Illustrator tutorial: make a greeting card 2011

Well I'll show you an easy way to make a greeting card Illustrator. In summary as a tool that I used to do.

• Type Tool (T)
• Rounded Rectangle Tool
• Rectangle Tool (M)
• Symbol Sprayer Tool (Shift + S)
• Symbol and Effect Tool

See above, I try to make it clear to you and then you can try is easy to do for you.

Let's start a new style. Rectangle tool (M) to make a square object and gradient as shown below:

and used to make a long article in this two years ago before receiving, for example the image below. Make sure that the style of shade is lined up.

Start type tool (T) and type the number 2 is normal font Bauhaus 93. Not sure if your computer has this font, but most of all. If you do not, you can use your own character with the same instructions.

Once you the number ready go to ==> Effect ==> 3D ==> Extrude & Bevel..

Set up by the image option here 10 - 15 - -8 Perspective: 100 and then OK

Go to Object menu ==> Expand Appearance then finally you have a 3D number 2. Try to un-group it and then you will able to color it by part.

Over here I used the swatches color to help me on the foreground color and style.

Well on my side I only used Type Tool one time on the number 2 the rest I used Rounded Rectangle Tool to help it. Let's look to number 0 and number 1. After I used the Rounded Rectangle Tool I gave the same option of the above and color. Then make a shadow to all numbers.

Make stars by using the Symbol Sprayer Tool. Firstly find a star symbol on the symbol tab. Select on it and select Symbol Sprayer Tool to spray. Below image is what we got after sprayed.

Type Tool once again. As mentioned do it the same option on the 2011 style. Just type HAPPY NEW YEAR. Here the final result.

After done following my step you will get a 2011 greeting card. And you have any question on this please comment below.

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The Problem With The Header Image

I was here, creating templates for me when I found a very annoying bug.

Normally, when you load an image from your computer to the head of the blog, and Blogger retains the image to its original size. Today is reduced automatically - leaving the horrible design.


I did tests on several templates and noticed that the problem was common to all. Hence, I look at the official forum and found that the bug is affecting multiple users.

forum

You see, in the image below as a header that was used in a test blog: av-head

Notice that the letter is dull (click to enlarge), because the image that originally has 978 px width, was reduced to 400 px.

Since I reported the problem to the Blogger team. Until resolved, to upload the image to Picasa. There in Picasa, click on the image and then click "Full Screen". With the right mouse button, click "Copy Image Location"

image

Go back to the configuration header and paste the address in the location indicated below:

header-bug

If the image does not load, put a period at the end of the address. It's weird, but it works lol. Things to Blogger;)

* How to host pictures on Picasa
* Image for Blogger Header with Photoshop

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How to get more subscribers to feeds

Currently I have seen many blogs that use questionable tactics to attract more subscribers to RSS / feeds and even followers on Twitter. I think an RSS subscription should be, above all, and based on legitimate interest in the content.

From what I advance in significant numbers accountant, if people are not reading my posts? Gifts, pop-ups and the like can fatten up to the counter and the ego of the blogger, but in practice may not represent anything.

Just as indexing sites - as the late Technorati and Technorati - have lost credibility when users started using unfair techniques to improve placement in the rankings, soon to measure feed subscribers will no longer últil to gauge the popularity of a blog.

The same problem recurs on Twitter, using scripts and gifts in exchange for more followers. Such behavior - when analyzed by someone who really understands social media - can testify against the reputation of the blogger himself.

I prefer to have readers and followers who appreciate my work, to interact with me to others who may have appeared only because of a lottery, for example.


On the other hand, there are some tactics "good", which can be used freely, provided that the good sense to come to the fore.

Content

The content is still king, the flagship. If the blog content is original and interesting to the reader, arouse in it the desire to always get those posts. And if the reader does not know what is a feed?

Gadgets

This is where the tactics I mentioned above. Explain to your reader what is a feed and show her the advantages of using this tool. This can be done through gadgets and / or by using "pages" on Blogger.

Gadgets that bring better returns are:

** click on the links to access their posts

1. followers - is intuitive and simple to use, even for beginners
2. Email Subscriptions - this is a gadget provided by FeedBurner, super simple to install and comes up with the button to subscribe to the feed
3. Message in the posts - those messages may remain in the top or bottom of the posts, inviting the visitor to assisnatura feed.
4. Custom widgets - these widgets, we can put an icon that identifies what is there that is the feed address and insert the codes still with accountant and FeedBurner to subscribe by email. It is very practical.

Another interesting gadget, is one that shows the number of subscribers to feeds and Twitter followers - Widget - feeds, followers, posts and comments.
Pages

Using the "pages", we can create a post explaining what is a feed, forms of sign posts and their advantages. See an example here in the DB - Feeds - get posts automatically! But remember that you may not copy any post from Blogger Tips. Use your creativity.

Pop-Ups

Can not be considered a bad tactic, but it is uncomfortable. I personally will never return to those blogs with lots of pop-ups, begging my signature. If still you want to use a pop-up access:

* Pop-Up Subscribe to feed via email at Blogger (How to make web)
* Adding a Pop-Up Menu to Blog (Bloggers on the Web)
* Floating Box Feed Subscribe via Email (World Blogger)

Subscription options

Another important detail is to offer options to the visitor. Provide full feeds, partial and email and leave the choice to the reader.

1. Go to full or partial feed?
2. How to use and configure FeedBurner

Basically, he said. Regarding the database, now I use the gadget lovers, a message on the bottom of posts for statistics and a page of explanation.

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