posted
Here is the first draft of my new business card design. Critiques are welcomed and encouraged. All the junk information will be on the back. That's still in the mill.
-------------------- Chapman Sign Studio Temple, Texas chapmanstudio@sbcglobal.net Posts: 6306 | From: Temple, Texas, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
I love the design and the colors, Ray... the only thing I might try would be to make the outline/s around "STUDIO" a little smaller in proportion to the lettering. Even if you didn't change that, I think they're beautiful!
-------------------- Janet Bakewell One Sun Grafiks Inc. Slave Lake, AB Canada www.onesungrafiks.com Posts: 128 | From: Slave Lake, AB Canada | Registered: Apr 1999
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I like it Raymond. I would make the Chapman Design Studio just a tad bigger.
This will be a cool sign ... I can hardly wait to see that!
-grampa dan
-------------------- Dan Sawatzky Imagination Corporation Yarrow, British Columbia dan@imaginationcorporation.com http://www.imaginationcorporation.com
Being a grampa is one of the the most wonderful things in the world!!! Posts: 8738 | From: Yarrow, B.C. Canada | Registered: Nov 1998
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Hi Ray. Heck, I feel rude critiquing a hero. But here's my 2˘: I think Chapman Design Studio needs to be bigger.
I'd like to see the ampersand in in "Signs & Graphics" gold like the "C" and also in the same casual alphabet. It also needs bumped up tighter to Chapman a wee bit. I wonder what it would look like with a white outline?
Design is the Difference is fine, but needs bumped up to Signs & Graphics. If it's not the same color as "Image Makers", it should be.
Sorry for sounding so critical! I love the colors you've chosen, they are real high-class. Love....Jill Posts: 8834 | From: Butler, PA, USA | Registered: Jan 2001
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I do have one critique...and I do so because it's been a little bit of a problem with my own card.
Most people store business cards in holders set up for a 'horizontal' layout.....which makes reading/viewing a vertical layout like yours and mine a little more difficult and slightly harder to pick out at a quick glance.
If catching that phone number in as easy a manner as possible is an important function of your card...you might want to consider a horizontal layout.
-------------------- Todd Gill Outside The Lines Potterville, MI Posts: 7792 | From: Potterville, MI | Registered: Dec 2001
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Here's version #2 - I've incorporated some of your suggestions....and thank you.
Todd - I know what you are suggesting, but the vertical format does just what I am aiming for - to be different from all the others. I'm not hoping that my card will be picked out of all the other because it is sitting in a rack with all the others...and that the number is handy. My theory is that if the card is designed correctly and attractively it will be remembered for the unique design and possibly be placed in an area all by itself. Or, at least remembered as being different.
If all the other business cards were vertical, I would make mine horizontal.
Thanks Jill - carefull with that hero stuff - my head is big enough as it is. What do you think about #2?
-------------------- Chapman Sign Studio Temple, Texas chapmanstudio@sbcglobal.net Posts: 6306 | From: Temple, Texas, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Very elegant eye catching card Raymond. Send me one.
-------------------- Maker of fine signs and other creative stuff. Located at 109 N. Cumberland ave. Harlan, Ky. 40831 606-837-0242 Posts: 4172 | From: Ages-Brookside, Ky. Up the Holler... | Registered: Jul 1999
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I like them both Raymond, In absolute honesty I liked the first one just as it was except for the ampersand. It seemed to be fat and flat ( and we all know women hate that )in comparison to everything else on the card. In any case with no changes at all I would have commented on what a beautiful card it was. I really like the vertical layout and the colors. The more I think about it the more I am pulling for #1
-------------------- “Did you ever stop to think, and forget to start again?” -Winnie the Pooh & A.A. Milne
Kelly Thorson Kel-T-Grafix 801 Main St. Holdfast, SK S0G 2H0 ktg@sasktel.net Posts: 5496 | From: Penzance, Saskatchewan | Registered: May 2002
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Raymond: I agree with Kelly's advise on the new card design. #1 seemed to me to have the best balance of the three you have shown. The background color (brown) has a calming effect, {reserved, dignified} and all the other elements seem to compliment the layout, with the exception of the ambersand. Perhaps using a "lighter" type style, enlarging the ambersand and placing it opticly behind the word "Signs / Graphics" might put this wonderful card design over the top.
