FullBleed

Featured Illustrator: Glenn Lucas

This month’s last “Three” question comes from the archive of the ADCMW Creatives listserv. Check out what several local creatives had to say, then share your own insight via the comments below!

I’m helping a friend get her home office up and running, and was wondering if we could get some advice on design software. Especially font management and older versions of CS.

1) Ebay (be sure you are getting the full professional version and preferably unopened)
2) I am sure there are great Font management options but Mac’s FontBook has worked fine for us.
3) Some kind of accounting software (Billings 3.0 works great for home-based or freelance) and Microsoft Office Professional that way you can take advantage of the full version of Entourage mail which is, in my opinion, a bit more complex but better than Mac Mail.
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If you need additional hardware, it’s good to have an external backup drive for files with Firewire 800, 400 and USB support if possible for speed and compatibility and a decent color small office laser printer or inkjet. It wouldn’t be a bad idea to get a battery backup if your friend likes working during electrical storms

I use Linotype FontExplorer Pro. At some point your friend will likely need the pay versions of StuffIt Deluxe and an FTP Client.
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And clients will likely submit text as a Word file. I bought Office for Mac back in 2003 but have never upgraded. Instead, I bought iWork 08, wherein Pages opens Word files, etc. So I have both sets.
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And, for the business record keeping, I use Quickbooks.
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A scanner is pretty handy to have.
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Pantone books are pretty necessary.
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A type library. Adobe’s is the most useful/best value.
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And here’s a good value/starter font collection.
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Don’t forget there are good fonts on the Adobe installation “extras” discs. A lot of people disregard those, but they’re there and they’re good ones (ITC).
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I’ve never bought this way, but looks like some folks are still selling CS3.
http://www.google.com/products?q=adobe+creative+suite+3+mac+buy
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Don’t forget an archive/backup plan (external drives). And don’t forget the contract/s!

My advice would be to skip Extensis Suitcase and instead install Linotype’s FREE app, FontExplorer. I first heard it mentioned here (on the ADCMW list) and was très skeptical, but I’ve used it for 3 years now and it has proven to be outstanding.

What did we miss? Fill us in using the comments!