Tag: custom portfolio

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Choosing a Format: Landscape, Portrait or Square?

We’re going to start a series of posts I’m informally calling Which Portfolio Presentation is Right for Me?

Where we’ll cover everything from the basics: Style, size and color, and structure to the tiny details that can set you apart- embossing, color blocks, insets, screen printing. Let’s start with maybe the most basic decision, but an important one nonetheless. Landscape or portrait? Which one is the best to showcase you and what you do? We find that the same sorts of people working in similar media and fields tend to gravitate towards similar styles of portfolio, and with good reason.

Landscape or Horizontal Orientation:

Architects, Photographers, Industrial & Lifestyle Designers.

Many of our landscape portfolios, especially those that lay flat, are perfect for two page spreads for panoramics and- even for those who may work a lot in more vertical, portrait oriented work- fantastic for showcasing dyptics and triptics or photos alongside text.

 

 
Album for my own Wedding- Photos by Lisa Callamaro
Rodney Richards sleek photography Portfolio. His logo and his work are stunning.
Overall, the 11 x 14 landscape hidden screwpost portfolio is
our most in-demand style for visual artists. Some prefer our 11 x 17 inch landscape portfolios for extra horizontal space.

Portrait or Vertical Orientation:

Portrait Artists and photographers, business manuals,
playwrights, restauranteurs (the 11 x 8.5 inch format makes a gorgeous menu)
Handsome Portrait format Hidden Screwpost Menus for Miro Whiskey Room*

 

Sharp Portrait Format Photos in the Portrait Format Portfolio of David Lopez *
Portrait Format Portfolio Showcasing the Gorgeous Photographic Portraits by Joy Wong*

And, lest we forget, the Square Format!

This is both a sleek and versatile option. Adored by analogue photographers and those who love the symmetry and timelessness of square format. The 12 x 12 inch Coffee Table Style Portfolio is also a favorite for those wanting a custom book to hold those precious family
memories: for everything from baby books to Wedding albums!

Coffee Table Square format baby book for a bookbinder’s daughter
Be Unique and Unexpected!
Know your style and trust your gut- no one knows your branding more than you. Just because you paint or design or shoot primarily in the vertical does not mean you necessarily need to use a portrait style portfolio or vice versa.
Beautiful Landscape format Photos by David Lopez displayed in his Portrait format portfolio
Mixing it up! David Lopez keeps it interesting with mixed format photographs in his portrait style portfolio
The above from David Lopez’s Portfolio show a prime example of how gorgeous and unexpected playing with the negative space of your page can be in highlighting your work.
We know how difficult it can be selecting a portfolio style can be. While there are many options to choose from it doesn’t have to be a paralyzing decision. Remember that each format has it’s benefits and hopefully the examples we’ve shared with you today give you some ideas.
It may also help to make a few mockups of your layout either InDesign or IRL- wherever you do your best work!
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Spine Covers to Enhance and Protect Portfolios

 

Spine covers provide the look of a hardbound, fully cased in coffee table style book, but provide the flexibility for adding and subtracting pages from your portfolio as need be. The spine cover is a “U” shaped channel that hides the spine edge of your portfolio pages and is sandwiched between the front and back covers.

Why choose a hidden screw post portfolio with a spine cover over a coffee table style portfolio? If you decide to increase or decrease the number of pages inside your portfolio you will be able to simply purchase a new spine cover and screw post set to fit these pages rather than order an entirely new coffee table style portfolio.

Spine covers are most frequently paired with hidden screwpost portfolios, but can also be paired with exposed screwpost books, and made to match or complement the front and back cover, logo color, slipcase, clamshell, inner liners, pockets, etc.  They can also be screen printed or foil stamped with your logo or title of your portfolio, especially handy when your portfolio is encased in a slipcase.

Spine covers not only act as an additional design element to provide a sleek, finished look to your portfolio, they also protect your portfolio’s spine and pages from dust and wear.  There is no portfolio more polished and protected than a book paired with a striking spine cover and encased in a matching slipcase or clamshell box.

The below gallery features just a few of our favorite projects that include spine covers.

Click here to see spine covers on our website.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Custom Inlays for a Unique Edge

Inlays are a great way to add a splash of color or add some interest to the composition of your portfolio or box cover. They are particularly effective when used in conjunction with foil stamping and embossing.

Inlays can be made using any of the book cloths, can be any size and placed anywhere on the cover, along the top, bottom or foredge of the portfolio or box cover. They can also be placed along the spine edge of exposed or hidden screw post portfolios, on the spine or wrapping around the spine of a coffee table style book.
 
Inlays can also be long and skinny, tall and wide, rounded, squared or oblique. You may also choose to have multiple inlays on your book. Our clients often choose inlays that contrast or complement the cover color and/or match the inner liners and pockets.
 
