book learnin'
2007.07.26 15:16
As I delve into more and more dynamic programming, the first name that pops into mind as of late is, Ajax. Asynchronous javascript and XML seems to be one of the flavors of the month, but it is more so. It is the robust framework that has grown up over the past few years and evolved into the way to deliver dynamic content and an immersive web experience. Read More...
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Tutorial - Chrome in Photoshop
2006.10.22 23:02
Anyone who was alive in the seventies will hopefully appreciate this little tutorial. I remember airbrushing these type of effects a hundred years ago…in fact I still own several thousand dollars worth of airbrush equipment. One brush I bought for close to $700 weeks before an update to the Mac OS that made it a more viable solution for the type of work I was doing than the traditional way.
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Tutorial - Layer Adjustment in Photoshop
2006.10.01 08:23
An often overlooked method of working with imagery in Photoshop is the use of Adjustment Layers. This provides the means to retouch an image in a non-destructive way. When you select an image and adjust its Levels or Curves you have altered that image, but using an Adjustment Layer for that identical process provides the same results but without altering the original image. This allows the ability to step back to the original image for any reason.
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Tutorial - Transparent masks in Illustrator
2006.09.18 07:48
Photoshop is the king of image manipulation. Adobe has done some great things with the app over the years and it has shown in every new release. Sometimes, however, it is not the first choice for creating imagery. Your needs may require an image that needs to be resolution independant which would lead you to Photoshop's sister app, Illustrator. Although there are overlaps between the two applications, creating similar graphics require different approaches. Read More...
Photoshop Actions
2006.09.08 12:54
One of the great things about working on a Mac is the ability to customize and script almost every aspect of your daily routine with ease. This functionality extends to every application, either by inclusion within their code or by using AppleScript. Adobe has provided Actions within Photoshop for several versions now, but many artists I know do not use them to streamline their workflow. Read More...
Tutorial - Distress imagery in Photoshop
2006.08.30 14:40
Often times we are called to create imagery that reflects a specified tone or incorporates certain imagery to coincide with other marketing efforts for our clients. Adding a sense of realism to a logo on a wall, or aging a icon on a T-shirt adds that sense of believability that makes your digital work stand out from the rest of the crowd.
This is another technique to add some more life in your digital composites using some good free textures available through a quick Google; Mayang's offers some great shots for free (limited to 20 downloads a day or you can purchase them all for $45) and where I got this background. Read More...
Tutorial - Faking 3-D in Photoshop
2006.08.27 22:28
Within the design industry we are sometimes called upon to make simple things look much better than they actually are…like a make-up artist at the Emmy's (aw c'mon did you watch the show?). One of the tricks that I have learned over the years is adding more depth to elements creates a better sense of reality to the image.
While I was working at Disney, we had to develop numerous events and broadcasts. Without the time to really develop a 3-D model, light it and render out I came up with a simple series of steps in Photoshop to provide more depth to a simple Illustrator logo or icon. These plates always seem to generate a positive response from all of the associated parties. Read More...
AS to outline your Flash movie…
2006.06.05 14:00
With so much to do during the day it is always best to streamline production to work more effectively. A lot of the Flash work I am called upon to develop is online marketing materials (read: banners). These pieces always have a definite set of parameters to run at the publisher's sites. One requirement is that all banner advertisements need an outline. I used to always create this within Flash, converting it to a symbol that I could cut and paste between files. Read More...