The lab will be closed Dec 24th through Jan 3rd.

We will ship until Dec 22nd, or on Dec 23rd only if requested.

UPS will deliver on Dec 24th.

Happy Holidays,

Tom, Molly, John & Robin Hicks
and the staff at JD Photo Imaging

If you’ve ever designed a photo book with a dust cover you can appreciate how small changes to fonts, rules, overlays, and drop shadows can have a huge impact on the finished design. What looked good on the screen may not look quite right after printing.

This is because, unlike photographs, photo books (and post cards, business cards or any other press-printed products) must be cut and trimmed after printing. This results in pages and prints that are close - but never exactly - the same size. Combine this with double-sided printing, folding, stapling, binding and die-cutting, and even more layout problems can arise.

Below are three design mistakes we’ve all made when laying out photo books and other press-printed products. Avoid them, and every design you create will look better for it.

1. Backgrounds that don’t go up to the edge of the print. “Back in the day” we all sold bordered prints. In modern design, background colors and images are always printed to the edges (called full-bleed printing). For press-printed products like photo books, the paper edge is trimmed to create the same full-bleed effect you get with a photographic print. However, if the image doesn’t go all the way to the edge, a thin line of non-printed white paper is left. The only way to fix this is to trim the entire photo book shorter than the shortest page.

• Solution - Unless you’re printing an image in the center of a white page, cover the entire background.

2. Elements that are too close to the edge of a print. Text, logos, graphics, borders, and drop shadows that are too close to the edge of a print “look funny” and in some cases can be cut off.

• Solution - Graphic elements should always be at least 5% of the image size away from any edge. For example, on an 8×10 layout, 5% of 10 inches is 1/2 inch. This means nothing except the background should be closer than 1/2 inch from the edge. On small items like wallets or business cards, never put an element closer than 1/4 of an inch from the edge.

3. Elements on or near a fold. In ROES we sometimes assume that the blue “safe lines” on a product are exactly where the fold or edge will be, and push elements up to them. Actually, they are only an approximation to remind you that any parts of the photo like heads or feet outside the “safe lines” may be cut off or wrapped around the edge in the finished book.

• Solution - Don’t put text, borders, pinstripes, key lines, heads or feet up against safe lines.

Avoid these three design mistakes and your designs will look better to you - and your customers.

If you don’t already have a email provider, this is too good an offer to pass up. Mailchimp (our second favorite email provider) wants to encourage small businesses to user their service, so they are offering a basic plan with up to 3,000 e-mails a month as long as you have less then 500 people on your email list.

If you aren’t already sending professional email newsletters, you now officially have no excuse.

Bonus Tip: recently I read about a business that was able to collect many more email addresses from prospective customers by adding this text to their sign-up forms:

We will use this email address to send you a monthly newsletter with tips and specials. We promise to never give your email address to anyone else.

For example, if you’re a wedding photographer who collects email addresses at the reception, you should put this on the card. The extra promise - and the fact that you use a professional email provider - will encourage customers to trust you.

Adobe Photoshop is the standard in our industry. Installing your first full-retail version will give you a feeling of pride almost as big as your first professional camera.

That’s why it is important that when you start using Photoshop, you don’t commit either of the two biggest mistakes most new users make:

1. Wrong DPI. When you click File -> New in Photoshop, by default your image is set at 72dpi (dots per inch). New photographers typically set a height and width in inches, then ignore the dpi.

For 99% of the work you do, you should set Photoshop to 300dpi first, then enter a height and width. For images that will end up as banners, you can set Photoshop to 150dpi, since this is the resolution of most large-format inkjet printers like the 52″ one we use to create wall graphics.

2. Wrong JPG Quality. When you save a final image for printing in Photoshop as a JPG file, by default Photoshop chooses 6 (medium) for image quality. This should always be moved to 12. In addition, if you are saving a copy that you plan to work on again later, you should save the image as a .PSD file. Only your final image that you plan to send to us should be saved as a JPG.

Making both these changes will result in very large files, which is why you should have a PC with lots of RAM (3-4Gb is a good start for PCs), but it will also insure that your images look their best when they are printed.

I read a great article this week entitled “Eight Ways to Ruin Your Social-Media Strategy” by Catherine Taylor on bNet, and of all the ideas she writes about, I think this is the most important take-away point:

“It all begins with listening…Just as you wouldn’t walk into a cocktail party and start bragging about yourself, you shouldn’t just jump into the conversation.”

I see many small businesses like studios that treat their Facebook or Twitter accounts like little mini-billboards. “Call today for holiday photos” or “mention this ad for a free 8×10 print.”

