We’ll work with the Pen tool, and make basic use of the Pathfinder and Transform commands. Using Illustrator’s Snap To Grid option I’ll also demonstrate some simple rules that will help you draw well-proportioned and attractive curves.
Design a stunning typeface with just six shapes
A modular typeface is an alphabet constructed out of a limited number of shapes or modules. The design we’re making here uses just six different modules that can be transformed subtly, by rotating, flipping and so on, to create an entire alphabet.
We’ll work with the Pen tool, and make basic use of the Pathfinder and Transform commands. Using Illustrator’s Snap To Grid option I’ll also demonstrate some simple rules that will help you draw well-proportioned and attractive curves.
We’ll work with the Pen tool, and make basic use of the Pathfinder and Transform commands. Using Illustrator’s Snap To Grid option I’ll also demonstrate some simple rules that will help you draw well-proportioned and attractive curves.
Grid Place for multipage documents in InDesign
It's now possible to place pages from a multipage PDF, INDD, Illustrator file, etc. as a grid. In the Place dialog (File>Place), enable the checkboxes for Show Import Options and Create Static Captions, and then navigate to your multipage file. Choose the range of pages you want to place in the next dialog and click OK. With the loaded Place cursor, drag out an area for your grid, subdivide the area into columns and rows using the arrow keys, and then release the mouse button to place the pages.
Experimental CSS design in Dreamweaver
In Dreamweaver CS5, experimenting with CSS-based layouts is even easier. Hover over the left margin of your current rule selection in the CSS Styles panel to see the new CSS Enable/Disable feature. Click the "no" icon to disable a particular rule, and again to enable it. Aren't happy with the results? Right-click the rule and choose Enable All Disabled in Selected Rule to get everything back to where you started. Things looking great? Go ahead and Right-click the rule and choose Delete All Disabled in Selected Rule to clean up those comments in your code.
Align your layers to composition features in After Effect
To align selected layers to the center or edge of a composition, choose Composition in the Align Layers To drop-down menu in the Align panel (Window>Align), and then click the icon corresponding to the desired type of alignment
This whole creativity thing is pretty amazing
There’s something absolutely incredible about being able to sit down and type out your thoughts. To have some nearly unexplainable chemical reactions in your brain turn into the movement of a pencil, or pen, or fingers on a keyboard, and see words begin to form from seemingly nothing.
That’s magic.
Actually, it’s not magic: it’s creation, and you do it every day. Even if you’re not a writer.
Have you ever considered this idea fully before? Whenever you sit down to draw, or sing, or get up to dance, or seek to solve a problem, or when you simply converse with someone, you’re creating something very real from almost nothing. You, and everyone around you, are in a constant state of transforming microscopic chemical processes into art, and poetry, and emails, and conversations, and music, and products, and everything between.
Today, as you work or write or create – whatever it is you do today – take some time to realize exactly what it is you’re doing. That you’re taking intangible, nearly indescribable reactions between chemicals in your brain and making something you (and the world) can see or touch or hear or taste or experience.
Whether the results are big or small, the process is amazing.
That’s magic.
Actually, it’s not magic: it’s creation, and you do it every day. Even if you’re not a writer.
Have you ever considered this idea fully before? Whenever you sit down to draw, or sing, or get up to dance, or seek to solve a problem, or when you simply converse with someone, you’re creating something very real from almost nothing. You, and everyone around you, are in a constant state of transforming microscopic chemical processes into art, and poetry, and emails, and conversations, and music, and products, and everything between.
Today, as you work or write or create – whatever it is you do today – take some time to realize exactly what it is you’re doing. That you’re taking intangible, nearly indescribable reactions between chemicals in your brain and making something you (and the world) can see or touch or hear or taste or experience.
Whether the results are big or small, the process is amazing.
The Movable Magnifier in InDesign
While working on a layout...
1. Press Cmd-Spacebar to invoke the temporary Loupe tool
2. Drag to draw an area
3. While keeping the mouse button down, release CMD-Spacebar
4. Drag to slightly change the size of the drawn area
5. Press again Cmd-Spacebar and then move the mouse
The result is you can move the selection that you drew to another area while keeping the size of the drawn area!
It seems that you only need step 4 the first time you do the trick. If you want to continue to move the zooming selection area, steps 3 and 5 are enough and you can skip step 4.
1. Press Cmd-Spacebar to invoke the temporary Loupe tool
2. Drag to draw an area
3. While keeping the mouse button down, release CMD-Spacebar
4. Drag to slightly change the size of the drawn area
5. Press again Cmd-Spacebar and then move the mouse
The result is you can move the selection that you drew to another area while keeping the size of the drawn area!
It seems that you only need step 4 the first time you do the trick. If you want to continue to move the zooming selection area, steps 3 and 5 are enough and you can skip step 4.
Punch out holes in your extrusions! in Adobe Photoshop CS5 Extended
In the Repoussé dialog you can manipulate the constraint (sub-path) using any of the Internal Constraints tools to either punch it out to make a hole or add separate extrusion parameters. You can also add constraints to an existing Repoussé object by drawing a selection or path and choosing either 3D>Repoussé>Create Constraints From Selection(s) or Selected Path(s). You can also use the Add(Selection) or Add(Path) buttons in the Internal Constraints section of the Repoussé dialog.
