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As a graphic designer in Orange County, I get asked a lot about fonts & how to choose them. There is some technique to choosing fonts or type, but I’ve assembled a few tips to make the process a little easier. Here are some basics to get you started in being a font selection pro!

-aim for the target (market)

You must know who your customers are! Know the look they expect to see! Use fonts that appeal to the age & demographics of your customers. For example a bank’s customers expect to see something more formal & professional looking than customers of a daycare center would be looking to see. You can also choose type based on era. For example if you’re having a 1950s themed event, you can choose fonts that have a 1950s feel to them!

-keep it simple

When first starting out don’t clutter it up by choosing 6 different fonts! It looks disjointed & can be confusing!! Stick to 2-3 max!

-know your options

There are so many different font classes that I could (and will) devote a whole article to them! These include Serifs (like Times New Roman), Sans-Serifs (like Arial), Scripts (Edwardian Script) to name a few! It helps to know the classes of fonts because it keeps you focused when choosing a specific font!

-opposites attract

A chunky font with a skinny font look great together because they have different weights. The same goes for a script with a serif! Any time you have contrast you’ll have interest! So think about how you can create contrast by selecting different weights, heights, or styles.

I hope this helps make choosing fonts for your next project a little easier. If you still feel like it needs the touch of a pro, please feel free to contact me!

Let’s Connect on Facebook! View Me on Instagram! Follow me on Twitter!  We live in a very social world where Facebook and its Social Media peers have taken over as main way for customers to connect with their favorite brands. Due to this shift, social media has become a place where graphic design is starting to (if it hasn’t already) become very important. This means your brand’s look needs to extend to your social media accounts. It’s a place to have a little fun with your design’s look, while keeping your brand’s message consistent. The most social media savvy folks are posting multiple times a day. I interviewed Eric Padilla, the owner of Palatable Promotions  in Brea and got the scoop for everyone on how to get your social media accounts on point.

Here’s his tips and a few of my own!

Don’t ignore your banner/profile/timeline photo.

I see these spaces unused by a lot of companies, especially smaller companies. They have a great profile photo, but ignore the large banner space at the top of the profile. These spaces are great real estate to post an advertisement about a new product, a special sale or share what your company motto is. Some of the biggest brands such as REI Sporting Goods and TJ Maxx do this. It’s the online version of an “elevator pitch” or “10 second introduction”

Keep your photos and pictures to the point.

The expression “a picture is worth a thousand words” is especially true online where people idly scroll past image after image only stopping if something catches their attention. The job of your photos is to catch their attention. On social media, authenticity is king so don’t be afraid to post the occasional product photo or “behind-the-scenes” type photo to your accounts. Your followers want to meet the faces and see the steps to create their favorite products and services.  “[Non-professionally shot photos] are a good idea in moderation when re-posting other photos and for Facebook Live/Snapchat purposes, but professional images should be used more often.” Says Eric, “With real estate, non-professional photos are a horrible idea. Studies have shown that listings with professional photos sell for $3,400 -$11,200 more than similar listings with non-professional photos. It’s best to purchase a professional camera or hire a social media manager that provides their own photography that isn’t taken on an iPhone or Samsung. First impressions are everything and with so many options out there, one less-than-stellar shot could have someone pass you up for your competition.”

Your social media graphics matter

One of the things Eric and I agree on is using custom graphics.  We both feel that using custom graphics is the way to go because it keeps your branding consistent and looks professional.  It all goes back to your first impression. You want to consistently use your graphics to create a good first impression and enhance your image with your customers. Eric adds that “With proper usage of branded graphics, photography and engaging content, a social media page can not only capture an audience but retain it. Using outdated graphics can hurt engagement and ultimately reach.”  Having custom graphics helps with brand recognition, which should be your first priority when marketing. Companies that are remembered and trusted are companies that are hired. There are many factors he says that will boost a company’s bottom line on social media including consistency, ad budget and type of page to name a few, but custom graphics are a big help in getting and keeping customers coming back to your social media pages for more!

Don’t use too much text on social media.

Eric’s last tip for us all is “Don’t use too many words because it hurts reach and engagement. It may also be flagged by Facebook and unable to run as an ad if the image/graphic is more than 20% [text]. Less is more when it comes to text, so be concise and work with a professional…”

Now you have a few tips that can inspire you to set up or polish up your social media accounts. So, if you’re ready to get your social media graphics on point then give me a call. Let’s create something amazing together.

The weather is warming up and the days are getting longer, which means it is definitely spring time and also graduation season. Many students are graduating in May and others in June. These are also times for celebratory parties and often times proud parents create banners for such occasions.  Here are few things to remember when creating a banner!

Keep it Simple!

Don’t crowd the banner. It’s a large space in the sense that it is measured in feet with the average banner running around 5ft x 8ft. However, a banner crowded with text and pictures is going to be harder to see all of the elements at a distance. Keep it to a few major pieces of text and one or two images. For example you can say “Congratulations [Name]! Class of 2017!” as text and use a photo of your graduate or the school’s logo as images.

