Best Free Online Photo Editing Software
If you are not up for downloading a huge photo editing program on your hard drive, then you should check out some online alternatives. Many online photo editing programs have tools and effects comparable to Photoshop, except that unlike Photoshop, these programs will not cost you anything at all.With almost the same basic functionality of other expensive software, you can now edit your brochure printing or poster printing designs for free.
FlauntR has all the tools you need for basic photo editing and is cool to use. You can do anything from re-sizing your photos or adjusting their brightness and the hue. However, the greatest feature of FlauntR is its integration with social networking sites. It only takes a click to share your images with all of your friends.
The free version of this online photo editor will re-size, crop, and adjust the color on your photos. For more advanced features, you can download the extended version for $25 a year. This program is very easy to use and very nice to look at. It is also very easy to email your photo to places like Snapfish and Walmart to get them developed.
For a photo editing program that will support layers, check this one out. Splashup will open files from your computer as well as files from photo sharing sites. It will even import webcam images. It has a very professional design and Photoshop users will feel right at home. (more…)
Is Print Marketing Dead or is Online Marketing a Waste?
Many seem to be trying to argue that either print marketing is dead or that online marketing is not effective. The answer is that both types of marketing play a very important role in a company’s success.
Some would like to claim that print marketing is no longer necessary, but real marketing professionals know that most online businesses cannot survive without some form of offline marketing. The reverse is true as well: most stores cannot survive on print marketing alone. (more…)
Coloring Your Business Effectively
Color is like body language; you can tell people a lot about your business without saying any words. Use color to speak volumes about your company identity. Having a brand color will also help people to identify your company in ads and commercials. The language of colors changes from culture to culture, so it is important to understand what different colors mean to your customer base. (more…)
Big Brand Color Schemes and How to Make Yours Look Big Too
Major companies have used a signature color scheme for years to help consumers identify their businesses. Using a consistent color scheme in all your marketing materials, from brochure printing, to signage, to business card printing, can help build brand recognition for your company too. (more…)
Solving Problems with Fonts in Web Design
Frustrating to many web designers is the limited availability of font choices. There are only a handful of fonts supported by all web browsers, unlike the plethora of fonts available for designs such as business card or brochure printing. Happily, the Internet is changing. Beginning in 2009, Safari, Opera, and Firefox have allowed designers to embed fonts, including TrueType (ttf) and OpenType (otf) fonts. Microsoft’s Internet Explorer is slower to change, unfortunately, and it may be 3 to 5 years before all web browsers can come up with a way to embed fonts across the board.
Copyright Issues Solved
While it is pretty easy to embed fonts with Safari, Opera, and Firefox, copyright laws are still an issue. To avoid licensing issues, you could rent fonts from a company such as Typekit. This company rent fonts on a monthly or yearly basis in compliance with copyright laws. Your other option is to stick to open source fonts.
Fonts that All Browsers Have
Helvetica was created half a century ago, and is widely used both by printing companies and online. It is a sans-serif font that was created by Swiss designers at Linotype.
Arial is another sans-serif font that is widely used. Some people say that Arial is a Helvetica knockoff, but the two fonts are not all that similar.
Verdana was created specifically for the Internet. Microsoft commissioned this font, requiring that it be easy to read on a computer screen at small sizes. It is also a sans-serif font.
Trebuchet was also commissioned by Microsoft for the Internet. It is a sans-serif font that works better as a header than as body text.
Lucinda Grande is a sans-serif font used in the Mac operating systems. It’s cousin, Lucinda Sans Unicode looks similar and is the Windows version. It has a more hand-written, organic feel than other sans-serif fonts. (more…)
Top 10 Websites of Amazing CSS Design
Keeping up with design trends is absolutely necessary in a quickly evolving field such as web design, and viewing the design of others’ is a great way to get some new ideas of your own. The only problem is that searching for the good ones can be very time-consuming. Save some time with a list of the top 10 websites that provide collections of the best CSS designs on the web. (more…)
Awesome Apple Wallpapers You’ll Love
Apple wallpapers are my favorite eye candy. Looking at all their other products, I see the same sleekness and elegance that the smart-looking apple very well exudes. If you are looking for ways to make your wallpapers more interesting, this collection is definitely for you. And yes, PC users, feel free to use them as well. No one else has to know. 
http://makrivag.deviantart.com/art/Apple-Store-137087351
http://flickr.com/photos/vlinzmayer/309127967/
http://iedwin24.deviantart.com/art/Splash-of-Apple-by-Edwin-90789453
Creating Origami Thank You Cards
Homemade cards have a charm to them that you will not find from cards printed by an online printing company. Sure online printing companies have many great perks; especially when you have hundreds of cards to prepare. However, none of them will scream personal like an origami thank you card for that someone special. Of course, there are many variations to choose from, but here we will learn how to create an origami flower card and an embellished origami thank you card.
Origami Giveaway Boxes
Do Lower Prices Hurt or Help Your Brand
During this time of economic uncertainty, individuals and business alike are finding way to save money. Many times this penny pinching leads to lower sales for businesses. The question is whether or not a price cut is the solution for increasing sales. After all, the point of a brand is ultimately to make sales. Let’s discuss the wisdom and/or necessity of lowering prices to increase sales.
TRUF: For Truly Inspirational Branding
One of the most important aspects of making a company memorable to the public is strong branding. And a truly great brand is one that conveys the company’s image and the client’s experience with the company into visuals. Everything from the name of the brand to the colors in design to even the tone used in copy go into creating a powerful brand. With such an extensive creative depth, the creation of a brand is best left to professionals, and one such very capable professional to check out is TRÜF.
