<br />
<br />
Anything.Tom Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11382119491604433679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4571449748796215696.post-27909042273934299602019-04-12T10:42:00.000-04:002019-04-12T10:42:03.354-04:00Puzzle pieces personalized business card<div style="text-align:center;line-height:150%">
<a href="https://www.zazzle.com/puzzle_pieces_personalized_business_card-256502090774559381?rf=238769370457645507" ><img src="https://rlv.zcache.com/puzzle_pieces_personalized_business_card-r8d59abe17f50414780d13c5c718d3da3_em407_1024.jpg?max_dim=325" alt="Puzzle pieces personalized business card" style="border:0;" /></a>
<br/>
<a href="https://www.zazzle.com/puzzle_pieces_personalized_business_card-256502090774559381?rf=238769370457645507" >Puzzle pieces personalized business card</a>
<br/>by <a href="https://www.zazzle.com/store/Bodacious_Bodega?rf=238769370457645507">Bodacious_Bodega</a>
</div>Tom Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11382119491604433679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4571449748796215696.post-77507021849756656752019-04-12T10:39:00.005-04:002019-04-12T10:39:46.440-04:00 Cheapest business card printing.<div class="_5pbx userContent _3ds9 _3576" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" id="js_3ls">
<b> Cheapest business card printing. Best for designers who upload their own designs.</b><br />
<br />
Still
it seems to me that VistaPrint.com is the clear winner for being the
cheapest source for business cards. I've used Vistaprint for more than
ten years, and I have always been very satisfied with its services. Of
course, I upload my own business card designs and I am interested only
in the price of printing. Vistaprint is cheap.<br />
<br />
I pity anyone who
must rely upon the stock business card designs on Vistaprint that a
non-graphic designer must choose from. Here are your choices: <b>(1)
Boring, (2) Bland, or (3) Blend in.</b><br />
This does NOT reflect my
theory of business cards. As far as I am concerned, a business card
should <b>stand out</b>, <b>grab your attention</b>, and be <b>memorabl</b>e. Why spend your
money on less than that?</div>
Tom Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11382119491604433679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4571449748796215696.post-27510318529868725412019-04-11T15:47:00.003-04:002019-04-11T19:16:44.370-04:00Bodacious Business Cards<div style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.zazzle.com/collections/bodacious_business_cards-119863628059140286?rf=238769370457645507"><img alt="Bodacious Business Cards" height="640" src="https://rlv.zcache.com/bodacious_business_cards_119863628059140286-r_zruem_0k2wf_425.jpg" style="border: 0px none;" width="320" /></a>
<br />
<a href="https://www.zazzle.com/collections/bodacious_business_cards-119863628059140286?rf=238769370457645507">Bodacious Business Cards</a>
<br />
by <a href="https://www.zazzle.com/mbr/238769370457645507?rf=238769370457645507">Carmen-Thomas Designs</a>
</div>
Tom Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11382119491604433679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4571449748796215696.post-66965194397844289052019-04-11T15:36:00.006-04:002019-04-11T15:36:54.876-04:00Serving girl personalized business card <div style="text-align:center;line-height:150%"> <a href="https://www.zazzle.com/z/liz6u?rf=238769370457645507" > <img src="https://rlv.zcache.com/serving_girl_personalized_business_card-r8035ae64649248b9bfb895344bf237a2_em407_1024.jpg?max_dim=325" alt="Serving girl personalized business card" style="border:0;" /> </a> <br /> <a href="https://www.zazzle.com/z/liz6u?rf=238769370457645507">Serving girl personalized business card</a> <br />by <a href="https://www.zazzle.com/bodacious_bodega?rf=238769370457645507">Bodacious_Bodega</a> </div>Tom Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11382119491604433679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4571449748796215696.post-37502202310245925802019-04-11T15:36:00.003-04:002019-04-11T15:36:15.449-04:00Bring down the fire personalized business card <div style="text-align:center;line-height:150%"> <a href="https://www.zazzle.com/z/liz6w?rf=238769370457645507"> <img src="https://rlv.zcache.com/bring_down_the_fire_personalized_business_card-rf450a6d10e6345e9992f4304ac18112f_em407_1024.jpg?max_dim=325" alt="Bring