Wonderful Helvetica Based Logos December 2nd, 2011
Okay – so many of you who have taken my design classes have seen me “pick on” the Helvetica font. As you know, although I consider it a classic, beautiful, clean and highly versatile, I have some issues with it’s built-in kerning at large sizes, so I usually use it for my kerning lessons.
So, today, Graphics.com posted a Facebook link to a great page with 40 great logos designed using Helvetica. Now, I don’t personally agree that all of these do, in fact, use Helvetica (eg: Nestlé, even if it started as Helvetica, didn’t remain Helvetica, IMO), but if you check these out, you’ll gain some great inspiration as to the effects of tracking and kerning, color, use of space, and all things typography and design. Check it out!
http://www.webdesignerdepot.com/2009/03/40-excellent-logos-created-with-helvetica/
Posted in Blog Posts, Design, Illustrator, InDesign, inspiration, Photoshop, Print, Tips, Typography, Web Design | No Comments »
Tutorial on the Painting with the History Paintbrush – Photoshop November 16th, 2011
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.
Posted in Adobe, Blog Posts, Design, Motion Graphics, Photography, Photoshop, Print, Retouching, Tips, Training, Tutorials, Video Editing, Web Design | No Comments »
Cool Color IQ Test February 4th, 2011
For my design students, you may really get a kick out of this! X-Rite, one of the companies that make great Monitor and Printer color calibration tools, has come up with this test to determine your color acuity.
As it turns out, our ability to distinguish small color variations becomes less acute with age (and other factors)
I tried this about a year ago, and found out that, thankfully, my color acuity was much younger than I am!
Even if you’re not a design student, but you’re into color, this test is really interesting and you may find it fun.
http://www.xritephoto.com/ph_toolframe.aspx?action=coloriq