Memo Proposal

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Memo To: L. Brister

From: Katy Conner

Date: 26 February 2019

Subject: Recommendation Report Proposal This memo proposes a recommendation report to inform Tammy Lowe, an owner of a new t- shirt printing company, how to create raster and vector images ready for t-shirt printing. My research will explain the differences between raster and vector graphics files, go over necessary equipment for the software she uses, go through a step by step process on how to turn drawings into raster and vector graphics files, explain how to add and modify text to images, and how to resize image files as needed. The audiences of this recommendation report are Tammy Lowe and the instructor of this course.

Project Overview The following will explain the research I have conducted on characteristics of raster and vector graphics files, necessary equipment, and step by step processes to turn drawings into graphics files, add and modify text, and to resize image files for Tammy Lowe’s business purposes. Background/Problem Tammy Lowe opened her t-shirt business out of her home in 2018 and began printing t-shirts and apparel for new customers. Her husband competes in dirt track races and she would like to start her own brand that makes racing shirts for women and kids. Eventually she would like to design racing shirts for racers. However, she does not understand how to use Adobe programs, like Photoshop and Illustrator, to fulfill her needs. She has asked for my help to give her a basic 101 course with step-by-step instructions on how to turn her artwork into print-ready designs. Tammy Lowe would like to learn how to use the Adobe programs for her needs, but she cannot find the information she needs to teach herself in a short amount of time. She has already spent hours searching for information so that she can teach herself how to use Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator, but the information she finds is not organized in a clear manner and is often out-of-date. She has a growing business and wants to keep costs low by creating her own graphics, but she simply cannot find a step-by-step guide that goes over the basic information she needs. Goal/Scope This research will present basic how-to information on Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator that Tammy Lowe needs to convert her own images into print-ready designs. My report will consist of:

• An explanation of the differences between raster and vector graphics.

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• An outline of what equipment is required for working with Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator programs.

• A step-by-step guide on how to turn drawings in to raster and vector graphics files.

• An explanation on how to edit drawings on Photoshop and Illustrator.

• Instructions on how to add and modify text in images.

• Information on how to resize images.

• A troubleshooting guide to address common problems new users often have with Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator.

Sources Much of the research for the step-by-step guide comes from my own personal experience with learning how to create images on Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator for my online t-shirt and mug business. For my business, I spent two months reading through Adobe forums and watching YouTube tutorials in order to learn how to turn drawings into images for print. Through many episodes of trial and error, I was able to figure out the process. In the very beginning of my own learning period, I discovered that the computer I was using was not able to support Photoshop or Illustrator. The Adobe programs would consistently freeze while running. After discussing this issue with a computer expert I learned that I needed a computer with a different graphics card and processor. I will include the recommended specifications in my report. For t-shirt printing, it is important to understand the differences between raster and vector graphics. In my own experience I discovered that drawings in raster graphics format do not have clean lines. No amount of editing will save the image with clear lines. It is necessary to convert a raster graphics image into a vector graphics image to have clear lines that are not choppy from pixilation. Additionally, many t-shirt printers and printing software have different file requirements. While some printing software recognize vector graphics, others do not. Some programs require that images are saved and uploaded with a certain image size and file type. It is important to know and understand the process for converting files from raster to vector and back to raster, as well as how to change image file sizes for each print job. I have done both actions many times for my online t-shirt and mug business and will explain the process in the report. Interviews Even though I have experience with the process covered in this report, I wanted to find out if a Photoshop and Illustrator expert knew of a better way to convert drawings into graphics images. I sought out the expertise of Jan Robertson, a vector graphics professor at McLennan Community College in Waco. She was unable to find time to participate in a face-to-face

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interview, but was able to answer my questions through email correspondence. Her responses confirm that the process I use to convert drawings to images is correct. I also conducted a face-to-face interview with Michael King to find out what computer system specifications are necessary for Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator. Michael King has an Associate’s Degree in Computer Systems Forensics, is an admin for a popular online video game, and has several years of professional experience in computer systems and networking. He was able to give me a list of specifications that Tammy Lowe would need to buy a new computer. A working bibliography of sources is included at the end of this proposal. Time Management In order to complete this report by the due date I will set weekly goals and complete them within the allotted timelines. I will use the Gantt chart below to keep myself on track with my timelines. (See Table 1.) I will make use of school holidays as additional time to work on the report. I do not have classes on Fridays and will designate that day as the time to finalize report sections and get ahead.

