How To Price Your Logos

One of the most important aspects that your logo design company must consider is to know exactly what to charge for your product or services. As with any business, knowing precisely what to charge is one key towards success. In your business, you must price your logos at a point that it’s competitive with similar providers, and yet still afford you enough revenue for your business to continue to operate and grow.

In this cut-throat business, you will have to rethink how much you are willing to charge for each and every project. To provide you an overview of how much your logo is worth, there are a few factors you must consider. Below are some of the vital factors to think about before you quote a prospective customer a reasonable price:

 

1. Experience and Expertise

The more experienced you are in logo creation, the more right you have to demand for a higher cost. The better the image of a logo design company, the higher they generally charge for their expert services. But, make sure that your final price remains relative and reasonable at all times.

For instance, if you have accumulated decades of experience in a specific logo design type, however your customer demands an entirely different one outside your expertise, never rely on your highly irrelevant experience to raise your price a notch higher.

 

2. Time and Effort Involved

Ascertain a definite value for your time and the duration it’ll take for you to complete the job. Knowing exactly what you want to earn on a per hour rate is a good starting point. You must also determine the pricing for that particular timeframe. For example, if you have set your hourly rate to $100 and a logo design takes 30 minutes to complete, then the charge for your time is $50.

Is the project difficult? Will added effort be exerted for its completion? If your answer to these questions are all a resounding ‘yes,’ then you need to set the bar higher.

 

3. Check Your Competition

It is always best to check on your competition for pricing. A great way to know what price your market will bear is to go ahead and spy on what your competition is charging for comparable services. Ensure you research providers who deliver exactly the same kind of services as you do, both in terms of quality produced and expertise.

 

4. Know Your Profit Margin

Always set an objective profit margin when working on logo design projects. Upon careful determination of hard costs and assessment of your competition, add in the profit you want to make per logo to your costs.

 

5. Compare Pricing With Competitors

Make it a habit to compare your pricing with those of your rivals. In case you are priced just below them, you may then be inclined to raise your rate for prospective profits. When you are priced too high, then ascertain if your logo design work and experience calls for the costly rates. Otherwise, adjust your prospective profit or find ways for you to effectively reduce costs.

 

As a general rule of thumb, you must not accept a logo design work for which you do not have adequate resources to complete. Be sure to come up with a clear and specific contract and agreement with your customers. You do not want to end up offering more services for peanuts!

Lastly, always be honest. Your customers highly expects of you, if you tell them that you can meet their deadline, then do it by all means! If you can’t or won’t, notify them as soon as possible.

Filed under: Logo Design Tips, Logo Designer, Online Business by impactlogo on Thursday, June 14, 2012 | Social tagging: > > > > > >
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Photoshop Gone Wrong: Worst Photo Enhancements and Manipulations Ever

Almost every designer (from all walks of life), just love Photoshop! It is because of the many amazing things you can do, and may create with this great tool at a simple click of a mouse. Photo enhancing and manipulation has never been easy with Photoshop, and get ready to uncover a box of eye candy treats with its many features – the possibilities are just endless!

But when this superb tool falls into the hands of a rookie and inexperienced designers, disappointing jobs will definitely be the outcome. Apparent blunders and flaws will be obviously shown that eventually spells hilarious work and at times embarrassment.

In this post, allow me to show you some of the worst Photoshop photo manipulations made in magazines, digital art covers, and more, that will truly be entertaining yet enlightening to both viewers and designers alike.

Her diet secrets are just top-notch that she lost not just pounds off her weight, but as well as her right leg!

Oh boy, this weather report seems to be unbelievable, see the kid with 3-legs? He’s more of a news maker than the inclement weather.

Undeniably, this lady is hot! Errr, except for the missing belly button?

She is definitely vying for the Guiness World Record for the smallest waistline, I think?

Good news for avid fans of whitening products, this cereal works wonder, see results in just 2 weeks!

Now, this photo is really creepy. See the extra hand that embraces the lady taking the photograph? Spooky!

Her leg is obviously in bad shape, don’t you think?

This chick has a weird-looking legs, wouldn’t you agree?

Julianne Moore sports an odd shoulder in this BVLGARI print ad.

Weird two-thumbs up with the guy having three arms.

This extra hand hanging by spooks me out, where is the man hiding behind the bush?

Yet another creepy Photoshop picture manipulation gone wrong.

Extra hands laying on the shoulders of the man at the middle is truly weird and out of this world.

Now, this one is a nasty photo manipulation, see inset why. :)

So, next time you go over magazines and other various ads online, be sure to keep an open eye and mind, who knows what else you’ll be seeing next time around. If you do, feel free to share it around!

Filed under: Articles, Design Reviews, Logo Designer by impactlogo on Monday, June 4, 2012 | Social tagging: > > > >
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Logo Changes: Its Impact On Your Corporate Identity and Branding

The company logo is the epitome of everything that a particular business or brand stands for. So, popular businesses make use of logos that are easily recognizable, memorable, and lets you know what exactly a business is all about in just one glance. However, even the biggest businesses around have to change as time evolves, and so are their respective brands. Although rebranding is heavily frowned upon, these businesses by no means took the chance and made the switch, while some of them took the plunge over and over again.

Here are the best known brands that made drastic changes to their logos all throughout the history:

1. Samsung

From left to right: the Samsung Byeolpyo noodles logo, which was used from late 1938 until replaced in 1958; Samsung Group logo, used from late 1969 until replaced in 1979; Samsung Group logo so-called “three stars”, used from 1980 until replaced in 1992; Samsung Electronics logo, used from late 1980 until replaced in 1992; and finally, Samsung’s current logo which is used since 1993.

 

2. Mountain Dew

Farther left is the first Mountain Dew logo which was made public in 1950, next is the two-sides of an early bottle with ‘Hillbilly’ design. The next one is the 2008 logo which was used for quite some time by the company. To the right is the latest logo of the company and is currently used by Mountain Dew.

 

3. MTV

The hit music TV show – MTV, logo to the left is the one used by the show from 1981 up to 2010. By 2010, they made a logo change to this one on the right which is utilized by the same show up to the present.

 

4. Starbucks


The old starbucks logo bears a wood cut type illustration of a mermaid-looking creature taken off the Greek mythology. From that time on, the logo has undergone several changes. Today, the present logo has a more defined and apt look for a popular cofee shop.

 

5. KFC

Even KFC has undergone a full makeover. Colonel Sanders is now shown sporting an apron to make it look more amiable and inviting unlike the old logo used from late 1990’s to 2006.

 

6. Apple


These are the logos that were used by Apple Inc. From 1976 up to the present. This is an evident example that illustrates how important logo is. The last logo to the right is now currently used by the world’s no.1 innovator in gadgets and technology.

 

7. Canon


The pioneer in camera technology is orginally known as ‘Kwanon.’ Later on, it was changed to ‘Canon’ as both sounded pretty much the same. The final logo was created in 1956 which shows the company’s name in a simple typeface which is used up to the present.

 

8. Microsoft


Even the popular software company that revolutionized the entire tech world had its fair share of logo changes and updates. They began with a disco-type looking emblem that eventually evolved to a simpler and streamlined one. The last logo at the bottom was given birth to in 1987 which is still adapted by the same company to date.

 

9. IBM


IBM made drastic changes to their entire company brand and name eversince its inception in 1888. You can see from the logos above the timeline and the changes that were made. Obviously, the current logo is more appropriate and professional-looking.

 

10. Ford


Above are the logos used by automobile company Ford, from 1927 up to the present (from left to right). They experimented with various shapes from ellipse to circle, until finally they have decided to stick with the final logo (right side), which they dubbed as the ‘centennial blue oval,’ and is widely used up to now.

 

11. General Electric


General Electric which was founded by Thomas Edison in 1892 has made a series of conservative logo changes from 1892 up to the present. The logos from above are the logos used by G.E. in chronological order from year 1900, 1934, 1969, 1986, 2003 and 2004 (used up as of this writing).

 

12. Nokia


Finnish mobile phone manufacturer- Nokia, had sported the following logos above, from the year 1865, 1898, 1965, and the last two logos over the years. The logo revolution was evident in this case. Don’t you think?

 

13. Walmart


Walmart used several logos all througout their business existence, but they have since then maintained a simple logo using basic colors and variation of the brand name ‘Walmart.’ The logo in brown was made in 1981, while the one in royal blue around 1992, and lastly, in 2008, they have made yet another change to the logo on the right which is still used up to now.

 

14. LG


LG, prior to its now popular brand consists of two other companies that merged together – Goldstar, a radio creating plant, and Lucky, which is a cosmetics brand. The two brands eventually was merged as Lucky Goldstar in 1958, which was later on renamed to LG Electronics. Along with the brand name changes were the significant logo makeovers from Lucky in 1947, to Goldstar in 1958, and lastly, to LG in 1995 up to date.

 

15. FedEx


This world-renowned cargo forwarding and courier services was added to this list as they too, have made a significant change on their logo from the old ‘Federal Express’ logo used wayback in 1973-1994, to the FedEx modern-looking logo launched in the year 1994 and used up to the present.

 

16. Shell


Shell, one of the main oil cartels in the world has its own share of logo changes from its beginnings in 1900 up to the present. The logos above are showing the company’s official emblems from 1955, 1961, 1971, 1995, and up to the present (images from left to right).

 

17. BMW


Bayerische Motoren Werke AG or popularly known as BMW for brevity, undergone several logo modifications from 1923 up to now. Notice from the above image samples, BMW’s popular logo which experienced some makeover to make it appear more streamlined (BMW logo to the right).

 

18. Nike


Way back in 1971, a well-known designer crafted a logo for Nike (first one to the left) for just $35. Eventually, as the business became profitable, changes to the logo has likewise been implemented. A very few modifications to the old emblem were made which later on yielded to a simple ‘check’ mark, which to the time of this writing remains to be the official logo of the company.

