Question:
Notice how I was very PC and avoided using "Powerpoint" in my title? I figured folks that use other software might get persnickety. Yeah, I'm classy and sensitive like that. Anyway.
I noticed in alot of churches, even big, expensive ones, that the powerpoint backgrounds have consisted of a few categorically narrow graphical tragedies:
1. Default powerpoint backgrounds.
2. A solid color. Oh, say, black?
3. Generic nature scenes. Think bad motivational posters.
So, I set off to create some my own backgrounds for my church. I update them every few months, and I've created seasonal ones. I've included some samples.
My question is, would your church be interested in something like this? Is this something a church would pay for, like maybe fifty bucks for three roughs and a single finished background? I'm not soliciting or anything, just curious if this is even possible.
Tell me your thoughts.
Answer:
I've always been one to place function over form in that department. I think most church administrative groups (board, council, whatever they want to call it) are of the same mindset when it comes to spending money on it.
Though, I once ministered at a church that had purchased "Digital Juice" for basically the same purpose, and Digital Juice wasn't cheap back then! (no idea if it's around anymore or what it costs...)
Nate
Answer:
Is that a sample of "three roughs and a single finished background?" I'm hoping that it's four finished ones, 'cause I certainly wouldn't pay $50 for anything less than that.
Or are you not talking about selling pre-made backgrounds, but in actually making backgrounds specifically for the church/event at hand, as you have for "Daystar Worship?"
Still, for me and my church, I'd have a hard time convincing anyone (myself included) to pay $50 for four backgrounds. I could see large or mega churches paying that, but not us.
In order for something like this to be worth it to us, it'd have to be at least a dozen backgrounds (say, two each for the seasons, two each for Christmas / Easter) for that $50.
Answer:
Originally Posted by Nate Is that a sample of "three roughs and a single finished background?" I'm hoping that it's four finished ones, 'cause I certainly wouldn't pay $50 for anything less than that.
Or are you not talking about selling pre-made backgrounds, but in actually making backgrounds specifically for the church/event at hand, as you have for "Daystar Worship?"
Still, for me and my church, I'd have a hard time convincing anyone (myself included) to pay $50 for four backgrounds. I could see large or mega churches paying that, but not us.
In order for something like this to be worth it to us, it'd have to be at least a dozen backgrounds (say, two each for the seasons, two each for Christmas / Easter) for that $50. I think I agree with Nate on this one. Backgrounds, and PowerPoint basics in general, are a definite need in many churches today, but the actual mastery of them is not a technical challenge. And I think there are a couple of sites out there producing art for backgrounds and other church projection needs.
And then there are guys like Adam who create great visuals for his own church.
You may have something here, Niangelo, but I don't know if it's going to be a huge cash cow for you.
Answer:
Originally Posted by Nate Is that a sample of "three roughs and a single finished background?" I'm hoping that it's four finished ones, 'cause I certainly wouldn't pay $50 for anything less than that.
I meant to say something like "I'm hoping that it's not four finished ones."
Answer:
There is a huge glut right now in the industry when it comes to custom worship display backgrounds. I don't want to rain on your parade, but it will be hard to break into commercial backgrounds for churches, because there is so much out there. Unless maybe you have something different to offer, but as it's been said, a lot of worship ministers these days also do design work as part of their responsibilities, or they find someone within their church/ministry who is good at design. I do some of my own design, but I also have a couple of art/design college graduates who put together graphics and backgrounds for me. Of course, the regularity that they get to do so is dependent on the amount of time before a message series is starting. For example, for our series iChurch, I had exactly three days to put together a graphic and background stuff. Not a lot of time. But our Easter series called Hope Lives Here - I gave to one of those graduates and she did a great job.
Answer:
You are correct that many churches seem to accept really cruddy overhead graphics without realizing that investing an hour or two working through some tutorials with the GIMP and they could have some nifty backgrounds and supplemental graphics for no more than the cost of their volunteer's time.
I dont think $50 for a handful of backgrounds is unreasonable compared to any stock photo/video/music prices...but as others have suggested, even cheap is out of the budget for many churches.
If I were looking to help churches in this area and wanted to do so with an easy to market product, I'd produce an instruction DVD on some fundamentals of graphic design as they relate to overhead projections.
You could teach them about fonts, layout, colors, and some easy to apply effects. Build this all around the GIMP so the tools are free and accessible to everyone. Then sell the DVD for $30.
