Source Link: Ads of the World

Source Link: Ads of the World

So why trust 1800Postcards.com with your design work? 1800Postcards.com is the retail branch of Circle Press, a high-end commercial printing firm with a roster of Fortune 100 clients that includes Dior, Tiffany, Disney, American Express, Broadway Shows and most of the world?s leading brands. These companies demand nothing but the best in quality. To be specific, a quality standard called ?G7?, which is only granted to printing firms that meet a very strict set of best practices and production quality. These clients sit with pre-press, have color proofs printed for spot color matching, they come in when the job is printed to make color adjustments and watch it run on the press to see the final results, the whole nine yards. They also pay tens of thousands of dollars for this type of service level.

1800Postcards produces your print work in the same facilities, with the same press-men and production staff, and adheres to the same quality standards as high-end commercial jobs. The only difference is that your job is ?gang printed? or run together with other 1800Postcard clients, which is the secret of every online printing company and why they can be so cheap in pricing. However, 1800Postcards.com just brought it up to an almost unreasonable level of quality

But what if you don?t need postcards? Well they?re capable of more than just postcard printing. They offer brochures, business cards, flyers, posters, banners, stickers and pretty much any custom work your creative mind can imagine.

Bottom line, the print results are unbelievable… no one in the online printing space comes even close to this quality and attention to detail. You can see it yourself by requesting free samples @ 1800Postcards.com/freesamples.

How To Win!

Winning the 1,000 Free Business Cards is easy…Here are the rules:

Step 1. Participate by Clicking on This Link and Entering Your Info (will only take 1 minute tops) Click here to Participate

Step 2. Leave Comment Telling Us Why You Should Win and don’t forget to provide us your real Email and Name. We will notify you using the Email you provide.

Step 3. Only residents of the United States can participate

Contest Ends: February 09, 2012.

Good luck to everyone!!

Check out their work:

How To Win!

1. Tweet this post or share on Facebook.

2. Post that link to tweet or facebook in comments and don’t forget to provide us your real Email and Name. We will notify you using the Email you provide.

Contest Ends: January 17, 2012.

Good luck to everyone!!

Winners

Contest ended, here are the details of winners:

Cary
Akshay Sawant
Antonin Januska

Congratulation!

Today we are showcasing 40 creative and catchy print ads that have used typography effectively. You may also be interested in 30 Amazing Typographic Movie Poster Designs.

1. Read Me : Does the viewer decide to read it from one to all. Does the text and copy have an appeal to let the viewer decide to read it all.

2. Quick Scan : A brochure enables the person to have a quick scan of what it is about. Even if he does not read it more precisely, quick scan must help him to understand the goals and services of the company. What is the underlying concept and do the images help him to understand the strategy.

3. Interest of the viewer to decide to contact the company : If the brochure is so eye catching and excellently portrays company’s profile, does it actually convince the viewer to contact the company. This is the main reason why the brochure is made, to sell company’s name and to grab the audience.

The main objective of brochure is to understand the goal. Aims and objectives must properly be defined in order to design a proper brochure. Who is the target audience, what language they would understand, what is the imagery they would relate to.

The Theme and Structure

Though graphic designing appears to be very glamorous but in real sense it is communication design. The intent and the theme must be very clear to the target audience. Using too many colors in a brochure might not be a good idea since the essence is direct communication. Use of two or three background colors with the highlighted imagery would be simple yet effective. Maintain a great flow throughout the brochure, use harmonized images or thorough repetition or create a balance. Though brochure printing is done on a flat surface but create a proper grid on each panel. Give enough margin spaces to avoid clutter so viewer’s eye moves from one end to the other continuously and is able to read it properly.

Selection of Fonts

Selection of fonts is very important. Bold fonts are used for headings, easily readable fonts for rest of the copy. Font sizes are also important, neither too small nor too large. Brochure should have the quality of being read quickly. Too much copy would deviate the attention of the reader. Use bold words in copy, short clichés would be appropriate. Using image captions is a good way. Don’t use text over images unless images are being used as watermarks. Tell the reader step by step what he has to do to contact. Never forget to use company’s brief introduction and contact details.

Imagery

Imagery is the best communication. The viewer before reading the text goes through the images. This is the best part of a brochure. Use the images so appealing and communicative that they drive viewer’s brain to read the text also.

Cover

Cover is the most fighting element in the market. It should scream take me, read me in the jungle of other covers. Minimal words and most vibrant imagery is the key to success. It does not mean it should be full of clutter but being simple it should have a shelf value.

Value for Future

What elements does your brochure have so the viewer keeps it for his future reference. Is it its design or information or just because somebody liked it. Even if this is the reason atleast some time in life he might use it and contact the company. It should not be thrown in a bin or should be flown away by making an airplane of it.

Use of cut outs increases the value.

Pop out images can be an interesting way to increase the value.

On the other hand flyers are brief, simple single leaf or maybe with 2 or 3 folds. Flyers have less opportunities to be creative since they are made to reduce cost of printing and reaching out to larger masses. Same points have to be kept in mind for flyers/leaflets as discussed for brochures.