Prevent a B&W document from separating to CMYK
If your B&W document separates to CMYK, then there must be color in there somewhere. Perhaps you're using a "rich" black (with CMYK values) or the Registration swatch instead of the Black swatch. Or maybe there are phantom (hidden) color objects.
Text layout in Adobe Fireworks CS5
Text is part of nearly every design, and for Fireworks CS5, lots of refinements have been added to the already impressive text layout features. A favorite is the new noncontiguous selection feature-after selecting some text characters in a text object using the Text tool (T), press-and-hold the Shift key and click-and-drag to select additional noncontiguous characters.
Fill and Stroke Shortcuts in InDesign CS6
D = Default (no fill, black stroke)
X = Exchange (activates fill or stroke, whichever was not selected)
Shift+X = Exchange (swaps the fill/stroke values)
/ = None (sets fill/stroke to none)
, (comma) = Applies last used color
. (period) = Applies last used gradient
Down to the wire in Adobe Flash Catalyst CS5
Flash Catalyst contains numerous wireframe drawing tools and pre-built components that you can use to create interactive wireframes. Pre-built components are fully functioning buttons, scrollbars, checkboxes, and other user interface items that let you quickly mock up the layout of your finished project. You can find these in the Wireframe Components panel.
Create Stop Motion Animation in Photoshop
Stop Motion Animation is often regarded as one of the easiest and simplest type of animation that we can ever create. Since it makes use of home environment, digital cameras and easy to use locomotive objects, Stop Motion Animation (SMA) can be probably created by anyone.
Principle
A Stop Motion Animation is based on the principle that serial frames of pictures and photographs will give the viewer an illusion of motion. In simple words, Stop Motion Animation is nothing but a series of individual photographs of a movable object. And, today we will see a tutorial about how to create a Stop Motion Animation clip using objects of your choice using Photoshop.
Principle
A Stop Motion Animation is based on the principle that serial frames of pictures and photographs will give the viewer an illusion of motion. In simple words, Stop Motion Animation is nothing but a series of individual photographs of a movable object. And, today we will see a tutorial about how to create a Stop Motion Animation clip using objects of your choice using Photoshop.
8 common mistakes when working with color
The Color Purple. Such a great story and a fantastic movie.
Unfortunately, as designers, we don’t have the luxury of talking about colors figuratively. Our world is mostly RGB, CMYK or hexadecimal, with regular trips to HSB.
It might not sound fun but it’s a serious business. Working with color is an essential part of the graphic design industry and mistakes with color can be a big financial loss in the print industry.
Dash away all in Adobe Illustrator CS5
The new dash adjustment option for strokes will make dashes look as if they were carefully and correctly placed-evenly distributed on a path and cleanly bisecting any corners, even on complex shapes such as a 20-pointed star. To turn this option on, go to the Stroke panel (Window>Stroke), click the Dashed Line checkbox, and select the second icon to the far right: Aligns Dashes to Corners and Path Ends, Adjusting Lengths to Fit. Want to keep that setting turned on for future object creation? Deselect New Art Has Basic Appearance from the Appearance panel's flyout menu (Window>Appearance).
Tips for useful quick look Leopard 10.5
Quick Look is likely the only feature in Leopard 10.5 that I actually notice and something I would certainly miss if I went back to 10.4, it’s just too useful. We've listing usage tips, some are built right in and won’t require modification, while others will require 3rd party plugins to use. Here’s the full list, minus the detail:
1. Identify files on remote machines.
2. Preview the contents of Zip files (plug-in required).
3. Preview the contents of a folder (plug-in required).
4. Examine snippets of code with syntax highlighting intact.
6. Prep your iWork documents for use with Quick Look.
7. Enhance TextMate.
8. Preview fonts.
9. Quick Look and Cover Flow.
10. Send images to iPhoto.
2. Preview the contents of Zip files (plug-in required).
3. Preview the contents of a folder (plug-in required).
4. Examine snippets of code with syntax highlighting intact.
6. Prep your iWork documents for use with Quick Look.
7. Enhance TextMate.
8. Preview fonts.
9. Quick Look and Cover Flow.
10. Send images to iPhoto.
How to Choose the Right Color for Your Site
The Internet is an almost inexhaustible source of applications and sites and given the current trend the future will bring a steady growth both in numbers but also in importance. The winner of this avalanche of possibilities is definitely the Internet user who will decide who will thrive and who will require a rethinking or changing of strategy.
One of the most important factors in attracting customers is the color; its eye-catching power can convert visitors into regular users or customers. Choosing a color scheme for a site is not easy, this being emphasized by the importance of color in the whole ensemble.
One of the most important factors in attracting customers is the color; its eye-catching power can convert visitors into regular users or customers. Choosing a color scheme for a site is not easy, this being emphasized by the importance of color in the whole ensemble.
Hands-On With The New iPhone 5
It’s not as earth-shatteringly different than the iPhone 4S, to be sure. While the real benchmarks and games aren’t quite available yet, folks who haven’t used the 4S will notice a bump.
Solving the Mystery of of Overset Text in InDesign
Did you ever come across text that mysteriously became overset when you copied and pasted it to another page (or document). Sometimes text can go from OK to overset even if you just nudge its text frame a tiny amount. What's going on? A text crime has been committed! Round up the usual suspects!
View two colors modes in Photoshop
When creating a document that you'll eventually convert from RGB to CMYK, it can sometimes be difficult to picture how the colors will look upon conversion. To eliminate the guesswork, here's how to work on your RGB document while previewing it in CMYK:
Open an RGB image in Photoshop. Then, choose Window > Workspace > New Window for document name.
