Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with graphicdesign

You know that website built in the 1920s?

prophetsearcher — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 12:39:16 -0800

It's 1925. I own a General Store. The General Store has a website (obviously)... Can you describe what that website might look like? How can a visitor to that site recognize it immediately as owned by a 1925 General Store (visually)? I'm trying to design the web site for a 1925- (or so, the specific year isn't too specific) era general store. What elements can I use, specifically, to help establish the style?

To be clear, I don't want the site to look like you're shopping in a nostalgic memory of a 1925 store (so no b/w photos of storefronts, or sepia tones, etc). Rather, the idea is that you're shopping in a store that would have been designed in 1925... Does that make sense?

Also, because I'm aiming for real 'Americana,' I'm less interested in Bauhaus or other 'avant-garde' 20s styles.

For fonts, I found this link, and other useful ones from this post.

But what about backgrounds? Wallpapers? Colors? Icons? What was the "Web 2.0" style of the 1920s?

Any points of reference would be most appreciated. (I think there could be a whole movement of era-designed web sites, even from the future!).

Can I hire someone to create a Paper Source-like image?

semacd — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 06:00:10 -0800

I want to copy the Paper Source feel for my wedding font and motif. How can I do that? A few related questions here. #1. I like the font the Paper Source uses in their own ads and informational materials. Can anyone suggest where I could download a similar font? (Bonus points for free.) I've been searching but don't even really know what category of fonts that would fall under. #2. I want to pay an artist to make me a custom motif that has the feel of the paper source dragonfly (but ours would be a totally different image) in the sense that it looks sort of rough and imperfect like a stamp or maybe a woodcutting. I want to be able to use that little custom motif on my invitations, program, website, welcome packet, etc. So (a) where should I advertise for that project and (b) how much should I pay and (c) how should I describe it? I already hired one graphic artist but he has been creating pretty/cutesy obviously computer-generated motifs that remind me of clipart and it's really not the look I'm after.

Help my teenage sister unlock the wonder of Photoshop

acorn1515 — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:19:18 -0800

I'm getting a copy of Photoshop CS3 for my younger sister, who's always shown a lot of interest in graphic design. She's turning 16, what beginner's resources can I point her to? I read the answers to this question, posted several years back, but I'm hoping there may be some more up-to-date sites or books out there. Something targeted to a high school audience, with "funner" real-life examples is the dream.

I'll definitely be pointing her to the "You Suck at Photoshop" web series, even though that might not necessarily be the preferred tone for my baby sister. Photoshopping herself into pictures with Red Sox players is a bit more up her alley...

What's the best way to keep a viewers attention for a long manifesto from a design perspective?

brokekid — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:41:04 -0800

What's the best way to keep a viewers attention for a long manifesto from a design perspective? What elements/techniques within the document could be used? I'm working on a project where the author is trying to convey a very motivating yet esoteric idea in a manifesto. The text is good but it's a long single web page that I'm may be seen as too long. From a design perspective, what's the best way to keep the viewer's attention?

Would a second Bachelor's Degree be worth anything to a graphic designer?

AtomicBee — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 11:11:58 -0800

After getting laid off recently, I decided to enroll in a BFA program for graphic design, even though I am a grown up with a BA from a liberal arts university. Should I actually earn the degree or just use the classes to build a portfolio? My first degree was in Cinema Studies, and I took several visual arts classes, but my school had no design program. Consequently, I have virtually no portfolio and only a small idea of what I am doing. I read a few books on design and realized that I had a lot to learn and could use a more structured learning environment, so I thought I would use my unscheduled time off to enroll in a design school.

Most of my classes from my first degree count as transfer credits, so I mainly just have graphic design classes left to get the degree. But there are also a handful of classes like "Public Speaking" that I feel are not worth my time or money. It would only be an extra semester at the most, but do I really need another undergrad degree to get a job?

I might also be able to transfer into the MFA program; would that be useful in getting a job, or just a future teaching position?

Basically I just want good design skills and a good job as quickly or as efficiently as possible, so if you have any other suggestions for how to supplement my education while in school feel free to share them.

Who designed these new logos for CW and MTV shows?

D.Billy — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 08:18:50 -0800

Working on a graphic design exhibition, and trying to source the designer(s) of these logos for Gossip Girl, Melrose Place, 90210, The Beautiful Life, and Randy Jackson Presents America's Best Dance Crew. This exhibition focuses on design influenced by Herb Lubalin, and these are key contemporary examples. We'd like to go through the proper channels to get vector versions or high-res art to include in the show, and have them properly credited. Attempts to contact the CW and MTV networks have been unsuccessful thus far. Anyone know anyone who knows someone who could help?

