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With a daily readership of more than 95 million, Dear Abby is the symbol of a caring heart for millions of people around the world.
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Spice up your designs with colors that do the talking for you.
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Clip Art Mania
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Pack 'Em Up
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A Report to be Proud Of
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A Message From Dean Hastings |
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The Waiting Game
In today's busy world filled with deadlines, debt, worries, and other challenges, it's easy to fall into the trap of the waiting game during your pursuit of happiness...
Waiting for a better break, or a new job to take, or the phone to ring, or what money will bring, or health and well being, or a relationship with meaning, or things to be better, or different weather, or waiting for tomorrow, or something to borrow, or a body of steel, or to cut a deal, or for the kids to behave, or your way to be paved.
Here's the way I see it: Time waits for no one, so don't waste precious time waiting for something or someone to make you happy. The clock is running...how are you spending your valuable time?
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Idea of the Week |
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Color Talks… Are You Listening?
 Next time you want to make a bold statement, try saying it with color!
Depending on what type of message or meaning you wish to convey, the color combinations you choose can support, emphasize, or contradict your message. Color stimulates the senses, symbolizes abstract concepts and thoughts, expresses fantasy or wish fulfillment, and produces an aesthetic or emotional response.
According to the Institute for Color Research, humans make a subconscious judgment about a person, environment, or item within 90 seconds of initial viewing, and the majority of that assessment is based on color alone.  Because color delivers an instant impression that is generally understood universally, color is very important in conveying a mood or idea where verbiage is not used or understood.
The power of color combinations can also be seen on many levels of marketing communication, including corporate identification and logos, signage, television ads, billboards, print media and packaging, online web sites, and on point-of-purchase displays.
Here is a small sampling of dominant colors and the responses they elicit:
 Red: Exciting, energizing, sexy, hot, dynamic, stimulating, provocative, aggressive, powerful
Bright Pink: Happy, attention-getting, youthful, spirited, fun, wild
Light Pink: Romantic, soft, sweet, tender, cute, babies
Orange: Fun, childlike, harvest, juicy, friendly, loud
Beige: Classic, sandy, earthy, natural, soft
Brown: Wholesome, warm, woodsy, rustic, durable, masculine
Purple: Royalty, powerful, expensive
Light Blue: Calm, quiet, peaceful, cool, water, clean
Bright Blue: Electric, vibrant, stirring, dramatic
Bright Yellow: Enlightening, sunshine, cheerful, friendly, energy, happy
Black: Powerful, elegant, mysterious, bold, classic, magical, nighttime
Silver: Classic, cool, money, valuable, futuristic
Gold: Warm, opulent, expensive, radiant, valuable, prestigious
See more great ideas like this!
Click here to visit the Multi Print Media, Inc. Ideas Collection.
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Marketing Tip |
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Enhance with Clip Art
Visual images can often create interest, express meaning, and clarify content in a way that words alone cannot accomplish. Here are a few tips on how to easily select and utilize clip art to enhance your next project:
- Select an image that makes sense in the context you're using it in, not just because it's pretty. And avoid using too many images, which can make your document look cluttered.
- Use adequately sized images. If an image is too small, readers may struggle to see it. If the image is too large, it can distract readers from the text as well as increase your document's file size.
- Purchase images at the resolution for the size you need. A low res image will reproduce poorly when enlarged, appearing bitmapped or jagged.
- Choose a style of clip art that matches the personality of your piece. The use of coloring, shading, contours, etc. can create completely different looks and feels.
- Be sure the shape of the image matches the area where you will be using it. For example, a tall vertical image may not work well on a horizontal business card.
- Consider using captions or labels to connect the image to your text.
- Choose the right format for your needs. For example, GIFs are easily animated for online use but do not provide the high quality that can be obtained from a TIFF file.
- Consider modifying stock clip art to increase its usefulness. Flip, resize, rotate, distort, convert, and combine multiple pieces of clip art into new pictures.
- Crop clip art images to easily simplify or change the meaning of images. Clip art can often be used as separate bits and pieces.
- Colorize images or convert to black and white or grayscale. Not only can you control the colors used, but also the focus of the image.
