Creative Tip: Proof email designs in different email clients.

Seasoned graphic designers wouldn't dream of sending a print project to press without first approving an accurate proof. Your client's email marketing campaign should be no different. You need to be sure you know what your design looks like on the different email clients your readers might be using.

Unless you have a studio filled with computers and email servers, you can't test all the combinations yourself. In this week's creative tip we profile two services that make proofing your email designs quick and painless.

Full Tip: Proof your email designs in different email clients.

Source: Inspired by our much-requested upcoming Seattle workshop: Marketing with HTML Email Newsletters. Craig Swanson (your humble tips email publisher), will be discussing the ins and outs of using Email Newsletters as a marketing tool for graphic design firms and their clients. Seating is limited so sign up early.

Tech Tip: Save Word 2008 files as DOC instead of DOCX.

If you've updated to the new Mac version of Microsoft Office 2008, you may have noticed Word now saves files in Microsoft's new DOCX format. The problem is, just as Windows users found, not everyone can open these files. The easy way to prevent compatibility problems with colleagues and co-workers is to change your default format back to the old DOC setting until everyone in your life has upgraded to the new version of Word.

Full Tip: Save Word 2008 files as DOC instead of DOCX.

If you find yourself on the other side of this problem — receiving DOCX files when you don't have Office 2008 yet — check out an updated version of our tip from last year:

Updated: Open MS Word 2007 .DOCX files on a Mac.

Source: This tip inspired by a question from Brian McKenna at Top Dog Talent, a new talent agency representing experienced marketing and communications professionals in the Puget Sound area.

Free Event: Studio Management with Leopard Server.

Join CreativeTechs' Lead Enterprise Consultant, Jordan Bojar, as we discuss how to use Mac OS X Server to minimize support costs and keep your creative team working effectively. A practical focus on what's working in design firms, ad agencies, and art departments across the Puget Sound.

Your referrals wanted! Referrals from our clients and readers are what keeps CreativeTechs healthy and in business. As a small thank-you, every week we send a Free Mini-Workshop Pass to new Seattle-area subscribers, plus the friend or colleague who referred them:

Graphic designer Jenny Gray.
Referred by designer Stuart Dunn.

Designer Kellie Rogers at Electric Pen Design.
Referred by principal John Pletch at Electric Pen Design.

CreativeTechs QuickTips is a free weekly newsletter for creative professionals who use Macs. Each week we publish a fresh mix of left-brain and right-brain tips based on our real world experience supporting hundreds of creative teams in the greater Seattle area. For a complete archive of previous tips, visit www.creativetechs.com/tips

For IT Professionals supporting Mac users, visit Make Mac Work. This weekly technical blog focuses on IT issues facing Macs in Enterprise environments. It is written by CreativeTechs' lead enterprise engineer, Jordan Bojar. For an archive of previous topics, visit www.makemacwork.com

Your referrals wanted! CreativeTechs relies on word-of-mouth introductions. If you know a Seattle-area creative team who might benefit from our unique expertise providing computer support for creative professionals, please introduce us. We are never too busy for your referrals. Email help@creativetechs.com, or call us at 206-682-4315.

Copyright 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 CreativeTechs, Inc.