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    While flat design is necessary and important at times, adding depth to a design opens a whole new world of visual interpretation.  Dimension allows for a design to feel more realistic, more engaging, and much more visually interesting.  It can either make a design feel like its popping off a screen or page at you or stretching back into a created space on the page.  Essentially, depth gives a sense of distance, and it’s this distance that leads a viewer to be drawn into this three-dimensional space that has been created.

    Depth can be created in graphic design by using a variety of techniques, including the following:

    1)     Drop Shadows

    The most common of these techniques is the use of drop shadows.  Adding drop shadows to objects within a design immediately creates a sense of distance between the object itself and the area that the shadow is being casted on, showing that the object is placed above another layer within the created space.  


    2)     Size and Scale

    Using varying size and scale is another great way to show distance in a design.  When viewing large and small objects in comparison to each other, larger objects tend to appear closer, and smaller objects seem to be further away, creating that sense of depth.  When viewing this set of circles below, it appears as though the circles are getting closer and closer from the left to the right side of the page, right? This appearance is due to the increase in size of each circle. This technique can also be used in scenic designs, like the image in the next section, to show which element is “closer” in the scene compared to the rest.





    3)     Overlapping

    Overlapping objects makes it seem like your design has multiple layers, which once again gives the appearance of depth.  In this example below, we get the sense that there is a whole mountain range going back into the image because of the layering that is used with the mountains.  We know that the mountains on the far right and left are farther back in the picture than the rest because of both the differences in size, but also because they are overlapped by the remaining 3 mountains. 




    4)     Perspective

    Changing the perspective of a design can change the feeling and interpretation of it completely.  Compared to flat design, which has just a straight on two dimensional perspective, giving the perspective of a design from a different angle can create much more dimension within your designs. Linear perspective is a commonly used form of this technique, which uses converging lines at one or more points to create that sense of depth and distance.  The most common example of this is having a road that appears to be going on and on into the distance.




    This technique can also be used to give depth to text as well, whether it is in a logo or graphic.  Take a look at the logo below, which uses perspective to create a three dimensional block out of text. 




    5)     Gradient background

    Background colors and images can be a huge factor in creating depth.  A commonly used technique, especially in web design, is using a gradient background to create more depth within a flat colored background.  This is helpful when designing things like buttons on a web page or images that are linked, because the depth causes the image/button to pop more off of the page than the rest of the content, drawing in the attention of the viewer. 




    Whether used alone or paired with another, all of these techniques will add dimension to a flat design in a way that is much more engaging and “real”.  If your looking for a new way to make your designs “pop”, give one of these a shot! 

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    Eco Friendly Apparel

    Price Point: Varies for each product

    Average Production Time: Varies for each product 

    Available Colors: 
    Varies for each product

    Perfect For: Employee Gifts, Client Gifts, Corporate Swag Stores, New Hire Giveaways, Tradeshow Apparel, Internal SWAG

    There's been an big emphasis as of late for people around the world to reduce, reuse, and recycle as many products and consumer goods as we can. NorthPoint has your reusable straws, your wheat products, those amazing reusable shopping bags that you need when you're on-the-go, and so much more that will help in the fight to save our planet. AND we have another secret to share - apparel is now a part of the green trend too! (OH GOSH!!) It's true my friends, and you heard it here first - a variety of clothing brands are joining in on the movement to "Eco-Friendly Town!" The apparel pieces range from polos, t-shirts, sweatshirts, jackets, etc., so don't worry about limiting your style! The material that is used is from recycled materials and plastics, making it eco-friendly fashion. So throw on a pair of jeans and dress it up with an eco-friendly t-shirt and lightweight quarter zip 'cause it's time to strut your Earth-saving self through the office and streets with that feel-good stylish vibe! 
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    The align tool is a simple, yet powerful feature of design programs that I personally use countless times a day. It keeps my objects lined up perfectly so nothing looks amiss, keeping every pixel in it’s place. Once someone notices something out of alignment, it’s hard to no longer see it, and it could become distracting. This alignment tool will be your best friend when making everything look professional and clean. However, not all designers may be aware of the helpful functions the align tool has to offer.