down the fire personalized business card" style="border:0;" /> </a> <br /> <a href="https://www.zazzle.com/z/liz6w?rf=238769370457645507">Bring down the fire personalized business card</a> <br />by <a href="https://www.zazzle.com/bodacious_bodega?rf=238769370457645507" >Bodacious_Bodega</a> </div>Tom Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11382119491604433679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4571449748796215696.post-43947591242673891562019-04-11T15:35:00.002-04:002019-04-11T15:35:34.358-04:00Mad Alice personalized business card <div style="text-align:center;line-height:150%"> <a href="https://www.zazzle.com/z/liz6a?rf=238769370457645507"> <img src="https://rlv.zcache.com/mad_alice_personalized_business_card-r6626dbb37caf4842865d3909e6f35bd1_em407_1024.jpg?max_dim=325" alt="Mad Alice personalized business card" style="border:0;" /> </a> <br /> <a href="https://www.zazzle.com/z/liz6a?rf=238769370457645507" >Mad Alice personalized business card</a> <br />by <a href="https://www.zazzle.com/bodacious_bodega?rf=238769370457645507">Bodacious_Bodega</a> </div>Tom Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11382119491604433679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4571449748796215696.post-45282903551064452842019-04-11T15:34:00.002-04:002019-04-11T15:34:44.041-04:00Sanctuary 1a personalized business card <div style="text-align:center;line-height:150%"> <a href="https://www.zazzle.com/z/lizjp?rf=238769370457645507" > <img src="https://rlv.zcache.com/sanctuary_1a_personalized_business_card-r9ed6ed6ce1f646f8b545f8f75251c40c_em407_1024.jpg?max_dim=325" alt="Sanctuary 1a personalized business card" style="border:0;" /> </a> <br /> <a href="https://www.zazzle.com/z/lizjp?rf=238769370457645507">Sanctuary 1a personalized business card</a> <br />by <a href="https://www.zazzle.com/bodacious_bodega?rf=238769370457645507">Bodacious_Bodega</a> </div>Tom Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11382119491604433679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4571449748796215696.post-9573942131312523752019-04-11T15:33:00.005-04:002019-04-11T15:33:59.544-04:00Sun Bird 1a personalized business card <div style="text-align:center;line-height:150%"> <a href="https://www.zazzle.com/z/lizjs?rf=238769370457645507" > <img src="https://rlv.zcache.com/sun_bird_1a_personalized_business_card-r3b614f0e376242faa8233258da6256b3_em407_1024.jpg?max_dim=325" alt="Sun Bird 1a personalized business card" style="border:0;" /> </a> <br /> <a href="https://www.zazzle.com/z/lizjs?rf=238769370457645507" >Sun Bird 1a personalized business card</a> <br />by <a href="https://www.zazzle.com/bodacious_bodega?rf=238769370457645507">Bodacious_Bodega</a> </div>Tom Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11382119491604433679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4571449748796215696.post-90163630277730126772019-04-11T15:33:00.002-04:002019-04-11T15:33:18.682-04:00Tarot Magician personalized business card <div style="text-align:center;line-height:150%"> <a href="https://www.zazzle.com/z/lizjc?rf=238769370457645507"> <img src="https://rlv.zcache.com/tarot_magician_personalized_business_card-r65573ba7d91e43df850bc20ef05db836_em407_1024.jpg?max_dim=325" alt="Tarot Magician personalized business card" style="border:0;" /> </a> <br /> <a href="https://www.zazzle.com/z/lizjc?rf=238769370457645507">Tarot Magician personalized business card</a> <br />by <a href="https://www.zazzle.com/bodacious_bodega?rf=238769370457645507">Bodacious_Bodega</a> </div>Tom Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11382119491604433679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4571449748796215696.post-62322099693079308502019-04-11T15:32:00.002-04:002019-04-11T15:32:27.921-04:00Tarot Sun personalized business card <div style="text-align:center;line-height:150%"> <a href="https://www.zazzle.com/z/lizj6?rf=238769370457645507"> <img src="https://rlv.zcache.com/tarot_sun_personalized_business_card-r725433b58e324433b9b2c95b23d2c252_em407_1024.jpg?max_dim=325" alt="Tarot Sun personalized business card" style="border:0;" /> </a> <br /> <a href="https://www.zazzle.com/z/lizj6?rf=238769370457645507">Tarot Sun personalized business card</a> <br />by <a