What is a "CUT-OUT"?

This is an explanation page of the term "cut-out". Basically, it is a time consuming task whereby all background imagery is removed from a photo or logo so that the only thing that remains is the desired image. For example, a realtor has a photo of themselves that has a blue background which would not look good in the business card design they chose. By adding photo "cut-out" to their order, the offending background is removed. An example of a LOGO "cut-out": Company logo has a white background to it. Logo needs inserted into a punch card that has a blue background. The white background of the logo would clash with the blue background of the punch card. By adding LOGO "cut-out" service to the order, the problem is solved.

PHOTO CUT-OUT

Here is a sample of a boxed photo (no cut-out) -- we simply put a beveled box image around the photo for this realtor.

For contrast, below is a sample of an excellent photo, cut out, and insertion / placement into an appropriate background (for a realtor who sells houses with pools). This person chose the add on for cut-out services.

If we have an excellent photo to work with and a little imagination (yours or our design team), we can produce some awesome looking cards!

LOGO CUT-OUT

Here is a sample logo that originally had a background color behind the logo (this example simply shows the background as white which would not work in the final card that was designed). This logo, and portions of it, were used in the creation of a punch card that ended up with a background color complimenting the bird in the log. This client chose to add on logo cut-out services.

Here is the bird cut out of the logo

Below is an end result, after both images being cut out and each's background made transparent so that they "went with" the new background of the punch card... we used shadowing and beveling techniques to make the birds "pop" on the card.

The result used the main logo as the centerpiece, two different sizes of the original bird in the logo that were cut-out and used as punch areas. This kind of job would have had two logo-cut out services added to the order for this kind of result.

Design Team Creative Process

The more information you give our design team in the text boxes of the ordering system (while placing an order), the faster and better the results -- an example: Sending logo that I want across the top, need the card to read XYZ Rewards, explanation stating "when you spend X you get y", gift card is transferrable, need 10 punch cares, each with $10 inside. Our colors are sky blue, water blue, copper and beiges. Our website is xyz.com.  When this kind of information is provided, the design team will look at the imagery and feel of your website and attempt to create a card that is similar based upon your desires. They usually cannot use any web images because website images are 72 dpi and we need 350 dpi to look good in print.