- Consider how the publication will be printed. If it will be photocopied, crisp black and white clip art is ideal.
- If you're interested in a copyrighted image, contact the owner and ask for permission to use it. Be sure to specify where and how the image will be used.
- Keep a copy of any written permission you receive, and give credit where credit is due.
If you're looking for other ways to add appeal to your printed pieces, stop by today. We have endless creative ideas on how to capture your audience's attention.
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Tech Tips |
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Tips for Moving Electronics
If you're preparing for a move, don't forget to take extra care when packing valuable electronics. Here are a few tips on how to minimize the risk for damage:
- Prepare in advance by getting the right materials, such as sturdy boxes, markers, packaging tape, bubble wrap, newspaper, etc.
- Avoid using packaging peanuts when packing a computer because they can conduct static electricity. Instead, comforters, blankets, and pillows provide safe cushioning.
- Pack electronics in their original packages whenever possible.
- Label cords and cables by color codes or matching numbers before unhooking them so they will be easy to reconnect correctly. Consider taking a photo as a visual reference before disconnecting.
- Backup important files and hard drives on an external hard drive, memory stick, CDs, or other removable media before disassembling your computer.
- A computer tower or desktop unit should be packed upright or on its side with the motherboard side lying flat on the bottom (consult your manual if you're unsure which side this may be).
- Package electronic items such as printer, computer monitor, and tower, separately to make them easier to handle.
- When moving a printer, secure the printer head to prevent shifting. Also package ink or toner cartridges in plastic bags to avoid damage should they leak.
- Crate large screen televisions for maximum protection. After a move, plasma and LCD televisions often take a few hours to calibrate before they should be turned on.
- Avoid extreme heat and cold, and always allow electronics to reach room temperature before plugging them in.
- Clearly mark boxes with electronics "fragile" and "this side up."
- Remove CDs, DVDs, and other media from equipment before moving to avoid scratches.
- Check with the user manual for specific instructions on packing or moving sensitive items. Check online if you can't find the original manual.
- After packaging electronics, consider wrapping the entire box in plastic wrap to prevent moisture from getting in and causing damage.
- Fill boxes tightly with padding around the electronics to prevent items from rattling or shifting.
If you'd like peace of mind knowing your print jobs will be handled with care, stop by today! Our team of professionals will take care of all the details so you can move on to your next project with confidence.
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Uncommon Product |
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Communicate with Annual Reports
Annual reports are powerful communication tools that reflect your organization's commitment to success. Not only do they support your corporate brand, identity, and marketing communications, but they also give you an opportunity to present your best image when connecting with customers, employees, and investors. Here are a few tips on how to create an impressive annual report:
- Create a schedule and a table of contents. Plan all content in advance, assigning pieces to appropriate personnel. For example, ask the accounting department for necessary financial reports.
- Include a letter from an organizational leader to provide an overview of the year's activities and accomplishments and communicate your vision for the future.
- Provide supplemental data to support your account of the company's performance. If you don't provide answers to questions that are out there, readers may come up with their own answers, which may not always be in your favor.
- Focus on numbers, since annual reports are typically driven by financial data. The financial status of your organization will help you choose the layout and appearance of your annual report.
- Create a layout that is consistent and recognizable with your brand image, utilizing logos, corporate colors, fonts, and graphics consistent with other publications.
- Provide recognition when appropriate, such as donors and volunteers in nonprofits or key staff members in for-profit organizations.
- Take advantage of the opportunity to tell your story and showcase accomplishments, irresistible photos, and projects coming up in the future. Don't forget to include contact information should the reader want more information.
- Develop a design that is attractive and easy to read, utilizing white space, color photos, simple fonts, headlines, text callouts, and brief paragraphs.
- Be consistent with messaging from other communications. When thinking of content, consider previous presentations or marketing materials.
- Utilize reader-friendly graphs and charts that help convey detailed financial and statistical data.
- Consider hiring an experienced designer and writer to create a professional document in a fraction of time it would take internal staff.
- Think green. If you are using environmentally friendly sources and processes, such as recycled paper and soy inks, be sure to publish these efforts to take full advantage of their impact.
Look to our team of experts if you'd like help creating a professional annual report you are proud to distribute.
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