 

19. Pepsi


Caleb Bradham founded the world’s famous soda brand Pepsi in 1890. From then, Pepsi adopted an official logo in the year 1940. After that several changes have been implemented on the top softdrinks logo design. Major logo redesign occured sometime in 1950, 1962, 1973, 1991, 1998, 2003, and 14 years later, a new Pepsi Cola logo was yet again given birth to(third image to the right).

 

20. UPS


The Universal Parcel Service, Inc. also known as UPS began using a business logo back in the year 1916 when they were originally known as the American Messenger Company. Several modifications have been seen with UPS together with their rebranding. Finally, they decided on sticking with the shield-looking logo that embodies the kind of service they wanted to project.

 

21. Target


Target, a famous American retail company made various alterations on their logo since the brand emerged in 1902. Seeing the new logo (image on the right), we can all agree that the new look is much better compared to the old logos (images on the left).

Several businesses neglect to entirely understand that a logo is an emblem of that bond between the brand and its customers. This is the rationale why customers trust buying goods or services from a particular brand because they know exactly what they are getting. This is exactly why the loyal customers, especially the ones who patronizes the brand on a regular basis, are most likely the ones to be most annoyed and disappointed when their favorite brands decide to change their logos.

As rebranding poses a great impact on a particular business, it is essential to undergo with the entire process with great caution and care, having in mind your customer’s sentiments and preferences. Whether or not it’s simple or subtle, or a total makeover of the business and its goals, a change in logo resulting to rebranding can be well worth it if you know exactly how to do it.

Filed under: Branding, Logo Design Tips, Logo Designer by impactlogo on Thursday, May 10, 2012 | Social tagging: > > > >
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Grab These 60 Best FREE Web Design Apps For Your Android Device

With the advent of Android technology, we know we have an app for just about everything, and web design work is not any diffrent, thus everything is made a breeze with these cool practical applications. Utilizing my smartphone as a secondary tool when coding have sped up my development and productivity time. Some of these I make use of everyday, and others I tried and deleted after one go. From HTML shorteners to utilizing Photoshop on the go for app development, there is an app or two out there for every web developer. Check it out!

Here are the best web design Android applications you can obtain from the Android Marketplace at absolutely 100% free of charge:

1. Photoshop

 


Adobe Photoshop, the most crucial web design tool web developers can live without has finally landed in the droid marketplace. Adobe has allowed droid apps end users to get hold of the application directly on their mobile phones and tablets. So, one may easily edit photos and utilize features like crop and flip to name a few.

Furthermore, members at Photoshop.com are now allowed to upload and share images using their site’s account. Despite the limited features and functionalities available, the app is still handy, useful, and worthwhile.

2. Typography and Font

Now you can easily make typography and font style editing within your favorite mobile device. Thanks to the new Typography and Font droid app. Now, you can easily design fonts, create one from scratch, and or update an existing font face. Do more while on the go with this new mobile app.

3. Color Pal


Color Pal is an exciting free app for Android that simply help you find color palettes and schemes for just about any design project. This is perfect for web designers who are looking for the best color schemes and combinations for their website projects.

4. Pocket Color Chart 1.0


This color chart utilizes the Pantone Matching System that’s been used and shared across the globe by the graphic arts industry. This Pocket Color Chart app is made available to you for download free of charge!

5. WebMaster’s HTML Editor Lite

The app WebMaster’s HTML Editor Lite is a great and handy CSS, PHP, Javascript, and HTML editor with syntax highlighting and code completion. It comes with a handy source code editor, and has syntax highlighting and code completion for HTML, CSS, and Javascript files. This editor app supports undo or redo features, built-in virtual keys for tags and popular key phrases. This is perfect for web authoring and programming on a tab or any equivalent portable device.

6. AndFTP

AndFTP is a FTP, SFTP, SCP, FTPS client for Android devices. It allows managing several FTP servers. It comes with both a device file browser and a FTP file browser. It provides download, upload features with resume support and folder synchronization. Use device menu to rename, delete, copy, set permissions and create folders.

7. Ultimate Finger Painting

The ultimate feature rich kids drawing program, sure to keep the kids occupied. Ultimate Finger Painting is ad supported free version of the most feature rich finger painting drawing App with a built-in puzzle game sure to keep kids of any age active for example on a long road trip. Free version containing ads taking up drawing canvas, plus half the amount of included cliparts and templates. This is perfect for creating logo or small web design mock-ups to show your clients.

8. Mindjet

Mindjet is a free app that is perfect for brainstorming, taking notes, and organizing tasks. This is a great mind-mapping tool for web designers.

9. Silver Edit

Silver Edit is a handy Android app that will help you edit files with syntax highlighting, a straightforward FTP client, and more web editing functionalities.

10. View Web Source

View Web Source is a free droid app that enables you to view any web source code you want to check out. With this application you will be able to view the source of any website. You will also be able to select text, search for text as well as copy and paste the HTML. To get the source from the page you are currently viewing in the browser, you can now use the share feature from the menu and select View Web Source.

11. Evernote

Evernote is an easy-to-use, free app that helps you remember everything across all of the devices you use. Stay organized, save your ideas and improve productivity. Evernote lets you take notes, capture photos, create to-do lists, record voice reminders–and makes these notes completely searchable, whether you are at home, at work, or on the go.

12. Photo Enhance

Photo Enhance is a great tool for enhancing images and graphics. Boost detail in your pics, adjust white balance, contrast, crop and more. Boost your photos, adjust brightness, contrast, saturation, white-balance, hi-impact mono, crop the result with fixed or variable aspect ratio.

Use HDR tone-mapping techniques (sometimes called faux HDR) to add detail to your images. Better photos, without the need for a better camera.

13. Astrid Task/Todo List

As millions of users have discovered, Astrid is more than just the perfect to-do list — it’s the personal assistant you’ve always wanted. Get your life organized and never miss a deadline with fun reminders, subtasks, lists, and widgets. Then access your tasks anywhere with automatic syncing across your phone, tablet, and Astrid.com.

14. SketchBook Mobile Express

Autodesk SketchBook Mobile Express is a professional-grade paint and drawing application offering a set of sketching tools and a streamlined and intuitive user interface. Requires a multi-touch device running Android 2.1 or above. Recommended devices include: 1GHz processor, 512mb RAM.

15. Free Draw

Free Draw is an easy to use app from where you can express thoughts or create artworks in a flash with the help of several colors and imagination. The folder can save your work and you can share them easily via e-mail, Facebook, Twitter, and other social networking sites.

16. ColorSnap

Capture real world colors and match them to Sherwin-Williams paint colors—for free. With ColorSnap, it’s easy to take color inspiration from a photo in your library or one you just snapped. Then choose matching colors or Ask Sherwin-Williams for recommendations. Either way, it’s a cinch to match, adjust, and save colors.

17. Iromihon

Iromihon is a free color discovery tool you can download online. When working full-screen, this app can likewise be used as a flashlight.

18. Color Mood Designer

Color Mood Designer is the professional way to quickly find the color combination that is right for your designing project. This software application is a much more convenient method to use than having to transport multiple, heavy color swatch books to your client meeting. Demo version has limited color database.

19. SuperDry Color Picker

Superdry Color Picker is color picker library for Android.This tool is perfect for web development on the go.

20. Glow PaintGlow Paint is an application simulating glow or neon painting on the touch screen of your mobile phone. Glow Paint allows you to select one of 10 colors of paints, three glow sizes, several background patterns and templates, Undo or Redo the last brush movement. You can also save your created image as a file, set as wallpaper or share image with your friends.

21. Finger Colors

An application for painting and drawing featuring a user interface that lets you focus on your painting and don’t let menus and dialogs interrupt your artistic flow.  The flexibility in setting width, color and transparency of your strokes allows for all kinds of pictures.

You can create oil or watercolor paintings, caricatures and sketches, and even draw on photos. Try Finger Colors.

22. DrawDraw and flash on the go! This tiny app is for easy finger communication in loud places, making quick notes or keeping kids entertained. It’s so simple, a 5-year-old can use it.

23. Sketcher

Sketcher is a fun sketch drawing tool for Android. This tool contains about 11 brushes as well as eraser, save to SD, share by e-mail, MMS and more.

24. Scribbler

Scribbler is a touch drawing and finger painting app for Android devices. Fully customize the color, shadow, transparency, blur and shape of your paint brush. Select from several pre-loaded background images, or use the built in color picker to select any color imaginable. Or, select one of several preset templates including background and brush settings. Import any image files from your SD card to use as a drawing surface.

25. Paint’R

Paint’R very cool image editing application for your Android phone! Load images from your gallery or directly take the image then you can draw all over the chosen image. Once you have edited it, you can save the image to the SD card, to be able to send it to friends etc. Please email me any seen bugs and suggestions to make the app better.

26. Woo Sketch

Layered picture editing comes to android, thanks to Woo Sketch. An application to bridge the gap between photos on your phone and the graphics editor on your desktop.

27. Image Editor

Image Editor is a simple Android app that allows you to edit images on your Android phone, or take some on the spot to expedite the image editing process. Share your images through facebook, twitter, tumblr, email, and more.

28. BeFunky Photo Editor

BeFunky, the popular online photo editing application is now on your Android. Edit your photos, apply special effects, add frames, save back to your phone with more than 20 high quality photo effects, powerful editing tools and marvelous photo frames.

BeFunky Photo Editor is 100% FREE, No Ads, No Registration, No limitations, No forcing to share. Save back to your phone. Completely the way you want.

29. PictureEditor

PictureEditor is photo-editiong for Android. You can edit the picture by the filter, stamp and input text. You can also send images you edited via email.

