Are you a design professional who creates logos, business cards, direct mail pieces, brochures, and more? We recommend uploading these items to the Graphics area of your Work Samples space. You may ask, "Why is this important?"
Employers who need a brochure, logo, etc. are more interested in viewing your visual design work than reading text on your profile. Keep reading to learn how best to prepare your graphic files so your Work Sample space looks as professional as possible.
First, keep these parameters in mind.
Your files may be no larger than 600 pixels in width and 400 pixels in height. If you upload files larger than these dimensions, Guru.com will resize your files proportionally. The only file types accepted in the Graphics area of your Work Sample space are BMP, GIF, JPEG, JPG, and PNG.
Are you a rule-breaker or rule-follower?
All of you rebels out there probably are wondering, "Why should I follow your parameters?" Here are three important reasons:
- Wasted Space
You only have 100 MB (Guru and Guru Vendor members) or 20 MB of file space for your Work Samples. If you upload a file that is larger than 600 x 400 pixels, you also are uploading a file that will consume more of your allotted MB space. Be efficient! Upload a file that meets our width and height requirements. This way, your file will only take up as much MB space as needed.
- Lost Opportunity to Market Your Work Effectively
If you try to upload a file type other than BMP, GIF, JPEG, JPG, or PNG into the Graphics area of your Work Sample space, you will receive a message stating that you cannot do so.
Maybe you're thinking, "Well, my brochure is in PDF format, I'll just upload it into the Documents area of my Work Samples space (instead of the Graphics area)." Doing this would be a disservice to yourself, as you would not be effectively marketing your work to Employers. Why?
To view a PDF document, the Employer must first download the file in order to view it. No such extra step is required to view a BMP, GIF, JPEG, JPG, or PNG file. The Employer simply can click a "View" link to immediately see your file.
- No More Animation
If you want to upload an animated image (such as a web banner ad, etc.), the image will lose its animation if Guru.com has to resize it to specifications. However, if you ensure that your animated image is no larger than 600 x 400 pixels, it will retain its animation.
NOTE: This applies to your main graphic files only. All thumbnails must be non-animated images.
Have I convinced you to follow the specifications?
If so, here's how to resize and save your images to meet Guru.com's parameters.
The following instructions are for Freelancers using Adobe Photoshop. If you use different image editing software, the steps may be different. This provides instructions on how to edit images using Office Picture Manager (PC) and iPhoto (Mac).
To change the pixel width or height of your file, you can use two different methods: resizing a file and cropping a file.
Method #1: Resizing a file
- Open Adobe Photoshop.
- Open your file.
- On the top menu bar, click Image > Image Size. The "Image Size" window will appear.
- Check the width and height of the image. Make sure that the width is no larger than 600 pixels and the height is no larger than 400 pixels.
- If the width or height of the file is larger than the accepted dimensions:
- Click the "Constrain Proportions" checkbox.
- If the height of the file is greater than 400 pixels, enter 400 next to "Height." The pixel width of the file will automatically change in proportion to the new height.
- If the width of the file is greater than 600 pixels, enter 600 next to "Width." The pixel width of the file will automatically change in proportion to the new width.
- When you are done, click "OK."
- Skip down to "Saving your file."
Method #2: Cropping a file
- Open Adobe Photoshop.
- Open your file.
- On the top menu bar, click Image > Image Size. The "Image Size" window will appear.
- Check the width and height of the image. Make sure that the width is no larger than 600 pixels and the height is no larger than 400 pixels. If the width or height of the file is larger than our accepted dimensions, you can "crop down" the dimensions of the file. Click "Cancel" to close the "Image Size" window.
- On the top menu bar, click View > Sow Rulers. A ruler will form around the file. Make sure that the ruler is measuring in pixels. If it is not, click Edit > Preferences > Units & Rulers. Make sure "Rulers" has pixels selected. Click "OK."
- On the Tools Pallet, click the crop tool.
- Click down and drag the cursor until your selection is no larger than 600 pixels in width and 400 pixels in height on the rulers.
- Hit "Enter."
- Skip down to "Saving your file."
Saving your file
- Open Adobe Photoshop.
- Open your file, and confirm that the file meets our specifications:
- Width = no larger than 600 pixels
- Height = no larger than 400 pixels
- Resolution = 72 pixels per inch
- Save the file by clicking File > Save for Web.
- In the "Settings" area, select GIF, JPEG, PNG-8, or PNG-24. Click "OK."
- Click the "Save" button.
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