Friday 25 February 2011

Design Tip: PDFs


If you're putting PDFs online for people to look at and download, think about the size of the files you're uploading.
If it takes you forever to upload your files it might take someone equally as long to load it into their browser and who wants to wait for megabytes of file to download to their desktop eating up their already limited hard disc space and time.

Most programs these days allow you to save your files as PDFs without any worries.
They take care of all the things you don't want to know about and give you your file to email or upload to your website or LinkedIn profile.
What they don't always do is 'optimise' the file – that really is a whole mine field for those not in the know.
Essentially, they don't get rid of the information that the program you created your original document in needed but the PDF doesn't.
They don't always compress the images in a sensitive way – how many times have you looked at a PDF and thought "great, but the image is fuzzy, I wonder what it really looks like?" – does this comment help you sell your products?
Sometimes your text just looks wrong too. A word disappears at the end of a sentence, or worse still, half a paragraph is missing!

Optimising a pdf is one thing, but there's a whole lot more.


DID YOU KNOW:

  • you can add keywords to the header of your pdf to help with SEO when added to your website
  • you can lock a pdf so that it can only be open with a password
  • you can prevent people from copying the text from your pdfs
  • you can prevent your pdfs from being printed
These really are just the tip of the iceberg.
If you don't know about fully editable pdf forms, you really are missing a trick.


If you're having problems with your PDF files we can help.
It's something we do everyday.
We understand how important it is to create the right image and a simple PDF that others use to find out about you and your company or products is part of that image.
It's as simple for us as it is for you to create your document in the first place.

PDFs – they're all just childs play.

25-2-11 Yes folks, it's Friday cake time again!

This week it's Caraway seed cake.

Thursday 24 February 2011

24-2-11 Is Spring here?

In contrast to yesterday, it's warm enough to sit outside - really!

Type Matters: Mind the gap

Often, type when used ‘straight out of the box’ can present itself with unsightly gaps, this can be distracting to the reader, especially for display type. Sometimes the letters can even be to close for comfort.

Some letterforms don’t necessarily sit well together, so it is our job to kern (adjust the spacing between) them to enhance readability and also for aesthetic reasons.
When headlines are set in all uppercase(capitals) it is most noticeable.

Wednesday 23 February 2011

Type Matters: Getting the right quote

The use of the correct quote marks is often overlooked. Believe it or not it is very important to use smart quotes not dumb ones if you have something to say.

23-2-11 Great! British Weather!

The forecast is rain.

Monday 21 February 2011

Friday 18 February 2011

18-2-11 Friday cake day is here again!

It's a pudding rather than a cake, but we're sure you'll enjoy it just the same.

Thursday 17 February 2011

Tuesday 15 February 2011

15-2-11 Lookout Post

What else could it be?

Type Matters: Trapped in a box

Imagine being crammed into a very small space. It's not very comfortable is it, having your body contorted and restricted as you have to fold up your limbs to fit. It becomes quite difficult to breathe too.
Not good.

Very much the same applies to type, believe it or not. It may not be an actual living organism, but it hates being hemmed in by unforgiving boundaries. If you need to put it into a box, give it some breathing space and allow a generous but proportionate margin.

Friday 11 February 2011

Wednesday 9 February 2011

9-2-11 Afternoon cookies

Thought we'd share our afternoon office cookies with you - dive in there's not many left!

Tuesday 8 February 2011

Monday 7 February 2011

7-2-11 Ghostly Apparition

Trentemøller guitarist is taken over by a ghostly apparition - So that's why they call it 'the devils music'

Friday 4 February 2011

Wednesday 2 February 2011

2-2-11 What a bright chap


A chance encounter in a Reykjavik street lead to us meeting this colourful character.

Tuesday 1 February 2011

1-2-11 Smile it's February

Todays random image to kick off the month is a piece of Swedish street art.