30. PicSay

Color-correct your pictures and add word balloons, titles, graphics, and effects like distortion with PicSay. All in a fun, intuitive, and easy-to-use interface.

31. Photo Illusion

Photo illusion is a picture application that lets you edit photos with filters and effects.

32. TouchUp Lite Photo Editor

TouchUp Lite Photo Editor offers quick, clean user Interface lets you edit photos in a matter of seconds. In terms of ease of use, this is hands down the best Photo Editing application on Android today!  Optimized for all screen sizes, it runs great on a handset, but feels absolutely perfect with your Tablet device.

33. Share Image

Resizing, rotating, and cropping image before sending it for sharing. Simple app but all the fundamental features are supported. This is a free version of Share Image.

34. Paint Pro

Paint Pro is by far one of the best free Painting tool with pen/background color setting, load/save action, effects, undo/redo action and mode.

35. Dash of Color

Dash of Color application allows selective coloring to give black and white photos a Dash of Color. We kept the user interface and features simple, yet intuitive, to give users exactly what they wanted when giving their images a little spunk. Choose any image and Dash of Color will convert it to a black and white image. You can begin painting in color right away with your fingers.

36. FotoLabWith FotoLab you can capture photo from camera or open photo from gallery, add effects, share it on facebook/message etc. It’s an easy way to add simple and impressive effects to photos. The photo is modified as per the initial effect selected and on touching the original pixels are exposed.

37. Easy Photo Editor

The Easy Photo Editor app processes the image easily. It supports filter postalize, line art, grayscale, sepia, emboss, invert, color compress, night vision, X-ray and etc.

38. Color Touch Effects

Color Touch Effects allows to recolor images and apply cool effects to them.You can select an image, turn it to gray (or sepia, ..) and bring the color back with your fingers.

39. Camera Effects

Camera Effects app allows you to snap photos and turn them into art by adding amazing photo effects. Take photos with this camera and add great photo effects.

40. Photo.Lab

Create cool photo montages and apply fun photo frames & effects to your pictures. Pho.to Lab – FREE Photo Fun Generator in your pocket!

41. Magic Canvas

This Magic Canvas is a droid application that allows image creation by modifying colors in select areas.

42. Color Pop

With Color Pop, you can colorize any area of an image with the help of this tool. Supports zoom, color correction, saturation control, trackball support, large images for wallpaper, sepia, preview, and left-handed mode.

43. Little Photo

With Little Photo, you can add film and retouch effects to your photos.

44. HS Image Cut

HS image cut create images that makes your phone more unique. You can easily cut, slice a image and you can make a widget like DVR(Desktop Visualizer).

45. Fx Camera

FxCamera enables you to take a picture with various effects. Effects vary from ToyCam, Polandroid, Fisheye, SymmetriCam, Warhol, Normal, etc.

46. Picplz

Use Picplz to style your photos with effects like vintage 70s, black & white, toy camera. Similar to Instagram, Hipstamatic, Vignette, and more.

47. PhotoFunia

PhotoFunia is a photo editing tool that gives you a fun filled experience. Put your face on a billboard, a stamp, or in a Warhol-like work of pop-art. Become the Mona Lisa or a bodybuilder. You get over 150 scenes to play with. You’re not cutting and pasting; instead, the app “finds” the face in your photo and integrates it with the scene of your choice.

48. Photo Effects

Turn your photos into art with amazing photo effects, similar to instagram. Edit your photos with great photo effects. Includes Holga, Lomo, Fisheye, Thermal, and more photo effects. Instant preview of all effects, chaining of multiple effects, intuitive photo editor. Get Photo Effects now.

49. Reduce Photo Size

With Reduce Photo Size you can easily reduce photo file size (resize/crop image).

50. Image Shrink Lite

With this Image Shrink Lite app you can shrink photos and send them with e-mail. Shrink/resize your photos with just one click before you send it.

51. Image Resizer

This Image Resizer tool can help you to conveniently resize images and convert directory files.

52. Picget


PicGet is a mobile app that allows you to download images what you want by “Microsoft Bing or Google”. Searched images will be saved to search word named folder in SD/Internal Memory.

53. Nasa Images Archive

The biggest NASA images archive on Android market! More than 60 000 images with full information: title, description, release date, object name, object type, position, distance, and more.

54. Just Pictures


JustPictures is the ultimate multi-platform photo gallery & viewer. It lets you browse and synchronize photos from Picasa, Flickr, Smugmug, Facebook, Photobucket, Windows Live, Tumblr, Deviant Art, Imgur, MediaRSS feeds and of course local ones, in a unified and clean UI.

55. Fontest

Fontest is a developer and typography tool that helps you quickly preview how your favorite fonts are rendered on Android.

56. Fontroid

Fontroid is a world’s first social font service that creates best handwriting font with everyone. Let’s draw your own font everywhere with a mobile phone. Upload your best work and share the font with the people all over the world.

57. Gallery ++CM

Using this mobile app, you can now create Gallery ++CM pic galleries.

58. Gallery+

Gallery+ is everything that Gallery3D is, and more. It has all the existing Gallery3D functionality with the ability of creating and managing new albums on your phone without the need of an Internet connection and without duplicates of Images or Movies on the SD card.

59. Cloud Print

Cloud print allows you to print files from your phone to your printer.  In order to do this it uses the new Google Cloud Print service you should configure your pc following this guide: http://www.google.com/landing/cloudprint/.

60. Collage Lite

Collage Lite makes it easy to arrange images on your smartphone into attractive collages. Get artistic, have fun, and share your collages with friends and family with the Collage app. Convert your photos collection into amazing collages only limited by your imagination.

These Android applications are handy, free, and you can use them straight away if you have a pressing web design, web development work or even logo design work that you need to complete while on the go. Never miss any web development work deadline any more with these amazing droid apps!

If you know of any similar Android apps that you have used and worked on successfully in your droid device, leave us a comment here for we’d love to grow our list and share the free information with the world! :)

Filed under: Logo Designer, Tools & Resources by impactlogo on Friday, April 20, 2012 | Social tagging: > > >
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15 Branding Principles Businesses Could Learn From Instagram


For all of you who weren’t aware of the latest buzz between Instagram and Facebook not too long ago, we’re here to bring you the hottest scoop. Yes, Facebook bought Instagram just recently for $1 Billion US Dollars! You may ask ‘what the hell is Mark Zuckerberg thinking?’ Before you delve deeper into various other conjectures surrounding the controversy, let us examine the rationale behind all these and learn exactly what branding principles most businesses could definitely learn out of it.

Instagram is actually a free photo sharing platform launched early in October of 2010. This membership site enables users to capture photos, put a digital filter to it, and later on be able to share it to various social networking services, one of which is that of Instragram. They currently have 150 million members (and still counting).

A lot of the naysayers on the web are against the acquisition as they find Facebook more intrusive (with all the privacy issues way back), and all ‘sold-out’ as compared to Instagram. So, what are the top 15 branding principles businesses can learn from the experience:

1. Start Small

Like many other social networking and photo-sharing sites, Instagram started small and eventually it gets ‘viral,’ and captured the interest of so many people across the globe. Businesses, especially online ones must endeavor to ensure they have results-oriented yet humble beginnings; without however losing sight of their goal to go bigger down the road. If small businesses have this passion and foresight, everything else will surely fall into its right places.

2. Nurture Relationships

Basing from what Instagram has gotten through, we can say it must be a lot of hard work to get to the level of popularity and success they are now enjoying, but thanks to the people who supported it.

Nurturing relationships in business is a key to online business success. Social networking must be based on relationships, one that is real and heartfelt. Instagram reached this level with their massive followers and ardent members. Customers should always be in the forefronts, monetary considerations are merely an icing on the cake so to speak.

3. Exemplary Customer Support

In this time and age where technology is brought closer to the people, so is social networking and any online business for that matter. You have to ensure that you are at all times reachable by your customer. Instagram has kept their tabs up on this aspect of their business, hence the tremendous success. Your keyword: customer satisfaction guaranteed!

4. Right Business Mindset

Possessing the right business mindset is essential to doing business online. You need to make sure that you know exactly what your motives are in establishing your business, and what end results you wish to achieve. All else will be easy if you have the correct mindset to begin with.

5. Have fun in everything you do

A key principle in working is that you have to love your work, if you do, all work will no longer be cumbersome and you will never ever work a single day of your life!

F-U-N is a simple 3-letter word, but if you understand its real meaning, everything else will be great for you and your business. Folks at Instagram are definitely having fun sifting through and filtering photos and daily mementos from people all across the world, its a completely fun and enriching experience for all of them, their salaries are just meant to be pure fringe benefits.

6. Transition is a fact of life

Change is the only thing constant in this world. Sounds like a cliche but this still holds true today. It must be a tough decision for Instagram’s CEO Kevin Systrom to part with the company. But transitions are a fact of life, nobody wants to remain stagnant, particularly businesses.

It’s either you stay in your proverbial plateau, or you move up for a better, greener horizon. It’s your call, but always aim for positive transitions.

7. Take criticisms with a grain of salt

Instagram may have read all the nasty press about them selling away an upcoming and promising membership site to Mark Zuckerberg, much to the dismay of its avid followers.

In major business decisions, there is no turning back. Once you have made up your mind and you fervently believe that your decision is for the good of everyone including your core business, then take criticisms especially negative ones with a grain of salt. Like a rising fad, all talks will eventually die down. So stick with the plan, and face everything like a man.

8. Haggle

Haggling is one common business practice, it is much similar to bidding. In business, you need not be too timid to haggle or bargain, who knows, you might end up with an amazing deal. Same is true with Instagram, Mark Zuckerberg bought it from Kevin Systrom at a price he may not have imagined feasible for a fast-rising website such as theirs.

