This isn’t for corner cutters …

Who doesn’t love a bargain?

The thrill of getting hold of something for a fraction of the regular price is something we never tire of.

You only have to witness clips of the Christmas sales to realise that some people will trample over their own granny to grab a good deal.

But here’s the thing: in print, the same bargain-hunting instinct can backfire.

The snag?

Sometimes the biggest ‘saving’ ends up costing a great deal more.

With the best of intentions, people create their own artwork and submit what they believe are print-ready files, only to find that it’s ‘can of worms’ time.

Over the years, we’ve witnessed almost every tripwire imaginable and recently I decided to put pen to paper.

To help all those who aspire to create their own designs without falling into the trap of  costing more than if they’d asked a graphic designer to do it for them.

Cards on the table.

It’s not a light bedtime read. And there are no nice pictures to browse.

However, it is decades of experience condensed into a densely packed list of dos and don’ts.

If you’re a disk-risker and your strategy is to close your eyes and hope for the best, it’s maybe not for you.

But if you are serious about being a design professional, I hope you’ll find it helpful.

And you can download your guide here.

Oh, and please let me know how you get on.

Until next week.

Alec