href="https://www.zazzle.com/bodacious_bodega?rf=238769370457645507">Bodacious_Bodega</a> </div>Tom Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11382119491604433679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4571449748796215696.post-12005829785232181712019-04-11T15:31:00.005-04:002019-04-11T15:31:49.002-04:00Totem personalized business card <div style="text-align:center;line-height:150%"> <a href="https://www.zazzle.com/z/lizj2?rf=238769370457645507"> <img src="https://rlv.zcache.com/totem_personalized_business_card-rb2bf8769a3f44544bc3a4cd28a416d56_em407_1024.jpg?max_dim=325" alt="Totem personalized business card" style="border:0;" /> </a> <br /> <a href="https://www.zazzle.com/z/lizj2?rf=238769370457645507">Totem personalized business card</a> <br />by <a href="https://www.zazzle.com/bodacious_bodega?rf=238769370457645507">Bodacious_Bodega</a> </div>Tom Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11382119491604433679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4571449748796215696.post-49874634058902125852019-04-11T15:31:00.000-04:002019-04-11T15:31:01.498-04:00Abstract blue swirl personalized business card <div style="text-align:center;line-height:150%"> <a href="https://www.zazzle.com/z/lizzl?rf=238769370457645507"> <img src="https://rlv.zcache.com/abstract_blue_swirl_personalized_business_card-r896353848ce84321b68449aa63ac506e_em407_1024.jpg?max_dim=325" alt="Abstract blue swirl personalized business card" style="border:0;" /> </a> <br /> <a href="https://www.zazzle.com/z/lizzl?rf=238769370457645507">Abstract blue swirl personalized business card</a> <br />by <a href="https://www.zazzle.com/bodacious_bodega?rf=238769370457645507" >Bodacious_Bodega</a> </div>Tom Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11382119491604433679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4571449748796215696.post-5518875645134607702019-03-24T21:10:00.004-04:002019-03-24T21:10:53.622-04:00Personalized Angel Stickers<h2>
<a href="https://www.zazzle.com/collections/personalized_angel_stickers-119428804115175532?rf=238769370457645507" target="_blank">Personalized Angel Stickers</a></h2>
<div style="display: inline-block; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.zazzle.com/z/lfbbw?rf=238769370457645507"><img alt="Personalized angel sticker " src="https://rlv.zcache.com/personalized_angel_sticker-r69b331dd515c4bf1b4c50d2c72d46380_v9waf_8byvr_1024.jpg?max_dim=325" style="border: 0px none;" /></a>
<br />
<a href="https://www.zazzle.com/z/lfbbw?rf=238769370457645507">Personalized angel sticker </a>
<br />
by <a href="https://www.zazzle.com/miracles_and_angels?rf=238769370457645507">Miracles and Angels</a>
</div>
<div style="display: inline-block; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.zazzle.com/z/lfbb6?rf=238769370457645507"><img alt="Personalized angel sticker " src="https://rlv.zcache.com/personalized_angel_sticker-r279a9c5479c2493aa837a6d03cfe516c_v9waf_8byvr_1024.jpg?max_dim=325" style="border: 0;" /></a>
<br />
<a href="https://www.zazzle.com/z/lfbb6?rf=238769370457645507">Personalized angel sticker </a>
<br />
by <a href="https://www.zazzle.com/miracles_and_angels?rf=238769370457645507">Miracles and Angels</a>
</div>
<div style="display: inline-block; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.zazzle.com/z/lfbbt?rf=238769370457645507"><img alt="Personalized angel sticker " src="https://rlv.zcache.com/personalized_angel_sticker-r00a5b4c2cd694b4e90d1e2c2d038e3cf_v9waf_8byvr_1024.jpg?max_dim=325" style="border: 0;" /></a>
<br />
<a href="https://www.zazzle.com/z/lfbbt?rf=238769370457645507">Personalized angel sticker </a>
<br />
by <a href="https://www.zazzle.com/miracles_and_angels?rf=238769370457645507">Miracles and Angels</a>
</div>
<div style="display: inline-block; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.zazzle.com/z/lfbbl?rf=238769370457645507"><img alt="Personalized angel sticker " src="https://rlv.zcache.com/personalized_angel_sticker-r765b313ae87444d3a509a66f3c8d3497_v9waf_8byvr_1024.jpg?max_dim=325" style="border: 0;" /></a>
<br />
<a href="https://www.zazzle.com/z/lfbbl?rf=238769370457645507">Personalized angel sticker </a>
<br />
by <a href="https://www.zazzle.com/miracles_and_angels?rf=238769370457645507">Miracles and Angels</a>
</div>
<div style="display: inline-block; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.zazzle.com/z/lfbb5?rf=238769370457645507"><img alt="Personalized angel sticker " src="https://rlv.zcache.com/personalized_angel_sticker-rc8f28452e0444370bf93e5d61b92bd99_v9waf_8byvr_1024.jpg?max_dim=325" style="border: 0;" /></a>
