I am working like a madman on sketches for a couple of books that I'm writing - one is a Baby Boomer graphic novel and the other is a martini recipe book. Fun work that I really enjoy. Since they're my books I am also writing them which requires some serious time. I wanted to get at least one of the books done by the end of the year, but. . . . .
I am also in the midst of doing a series of ads for a fairly large campaign. These are not the fun kind of ads - they're ads where you get really bad input from the client - they tell you to get their "art" and logos off their website and try to cram the entire text of the Bible onto the head of a pin.
The problem is that "art taken off a website (if the website was done by a professional) is always low resolution (usually 72 dpi to 100 dpi) and small in size. Print images, on the other hand, should be a minimum of 300 dpi at the actual size or larger for a crisp image. Think what happens when you enlarge anything - it usually gets pixelated and grainy. This presents a challenge to any graphic design artist because we have to turn crap into a masterpiece - but GIGO (garbage in garbage out) applies especially in graphics!
A graphic designer can only do so much, folks! We are not gods, although some of us have egos the size of a god! (Quit looking at me, I was talking about other artists!)
There, I got that out and I feel better now.
ON THE UPSIDE: I've figured out a couple of pretty cool tricks to turn the crappy art into usable art so I'm learning new techniques. I am charging by the hour so I am getting paid to decipher, decode and de-ugly the art. I like a challenge so I am enjoying turning what could be graphic nightmares into creative and visually pleasing ad layouts. AND I'm still getting some sketches and writing done for my books on the weekend!
BTW, are you into HALLOWEEN? I'm posting HALLOWEEN MARTINIS and HALLOWEEN TREATS all month on my martini and food blogs, and I've made some cool HALLOWEEN ART for your home and on apparel for this spooky season!
Visit The BRAT in the HAT RANTORIUM EMPORIUM for bratty, cheeky, irreverent, humorous, tongue in cheek GIFTS, APPAREL, CARDS & OTHER GROUCH GOODIES!
The problem is that "art taken off a website (if the website was done by a professional) is always low resolution (usually 72 dpi to 100 dpi) and small in size. Print images, on the other hand, should be a minimum of 300 dpi at the actual size or larger for a crisp image. Think what happens when you enlarge anything - it usually gets pixelated and grainy. This presents a challenge to any graphic design artist because we have to turn crap into a masterpiece - but GIGO (garbage in garbage out) applies especially in graphics!
A graphic designer can only do so much, folks! We are not gods, although some of us have egos the size of a god! (Quit looking at me, I was talking about other artists!)
There, I got that out and I feel better now.
ON THE UPSIDE: I've figured out a couple of pretty cool tricks to turn the crappy art into usable art so I'm learning new techniques. I am charging by the hour so I am getting paid to decipher, decode and de-ugly the art. I like a challenge so I am enjoying turning what could be graphic nightmares into creative and visually pleasing ad layouts. AND I'm still getting some sketches and writing done for my books on the weekend!
BTW, are you into HALLOWEEN? I'm posting HALLOWEEN MARTINIS and HALLOWEEN TREATS all month on my martini and food blogs, and I've made some cool HALLOWEEN ART for your home and on apparel for this spooky season!
Visit The BRAT in the HAT RANTORIUM EMPORIUM for bratty, cheeky, irreverent, humorous, tongue in cheek GIFTS, APPAREL, CARDS & OTHER GROUCH GOODIES!
3 comments:
Oh, I love it when you rant Ms. Brat in the Hat! It sounds as if you have special cause this time. I can't even imagine doing something so demanding--both technically and artistically.
But the good news is your books. Can't wait until they come out--I'll be the first in line!
You're too funny. Hairdressers say the same thing about some of their clients who come into the beauty shop wanting to look like Hallie Berry knowing full well that...well, you get the point.
Karen - exactly! Like my mama used to say, "you can't turn a sow's ear into a silk purse!", but some clients want that silk purse on a sow's ear budget!
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