AYM 4 Training – Online and Onsite Computer Training – Cool Stuff

I just received this announcement. Not only are there links to purchase the software, but also some information on upgrade pricing and date limitations. Take a look!
NEWS: Adobe® Creative Suite® 6 is Now Shipping 

Two weeks after its official introduction, Adobe this morning has released Creative Suite 6 in twelve languages, with major upgrades across the product line…  

All CS6 suites and individual tools are available immediately for Windows and Mac, with delivery via boxed shipment or instant download.  Discounted upgrades are offered from earlier versions, including CS3 and CS4 until the end of the year.

One big change: Starting with CS6, upgrades are only available direct from Adobe in most major geographies.

The company has also released all CS6 free trials for download and installation.  These trials are fully-functional and will work side-by-side with any previous version(s) of the Creative Suite, including CS5 and CS5.5.  We’ve got a complete list of trial direct download links for easy access. 

The CS6 Student & Teacher Editions are now shipping as well.  These offer up to 80% off the regular prices for education customers including students, teachers, and staff. 

So many of my design and motion graphics students become interested in type, after learning even just a little about it. Here is a GREAT example of the use of Type As Art. Well worth the watch!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J59n8FsoRLE&feature=youtu.be

Today, I got an email from a rep from JourneyEd.com, one of my vendors. Her message states:
Adobe has a current promotion with the release of  CS6. Adobe is giving a free copy of CS6 to anyone that purchases CS 5.5 now until May 6! Please see attached promotion and contact me today for pricing!

Here’s her contact info:

Today, Dealfind.com is offering a Wacom Bamboo Pen & Touch Tablet for $70!

As my graphics students know, I’m a big advocate of using a pressure-sensitive tablet for precision masking, vector drawing control and tons of other functions. This is the smaller version of their tablet – which makes it quite portable as well. check it out at:
http://www.dealfind.com/products/los-angeles/brightlightbusiness2?a=16589f8ddd39

Wacom Bamboo Pen & Touch

According to Deal News Daily, Adobe is offering an additional 80% off select education titles. The discount code is ”SAVE80EDU”

As I’d only owned the CS5 Design Suite, and want the Master Suite, AND I know CS6 is being released soon, I called to confirm that the educational version would make me eligible for an upgrade price (vs. the educational price) on CS6 (the upgrade price is often better than the Educational price, nowadays). They did verbally confirm that the Ed version of CS5.5 is upgradeable when the new version is released (they would not provide any prices though). Then, they said they’d just been informed that this pricing is a mistake and they could not offer it.

However, I purchased it online – and the Educational version of the CS5.5 MASTER SUITE is shipping for $202 including tax. Of course, they need to verify my educational status, which may take a few days – and may be long enough for them to decline the pricing – but it was worth the attempt, IMO.

If you’re interested in trying for an AMAZING price, and can qualify for educational pricing, check out the article on Deal News at

http://dealnews.com/Adobe-Coupon-Extra-80-off-select-education-software/551827.html

Today marks Photoshop’s 22nd Anniversary. This amazing program has changed the course of photography, digital imaging, motion graphics, video and animation, web design… and countless other creative ways of life. It took way fewer years for Photoshop to become so ingrained in our culture that it became an actual VERB!

On the 20th Anniversary, Russell Brown, the Senior Creative Director for Photoshop, created an amazing video, commemorating the history of Photoshop to that date. It’s worth remembering here:

http://tv.adobe.com/watch/photoshop-20th-anniversary/2010-a-photoshop-odyssey/

The people at CreativePro.com have posted a page with a link to an excellent free Ebook (in PDF format), named 25 Champions of Design. I’m sure my design students of all types will derive some excellent information from this book. And, best of all – it’s FREE!

http://www.creativepro.com/article/25-champions-design 

Russell Brown (www.russellbrown.com) has created a really good tutorial on how to use the History Paintbrush in Photoshop.

Those of you who’ve taken my Photoshop classes know that I don’t often teach this tool. I actually think it’s an awesome tool – but of course I’m ALL about non-destructive techniques, and this isn’t one of them. This technique changes original pixels permanently (there are work-arounds, but they’re rather indirect). So, I recommend knowing how this tool works, what you can do with it, and then knowing you can use it for more of your “quick and dirty” retouching and repair needs.

So, looks like Apple’s doing a bit of work on FCP X, but to me it doesn’t look like they managed to address any of the “Pro” deficiencies (see the “What’s New” section) What do you think?

http://www.macupdate.com/app/mac/7282/apple-final-cut-pro-x

Another CreativeCow.com article – well-written. I’ve been saying for a while that Premiere is no longer the “red-headed stepchild” of editing software, and I’ve been teaching it for a while now. I’m finding quite a few people switching, and this article, by a long-time user of Final Cut Studio for some time, will help explain why.

Yeah – it’s not perfect – but with no access to FCP Studio 3 anymore – and having this come with the Adobe CS5.5 Suite – it sure can work! This also compares Premiere (in part) to Avid.

http://library.creativecow.net/kobler_helmut/FCP-vs-Premiere-Pro/1