Design a Digital Portfolio for Your Fashion Drawings
A digital portfolio simply means one you can access on a computer-type device. This can be your smart phone, your laptop, or any of the other handy digital devices that are around. All fashion illustrators in today’s world need to know how to use the computer to their advantage.
Choosing work for your digital portfolio is no different from choosing images for a traditional portfolio. A benefit of putting together a digital portfolio is that you can include more work — but not too much more — if you can’t narrow your choices to 10 or 15 of your best pieces.
Scanning your fashion drawings
Scanning your work isn’t quite as simple as laying a sketch on a scanner and pressing Start! Scanning is a little more complicated than that because you must pay attention to the amount of detail you want the scanner to capture. Resolution and file type are two aspects you need to know when scanning and working with digital images.
Resolution is a way of measuring the amount of information in a picture. When you scan, you have the option to choose the resolution, sometimes called the DPI, dots per inch. Scan your images at 300 DPI. This setting has several advantages: It captures a lot of the detail in the image, the file size isn’t too large, and you can print the picture at a fairly large size before it starts to get blurry.
You also need to pay attention to the file type the scanner creates. Most scanners scan the image as a JPEG (joint photographic experts group), TIFF (tagged image file format), or PDF (portable document format). You can control which type of file you create by checking the software settings before you hit save. For beginners, it’s best to stay with the JPEG format.
Fixing your fashion images
Digital sketches don’t always have the same look as the physical sketch. Scanning in sketches may not capture the beauty of the drawing; you may need to edit the scan to adjust the colors or erase dust spots. For this, you may need to master an image-editing program such as Adobe Photoshop.
Photoshop is the most common editing program in the fashion industry. After you scan your image, Photoshop allows you to play with the colors, draw new lines, add text, and crop and collage images together. It’s a powerful tool that allows endless amounts of creativity.
Posting your digital portfolio to a website
Using a website to host your work is great if you have the smarts about website building or are lucky enough to have an awesome friend who can do it for you! A website costs some money for hosting it (and possibly building it), but think of the website as an investment.
It’s great for getting your work out there, and it makes viewing your work easy for potential clients. What’s easier than introducing your work to a potential employer simply by giving them your website address?
If creating a website sounds overwhelming, don’t fret. Many free portfolio-hosting websites are available. Search the Internet, and you find many sites where you can sign up and post your files in a portfolio-type setting. These sites give you your own link to send to people so they can go right to your portfolio. Some free portfolio-hosting websites that are user-friendly include the following:
Posting to these sites is as easy as scanning your sketches, saving them as JPEG files, and uploading them on the site. Usually the websites have little tutorials to walk you through how to post your files. In 10 minutes, you can have your files online!
If you have a fashion blog, link to your portfolio from your blog instead of posting your portfolio on your blog. If you post your digital portfolio online, be sure to put the web address on your business card.
Creating a fashion slideshow
You can also create a digital portfolio that consists of a slideshow file, which you can e-mail to potential clients. The two most common types of slideshow files are the PDF file and the PPT (PowerPoint) file. Most computers have the programs to run these open-and-read file formats.
Save your portfolio in both formats in case the person you’re sending the file to doesn’t have one of the programs to open the file. Marketing yourself includes making things as easy as possible for your clients!
To create a portfolio in either program, use the picture files you created when scanning your images. Place the picture files in the order you want them to be seen in either program.
Both file formats allow you to place files on multiple pages. The viewer can simply click a button to flip through the pages of your portfolio. The order of your pages, the amount of work, and the type of work you include should follow the same guidelines as those for the physical portfolio. Only the presentation format differs.
If you want to add slides with supplemental information to your slideshow, you can, but stay away from animation or sounds because they can come across as unprofessional.

Careers Glossary
academic curriculum vitae resume
A resume format that includes a comprehensive biographical statement of three to ten pages. This resume format emphasizes professional qualifications and activities.

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accomplishment resume
A variation of the hybrid resume that includes qualifications and accomplishments.

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Americans with Disabilities Act; ADA
A document signed into law that makes it illegal for an employer to discriminate against (or refuse to hire) a person simply because that person has one or more disabilities.

