How to Design With Only One Picture

How many pictures did you use the last time you designed something? I'm guessing your answer is mostly likely to be... more than one.

When we design, we normally like to have as much resources as possible, whether it be images or text, so we can choose the best ones to incorporate into the design.

But what if you were only given one image? What if you were in a hurry and could only find one image?

Here are two quick methods that will save you both time and brain battery designing a professional-looking design.


1. Split the picture

Yes, you only have one picture to use, But there's no law against splitting the image, is there? In fact, splitting the image will make your design more harmonious and consistent, as the colours will all be compatible. And consequently, you will have an easier time choosing your colour palette. Let me show you the effects.

orange tuesday

Original Image

Split images

It's not perfect, but you get the idea. The split images don't have to be stacked on one side. They can be placed in text, etc. as well.

2. Use as background

Using a image as the background can often be seen in magazines. E.g.

jurvetson

Jennifer Su

It is very effective as long the image and the text contrast. So the image has to have an area where the colour(s) are similar, so the text will be clear and can be read easily.

And... that's it!
Do you have any tips for designing with only one image as well? If so, please share!~

How to Print Professional Looking Designs at Home

briansuda

Unless you're a professional designer/artist with a super fancy studio, you're most likely to have one of those small printers that print A4 size pages only. And those printers can only print no bleed.

"No bleed? What's no bleed?!", you ask.
It's simply a posh word for "with margins".

I'm sure you've all experienced the discontent and frustration when the poster/brochure/etc. which you've spent your whole lives on came out to have around it... A FAT, WHITE MARGIN!!! It completely ruins the design and most importantly, it makes it look unprofessional and amateurish.

So should you leave it there? Should you cut it out? You stand there undecided and troubled.

Don't fuss! There is a solution!

First, allow me take you through the logic:
There are only two factors that can be changed: the printer, or, your design.
The printer: unless you pay to get your design printed, there's no way you can get your little printer to print bleed.
Your design: but can it be changed to make the page look like it's a bleed?

Yes!
How?
Scroll down.


Un-connect the dots

We see a margin because our eyes connect the elements on the page to form a line, because those elements are aligned so perfectly that they do actually form an invisible line. And getting rid of the invisible line means getting rid of the margins.

Rearrange your elements
This can be done easily by drawing a margin line smaller than your printer's and evading and crossing over that line by rearranging the elements on the page. This may make your page look a bit messy, so it's best to use in casual, informal designs.

Minimize your elements
Instead of using a background-filling image, minimize the image. Same with texts. Your design will then achieve a minimalist effect. This works with serious designs as well. Below is an example.

OliBac

Instead of paying for full-bleed printing, here are two tricks to eliminate the margin created by our eyes and produce professional looking designs. I think it's always better to work with what you've got rather than fight it and trying to get rid of it.

How about you? Do you have any tricks for printing no-bleed?