With technology constantly evolving, there are more tools and programs that can help businesses with their daily tasks. One of these tools is a Learning Management System (LMS). An LMS has many benefits and could be a valuable asset to an organization.

However, not every LMS is created equal and some of them might not make sense for a small business. With so many different Learning Management Systems available, it is essential you pick the one that best fits your business needs. Here is everything you need to know about an LMS and the best ones for small businesses.

What Is an LMS?

A Learning Management System is a tool that helps organizations build training courses and provides access to these courses to the intended users — employees, partners or customers. A company can use an LMS for training its employees, onboarding new staff, training customers on new products or retaining knowledge for employees.

An LMS has two different interfaces — one for employees and one for administrators of the organization. The user interface is where learners — staff, business partners or customers — access all the courses and training information. On the other side, the admin interface is where a business can plan training modules, monitor learner progress and add more users.

Different Types of Learning Management Systems

A business LMS differs from an LMS used by educational institutes. The difference between the two is the features available and the maintenance of the system itself. A school’s LMS usually receives fewer updates and changes in features.

A business LMS on the other hand could receive frequent changes and updates that improve the experience for learners and admin users. These tools are also available as either cloud-based or self-hosted systems.

In a self-hosted system, the organization installs the LMS software directly on its hardware. This option is less popular but in some cases, specific industry legislation could prohibit businesses from using the alternative.

A cloud-based system is where the tool is accessed online. Most LMSs available are cloud-based and provide users with the option to access them from anywhere. This option is the obvious choice for most businesses.

The Criteria That Make an LMS Great For Small Businesses

While each LMS will have its own set of features, they need to meet specific criteria to make them usable for a small business. Here are four criteria this LMS list is based upon.

1. The cost: Is it affordable? An LMS should be affordable for the business and not a financial burden. Many available systems charge per user, but there are some LMS platforms that charge a monthly fee regardless of the number of overall users.
2. User-friendly: A system that is hard to understand or use will benefit no one and is counterproductive. The interface needs to be easy to understand and not confuse its users. Look for systems that provide a great experience while also presenting the training materials in a way that is fun and beneficial for the learners.
3. Different learning groups: Different roles require different training materials. Ensure you can create groups for distinct employee roles. This will increase the user experience and allow staff only to learn what is necessary for their position.
4. Integrations: When choosing an LMS, ensure it works with the software your business already uses. Consider making a list of the applications your business utilizes and when selecting an LMS ensure it has the necessary integrations you require. This will allow you to automate repetitive tasks and apply focus to other tasks that need your attention.

Benefits of Utilizing an LMS

A learning management system provides many benefits for employees and the business. In addition to all the other software a business utilizes, an effective LMS works with your business and its tools, not against them. Here are a few of the benefits:

• More time efficient: Traditional onsite training takes a lot of planning and time. With an LMS an employee can access the training courses whenever needed. One of the main advantages of an LMS is the learners can set their own learning pace that works best for them.
• Reduce costs: Onsite training is expensive with all the events needed — the presentations, conferences and training exercises. With an LMS all of this is taken care of for you.
• Easily change learning materials: After time things change and become outdated. Learners will no longer need to use books or videos — as learning materials — that have become irrelevant as time passes. With an LMS you can easily keep your courses up-to-date with new information.
• Improves the learning experience: With an LMS, everything is made easy for learners. All the information and learning materials are in one place which they can access whenever needed.
• Better management capabilities: Most LMS software allows businesses to automate repetitive tasks. Administrators can easily monitor when employees log onto the courses and track their progress. This helps managers efficiently support their employees, customers or business partners throughout the learning process.
• Access from anywhere: In addition to learning at their own pace, employees can also learn from anywhere. If they have free time on their morning commute, they can access the training courses or simply study in the comfort of their homes. In the past, remote employees still needed to come into the office to receive training, but with an LMS, remote employees can receive their training online.

The 3 Best LMS for Small Businesses

There are many different LMS software available, but not all of them make sense for medium-sized companies or businesses just starting out. Here are the three best LMS software for small business owners.

1. LearnUpon

LearnUpon is a great cloud-based LMS that is suitable for small and large businesses. It offers many features and also has the option to create groups for different employee roles. LearnUpon also has e-commerce features and allows companies to sell their courses online.

Features:

• E-commerce features
• Ability to sell courses online
• Customizable options — create groups for different roles and employees
• Certification options available
• Engagement features — earning points and badges
• Many integrations available

Benefits:

• Mobile app
• Has features that can motivate users
• Create custom learning paths
• Well-designed interface
• Many customizable options available

Drawbacks:

• Often overwhelming for new users
• Offline learning is not available with the mobile app
• No authoring toolkit
• Can only make limited changes to published courses

2. TalentLMS

TalentLMS has many features that make this an excellent choice for small businesses. They also have a store where you can purchase different courses — you need to upgrade your plan to unlock this feature. This LMS has a low learning curve and the interface supports over 30 languages.

Features:

• E-commerce features
• Different integrations available — Zapier, Salesforce and Zoom
• Engagement and gamifying features to motivate users
• Create courses with a drag-and-drop builder
• Custom reporting options

Benefits:

• Has a free plan available
• Has a mobile app — offline learning available
• Supports over 30 languages
• Engagement features
• Many integrations available
• Custom reporting
• Option to buy courses from the store

Drawbacks:

• Themes are basic
• Reports are limited
• Can’t export content to SCORM
• Customer support needs work

3. iSpring Learn

This LMS is straightforward to use and provides you with many customizable options. It provides a great user experience and has gamified features that encourage learners. It offers detailed reports to businesses and learners can learn offline thanks to the easy-to-use mobile app.

Features:

• Mobile app with offline learning
• Gamified features
• Advanced reporting
• Integrates with many core business software
• News feature available for employees
• 360-Degree Performance Appraisal module

Benefits:

• Has a 30-day free trial available
• It has a detailed authoring tool
• Provides technical support
• Interface is customizable
• Easy-to-use interface with a low learning curve
• Offers engagement features

Drawbacks:

• No e-commerce features available
• No xAPI, PENS and LTI support.
• Limit chat options — no discussion board
• Can’t sell courses

The Best LMS for Your Business

With so many learning systems available, it is essential you choose one that effectively aligns itself with your business needs. An LMS should integrate with your business and avoid creating new obstacles to overcome. Remember, the best LMS is the one that works for you, your employees and business.

The post The 3 Best LMS For Small Businesses appeared first on Designerly.

Have you ever received a postcard from Kohl’s with a coupon for their upcoming sale? How could you ever pass up 30% off a new wardrobe? Like many companies, Kohl’s has mastered the art of direct mail marketing using a high-quality postcard maker.

Postcard makers are ideal for companies to create stylish postcards for their target audience. If you want to do the same for your business, this guide will walk you through creating an effective postcard campaign.

What Is Postcard Marketing?

Who said direct mail marketing was dead? In fact, postcard mailers have one of the highest returns on investment. According to the Association of National Advertisers, postcards have a 92% ROI — more than any other mail format.

Nearly eight in 10 marketers say direct mail is a critical component of the multichannel campaign mix — most use three to four channels for one campaign. Those who aren’t using postcards are simply missing out. 

