Adobe MAX 2020 Goes Online for FREE!

Adobe MAX 2020 Goes Online for Free this year!

This is pretty amazing!

Despite the extremity of all the problems relating to COVID-19, one good thing is coming out of this:

Adobe MAX 2020 will be offered online – for FREE this year!

Check out the information here!

I use Techsmith Camtasia and SnagIt, and LOVE them!


People often ask me what I use to create my training videos and enhance my screenshots and my answer is: Techsmith Camtasia for videos, and I use SnagIt for quick captures (still or video).

Camtasia is a powerful, yet easy video editor, an screen capture tool. You can capture your monitor, your voice, your webcam, your keyboard entries, and even your computer’s system sounds, and choose whether to use or edit all of those parts, as you wish. And, it’s easy to add video captured on another device, like a video camera, a still camera with video capabilities, even your smartphone! The markup tools can be used to enhance what your viewer sees – you can add highlights, callouts of text or graphics. You can animate items in the app, you can even use your computer’s voice to speech capabilities to create closed captioning! The learning curve is simple and Techsmith has some amazing online free videos (and I teach this, as well). Check it out HERE!

SnagIt is a Screen Capture and Screen Recorder application. It will capture screenshots and Videos, and allow you to mark them up or simple quickly produce a video to share online. It doesn’t have the power of al the video editing capabilities of Camtasia, but if you need a quick and powerful capture tool with great markup functions, this is a quick, accessible tool to choose.

View both Techsmith Camtasia, and Techsmith SnagIt at Techsmith’s website.

By the way – this is one of those companies that offers smart and professional customer support. It’s one I hold up as a standard for all the rest!

Techsmith Camtasia and Snagit Upgrades – Promo until 2.8.19

For those of you seeking excellent Screen Capture/Screenshot/Screen Video Editing software – you can’t miss this deal!

Upgrade to Camtasia 2018 and Get Camtasia Maintenance ($49.60 Value) Free.

Included in the Camtasia Maintenance package:

  • Free Upgrades – One year of new versions of the product
  • Priority Support – Dedicated phone queue & expedited handling
  • Camtasia Certification – Exclusive training to expand your skills

The promo will end February 8, 11:59 PM, PST so hurry up and ORDER NOW!

 

Who doesn’t like FREE Video Effects?

Once again, PremiumBeat.com is offering stuff for FREE!

Today, they announced a free plugin that works with almost all NLE’s (non-linear editors, for those of you who don’t do video). And, that plugin includes lots of free effects to be used in your work, along with a quick tutorial on how to use them (the transitions aren’t applied as you may be used to – they use track mattes and such – easy though). There’re also some effects using my favorite “toy” – blending modes.

I don’t recommend using all of these as they’re created – but they’re cool enough that you can. But, you can also make them your own, amending their contents to your preferences.

Check out the FREE plugin and content – you’ll be happy to have this resource. I know I am!

Techsmith Camtasia – 10% off before 12/31/18

Techsmith Camtasia 2018

Professional, easy to record and edit, Screen Recording and video editing software. Record your screen, your webcam, your microphone (or just one at a time). Edit it with Camtasia’s powerful but VERY USER FRIENDLY editing tools, and output a professional video in short order.

Camtasia is the solution most often used by training professionals, product demonstrators, and major companies and government agencies around the world (I know, I taught a bunch of them).

High end editing, Speech to Text for CC, Transitions, Text actions – all in an interface that’s clear and easy to use.

Get it at 10% off until 12/31/18 – use promo code “SAVE10” at checkout (leave out the quotes)

Regular single user price is $249, or $224.90 with SAVE10
Upgrade is $99.50, or $89.55 with SAVE10

 

Do you love FREE Video Elements, Actions and Effects?

I DO! I love to get free shared items and then tweak them to my own settings and aesthetic preference and needs. Well, our friends at Premium Beat have done just that (through Rocketstock)

Check out THIS PAGE for some fabulous Action Compositing elements, Space Textures, Motion Graphics Templates (for Premiere Pro), and other great items.

I’m a FAN!

Adobe MAX This Week!

