Mac based design and marketing software

<== sample image produced by me with Art Text is 6 seconds!

Attention companies! 

Ever wonder how graphic designers like me, make those cool shiny and glossy "Web 2.0" styled logos and designs? Does it frustrate you that as soon as you make a nice new logo, the web standards and trends change, and your logo looks dated? Don't have a fast and reliable designer like me in your area? Do you wish you could work with some simple and affordable software that makes it easy for you to create these modern styled logos, font stylings and designs, just like the pros?

Well now you can!

<== sample image produced by me with Art Text is 4 seconds!

Right here, in my blog, for those of you lucky enough to come across this post, I am going to share one of my most powerful graphic design secrets!

Are you ready? It's a program called Art Text!

Wait- please pay attention, this is a MAC only program! 

Please don't hate, appreciate. This is a very powerful and easy to use program that will allow you to create the stylized text, and modern looking designs that are all over your competitions websites and marketing materials, all by yourself. So if you own a MAC, are a graphic designer, or need to make logos youself, look no further then this program! Check out Art Text for your self, by clicking here.

I have been using Art Text for several months, and I truly love it and highly recommend it. The program is affordable, works fast, and is super easy to use. You do not need to be a super star graphic designer like me to start making amazing designs.

Here is what the people at Belight Software, the creators of Art Text, have to say about it:

Why use Art Text?

• Headings and other text graphics created with Art Text will make business presentations catchy.
• Attractive buttons and cool titles will make your web site look stylish and professional.
• Various logos and icons can be easily created to enrich your brochures, flyers and postcards.

<==sample image I made with art text in 5 seconds!

I could add tons of things to this list, but basically in my personal experience, what this program does is- it really speeds up the production cycle for cranking out this kind of work.

 Many of my graphic design friends have asked me: "Can you do what Art Text does in Photoshop"? Yes of course you can, but not everyone can afford Photoshop, or take the time necessary to learn all of its powerful features. With Art Text, you simply download the program, start using it- and within a few minutes you have a great design- it is truly that easy.

So there you have it, one of my best graphic design secrets for all my blog readers, and clients. 

Remember it is a MAC program, so if you use PC's and there is nothing wrong with that- you will simply have to rely on me to make all of your awesome looking font designs and shinny buttons!

Photo editing software

Are you a blogger, or photographer? Own a Mac? Want to do a little more with your photos, but don't need all the muscle of photoshop?

Consider: Image Tricks.

Made by Belight software, it is a powerful program, but very easy to use, and runs quick, so it is great for Bloggers, or Mac based photographers, who need a bit more effects then what iPhoto allows. Many of the images you see on this blog, are edited and tweaked using this program.

Check out Image Tricks the Mac based photo editing software here.

New site in production

I am working on some web design comps for a new client.

This is a fun project, as I am going back to the old school!

One of my first jobs in Florida, you know day job- was at Kinkos.

What a great place to make rave flyers, and of course they used to have those phones, you could use for free back in the pager days.

Anyhow! I remember working in the Business Printing Department. I used to design business cards for people. And I am going back to what I learned there with regards to how I am making designs for clients now.

You see as in this example: Budgeting Solutions As you can see on every link/ page tab on that site, it is a different design. 

What I did here differently is that first I made the client a business card, as for many people that is how they think about their company. The business card itself is the look and feel of the company, and important as to how they present it to the public, and on the net.

If you have ever seen the movie American Psycho with Christian Bale now famous for his temper and Batman Movies, you will remember the scene where they compare business cards, in the lobby of the restaurant where the business execs would meet.  Oh how Christian coveted Lewis' card!

So the point is- I am making a website based on the business card first. This is how I used to design, and I am seeing how it can speed up the production process for designing, and it also makes the whole process more complete and well rounded.

Just click on the links and see! Each page comp has a business card on it, with some generic copy, but the site design matches the card, so the client can see the card and site, and pick what they love for both!