1st year Give away winner is!!!!....

madebysarah well done!!! the winner was used using Random Number Picker

1st year anniversary Giveaway

yes it's that time already and to celebrate a fantastic year with u all i want to give away....

£30 worth of graphic design!!!

Just leave a comment below as to why u would love a Bonnita Makeover. There is a week to enter and the winner will be announced next week! Tues 15th March @ 6pm

Please only enter if you need a makeover or feel u could benefit from my talents.

Good Luck!

Time for Tips!

Ok the first of my tip blogs with questions and queries sent by u!

This post will be advising on a couple of cameras that you own and how to improve those photos not just for folksy but in general. Some very useful tricks and tips for u all.

Wendy of Madbags advised me she had a Hitachi HDC-756E

So believe it or not i couldn't even find an online manual for this camera! so what i advise will be off my own experience with compact digital cameras.

"The photo was taken with a small compact - Hitachi HDC-756E. I used the macro setting and cannot remember if the flash was used."

Just to make u all aware for those who didn't know, while your camera is in Macro setting it won't allow Flash, the same goes for sports settings, this is because it requires the lens to be open at different times than normal. So only use macro when your natural lighting is good. if possible take ur photos as close to a window as possible also choose ur backgrounds wisely as they can cause a lot of headaches while trying to get the products look fab!

Here is a before shot of a bag that Wendy sent to me what u will see over the next few images is what i would do to improve it.



I am cert not saying the photo is bad! as for a compact with no flash it's not bad at all!
Below are 2 techniques that can be used to lighten up images without over saturating them, further info can be obtained my message me at my shop Bonnita Graphics

(click to enlarge image) This was done in photo shop but the principles work in most photo editing software


Option one is to completely cut the background out giving u a magazine feel to ur images it's takes some practice to get the curves and image looking right but it an produce some lovely results

Option 2 is to adjust the exposure levels, have a look left, as i said i can explain in more detail if u are not sure just message me. It;s a good way for u to identify where the issue is, over or under exposed.

It wont get rid of the background unless u shot in white in the first place! this is the kindest way to adjust the background brightness without over exposing the product and making it over saturated.


The next email was from Gracie who in my humble opinion doesn't need help! There really isn't a lot i could say other than, be carefull of opposing colours in ur background.

On the left is the original on the right is my take on what may look better, the less pink helps the green pop imho. This was done using the levels technique i showed earlier and then in the image settings taking some of the red out.


Bev @ Bits and Bobs sent me a great example that i can solve fairly easily with technique but not with photoshop, this is an issue that can be solved with camera options

"I use an HP CB350 camera, 12MP. A friend has helped me set it up and the only pics I can take what don't take on a pink tinge are on an intelligent setting but this doesn't allow me to use the little flower setting that brings out the detail in my work."

here is the image i was sent


Now u can't see very well from this size image but it suffering from a bad case of noise.

Noise is the silver particles that are in the camera and when Lighting is low your camera (if on Auto) will up up it's ISO to allow more light to flow through the lens, the down side to this is it hits these particles and creates noise.


There are 2 simple ways to solve this issue.


the first one is (if the camera allows) to change ur ISO setting to no more than 200. I wont go into detail about ISO as we will be here for some time!

If you still have problems or photos are too dark, take them outside or on windowsill, the more natural light u can get on the product the better.

If you want to try and get that stitching detail wack it on macro and make sure u have a good light source.

So there u have it some tips that i hope will help u create better images for your beautiful products.

Think about what makes u buy a product that you see in a magazine, lifestyle pictures can really help set a scene and play on people emotions which is a massive factor when buying, how a product will make a person feel will help them decide whether to buy or not!.

To Create or not to Create!

Hi peeps and welcome to my new long time coming post.

This probably sounds a bit of an odd subject but it is something that is really close to my heart.

Branding!!!

I have a shop on the wonderful Folksy and am immensely proud of all the hard work i have put in for my shop to do as well as it has it little under a year.

