Often, in design, there are requests by the client to release the layered, master files. Many clients feel a bit peeved when their designer tries to explain that the master files are not included in the final price and are not considered part of the Final Deliverables. Perhaps they are right to feel this way based on a misunderstanding of the profession and the assumption that the price they pay is for the rights to the master artwork. One of the roles designers play is to educate the client (or public) about many things, one of these things being why Master files are not always part of the deal. In an attempt to to clear up misconceptions, I’ve detailed the main reasons behind why master files are not considered part of the package for many freelancers.

First, we should resolve the difference between work performed by an Independent Contractor versus Work-for-Hire. According to the United States Copyright Act of 1976,  “work made for hire” is— (1) a work prepared by an employee within the scope of his or her employment; or (2) a work specially ordered or commissioned for use as a contribution to a collective work, as a part of a motion picture or other audiovisual work, as a translation, as a supplementary work, as a compilation, as an instructional text, as a test, as answer material for a test, or as an atlas, if the parties expressly agree in a written instrument signed by them that the work shall be considered a work made for hire. (17 U.S.C. § 101). Work-for-Hire typically implies Read the rest of this entry »

Below is another handy cheat sheet created by the folks at Wells & Drew. Thanks, guys! (see the InDesign Cheat Sheet here)

Brought to you by Wells & Drew, makers of fine engraved stationery.

Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukah, Kwanzaa, Winter Solstice and any other Winter Holiday I may have missed! It’s a wonderful time of year to look back and count all the blessings and trials the past year has brought and count ourselves lucky to have lived through, grown and learned from these gifts. Of course one of the most fun traditions is to create that Gift List (and to purchase or make gifts for your family and loved ones). Here’s Breakaway Graphics’ wishlist:

1. Wacom Inkling (here).

2. Another year’s subscription to Lynda (here)

3. Photoshop Users Magazine and year’s subscription to NAPP (here)

4. An 8-Core Mac Pro (here) with Apple 27″ Thunderbolt Display (here)

5. A Nikon D700 (here) with Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8G ED (here) and Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II (here)

Too Much? I hope Santa doesn’t think so….Ho! Ho! Ho!

We are super excited to announce our feature in Photoshop User Magazine! After contacting Photoshop User Magazine to put our hats in the ring as a featured designer for their column called “Design Makeover”, we received a phone call from Jake Widman requesting our help for an upcoming issue. That issue is out now and we are happy to share it with you!

The Magazine Intro. by Jake Widman

Zoccoli’s, “The Italian Delicatessen,” has been owned by the same family since 1948. From the website, “In March of 1948, Robert Zoccoli Sr. and his wife, Augusta, both Italian immigrants, along with their daughter Nelli and her husband Lloyd Sherman, formed a partnership and bought a small grocery store. The Plaza Grocery, a Red & White Food Store, was located in downtown Santa Cruz where Zoccoli’s Deli resides now. It was a very diversified operation that sold everything from household supplies to deli meats and cheeses, many of which we still carry today.” Today the store is Read the rest of this entry »

Below you’ll find a handy little graphic sent to me by a fellow named Anthony Houser. I found it useful and thought you would too!

Courtesy of Business Stationery

Above, you’ll see a video that features a design by Breakaway Graphics, LLC for a company called Men of Steel Inc. After we created the logo and established a brand image for Men of Steel Inc, the owner, Buck Howard, expressed that it was important to him that his business cards not only exude professionalism but were sturdy enough to hold-up in his work environment and the clear plastic card was just the right solution. He was thrilled with the final product and has gotten many, many complements on the unique nature of the card as well as the simple and effective design of it and the rest of his collateral. The folks at Plasticprinters did a stellar job with the printing and were invaluable when it came to customer service, feedback, and fair pricing. From start to finish, the team at Plasticprinters were professional and knowledgeable, making my job as a graphic designer (and middle man between the printer and my client) much easier. Thank you to my dear client for trusting me in using such a novel medium and to Plasticprinters for bringing my design to life!

I was so happy with the outcome of the Men of Steel Inc. cards that I went ahead and had some made for my company too.

P.S. If you click on the YouTube icon near the bottom right of the video, you will be directed to the Plasticprinters YouTube page where you can see other ways to use this super cool medium.

Middle Tennessee’s Breakaway Graphics, LLC is a double bronze winner in the 2011 Summit Creative Award® competition for its creative work for Caddell’s VMS and Savvy Roads. Their design and execution of a custom postcard for Caddell’s VMS, located in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, won in the Business-to-Business direct marketing category. The second win came in the logo and trademark category for the development of the logo for Savvy Roads located in Fort Pierce, Florida.

“I am overwhelmed with the excitement of receiving two awards this year in two very different categories. I am happy to have the opportunity share this achievement with the clients whose Read the rest of this entry »

What are your business hours? Regular business hours are Monday through Friday, 9am to 5pm Central Time. Although I am often working much earlier and much later than my posted hours, I ask that you please respect the hours of operation. The time I put in before and after business hours is often when I am most productive and Read the rest of this entry »

Here at Breakaway Graphics, LLC, we do a lot of reading to stay on top of design trends and feed our unending hunger to learn even more about effective design techniques. I have compiled a list of a few of my favorite books, magazines and websites for all you design junkies out there.

Books:

1. Logo Design Love by David Airey (www.logodesignlovebook.com/). David is a leader in Read the rest of this entry »

Let’s face it, these days, more and more business owners are shifting from using marketing professionals to promote their businesses and choosing to take a more hands-on role. This is mistake number one, but we’ll get to that a little later. For now, let’s think about how or why you got into the career you’re in. Maybe it’s because you loved it….maybe because you are especially good at it….maybe it’s just a way to make ends meet. Whatever the case, you have the job you have because, at some level, you like it or possess the skills to excel at it. The same is true for marketing personnel; be it graphic designers or advertising executives. We marketing professionals have a specific knowledge about what works in the market place, what designs and words provoke a response from the reader and what outlets are the most effective in seeing a return on your investment: this is why you need us. I have collected five of some of the most common marketing mistakes people make. Read the rest of this entry »