Where should I purchase business cards for a small company?

davidriley — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 17:58:51 -0800

Where should I purchase business cards for a small company? Hi. I have a small company and need to have some business cards printed. We have the design; we just need someone to print it. We need cards for three people, with a minimum of 500/250/250. The design is 4/0, full color with a blank back.

We are based in Brooklyn and I like to work locally for printing, but that's not a requirement. We would like to work with a company that can help us with other printing needs in the future (brochures, letterhead, stickers, etc).

What we definitely want is a printer that is inexpensive (like, less than .25/card) and offers good quality paper stock. We want a heavy, strong card stock with a good feel to it. Matte. A place that offers spot gloss printing would be good, too.

I'd love to get letterpressed cards (two color), but I think it's a little too pricy for us, unfortunately.

So, do you know a printer that would be a good fit? Have you had a good/bad experience with a printing company? Any advice and recommendations are very much appreciated.

What non-NYC east coast cities have a vibrant graphic design community?

yukonho — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 09:29:29 -0800

What are good cities on the East Coast for graphic design besides New York City? I live on the west coast now and am planning to move east in a few years. Besides NYC, are there any other cities with a thriving graphic design community? I'd like to be somewhere in the Northeast (Maryland and north). Thanks!

Incompatible format

tizzie — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 10:25:03 -0800

I'm using Serif PagePlus SE, a free graphic design download, to design postcards. My local print production shop can't open the .ppp files it creates. There are no other "save as" options. Any suggestions?

Useful workspaces now that I have a huge extended desktop?

jtron — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 12:52:21 -0800

I scored a huge monitor for free! Tips for video editing/motion graphics workspace layout? So I scored one of those 21" CRT monitors that people used to pay thousands of dollars for and are now somewhat devalued. It's got a max res higher than I even use; I keep it around 1600x1200, and it sits next to my laptop.

Does anyone have useful tips on how they arrange windows, timelines, palettes, etc? I use Final Cut Studio and Adobe After Effects and Photoshop the most often.

If there're any other tips for living with a new ginormo-tron on one's desk, I'd appreciate those as well.

If it matters, I'm running OS X 10.5.7 on a first-gen MacBook Pro with 2 gigs of RAM and an octopus tangle of hard drives.

Could/should I switch from graphic design to science?

Andy Harwood — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 11:59:49 -0800

I suffered from depression and social anxiety throughout my mid to late teens so I did poorly in my A-levels which I picked based more on how easy I thought they'd be than how much they interested me. I managed to get into a decent Art School thanks to my graphics portfolio but I was miserable there. I transferred to a different school and got treatment for depression and was much happier. I just got my results for the first year though and they were terrible - I just barely passed. I'm starting to think I'm not suited to art school. I feel like I missed my chance to find a subject that really interests me and now I'm stuck on a career path which I'm not suited for. I keep fantasizing about going into science - I've always been interested in it and both of my brothers have science degrees - but I'd have to start from scratch and I have no idea if I'd be any good at it. Is this just a dumb pipe dream or is it something I should look into?

How can a very left-brained programmer type become more skilled in design?

ixohoxi — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 15:55:23 -0800

How can a very left-brained programmer type become more skilled in design? Here's the deal: I'm a professional web developer, and I'm pretty good at it. I'm into the design end of things—I read the blogs, I keep up with the trends, I know a good bit of the history and theory, I have folders full of design-related bookmarks—but mainly as an observer, not a participant. I know XHTML/CSS like the back of my hand, and I can convert someone else's design into a beautiful, faithfully translated, cross-browser XHTML/CSS template without breaking a sweat. But I can't design for shit.

Lord knows I've tried to learn. I have a hard drive full of mostly aborted attempts—twenty revisions of some projects. I've occasionally produced something decent, but only after agonizing over it for days and making countless false starts.

This is after working in the industry for almost a decade, using Photoshop on a near-daily basis, and spending hundreds or thousands of hours working on site designs. I can tell I'm getting better, but it's an excruciatingly slow process.

My process goes something like this:

Come up with a list, mental or otherwise, of the elements that need to appear on the page.
Open Photoshop, set up a 12- or 16-column grid, and place those elements (or at least the major ones) on the canvas in a generic and provisional fashion. Just to get the layers there so I can play with them.
Start moving stuff around, changing colors, and changing type treatments in a relatively experimental and undirected fashion. Sometimes I have vague notions of where I want to go with things, or I know I want to use a specific solution I saw somewhere, but for the most part I'm just stabbing in the dark until I hit on something I like.

