FYC Podcast Episode 008: FREE Photoshop for Churches, Non-Profits and Businesses
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Podcast Resource Links
> FindingYourChurch.com/Toolbox
Podcast Episode Text Version
Welcome to the Finding Your Church Podcast from FindingYourChurch.com. My name is Jeremy Phillips and my goal is to help you make it a challenge for people to live in your community without finding your Church.
Creating graphics can be extremely challenging. In this episode, we are going to look at what is currently a FREE alternative to Photoshop, and I will give you a resource to have graphics created extremely cheaply if you do not want to mess with creating graphics.
I have been in a position both while working in Churches, and now with developing website and social media graphics, where that is part of the job description.
However, I am not what I would consider to be a Graphic Designer. I know very few rules of Graphic Design. There are rules about Thirds and contrast and layering and whatever else.
I think most people think the rule of Thirds is something you do to a pie when having dessert.
But regardless, I am not a Graphics Designer. My approach to Graphic Design for Church or whatever project I am working on would more resemble the process of elimination than creation.
I know what looks bad more than I know what looks good.
So I start creating something and realize that it looks bad, then I continue to work on it until it looks at least tolerable or good. The end result may look fine. But, it definitely was not because I had some great design plan from the start. The result is more like evolution than creation.
So I use tools to help me get started. Resources like www.GracewayMedia.com, iStockPhoto.com and some free places IconFinder.com and Pexels.com to at least have background images to start with.
I can use Photoshop, so that is what I typically use to create the actual graphics with.
But, you may not be skilled in the Photoshop arts, or you may not have the budget for those types of paid tools.
There is an alternative that you can use for your Church that at least at this time is 100% FREE. I say at this time, because anything can change and their pricing is 100% out of my control.
This site is Canva.com
Not only can you create any size custom graphics that you want, they also have starting point templates for nearly any type of social media, book cover, info graphic, and website header that you would need to create.
They have many backgrounds and icon images that you can use, and they have have different sizes and styles of text already pre-formatted. You just click on the template and it shows up in your editing area ready for you to make changes to it.
In addition to the free backgrounds and graphics, you can purchase premium options for $1 each. If you create a graphic with a premium options however, your graphic will only currently be available for download for 24 hours at this time.
They have a lot of great paid options, and those might be worth using for certain projects. But, the way you can get around this is to use the “Uploads” section.
You can upload any graphic, background or icon that you want to use in your graphic in this section. Again, you can find free icons and graphics at IconFinder.com and Pexels.com
The benefit of this is that your graphics files remain available for download for as long as you want. Plus, you can copy the graphic and duplicate it to use as a template for future graphics you create.
So Canva.com is an extremely quality and effective alternative to use as FREE Photoshop for your Church to create graphics to use for Sermons Slides, Posters, Invitations, Postcards, Bulletins, Website and Social Media Graphics.
But what if you are still terrible at creating graphics?
There is no shame in it. Some people are just horrible. They have no idea how to coordinate colors, or refrain from using 15 fonts on one Social Media Graphic.
There is no shame in not knowing how to do it. There is only shame in it when you know you stink at it, but you do it anyway. We all know people who stink at it and do it anyway.
But thankfully whether you are not graphically skilled, or just do not have the time for certain graphics related or other types of technical and creative projects, there is a resource that can help you that is very inexpensive.
That resource is my FREE Guide called “Fiverr For Churches” that you can get at www.findingyourchurch.com/Toolbox
This guide and website really can help your church be more productive, especially if you are struggling with having enough time, staff, money or volunteers. All Churches and Ministries struggle with at least one of those from time to time.
Fiverr is a site where you can get nearly any type of creative and technical online work done for you starting at only $5. The site is beginning to expand some and allow Sellers to offer higher priced Services, but many [if not most] of the Sellers will still have options available for you for around $5.
This short guide shows you exactly how to get on Fiverr, and how to find the Sellers on the site who will do the best job for your church.
When you get the FREE Fiverr For Churches downloadable book you will learn…
- What Services are offered on the site that can help your Church.
- How to create an Account and use the Dashboard.
- Tips to help you as a Buyer on the site.
- How Sellers are rated and how to choose ones that are best for your Church.
- How to get bigger projects done with “Gig Extras”
- How to Search for and Find the Seller and Services you need to do your Project.
I have personally used this site to create video and fix some website issues, and the sellers I used did a great job. But there are a few tips you will want to know before getting on the site that will help make your experience a great one.
And when you sign up to get the FREE Book, you will also receive an offer to take advantage of a REDUCED PRICE on our full Finder Resource Membership. The Finder Resource is a Step-by-Step Guide showing you exactly how to help your Church get found online. That reduced price is only available when you request your FREE “Fiverr For Churches” Book.
So go to www.findingyourchurch.com/Toolbox to find the link to download your FREE PDF Guide. You will also find a lot of other resources on that page that can help your Church get found online as well.
That is all for this episode. Now GO and GET FOUND.
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