How Much Should You Charge for a Mixtape Cover Design?

How Much Should You Charge for a Mixtape Cover Design?

As a graphic designer, your work is valuable. Equally important is the price tag attached to your work. If you have decided to pursue graphic design either as a career or a hobby, you deserve to be compensated for the art you produce. In your design endeavors, you might have the opportunity to design cover art for a mixtape. How much should you charge for a mixtape cover design?

Depending on the band or artist you design for, as well as your talent as a graphic designer, mixtape cover designs will vary. You can expect to receive as low as a few hundred dollars to over $10,000. 

Read on to learn more about how much you should charge for a mixtape cover design. The chance to create artwork for a collection of music with the potential to become a timeless piece is exciting enough, but knowing your worth and deciding how much you will charge for a cover design is something that can help you along your graphic design journey.

How Much Should You Charge for Mixtape Cover Design?

If you have already designed artwork for a mixtape or album cover before, you may have a set price for your talents. However, perhaps most graphic designers have not had the opportunity. If you are asked to design cover art, you will want to understand a few guidelines for setting your price. 

Different factors affect how much you should charge for a mixtape cover design. Each has important reasons:

  • The popularity of the band/artist
  • Your talents
  • How the cover art will be used

The band or artist for which you design the cover art has a major influence on the price of their request. If it is an established band, they may be stern in their offer, and if they are famous enough, they might even request cover art at no cost. Even for an iconic artist, this can be great for getting your work out there, but you must be careful that you do not get the reputation of always designing mixtape cover art for free.

You may have more freedom in deciding how much to charge for your mixtape cover designs. In this case, you must value your work just as much as – if not more – than the people who receive your work. If you feel that your cover art is worth $2,000 based on prior experience and the reputation of yourself and the band or artist, you should not feel hesitant to remain steadfast in your price. However, if this is your first mixtape cover design or you are an amateur graphic designer, you might consider setting your price between $200 – $500. Without experience in the field, you can alter your price when more commissions come your way.

Lastly, you want to consider how the cover design will be used. If it is a well-known band or artist and you have the freedom to set your price, you might raise it a bit. In another instance, the artwork may be restricted to a contract. Sometimes, artwork for a newly released album is only licensed for a few years, in which case, you may not charge as much, since it is not a permanent item.

Charging for a Mixtape Cover Design vs. Album Cover Design

An important question that arises when charging for cover designs is the difference between a mixtape and an album. Granted, the two may be used interchangeably, but there is a technical difference. Mixtapes are generally less organized, with a handful of new songs created by a band or artist. Albums often tell a larger story and may be a bigger deal when released.

When charging for a mixtape cover design, acknowledge whether it is actually a mixtape or an album. For albums, you can typically charge more since the release is a more important step in a band or artist’s career. Mixtapes tend to be more casual releases, which can mean cheaper cover art.

If the band or artist uses the terms “mixtape” and “album” interchangeably, be sure to discuss with them their intentions for the release. If they talk about it more seriously or formally, the collection of songs can be designated as an album. If they clarify that it is simply a mixtape, you might consider charging less than you would for album cover designs.

Design Mixtape Cover Art With Placeit

When you decide how much you are going to charge for a mixtape cover design, take a look at Placeit for their pre-made templates. With thousands of mixtape and album cover templates to choose from, you’ll be able to create something professional, with full commercial usage rights, in the matter of minutes or hours, instead of weeks or months.

This may allow you to accept more gigs as a designer because you can increase your pay-per-hour.

Takeaway

Once you establish yourself as a graphic designer who regularly creates cover art, you can set a concrete price with the potential for negotiation. If you lack experience with cover art, you will not be able to charge equal prices to offers you have heard before from other graphic designers.

Do Vector Files Have a Resolution?

Whether you are just starting as a digital artist or just curious, there is a ton of information regarding digital programs and their tools. Many people often believe that vector files don’t have a resolution, but do they?

Vector files do not have resolution because they do not have pixels. They use lines and mathematical equations to create designs, rather than pixels like Raster images. This means Vector files can be scaled infinitely without becoming blurry.

But there is a lot to learn about vector files and how they benefit your art. It is because it is high resolution, but there are many other reasons. Here is everything you need to know about vector files.

Do Vector Files Have a Resolution?

Because Vector images are not pixel based like Raster images, they do not have a specific resolution. Vector files have a super high resolution because they are infinitely scalable due to the way they are made. They don’t use pixels but lines, both straight and curved to create an image.

These lines or paths have a formula so it is easier to change the size both up or down and keep the same super high resolution, without getting blurry.

Is Vector or Raster Better?

If you have heard of Vector, then most likely you have heard the word Raster. These are the two types of you can use to create your images. So which one is better? Well first, we need to discuss the difference between the two types.

The Differences

As said before, using a vector means creating an image with lines and paths rather than pixels. That leaves using a raster means creating an image out of pixels. A raster file can have low resolution as well as high resolution while the vector is only high resolution. So what are the benefits of each?