But basing from what transpired, it was a good deal for Facebook, they have everything they have bargained for including millions in active memberships, a lurking competition toppled down, and Instagram all to themselves for whatever intents and purposes they may otherwise have in mind.

9. Convert adversity into an opportunity

For sure Mark Zuckerberg and his allies at Facebook are well aware of instagram’s rapid rise to fame, and they have cleverly devised a way to end this at once. The remedy is to provide Instagram’s CEO Kevin Systrom an offer he cannot refuse – $1 Billion in cold cash!

Why wallow in your misery when you can surely overcome any obstacle if you’d want to? Exactly what Facebook did with Instagram.

10. Always go for the Win-win

Major business decisions must always go for a win-win solution at all times. Facebook did just that when they found out of the news regarding their close competitor – Instagram, they ensured everything will be a triumph on their part, and Instagram bringing home the pie.

11. Stay on top of the competition

Facebook stayed on top of the competition and took hold of the reins when they bought Instagram, and the latter yielded. A lot of people frowned over the value with which Instagram was successfully bought for, but to Facebook’s mind that was just a great deal, and it was all well-worth it.

12. Make an inventory of your current business status regularly

By making a regular inventory of your business, you will at all times be informed of your present business standing, and can keep close watch of your competition.

Ensure you check the market regularly and keep tabs on your business growth and development, this way you will know what needs to be changed or developed to keep up with the rest of the competition.

13. Protect your brand at all cost

Instagram may have sold their company to their worthy opponent Facebook, but they have never loose sight of their identity and brand. They remained the same, and was called the same – Instagram.

The most notable difference perhaps being that they are currently shifting to an entirely new management and supervision. For whatever it is worth, Instagram will always be Instagram and Facebook can never change that!

14. Do whatever it takes to make your business rise above the competition

$1 Billion dollars can be quite a hefty price to pay, but that’s not an issue to then rival Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg. He just did a sound business judgment when he did that.

Looking over long-term results, Facebook can easily recoup $1 billion dollars in no time, and gain more down the road. You just have to do whatever it takes to make your business stay afloat.

15. Innovate

With the growing popularity of Instagram came the additional demand for it to be available in various platforms including the popular ones, such as – mobile devices. With Android and iOS gadgets all booming, Instagram struck a goldmine by creating cutting-edge technology designed for mobile phones and other portable devices. This is the waterloo of Facebook, and they wanted to win back the crown by owning Instgram, and reinvent Facebook apps via mobile and other portable platforms following Instagram’s model and lead.

If you want to thrive in the online marketplace, be sure to stay tuned in to the latest innovations, and keep up. Otherwise, end-users will leave you the instant they find your site buggy and outdated.

It is our fervent hope that Instagram will grow more under Facebook’s wing and that they will further add more value and inspiration to people’s daily lives. And for businesses – small, mid-range, or big – to learn from this experience.

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Filed under: Branding by impactlogo on Thursday, April 12, 2012 | Social tagging: > > > > >
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55 Best HTML Source Code Editors For Free

An HTML editor is one of the most important tools needed and widely utilized by most graphic or web designers in creating excellent and great-looking websites, logo creation, or other digital art.

We have scoured the web looking for the best and 100% free HTML editors you can enjoy and put to use today. Below are the resources you’ll ever need.

1. Alleycode HTML 2.21

Alleycode HTML Editor is an absolutely free HTML/XHTML and PHP editor that runs on Windows. It was once selected as one of PC World’s 101 Fabulous Freebies in 2006.

2. ActiveState Komodo Edit

Komodo Edit is a free text editor for dynamic programming languages. It was introduced in January 2007 to complement Active State’s commercial Komodo IDE product. With the release of version 4.3, Komodo Edit is built on top of the Open Komodo project. Many of Komodo’s features are derived from an embedded Python interpreter.

3. Aptana

Aptana Studio is an open source integrated development environment (IDE) for building Ajax web applications. It includes support for JavaScript, HTML, DOM, and CSS with code-completion, outlining, JavaScript debugging, error and warning notification and integrated documentation. Additional plugins allow Aptana Studio to be extended to support Ruby on Rails, PHP, Python, Perl, Adobe AIR, Apple iPhone and Nokia WRT (Web Runtime). Aptana Studio is based on Eclipse and is available as standalone on Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X and Linux, or as a plugin for Eclipse.

4. Arachnophilia

Arachnophilia is a source code editor written in Java by Paul Lutus. It is the successor to another HTML editor, WebThing. The program is licensed as Careware software. The name Arachnophilia comes from the term meaning “love of spiders”, a metaphor for the task of building on the World Wide Web.

5. BBEdit

BBEdit is designed for use by software developers and web designers. It has native support for many programming languages and custom modules can be created by users to support any language. BBEdit is not a word processor, meaning it does not have text formatting or page layout features. The application contains powerful multi-file text searching capabilities including strong support for Perl-compatible regular expressions. BBEdit allows easy previewing and built-in debugging of HTML and provides built-in prototypes for most HTML constructs. It also includes FTP and SFTP tools and integrates with code management systems. BBEdit shows differences between file versions and allows for the merging of changes. Support for version control, including CVS, Perforce, and Subversion is built in.

6. Bluefish

Bluefish was started by Chris Mazuc and Olivier Sessink in 1997 to facilitate web development professionals on Linux desktop platforms.  Bluefish is an advanced text editor with lots of tools for development of dynamic websites. Bluefish supports development in (among others) HTML, XHTML, CSS, XML, PHP, C, C++, JavaScript, Java, Google Go, Vala, Ada, D, SQL, Perl, ColdFusion, JSP, Python, Ruby and shell. Bluefish is available on most platforms, including Linux, Solaris and Mac OS X, and Windows. Bluefish is developed in C/GTK+ and can be used integrated in GNOME or independent from GNOME.

7. Coda

Coda is a commercial and proprietary web development application for Mac OS X, developed by Panic. The concept for Coda came from the web team at Panic, who would have five or six different programs for coding, testing and reference. The lack of full-featured website development platforms equivalent to application development platform Xcode served as the purpose for Coda’s creation.

8. E Text Editor

E Text Editor is a text editor for Microsoft Windows. Its notable features include a personal revision control system; branched, multi-level, graphical undo; and the ability to run TextMate bundles through the use of Cygwin.

9. Eclipse

Eclipse is a multi-language software development environment comprising an integrated development environment (IDE) and an extensible plug-in system. It is written mostly in Java. It can be used to develop applications in Java and, by means of various plug-ins, other programming languages including Ada, C, C++, COBOL, Perl, PHP, Python, R, Ruby (including Ruby on Rails framework), Scala, Clojure, Groovy and Scheme. It can also be used to develop packages for the software Mathematica. Development environments include the Eclipse Java development tools (JDT) for Java, Eclipse CDT for C/C++, and Eclipse PDT for PHP, among others.

10. EditPlus

EditPlus is a 32-bit text editor for the Microsoft Windows operating system, developed by Sangil Kim of ES-Computing. The editor contains tools for programmers, including syntax highlighting (and support for custom syntax files), file type conversions, line ending conversion (between Linux, Windows and Mac styles), regular expressions for search-and-replace, keystroke recording, spell check, full support for Unicode editing, customizable keyboard shortcuts, auto-completion, code folding, and more. Files can be browsed and edited in tabs, and an internal file browser is implemented in the software.

11. Emacs

Emacs is primarily a text editor, not a word processor; it concentrates on manipulating pieces of text, rather than manipulating the typeface (the “font”) of the characters or printing documents (though Emacs can do these as well). Emacs provides commands to manipulate words and paragraphs (deleting them, moving them, moving through them, and so forth), syntax highlighting for making source code easier to read, and “keyboard macros” for performing arbitrary batches of editing commands defined by the user.

12. EmEditor

EmEditor is a lightweight extensible commercial text editor for Microsoft Windows. It was developed by Yutaka Emura of Emurasoft, Inc. EmEditor includes full Unicode support, 32-bit and 64-bit builds, syntax highlighting, find and replace with regular expressions, vertical selection editing, editing of large files (up to 248GB or 2.1 billion lines), and is extensible via plugins and scripts.

13. Geany

Geany is a lightweight cross-platform GTK+ text editor based on Scintilla and including basic Integrated Development Environment (IDE) features. It is designed to have short load times, with limited dependency on separate packages or external libraries. It is available for a wide range of operating systems, such as BSD, Linux, Mac OS X, Solaris and Windows. Among the supported programming languages are C, C++, C#, Java, JavaScript, PHP, HTML, LaTeX, CSS, Python, Perl, Ruby, Pascal, Haskell and many others.

14. HTML-Kit

HTML-Kit is an proprietary HTML editor for Microsoft Windows made by chami.com. The application is a full-featured HTML editor designed to edit, format, validate, preview and publish web pages in HTML, XHTML and XML -languages. HTML-Kit enables running batch actions such as global search and replace in multiple files, Internet Explorer and Mozilla / Netscape side-by-side previewing, W3C Web Content Accessibility Guidelines checking through HTML Tidy, internal Command Prompt, TimeTracker, translations, Text to Speech Wizard and UnicodePad.

15. Notepad++

Notepad++ is distributed as free software. The project was hosted on SourceForge.net, from where it has been downloaded over 27 million times and twice won the SourceForge Community Choice Award for Best Developer Tool. The project is hosted on TuxFamily since June 2010. To display and edit text and programming language source code files, Notepad++ uses the Scintilla editor component.

16. NetBeans

NetBeans IDE is an open-source integrated development environment. NetBeans IDE supports development of all Java application types (Java SE (including JavaFX), Java ME, web, EJB and mobile applications) out of the box. Among other features are an Ant-based project system, Maven support, refactorings, version control (supporting CVS, Subversion, Mercurial and Clearcase).