Eventually I'll find a micro- or macro-level concept that works, and start build up or down from there. I'll have varying degrees of success, but eventually I'll hit a brick wall. At that point, I start over from Step 2.

Specific advice about methodology, how to think about the process, how to get out of jams, etc. would be welcome. Please feel free to ask clarifying questions. Thanks!

A hand-screenprint feel with digital technology

Foam Pants — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 17:02:28 -0800

I am looking to get a screenprint look on my graphic design work. What are some techniques or some filters I could use to enhance my Adobe Design Suite environment? I want to produce some projects that look something like these by artist Andy Smith. My work just looks too perfect, the edges and colors too precise. Not to mention my typography doesn't have that custom fit. I know that some of that is only achieved by actually doing it by hand but I doubt that Mr. Smith is making these stickers with a silk screen. Specifically I would like to:

1. Get that transparent, yet vibrant, colors that overlay each other from a screenprinting process.

2. Get system fonts to look a little more hand-lettered. I currently am doing this by laying them down on a slightly crooked path and mixing up angles and sizes a bit.

3. Get my "ink" to fade out and splotch like silk screening. Perhaps there is a quality filter? I am not opposed to laborious processes as long as it works.

Being a self-taught graphic designer that never has any contact with other graphic designers, I have no one to bounce ideas off of or help me mess with techniques. This is an issue that has been bugging me for a long time.

What to charge for graphics?

Rykey — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 05:06:12 -0800

Designed a logo/mascot for a friend's online business with the understanding that we'd "work something out" when he started to make some money. Now his business has taken off, and I'm not sure what to ask for. I'm not a professional graphic designer, but I'm handy enough with graphics that a friend asked me to design a logo for his new online business. Since neither of us knew how well his company would do, we agreed that I'd design the logo, we'd see how his startup did, and worry about the money then (we're close enough that this wasn't an idiotic arrangement).

His company has taken off pretty well, so we're trying to figure out how to best approach a fee structure for my work. My design includes the "mascot" for his brand, so it'll likely be reincarnated many times over as he introduces new products.

I'd like to ask for a percentage of his sales as long as my design is used (as opposed to asking for a straight one-time fee for each design), but I have no idea how much to ask for, or whether this is a good idea. In searching previous questions to AskMe, I saw an interesting suggestion here regarding the licensing of graphics work, so maybe that's more what I should be after.

This isn't a "I did some work on a handshake, and now I'm afraid of getting screwed" question. My friend is more than willing to pay me for my work, and anticipates keeping me on as his company's graphic designer as his business grows. We're just not sure what a fair price for my work would be.

I want to be a web developer! Maybe!

dougunderscorenelso — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 17:15:15 -0800

I want to quit designing and become a web developer! Can I? Should I? Where do I start? Background: I've been designing for 8 years, exclusively web for the past 4 years. Picked up CSS/validation/site optimization really fast, jumped in jQuery, moved to general Javascript, and I'm learning it pretty quickly. I work in a Rails shop, and I've been told that I can move into a "buildout developer" role if I want to, which would involve CSS/HTML, but of course, no Rails. I'd like to move further, even if it means going somewhere with lower expectations and pay.

Why developing? I've finally realized that I love making things, learning things, and fixing things. Unfortunately, most graphic designers spend their time "selling things," which sounded sexy at 22, but seems downright icky now. The best part of every workday is when I get to use some Regex or set a session variable, so coding for a living seems attractive.

Is it too late? I work with people who've been on LAMP stacks since age 16, and I can't write a single SQL query. Is there too much a knowledge gap between me and lifelong developers?

Where to start? Going to a framework like Rails immediately sounds like cheating, but what do I know? What should I start playing around with, to get a general idea of how servers/DBs/languages work? What kind of goals ("Write a plugin", "Launch an app") could I reasonable set for myself in a new language?

Thanks in advance!

I'm a printing/graphic design fraud.

Classic Diner — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 07:29:35 -0800

HELP! I've been bluffing for years about my graphic design abilities, technical knowledge, and general printing skills. Please recommend some books so I can actually understand what I am doing. I really need to learn the words so I can communicate properly with others. SVG, PDF, vector, rip, 4/0, CMYK, outlined fonts, flatten files are terms I don't really understand, and there are dozens I don't even know I should know. I'd like to find a book to get started on my education.

I'm not looking to become an instant graphic design professional, I need to be able to talk to them and not be completely out of my depth every time I open my mouth.

There may be classes in my future, I'd like to be able to pick the right ones.