Some Brochure Samples for Inspiration

Letter Head

In how many ways can a letter head be designed? Several ways more expanded than your imagination. There might not be any hard and fast rules to design it, but there are some rules and guidelines that will help you create letter heads most liked and remembered and giving a very unique practical usage.

Positioning of Logo

Since logo is the most important part of your stationery, it is important to know how and where the logo should be placed on the letter head. Usually in the top corner logo is placed because of the reason to provide ample space for writing on the letter head. Some part of logo as watermark can also be done, but make sure neither it should restrict the movement of eye, nor it should be so bright that it covers the entire page.

These letter heads also show watermarks but to the limit that one can easily have space to write anything onto it.

Contact Information

Contact information is usually in the lower part either it can be in the corner or a straight band can be used to give the contact information. The reason being the same as to provide complete space for writing.

Fairly to a large extent it is the matter of personal preference as to what appeals to your own eye. But yes what message the client is trying to convey, is it traditional, cultural or is it modern or contemporary. Does the brand identity suggests speed or energy or does it depict calmness or tranquility. Whatever the identity is, it must be shown and in such case proper alignment must be done to create a smooth and complete balance. You can draw attention by keeping the tag line away from the rest of the elements, or create some unusual element or design which seeks attention. Create a focal point, if you are adding color make sure it’s not complicated.

Use of colors should be in a harmonized manner with minimal intersection and should not be in layers, rather plain and less gradients.

Envelope

Get an envelope in your hand and see if you like to keep it as it is without ripping it off. What is the most unusual and dynamic part of the envelope which will make you keep it with you for years?

Envelopes go everywhere, from clients to a layman. What are the most amazing ways to design it so one really wants to know what’s hidden inside.

Most of us use envelops just as often as drinking water. But do you actually know how it is constructed? The size of the piece, type of mailing, budget, and whether or not you’ll be using automated equipment to insert the envelope contents affects the style of envelope you can use. In order to enhance a personal or business image and invoke a particular action create an envelope that stays forever. You can also choose specific envelope sizes and can choose customized sizes also, but make sure you already know the available paper sizes.

Parts of Envelope

Face or Front
The front side of the envelope where address comes and may show a small transparent window. It is seamless without any fold.

Back
The back of the envelope, typically left blank, is where the flaps meet to form and seal the envelope.

Flaps
The parts of an envelope that are folded, overlapped, and sealed to enclose the contents are typically rectangular or triangular with rounded, tapered, or pointed corners. The typical envelope consists of two side flaps, a bottom flap, and a top flap. The side flaps are folded in first with the bottom flap folded up. They are sealed where they overlap. The top flap is folded over the side and bottom flaps and sealed after inserting the envelope contents.

Seams
The flaps determine the seams — the edges where the envelope flaps meet and overlap.

Folds
The creases formed at the sides, top, and bottom between the face and the back when all the flaps are folded to the back of the envelope are the folds.

Envelope Openings and Closures
Envelopes have one side left open and unsealed for inserting material. Non-square envelopes are either open end or open side. Open side is the most common, even though most letter mail envelopes appear to open on top. The opening is determined not by orientation of the top flap but by the length of the side where the opening appears. In addition to the style or position of the flap, envelope closures may be with or without adhesive.

Make sure whatever you decide to design the stationery, the construction, flaps, folds must be known. Whether it is letter head or envelop, it must depict company’s complete profile and image.

Printing Feasibilities

Many different processes can be adopted for printing of stationery. Though we do not intend to go in the details of printing, but just to give an idea about few specifications in order to let you choose the right printing process for your stationery.

Digital Offset Printing

In today’s world the most diversely used printing process giving a very dynamic and high resolution result is this process. The quickest, most efficient and completely digital without any manual handling and the most accurate of all is this process. To give a photographic quality to the images, this process is usually adopted by all the professionals.

Letterpress Printing

This is the oldest and most versatile process. This method uses metallic plates onto which printable area or design is raised, thus ink only touches that raised designed area. This design is then transferred directly onto the paper and due to the pressure slight embossing may appear on the back side of the paper.

Flat Offset Printing

Mostly known as flat printing, it’s less expensive and less formal. Image created on the plate in black and white is directly transferred onto paper.

Engraving

Engraving, the oldest still the most unique process is though expensive but gives the most elegant look to your stationery. Paper is pressed against a metal plate to create an impression. You can even feel the raised engraved images with your finger.

Thermography

This is also a very unique and interesting process for the stationery. The paper when passes through the press is passed through a powdered application. Resin is mixed with the powder and it only adheres to the wet ink which was on the paper. Later the printer heats the paper which causes the resin to melt and fuse with the ink. Then after cooling the effect is textured. This process though less expensive than engraving, does not give a formal and complete look what engraving gives.

A brief introduction to these printing techniques is given so you may know what are you actually going to design for your stationery. Extraordinary designs never come without complete knowledge.