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applicant tracking system
A software application that helps a company recruit employees more efficiently. Includes features to post job openings online, screen resumes, acknowledge the receipt of resumes, and generate interview requests.

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behavior-based interview
A type of job interview in which candidates are asked what kinds of behaviors they have used in the past to handle certain situations and solve problems.

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blog
A Web-based journal that is written and updated by one or more blog writers, or bloggers. Today's more sophisticated versions read like media stories and columns.

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branding statement
A marketing tool for job seekers consisting of a brief statement that communicates who you are in the workplace; typically used in resumes and job interviews. Also sometimes called a branding brief.

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broadcast letters
Self-marketing letters that a job seeker sends to a large but carefully targeted list of potential employers. These letters are designed to uncover an opportunity in the hidden (unadvertised) job market.

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career management documents
A family of job letters that are self-marketing tools for people who want to be hired for the best jobs. Includes job ad reply letters, broadcast and prospecting letters, resume letters, follow-up letters, and e-mail cover notes.

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competency-based approach
A resume style that focuses on the skills and talents needed to be able to perform a particular task to a certain standard. Connects your behaviors with your accomplishments.

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core resume
A starting resume that you use as a base or template to spin off targeted versions of your resume (for specific positions) when you must move quickly.

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cover letter
A self-marketing document designed to sell yourself and get an interview for a specific job; typically accompanies a resume.

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credit histories; consumer reports
Reports that contain your payment history to creditors. These reports may also include names of previous employers, residential stability data, divorce information, and estimated prior earnings.

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directive interview
A type of job interview in which the interviewer maintains complete control and walks you through the discussion to uncover what he or she wants to know.

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EEOC
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. The EEOC is a U.S. federal agency that investigates discrimination complaints.

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e-mail cover note
An e-mail message that introduces a resume that you distribute online. Typically, a shortened and more informal version of a cover letter.

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e-resumes
Electronic resumes. Resumes that you distribute online.

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font
A complete character set comprised of a single size and typeface, such as 12-point Helvetica.

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font size
The height of the characters in a font set, measured in points, such as 10-point or 14-point. One point is equal to 1/72 of an inch.

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foundation skills
A skills language used in cover letters to communicate your expertise in fundamental job skills — includes basic skills, people skills, thinking skills, and personal qualities.

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functional resume
A resume format that focuses on portable skills or functional areas and ignores chronological order. This resume format works well for career changers, new graduates, ex-military personnel, work-history gaps, or special-issue problems.

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hybrid resume
A resume format that is a combination of the reverse chronological resume format and the functional resume format.

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instant messaging; IM
A real-time form of communication between two or more people online, who type messages back and forth in a window. Job seekers can attach resumes to messages.

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integrity test
A test administered by a potential employer during the interviewing process that rates honesty, responsibility, and reliability for the job.

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intellectual property
Work samples that you submit to a potential employer during the job interview process, such as portfolios, project materials, and proposals.

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international curriculum vitae resume
An excruciatingly detailed resume format used to apply for international jobs. This resume style is typically six to eight pages long and often uses the reverse chronological format.

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job ad reply letter
A letter that is written in reaction to a published job opening in print or online.

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job board
A Web site that posts general or specialized job listings, such as CareerBuilder.com and Monster.com.

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keyword resume
A resume format that places a profile of keywords at the top of a document. This resume format is not in common use today because current resume search databases can pick up keywords anywhere in a resume, not just at the beginning of a document.

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keywords
Internet search words (generally nouns and short phrases) that identify your qualifications. Employers use keywords to search and retrieve e-resumes in databases for available job positions.

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linear resume
A resume format that flows one line at a time and relates achievements, winning moves, and star points in short, quick spurts; designed to attract the eyes of busy readers.

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marketing pitch
A personal commercial that you create to sell yourself during a job search. A marketing pitch should be about one to two minutes long.

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nondirective interview
A type of job interview where the interviewer's questions tend to be broad and general so that you can elaborate and tell stories about yourself and your qualifications.

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OFCCP
Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs. The OFCCP is an agency that tracks the diversity hiring record of those applying for positions with federal contractors.