Benefits Of Using A Vector File

Because the vector file is made with lines, it means it is easy to resize the image without losing resolution. If you plan on making a logo or an image that you need to change the size of often, you may want to use a vector file rather than a raster.

Vector has many benefits besides the resizing of your image. Here are a few other benefits to choosing vector over raster:

  • Provides a smoother look
  • Smaller file size
  • Higher resolution
  • Easier to edit your images
  • Allows you to scale up infinitely without getting blurry

Vector images are great for when you want to make intricate pictures that you may need to resize at any moment. It just provides a crisper more professional outlook.

Benefits of Using a Raster File

Although vector images are automatically a high resolution, that doesn’t mean your raster image will not be the same quality. It just means that you can make it a lower resolution if you want. Now with it being pixelated, when you zoom in, the image may lose quality or look blurry.

Just because pixelated images can seem blurry when zoomed in, doesn’t mean they do not benefit you. Here are some reasons why using a raster file may be more beneficial for you:

  • Easier to transfer image to different programs
  • Easier to share and open image on other device
  • Great for highly detailed photography and images
  • You can edit individual pixels
  • Provides smooth color transitions

Raster images are easier to transfer as they are saved as a png or jpeg file. You can use raster files on many different programs while vector files may be limited. You can also provide more details compared to a vector file.

Which One Is Better?

In the end, it depends on what you need the image for. Some artists like raster images better while others like vector images better. If you plan on using free programs, then raster files may be the way to go because you can transfer them more easily.

If you need something for a logo design or something that will be put on different types of products at different sizes, then maybe a vector image is for you. Each one has their benefits so each one is good depending on what you need.

Outro

Vector files are a great way to create your logos, images, and other art pieces. It has a super high resolution at all sizes, and there are so many other benefits. Keep in mind though, vector files are less compatible and you will need vector software to create and edit your design.

Do All Graphic Designers Charge for Revisions?

Graphic designers work on various projects, from creating advertisements to redesigning logos. In most cases, the client will have some specific ideas in mind for what they want the final product to look like. However, occasionally the client may not know what they want or may change their mind after seeing the initial design.

Not all graphic designers charge for revisions. Some may offer a set number of free revisions as part of the initial design fee. In contrast, others may revise the design as often as necessary until the client is satisfied – without charging any additional fees.

However, it’s always best to clarify the revision policy upfront before starting work with a new client. That way, there are no surprises later on down the road. This article will explore the pros and cons of charging for revisions and some general guidelines on the process.

How Much Do Graphic Designers Charge for Revisions?

The cost of revisions can vary depending on the project, the designer’s experience, and the scope of work. Graphic designers charge for revisions because they need to be compensated for their time and effort. Making changes to a design can sometimes be just as time-consuming (if not more so) than creating the initial design.

Graphic designers charge between $65 and $100 per hour for revisions. However, some may charge a flat fee per revision or a percentage of the total project cost. For example, a designer might charge $50 for each revision or 10% of the total project cost, whichever is higher.

When deciding how much to charge for revisions, it’s important to consider the time involved and the complexity of the changes. In addition, designers often have other clients who are waiting for their attention and may not be able to get to revisions right away.

Generally, revision fees fall into one of two categories:

  1. Hourly rate – The designer charges an hourly rate for their time spent working on revisions. This is common for larger projects with multiple revisions or for designers just starting out.
  2. Flat fee – The designer charges a flat fee for the entire project, regardless of how many revisions are needed. This is common for smaller projects or for designers with extensive experience.

What Is the Graphic Design Revision Process?

From freelance graphic designers to in-house design teams, the revision process can vary depending on the size and scope of the project. In most cases, revisions will be requested through email or an online collaboration platform like Google Docs or Dropbox.

The revision process can vary depending on the designer and the project. In most cases, the client will provide feedback on the initial design, and the designer will make the necessary changes. The client will then have an opportunity to review the revised design and request additional changes.

This process can be repeated as many times as necessary until the client is satisfied with the final design. In some cases, the client may request multiple revisions at once (for example, if they want the designer to try a completely different approach). In other cases, the client may only request one or two small changes.

As mentioned above, it’s important to clarify the revision policy upfront before starting work with a new client. That way, there are no surprises later on down the road.

The Pros and Cons for Graphic Designers of Charging for Revisions

There are pros and cons to charging for revisions. On the one hand, designers need to be compensated for their time and effort. On the other hand, some clients may be unhappy with being charged for something they didn’t expect.

Some of the pros of charging for revisions include:

  • You will be compensated for your time and effort.
  • It may discourage clients from making excessive or unreasonable revision requests.
  • It can help you manage your time more effectively by knowing how many revisions to expect.
  • It can help you budget for the project more accurately.

Some of the cons of charging for revisions include:

  • Some clients may be unhappy with being charged for something they didn’t expect.
  • It may discourage clients from making any revision requests at all.
  • It can add to the overall cost of the project, making it more difficult to stay within budget.
  • It can extend the length of the project if the client is slow to respond to revision requests.

