Congratulations!
You figured out the test we have built into our co-op and employee application process.
One of the key characterisitics we are looking for in our team members is the ability to try and figure out an issue on their own.
None of us can solve every issue on our own, and all of us working in tech are constantly learning, so we don't expect our team to be 100% self-sufficient, but we do like it when they aren't afraid to troubleshoot things on their own in the beginning.
In so many ways, your branding is the face of your business or organization. Upon having their first encounter with you, people will attach their first impression feelings to your logo and colors and each subsequent time they see your branding those foundational feelings will return to have more experiences and memories built upon them.
It's important to manage your brand in a consistent manner - using the same font, colors, and logo in various applications. Most business owners understand this, however many fail to realize that without the original digital files for their branding elements, the ability to manage a brand consistently deteriorates with time as technology changes and ways and places to market change.
This was the case for one business owner who wanted to have their website rebuilt using a system that would help their content be more viewable on the smaller screens of mobile devices. When the web designer asked the original files to make new logos graphics for the news site, the business owner offered to send a scan of one of his business cards which had his logo on it. Somewhere along the line, the owner had either lost the original files for his logo or they had never been given to him in the first place.
We have helped a number of businesses who no longer have the original files for their logos and branding by recreating them in all the formats they may require now and in the future for various applications such as web pages, stationery, swag (t-shirts, pens), print advertising, billboards, and more.
Here is a list of every file format and type we think every business should have in their possession so that they can manage the presentation quality of their branding.
Original Font Files
It's important to have the original font files for a number of reasons. Simply resizing a graphic with text in it often degrades the edges of text appearing in the graphic. However, making a new graphic by changing the size of text using the original font file ensures your brand assets will maintain a high quality of appearance.
Having the original font file also allows you to match graphics you may have created in the future to your existing branding. This will also save you money because whomever you have making those graphics will not have to go on quest to try and match their work to your brand.
Original Color Codes
Original Vector Files
Vector files are the best way to maintain a high quality of appearance for your branding because the quality of the graphics they produce is always true to the original, regardless of the size you recreate them in (within reason since all shapes will become a dot if you shrink them enough). Once you have created a graphic from a vector file, you can then save copies of the file in different formats for different applications (ie, png, jpeg, etc).
There are number of different filter types that are vector files. We always supply our clients with Adobe Illustrator (.ai), Encapsulated Postscript (.eps), and Scalable Vector Graphics (.svg) because that will leave them in good place if our "hit by a bus" policy comes into effect.
To learn more about vector files, check out this article on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vector_graphics
Photoshop Files
Photoshop (.psd) files are raster files, not vector files. But because Photoshop is such a common graphics editor, we also supply our clients with files in that format. Better safe than sorry!
Cryptocurrency
Like so many, Cybersalt has a growing interest in, and curiosity about crypto currencies. The links below are some of the sites, tools and resources we are using as we learn.
Remember, our sharing of these links is for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice.
Coinbase
Want to receive some free cryptocurrency to start to familiaraize yourself with tracking coins and other related aspects of crypto? Create a free account on Coinbase, watch a few quick informational videos, answer some questions based on those videos and you will be rewarded with a couple of dollars of different coins.
https://www.coinbase.com/join/davis_89bn
Binance
Binance is the world's largest crypto exchange. Trade more than 750 cryptocurrency and fiat pairs, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, and BNB with Binance Spot.
https://www.binance.com/en/register?ref=108660664
BitBuy
If you live in Canada and are looking for a way to buy, sell or receive cryptocurrenices, it doesn't get easier than BitBuy. Since 2016, Bitbuy has been Canada's trusted choice for buying BTC, ETH and other popular cryptocurrencies. They even offer corporate accounts!
https://bitbuy.ca/en/sign-up/?c=QDWHI556M
Trust Wallet
Trust Wallet is a phone app that allows you to hold your crypto assets in your own wallet(s) independent of any web site. It also can be used to pair with other services to allow you to buy many new coins that haven't yet made it on to the bigger exchanges such as Coinbase or Binance. Just remember, don't lose your 16 words wallet key - and never give it to anyone else!
https://www.trustwallet.com
Mine Pi
Pi is a new cryptocurrency for and by everyday people that you can “mine” (or earn) from your phone. You do not have to have the app open to mine on your phone. You simply have to tap a button to check in and start a 24 hour cycle.
https://www.minepi.com/cybersalt - use "cybersalt" as the invitation code.
Mine BEE
Bee is another new cryptocurrency you can mine on your phone, and like Pi, one does not have to have the app open to mine on your phone. You simply have to tap a button to check in and start a 24 hour cycle.
https://www.bee.com - use "cybersalt" as the invitation code.