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online executive bio
A short profile (about 200 words or less) that is placed on social networking sites and job boards to advance employment or business objectives. Includes keywords and a link to a full resume.

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online profile
A lengthy multi-link document that appears on Internet networking and career sites such as LinkedIn.com and VisualCV.com.

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online referral service
An e-mail job distribution method paid for by employers. This service helps you identify which of your contacts may know people at companies where you would like to work.

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online screening program
A form of pre-employment screening that verifies that you are a good fit for the position and that you haven’t lied about your background. May include online tests, assessment instruments, and questionnaires.

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patterned interview
A type of job interview (also called a structured interview) in which the interviewer works from a written list of questions asked of all candidates and writes down your responses.

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personality test
A test administered by a potential employer during the interviewing process that measures choice, preference, values, behavior, decisions, attitudes, and job-related interests.

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podcast
A digital audio or video file that is available for downloading from a Web site. Usually available in a series that is often packaged like a daily newscast or commentary.

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podcasting
The process of creating and distributing audio and video feeds over the Internet. To make a podcast, you need a computer, microphone, Internet access, and recording software.

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portfolio
A collection of work samples often delivered as part of the job interview process for those in fields such as design, graphics, photography, architecture, advertising, public relations, marketing, education, and contracting.

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professional resume
A resume format that emphasizes professional qualifications and activities and is typically three to five pages long. This format is essentially a shortened version of the academic curriculum vitae resume format.

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prospecting letters
Self-marketing letters that a job seeker sends to a relatively small and select number of potential employers. These letters are designed to uncover an opportunity in the hidden (unadvertised) job market.

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recruiter; headhunter
An employers’ personal shopper, tasked with going into the marketplace and bringing back the best qualified candidates for the thriftiest prices.

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resume blasting services
A service that advertises their willingness to save you time and trouble by blasting your resume to thousands of recruiters and hiring managers all over the Internet — for a fee. These services are generally not recommended due to privacy and identity theft concerns.

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resume letter
A self-marketing document that combines a cover letter with a resume (the resume is not a separate document). This type of letter is typically two pages long, but can be one page.

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reverse chronological resume
A resume format that includes employment history from the most recent jobs working backwards, showing dates for employers and educational institutions. This resume format works well for those with a steady career progression.

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screener
An employee (typically an administrative assistant or HR specialist) who monitors phone calls for a company when you call their main telephone line.

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screening interview
A first-cut job interview that is used to weed out all applicants except those who are best qualified for the position.

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selection interview
A job interview in which you meet with a supervisor, department head, or another person who has the authority to hire you.

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SEO
An acronym for Search Engine Optimization. SEO is a method of using technical and strategic maneuvers to increase the traffic driven by search engines to a Web site.

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serial interview
A type of job interview in which you are typically passed from the initial screener to a line manager to a top manager — and perhaps a half-dozen people in between.

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social networking services
Web-based services — including discussion groups, message boards, e-mail, and blogs — that give users a way to find and interact with people who have similar interests. Some of this interactivity focuses on job search and recruiting.

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spiders
Automated programs (software) used by specialized search engines to scrape (crawl) the Web to find and haul in content, such as job postings. Also called robots or just 'bots.

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stress interview
A type of job interview in which the interviewer intentionally uses various intimidation tactics to attempt to put pressure on you.

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targeted resume
A resume that is customized for a specific employment goal or position in a job search.

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typeface
A specific family of fonts in a similar design style (including multiple sizes of that font), such as Arial or Times New Roman.

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vertical job search engines
Online search engines that search only for job listings, across multiple job sites at once. Examples include SimplyHired.com and Jobster.com. Also called verticals or aggregators.

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video resume
A canned video interview in which a candidate speaks about his or her qualifications, goals, and strengths; sometimes called a video podcast.

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watermark
A faint image ingrained in quality-stock paper. Resumes are commonly printed on paper stock that includes a watermark.

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Web 2.0
The second generation of Web design that uses sites in which people communicate and share information. Web 2.0 tools include blogs, instant messaging, podcasts, RSS feeds, and social networking services.

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Web resume
An electronic resume that you post on a personal Web site; also sometimes called an e-portfolio or HTML resume.