So, I’m working on a comprehensive guide to setting up a small office or workgroup using Google’s services. The intent is that, for little to no cost, a “presence” could be established for a fledgling business where cost is a real issue.
I’ll be tying a lot of concepts together with this series (it’ll be far too much information for just one article), so stay tuned. Maybe something I have to say can help your business as well!
MainStreet America burned-in logo
No, it’s not a woodburning experiment with the MainStreet America logo — it’s a Photoshop project turned into corporate wallpaper. Taking a photograph of an actual wood piling used in the construction of MainStreet America, I applied my knowledge of Photoshop to it and made it look like a burned-in, official piece of the project.
If you are interested in a brief tutorial being posted for this effect, contact me and I’ll write it up and feature it here on the site.
Full-Page, Full-Color Ad for The Better Home Show
For years, the local AM radio talk show The Better Home Show has relied on stock photography and stale, overloaded design techniques for its print advertising. After revamping their website in early 2011, it then came to me to breathe some life into their print campaign.
The catch, however, is that there have been no new assets for use in these ads since 2009. I would have to rely on eye-catching design instead of up-to-date photographs and anything approaching a budget.
To accomplish this, I pulled the blue tones out of the BHS’s logo and used them as a claming-yet-neutral background. The circle motif is repeated as well, but in a more subtle way than just dropping them all over the design — they are worked into one horizontal “band” in the ad, dividing top from bottom in an appealing way that doesn’t scream out “CIRCLES!”
By using the blue tones as the primary color palette in the body, the orange in The Better Home Show‘s logo really stands out, imparting energy and a sense of importance. Toss in a couple of quotes from satisfied sponsors of the show, and it’s complete — and approved almost immediately for use.
The Photoshop tutorial on how to make a building look like it came out of a Scooby Doo episode has finally been written! In this tutorial, I use layer adjustments, masks, layer modes, non-destructive editing, and just a little forethought on how to put it all together in a coherent way. Stick with it, and you’ll even see how to add “grunge and dirt” to a picture to make it look old and decrepit. We’ll even capture that classic Scooby Doo-style window light look to cap off the project.
Check it out here and then show off your new skills with a project of your own!
Automotive Specialties logo
As the first official “green” independent service station in Washington state, Automotive Specialties needed to have their logo redesigned to reflect their new direction. Reaching out to me, co-owner Chas gave me a few ideas, showed me a few logos he liked, and said to me, “Have at it.”
And here we are, a new logo. They’re incredibly happy with the logo itself, as well as the turnaround time (2 days!). Their stationary, business cards, and signage will all incorporate this new logo right away, and a website is on the way as well!