17. NoteTab

NoteTab is a freeware and also a commercial text editor for Windows. It was developed by Eric Fookes of Fookes Software, Switzerland. The program’s name refers to the fact that it was one of the earliest text-editors capable of editing several open documents on different tabs (tabbed document interface). The first version, known as Mini NoteTab, was released in 1995; version 5 was released in 2006, version 5.7 in 2008, version 6 on May 4, 2009. Before version 5, the latest version of NoteTab Light was 4.95.

18. PHPEdit

PHPEdit is a commercial IDE developed by the French company WaterProof SARL. It is written in Delphi and runs on the Microsoft Windows operating system, and is designed mainly for the PHP language, but supports many other languages such as CSS, HTML, JavaScript, INI, PHPEditScript, PlainText, SQL, XML, and XSLT.

19. PHPStorm IDE

PhpStorm provides an intelligent editor for PHP code, HTML and JavaScript with on-the-fly code analysis and automated refactoring for PHP and JavaScript code. Code completion supports PHP 5.3 including namespaces and closures. Full-fledged editor for SQL queries with editable query results is available.

20. Programmer’s Notepad

Programmer’s Notepad (PN1) is an open-source text editor targeted at users who work with source code. It was released in 1998 by Echo Software (a trading name for Simon Steele). PN1′s successor, Programmer’s Notepad 2 (PN2), was released in 2002 and is now based on Scintilla. Despite being based on Scintilla, PN2 supports multi-line regular expressions for search and replace actions.

21. PSPad

PSPad editor is a freeware text editor and source editor intended for use by programmers. First released in 2001, this software is produced by the single Czech developer Jan Fiala for the Windows platform.

22. RJ TextEd

RJ TextEd is a freeware Unicode text and source code editor for Windows, that can also be used as a simple web development tool. The editor uses a variety of techniques for syntax highlighting in the source. It can use auto completion and hints to assist in editing source code. Previews of HTML/ASP/PHP code are supported. A syntax file editor is included.

23. Scintilla

Scintilla is a free source code editing component. It comes with complete source code and a license that permits use in any free project or commercial product. Scintilla includes features especially useful when editing and debugging source code. These include support for syntax styling, error indicators, code completion and call tips. The selection margin can contain markers like those used in debuggers to indicate breakpoints and the current line. Styling choices are more open than with many editors, allowing the use of proportional fonts, bold and italics, multiple foreground and background colours and multiple fonts.

24. Smultron

Smultron is a text editor for Mac OS X that is designed for both beginners and advanced users; it was originally published as open source and is now sold through the Mac App Store. It is written in Objective-C using the Cocoa API. It is able to edit and save many different file types, and has syntax highlighting support for many popular programming languages including C, C++, LISP, Java, Python, PHP, Ruby, HTML, XML, CSS, Prolog, IDL and D.

25. skEdit

skEdit (formerly called skHTML) is a text editor for Mac OS X (Universal), aimed at web designers and programmers, developed by Sean Kelly a software engineer working for Apple Inc.

26. TED Notepad

TED Notepad is a freeware portable text editor for Microsoft Windows. The software has been developed by Juraj Šimlovi? since 2001, originally as a school project. It has a similar cosmetic look to Notepad, but provides variety of features for advanced plain-text editing. Includes experimental features like line completion or selection jumping.

27. TextMate

TextMate is a general-purpose GUI text editor for Mac OS X created by Allan Odgaard. Notable features include declarative customizations, tabs for open documents, recordable macros, folding sections and snippets, shell integration, and an extensible bundle system.

28. TextPad


TextPad is a text editor for the Microsoft Windows family of operating systems. First released in 1992, this software is currently in its fifth major version. It is produced by Helios Software Solutions.

29. TextWrangler

TextWrangler is a text editor for Mac OS X from Bare Bones Software. It was originally a commercial product, but (beginning with version 2.0) has become the freeware alternative to their flagship editor, BBEdit, and the successor to their previous freeware editor, BBEdit Lite.

Like BBEdit, TextWrangler is not a word processor and so lacks formatting and style options — it is limited to editing and manipulation of plain text, but while this limits desktop publications, it allows for much greater power and flexibility editing text. TextWrangler has features common to most programming text editors, such as syntax highlighting for various programming languages, a find and replace function, spell check, and file comparison.

30. TopStyle

TopStyle is a CSS/XHTML/HTML editor for Microsoft Windows developed by Nick Bradbury and now maintained by Stefan van As. The editor is code-centric rather than WYSIWYG, with integrated support for previews using either the Mozilla Gecko, Internet Explorer Trident, or Apple Inc. Webkit layout engines. The software is available as a commercial version with a trial period.

31. UltraEdit

UltraEdit is a commercial text editor for Microsoft Windows, Linux and Mac OS X (Intel) created in 1994 by Ian D. Mead. The editor contains tools for programmers, including macros, configurable syntax highlighting, code folding, file type conversions, project management, regular expressions for search-and-replace, a column-edit mode, remote editing of files via FTP, interfaces for APIs or command lines of choice and more. Files can be browsed and edited in tabs.

32. WebStorm

WebStorm provides automatic code completion, on-the-fly code analysis, refactoring support and VCS integration.

33.Vim

Vim is a text editor written by Bram Moolenaar and first released publicly in 1991. Based on the vi editor common to Unix-like systems, Vim is designed for use both from a command line interface and as a standalone application in a graphical user interface. Vim is free and open source software and is released under a license that includes some charityware clauses, encouraging users who enjoy the software to consider donating to children in Uganda.[3] The license is compatible with the GNU General Public License.

34.Vi

Vi is a screen-oriented text editor originally created for the Unix operating system. The portable subset of the behavior of vi and programs based on it, and the ex editor language supported within these programs, is described by (and thus standardized by) the Single Unix Specification and POSIX.

35. ASP.NET Web Matrix

Microsoft WebMatrix is a free web development tool that was released by Microsoft in early 2011, allowing developers to build websites capable of running on Windows or Linux platforms. It allows developers to use free open source web applications written in either PHP or ASP.NET.

36. Adobe Dreamweaver

Dreamweaver is available for both Mac and Windows operating systems. Recent versions have incorporated support for web technologies such as CSS, JavaScript, and various server-side scripting languages and frameworks including ASP (ASP JavaScript, ASP VBScript, ASP.NET C#, ASP.NET VB), ColdFusion, Scriptlet, and PHP.

37. Amaya

Amaya (formerly Amaya World) is a free and open source WYSIWYG web authoring tool with browsing abilities, created by a structured editor project at the INRIA, a French national research institution, and later adopted by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). Amaya is used as a testbed for web standards and replaced the Arena web browser. Compared with those of other modern web browsers, Amaya’s system requirements are minor.

38. Blue Griffon

BlueGriffon is a free open source WYSIWYG HTML editor. It replaces Nvu, an earlier program that was also written by Daniel Glazman. It is based on Gecko, the rendering engine inside Firefox, and uses XULRunner, the runtime environment for Gecko. It runs on Mac OS X, Windows and Linux.

39. Coffee Cup HTML Editor

The CoffeeCup HTML Editor is an HTML editor that supports both raw HTML and WYSIWYG editing. Originally created by Nicholas Longo and Kevin Jurica, it was first released to the public in August 1996.

40. EZGenerator

EZGenerator is a web design program created by Image-Line. The program is intended to be accessible to users with no experience in code such as HTML or CSS, and displays results in a WYSIWYG manner. EZGenerator is available for Windows operating systems.

41. FirstPage

FirstPage is a family of HTML editor products by EVRSOFT, running on Microsoft Windows. The features include HTML editing, formatting and validation with syntax highlighting, templates and partial WYSIWYG support, JavaScript code snippets, DOM tree browser and various wizards. There are rather function-rich free versions and commercial extensions, which mostly bring bigger libraries of templates and code snippets.

42. Freeway

Freeway (originally Uniqorn) is a WYSIWYG web design application for Mac OS X (older versions also run under Mac OS 9), developed by the English company Softpress Systems. There are two flavours of Freeway: Pro and Express, both currently at version 5. Freeway Express has fewer features and is aimed more at the amateur web designer. Freeway is based on a pre-Mac OS X print publishing application called Uniqorn, also developed by Softpress, but discontinued when Apple stopped supporting QuickDraw GX in Mac OS 8.

43. HyperPublish

Hyper Publish is a visual WYSIWYG hypermedia authoring tool created by Visual Vision, a Italy based software company. The software is born from a research work performed in 1995/96 at Politecnico di Torino and has been designed and optimized for hypermedia and hypertext management, focusing on Web content development and CD authoring. Its unique WYSIWYL interface permits visual linking and live links, and probably makes it different from any other multimedia / hypermedia authoring tool.

44. KompoZer

KompoZer is an open source WYSIWYG HTML editor based on the now-discontinued Nvu editor. KompoZer is maintained as a community-driven fork, and is a project on Sourceforge. The current pre-release, KompoZer 0.8 beta 3, released February 2010, uses Gecko 1.8.1. The current stable version is 0.7.10, released in August 2007.  KompoZer’s WYSIWYG editing capabilities are one of the main attractions of the software. In addition, KompoZer allows direct code editing as well as a split code-graphic view.

45. Microsoft Expression Web

Microsoft Expression Web, code-named Quartz, is an HTML editor and general web design software product by Microsoft. It is part of the Expression Studio suite. Expression Web can design and develop web pages using XML, CSS 2.1, ASP.NET or ASP.NET AJAX, XHTML, XSLT, PHP and JavaScript. Expression Web 4 requires .NET Framework 4.0 and Silverlight 4.0 to install and run.