Social media isn’t supposed to be about you. It is about your relationship with your customer.

Don’t believe me? Download this free report (PDF) at Rainmaker.com. They interviewed hundreds of people after sales presentations and the #1 reason people gave for not buying was…not listening.

Here’s the new rule: you need to make at least five comments or blogs or posts or tweets that are personal or thought-provoking for every one that is an ad.

For example, how about posting one of these your Facebook page tomorrow:

• What’s your worst experience with a professional photographer?
• Which of these two senior yearbook photos do you like better?
• Did you ever take a photo you thought was as good as a professional photographer?

The point is to start a conversation with your customers. That’s what social media is about. If you’re treating it like a cheap way to advertise, you’re not just wasting your time with social media - you may actually be hurting your business.

Need to share a great full-res digital photo, a PDF proof book or Adobe PSD layout? Attaching files larger than 1Mb to an email has a 50-50 chance of getting through. Either the receiving mail server mysteriously deletes the email, or it locks up the other person’s computer while they wait for the file attachment to download. Even if it finally gets through, it isn’t polite to lock up someone else’s computer.

Here are three FREE solutions:

Dropbox. Up to 2GB of file space for free, but you need to register and install the application. Works on Mac or PC. Betsy Flinn has started using this service, and she really likes it. Read her review.

Sendspace. Free version allows files up to 300Mb. You upload a file, copy and paste the link in an e-mail, and send. File stays up for 30 days, no registration required, no software to install. Here’s a test image I uploaded in less than 10 seconds for you to try. Note the ugly ads you have to look at, which is how they offer the service for free.

Drop.io is very popular with the online community. The free version only allows files up to 100Mb, but you don’t need to register or install any software. Click this link to see what your customer would see - again same image, much cleaner look.

After trying all three,

• I recommend the free version of Drop.io for sharing an image or two with customers.
• I recommend Dropbox for collaborating on images or sharing with family and friends.
• If you just need to send a large file to a non-client quickly, Sendspace is worth remembering.

Of course, when sending images to JD, always use ROES, LabPrints or our FTP service.

If that super-fast PC you purchased just a year ago seems to run slower than it used to, don’t run out and buy a new one. In most cases, there are a few basic tricks you should try first. I suggest attacking this list in order - from 1 through 5 - until you’re as happy with your computer as the day you bought it.

Uninstall programs you don’t use.

I’m amazed after a year how many programs I’ve installed, tried once, and never used again. Cleaning out old programs means less files on your hard drive, as well as making it easier to find the programs you use every day.

How to do it. There are two ways to remove a program - the right way and the wrong way. Just deleting the program’s folder or icons doesn’t speed up a Windows PC. Instead, go to the Control Panel and use the “Uninstall a Program” option in Vista or the “Add or Remove a Program” option in XP.

Defrag your hard drive.

When your PC stores files, if it doesn’t have enough room to put a file in one place on your hard drive, it will split it into two or more pieces. When you defrag (short for defragmentation), you run a program that puts the files physically back together again. But before you defrag, you should clean up any temporary files.

How to do it. If you’re running MS Vista, go to the start menu, and type “disk.” The “Disk Cleanup” and “Disk Defrag” programs will both appear. Run Cleanup first to remove temporary files, then Defrag. The Defrag program should be set to run at least once a week in the middle of the night (leave your computer on that night). If you’re running XP, click “My Computer”, right click on the C: drive, click “Properties” on the menu, click “Disk Cleanup” to run, then click the tools tab and the “Defrag” button.

Remove any spyware.

If you run an anti-virus program like McAfee or Norton, your PC could still be loaded with spyware. These are little snippets of code designed to record websites you click on, or to redirect your browser to other websites. Even if your anti-virus program says it can find spyware, experts agree you need to run two different programs to make sure one finds what the other cannot (never run 2 anti-virus programs at the same time).

How to do it. Download and install the free versions of Ad-Aware and Anti-Malware (don’t take my word for it - check the ratings here). Since the free versions doesn’t have a schedule program, you should make a note to yourself to run them at least once a month. Alternatively, you can purchase the full versions that run automatically.

Clean out the Start Menu folder.

Lots of programs like to install a portion of themselves in the Start Menu so that they can be accessed more quickly when you need them. Unfortunately, this means they are always taking up memory, even if you don’t need them.

How to do it. In Vista, click Start >Programs, and click on Windows Defender. When Defender opens, click on the “Tools” gray gear icon. Then click “Software Explorer” and set the category to “Startup Programs”. Look for any programs that you may have installed at one time, but no longer or rarely use. Highlight the program, then click “Disable.” In XP, right click the Start menu click “Explore All Users”, click the “Programs” folder, then the “Startup” folder. Drag any icons in your Startup folder to your desktop and reboot. If your PC runs fine, you can delete the icon. Otherwise, just drag it back into the Startup folder.

