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“Do It Yourself” web pages are a gamble. You might get lucky… But you might not. We can help!
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What’s the Difference Between PMS, CMYK, RGB and HEX?
Think of Facebook, Yahoo, Coca Cola, Amazon, or just about any major brand. Imagine the colors they are associated with. For any organization, color consistency plays a huge role in helping with brand recognition, and even how people perceive the brand. PMS, CMYK, RGB, and HEX are the four main color matching systems used globally for ensuring color standardization across all platforms. In this short article, we give a brief overview of the difference between PMS, CMYK, RGB, and HEX.
PMS
PMS (Pantone® Matching System) is a standardized color matching system proprietary of the Pantone Company. The PMS has been the default system used in the offset printing industry, commonly for one or two-color print jobs. But, it has also steadily expanded into fashion, fabrics, and plastics as well. Pantone provides a color formula guide for designers and print companies to ensure consistency and accuracy in ink colors.
CMYK
CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black) is another color matching system using in the printing industry. The colors you see in newspapers, digital prints, and brochures use this system. It differs from PMS in how it is applied. Whereas PMS print is one solid color, a CMYK print is a combination of overlapping dots of the four ink colors. Different combinations of these color dots are used to give the print a full color-appearance on paper.
RGB
RGB (Red, Green, and Blue) is the default color matching system used onscreen (including the one you are reading this on). Various colors are achieved onscreen by combining the three colors in different amounts. Since this method uses light for its color system, it is not applicable for use in printing. The same level of vibrancy and contrast is difficult to achieve on print due to a much lower color gamut.
HEX
HEX (Hexadecimal Color) is used specifically for web design, but it is not a separate color system in itself. It is basically a shortcode for color values in the RGB matching system. A HEX color is represented by is a six-digit combination of alphanumeric characters. The first two numbers represent red, the middle two represent green, and the last two represent blue.
Don’t worry if you’re still confused. We at Print and Web Designer can help you navigate your way through the color wheel. For further details or any queries, feel free to contact us via email at info@printandwebdesigner.com.
What Does a Web Designer Do?
For a layman, who has never ventured into the world of web design, what web designers do must be a wonder. You see them sitting behind huge screens – many times, there are more than one screens present – with their hands swiftly moving over the keyboard and mouse.
With a look of concentration and amusement on their faces, web designers have a long job description. Their skills and talents encompass everything from coding and setting up a website to making aesthetically-pleasing landing pages.
Their job is definitely not something anyone can do. But the question remains: what do web designers do?
Here is a brief explanation of what an average web designer would do on a regular basis.
What do web designers do?
As the phrase “web designer” suggests, their job is to design media for the web. Creativity and technical inclination are of essence for a web designer. They need knowledge of software programs and other tools that allow them to make functional websites without forgoing aesthetics.
When it comes to what one web designer does, it really depends. Typically, there are two sub-sects of web design involved in the process. The distinction is really about web designing and web development. The latter of the two involves coding while the prior focus on creating layouts, wireframes, sitemaps, graphics, and content.
Despite the technical distinction between the two, both go hand in hand. You can’t really materialize a website without a developer cutting up the design into HTML and CSS.
Yes, there are web designers out there who don’t code at all. However, most of them have a fair share of skills for both sides of the job. Besides HTML, CSS, Photoshop, and Illustrator, they are well-versed in JavaScript.
Command over the three web programming languages and graphical software allows the web designer to be both the back-end and front-end developer and see the project to its end. Of course, being skilled in other areas, such as PHP, .NET, etc., also helps improve the web designer’s capabilities.
With these technical skills, a web designer creates websites and web pages to meet ranging demands. They use the necessary coding tools to create a well-functioning and responsive design. Then, they make the design marketable and usable by choosing the right layout, fonts, colors, graphics, etc., to add personality.
On top of that, there is also planning and management involved in a web designer’s job description. Frequent and open communication to understand the client’s requirements, delivering results on time, and maintaining a good rapport are all crucial.
This is what makes a web designer a good web designer.
If you want to learn more about what web designers do and more specifically, what they can do for you, drop Print and Web Designer a message at info@printandwebdesigner.com.
Questions to ask your Web Designer before they Start Working on the Project
If you’re in the market for a new website or a complete rejuvenation, it means you’ll be approaching multiple web designers for a quote. You’ll probably scour the web for new agencies or freelancers and choose somebody whose work embodies your vision.
In order to choose the best web designer, you’re also likely to read through testimonials or reviews left by their clients. It’s understandable as you would want someone who could create the website of your dreams.
Here are some questions to ask your web designer before they begin working on your project:
How experienced are you?
Whether you are working with an independent designer or a web design agency, ask them for their experience. While extensive experience is incredibly valuable, you can also find some incredible talent in someone who has been designing for just a year or two. However, 5 years of industry experience is more than enough.
Can I see your portfolio?
Today, most web designers and related agencies put their portfolios on their websites. However, you can ask to see more or recent projects. Reputable web designers will show you their work without any hesitation, but if they don’t, it is better you look somewhere else.
