Today’s post is a collection of illustrations, ads, posters, and book covers that sublimely use negative space to get the message across. The list includes award-winning campaigns, public service announcements (PSAs), covers of best sellers, and more. Check them out below.

Colsubsidio Book Exchange

Colsubsidio Book Exchange

Agency: Lowe/SSP3, Colombia

ITV: Injustice

Agency: BBH London, UK

Philips LED Torch

Agency: Ogilvy & Mather, Gurgaon, India

SANCCOB: Save Penguins

Agency: Bittersuite, South Africa

WWF

Agency: BBH China

Criminal Underworld

Artist: Simon C. Page

UNEP: Skyline

Creative Directors: Vinay Saya, Siddarth Basavaraj

Fiat: Don’t Text and Drive

Agency: Leo Burnett Tailor Made, Sao Paulo, Brazil

An American Werewolf In London

Artist: Olly Moss

The Body Artist by Don DeLillo

Artist: Noma Bar

Coke: Hands

Agency: Ogilvy & Mather Shanghai

Coke: Let’s Eat Together

Agencies: McCann Erickson and MRM Worldwide Romania

Coke: Happiness Makes Friends

Coke: Plants Make Us Happy

Agency: Ogilvy & Mather, New York

Bordeaux Wine

Agency: Isobel, London, UK

Hut Weber: It’s the hat

Agency: Serviceplan Hamburg / München, Germany

Coffee & Cigarettes

Artist: Viktor Hertz

The Support Center Union for Victims of Sexual Assault in Israel

Agency: Mccann Erickson, Tel Aviv, Israel

Sidanne Hair Gel

Agency: Punto 99, Quito, Ecuador

Pirelli: Panda

Agency: Leo Burnett, Milan, Italy

World Sanitation

Artist: Kofi Opoku

Jeep: Two Worlds

Agency: BBDO Proximity, Malaysia

Volkswagen: Features

Agency: DDB Mudra, Gurgaon, India

Canon: Point of View

Agency: dentsuINDIO, Philippines

Hamlet & Titanic Posters

Artist: Milutin Markovic

Melbourne Food & Wine Festival

Artist: Kaushik Shivanagere Badarinarayana

Negative Space of Mind

By Vignesh Seshadri & Kathryn Kvas

Volkswagen: See film differently

Artist: Noma Bar | Agency: Adam & Eve/DDB London

IBM: Smarter Planet

Agency: Ogilvy, Paris, France

The Kamasutra

Artist: Malika Favre

World Food Programme

Artist: Noma Bar | Agency: TBWA\Chiat\Day New York

Tribute to Steve Jobs

Artist: Jonathan Mak Long

The post 60 Brilliant Ads That Masterfully Use Negative Space for Impact appeared first on GRAPHICERS.

The Power of Email Signatures: Making a Lasting Impression

Email signatures serve as digital business cards, providing essential contact information and showcasing your professional identity. They typically include your name, job title, company, phone number, and relevant social media links. A well-designed email signature conveys important details and leaves a lasting impression on recipients. It reinforces your brand identity and demonstrates attention to detail, separating you from generic or poorly formatted signatures.

Making Gmail Signatures with Canva

Unleashing Creativity with Canva: A Designer’s Paradise

Canva is a versatile and user-friendly design tool that offers a wide range of features to create visually stunning email signatures. To get started, simply sign up for a free account on the Canvas website. Upon logging in, you’ll be greeted with an intuitive interface that puts various design tools, templates, and elements at your fingertips. Whether you’re a design novice or a seasoned professional, Canva empowers you to unleash your creativity and craft email signatures that truly represent your brand.

Crafting Your Perfect Email Signature: A Step-by-Step Guide

Creating a professional email signature in Canva is a breeze. Follow these steps to design a signature that reflects your style and brand:

• Select a Template: Begin by searching for “email signature” templates within Canva. Browse through the available options and choose one that aligns with your aesthetic preferences and brand guidelines.
• Customize the Template: Once you’ve selected a template, it’s time to make it your own. Replace the placeholder text with your personal information, such as your name, job title, company name, and contact details. Ensure that the information is accurate and up to date.
• Add Visual Elements: Enhance your email signature by uploading your company logo or a professional headshot. Position these images strategically within the template to create a visually appealing layout. Canva offers a wide selection of graphics and icons that you can incorporate to further customize your design.
• Fine-tune with Design Tools: Use Canva’s extensive editing features to modify text, colors, and other design elements. Experiment with different font styles, sizes, and colors to achieve a cohesive and professional look. Ensure that the chosen fonts and colors align with your brand’s visual identity for consistency across all communications.
• Arrange and Organize: Take advantage of Canva’s layer functionality to arrange and organize the various elements of your email signature. This allows you to create a clean and structured layout, ensuring that each component is easily readable and visually appealing.

Finalizing and Implementing Your Email Signature

Once you’ve customized your email signature to perfection, it’s time to finalize your design. Give it a thorough review, making any necessary adjustments to ensure it looks polished and professional. When you’re satisfied with the result, download the signature in a suitable format, such as PNG or JPEG, which maintains the quality of the design.

