Freehand
Designing a Logo: Part 3 - Getting Technical
by Kim Dudley - 23-Feb-06
Reader Level: 
Logo design could be considered a complicated and tedious subject or it may be looked upon as an exciting and interesting opportunity. Logo development is a very creative process yet the designer must also have very good communication and technical skills.
The Designing a Logo series has attempted to cover all facets of logo design in order to give the reader an understanding and process for designing logos. The first two articles contained information about getting started and the creative process. The third and final article looks at the very important technical side of creating a logo.
After the creative work has been done a logo must be developed to a state that will allow it to be optimized for a wide variety of mediums. This article will look at how to do that as well as cover a few other logo related issues such as common file formats, Standards policies, trademark laws and the all important issue of pricing a logo.
The Designing a Logo Series:
Designing a Logo: Part 1 - Getting Started
Designing a Logo: Part 2 - Getting Creative
Designing a Logo: Part 3 - Getting Technical
A CSS Web Design Case Study: Constructing a Personal Site - Design Comp Construction
by Zoe Gillenwater - 15-Sep-05
Reader Level:
So far in the case study of building my personal site, you've seen how I planned my web site and came up with ideas for its design. In this article, you'll see how I turned that sketch into a design comp using Fireworks MX 2004 and a bit of Freehand MX. Because this article is meant to help you understand the design process rather than the specific design techniques I used, it will not go into the technical details of how I completed every task. So, I won't bore you with every click I made in Fireworks, but you will learn how to set up your comps in a web instead of print mentality, so that when it comes time to actually build the pages, you won't tear your hair out trying to create a design that isn't well suited to its medium.
The CSS Web Design Case Study Series:
A CSS Web Design Case Study: Constructing a Personal Site - Planning
A CSS Web Design Case Study: Constructing a Personal Site - Visualizing the Design
CSS Web Design Case Study: Constructing a Personal Site - Design Comp Construction
A CSS Web Design Case Study: Constructing a Personal Site - Slicing the Comp
A CSS Web Design Case Study: Constructing a Personal Site - XHTML/CSS Construction Part 1
A CSS Web Design Case Study: Constructing a Personal Site - XHTML/CSS Construction Part 2
Bitmap Artwork Versus Vector Artwork: Part I
by Kim Dudley - 24-Aug-05
Reader Level: 
Vector and bitmap are terms that are often used for describing artwork. At one time applications would either create vector artwork or bitmap artwork. These days many applications like Freehand and Fireworks contain both vector and bitmap tools. Although this can be very convenient it could mean trouble if you are preparing artwork for some types of output.
In Part I of this two-part article we will compare raster and bitmap artwork and look at different types and file formats of each. We will also discuss some issues that may arise when working with vector and bitmap artwork.
From Design to Completion: A Corporate Identity - Part 2
by Kim Dudley - 21-Mar-05
Reader Level:
No matter the project type or project size, all graphic design jobs follow a similar path and involve comparable skills. Graphic design is not all about creativity, in fact that is a small part of a graphic designers overall job. Dealing with clients and suppliers, going to meetings, research, setting up artwork, these are a few of the other tasks involved in a design job.
This article is the second part of a two-part series looking at a real world graphic design project. We began in the first article with the initial contact and followed through to the completion of a logo and business cards.
This article will give you a look into the process of developing a brochure, setting up the brochure, producing name tags, having a second meeting and invoicing.
From Design to Completion: A Corporate Identity - Part 1
by Kim Dudley - 09-Mar-05
Reader Level:
In this article we will be looking at a real world project and the process involved in the creation of a corporate identity. We will begin with the initial contact and follow through to the completion of the job. This series of articles will give you a look into the process of working with a client, estimating costs, writing specs for printers and producing the actual materials.
In this first article, we will cover the initial meeting with the client, discuss quotes, send specs to the printer and design the logo. Like all projects this one has its successes and its problems, but that's all part of the job.
A Printing Checklist For Problem-Free Print Jobs
by Kim Dudley - 23-Feb-05
Reader Level: 
Completing an attractive design and sending it to print is a great feeling. But there is nothing worse then sending a file to print, only to have the printer call you because they are having problems with your artwork. This can cause delays and significantly add to the cost of printing. If a printer needs to spend time fixing your mistakes you better expect to pay for it.
So how can you avoid problems and ensure your file prints the way it is supposed to? This article will provide a checklist to use during setup and before sending a file to print. It will help you avoid the common problems that arise during a print job. In addition to the checklist I have also included a PDF of a job sheet. This job sheet includes information the printer will need to output your artwork correctly. Just fill it out and send it along with your files or use it to create your own customized version.
A checklist and a job sheet, two simple items that will help you be sure
your print job is completed on time and on budget.
Go With The Flow
by Val Tobin - 29-Jun-04
Reader Level:
Flowcharts are not only a useful tool for planning a software application, but they are also handy for planning web sites and web applications. This article explains what flowcharts are, why they should be used, how to use them, and then provides an example of how a flowchart for a registration component for a web site might look.
What's New In Freehand MX
by Kim Cavanaugh - 30-Mar-03
Reader Level:
With the recent introduction of Freehand MX to the family of MX products, Macromedia has now gathered their four primary design and graphics tools under one umbrella. And, while Freehand has enjoyed a long association with the print industry, the newest version of this capable vector graphics program has opened up intriguing new possibilities for those who work with standard web graphics and the more complex world of interactive images like those used in Flash MX.