    Align tool can be found under Window > Align. Depending on which “align to” mode is set, you can have the align tool automatically place things effortlessly. See some samples below. (I’ll be using Adobe Illustrator but the same features can be found across their suite of programs.)


    Align to Artboard
    A simple way to align objects perfectly center in your document is changing the “Align to” to “Artboard” and then pressing the center vertically and center horizontally. Never again will you need to manually place things centered!




    Align to Selection
    Align to Selection is a useful tool when you need certain objects to line up in relation to one another. Select the objects you need, change the “Align to” mode to “Selection,” and then press the functions as needed, and the objects will only move among themselves.




    Align to Key Object
    Here’s another very useful function similar to the one above. With Key Object alignment, you will be able to align items in relation to only one key object. To designate the key object, simply select all your items you would like selected first, then simply click on an already-selected object again. The key object will be highlighted in a blue border from the rest, so you know which one it is. Simply select another selected object to change which item is the key object. Then use the functions as needed. The key object won’t move, but the items you also have selected will move in relation to that one item.



    Distribute Spacing
    Have you ever needed to give even spacing between items quickly? Look no further! Simply select the objects you would like (remember to set the “Align to” to “Selection” so that they don’t distribute to the sides of the artboard) and then press the function for distributing spacing horizontally or vertically. Now your items are evenly placed!

    Need any design help? Reach out to NorthPoint's design team for project creation, edits & modifications, or expert advice! 
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    An image of the moon with a box designed to look like a spaceship in front of it

    The NorthPoint Hot Box: Space Edition is out of this world! Our amazing team has searched galaxies near and far for the most interesting and fun new products that we could find. So Houston, begin your countdown, and astronauts, prepare for take-off! (and possibly an extraterrestrial encounter!)

    Interested in receiving a Hot Box? Send an email to sales@northpointprinting.com to join our email list and for a chance to GET HOT BOXED BY NORTHPOINT!



    Twinkle Star Lights

    Price Point: $1.99 - $3.18

    Available Colors: White

    Description: Let your desk, room, kitchen, or any frequented space shine like the stars with these Twinkle LED string lights. It is made of 10 feet of malleable wire that connects the 30 lights together and can be bent to any desired shape. They may not be actual stars - but holy cow are they close!

    Alien Stress Reliever

    Price Point: $2.53 - $2.93

    Available Colors: Silver/Green

    Description: What do human beings and aliens have in common? Don't stress about finding the right answer, but if you do, just squeeze this small friend. He is a special Martian made for helping with the relief of anxious moments in our work or day to day lives.


    Cosmic Magnetic Clasp Bracelets


    Price Point: $4.15 - $4.65

    Available Colors: Multicolor, Blue, Orange, Green, Pink, Red, White


    Description: A cosmic glow that comes from your wrist? Shine as bright as the moon with this light up bracelet. It has a sleek and lightweight design, a comfortable fit, and a magnetic clasp.

    Space Smacker

    Price Point: $2.95 - $3.25

    Available Colors: Grape, Lime, Royal Blue, Ruby, Tangerine

    Description: The language of aliens and extraterrestrials remains unknown, but the sound of this spacey smacker could be something similar. WHO KNOWS! This ball is addictive, fun and stress relieving. it comes in many bright colors and when squeezed, ti makes a "smacking" sound possibly communicating with something out of this world.

    Electrolyte Delight

    Price Point: $2.95 - $3.13

    Available Colors: Gold, Silver, White

    Description: Congratulations traveler, you are off and away on your next greatest mission. Not only is it important to fuel your shuttle but you must fuel your body as well. NorthPoint has you covered with this magical packet of electrolytes to hydrate you and keep your mind/body sharp and focused in case you're under pressure to save earth. Just add the packet to 32 oz. of water, stir, and you're ready for launch.