46. Microsoft Sharepoint Designer

SharePoint Designer and its sister product, Microsoft Expression Web are successors of Microsoft FrontPage. While Expression Web serves as the full-featured successor to FrontPage, SharePoint Designer features focuses on designing and customizing Microsoft SharePoint websites. For instance, it only includes SharePoint-specific site templates. It retains more FrontPage features than Expression Web, such as web components, database, marquee, hit counter, navigation bars, map insert, etc. Although SharePoint Designer 2007 (the first version of this product) could be used as a generic HTML editor, SharePoint Designer 2010 (the subsequent version) may no longer operate in absence of Microsoft SharePoint Server or Microsoft SharePoint Foundation.

47. Seamonkey

SeaMonkey is a free and open source cross-platform Internet suite. It is the continuation of the former Mozilla Application Suite, based on the same source code.

48. Sandvox

Sandvox is a WYSIWYG template-based website creation tool by Karelia Software, based around WebKit. Released May 16, 2006, it competes directly with Apple’s iWeb and Realmac’s RapidWeaver. Sandvox can be purchased with either a Regular or Pro license. The Pro license unlocks more advanced features, such as the ability to include raw HTML pages and “pagelets” within the created website, along with Google Webmaster Tools integration. In 2007, Sandvox 1.2 won the runner-up Apple Design Award for Best Mac OS X User Experience.

49. RapidWeaver

RapidWeaver is a template-based website creation tool, from Realmac Software, available for Mac OS X. It uses user-selectable templates to define a website’s complete appearance. This enforces consistency in the website’s appearance and function, although some may see it as too constraining. The software can use third-party templates, and technically skilled users can also create their own. There are also plugins, which add new features to the application.

50. Quanta Plus

Quanta Plus, originally called Quanta, is a web Integrated development environment (IDE) for HTML, XHTML, CSS, XML, PHP and any other XML-based languages or scripting languages. It is part of KDE, a Linux desktop environment, released in the Kdewebdev package. Quanta was licensed under GPL before the release of version 2.0 final. Quanta is capable of both WYSIWYG design and handcoding.

51. Microsoft Publisher

Microsoft Publisher is an entry-level desktop publishing application from Microsoft, differing from Microsoft Word in that the emphasis is placed on page layout and design rather than text composition and proofing. The current version is Microsoft Publisher 2010 for Windows; there is no version for Macintosh.

52. WebPlus

WebPlus is a website design program for Microsoft Windows, developed by UK-based software company Serif. It allows users to design, create and upload their website onto the internet without any knowledge of HTML or other web technologies. Much like Microsoft Word, WebPlus uses WYSIWYG drag and drop editing to add and position text, images and links as they would appear on the finished web page. Once a user has designed their site, WebPlus can preview the site in a web browser before uploading the site using the in-built FTP.

53. WorldWideWeb

WorldWideWeb, later renamed to Nexus to avoid confusion between the software and the World Wide Web, was the first web browser and editor. When it was written, WorldWideWeb was the only way to view the Web.

54. Nvu

Nvu (pronounced “N-view”) is a WYSIWYG HTML editor, based on the Composer component of Mozilla Application Suite 1.7. It is intended to be an open source alternative to proprietary software like Microsoft Expression Web and Adobe Dreamweaver. As a WYSIWYG editor, it is designed to be easy for novice users, and does not require any knowledge of HTML or CSS to use. It runs on Mac OS X, Windows and Linux.

55. Maqetta

Maqetta is a free and open-source, web-based WYSIWYG HTML editor designed to edit HTML5 documents and web applications. Its name is derived from the Spanish word maqueta, that means “mock-up”. Maqetta was developed by IBM and later donated to the Dojo Foundation as an open source project under the terms of either the modified (revised) BSD license or the Academic Free License (? 2.1). The editor was developed in response to a perceived need for open-source HTML5 development tools equivalent in capability to those available for Adobe Flash and Microsoft Silverlight.

We hope that these tools will be of great use to you in your web design work. Should you find this post useful, feel free to share it around, and leave us a comment here if you have some other HTML or Web editor tools you want to share.

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Filed under: Logo Designer, Tools & Resources by impactlogo on Tuesday, April 10, 2012 | Social tagging: > > > > > > > > > > >
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45 Major FAIL Logo Designs: Stop Jeopardizing Your Brand!

One of the most notable value and advantage of having your very own customized business logo designed is the marketing benefits you’ll surely reap from it. Logos help you in your marketing efforts without you even realizing it. Logos consists of emblems, images, texts, or patterns. Experts believed that the mind can easily register these visuals as opposed to mere words or sentences. If customers or clients are able to recognize your logo, eventually, they will remember your business just because of the logo that you have.

Just by seeing a logo, you’ll be able to envision exactly what the product is. In a way, logos bridge the gap between your business and the prospective customer. Your logo will ensure your product or service is sold even if you are not there.

With these things in mind, you should take careful consideration of the aforesaid things when having your logo designed, do not make the same blunders these people did with their respective businesses (ranked in the order of their irrelevance :) ) –

45. Salon and Spa

No one may attempt to have their hair done by this salon if their logo looks like this, would you even dare?

44. Software Technologies

I am not so sure what this company is doing. The DNA-looking icons do not mesh well with the concept, sad to say.

43. Coffee Shop

Is this a coffee shop or a church? Sorry, but the sign says otherwise, I think?

42. Photography Services

One good example why logos should be made in a way that it should do its work of representing and selling out your brand. Otherwise, you will get zero customers!

41.  Spa

A spa ought to make you relax and look rejuvenated and not turn you into some ‘Transformers’ autobot, agree?

40. Dental Clinic

Toothache? I think this logo brings more of a headache rather than cure a toothache, what do you think?

39. School of Music

The logo bespeaks of the kind of music education you’ll get.

38. Cyrenian House

I am not so sure what this office is, but sure looks scary to me, are there zombies in there?

37. Pool Service Company

Why would a pool service company put up a very sad frog logo like this? What were they thinking exactly?

36. Victim Services Unit

Hmmn, I think this logo needs some careful thinking and creativity to pull up a decent-looking logo that will best represent their service. Don’t you think?

35. Foundation

I don’t think the kid, and the odd-looking letter ‘k,’ plus the cookie, -   jive well all together?

34. Brewing Company

Feels like you are drinking some beer brewed off of crocs with this logo, don’t you guys think?

33. Pest Control

The cobra looks like more of a worm and not a king cobra, I guess.

32. Pizza

I can taste patriotism in this pizza, but not so inviting for customers looking for a delectable and delicious thin crust pizza!

31. Club

Does this look like a fallopian tube or what? :)

30. Fire Sprinkler

No offense but did a kid created this logo? If yes, wow! If not, too bad!

29. Images Salon

I can’t imagine what would a person look like upon finishing a salon session from here? Scary? Hope not!

28. Pool Doctor

Ah, Pool doctor yes, literally?!

27. Anthony Byrne Office

This logo looks like a replica of the male genitalia, won’t you agree with me?

26. Queensland Government

Not sure where is this logo used and what branch of government it represents, but it sure looks pretty lame, right?

25. Non-Profit Organization

This logo seem to be sending a wrong message to me, what do you guys think?

24. Dining

A dining logo can in some cases show plates and utensils, or a delectable image of the house specialty, unlike this one which suggest a different thing – which is very far from the concept of dining. Guys would surely agree!

23. Children’s Clinic

I am not so sure what to think of every time I see this logo. What are you thinking?

22. London Olympics

This logo is not very reflective of the spirit of the Olympics, much so of the camaraderie and passion of the game.

21. Satellite Services

Uh-oh, the logo looks like the satellite had one bad hard-on. Oops!

20. Another Satellite Services

Does this connect to Satan in hell, by chance?

19. Juice Drink

Parents won’t love this for sure. Are the fruits doing what I think they’re doing? Tell me?!

18. Candy

This ad sure brings trouble!

17. Car Parts Store

The logo appears weird, won’t you agree with me?

16. Young Alarm

Can you spot the not? This ad is soo alarming!

15. Government Office

Not sure exactly what office logo would have it this way?

14. Bureau of Health

Am I seeing this logo right?

13. Pizza

Why does this pizza logo look different to me?

12. Retail Store

The store says MegaFlicks, and not how your dirty mind is reading it. LOL.

11. Day Care Center

This ought to be ‘Kids Exchange’ and not ‘KIDSEXCHANGE,’ unlike what you see from the neon lighted signage.

10. Junior Jazz Dance Class

Are these stick figures dancing? Or I am I seeing a lady’s bosom? Which is which?

9. Cat Wear

This logo is not tastefully done for a fine clothing line for women. Don’t you think?

8. Locum

Another fail logo implying a different message at first glance.

7. Pharmacy

Why do I see ‘sodomy’ instead of a pharmacy in here? Can someone explain this to me? :)

6.  Catholic Church’s Archdiocesan Youth Commission

This logo can mean a different thing, don’t you guys agree?

5. Chinese Restaurant

I don’t want to suggest anything, but you can clearly see from the logo what I mean. That’s very self-explanatory for all of you guys!

4. Dental Clinic

What do you think doesn’t look right with this logo?

3. Pediatric Clinic

Is this a pediatric clinic, or a pedophile doing a despicable thing to a kid? What do you think?

2. Computer Doctor

The mouse looks odd from this logo. Are they seeing what we are seeing from here?

1. A-Style Logo

Landing on number one spot is a fail logo that suggests an entirely different thing. Too bad, the company still utilizes the exact same logo to date.

The core definition and purpose of logo is to identify. By way of using images, emblems, marks, and or symbols, a logo can identify a company, service, or product in the most straightforward manner. To put it succintly, your logo should connect with the brand it represents.

As you can see from these samples, these logos are in no way reflective of the businesses that they represent, hence, no brand recognition or brand awareness can be achieved out of it. A logo to be effective should be synonymous and reflective of the brand it is promoting, otherwise, it’s a major FAIL, and defeats its purpose.

