Another Example of Bad Photoshop, Bad Graphic Design...What Were They Thinking?!?!

Taking the phrase, "Just throw something together..." to an entirely new level, I found this ad in on the back cover of one of my wife's magazines.

Even if we were able to look past the:

• Blurry, low-resolution background (which may or may not be of Seattle, I can't tell).
• Oversized "clipartish" SEATTLE logo at the bottom (which looks slapped together as well...what's with the faded guides on it?
• Ridiculous choice of using a script font (green no less) for a solid paragraph of text (On a fuzzy blue background).
• 4-5 "wonderfully" different fonts on in the ad. (By the way, there is no prize for the ad that uses the most fonts)
• Notion that I still have very little idea what the ad is, who it's for or what it's for.

The real crime here is that this "ad" was featured on the back cover of a magazine, so this wasn't a dinky 2" x 2" black and white ad in the classified section that just costs a roll of quarters.

With this ad being full-color, full-bleed 8.5" x 11" in one of the magazine's prime locations, I am guessing that running it wasn't cheap...the actual design of the ad, it screams cheap.

Guys, if you're running a full-page ad (even if it's free or on barter), wouldn't it make sense to at least invest SOME money in having it designed by a professional?

PS - if anyone can tell me what the script font actually reads feel free to let me know, I get about three words into it and my eyes just can't focus anymore...it's like looking directly into the sun.

PPS - Just wanted to give a quick shout out to the Graphic Mac blog, which listed the BASAS blog as one of 8 great web resources for freelancers. Thanks for the nod James, I really appreciate it. I've added you guys to my friends links, and yes, I'd recommend that freelancers check out your site...good stuff. I have the sneaky suspicion the Apple iPad rumors/release might be discussed as well.

Comments

[Renee]

Oh dear...
Not that I'm particularly proud of this fact, but I do know what the script font says. It's the lyrics to the theme song for an old TV series called "Here Come the Brides". It was set in Seattle of the 1800s starring Bobby Sherman and David Soul. Gee didn't know Perry Como sang it though... :)
YIKES!
And I live near Seattle and can't tell if that background is a fuzzy photo of Seattle.

Thanks for doing your analysis of these tragedies as you find them. They are helpful to me and graphic design students I occasionally teach. Give us all hope that we CAN find work out there as professionals!

[Jeremy Tuber]

Hahah, that's awesome Renee, my eyes started to burn after I read a few lines...it was just too hard to read :) Hmm, perhaps you were wearing UV coated glasses when you read it...in any case it's barely legible!

Glad you enjoy these bad photoshop moments, they're always good for a laugh. I'd like to point out that I too had my share of these when first starting out, it's good to be able to laugh about it. As always, it's a pleasure to have you visit!

[James]

Thanks so much for the mention as well! LOVE your site, and look forward to every new post!

[Jeremy Tuber]

Hey thanks for visiting James (and for the kind words), happy to show your site a little link love - thegraphicmac.com is terrific resource.

I've received a fair amount of traffic from your site (again, thank you) - your readers are always welcome. If there's something specific you'd like me to write about for you or your readers please drop me a line.

PS - I shot you over an email a few minutes ago, if you'd like keep an eye out for it (I might end up in bulk mail).

[company logo design]

Well don't know whats going on but its not a Good way to do this. in my opinion we have to look again about this issue

[computer service orange county]

Can you be sued, or have charges pressed against you for using photoshop to display someone in a bad nature?

[Jeremy Tuber]

That's a good question CSOC:
If you have real concerns about this, I'd probably seek out an attorney; however, I may offer a few "unofficial" responses to your question.

My first thought when I saw your question was, "Did the designer manipulate the photo at all?"
Secondly, I'd wonder, "Was there any malicious intent on the designer's part to show the subject in a bad light?" If a judge/jury decides the designer intentionally made someone look bad by using photo manipulation in photoshop, that might be a real problem!

In the end, I really am not 100% certain, but I suppose my advice would be to make sure you have permission (photo release), run the photo by the subject before it's uploaded or printed and as funny as it can be, I'd avoid using photoshop to make people look funky ;)

PS – a while back, a photographer friend of mine told me he worked with photographer that thought it would be funny to photoshop in a “bird beak nose” on a woman he photographed. When it came time to turn in his shots, he’d forgotten to send the “unedited” version to the printer – OUCH!!! Not sure if the guy got sued or not :)