Although postcard marketing is an old-school marketing technique, it boosts campaign performance by reaching your target market right in their mailboxes. For instance, printed cards may include announcements, special offers, and discounts. 

One survey predicts U.S. spending on direct mail marketing will reach more than $43 billion in 2023 — a year-over-year increase of $41.7 billion.

5 Online Postcard Makers to Try

You can find numerous postcard makers online to meet your direct mail marketing needs. Here are five of the most popular online tools to help you create stunning print cards for your target audiences.  

1. Canva

Canva has quickly become one of the most favored graphic design platforms worldwide. Its postcard maker is easy to use, with hundreds of stylish postcard templates to choose from.

Upload your own photos and graphics, or use one of the millions of stock images provided by Canva’s library. For those who’d prefer not to spend more money on direct mailers, Canva allows you to share your postcard digitally through social media or email.

2. Visme

According to its website, 20,525,288 marketing professionals from 133 countries use Visme’s postcard maker. Choose from numerous templates and customize your postcards to your liking. Visme has an impressive collection of vector graphics, stock photos, and fonts you can use for free.

Of course, the company will print and mail them directly to your customers. However, Visme will also let you send your postcards in an email or share them on social media. 

3. MailJoy

MailJoy uses a drag-and-drop editing tool to create direct mailers for your marketing campaigns. You can customize your postcard with the many fonts, colors, and templates to stay on brand. MailJoy also provides images, or you can upload your own.

Import your contacts and segment them into lists to more efficiently target your recipients. Name the lists according to the custom campaign to differentiate mailers for your audience.

4. Postalytics

Choose between three different postcard sizes — 4×6, 6×9, and 6×11 — for direct mailers to market your business. Whether in HVAC or finances, Postalytics offers postcard customization features to appeal to your target audience. 

Postalytics will send your postcards into printing and mail them to recipients after you import your mailing list. The website also provides tracking and campaign analysis to measure its success. 

5. Mailchimp

Although known for email marketing, Mailchimp’s postcard maker enables you to create visually stunning promotional prints for direct mail. Marketers can send postcards worldwide to 27 countries while automating recurring mailings monthly or 3–6 months — often a time-consuming, repetitive task.

Marketers can utilize Mailchimp’s address finder feature to find existing and potential customers. Likewise, the company can send abandoned cart postcards automatically within 24 hours if someone leaves an item in their online shopping cart.

Tips for Creating an Effective Postcard Mailer

Marketers must customize postcards strategically. For starters, they must design a recognizable mailer according to their branding. Fortunately, postcard makers provide numerous customization opportunities for designers to create an attention-grabbing mailer. As you flesh out your postcard campaign, remember the following tips.

Choose the Right Postcard Maker

Postcard makers come with different features, so it is essential to compare each package. You must also determine which design package fits into your marketing budget. 

Do you want your postcard maker to include special campaign tools like contact integrations and automatic reprints? Some may also offer a QR code for your prints. Analyze your business goals to choose the right program.

Stylize the Card

A captivating postcard should grab your audience’s attention. Approximately 87% of people believe logos can pass as artwork. Some will hold onto a postcard if it is done well.

Use eye-catching — but readable — fonts, bold lettering, sleek colors, and short text blocks. You don’t want to overwhelm the recipient with long text. 

Add High-Quality Images

While most postcard makers have extensive image libraries for you to look through, you should be your own photographer. 

Align images with your brand. For instance, an electrical contractor might include a photo of themselves wearing a uniform with the company’s logo. Likewise, a retailer should only have images of products available at stores. Travel companies, especially, can have lots of fun creating postcards using high-quality images of dreamy destinations.

Hook the Recipient

Ensure your text is concise and matches your brand’s overall tone. Your postcard is a continuation of your online messaging. 

If you are announcing a new store opening, write “Visit Us at Our New Location” in bold letters. You want your announcement to stand out on the card. Another example is Old Navy, which usually puts its Super Cash amount in bright colors on the front of its mailer so it is the first thing customers see. 

Personalize the Card

Using postcard makers with contact integrations will allow you to personalize postcards to your existing and prospective customers. 

A dentist’s office might send personalized postcards to patients during holidays and birthdays. Meanwhile, an organization might send a personalized “thank you” postcard after receiving a donation.

When customers feel appreciated and are addressed directly, they are more likely to spend more with your brand.

Measuring the Success of Postcard Marketing

There are several ways to measure the effectiveness of your postcard marketing campaign. However, you must clearly define your goals and objectives before setting up the metric. Measure your postcard success and ROI in the following ways:

• Coupon or QR code: Measure how many responses you get by offering a discount, then see how many people use the postcard discount compared to how many mailers you send.
• Consultation calls: Determine how many people call the number you provided on the postcard for a consultation or inquiry.
• Unique URLs: Add a unique URL on the postcard for customers to search for — the link will bring them to a landing page, and you can measure your campaign’s success.

Your approach to postcard marketing highly depends on the type of business you are running. An accountant may use different metrics than a retailer or contractor. 

A Postcard Makers Is a Practical Direct Mail Marketing Tool

A postcard maker is helpful whether you’re a seasoned marketer exploring direct mail marketing for the first time or are interested in creating postcards for friends and family. Create beautiful postcards using an array of pre-made templates and customization options. Of course, injecting creativity is most important for a fabulous mailer.

The post Create Postcard Campaigns Like a Pro With a Postcard Maker appeared first on Designerly.

Suppose someone needs new brakes on their car. Naturally, they’ll want to locate a nearby auto repair shop renowned for its superior customer service, fair pricing and quality work. What do they do? They conduct an online search and read Google reviews.

Consumers and companies rely on Google reviews for different reasons. Customers want insight into a product or service, while companies seek ways to enhance their offerings and operations.

Essentially, all feedback is critical to a brand’s success. A positive review holds weight in buyer decision-making, allowing companies to garner attention for the right reasons. Here’s everything small businesses should know about Google reviews and their importance to business growth.

What Is a Google Review?

Google Reviews is a unique feature allowing customers to post personal accounts of products and services. The post is public, making it searchable by others when they look for businesses in Google Maps. 

Companies must have a Google My Business account to appear on Google Maps. Meanwhile, consumers simply need a Google account to submit a review for free.

Feedback can be daunting to some. However, brands will improve their reputations and drive more website traffic by garnering positive attention. In turn, they can boost their revenue. 

Google Reviews and Their Impact on Businesses

Small businesses and large corporations are greatly affected by reviews and ratings on Google for the following reasons:

• Reviews improve your SEO, boosting your brand’s ranking in Google search results.
• A higher rating — between 4–5 stars — will garner more foot traffic to your website.
• They improve consumer trust and build your brand’s credibility.
• Reviews provide essential feedback to improve your brand’s services and products.

According to one study, 98% of people read reviews before purchasing goods and services. In fact, online reviews impacted an estimated $3.8 trillion in global revenue in 2021.

In the United States, consumers rely on their own research for decision-making, whether turning to digital and print sources or reaching out to people they know and trust. A Pew Research Center survey found 88% of Americans have tremendous confidence in online reviews, while 80% say they ensure product safety.

Reviews grew even more popular during the pandemic amid the surge in e-commerce and the consistent flow of information. There was a whopping 76% increase in online reviews in May 2020 — far more than the previous year.

