Critique Clinic – September 23-25, 2011
How does it work? For three days a week (Friday-Sunday midnight), I will open the clinic to any artist who wants an honest peer review and critique of a card which gets plenty of clicks but no sales, so something’s probably not quite right, or you’ve got a new design you want to test drive, or you’re unsure about the marketability of a card. Or perhaps you’re a newbie who isn’t sure if a recently submitted card is up to a marketable standard. Anyone is welcome to participate. In fact, I encourage everyone to at least look at the cards in question and read the critique comments – you may learn something. The purpose of the clinic is to help artists improve the commercial appeal and marketability of their cards.
THE RULES
- ONE card per artist only.
- Card must be for sale at Greeting Card Universe.
- We will take an unlimited number of artists, including those who have submitted recently, HOWEVER I reserve the right to close a clinic for the day if the submissions become overwhelming. If the clinic has been closed, and you submit a card, your comment will be deleted.
- To submit a card for critique, post a link to the card’s details page at GCU in the comments section of this clinic post.
- Any artist is free to comment and/or give a critique of a submitted card. HOWEVER, post-and-run comments like “great card” or “you suck” will not be tolerated, nor will abuse. Criticism should be constructive, not destructive. Play nice or you will be banned.
- I also won’t tolerate temper tantrums if you decide your “artistic integrity” is being stepped on because you asked for a critique, and someone told you the photo you’re using isn’t in focus. If you can’t take honest criticism, don’t submit. Once gets you a warning; twice and you’re banned from submitting in the future.
- Artists who critique may do so by giving their opinion, posting an example of another card, or pointing the submitter to a video, on-line article, or other helpful suggestion.
- Don’t forget that artists who are giving you tips and helpful advice are volunteering their time and trouble. Be nice. A link back to their store on your website or blog is appreciated (but not mandatory).
- You are free not to take any advice offered. There’s no guarantee any card will be a bestseller, so don’t come into the clinic with unrealistic expectations.
- Rules may change as we go along and we see how things turn out, okay?
So without any further ado, I declare this week’s Critique Clinic open!
GCU Community 
Am I the first today? 🙂 This is a Christmas Photo card that I’d like some feedback on please.
http://www.greetingcarduniverse.com/-Thinking+of+you+on+your+birthday-greeting+card-813522?aid=152495
Does it need changes before the holiday buyers start pouring in? Does it work as a photo card (especially for younger folks, as older folks probably aren’t looking for something so pop-art-like)?
Thanks!
CindyJ
Oops! Wrong card, lol! I meant to link to this one:
http://www.greetingcarduniverse.com/-Ho+Ho+Ho+Pop-Art+Christmas+Photo+Frame-greeting+card-852854
And I’d like the feedback on this card, not the birthday card above, please. 🙂
Thanks,
Cindy
Yep, you’re the first today.
I find the colors on this card extremely garish and hard on the eye. I can see where you’re going with it, but it’s way too bright. Maybe tone it down a little?
Corrie
Ok, sorry. My computer and monitor are pretty old and pathetic (as are my eyes – lol) and I didn’t realize how bad it was.
I uploaded just the image (no photo in it) here, so you can look at it and see if I’m taking it in the right direction. 🙂
I just took it back to about 55% opacity. I’m not really sure how to tone down the brightness with my software any other way. When I tried, it just looked dark and not at all Christmasy. :-[
thanks,
Cindy
It’s not so bright, but now I’m getting the idea that my vision is going foggy? Did you actually change the color, or did you reduce the opacity?
Corrie
I think the bright colors work. They are garish, but it is a pop-art card! It is bright and merry. It is the sort of card a youngster would like.
The faded card looks just that, faded and dull. Stick with the original.