Conclusion

There is no right or wrong answer. It ultimately depends on your individual business needs. If you’re a graphic designer who does decide to charge for revisions, be sure to communicate this to your clients upfront, so there are no surprises later on down the road. If you’re purchasing graphic design services, ask about the revision policy before starting work with a new designer. That way, you can budget for revisions accordingly.

How Much Should You Charge for Email Template Design?

As a graphic designer, your time is valuable, and you will want to make sure that you are charging the right amount for the services you offer. Email template design is a commonly sought out service by designers, and you may be wondering just how much to charge for this.

Email template design prices should vary on the level of complexity. Designers often charge around $100 for a standard template, but the price can go as high as $500 for more complex templates. Graphic designers may also choose to calculate the cost based on their hourly rate.

Whatever you may end up charging, you can rest assured in the knowledge that a carefully-planned pricing plan will protect the hard work that you do. Keep reading to learn more about how much to charge depending on the type of email template.

Determining a Charge for Email Template Design

Email templates are one of the most sought-after graphic design services. They are easy to use, and many companies consider them a cornerstone of marketing or different business functions. The following sections will discuss some different strategies that you can use to set your email template design price at the right number.

Charge for a Standard Design

Creating a basic design template is a popular choice for many graphic designers and is often something businesses prefer if they are looking for an easy and no-frills email marketing option.

As a graphic designer, a standard email design template is the easiest to design, especially when you use helpful graphic design services such as Placeit.net. A single, standard template often runs at a maximum of $100 for a competitive price.

Charge for Additional Features

Some companies may wish that you enable additional features on their email template. These may include the following:

  • Multiple email templates
  • Advanced visual features
  • Extensive design work

If a company knows that they want a very complex email newsletter, you should feel free to set a higher price based on their requirements.

Charging an Hourly Rate

A third option for many designers is to price the email template based off of their standard hourly rate. Once you have a few email template designs under your belt, you will likely know how long it takes you to create this type of service.

Based on this, you can charge companies essentially what your hourly rate will be. A good way to calculate this is to charge for the hours you believe you will need, and then add another one or two as a buffer for revisions.

Tips for Calculating Your Email Design Fee

To stay competitive on the graphic design market, you will want to make sure you are adequately pricing anything you do, including email templates. These tips will help you make sure you are charging the right amount for your services:

  • Research the competition: Get to know what other graphic designers are charging and adjust your own prices accordingly. You do not want to be an overpriced designer as you will quickly see your business go down.
  • Be negotiable with your clients: Figure out what your clients’ budgets are, and be prepared to show a little flexibility with your own budget to ensure client satisfaction.
  • Offer design packages: Many businesses may be interested in having multiple services done in one go, such as email design along with website design. If you offer an appealing design package, your clients will be more likely to seek out more services from you.
  • Know your worth: Though you need to stay competitive, do not sell yourself short. Your time is valuable, and if you know you will invest a lot of time in a project you should charge accordingly. This will help ensure that you have a better quality of life.
  • Be clear about your pricing: Once you have set a price, stick with it. There is nothing more unattractive to clients than additional charges put on the bill in the last moment.

Once you have set your prices accordingly, you can get started on the design work. Additionally, using services such as Placeit can help you get more work done for the time you spend, increasing your overall profitability.

Conclusion

Emails are essential for business nowadays, and this means that many companies seek out the help of graphic designers to create email templates. As a graphic designer, you can set competitive prices around $100 to $500 based on the complexity of the project and your hourly rate.

With some research and adjusting as needed, you will soon have a thriving email design service.

Why Do Twitch Emotes Show Up as Text?

Twitch is a rapidly growing community of interactive live streamers that feature content like gaming, sports, music, entertainment, etc. Its popularity is mostly due to the ability to engage with viewers in real-time. One of the primary ways of interacting with other Twitch users is through a live chat. The chat creates community engagement and allows for the creativity of expression— like through Twitch emotes.

If Twitch emotes are showing up as text in your chat, those users are utilizing browser extensions to create their unique emotes. If you don’t also have these browser extensions, you will not be able to see the emotes as an image.

Additionally, if a creator or controller of a chat doesn’t have these browser extensions emotes enabled in their chat, they will appear as text instead. Emotes have become an integral part of the Twitch conversation; third parties are creating browser extensions to give users a larger variety of emotes than Twitch currently allows. Read on for a rundown of the most popular browser extensions among Twitch users and how you can download them today.

What Are the Most Popular Browser Extensions for Twitch?

Emotes are the emojis iPhones, and androids wish they had. Twitch has its library of in-app emotes you can find in your dashboard under “Viewer Rewards.” There are opportunities to unlock emotes by earning subscriber points, and you can upload emotes into your library. Still, some users desire a bit more variety than what Twitch offers.

The two most popular browser extensions for Twitch emojis are FrankerFacez (FFZ) and BetterTTV (BTTV). Both are community-driven and free to download and use. If you have a fresh idea for an emote, these extensions are user-uploaded so that you can share your custom emoji with other users.

If you want some help making some of your own fun Twitch emotes, visit Placeit.net.

Most recommend downloading both extensions since so many in the Twitch community, including the majority of creators, use both. Without both, you will likely continue to get emotes in the chat that appears as text.