TASKS WEEKS

Feb 4 –

Feb 10

Feb 11 -

Feb 17

Feb 18 -

Feb 24

Feb 25 –

Mar 3

Mar 4 –

Mar 10

Mar 11 –

Mar 24

Mar 25 –

Mar 31

Apr 1 –

Apr 7

Apr 8 –

Apr 14

Apr 15 –

Apr 21

Apr 22 –

Apr 28

Choose Report Topic

Get Topic Approval

Get Software & Equip. info & graphics

Interview Jan Robertson

Step by Step Screenshots

Create graphics from Screenshots

Draft Proposal

Proposal Due

Drafting - Report

Drafting – Front Matter

Drafting – Back Matter

Revising/Editing

Report Due

Prepare PowerPoint

PowerPoint Due Table 1: Gantt Chart with Planned Timelines and Expected Completion Dates

In addition to writing this report, I take four online classes with assignments and quizzes due each week, and I am a mother to two school-age daughters. Both my daughters attend school, so my school days begin at seven in the morning and end at four in the afternoon. I will assign work for each day based on their workload requirements and due dates. I will designate time slots on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays as time to focus on the report.

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As mentioned earlier in this proposal, I run an online t-shirt and mug business that requires me to spend some time each day on social media posts and creating designs. Social media posts take no longer than one hour of my time each day. This leaves me eight hours to complete school work and work on the report. I will use my free time and the time I have left after my daily work assignments are completed to work on creating designs for my business. Qualifications As a t-shirt designer and owner of an online t-shirt and mug business I have a working knowledge and hundreds of hours of experience in creating graphics images from drawings. Additionally, I have experience with working with different printers and editing files to fit their requirements. I also have the benefit of being able to continue an email correspondence with a vector graphics expert (Jan Robertson) if I am in need of additional information or advice. As a psychology major in my senior year, I have written dozens of lengthy papers that focus on research, detail, and proper citations. I am interested in writing this report because I have yet to find a guided how-to for beginners on how to create designs from drawings and make them ready for t-shirt printing. I have firsthand knowledge of the frustration that Tammy Lowe is experiencing, and I would like to create a guide that would alleviate that frustration. Budget When this report is complete, I will have accrued an expense of $42.68. In order to create images for the step-by-step process, I will need access to the Adobe Creative Suite. This will give me access to both Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator. Adobe offers monthly plans to students for $19.99 per month plus $1.35 in tax, totaling $21.34 per month. The report due date is six weeks from the submission of this proposal. Even though the report will not take a full two months, Adobe Creative Suite bills for an entire month and will not credit funds if the subscription is canceled mid-month. For this reason, I will have an expense for two months of access to Adobe Creative Suite. (See Table 2.) No travel expenses occurred because correspondence with Tammy Lowe was by phone and text, my interview with Jan Robertson was via email, and Michael King is my husband and lives at home with me. Additionally, I will not accrue any binding or copying costs because the report will be submitted online.

Expenses Costs

Adobe CS $42.48

Total $42.98 Table 2: Budget for Report

Request for Approval I am requesting approval of this proposal for my formal report project. I am eager to complete the report so that I may share it with Tammy Lowe. Jan Robertson has also expressed an interest in seeing the finished report. This report would help Tammy Lowe and any other artist who is interested in designing apparel but doesn’t know how to use the Adobe Photoshop or Adobe Illustrator. Thank you for your time and consideration.

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Working APA Bibliography

5 Advantages of Vectors for Tshirt Design. (2017). Retrieved from

https://vectorguru.org/help/advantages-vectors-tshirt-design.html. Buffington, A. (2017). Retrieved from https://www.quora.com/In-what-file-format-do-you-

send-an-image-for-t-shirt-printing. Cube, R. (2018). Retrieved from https://www.quora.comm/What-should-be-the-canvas-size-

fore-t-shirt-design-in-Photoshop.

Marran, S. (2018). The Best Computer for Photo Editing. Retrieved from https://digitalphotographycourses.co.za/best-computer-photo-editing/.

Pagin, Shaun. (n.d.). Raster vs. Vector: The Easy-to-Understand Guide. Retrieved from

https://www.fastprint.co.uk/blog/raster-vs-vector-the-easy-to-understand-guide.html. Templates & Requirements. (n.d). Retrieved from https://printaura.com/image-requirements/. Vector Images vs. Raster Images in HTML 5. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.aha-

soft.com/faq/vector-images-raster-images-html5.htm.

Vector or Raster: Which Is Best for Tees? - River City Sportswear. (2017). Retrieved from https://welogoit.com/blog/2016/12/vector-raster-best-screen-printing.

What are Vector Graphics? (n.d). Retrieved from https://vectr.com/tutorials/what-are-vector-

graphics/.