The rough stage is when we assemble, collect, create, or receive all of the content that has to go into whatever your final piece will be. That includes copy, photographs, cartoons, illustrations, charts— etc.

The preliminary stage— first and foremost— is when we CLARIFY what it is we are designing or illustrating for you. If it's an illustration or cartoon, we'll sometimes do rough pencil sketches or 'layouts', to show you, to make sure that we're visually on the same page for what you need.

 Note: The best time to make changes or adjustments to the piece we are doing for you is at the earlier stages of the process.

If major changes are requested at the preliminary stage, we would do another rough or two as needed— before going to the intermediate stage for you.

For each stage, we will send you a proof that you should read and check very carefully, for spelling and content. This proof will be in the form of a JPEG or PDF file.

The intermediate stage is when we have all the agreed upon content or layout, and are developing and fine tuning it.

The finished art stage is equal to a baker having all of the ingredients agreed-upon and mixed, and then baking his final cake.