Design for Web
Resources for Graphic Designers: Graphic River
Jan 11th
Graphic River is one of the Envato marketplaces.
A unique group of websites that cater to the graphic designer, and creative techies in general. There is something for every level of designer, and even digital scrapbookers.
Each piece offered for sale is vetted before it’s allowed into the marketplace to ensure that it meets with appropriate standards, and that there are not too many of the same type of item. I can literally spend hours looking at stuff, being inspired by some of the amazing work, and planning my purchases for the next month. They have a great way of cataloging the work, so that when you find a designer whose style you like, you can view all of their work and add your favourites to a bookmarks folder for viewing later.
Aside from the graphic river section there are other marketplaces (all linked by one user name and password) offering audio files, flash files, code snippets, video files, web themes and more and the payment method is via Paypal or by depositing ahead of time using Paypal, or credit card.
Whichever way you swing it, it’s a great place if you are a creative person, and looking for inspiration or bits and pieces for a project.
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The Freebie and the Beast
Jan 9th
Here’s a freebie blog header for you!
- Size: 660 x 175px (perfect to fit most blogger blogs)
- Format: layered .psd file (you will need Photoshop or Photoshop Elements to edit the file – or any editor capable of dealing with the .psd format)
- Font: Champagne and Limousines (or you can substitute your own)
- Cost: Absolutely free!
- Don’t have photoshop? Leave me a comment with the wording you want on it and I will personalize and email it to you with pleasure.
Now, just as I’m trying hard to stick to my design a freebie everyday plan, so too do I have my daily demons to deal with, and the one that I have to deal with on a regular basis is Exercise.
Exercise used to be my friend, my social outlet and my constant companion.
But alas, we have become enemies of late. Me for having abandoned her for so long, and her, for punishing me the way that she does when I try to reconnect with her.
Her favourite instrument on which to push me to my limits is the series of ellipticals that we’ve owned over the years. We recently purchased an exercise bicycle as well, and the two sit side by side in the entertainment room (facing the TV!). I must admit that the placement there, has been the biggest boost to my exercise regimen yet, because it takes my mind off the fact that my but is busy being worn away by the relentless pursuit of the body.
As a work at home mom/freelancer type, it’s important for me to remember not to sit on my butt all the time in front of the computer working as hard as I do, because nothing gives me a greater boost to my creativity and energy levels than a good blast of exercise.
Which reminds me, time to tackle the beast for today, because I know I’ll come out feeling great on the other side. Or maybe I should go for a swim…it’s Saturday, the baby is asleep and the sun is shining, so what am I still doing in front of my computer?!
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Design Wiblet of the Day
Jan 8th
This is a header that I designed for Photo Super Hero, which is a photography website dedicated to bringing you news about photography, great products, helpful advice all in one place. It’s been touted as ‘way less stuffy than other photography sites’ and I suppose that is because it’s written from the perspective of a photographer, who started by buying a DSLR and figuring everything out by becoming self-taught. That advice is passed on through the posts in order to help others.
Aside from that wiblet of the day, I have a ton of projects to get to including designing another blogger background for a client, as well as a business card mock-up. I look forward to when I can present my designs electronically to a client in person, in a swish ultimate mac office, complete with LED screens on
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Blog Banner for a Personal Blog
Dec 16th
The brief was for a blog banner, for the month of December. However, since the blogger resides in the Southern Hemisphere, the banner had to reflect the fact that although it was Christmas, it was also in fact summer. Come to think of it, it *is* rather stupid that we Southern Hemisphere dwellers give one another Christmas cards with snow and reindeer and snowflakes on for goodness sake, when to us, Christmas has more to do with barbequeing, lazy days by the swimming pool, oppressive heat (in most cases) and long daylight hours, spent enjoying the beach.