What Makes a Well-Written Google Review?

A quality review is well-written, informative and relevant. Ultimately, you want customers to share something unique about their experience with your brand, highlighting what makes you stand out.

A solid Google review also delivers insight to the company about areas of improvement. Brands should read this information carefully and consider customers’ thoughts and opinions. These tidbits are invaluable and allow you to perfect your business strategy and offerings. For instance, you might create user-generated content for social media with positive reviews.

Your response to positive and negative feedback is just as crucial to a quality critique. Always thank customers for taking the time to write a review. Likewise, apologizing for negative experiences goes a long way for users and customers reading reviews. Kindly ask them to elaborate privately and provide an email address where they can reach you.

What About Fake Google Reviews?

Fake Google reviews are as powerful as legitimate ones, but not for acceptable reasons. About 10.7% of Google reviews are fake. Yet, once detected, these deceptive practices often drive consumers away.

What causes small businesses to resort to fake reviews in the first place? Somebody could have slammed them with negative ratings at some point — or they’re new, trying to boost their credibility themselves instead of earning it. Likewise, competitors may create negative reviews under aliases to give themselves a leg up. 

Trading fake reviews online costs between 25 cents and $100 each, as some private marketplaces seek people to buy their product, leave a review and then issue a full refund plus commission.

Fortunately, it’s about to get harder to fly under the radar. In June 2023, the Federal Trade Commission proposed new guidelines to crack down on fake online reviews. If approved, businesses could get fined $50,000 for each fake review they buy, sell or modify — every time a customer reads it.

How to Spot Fake Google Reviews

Not all brands are behind their fake reviews — some are victims. Regardless, you’ll want to nip it in the bud as soon as they appear. Identify bad actors in the following ways:

• Look at whether the review consists of specific details explaining their negative experience.
• Search for complex words — generalities indicate the user hasn’t thought much about their story.
• Are there several exclamation points? Phantom reviewers use multiple exclamation points and shorter words in their reviews.
• Check whether the user has reviewed other small businesses and how frequently.

The best way to combat fake Google reviews is to flag them as inappropriate. In your business’s Google account, report a review you suspect is fake. Google will look into your claim and remove it for you. 

How Can Brands Gain More Google Reviews?

Consumer reviews are critical for business success. Therefore, companies want to receive as much feedback as possible. Here are several ways companies can garner more Google reviews. 

Ask Customers Outright

One of the easiest ways to get more Google reviews is to ask them. If you’re a shop owner, post a sign near the cashier to encourage customers to leave feedback online. 

Those offering services — whether plumbing work or consulting — can also ask their customers directly. If you’ve provided exemplary customer service and have met their expectations, they should be more than happy to do it for you. In fact, 50% of those asked to leave a review for a business usually do.

Send Review Requests

Sometimes customers need to be prompted to leave a review. Various review generation tools automate the review process for you. 

Generation programs allow you to fill out a request form in your brand’s aesthetics, including the font, colors and tone. It then emails customers a review request. Just be sure to send only one or two review requests, as inundating customers could have a negative impact and drive them away.

Provide a Link to Google Reviews

Add a link to Google Reviews directly on your brand’s website. Placing it in the middle of the homepage is a great way to draw visitors’ attention.

You can log into your business’s Google account to access an official link to embed on your website or email communications. Be sure to thank the customers immediately wherever you post the link.

Update Your Business Profile

Ensure customers know where to find your business online and leave a Google review. Regularly update your Google Business Profile with the most recent company listing. 

Add professional photos, a distinct description and current business hours so customers stay up-to-date on what’s happening with your company. 

Google Reviews Will Help Your Small Business Thrive

Even the worst reviews present opportunities for your small business to shine — if you respond correctly. Google reviews are essential for companies to succeed. Embrace customer feedback and use it to your advantage. Your brand’s success is a team effort between you and your customers.

The post How Small Businesses Get Noticed With Google Reviews appeared first on Designerly.

While Brush Script is a font type, the term has expanded to include various handwritten styles. These stylistic characters can invoke a sense of hominess, casualness or elegance. It all depends on the typeface used and the context surrounding it. However, while they can include beautiful strokes and unique letters, a brush script font can get hard to read. All those flourishes can be a bit too much for the eye.

If there is one thing a good graphic designer knows, it’s that fonts must be readable. After all, what’s the point of having text in a design if no one can tell what it says? A font may have style, but if it’s illegible, there’s not much point in using it. Here are some great choices for brush script fonts, as well as tips for using them.

Your Best Choices for Brush Script Fonts

A good typeface is legible and stands out. Here are six brush script font options that fit the bill.

Darkline

For a font that looks breezy but is still easy to read, check out Darkline. It’s a clean typeface that still has the casualness of brushstrokes. It also goes well with blockier fonts, meaning it can have uses in many contexts as a title or subtext. Subtype Studio created the font and sells the desktop license for $18, along with multiple price points for other uses. Consider using this diverse font for the focal point of a design or in the accents.

Souther

Souther is a bit cleaner of a cursive-inspired font but still maintains that brushstroke quality that makes these handwritten fonts so attractive. It also has different options for ligatures so the letters remain legible and cohesive. Craftsupplyco — the font’s creator — recommends Souther for organizations that want an upscale and chic vibe. Access the typeface and unlimited downloads of other assets on Envato for $16.50 a month.

Bucharest

Need a wholly cursive font that’s handwritten but still legible? Try out Bucharest by Nerd Studio. This typeface combines the elegance and flourish of brush script fonts but remains legible. The creator clearly put care into spacing each letter enough to feel natural but still be easily readable. Graphic designers can purchase this great font on So Fontsy for $15.

Hey August

When most people imagine handwritten fonts, they picture cursive. However, only some people want or can even read cursive. In such a case, Hey August by Krurasan is an excellent option. The thick and bold typeface gives the impression of someone writing with a chisel-tip marker. This makes it easy to read but still includes the flourish of a brushstroke. If that sounds appealing, users can access the font for free on Dafont.

Belfast

For a less-rounded cursive font, Belfast is a fantastic option. The typeface by Hustle Supply Co. feels casual, but the slightly more angular letters make the font clean and adult. The creator also made Belfast highly customizable, with 54 swashes, 26 alternate lowercase characters, alternates and discretionary ligatures. They also note how many uses there are, from product packaging to cards. Get the font for $15 on YouWorkForThem.

Sophia

Sometimes, designers need a cutesy font they can rely on for clients who want to attract youthful clientele. Sophia is a great option for these cases. It’s a thicker brush script font, which makes it legible yet clean. The typeface has loops in the main lettering that make it feel jovial, along with curls designers can opt to put at the beginning and end of a phrase. Check out Sophia on CreativeBooster and download the font for free.

How to Find Good Brush Script Fonts

The fonts above are just six of the many thousands of brush script fonts available. While designers may find luck with those, they may also wish to use a handwritten font of their own. Here are a few tips on picking out a wonderful brushstroke typeface.

Check the Ligatures

While standard ligatures are there for legibility, discretionary ligatures are stylistic marks that are purely there for aesthetics. For example, some fonts may connect the lines on two “f”s that are next to each other. Before deciding to download a font, it’s important to check those ligatures. Do they draw too much attention, making people pay less attention to what the graphics are saying? Are they opting for style over legibility so the text is harder to read?

