Frequently Asked Questions
Who are Twill Media?
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Web design
- Will we be able to edit our own website?
- What size of project can you accommodate?
- There is free software available to create our own site — why employ Twill Media?
- How much will a website cost us?
- How long does a website take to design?
- Do your sites use CSS (Cascading Style Sheets)?
- Do your sites comply with web standards?
- Do you offer a maintenance package?
- Do you host websites?
- Can you provide us with a Content Management System?
- Can you provide images?
- Can you guarantee hits on our site?
Print (graphic) design
- What type of graphic design projects do you undertake?
- What software do you use?
- What print shop do you use?
- What is your print design process?
- What file types can you output?
- How long does it take to design a new logo?
- How do you manage colour output?
« Go to main print design page
Photography
- What equipment do you use?
- What types of photography assignment do you undertake?
- Do you have stock and other work for sale?
- Weddings: what schedule do you work to?
- Weddings: how much do you charge?
- Can I see a larger portfolio of your photography work?
Web design
Will we be able to edit our own website?
In short yes, but only if you're willing to pay that little bit extra for the coding of a content management system (CMS). This content management system will allow you to log into an administration area at the ‘back-end' of your site (from any internet enabled computer) and make changes yourself, after the site has gone live. These might include textual changes, upload of images and creation of new pages. The extra cost of this will vary, depending on the size of the site and scope of editing required.
If you're only after a simple site then it could be worth opting for the exclusion of a CMS. This will mean that (unless you know how to write in HTML) you will need to ask a web designer to make any future updates for you. But it will be cheaper in the first place.
What size of project can you accommodate?
Day-to-day we cater for small to medium sized websites, for both individuals and businesses. This is purely down to the number of regular designers in our studio. That said, we have an excellent working relationship with a number of established freelancers who we employ as part of our team on an ad hoc basis for larger projects. Please allow us the opportunity to tender for any size of project.
There is free software available to create our own site — why employ Twill Media?
When you employ Twill Media you are paying for a wealth of knowledge. You are also paying for a professional designer. Although this comes at a price, your website is something that needs to be as good as it can be, in order to get you noticed (and, if applicable, earn you your living). With this in mind it pays (literally) to have someone design you a bespoke package — compliant with web standards, highly visible to search engines and with an aesthetic that stands head-and-shoulders above the run-of-the-mill mass designed ‘free' sites.
How much will a website cost us?
Websites and web applications vary hugely in terms of complexity and time required for design and development. What may seem simple can take a long time, and vice-versa. We would love to talk with you about your individual project expectations, and will then be able to give you a considered price. We aren't ‘cheap' because we strive to be the best, but then again we only charge what's reasonable for the quality of work you will receive.
How long does a website take to design?
That obviously depends on the size and complexity of the design. It can be anything from three days to a year, and depends on how many designers are working on the project.
Do your sites use CSS (Cascading Style Sheets)?
Yes they do. All our sites now only use Cascading Style Sheets. It keeps the code clean, helps us comply with web standards and allows easier future updates. They also keep the content of the site separate from the design elements, enabling one to be edited without affecting the other.
Do your sites comply with web standards?
We can write code that complies with specific web standards, and endeavour to implement this in the majority of our projects. Please let us know what standards are of particular importance to you.
Do you offer a maintenance package?
In the event that you might need our ongoing assistance, we can arrange a maintenance package to suit your needs. Please call us.
Do you host websites?
Twill Media Brighton is delighted to work in partnership with Acland Internet, the company we use to host all our new sites. Here is a brief run-down of their services:
- Coding — Java, PHP, ASP, Content Management Systems
- Advanced, secure servers in state-of-the-art data centres
- High speed: servers are connected directly to the backbone of the internet
- Data backup and fail-safe redundancy with multiple servers in different geographical locations
- Traffic analysis reports and Search Engine Optimisation
- Email accounts on industry strength email servers with anti-spam and virus protection, web-mail and shared calendars
Should you employ Twill Media we can make all the necessary arrangements to ensure that your site is up and running in as seamless a way as possible, constantly monitored by us.
Can you provide us with a Content Management System?
Yes we can. We have experience in a number of different systems, and will be able to advise on which one would be best suited to your project. Common choices are Textpattern and Joomla. These are both open-source in terms of licensing, which means they can be used for free. This keeps costs down for you, as we will only have to code your site to integrate with the CMS, rather than building the CMS from scratch. Another alternative we sometimes suggest is the use of Adobe's Contribute software.
Please give us a call and we'd be happy to explain these options in further depth.
Can you provide images?
Good quality images are an imperative element of a well designed site. We can provide images from stock sources, though these will obviously be impersonal to you. It is always nice to add some of your own, if possible, but only if they are good quality. Talk to us about the sort of specification we would suggest.
Can you guarantee hits on our site?
Whatever the subject matter of your site, there are probably many others of similar content on the world-wide web. Everyone wants their website seen, so these are all jostling for the highest ranking in the major search engines.
There are a number of elements which go into making a site search engine friendly. We won't go into detail here but hasten to say that we seek to implement them as much as possible. There are many sites that explain the basic principles, one of which is iCrossing (formerly Spannerworks).
You may also opt to pay for schemes such as Google Adwords.
Print (graphic) design
What type of graphic design projects do you undertake?