    Astronaut Log Book

    Price Point: $7.33 - $10.70

    Available Colors: Royal Blue, Turquoise, Black Opaque, White, Slate, Mocha, Fuschia, & More!

    Description: Log any adventure you take with this spiral bound notebook. Made with a hard cover making it super durable for a trip out of this world. Utilize the calendar in the back for the important moments, due dates and/or missions you must take. There are also pages for important contacts in case your mission fails and you need back-up, or you just want to contact someone galaxies away.


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    Sometimes a brochure, banner, or business card will have assets such as graphics or photos linked to somewhere on your computer. It’s important that these assets are embedded into your design file. Sometimes that can be overlooked so when it comes time for another designer or printer to open the file, it’ll have missing links. These missing links are trying to point to some asset on your computer that other computers won’t have. This could lead to a project being delayed because the printer is waiting to receive those missing assets. To avoid any headaches, remember to package your design files. This process will create a copy of all assets including fonts, photos, and other graphics as well as the design file itself into one convenient folder that you can share with your printer or other designer. That way, when they go to open the file, the design program will look for all the linked assets in the packaged folder and all will be present. Here’s how to package your files!



    How to package a document in Adobe InDesign:
    Packing contents is very common with Adobe InDesign. When you create something as large as a 40-page brochure, there may be a plethora of assets linked within each page.

    Step 1: Go to File > Package…

    Step 2: Then click “Package…”


    Step 3: Navigate to where you want to save your packaged folder. Make sure the items in the left column of options are checked. I also like to include an IDML file, which is an InDesign file that can be opened by older versions of InDesign. Name your folder and hit the final “Package” button.


    When you open your packaged folder, you will see a folder for Document Fonts, Links, and the InDesign files.


    Step 4: To make this folder a .zip file, go up one level and right click the packaged folder, then select “Sent To” > “Compressed (zipped) folder. Now you can share this .zip file with your sharing client of choice (such as Dropbox or Wetransfer.com). Packaged files tend to be large and cannot be sent via email due to file size restrictions.


    How to package a document in Adobe Illustrator:
    If you create shapes and type in Illustrator, for the most part they’ll be vector files unless you place in other assets. If you go to Window > Links, you can see if there are any items the document is pulling from. If it has a symbol to the right, that means the asset is embedded in the document.


    You can embed assets that aren’t already by clicking on the item in the list, then click on the top right menu button, then “Embed Image(s)”. Embedding images will make the document file larger since these assets are being saved within. This also makes editing the embedded asset a little difficult, so the best method is packaging the file. Note: When you package a document in Illustrator, only the non-embedded items will be copied into the folder.


    Step 1: Go to File > Package…


    Step 2: Find the location you would like to save your packaged folder. Name the folder. And make sure “Copy Links” and “Copy Fonts” are checked like in the example below. Then click “Package”.


    When you open your packaged folder, you will see a folder for Document Fonts, Links, and the Illustrator file.


    Step 3: To make this folder a .zip file, go up one level and right click the packaged folder, then select “Sent To” > “Compressed (zipped) folder. Now you can share this .zip file with your sharing client of choice (such as Dropbox or Wetransfer.com). Packaged files tend to be large and cannot be sent via email due to file size restrictions.

    Have any questions? Reach out to NorthPoint's design team to guide you and provide expert advice!
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    A mobile mount for your cell phone

    Price Point: $4.99 - $8.73

    Average Production Time: 5-7 Business Days

    Available Colors: 
    Black, White

    Perfect For: Employee Gifts, Client Gifts, Corporate Corporate Swag Stores, Raffle Prizes, New Hire Giveaways, Desk Swag, Room Drop Presents, Speaker Gifts

