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

Okay, I’ve already admitted that I don’t like hand-coding websites, and prefer to use WYSIWYG (what-you-see-is-what-you-get) visually oriented Web design software like Dreamweaver, Flux, or some others. However, sometimes we HAVE to get into the code. CSS3 is a growing technology that enables web pages to do a lot of designer-y things they couldn’t do before.

This article explains why you may want to use these techniques, and how to implement them. Nicely done, WebDesignerDepot.com!

http://bit.ly/GF1ZNo

Last year, I made a tutorial on how to use Adjustment layers and masks to Create Green Beer for St. Patrick’s Day.

I thought this would be a good time to pull that one out again! Check it out at:

http://aym4training.com/coolstuff/2011/make-green-beer-for-st-patricks-day-using-photoshop/

Jeff Witchel, an Adobe Certified Instructor for Adobe Illustrator and a frequent contributor to Layers Magazine (which many of you know is one of my favorite resources), has created a video tutorial for the addition of Gradients to type, WHILE keeping the type editable. This is one of those un-obvious Illustrator controls (uses one of my favorite tools – the Appearance Panel) that will help a bunch of you!

http://www.jeffwitchel.net/2012/03/apply-an-impossible-gradient-to-editable-type/

When I don’t get a chance to make my own tutorials, I still appreciate the work of others. Graphics.com has posted a nice tutorial on using the History Brush to control where Filter Effects…um… affect your image. Check it out!

http://www.graphics.com/modules.php?name=Sections&op=viewarticle&artid=1007

My students all know I’m a fan of Layers Magazine. In my general perusing today, I’ve found a nice tutorial on Fitting Images to Frames in InDesign. Last week, my InDesign students were asking for some tips. This may be useful to you. Enjoy!

http://layersmagazine.com/autofit-images-in-indesign-cs5.html

This video by the Photoshop Senior Product Manager, Bryan O’Neil has shown me why I may want to spend the big bucks for CS6! Check this out!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrlsnQ32YhY

My clients and students all know I love them – but also know that sometimes what we hear as technicians and teachers make us giggle a bit.

This clip, from a Norwegian show (with subtitles) depicts what those same people would experience in the Middle Ages. Funny!

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.

Digital Arts Online has posted a slew (7) Halloween based Photoshop and Illustrator Tutorials.

Never can learn too much, can you? Check them out at: http://bit.ly/qhCqEy !

CreativePro.com has come up with yet another really good article – this time, about a topic that can be really confusing – how color works for print documents, and how to use InDesign’s color management to get accurate color print jobs done (Note: this is for 4-color, process printing – not meant for your inkjet). Check it out at:

http://www.creativepro.com/article/indesign-how-print-colors-correctly