Last year i Graduated with a 2:1 BA Hons in graphic design and have over 5yrs experience in dsign, now i know some people can fluke their way through these things but i a pretty sure i know a bit of what i talk about, SO...

Self made banners and branding is my subject and i would LOVE to know what you think.

My services are not expensive but shops and business that are starting out can't always afford the expense of professional branding, which i totally understand and can empathise with.

I may have a little shop offering products and very low prices (and i say low as most don't even cover minimum wage!) but i also do A LOT of work for companies outside of folksy, i am talking about companies that work along side councils, Financial companies, musicians and many more who cannot afford to have bad branding.

I have a great friend who owns a Photographic Studio who was subject to this, and after a few conversations he could see where i was coming from, the downside is that he was already half way through and had already got some bits printed, so we are starting from scratch but he needs it and the great thing is he is so open to it and understands that the company needs it.

Of course with small and many home run business money can prevent such luxury's as high end branding and becuase of this i am going to give u some pointers to think about if u are going to DIY it.

1. LOGO - For me this is the first thing i work on in any project, that is of course if u have a name already! Once u have got ur logo most things will flow from there.
Consider that people will get to know your shop by ur logo. Really think about what you want ur logo to say about u, and dont be overruled by the obvious, your company name might be Orange Moon but u don't have to have an Orange Moon as ur logo, think out of the box, this Will help you stand out from the crowed. Look at Nike, just a tick but u know who they are.

2. Shop Banner - This of course is down to personal preference. I am a stickler for good presentation and a bad banner and branding has made do a 360 out of a shop more often than not. Even the most technical of people may not have the eye or skill to create a good design for their shop. You wouldn't try and wallpaper a room if u had no idea what u were doing, the same can be said about design, a great design is usually made up of simple rules that Joe Bloggs wont know about.

If you are still wanting to have a go: Use good quality images and make sure u are allowed to use them. Make your name nice and clear so they can see it without looking to hard. Eye catching and simple can sometimes be the best.

3. Business cards - Think HARD these are going to represent you. The main details u need on them info wise - Company name, Email, Web address. You don't have to have personal address's and telephone numbers.

Use your logo and keep them clean, easy to read and interesting business cards can make people keep them in their wallet and be reminded of you.

This is going to sound really harsh but hey "trust me i am a designer" self branding if you truly don't know what ur doing can be disastrous. Is £7 really to much to pay for a professionally created banner?

I try and be honest with feedback if asked for my opinion ad i will say if it not as good as it could be!

I appreciate that there are tutorials and easy ways to make banners and branding, but please if you take your business seriously consider a professional, doesn't even have to be me! i am not the only bod available.

I would love to know what some of you think about the above, i look forward to reading the comments

WINNER

My Hubby wasn't around to pick a random number so i used an online one instead and the winner is......Number 7!! TopFloorTreasures!! well done i will message you the prize!

GIVEAWAY TIME!!!! Whoop!

Yup its that time again

The winner of the giveaway will receive a prize worth £20

THE CATCH??? it's a surprise, i am not going to disclose the prize just that it will be fab!!! can u afford to miss out????

Just leave a comment here and like my fan page for the chance to win. (please say "hello i just liked you" on fb so i know u are new) or let me know if u have already liked me.

The winner will be plucked out of my husbands head (we give each entry a number) and announced Tuesday.

Good luck!

Question time pt 2

Following on from my previous question i am doing some more! this time with a shop feature for those who asked me.

First up: Jet Jewellery

Hi Bon, Do you think it is important to have a colour scheme through your shop i.e. should you have the same colours running through you banner, item pics, packaging and business cards or is it nice to have an eclectic mix?

Hi!
I believe it's important to have a scheme throughout your branding but i don't think it is necessary in photo's i know a few shops actually photo their products with their branding in with it which can work nicely, take this one for example from Wychbury












next up is: Ali Debuc of Mud Meddling

What would you say is the best way to achieve a consistent look to photographs, even when the items being pictured are all very different?