 

This week, Adobe is having it’s Adobe MAX conference in Las Vegas, NV. I’ll be working as a Teaching Assistant for several classes, and according to the conference schedule, anticipate being kept VERY busy for the week! I’m looking forward to it, very much – and anticipate I’ll be “paying” for the worthwhile time with some exhaustion for the entire following week!

For those of you trying to reach me this week, either via the blog, our Facebook page ((2) AYM 4 Training – Home), our Twitter Account (AYM 4 Training (@aym4training) | Twitter)

I do hope that some or many of my students and colleagues will be attending this event, and if so, please seek me out – I’d love to see you! I’ve been assigned to TA the classes named
B342 – Photoshop Magic: Making Brushes to Speed Up Your Workflow, and B341 – Photoshop+After Effects = Awesomeness (multiple bookings of each in my schedule). I’ll also be attending other classes with some of my favorite speakers/writers and Adobe Evangelists.

I hope to see you at the conference, if you can make it, and I’ll do my best to respond to questions and such, as time allows. Have a great week!

 

Adobe Creates the Pen Tool Game

For my students who need to practice the Pen Tool, Adobe’s created an adorable online game to practice it’s usage. The pen tool is important in Adobe Illustrator (of course), but also in Photoshop, After Effects, Premiere, InDesign, Animate… there’s a version of it in almost every Adobe App!

Check out the game here: https://helpx.adobe.com/uk/illustrator/how-to/pen-tool-game.html

Google Bought the NIK Collection, Made it Free, and Aren’t Updating It

The NIK Photoshop plugin collection’s been a staple in my system for many years. It’s sharpening algorithm, it’s controls have always had a strong place along with all my other plugins, and I’ve made great use of it throughout the years.

A few years ago, Google bought it, and made it FREE! That was great, and they even updated the software a few times. But, on the Mac, they stopped updating past OSX 10.10 Yosemite, on Windows, they stopped updating past Windows 8, and for Photoshop, their last compatible version is with Photoshop 2015.

THANKS GOOGLE, for buying something, ensuring it’s not profitable for you, and leaving us in the lurch…

OR DID THEY? Thank goodness for One1. They’re releasing the version Photo Raw 2017.5 in just a few days. MacPhun is not only excellent on the Mac, but they’re finishing up their first BETA of their Luminar and Aurora HDR software for Windows machine. Both of these have options very much like those offered in NIK, and they’re committed to continuing their development for years to come!

By the way – my FAVORITE software for Up-Rezzing images (when necessary) used to be Genuine Fractals – which is now On1 Perfect Resize – part of their Photo Raw software!

To check these apps out – take a look here:
On1 Photo RAW – and check out their On1 software, and On1PLUS – an amazing and unique training center for the use of On1 software

MacPhun Software – and check out their current deal with Plotagraph Pro! Don’t forget to use coupon code SGANS_DISC on checkout, if you choose to buy the software.

I’m finally about to upgrade to Sierra… Bye Bye, NIK….

MacPhun Luminar May Creativity and Mega preset Pack offer extended until June 6th!

Luminar + Creativity Mega Preset Pack, Essential Pro Secrets for Unleashing your Creativity eBook, Ultimate Posing Card Collection, Overlays Variety Pack and first 3,000 customers will also receive a collection of Light and Bokeh Overlays for $69 ($49 with coupon for MacPhun users, $59 with coupon for new users!). Total value of $250.

 To get this offer – use Coupon Code SGANS_DISC at checkout!

OFFER ENDS Tuesday June 6th

You Get:

  • Luminar, The Supercharged photo editor for Mac that adapts to your skill level.

  • Creativity Mega Preset Pack – 26 beautiful presets from Presetpro to create stunning looks in Luminar

  • Essential Pro Secrets for Unleashing your Creativity ebook by Ian Plant – Creative lessons and techniques for how to make your photos match the depth of your passion

  • Ultimate Posing Card Collection – Hundreds of ideas for boudoir, family, indoor, newborn, wedding photography and more

  • Overlays Variety Pack – Sky, snow, rainbow, leaf, and fireworks overlays to create a unique look in your images

  • ADDITIONAL BONUS FOR FIRST 3,000 CUSTOMERS145 Fireworks Overlays