Yes, I just lowered the opacity when I made the change. I thought it looked a little foggy, too…but wasn’t sure if the lowered opacity would make it look better on other people’s monitors or not. I haven’t figured out how to make it less garish with my Paint Shop Pro software. 😦 So perhaps there are some young families or couples who like flashy Christmas cards. 🙂
I’m really hoping to get a better PC/monitor within a month or so, and that should help me out a lot. 🙂 New glasses aren’t in the cards for me until January. lol.
Anyhow, I did add “bright red, green and yellow” to the title and keywords, as well as added “bright” on the inside text. 🙂
Thanks Corrie and Norma,
Cindy
Cindy , if you think it’s to bright , can you just change the red and the green color to another darker red and darker green color.. don’t use the opacity….. try it and save it as a new card color..Just a thought…
Donna Collins
Thanks Donna. Here it is a little darker, but on my monitor it makes it look kind of depressing instead of Christmasy. 😦
Cindy
P.S. I think the card you submitted to the clinic this week is adorable! 🙂
My monitor is calibrated Cindy and this darker version is much better and looks great. You should consider calibrating your monitor so that what you see is what prints on cards. There are lots of fairly easy methods to accomplish this and there has been some blog posts about this process too, so look into those on the forum and see if you can find one that works for you.
Ok, Doreen. I will. Thanks. 🙂
Cindy
Cindy,
I don’t think the darker is depressing. I like it…Really…
Thank you for the complement.
Donna Collins
A quick update, I resubmitted the new card version (with the darker colors) for review, while keeping the old (current) version as is. 🙂 When the new one gets approved you can see it, if you’d like: PID 867784
Thanks for all the advice everybody! 🙂
Cindy
I am not a great photographer by any means, although I would like to work on that! 😉 This is my only photo card so far. A picture of my cat Jake I took his first Christmas with our family. Not sure if anyone outside our family will be interested in this card, no sales besides me yet! Any ideas on improving it for possible sales would be very much appreciated! http://www.greetingcarduniverse.com/-Halloween+block+party-greeting+card-478018?aid=138159
Thanks, John J.
Not to correct link! I was on the right card, not sure what happened here!! Here is the correct link! http://www.greetingcarduniverse.com/-Merry+Christmas+Kitty-greeting+card-605759?aid=138159
Beautiful kitty, John. Unfortunately, people rarely buy cards of somebody else’s pet. A certain breed of cat, you can get away with provided you don’t tip off buyers in your Artist’s Notes. Generic cat, not so much.
Corrie
I agree with Corrie that people are less likely to buy a card with someone else’s pet on it – unless it is a comedy card. This might not be the direction you want to go (so ignore if not), but I would uncrop the photo, so we can get more of the context of the tree, make the border solid colored, then I would add some sort of christmas/comedy lolcat text : )
Hi John, I will speak to the photograph since that is my expertise. Sadly, as cute as Jake is, this photograph of him lacks all the qualities of a professional photo worthy of a greeting card. The harsh lighting caused by the flash gives it a washed out feeling to both the cat and the tree in the background. The cat’s eye’s show too much wash out and evidence of flash which is not usually pleasing on a product for sale. As is, it has too much of a snap shot feel.
However, I do like the composition and idea and unlike others, I sell MANY, MANY cards with cat photographs on them. Cat people will buy them IF, the photograph expresses the right message for the occasion, and IF the photograph is of the utmost professional quality which makes it irresistible to cat lovers.
With that said, this photograph can be turned in to a winner in my opinion. If you were a photographer by trade, I would tell you how to fix this, however your talent is in illustration and what I would suggest is that you draw this adorable photo of Jake using your delightful comic style and you’d have a PURRfect Holiday card!
Hey John: Thanks for the submission – I’ll agree with what the others have said about the photograph. My input would be that the rainbow colors don’t convey Christmas – even with the Christmas lights and tree I’m not getting a Chirstmas vibe…which is strange. Jake is a black cat on a black background – maybe a bit too dark? Maybe add some more holiday elements to get the message through…?
