Print Design
Q. I don't know much about design. Do I have to provide you with artwork or do you do this?
Q. What is the difference between print resolution and web resolution?
Q. Can I use a photo or illustration that I've found on the Internet in my design?
Q. Do you also illustrate using the computer?
Q. Do I, as the client, have full copyright of the designs you create for us?
Q. I'm ready to start! So, how does the process work?
Q. Do you design with Islamic themes or Arabic fonts?
Q. What makes you different than a freelance or "free" designer?
Q. What types of graphic designs do you NOT produce?
Q. Can you send our file directly to our printer?
Q. What software do you use for our designs?
Web Design
Q. I want a web site designed but I don't know much about the technical requirements. What do you need from me?
Q. I am a business just starting out; which web package do you recommend for me?
Q. I would like to go with the beginner's web package but instead of six pages, I will need seven. Do I have to pay extra?
Q. How long does it take to design a web site for me?
Q. How many revisions are included?
Q. Can you help us with domain registration and finding a suitable web host?
Q. I am having trouble with finalizing content. Can you help us with this?
Q. Is maintenance included in the contract?
Q. Do you register our web site to search engines?
Q. What software do you use for web development?
Marketing Support
Q. What type of industries do you provide this service to?
Q. What types of documents do create?
Q. How much do you charge?
Q. What type of expertise do you have in this area?
Q. What software do you use?
Rates and Hours
Q. I am in a hurry and I will need my design finished quickly. How long do you take?
Q. I am in need of sales literature but I can't afford to pay that much as I am a new business starting up. What are your rates?
Q. Do you charge by the hour or by the job?
Q. Do you have any special deal packages?
Q. How many revisions do we get?
Q. What are your business hours?
Payment and Shipping
Q. I live outside of Canada; how do I pay you?
Q. What is your payment policy?
Q. How do we receive our final files?
Print Design
Q. I don't know much about design. Do I have to provide you with artwork or do you do this?
A. No problem. We guide you through the design based on your preferences. We also take in any artwork that you specify you want and customize your design. Be sure to visit our blog to learn more about design tips.
Q. What is the difference between print resolution and web resolution?
A. Print resolution usually refers to resolution of your layout or pictures needed for professional press print. This usually is at least 300 dpi. Web resolution is the resolution you need to view the layout or pictures on the screen and is usually 72 dpi. For more information, please visit our blog.
Q. Can I use a photo or illustration that I've found on the Internet in my design?
A. If you are having us create a design for print, we need a resolution of at least 300 dpi and most of the photos or illustrations taken off of the Internet are 72 dpi. Another thing you must check is if that photo or illustration is copyrighted. It's best if you e-mail us the artwork for us to check for you.
Q. Do you also illustrate on the computer?
A. Yes, we do. However, keep in mind that we do not illustrate animate objects with faces (only outlines or shadows), unless it's for educational or children's purposes.
Q. Do I, as the client, have full copyright of the designs you create for us?
A. Yes, the client has full copyright of final, approved designs, as long as Optimize It. Designs is credited for the creation of the design on the final product, with a byline on each of our designs, except for logos. This does not include any partial or incomplete designs that have not been approved.
Q. I'm ready to start! So, how does the process work?
A. Great! You can find how our process works under "Process".
Q. Do you design with Islamic themes or Arabic fonts?
A. Yes! We can do this if this is your preference. We can also use Arabic fonts for most projects. Please contact us for details.
Q. What makes you different than a freelance or "free" designer?
A. Well, for starters, all of our designers are qualified with not only technical software and requirements, but advanced graphic design principles and use marketing your business as a priority. We offer a reliable service that you can count on, even if the project is put on express. You can find more information on our blog or under What Makes Us Different.
Q. What types of graphic designs do you NOT produce?
A. Optimize It. Designs does not create or promote the use of any text or graphic designs that are directly in opposition to Islamic teachings of the Qur'an and Sunnah. This includes but is not limited to text or graphics containing pornography, immodest dress, obscenity, nudity, harmful material, illegal activity, music with instruments, three-dimensional images or illustrative faces with eyes or photographs of animate objects. There are limited, specific cases where illustration or photographs of animate objects are allowed according to the legal rulings of Islamic scholars when the benefit clearly outweighs the harm (ex. for some educational purposes or for some projects geared towards small children under the age of puberty) and these specific situations will be judged on a case-by-case basis.
Q. Can you send our file directly to our printer?
A. Yes, actually we prefer to be in contact with your printer before commencement of the design project because every printer has slightly different technical requirements.
Q. What software do you use for our designs?
A. Designs are created for high, professional print resolution. Depending on the nature of the design, we use Adobe Illustrator, QuarkXPress, and/or Photoshop among other programs and can easily send .eps or .pdf formats directly to your printer.
