Graphic Design Employment BlogThe purpose of Graphic Design Employment.com is this: to help designers build confidence through graphic design articles covering everyday, essential tasks. Most of the information here is knowledge that every designer has to know if they're to work confidently in a design studio. The focus is on the basic issues of preparing images correctly for print, setting up documents in InDesign and Quark, artwork press-preparation, best practices and general workflow. The Graphic Design Employment Blog is where you'll find new and updated training articles, useful websites and resources related to GDE.com. You can subscribe to the blog via an RSS feed so that you can tell when something new has been added. To subscribe to the Graphic Design Employment Blog (no e-mail necessary), right-click on the orange RSS button (see the buttons to the left, below the navigation menu) and then paste the URL into your RSS reader. Alternatively, click on the My Yahoo!, My MSN or Add To Google button if you keep a personalized home page there. Click here for a list of our graphic design tutorials.
Kream of the KropIf you didn't already know about Krop, you should. It's an excellent place to build a portfolio and put yourself up for hire. And like all the best things online, it's free. Gimp vs Photoshop. How to install Gimp on a Mac and how it compares to PhotoshopGimp vs Photoshop - how do they compare? Gimp is free image manipulation software and part of the GNU Project. This beginning Gimp tut explains how Mac users install and use Gimp at a basic level. Spotlight for InDesign and Quark FilesFinally someone has come up with a useful solution to the lack of Spotlight support for InDesign and Quark files. Page Zephyr by Marzware was released at the end of 2009 and it does the job admirably. It searches your archives of INDD and QXD files (any version) and displays the text contained inside each file. Each text box in the document is shown as a separate 'story' in Page Zephyr. You can then either copy and paste the text, save it to your computer, or upload the story straight to your Wordpress blog from the program interface. Handy. Click below to see our test of Page Zephyr on some of our documnents. Permalink -- click for full blog post "Spotlight for InDesign and Quark Files" A Pet Peeve Addressed by the OatmealThank goodness I'm not the only one who is bothered by the misuse of apostrophes. It seems to me that these days the attitude of the masses is (whenever a word ends in S): 'if in doubt, stick an apostrophe at the end'. I'm fed up seeing CDs written as CD's, cars written as CAR'S and idiots written as IDIOT'S. Fortunately, that's all I need to say on the subject because this fellow obsessive has taken care of the nitty gritty for me. Also take note of his articles 'Ten Words You Need to Stop Misspelling' and (slightly off-topic): 'How a Web Design Goes Straight to Hell'. Quark InDesign Text Search and Extract Tool by MarkzwarePage Zephyr is a Markzware Quark InDesign text search tool which does what Spotlight cannot. It searches for Quark and InDesign files and allows you to find and extract text from within the documents. Permalink -- click for full blog post "Quark InDesign Text Search and Extract Tool by Markzware" What differentiates you from other candidates?I received a good e-mail from one of our readers this week about a certain question which comes up in interview more often than it should: Question:> Just wondering what not to say when you are asked 'what qualities differentiate you from any other candidate?'. My Answer:This has always struck me as a trick question, but it's one which interviewers like to ask because: a) They want to see how you react to an ambiguous question to which you couldn't possibly know the answer, or b) They've run out of sensible questions to ask The problem with this question is that you have no idea what differentiates you from other candidates because you don't know the other candidates and what they have to offer. The best thing you can do is answer truthfully and candidly. When they ask this question, it's my guess that they have already made up their minds about whether or not they like you for the job, so all you need to do is keep your head and react calmly. Say something along these lines: "I'm afraid I can't say what the other candidates have to offer, but my own strengths are: xxx, xxx, xxx. I believe I will bring xxxx to the role... etc" It's possible that the interviewer is genuinely waiting for some hugely inciteful answer, but ultimately (if they get one) it won't do them any good because 9 times out of 10 it won't be true. Better to be honest. Permalink -- click for full blog post "What differentiates you from other candidates?" Launch of the Berthon Yacht Sales