Instead of relying on one opinion, ask a few friends or fellow designers what they think about the font’s readability. If the ligatures are making the copy confusing, it’s not the best choice.

See If There Are Alternate Characters

Alternate characters are especially important for cursive fonts. In such a typeface, an “e” at the end of a word will look different from one in the middle. When selecting one of these typefaces, check to see if the creator included alternate characters. These will make the font much more cohesive, often heightening the readability.

On the other hand, some typefaces might not include those alternates. Does that fact impact how the font looks? Is the kerning awkward or does it still suit the content? Some alternates may also introduce issues that affect the comprehension of the project. Again, it helps to ask others for their opinions so multiple viewpoints can chime in.

Assess the Weight

Lesser font weights can strongly affect how legible a font is. While a thinner typeface may have visual appeal to the designer, they should judge if the weight will affect the reader. Is the font so thin and loopy that it becomes difficult to read? If the copy will display somewhere, does distance affect the legibility? Different weights will be appropriate for various scenarios, so judge how size and display will factor in.

Double Check for Unintended Meanings

Part of the appeal of brush script fonts is their flourishes. The curves and quick strokes make the typography appear casual or high end. However, all those additions to the standard can cause a piece of text to look like it’s saying something else. Google provides multiple examples of awkward kerning or font styles that make logos, ads, and home decor have an often unfortunately humorous second meaning.

Before sending a project to a client, check with many people to ensure the font doesn’t accidentally make the copy say anything crude or make no sense. A designer will know what the title or body text is supposed to say, but asking others for their first impression helps ensure the design is as straightforward as possible. It also prevents silly or potentially offensive mistakes.

Keeping Your Brush Script Font Readable

Above all, when using text in a design, ensuring everything is legible is critical. Typefaces with flourishes like brush script fonts are beautiful but can introduce readability issues. Additionally, the adjusted kerning and unique characters can make text unintentionally say something funny or uncouth. Double or even triple checking with others is vital to picking a readable yet stylistic.

Check out the six fonts listed above for intricate yet legible brushstroke fonts. If those don’t appeal to the designer or client, use the tips to pick out a suitable, similar typeface. With the proper attention, these flowier fonts can become clear and gorgeous.

The post Brush Script Font: The Best Readable Options appeared first on Designerly.

An email signature graphic comes in handy for adding a personal touch to your email or newsletter signature line. Fortunately, creating a signature is simple in Canva. Even someone without little design or coding knowledge can come up with a professional digital version of their autograph. When you create an email signature in Canva, you save time and frustration.

In this article, we’ll take you step-by-step through how to create a signature, save it and offer some troubleshooting advice for common issues. Let’s get started!

1. Invest in a Canva Account

Canva offers two options for using their graphic design and photo editing software. You can sign up for a free account or upgrade to a Pro account. The upgrade runs $12.99 per month for one person. You can save 16% by paying for the yearly subscription.

With the Pro account, you’ll gain features such as the new AI editor. You’ll also have access to thousands of templates and stock photographs you can use for no additional cost. Upload images for a more personalized look.

Technically, you can create an email signature in Canva with the free account. You may need to work a bit harder and upload your own fonts. For the purposes of this article, we’re going to assume you have a pro account, even if just for one month, so you can take advantage of every feature Canva offers.

2. Set Up Your Style

Before you create anything at Canva.com, you should spend some time creating a brand style. This allows you to pull from various fonts, color schemes and specifications related directly to your brand. 

If someone else goes into the system later to tweak your signature or add additional ones for other employees, they can pull up the style guide and come up with a close approximation of what you already have.

A style guide keeps your message consistent and the brand image recognizable.  

3. Sign Up or Log In

Let’s head on over to Canva.com and get started. If you already have an account, you’ll simple click on the Login button. If you don’t yet have an account, you’ll need to sign up. Remember we do recommend a Pro account because of all the benefits you get in addition to the ability to create an email signature image. However, you can stick with the free account if you are on a shoestring budget. 

4. Search for Templates

One of the things we love best about Canva is how easy it is to find a sample file and then tweak it to your liking. We’ll look at two ways to create a signature but let’s start by searching for templates. 

Once you log in, you’ll see a big blue box that reads “What will you design today?” Go ahead and type “email signature” into the search bar inside that blue box. Hit enter and the system pulls up examples of other email signatures in Canva. 

5. Refine Your Search

Here are the results we pulled up with the search term “email signatures.”

The results our search pulled up were more of a full closing line than just a simple name. Typically, an email signature includes your name, company you work for or own, title and contact information. If you’re looking to create an email signature in Canva that is only the person’s name, you may need to change your search terms a bit. 

The good news is that you don’t have to backtrack to the beginning. Canva places the search bar feature at the top of each page. Click inside the search bar at the top of the page and type your new term. 

This time, we used “signature logos.” As you can see by the first line of results, Canva pulls up some logos that are text only and in script. We will talk about how to refine these below but if you’re looking for words only, this is a great place to start your hunt for fonts you like. 

The templates are like having a graphic designer on your staff and being able to tweak their work yourself. A median graphic designer’s salary is $50,710 annually in the United States. Your company may not have the funds to hire someone when you just start, so tools such as Canva can fill the gap in the meantime. 

6. Make a Selection and Edit It

Once you find a template you like, you can either choose it or you can select “Create a Design” and choose custom size. Many experts recommend a width of no more than 650 pixels and a height of no more than 150 pixels for email signatures. You may need to play around with the dimensions and see how it translates with your email service program. 

Should you decide on a template, click on the one you like. A box will pull up that shows it larger and gives you the option to “customize this template.” You’ll also see some similar examples below if the one you chose doesn’t quite fit your needs but you want something like it. 

Once you click the call to action (CTA) button to customize, the template loads in the editor. To edit any of the elements in the signature box, click on them. For example, if you want to change the title from “Social Media Manager” to “Chief Financial Officer,” just click on the text, highlight it and replace it with your own. 

7. Swapping Photos

Photos can be a bit trickier. Most of the templates use frames to mark the spot, such as in the example above. First upload the image you wish to use. You’ll find the upload button in the left sidebar.

Click on the image you want to edit. A pop-up will appear with a plus sign, a trash can icon and three dots. For this tutorial, you can ignore the three dots. You won’t need them. Instead, click on the trash can icon. You’ll be given two options–delete image and delete frame. You want to delete the image only. 

What you’re left with will look something like the image above. The grass and sky visual is a placeholder. You can now drag the image you uploaded over and into the oval and it should fill the space. 

8. Edit the Photo More

If the photo you selected doesn’t fit precisely the way you want, you can grab it and drag it around the frame. You can also choose “Edit Photo” at the top of the editing dashboard and reduce the size or change positioning. 

Note the different options over in the left sidebar. If you want to crop the image, select the “Crop” tab. If you want to adjust some of the settings, such as color and so on, choose the “Adjust” tab. 

From this panel, you also have the option to erase elements, remove the background or tap into the power of artificial intelligence (AI). The Magic Edit tool pulls up Canva’s AI software and you can do almost anything. Let’s say you don’t like the light colored blouse. AI can change the hue.

