1. Big Companies, franchise, corporation, large organization usually have these files with head office or a graphic department. I have often been able to retrieve graphic files from these people. Often you’ll have to do the digging to find those people that speak the same language.

2. Many of my clients often have graphic files which reside with a printer.(almost every one has a business card produced by a printer) If this is the case, always have the client make the request for the file from the printer………most printer or communication type organization will charge you a fee if you make the request.

These practices tend to work well for me.

Scotter……..always charge for design fees and set up costs, even if you are able to retrieve graphic files on CD or via email. It's inevitable that you will still have to do clean-up work, welding , sorting, layout, proofing or a number of other tasks which all take time.

[ February 13, 2002: Message edited by: John Martin Robson ]

Good Luck,

If it is a national or corporate logo, I know that there is a usable file somewhere: ask them for someone in their marketing dept.

I ask if they know who created it, if they know what program it was created in (bitmap or vector) I try to contact the source because they will know more about what you are asking.

If it was created by an amateur, chances are I can't use what file they have, so I will have to recreate it in order for it to be usable for my purposes. (this could open the door to have to charge an art charge to recreate the logo- then they get a copy to use for whatever else)

It is a difficult job to educate the customer in what is involved in our type of business or craft, but it can also legitimize us as truly professionals offering services that they can't get just anywhere (otherwise, they can get their best friend's, cousin's, next door neighbor to do their work!)