Proofing Tips
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Concentration is Key
If you’re going to spot mistakes, then you need to concentrate.
That means getting rid of distractions and potential interruptions.
Switch off the cell phone, turn off the television or radio and stay away from the email.
Put It On Paper
People read differently on screen than on paper, so print out a copy of your text.
If you read aloud, your ear might catch errors that your eye may have missed.
Homonyms
Homonyms are words that share the same spelling or pronunciation, but have different meanings.
Switching accept with except or complement with compliment could be disastrous, so pay attention to them.
Punctuation
Focusing on the words is good, but do not neglect the punctuation.
Pay attention to capitalized words, missing or extra commas, periods used incorrectly and so on.
Read it Backwards
When writing we usually become blind to our own mistakes since the brain automatically “corrects” wrong words inside sentences.
In order to break this pattern you can read the text backwards, word by word.
Check the Numbers
Stating that the value of an acquisition was RM10,000 instead of RM100,000 is definitely not the same thing.
What about the population of China, is it 1,2 million or 1,2 billion? Make sure your numbers are correct.
Briefing Designers
Mind Readers
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The success of a project is quite dependent on how well the client describes what they want.
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Too often clients expect their designers to be mind readers. It's a fact, graphic designers are not mind readers.
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Graphic design without a vision or a purpose is called 'ART'
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If you are looking for art, allow the designer to take control and set the vision. Be willing to accept the final result.
Fewer Words
Take the word “dragon”, I think of an ‘evil monster’, while you might conjure up an ‘heroic gentle creature’. The same word (or words) can have very different meanings to different people.
Don’t stress. Communication challenges happen to the best of us. There is, however, a massive shortcut you can use for any creative project.
Cut out the words and share visual examples!
Visual Examples
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Clients have much better things to do during the day than type out an essay to explain a project idea. To help your designer get a better picture of what is in your mind, show them; don’t tell them!
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Provide examples of what you like and what you don’t like.
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Humans are visual beings. When presented with a visual graphic, we can immediately respond with “Yes! Correct!” or “No! Terrible!”
Feedback
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Clients may need to go through several rounds of amendments to achieve their objective. The more feedback you can provide at each step of the process, the better.
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When you receive your designs, the best way to approach feedback is to be specific and say
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What part of the design do you like
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Point out any errors or omissions.
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What specifically needs to be changed.
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Give examples of what you are looking for
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If you LOVE the work tell the designer
About Photographs
It's Your Magazine
Your magazine is your very own creation, designed and printed exactly how you want it. However, here are a few tips from our designers to help you produce a magazine to be proud of.
Photographs
Strive to obtain the best quality photographs you can because, ‘great photographs’ make a ‘great magazine’
Designers don't have the same ‘emotional attachment’ to your photographs as you may have. For this reason, it's far more effective if your editing team selects the photographs that they wish to insert. Sending your designer several images and requesting that they make the selection is less effective
Submitting Photographs
In order to maintain the quality of your photographs avoid sending them via whatsapp. In many cases the quality of the image deteriorates. The quality of your images will be retained if you use the link your designer has emailed to you
Avoid downloading and using images from the internet. Images that look sharp and colourful on the computer screen, may not look sharp when printed. As a general rule, images need to be at least 300 dpi.
When preparing images to send to your designer, there’s no need for you to position photographs into word documents. You will find it simpler if you just create a folder in 'google drive' with a name that describes the contents e.g. ‘Class 3’ - 'Sports Day' etc.
The Production Process
Step One
Cover Design
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Before commencing work on your magazine our project manager will fully understand your preferences regarding the cover design theme.
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When the design work begins you will communicate directly with your designer. (Bahasa Malay-Chinese-English)
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The designer will produce a cover design choice based on your theme and email it to you for your confirmation.
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Our designer will then amend your selected design as required and submit it to you for final proofing.
Step Two
Inner Page
Background
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Before commencing work on the inner pages our designer will fully understand your preferences regarding the background design theme.
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When the design work begins you will communicate directly with your designer. (Bahasa Malay-Chinese-English)
Step Three
Amendments
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Clients may submit requests for amendments by email or WhatsApp. Although we do accept amendments by phone, verbal instructions should be avoided to help eliminate miscommunication
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Our designers understand that forecasting the exact amount of content at the outset of the project is not possible. Therefore, amendments occasionally need to be made to fit content to the budgeted amount of pages. For this reason, we do accept amendments without additional charge. Should the amendments become excessive the project manager will support with editing advice
Digital 'v' Printed Magazines
Pro's & Con's
Pro's of a
Digital Magazine
Con's of a
Digital Magazine
Pro's of a
Printed Magazine
Con's of a
Printed Magazine
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Design cost is the same as printing
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Digital distribution is fast and effortless & global
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Advertising may be more attractive to your sponsors
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A magazine could be emailed to a target-specific individual
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No technical experience is required we will create and upload
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Video and audio content can be added
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Make your entire back magazines available
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The digital option is probably more eco-friendly
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Mistakes and amendments can be edited anytime
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PDF copies can be downloaded
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Cost will be reduced by around 30 to 40%.
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Sometimes can be hard to read; may require zooming in and out
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Some readers may not have the skills to open an online magazine
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Some interested parties may not have access to a computer
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Depending on the software used to present the magazine online, there may be
ongoing, annual, maintenance costs -
Viewing online is dependent on the speed of your internet connection
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Reading from a traditional book is a more familiar & comfortable reading experience
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Printed magazines are taken more seriously
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Printed magazines are easily portable
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We don’t have to wait for pictures to download
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Printed magazines are not dependant on internet speeds or connections
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Printed magazines are touchable, and have a physical presence
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Printed magazines have no associated maintenance costs
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The cost of publication is higher than its digital counterpart
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Printed magazines are not so eco-friendly
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Mistakes are there forever
The System
Systematic
The diagram on the left sets out the systematic approach we take to creating your project.
Utilising a systematic approach enables the whole team to work more efficiently and achieve successful outcome to every project