<br />
<a href="https://www.zazzle.com/z/lfbb5?rf=238769370457645507">Personalized angel sticker </a>
<br />
by <a href="https://www.zazzle.com/miracles_and_angels?rf=238769370457645507">Miracles and Angels</a>
</div>
<div style="display: inline-block; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.zazzle.com/z/lfb08?rf=238769370457645507"><img alt="Personalized angel sticker " src="https://rlv.zcache.com/personalized_angel_sticker-rca6e941f6a45405d9cbcf0cd08daae75_v9waf_8byvr_1024.jpg?max_dim=325" style="border: 0;" /></a>
<br />
<a href="https://www.zazzle.com/z/lfb08?rf=238769370457645507">Personalized angel sticker </a>
<br />
by <a href="https://www.zazzle.com/miracles_and_angels?rf=238769370457645507">Miracles and Angels</a>
</div>
<div style="display: inline-block; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.zazzle.com/z/lfb0i?rf=238769370457645507"><img alt="Personalized angel sticker " src="https://rlv.zcache.com/personalized_angel_sticker-r5782ab2bd531411a898a497b9211ffbb_v9waf_8byvr_1024.jpg?max_dim=325" style="border: 0;" /></a>
<br />
<a href="https://www.zazzle.com/z/lfb0i?rf=238769370457645507">Personalized angel sticker </a>
<br />
by <a href="https://www.zazzle.com/miracles_and_angels?rf=238769370457645507">Miracles and Angels</a>
</div>
<div style="display: inline-block; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.zazzle.com/z/lfbbl?rf=238769370457645507"><img alt="Personalized angel sticker " src="https://rlv.zcache.com/personalized_angel_sticker-r765b313ae87444d3a509a66f3c8d3497_v9waf_8byvr_1024.jpg?max_dim=325" style="border: 0;" /></a>
<br />
<a href="https://www.zazzle.com/z/lfbbl?rf=238769370457645507">Personalized angel sticker </a>
<br />
by <a href="https://www.zazzle.com/miracles_and_angels?rf=238769370457645507">Miracles and Angels</a>
</div>
<div style="display: inline-block; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.zazzle.com/z/lfb0q?rf=238769370457645507"><img alt="Personalized angel sticker " src="https://rlv.zcache.com/personalized_angel_sticker-r74abdf25bce04a358cbb2391dfa727d5_v9waf_8byvr_1024.jpg?max_dim=325" style="border: 0;" /></a>
<br />
<a href="https://www.zazzle.com/z/lfb0q?rf=238769370457645507">Personalized angel sticker </a>
<br />
by <a href="https://www.zazzle.com/miracles_and_angels?rf=238769370457645507">Miracles and Angels</a>
</div>
<div style="display: inline-block; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.zazzle.com/z/lfb0c?rf=238769370457645507"><img alt="Personalized angel sticker " src="https://rlv.zcache.com/personalized_angel_sticker-r357537a81d7747ff8c86089330a5cd07_v9waf_8byvr_1024.jpg?max_dim=325" style="border: 0;" /></a>
<br />
<a href="https://www.zazzle.com/z/lfb0c?rf=238769370457645507">Personalized angel sticker </a>
<br />
by <a href="https://www.zazzle.com/miracles_and_angels?rf=238769370457645507">Miracles and Angels</a>
</div>
<div style="display: inline-block; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.zazzle.com/z/lfb0s?rf=238769370457645507"><img alt="Personalized angel sticker " src="https://rlv.zcache.com/personalized_angel_sticker-rd8e337ca28e6433cad47675a3ddfb271_v9waf_8byvr_1024.jpg?max_dim=325" style="border: 0;" /></a>
<br />
<a href="https://www.zazzle.com/z/lfb0s?rf=238769370457645507">Personalized angel sticker </a>
<br />
by <a href="https://www.zazzle.com/miracles_and_angels?rf=238769370457645507">Miracles and Angels</a>
</div>
Tom Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11382119491604433679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4571449748796215696.post-25617881852818827382019-03-11T13:58:00.000-04:002019-03-11T13:58:12.793-04:00Royalty-free photos from NASA<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijEz4NqOa_roa9ucb7kRtRRqxtlpP16fVzf2CBgwaS8lKClT_Pvf3ATTH4KP_E10HKA8RUspWopilYUQmqRGvh8Eip7Dt4s5ogyw4z4b9ZdG3wRP5tIeaPpScpHH2DfrXnzVBzr4w6OQ/s1600/eagle_BusinessCard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="614" data-original-width="1063" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijEz4NqOa_roa9ucb7kRtRRqxtlpP16fVzf2CBgwaS8lKClT_Pvf3ATTH4KP_E10HKA8RUspWopilYUQmqRGvh8Eip7Dt4s5ogyw4z4b9ZdG3wRP5tIeaPpScpHH2DfrXnzVBzr4w6OQ/s320/eagle_BusinessCard.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Royalty-free photos from NASA