Doing so opens a second view of your document. Next, choose View > Proof Setup > Working CMYK. Now go back to your original document and work away while previewing
everything in CMYK.
Open an RGB image in Photoshop. Then, choose Window > Workspace > New Window for document name.
Doing so opens a second view of your document. Next, choose View > Proof Setup > Working CMYK. Now go back to your original document and work away while previewing
everything in CMYK.
Generating Website Thumbnails in PHP
In recent web browser developement, one of the new features is the generation of site thumbnail images displayed in a gallery. In Opera, it has a feature called Speed Dial Thumbnail, in Google Chrome, it has a page that displays thumbnail for Most Visited, Recent Bookmarks and Recently closed tabs, while in Internet Explorer 7, they call this feature as Quick Tabs. This promotes easier recall for users rather than remembering the exact URL address.
Quick, Totally Awesome (and Creative) Management Ideas
Here is a taste of some of the effective techniques
• How to eliminate tardiness and administrative rework- While managing a sales team I found that my employees were routinely late to meetings (at times not even showing up) and often sloppy with admin responsibilities. After addressing the issue over and over (and OVER) again, I decided to get creative. In response I created the “Team Event Fund.” Any time someone on the team was late to a meeting they paid $1 per minute late to the fund. If I had to send back an expense report they did wrong (after I gave them the template to use) they had the “opportunity to contribute” $5. If someone did not show up to a call or meeting and had not let me know ahead of time then they owed $25. The lists continues, but you get the point. Then a couple times a year I would take the money and sponsor a team event (a lunch or after work activity) and I would use the “Team Event Fund” money to pay for things (adding in some extra money of my own if the cost was higher. As time went on it became clear who the biggest offenders were and eventually these issues began to go away.
• How to eliminate tardiness and administrative rework- While managing a sales team I found that my employees were routinely late to meetings (at times not even showing up) and often sloppy with admin responsibilities. After addressing the issue over and over (and OVER) again, I decided to get creative. In response I created the “Team Event Fund.” Any time someone on the team was late to a meeting they paid $1 per minute late to the fund. If I had to send back an expense report they did wrong (after I gave them the template to use) they had the “opportunity to contribute” $5. If someone did not show up to a call or meeting and had not let me know ahead of time then they owed $25. The lists continues, but you get the point. Then a couple times a year I would take the money and sponsor a team event (a lunch or after work activity) and I would use the “Team Event Fund” money to pay for things (adding in some extra money of my own if the cost was higher. As time went on it became clear who the biggest offenders were and eventually these issues began to go away.
A Script to Show Overridden Items in InDesign
Generally speaking, InDesign's scheme for handling master page items works very well for most users. It gives you the flexibility to locally override some aspects of master page items (like position, stroke/fill, etc) while leaving other aspects controlled by the master page until you specifically override them. It's the best of both worlds; you have global control over formatting that hasn't been changed locally.
Microsoft updates SkyDrive, adds new features and apps
Microsoft spent years treating SkyDrive like the black sheep of the family. It was hidden in the corner, no connection to anything else, and no notable features to speak of. SkyDrive finally got some attention recently, and it’s going to be built into Windows 8. But now we’re really getting the goods as Redmond is rolling out a new version of SkyDrive with a ton of improvements.
13 Tips for Working Smarter, Not Harder
Effective, not neat. Clutter free and neat. Handle paper once. These three rules - plus 10 more on working smart - can make you more productive and effective. One more: Beware the lure of perfection. That's not smart work.
Live distribute in Adobe InDesign CS5
Ever needed to change the amount of space between a number of aligned items on the page? To do it interactively, first select the items on the page with the Selection tool (notice that CS5 now provides a transformation bounding box around multiple selected items!) Click-and-drag one of the handles of the bounding box to resize all the items in your selection. To resize the space between each item, hold down the Spacebar while dragging.
Spring Loaded Shortcuts in InDesign
Most of the tools in the Tools panel have single-key keyboard shortcuts you can use to select them. For example, pressing V will get you the Selection tool, A gets the Direct Selection tool, T gets the Type tool, and so on.
Even better, these keyboard shortcuts are "spring loaded," meaning that if you press and hold the key (instead of tapping it), you can use that tool temporarily so when you release the key, you spring back to the tool you were previously using.
For example, say you're creating a series of frames to hold pictures and captions. You can press F to select the Rectangle Frame tool and drag out a picture frame. Then press and hold the T key to drag out a text frame for the caption. When you release the T key, you will spring back to the Rectangle Frame tool and can immediately start drawing your next picture frame.
Even better, these keyboard shortcuts are "spring loaded," meaning that if you press and hold the key (instead of tapping it), you can use that tool temporarily so when you release the key, you spring back to the tool you were previously using.
For example, say you're creating a series of frames to hold pictures and captions. You can press F to select the Rectangle Frame tool and drag out a picture frame. Then press and hold the T key to drag out a text frame for the caption. When you release the T key, you will spring back to the Rectangle Frame tool and can immediately start drawing your next picture frame.
Back to basics in Adobe Illustrator CS5
If you've applied fancy attributes like art or pattern brushes, or even variable width to strokes, but you want to reset them to simple strokes, a new setting in the Stroke panel (also accessible from the Control and Appearance panels) is made for doing just that.