How to Download FrankerFacez and BetterTTV

To use or see the emojis from FrankerFacez and BetterTTV, you need to download each extension and then enable them in your Twitch account. If you’re a creator, FFZ and BTTV are great tools for creating emotes specifically for your channel and subscribers. Each extension has paid versions with added benefits, but the free version is still worth the download.

How to Download and Use the FrankerFacez Web Extension

There are two sets of instructions for the FrankerFacez web extension— one is to enable the use of FFZ emotes in Twitch, and the other is to add them to your Twitch stream.

To enable FFZ emotes in Twitch chat, follow these three easy steps:

  1. Go to FrankerFacez.com and click on the green button at the bottom of the screen that says “Download for (Browser Name).
  2. After the extension has been fully downloaded, return to the FFZ website and select the purple button, “Connect with Twitch,” in the upper right-hand corner.
  3. Link FFZ to your Twitch account.

Now you can view and use FFZ emotes in your Twitch chat. If the FFZ website doesn’t automatically show your web browser for download, there is an “other browsers” option you can select, and it will show you a full list of supported web browsers.

If you stream on Twitch and want to add FFZ emotes to your stream, follow these four easy steps:

  1. Go to FrankerFacez.com, download the extension, and link it to your Twitch.
  2. Go back to the FFZ website and select Emotes>Public Library from the menu bar at the top of the screen.
  3. Select the emotes you would like to add to your Twitch stream.
  4. On the bottom right-hand corner, select “Add Selected to Channel.”

Keep in mind that both the streamer and the viewer have to have the FFZ web extension to see any FFZ emotes during the stream, and only the emotes the streamer has opted to add will be seen.

How to Download and Use the BetterTTV Web Extension

Similar to FFZ, there are two instructions for BetterTTV— one for adding the web extension to your Twitch account and the other for enabling specific BTTV emotes in your stream.

To download and enable BTTV emotes in your Twitch chat, follow these four easy steps:

  1. Go to BetterTTV.com, select your web browser and download the extension.
  2. Go to your Twitch account and select “Chat Settings,” the cogwheel at the bottom of any open chatbox.
  3. At the bottom of your “Chat Settings” menu, select “BetterTTV Settings.”
  4. Turn on the BTTV menu, emotes, and GIF emotes.

If you want to know what BTTV emotes a streamer has enabled in their Twitch stream, click on the smiling face emote next to your chat button while on their stream, and a menu will open up, showing you a full list.

If you’re a streamer and you would like to enable BTTV emotes for your streams, follow these four easy steps:

  1. Go to BetterTTV.com, select your web browser and download the extension.
  2. Go back to the BTTV website, select the “Emotes” tab, and log in to your Twitch account.
  3. Select the emotes you would like to add from your library.
  4. Click on the “Add to Channel” button.

As with FFZ emotes, both the streamer and the viewer have to have the BTTV extension to see and use the emotes in the stream, and only the emotes the streamer has enabled can be seen.

Which Emote Browser Extension is Better?

Most users in the Twitch community will tell you to download both browsers to take advantage of all the benefits of each. Most viewers and streamers are already using some version of both, whether free or paid.

If you only want to download one web extension, the best of the two is BetterTTV because it allows you to see both BTTV and FFZ emotes in your chat. BTTV also has more features to elevate your Twitch experience.

You can try out only having one web extension for a time. If you’re not satisfied and you feel like you’re still missing out, you always have the option of downloading the FFZ extension later on.

Conclusion

Now that you know why emotes are showing up as text in your chat and how you can resolve it, you can download those web extensions and even start creating emotes of your own to share on your channel and with the Twitch community.

Illustrator Can’t Change Workspace [4 Causes and 7 Fixes]

Adobe Illustrator is one of the most popular platforms for graphic designers. However, a lot of people have reported issues over the years that prevent them from switching easily between workspaces.

Below, we’ll discuss four things that can cause this problem, as well as a few fixes you can try to get workspaces to work properly again. Keep reading to learn more!

Illustrator Can’t Change Workspace: 4 Causes and 7 Fixes

Many people have reported issues with switching between workspaces on more recent versions of Adobe Illustrator. There are a few reasons why this may be happening, and luckily, a few fixes that have brought others success.

Some of the reasons why Illustrator can’t change workspaces include:

  1. A program bug
  2. Preference settings
  3. Custom workspaces
  4. Your workspace files

Below, we’ll discuss more information about these problems and a few fixes that may solve them.

1. A Program Bug

Sometimes, you can’t switch between workspaces simply because of an issue with your version of Adobe Illustrator. You can sometimes unlock your workspaces by opening a workspace instead of a file in Illustrator. If this doesn’t work, there are a few other things you can try:

  1. Restarting Illustrator
  2. Updating your software version
  3. Uninstalling and reinstalling the program

Let’s discuss how to do each of these three things properly to solve the issue.

