hello desigeres,
for start: please cc me in replies, since i'm not subscribed on the designers@fsfeurope.org list
the idea of having a service for fellows, that produces print-ready business cards in a fellowship design as a pdf.
after wanting to do someething in that direction for some time, i now found some time to produce a working prototype of the generation code and reinhard mueller already has an idea on how to integrate with the fellowship database if i interpret my mail correspondece with him correctly.
asside from some minor code cleanup issues, there are some issues i still need help, and with some of them, people on this list might be able to help me: *) my code uses svg templates, and my current templates are, let's say, suboptimal since i'm more of a coder than a designer (see attachment). the requierements are pretty basic since my code is relativly flexible: * the template should be for a single card * the text parts that should be replaced are referenced via the 'id' attribute, so speaking names there would make the config file more readable * my current implementation does no like multi-lined text elements, therefor for multi line fields like address, there have to be seperate text elements for each line * my current plan woud be to include the data represented on the card in machine readable form (qr code) on the backside, so if suitable from the design point of view, would it be possible to include a square with a edge length of 2.5 to 3 centimeters there? (it may mark me as a techno freak, but i have seen people, escpecially secreteries waste a lot of time copieng the data by hand and smartphones and webcams with correspondig software are quite common nowadays, so it struck me as usefull) *) for the placement on the pages i also use svg templates with rect elements as placeholders (currently i have them with 1 card centered for sending to printing shops, an n-uped to a4 and a3 for home/office printers. however i have a small problem: when n-upping 8 cards onto a a4 page, the standard inksacpe feature produces marks that are to big (overlap into the neighboring card), does anybody now of a way to produce good crop/bleed marks in the needed size without drawing them by hand? *) to produce pdf's usable for pre-press, i currently pdf's with version 1.3 and cmyk colors in the final step that should, theoretically be in conformance with the pdf/x3 standard, does anybody by coinsitance now a free (as in freedom) tool to verify if that is really true?
thx
yours, albert
ps: i hope my design aux pas is not to offending for somebody tho actually has knowledge reagrding design -- Albert Dengg - Team Austria Free Software Foundation Europe (FSFE) [] (http://www.fsfe.org) Join the Fellowship of FSFE! [][][] (https://fsfe.org/join) Your donation powers our work! || (http://fsfe.org/donate)
Hello Albert,
I am very happy you are working on this. This was on my wish list for a long long time.
* Albert Dengg albert@fsfe.org [2011-05-23 01:00:11 +0200]:
*) my code uses svg templates, and my current templates are, let's say, suboptimal since i'm more of a coder than a designer (see attachment). the requierements are pretty basic since my code is relativly flexible:
- the template should be for a single card
- the text parts that should be replaced are referenced via the 'id' attribute, so speaking names there would make the config file more readable
- my current implementation does no like multi-lined text elements, therefor for multi line fields like address, there have to be seperate text elements for each line
- my current plan woud be to include the data represented on the card in machine readable form (qr code) on the backside, so if suitable from the design point of view, would it be possible to include a square with a edge length of 2.5 to 3 centimeters there? (it may mark me as a techno freak, but i have seen people, escpecially secreteries waste a lot of time copieng the data by hand and smartphones and webcams with correspondig software are quite common nowadays, so it struck me as usefull)
Can someone here please help Albert with the design?
Thanks, Matthias
Hi Albert! Sorry for the awfully late reply.
On 23/05/2011 01:00, Albert Dengg wrote:
the idea of having a service for fellows, that produces print-ready business cards in a fellowship design as a pdf.
This is a very good idea, thanks for coming up with it.
- my current implementation does no like multi-lined text elements, therefor for multi line fields like address, there have to be seperate text elements for each line
This is a question to ask Reinhard, how it is stored in the Fellowship database. However it stored, it should not be much of a problem though.
- my current plan woud be to include the data represented on the card in machine readable form (qr code) on the backside, so if suitable from the design point of view, would it be possible to include a square with a edge length of 2.5 to 3 centimeters there? (it may mark me as a techno freak, but i have seen people, escpecially secreteries waste a lot of time copieng the data by hand and smartphones and webcams with correspondig software are quite common nowadays, so it struck me as usefull)
It kind of is, yes. FSFE secretaries, also known as president-assist, often have to do such a work. :p More seriously, what other data would be on the back of the card? If the back is not too crowded, I would think putting a QR code there is no problem.
*) for the placement on the pages i also use svg templates with rect elements as placeholders (currently i have them with 1 card centered for sending to printing shops, an n-uped to a4 and a3 for home/office printers. however i have a small problem: when n-upping 8 cards onto a a4 page, the standard inksacpe feature produces marks that are to big (overlap into the neighboring card), does anybody now of a way to produce good crop/bleed marks in the needed size without drawing them by hand?
I don't, unfortunately. Have you got other ideas in the mean time? It depends on the service you're asking to though. For FSFE business cards, we just have to send a single pdf file… They do the n-upping/printing themselves.