 

Filed under: Branding, Logo Designer by impactlogo on Wednesday, March 28, 2012 | Social tagging: > > > > > >
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Logo Trivia: The History and Origin of Logos

Like so many people, you might also want to know the origin of things, say for instance the history of logos. Where did they originate? How did they come into being?In this post, let me take you in retrospect as we discover the roots of logos as we know it today.

According to definition, logo is defined as a graphic mark or emblem utilized by businesses, and organizations, and even by men and women to promote instant public recognition. Logos can consist of either graphics which includes purely symbols or icons, or the name of the business in the form of a logotype or wordmark. Logo came from the ancient Greek word “logos” and it translates to “word” or “speech“.

The Babylonian, Assyrian, Mayan, Chinese, Egyptian likewise used pictographs to communicate their words and ideas. Historians treat Pictographs as early logos;

sadly, gang graffiti on the walls of inner city buildings continues that trend of identification through emblems and images. Icons (from the Greek) are likewise used to communicate, however with pictures instead of words.

Back in the olden days, a hot metal typesetting, or a logotype was distinctly set and arranged typeface or colophon is used. Several religions utilized logos to reach their flocks. The cross, the Star of David are symbols of two of the leading sects.

There are several things that contributed to the now contemporary concept of logos. This includes the cylinder seals (2300 BCE), coins (600 BCE), coats of arms, watermarks, silver hallmarks and also the development of the printing technology.

By the 13th century merchants began making use of designs, which evolved from plain cipher to trademark for traders and merchants. A good deal of the premature samples of logo design are goldsmith’s marks, masons marks, watermarks. Logos were created to personify a certain brand or group.

By 18th-19th centuries, photography and lithography paved the way towards the booming of the advertising industry. Then came the innovators of the visual arts and lithographic processes, brilliant minds like French printing firm Rouchon in 1840s, Frederick Walker of England in 1870s, Joseph Morse of New York, and Jules Cheret of France in the 1870’s created an illustrative style that went past the representational artwork to figurative imagery with aspects of bright and flat colors.

It is said that the very first logo to be trademarked is the Bass Red Triangle way back on 1876.

Later by 1950’s, people experienced the era of Modernism and has started to display avant-garde art movements in Europe that displayed prolific works of art that eventually spread to the US, and other parts of the world.

Several logos have evolved to become so powerful and known universally and have to some extent became a known brand for trade, practice of a profession, or business. Like the well-known symbol of medicine where you see everywhere. It has been so ubiquitous that it does not need any further explanation to define what exactly it is to the ordinary layman.

In the concept of business, a logo is a company’s distinctive most crucial advertising tool. Every time it is viewed or seen, it instantaneously communicates an unspoken advertisement about the product or service it so represents and this easily differentiates it from the competitor product or service.

The ultimate goal of a well-designed logo is credibility, as well as good brand recognition. Due to the diverse products and services offered in the market today, the necessity for a new, unique, and compelling logo is made all the more stronger. As logo’s are deemed the foundation of a business’s visual and brand awareness, a cutting-edge logo design is thus imperative.

If you want your business or product to stand out from the rest of the world, get yourself a distinctive logo that’s catchy, easy to remember, and projects exactly what your business is able to deliver, having in mind world-class quality, and brand recognition!

Filed under: Articles, Logo News by impactlogo on Friday, March 23, 2012 | Social tagging: > > > >
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103 Resources To Get Public Domain & Copyright-Free Images For Your Blog

Attempting to attract hordes of visitors to your website can be a balancing feat to anyone. One must have quality and informative content, as well as graphic visuals in the form of colorful images to help keep visitors entertained and staying for long in a particular webpage.

Even though there are some folks who’d rather surf and read through pages upon pages of pure text content, you should however make each and every pages of your website attractive and appealing for your visitors. At this juncture, images can prove to be indispensable in keeping up with your audience’s attention span, and can be especially great for your link baiting campaigns as well.

There are various image resources you can use for your website, but in this article we will focus on ‘public domain images’. So, what exactly are public domain images? First, let us define what is public domain. Public domain is generally referred to as works that are either ineligible for copyright or those whose copyrights have expired. A public domain property entails that there’s virtually no copyright protection afforded for the work. As a consequence, they can be dubbed as ‘public property’, and are available for any individual to be utilized for any purpose. No permission shall be required for the use of any public domain works. The use can therefore be either private or commercial, and they can be freely copied and distributed without any permission or payment of royalties to the source.

Here are further guidelines you must know when using public domain images for your online works:

1.      Public domain images can be used without prior permission.

2.      They can be used without paying any royaltee fees.

3.      You can use these images for public, private, or business purposes.

4.      You can freely redistribute, copy in CD/DVD, republish, or even offer it for sale.

5.      You cannot copyright images taken from the public domain sources online.

6.      You can edit or modify these images to suit your needs.

7.      You can upload this images within your web servers and freely create a hotlink for them.

Now, I know you are thrilled to know what these 103 absolutely free image resources are, here they are!

 

General Collections


 

 

1. Wikimedia Commons. Features over 12 Million images and counting.

 

2. Public Domain Photos. With currently 19,000 images on its galleries. All images from this site is 100% free to use.


 

3. LIFE Images. Hosted by Google, where you can search millions of photographs from the LIFE photo archive, stretching from the 1750s to today.

 

4. Totally Free Images. With 494,000 hi-res professional-grade royalty-free images, 100% public-domain, and free to use.

 

5. Photos Public Domain. Images consists of textures, animals, nature, and a variety of stock images for any use including commercial.

 

 

6. Free Photo Gallery. Free stock and recreational photos licensed under Creative Commons.

 

 

7. Picdrome. All items free to download and use, without restrictions.

 

 

8. Pixabay.  Find stunning public domain images here. Registration needed.

 

 

 

9. Alegri Photos. Image sharing site.

 

 

10. Public-Domain Photos. 5,000 free stock photos found here.

 

 

11. Public Domain Cliparts. 8,000 cliparts in stock at their gallery.

 

 

12. 4FreePhotos.

 

 

13. Montenegro Photo.Free images of Montenegro or formerly Yugoslavia.

 

 

14. FreeStockPhotos.biz.


 

 

15. BestPhotos.us Search millions of public domain photos.

 

 

16. Ars Publik. A great collection of public domain images from around the web, hand-selected for use in web and graphic design.

 

 

17. Public Domain Pictures. A large collection of high quality pictures for free. Possibility to contact the authors for original files.

 

 

18. US History Images. A growing collection of free images related to United States history.

 

 

 

19. RepublicDomain.com. is a place for free public domain photos and desktop wallpapers.

 

 

20. Public-Domain Zorger.


 

21. Easy Stock Photos.Collection of public domain photos organized by category in image galleries.

 

 

22. Phototeria.com. The site presents a large Collection of Public Domain images only.

 

 

 

23. Reusable Art. An ever-growing collection of vintage drawings, illustrations and photographs from books, magazines and other printed materials.

 

 

 

24. Karen Whimsy’s Public Domain Images. Scans of engravings and other artwork from a personal collection of old books, magazines, and post cards. Updated regularly.

 

 

 

25. Word Processor Clipart. Public Domain clipart optimized for use in word processors.

 

 

26. Project Gutenberg. 12,000+ books, only a few illustrated, but the number of illustrated books increases from week to week.

 

 

 

27. GIMP Archive. 32,000+ Royalty-free photos, organized by keyword.

 

 

28. Open Clip Art. This project is an archive of public domain clip art.

 

 

29. clker. Easy to search public domain images, directly usable in openoffice.org

 

 

 

30. Open Domain. Public domain images from various sources in one-a-day blog format.

 

 

 

31. PD Photo – Large collection of mostly public domain photos.

 

 

32. Logo Design Web Stockphotos – Small but growing public domain stock photos released by photographer.

 

 

 

 

33. SRUFaculty - Scanned and colorised etchings claimed to be PD images.

34. SRU


 

 

 

35. Free Photos – Small personal photographic collection dedicated to the public domain.

 

 

 

36. Math Puzzle Images of pages of a 1914 book of puzzles

 

 

37. Content Lib Washington. This collection includes 417 fashion plates from 1806-1914 from some of the leading fashion journals of the time.

 

 

38. Public Domain Spain Photo Gallery. Photo archive containing a collection of free, public domain images and photos of Spain.

 

 

 

39. Public Domain Footage.Public domain archival stock footage and newsreels.

 

 

 

 

40. Public Domain Clip Art. 25,000+ Public Domain Clip Arts (good for printing). Categorized & searchable.

 

 

 

 

41. Finally Creative Gallery. Hundreds of categorized photos free for public use. Images added frequently.

 

 

42. Public Domain Depot. A collection of public domain photos and resources with many original photos from the Pacific Northwest of the United States.

 

 

43. Free Images Collection. A collection of free, copyright-free, high resolution images.

 

 

 

44. Open Galleries. A community source of free photography, hosting several galleries with photos from all over the world.

 

 

45. Free Digital Photos. Over 240 different categories each containing royalty free large photos and images that are in the public domain. Free to use for personal or commercial purposes.

46. Dated Images. A blog with weekly postings of dated public domain images.

 

 

47. Photo Sleuth. Articles providing old photographs with sourced research as to their origins and history.

48. Vintage Pixels. A collaborative database of found vintage photos. Free for use in amateur and commercial projects.

 

 

 

49. Free Public Domain Images on PlanetEarthForFree.com.


 

 

50. The Best Copyright-Free Photo Libraries. Search for images on government sites.

 

 

 

51. Uncle Sam Photos. A detailed directory of the US Government’s public domain image galleries.

 

 

 

52. Princetonol. (a lengthy list of categorised links to other public domain image sources, many of those links don’t work though).

