Help in designing product brochures

[banoi]

Hey there I'm new here, I'm not really a design graduate or anything, just an enthusiast but I'm planning to take up design soon as my 2nd degree. Anyway, a friend asked me if I could try and do some sample product brochures for him and I want to take this chance to experiment and learn something new, however I'm totally clueless on which program is best used for creating brochures and what the dimensions are, and he wants me to export it to pdf format. Other than that he's basically giving me a freehand to go wild and do whatever I want. Is there any specific point/ certain rules I should look out for when designing product brochures? What's the best software to use in making the brochure and what's the usual size? I hope you guys could share some input and help me. That'll really be cool and would be reallllly appreciated. Thanks!:)

[harpdog]

get Illustrator if you can from a source that is free. It can get a little $$$ This will give you the basic tool to create a brouchure in vector.

If you want to ad photos and stuff use photoshop! one worning make sure youe set your DPI to 500+ and you should be ok!

Good luck..... OW you should also pick up a BOOK there are some coold books that will show you the basics.

Good luck! Mail me your work harpdogdesign@rogers.com

[cbscreative]

Welcome to both of you. All 3 of us are new to the forum, but I am not new to graphics. Choosing a graphics program is subject to a lot of opinion. Illustrator is a great program, and if you can find a good deal on it, you should get it. However, I disagree that it is good to start with. CorelDRAW is easier to learn, and despite the fact that many designers shun it, Corel has a great and powerful Graphics Suite. It is also a lot less expensive. Macromedia is awesome for web graphics, but it is no longer well suited for print applications. Now that Adobe is taking over Macromedia, the future will be interesting, but over the last few years, Macromedia has done well by optimizing their products for web design. Corel and Adobe seek to cover both web and print.

When you use both Corel and Adobe, you will discover things you like and dislike about both, but overall, Corel gets my vote. Here is why. There are features Corel has had for years, up to 10 in some cases, that are either new or unavailable in Adobe. No program is more customizable, and no one is likely to argue that point. Corel is intuitive and usually gives you at least 3 or 4 ways to perform any task (pick the one you like best). If there is some function or feature in Corel you don't like, there is at least a 90% chance that you can change it because it is so customizable. Corel bundles their DRAW and Photo-Paint together, with Adobe, they are separate. However, if you can afford Photoshop, get it. Having both Corel and Adobe is the best option, but if you are just getting your feet wet, I recommend Corel. This list could be a lot longer, but I will stop here.

In your original post, you mentioned that you want to output in PDF. Only the newer versions of AI have this feature (and Adobe makes PDF!), but it is still a bit tricky. Corel has done a great job with PDF for at least the last 6 years, and it is almost as easy as saving a file.

As for flyers, size and shape are up to you. The most common is probably the trifold. Whatever you decide to go with, here are a few tips. Decide what you want the flyer to say, what you want it to do, who your target market is, how they think, and what the most important outcome will be. Then brainstorm for ideas. Let everything fly and sort it out later. Try to think about content. Be persuasive, be focused, you can even be long winded. Notice I haven't said anything about graphics yet?

Once you have enough to fill more than 2 flyers, start trimming. Decide the shortest way to communicate your message. Get your text to a minimum, but do not give up quality of content. Once you have the strongest message you can create, try to think of a title that captures your idea or piques the curiosity. This title is best suited for the cover. Make people want to know what it says inside. If you use a logo on the cover, don't make it the most prominent feature. Your client may balk at the idea that his prized logo should not be proudly displayed, but unless it is well recognized, you want the cover to invite people in. It needs to grab your target market and say, "Here I am."

Once you have good content, now you can pretty it up. If there is a bold graphic that communicates your message, use it. Maybe even on the cover if needed. Otherwise, tone down the graphics. Use what you need to support your message, but don't succomb to the temptation to just put in pictures of products or offices or machines. If these elements are used, find a way to visually demonstrate them, not simply show them.

Also, never underestimate the power of simplicity. Sometimes it is overlooked when you are trying too hard to be creative. Above all, get into the mind of your target market. Does your client understand them? Use their knowledge. Otherwise, consider a focus group, even if it is a small one. Talk to the people you want the brochure to reach.

There, now I have been long winded and written my brochure.

Steve

Graphics, web design, writing, and all that good stuff: www.cbscreative.com (http://www.cbscreative.com)

[morea]

get Illustrator if you can from a source that is free.

The GDF does not condone piracy of any sort... I am sure that you were referring to a 30 day trial or something simiar, weren't you.


If you want to ad photos and stuff use photoshop! one worning make sure youe set your DPI to 500+ and you should be ok!

I would check with your printer before designing anything to make sure that you have it set up to the correct specifications... nothing worse than finishing a job and having to go through and practically redo the whole think because the printer needed something other than what you supplied.

As a general rule of thumb (and depending on what print method you are using) 300 dpi is sufficient for printing. The higher the resolution, the larger your file size will be. Your best bet will probably be to save your photos at actual size at 300 dpi. That will give you good quality and optimal file size.

Good luck.

[defjoe]

also keep in mind that you might do this awesome and great brochure and then you get a qoute to print them and it's too pricey so now yuo have to cut it down to 2 color.

there is alot of stuff you need to find out before you tackle this job.

[morea]

^ definitely true!

[Drawing a Blank]

Along with all the other advice you received I would like to add that you should seriously consider getting Acrobat distiller if you are planning on sending PDF files to the printer. Dzine wrote a great article about the differences between PDF writer and Distiller that used to be on the site, but I don't know where the old articles have been placed (haven't looked really hard either though). Perhaps the GDF librarian can pull up a link for you?
I couldn't agree more with Defjoe's statement about needing to know a lot more before you tackle this project. Knowing that the brochure is going to be printed as 2 color, 3 color or four color is somthing you should know before you start designing. Will it be printed with full bleeds and die cut? Being able to use Illustrator, Macromedia Freehand, Corel or Photoshop is great, but if you don't know how to design the brochures with the whole process in mind and you don't know how to set up files for the printer you will have problems throughout the process and the finished product will suffer.
If you don't know much about the printing process that is going to be used you should call the printer now and ask them if you can spend some time with the prepress people and observe the whole process. Better yet get an internship with a printer and you will learn things every day.

[morea]

Perhaps the GDF librarian can pull up a link for you?

Ta da! :D http://www.graphicdesignforum.com/articles/distiller_pdf_writer.htm

How's that for service with a smile? http://mysite.verizon.net/amthibodeau/coolcat.gif

[Drawing a Blank]

Damn your good.
Thanks for pulling that up!!

[morea]

glad to oblige. Great article to reference. I have read it more than once myself!

[cbscreative]

I feel like I should have covered the output considerations. As someone who spent years in printing and signs and other stuff, I do this automatically. Good points. I just figured I was being long winded enough already, thanks for adding that info too.

www.cbscreative.com (http://www.cbscreative.com)