Three ways to get the most out of desktop virtualization
Many people are aware of the benefits of desktop virtualization, such as being able to access their workspace from many locations without having to bring their data with them. However, when you combine desktop virtualization with other technologies, you can reap additional benefits that can have a big impact on how you work.
Here are three potential uses of desktop virtualization that can help you boost productivity and convenience:
Here are three potential uses of desktop virtualization that can help you boost productivity and convenience:
- Desktop virtualization allows phone virtualization. For example, you can run Cisco Unified Personal Communicator on a virtual desktop and have audio and video connectivity to the interface where you're working. In that way, you can always be at your extension without having to carry around any specific device.
- You can save licensing costs with on-demand virtual application delivery. Virtual application servers such as Citrix ZenApp allow you to get the applications you need on your virtual desktop "just in time," and only when you need them, so you don't need to pay for an individual license for every user.
- Tablet computers with docking stations can serve as the new terminals. In the old days, users accessed mainframe computers using a full screen and keyboard, allowing them to have the maximum computer power available in those days, together with a comfortable, well-designed workspace. A docked tablet connected to a virtual desktop maximizes resources in similar fashion.
Tips for Resolving a Conflict with Your Coworker
Differences of opinion between coworkers can be useful and even productive. But when clashes turn ugly, conflict can be harmful to working relationships. Here are three tips for handling the next disagreement you have with a colleague:
Identify common ground. Point out what you both agree on at the beginning of the conversation. This may be a shared goal or a set of operating rules.
Propose a solution. Use the information you gathered in the conversation to offer a resolution. This should incorporate his perspective and be different from what you originally thought.
Identify common ground. Point out what you both agree on at the beginning of the conversation. This may be a shared goal or a set of operating rules.
Hear your coworker out. Allow your colleague to share his opinion and explain his point of view. Don't disagree with individual points he makes; listen to the whole story.
Propose a solution. Use the information you gathered in the conversation to offer a resolution. This should incorporate his perspective and be different from what you originally thought.
Deal with a Passive-Aggressive Colleague
It can be incredibly frustrating when a co-worker agrees with a plan of action, only to go off and do his own thing. This type of sabotage is all too common and can make it difficult to achieve your goals. When you have a co-worker who says one thing and does another, try this:
Give feedback. Explain to your co-worker what you're seeing and experiencing. Describe the impact of his behavior on you and provide suggestions for how he might change.
Focus on work, not the person. You need to get the work done despite your peer's style, so don't waste time wishing he would change. Concentrate on completing the work instead.
Give feedback. Explain to your co-worker what you're seeing and experiencing. Describe the impact of his behavior on you and provide suggestions for how he might change.
Focus on work, not the person. You need to get the work done despite your peer's style, so don't waste time wishing he would change. Concentrate on completing the work instead.
Ask for commitment. At the end of a meeting ask everyone (not just the troublemaker) to reiterate what they are going to do and by when. Sometimes peer pressure can keep even the most passive-aggressive person on task.
Tips for Managers who want to encourage Innovative Thinking
Retreats, brainstorming sessions and strategic planning meetings are some of the most common tools that managers use to generate new ideas and move their organizations forward. But is there such as thing as too much of a good thing? Is the expectation that staff continuously come up with creative ideas in tightly controlled planning sessions realistic?
Here are some tips for managers who want to help their staff generate creative ideas and help their organizations stay strong and competitive in the marketplace.
Here are some tips for managers who want to help their staff generate creative ideas and help their organizations stay strong and competitive in the marketplace.
Usability tips for Web Designers
Simply put, usability is making your website easy for your visitors to find the information they need when they need it.
A common misconception about usability amongst web companies is that usability is expensive. Yes, there are multi-national companies that spend thousands of dollars on usability tests and research, but for an everyday company usability is achievable without the knowledge of usability experts or without expensive equipment for testing.
Web designers have an even easier job to do, just by reading usability articles they can accumulate a fairly good knowledge about usability basics and how to implement them on a website.
A common misconception about usability amongst web companies is that usability is expensive. Yes, there are multi-national companies that spend thousands of dollars on usability tests and research, but for an everyday company usability is achievable without the knowledge of usability experts or without expensive equipment for testing.
Web designers have an even easier job to do, just by reading usability articles they can accumulate a fairly good knowledge about usability basics and how to implement them on a website.
Best website development tips
You can get high rankings and increase web traffic to your site by doing the following steps. Not following our advice on any tip will result in lower rankings on some search engines.
- Research what keywords people use most often on search engines that pertain to your products or services; use these keywords as text in the design to increase website traffic.
- "Keep It Simple" - 99% of all web designers use too many graphical images and programs like Java, Flash, etc. which results in lower rankings and less traffic.
- Web pages, like a spread sheet, are made using cells and tables. Use as few cells and tables in your web design as possible.
- Create good Meta Tags. Each page should have different keywords in the Title and the Description Meta Tag.
- Limit the number of times that you repeat words in your Keyword Meta Tag.
- Place your important keywords at the top of the page as text headers.
- Your most important page and keywords should be on the first page of a website.
- Frames based websites should only be used for Intranet (a site only for company employees) and not for Internet.
- Do NOT include pages that re-direct (a page that automatically sends you to another page) people to other pages.
- Run an analysis program to count the number of times keywords are used in the first 7500 characters of computer code.
