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Marv · Jul 22, 2005, 06:20 PM

I need a tool to create a brochure for some products, but I have not a clue as to what to start with.

I have some high resolution digital photos that I want to blend into a product brochure and I also want to add text and graphics.

Ultimately I need to have the results sent to a print shop to make the multipage brochure and I would assume it will be sent via a digital format.

I am savvy enough with professional CAD programs, but new to this type of format.

What is a good set of tools to get started with?

Marv

loki74 · Jul 22, 2005, 06:41 PM

Photoshop

Marv · Jul 22, 2005, 06:43 PM

Originally Posted by loki74

Photoshop

Will that give me the page layout tools I need to integrate graphics, photos, and text?

Marv

loki74 · Jul 22, 2005, 06:48 PM

I'm not sure what you mean by page/layout, but you can type manipulate, add effects to, and position anywhere any text you want, same with images etc. I'm assuming you're shooting for something professional and highly graphic intense?

I'm probably the only one who uses photoshop for practivally everything, but I find that I can do just about anything with it, combined with my trusty 3D graphics software.

Marv · Jul 22, 2005, 07:12 PM

Originally Posted by loki74

I'm not sure what you mean by page/layout, but you can type manipulate, add effects to, and position anywhere any text you want, same with images etc. I'm assuming you're shooting for something professional and highly graphic intense?

I'm probably the only one who uses photoshop for practivally everything, but I find that I can do just about anything with it, combined with my trusty 3D graphics software.

Basically, yes. I have three different products that I want to put into a tri-fold brochure. The cover page is basically art and photos that I want to blend together to create a photographic montage with company name and logo.

The three inside pages will have pictures of each product, possibly multiple views, with text paragraphs with the product details and specifications.

The back page will have company information. That leaves one more side or page that will have additional images and text.

Marv

loki74 · Jul 22, 2005, 08:15 PM

Photoshop should be able to do it. But be warned: Don't use the filter's and effects unless you have an idea as how to implement them uniquely. (people shouldnt be able to say "oh look, thats the generate clouds filter with a ...") What I see happening is that computer geeks go and crack Photoshop and they think that because they can crack it they'll know how to use it. (While we artists pay for it) So they make all this noobish looking stuff, and thus many photoshop tricks are easy to spot.

case and point: don't let al the enticing tools/effects override your artistic creativity! But I guess as a professional you already know that. I just like to tell this to everyone!

Randman · Jul 22, 2005, 08:25 PM

Pages.

italiano · Jul 22, 2005, 08:30 PM

I use a combination of Photoshop and my old favorite - CorelDraw 11

Marv · Jul 23, 2005, 06:37 AM

Originally Posted by loki74

Photoshop should be able to do it. But be warned: Don't use the filter's and effects unless you have an idea as how to implement them uniquely. (people shouldnt be able to say "oh look, thats the generate clouds filter with a ...") What I see happening is that computer geeks go and crack Photoshop and they think that because they can crack it they'll know how to use it. (While we artists pay for it) So they make all this noobish looking stuff, and thus many photoshop tricks are easy to spot.

case and point: don't let al the enticing tools/effects override your artistic creativity! But I guess as a professional you already know that. I just like to tell this to everyone!

Point taken! The last thing I want is to make it look like a kindergarten school effort.

Thanks!

art_director · Jul 23, 2005, 07:58 AM

Photoshop is a pathetic application for page layout. Proper page layout programs are QuarkXpress and InDesign. Photoshop can be used in conjunction with those applications but is best left out of page design.

I suggest downloading demos ::

http://www.quark.com/service/desktop...ls.jsp?idx=517

http://www.adobe.com/products/tryado...jsp#product=31

You could use them to get a sense of how they work. You might even be able to use them for this one project without parting with your hard earned cash.

A word of warning :: Check with your printer BEFORE you build your files. That will help you avoid timely and costly delays.

