New business card

[imported_ScottBuckel]

Since I just relocated to California just a few months ago, I realized that I need to update my cards. What do you think about this design?



Thanks,

Scott

[Snarfy]

ok i'm going to be a little critical because i'm a graphic design student...

1. dont use the font papyrus, its over used and makes things feel cheap.
2. be very aware of your kerning, especially on the company name.
3. on the secondary texual elements in the signature, make your name the most important, and everything else subordinate to that
3. create equal distribution of space in the signature text elements.
4. be very careful to align your signature's text elements on a single line vertically.
5. consider also using white text (matches the eagle's feathers).
6. if you are going to use a black fade-out on the top part of the bird, then feather the edge on the bottom so that it fades to black there also.

these are just some basics to design and business cards. sorry i cant be more positive about this, but the card is currently very weak. keep working on it! i'll be glad to lend more advice, if you'd like.

[imported_JeromeL]

i agree with snarfy on every point. the picture is quite captive, but the info is weak and cheap-looking. you might want to consider brighter colors also, make your card stand out, something people will remember. a white border maybe?

[imported_ScottBuckel]

Snarfy and Jerome -

Thanks for the feedback - feel free to be critical as that is how we learn fro each other. I'll post a new version soon to make sure I heard your suggestions.


Scott

[imported_ScottBuckel]

Here's a new version of the card. I think I incorporated the suggestions. Let me know what you think. This time I remembered to crop out the gutter from the template that VistaPrint gives you. Also would it be stronger to flip the image and have the text on right hand side of the card?

Thanks in advance!

Scott

[imported_JeromeL]

MUCH BETTER! but your title kerning is a still a little off and i still recommend brighter colors.

[imported_ScottBuckel]

Jerome -

How does one play with kerning in Photoshop? I found a way increase the distance between the individual characters, but not much else - is there a menu or something I have not seen?

The one idea you had about a white box sounds interesting, but I was not sure how to execute the idea. I plan on plying with a few different things this evening. Maybe, I'll some up with something more interesting.

Thanks,

Scott

[imported_JeromeL]

I've always done it letter by letter. snarfy would have a better background in this. Just keep playing.

[imported_Nee7x7]

Hi Scott,

I'm wondering...what client base are you after? Your eagle is awesome, but if you want to shoot human clients, the eagle might be sending a different message.

The type is running a bit close to the edges (you need at least 1/4 inch distance from the edge for the printers to process it). I'd suggest making the heading font smaller, but the first letter of each word bigger (ie. the S, B, and P made larger).

For the section with your address and info, I'd make your name in a slightly smaller font (but still larger than the rest below it) and a bit less bold because as it is, it's competing with the softer font you used for the Heading. You might consider putting a description in front of the word photographer there...such as "nature photographer" or "wedding photographer", etc., so people know what sort of photography to expect when they call you up.

If you are planning to shoot people, as much as that eagle is wonderful, you would probably do better to use a different photo...one with people, or a wedding ring on an invitation, etc. I'd keep the photo simpler and softer (check out Ray's pro wedding shots) if it's human subjects you're after. If you're planning to only shoot nature, then the eagle rocks!!! That stare down sends chills.

Best of luck to you. I'd be happy to play around with it if you'll send me the full size file with the layers intact (I have Photoshop CS2). I worked as a graphic designer in a previous lifetime (well, when I was younger, LOL!) and more recently designed e-cards (store credit cards) for my husband's restaurant point of sale accounts.

Cheers,
~Nee :)

[Snarfy]

Ok this is much better! better font choices, i'd recommend something a little stronger (boldface perhaps) for the primary signature element.

1. like i said, the primary signature element font should be a little more bold
2. using photoshop, bring a little more light and color out on the eagle, it needs to stand out more. i'd go with a levels and shadow/highlight adjustment.
3. experiement with the flip, it might work your eye a little better. you might find that the secondary and tertiary text elements will fit really well if typed onto a path that forms a curve just off the beak of the bird.
4. the text alignment is much better. the primary element needs either more alignment, or more separation; right now it feels a little unintentional.
5. on the secondary text elements, make some of the info even more subordinate with font size. the contact info doesn't really have to be very large on a business card.
6. if you play around with text framing or things behind it, definately use organic forms. the photograph is of the eagle which has no rectalinear forms to it; so design shapes very curvalinear. now that that the spacing is set, you can experiment with arranging everything to paths.
7. use illustrator! it makes this process MUCH easier and it prints better =)
8. as for kerning, if you use photoshop then rasterize each text element and use the marquee selector to move each character(consider making each its own layer). in illustrator, you can convert the text to objects, ungroup them, and then bump them.
9. leave at least 1/8" on each side, especially where text lay. you dont want any of it getting cropped off during printing.

ok, thats more than enough from me. keep experimenting with the colors. i'd make the name a mid-value yellow. hope this is helpful.

[imported_ScottBuckel]

All - thanks for the feedback - it is greatly appreciated. I will continue to work on the card a bit more.

Scott

[imported_Nee7x7]

Hi Scott,

I played a bit with the newer version of your business card you sent me, just to see what sort of fun I could have with it~ :)

This is a JPEG version with layers flattened, but if you like it, I can send you the Tiff file. It's still a bit rough. I'm not sure the dimensions are right...it seems a bit long and narrow, but I'm used to credit card sizes, so maybe it's OK. I changed the background color to match the photo's background a bit better, but when it comes to actual printing, it will probably need further tweaking.

Anyhow, hope you like it! ~Nee

[imported_ScottBuckel]

Renee -

I think I like it. It does look a little narrow though.

Thanks for playing with it.

Scott

[imported_Nee7x7]

It's the same dimensions as the horizontal one, but it can be *fattened* up quite easily in Photoshop, LOL! I really like the effect you applied to the bolder heading type style, so I didn't change that. The only changes there were to use small caps for the smaller letters, and I removed the space between your first and last name to make it fit more evenly with the word "photographer". I think putting the Heading at an angle creates more drama and makes it stand out from the crowd, so to speak. :)

As for the bottom section, I used larger font for the CAPs. I also changed your web address to all small letters. I think it looks a bit cleaner and easier to read that way (and there are no caps in web addresses anyhow, so it looks the way you would type it).

If you can find out (from your printer) the dimensions (including the bleed -the extra 1/8th of an inch), I can set that up for you.

Cheers!
~Nee :)

[imported_ScottBuckel]

Renee -

Thanks the info for the size of the card can be found at : Vista Print

That link has the following info:

Document Trim Size
1.93" x 3.43"
49mm x 87mm
579 x 1028 pixels


Full Bleed Size
2.05" x 3.54"
52mm x 90mm
615 x 1062 pixels


Finished artwork should use the full bleed dimensions for best results.


I was thinking about deleting my physical address - as I may be moving once again to a different house in the near future and 99% of my business has been either through galleries or email so I am thinking i do not need it.

Scott