Good design never goes out of style; it just becomes "vintage" over time. Nostalgia is a powerful tool for designers because it creates an instant emotional bond with the audience. The right design aesthetic can conjure up memories of our childhood and help us to connect with the generations that came before us. This extensive collection of free vintage Photoshop brushes is the perfect toolkit for creating print designs that stir up feelings of nostalgia in your audience. Vintage brushes are … [Read more...]
26 Graphic Design Resume Tips for Landing Your Dream Job
September 2, 2014 By 7 Comments
When it comes to creating resumes, graphic designers are lucky. Not many fields allow for potential employees to directly demonstrate their work-related skills with the resume itself. Pastry chefs don't get to bake their resumes into a cake, teachers can't assign their resumes as homework, and lawyers aren't given the chance to defend their resumes to a jury. But graphic designers can – and should – treat their resume as they would a sample in their portfolio. The design of your resume can help … [Read more...]
83 Awesomely Abstract Photoshop Brushes
August 5, 2014 By 1 Comment
Every now and then, you just need a little extra something to make your project pop. Not necessarily a major design component—just an extra ornament to bring visual interest to your design. Abstract Photoshop brushes are the perfect tool for giving your artwork an added "oomph" without drawing attention away from the main subject. We've assembled 83 abstract brushes ranging from cosmic fractals to arcs of electric energy. Nearly all of these brushes are entirely free downloads, but a few in … [Read more...]
Which Print Graphic Design Career is Right for You?
July 22, 2014 By 1 Comment
So you've got a talent for print graphic design and an interest in the print industry—you may be asking yourself, "where do I go from here?" It can be intimidating breaking into a new field or looking for a new job opportunity, especially if you're not aware of the types of career options you might have. Before you settle for making print design something you do "on the side," take a look at some of this exciting graphic design career info within the print industry. Each one of them can help … [Read more...]
How to Use Our Free Folder Mockup Templates
July 19, 2014 By 2 Comments
Our 100% free folder mockup templates allow you to create a beautiful, realistic image of how your folder design will look after it's been printed and constructed. They compliment many of our presentation folders and two pocket folders. You can use mockup templates to: Test and preview your folder design before sending it to a printer Send a design to a current or potential client for review Display your design in a web portfolio or on a personal website Create a folder design from … [Read more...]
Why JPEG Images Suck for Printing
July 8, 2014 By 5 Comments
Back when the Internet was still fairly new, the JPEG reigned as king of all image formats. Thanks to its ability to compress complex images into a low file size, JPEGS were the perfect format to use with dial-up modems and floppy disks. But nobody has used those ancient relics in years-so why does the JPEG still have such a stranglehold over us? It's not that JPEGs are necessarily bad or obsolete; it's just that they're not always the best format for the job. And these days, they're rarely … [Read more...]
500+ Free Photoshop Actions to Download
June 24, 2014 By 5 Comments
If you found a way to cut your design time in half, wouldn't you use it? Photoshop actions allow designers to save time and stay efficient by "recording" common tasks so that they can be automatically performed on different projects. But that's not the best feature of actions for Photoshop; they're also easy to share and download. This community aspect has turned Photoshop actions into the ultimate designer "cheat code." Downloading another designer's actions lets you quickly apply new effects … [Read more...]
Folder Case Study: Fracassi & Associates
June 19, 2014 By Leave a Comment
Imagine buying a new car, only to discover that the fender was completely crooked. Chances are that you wouldn't simply shrug it off and drive it home; you'd want the car that you paid for. Naturally, the same is true of your marketing materials. Company Folders is dedicated to upholding the highest standards of quality in all that we do. So when an unexpected mishap made some of Fracassi & Associates' folders unusable, we were determined to make things right. The Problem Fracassi & … [Read more...]
The 174 Coolest Brochure Designs for Creative Inspiration
June 10, 2014 By 15 Comments
We bet you five bucks that if you took a minute to look around your office or your home, you'd find a brochure of some type. Whether it's a memento from an event or trip or even just the recipe booklet that came with your new blender, brochure designs are hiding everywhere. There's a reason why the brochure continues to endure in the age of digital marketing--because of creative designers who push the limits with great ideas and imaginative designs that make a lasting impression. We've gathered … [Read more...]
PMS Color Printing: Tips for Finding & Working with Pantone Colors
May 27, 2014 By 7 Comments
If four-color process printing is like mixing together flour, sugar and baking powder from scratch, PMS color printing is a little like using pre-made cake mix. You don't have quite as much flexibility with your recipe, but it's a great choice if you're looking for a consistent taste because you always know exactly what you're getting. This guide will walk you through the definition of PMS color and its pros and cons, as well as tips and tools for finding, matching, identifying and converting … [Read more...]