- Limit your use of services that automatically submits your URL to the top 10 search engines.
- When finished with a page, run a spell checking program and then compress the html code.
- Keep track of your search engine rankings and website traffic.
- Once a website is indexed, a good web designer should go back and improve pages that didn't get high rankings on key words.
- Every 3 months you should make a small change on each web page. Search engines like to see that changes are being made to a site and that it just isn't sitting there for years with no upgrades.
Search, and you shall find in Adobe After Effects CS5
The Project, Timeline, and Effects & Presets panels each contain search fields that you can use to filter items in the panel. There's also a Search Help field in the upper-right corner of the Application Bar, which uses the Adobe Community Help search engine to search online resources most relevant to the application. This search includes Adobe Help documents, technical support documents, forums, and tutorials and articles on other trusted websites-such as the Layers magazine website.
Extend edit in Adobe Premiere Pro CS5
The Extend Edit feature consists of two commands called Roll Next Edit to CTI and Roll Previous Edit to CTI. They allow you to extend the duration of each clip on a targeted track to the playhead (CTI) position. If there's not enough media to extend to the CTI, the clip is extended to the media available. These commands are only available as keyboard shortcuts, and can be assigned shortcuts from the Edit>Keyboard Customization menu.
The best place to find creative ideas
Many of us are taught to ignore impossible ideas. We’re led to believe that impossible is a set notion, one that cannot be overcome. So we stick to ideas that are simple and proven, that we know will work.
It’s between those two places that the most remarkable, creative ideas are found. Like flying in an airplane, or using a phone that can connect to the Internet wirelessly, or being able to change the course of history with just a few words.
The best place to find creative ideas is between everything you know, and the impossible.
It’s between those two places that the most remarkable, creative ideas are found. Like flying in an airplane, or using a phone that can connect to the Internet wirelessly, or being able to change the course of history with just a few words.
The best place to find creative ideas is between everything you know, and the impossible.
Five ways to think creatively
What’s the best way to think creatively? If new ideas are formed as a result of discovery, what’s the best way to get into a mindset that will allow you to truly explore? Here are five things you can do to spur creative thinking today.
Relax
Being too focused or weighed down by pursuing results makes it easy to miss everything just outside your scope. When you’re stressed or tightly wound up about pursuing creativity, you’re going to miss things you otherwise could have easily spotted in your discovery process.
Relax
Being too focused or weighed down by pursuing results makes it easy to miss everything just outside your scope. When you’re stressed or tightly wound up about pursuing creativity, you’re going to miss things you otherwise could have easily spotted in your discovery process.
Color tips and tricks in InDesign
Sure, there are probably folks who use InDesign and never need anything more than the Black swatch. But for vast majority of us, InDesign's a much more colorful application. Here are some tips and tricks for working with colors:
1. Option/Alt double click the Fill or Stroke boxes in the Control panel or the Tools panel to open the Color Picker.
1. Option/Alt double click the Fill or Stroke boxes in the Control panel or the Tools panel to open the Color Picker.
No more missing fonts in Adobe InDesign CS5
When you include the fonts as part of the Package command (File>Package), InDesign now generates a Document Fonts folder. When you open an InDesign file that's located in a folder that also includes a Document Fonts folder, InDesign will automatically install the fonts the document needs! And when you close the document, the document fonts are automatically uninstalled for you. So is there ever a reason not to enable the Copy Fonts checkbox in the Create Package Folder dialog?
Creating Fillable PDF Forms With InDesign and Adobe Acrobat
Creating forms in Acrobat can be a taxing process. The recognition software may create fields on one line but not the next. You may get a radio button where you wanted a checkbox. Seemingly simple tasks that should take minutes can take hours to correct and fine tune. In this tutorial, you will learn how to design a clean, working form to minimize your workflow headaches.
Tricks of live view navigation in Adobe Dreamweaver CS5
Live View navigation tricks #1
You can now use Live View in CS5 much more like a browser, which is indispensable for designing dynamic applications. For example, you may need to design around a specific view of a WordPress application, like a posting page or search results. Just hold down Command (PC: Ctrl) and click links to get to exactly the view of a dynamic app you'd like. Interact with the JavaScript elements of your interface and then hit F6 to "freeze" any state of your application.
You can now use Live View in CS5 much more like a browser, which is indispensable for designing dynamic applications. For example, you may need to design around a specific view of a WordPress application, like a posting page or search results. Just hold down Command (PC: Ctrl) and click links to get to exactly the view of a dynamic app you'd like. Interact with the JavaScript elements of your interface and then hit F6 to "freeze" any state of your application.
Time savers and hidden Photoshop tips and tricks
Here are a few of my favorite timesavers and hidden tips for Photoshop:
Duplicate layers easily
Like the other Adobe Creative Suite applications, Photoshop allows you to duplicate objects by holding down the Option key and dragging the object you wish to duplicate.
The shortcut also works in the Photoshop Layers panel. Holding down the Option key while dragging a layer will duplicate the layer, which is much easier than dragging the layer down to the new layer icon at the bottom of the panel.
Duplicate layers easily
Like the other Adobe Creative Suite applications, Photoshop allows you to duplicate objects by holding down the Option key and dragging the object you wish to duplicate.
The shortcut also works in the Photoshop Layers panel. Holding down the Option key while dragging a layer will duplicate the layer, which is much easier than dragging the layer down to the new layer icon at the bottom of the panel.
