Re: To speak or not to speak -- that is the question

Subject: Re: To speak or not to speak -- that is the question
From: Dick Margulis <margulis -at- fiam -dot- net>
To: Bonnie Granat <bgranat -at- granatedit -dot- com>
Date: Mon, 26 Jan 2004 11:44:33 -0500

Responses interspersed:

Bonnie Granat wrote:

PROBLEM 1 - [muddy, possibly Earth-y logo]

Proposed solution:

A. In e-mail, ask him if the illustration in the logo is supposed to
be Earth, relying on the question itself to convey the information I
want him to receive. That is, if I have to ask what it is, can the
logo be something that other visitors will immediately recognize?

B. Say nothing, but create a brochure using the colors and graphics of
the site. (I have a real problem with this solution, because I think
the logo is not suitable for professional use.)


C. Acknowledge that a highly compressed raster image is appropriate for the Web, but point out that you need either a high-resolution TIFF or vector art (AI or EPS file) for print. Ask whether you can contact the graphic artist who did the logo directly so that you can be sure to get the kind of file you need. This direct communication always works better than asking the client to forward your request to the firm that contracted with the artist, because the issue gets resolved faster; however, you may have to work through channels. In any case, if the high-resolution art is clear and iconic in your opinion, the problem is solved. You can substitute a somewhat less compressed version on the site, too, if you have permission to do so. If the high-resolution art is not clear and iconic, suggest that the client present the logo to a group of people and ask them to guess what it represents. If he sees friends at his country club scratching their heads, he'll get the idea without your becoming the bad guy.


PROBLEM 2 - I noticed at least one problem with the Web site (aside
from the graphic). The hover color for the links is almost identical
to the background color of the page, and therefore the links almost
disappear when the user moves the mouse pointer over them. Hover
should be used to draw attention to the link, not make it invisible.

Proposed solution:

A. Ask him if the design is complete and if so, if he can request more
changes. Mention to him the problem about the links.

B. B. Say nothing.


I recommend A. It seems perfectly diplomatic and professional. If the design firm (Mac-heads no doubt) pushes back, ask the client to use his own common sense to pick an approach.


PROBLEM 3 - Can I use FrameMaker or Word to create a brochure design?
I'm assuming the answer is yes, but what do printers expect to get
when a brochure is to be printed?

Proposed solution:

A. Ask him for the dimensions of the brochure and what the final
product should look like. Also ask him what kind of file his printer
wants.

B. ????
-------------


No. Do not use FrameMaker or Word to provide a file to the printer. Use a page layout or design program--preferably, InDesign, Illustrator, or PageMaker, in that order. Use Word or FrameMaker to create a sketch and then subcontract to a graphic artist if you are uncomfortable using any of those programs.

You still need to find out what kinds of file the printer will accept, though. Some printers prefer a PDF. Others prefer native application files.

Dick

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[This E-mail scanned for viruses at mail.fiam.net]





References:
To speak or not to speak -- that is the question: From: Bonnie Granat

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