Web Design
Q. I want a web site designed but I don't know much about the technical requirements. What do you need from me?
A. No problem. We work with our clients, explaining each phase of the project and have set up a worksheet to gather the necessary information we need from you.
Q. I am a business just starting out; which web package do you recommend for me?
A. It depends on your business scope and needs. You could go with the small business web package if you are a new business just starting out and are looking for web presence or you could go with the business web package if you have more complex items you want to include, for example, a photo gallery, forum or e-commerce. It's best to contact us so we can provide consultation for you.
Q. I would like to go with the small business web package but instead of eight pages, I will need nine. Do I have to pay extra?
If all you need is one more text page, then you can go with the small business web package and add on the price for an extra page. If you need some more 'extras', it might be best to go with the business package.
Q. How long does it take to design a web site for me?
A. It usually takes 2-3 weeks to design the homepage layout and build your website from the time we receive all of the information and files we need but it all depends on the web package you choose, your preferences and the number of revisions.
Q. How many revisions are included?
A. For web design, up to three revisions are included for Phase I (home page layout approval) and up to three revisions are included for Phase II (final web site approval).
Q. Can you help us with domain registration and finding a suitable web host?
A. We can register the domain for you as part of an extra service and we can check to see if the hosting package you want is suitable for your web site needs.
Q. I am having trouble with finalizing content. Can you help us with this?
A. Our standard web site worksheet will help you organize your ideas and thoughts in logical content order to help navigation. As an extra service, we can help optimize your content and navigation by having our copy-writer either write your content or edit your pre-exising content.
Q. Is maintenance included in the contract?
A. Maintenance is not included in the main contract. Maintenance is billed by the hour unless you have a standard maintenance contract with us.
Q. Do you register our web site to search engines?
A. Yes, we register your web site with the top search engines after web launch.
Q. What software do you use for web development?
A. Web sites are created professionally for web resolution. Depending on the nature of the design, we design in PHP, HTML, UNIX, Linux, JavaScript, MySQL, ASP, and CSS among other coding and programming.
Marketing Support
Q. What type of industries do you provide this service to?
A. We have had experience with marketing support in a wide variety of industries including educational institutions, medical practices and organizations to give you some examples but it is not limited to only these industries.
Q. What types of documents do create?
A. Our copywriter can create a variety of documents for both traditional or web marketing including ad copy, articles and web content for search engine optimization. Also, our translator is able to translate Arabic and English documents for a variety of industries.
Q. How much do you charge?
A. Every project is different depending on the complexity of the project, the industry it's for and the number of hours it takes to complete. Please contact us for a quote.
Q. What type of expertise do you have in this area?
A. We have a very rich set of professional writing and translation skills from administrative work, teaching, training, to engineering, programming and business entrepreneurship.
Q. What software do you use?
A. Documents are created using Microsoft Office and related software and can be sent in original editable formats along with .pdf formats.
Rates and Hours
Q. I am in a hurry and I will need my design finished quickly. How long do you take?
A. Our standard turn-around time is three days for most print projects and approximately two weeks for most web projects from the time we have all of the information and files we need, but that will vary depending on the project details. If you need your project put on express, contact us for a quote and as much detail as possible to complete the project, including any files that we may need.
Q. I am in need of sales literature but I can't afford to pay that much as I am a new business starting up. What are your rates?
A. Rates depend on the project, but I can guarantee you that we offer very reasonable design prices among professional graphic designers. Investing some money in building a professional marketable image can increase your sales exponentially, so it's not a waste whatsoever.
Q. Do you charge by the hour or by the job?
A. Most of the time, we charge by the job and give you a quote or contract upfront. However, for web maintenance, because it varies so much from client to client, we charge by the hour unless the client is under a regular maintenance contract.
Q. Do you have any special deal packages?
A. Yes, we offer a logo package for businesses starting off as well as package deals for web sites. Also, usually the more pages we create in a publication, the cheaper the rate is per page.
Q. How many revisions do we get?
A. For most projects, up to three revisions are included in the price but most of the time clients do not use all of them.
Q. What are your business hours?
A. Our business hours are from Monday to Friday. 9-5pm.
Payment and Shipping
Q. I live outside of Canada; how do I pay you?
A. We accept cash, checks, money order or PayPal. You will be notified with payment details upon receiving your invoice.
Q. What is your payment policy?
A. Half of the design payment is paid up front before commencement of the project. The remaining balance is due after project approval and before we send final files to you or launch your web site.
Q. How do we receive our final files?
A. We send out your final files electronically to you. However, if you wish that they be mailed to you on a CD, please request this.
Contact us for a quote.
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