Edit Your Images
If by editing photos you mean just to cut and paint them, then there is no need for you to think about buying Adobe Photoshop. It is a pity to have such powerful software and not use it to improve your skills and abilities such that you can create amazing effects and add new value to your photos. If you have just purchased the latest Photoshop software, then start reading this Photoshop tips and tricks that will help you better understand how to use this great program. The pixelate function is one of the easiest but nevertheless very important Photoshop tips and tricks, used by many people nowadays for creating effects. On top of your screen, search for the Filter section under the tool menu.
Print to PostScript from anywhere
Because QuarkXPress and Adobe’s Creative Suite don’t use the standard Mac OS X print dialog, it’s not obvious how to export your document as a PostScript file.
One way is to choose File> Print and click the button labeled Printer…. This opens the standard Mac OS X print dialog.
Best ideas to help you become better Web Designer
Unlike other kinds of design, web design too keeps on changing with changing time. Therefore the web designers need to upgrade themselves on regular basis as per the latest trend in order to design creative website. Since couple of years web design has seen a number new ideas and latest trends making the field pretty dynamic.
Make animations from static images with Jquery
Every wanted to make some animations using static images combined with jQuery? Probably not but if you ever want to, you can easily do it using this jQuery plugin called JZoopraxiscope. To make it work, the plugin requires jQuery but jQuery UI also and an image to represent the sequence to be animated. Demo can be found here.
How to get the Outlook.com email address you want
Microsoft just completely overhauled Hotmail, rebranding it as Outlook and moving the whole email service to Outlook.com. The app is actually much improved, but longtime Hotmail users will probably have tons of questions — the most important being: What’s my email address now?
Creative examples of facebook timeline cover
Just if you didn’t know, Facebook Timeline is the latest feature that was introduced in the recent Facebook Conference, F8. It’s generally a complete overhaul of the profile page with the new ability to view your status updates in a list sorted by time, hence the name.
9-slice scaling in Adobe Illustrator CS5
CS3 brought a feature called 9-slice scaling from Flash Professional into Illustrator. At that time, 9-slice was only really useful for Illustrator symbols after importing them into Flash. Now, in CS5, 9-slice works on the scaling of any symbol right inside Illustrator. Let's say you want to make a button with text on it, but when you scale it up, you don't want the text to stretch or the rounded corners to distort. Make the button into a symbol (drag it into the Symbols panel) and apply 9-slice scaling (select Enable Guides for 9-Slice Scaling in the Symbol Options dialog), then you can scale the button without distortion.
Navigating the motion editor in Adobe Flash Professional CS5
In Flash Professional CS5, there are some new keyboard modifiers to help you move around the Motion Editor.
- To pan/scroll horizontally, use Shift-scroll wheel.
- To zoom in and out, use Option-scroll wheel (PC: Alt-scroll wheel).
- To select multiple keyframes at once, click-and-drag (marquee select) the keyframes.
- To turn off Auto-Zoom in the graphs, use the option in the Motion Editor panel's flyout menu.
14 Creative Techniques for Graphic/Web Designers
We are always looking for new creative techniques to help come up with ideas for graphic design and we have read several books on creativity. The only downside to some of these books is that they don’t always easily lend themselves to graphic design and are far better for coming up with product or business ideas.
By the side of these ideas we have put either layout or concept in brackets, to represent which element of design I think these techniques could help with.
By the side of these ideas we have put either layout or concept in brackets, to represent which element of design I think these techniques could help with.
How to Change Your Dropbox Password, and Make It Better
Dropbox is the latest tech company to have fallen victim to a security breach, and there’s a good chance your account is at risk.
But unlike recent hacks on sites such as Yahoo, LinkedIn and eHarmony, account names and passwords weren’t posted online, making it more difficult to check via a tool if yours was compromised.
But unlike recent hacks on sites such as Yahoo, LinkedIn and eHarmony, account names and passwords weren’t posted online, making it more difficult to check via a tool if yours was compromised.
Prepress tips for graphic designers
When you design artwork for print, standard practice is to send a PDF to your printer. But are you 100% sure you got the settings right? Are you confident the size is correct? Have the colours been set to print standards or client brand guidelines? What about font usage?
So many things can go wrong, costing you and your client money. So to help, Sigurdur Armannsson — art director at the Icelandic Ad Agency — has prepared these 16 prepress tips that cover the major aspects for correction in your artwork. By checking each tip as you go your file will be in excellent shape for sending to the printery.
So many things can go wrong, costing you and your client money. So to help, Sigurdur Armannsson — art director at the Icelandic Ad Agency — has prepared these 16 prepress tips that cover the major aspects for correction in your artwork. By checking each tip as you go your file will be in excellent shape for sending to the printery.
Design Glossary
Ascender: The portion of a minuscule letter in a Latin-derived alphabet in typography.
Align: To position letters, words or images to fit on the same vertical line: “aligned left”, “aligned right”.
Baseline: The imaginary line on which a line of letters is positioned.
Bleed: A printing term that refers to printing that goes beyond the edge of the sheet after trimming.
Block quote: A long quotation – four or more lines – within body text, that is set apart in order to clearly distinguish the author's words from the words that the author is quoting.
Body type: Roman – normal, plain, or book – type used for long passages of text, such a stories in a newsletter, magazine, or chapters in a book. Generally sized from 9 point to 14 point.