What is your process?
Most web designers are very specific about how they go about their work. Instead of haphazard planning, they have a systematic process detailing how they create a website. Again, many designers put their process on their own websites. If they don’t, ask them to explain it verbally. This is essential for maintaining transparency throughout the project’s timeline. If the designer can’t explain it, turn the other way.
Do you send original files?
Original working files allow designers to make changes and edit the website’s design whenever they want. Every reputable web designer will send their clients the working files in case something happens and they can’t work on the website. These files are produced in Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and other similar graphic software.
Is website maintenance one of your offerings?
Website maintenance is an important part of web design. WordPress care plans sustain the performance, structure, and even the appearance of the website as it starts earning you business. Also, without maintenance, you’ll be risking getting hacked, corrupted files, and non-optimized plugins and frameworks.
In addition to these questions, make sure that you and your brand connect with the designers. Website design projects are not exactly short. You will be working with the designer closely for a few weeks. You should be able to get along and communicate well.
Print & Web Designer will be glad to offer answers to all these questions to ensure you are completely satisfied. Drop us a message at info@printandwebdesigner.com for further information
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Effective Business Cards – 4 Best Practices
In the fast-paced business world, we rarely get enough time for proper face-to-face introductions. In this regard, a business card is crucial to your networking success. An effective business card carries more than just your contact information; it is designed to immediately draw the attention of prospects and make a good first impression of your brand. Follow these 5 best practices for designing an effective business card.
1. Keep it Simple
Remember, there is only so much real estate you have on a business card. It would be counterproductive to clutter it with as much information as possible, as it would not only look unprofessional but make it likelier for potential prospective clients to simply toss the card aside due to the confusing and crowded content on the card. Keep the content minimal and easy to read. Make effective use of white space to draw attention to what is truly important – your brand, name, and contact details.
2. Make it Memorable
An effective business card is memorable. You are more likely to leverage prospects if your card stands out. Consider the card’s graphics. Humans are visual creatures, and how you present yourself can be critical for how prospects judge you. Like your dressing, your card is more likely to be noticed and taken seriously if it makes a stunning first impression.
Aside from visuals, also consider your position statement. Your position statement is what most clearly defines your values and what makes you different from your competitors. Make sure it’s clear, concise, and easy to remember.
3. Add Value
Other people are more likely to reciprocate if you provide them with something of value. Understand the needs and requirements of your prospects and design your card accordingly. If your networking audience is diverse, consider having different cards designed specifically for each segment.
4. Add a Call-to-Action (CTA)
Just adding a simple CTA can work wonders in enticing prospects to learn more about you and your business. Your CTA could be a discount offer, a link to your website, or anything of value you would want the prospect to be directed to. Just make sure that your CTA is clear and commands the person’s attention.
Your business card is one of your most powerful marketing tools. How you invest in your card can make or break your chances of acquiring new connections or clients. For professionally designed business cards, consider hiring the experts at Print & Web Designer. For any queries, email us at info@printandwebdesigner.com
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Factors that Make a Logo Design Impactful
From Nike’s swoosh to the rings of Audi, a logo is the visual representation of a brand’s image. Customers and prospects use it as a cue to identify and differentiate it from other brand logos, making it necessary for building recognition.
Your brand logo serves as an introduction to your organization, as a company. This means that your logo is the first impression people get of your brand. Hence, the design should be something that people are likely to remember for the right reasons.
If you’re giving your logo a facelift, here are some factors of a good logo design to be mindful of:
Uniqueness
This is a given. Uniqueness is key for setting yourself apart from other brands and general logo tropes. Cliché elements should be avoided. It’s understandable that with so many brands, some logos are bound to be similar. But you can still make it yours.
Memorability
If your logo isn’t memorable among your target audience, what’s the point of it? Like Apple’s bitten apple or Ralph Lauren’s Polo logo, people should be able to recognize it among an influx of thousands more.
Simplicity
Complexities in logos only make it harder to recognize. Simple, clean, and strong logos are compelling and easy to remember. The prime example of a simple logo is Nike, FedEx, and Apple. They are unique and have a simple design while still being compelling.
Purposefulness
This is where companies can make their logo theirs. The logo is a visual representation of the entire company. This means that it should not only carry the essence of the brand, but it should also have meaning for the customers. People should be able to look at the logo and describe how it has been valuable to them.
Versatility
The versatility of a logo is more for technical ease. Logos are not only seen on tags and websites. Logos are also printed on paper, put on billboards, and used in adverts on other mediums. Your log should be optimized so it doesn’t lose its meaning and appearance when it is presented on other media. For example, if your company gets coverage in the local newspaper, it should translate properly in black and white and in larger formats.
While these factors impact overall logo design, there is a lot more that goes into making it great. The designer you choose will take into account a number of technical aspects like the font, graphics, etc., to make sure it fits your brand image.
Print & Web Designer have expert web designers that can come up with a logo design with all these factors and more taken into consideration. Drop us an email at info@printandwebdesigner.com for further information.