Hi Ali, well the best way for me is to keep things like:
the background, the lighting, the props the same then all you need to do is to alter the positions of the props around the object you are photographing, that way the item can be very different but people will start to recognise the shop from it's listing photographs.



and lastly: Lynsey Wilkins of Purple Shmurple


My 10 Questions -

You recently re-did the branding for my shop Purple Shmurple, are you pleased with the results?

I am very happy with the results, the branding sits well in your shop and is one of those that will be easy to remember and recognise, most importantly it is unique!

What software/hardware do you use for your work and why?

I use a 27" Mac which is my prized possession. I was always against macs until i started my degree and i fell in love with them, i am a true believer that the mac is the best machine for graphic design work. I always do my work for Folksy in Illustrator and Photoshop. For my freelance work i use all sorts: Fireworks, Dreamweaver, InDesign and i dabbled in Maya for a little bit, but have forgotten everything i ever knew!! lol

Illustrator gives me great flexibility as not all banners are the same size for example folksy and etsy so elements need moving and resizing and Illustrator is a mathm,atical programme which means i can scale to any size with no loss of quality.

Photoshop is great for playing around with textures and brushes, if i know i am only doing a banner i will do it in here if i need to do something that requires more depth.

You recently obtained a BA in Graphic Design, what would you say is the most important thing you have learnt from your studies?

Hmm it's hard to focus on this as i learnt so much, i think the main thing i took away with me, that i use the most, is the importance of branding. I did a dissertation on the effects of emotional advertising and it taught me a lot! Brand recognition is such a massive part of the world today, maybe thats why i am so anal about a good Banner LOL

Have you had to do branding or design which you did not want to, like or approve of? (you do not have to disclose what!)

Luckily No! i am happy to face most challenges but if i don't agree with the subject matter or where the branding will be used i won't agree to take on the project.

What would be your dream graphic design-based job/project?

My ideal would be to deign fabrics, the process isn't cheap at the moment and i have only used one American site as i am waiting for the English version to arrive, but when it does i want to have my own business of fabric design i love it!! if i truly had the time i would to design my own stationary ranges to, but my graphics shop keeps me to busy along with a 18month daughter!

Have you always wanted to get into Graphic Design/What made you get into it?

I have always been arty and loved creating in one form or another, i did graphic design 14yrs ago but it was very different then! i then went into many jobs i didn't enjoy but all offered me some sort of creative outlet, a lot of my colleagues kept asking why i didn't pursue a career in design or art. So while i was sat in a VERY dull job that i didn't enjoy i thought "bugger it"

I spoke to my husband and we discussed the financial's and the rest is history :), best career move i ever made.

If you could do any other job (than Graphic Design), what would it be and why?

I would love to work with animals, preferably training, so i spose a dog trainer

Is there anything within your business that you feel you need to/would like to improve on?

My programme knowledge! i def know enough to keep me going but there are so many little hidden tricks in these programmes that i could be training forever. I really would love to also improve my range as mentioned above, i can only dream of offering a stationary range.

What is your workspace like - do you have an office/room, music you like to work to etc?

My Itunes is full of allsorts! one minute i will have a classical piece on, next thing you know i have Dolly Parton or Metallica playing. My desk is a mess, so much so i am not even going to post a piccy lol. My office is one end of the living room, which at the moment i prefer as i can keep an eye on the little one while i work.

From a business point of view where do you see yourself in 5 years time?

I honestly don't know at the moment, things seems to be sweeping me off my feet at the moment, my photography business took off so well my feet have yet to reach the ground.

I would like to be in a position where i can rely more on my shop for an income rather than my husband, that would be great. I have plans to develop an online shop that can cater to everyone rather than just being on folksy.


Well thats it guys, i hope u enjoyed it!