websiteTinstar Design, Nick's design studio, was founded in 1997, and was grounded in graphic design for the printed medium, which is what graphic-design-employment.com has always focused on. Over the years though, website design has become more and more a part of the studio's activities and portfolio. Today, (and I suppose I knew this day would come eventually), website design now accounts for about half of our annual turnover. The latest addition to our portfolio is the huge Berthon Yacht Sales website and Linssen Yachts website (click the link below to view Berthon). This inescapable fact (coupled with requests from many of our readers) has led me to the conclusion that we are going to need to start adding some basic (and more advanced if required) website design and construction tutorials. The Berthon site has prompted this post because of all the Web 2.0 and Opensource Javascript technologies used in its makeup. By using some amazing, freely available tools, a designer can now focus on the design of the website and add high-end funkiness without becoming a programmer. So - tutorials to come. When I can clear this workload... Graphic Design Portfolio: Bryant MayberryA Graphic Design Portfolio and Resume submitted by Bryant Mayberry Permalink -- click for full blog post "Graphic Design Portfolio: Bryant Mayberry" Graphic Design Portfolio: Sean OrelajaA Graphic Design Portfolio and Resume submitted by Sean Orelaja Permalink -- click for full blog post "Graphic Design Portfolio: Sean Orelaja" Graphic Design PortfoliosThese Graphic Design Portfolios and Resumes were submitted to Graphic Design Employment.com by our readers. Submit yours for free. Permalink -- click for full blog post "Graphic Design Portfolios" Graphic Design Portfolio: Ibrahim AyoubA Graphic Design Portfolio and Resume submitted by Ibrahim Ayoub Permalink -- click for full blog post "Graphic Design Portfolio: Ibrahim Ayoub" Creating a Content Management System - Where to Start?If your clients are starting to ask more and more for a content management system of some sort, it's time to look into the options. Here is just a taste of where to begin. Permalink -- click for full blog post "Creating a Content Management System - Where to Start?" Nick Interviewed by MarkzwareIt's nice to be asked for an opinion about software by the manufacturer - it all helps to create a better user experience. Follow this link to read my interview with Markzware. InDesign CS4 Differences to InDesign CS3 and CS2InDesign CS4 Differences: If you're learning InDesign but only have an earlier version, will it hold you back when you upgrade? The versions are actually very similar. Permalink -- click for full blog post "InDesign CS4 Differences to InDesign CS3 and CS2" Free Quark to InDesign Conversion From QuarkXPress version 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 - How?Do you need to convert a large or complex Quark file to InDesign? It'll need some reworking however you do it, but here is the free Quark to InDesign conversion method as well as a commercial option. Graphic Design Books Available OnlineVisit our online store for graphic design books. You'll find books on graphic design in advertising, typography, color and much more. Permalink -- click for full blog post "Graphic Design Books Available Online" Free iPod Touch Student GiveawaysApple's Free iPod Touch offer for students is tempting, but is it enough to justify the expensive Mac? I think probably yes. Permalink -- click for full blog post "Free iPod Touch Student Giveaways" Convert Quark to InDesign with the Q2ID InDesign Plugin by MarkzwareOne of the ways to convert Quark to InDesign is to use the Markzware InDesign plugin, Q2ID. It works with InDesign CS4 and Quark 8, as well as with earlier versions, and it's fast. Convert Quark to InDesign - Common Quark File Conversion Problems and SolutionsIf you need to convert Quark to InDesign, here is a case study showing how to proceed. If the file is Quark XPress version 5 or later you will need to do some back-saving. Convert InDesign to Quark with the ID2Q Quark XPress Plugin by MarkzwareOne of the ways to convert InDesign to Quark is to use the Markzware InDesign plugin, Q2ID. It works with InDesign CS4 and Quark 8, as well as with earlier versions, and it's fast. How to convert Publisher files to InDesign files using PUB2IDIf you need to convert Publisher files to InDesign, short of recreating the document from scratch by hand you'll need a plugin like Pub2ID to help you out. Convert Microsoft Publisher to PDF, DOC, RTF and many more - for free.If you need to convert Microsoft Publisher to PDF, don't panic - there is a way online. And it's free. It took me a while to find, but now I'll never lose the link again. Press-Ready Image Tutorial - how to make high