A guide to finding public domain images for presentations. An exhortation to forgo clip-art!

1. Stop Using Cheesy
Clip Art:
Designing Better Graphics
Starr Hoffman
Librarian for Digital Collections
University of North Texas Libraries
TechNet 2010
Decatur, Texas
05.14.2020

2. Why Avoid Clip Art?
 doesn’t clarify message
 unprofessional look
 mismatched design
 nonspecific, generic
 repetitive

3. Alternatives to Clip Art
 free “stock” photos online
 morguefile.com
 check user agreement

4. Alternatives to Clip Art
 American Memory (Library of Congress)
 historic persons
 libraries
 American life
 posters
 manuscripts
 other government documents
 copyright-free!

5. Alternatives to Clip Art
 your own photos…

6. Taking (& Editing) Better Photos
 composition & cropping
 what’s in the center
 what’s at the edge
 the rule of threes
 interesting angles

7. Taking (& Editing) Better Photos
 strong light source
 window, table lamp, etc.
 use a DIY reflector
 car shade, aluminum foil, white paper
 editing (after the fact)
 crop
 contrast & brightness

8. Design Basics
Principles of Design Elements of Design
 balance  line
 alignment  shape
 repetition  volume (mass)
 contrast  value (tone)
 white space (negative space)  color (hue)
 gradation  texture
 harmony  size
 dominance  direction
images ©2007 Donna Tersiisky http://www.tersiiska.com/design/

9. The Seven Deadly Sins… of Design
 all center-justified text
 TEXT IN ALL CAPS
 +3 fonts in a single design
 lots of clip art
 busy composition
 multiple bordered text boxes
 no focus

10. More Bad Design

11. Good Design
 left-justified text
 limited, simple fonts
 harmonious color scheme
 photos contribute to message
 balanced composition
 bulleted list of points
 contact info easy to find

12. More Good Design

13. Add Your Content…
 what / why  where
 what’s the event, cause, or idea  general & specific location:
that you want to communicate?  Willis Library Room 035
 why should your audience care (lower level), University of
about it? North Texas
 what will benefit your audience?  include a map, a street
address, and/or a URL that
 who provides these
 what library/school/institution is
hosting the event?  how
 who can they contact for more  how does the audience get
information? involved?
 is there a registration process
 when or RSVP?
 day, date, time, am/pm

14. Ask the Printshop
 what file format do they need?  is there an extra charge for a
 common file formats: PDF, EPS, page "bleed?”
TIFF  a “bleed” is an image
printed onto the edge of the
 what resolution does the file need paper
to be?  to avoid it, add whitespace
 typically 300 - 600 dpi/ppi around the image
 dots per inch / points per inch  1/8” margin
 check “image size” or “resolution”
 how do they want files
 do they need fonts embedded? delivered?
 saving as a PDF can embed  CD / DVD
fonts  upload / FTP (file transfer
 using common fonts avoids this protocol)
problem  email attachment

15. Need More Help?
 ask me!
 Starr Hoffman
 Librarian for Digital Collections
 UNT Libraries
 starr.hoffman@unt.edu
 940.565.4150
 find my presentations & CV here:
 http://geekyartistlibrarian.wordpress.com
 find more info about graphic design here:
 http://librarygraphics.pbworks.com/