Adjust the size of the brush tool with the slider bar on the left and highlight the area you want AI to change. Here, I’ve highlighted only the blouse. You could also change her hair, white her teeth or change her eyes. Click on the “Continue” CTA button.

Now, learning how to work with AI takes some practice. You have to be very specific about what you want. I started with “make her blouse blue” and it tucked an ugly big bow on the front that made zero sense.

I then tried “turn the highlighted area blue.” Once you have the command you think you want, click on “generate.” If you don’t like any of the four results Canva presents, you can click on the generate tab on the left again and go back. Keep in mind you only have a few attempts per day with your account to change things, so do your best to get the wording right the first time.

You’re talking to a computer, so it’s crucial to be specific and detailed. Make sure you click “Done” when you are finished. If anything goes wrong, you can hit Ctrl + Z to undo changes. Here is the finished result with the blouse turned blue and the image centered better. 

9. Change Colors

You can change any of the colors of the text. Let’s say you dislike the brown in the example above. Click on it and look for a capital letter “A” in the top bar. Click on it and you’ll see a palette selector pop up on the left. You can select brand style colors or choose a new hue.

If you have a HEX code you’d like to plugin here, click the plus sign near the top left in the rainbow box. A panel will open where you can select a range of choices or you can type in your code just under the rainbow slider. You can also use the color grabber tool to select a color from one of the images. 

Canva does much of this work for you. They will look at the images you’ve used on the page and offer some suggestions just under the color palette tool. 

10. Select Your Font

You can also use the font in the template or select your own. Canva makes it easy to search for Script fonts or upload a brand font. 

If you want your actual signature in the file, you can also use a drawing pad to sign your name and upload the saved capture to Canva. Just add it under Uploads. 

You’ll find the name of the current selection font in the top bar with a drop down arrow. You can select any font you’d like by clicking on the down arrow. You can also change the size of the font just to the right of the font name. Go up a point at a time or type in your size preference. 

11. Save Your File

Your final step is to download your email signature in Canva. Start by saving the project under File/Save. If you want feedback, you can select the share button in the top right corner of your dashboard. If you’re ready to use the signature file, click on File/Download. 

A pop up box appears on the right. You can choose the file type. JPG works well for most email signatures, but if you have a background color other than white, you may want to select PNG and then tick the transparent background option. Save in a location and with a name you’ll recognize and you’ve created a beautiful, professional looking email signature in Canva. 

Should You Create Your Email Signature in Canva?

Whether or not you should use Canva to create your email signature depends on your level of experience with other editing software. Canva is very easy to pick up even for those who are not tech savvy. You can also go back in and edit at will. It’s much less expensive than paying monthly for Adobe Suite, too. 

Only you can decide if Canva is right for you or not. Go ahead and give the free version a spin or upgrade for a month and see what you think. 

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There are several types of hosting to choose from today. How do you find the right one for your website? What if you need a free web hosting service? 

This guide covers the five basic types of web hosting available right now, including entry level, low-cost options. With a quick overview of all the hosting choices on the market, you can find the one best suited to your website’s unique needs. 

1. Shared Hosting

One of the most common types of hosting is shared hosting, which most websites and developers start with. Shared hosting is usually the most affordable and accessible web hosting option, making it a great fit for individuals, small businesses and other small to medium sized groups and organizations. 

As the name suggests, shared hosting gives users access to servers they share with other websites. The exact amount of space a website has varies depending on their plan and hosting provider. However, shared hosting always uses shared server space. 

The main benefit of shared hosting is accessibility. Most free hosting options are on shared servers. This is a great entry level hosting option, especially for new developers. 

The main drawback of shared hosting is security. Shared hosting isn’t inherently vulnerable to cyber attacks, but the fact that servers are accessible by numerous parties does make it less secure than some other options. If you use shared hosting, you may want to choose a provider with robust security features or add your own third-party tools. 

2. Dedicated Hosting

Dedicated hosting is one of the most expensive types of hosting and considered the gold standard by many. Websites have their own completely private servers that aren’t shared with anyone else. 

This type of hosting is typically only an option for large organizations that are getting a lot of traffic on their website. For instance, a retailer whose website gets 50,000 monthly visitors would most likely want dedicated hosting. 

On one hand, only large organizations can afford the cost to purchase and maintain dedicated web hosting. Of course there are exceptions to this. For instance, you could have a popular online-only small business that gets a lot of website traffic. Dedicated hosting providers typically offer pricing on a custom quote basis, meaning businesses in this position may be able to get a more affordable price for their unique needs. 

On a practical level, large organizations are also the only ones that typically need their own private servers. If your website is getting a lot of traffic, it’s more effective for everyone if you have your own server. On shared hosting, one popular website can slow down performance for every other website trying to use the same computing resources. 

3. VPS Hosting

A VPS or Virtual Private Server blends the traits of two other types of hosting. Providers use a type of application called a hypervisor to virtually segment their shared server, creating simulated private servers. 

VPS hosting can be thought of as mini dedicated servers within a shared hosting environment. Your website uses a private partition of computing resources in a larger shared server system. It’s a bit like a duplex house – two people can live in the same structure without having access to each other’s private areas of that structure. 

VPS hosting is a good option if you want more privacy than traditional shared hosting but can’t afford or don’t need dedicated servers. It’s not ideal for those on a tight budget, though, since it is typically more expensive than shared hosting. VPS hosting can be thought of as a mid-range option between shared and dedicated servers. 

4. Cloud Hosting

Cloud hosting has boomed in popularity over recent years with providers like Google and AWS becoming leaders in this niche. It can include the above three types of hosting. The main difference is the type of server that hosting is based on. 

As the name suggests, cloud hosting uses cloud servers. There are two main types of cloud hosting: public and private. Public cloud is the equivalent of shared hosting while private cloud is the equivalent of dedicated hosting. You can have a cloud environment that mixes the two in a “hybrid cloud”, as well. 

Flexibility and scalability are the main benefits of cloud hosting over traditional options. In the cloud, your website’s data isn’t tied to any specific physical server resources. As a result, it’s easier to upscale or downscale as needed. This makes it more resilient to cyber attacks and natural disasters, as well. 

Unfortunately, cloud hosting can be quite expensive. Most providers only disclose pricing on a custom quote basis, but will only charge you for exactly what your website uses. So, compared to dedicated hosting or VPS hosting, cloud hosting may be more cost effective for a high-traffic website. It isn’t usually ideal for small websites or new developers, though. 

5. Managed Hosting

With managed hosting, users create or migrate their website to the provider’s servers and the provider does the work of updating, monitoring and maintaining it. Managed hosting can offer any of the above types of hosting. 

The most well-known example of managed hosting is WordPress’s in-house hosting service. It includes a mix of hosting options, including shared, VPS and dedicated hosting. For instance, you can use WordPress’s basic shared hosting service for free. At the same time, they offer full-service dedicated managed enterprise hosting for thousands of dollars per year. 

Managed hosting is more a category of hosting providers than a type of hosting itself. The defining feature of managed hosting is the ability to outsource server updates and security. You can do these things yourself, but it may be convenient to have someone else take care of them. 

Wix, Weebly and other website building services also offer managed hosting. WordPress is generally acknowledged as the industry leader in this niche, though. 