Photo Resolution

Remember the photo or the logo that looks so crisp and nice at 5 inches may look fuzzy or blurry at 5 feet. That’s because small photos, especially digital photos, lose resolution quality (aka they get blurry looking) as they get larger. If it’s a photo you don’t have in any other size but a small size, for example a scanned childhood photo, that you simply must use, be okay with it looking less than perfect. As a graphic designer in Orange County, I do everything I can to give my clients crisp looking photos, but no system is perfect and sometimes the photos simply can’t be that big. To get best quality photos on your banner, provide the largest photo file you can to your designer or local sign shop.

Fonts & Colors

A large item like a banner needs to readable from a distance. It is best to use text that contrasts with the background. A light background color such as white or yellow with a dark text color works best. A favorite option for many creating a banner for a graduation are to use the school’s fight colors. For example, Cal State Fullerton’s would be orange and blue and UCI’s are blue and gold. A thicker darker heavier font such as Impact, Rockwell or even Helvetica Bold will be easier to read.

In Summary:

-Keep the amount of text to a minimum

-Use large photos with a high resolution or be okay with the photo be slightly blurry or fuzzy looking.

-Use contrasting colors for text and background

-Darker Fonts will be easier to read from a distance

Whether it’s being held at the graduation ceremony or it’s adorning a wall during a celebration I hope these tips give you a little insight to creating a great banner that your graduate will keep for years to come! If you need help designing the perfect banner contact me today!

I fell in love with design as a child during numerous family trips to the local bookstores. It was through book covers & later magazine spreads that lead me to want to be a graphic designer. Since April 4th is National Librarian Day it seems fitting that I write about a famous book cover & the designer who created it.

Why are Book Covers important?

Book covers are the finishing touch on an Authors journey to publication. Occasionally, they are the sole reason a reader buys a book. Ultimately book covers are a marketing tool. They are the attention grabber that gets the audience to stop & read the back of the book and are used in other promotional material for the sale of the book.

Can anyone design a book cover?

Yes, and no. Most designers are happy to design a book cover for an author. However, designing book covers is a specialized niche industry. There are entire design agencies that do nothing but churn out amazing book cover designs.

Do any of these book covers become iconic?

Sure, actually a lot of book covers become iconic. They end up influencing design as an industry. Often these cover designs create trends that permeate down into general design. My favorite example is that book covers and general design a few years back favored a minimalist look, solid colors & thick geometric type. Often, book covers can spark trends in the general public, especially when they become movies! This is exactly what happened in the 1990’s with Jurassic Park.

What happened with Jurassic Park?

In 1990, author Michael Crichton released his novel Jurassic Park. His publishing house, Alfred A Knopf, had one of their designers create the book cover for him. The designer, Chip Kidd, created a book cover featuring a skeletal silhouette of a T-Rex. As anyone who is familiar with Jurassic Park knows the T-Rex is one of the main dinosaurs featured, so it makes sense that it would end up being the book cover. Jurassic Park got chosen to be turned into a movie in 1990 when Steven Spielberg was working with Crichton on a pilot for a TV show. Often when a book gets turned into a movie a new look is created for the movie posters & marketing materials. Steven Spielberg who directed Jurassic Park liked the dinosaur skeleton on Kidd’s book cover, so he kept it. It became part of logo for the movie & for Jurassic Park itself in the film. After the movie was released in 1993, everyone went dinosaur crazy. The poster, dinosaur skeleton image & Chip Kidd became iconic.

Who is Chip Kidd?

Kidd is a graphic designer who focuses on creating book covers. He is credited with creating a paradigm shift in the book cover design industry with his striking, artistic and impactful cover designs. Kidd still works in the industry & has been with the publishing house Alfred A Knopf since the mid -1980s. He’s rumored to create around 75 book covers a year, which is pretty prolific especially since a cover can take months to create. His long list of clientele includes Michael Crichton, John Updike, and Dean Koontz among other famous authors.
While I’m not as famous as Chip Kidd, I’d still like to help you create a great design for your business or event. So if you’re looking for custom logo design, business cards, or branding products, give me a call or use my handy estimate request form!

When most people in the United States think of the month of March they think about Saint Patrick’s Day, with it’s green color scheme, and love of all things Irish.

However Saint Patrick’s Day flattens out a robust culture to a few tired stereotypes. Archeologists believe that humans first stepped foot on the island around 10,500 BC/ BCE. Since that time it has been home to many groups including the Celts, the Normans, the Romans and the British. Due to so many groups living there over the centuries, Ireland is full of history and symbolism. Ancient Irish culture, specifically the Celts, have inspired many designers.

Before I talk about the hallmarks of Celtic Design as we know it now, I want to delve into history a little bit. Although they first appeared in ancient Greek and Roman texts around 2500 years ago, the Celtic peoples lived across Western Europe during the Iron Age.  They were referenced in these texts as a single group, but that wasn’t true. The Celts were tribal and nomadic people with not one tribe or region, but around eight of them.  Each region had a separate language. Today only Irish Gaelic, Scottish Gaelic, Cornish, Breton, Manx and Welsh are still spoken.

The Irish Celts had a vibrant culture that centered around the clan system. They created art for all types of purposes, some we know about and some are still a mystery. A lot of the art left behind is stone and metal work, which doesn’t give a clear picture of all of the art that was created by these groups. Much of the art we do know about was created but monks but not all of it. It was very ornamental, featuring very little symmetry and preferred curved lines to straight lines. Celtic artwork shows influences from other cultures and features a variety of spirals, knot work and figures and more.