Some of the most fascinating photographs I've seen have come from the space program. This photo of a space-suited astronaut standing on the dusty surface of the moon, nearly 40 years ago, is a never-ending source of wonder for me.<br />
<br />
One quirk of the U.S. copyright law is that photos produced by the U.S. Government are not protected by copyright. This means that anyone, including you, can use them for free.<br />
<br />
I have used several of NASA's space photos to create business card designs.<br />
<br />
You can find a great collection of NASA photographs here:<br />
<br />
Jet Propulsion Laboratory - <a href="http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/targetFamily/Earth">Earth Images</a><br />
<a href="http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/images/policy/index.cfm">JPL terms of use</a><br />
<br />
NASA <a href="http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/imagegallery/index.html">Image Gallery</a><br />
<a href="http://www.nasa.gov/audience/formedia/features/MP_Photo_Guidelines.html">NASA terms of use</a>Tom Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11382119491604433679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4571449748796215696.post-32176071516378369692019-02-24T09:33:00.001-05:002019-02-27T13:03:14.704-05:00If you want it tomorrow, order it last week<b> </b><a href="https://miraclemugs.blogspot.com/search/label/baby%20shower%20gift">baby shower gift</a> | <a href="https://miraclemugs.blogspot.com/search/label/best%20baby%20Bib%20cloth">best baby bib cloth</a> | <a href="https://miraclemugs.blogspot.com/search/label/best%20baby%20gift">best baby gift</a><br />
<br />
<b>If you want it tomorrow, order it last week</b><br />
<br />
<br />
It wasn't that many years ago that if you told a commercial printer you wanted your 4-color business cards next week, they would laugh in your face. The standard turn-around time for color printing was 21 days or three weeks, whichever happened first, not including shipping time.<br />
<br />
Some parts, but by no means all, of the printing industry have modernized, have developed highly automated work flow, and can accommodate the desire for <b>right now!</b> results, but there is a premium price to be paid for it.<br />
<br />
One of my favorite printers is <a href="http://www.printplace.com/" target="_new">Print Place</a> in Arlington, Texas. Print Place is a highly automated low-cost printer with outstanding service. If you are savvy enough to know how to provide a commercial printer with the type of digital file that it requires, I recommend you take a look at it.<br />
<br />
After the design work has been completed and a digital master is ready to be sent to the printer, there are two remaining components to delivery time: 1. The time the printer takes to complete the job, and 2. Shipping time. Print Place offers four different in-house turn around times ranging from five business days to one day. Print Place ships through FedEx, with its standard five, three, two, and next-day delivery times. Combining the printing time with the shipping time, we have a variety of time frames ranging from ten business days for receiving the print job, down to as quick as two days. Every reduction in delivery time results in an increase in cost, at your option.<br />
<br />
The following graph shows the total printing and shipping cost for 1000 4-color business cards from Print Place for different delivery times after the job is submitted. As you can see, for two day delivery the cost of shipping exceeds the cost of printing. This example uses the shipping costs from Arlington, Texas where Print Place is located, to Louisville, Kentucky where I am located.<br />
<br />
<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaM_WHt2QL9tjxY8cMB_bFySWOgqITUdFSWSPh3wGNtFv2cf81RevcssnMbin1FKUM33cLznPUDZmAryVmoNTvGmpDhWTeDttEqfj7p2p9wlcOKO4TYc-w-HIGMACoDARp88_MNK4J-w/s800/printplace-graph-1.png" style="height: 346px; width: 514px;" /><br />
<br />
If you need 1000 color business cards in less than 48 hours, that too can be accomplished by using a totally different technology. Overnight color laser printing, at FedEx-Kinkos for example, is available, but the printing costs alone would be in the neighborhood of $130.00, without including any shipping costs.<br />
<br />
When it comes to color business cards, "right now" is a possibility, but it is an expensive option.