resolution images printer readyA graphic design tutorial explaining how and why images are made press-ready. Builds confidence in graphic design graduates and first-job seekers by demonstrating industry techniques. Prepress Training Checklist: make press-ready vector graphics & raster graphicsA checklist to keep by your computer when creating press-ready images. This prepress training website builds confidence in graduate or first-job graphic designers. Graphic design employment info. 4 Color Process Printing and Spot Color Printing - What's the Difference?Learn about the main printing processes involved in graphic design projects. Including 4 color process printing and spot color printing. What's the difference between Pantone and CMYK swatches? Color Management and How to Preflight Documents in CS4Color management can be confusing for designers. As long as consistency in maintained and you preflight your documents, you'll be fine. Permalink -- click for full blog post "Color Management and How to Preflight Documents in CS4" A student CS4 discount opens up the playing fieldA Student CS4 Discount can make the difference between getting a job and losing a job. Knowing Adobe software inside out will give you the confidence that other candidates might lack. Permalink -- click for full blog post "A student CS4 discount opens up the playing field" Career Information on Graphic Design Employment.com, Jobs in Graphic DesignIf you're starting out in graphic design, you'll find career information on graphic design employment. Also find numerous websites listing jobs in graphic design for all levels. The Graphic Design Interview. Common Sense Tips for Graphic Design Employment.So you've got yourself a graphic design interview! How do you handle it? Actually it's all common sense. Keep confidence high, think about what they want to hear and know the job you are applying for! Graphic Design Portfolio Submission. Show Off Your Work and Resume.Submit your Graphic Design Portfolio and Resume to GDE and get yourself known. If you're a job-seeking graphic designer or a freelancer, submit your work for consideration for free. Photoshop Tutorial Bling Text - Adjustment Layers Photoshop Video TutorialPhotoshop Tutorial Bling Text. A Photoshop tutorial demonstrating how adjustment layers and layer styles can be used to create great effects non-destructively. Also shown as a Photoshop video tutorial Standard paper dimensions, possible uses and template downloadsA handy guide to standard paper dimensions, including sizes, possible uses and Quark and InDesign sample file downloads. Business Card Standard SizesBusiness card standard sizes. Details and possible uses of this size in graphic design. Also provided here are Quark downloads and InDesign downloads of document templates set up with guides and bleed Permalink -- click for full blog post "Business Card Standard Sizes" Safari 4 ReviewA Safari 4 review. In short, don't touch it until Apple puts back the old tabbing system! Permalink -- click for full blog post "Safari 4 Review" About The Graphic Design Employment Website and AuthorThe Graphic Design Employment website has been created for graphic design graduates who might have gaps in their knowledge after college. Permalink -- click for full blog post "About The Graphic Design Employment Website and Author" Universal Proofreading Symbols for Graphic DesignersAn often overlooked skill in graphic design training is the ability to interpret universal proofreading symbols. If you're a designer and know nothing about proofreading, learn these essential basics! Permalink -- click for full blog post "Universal Proofreading Symbols for Graphic Designers" A Useful Proofreading Marks Chart -Universal Proofreading Symbols and ExamplesAs a graphic designer, I find it useful to have a proofreading marks chart in front of me when ploughing through heavily corrected pages! Here are some of the most common proofreading marks & examples Photoshop Clipping Paths - How To & How Not To Create Good Quality PathsIf anyone ever tells you to use the Photoshop Magic Wand Tool to create Photoshop clipping paths, don't believe them! This article shows you how to do it RIGHT - and how to do it WRONG! How to edit PDF documents using Photoshop & Illustrator as Acrobat Plugins.If you need to know how to edit PDF files there are a number of ways to approach the task. To make complex changes you'll need Illustrator and Photoshop to help. Acrobat treats them as super-plugins. You can edit PDF documents using Acrobat, but its capabilities are minimal.If you need to edit PDF documents there are a number of ways to approach the task. You can edit a PDF file using Adobe Acrobat. This page tell you what editing features are available.
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