Do it yourself

Entrepreneur, Sept, 2004 by Gwen Moran

If your last graphic design bill wasn't pretty, a number of companies offer preformatted design templates that you simply customize and print.

* AcidFlyers.com: Simple but free downloadable templates for business cards, postcards, brochures and even tickets; also offers printing services.

* DesktopPublishing.com For those with Adobe Illustrator, Microsoft Publisher or Quark, this is a gold mine of free templates for everything from brochures to envelopes to CD-case inserts. You'll find free fonts and great information about desktop publishing.

* StockLayouts (www.stock layouts.com): Online library of agency-quality templates; includes brochures, newsletters, direct-marl postcards, stationery, menus, ads and posters for download and customization. Prices: $39 to $149 for individual design templates and up to $519 for CD collections of multiple templates.

* Zinfi Technologies (www. zinfi.com): Offers a variety of templates, from logos to brochures to PowerPoint presentations. Prices vary; expect to pay $100 to add your company name to a template logo, $200 for a brochure template. Zinfi also offers custom designs.

Another simple site for brochure templates is www. mybrochuremaker.com, while TemplateZone.com offers Microsoft Office templates and HTML e-marl software for $39.95 to $99.95

GWEN MORAN is a consultant and writer specializing in marketing. Reach her at gwen@gwenmoran.com.