    Have you ever thought to yourself, "tonight is the night I am going to relax, take a bath, and watch a movie?" But... (OH NO!) disaster strikes - as you watch your phone slip from your hands and plummet towards the water below. Now, not only is your phone dead, but your "relaxing" night is utterly ruined. Say no more, as NorthPoint has the product to protect you from all of that chaos! Our new Cell Gel Mounts are reusable mounts used to hold your phone at your desk, on a plane, in the bathtub, in a car, or just about anywhere! They adhere to any clean flat surface and are made to fit smartphones, tablets, or other handheld devices. Add your full color fancy fun logo to the carrying case and remember - now nothing is stopping you from playing that game on a long road trip or falling asleep to your Netflix show anywhere you go! 
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    When speaking of a company’s “branding” or “brand”, we are essentially talking about how your company exists in the mind of consumers, whether it’s thoughts, opinions, or associated feelings. When people see your logo or hear your brand name, you want them to immediately think of what your brand is, what it represents, and what it offers (all in a positive light, of course). When you think of the brand Starbucks, what do you think of? Their green logo? Their great customer service? Their high-quality customized drinks? Their well-known seasonal cup designs? The reason that we think of these things when we see or hear the name of their brand is because of their successful branding tactics, a main one being their consistency – consistency in quality, but also consistency in design and marketing assets.



    By being consistent in the use of same or similar design assets throughout all marketing efforts, your brand will grow to become recognizable in all forms and fronts. Establishing your brand visually, through things like color, type, and style are what lead to the ability to recognize who you are as a brand. Many companies make use of a brand guideline to lay out the visual assets of their brand and what can and can’t be used, all in the attempt to form this consistency in branding. For example, our very own brand guidelines feature things like our logo variations, 4 main colors, brand font, and icons used.




    With the visual assets of your brand established, you now have a basic guide that will allow you to market your brand in a way that can still be creative and unique, but consistent and familiar to your brand at the same time, preventing any confusion on what or who is relaying the message. Apply these assets to any and all marketing efforts that you make in the future, allowing your “brand” to be “branded” in a consistent and familiar way to your consumers. Use these same colors, fonts, icons, etc. in your marketing collateral, social media presence, website, promotional products, and even internal things like meeting presentations, emails, and visuals around the office.

    Through this familiarity of your brand, trust is formed with the consumer. Being one of the biggest benefits of good branding, trust is essential to building loyal relationships with your consumers. You want to be seen as having a solid and confident identity so that your audience will know that they can rely on you to provide the same amazing quality service that they received already once before. If your branding was inconsistent and scattered, consumers might form doubt into who you really are and if your company is what it says it is or used to be. If Starbucks woke up one day and decided to change the color of their brand to purple, how would you react? Perhaps we might be led to think that something about the company has changed, and we may be skeptical about continuing to go to the coffee shop that we loved and have always relied on before.


    Lastly, a consistency in branding relays the message of professionalism. If your branding shows that you know what you’re doing and you’re put together, it is assumed that you must offer a product or service that is also professional and put together. On the other hand, going along with trust and loyalty, if your branding is inconsistent and sloppy, your brand will probably not be trusting of what it is that you are providing.

    If your brand is currently lacking a brand guideline or consistency in branding, take these tips with you to your next marketing meeting, and think about what you could be doing to make your brand stand out and be memorable to your consumers!

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    Price Point: Varies for Each Product

    Average Production Time: Varies for Each Product

    Available Colors: 
    Varies for Each Product

    Perfect For: Employee Gifts, Client Gifts, Corporate Swag Store, Raffle Prizes, Swag Store Real Estate, New Hire Giveaways, Desk Swag, Room Drop Presents, Speaker Gifts

    Are you looking for promotional products that scream “I AM ECO-FRIENDLY AND EARTH HEALTHLY!!” Let NorthPoint point you in the right direction with our laundry list of items that fit in the category of “saving our planet”, all thanks to the renewable resource of wheat straw.

    Wheat straw is bringing the green vibe into the world of products because it is not only a phenomenal renewable resource, but is also fully biodegradable. The best part is that this material isn’t limited to just a plate and a straw … oh no it isn't … check out the speakers, wireless chargers, phone wallets, pens, and more - ALL made with wheat straw! Help do your part in saving the Earth by introducing these products to your company’s marketing closet. GO GREEN.
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