Add more  memory.

If you bought your PC on sale at a big box retailer, chances are they installed just enough RAM memory to get it to run. In most cases, you can double the amount of memory on your PC (or Mac) and significantly speed it up, especially if you use Photoshop.

How to do it. The easiest solution is to download and run the Crucial.com memory test for Windows or Mac. It will tell you how much RAM you already have in your computer, then suggest additional RAM chips to buy. Order the RAM online from Crucial (we use this brand exclusively at the lab). When the memory arrives, watch one of their videos to learn how to install your own RAM chips. Finally, make sure Photoshop is configured to use the new RAM memory.

Reformat your hard drive.

Actually, this is #6, but I don’t recommend this step unless you’ve tried the ones above. Reformatting destroys every file on your computer. If you don’t have a backup copy, you will lose everything!

Chances are when you purchased your PC you received instructions about how to return your computer to its original condition. If you’re lucky, it came with 1-2 CDs or DVDs called “Rescue” or “Installation”. Otherwise, the CDs are hidden on your hard drive and you’ll have to burn them before you can reformat.

How to do it. Before you do anything else, make a copy of your hard drive! Pick up a portable USB hard drive at any appliance store and make a copy (not just a backup) of everything on your hard drive. Next, gather the original installation CDs for all your programs like Photoshop, Microsoft Office or Quickbooks. Make sure you have all the license keys for your programs written down. Then, follow the manufacturer’s instructions for returning your PC to its original state. If you’re not sure how, go to the manufacturer’s website, look up your PC model, and you’ll find the instructions there. If your PC is still under warranty, call the manufacturer’s help line and they can walk you through the process. If reformatting your hard drive scares you, pay a technician to do it. It is still cheaper than buying a new PC.

Back in the old days, running a small business was as simple as opening a checking account, keeping track of sales, and paying your taxes on time.

Not anymore.

Their are two new laws on the books that can effect your business. Get caught breaking them, and you could be subject to tens of thousands of dollars in fines that could bankrupt you overnight. They are:

PCI Compliance

We’ve all read the stories about hackers stealing thousands of credit card numbers from large retailers. But you may not know that small businesses that accept credit cards account for the majority of credit card theft. If a customer’s information is stolen from you (by a hacker or an employee), you can be held responsible.

What is it? To protect customer information, the PCI Security Standards Council was formed. This industry watch-dog group has created a set of security standards for any business that handles credit cards.

Why is it important? While the PCI standards are not federal law, some states have adopted them as law, and PCI non-compliance has been used by the courts as proof of negligence in credit card theft cases.

What can you do? Start by downloading and filling out one of the PCI self-assessment worksheets. This will tell you what level of security you are responsible for. It could be as simple as filling out the worksheet and keeping it on file (in case you are ever audited) or as complicated as hiring a third-party consultant to independently audit your business.

CAN-SPAM Act

What is it? The CAN-SPAM Act is a federal law that “establishes requirements for those who send commercial email, spells out penalties for spammers and companies whose products are advertised in spam if they violate the law, and gives consumers the right to ask emailers to stop spamming them.” Basically, that means that if you send out advertising e-mail, you need it to conform to the law.

Why is it important? Nobody likes spam email. In an effort to combat it, congress defined spam as anything from the Nigerian prince who sends out a million copies to the small business that sends out a few dozen coupons. Last month, Alan Ralsky of Detroit, Michigan was sentenced to 61 months in jail and ordered to pay $250,000 in fines. While sending lots of spam email was a factor, what brought him to the attention of prosecutors were complaints by private citizens (think of an unhappy customer with too much time on their hands).

What can you do? Make sure any email you send meets the requirements: Don’t use any false or misleading information, clear subject line, identify yourself as a business, provide a way for the recipient to get off your list, etc. Rather than keep track of all the rules, many businesses use an online email service like Constant Contact, MailChimp or Vertical Response (the one we use). These programs are designed to insure your mailings follow all the rules.

I read a great blog article by Drew McLellan, owner of the McLellan Marketing Group this week. Drew describes how negotiating price with a client is like the old game where the last kid to swerve their bike as they barreled toward each other was called “the chicken.”

Drew makes a great point. When you cut your prices to make a sale, you tell the client two secrets:

• I’ve padded my prices
• I’m not confident in the value of my services

Instead of “playing chicken” with your prices, Drew makes specific suggestions on handling price objections. Take a minute to read them.