Concordia Art Library: Art Resources (Over 100 clip art icons on DVD). St. Louis: Concordia, 2010. Data DVD. Mac and PC compatible. $49.99 http://www.cph.org/ (L)
Clip Art has come a long way. Photocopiers helped make simple black and white pictures cut from master sheets appear in newsletters and bulletins.
Floppy disks were next. Eight inches. Five and 1/4. Three and 1/2. Then CD-Roms. Much of the art had been culled from earlier collections all the way back to the black and white days.
Now you don't have to settle for dated, second-rate, or only black and white art for your congregational publications. CPH has released two new collections of high quality color art pieces.
Let's consider Art Resources first.
"Who is this product for? Pastors, secretaries, and anyone looking to beautify projects and publications will be able to with these images.
"What does this provide for you?
• Over 100 images from the Concordia Art Library
• Preview booklet to simplify searching for the right image (Visit http://s7d1.scene7.com/s7/brochure/flash_brochure.jsp?company=CPH&sku=858000&config=Scene7SharedAssets/eCatalog1&locale=en )
"What is it? One DVD with over 100 images from the Concordia Art Library and a preview booklet displaying the images. Give any bulletin cover, newsletter, presentation, or any document an elegant feel with these classic yet contemporary images.
"Images are provided for seasons of the church year like Lent and Advent, as well as special occasions like weddings, baptisms, and Confirmation.
"Turn something ordinary into something inspirational, thought provoking, and beautiful in mere seconds. Images come in a style that keeps design requirements in mind" (publisher's website).
You may remember some of these pieces from bulletin covers over the years. The selection included will help you with both Sundays and Holy Days of the Church Year as well as special occasions.
Each image is provided in five resolutions (one black and white) for very flexible use from bulletin covers and mini posters to smaller uses as spot art.
We now turn our attention to the LSB Icons DVD.
"Who is this product for? Anyone looking to add icons from the Lutheran Service Book hymnal to documents, presentations, and publications, specifically church secretaries and pastors.
"What does this provide for you?
• Over 100 icons from the Lutheran Service Book
• Preview booklet to make searching simple (Visit http://s7d1.scene7.com/s7/brochure/flash_brochure.jsp?company=CPH&sku=858001&config=Scene7SharedAssets/eCatalog1&locale=en)
"What is it? One DVD with over 100 icons from the Lutheran Service Book hymnal and a preview booklet displaying all the icons.
"Icons come in a style that keeps design requirements in mind. They can be used to motivate, enlighten, and inform readers, as well as add beauty to and publication, presentation, or document" (publisher's website).
This DVD has both JPEG (300 dpi and 72 ppi) and EPS files (scalable).
I had feared that a resource like this supportive of LSB would never be available. I always hoped it would be.
I could envision creative uses of these icons in stained glass windows and liturgical furntiture projects of wood, glass, stone, or other materials. Check with the CPH copyright department if you have questions.
The best parts of both?
Each data DVD comes with a preview booklet that serves as a handy full-color menu.
Purchasers may also use this Licensed Material on their own websites, provided no image is displayed at a resolution greater than 800 x 600 pixels.
I am encouraged at the creativity at Concordia not only with their bulletins, Sunday School materials, books, and church supplies, but also by the recent surge in electronic resources. These are but a sample.
We look for more great things from the foremost publisher of Lutheran resources in the world!
The Rev. Paul J Cain is Pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church, Sheridan, Wyoming, Headmaster of Martin Luther Grammar School, a member of the Board of Directors of The Consortium for Classical and Lutheran Education, Wyoming District Worship Chairman, and Editor of QBR.