Answer:
Originally Posted by russellcframe You are correct that many churches seem to accept really cruddy overhead graphics without realizing that investing an hour or two working through some tutorials with the GIMP and they could have some nifty backgrounds and supplemental graphics for no more than the cost of their volunteer's time.
I dont think $50 for a handful of backgrounds is unreasonable compared to any stock photo/video/music prices...but as others have suggested, even cheap is out of the budget for many churches.
If I were looking to help churches in this area and wanted to do so with an easy to market product, I'd produce an instruction DVD on some fundamentals of graphic design as they relate to overhead projections.
You could teach them about fonts, layout, colors, and some easy to apply effects. Build this all around the GIMP so the tools are free and accessible to everyone. Then sell the DVD for $30.
That's an excellent idea!
Honestly, I didn't think there was a market for this. I was just curious if churches would be willing to pay a basic honorariam for a custom background.
Alot of good points were made about backgrounds on the net, but honestly, the majority of them are sadly sub-par. I just thought that most churches would far prefer a logo'd, stylish, proper background image for worship, or even announcement displays.
And since there seems to be some confusion on Nate's part, I'll explain.
"Three roughs and a single" means three mockups according to specifications provided by the church, and one final finished product. $50 is a number I pulled out of the air, it doesn't mean alot. But considering good graphic design for a brochure or website will run up to a thousand dollars, it's doesn't seem unreasonable.
Also, custom means custom. I'd take instructions on the color scheme, themes, basic style, and incorporate the church logo. Honestly, and don't see a "huge glut" in this market, unless by custom you mean "downloaded from a stock background website".
Answer:
I guess there could be a market with incorporating a logo or something - but our church changes backgrounds for each song - and to be honest, most of what we do now, except for the message slides, are video backgrounds. The message slide backgrounds are designed by me, and they correspond to each message series. Below are a couple of examples.
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A few more...
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Is it common to include the church name/logo on slides? For myself, I don't really care to have them on our slides, so there would be a lot less inclination to have something custom done.
I do like russell's idea a lot.
Curious...when you guys talk about "sub-par" or "cruddy", what sorts of things go into an evaluation like that? Technical merit? "Overdoneness"? I've tried to do a few backgrounds for our slides, and while I keep them simple since I'm no graphics guru, I'd also just as soon people not think they suck
Answer:
Originally Posted by Jay Tea Is it common to include the church name/logo on slides? For myself, I don't really care to have them on our slides, so there would be a lot less inclination to have something custom done.
I do like russell's idea a lot.
Curious...when you guys talk about "sub-par" or "cruddy", what sorts of things go into an evaluation like that? Technical merit? "Overdoneness"? I've tried to do a few backgrounds for our slides, and while I keep them simple since I'm no graphics guru, I'd also just as soon people not think they suck
I think just pure attractiveness and simplicity. I mean, you know a poorly designed website versus a well designed one, within less that ten seconds of seeing it. Color, layout, symmetry (or lack of) design consistency and conformity to established design rules all contribute to your perception of a good or bad design, even if you've never formally studied it.
You know that the Eminem IPOD commercial is spectacular, and the local car dealership is "sub-par." Why? just because all television-watching, magazine-reading population has been exposed and is used to it.
Answer:
Originally Posted by psalm63adam A few more...
Are these what you use for the music as well? Because they seem great sermon backdrops, but I would find them a bit distracting for worship times.
I've taken it upon myself to design a new background theme every fall for our Young Adult group. We just re-did our logo, so I have to re-do the backgrounds. But it honestly is like 1 evening's work. Not bad at all. Here is an example:
(oh yeah, and the pictures are squeezed like someone pushed both sides together because we use margins so that the screen is a rectangle, not a normal computer square)
Answer:
Originally Posted by Matt4JC Are these what you use for the music as well? Because they seem great sermon backdrops, but I would find them a bit distracting for worship times.
No, they are only sermon backgrounds. We typically use video backgrounds during worship - ones that aren't distracting, of course.
I've taken it upon myself to design a new background theme every fall for our Young Adult group. We just re-did our logo, so I have to re-do the backgrounds. But it honestly is like 1 evening's work. Not bad at all. Here is an example:
(oh yeah, and the pictures are squeezed like someone pushed both sides together because we use margins so that the screen is a rectangle, not a normal computer square)
Looks good.