November, 2009 Archives
Multimedia Design Ideas - for CD & DVD
Post Date:November 18, 2009 | PermaLink
CD Design & Development Ideas
CD Rom projects are an effective, interesting & economical way to present and share information. We are often asked what can be put onto a CD or DVD and some quick ideas include:DATABASES
By incorporating Databases and Catalogs into CD/DVD projects, you can take advantage of some of the most effective features of an interactive application.
TESTS & QUIZZES
Tests, quizzes, and assessments can be administered directly via a CD or DVD. The interactive testing applications can include numerous types of questions: true/false, multiple choice, drag and drop (matching), and text fields.
PDF FILES
PDF files can be incorporated into CD/DVD projects in different ways. One of the benefits of pdf files is that they work well for items that may be printed. So, even if you plan to include information in standard format, you might also consider adding pdf copies for printing too.
VIDEO CLIPS
You can give any presentation added appeal by incorporating digital video into it. If you are distributing your presentation on a standard size (650 MB) CD Rom, there should be adequate disk space to include multiple video clips (depending on final display size, length of video, and compression rate).
POWERPOINT PRESENTATIONS
PowerPoint Presentations can be distributed directly on a CD/DVD - either as a regular slide show, or as a self-running presentation. This is often a very economical solution.
LINK TO & DRIVE TRAFFIC TO YOUR WEBSITE
CDs and DVDs created using Director, Flash, or html can be linked directly to a website and are great ways to drive new traffic to your website.
Fonts in Print Design and Web Design Projects
Post Date:November 12, 2009 | PermaLink
When selecting a font or fonts for use in a print or web publication, it can be tempting to use many different fonts. However, a good rule of thumb is to use no more than three different fonts per piece: one font for the main body text, one for headings, and, if necessary, one for decoration.Print Projects
For printed documents, a serif font will work well for the body text. Since headlines should grab the readers attention, they can often be sans serif or decorative fonts, but must be bold and large enough to stand out from the body text (while still being easy to read). Using a Serif font for the body copy and a Sans Serif font for headlines are almost always a good, reliable combination.
Web Based Projects
Computer screens are low resolution and complex serif fonts don't always translate as well on screen as they do in print. Serif fonts (especially in small sizes) can therefore be much more difficult to read than sans serif fonts of similar size on a screen. For this reason, it is often better to go with Sans Serif fonts for web body text. Be sure to select a font that can be read at different sizes.
Image Resolution - Web and Print Projects
Post Date:November 12, 2009 | PermaLink
Images for the Web: 72 dpi
Most computer monitors display a maximum of 72 dpi. Therefore, when preparing images for use on a website, 72 dpi at final screen size is the norm. When it comes to web, you want your images to be as small in file size as possible so that your pages load as quickly as possible. Reducing the resolution to 72 dpi will help to get your images as small in size as possible. Of course, you can put up higher resolution images on a website, but keep in mind that the more resolution an image has, the larger it's file size will be and the longer it will take to download and display on a web page.Images for Print: 300 dpi
In print projects, resolution is key. If the images that you include in a print project do not have high enough resolution, they will appear fuzzy, jagged, or blurry. Most professional printers require a minimum of 300 dpi for all images at the final print size. However, some printers require even higher resolution, so it's always a good idea to check with your printer on their recommended printing resolution. Generally, the higher the resolution of your image is, the better the quality of the image will be when printed.Offset vs. Silkscreen Printing on CDs & DVDs
Post Date:November 11, 2009 | PermaLink
CWS offers offset and silkscreen printing on CD Rom and DVD surfaces. We usually recommend Offset Printing (it simply looks better!)
Offset Printing:
Offset printing applies 4 layers of ink (cyan, magenta, yellow, and black) onto the CD Rom or DVD surface. For each layer, a reverse image of the page is placed on a roller in the printing press. Ink is applied to the non-image areas on the roller, so that as the roller presses against paper moving through the press, the proper image is left on the paper. Offset printing is ideal for intricate full-color designs, skin tones, and crisp text.Silkscreen Printing:
With silkscreening, ink is applied to a screen and forced through the holes in a stencil to create an image on the surface of the CD or DVD. Silkscreen printing can include up to 5 single colors, or 4 color process (CMYK). Silkscreening is appropriate for 1, 2, and 3 color jobs - especially through that require PMS colors, and for solid ink coverage.Tips for Organizing Your Web Content
Post Date:November 10, 2009 | PermaLink
Organizing Web Content
- Once you have identified the basic materials and text that you would like to include on the site, begin to organize it into "chucks of data" or divide it into categories and subcategories.
- Think about your audience as you organize your content. Use words and phrases to describe your "content chunks" or categories/subcategories that would make sense to the general public and organize content accordingly.
- Work from the general to the specific.
- Putting a site diagram or organizational flow chart together should help to define the overall size and scope of the project and will help you to identify particular content or site areas that will need to developed, edited, or written.
Once you've gathered and organized the data you feel you would like to include on your website, turn it over to Charlotte's Web Studios for further analysis.
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