 

 

 

53. Clip Art/Public Domain. At the Open Directory Project (a list of links to sites with public domain clip art)

 

 

 

54. Google Images. This still requires one to check the copyright status of each image.

 

 

 

55. XPASE Public Domain. A directory of various public domain resources.

56. USCITES.gov. Endangered species photos, illustrations and video provided by the U.S. Delegation to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (commonly referred to as CITES)

 

 

 

57. US Government Archives. Government Documents scanned by the Internet Archive.

 

 

 

58. NPS Historic Photograph Collection. National Park Service.

 

 

59. FWS. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service imagery.

60. Usace. United States Army Corps of Engineers Digital Visual Library

 

 

 

61. U.S. Library of Congress digital image archive. (Some images are still under copyright, so caveat emptor.)

 

 

 

62. National Atlas. Lots of .GIF image maps, such as Congressional District maps, all in the public domain.

 

 

 

63. USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Photo Gallery.


 

 

 

64. U.S. Antarctic Program Photo Library.

65. TerraServer. Public access to a vast data store of maps and aerial photographs of the United States originating from USGS. {{PD-USGov-USGS}} may apply to such images.

66. Cancer Visuals Online. Great resource for electron microscopy and histological images. Includes general biomedical and science-related images, cancer-specific scientific and patient care-related images, and portraits of directors and staff of the National Cancer Institute.

 

 

 

67. USDA Agriculture Research Service Image gallery. A “complimentary source of high quality digital photographs available from the Agricultural Research Service Information Staff.”

 

 

 

68. U.S. Census Bureau Photo Services.  All images in the public domain but a photo credit is requested.

 

 

 

69. DefenseLink. Current DoD publicly released image

 

 

 

70. DOD Media. DoD Defense Visual Information Center (High-resolution US military imagery; use with {{PD-USGov-Military-DVIC}} license template.)

 

 

71. The Congressional Pictorial Directory. Also available in book form.

 

 

 

72. Naval Historical Center Photographic Section.

73. History of Medicine at the National Library of Medicine. Most but not all of the exhibitions are PD. Clicking on “Metadata” near the bottom of the page will generate a popup window with information that includes Rights usage for each page.

74. NOAA Photo Library


 

 

75. Senate and http://www.house.gov. Congressional sites have a broad variety of public domain images, especially photographs of representatives and senators.

76. http://www.usa.gov/Topics/Graphics.shtml – A portal to US Government images and photos. “Most of these images and graphics are available for use in the public domain”

 

 

 

77. USDA Online Photography Center.


 

 

78. Vacations.info. Travel related photos

79. Armed Forces Institute of Pathology. Pathology and histology slides made by the US Government.

80. MedPix Medical Image Database. Hosting by Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. The terms of use of the site state that the original submitter may retain copyright. Nearly all of the submitters are US Government physicians. The status of the submitter is available to verify that an individual image is in the public domain.

 

 

 

81. Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences.


 

 

82. Oakland Public Library. Not all are PD! The image detail page will state the status, PD images will be clearly marked “Public domain”.

 

 

83. The Public Domain Review. A Blog by the Open Knowledge Foundation to easily access public domain resources.

84. Open Image Bank – Free photos and images for any use. No registration required.

Art

85. iBiblio.

86. SIRIS – Art Inventories. The Smithsonian Institution Research Information System (SIRIS) is an American art catalog compiled by the Smithsonian Institute. It has many reproductions of American paintings.

87. Art Renewal. Images of the works of more than 2,600 realist painters, many in the public domain; check catalogue for dates of works and artists. Note: Accurate photographs of two-dimensional visual artworks lack expressive content and are automatically in the public domain once the painting’s copyright has expired (which it has in the US if it was published before 1923). All other copyright notices can safely be ignored.

Automotive

88. The Crittenden Automotive Library. Not all are PD! The image detail page will state the status, PD images will be marked “Public domain” or by year of publication if before 1922.

Computer Related

89. Pixabay. Public domain images without any limitation

90. Woodshole. Automatic public domain map generating program

91. Ian Macky . Set of public domain country maps

92. Collections Canada.  Canadian Illustrated News, 1869-1883

Specific Periods

93. World War II Poster Collection. Over 300 posters issued by U. S. Federal agencies.

94. Photos of the Great War. Many images of World War I, scanned in from public domain resources. Slight usage notice, which is probably compatible with GFDL (requires attribution and link, as does GFDL, requests e-mail notice of usage).

95. The Heritage of the Great War. has several colour pictures from World War I (likely all PD, since the effort taken to scan/reproduce them probably fails to qualify for being a derivative work).

96. World’s Armed Forces Forum. (gallery for images taken from the French Ministry of Culture’s website) hosts more colour images of World War I (likely all PD, since the effort taken to scan/reproduce them probably fails to qualify for being a derivative work).

97. Child Labor in America. Child Labor in America 1908 – 1912 by Lewis W. Hine.

98. Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum. Thousands of on-line, copyright free photographs of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt, The Great Depression and the New Deal, and World War II.

 

Literature

99. Archive. Scanned-in books, maps, manuscripts, and historical documents; Public Domain; available in a number of formats including epub, kindle, and daisy; Searchable.

100. Open Library. Project of the Internet Archive to provide a web page for every book.

101. Google Books. Scanned-in books & historical documents. Keyword searchable. Great source for diagrams/illustrations. (not all public domain, many still in copyright) Books google believes are in the public domain are available for download as pdf. see Bridgeman Art Library v. Corel Corp.

102. Gutenberg. Scanned-in books. Searchable.

103. Hathitrust Catalog .Scanned-in books from partner universities. Searchable.

There you go, we hope that  you will create visually appealing websites, and use colorful images using these great wealth of image resources on the web. Remember: they are all 100% FREE, and you can take advantage of them today!

If you have free public domain image resources you want to share, just leave us a comment here.

 

Filed under: Logo Designer by impactlogo on Monday, March 19, 2012 | Social tagging: > > > > > > > > > >
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Top 10 Best Graphics Design Tools Designers Can’t Live Without

Here at Impact Logos blog, we strive to deliver our avid followers the best information they can get for them to develop further their creativity, help them stay motivated, and hone their graphic design skills.

As we all know, graphic design is an art that entails 100% focus, imagination, skill, and the expertise for one to create exceptional graphics and logos. What we do not know is that designers have these ‘secret’ tools they make use of in order for their work to standout and remain at par with the rest of the world. Undeniably, the appropriate graphic design tools can aid the designer to come up with a very compelling, visually-appealing, and unique graphic art.

In this post, we will reveal to you what top-notch graphic artists are using to break into the market and be the most sought-after designer ever!

In order for you to come up with eye candy designs, we suggest you check out these graphic design tools which will surely aid you in your graphic design projects, and allow you to organize your work and enhance your productivity. Here the top 10 best graphic design tools you must use today:

1. Photoshop

Well, this is actually given, as most designers are using Adobe Photoshop for their graphic art works. Nonetheless, if you are a newcomer, then this one is worth noting down. Get the Creative Suite package where you are able to alter images, enhance photos, design web sites, or create a logo from scratch.

2. Font Doctor

In case you are working with various fonts (which is very likely for graphic designers), we strongly suggest Font Doctor. This software program can manage and organize multiple fonts.  With this softare, you can easily repair damaged fonts, uncover missing postscript of fonts, streamline your font cache, and more!

3. Blender 3D

This powerful free 3D animation software for graphic designers is a must, especially if you are working with 3D projects. It is an open-source program, hence, it is 100% free! The software includes an interactive 3D app that can help you with your design projects easily. It has a straightforward interface that includes a node-based compositor, stimulation tools, modifiers, and a whole lot more so you can create an almost life-like 3D graphics and effects. Get Blender 3D now.

4. BrowserShots


This is another free open-source apllication you can obtain from the web, this creates screenshots of your website as viewed from various internet browsers. This is a great tool since it allows you to take a peak at how exactly your website will appear in browsers like IE, Firefox, Chrome, etc. You can then tweak your graphics based on what you have viewed. Graphic designers find this tool pretty nifty for final touches prior publishing their work online. With BrowserShots, you can fix any error long before your website is published.

5. BG Patterns


This is an amazing tool that creates awesome background patterns for your web design projects. BG Patterns is the best app for creating background patterns in a breeze!

6. Subtle Patterns



Web designers utilize this tool to aid them in downloading free patterns on Photoshop which is perfect for all of your web design needs. Download Subtle Patterns now.

 

7. Adobe Kuler

Adobe Kuler is a community group online that helps web designers. This is a color-centric website that enables end-users to blend their very own color schemes for their graphic design projects. It also has a message board that allows you to contact other members for graphic design support and motivation.

8. Favicon Generator


Favicons are the tiny icons you may find displayed next to the address bar of the browser when you visit a URL. This tool can help you create a small icon to personalize your web design project. You can easily create one by uploading an image or any graphic art to represent your website for purposes of branding. Experiment with a Favicon Generator today.

9. Basecamp

Basecamp is a free management and collaboration program you can use to streamline and organize your web design projects. Use it to supervise your projects online, make some notes, create a to-do list, organize projects, and deadlines. This tool will definitely make your life easier and your work a breeze!

10. Dropbox

Dropbox is a free online data storage program you can use to backup vital files, videos, and images up to 2GB for starters. If you go pro, then you get more extra storage space for your important files. With its syncing features, you can share your folders with fellow graphic designers, or outsourced staff wherever they may be in the world! You also have the remote access to your crucial files should you go to the Bahamas for a much-needed vacation. Isn’t that fun?

Working together with these tools, you are guaranteed a surefire success in your graphic design work! If you have other useful graphic design tools (free or paid), which you think would be a great help for any graphic design work, hit us up or leave us a comment here!

Filed under: Logo Designer by impactlogo on Wednesday, March 14, 2012
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