<br />
<hr />
<span style="display: inline-block; height: 350px; padding: 5px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.cafepress.com/angelicvisions.410532504"><img alt="Healthy Baby Angel baby tutu bodysuit" border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1hva80okeAvrvYyEo0hhKnHong-ubKx-JOyDscLrRpB01mypmLA-FhXNpucuS_qm-TB9ge5hJn14TG6CEg4OnGkJDlOUqccOqkSFG6u9iJ9PhjeL7WCqLqg-hTMBkHP2H67AsaWIOdQ/s320/030-410532504_tutu_bodysuit.jpg" /><br />
Healthy Baby Angel<br />tutu bodysuit</a>
</span>
<span style="display: inline-block; height: 350px; padding: 5px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.cafepress.com/angelicvisions.410532505"><img alt="Healthy Baby Angel football bodysuit" border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4FzkuF3Tq73XSKl19h7MvdtxQC0YUzunzziqGinvuiIhV6Ju3Fphyzy5GlwvNX1E01c-UqJzU3tIF1z89k_I53p7jUVBMwpsrHGEwkRXj7_wlhn89aULVaDvMMfHookB9FFOprwxgsg/s320/030-410532505_football_bodysuit.jpg" /><br />
Healthy Baby Angel<br />football bodysuit</a>
</span>
<span style="display: inline-block; height: 350px; padding: 5px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.cafepress.com/angelicvisions.410532519"><img alt="Healthy Baby Angel baby short sleeve creeper" border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPEUWr-8cYsAodDJy_CtRz1hmMNyuv2qFMJZz28xfGVobMEpnVfaZZb-RCy1MlXEJ2VhzZj_CK2E-mJyfY8h64SEXcflL3oVHEcUAa-5GV9wvwaXCHiHcnU4PT-0k_q0h-zdXU1icKIQ/s320/030-410532519_body_suit.jpg" /><br />
Healthy Baby Angel<br />short sleeve creeper</a>
</span>
<span style="display: inline-block; height: 350px; padding: 5px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.cafepress.com/angelicvisions.410532518"><img alt="Healthy Baby Angel long sleeve romper" border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG_5MrF-gGCbiEw3XwWSHlSQOTsuNmLS15mJASck3UryIS-0GZl7QzF07XT_sI8o_TL13KsfiUK_j2cjLToeVOZvWKKYGCzZWoUG0QfeTSua1cgJbeOhiDhybnS_wB8rIZ_5d_ixZ5ug/s320/030-410532518_body_suit.jpg" /><br />
Healthy Baby Angel<br />long sleeve romper</a>
</span>Tom Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11382119491604433679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4571449748796215696.post-30346507590023706922019-02-24T09:30:00.001-05:002019-02-24T09:30:53.987-05:00A perfect business card for residential real estate<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcqCzYjU1TiTykcCHSuGQ79F7AdEsxWzpeM2SGttcBDB2pLC6vO4FGko92is-wFspTQdqwKDLmwbppflqRHcOAOnelDsKWLiX8Y8ty59-Gj7f-FYCtaznbtXfXpy1zYoc-ucI3-f69zw/s1600-h/doghouse_bizcard-1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5281640633599095026" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcqCzYjU1TiTykcCHSuGQ79F7AdEsxWzpeM2SGttcBDB2pLC6vO4FGko92is-wFspTQdqwKDLmwbppflqRHcOAOnelDsKWLiX8Y8ty59-Gj7f-FYCtaznbtXfXpy1zYoc-ucI3-f69zw/s400/doghouse_bizcard-1.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 144px; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; width: 249px;" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://miraclemugs.blogspot.com/search/label/Baby%20Pajamas" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Baby Pajamas</a> | </span><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://miraclemugs.blogspot.com/search/label/unique%20angel%20gift">unique angel gift</a> |<a href="https://miraclemugs.blogspot.com/search/label/best%20baby%20gift"> best baby gift </a></span><br />
<br />
<b> A perfect business card for residential real estate</b><br />
<br />
I'm not in real estate, but I've known quite a few real estate agents over the years. I'd say that, as a group, real estate agents use the most boring, predictable, and nearly identical appearing business cards. The sheer tedium of real estate agent business cards is surpassed only by those used by lawyers and accountants.<br />
<br />
If I were a residential real estate agent I'd have, in addition to my standard boring business card, a good supply of this card to stick in the door of every FSBO I passed. All my usual contact information would be printed on the back side of the card.Tom Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11382119491604433679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4571449748796215696.post-15269481815313946822019-02-24T08:45:00.001-05:002019-02-24T08:45:39.684-05:00Bodacious business cards: Rethinking business cards<h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">Rethinking business cards<br />
</h3><div class="post-header"><br />
</div>After looking at thousands of business cards over a lifetime, a person <br />
has a good idea what they are, what they are for, and what to expect. A <br />
name, address, phone number, and various other methods of contact, with a<br />
logo perhaps or a photo of a grinning face, and there you have your <br />
basic business card. What more is there? When was the last time you <br />