A few of the hallmarks of modern Celtic Design include:

• motifs of interlocking knots, images of nature, and spirals.
• colors are highly saturated and bright.
• type that imitates the hand drawn letters originally created by monks for illuminated manuscripts (books with pictures and text).

It’s still a very popular style of design.  It calls to us through the ages because it gives a chance to embrace our roots and explore a time and a people that we don’t really understand.

“How do I choose a graphic designer?” It’s a question I get asked often by friends and colleagues. There is no right way to do this. I can’t give you three easy steps and -voila- you’ve got a designer you love.  Choosing a designer is a pretty personal thing. It’s important for you as the client. You want to work with someone who can fill your need and provide you the outcome that you’re expecting. The client-designer relationship is also important for the designer. I won’t speak for other designers, but for me, I want you to love working with me and to love the work I provide you.  There are lots of ways to make this type of choice, but here are the recommendations I give to my friends.

1. Look over their website and especially their portfolio. Keep in mind the type of work you need done while you’re doing this. For most artists and graphic designers, their portfolio is where they share all their best work. If the style of the work shown matches what you need done that’s great. Some designers can design to multiple styles, while others prefer to stick to just one style. Personally, I do my best to create work in multiple styles. Many designers have their portfolio cut into sections based on product, others have everything listed together. Don’t expect to see every single piece of work this person has done. First off, it’s not practical. Most designers, especially if they’ve been at it for a few years will have a lot of past work. Secondly, not all companies welcome the idea of sharing the work the designer did for them. For example, I have done several pieces for web and application development companies that I can’t share because of non-disclosure agreements.

2. Check to see if they are a specialist. Quite a few designers choose a market they like, or types of products they prefer and they cater to those industries. Many designers are also classically trained artists and illustrators, while others aren’t. I’ve met designers that only do business marketing products like business cards and flyers and ones that only do invitations and stationery. I’ve met designers that only work with a specific industry such as beauty products or real estate. Personally, I like having the flexibility to serve many types of customers, which is why I chose to do many different types of products.

3. Call them up and ask all your questions. Most designers I’ve met, myself included, are completely happy to answer your questions about their services. I would recommend asking about their policies and contracts. It makes sense to not only understand how much you are spending, but expectations in delivery of proofs and the making of payments. If you have a very specific need, definitely make that known when you call or email them. For example, I have had previous clients that needed work done in two languages. We discussed the fact that I’m monolingual, but I was willing to design in a second language if they provided the text for me, which they did. The design came out beautifully and the client was happy.

4. Personality Compatibility. If you are just doing a one-time project with no chance of repeat, or have an ‘emergency’ project to complete, then this guideline isn’t as critical. If you are planning on doing a lot of projects with one designer, or are thinking of putting a designer on retainer, or a work-for-hire contract, commonly referred to as a 1099, this actually matters. It matters because you want someone you can work with easily. My best clients and favorite projects always stem from compatibility in personality. I believe that stems from the ability to communicate effectively with each other. For example, one of my very first jobs was for a bicoastal jewelry and accessories company. I frequently had calls with their head of marketing who was based on the east coast of the United States. I have family with east coast roots and I can tell you that the communication style and pace of life is very different on the east coast versus the west coast. To another designer they may have seemed demanding, blunt and maybe even rude, but for me it was very easy to understand what they wanted and when. I worked with them for a long time and they’ve always had nice things to say about me to others.

Now that you have my recommendations I hope you have an easier time choosing a graphic designer. The bottom line is this: it’s important that you feel comfortable with the designer you choose and like the work you receive from them.

If you’re in need of a graphic designer in Orange County for your next project, I’d love to help you out. Take a look at my portfolio and contact me today!

What is a Brochure?

A brochure is a type of advertisement that communicates information from the sender to receiver, such as from a business to its customers.  Brochures are typically printed on glossy high quality paper in full color, and are folded. They can be as simple as a folded sheet of paper, but can also be complex, like the ones that get folded into booklets that are either glued or stapled.

Where Does the Word “Brochure” Come from?

The word brochure is thought to be of French origin and means “to stitch together” and was introduced in the late 1740s.

What is the Oldest Brochure?

One of the oldest brochures found on the internet dates from the 1500s and depicts common occupations in Germany

What do I use a brochure for? What information do I put into a brochure?

The type of information you put into your brochure depends on how it’s going to be used. Below, I’ve detailed out a bunch of common uses.

Point of Sale: Typically displayed in front of the customers of a particular service. The purpose is to advertise additional services to the business’ current customers.

Respond to Inquiries: Typically given, or sent to potential customers who are already interested in your services. The purpose here is to help answer their questions and provide reasons for the potential customer to buy from you.

Leave Behind: As the name suggests. This type of brochure is usually left behind after a meeting a with a potential client. The purpose is to re-inforce the recently presented sales pitch by stating all of the advatages and usages of the product or service in question.

Direct Mail: This type of brochure usually comes to a targeted demographic through the mail. The purpose is to inform people of a business’ products or services, and to entice them to become potential buyers by requesting additional information, or have them take advantage of a special offer.