Design Dunce.

the NATURAL — Wed, 20 May 2009 04:54:01 -0800

Adobe Filter: Please help me with my graphic design woes. So, I'm starting my own little bootleg t-shirt company, and I'm interested in two types of operations:

1. Cutting an image from its background, then reducing the colors of the image to a reduced grayscale to make it more affordable to print (pretty basic, I know).

2. Taking an image (say, of a person), reducing it to grayscale, then reducing it to a number of composite single-color dots -- when viewed from afar, these dots constitute the original image. I've seen the effect done before on clothes, but I can't find a good image to use as an example (sorry!).

Which Adobe program should I get (and get familiar with) so that I can complete these tasks? Better yet, could I use a cheaper program (for Macs)?

Is this picture 'real' or digitally generated?

StephenF — Fri, 15 May 2009 06:49:20 -0800

Is this picture 'real', or digitally generated? To my inexpert eye, it looks like a picture of physical objects.

If it's real, any idea where I could get the physical items so I could arrange them and take my own similar pictures?

And if it's digitally generated, what kind of software would you use to create it?

Answers appreciated in advance :-)

Some papers have stars upon thars...

Ogre Lawless — Tue, 12 May 2009 10:52:15 -0800

***** -- My local paper's masthead incorporates a number of stars at the top of the page. I could have sworn I've seen this on other papers but apparently not on our not on our other regional rag. Is this just a bit of layout eye candy or do they have some significance?

Where to find updated info on (graphic design) hardware?

filthy light thief — Tue, 05 May 2009 11:57:10 -0800

How should I keep up-to-date on hardware for graphic design? I'm not a graphic designer by trade, but I would like my personal (WinXP) computer to be suitable for hobby-work graphics. More details and criteria inside. I have a WinXP system I cobbled together a few years back. My flat-screen monitor is a bit odd (pink dots are noticeable from time to time), and my printer/scanner combo is pretty much a POS for both functions. I make do with all of it, but I keep thinking I should start looking into upgrading elements. Primarily I'd like a new monitor and scanner, but a good printer would be nice, and I keep lusting after tablets, even though I don't do that much drawing by hand any more.

I've found what I think are good reviews, but I feel that if they're over 6 months old, I'm missing out on something. I don't need cutting edge, and it seems like there are probably some reliable resources for computer-based artists that I haven't found. So, hive-mind, what should I look for? Do you known handy sites? Thanks!

Band guy, meet art guy. Art guy, band guy.

arcanecrowbar — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 18:14:51 -0800

How do I find graphic artists / designers for rock music promo materials? I am a musician who is constantly having to produce small artworks for posters, promo CDs, etc. I'm not a trained visual artist, and my layout and font choices would probably make a genuine designer want to murder me.

I have a foggy memory of there being a place on the web where designers specializing in rock posters had galleries of their work. There was an interface where you could commission stuff or get bids. Did this exist or did I just dream it? If it doesn't exist, where can I make contact with artists who do this kind of work?

Any other advice, like what I should be expecting to pay for such things, would be appreciated. I'm not so much interested in trucking around to my local colleges or wherever trying to recruit an artist - I'd like to be able to look at lots of portfolios so I can get a sense of whose style matches what I'm looking for.

Advice for a potential graphic design novice

Hyperbolus — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 12:57:23 -0800

Attention all graphic designers: could you answer a few questions for a potential novice? I'm a university graduate who is belatedly considering going back to school for a degree in graphic design. However, at the present time this idea is a little silly given my complete lack of knowledge on the subject.

I think I have a good eye and I can draw reasonably well. A little while ago I had the faint flickering of an idea that I could turn this into gainful employment via graphic design.

I realize this isn't the most solid foundation for a career, so I have some questions.

1. For the most part, I'm looking for a primer on what graphic design involves (links/ book recommendations would be great). I'm only dimly aware of what the day-to-day responsibilities of a graphic designer are, and what sorts of things they learn while completing their degree. In addition, I know there must be different branches of the discipline (print, web design, etc.), but I don't know very much.

2. In general, what is the salary like? Is there typically a healthy demand for graphic designers?

3. I have basic computer skills, but I'm no expert. It's not that I have anything against computers, and I'm sure I could learn whatever is needed without too much difficulty, but I just haven't been into computers for the past few years. Is this a difficult hurdle to overcome?

4. I'm in Canada. Any recommendations for good graphic design schools? Europe is a possibility as well...

Thanks. I realize these might be a little vague, but if you could offer any general information or advice, that would be great.

iMac, MacBook, MacBook Pro, what's a designer to do?

