Inside Freelance Design

Issue #8
September 22, 2005

Welcome to Inside Freelance Design (IFD), your free, bi-weekly e-letter from American Writers & Artists Inc. Every other week, you can receive this special alert with secrets, tips, and insights from AWAI's graphic design pros to help you improve your skills and reach your goal of becoming a professional graphic designer in the fastest time possible.

IN THIS ISSUE:

Choosing the Right Computer, Part 4: the Printer
Quick Tip: Adding Comments to PDF Files, Part 2
The IFD Mailbag

Choosing the Right Computer, Part 4: the Printer

No monitor – no matter how well calibrated –can let you see exactly what your designs look like. In order to do that, you need a good printer.

If you currently have a printer that works well, you don’t have to rush out today and buy one of the ones recommended by our five graphic-design experts. But when the time comes to replace yours, the following is a good starting place for making your decision:

Lori Haller:

Since I provide Acrobat PDF files for client approval 99% of the time, I really don’t send color print outs to my clients any more for proofing. I just use a simple HP LasertJet2300n black and white printer so I can print out for checking font sizes and keeping special emails in folders for future reference. I have a color laser printer also, but as technology has changed, it really is not used very often.

[Ed. Note: The current equivalent printer is the HP LaserJet 2400 series. MSRP starts at $549. Visit the Hewlett Packard website for more information: http://tinyurl.com/cvuqj/

Roger Parker:

Avoid cheap inkjet printers. Their supply costs quickly mount. My best printer is a laser printer with duplex (two-sided) capability. Automatically printing on both sides of a single sheet of paper is a major advantage, cuts paper and storage costs by 50%.

I’ve had a variety of color output devices and find a color laser really great for proofing and preparing audience handouts for presentations, newsletters, etc.

Dennis Rome:

My primary printer is an HP LaserJet – a fast one. I also have an HP DeskJet color printer on my desktop backup PC that is shared across my home office wireless network for easy access.

Mike Klassen:

HP Deskjet 5650 (inkjet). Mine will automatically turn the paper over to print on the back, which saves paper. I also like to buy printers at Costco, because they normally sell the ink cartridges far cheaper than most other places.

[Ed. Note: The HP Deskjet 5650 series is no longer available. But the Hewlett Packard site has several models with duplex printing. Check their site at: http://tinyurl.com/54vf4/.

Kammy Thurman:

I have a b/w laser printer that I use for letters and basic design drafts. I have an inkjet for color work (mainly to cross-check colors I’m using in designs). We’re researching large professional printers – and we’ve about settled on an Epson, because we want to be able to run archival-quality photo prints up to 16” x 24”. We will also be using it to produce marketing materials for my business and my husband’s photography business.

[Ed. Note: You can visit Epson’s website at http://www.epson.com to see what they have available. You may also wish to check out the excellent printers available from Canon at: http://tinyurl.com/d4dbd/.

When you’re ready to buy a printer, do not let price be your sole deciding factor. A slow printer may make the work flow difficult for you. Automatic duplex (two-sided) printing may make it easier.

Check to see how much inkjet or laser supplies cost. A more expensive printer that uses less expensive supplies may make up for the difference in cost in less than a year.

Be sure to know what you want to use the printer for. For instance, if you never plan on printing photos with it, you may wish to avoid printers classified as “photo printers.” But if you want to print photos on your new printer in addition to your graphic work, the photo print feature could be a plus.

One last bit of advice: Ask friends and associates what printer they use and what they like … and dislike … about them.

Choosing a good printer is just one of many decisions you’ll have to make when setting up your business. If you want to learn more about how to do it with a minimum of hassle and stress, check out AWAI’s new Graphic Design Biz-In-A-Box program at:
http://www.thedesignerslife.com/getanswers/

* * * * * * * * HIGHY RECOMMENDED * * * * * * * *

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The simple yet profound secret to how David, along with many other travelers, turned their vacation snapshots into cash is detailed in the Travel Writing division’s newest course: Turn Your Pictures into Cash: A Comprehensive Course in Taking and Selling Amazing Photographs:

Learn more about it at: http://www.thephotographerslife.com/awai/

QUICK TIP: Adding Comments to PDF Files, Part 2

In the last issue of IFD, we talked about getting your PDF files ready for both you and your client to add comments if needed.
You made sure that the “usage rights” were enabled.
The next step is to activate the Commenting toolbar. On the menu bar, go to View>Toolbars>Commenting. Click “Commenting” until you see a check mark.

A tool bar appears containing the Note Tool (represented by a little yellow text box), Text Edit Tool, Stamp Tool, and Highlight Tool.

Click on the Note Tool. You can drop notes anywhere. A small window opens where you can type notes of any length. You can also move notes around if you think they would be more appropriate in a different place.

The Text Edit tool drop-down menu gives you a variety of options, including inserting or replacing text. It also give you the option to underline, cross out, and highlight sections of text. To add notes to these modified sections, double-click on them. A small window opens where you can type in comments of any length.

Your client can even approve your work by placing the stamp that reads “approved” on your document.

By using the commenting capabilities of Acrobat, you no longer have to rely on unreadable faxes or lengthy telephone calls when sending your work to your clients for review. You might have to educate your clients about this. But once they see how easy it is to use, they won’t want to review layouts (or copy, for that matter) any other way.

* * * * * * * * Advertisement * * * * * * * *

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS?