Understanding the Types of Hosting

Finding the right hosting option is a crucial part of starting and running a website. It can be confusing at first, but it’s really about matching your traffic and budget to a certain hosting option. 

Shared hosting is best for those on a tight budget or with low-traffic websites. VPS hosting is a middle ground between shared and dedicated servers. Dedicated hosting is mainly for large enterprises with high-traffic websites. Cloud and managed hosting offer a mix of services for a range of budgets.

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One of the elements graphic designers work with most is fonts. Whether it’s something clean cut for a high-end business or something whimsical for a childcare facility, they’ll face their fair share of typography. However, that means they’ll also soon find the limit of what their design program of choice has to offer. Limited options result in stunted creativity, which can lead a designer to stare at their screen and scratch their head over their next client’s request. Instead of experiencing artist’s block, learn how to install fonts.

Installing fonts is a bit of a process, but it will become methodical once the user gets used to it. It’s a somewhat hidden feature graphic designers can utilize to step up their projects and make themselves stand out to clients. But is doing so essential to a professional’s workflow? Here is a look at how to install fonts and load them into a program, as well as why choosing unique fonts is vital.

How to Install Fonts

While there are paid options, this piece will use a free font source as a basis. With this in mind, here is how to install fonts.

1. Choose One You Enjoy

Naturally, the first step is to find a font that meets the project’s needs. Sites like DaFont offer categories and further niches so designers can narrow their options. For example, its Script category offers Handwritten, Graffiti, Calligraphy and many more subsections. Browse the offerings and choose one befitting what the client wants.

2. Tap “Download”

Next, all one needs to do is find the “Download” button on the site they’re using and click it. On DaFont, that button is on the right hand side of the screen. The font package should download in a zipped file.

3. Unzip the File

To install the font, the user must unzip the file first. If there’s not an unzipper downloaded on their computer, it should provide options for free and paid programs that can do the job. Once the unzipper does its work, the font is nearly ready.

4. Install the Font

Find where the font is now located — usually in the computer’s Downloads folder — and double click it if using a Mac OS. This should bring up a box where the designer can click “Install.” Windows users can right click on the file and navigate to “Install,” which will initiate the same process. Now, the font should be ready to go into the professional’s design application of choice.

Loading Fonts into the Whole Computer

The double-click step will install a font so one user can access it in a design program, but other profiles on the same device won’t have the same ability. There is an extra step to give the font to the whole computer.

The one with access to the font file will have to drag that file into the Fonts folder on the computer. They can find it by navigating to Users, then Library, then Fonts. Alternatively, just type “Library” into the system’s search feature. Then, scroll down to Fonts and drag the downloaded file into the folder.

When following the first method, a user simply installs the font into their app rather than giving it to the whole computer. This could lead to issues when other users try to access the design and get errors or something entirely incorrect. Installing the file into the entire system ensures everyone sees the same thing and can make updates accordingly.

Why Should You Download Additional Fonts? 

After going through the whole process of installing new fonts, is doing so worth it? As a professional graphic designer, it likely is.

One of the biggest things that will catch an onlooker’s eye is the font on the page, logo, billboard or poster. Not only do different typefaces elicit various emotional responses, but they can help what the viewer is looking at stand out from everything else. Recent estimates show the average person will view up to 10,000 advertisements daily. The best way for a graphic designer to drive results and increase client satisfaction is to use varying fonts, which is difficult without downloading any.

Additionally, people don’t care about ads that just want to sell them a product or service. In fact, this advertising method is likely what has driven the favorability of viewing advertisements to an all-time low of twenty-five percent. Fonts help set the tone of an ad and encourage emotion. In a world where people’s attention spans are dropping and ad placements proliferate, picking an eye-catching font can mean the difference between conversions and getting ignored.

Of course, visuals are key to excellent graphic design — and they’re becoming more crucial in advertising. Of the members of Generation Z one survey polled, 40% preferred short videos as their choice of ad viewing. In order to get everything necessary across in one small clip, brands will likely turn to graphic designers to choose unique and scannable fonts. Professionals must learn how to install fonts to keep up with this emerging marketing tactic and keep people looking.

Creating effective graphic designs is essential to break from the crowd and the competition. In this learning process, consider looking at the designs competitors put out. Is there an opportunity to stand out and attract new audiences?

Can You Make Your Own Fonts?

Yes, if a designer runs out of fonts or can’t find anything that suits their needs, they can make their own font. This could be beneficial as a resource for other professionals or become a form of side income. Alternatively, keeping them to oneself ensures the typeface is truly a stand-out since it can only come from one person. Either way, learning how to make a font can help a graphic designer find individuality that supports their career.

First, take to pen and paper to sketch out what the typeface will look like. Those who prefer a tablet can draw there, but don’t jump into any font-creating software yet. Just take the time to flesh out every idea and outline what each letter or symbol will look like in italics, bold, lower and upper case.

Once there’s a clearer picture of the typeface, choose a program to create the font with. While many options will require payment, applications like FontForge are free and run on all operating systems. Install one of these programs and either upload images of the sketched font into it or start drawing everything once again. While redrawing might seem tedious, it offers the chance to make additional tweaks.

Finally, start using the font and see how everything goes together. There may be some awkward collisions, but this is the time to iron out all the kinks and ensure every element is cohesive. Test the new font’s readability with multiple people before using it — they might catch errors or accidents the designer can’t idenify after staring at the characters for so long.

Learning How to Install Fonts Is Essential for Graphic Designers

Whether a graphic designer holds a position at a business or operates as a freelancer, it is crucial to learn how to install fonts. Doing so can help drive results, please current clients and entice future patrons. Surfing the internet or learning how to create new fonts can cement a graphic designer’s professional title.

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Everyone has to start somewhere. Some pick up a camera and spend hours teaching themselves the basics, but others work smarter and read the best photography books. While the nature of photography entails eventually grabbing a camera and using it, intermingling that practice with learning can help move the education process along. Take this opportunity to learn from the cream of the crop when it comes to a new trade or brushing up on essential skills.

But is there any benefit to reading and not using a camera right away? Use this list to find some of the best photography books to add to your collection, as well as why it’s vital to read them.

1. A World History of Photography by Naomi Rosenblum

While this 750-page behemoth may look intimidating, it is an incredibly worthwhile buy to learn how humanity has utilized photography in the last 200 years. The book spans from the earliest forms of cameras to modern digital means, detailing the history of each photo. Readers will see how photographers used the medium to convey ideas and emotions throughout time, picking up time-tested methods along the way.

This incredible collection and anthology contains nearly 850 photos covering advertising, portraiture, photojournalism and documentation. Budding and experienced photographers of any genre will find this volume a worthwhile addition to their knowledge and shelf. While the most recent edition — the 5th edition — currently hovers around $60, older copies can get as low as $9. Either way, A World History of Photography is a worthy purchase.

2. Digital Photography Complete Course by David Taylor

Ready to learn everything a beginner might need to know about digital photography? David Taylor has written the book to get. He promises new photographers will learn how to navigate their cameras and take amazing shots in just 20 weeks. This 360-page book is full of helpful examples and diagrams that help budding professionals figure out exactly what terms like exposure, depth of field and composition mean.