Bunglegirl — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 09:48:33 -0800

Time to replace the Mac. Should a graphic designer go for the economical iMac or is splurging for a MacBook Pro and external screen worth it? I desperately need a new computer and have been putting it off until the new Mac models came out. I have a G4 tower that's probably from 2002 or so and a cheap 17" screen. This is my work computer (I'm a print & web graphic designer —self-employed) but, since this is my only computer, it's my personal computer too.

I miss my old 12" iBook which died a few years ago. Ideally I would have a desktop with a big screen for work and a small laptop for personal use but I really can't afford two computers (and wouldn't want to deal with syncing). My screen is way too small when working in CS3. Please don't suggest any non-Apple solutions. I just keep going back on forth on a desktop vs a laptop. I'll be using Adobe CS4 most of the time and usually need to quickly switch between Illustrator, Photoshop & InDesign and also have mail, Firefox, iTunes running at once—sometimes Acrobat or another small program will be running as well.

The way I see it I have two options:

1. 24" iMac. This gives me a huge screen and a powerful computer and seems like the best value for my money. I don't work with video and don't use millions of layers in Photoshop so a Mac Pro tower is overkill. The only drawbacks to the iMac is portability and the glossy screen. It would be nice to have the option to bring it to client meetings (although this would probably be a rare occurrence), work on invoices etc. in a coffeehouse or hook it up to my TV.

iMac 24"
2.93 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
4 GB 1066 MHz DDR3 SDRam
640 GB Serial ATA Drive
ATI Radeon HD 4850 512 MB
iWork & Applecare
$2,217

Pros: economical, powerful, good value
Cons: portability, glossy screen

2. MacBook or MacBook Pro and an external screen. This gives me the portability I like but is significantly more expensive. Its also less powerful and just seems like an extravagance. Most of the reasons I really want a laptop are for personal use (hooking up to my TV, working away from home). I can certainly get around not having a laptop and I'm seduced by the huge iMac screens with isight built in. I haven't figured out if I can use iSight on the laptop with an external (non-Apple) screen.

Buying an external screen would probably be a good idea because I've heard all of the complaints about the glossy iMac screens. I don't sit in front of a window but 50% of my work is print and color calibration is already a mess without adding in a glossy screen. I've really been leaning toward an iMac but I keep going back and forth about the screen and the convenience of a laptop. I have looked at the screens in the store but I can't know how the glossy screen will work for me until I get it in my house and work with it a bit. It also seems that any non-Apple screen that's 24" and decent quality is going to be pricey. If Apple just made a non-glossy screen I would happily get it so everything works well together and isight is built in.

MacBook 13" (if I have a laptop I prefer a 13" or smaller but MacBook Pros don't come that small, arg!)
2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
4 GB 1066 MHz DDR3 SDRam
320 GB Serial ATA Drive @5400
iWork & Applecare & adapter
$2,130 + screen (24" Apple cinema screen = $899)

--

MacBook Pro 15" (this is pretty big to be portable in my eyes)
2.93 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo (-$300 for a 2.66GHz)
4 GB 1066 MHz DDR3 SDRam
320 GB Serial ATA Drive @5400
iWork & Applecare & adapter
$3,255 ! + screen

Pros: portability, pick any screen I want
Cons: expensive, more money for less power

I tend to keep my computers for a long time so I want something that can grow with the next Adobe CS update. My friends seem to think the iMac is the obvious choice, but I'm not so sure. Obviously this is tax deductible (I'm in the US) but money is money. Please help me with my indecisiveness and give me some solid arguments for either option. I also welcome any comments on the specs I've chosen.

How to wrap text around a circle

ezola — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 22:16:54 -0800

I'm giving a big presentation in a couple of weeks and it has to be impressive. I have a fabulous idea for a graphic, inspired by the facebook friend wheel, where I want to wrap perhaps 100 words around a circle and draw lines to connect them in illustrative ways. The drawing lines part is easy, but the wrapping text around a circle part is hard (without doing it one element at a time, rotating and aligning each one just so). I *know* there's an easy way to do this, but am not quite smart enough to figure it out in omnigraffle or find another program that can do it. I can use Mac or PC. If you point me to a workable solution, you'll get your name in lights (if you wish) in addition to my unending gratitude.

Attachment Included

mattdidthat — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 14:06:37 -0800

What is the etiquette and current wisdom regarding the practice of attaching your company logo to your emails? In correspondence with clients, associates, and vendors, I've noticed more people seem to be attaching their company's logo to their email signature, and I'm considering doing the same.

Is this standard practice, an annoying trend, or a frequently/easily-ignored option? Does it make you appear professional, inexperienced, or pretentious?

Is it an expected hallmark of a certain type of user e.g. graphic designers? What are the pros, cons, and no-no's of adding your logo to your email signature?