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JennPav · Apr 15, 2007, 01:55 PM

Hey Everyone,
I just was wondering what opinions you guys might have about mailing out portfolios on CD or DVD. I know they can be tricky getting them to work on different browsers, platforms, formats-- I have a website already but I want to send stuff out of state and I was wondering the best way to go about this. I would love opinions! Should I just send out hard copy prints?

Thanks a lot!

Thorzdad · 07:11 PM

What's on the discs? Is it a mutimedia presentation? Or a static portfolio? What sort of work do you do? What types of companies are you planing on mailing the discs to?
The ansers to these questions will help determine whether the discs are a good direction.
Personally, the people I know tend to ignore discs. Unless they are sent in for a specific job posting the tend to get tossed. The most common exceptions are for discs that are clearly from audio/video/cg type artists whose work must be seen in action.

KeriVit · Apr 15, 2007, 10:21 PM

I like the entire thing done in PDf with embedded graphics, video and sound. It can be saved to auto open in Slideshow mode, which is nice.

JennPav · Apr 15, 2007, 11:35 PM

Its a static portfolio through and through. It's mostly print work and photos of 3D work and even the website stuff is just screen shots. That's why I was kind of "iffy" about the whole disc thing... but then printed pages in the mail seems cumbersome as well. Thanks for taking the time to read this and help me out!

JennPav · Apr 15, 2007, 11:36 PM

Thanks for the comments. I wasn't aware you could view a PDF as a slideshow. I'll definately look into that.

art_director · Apr 16, 2007, 08:35 AM

Given what you've described as being your book I'd strongly advise against disks. Two primary reasons:

1. You should make viewing your portfolio easy for your audience. Using a disk requires an extra step and can be problematic. Chances are your disks will hit the garbage without ever being viewed. Having received many portfolios over the years I can honestly say that I've looked at precisely 0 on disk -- every one has been thrown out.

2. Print is print, not pixels, and should be viewed as such. You probably wouldn't turn a TV spot into a slideshow because that's not the intended viewing method. Same should be observed for print materials.

bluedog · Apr 17, 2007, 05:22 PM

As art_director stated, if you give someone a disc that requires they be at their computer while reviewing applications or portfolios your disc will not be viewed.

If anything a printed example of some of your work to let the viewer know if it is worth putting the disc in and viewing it is a minimum.

If your work is not interactive, then putting it on CD is the wrong medium.

2. Print is print, not pixels, and should be viewed as such. You probably wouldn't turn a TV spot into a slideshow because that's not the intended viewing method. Same should be observed for print materials.

Funny thing is that's exactly what they do for the Graphic Arts publication for TV ads. Its never going to be easy or effective to transfer incompatible mediums in a meaningful way.

You should try and make your presentation show you are capable of understanding your audience (in this case the hiring person) and show you care about their time.

andi*pandi · Apr 19, 2007, 11:21 AM

maybe I'm old-fashioned, but is there anything wrong nowadays with actually sending printed samples? not inkjets, but real samples.

art_director · Apr 19, 2007, 11:27 AM

Originally Posted by andi*pandi

maybe I'm old-fashioned, but is there anything wrong nowadays with actually sending printed samples? not inkjets, but real samples.

Absolutely not, that's what I do. IMO it's the best route. After all, lasers / inkjets can't capture the production value and experience that should be conveyed and taken into consideration.

yugyug · Apr 23, 2007, 02:52 AM

yeah but where do you get the samples? the jobs I've done the client or printer passes me "a handful" of samples i.e between 1 (!), and 4 at best. In fact I have even be viewed with suspicion for requesting more..... so how can provide real samples if you want mail out to 5 or 10 agencies/clients.... you can't trust anyone to send them back, (or much less keep their grubby hamburger stained hands off them in a job interview!)

art_director · Apr 23, 2007, 06:18 AM

Can you please explain how the rest of us can get samples and you can't?

Thorzdad · Apr 23, 2007, 06:25 AM

Originally Posted by yugyug

yeah but where do you get the samples? the jobs I've done the client or printer passes me "a handful" of samples i.e between 1 (!), and 4 at best. In fact I have even be viewed with suspicion for requesting more..... so how can provide real samples if you want mail out to 5 or 10 agencies/clients.... you can't trust anyone to send them back, (or much less keep their grubby hamburger stained hands off them in a job interview!)

I completely understand. At my previous employer, I had to steal samples in order to have any, The CEO was adamant that every single piece that the company paid for was used for company business. I actually had his secretary walk into my cube and take samples away from me.

Anyway...If they are flat, printed pieces, simply take the art (or a pdf) to a shop that does high-quality digital outputs and have them run-off a few copies on good paper. It's not the same as the actual printed piece, but it will do just fine.

andi*pandi · Apr 23, 2007, 10:31 AM

^well, better than nothing anyhow.

You are allowed samples, and shouldn't be viewed with suspicion for it. They should plan for a little overage, ie, they shouldn't order 500 brochures when their mailing list is exactly 500, they should order 750 and have some for handouts, binders, filing, and yes, the designer.

As for how to get them, in my current work it's part of the workflow that I get a sample for quality asssurance (granted it takes a month to get to me, so no point in complaining about bad color then) and in previous jobs it was my job to sign for the package and do the quality assurance on the spot. You should tell your boss QA is part of your job, to check the printer's work. You can take your own samples then. Or, when you give the disk to the printer, tell them you will need 10-15 samples for yourself in a separate package addressed to your attention. You may get "makereadies" but still, better than nothing.

If the client is doing the printing themselves it is a little harder. I have exactly ONE sample from one of my freelance clients, it makes me wonder if they ever got it printed.