Randman · Jul 23, 2005, 08:11 AM

I agree that Quark and ID are the way to go for design. Anyone who says PS or Illustrator don't know design. But if you already have iLife '05, Pages is a decent (and cheaper) alternative to consider. There's already brochures templates available as well. Shorter learning curve if you are not planning to do it professionally or full-time.

budster101 · Jul 23, 2005, 09:43 AM

Go buy iWork for $79.00

You'll get:

PAGES (Word Processing and Layout with great templates for brochures and then some)
Keynote (Powerpoint like program which is better really)

Both are easy to master, and if you have (dot) Mac you will have online tutorials to get you going full speed in no time.

I use Pages for small quick projects, instead of InDesign.

andi*pandi · Jul 25, 2005, 11:48 AM

sorry, posting malfunction.

If your brochure is more than a page, Do Not Use PhotoShop.

InDesign, Quark, Pagemaker... This pages thing sounds nifty.

outsourced · Jul 25, 2005, 12:06 PM

Multipage and service bureau? InDesign. (or Quark, if you must.)

designbc · Jul 25, 2005, 01:36 PM

Originally Posted by loki74

I'm not sure what you mean by page/layout, but you can type manipulate, add effects to, and position anywhere any text you want, same with images etc. I'm assuming you're shooting for something professional and highly graphic intense?

I'm probably the only one who uses photoshop for practivally everything, but I find that I can do just about anything with it, combined with my trusty 3D graphics software.

I worked at a print shop for some time and I hated when we received a whole brochure created in Photoshop, specially when I had to make any small change and have to browse thru 20 or more layers of text, effects and masks. NO WAY. Please loki, don't give this advice to anyone else. Photoshop is to manipulate images, not for layout.
Marv, listen to the other guys here, InDesign or Quark. Even Illustrator could do the job if it is a single page flyer, absolutely not Photoshop

scottiB · 05:18 PM

Originally Posted by Randman

Pages.

Yep. There's even a template for a tri-fold (8.5 x 11) for that. Depending on how economical you'd want to go (or not), I'd do it in Pages, export as a PDF, take it to Kinko's have it laser outputted on heavier text stock.

iMOTOR · Jul 25, 2005, 07:32 PM

Originally Posted by Marv

but I have not a clue as to what to start with.

If you want it to look professional, hire a designer.

If you want it to look professional and are hell-bent on doing it yourself, then find a designer who is willing to give you a crash course in Adobe Photoshop and InDesign.

If it doesn't need to look professional, then just do it yourself in word/pages/ms publisher/etc.

But if it's going to be printed commercially, then do yourself a favor and get a designer involved. There's a designer on every corner willing to do work in exchange for a chicken McNuggets HappyMeal.

budster101 · Jul 25, 2005, 07:38 PM

Ahem... You can make professional brochures in Pages.... anyone making a contrary point has not gone through the simple online tutorials using their templates.

Nobody is going to do well with a crash course in Photoshop or InDesign.. it's not going to work.

Oh, and your comment on working in exchange for Chicken McNuggets or a Happy Meal is incredibly INSULTING. I'd want a Double Cheeseburger Meal with an extra sandwich, supersized and that is my final offer!!!!

Don't forget the two pies for a buck! cheepskate.

iMOTOR · Jul 25, 2005, 08:09 PM

I take it you don't like chicken McNuggets?

BTW: HappyMeals have toys in them.

budster101 · Jul 25, 2005, 08:30 PM

Oh... forgot about the toys... Ok then, but I want an extra sandwich with the Happy Meal........and two apple pies for a dollar.. That's my last and final offer.

"Chicken" (Mc)Nuggets? Yeah, LOVE THEM, from somewhere they actually use real chicken though.

Randman · Jul 25, 2005, 08:40 PM

Originally Posted by loki74

I'm probably the only one who uses photoshop for practivally everything, but I find that I can do just about anything with it, combined with my trusty 3D graphics software.

Are you a professional designer? I don't think so.

Originally Posted by iMOTOR

If you want it to look professional, hire a designer.

If you want it to look professional and are hell-bent on doing it yourself, then find a designer who is willing to give you a crash course in Adobe Photoshop and InDesign.

If it doesn't need to look professional, then just do it yourself in word/pages/ms publisher/etc.