Sales Support: Typically used as an aid for a sales person while in a meeting. They often have expanded information, as well as more photos, and larger type that can be read and referenced quickly and easily.

Brochures are always folded in thirds right?

No, a traditional fold where the sheet of paper is folded into thirds is very common and very popular, but it isn’t the only type of brochure in existence. There are many many types of brochure folds, but here are the most common types:

Traditional Folded: These are the ones people are most accustomed to viewing.  The page is printed on both sides with the same number of panels and then folded with the panels one ontop of the other.  Example: Tri-fold, Bi-Fold

Z-Fold: The page is printed on both sides with the same number of panels and are folded in a zig-zag or Z shape.

Roll Fold: The page is printed on both sides with the same number of panels that are folded from one side to the other with each panel immediately laying on the one immediately ahead of it i.e. 4 on top of 3, etc. When standing brochure appears rolled in on itself.

Gate Fold: Panels at the edges are half the size of the center panels with the two sides folded to meet in the middle giving the impression of a gate.

As a graphic designer in Orange County, I can help you create the perfect brochure for your business, product, or service. Please contact Purple Rose Graphics today to learn more.

It’s November already and that means holiday and holiday travels are around the corner. Air travel has made it possible for the average American citizen to be “home for the holidays.” Air Travel in America became popular in the 1950s with the rise of jet planes over air piston planes. The 1950’s also happened to be part of the golden age of advertising when the real “Mad Men” were busy creating now iconic posters for travel companies.

One of the most popular styles of poster was created during this time. That popular style was known as the “International Typographic Style”, also known as the “Swiss Style”. Hallmarks of the Swiss Style are a clean structured layout with bright colors. They usually featured just a few design elements with simple easy to read text and sometimes a slogan or tagline. Another popular style was a version of pop art. Today it could be called “retro style” as this particular type of pop art is a classic style of advertising design from this era. Much like Swiss Style, “Retro Style” also features bold graphic images and very little text. Although it does have more text in some instances than Swiss style.

No matter the style, these posters feature air travel as exotic, exciting, affordable and safe. Air travel used to be a luxury reserved for the wealthy and many people still didn’t believe that it was safe. The posters had a double use, they had to convince people to invest in air travel, but they also had to convince people to use a specific airline when they did travel.

As a graphic designer in Orange County, I design a lot of flyers and posters. So I can tell you that the main job of a poster (even now in the age of social media and smart phones) is to reach out to a business’ target market and convince them that they need a specific brand’s products. Overall, that’s an easier poster to make because you only have one objective. In very simple terms, the marketer and designer isolate the target market and choose the best way to convince this market that they need a specific company’s product over the competition. What the airlines at this time were facing wasn’t just how to fill their flights over their competition, but how to fill flights overall. It’s a two-pronged objective and makes the creation of their marketing and poster advertising that much harder. That’s why a lot of the posters emphasize a certain city or region with the name of the airline in much smaller type.
Even after all the twists and turns travel posters and airline marketing have made over the years, those early days are still looked back on with nostalgia. What made those posters incredible (and something we still want to emulate) is that they achieved a two-pronged objective of creating an industry, and notable brand within that industry, all with just a few hand-drawn graphic elements and very little text. Today they still evoke an emotional response in us, and that is why we keep going back to 1950’s design and the era’s iconic travel posters.

If you’re looking for a graphic designer in Orange County to help you come up with a poster for your business, contact me today for a quote.

When starting a business, the first thing most new business owners do is to pick out their new logo. This is your visual identity for your customers. You pick out a designer, tell them about your new company and what you like and want to see in your logo. After a few days or so you receive a proof, or draft, of your logo. Many designers give you anywhere from two to four options. Sometimes you get a chance to make changes, but some designers just have you pick the one you like as is.

So, how do you evaluate these logos to choose the best one for your business? Well, as a professional graphic designer in Orange County, California, I’ve seen hundreds, if not thousands, of logos! Here are the five tips I always tell my clients to help them evaluate their logo options and choose the best one for them.

#1. Uniqueness

It is vitally important that your logo design is unique. The design world has trends that make particular design features, such as “watercolor” brush script for 2016, more popular than in previous years. In addition to making your logo look more generic, using trendy design features also dates your logo. Have you ever seen a logo for a business and thought it looked so “ten years ago”, and not in a good way? Don’t be that company! Your logo needs to grow with you.

Also, you don’t necessarily want your logo to hit on certain obvious themes that are common in your industry. It can set up you to look more generic, and may also even cause legal issues. Having a unique logo ensures that you are not accused of plagiarism. Even though your designer may do research to help you achieve a unique logo, be proactive and educate yourself on the logos your competitors are using.

Lastly, a unique logo means your customers are more likely to remember you, and if they remember you chances are always better that they will hire you!

#2. Appropriateness

As I always tell my clients, you know your industry better than I do. Make sure the logo option you select is appropriate for your industry, your proposed customers and the cultures that your logo will encounter. Logos have to reflect your company’s personality and what you do with little to no text. Make sure to communicate with your designer and steer clear of any images, words, or phrases that could be considered offensive for what you do or the circles you’ll be interacting with.

