Print Art Blog

This is a blog site for new news and articles on our printed products and services including Big Checks, Full Color Banners and 4x8 Signs.

Aug 3, 2006, Mayor Bloomberg and Big Check

When it was announced that a $400 property rebate would be mailed to New York city homeowners, we wondered, "Will Mayor Bloomberg pose with a big check, a la Publishers Clearinghouse?" Well clearly, a photo session for re-election is an opportunity to good to pass up. The rebate, which was proposed by the Mayor and approved by the City Council, will cost the city $250 million, which in the scheme of things, doesn't seem like that much, though some other groups think the money should be used elsewhere, given the city's budget deficit.

The Mayor's name is very noticeable on the check, apart from the City Comptroller's and Finance Commissioner's signatures on the check. The Post reports Mayor Bloomberg explaining this, " "Because I'm the mayor of the City of New York and more people wanted me to be mayor than wanted the other guy." The check actually reads, "This rebate honors the sacrifices you made in order to help New York City's recovery during difficult times." And the Mayor also signed up for a check himself: "I paid my taxes, and I'm going to get my $400 back"; the Times notes he hasn't decided how to spend it yet.

Aug 1, 2006, 12 Tips for using Big Checks in your Publicity/ Photo Op Campaign

Here are 12 tips for using photos and big checks for publicity:

1. Make sure you have good-quality, above-the-shoulders photos of all your experts who are likely to be interviewed by the media....have these folks in the big check picture if possible

2. Consider asking your photographer to shoot "environmental portraits" of your experts. An architect, for example, might be shown holding several rolled up architect's renderings under her arm. A construction executive can be shown holding a hard hat or other tools of his trade. Weekly newspapers that don't have big photo staffs would probably welcome these photos. Have these props available in the big check photo.

3. Have interior and exterior shots of your company available for the media. The interior shots can show people at work.

4. Submit big check photos with news releases about the donation.

5. Pie charts, bar charts and other graphics can often help readers understand complicated issues such as budgets. Offer to supply information to media outlets so they can create their own graphics to accompany the article they're writing about.

6. If you're sponsoring an event that doesn't necessarily warrant a story, call the photo desk at your local newspaper and let photographers know what's happening. Let them know that a big check will be involved.....they are still unusual and help get your photo published.

7. If a photographer from a newspaper or magazine takes photos at your company, never demand to see the negatives, or dictate what photo they should use with the article, or ask for free copies of prints. The negatives are the property of the media outlet, and the media maintains full control over their use. If you want prints, expect to pay for them. Try to ensure that the photographer gets a photo of the big check exchange.

8. When sending prints to the media, be sure correct identification is on a sticker on the back of each photo. When sending several photos, slip a piece of paper between each one so the ink from the back of one photo doesn't bleed onto the front of the photo behind it.

9. Avoid using big clunky photos at your website because they slow down the time it takes a page to load....big check photos on your website show that you care and are active in the community.

10. In addition to the check passing photo, take a photo that illustrates what the money will be used for.

11. Make sure you offer all your images as digital photos that the media can access at your website, perhaps in a password protected area that the public can't access.

12. If you're sponsoring an annual event, take lots of photos yourself and offer them to the media the following year to be used for pre-event publicity. The big check photo can be used for many years.

Jun 29, 2006, Purchase form

This page connects to purchase form where information about the customer purchase is submitted.

Jun 26, 2006, Sitefeedback

This site is about providing feedback about the print art site.

Jun 21, 2006, Bookmarks code upload