Just launched from K-Leigh Creative – LauraScholz.com.

Laura Scholz is a writer, a connector, a communicator, a marathoner, a cheese dip addict, a cancer hater, a bookworm, a word nerd, a dreamer, a red wine lover, a wanna-be foodie, a native Southerner, a lifelong Gleek, a people-loving introvert and an entrepreneur.

That presented a fun opportunity to collaborate with Laura on putting together a site that would incorporate all of the many things she’s doing professionally, as well as provide a cohesive place for her to blog and share her social side.

Learn more and check out our creative work at LauraScholz.com.

To see more samples from K-Leigh Creative, visit our Gallery at www.kleighcreative.com/gallery.html.

PS:  Laura and I are collaborating on a fun (and fund-raising) event this evening, hosted by lululemon (Morningside).  Click here for more info on Yoga for a Cure.

One of my favorite design projects of the year has been the new branding and online presence for Gina’s Kitchen Table.  It’s been one of those projects you just love to be a part of — lovely client (shout out to Gina), smooth work process with super-talented & professional friends (woot woot to Cynthia & Amber), and the satisfying feeling of making a small business look good and present a polished image.

I thought the perfect way to wrap it up would be to flip the script and become the client.  So, when Gina’s weekly menu featured Chicken Enchiladas (one of my favorites), I placed my order.  (Seriously, I could hardly wait and got excited just putting the pick-up on my calendar!)

Last week, I got my enchiladas (and a quart of marinara) to kick off a few days of dinners and lunches a la Gina.  I had the enchiladas the first night (meals come in an oven-ready container, so all I had to do was pop it in the oven for 30 minutes).  They were soooo good.  ¡Perfecto!  You might say.

After I finished the enchiladas (that didn’t take long), I cooked up some spaghetti and enjoyed Gina’s marinara sauce.  Really, just one word came to mind as I filled my belly with pasta — RIGHT.  Even though words like yummy or delicious would be lovely, the word “right” was all I could think.  As in – THIS is what marinara sauce is supposed to taste like.

Honestly, it was the perfect way to finish up the project (and gave a whole new meaning to the phrase “Will work for food”).

When you’re launching or running a business, two things are pretty certain:  1.  You’ll have a logo designed, and 2. Someone (maybe a printer or a publication) will request that you send them that logo.  Hopefully, you received several file formats from your designer — but how do you know what’s what and which format to send?

Maybe you’re thinking to yourself “Can’t I just send everything in a PDF?” or “Isn’t a JPG good for everything?”  The answer to both of these (and any other one-size-fits-all-implying ) questions is a firm “NO!”

I won’t give you a comprehensive lesson on graphic formats (you can do a search for image formats on wikipedia for more info), but I will share a few basic bits of information I think anyone who is responsible for distributing materials that represent your brand or company, should know.

Pixels vs. Vector

Pixels are tiny little dots or squares that – put together in a particular order – visually appear as  your logo or image.  They are typically developed or set to a particular number of pixels per inch (minimum for good print quality is 300 dpi (dots per inch); screen/web quality is 72 dpi).  When enlarging a pixel-based file (JPG, BMP, PNG), the dots don’t magically multiply, they spread out, causing your image to look fuzzy (see left logo below).

A vector graphic is one that is created using geometrical elements (points, curves, lines, shapes) to render a completed logo or image.  Because these are mathematically generated (EPS, AI), they can be reduced and enlarged without disrupting quality (see right logo below).

Quick What’s What

Here are some basic image file formats — that I typically provide when delivering a logo — and when you should use them:

• JPG/JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) – good for use online in websites, electronic newsletters, social media profiles, and in some Microsoft applications like PowerPoint.
  …
• PNG (Portable Network Graphics) – perfect for online in websites, electronic newsletters, social media — can have a transparent background — avoiding the “white box” that will surround any non-square logo design in other file formats.
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• BMP (Windows bitmap) – best when used in Microsoft programs such as Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
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• EPS (Encapsulated PostScript) – a vector file, best used for printing (such as silk screening on shirts, bags, or other merchandise; enlarging for banners or signage).  If a printer, promotional product producer, or other organization that is creating these types of materials for you, asks for you logo – send and EPS.
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• AI (Adobe Illustrator) – a native vector file (meaning your logo was probably created in this program), that can usually be submitted to printers the same way an EPS would.

Just launched from the team at K-Leigh Creative – GinasKitchenTable.com.

Gina’s Kitchen Table is the manifestation of Gina LaMonte’s love of cooking and passion for bringing families around the table again. Whether you need an occasional dinner-for-two, regular family suppers, or easy fare for a small dinner party, Gina’s prepared meals are a perfect option. As a wife and mother of two, she knows all too well how hectic life can be. Gina genuinely enjoys cooking and her personal chef services are designed with your lifestyle in mind. Your time is limited, so let Gina handle the shopping, dicing, seasoning, and cooking. All you have to do is enjoy great food and relish the togetherness with loved ones around your dinner table.

Learn more and check out our creative work at www.GinasKitchenTable.com.

To see more samples from K-Leigh Creative, visit our Gallery at www.kleighcreative.com/gallery.html.

Just launched from K-Leigh Creative – DianeLore.org.

After setting the campaign stage by developing a logo, stationery, buttons, stickers, and other campaign elements, we’re excited to launch a patriotic and clear online presence for Georgia House candidate, Diane Lore.

Diane is a common sense candidate for Cobb County.  Running in her district 41 as the democratic candidate, with her “3-E Platform,” which focuses on Education, Economy, and Ethics.  Calling herself the “middle class candidate,” Diane is a down-to-earth and enthusiastic lady for sure!

Learn more and check out our creative work at www.dianelore.org.

To see more samples from K-Leigh Creative, visit our Gallery at www.kleighcreative.com/gallery.html.