Unlock Your Workspaces

Before you restart, update, or reinstall Adobe Illustrator, try this fix that has helped many people “unstick” their workspaces. Open the Illustrator application, but don’t select any file. Instead, navigate to “Window” from the home screen, then choose “Workspace.” Open any kind of workspace, then close the program. When you restart, you might find that your problem is gone and you can now switch between workspaces as you please.

1. Restart Illustrator

As cliche as “turning it off and turning it back on again” sounds, rebooting a program will clear any codes or caches that may be causing problems. The first thing you should try is shutting down Adobe Illustrator completely, ensuring you save any work in progress beforehand. Give it a few minutes, then open the program again and see if you can switch between workspaces.

2. Update Your Software Version

Outdated software can cause more problems than most people realize. If you’re using an outdated version of Adobe Illustrator, updating the program may fix any issues you’re having with workspaces.

When Adobe updates its programs, they usually work out any known bugs. Update your software and see if you can now switch between workspaces.

3. Uninstall and Reinstall the Program

If you’ve restarted and updated Adobe Illustrator and you’re still having trouble switching between workspaces, the next step is to try uninstalling and reinstalling the software. Be sure to save any custom templates, fonts, or other content you have first, or else you could lose them.

Sometimes, glitches occur during the installation process that cause bugs in your software. Run the uninstallation on your computer, then download the program from Adobe again. Then, reinstall Illustrator and see if that solves the problem.

2. Preference Settings

For whatever reason, certain user preferences seem to cause a lot of issues with workspaces. Many people have had luck changing workspaces after resetting their user preferences. This is relatively easy to do, whether you’re using Illustrator on a Windows or Mac computer.

To reset your Illustrator preferences on a Windows computer, all you have to do is hold down Ctrl+Alt+Shift while launching the program. When asked if you want to reset, choose “Yes.” If you’re using a Mac computer, hold down Option+Command+Shift while launching Illustrator, then say “Yes” when the prompt appears.

3. Custom Workspaces

Another common cause of these types of issues has something to do with your custom workspaces. If you use custom workspaces in your program, following this process may help:

  1. Close the program down entirely.
  2. Navigate to your custom workspaces. If you’re on a Windows computer, you can find these under C:/User/[Account Name]/AppData Roaming/Adobe/[Current Version of Illustrator] Settings/en_US/x64/Workspaces. If you’re using a Mac, press “Go” in the top Finder menu, then navigate through Computer>Macintosh HD>Applications>[Current Illustrator Version]>Presets>en_US>Workspaces.
  3. Move any custom workspaces to a new folder, then save the folder to your desktop.
  4. Once the custom workspace files are out of your Workspaces folder, re-open the program, but don’t open a file.
  5. Instead, open a new workspace. Click “Window,” then “Workspaces” and choose any type.
  6. You should now be able to change workspaces easily. If you can, close Illustrator and put your custom workspaces back into their original folder.

If you’ve gotten this far successfully, you’re probably all set! Just open Illustrator again and be sure you can still switch between workspaces.

4. Your Workspace Files

Sometimes, the problem lies within your workspace files themselves. If you only started having these issues after updating to a more recent version of Illustrator, you’ll be happy to hear that computers often save application data from previous versions. 

One thing that has worked for others is replacing the current workspace files with their older counterparts. Here’s how to do so on both Mac and PC.

For Windows computers:

  1. The first step is to open the current version’s Workspaces folder. Navigate to C:/User/[Account Name]/AppData Roaming/Adobe/[Current Illustrator Version] Settings/en_US/x64/Workspaces. Delete all the files from this folder.
  2. Now, find the most recent previous version’s folder. Navigate to C:/User/[Account Name]/AppData Roaming/Adobe and choose a previous version of Illustrator. Click on this, followed by Settings>en_US>x64>Workspaces.
  3. Copy all the files in this second folder into the current version’s Workspaces file.

If you’re using a Mac computer:

  1. From the top Finder menu, click “Go,” then choose “Computer.” Navigate through Macintosh HD>Applications>[Current Illustrator Version]>Presets>en_US>Workspaces. Delete the current workspace files.
  2. Now, go back to the Applications folder and select a previous version of Illustrator. Click through Presets>en_US>Workspaces.
  3. Copy the old workspace files, and paste them into the empty current Workspaces folder.

Now, open Illustrator and see if you can change workspaces again.

Final Thoughts

Since approximately 2018, many people have reported issues with Illustrator that prevent them from changing workspaces. This problem could be due to a bug, your preferences, custom workspaces, or the default workspace files themselves. Try all the fixes above and see if they solve your problem. If all else fails, contact Adobe support.

How to Edit a Source File From Fiverr [5 Easy Methods]

Editing a source file from a different codebase can be a daunting task, especially if you have never worked on a different codebase before. Not only do you have to learn your way around the new codebase, but you also have to learn how to edit a source file from Fiverr.

If you have never worked on a different codebase before, you might be wondering, “How can I edit a source file from Fiverr?” or “What are some good methods for doing so?” Read on as we show you how.

How to Edit a Source File From Fiverr

The first step in editing a source file from Fiverr is to download the source file. You can do this by going into any of your projects, then clicking Source Files in the left sidebar. Then, click on the Download button next to the file you want to edit. 