#3. Balance

Choosing a logo is very subjective. The personal preferences of you and whatever team you might have will come into play when choosing a logo. I shy away from telling anyone what is a “good logo” or a “bad logo” for this reason. However, the one physical characteristic that I recommend is looking at the whole logo for balance. Your logo does not necessarily need to be perfectly centered, but every element in the composition should make sense.

A balanced composition is not too crowded, nor has too much white space. The text should be plainly legible and all of the design elements should be spaced out well and complement each other; unlike my sample here, which has none of the above.

#4. Flexibility

Logos should be flexible. They should work just as well in black and white (commonly called gray or gray scale) as they do in color. They should look nice on a dark colored background and a light colored background.  If you have text with a symbol, make sure the two elements work well together and separately.

For example, the symbol can be used for patterns, as a background watermark, or other places where you might not need or want the text. The same standard goes for the text. Lastly, your logo should look good at any size, whether that be small enough for your business cards or large enough for your building’s exterior signage or a billboard. My sample here has a few of these elements depicted.

#5. You Love it!

I mentioned earlier that choosing a logo is a subjective endeavor. So, despite all the suggestions or rules you might hear, as the business owner you should love your logo! Choose the option that you can’t take your eyes off of and that makes you smile like you’ve just had a really good first date. If you get stuck between two options, figure out which parts of each option you really like and which parts you don’t like. You can refer to tips 1 to 4 for additional guidance and don’t be afraid to talk it through with your designer or with someone you trust.

A few months ago I was at a networking event when I ran into an acquaintance.  He told me about some struggles he had recently encountered with a logo design that he was creating for his website. When he printed his design, the colors were all off and someone told him it was because the design was in RGB and not CMYK. He wanted to know if this was true and what all those letters meant.

I explained everything to him, but this conversation made me realize that there are many people who don’t know what the acronyms RGB and CMYK stand for. As a graphic designer in Orange County this knowledge is an integral part of my daily work, and so I would like to share with you a quick overview of CMYK vs RGB and how they are used in graphic design.

What is CMYK?

CMYK is a color model used in the printing process. If you’ve ever heard of 4-color process printing, this is the color model it uses. In its most simple terms, a color model is the way that colors are created.For printing and all things ink related, the CMYK color model is used. The letters stand for each of the principal ink colors used. The C stands for Cyan, M for Magenta, Y for Yellow and K for Black.

What is RGB?

RGB is a color model used with digital devices such as computers, projectors, and televisions. The letters stand for each of the main colors of light used; R for Red, G for Green and B for Blue. This color model mixes these three different colors of light to create all of the colors that are needed for a project. Pretty much anything you see on the Internet is going to be using the RGB color model.

How are they different?

There are two main differences between the two color models. The first is that CMYK uses ink and is for printing, while RGB uses light and is usually used exclusively for digital devices. The second, less obvious, difference is that RGB is additive while CMYK is subtractive. Additive color starts with black and adds red, green, and blue until you get to white.  Subtractive color starts with white and removes cyan, magenta, and yellow until we get to black.

If you have something created for a digital device in RGB and then decide to print it, the colors will be way off. If you use designs created in CMYK to publish online or use on a digital device, the colors will look okay, but may not show the deep color shades that they otherwise would.

It’s always a best practice to have your design created in the color space it’s going to be used in. As a graphic designer in Orange County, I always discuss my clients’ plans for their designs with them in detail so I can make sure it is in the correct color space.

Colors are a powerful part of any design, whether it’s for a company logo, a wedding invitation, or a simple birthday card. If you’re looking for a colorful design of your own, please contact me today!

If I asked you to name the holiday that lands on January 1 or May 5, you would probably know the answers. What about March 14 or May 4? If you love pie, mathematics or the movie Star Wars you just might know those holidays too. Lesser-known holidays, such as Pi Day and Star Wars Day, are starting to have an extensive following, and there are dozens of them all over the calendar.

Holidays like National Coffee Day (Sept 29) or Go Fishing Day (June 18) are ones that I’m sure most of us didn’t know existed, but they can be a great tool to connect with your customers and grow your business. Most people are not going to randomly send a card or coupon out to celebrate National Ice Tea Day (June 10). However, I’ve said it before, and it bears repeating–standing out in business is always a good thing!

A business acquaintance I once knew would send out a postcard every summer wishing his clients “Happy Summer Solstice” (June 21) and announcing his summer specials.  It was brilliant marketing in what can be a slower time for some businesses. If you do decide to use these oddball holidays as a marketing tool, be sure to tailor them to your unique business or industry. It wouldn’t make sense for a tech company, for example, to celebrate Beer Can Appreciation Day (January 24), but if you run a restaurant or a bar, it’s the perfect holiday to reach out to your customers.

The tech company from the example above could see some amazing potential success by setting up a special coupon that lasts just for Embrace Your Geekiness Day (July 13) or another relatable holiday. That’s the beauty of these unique lesser-known holidays—they are a wonderfully fresh marketing strategy and a great excuse to send an unexpected card to someone, whether it may be a client or a loved one.

