Hey all, I figured you all might know a thing or two about this...I may e-mail a couple of you directly if I don't get much response on this, but I got a call and this place wants me to put together a portfolio of my graphics for a possible job lead for some desktop publishing (it's a start, I know.) I told her that right now I've mainly got some Bryce, a few things in Photoshop, my old high school newspaper I designed, etc...she said that'd be great. So regarding my Bryce images, should those be printed one per page? On photo paper? I knew I'd have to do this eventually, just been too lazy to do it. Of course I'm not really even in the graphics end of computers but this could be a start towards something of a creative career I might actually like. I like creativity and what I'm trained in doesn't exactly scream that (networking, hardware, software.) Oh and one more thing, the only Bryce images I have anymore are my Cape Fear Bridge and my building ones...all the others I shamefully lost in a disk formatting incident. :( :( Although I could still print what I have on this site here...anyways, any tips? Need I run to Office Depot to grab a nice binder, etc? Thanks a BUNCH, Ian

Yes, I would purchase a 3 ring binder. . . . I would also look for some 3 ring plastic sleve sheets ( like the ones used to protect comic books). . . . You could place your resume and all additional materials in the sleves. . . . this will offer a more professional appearance.

Usually when Im working with graphic designers they utzilise a three ring binder with 8.5x11 plasic sheets. Inside each of the plastic sheets is a full page high rez print out of their work. So its like looking through an artsy photo album. The most important thing is to have "display". You want to make your work seem as though the presentation is as nice, and draw her/his attention in by your actual work inside. Good luck.

I store my photograph prints in archival slieves (I believe Copysafe is the brand) in a set of 3 ring, cloth bound zippered binders. Keeps them safe and looks cool. I also print at full resolution (1440) one image per page on Epson Professional Photo Paper (approx 200 g/m2 - can't check the package cause I'm at work and it's at home) gloss. Looks awesome and has a good feel in the hand. Remember,you are showing off to someone who really counts. Do it right and be proud of it.

Now do I get my portfolio back, good or bad result from it? I would assume so, but I'm asking just because my mind is inquiring...hehe :) MD

You would to my mind retain the portfolio, but if i may suggest, prints some additional high qual samples with your contact info on them to leave behind!

Yup. Incarnadine has it right on... Do as he suggests and you'll do just fine :)

My advice would be to compile the best portfolio you can manage. It depends what artwork formats you have, but if it's for a job I'd recommend you take a lot of time over it and spend a bit of money, too. I was told once that a designer's portfolio is their most important piece of kit, and money spent on it was money well spent. For f***s sake don't just print it out on Viking Budget paper and bung it in a 3 binder! I'd certainly look at pro binding and printing, because even a few hundred quid will be repaid quickly if it gets you a job. (Actually, someone suggested yesterday that I compile my own portfolio - at 34 years of age! Yeah, right! lol!)

I once recieved good portfolio advice: don't include anything you have to explain away. Nothing that would cause you to say "this print doesn't do it justice" or "I could up the contrast on this" for instance. This echos tuttles advice. Better to leave it out if it isn't quite up to snuff.

Use 'ONLY' your best, and have high quality prints (1200dpi if possible) with your info to leave behind...the perfect package is your resume (with only info that pertains to the work you are going to do, nothing should be listed that doesn't relate to DTP) with the sample prints on the back, all in one package, easy to read, and keep...and if you don't have much to show also handier, no portfolio binder to fill up, art directors would rather see a one page combo than a binder with very little in it. When I was art director for a small CGI company I didn't have time to sort thru 25-56 binders of work, the smaller package was easier to evaluate, that why I say ONLY your BEST work, work that has been recognized by others, won awards etc....

Ever thought about presenting your artwork as a CD portfolio? Thats what I do, burn it to disc & present it nicely with a well printed cover & cd inlay etc.. Make sure its cross platform Mac/PC. Some people will not send it back to you but CD's are incredibly cheap anyway so it doesnt really matter. Grav

Yeah, that's a good idea (Graviton) if the person viewing doesn't mind CD. And if you can program Flash (it's easy) you can create a simple interface that organises your work - without worrying about bandwidth and dial-up restrictions like on the web!

This doesn't strictly relate to the portfolio, but make sure any paper work with contact information on it ties together - ie resume and business card should have the same look to them. If you have a title page to your portfolio, it should also match your resume. In otherwords, make everything into one package so that you leave a strong impression. You want her to pick up your resume and instantly connect it with the portfolio you showed her. Lin

The only thing that worries me is I really don't have much along the lines of a ton of graphics, and the only ones I've managed to print in high quality are my bridge and the last two room images I've done. All of the other images I have are only what's posted on my Renderosity gallery because I lost the other ones in a formatting incident. (Stupid stupid me.) I mean I have my high school newspaper to show also, they said they'd like to see that, but it's not my top notch work, I was a senior in HS for christ's sake and that was 6 years ago. I printed my other images but they aren't the sharpest in the world. I'm afraid I'll turn in 3 good images and they'll laugh in my face. MD

Well, three great images are worth more than 25 so so ones, don't worry about quanity just quality, also this is about getting your foot in the door, once you're there you can dazzle them with flash and anything else you're good at, keep it short, related, and memorable..:)

That's a good point Zhann, thanks for the confidence boost and I'll have to get started on that right away, and also working on some more images to boost up this portfolio of mine. :) MD