Regards Vinylman®
-------------------- Bob Cole American Sign Company 14163 Akron Canfield Rd. Berlin Center, Ohio 44401
A.K.A. Vinylman® Posts: 575 | From: Berlin Center, Ohio, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Ray, I'll add my 2cents ( where is the cent sign on this keyboard?) I like the colors and layout of the first card. The only problem is the word "studio". Chapman, design and studio all have the same size outlines and drop shadows even though they all differ substancially in size. I think if the word studio was easier to read the card would be awesome.
-------------------- Lou Pascuzzi www.economysigns.com Fine Hand Lettering since 1973 Danbury, Ct 203-748-4580 "IOAFS" Posts: 341 | From: Danbury, Ct | Registered: Feb 2000
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-------------------- -------------------- Dave Cox C2 Media Services (Formerly That Sign Guy) dave@c2mediaservices.com -------------------- Full Color Printing Posts: 295 | From: Sacramento CA | Registered: Jan 2003
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Ray, Also, I don't get on this portfolio page much, or the bb for that matter; but, I saw your post, and couldn't help but see this wonderful design and do really like the color schemes for the first. I would really keep the first and just enlarge the name also, as there is enough room to use. It would really give it so much more impact and balance. But, it's really easy on the eyes and legible with the lighter background, so I do love this classy card! No. 1 for me! even though no. 2 is very nice too, No. 1 has my vote.
-------------------- Deb Fowler
"It's kind of fun to do the impossible - Walt Disney (1901-1966) Posts: 5373 | From: Loves Park, Illinois | Registered: Aug 1999
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No. 1 is my choice. The introduction of black into No. 2 strikes me as looking "dirty"
My only comment is about the tan borders around "Chapman Design Studio". They seem to be too close in value to both the letters they surround as well as the background they are on.
-------------------- Paul Bierce - Designer pabierce@hotmail.com www.paulbierce.com Posts: 330 | From: Dix Hills, NY | Registered: Jan 2005
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Looks good Ray, but I also prefer the 1st color background choice.
What's bugging me is the shape don't appear to be the normal format of 2" x 3.5" as most business cards are. Is that by choice and would adjusting it change the overall view?
-------------------- Bill Cosharek Bill Cosharek Signs N.Huntingdon,Pa
bcosharek@juno.com Posts: 703 | From: N.Huntingdon, Pa, USA | Registered: Dec 1999
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I like the prismatic affect you added to the amphersand between Signs & Graphics.
Looks great! Number 1 colors seem more inviting and happy to me.
-------------------- Phil Steffen, 29 Van Rensselaer St City of Saratoga Springs DPW Saratoga Springs NY 12866 Posts: 563 | From: beautiful Saratoga Springs NY | Registered: Aug 2001
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well, I've been known to rock the boat from time to time, I like your last design color wise Raymond. Although the first one might seem happy and yummy I find that the copy and the background color are too close to the same value hence the background isn't so far back. Although in your last design I noticed the main copy popped right off the card and even made the secondary copy more legible.
And the backgroud does it's job real well in the last 2 designs.