*) to produce pdf's usable for pre-press, i currently pdf's with version 1.3 and cmyk colors in the final step that should, theoretically be in conformance with the pdf/x3 standard, does anybody by coinsitance now a free (as in freedom) tool to verify if that is really true?
Neither :/ I'm not sure why or who needs this conformance check?
ps: i hope my design aux pas is not to offending for somebody tho actually has knowledge reagrding design
Not at all, it's a good start! I think that "Fellowship" or "Fellowship of the FSFE" or something like that should appear on the card. Or do you think if suffices if "position" contains the information about being a fellow already?
What else do you need to be able to go on with this great proposal? I'm very much willing to help, I've played around with inkscape and its command line a bit already, and would not mind going on. ;)
Thanks, Nico
hi, On Fri, Jun 24, 2011 at 03:03:46PM +0200, Nicolas JEAN wrote:
Hi Albert! Sorry for the awfully late reply.
n.p., it seems that a lot of people are busy atm, including myself, which is why the code has not proceseed as far as i would want it to be.
On 23/05/2011 01:00, Albert Dengg wrote:
the idea of having a service for fellows, that produces print-ready business cards in a fellowship design as a pdf.
This is a very good idea, thanks for coming up with it.
more like i fellt the need to actually start the project, the idea is not new at all (i remember talking about something like that with reinhard and georg greve like 3 years ago for the first time... i just did not have the time to do anything about it :D)
- my current implementation does no like multi-lined text elements, therefor for multi line fields like address, there have to be seperate text elements for each line
This is a question to ask Reinhard, how it is stored in the Fellowship database. However it stored, it should not be much of a problem though.
- my current plan woud be to include the data represented on the card in machine readable form (qr code) on the backside, so if suitable from the design point of view, would it be possible to include a square with a edge length of 2.5 to 3 centimeters there? (it may mark me as a techno freak, but i have seen people, escpecially secreteries waste a lot of time copieng the data by hand and smartphones and webcams with correspondig software are quite common nowadays, so it struck me as usefull)
It kind of is, yes. FSFE secretaries, also known as president-assist, often have to do such a work. :p More seriously, what other data would be on the back of the card? If the back is not too crowded, I would think putting a QR code there is no problem.
a question for the designers i would think....
*) for the placement on the pages i also use svg templates with rect elements as placeholders (currently i have them with 1 card centered for sending to printing shops, an n-uped to a4 and a3 for home/office printers. however i have a small problem: when n-upping 8 cards onto a a4 page, the standard inksacpe feature produces marks that are to big (overlap into the neighboring card), does anybody now of a way to produce good crop/bleed marks in the needed size without drawing them by hand?
I don't, unfortunately. Have you got other ideas in the mean time? It depends on the service you're asking to though. For FSFE business cards, we just have to send a single pdf file… They do the n-upping/printing themselves.
*) to produce pdf's usable for pre-press, i currently pdf's with version 1.3 and cmyk colors in the final step that should, theoretically be in conformance with the pdf/x3 standard, does anybody by coinsitance now a free (as in freedom) tool to verify if that is really true?
Neither :/ I'm not sure why or who needs this conformance check?
because i know at least one fellow who would like to print them professionally and it makes arguing easier if the output actually conforms to the pdf/x standard for printing, then it should be relativly irrellevant with what software it was produced, as i now from cases where the print shop complaint that problems/errors where because of "non professional" free software used to create the content :(.
ps: i hope my design aux pas is not to offending for somebody tho actually has knowledge reagrding design
Not at all, it's a good start! I think that "Fellowship" or "Fellowship of the FSFE" or something like that should appear on the card. Or do you think if suffices if "position" contains the information about being a fellow already?
What else do you need to be able to go on with this great proposal? I'm very much willing to help, I've played around with inkscape and its command line a bit already, and would not mind going on. ;)
one thing i actually discovered in the meantime: the format of the cards is not completely right, so please correct the svg sizes when doing new templates.
a small side note from my side: i will be out of reach for 3 weeks starting from sunday in the morning, so i won't be able to reply to mails arriving after tomorrow evening until the 19th of july. (i won't have cell phone coverage, so i won't be able not just unwilling :D)
the current version of the code can be found at http://albertd.nicenamecrew.com/cardgen/
the code for the qr code on the backside is not included, since i was not able the finish it yet although the code sinimplets for it work on it's own.
yours, albert
ps: talking with someone at our fellowship meeting last friday there was the idea of putting a photo of the fellow on the card...if it should be desided that is desired i would have to add some code, though it should be doable without to much work
Hi Albert,
has there been any progress on this? Do you need anything?
* Albert Dengg albert@fsfe.org [2011-06-24 16:34:57 +0200]:
hi, On Fri, Jun 24, 2011 at 03:03:46PM +0200, Nicolas JEAN wrote:
Hi Albert! Sorry for the awfully late reply.
n.p., it seems that a lot of people are busy atm, including myself, which is why the code has not proceseed as far as i would want it to be.
