I have been in the design/print business for almost 20 years, starting with a small software retailer designing ad’s in a program called “First Publisher” and growing over time to where I am daily answering questions about files, fixing up artwork and helping clients figure out how to email their logo. I also get to design once in a while too!
Currently, my primary design tools are Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Photoshop, with Adobe Illustrator thrown in the mix for certain functions (mainly, ‘variable data’). All of my workflow ends in Adobe PDF files, managed with Adobe Acrobat Pro.
That being said, you don’t need all that expensive and hard to learn software in order to get started on your brand design. In my years of dealing with client files, I have received excellent setups in Microsoft Word, Publisher or PowerPoint. Google has design tools available with its Drive service, and there are plenty of free/low cost design software that will get the job done.
Post-its via http://www.freeimages.com/photo/post-it-1-1238652
The goal of PrintReady is to help arm you with the knowledge and some tools to get your ideas ready for prime time. Some of you get frustrated when the newspaper tells you it needs a “pdf file” for your ad, or maybe you know what you want, but just don’t know the tools to start with (not everyone can afford $1000’s in software!).
Where I can help you is breaking the language barrier between the design world and your world. It can be frustrating when you talk to designers, printers and marketers and they use words like “bleed” or “offset” or “press ready artwork”.
If you have any questions, please let me know at jason@printready.ca. I will respond when I can, and over time, add your questions to the site so they can help people in your situation.