John, I agree with Doreen and A.Ley. Turn it into a cartoonish illustration and add some funny cat humor. 🙂
Cindy
P.S. Jake is a beautiful cat. 🙂
Hey folks: Hope all is well in your worlds. Thanks for taking the time to look at all the cards. This one is fairly new and no sales yet but I liked the design:
http://www.greetingcarduniverse.com/-Three+Glasses+Party+Time-greeting+card-835775?aid=136464&f=1
Any advice would be great – thanks!
I like the design, very colorful with lots of movement, however it’s only in the Collections < Illustrations category – not the best choice if you want to be noticed. If you haven't already, don't forget you can re-purpose the same design and use it 3x. For example, with the right inside verse, the design could also be a bridal party invitation. Cards with a purpose tend to be better sellers.
Corrie
Corrie
LOVE it! Don’t change a thing to the illustration!
Cindy
I agree with Corrie & Cindy . . . LOVE IT! I hope you have already created versions for other celebration categories and also have it in 21st Birthday category!
I like it too….
Donna
Hi there,
this was my first approach to create a Bridesmaid Card. I created it a while ago, but I guess it does not catch shoppers attention. It just might not be my field, but I would like to know why. Any thoughts?
http://www.greetingcarduniverse.com/-Bridesmaid+Friend+will+you+be+my+bridesmaid-greeting+card-813863
Thank you very much!
Gerda
Hi Gerda,
It’s a lovely approach to a Bridesmaid card, beautiful illustration and I love the soft sepia tones. Something I’ve learned is there is a bride for every style of bridesmaid cards! Just to be different earlier this year I created hot pink cheetah print bridesmaid cards and as it turns out brides love them . . .LOL!
It may simply be a matter of wording that is holding the customer back. If you wish to keep the Will You as stand alone on the front, then I’d change it to Will You? rather than Will you…
Another thought – I’ve noticed from my own sales that brides like to choose these cards in coordinating groups, so when I sell 6 bridesmaid cards, almost always I sell a Maid of Honor or Matron of Honor card of the same design to the same buyer. So another thought is to modify the text on the front to include the whole Will you be my Bridesmaid or Maid of Honor and so on. You can accomplish this and make it all fit by using two font choices, the 2nd being something small, legible and simple. A sample of combining fonts to make your text work with the space you have is here:
http://www.greetingcarduniverse.com/-In+Lieu+of+Flowers+Sympathy+Memorial+Donation+Card+in+Black+and+White+Solitary+Tulip-greeting+card-769616?pid=769616&gcu=43045123714
I’m with Doreen… one bridesmaid card in a sea of cards isn’t noticed that much, BUT if you make a collection for the “will you be my” subcategories, you’re more likely to get hits. BTW, love the illustration, Gerda, it’s beautiful!
Corrie
Thank you Doreen and Corrie. This is really helpful advice. I have not a big clue about Bridal’s interest, but I am here to learn. This critique clinic is great. I wonder who had the great idea for it 😉
Gerda
Here’s one , I’m not sure if I ask about this one…I like doing simple sometimes but is this to plain…
http://www.greetingcarduniverse.com/-Robin+and+little+green+inch+worm+in+a+tree-greeting+card-841430
Thanks,
Donna
The illustration is sweet (and “plain” cards are in at the moment)… I just don’t know that general friendship cards sell all that well. Anyone else?
About the only thing you could tweak is the font… I’d choose a nice, legible handwriting font (not formal, but casual) to fit the tone.
Corrie
Thanks Corrie… I’ll change the font… it’s easy….I just want to be sure the font matches the inside font that GCU has.. Will have to pick one they use for the inside and then use the same on my front…
Donna Collins
I love this illustration too Donna and I agree with Corrie. A nice casual hand-written font would make it perfect. I also agree with Corrie that general friendship cards are not big sellers. I sell a few Friendship Day cards each year, but it is rare to sell a ‘just because friendship card’ for me.