Useful design-related info | How About Orange

March 25, 2008

Useful design-related info

Judging by all the emails I get with questions from people asking how to do stuff, the following might be helpful information for some of you. And for me, too :)

Decor8's recent post "Turning patterns into product" has lots of tips in the comments about how to approach getting your artwork printed on everything from fabric to paper.

If you ever need a logo from a well-known company, try Logo Orange's Famous Brands Glossary. You can learn the history of tons of famous logos and in many cases, download a vector file. Are they the official logo files from the various companies, legal to use? I have no idea. Proceed at your own risk.

Lynda.com is an online training library of tutorials for design software. I haven't poked around much yet to test it—maybe it will benefit folks with Photoshop questions. Check it out.

26 comments:

Lisa said...

Every time I see these pictures of your fabric being produced, it makes me want to ask you a question. Sort of a strange question.

What did it smell like? Did it smell like new carpet in there? Did it smell like a bic pen exploded? You know, sort of metallic?

Maybe it's that I can see it, I can feel it (i have some), I can imagine the sounds of the factory. I'm missing smell! (and taste, but that doesn't interest me!)

Anonymous said...

And, whenever I see your fabric being produced I have the overwhelming urge to buy more. I think that I am a fabric hoarder. I am always so terrified that the fabric I love it going to be gone, and I won't be able to get more. Silly fear I know!

Michelle Engel Bencsko said...

This is so right in line with where I am right now. The whole entire discussion on decor8 is a wrap up of what's being going on in my head, my research, my communication with others and my next move. Thanks for posting!

Anonymous said...

I love that you share your findings, your research, your thoughts and designs. Thanks.

Larissa Holland said...

have I told you lately how much I love and adore your ever useful, never egocentric, practical, humorous and down to earth blog? well, I should have.
kutgw.

Unknown said...

I have taken tons of classes from Lynda and highly recommend them. It is nice that the long classes are broken into small segments, so you can learn on your coffee break. It is so worth the $25/month!
Thanks for this great blog, I love it!

Unknown said...

To lisa: I don't remember it smelling like much of anything, do you, Jessica? It was a huge warehouse that was cold- I just remember smelling warehouse and cold. No new carpet smell there.

rebekah said...

I would love to put my own patterns onto paper. How do you do that? I have NO knowledge of this process or resources.

Jessica Jones said...

Rebekah, I'm sorry to say I don't know either. I know how to make designs and print them from my printer, but you're probably talking about something beyond that? Beats me.

As for the fabric mill smell question, I can't remember either! That must mean it didn't smell like much of anything. But it was loud. :)

Tina said...

Thanks for the links

Ashley said...

I've heard good things about Lynda.com. Thanks for the links.

Eve said...

New reader, first time post. I haven't used the Lynda.com website, but their "Hands On Training" books are useful. I had Dreamworks 2004 edition for a web design class in college. Nice tutorials and such, it came with a CD-ROM of excercises which was good for practice. Love your site. The Man and I just purchased our first home and I can't wait to make stuff and decorate!

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the post! This is stuff that I have been thinking a lot about lately. I've been doing some drawing, some photographing, some photoshopping and a lot of printing by hand- but definitely thinking about the idea of printing on a broader scale as well.

Modern Craft said...

I love seeing this process-- I'm very interested in production and how ideas get translated into goods, without compromising the design. Great to see.

Little Paper Dog said...

Rebekah: If you want to have your designs printed onto paper I would suggest doing a Google search for offset lithography presses in your area. You can also have an online vendor print it for you. I have used both printplace.com and psprint.com.
Hope this helps.

Jessica Jones said...

Oh, yeah. Rebekah, if you're just looking for commercial printers, you could also try overnightprints.com, whom I've used before. If you want letterpress printing, try Rohner Letterpress. If you want to print fine art prints, try ImageKind.com.

I assumed your question was about how to license your art to stationery manufacturers. If so, see the Decor8 post for pointers.

Vacuum Queen said...

I love this topic! I just wrote about a bit about this myself and I have a couple of interesting links that your readers may like (if they can bare all of my excessive writing). Good ideas for home dec or small biz.

* elizabeth * said...

hey, I saw this sweet polka dot bunny and the orange made me think of , um, you. did you see that coming?
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=5528188

reinaswan said...

good old roller printing. How exciting to see your creation come to life. Kudos.

Robyn said...

I love lynda.com. It is the best and cheapest way to learn on your own. I have used it for several months.

Thanks for the other links!

Inger Carina said...

Oh this looks yummy! Love your colors!

Does enyone have a good tip for a textile print company?
Maybe someone that works with print-on-demand for textile print?
I'm in desperate need of a producer that doesn't demand that you print hundreds of meters.
Kind regards Inger Carina

Jessica Jones said...

Elizabeth, whyever did you think of me? Heh heh!

Inger C, I wish I knew. You and everybody else wants to know the answer to that question, I bet.

Jessica Jones said...

Oh, go see the post Vacuum Queen refers to above. She's got a link in there that you could check out.

Denise Kiggan said...

Wow thanks. Answers to questions I have been asking myself!

Inger Carina said...

Thanks Jess and Vacuum Queen!
I found a similar company in Europe/Spain
http://www.digitaltextile.com/index.htm
Don't know anything about them - but I will check them and First2Print out. Thanks for your help! I'm so excited :)

Amy said...

Lynda.com has been amazing for me. It isn't just great for photoshop, it's been awesome for dreamweaver, flash, illustrator and many more software packages. I can't manage to get to a class with actual people in an actual classroom so this is the next best thing. Check it out!