Next, it’s time to apply your newly created signature in Gmail. Follow these simple steps:

• Access Gmail Settings: Open your Gmail account and navigate to the settings menu. Click on the “See all settings” option to access the full range of configuration options.
• Create a New Signature: Within the “General” tab, scroll down until you locate the “Signature” section. Click on the “Create new” button and provide a name for your signature.
• Upload Your Signature: Now, insert the Canva-created signature by uploading the downloaded image file. Gmail will automatically embed the image into your signature. If needed, you can adjust the size of the image to ensure it fits well within the email body.
• Set Signature Preferences: Determine when you want your signature to appear in your emails. You can choose to have it included in new emails, replies, or both. Once you’ve selected your preferences, don’t forget to save your changes.

Elevating Your Email Game: Additional Tips and Tricks

To further enhance your email signature and ensure a cohesive brand experience, consider the following tips:

• Consistency is Key: Make sure that the colors, fonts, and overall design of your email signature align with your brand’s visual identity. Consistency across all touchpoints, including emails, reinforces brand recognition and professionalism.
• Test and Refine: After applying your signature in Gmail, send a test email to yourself and others to see how it appears on different devices and email clients. If you notice any issues or areas for improvement, make the necessary adjustments in Canva and re-upload the updated signature.
• Keep it Concise: While it’s tempting to include every piece of information in your email signature, remember that brevity is essential. Stick to the most important details and avoid cluttering your signature with unnecessary elements. A clean and concise signature is more likely to be read and remembered.
• Regularly Update: As your contact information or job title changes, make sure to update your email signature accordingly. An outdated signature can lead to confusion and missed opportunities for communication.

By following this step-by-step guide and using the power of Canva, you can create a professional and visually stunning email signature for Gmail. A well-designed signature not only enhances the overall appearance of your emails but also reinforces your brand’s professionalism and attention to detail. It serves as a subtle yet effective way to make a lasting impression on recipients and strengthen your professional image in the digital realm.

So, take the time to craft a signature that truly represents you and your brand. With Canva’s user-friendly tools and a vast library of templates, unleashing your creativity and elevating your email communications has never been easier. Start designing your perfect email signature today and watch as it becomes a powerful asset in your professional toolkit.

Media Credit: Teacher’s Tech

The post How to make stunning Gmail Signatures with Canva appeared first on GRAPHICERS.

1 – Photo Editors Will Want to Create Their Styles

I’ve edited photos for five years at the time of writing this article, and I started in the same way as many others. I had no idea how to use tools like Lightroom, so I used the Auto tools much more than I should have. This was good for learning how to use the software, but eventually, I wanted to make my pictures look like they were mine.

Since I wanted to make my images look more unique, I learned how to use Lightroom and Photoshop. Yes, AI is still part of my editing process (e.g. straightening and healing my pictures). However, I’d now say that 90% of my edits are my own work.

2 – Not All AI Editing Is Created Equally

Almost every piece of software proudly flaunts its AI features these days. But in my opinion, a good chunk of these tools are simply marketed well. Just because something uses AI doesn’t mean it’s good, it’s the buzzword right now, just like “low-fat” has been overused in the food industry.

Some AI photo editing tools are fantastic. For example, the Noise Reduction feature in Lightroom is well worth learning how to use. However, I think that some tools are a waste of time. I’d recommend trying each AI tool that your preferred editing software has, but at the same time, you should take what’s good and leave the rest.

3 – AI Can Look Obvious if It’s Overdone

If you’re editing photos, you probably want them to look like yours. One of the biggest problems with AI is that many people overdo their edits, and it becomes obvious that they’ve used AI.

A few months ago I used the Denoise tool in Lightroom to get rid of grain in one of my images but synchronized it with another picture that I had taken. However, because I didn’t do my due diligence, parts of the picture became distorted. I then had to restart my edits altogether and spend more time than if I’d adjusted everything manually.

AI editing is fine if done in moderation, but I still think that you shouldn’t rely on it entirely.

4 – AI Editing Is Only a Supplement to Manual Editing

One of the most frequently overlooked points in the AI discussion is that AI is supposed to be a tool, not a replacement. Too many people have drawn the conclusion that throwing AI at anything will solve the problem, but that isn’t true in any field—including photo editing. Human input is still necessary, and manual editing absolutely has its place.

Anyone who takes photo editing seriously will look at AI neutrally. This means that they might use more AI than human editing in some pictures, but they may employ all manual editing and no AI in others. There isn’t a hard-and-fast rule about how much you should use, and even as AI evolves, this will remain true. By adopting this mindset, you can benefit from generative AI as an artist.

AI is one of many tools that you can use to make your images look better, but manual photo editing still has its place and always will. You should master your preferred photo editing software’s manual and AI features to give yourself the best opportunity to create amazing pictures.

The post Will Manual Photo Editing Become Obsolete as AI Advances? Here’s Why I Think It Won’t appeared first on GRAPHICERS.