But if it's going to be printed commercially, then do yourself a favor and get a designer involved. There's a designer on every corner willing to do work in exchange for a chicken McNuggets HappyMeal.

As a designer, I'm all for hiring people for jobs. But for a one-off, I say Pages' brochure template is very good. Obviously, have someone look it over for feedback. Try printing one to see how it looks, make corrections and tweaks before printing the whole shebang.

budster101 · Jul 25, 2005, 08:48 PM

I'm not opening InDesign if it's a freebie. I'll whip out a 3 fold in Pages and send it to PDF for Kinkos.

If you aren't willing to pay for a professional job, or learn yourself, then that's life.

-

Photoshop: No professional designer will do a one-off brochure in Photoshop. The content will be done so the layers and masks can be changed quickly for further editions, like CD covers (series) or book(s) etc....

If you are going to do this recurring work, then InDesign will be the way to go, but for quick in-out jobs, Pages is both economical and it will work well.

To get professional results you are going to be limited to the quality of your content and the paper you print it on, or vellum or what-have-you.

==

The problem these days, everyone fancys' themselves a graphic designer, and there are all too many of us who are having to work cheap just to eek out a living. I've seen too much amateur sh it, and people satisfied with it.... just because they don't want to pay a professional.

Go out and do surgery on yourself I say.... why pay a professional?

osinsh · Jul 27, 2005, 04:18 AM

I don't want to step on someone else's toes, but suggestion to use Photoshop for page layout sounded really wierd even for me, whos workin' in this area for not-so-long-time.

KeriVit · Jul 27, 2005, 01:58 PM

Originally Posted by loki74

Photoshop

BAD ANSWER.

Originally Posted by iMOTOR

If you want it to look professional, hire a designer.

If you want it to look professional and are hell-bent on doing it yourself, then find a designer who is willing to give you a crash course in Adobe Photoshop and InDesign.

If it doesn't need to look professional, then just do it yourself in word/pages/ms publisher/etc.

But if it's going to be printed commercially, then do yourself a favor and get a designer involved. There's a designer on every corner willing to do work in exchange for a chicken McNuggets HappyMeal.

GOOD ANSWER.

Originally Posted by Randman

Pages.

HAPPY MEDIUM ANSWER.

andi*pandi · Jul 27, 2005, 05:11 PM

Bumper sticker: Will do brochures for mint shakes.

budster101 · Jul 27, 2005, 11:12 PM

Undercut by Mint Shakes... dang.

iMOTOR · Jul 27, 2005, 11:40 PM

But she didn't say how many mint shakes.

loki74 · Jul 28, 2005, 06:56 PM

...lesson learned. I'll go sit in the corner now.

About being professional... If by that you mean have I been paid for work, yes. I'm more of a video guy myself. Except for logo stuff. I do a lot of that. If by that you mean I work for a design company or something, no. Most of the stuff I do are favors for people I like. The ones that pay are the ones who aren't people (are companies) but still its not that huge. If by professional you mean professional-quality, I really don't know. I guess thats for the client to decide, but they've all been quite pleased so far. *shrug*

anyhoo, I think I've been proved wrong here. So don't listen to me.

tgags · Aug 1, 2005, 09:22 AM

Hi, yes, I would not recommend Photoshop for doing a brochure. Really need a page layout app. You could get away with using Illustrator, but the best software for that would be QuarkXPress, InDesign (or even Pagemaker). (and yes, also Photoshop to edit, crop and resize your images).

Also, if you are having it commercially printed, make sure you understand "high resolution" vs. "low resolution". And also make sure you understand the different color modes for (for how it will be printed), i.e. CYMK (full color/4 color process). Or Pantone/Spot color: a few specific Pantone colors (usually cheaper). And then I guess there is also digital printing now as well. The thing is, all your images and colors you use will need to be in the mode for how it will be printed.

I highly recommend you talk to the place where you will have them printed. Good communitaction with your friendly neighborhood commercial printer can make everything go much smoother (and you incur less charges

Good luck!
TG