When the Finchie comes around

[Finch]

i didn't think it resembled anything dirty even when you said it did. it took me saying, "the kids" out loud to figure it out.

[Scourge]

Yeah, I didn't think it would make sense in text the way I meant it without the "the".

[YellerDog]

What type of freelance stuff are you usually doing, Finch?

[Finch]

graphic design stuffs. I did some concept boards for a movie company last year, and now i'm making greeting cards. Nothing too fancy, mostly making silhouettes out of vectors. i think they're catered to old peeps. There's nothing like rushing to meet a deadline, though, best feeling in the world when you actually make it.

[Drewbacca]

Alright! I've broken my usual winter drought by nearly a whole month!

So um, i'm not proficient or anything with InDesign (though i do lie about being so on my resumé and cover letters!), but i figure i can take anything it throws at me. Quark feels so outdated, even compared to InDesign CS2! I can't import .ai files? How am i supposed to use this garbage? Convert to jpeg and not be able to use bezier curves? Fizzle on that!

Just save it as an EPS file. It converts the data in to a format that's more easily read by post script files printers use to compile data in to their processes. In illustrator when you first save a file you can choose EPS, too, in the drop down selection box. PDF, AI and EPS, etc are all there (PDF files are perfect for sending proofs to clients).

Typically you use AI as your working file, and then save an .EPS file out when you're ready to plug it in to your layout. Typically you outline all of your fonts in your EPS file, but keep your AI file just incase things change down the road (so you can go back and edit them). You can also just use an EPS file from start to finish if you feel brave, but I don't recommend it.

So what's the rest of the consensus say about the pink? Yay or nay? This is an ongoing project that won't be printed until next week! Like way late for Valentine's day but not for next year!

Pink works well. The art is punchy and fun and the colour is punchy and fun. If you change the colour you need to keep it light and fun, but considering the subject matter of a little girl holding something the colour choice fits well.

[Finch]

Awesome, Drew. Thanks for the info. I didn't know what an EPS was until 2 days ago when i had to send stuff to a printer.

[Finch]

also! this week i learned that the best way to get a job in this fucking field is to know your boss before he hires you. I've had 4 jobs doing art related jobs, all of them because i was on good terms with whoever hired me loooooong before they hired me, and all but the first were because his guy bailed out on and he needed someone else fast.

[Drewbacca]

Me, like most people, came out of school as a designer who could make something look pretty but couldn't send it to the printer without issues coming up because I ignored the bare-bones of design behind the aesthetics. Through practical experience I've become very good at both and it works out. When I make a mock-up on the computer of how I want something to look in the end I can get it there and troubleshoot issues if something goes wrong. When you master this you will be an incredibly useful illustrator. Creative skill + technical know-how and application = win. You'll never be unsure if you can produce a piece again because you'll have the confidence to do it.

If you need to know something just PM me and I'll try to help you out as best I can. Dyne also knows a lot about it. He's a prepress guy professionally, I believe.

[Finch]

Thanks for the offer, Drew. I'll be sure to take you up on it when i need it. They don't teach you any of this in a Sequential Art major, but then they really don't teach you much of anything. I've learned a lot this week in printing and Illustrator simply by working for this guy. This job was about 5 years beyond my experience level so i had to learn fast!

[Othello Harrington]

Finch you are one talented artsy fartsy motherfucker!