artcards

ARTCARDS, a program for members of Visual Arts Alberta, are a professional way to market your work. You can send them to galleries, use them as an invitiation or calling card, or as a visual reminder for potential buyers. We do the layout and design, and you pay an affordable rate.

Artists supply the image or images, and you get 500 4×6 double-sided postcards. Cards are full colour on the front, black and white on the reverse. Business cards are also available. If you have custom needs, please call us at 780.421.1731 and we will try to accommodate you.

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE?

Because the VAAA submits artcard runs in batches of 10, elapsed time to receive the finished product can and does vary quite a bit based on how quickly the slots fill up, and it’s sometimes difficult to guarantee a delivery date. If you need your cards right away, we can arrange to have them printed by a local digital printer with a normal turnaround time of 3-4 business days, for a small extra cost (usually around $30). Please contact the VAAA office at 780.421.1731 for the status of the current run and an estimation of when we expect it to be completed.

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?

The current cost is $190 for 500 4”x6” artcards, and $95 for 500 business cards (3 ½ x 2”). These prices are for full colour with bleeds on the front of the card, B&W only on the reverse. Business cards do not have to have anything on the reverse, but the cost is the same regardless. Artwork is included. (NOTE: The VAAA reserves the right to change the cost without notice and to levy additional charges if files submitted require an undue amount of retouching or reconstructing.)

DO I HAVE TO BE A MEMBER OF THE VAAA?

Yes, but remember, it’s only $40 for an individual annual membership and we are always delighted to have new members. If you’d like to join, please contact us at 780.421.1731 (membership form can be downloaded here).

HOW MANY DO I HAVE TO HAVE PRINTED?

The minimum quantity is 500 with additional quantities available in multiples of 500. There is no price reduction for additional quantities.

WHAT DO I HAVE TO DO?

Not much. You give us an image and the text you want, and we do the design and send you back a proof for review. But please remember we aren’t a commercial printing operation and are operating under budget constraints, so it’s not possible to do several different layouts for you to choose from.

I DON’T HAVE ANY PICTURES OF MY WORK. WHAT CAN I DO?

We can accept slides, scan prints (if of good quality), or we can arrange to take photos of small works brought in to the gallery. If you need to have photographs taken, please understand we can only photograph 1 or 2, and be prepared to leave them at the VAAA for a couple of days. Do call us first to make arrangements.

I DON’T KNOW IF THE PICTURE OF MY WORK IS GOOD ENOUGH?

Chances are if you are wondering about this, it’s probably not. Please remember that old adage “Garbage in, garbage out”. If you want an attractive card that serves you well as an effective marketing tool, then you need to ensure your images are good enough to look satisfactory in print. If the image is too small or too blurry, it will look bad and that in turn makes you look bad. We don’t want that. If you aren’t sure, contact us and we can take a look at your image files and let you know if they are of sufficient quality, but please read the details below first.

WHAT KIND OF FILES DO YOU ACCEPT? HOW BIG DO THEY HAVE TO BIG?

We prefer that you submit images as digital files in CMYK mode in a TIFF, EPS or high quality JPG (don’t compress files) at a minimum of 300dpi with an accompanying hard copy or PDF proof.

Artcard images must be at least 6.5” wide by 4.5” high at 300dpi if they are to cover the front of the card. That means we need a file that is at least 1950 pixels wide by 1350 pixels high (or vice versa if the card axis is to be vertical). Please don’t send us files smaller than that because we will have to send them back and ask for replacements. Files cannot be upsized, but we can downsize them if they are bigger without any problems. In fact, it’s often good if we do have a bigger than necessary file.

Please don’t try to compress your files into a small JPG—it will cause your image to degrade. They may still look good on screen, but they will look terrible in print. No GIF files can be accepted (do not try to use images copied from the web—they will not work and are likely copyrighted).

We can also accept slides or prints for scanning, but once again, please ensure they are of good quality. Also note that it is much more difficult for us to achieve colour accuracy from slide scans—we don’t know what your piece looks like if we haven’t seen it, so a certain amount of guesswork is involved. That’s why we prefer digital files, and why we require a hardcopy or PDF proof.

CAN I DO MY OWN DESIGN?

Sure, but please call us first. Here’s some basic information:

• There are only certain types of files we can work with. At present, we use InDesign 2, Illustrator 10, and Photoshop 7 on the Mac platform only. Files saved with more current versions must be backwards compatible in order for us to be able to open and use them. WE DO NOT ACCEPT MICROSOFT WORD PROCESSING OR PUBLISHING FILES.
• Color images must be 300dpi. If artwork is produced using Illustrator, InDesign, or Photoshop, we’d prefer to receive native files with layers intact so we are able to make changes or corrections as required. Also please note there is an ArtCard logo we need to place on the reverse on all cards. Be sure to include all your fonts and graphics along with your layout file(s).
• If you want the image to extend to the edge of the paper, you’ll need to set up ¼” bleeds.
• Do not embed your graphics. Do not outline your fonts. Instead, link to the graphics and provide a copy of each graphic. All fonts must be included. Do not rename the fonts.
• Press-quality PDFs are acceptable if produced in hi-res Adobe Acrobat PDF file format (version 3.0 and up compatible) with all fonts and images embedded. Embedded images must be a minimum of 300dpi (pixels per inch) Color images must be CMYK, and all colours must be set to process CMYK (not RGB). All fonts (either Postscript or True Type) must be embedded.

We frequently have problems with files submitted to us. That’s why we’d like you to call or email us first if planning on doing your own design (780.421.1731 or info@visualartsalberta.com).

HOW DO I GET THE FILES TO VAAA?

Files can be sent by email, placed on a CD and mailed or delivered, or you can mail us prints or slides. Of course, you can always bring any materials into VAAA in person and we’ll be happy to see you. Please make sure to include a hardcopy print of your image or artwork unless submitting files electronically.

If we have gotten you confused or you feel discouraged, please call or email us and we’ll be happy to help. We understand not everyone has had to deal with this kind of thing before, and that not everyone has computer resources available to them.

WHEN DO I HAVE TO PAY?

Payment is due 15 days from the date of receipt of cards.
IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER: If we haven’t seen a painting or piece of art, we have no way of knowing whether the images or slides you provide us with accurately represent that piece of art. We certainly do our best to make sure images come out as well as they can, but we have to assume what you send us is correct. If you don’t have a color-calibrated system (and it’s not likely you do), then the colors you see on your printer or monitor can be quite different from those seen on other monitors and/or printers, and that means colours can end up looking different from what you expected in a printed piece. If you can send us a hardcopy (printed) proof or print of your piece, it will help to ensure a good result by providing the printer something to match to.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

• Cancellations received after files have been submitted to the printer will not be accepted.
• It is the member’s responsibility to ensure all furnished materials are prepared and submitted in accordance with the recommended specifications and non-adherence may result in additional charges to the customer. In the event problems are discovered during production, VAAA may correct supplied materials as needed and bill the member accordingly or where time permits, notify the member of the problem and request new files be submitted.
• Files sent in formats other than those specified may incur an additional charge for conversion.
• VAAA is not responsible for accurate color reproduction for any image or artwork supplied without a color proof.
• VAAA reserves the right to reject any artwork or images in conflict with the policies of the Association.
• The member must own the legal copyright to any images and/or graphics submitted. All responsibility and liability for content and any claims will be the sole responsibility of said member.
• The VAAA shall not be held liable for loss due to late delivery of cards