When the title says “course,” it means it. The chapters have small quizzes so readers can test their knowledge and ensure they’re absorbing every valuable tidbit. Additionally, the pages will have helpful “Need to Know” boxes for short refreshers and photography assignments to test newfound skills. Grab this comprehensive class turned book for a genuine introduction to the art of photography.

3. The Natural Light Portrait Book by Scott Kelby

For a look at how to capture gorgeous portraits from start to finish, look no further than Scott Kelby’s excellent 200-pager. While this book specifically focuses on the art of portraiture, its tips will likely carry over to various photography genres. If the book’s description isn’t enough to convince someone of a purchase, check out the Amazon reviews. Readers have said, “If I had to buy one book, this would be it,” and “…do yourself a huge favor and buy this book.”

This book comprises nine chapters, covering everything from lenses and settings to retouching photos. Newcomers to the trade will find much use out of the chapters detailing how to shoot in direct light, outside and with window light. While those with more than a few years of practice under their belts might not think they need such a book, this quick read may teach them a few new tricks.

4. The Photographer’s Guide to Posing by Lindsay Adler

Portraiture is one thing, but finding poses that complement the subject is another beast. While photographers and graphic designers are first learning the art form, they likely won’t work with people who know how to model. Thus, giving them a few helpful tips so each image turns out stellar is key to building a portfolio. Lindsay Adler’s comprehensive guide gives readers a fleshed-out look at how to style the subject of a photo and how to utilize the camera.

One aspect of the book reviewers found particularly helpful is Adler teaches why particular poses do and don’t work. Giving readers the “why” of successes and growth areas can really help a beginner grow. The first half of the book how a camera will see a subject, what elements a model may need to adjust in their pose and the basics of posing. Then, she dives into how to pose various groupings and settings. For tips on all the essentials of styling models, turn to these 450 pages.

5. Photo Basics: The Ultimate Guide to Great Photography by Joel Sartore

Want to learn from the best of the best? Look no further than National Geographic photographer Joel Sartore’s instructional guide. This book covers everything from framing to archiving the wonderful images new photographers snap. He even talks about how to shoot on a smartphone — great knowledge for newcomers who aren’t sure if they want to invest in a hefty DSLR. Sartore also discusses how to pick a new device and gear, so those looking to make a purchase may find these comments beneficial.

What makes this one of the best photography books for beginners? It covers a range of photography genres, including pets, family, street, nature and travel. Sartore also includes quick tips and assignments so readers can absorb knowledge quickly and get into the field. The practice modules ensure photographers know how to use all the great teachings he shares. Those who want to learn how to shoot nature — as well as other great subjects — will likely love this 250-page work from a true master of the craft.

6. Night Sky: A Field Guide for Shooting After Dark by Jennifer Wu and James Martin

These two authors have more than enough credentials to back up their authority. Jennifer Wu is one of the world-renowned Canon “Explorers of Light” and James Martin has been working in the field since 1989. Both collaborate on this fantastic examination of how to photograph the night sky. While the previous books have explained how to capture sunlight, those who want to shoot the stars will find a lot of valuable information in these 176 pages.

Wu and Martin teach about four critical elements of nighttime photography — the Moon, stars, twilight and star trails. Beginners will learn the different techniques of capturing these celestial objects in gorgeous composition and clarity. While reviewers say experienced photographers might not get much out of this book, beginners should find many of these tips incredibly useful. For those who want to dive into nighttime photography, grab this short read.

Learn From the Greats in the Best Photography Books for Beginners

Should a photographer pick up a book rather than a camera when they’re new to the trade? Instead of doing one or the other, do both. It’s hugely beneficial to learn from those who spent years mastering their craft and can teach what they wished they knew when they were learning. Reading the best photography books is vital because simply grabbing a camera will offer education, but a newcomer won’t know how to capture the best shots possible.

However, beginners must also put their new knowledge into practice. After grabbing one, two or all these fantastic books, remember to carry their teachings into action. Follow their tips, practice the assignments and start crafting beautiful images on the way to becoming a professional.

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Balance is usually the key to all things graphic design. It makes everything feel even, well laid out, and the eye knows what it’s looking at and where to go. Not only that, but some people may also feel it makes a project look more professional. So why is asymmetrical balance still a favorite of some graphic designers? If it feels so off-putting and potentially chaotic, how can someone make good use of it to diversify their art? Even though it might feel odd, asymmetrical balance is valuable.

Sometimes, a designer might feel like a project they’re working on needs something more. However, it’s often hard to tell what that “something” is. Does a color feel off? Is the font a little dull and perhaps needs some revamping? Maybe what the design actually needs is some asymmetrical balance.

What Is Asymmetrical Balance?

Asymmetrical balance is when a piece of art consists of different visual elements but still feels balanced. They could be similar but different components — like various boulders — or be entirely unmatching — like varying shapes. However, those rocks and shapes must find balance while still being opposing elements of the final project.

For example, imagine a white square with a black line dividing it in half. On either side of the line are an orange triangle and a purple circle. Those components don’t match, but putting them in certain places can balance them. They could sit on the left and right sides but in the same place — they still don’t match, but the equal placement balances them. Additionally, the triangle could be at the top middle left and the circle at the bottom middle right.

That kind of dynamic arrangement is very fitting for such differing elements. It breaks them up so things don’t look too chaotic while also mixing a design up more than usual. The key is taking two components that don’t necessarily go together or using white space to balance out what doesn’t match. Doing so creates an intriguing look in the composition — suddenly, things that don’t go together seemingly make up something very cohesive.

Why it Catches the Eye

The human brain loves to seek patterns, whether the user of the brain is aware of it or not. It comes from an old evolutionary habit that eventually became crucial for survival. When early humans were hunting for prey, they needed to be able to identify how many other predators they had to fight to survive. They then became good at picking out groups of four or less very well.

Additionally, pattern detection helped out when herds needed to navigate. They had to identify the way back if they were traveling down a path to gather food. Those who were good at recognizing the patterns around them so they could return to the group were the ones who survived. Repetitions in facial features, plants and sounds all helped people survive before they had protective shelters and clothing.

Thus, the human brain feels much more comfortable when it can see patterns — it formed that way. Mammal brains have a special feature called the neocortex, which is the outside layer. It takes up 80% of the brain’s weight because of all the folds it has. When humans were evolving, those with less-muscly jaws were the ones who lived because they had more room in their skulls for the neocortex, which helps recognize patterns. It actually formed around pattern-recognizing neurons that hover around 300 million in number.

So why is asymmetrical balance so appealing? It creates discomfort. The brain will look at it and try to find the pattern, keeping a person’s eyes on the design for longer. It can tell there’s some kind of balance, but something feels off. What makes what it’s looking at feel safe but also like it needs to find something? Asymmetry in all art forms makes people stop and stare because they want to locate the pattern.

The Other Kinds of Balance

Of course, asymmetrical balance isn’t the only kind of composition out there. These other forms are helpful to know, whether they can work alongside the asymmetry or in another project.

1. Symmetrical Balance

This composition style is fairly self-explanatory. If asymmetrical balance consists of creating balance out of oppositional elements, symmetrical balance means making a mirror image of equal components. For example, imagine the same divided white square. To have symmetrical balance, both features on either side of the middle axis will be the same and in the same place.