Bullet: A solid dot (•) normally used to indicate the start of a new item, etc.
Align: To position letters, words or images to fit on the same vertical line: “aligned left”, “aligned right”.
Baseline: The imaginary line on which a line of letters is positioned.
Bleed: A printing term that refers to printing that goes beyond the edge of the sheet after trimming.
Block quote: A long quotation – four or more lines – within body text, that is set apart in order to clearly distinguish the author's words from the words that the author is quoting.
Body type: Roman – normal, plain, or book – type used for long passages of text, such a stories in a newsletter, magazine, or chapters in a book. Generally sized from 9 point to 14 point.
Bullet: A solid dot (•) normally used to indicate the start of a new item, etc.
Placing Graphics
There are tons of tips and tricks you can take advantage of while placing images. Here are a few of my favorites:
In the Place dialog box, hold shift while you click Open to show Image Import Options and allow you to set the visibility of layers, apply cropping and clipping paths, assign color profiles, etc.
When you are placing several images at once, you can see thumbnail previews and the number of images remaining to be placed at your cursorUse your arrow keys to change which image gets placed next.
In the Place dialog box, hold shift while you click Open to show Image Import Options and allow you to set the visibility of layers, apply cropping and clipping paths, assign color profiles, etc.
When you are placing several images at once, you can see thumbnail previews and the number of images remaining to be placed at your cursorUse your arrow keys to change which image gets placed next.
Google finds almost 10‚000 new malicious websites every day
Google’s security blog on Tuesday revealed new details on how the search giant is keeping Internet users safe from malware. The Mountain View-based company protects 600 million users through built-in protection for Chrome, Firefox, and Safari that warns users of dangerous websites. Every day the company encounters about 9,500 new websites that have been compromised or specifically designed for malware distribution. Approximately 12 million to 14 million Google Search queries, and 300,000 downloads, also trigger the company’s warning to caution users on a daily basis. “By protecting Internet users, webmasters, ISPs, and Google over the years, we’ve built up a steadily more sophisticated understanding of web-based malware and phishing,” Google wrote. “These aren’t completely solvable problems because threats continue to evolve, but our technologies and processes do, too.”
sources: Agencies
sources: Agencies
Definition of graphic design
The process and art of combining text and graphics and communicating an effective message in the design of logos, graphics, brochures, newsletters, posters, signs, and any other type of visual communication is the formal, short definition of graphic design. Today's graphic designers often use desktop publishing software and techniques to achieve their goals.
Prepress tips for graphic designer
When you design artwork for print, standard practice is to send a PDF to your printer. But are you 100% sure you got the settings right? Are you confident the size is correct? Have the colours been set to print standards or client brand guidelines? What about font usage?
So many things can go wrong, costing you and your client money. So to help, Sigurdur Armannsson — art director at the Icelandic Ad Agency — has prepared these 16 prepress tips that cover the major aspects for correction in your artwork. By checking each tip as you go your file will be in excellent shape for sending to the printery.
So many things can go wrong, costing you and your client money. So to help, Sigurdur Armannsson — art director at the Icelandic Ad Agency — has prepared these 16 prepress tips that cover the major aspects for correction in your artwork. By checking each tip as you go your file will be in excellent shape for sending to the printery.
Computer keyboards – Macintosh typing diacritics and special characters
To insert special characters with the Mac keyboard (Times New Roman font):
Accent Key Strokes Available Characters
Grave ` option ` + the character À È Ì Ò Ù à è ì ò ù
Acute ´ option e + the character Á É Í Ó Ú á é í ó ú
Circumflex ^ option i + the character Â Ê Î Ô Û â ê î ô û
Tilde ~ option n + the character Ã Ñ Õ ã ñ õ
Umlaut ¨ option u + the character Ä Ë Ï Ö Ü Ÿ ä ë ï ö ü ÿ
Key
Accent Key Strokes Available Characters
Grave ` option ` + the character À È Ì Ò Ù à è ì ò ù
Acute ´ option e + the character Á É Í Ó Ú á é í ó ú
Circumflex ^ option i + the character Â Ê Î Ô Û â ê î ô û
Tilde ~ option n + the character Ã Ñ Õ ã ñ õ
Umlaut ¨ option u + the character Ä Ë Ï Ö Ü Ÿ ä ë ï ö ü ÿ
Key
Selecting hair on Photoshop CS5
Significant changes to the Refine Edge dialog take masking hair to a new level. The choices are daunting, but the steps are simple: make a selection with the Quick Selection tool (W); Option-click (PC: Alt-click) to remove unwanted areas; then continue to Select>Refine Edge. Using Black & White (K) from the View menu, choose a 10-15 pixel Radius, enable the Smart Radius checkbox, and voilà! Use the Option-click (PC: Alt-click) method with the new Refine Radius tool (E) located in the Refine Edge dialog to refine the final mask.
Ten Steps on the Path of Page Layout Enlightenment
Rule 1
KISS(Keep it simple stupid)
Rule 2
Take advice, you never know too much that you can’t take the advice of others, look at other magazines, newsletters etc, and especially, the rest of this list…
Rule 3
Determine what kind of document you’re producing. If we can break it down into two kinds:
… you have to read me, so it really doesn’t matter how I make it look, and I don’t give a damn anyway…
… please read me, I have something to offer and I hope you’ll take the time to read on…
for those with the first kind of document, just stop reading now, for others…
Rule 4
Is it a formal or informal document?