Check out the link for printing services.

If you have been keeping busy handing out your business cards at tradeshows or business meetings you probably are running low. Or maybe you just need a new fresh look you can use to represent yourself differently to clients. Business cards have other uses you may not have thought of previously. For instance you can also use the 3.5 x 2 inch card as a frequent visitor card, you know like the kind you get at sandwich shops or coffee shops with each purchase. The cards can also be used as appointment reminder cards, like you get when you go to the dentist or doctor’s office. They are fairly versatile, so you may want to think outside the box for ways that you can make use of them.

How to Enter?

To enter the contest, simply leave a comment, with your valid email address, stating how you would use the cards if you are the winner. The winner will receive 1000 standard business cards printed in full color on the front and black printing or blank on the back. They’ll have a printing turnaround time of next day and be shipped anywhere in Continental U.S.

A winner will be selected on December 10, 2010.

Note: Contest Ended

Adding humor in your ad is not easy too, you have to know fully about the product you are designing ad for and about consumers too.

In this post i have gathered 42 really funny and amazing ads for your amusement. Do tell us which ad amused your more.

1. Arena Swimwear: Predator

2. Loteria de la Provincia de Buenos Aires: Money

3. Electro Recycling: Robot

4. Fiat: Boxes

5. Tobacco Free Florida: Pressure

6. Stockholms Hundforum (Daytime dog care): Wanking dog

7. Volkswagen Touareg: Goat

8. Al Nahda Resort & Spa: Bed

9. RSPCA: Vacuum

10. Ephone v900: Bear Trap

11. 21st Century Healthcare Repella Insect Repeller: Frog

12. Samantha Cracked Heel Lotion: Sexy Heels

13. Baygon: Jason

14. Tabaconomia : Calculates Tobacco Costs, Car

15. Pepsi: Mini can

16. Pepsi: Straws

17. WMF knives: Fly

18. Heinz Hot Ketchup: Fries

19. Burger King: Real big burgers

20. Sheetz fry

21. Coca-Cola Light

22. Anti-smoking: Gun

23. McDonald’s: Baby Ronald

24. Minery: Foot care

25. KISS FM 97.7: Father

26. queer-travel.de: The other side of America

27. Sedex Express Courier Service: Egg

28. Union Bank of India: Currency, Lincoln

29. Lifebuoy: Dog

30. Softlan Ultra: Wrestling

31. French Kiss: Pepsi

32. Talcid: Chair

33. New Job – Career Builder

34. Buenos Aires Zoo: Ape

35. Bajaj Room Heater: Fish

36. Timotei Styling Mousse: Lion

37. EPCOR: Cobra

38. Fibermesh Concrete Reinforcement: Karate

39. Ripolin paint: Old man

40. TNT Express: Pregnant lady

41. Kayaking Jumbo Peanut: Choking

42. Tesa: Bush

Zach Bush is talented artist and has an amazing gift for creating realistic, detailed and original illustrations that lot of designers can’t even think of. In this post i have showcased the illustration, photo manipulation, matte painting and print ads done by him. To contact and know more about him you can visit following two links.

Zach’s Portfolio
Zach’s Contact Page
Zach Bush Interview

Here is the amazing and spectacular work by Zach Bush, you can click the image to get larger view.

Illustrations & Photo Manipulation

Matte Paintings

Print Ads

Here i have collected 40+ creative print media advertisements. Designers have used some great techniques and creative ideas in all of these ads.

Gain Detergent with Febreze: Gym

Samantha Cracked Heel Lotion: Sexy Heels

Restaurant Mirador del Alto: Dalí

Restaurant Mirador del Alto: Piano

Sensodyne: Feathers

Amer Restaurants: Ramadan Kareem

Baygon: Jason

Urban Rush Movers: Coffee table

Wrong Sound, Wrong Image

Sedex Express Courier Service: Egg

La Estacion radio station: The killer ballads are back

Deutsche Post: Chest box

AMRI Hospitals – Symptoms of Parkinson’s

Stranger radio station

Nutri Balance: Husband

Decathlon: Operation trecking

Cerveira Art Biennial: Michelangelo

Google: Keys

Mama Itos Wasabi Boules: Eye

Perrier: Melt, Club

WWF: Ambulance

Don’t let wood get old

Ministry of Health: Sedentary

Colgate Plax – Don’t mask it. Eliminate it

Make peace with the world

DIRECTV Plus – Watch it when you want to

International Society for Human Rights: Mouse

Ikea: Van

FedEx: Trombone

Children Of Chernobyl: Apple

Talcid – Don’t be afraid to eat

Amnesty International: Brown’s voice

Midol: Whisk

Pirelli: Panda

Trim: Man

Stihl: Blower

Samsung CCTV: Wide angle

Cancer Patients Aid Association: Bistro

Editora Insular: Don’t be without a topic. Read books

Samsung NV100: Soldier

Miracel Whip: Miracle seesaw

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