Symmetrical balance requires perfectly matching visual weight, while asymmetrical balance creates equal visual weight with unmatching elements. Because the brain likes symmetry, these kinds of designs feel more acceptable and sometimes formal. However, it can also get boring, as symmetry is predictable.

2. Mosaic Balance

Mosaic balance creates evenness between a bunch of varying elements. Imagine the white square filled with tiny stars, moons and suns. There is chaos, but everything still feels balanced because they’re the same size and usually in complementary colors. It differs from asymmetrical balance in that asymmetry will have one component taking up most of the visual weight, but mosaic balance has various elements with equal visual weight.

3. Radial Balance

This kind of composition makes the focal point the exact middle of the project. Everything will radiate out from the visual element in the center, drawing the eye toward whatever is in that middle. Radial balance is somewhat like asymmetrical balance in that there will be one significant focal point and the smaller elements will even it out — like a sun and its rays.

Famous Examples of Asymmetrical Balance

Looking to popular artists can help graphic designers visualize how asymmetry works and how they can replicate it. Here are two famous examples of asymmetrical balance in paintings to give a more concrete idea of how to use it.

Under the Wave off Kanagawa by Katsushika Hokusai

This woodblock print from 1831 is a fantastic example of how white space can make a composition dynamic but even. The massive wave on the left clearly draws the eye’s attention, but the negative area to the right of it — with a small Mount Fuji peeking out from the bottom — creates a striking visual effect. It still feels balanced despite clearly having one dominant element.

The Starry Night by Vincent van Gogh

The component with most of the visual weight in this painting is the dark cypress tree that takes up most of the left. However, rather than keep the right side blank, van Gogh made the moon very bright and large to give the piece balance. Despite having two distinct visual elements, the colors and placements of the moon and the large tree create asymmetrical balance.

Making Asymmetrical Balance Work in Graphic Design

Perfecting asymmetrical balance can take a bit of work to get right. The designer risks their work looking chaotic and messy if they don’t get the equity right. But when a graphic design has the proper mix of visual weights, it can create something dynamic and eye-catching that’s sure to please clients. Learn from various successful examples and play around in a graphics editor to learn how to master the style of asymmetrical balance.

The post Asymmetrical Balance: Why It’s So Intriguing appeared first on Designerly.

Up-and-coming designers likely do not have all the money in the world. While investing a bit in a career is completely fine, finding places to access resources without paying is a boon. It allows you to save money in specific areas so you can spend those savings on something beneficial. Some aspects of the job will be more expensive than others, but locating decent images does not have to be. Where are the best places to find stock photos for free?

Luckily, there are plenty of options out there. Some photographers are willing to offer their gorgeous shots as stock images free for designers of any kind to use. Whether you have a bit of cash to spend or must cut costs wherever possible, these sites are fantastic sites to utilize. Just because they are free does not mean they’re low quality either — in fact, the sources often pride themselves on beautiful captures. Here are some of the best websites to find stock photos for free.

1. Unsplash

Unsplash is full of gorgeous and high-quality images designers can use for almost any project. Just use the search feature to look up what you need and there might just be something that fits the design requirements perfectly. Each photo on Unsplash is free under their license, so there is no need to worry about paying for or altering the image. The picture will also show how many downloads it has received, so designers can be choosy about which ones they pick.

Some photographers do ask for acknowledgment, but doing so is up to the designer and client’s discretion. They may also ask for a donation, but do not feel obligated to if you do not have sufficient funds. Spreading the wealth is always kind — however, some are not in the place to do so. Regardless, Unsplash is a fantastic resource for finding stock photos for free.

2. Burst by Shopify

Burst is — as the full name implies — a source owned by Shopify to help businesses find images for their needs. It features beautiful photography in all sorts of categories, so locating a shot to suit your needs could be a breeze. They also offer photo kits for various business types to choose from. If a designer needs a few photos in a similar niche, using these photography packs could prove very useful.

This site does encourage crediting the original photographer, which does make sense. It is important for them to receive recognition for their beautiful work. Check out the full legal terms on their website to determine if an image is available to edit or if it must remain as is. Burst does promote using its offerings to create store pages, packaging or products.

3. Reshot

Reshot is unique on this list because it does not offer photography. Instead, it has icons and illustrations anyone is free to use. If your next project requires digital art rather than photography, Reshot could be one of the best places to look. It has a plethora of options — more than 40,000 icons and over 1,500 vector illustrations. Reshot also allows designers to download what they need in multiple formats, making your life much easier.

Right on the website’s landing page, it says all images are free for designers to download. Their commercial license is short, sweet and to the point — you are free to use whatever you need and attribute if you feel like it. When you need a great illustration rather than a photograph, Reshot is an excellent resource to utilize.

4. Kaboompics

This site is just one of the many that offer stunning and high-quality photography images. It is a great place to find stock photos for free because many brands of note use their services — Forbes, Cosmopolitan and Uber are just a few examples. Kaboompics’s search engine also allows you to browse by category, orientation, mode and color. It also allows you to download the images at a custom size, along with the color palette of the photo and its HEX colors.

The only time Kaboompics does not allow the sale of its photography is if the image is entirely unaltered. If the design makes the shot unique, then it is OK to sell on products. As with the other sites, this one does not require attribution but does appreciate it if doing so is possible.

5. FreeImages

With an on-the-nose name, FreeImages is a comprehensive resource for finding stock photos for free. It does not stop at photography — the site also offers icons, vectors, clipart and PSD templates. All this content is free for any designer to download, transform and utilize for whatever project they create. Such a wide variety of available assets makes FreeImages a fantastic resource to keep in mind.

However, they do have notable terms on their License page. Like Kaboompics, any image used commercially must have decent alterations. You also cannot use any of these photos for a logo, business name or trademark. FreeImages also states on this page that some of the content may not be available for commercial use or requires attribution, so be sure to check the license information on the image’s page.

6. Pexels

Pexels is another popular place to find stock photos for free. Along with images, they offer stock videos if any designer requires such a file. You can download each picture with a set or unique size, gather several into a collection and view images with similar colors or tags. Its search filters allow you to find what you need in any orientation, size or HEX code. You can also get the videos in various quality sizes, so you know exactly what you are getting when you download them.

All photos and videos are free to download and edit as you please. Like other sites, attributing to Pexels photographers is not necessary but is appreciated. The site does not allow you to sell its photos if you have not altered them in any way that makes them unique. It also asks that you do not imply any endorsement by the people or products in the images you use. Besides that, Pexels lets you utilize its offerings however you wish.

Utilize the Best Stock Photos for Free for Gorgeous Designs

Free stock photos are significant to designers and small businesses alike. By not having to pay for the license to an image, you are free to create eye-catching and conversion-enticing designs while being able to allocate your precious funds to other avenues. Many of the creators of these websites crafted them with designers and entrepreneurs in mind, so they know you need high-quality pictures that are free to use. While most of these sites have some stipulations, they are free to use as a whole.

Remember to check the licenses of each website and photo you choose to use. Some might have specific agreements that could land you in hot water if you are not careful. However, do not let such matters dissuade you from utilizing free stock photos. Many photographers out there are willing to let you use their captures for almost anything your project calls for.

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