were surprised and delighted by a business card?<br /><br />I have a different way to look at business cards.<br /><br />I see a business card as a blank two-sided canvas. With about 7 square inches per side, a business card presents a very <i>small</i> blank canvas to work upon, but its blankness stands as an open invitation to print <i>anything</i> I wish in <i>any</i> style I can imagine.<br /><br />The utter <i>sameness</i><br />
of the business cards I've seen over the years tells me that there is a<br />
vast unexplored gap between the unquestioned business card conventions <br />
and the untapped potential.<br /><br />The small size, portability, and <br />
picayune cost of business cards make them a perfect marketing tool. The<br />
ideal is to have a "you gotta look at this" or a "put this one on the <br />
bulletin board" type business card. You can have seasonal business <br />
cards, holiday business cards, humorous business cards, pin-up girl <br />
business cards, special offer business cards, limited time business <br />
cards, <b>and</b> inspirational message business cards, or more.Tom Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11382119491604433679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4571449748796215696.post-73069095498828996282008-05-30T10:53:00.006-04:002008-05-30T11:17:31.958-04:00Playing with pattern backgrounds<img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; width: 288px; height: 166px;" src="http://www.acimfind.info/bizcard_thumbs/Pattern-1_example-1.jpg" alt="" />Creating repeating geometric shapes is a good way to spend those hours when neural activity is just too sluggish for anything else, or when you wish to give expression to your OCD within.<br /><p>A pattern background can be the starting place for a business card design. This pattern is much too busy to be used as-is. There's no place to put your text so that it will be visible.</p><br /><div style="clear: both;"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; width: 288px; height: 166px;" src="http://www.acimfind.info/bizcard_thumbs/Pattern-1_example-2.jpg" alt="" /><br /><p>Translucent overlays are useful for creating room for contrasting text, but resist the temptation to do the conventional. There may be a time and a place for brown and rectangular boring, but I'd say it's an exception.</p><div style="clear: both;"><br />Combining the patterned background with overlaying translucency of various shapes, along with blurs, fades, filters and art, produces interesting results.<br /><br /><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 360px; height: 208px;" src="http://www.acimfind.info/bizcard_thumbs/Pattern-1_example-3.jpg" alt="" /><br /><br /></div></div>Tom Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11382119491604433679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4571449748796215696.post-45777144276976599292008-05-29T12:59:00.007-04:002008-05-29T13:22:39.491-04:00Introducing backgrounds<img style="border: 1px solid black; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; width: 288px; height: 166px;" src="http://www.acimfind.info/bizcard_thumbs/background-08a-wb1.jpg" alt="" /><br /><br />It's my best guess that many business card designers are still working within the technical restraints that existed in the color printing industry in the past. Solid colors are safe, and a smooth gradient fade is now technically possible.<br /><div style="clear: both;"><br /><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; width: 288px; height: 166px;" src="http://www.acimfind.info/bizcard_thumbs/background-08a-wb2.jpg" alt="" border="0" /><br />But color printing technology has come much further than that. Intricate and subtle color printing is possible now. A bazillion interesting printed backgrounds are an easy and inexpensive way to jazz up even the most basic layout. Business cards can look better.<br /><div style="clear: both;"><br />Maybe designers need less vector design and more raster design, and it's an Adobe Illustrator vs. Photoshop thing.<br /><br /></div></div>Tom Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11382119491604433679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4571449748796215696.post-45851541655907880722008-05-21T21:57:00.003-04:002008-05-21T22:01:13.510-04:00Variation on a bizcard theme - 2I suppose the natural tendency is to darken a dark photograph even more in order to create the necessary blank area for contrasting text. That's what I did in my prior sample, in <a href="http://bodacious-business-cards.blogspot.com/2008/05/photoshop-tip-variation-on-theme-1.html">Photoshop tip - variation on a theme 1</a><br /><br />This, however, is my preferred variation:<br /><br /><img src="http://www.acimfind.info/blogger_bizcards/PStutorial-03-bizcard-light_twf.jpg" />Tom Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11382119491604433679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4571449748796215696.post-89092902318667229582008-05-21T21:03:00.003-04:002008-05-21T21:24:32.652-04:00Photoshop tip - variation on a theme 1In my <a href="http://bodacious-business-cards.blogspot.com/2008/05/cropping-tips-for-business-card-design.html">Cropping tips for business card design</a> I started off with a big