We undertake a vast range of graphic design projects including, but not limited to:
- Website template design
- Logo design
- Stationery design (business cards etc)
- DVD and CD on-body and cover artwork
- Signage (all types)
- Book covers
- Magazines and brochures
- The list goes on — ask us...
Back to print design questions
What software do you use?
We use the latest industry standard graphics software. This includes Adobe's Creative Suite v.4.
Back to print design questions
What print shop do you use?
We have spent considerable time searching out a print shop that produce work to the high specification (and with the efficiency) that we require. We generally use a company called Prime Litho for printing of all our work. We have built-up a good working relationship with the team there, and are pleased to accommodate file preparation and submittal on behalf of our clients.
Back to print design questions
What is your print design process?
- A client briefing at your offices or home (or by telephone and email if you're too far away).
- Market research, looking at competition and your customer base.
- Initial design ideas, using programmes such as Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop. These can be emailed to you as PDF files, as and when you ask to see the development.
- Development of final design(s), ready for presentation to a print shop and web designers etc.
There are two popular printing processes. The first is full-process or CMYK. There's nothing complicated about this, and it's great for photos and general printwork where there are more than three or four individual colour mixes. For more accurate colour reproduction you can employ spot colour printing, picking colours from a Pantone swatch (which we can supply). These will be required for preparation of the printer's printing plates. The codes are then applied to the vector illustrations by us, to ensure you get exactly what you want.
We can advise you on the best method for your individual project.
Please email us or telephone our office for more information and a free quotation.
Back to print design questions
What file types can you output?
For mock-ups and soft-proofing we use PDFs (Portable Document Format). This is cross platform compatible, and ensures that what we see is exactly what you see in terms of style and layout.
We can final output files in whatever format you desire, due to the depth of software we employ.
Back to print design questions
How long does it take to design a new logo?
All creative artwork lies within the realms of subjectivity. What you love, the next person may hate (however extreme this comment may seem!). With this the case, we can only go by way of 'the norm'. It is very important that you make us aware of what existing designs you like the look of (style, shapes, sizes, colours etc). This way we always begin on the correct foot.
We will normally produce a couple of A4 sheets of draft logos for you to initially observe and comment upon. These designs will then be whittled down to around three final draft logos. Together, we will then agree upon a final design and associated colour codes for web and print. Final delivery will consist of a range of gif files for the web, plus a vector based illustration for print shops etc.
All-in-all, the initial estimated process allows for a couple of days work.
Back to print design questions
How do you manage colour output?
Different presentation environments require different colour specifications e.g. for print you will normally employ full-process (CMYK) or Pantone colour matching printing methods. We can supply colour charts for choosing these, which are then embedded in the files. For web you will use RGB, as a monitor cannot produce colours in CMYK. This is where proofing is very important, as it allows you to ensure accurate colour consistency across various mediums.
Back to print design questions
Photography
What equipment do you use?
We use the following equipment:
- Canon EOS 5D bodies with grips
- Canon EF 50mm f/1.8
- Canon EF 24-105mm f/4 IS USM
- Canon 430EX and 580EX II flash heads
- Slik Pro tripod
- Plus accessories…
What types of photography assignment do you undertake?
We undertake many different photography assignments:
- Events, including weddings, launches etc
- Bespoke location shoots for promotions, publications or screen
- Portraiture
- Product photography for screen and print
- Stock photography for purchase – managed by Tim Jameson – click here to view (new window)
Do you have stock and other work for sale?
Yes, we have work for sale. This can be viewed and purchased through director Tim Jameson's main photography portfolio.
Weddings: what schedule do you work to?
We normally work to the following schedule for weddings (although this is always open to negotiation, should you wish):
- Bride's home (getting ready, bridesmaids etc)
- Best men waiting at the church
- Guests arriving
- Bridal party arriving
- Reportage style photos during the ceremony
- Exit from church
- Confetti
- Departure for reception
- Arrival at reception
- Couple with wedding car
- Formal group photos
- Bride and groom alone (10 min creative time)
- Guests milling about having drinks
- Guests partaking in sit-down meal
- Speeches
- Cutting of cake
- Evening party
- Leaving at around 9pm
Weddings: how much do you charge?
2009 package prices
Package A
Pre-wedding discussion of requirements with bridal couple and subsequent written plan. Approximately 200 reportage and/or formal style images of bridal preparations through to beginning of reception meal.
All prepared images available to bride and groom as direct full resolution downloads from Tim Jameson's photography website, plus 20 loose 7.5"x5" prints of your choice. Guests may purchase prints online.
Package B
Pre-wedding discussion of requirements with bridal couple and subsequent written plan. Approximately 350 reportage and/or formal style images of bridal preparations through to evening celebrations.
All prepared images available to bride and groom as direct full resolution downloads from Tim Jameson's photography website, plus 30 loose 7.5"x5" prints of your choice. Guests may purchase prints online.
We would be delighted to offer references for your peace of mind. Please contact us.
For bookings, please contact us.
NB. Travel to areas within Sussex is included — areas further afield may be subject to an agreed excess.
Can I see a larger portfolio of your photography work?
Yes, certainly. All photography work is managed by Tim Jameson and you can visit his main portfolio site here (new window).
Contact us with any additional queries...
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