One way is to use the Fiverr Editor. Another way to edit your source files is to download them to your computer and edit them using the software the file was created in, or in some cases by using a text editor. If you need to make significant changes to your source files, you can contact the gig seller and request that they make the changes for you. Often times revisions are included for free.

Alternatively, you can use your browser’s File, then Save As menu option to save a copy of the file onto your local hard drive. Once that is done, open up a text editor and open up the copy of the file. This will allow you to edit it as needed.  When editing files from Fiverr, be sure you are working with UTF-8 encoding.

If not, you could get strange symbols when trying to read it on your computer or other device. The second step is to open up the new copy of the file in a code editor and make changes as needed. When finished making changes, save them and upload them back up to Fiverr—in which case it will overwrite the original version of that file!

Using the Fiverr Editor

The Fiverr Editor is a basic text editor that allows you to make changes to your source files. To use the Fiverr Editor, simply login to your Fiverr account, go to the My Gig page, and click on the Edit Source Files button.

Once you are there:

  1. Click on the Open button next to the file you want to edit.
  2. This will open up a new tab in your browser and allow you to edit your source file.
  3. Make your needed changes to the source file.
  4. You can also save it as a copy on your computer or device before uploading back up to Fiverr.
  5. Upload the file to Fiverr!

You can also use your browser’s File, then Save As menu option if you prefer that method of saving files instead of using the Fiverr Editor. After editing, upload the changes back up to Fiverr by clicking on the Upload button next to that particular file.

Using Your Computer

To do this, simply login to your Fiverr account, go to the My Gig page, and click on the Download Source Files button to begin the download process. Once the files have been downloaded, you can open them in the same software the file was created in, or in some cases you can use a text editor to make the necessary changes. Typical text editor applications you can use are:

  • Sublime Text
  • Atom
  • Windows Notepad
  • Visual Studio

When you are done, save them and upload them back up to Fiverr—in which case it will overwrite the original version of that file! You can also use the Fiverr Editor to edit your source files by just clicking on the Edit Source Files button.

Once you have finished editing, it is time to upload them back up to Fiverr—in which case it will overwrite the original version of that file!

Using Your Phone or Tablet

The Fiverr Editor is also available for Android and iOS devices. To use it on your phone or tablet, simply login to your Fiverr account, go to the My Gig page, and click on the Edit Source Files button. This will allow you to make the changes you need to make while on your mobile devices.

Editing in Your Browser

You can also edit your source files in your browser by clicking on the Edit Source Files button. This will allow you to open the file within the browser itself and make changes there or even just review the code.

Implementing Your Changes

To implement your changes, log in to your account and click on the My Gig tab at the top of your screen. Then click on View Source Files. This will open up a new tab in which you can see all of your files.

You will see a button on the top right of each file that says Edit Source File. Click on this to open up the Fiverr Editor. Once you have finished editing, it is time to upload them back up to Fiverr—in which case it will overwrite the original version of that file!

Wrap up

Editing source files on Fiverr is a great way to save yourself time when you are working on a project. There are many different ways in which you can edit your files, and I hope that this article has helped you find the best one for you.

Are Vector Files Lossy or Lossless?

Graphic designers may opt for vector files during their design processes. Vector files offer different features than other file types, such as raster files. Of these features, whether a file type is lossy or lossless has an impact on its usefulness. So, are vector files lossy or lossless?

Technically, vector files are lossless. However, how a vector file is used determines if it is lossy. It is not whether a file is a vector or raster that determines if it is lossy or lossless. Vector describes the way a file is made up. The actual file type tells if it is lossy or lossless.

Continue reading to learn more about whether vector files are lossy or lossless as well as other advantages of using vector files. You may not always choose vector files, but they certainly have attributes that can support your graphic design needs. Learning everything you can about differences in file types can help boost your knowledge and abilities concerning graphic design.

Are Vector Files Lossy or Lossless?

Vector images display image quality based on mathematical equations that make up a file. As opposed to raster images that use individual pixels, vector files use mathematical features that maintain the quality of an image. 

So, technically, file types used as vector files should be lossless, meaning that when they are saved or stored, they will not lose quality. The mathematical formulas implemented into vector files allow them to alter anything that needs changing to ensure that the image does not lose quality. As lossless format reflects an image that does not lose any components, vector files could be labeled as such.

As you will learn later, there are specific file types that are often saved as vector files. Although, some file types can be saved either as vector files or raster files. It all depends on your purpose for using a file, uploading an image, etc.

When considering the most common file type for vector files, Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) are typically the answer. SVG files are preferred among many graphic designers when designing a website. SVG files are great for images and animations of various sizes as they maintain the resolution of the original product. Because of the mathematical equations involved in vector files and other attributes of SVG files, they make for great displays on different search engines.

Are Vector Files Compressed or Uncompressed?

Whether a vector file is compressed or uncompressed is similarly decided in the way that it is lossless. The more specific file type determines compression, but because of the mathematics used to maintain the quality of an image saved as a vector file, compression is not a huge distinction.

