QuickLinks: Web Site Info | Preparing Electronic Art Files | Payment for Our Services

Graphic Design & Artwork

When you design something for me, do I own it?
Yes! You own anything that you have completely paid us to design. If the bill is unpaid, we don't provide ownership until the account is brought into good standing.

I have a JPEG I got off the Internet, can you blow it up to make a banner or wall graphic?
Photos you find on the internet are usually at 72 dots per inch resolution when they are at 100% size. In order to print a decent photo, you need at least 200 dots per inch resolution at 100% size. Most cell phone photos also are not good enough quality to enlarge for printing. Enlarging any image will reduce the resolution, and then when printed it will come out pixelated and blurry.

Your only choice is to find a web site where you can purchase the high resolution versions of the pics or provide a high resolution image that you photographed.

Here I got these photos off Google, use them in my brochure.
You need permission in order to use it. However Google does not own the images found via Google Search. You must contact the owner of the image (typically whoever first posted the image on the web) and obtain his/her permission in order to use it. By using images without permission, it is possible that you could find yourself in some form of litigation as for ownership of it, as you couldn't prove ownership and the other person could.

Can you create a vector logo?
Absolutely! Vector based images can be scaled by any amount without degradation of the image. This is essential with logo design since it will be used in a vast number of formats and variety of sizes. Vector graphics are made up of points and paths that represent the image on the computer. Pixel based graphics (often called raster or bitmap) are made of individual bits, or pixels that represent the image on the computer. You want your logo to be look as crisp and clear on your banners as it does on your business card.

Can you create a better quality vector logo from an image of my logo?
Yes, we have “re-created” many images from low quality pixelated images so that they can be used for other things like marketing materials or signs which we can also design for you.

Web Site Information

How do you build a web site?
Here at Realm30 Media we build all our sites using a content management system called Joomla. A content management system is suite of applications and tools that can seamlessly create, edit, review and publish electronic text. Joomla is widely known in the web development arena, offering lots of choices for free and upgraded template designs, as well as many useful add-on extensions to give your site more functionality.

How much does a basic website cost?
This is a loaded question for us, because your perception and our perception of a basic website may be totally different. We have learned over the years that it is much better for you and Realm30 Media to align our perspectives, and assess your goals with building this new website. We will prepare a written estimate for you to review and sign before we start any job.

What is a domain name?
A domain name is the link people will type in to get to your website, like www.example.com. To get a domain name, you have to pay an annual fee to a registrar for the right to use that name. Getting a domain name does not get you a website or anything like that. It's just a name. It's sort of like registering a business name in the brick-and-mortar world; having that business name does not mean that you also have the shop premises to go with the name. A very important marketing tool is to pick a domain name that relates to your business and is easy for people to remember.

What is web hosting?
A web host is basically a company that has many computers connected to the Internet 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. When you place your web pages on their computers, everyone in the world will be able to connect and view them. You will need to sign up for an account with a web host so that your website has a home and is able to be viewable by the world. If getting a domain name is analogous to getting a business name in the brick-and- mortar world, getting a web hosting account is analogous to renting office or shop premises for your business.

Can I manage my web site after it's built?
Yes! You will be given access to the backend of your web site to manage your content. We will provide training for you or your staff. Depending on your computer skill level you can make simple changes to whole page changes. If you don't feel comfortable making changes, we are always available to take on that task for you.

What if I want to move my web site? Do you own it?
If your Realm³⁰ Media account is paid in full, you own the site and are free to move it anytime you so choose.

What is needed from me to complete my web site?
We will have you fill out our Web Planning Questionnaire, so we both know exactly what we will need to provide to make the project a success and so expectations can be met on both sides. Start thinking/drafting your text for each page and gather images you would like to include. Another helpful tool is for you to look at web sites to get some ideas of what you would like your site to look like – design, colors and extensions you would like to include.

What is Search Engine Optimization (SEO)?
This is a process that is applied to both your website and web footprint to promote your website and increase rankings on search engines for targeted keywords or phrases. SEO will in turn expose your business to more people searching for your type of services or goods. Having strong keywords listed in your web site will significantly aid in this process. By making a list of words that best describe your business we will be able to easily incorporate them into your site.

How long does it take for SEO to happen?
There is not a clear answer for this question, as there are many factors to consider. They range from website build, competitiveness locally or globally and existing ranking. We do not guarantee any dates or time frames, but we do deliver measurable results for our clients.

My web site just went live, why isn't it showing up in the number one listing in Google?
There are about 50 different factors that play into how Google ranks web sites in their "natural" (non-paid) search engine listings. When a site first goes live, it may be a day to a few weeks before Google even finds your site to index it and list your site's content in their search database. Then based on the strength of your keywords, market competition, in-bound links from other web sites, etc affect where your site is listed.

Preparing Electronic Art Files

When providing artwork to us for your projects, please follow our guidelines when submitting digital files for best results.

File Format:
We accept the following file formats TIF, JPEG, EPS, PNG, AI, PSD, IND, and PDF.

When submitting logos, you can provide us EPS, AI or PDF files. These are usually created in Adobe Illustrator and are scalable. We also can use PNG or JPG files, however they tend to soften if they need to be enlarged a great deal.

Text Files:
We accept text for your web site in Microsoft Word. When creating this file, if you want text in bold or italics then format it as such. Labeling the text with notes as to what page it goes on, which graphics go with that text is very helpful to us when creating the actual web page.

Resolution For Printing:
All file formats must have a minimum of 200 dpi (dot per inch) resolution at actual size or there will be a substantial drop in the image quality. You can also provide a half size image at double the resolution (400dpi)

Resolution For Web Sites:
It is best to provide us with the largest file format you have, so that we can adjust/crop it to fit the space. When supplying images for web sites, your image files need to be at least 72 dpi when they are at 100% size. Enlarging 72 dpi images will soften the quality of the artwork.

Fonts:
Fonts must be embedded in PDF files.
Fonts must be outlined or converted to paths or curves in EPS or Adobe Illustrator or Photoshop files.
Some fonts have copyright restrictions and will not embed in PDF Files.

File Firmats That We Can Not Use:

Payment for Our Services:

Billing Terms:
We require a signed estimate to be faxed back to us, legally approving the charges we will be billing for in the near future. You must send us a 40% depost. This deposit can be in the form of a check, money order or credit/debit card. Once we've received a signed estimate and a deposit we will begin working.

We accept cash, checks or major credit cards. We can invoice you or send you an electronic invoice that you can us to pay with your credit or debit card.
Note: There is a small processing fee when paying with a card.

Non-Profits:
We offer non-profits reduced rates on our graphic design, photography, annual web hosting, and video services. Please contact us for details.

Late Payments
All bills are due net 15 unless a special arrangement has been made previously. Outstanding balances past 30 days are subject to a $25 late charge each month. Bills past 90 days will be sent to our collections agency. And your credit rating will be affected.