Nuts and Bolts: No As-Is Policy Repost
September 1, 2017
Nuts & Bolts – No As-Is Policy Repost
A very important policy that GCU continues to see. The review team spends a great deal of time explaining this to new and existing GCU artists.
and a helpful related post with examples by Doreen, Don’t Be a Copy Cat
GCU is looking for unique and original work. If using 3rd party creative GCU expects artists to add their creative value resulting in a transformed design.
The difference is made in the details!
Mindy
GCU Community Manager
GCU Community Manager
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Wanted New Cards: Love & Romance for Partner
August 31, 2017
Wanted Cards – Love & Romance for Partner
Couples come in different ages, sizes, genders and colors. A couple may refer to one another as their “partner” or “life partner” instead of husband or wife. This is common in both heterosexual couples as well as homosexual couples.
Please consider creating cards for “partner” or “life partner” for a heterosexual couple.
We’d like you to create at least one card for these categories using the Stock Cards function (Bigstock) or your own graphic designs.
Remember, when you’re submitting your new card, add a little note about the intended category in your Notes to Reviewers. Be inventive, be clever, be creative. Go for it!
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Rainbow Connection: Vintage Tourism Posters
August 30, 2017
Here are some Color Pallettes I created with pictures I found on the internet – this weeks subject are Vintage Tourism Posters:
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Nuts and Bolts: Free Cards
August 25, 2017
Nuts & Bolts – Free Cards
GCU is introducing this new page offering Free Cards.
Why is GCU giving away cards for FREE? These are unused cards that were returned to our company because of an incorrect shipping address, duplicate printing, or other reason. Whatever the reason, we can’t use them! As a print on demand company, we do not inventory anything. No reason for them to go to waste, so we’re making them available to shoppers for free.
We will be promoting this page via our social media channels. It is a great opportunity for people to experience GCU’s card quality, especially new shoppers! The back of the card carries the GCU logo as well as the artist’s credits.
So don’t panic if you see one of your cards featured as being given away for free. Rest assured, the artist has received credit for the sale in the original transaction.
NOTE: Please do not request to receive any of these cards. These are for shoppers and hopefully attractive to shoppers new to GCU to grow our customer base. If anything, consider sharing the page via your own social media channels to spread the word. Who doesn’t love free stuff?!
The difference is made in the details!
Mindy
GCU Community Manager
GCU Community Manager
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Wanted New Cards: Congratulations on Pied-à-terre
August 24, 2017
Wanted Cards – Congratulations on Pied-à-terre
Send congratulations to someone lucky enough to have purchased or acquired a pied-à-terre. It sounds so fancy and chances are it probably is!
A pied-à-terre, French for “foot on the ground”, is a small living unit usually located in a large city some distance away from an individual’s primary residence. It may be an apartment or condominium.
The term pied-à-terre implies usage as a temporary second residence (but not a vacation home), either for part of the year or part of the work week, by a reasonably wealthy person.
Please review GCU’s Inside Verse & Unsupported Characters. For this reason and to avoid any issues, we suggest submitting only standard front cards and no custom front or Stock Card Creations (BigStock). Additionally please use care when creating inside verses that may contain foreign characters to ensure you are using the correct characters (not copy and paste) and verify that it displays properly on the inside image preview before submitting.
We’d like you to create at least one card for these categories using the Stock Cards function (Bigstock) or your own graphic designs.
Remember, when you’re submitting your new card, add a little note about the intended category in your Notes to Reviewers. Be inventive, be clever, be creative. Go for it!
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Nuts and Bolts: Inside Verse Considerations * Font Size
August 18, 2017
Nuts & Bolts – Inside Verse Considerations * Font Size
There are a few important elements to consider when choosing a font size for your inside verse. The most important of course? Simply is it large enough to be legible to the average person. It should be large enough to easily read but not so large that it’s shocking and appears as shouting.
Your choice in font style can impact font size. Different fonts translate differently in the same size and it’s NOT an apples to apples setting. So, make sure the size is appropriate for the font style you have chosen.
See two different font styles both in size 16:
SnellRoundhand (16):
Comic Sans (16):
GCU specifically has issues with the following fonts used for inside text when smaller than the specified size noted below. GCU shares an alert message to artists and shoppers when trying to use these fonts in a size that will not translate well.
Alert Messages:
The BernhardFashionBT typeface may be difficult to read at any size smaller than 16.
The BibleScrT typeface may be difficult to read at any size smaller than 16.
The Curlz typeface may be difficult to read at any size smaller than 16.
The Snell Roundhand typeface may be difficult to read at any size smaller than 16.
The Edwardian typeface will be difficult to read at any size smaller than 20.
The FreeHand591 typeface may be difficult to read at any size smaller than 16.
The TimesNewRoman typeface may be difficult to read at any size smaller than 14.
There are cards on the site that were created before GCU programmed in the font size alerts. GCU will begin to return cards for artists to edit that have font size concerns. Especially Edwardian smaller than 20. Thank you in advance for your understanding and quick edits to remedy the font size issues. In the long run this ensures happy shoppers and card recipients.
TIP:
One element to consider on font size is your audience. If your card is expressly for someone elderly that likely has vision challenges, consider a larger size font (for example a 90th birthday card). You can even note this as an added feature in the Artist Notes section like “large font size in inside verse for easy reading”.
The difference is made in the details!
Mindy
GCU Community Manager
GCU Community Manager
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Wanted New Cards: Thank You Like a… to Me
August 17, 2017
Wanted Cards – Thank You Like a … to Me
Having a surrogate in your life to take the place of a non-existent, absent or deceased family member can be a very special relationship. Perhaps it is someone who takes on the role of a sister that you never had, or having lost a parent, someone who has stepped in to be that supportive father or mother figure in your life.
Consider the gratefulness of these treasured relationships. Like a Father, Mother, Brother, Sister, Grandmother, Grandfather. Other relationships can go in the >> Other subcategory.
We’d like you to create at least one card for these categories using the Stock Cards function (Bigstock) or your own graphic designs.
Remember, when you’re submitting your new card, add a little note about the intended category in your Notes to Reviewers. Be inventive, be clever, be creative. Go for it!