Using an oddball holiday to drive traffic to your business is not just about standing out from the crowd; it’s also about building connections with your customers. These holidays give you a reason to contact your potential customers, and also give those same customers a reason to reach out to you in turn. Wishing them Happy Chocolate Day (July 7), for example, just might open up a conversation with someone. That simple conversation could help the customer feel more connected to you and your brand, benefiting you in the long run.

Anyone who knows me can tell you that I’m a book-reading, movie-watching, science fiction lover! This has let me truly connect with more than one of my current clients because we can talk about what’s on our bookshelf, or why the reboot of a particular sci-fi franchise isn’t nearly as good as the original. A lot of these conversations got started simply because I posted a photo wishing everyone a Happy Star Wars Day (May 4^th) or a Happy National Stationery week (April 25-May 1).

People want to work with other people, and by leveraging a unique holiday your business can suddenly become a little more human, even if you’re a big brand.  As with any form of effective marketing, people can begin to discover what they have in common with you, your staff and your business. My advice is to start taking advantage of these holidays now! Grab a note card or create a fun flyer today and wish everyone you know Happy Aquarium Month (June) or maybe just Happy International Sushi Day! (June 18).  You will not only begin to form connections with your customers by breaking the ice, but you’ll also drive traffic and potential profits to your business.

 You’ve been staring at them since you first learned your alphabet. Letters! These little guys carry a big responsibility in your design. They are the main tools to convey your message from the sender (you) to the receiver (your clients).

Part of what graphic design is supposed to accomplish is to make this message look attractive so your customers will actually engage with your brand and read your message. That means choosing different type styles and sizes based on what you hope to accomplish with your piece. As a graphic designer in Orange County I get a lot of questions about type and fonts and letters. I’ve compiled three of the most common questions I get asked all the time about type.

What is the difference between a Font and a Typeface?

Fonts are the name for the entire set of letters whereas a typeface refers to the style of the letters themselves. Here is one of my favorite definitions. This comes from Will-Harris.com ” Typeface: is the design of the alphabet–the shape of the letters that make up the typestyle. So when you say “Arial” or “Goudy” you’re talking about a set of letters in a specific style. Font: is the digital file that contains/describes the typeface.”

This all dates back to the time of the printing presses and manual type. When the printing presses first were being used, we were casting the letters in little blocks of metal, usually lead, to create type. There was a fixed amount of letters in each batch of type.  The word font actually comes from the middle French word ‘fonte’ which refers to this process of casting type. Fonts carried a certain amount of letters or typefaces in them based on the frequency the letters would be used.

Are you still confused about the difference? That’s okay! Here’s a really simple, but silly, example for the difference: Soda (aka Pop) comes in small, medium, or large sizes. Each cup holds a set amount of drink in it. That’s the font. The flavor of the drink you get, cola, lemon lime, root beer etc. is the typeface. Saying Arial is a font is like saying, “I got a small cola” instead of saying “I got a cola flavored drink in a small cup”.  Saying that Arial is the font is technically wrong. However, so many people do it (think Kleenex vs Tissues) that it frequently gets over looked and that’s why there is so much confusion.

Why do we call them Upper Case and Lower Case letters?

This also goes back to time of the printing presses. The press operator would put all the letters from each typeface in two cases. The capital letters were in the upper case and the small letters were in the lower case. So when the operator needed a specific letter he/she would be asked for it by referring to the letter needed and which case it was in! The terminology stuck and we now call all of our capital letters Upper Case Letters and our small letters are all called Lower Case Letters.

What’s the difference between a serif and a sans serif?

These words have roots in French and Middle Dutch. Let’s start with Serif. Serif started out as a Middle Dutch word “schreef” which means stroke, dash or line depending on which dictionary you use.  By the 19^th century the word schreef had morphed into serif the word we use today.  It refers to the little dashes or feet on the ends of the letters. A good example of a serif type would be Times New Roman.  Now for it’s counterpart, sans-serif. Sans is an Old French word with roots in Latin. It means “without”.  So the combination of Sans (without) and Serif (dashes) means that this style of type doesn’t use any dashes or little feet at the ends of the letters. A good example of Sans Serif type would be Helvetica or Arial.

Hopefully, this helps shed some light on a few items about type that maybe you’ve always wanted to ask a graphic designer in Orange County, but were too afraid to ask! If you need help creating your next marketing piece just contact me! Let’s grow your business together-one design at a time!

I had a situation come up with a client not too long ago where the client wanted a JPG file for their website in a specific size. When they increased the size they were surprised to find it pixelated because the PDF of this same image didn’t do that. I wrote them a nice email explaining why this happens, but then I started to think that perhaps many other people don’t understand why this happens. So here are some common questions and answers to explain this to you!

Q: Why do some files get blurry and others don’t always do that?

A: They are different types of formats. The two format types are known as Raster and Vector. Raster graphics will always pixelate when enlarged while Vector graphics won’t.

What is a Raster Graphic?

A: A Raster Graphic (also called a Bitmap) is made up of little squares known as pixels. The word Pixels is actually a contraction for “Picture Elements” with the word picture shortened to “pix”. The more little squares you can fit in a given space the higher the resolution. These types of files look best at the size they were created in or at size smaller than their original dimensions. They will break apart and appear blurry (pixelated) when they are magnified or increased to a larger size. Certain programs, such as many of the popular photo editing software programs, will always only work in Pixels.