Formal documents need to be well structured, look as if they mean what they say, keep them consistant in terms of fonts and layout… be businesslike
Informal documents can be looser, make them inviting, choose an informal (optima etc) font, lots of white space. Make the reader want to read on.
Rule 5
There are a number of socially correct mechanisms to make sure that whatever type of document you are producing looks good …
One font for body text and one for headline text …
Never put more that one space between words, especially after punctuation. …
Respect other languages, use the correct accents when appropriate …
use the correct quotation marks (not feet and inches symbols) …
be consistant with paragraph spacing (first line indent, inter paragraph gap) …
not too much hyphenation (if any) …
beware of widows and orphans…
respect your reader
Rule 6
Select an appropriate format for the type of document you are producing. A5 booklet, A4 report, A3 broadsheet etc.
Rule 7
Consider the reproduction mechanism. …
If you are photocopying the end document, beware of the limitation of tints on any specific photocopier (hint: fine tints smudge on some copiers) …
Professional printing of the final document: choose your paper with care, ask the advice of your local printer (print office) before getting too deep in the production process. If they have preferences regarding the tools they use for preparation of documents, consider them (ie Pagemaker etc).
Rule 8
Keep backups (copies) of items as you go along, make sure that you have copies of all documents (pictures, logos, main document etc) well secure. Sodd’s law will ensure that something untoward happens in the last hour of your deadline.
Rule 9
Having selected a publication format, edit to that format, not the other way around. Do not try and make the format fit the pieces…
Rule 10
Remember Rule 1
KISS(Keep it simple stupid)
Rule 2
Take advice, you never know too much that you can’t take the advice of others, look at other magazines, newsletters etc, and especially, the rest of this list…
Rule 3
Determine what kind of document you’re producing. If we can break it down into two kinds:
… you have to read me, so it really doesn’t matter how I make it look, and I don’t give a damn anyway…
… please read me, I have something to offer and I hope you’ll take the time to read on…
for those with the first kind of document, just stop reading now, for others…
Rule 4
Is it a formal or informal document?
Formal documents need to be well structured, look as if they mean what they say, keep them consistant in terms of fonts and layout… be businesslike
Informal documents can be looser, make them inviting, choose an informal (optima etc) font, lots of white space. Make the reader want to read on.
Rule 5
There are a number of socially correct mechanisms to make sure that whatever type of document you are producing looks good …
One font for body text and one for headline text …
Never put more that one space between words, especially after punctuation. …
Respect other languages, use the correct accents when appropriate …
use the correct quotation marks (not feet and inches symbols) …
be consistant with paragraph spacing (first line indent, inter paragraph gap) …
not too much hyphenation (if any) …
beware of widows and orphans…
respect your reader
Rule 6
Select an appropriate format for the type of document you are producing. A5 booklet, A4 report, A3 broadsheet etc.
Rule 7
Consider the reproduction mechanism. …
If you are photocopying the end document, beware of the limitation of tints on any specific photocopier (hint: fine tints smudge on some copiers) …
Professional printing of the final document: choose your paper with care, ask the advice of your local printer (print office) before getting too deep in the production process. If they have preferences regarding the tools they use for preparation of documents, consider them (ie Pagemaker etc).
Rule 8
Keep backups (copies) of items as you go along, make sure that you have copies of all documents (pictures, logos, main document etc) well secure. Sodd’s law will ensure that something untoward happens in the last hour of your deadline.
Rule 9
Having selected a publication format, edit to that format, not the other way around. Do not try and make the format fit the pieces…
Rule 10
Remember Rule 1
15 MAC applications for web designers
We have lot of nice apps available for Mac OSX that aren’t available for Windows.
I’ve compiled a list of Mac Apps I have in my OSX dock that I use on a daily basis and should be useful to other Mac users and/or web designers.
I’ve compiled a list of Mac Apps I have in my OSX dock that I use on a daily basis and should be useful to other Mac users and/or web designers.
Perfect Your Pages Panel in Adobe InDesign
Descriptive prefixes and color labels can make it a lot easier to tell pages apart in a long document. By default, InDesign displays thumbnail images of each page in the Pages panel. But that's not always the most useful option for telling one page from another, especially in a document with a lot of pages that share a similar design.
You can turn off thumbnails in the Panel Options dialog box inside the Pages panel fly out menu. When thumbnails are turned off, each document page is shown with its master page prefix in the center. You can put up to four characters here, so don't be shy. Descriptive prefixes make it easier to navigate a long InDesign document.
You can turn off thumbnails in the Panel Options dialog box inside the Pages panel fly out menu. When thumbnails are turned off, each document page is shown with its master page prefix in the center. You can put up to four characters here, so don't be shy. Descriptive prefixes make it easier to navigate a long InDesign document.
Draw a Curve in InDesign
In this tutorial, I'll show you how to use InDesign's ability to create type on a curve, and flow that type from one curve to another. Along the way, you'll learn a slick technique for step and repeat and how to apply gradients to text. This technique will work in InDesign CS or later. This technique would also will work in Illustrator, with minor modifications.
Below is the final image we will be working towards. Want access to the full Vector Source files and downloadable copies of every tutorial, including this one? Join Vector Plus for just 9$ a month.
Below is the final image we will be working towards. Want access to the full Vector Source files and downloadable copies of every tutorial, including this one? Join Vector Plus for just 9$ a month.
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