-------------------- Bob Rochon Creative Signworks Millbury, MA 508-865-7330
"Life is Like an Echo, what you put out, comes back to you." Posts: 5149 | From: Millbury, Mass. U.S. | Registered: Nov 1998
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-------------------- Arvil Shep' Shepherd Art by Shep' -------- " Those who dance are thought to be mad by those who cannot hear the music " Posts: 1281 | From: Mt Airy NC | Registered: Mar 2001
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-------------------- “Did you ever stop to think, and forget to start again?” -Winnie the Pooh & A.A. Milne
Kelly Thorson Kel-T-Grafix 801 Main St. Holdfast, SK S0G 2H0 ktg@sasktel.net Posts: 5496 | From: Penzance, Saskatchewan | Registered: May 2002
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-------------------- Judy Pate Signs By Judy Albany, Georgia USA 229-435-6824
Live simply...Love generously...Care deeply...Speak kindly...Leave the rest to God. Posts: 2621 | From: Albany,GA,USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
Very very nice Ray, but the black 2nd outline around 'studio' is competing a bit too much with 'studio' itself, for my opinion, affecting its legibility a bit more than I like. The rest is just great! (maybe it needs to be finer, to match the reduced scale of the smaller text size, or else browner.
PS I almost expect to see tyre tread marks in the vertical grooves! )
-------------------- "Stewey" on chat
"...there are no limits when you aim for perfection..." Jonathan Livingston Seagull Posts: 7014 | From: Highgrove via Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia | Registered: Dec 2002
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I was looking at the second two and was going to suggest you do something like you did in number 4.
Its absolutely perfect!
I totally agree with you on the vertical format. My card has been that way for years and it always stands out from a myriad of others when stapled to a board. I'm sure this design will make folks take notice and pause whenever you hand them your card.
Its important and you nailed it!
-grampa dan
-------------------- Dan Sawatzky Imagination Corporation Yarrow, British Columbia dan@imaginationcorporation.com http://www.imaginationcorporation.com
Being a grampa is one of the the most wonderful things in the world!!! Posts: 8738 | From: Yarrow, B.C. Canada | Registered: Nov 1998
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I think you got it nailed now Ray with the last version. The background color seems to have a bit more warmth to it but still has the right amount of contrast for that bit of "pop".
Look great!!
Stevo
-------------------- Stevo Design Illustration Logos Sign Design Clip Art www.stevo-design.com Posts: 1680 | From: Edmonton Ab Canada EH! | Registered: May 2001
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-------------------- Kimberly Zanetti Purcell www.amethystProductivity.com Folsom, CA email: Kimberly@AmethystProductivity.com
“Organizing is what you do before you do something, so that when you do it, it is not all mixed up.” AA Milne Posts: 3722 | From: Folsom, CA | Registered: Dec 2001
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The horizontal ruling between the CHAPMAN and DESIGN and STUDIO is bothering me. I wonder about tightening Chapman and Design, ruling above and below that for a more cohesive presentation. I really like cohesion of the main, sub and icon a little more, but thats perhaps a personal preference.
The three vertical bars behind everything is distracting me. I love the background and feel those bars take away from the effect.
There's so many new, refreshing type choices available. The Goudy seems a little stiff. THen again, you know how the Jersey crew beats every new typeface to death! Trajan Bold is a nice face (although it's very trendy and mainstream at the moment).
It works fine as is too, Ray. Probably just personal tastes at this point.
"Some are born to move the world, to live their fantasies. But most of us just dream about the things we'd like to be." - Rush Posts: 1192 | From: Washington, NJ | Registered: Feb 1999
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The vertical lines - - I'd let the vertical line quickly fade out and disappear from the bottom to just below the word "Studio" and from the top to just above the word "Chapman."
Edit for clarification: So you'll have your vertical lines above and below the "Chapman Design Studios" but not behind that text.
So you don't have any of the vertical line running behind "Chapman Design Studio." The vertical lines behind that text causes some buisiness and visual difficulties. I think you'll find that you still have the unique look of your design...but your name will 'pop' out tons better.
Good luck, and let us see what you end up for with for the grand finale....
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)in comparison to everything else on the card. In any case with no changes at all I would have commented on what a beautiful card it was. I really like the vertical layout and the colors. 
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