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How to Digest Technology's Alphabet Soup for your Church Capital Campaign Communications.
PART TWO: Making sense of all those abbreviations (continued)
By Bo Gray
As church capital campaign communications specialists, your friends at Catalyst Faithworks realize that there is so much to know about the design process and we want to help you sort through the oodles of noodles in technology’s “alphabet soup.”
PIXEL-BASED IMAGE EDITING SOFTWARE
With the rise and advancements in desktop design software, the professionals at Catalyst Faithworks advise members of church capital campaign communications teams to “look before you leap. For fast and efficient design work, with quick turnaround, our professionals use the top-of-the-line software, like these listed below. Catalyst Faithworks wants you to understand some basic terminology in the sections that follow.
Photoshop: An application that is used to edit pixel-based images of various formats. Also can convert a vector based image (limited formats) to a pixel-based image. Elements of the image can be placed on different layers and edited separately.VECTOR-BASED ILLUSTRATION / DESIGN SOFTWARE
Illustrator / Freehand: Two applications that create and edit vector-based image and text files good for flat-color graphics but can also be used in complex illustrations.
Flash: Another vector-based application that's primarily used for web animations and documents.
DESKTOP PUBLISHING LAYOUT SOFTWARE
QuarkXPress: A program that can compile many types of images and text elements to be arranged in the final way that they are to be printed.
InDesign & PageMaker: Extremely similar programs to QuarkXpress.
WORD PROCESSING SOFTWARE
Microsoft Word: The most popular word processing application. Allows the user to write a document and save it in various text formats. Many of our church capital campaign communications clients will create copy in MS Word, then attach it to an email so our designers can paste the text into the customized capital campaign communications.
When embarking on a church building campaign, we suggest that members of the church capital campaign communications team develop familiarity with these basic terms.
ELECTRONIC INTERNET CAPABILITIES
High-Speed (DSL / T-1): A fast connection to the Internet. Allows fast downloads of large graphic files or video information. Almost a must for quick access to proofs sent from our capital communication graphic designers to client churches.
Modem Speed: A slow connection to the Internet (usually 56kbs). User usually only can get speeds of up to maximum of 26kbs per second. Allows the viewing of text and small, still images but is not very practical for video or some sound because of the slow data speed.
COMPRESSION SOFTWARE
Stuffit: Software that uses a special algorithm to reduce the data size of a file for the purpose of use with hard discs with limited space or to be sent over the Internet. Stuffit is found on Apple computer systems.
Zipit: Software that uses a special algorithm to reduce the data size of a file for the purpose of use with hard discs with limited space or to be sent over the Internet. Zipit is found on Windows and Apple computer systems.
TRANSFERABLE STORAGE MEDIA
A common question we are often asked is, “Will we be able to see what our church communications designs look like before they go to the printer?” Our answer is “Absolutely!” However, our church clients need to understand some terms and facts about the process related to quality printing for the communications items related to your church building campaign.
CD: Compact Disc (700 MB of Storage) most common to computer users. Stores any kind of data. Can be saved in cross-platform (Mac/Windows)
DVD: Digital Video (or Versatale) Disc (Varies in storage size...up to 4.7GIGs) Stores any kind of data... especially good at storage for video where file sizes are giant. (Mac/Windows)
Zip: Removable disc storage of 100 MB or 250 MB. Less stable than CD. Less common to computer users.
Syquest Cartridge & Other Media: Removable disc storage of various sizes. MUCH Less stable than CD. MUCH Less common to computer users.
WEB-BASED PROOFING
Adobe Acrobat pdf: This is a good file format that compresses information tightly and still holds a high quality expanded reproduction. This is easily opened on Mac
and PC systems. Excellent for sending & proofing designs via email.
Internet Project Posting: Design files are placed on a special “Client Viewing Website”, and we send you a “url” (web address) to your email. You then go online, key in (or paste) the address into your Web Browser and your screen will fill with the design pieces (letterhead, brochure, etc.).
PROOFING PRINT-OUTS
Laser: Black and White Output (usually 600 dpi). For proofing rough placement of design work and text layout.
Ink Jet: Low-End Color Output for rough proofing of color and layout. For the church involved in capital campaign communications, an ink jet is sufficient to print out our PDFs for proofing.
Die Sublimation: High-End Color Output for tight, 85% accurate color and layout..
Digital 4/Color Process Proof: Extremely High-End Color Output for very tight, 95% accurate color and layout. Used just before printing to match.
SCANNING
Flatbed Scan: There are low-end and high-end flatbed scanners. Backlit scanners for transparencies hold the best resolution.
Drum Scan: Image is placed on a drum that spins at very rapid speeds. A laser reads the information on the transparency and converts it to digital (pixel) data. Yields extremely high-quality scans.
Want to learn more?
Please contact us at Catalyst Faithworks because:
- Capital campaigns like yours are our specialty! Our design packages are tailor-made to your specific capital campaign approach!
- We have templated campaign design samples to view via e-mail or our website so that most of the design guesswork is eliminated!
- With today’s faster internet connections, viewing and approving our designs on your monitor is so easy it’s like we are on site!
- We offer both design and printing services to simplify your job as well as to free your staff and volunteers for other priority tasks!
Our Reference-Based Approach to Developing Your Communications...Puts You in the Director’s Chair.
With your direction, we’ll develop campaign communications that resonate deeply with your congregation to build top-of-mind awareness and excitement. We will deliver superior design, printing, and video services for consistent and timely delivery of each campaign communication element. Unlike most general church marketing and design firms, our capital campaign product lines focus solely on church campaign communications. Let us not only save you time, but also help you multiply your valuable people resources. We’ve worked with many churches across the country from denominational and non-denominational backgrounds, and we consider every church campaign unique. Along with hiring a consultant, an architectural firm, and church builder, we’ll be one of the best partners you can enlist to maximize your campaign.
Bo Gray, Account Manager
An account manager for CATALYST FAITHWORKS, Gray brings a wealth of leadership experience that includes 13 years in the marketing communications field, and another 14 years in pastoral ministry. He holds a Bachelor of Science (B. S.) degree from the University of Florida and a Master of Divinity (M. Div.) from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. Happily married since 1980, he and his wife are parents to six children.
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For more information, contact:
Stephen Lee, Founder & Sales Director
Catalyst Faithworks
678.290.1150
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