Vector files are not technically compressed or uncompressed when they are stored. They are saved as listed attributes that essentially save the information and recreate the exact same image, regardless of whether the newly uploaded image is enlarged or not.

One of the largest advantages of vector files is that no matter how small the saved image is, it can be scaled upward and maintain the same resolution. Vector images are widely used, from website designing to printed advertisements. There is a high chance that a billboard you see on the interstate was printed after being saved as a vector file. Even after having been saved as a small image on a computer, the image can be resized without having to worry about loss of quality.

How Do Vector Files Compare to Raster Files?

Vector files are preferred over raster files in some circumstances, while the outcome may be different in others. As mentioned, for things such as printing an image much larger than the saved file or designing a website, vector images are often the better choice. On the other hand, raster files – files saved as individual pixels that make up an image – can be useful but may lose some components upon saving and converting.

Which Formats Do Vector Files Come In

Like raster files, vector files have a subset of file types that they can be converted into. Below are the most common types of raster files that you may use as a graphic designer:

  • Scalable vector graphics (SVG)
  • Portable document format (PDF)
  • Encapsulated PostScript (EPS)

Based on your use of vector files, the file type you choose to save your image as may vary. In any case, the most common file type for vector files is typically SVG, which makes for great results on computer uploads and designs.

Takeaway

Vector files, in essence, are lossless, though the file type used can affect their capabilities. Still, vector files maintain pristine image quality and therefore make for great file types when image clarity is of the utmost importance.

Why is Your PNG File So Big? [3 Possible Reasons]

There is a never-ending debate over which file format is the best. In truth, each one has its pros and cons when saving your images or graphics. JPEG seems to be the go-to for photography because the amount of detail in photographs can handle the slight quality loss that comes with the lossy compression of this file format. If you don’t want to suffer quality loss, then PNG is the way to go, but what is the downside?

PNG files tend to be much larger and therefore take up more space in your storage. The larger size is due to several reasons:

  1. Lossless Compression
  2. Too Many Colors
  3. Too Much Detail

Let’s look at each of these reasons and how they affect the size of the PNG file. There may be some solutions and workarounds for downsizing PNG files to save storage space on your hard drive.

3 Reasons PNG Files Are So Big

The disparity between the file size of a PNG file versus a JPEG file can be quite shocking when you first learn about it. A full-size PNG may be 402KB, as opposed to a full-size JPEG which can clock in at just 35.7KB. It all comes down to data— JPEG files are smaller because they contain less data.

If you’d rather forgo manually reducing the size of your image file, you can always use a compression tool, or you can opt into using premade graphic templates from a website like Placeit.net.

1. Lossless Compression

Lossless compression has to do with the data of an image. This compression style allows for an image to be compressed without any loss of information— meaning after you save an image and reopen it in any program, it will look the same. If you were saving the image as a JPEG, which uses a lossy compression style, some of the data would be downsized. As a result, when you reopen the file in any program, the quality of the image wouldn’t be the same.

The loss of quality may not be a noticeable difference, which seems to be the case with most photography. If that’s the type of image you’re dealing with, one that wouldn’t suffer from a little quality loss, and you would prefer more storage room, try saving your file in a JPEG format instead.

The JPEG format isn’t for you if your image requires transparency. Look at the next couple of reasons and solutions to help reduce your file size.

2. Too Many Colors

Since PNG works with a lossless compression style, the more data the image has, the bigger the file will be ultimately. A large amount of data could result from a few different factors— one being the number of colors in the image. PNG can be saved in indexed-color, grayscale, truecolor, grayscale with alpha, or truecolor with alpha. Alpha means that your image will have transparency.

Grayscale or indexed-color would be the ideal way of saving the image because it would result in a smaller file size than saving in truecolor. If your image is black and white, then a low color option like grayscale won’t affect the image. If you only have a few colors in your image, indexed-color will allow you to save your image with at least 256 colors. You can make these changes in any photo editing program you use.

If you go with the indexed-color option, you can expect the mode to choose the best 256 colors for your specific image and replace all your image pixels with an index of that chosen color palette. The results take the image down from 16 million colors to 256, and a side-by-side comparison will show very little if any, noticeable difference. However, the difference in the size of the file will be far more substantial.

3. Too Much Detail

Just like the number of colors affects the size of the file, so does the detail in the image. To give you an idea of how dramatic the difference is in the details, adding two pixels to the width of a PNG image can double its size. Large areas of flat colors compress better than complex detailed, or patterned areas. Therefore, simplifying the image will decrease the size of the file when saved.

Another way to reduce the size of your image is by assessing the negative space around your image. If the negative space isn’t adding to the overall image, eliminate it, and by doing so, you will downscale the size.

Lastly, if your image doesn’t require transparency but can’t save it as a JPEG, you can untick the transparency box when you save the image, which should reduce the size a bit because it’s one less chunk of data to retain.

How to Reduce the Size of Your PNG File

If you’ve gone through the suggestions mentioned above and they didn’t reduce the size of your file enough, or you couldn’t utilize the solutions for any reason, there is still an option for you. You can use a tool like a PNG compressor or optimizer.

