So you don't need artwork... Or do you?

We are often told by prospective customers that they don't need 'artwork' they have some words written out and a snippet of something they like; perhaps a cutting of a colour that pleases them, a typeface that appeals to them or the type of photography that caught their eye. We have to create a proof to get approval and then print their job. The procedure between the two is artwork!

Do I need a proof?

Yes! This is very important - if we proceed with your job without one you could be risking additional costs and delays. Please check EVERYTHING on the proof. Get someone to check it too. It is very easy to miss something because you skim over the proof with distractions around you.

Keeping your costs down

You can help keep your costs down by getting a few things ready. Supply your text as a Word document or other simple text format. We can copy and paste from this and it saves us typing it up for you. Perhaps you want to supply some pictures for scanning, have these removed from their frames if at all possible. If you want to produce your own scans we are happy to offer some suggestions; scan at 240dpi as a minimum for same size or smaller reproductions of the picture. If your pictures are to be enlarged for printing you will need to scan at a higher resolution; double the size of the picture and scan at 480 - 600dpi.

Our staff are keen and willing to answer questions. There are so many people that 'can' design. Advertising agencies, graphic designers, printers, students or even your friend's son! Have you ever wondered why it is that people take their car to a skilled mechanic, buy glasses from an optician's BUT insist on using just anyone for their artwork?

We pride ourselves on offering design services with an edge, and are delighted to have built up a reputation as designers. As well as years of experience, we offer the expertise needed to ensure that your design job will be suitable in every type of finished product. We'll worry about trim marks, bleed, image area, gutters, screen dpi and calibration - so that you can rest easy.

Our knowledge and experience ensures that your job runs smoothly from start to finish.

Oh how we love these! Well Barney does! He is known in the trade for his ability to identify various fonts. He is even sad enough to go on-line and enter a competition recognising different fonts; his score being in the top 25 in the country! There are few people able to do this. He has a couple of mates that help him on the ones he has trouble with, he, in turn helps them when needed!

The fonts people use say a lot about their design, there are some designers that like to use all they've got, one here and one there, add another to say something else, chuck in a script and a hand drawn look for good measure. Beware of this, two is enough, three is an absolute limit really!

Fonts are picked with precision and using these tactical choices will bring your design to the top of the pile!