On 23/05/2011 01:00, Albert Dengg wrote:
the idea of having a service for fellows, that produces print-ready business cards in a fellowship design as a pdf.
This is a very good idea, thanks for coming up with it.
more like i fellt the need to actually start the project, the idea is not new at all (i remember talking about something like that with reinhard and georg greve like 3 years ago for the first time... i just did not have the time to do anything about it :D)
- my current implementation does no like multi-lined text elements, therefor for multi line fields like address, there have to be seperate text elements for each line
This is a question to ask Reinhard, how it is stored in the Fellowship database. However it stored, it should not be much of a problem though.
- my current plan woud be to include the data represented on the card in machine readable form (qr code) on the backside, so if suitable from the design point of view, would it be possible to include a square with a edge length of 2.5 to 3 centimeters there? (it may mark me as a techno freak, but i have seen people, escpecially secreteries waste a lot of time copieng the data by hand and smartphones and webcams with correspondig software are quite common nowadays, so it struck me as usefull)
It kind of is, yes. FSFE secretaries, also known as president-assist, often have to do such a work. :p More seriously, what other data would be on the back of the card? If the back is not too crowded, I would think putting a QR code there is no problem.
a question for the designers i would think....
*) for the placement on the pages i also use svg templates with rect elements as placeholders (currently i have them with 1 card centered for sending to printing shops, an n-uped to a4 and a3 for home/office printers. however i have a small problem: when n-upping 8 cards onto a a4 page, the standard inksacpe feature produces marks that are to big (overlap into the neighboring card), does anybody now of a way to produce good crop/bleed marks in the needed size without drawing them by hand?
I don't, unfortunately. Have you got other ideas in the mean time? It depends on the service you're asking to though. For FSFE business cards, we just have to send a single pdf file… They do the n-upping/printing themselves.
*) to produce pdf's usable for pre-press, i currently pdf's with version 1.3 and cmyk colors in the final step that should, theoretically be in conformance with the pdf/x3 standard, does anybody by coinsitance now a free (as in freedom) tool to verify if that is really true?
Neither :/ I'm not sure why or who needs this conformance check?
because i know at least one fellow who would like to print them professionally and it makes arguing easier if the output actually conforms to the pdf/x standard for printing, then it should be relativly irrellevant with what software it was produced, as i now from cases where the print shop complaint that problems/errors where because of "non professional" free software used to create the content :(.
ps: i hope my design aux pas is not to offending for somebody tho actually has knowledge reagrding design
Not at all, it's a good start! I think that "Fellowship" or "Fellowship of the FSFE" or something like that should appear on the card. Or do you think if suffices if "position" contains the information about being a fellow already?
What else do you need to be able to go on with this great proposal? I'm very much willing to help, I've played around with inkscape and its command line a bit already, and would not mind going on. ;)
one thing i actually discovered in the meantime: the format of the cards is not completely right, so please correct the svg sizes when doing new templates.
a small side note from my side: i will be out of reach for 3 weeks starting from sunday in the morning, so i won't be able to reply to mails arriving after tomorrow evening until the 19th of july. (i won't have cell phone coverage, so i won't be able not just unwilling :D)
the current version of the code can be found at http://albertd.nicenamecrew.com/cardgen/
the code for the qr code on the backside is not included, since i was not able the finish it yet although the code sinimplets for it work on it's own.
yours, albert
ps: talking with someone at our fellowship meeting last friday there was the idea of putting a photo of the fellow on the card...if it should be desided that is desired i would have to add some code, though it should be doable without to much work
Regards, Matthias
Hi, On Tue, Oct 04, 2011 at 12:17:58PM +0200, Matthias Kirschner wrote:
Hi Albert,
has there been any progress on this? Do you need anything?
sorry for the delay, i was hoping to to finish it sooner, but unfortunatly i did not have as much time for it as planned for personal reasons. current state is, i have to rework the program flow a bit since i have a little problem with the integration of the code for the machine readable back part, though the parts itself are finished.
the concept for the rework is done as well, so i just have to re-integrate it and hope to be done this month.
yours, albert
ps: we did a small test run with my current templates, since Juergen needed cards for the SFD, and he told me that apart from a few small things, they ware well recieved.
* Nicolas JEAN nicoulas@fsfe.org [2011-06-24 15:03:46 +0200]:
*) for the placement on the pages i also use svg templates with rect elements as placeholders (currently i have them with 1 card centered for sending to printing shops, an n-uped to a4 and a3 for home/office printers. however i have a small problem: when n-upping 8 cards onto a a4 page, the standard inksacpe feature produces marks that are to big (overlap into the neighboring card), does anybody now of a way to produce good crop/bleed marks in the needed size without drawing them by hand?
I don't, unfortunately. Have you got other ideas in the mean time? It depends on the service you're asking to though. For FSFE business cards, we just have to send a single pdf file… They do the n-upping/printing themselves.
I think it would be good if Fellows can use their printer at home, too. Or just go to a copy shop and print it out.
Regards, Matthias