photograph and cropped it down to business card size, like this:<br /><br /><img src="http://www.acimfind.info/bizcards_cmyk_jpg/PStutorial-01-bizcard.jpg" /><br /><br />I've looked at more than a few business card templates that use a photograph as a background. Stock photography is useful, and it is easy. One common problem with using a photograph in a business card design is the need to overlay the photo with text. Although many stock photo compositions naturally provide an appropriate dark or light blank area for overprinting text in a contrasting color, many do not. The common solution I've seen other designers use in this situation is to select an matching color for a superimposed gradient fade. Like this:<br /><br /><img src="http://www.acimfind.info/blogger_bizcards/PStutorial-02-bizcard-bad.jpg" /><br /><br />The main problem with this technique is that it looks cheesy. It looks like someone spray painted over the right side of the photo. The transition from the organic texture of the photograph to the flat monotone of the gradient is obviously artificial.<br /><br />One solution to this problem is this. Starting with the same green gradient fade to transparency shown above, switch the Photoshop layer mode from 'Normal' to 'Color Burn', and reduce the opacity setting for that layer. <br /><br /><img src="http://www.acimfind.info/blogger_bizcards/PStutorial-02-layers-box.png" /><br /><br />I also duplicated the gradient fade layer, left the mode as 'Normal' and lowered the opacity setting. This is the result:<br /><br /><img src="http://www.acimfind.info/blogger_bizcards/PStutorial-02-bizcard-good.jpg" /><br /><br />To my eye, this has a superior appearance. It looks like an unaltered photograph with a naturally occurring dark shadow area perfect for overlying white text.Tom Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11382119491604433679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4571449748796215696.post-16555634840831537262008-05-21T12:41:00.002-04:002019-02-24T09:06:07.167-05:00Bodacious simplicity - letterpress<a href="http://www.briarpress.org/">Erin McCall, who is Principal of Sunlit Media - Briar Press</a><br />
<br />
Letterpress printing is a holdover from the 19th Century, being kept alive by a small band of dedicated artists. Whereas offset lithography printing lays ink down on the surface of paper using rubber rollers, letterpress pushes ink coated metal type onto the paper under pressure. Letterpress literally creates indentations in the paper that you can see and feel. I'm sure that 100 years ago it was easy to find poorly designed and badly executed letterpress print jobs, it has since evolved into an art form. Nobody survives in the letterpress printing business these days except by being excellent.<br />
<br />
Letterpress printing is not my thing, personally, except for a 3 month stint in 7th grade shop class many moons ago. Letterpress printing is very expensive compared to other printing technologies. 1000 business cards designed and executed for letterpress could reasonably cost $800, or more.<br />
<br />
Yet, just looking at the beauty and artistry of letterpress printing on a fine thick cotton card stock fills me with appreciation.<br />
<br />
The above sample was created by Erin McCall, who is Principal of Sunlit Media, a freelance graphic, web, and identity design firm and letterpress studio based in Vancouver, BC. See her post: <a href="http://adventuresinletterpress.blogspot.com/2008/01/happy-new-year.html">Happy New Year!</a> - Adventures in Letterpress<br />
<br />
<div class="header1">
Sunlit Media | Graphic Design</div>
5862 148th Street<br />
Surrey, British Columbia<br />
CANADA V3S 3B8<br />
<br />
Tel: 604.572.3143<br />
Mobile: 604.842.3143<br />
Fax: 604.575.2235<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.sunlit-media.com/">www.sunlit-media.com</a>Tom Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11382119491604433679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4571449748796215696.post-22747725688752972352008-05-20T07:58:00.004-04:002008-05-20T08:16:33.588-04:00No art of the business cardIt was pure coincidence that the same day I wrote <a href="http://tomwfox.wordpress.com/2008/05/07/basic-narcissism-of-business-cards/">Basic narcissism of business cards</a>, Guy Kawasaki was waxing enthusiastic about his new business card in <a href="http://blog.guykawasaki.com/2008/05/the-art-of-the.html">The art of the business card</a>.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.acimfind.info/blogger_bizcards/Guy_Kawasaki-sm.jpg" alt="Guy Kawasaki business card" /><br /><br />If you don't know Guy Kawasaki, there is not much about this business card that tells you who he is, what he does, or why you should contact him. This card does not pass the "Would you pin this business card to your bulletin board just because you like to look at it?" test.<br /><br />No. This business card looks like a garment tag.Tom Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11382119491604433679noreply@blogger.com0