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
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!
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
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
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/