Q: What is a Vector Graphic?

A: A Vector file uses a series of mathematical curves that go through points or nodes with in the file to create the image we see. This is what allows the image to resize cleanly with out pixilation. Vector files are often referred to as ‘scalable’ because of this feature. What all this means is that the dimensions of the file aren’t locked into the size it was created in in order to look it’s best. It can be made into any size from much smaller than its original size or much larger than its original size at it will look very crisp and clean with no blurred edges at any size. Certain programs, such as many popular computer drawing and drafting programs, use vectors as their main format of image creation.

Q: Can you save from a Vector Graphic to A Raster Graphic?

A: You can save a vector graphic to a raster graphic. When a vector is saved to a raster graphic the file is transformed from mathematical lines and curves to pixels. This process is sometimes known as “rasterization” or “rasterizing”. During this processes all the information about the mathematical lines and curves that originally made up the image is lost and all that remains is the information regarding the pixels. Unfortunately, you can’t “un-rasterize” a file.

Here is an example from outside the Graphic Design world to illustrate this: A caterpillar (vector graphic) goes into a cocoon and emerges as a butterfly (raster graphic). The caterpillar is gone now. The butterfly can’t go back into the cocoon and come back out as caterpillar. It’s a one-way process. The same goes with converting Vector graphics and Raster graphics.

Q: What about from a Raster Graphic to a Vector Graphic? Can you do that?

A: Unfortunately, No. A Raster Graphic can’t be saved as Vector Graphic. In order to change a raster graphic to a vector graphic the image would have to be redrawn in vector based drawing program such as Adobe Illustrator or Corel Draw to name a few and then saved in a compatible file format.

Q: How do I know if my file is a Raster File or a Vector file?

A: Some common file types such as JPG, GIF and PNG files are always Raster files. Common file types that are always vector include AI, EPS, SVG, and CDR. Other common file types such as PDFs can be either a Raster or a Vector. If you ever aren’t sure what file type you’re dealing with here’s an easy test one of my clients taught me: Put the file into the photo viewer on your computer and then magnify the image from 100% to 200% if it suddenly goes from sharp and clear to blurry it’s a raster, but if it still looks crisp it’s a vector.

Now you know why some files pixelate and others don’t!

Have a blurry logo, but need it to be clear and sharp at any size? Contact me today!

Traditionally, written invitations are used for larger scale “life cycle” events such as weddings, anniversaries, important birthdays or baby related events such as a baby shower. How did all of this get started? Here is a brief overview of the history of the written invitation!

• Written invitations to formal events got their start in the middle ages.
• Wealthier families would commission monks who were skilled in writing calligraphy to craft their notices one at a time.
• By the middle of the 1600’s the most popular method of creating invitations was engraving. A metal plate would be hand engraved in reverse with the necessary text and then invitations would be printed.
• To protect the ink from smudging a piece of tissue paper would be placed on top of the invitation. That’s where the tradition of adding vellum or tissue paper to invitations began
• In the 1600 and 1700’s invitations were delivered on horseback, as the postal system was very new at the time and unreliable.
• To protect the invitation during its travels an outer envelope was used, this is where the double envelope tradition began. Fast-forward a few centuries and the wedding and event invitation industry, as we know it today began during the middle of the 20th century with the invention of Thermography.
• Thermography is a printing process that produces raised letters on a sheet of paper without any etching or engraving. It made invitations very affordable for everyone.
• Now, it’s popular to buy invitations from either a catalog or the Internet.

Ready to start creating your perfect invitation? Contact me today! Let’s create something wonderful!

When most people think of Graphic Design they think of logos, business cards, or invitations. However, graphic design is everywhere. That pretty patterned box to store your stationery? The label on your favorite brand of shampoo? That’s all graphic design! Even though we are surrounded by it, we rarely notice it! Here are a few unexpected places you find graphic design.

Packaging

Packaging is a huge specialty area of graphic design. Any product that comes in a printed box (such as cereal) is part of this category. Also included are the bottles, tubs, and tubes of most every day products such as shampoos or cosmetics. Those environmentally friendly bags that a lot of products have started to be packaged in? you guessed it…they’re all graphic design.

Labels

Labels is another area that is very prevalent, but most people don’t connect with graphic design. Most common type of labels would be for wine, food, and house hold items. Labels all have to match in some way so that customer would know that every variation of a product are all connected to the company that sells them and the product line they share. For example, different scents of lotions.

Tradeshow Materials and Signage

Tradeshow materials are another specialty area of design. I’m also going to include signage here because some of the companies that do permanent signage also create exhibit booths. All those eye-catching towers, back drops, and table over lays that you see at conferences and trade shows are all created by a graphic designer. These designers specialize in all of the large format branding items a company would need to stand out in a crowded exhibit hall.

Textiles

Fabrics are an unexpected source of graphic design. Much like the other areas I’ve mentioned, textiles are also a specialty area. Many of these designers create patterns and designs to use on knitted, printed or woven fabrics. These fabrics are used in different industries from home furnishings to fashion and more.

