The web is simply more visual than ever before and Give to the Max Day is no exception. So, how do you create great visual content for the Great Minnesota Give Together when you can't afford to hire your own army of photographers, videographers and graphic designers? Join GiveMN Digital Strategist, Photographer & Videographer Jeff Achen for an hour packed full of design dos and don'ts, photography basics and video production tips that even you, YES YOU, can employ to take your Give to the Max Day campaign to the next level visually. We'll what we'll cover: Introduce the elements of strong visual branding Explore the file types, web sizes and jargon of digital photography Simple tips and tools for creating compelling infographics, memes & logos How to produce simple, but compelling videos with minimal equipment & budget

1. #GTMD13 – Maximizing with
graphics, photos and video

2. Agenda
• Concept of
“visual
branding”
• File
types/sizes
• Photography
• Graphics
• Video
• Q&A

3. GiveMN is a collaborative nonprofit venture to grow
charitable giving in Minnesota and move more of it
online.
We do this through fundraising training and outreach, our
annual Give to the Max Day event, and by providing
innovative online tools to help you raise more money.
GiveMN is an independent 501c3 support organization
of the Minnesota Community Foundation, which is an affiliate
of Minnesota Philanthropy Partners.

4. Razoo provides the web platform
that powers GiveMN.

5. visual branding
• Visual branding is what a brand feels like. Devoid of tag lines &
mission statements, a brand must be able to represent itself as a
snapshot.
• Elements of visual branding:
– Colors
– Logos
– Font
– Layout
• Strong sense of brand attributes and defined elements guides all
branding initiatives.
• What are you branding? Cause? Org? Project? Campaign?

6. visual branding
Give to the Max Day brand attributes
– Colors: Light green (#8cc640), Dark green
(#6cb545), Dark blue (#1a1246)
– Official logos:
– Fonts: Calibri & Cambria
– Personality:
• Fun!
• Simple, but cutting edge technology
• Pride for Minnesota
• Philanthropic spirit

7. file types | sizes
Standard image files (store information about the file by
identifying
each pixel and it's color, the result is that if you stretch or
resize the image, it looks unnatural and pixilated)
• .jpeg = (Joint Photographic Experts Group) used for
photos online
• .tiff = (Tagged Image File Format) used mainly for
photos in print materials
• .png = (Portable Network Graphics) used for photos
online, and the main advantage is this file type can
be rendered for backgrounds to show through
• .psd = (Adobe PhotoShop Document) used for sharing
with other photo editors during the editing
process, including for use in video editing
programs, but .psd files should be saved as .jpegs or
.png files for use on a published website or social
network
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image_file_formats

8. file types | sizes
Vector image files (made up of points, lines and
curves related to one another using mathematical
formulas and can be scaled to any size with no loss
of detail or sharpness)
• .ai = (Adobe Illustrator Document) use for sharing
with other graphic designers or video graphics
editors, but .ai or .eps files should be saved as
.jpegs or .png files for use on a published website
or social network
• .eps = (Encapsulated PostScript) use for sharing
with other graphic designers or video graphics
editors, but .ai or .eps files should be saved as
.jpegs or .png files for use on a published website
or social network
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image_file_formats

9. file types | sizes
dots per inch (dpi)
• Another number you will see used in addition
to the pixels dimensions is dpi. It will likely be
either 72 dpi or 300 dpi.
• Basic rule of thumb:
72 dpi = web & video use
300 dpi = print use

10. file types | sizes
Standard
website size is
786 pixels wide.
Typically, there
is a column on
the
right, leaving
you with about
580 pixels to
fill. This is a
great standard
width for
photos, graphic
s or video.

11. file types | sizes
Photo sizes for
Facebook:
Cover photo =
851 x 315
pixels
Profile picture
= 180 x 180
pixels
Tab buttons =
111 x 74 pixels

12. file types | sizes
Key takeaways:
1. For online purposes, use .jpeg or .png files for
your photos and graphics at 72 dpi
2. For print purposes, use .ai or .eps files OR
.jpeg, .psd, .tiff files at 300 dpi
3. For photos and graphics on the web, the optimal
size is 580 pixels wide (unless the photo runs the
width of the site, or requires other specified
dimensions)
4. For graphics, make sure you have an .ai or .eps
version on file somewhere and use that version
(vector graphic) to send to printers, web
editors, and other creative partners
5. Whatever your use, take the time to find out the
dimensions and create photos to match them

13. photography
Considerations for choosing a
photo:
– Perspective
– Cropping
– Your subject’s expression
– The Eyes
– Direction
– “Negative” space

14. Image tells a story
Cropped properly
Subjects facing in, not out
Sized properly for the page

15. The eyes! Subjects facing in, not off the page

16. Good Use of
Negative space to
compliment with
text/logos
Subject facing
toward the
headline, not
away

17. photography
Considerations for choosing a
profile picture or avatar:
• Does it fit 180x180 pixels?
• Person or logo (GTMD13)?
• Keep it simple
vs.
vs.
vs.

18. graphics
• Software: Adobe Illustrator
or Photoshop
• Types of graphics
– Organizational Logo
– Event logo
– Infographics
– Memes

20. graphics
Meme – an
element of
a culture
(often an
image or
video) that
may be
imitated
widely
Memes =
fun
Make your own:
http://memecrunch.com/generator/

21. video
• Equipment: web cam or
phone camera
• Software for editing &
publishing your video:
YouTube
Webcam:
$15-$80

22. video
How to edit using YouTube’s video editor:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Kbz0ksJs-Y

23. video
Types of
videos you
can produce
• Thank you messages
• Report on progress, impact
• Testimonial
• Photo slideshow
• Video tour of a place or event
http://www.youtube.com/MNYouthLink

24. Questions?
Upcoming webinar: #GTMD13 –
Maximizing Mobile
https://cc.readytalk.com/cc/s/registrati
ons/new?cid=rjr30sjta7mx
All webinars are archived at
http://blog.givemn.org/give_mn_blog/w
ebinars/

25. “What is your legacy of change?” video contest
Prizes:
• Winning Videos: Two grand prizes of $5,000
• Two Prizes of $2,500
• Five Prizes of $1,000
Most Creative Give to the Max Fundraising
Campaign Award
Prize - $500
Enter by Nov. 1
Submission details at givemn.org/gtmd13
contests