Will I need a license of some sort to start my business?
What should the legal status of my new business be?
How will my tax situation change?
What about contracts?
What home-office equipment must I have?
What kind of records should I keep?
What's the best computer and software for me?
How do I negotiate my fees?
How should I manage my time to maximize my income?

Get the answers to these and hundreds of other questions about starting and running your own profitable design business: http://www.thedesignerslife.com/getanswers/

FROM THE IFD MAILBAG ...
by Kristin Schwarz

Hello, everyone!

Today, our first piece of mail comes from Bill, a brand-new member of our Graphic Design Success Program:

Hello Kristin,

I’ve been a graphic designer and art director for the last 22 years, professionally trained at university level, spent several years in agency, corporate, and self-employed positions. It’s only been in the last year that I looked into the AWAI programs and realized there is a whole other side of graphic design.

I struggled with the idea that DM design has any merit. But in looking at the Graphic Design Success Program, I see that it is not all about “looking pretty” but about selling product.

I’m skeptical about the “six-figure income” that can be made in direct-response design. I guess I want to be reassured that this is a viable opportunity and the Lori Haller and Ray Holland stories are real and attainable.

Regards,

Bill

Welcome to Graphic Design Success., Bill. As you have already learned by looking through the program, our approach is quite different from traditional graphic design in many ways.

Direct-mail design is a different animal, and our program is the only one that gives insight into what makes direct response a $1.86 TRILLION industry. Even in the age of the Internet, direct mail is still responsible for the biggest advertising expenditures and sales revenues. In comparison to Madison Avenue advertising, the results of direct mail are tangible. If the client makes money, so does the designer.

Lori Haller and Ray Holland are very successful direct-mail designers. Lori, for example, easily hits six figures each year with clients including National Geographic, Richard Simmons, Boardroom Publishing, Forbes, and many more.

Let me also tell you a little about my own experience. Before coming to AWAI, I worked in the graphic-design department of a major publisher who mailed millions of pieces of direct mail each year. Their team of freelance graphic designers specialized in magalogs, slim Jims, bookalogs, and other specialized direct-mail formats – and made between $5,000 and $10,000 per promotion.

So, yes, there is a demand for direct-mail designers. And, yes, direct-mail design will definitely benefit your personal bottom line.

Tim writes to us all the way from Kenya ...

Dear Kristin,

I am keen on this program. I live outside the U.S. and wonder whether I’ll have problems getting paid assignments and transacting business with clients once I’m trained.

The program looks like it may take 11 months. After which installment will I be qualified enough to design?

Must I use an IBM or Mac computer? Can I use a no-name brand?

With AWAI’s training, how marketable will I be in offering my services on sites like www.elance.com?

Tim

Tim, our program is designed so you can work wherever you choose. We have many Graphic Design Success members all around the world. With modern technology, it’s easy to communicate with clients from anywhere.

How long it takes to complete the program depends on how much time you can devote to it. Some members have completed it in as little as 5 months. You will probably be able to design simple sales letters after the first few installments, but we recommend completing the program to benefit from it fully.

Regarding your computer question: IBM (and no-names) or Macs are equally suited for design. It depends on which one you’re more comfortable with. The “Choosing the Right Computer” series that we’ve been running in this e-zine will help you make your decision. You can read Part 4 (Choosing the Right Printer) today. Check out the first three installments in the IFD archives: http://www.thedesignerslife.com/insidefreelancedesign/

About your marketability: As a Graphic Design Success member, you have access to our exclusive www.DirectResponseJobs.com website, where you can find hundreds of listings for copywriters and graphic designers. You need look no further for great freelance or permanent job opportunities.

That’s it from me for today. Until next time ...

Kristin

[Ed. Note: If you have a question or comment for Kristin, please send it to:
insidefreelancedesign@awaionline.com, Attn: Kristin Schwarz.]

EXTRA! EXTRA! News and Job Opportunities for AWAI Students

GRAPHIC DESIGNER -- MedThink Communications, an advertising agency that serves healthcare companies, needs a talented graphic designer who can perform under tight deadlines to join their team. You need to know QuarkXpress, Photoshop, Ilustrator, InDesign, Acrobat, and Microsoft Office. Web design skills are a plus. Send your resume and samples to info@medthink.com.
GRAPHIC DESIGNER -- InterMedia, an ad agency, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, wants a skilled graphic designer to join their team. You need to know the most common design programs and have some knowledge of production and product coordination. You work on develop design concepts for marketing collateral materials. Send your resume and samples to im@mad4marketing.com. Local candidates will be given preference.

GRAPHIC DESIGNER -- Home Diagnostics, Inc., a manufacturer of diabetes testing supplies, seeks a creative graphic designer who can function in a demanding environment. You work on the design for brochures, print advertising, manuals, postcards, and more. Send your resume and samples to cmarciano@hdidiabetes.com.

COMING NEXT ISSUE:

Productivity-Enhancing Gadgets for Your Computer
QUICK TIP: Backing Up Your Files

* ABOUT INSIDE FREELANCE DESIGN *

Inside Freelance Design is a FREE bi-weekly newsletter from American Writers & Artists Inc., available to AWAI members and friends.

ARCHIVED ISSUES of Inside Freelance Design can be found on our website at www.thedesignerslife.com/insidefreelancedesign.

To ADVERTISE in Inside Freelance Design or send comments, news, research, or story ideas, email Kristin Schwarz at graphics@awaionline.com.

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Issue #8 September 22, 2005