Templates

Templates are another area that is unexpected. Templates are very common place in our ever evolving digital age. Ever use an app on your smart phone to create an advertisement? What about an online or off the shelf pre made design to help you create business cards or a party invitation? Yep, that’s all graphic design! Templates often make us feel like we’re designing the product ourself.  What sometimes gets forgotten is that graphic designers are often paid to provide templates to different template companies to help fill their catalog with eye catching pre-made designs.

Clip Art

Clip art is another area most people forget. I started drawing custom clip art when I was in school and I still draw it today. Clip art comes pre-loaded into so many computer programs, cloud based apps and services that it gets taken for granted. We all forget that there is an artist or designer creating each of those pieces of clip art that jazz up our presentations and report covers.

These are just a few of the unexpected places you find graphic design. Graphic design is all around us from the sheets on our beds to the clothes we wear and the foods we enjoy. So, the next time you pour a bowl of your favorite cereal, take a look at the box and remember… a graphic designer created it.

Need a little help with your next graphic design project? Contact me today! If you want it custom & effective… you want Purple Rose Graphics!

Following up after you meet with someone or speak to them on the phone is so important. It shows the person you were speaking with that you value their time and that you genuinely want to work with them. A little appreciation can go a long way. Everyone has their own way to do it. I’m simply going to show you my method.

My rules for crafting a good follow up email are as follows. I divide it into three sections.  It should be one-third thank you. Thank the person for meeting with you or speaking with you on the phone. Tell them your favorite part of your meeting. This is a great spot to reiterate a point or two in your favor and ask a follow up question if you have any.

The second third of the email is what I use for business that needs to be addressed. Did you promise the person some information on a specific topic? Did you need set up a follow up meeting? Have you attached something for them to review? Whatever your business points may be this is the section for it.

The last third is my closing and maybe a little self promotion and what that entails changes depending on who the nature of who I’m writing. If it’s a first follow up to someone. Then I will reintroduce my business and invite them to look at my website. If it’s a follow up after a meeting with a potential new client or a new client, then I will thank them for choosing Purple Rose Graphics and often, but not always, will I invite them to join my newsletter or follow me on social media. If I feel it’s appropriate then I will ask them to please refer me to their family and friends.

Here is a sample letter

“Hi [name of person]!

Thank you so much for meeting with me yesterday. I really enjoyed getting to know more about what you do at ACME Widget Corp! I didn’t realize that making widgets involved so many interesting steps. I noticed on your business card that ACME is a acronym, what do each of the letters mean?

I did a little research on the topic we discussed and I found a great PDF online. Please find it attached. I’m glad you asked me that question or I wouldn’t have discovered some new information!

As I might have mentioned during our meeting I love designing brochures! Brochures were one of the first things I designed. If you haven’t had a chance, please take a look at my website at www.PurpleRoseGraphics.com to see all the fun things I’ve helped others create!

Thank You!

Patrice

Purple Rose Graphics”

Once I write the letter, I will re-read it to make sure my spelling and grammar are correct and that I like how the message sounds. Then I will sign it and send it on it’s way!

How you do business is just as important as what you do. Having a good reputation can help you get recommendations and give you opportunities that you otherwise wouldn’t have. Writing a great follow up email is part of that. I hope this blog helps you create your best business.
If you have a design project that you feel you need some help on, please contact me! Let’s work together to give your business a great first impression.

Five Things to Do with a Card Beside Sending It

If you love stationery like I do then you probably see cute cards everywhere you go. Maybe you even have a big “stash” of them that you just aren’t sure what to do with and can’t think of who to send it to. Well, I’m here to help! Here are 5 ideas of what to do with a card beside sending it!

Frame it

Greeting Cards are ultimately small pieces of art. What better thing to do with art than frame it. You can hang them on the wall in a small group. They can sit in their equally adorable frames on side tables or in your office\cubicle to dress it up!

Add it to a gift

The winter holidays are around the corner, which means Holiday Parties Galore!!! I’m going to make you look like the most thoughtful guest ever. Write a sweet little note thanking your host or hostess for opening their home or office for a party and attach to a small gift. Possible gift options: a potted plant, flowers, the host\hostesses favorite wine, whiskey, tea or coffee, a box of sweets.

Give a pack of them of as a gift

Buy several cards that you know the recipient would like. Tie them together with a ribbon or put them in a small box decorated box. If you have children, this is a great small gift from them or from the whole family. Each person can decorate a side of the box and you can put the cards in it. It’s a useful gift that will be treasured because it’s from you!

Hang it on the mantle or on your tree

This idea comes from the office manager of a previous job I held. When the office would receive a card for any reason the office manager would hang them on the mantle of the decorative non-working fireplace in the center of the lobby. At holiday time, the cards the office received were taped to loops of ribbon and hung on the staff tree. It’s a fun way to decorate your home or office all year long!

Stick a magnet or clip on the back

Here’s another fun one if you have children or work with children. Take a magnet or recycle one you have and glue a card to the front. An alternate variation of the same idea is to glue a wooden clip or clothespin to the back of the card. You can use it to hang artwork or important memos on the fridge or where you will see them!

The next time you see an adorable greeting card, but aren’t sure who the recipient should be, buy it anyway and give one of these ideas a try! If you want to share your ideas of what to do with a greeting card or you try one of these ideas please share them with me! I’m on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or just email me a picture!