Please: make sure you provide your designer with a finished manuscript or information. If you need copywriting or a draft needs editing, contact us and we can point you in the right direction. Needing major alterations halfway through the process, or starting a job without all the elements required, is like trying to complete a jigsaw puzzle without all the pieces!

The more corrections, alterations, and last-minute “changes of heart” that are made — for whatever valid reason — will still take time, and that time will cost money.

Make sure all illustrations and/or photographs are ready for production before you start the design process. For example, inserting a “missing” picture at the beginning of a book chapter can affect the next 50 pages!

Are the graphics going to be supplied as reflective art (such as original photographs) or digitally (scanned or purchased images)?

If you are working to a budget and plan to scan your own images, ask your designer for advice before commencing! Providing images that are not suitable for print is heartbreaking and time-consuming if you have to start again. Something as simple as a dusty scanner surface can ruin many hours of work, and scanning at too low, or even too high, a resolution will create quality issues.

Most designers are happy to give you whatever advice you need. If they are not — shop around.

Okay. This next answer is important!

Microsoft Word is for text.
Photoshop is for photos.
Indesign is for print design.
Illustrator is for illustrations…

There is a pattern here, correct?

Therefore, the answer to the questions is: a business card is not a photograph!

There are many elements that are specific to a correct print-ready finish: resolution, raster, vector, bleed, trim, multiple pages, overprint, knockout, diecuts, varnish, imposition … yes, I could easily keep going! Again, this is important.

Talent is a wonderful thing: the fresh ideas that come from young designers is fantastic … I love it. However, a great idea and talent alone won’t help your material progress seamlessly into print.

Experience does matter.

It will be a pleasure… that is a great way to start a design brief.
Contact us today!

Actually, no. Commercial photographs are subject to licensing restrictions, and rightly so… this is how photographers earn their living. Intellectual copyright is a difficult thing for a designer to police, but originality and talent deserves respect, so “ripping off” another designer’s hard work is poor form.

“Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery” actually is at best, laziness, and at worst, theft.

All is not lost, though! You are welcome use something fabulous as “inspiration”.

Ask your designer to source legitimate stock photography and, if needed, provide samples of royalty-free themes or templates that might suit your style and needs.

No need to worry! If everyone was a designer, there would be no ePrintDesign! Its fine that you don’t quite know which way to turn.

In a client brief you will be asked lots of questions — which help build a clear picture of the best solution tailored for you, for print or for web. There are lots of elements to be taken into consideration: your market, your budget, your personal style, time constraints, even type of printing and production and finishing.

While still in concept stage, have a look around and take note of the things you like: logos, websites, advertising, tv … all these things will help. Photocopy, cut, download and print. There is nothing you can do that would be too silly! This will give your designer an idea of what your personal style is, and they will quickly see how to turn the different examples you provide into a design you love.

The client brief is all about YOU.

Of course. However, it is always the best course to try to resolve issues with your designer in every way you can before you decide to move on. Often an open dialogue and honest discussion can give you valuable insight into where problems begin … see questions 1 to 3!

It is often easier and faster (which affects budget) to ‘re-build’ than ‘re-pair’. This means that if you do move to a new designer your project mostly likely will be started again from scratch.

Sorry to say this, but probably not. Graphic designers stay in business by providing quality work at a price that is competitive.

We rely on repeat custom to build a good reputation, so “ripping clients off” would not be sensible!

If you are particularly concerned, ask for an itemised account and examine it with a view to answering the first three questions on this FAQ page.

It may be that “author’s corrections” are the reason for the price blowout.

In publishing, part of the original quote will include something like this:
“Design and Layout will include two sets of proofs (preliminary and final) and allow for one set of proofreader’s corrections and checking.
Any author’s corrections after first proof stage [my emphasis] will be charged separately”.

Typos (general corrections) are spelling and grammatical errors that have slipped through from the final manuscript — the last chance for that final polish. These are factored in to the quote. Author’s corrections are chunks of modified text or pictures that alter the layout after first proof stage. This is an extra expense.

Of course! We are at your service.

ePrintDesign’s policy is to provide feedback to clients during the course of their project. If anything looks like it is going to alter the finished price, we will let you know beforehand, along with possible alternatives, so you will be able to make informed decisions. No surprises! That is simply not good business …

Sort of. We are happy to provide a design estimate based on the information we receive from you.

It is appropriate for a formal quote to be made and approved after a client brief… however the original estimate will certainly give you an idea of what to expect so that you can “plan and prepare”.

If you have questions about costs, you are always welcome to email us via the Contact page.