Category: Gator

Read It. Spell Check It. Read It Again.

10/1/2013

Often we get projects in here that need to be assembled from several different sources. Whenever possible, we copy and paste the text right from the client’s source material, eliminating the chance of us having a typo. However, copy and paste is only as good as the original. Before you send your text along, make sure you Read It, to make sure it makes sense. Spell Check It, to make sure you don’t have spelling errors. Then, Read It Again, to make sure it is getting your message across.

Using the right information in the first place helps make the whole project go smoother.

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Figure Out What You Want

8/19/2013

Many times people come to me with a design idea that seems vague. I will ask questions and try to figure out what they want prior to setting of to design. However, often as the design develops, the client gets more specific with what they want. Some of that may have to do with seeing their first ideas in a proof, but most often it is because they finally stopped and really thought about what they want and don’t want. Knowing that information up front helps the designer give the client what they are looking for the first time and makes the design fee cheaper. It’s not to say that ideas can’t be tweaked at the end, but going in the wrong direction to start is not beneficial to anyone.

Not All Scanning Is Created Equal

7/27/2013

If you are looking to have something scanned to electronic format, make sure you are getting what you need from the scan. Normal documents can be scanned rapidly without worry of loss of data. Art pieces and magazines should probably be scanned at a higher resolution and on a flatbed scanner. However, that depends upon what you need the electronic version for. An archive for printing on a copier has different scanning needs that an archive for printing or enlarging professionally. Next time you need something scanned, make sure you ask about the scanning system BEFORE you ask about price.

Please Consider Small Businesses First

2/19/2013

Please consider small businesses first when pricing your next purchase. Keep in mind that Big Box companies have bulk buying power that small businesses do not. They can make more profit even at lower prices. However, small businesses are often operating with very little profit trying to stay competitive with the big guys. A small business owner truly appreciates every customer that walks in their door.

What Will 2013 Bring You?

12/19/2012

It is almost 2013 already. Do you know what your New Year’s resolutions were last year? Did any of them apply to your current business or inspiration for something new? How well have you done following up with those resolutions in the past? Don’t let another month pass you by. Make TODAY the day you go for it! Let Gator help you get started. We can design and print your logo on letterheads, business cards, invoices and envelopes, help you with your web site, notarize documents for you and even get you established on social media avenues. Once you are up and running, we can be your virtual assistant helping you reply to emails, making sure you have a continual presence on social media, typing correspondence and creating ads to promote you. Contact Jane for more information at 773-463-3224

Give It Time and Feel the Zen

8/13/2012

We can’t tell you how many times weI’ve had a call with a customer on the other end that needs their project done right away. While Gator makes every effort to meet deadlines requested, it is not always possible.

We realize that things do come up at the last minute. However, please plan ahead whenever possible. Design jobs require time proofs and approvals. Print jobs require time for aquiring the proper paper, set up and proofs. Digital jobs require time to straighten out file translation issues. Scan jobs require time to scan and name the files.

Plan ahead and present Gator with your job, before it’s an emergency. This will minimize your stress levels and have you feeling the Zen.

What Color Is it?

4/11/2011

Recently I had a customer come in with an order for a sign. There was a color that he wanted on there that could be described as burgundy or rust. He specified “Not too pink.” After trying to figure out the exact color he wanted, he went on line to find a color match. He gave me the number and was “sure” that was the color he wanted. All screens/monitors show colors differently, just go to your local electronics store and look at two televisions side-by-side to see this first hand. I had an actual sample of that color in my hand, and just knew it wasn’t what he wanted. Before I went to print, I had him come in and look at the actual sample. Sure enough, the color he thought looked “perfect” on his computer screen, was too pink in real life. He chose a different color and was glad I insisted on him checking out the color sample in person. The customer was happy with the color on the final product, and that makes me happy.

Size Matters! (Photo size that is)

3/7/2011

Recently I had a customer stop by to have a brochure designed. He was really enthused about the project and wanted to show off all of the photos that he had taken of the job sites he worked at. He had done beautiful work, without question, however his photos were taken with his cell phone. His enthusiasm was quickly replaced with frustration when I told him that I couldn’t use the photos in the way he had hoped.

I run into this problem often. People take photos of things with their cell phones or a small pocket camera set at a low resolution. While photos like this are fine for viewing on a computer screen, they are not always suitable to print or print at an enlarged size. One project, the file size/resolution was so small, that full size printing of each photo was only about 1/2 inch tall by 1 inch wide. The photos my recent client brought me could only be printed at about a maximum of 1 1/2 inches wide by 2 inches high. He had hoped that at least one of the photos be printed much larger. Low resolution photos that are printed larger, end up looking blurry.

So remember, size matters. When taking photos for printing or enlarging, it is best to use a high resolution setting on your camera. Photo images can always be made smaller when they are too large, but it is impossible to make images larger when they are too small.

Want Something Graphically Designed? Give it time!

2/25/2011

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Often, I get clients come in that have an idea for a graphic design project and then expect to have it done immediately. While we can usually start on the project immediately, graphic design takes time. The customer and designer must take time to talk through the project and get as many details as possible. What kind of project? What kind of paper? What kind of details are important? The designer will take notes and follow up with e-mails or phone calls for clarification later. Even the most simple design requires time to design it. Depending upon the project, the designer might create a few different designs for the customer to choose from. Once the designer is happy with the way it looks, the customer must then be contacted and have time to decide what they think. Do they like it the way it is? Do they want to change something? Is their idea being conveyed the way they explained? Did the customer forget or change their mind about something? Changes are done by the graphic designer and then re-submitted to the customer for additional review. Once the customer is happy with their project, the design is prepared to go to print. Depending upon the project, the printing process will take a few days to around 1 week. We have had clients come in 1 month prior to wanting a major project completed, and then continued to make changes the day of it needing to go to print! So please, give your project time to be developed, designed and printed. You will be happier with the results and your stress level won’t go through the roof!

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File Cabinets Over Filled??

11/26/2010

Are your file cabinets over filled?? Are you desperate for more storage space? Give us a call. We will confidentially scan your documents to PDF. Shred your paper documents and give yourself some space! Save your information on CD instead.

Don’t forget our other services:
Digital color printing up to 11X17.
Wide format scans to electronic format.
Wide format hard copies from hard copy originals or electronic files.
Electronic plan room for easy distribution of plans from contractors to sub-contractors.
FTP site for uploading/downloading large files.
Graphic design of logos, brochures, business cards, invitations, etc.
And, of course, confidential document scanning (color available) to electronic format for archiving.

Call us with questions: 773-463-3224

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