If you have a question about adding an inlay to your portfolio please call or email kristin@kdbooks.com
2 Rounded Pink Inlays with White Foil Stamping on photographer’s portfolio 
Hidden Screwpost Portfolio with Spine-edge Inlay
Oblique Orange Inlay to match slipcase
Sharp white foil stamped logo on slate inlay to complement a Metallic cover
Top aligned Bright Yellow inlay to match inner liners 
Contrasting Inlay with Foil Stamping to Match the Cover Color on Landscape Architect’s Portfolio
This Red Inlay with a Bold Metallic Font really pops against the Black Cover on Photographer’s Portfolio
Bright Blue Inlay adds a Splash of Color to a Neutral Cover 
An Unexpected Flash of Ochre on a Set of Illustration Portfolios 
 
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Swatch Books and All New 10% Student Discount Available

As former art students ourselves, we’re no strangers to how expensive art school can be. In addition to the standard tuition, books, housing and other fees all students pay, we also have the additional cost of those expensive art materials!

All that being said, you don’t want to skimp on an eye-catching portfolio, when you’ve already made an investment in your arts education. We want to help you create a beautiful and memorable portfolio  that will stand out in a sea of portfolios and economy presentation books without cutting into your ramen and Red Bull budget. (Yeah, we remember that part too.)
Because we know every little bit helps, we are now offering a 10% Student Discount.  This offer is good on all portfolio styles on our website, or custom made portfolios by contacting kristin@kdbooks.com directly.
To get the discount please ask your professor to send a list of student names to kristin@kdbooks.com and we will send a special coupon code for your class to use. Additionally, we will send a 4 x 4 inch swatch book for the class to share. It will be easier and faster for your students than waiting to receive individual swatches!
This offer is perfect for students of Photography, Illustration, Graphic Design, Architecture, Fashion Design, Interior Design and so much more.

 

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Inlays Add a Splash of Color

I just wanted to share some photos of portfolios that I’ve made recently that use inlays to add compositional interest and a little splash of color to book covers.  Using the inlay as a background for foil stamping is particularly effective but in the case of the Sila Portfolio and the Dionne Portfolio the inlays speak for themselves as simple colorful shapes.  Inlays can be made in all geometric shapes and sizes and can be placed anywhere on the book’s front or back cover.  They can now be added to custom built portfolios in the online store.  When ordering online I recommend sending a pdf for accurate size and placement of your inlay.

Amanda Portfolio
Sila Portfolio
Raymond Portfolio
 
Joshua Portfolio
Dionne Portfolio 
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3 New Colors

While I was disappointed to have to remove Metallic Aqua from the color chart a few months ago, I am very excited to be adding 3 new colors to the covering options for custom portfolios and boxes.

There are now 37 colors to choose from so everyone is sure to find a color combination that is suitable for their project.

The new colors are Avocado, Orange and Metallic Midnight.  If you’d like to see swatches of these or any of the other colors please call or email with your request and they will be sent out the next business day.

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That extra punch with 2 Color Foil Stamping

To add a bit of extra pizzazz to your portfolio consider a 2 color foil stamping of your logo.

This is a portrait format 11 x 8 1/2 hidden screw post portfolio with a spine cover.  This portfolio is a great example of a very simple design that delivers a big punch.

The logo really makes a statement on the red fabric cover because of the splash of light blue next to the white.

In order to do a 2 color foil stamping using just 1 logo die, the blocks of color need to have at least 1/16th of an inch between them.

This option will be available in the new online store soon.

 

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Making it your own

 
 

This green exposed screw post portfolio is one that I recently shipped out and is one that I am particularly fond of.  It is a terrific example of how the online store can be used to create a truly one of a kind portfolio.

This is a landscape format 11 x 14 exposed screw post portfolio covered in “bright green” fabric.  Dante sent me the printed paper that she wanted to use for the endsheets and a pdf of how she wanted everything laid out including the position of her name.  The foil stamping was done along the foredge in matte silver using Font #9. Both, the round business card pocket and the vertical pocket, are standard sized pockets that can be ordered online.  She chose to cover them in “confederate” fabric to match the scales on the endsheets.

Quite often portfolios tend toward the subtle and conservative, and for good reason, but when the situation permits, make yours stand out from the crowd by being creative with the color and embellishment options.  You can always call or email to see if your ideas are possible before you place your order, more than likely they are.  You can start building your portfolio online now.

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8 New Colors

There are 8 exciting new covering materials available for your portfolios and boxes; Grey Brown, Ivory, Saddle, Rust, Bright Pink, Dark Green, Bright Green and Grape.

Start building your portfolio today in the online store.

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New Portfolio Design

 
 

I am very excited to be offering a new portfolio design in the online store.  With it’s super clean solid lines, this portfolio is something you’ll be proud to show off.  I’m calling it the coffee table style book because it has the look of a hard cover art book that you could leave out on display at your home or office. When combined with foil stamping or embossing of your name or logo, this design has a strikingly professional look.  It also maintains the flexibility of the other designs.  This portfolio uses screw posts so you can easily swap pages in and out and can even replace pages with spine spacers if you decide to display fewer pages.  I recommend ordering your portfolio to fit the maximum number of pages that you would possibly include, as fixed spine books can accommodate no more than the number of pages that they are designed to hold.

You can insert your own printed pages by using the included template for hole punching or you can purchase black or white hinged pages in the online store.  These can be used for mounting photographs or other printed material.

Please visit the website for more details and to see the many size and color options available for this portfolio.