This particular blogger is a huge fan of the beach, so I used it as the starting point for my design. Now this is not the final one that the blogger chose for this month, but the end result was based on this, and featured her and her family inserted onto my clean and spacey virtual beach, with a slightly enhanced Christmas tree, and different text. I liked this version, purely because it’s a clear indication of my taste. Clean lines, with a bit of whackiness thrown in for good measure.
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Do You Have Gravatar?
Sep 8th
What is a Gravatar you ask?
The word is an amalgamation of the words Globally Recognised Avatar. Think of it as your Facebook profile photo, without the photo. It’s an image to represent you online, when commenting on blogs etc Each email address ‘persona’ that you have, can have it’s own image. So for example, when I comment on graphic design specific blogs, I use my graphic design identity. When I comment on photography blogs, I use my professional photography email address.
It’s just another way to show your identity online, and keep all your branding in line.
Here’s a gravatar that I’ve just done for this photography website.
It’s in keeping with the Photo Super Hero theme and colours, and now when the admin comments, the comment will be decorated with this cute button. Fun huh? Sometimes I am amazed that I get paid for having this much fun!
Technorati Tags: Graphic Design, Gravatars, Design for Web
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Free Blog Button: Autumn up North
Sep 2nd
Because I couldn’t ignore the top half of the planet, in all my smug Springiness from yesterday.
Because it’s about 13 deg Celcius outside and I’m not feeling very Springish today.
Because Design is a totally obsessive pastime that I could not and do not wish to stop doing under any circumstances.
I give you, the Northern Hemisphere Autumn Free Blog Button! You can grab the code here, or find it later on my freestuff/blog buttons section by using the navigation bar across the top of the page. Enjoy!
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Free Blog Button
Sep 1st
Here’s a 1st of September freebie for all you Southern Hemisphere folks.
So while the rest of the world are lamenting the fact that it is now in fact Autumn on their half of the planet, we get to celebrate the first day of Spring, and shamelessly rub their noses in it.
Either grab the code here today, or go and bookmark out my free blog buttons page for other fun, cool free stuff.
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Matching Banners and Sidebar Bling
Aug 27th
Remember this blog header that I completed a few days ago for one of my regular clients?
Well it now has a 125 x 125px friend to sit in her sidebar, and for her to hand out to all her blogging friends to decorate their sidebars with.
See here?
Now I’m just placing it onto a webserver where it can live out it’s days being broadcast to the world, in all it’s glory and provide it’s owner with much wonder back-link juice.
Now, onto other work, time to make some more money for one day when I’m old, grey, frail and in need of walk in tubs and chairlifts and whatnot. As Suze Orman said on Oprah last night, “Plan for the Worst, Hope for the Best” I say that these are WORDS TO LIVE BY.
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Reasonably Priced Blog Headers
Aug 25th
I’ve just completed another blog header project for a regular client. I enjoy her taste, as it’s very similar to my own and it makes for a working relationship that really, well, works!
Here’s a looksee at her blog header for the coming month…
I’m also designing a sidebar button to match, which also denotes this bloggers location. We’ve decided to go with month related themes, and I will be producing a new header for her each month. When you do freelance graphic design work, to pick up this kind of regular work, is absolutely heaven sent. I particularly enjoy this kind of design work too, so hmmm, happy, I am. As Yoda would say.
Of course to pick up another 20 clients just like her, enabling me to not only daydream about the shiny new 24″ iMac I hope to purchase this year, but start to shop for great travel deals too!
Recession? What Recession? Roll on business!
If you are interested in having a blog header/web banners designed by me, please drop me an email, prices start very reasonably from ZAR 75 per item. For international folk, prices are based on the US $, and start from $10. Seriously reasonable folks! Paypal, AlertPay, and Moneybookers Accepted Gladly.
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Free Blog Button for Durban Bloggers
Jul 24th
Durbanites, here’s yours!
Let me know if anyone else out there wants to proudly display their Town/City/State/Country and I’ll do it for you!
MacNessa Design. Top Notch Graphic Design for Web.
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