Some of these tools will reduce the size by cleaning up the meta-data. Others will simplify the image for you, which has a more dramatic result but may compromise the quality of the image.

If you do your research, you can find an optimizer that will assist with the deflate stage of compression by providing better matches in your data to reduce the size of the image. Tools like these can reduce the size of your PNG by 5% and will not compromise the quality of the image.

Conclusion

PNG file format is known to take up a lot of storage due to its lossless compression style. What PNG lacks in space, it makes up for in quality, so it is up to you about what is more important. Worst comes to worst; you can purchase an external hard drive to store more images or do a regular purge to make room. Either way, there are options to reduce or accommodate the size of your file.

Why Your Wacom Pen Keeps Glitching [8 Reasons]

Your pen is probably one of the most important tools in your creative arsenal. Whether you’re a freelance writer, a student writer, or an aspiring artist, you need a pen to help you express your thoughts and share them with the world. Wacom is the most trusted name in the drawing space and their products have been ruling the market for years now.

There are a lot of problems with Wacom and we’ll list down some of the most common issues that Wacom pen users face on a regular basis. These are the primary reasons Wacom pen glitches.

1. Wacom’s Pen Software Is Buggy

The software that runs your pen’s pen tips, nibs, and the palm rejection is key to making sure that your pen is working as it should be. It’s not an exaggeration to say that most of the issues that people experience with their Wacom pen can be traced back to the buggy pen software. 

The pen software is the part of your pen that interprets the input from your palm and from your fingers. This means that if your pen software is glitching and not working properly, then it will cause various issues with your pen. The most common problems that come from the buggy pen software are faulty palm rejection, inconsistent mapping, and inconsistent pen nibs.

2. Wacom’s Pen Mapping Is Inconsistent

The pen mapping refers to the information that tells the pen where your palm, your fingers, and the nibs are. If your pen mapping is inconsistent, then it will cause various issues with your pen. The most common problems that come from inconsistent pen mapping are faulty palm rejection, inconsistent mapping, and inconsistent pen nibs. 

If your pen is rejecting your palm while writing, then it might be because the pen mapping is inconsistent. There might be an area on your desk that the pen is detecting as palm rejections. This can be easily fixed by erasing the detected areas on your desk.

3. Wacom’s Pen Nib Is Inconsistent

The nibs are the components of your pen that you press down on to create strokes. These nibs are vary by brand and model so if the nib on your pen is inconsistent, then it will cause various issues with your pen. The most common problems that come from inconsistent pen nibs are faulty palm rejection, inconsistent mapping, and inconsistent pen nibs. 

If your pen is rejecting your palm while writing, then it might be because the pen nib is inconsistent. There might be an area on your desk that the pen is detecting as palm rejections. This can be easily fixed by erasing the detected areas on your desk.

4. Wacom’s Pen Tip Is Inconsistent

The pen tips are the components of your pen that are used to press down on the nibs. If the tip on your pen is inconsistent, then it will cause various issues with your pen. The most common problems that come from inconsistent pen tips are faulty palm rejection, inconsistent mapping, and inconsistent pen nibs. 

If your pen is rejecting your palm while writing, then it might be because the tip is inconsistent. There might be an area on your desk that the pen is detecting as palm rejections. This can be easily fixed by erasing the detected areas on your desk.

5. You Aren’t Using the Right Drivers

If you are using the wrong drivers, then your pen might be rejecting palm. It is also possible that the driver has a bug and is causing a problem. The easiest way to verify if this is true is to delete all old drivers and install the latest driver from Wacom’s website.

You Are Using an Old Version of Software

If you are using an old version of software, then it may be causing a problem for your pen. If this is the case, then you should update your software and see if the issue still persists.

6. There Is an Issue With Your Tablet

If you are using an older tablet or a tablet that is not supported by Wacom, then it might be the problem. You can check this by using the latest drivers for your tablet, and if you still have an issue, then you should contact your tablet manufacturer.

7. You Need to Calibrate Your Pen

This is not always the case, but some users experience issues when they do not calibrate their pen. You can check this by going to:

  • Control Panel
  • Tablet Settings
  • Calibration

If you are having issues with your pen, then it might be because you have not calibrated it.

8. Your Tablet Is Overheating and Causing the Issue

If you notice that the software on your tablet is running warmer than usual, then this may be causing an issue with the pen driver. If this is the case, then there may be an overheating issue in your software that must be resolved.

Conclusion

The most common problems that come from the buggy software, inconsistent pen mapping, inconsistent pen nibs, and inconsistent pen tips are faulty palm rejection, inconsistent mapping, and inconsistent pen nibs.

You can easily solve these issues by making sure that your pen software isn’t glitching and that you’re erasing any detected areas on your desk. If you’re still facing issues with your pen, then you can register for a replacement at wacom.com. 

As for the pen mapping, you can either use the default settings or create your own custom pen mapping. The best practice is to use the default settings and then use the custom pen mapping to correct any issues that you might be having. The only time when you should use your own custom pen mapping is when your pen doesn’t work properly as expected.