Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Absence makes the heart grow fonder...

Has it really been almost a year since I've updated my blog??? Oh my! I guess the implementation of my Facebook page has driven my attention elsewhere.
Feel free to hop on by and like my page if you have a chance and check out what I've been working on lately. I promise to blog more soon!
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Crista-Cunningham-Designs/199596556766964

Friday, August 19, 2011

Happy 40th Birthday to the Swoosh!

How about a little history lesson since this is the "back to school" season.... I love logos and branding, so here's a brief story about how the Nike logo came to be. Who would have thought a little check mark would become such a world-wide sensation!
http://stocklogos.com/topic/nike-logo-40-years-old

Thursday, August 18, 2011

And the winner is......

Thank you all for your input. I chose logo #1. I am happy with this logo for it's professional feel. I've also created a second style for the logo to use for watermarks and a header for my blog. 


Sunday, August 7, 2011

New Logo

  After much consideration, I have decided that although I have no aspirations of owning my own design business, I still need to create a label for myself to attach to my work.
  This was a huge project for me. Oddly enough, it is so much easier to develop an identity for someone else than it is for yourself. I had to dig deep in the recesses of my brain to create my label. Some people may think that a name or initials will suffice as a logo, but this is far beyond the truth. If your logo doesn't have flare then you might as well start filing for unemployment now. Especially if you're a graphic designer.
  My mother (an artist as well) convinced me long ago that "simple is elegant". (Mom, if you are reading my blog in heaven...I WAS LISTENING TO YOU! hahaha ;)  ) Obviously, a huge flashy logo was obviously not the choice for me. Honoring her advice, I chose an "elegant" font for the graphic and a "simple" font for my name. I also wanted to pick a color that I would like to look at, so I chose green and brown, and green and black which are my favorite combinations. Green being my favorite color of course. I decided to include my name as well as a graphic to attach it to a design I created, selling myself in a way. Another key factor was to design something that would shrink and enlarge well. Who knows what size I will need to stretch my logo or how small I will need it. And then the last factor in my design was amount of color. I wanted to limit my color for budget purposes. Each color I incorporate would mean more money. But lack of color wouldn't be as eye catching to potential clients.
  I created eight different looks to choose from. I'm having a hard time deciding which is my favorite. Currently, my top 4 would be number 1, 3, 4 & 7. I'm proud to announce that my super intelligent 6 year old daughter chose the colors and styles for number 7 & 8. She gets excited when I'm working and likes to give her input. I can't say I'll be too disappointed if she follows in my footsteps. *big dopey grin on my face*.
  I hope you enjoy these designs and feel free to vote on your favorite or offer any suggestions.

Friday, July 29, 2011

Photoshop Brush Tutorial

In celebration of my birthday, I've decided to write a tutorial exclusively for my followers! Wait...Shouldn't I get the free tutorial??? Oh well! ;)

I've recently been asked how to create brushes in Photoshop, so here's how it's done...

(Note: this tutorial is for Adobe Photoshop CS4)


1. By using any seletion tool (lasso, marquee, etc.) select the image you desire for your brush tip. 


2. Create a new layer.


3. Choose Edit from the Menu Bar and then select “define Brush Preset”.


4. Choose a name for your brush and select ok.


5. Select the brush tool.




6. Click on your new brush tip in your brush pallete and begin to paint. 



Enjoy!

Thursday, June 23, 2011

Designer Barcodes!

Designer Barcodes
Check out this link for an article from Yahoo Finance about the cool new designer barcodes. And we thought the Microsoft Tag was cool...

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Digital File Prep

Digital File Prep

This semester, I have realized the importance of submitting a proper file to our printer. There are many circumstances that can slow or stop a RIP and if one file is not in the correct format, this can slow down the production of your piece possibly causing you to miss your deadline. 
I would say that the most important thing I learned to do this semester was creating a folding dummy. My final project was a catalog I created for a cheesecake business. My folding dummy allowed me to see what order I needed to place my files in InDesign. Most people would layout their file in correct page order. But in order to print both sides on each sheet and to fold and staple the pages in the correct order, I had to rearrange my layout. 
I also learned that it is important to have a standard check list. Each type of file should have a set resolution, color mode and to check for other elements that may cause an issue with the printer. By checking each file after it's creation, you can be sure that your files will be properly submitted. 
It is also important to remember that each file you submit could have different specs. There are no standard sizes. It is extremely important to communicate with the business you are submitting your files to. It is up to the designer to meet their standards, not our own. 
As a designer, it is hard to visualize the processes that take place after your job is done. We can't just assume that our files are perfect and as hard as it may be to admit, most issues during printing come from the designer. If the designer takes the time to check the file and submit it properly to the printer, everyone's deadline will be met, meaning happy customers and more business.