The secrets of the dark interface by Deke McClelland

The secrets of the dark interface

Photoshop CS6 Beta Preview | by Deke McClelland

View this entire course and more in the lynda.com Online Training Library®.

Tutorial: Watercolor Text Painted on a Wet Paper

Adobe Photoshop CS6 - My Top 6 Favorite Features from Terry White

NAPP Photoshop CS6 beta Resource Page

Happy Monday everyone! As you know from my previous posts, Adobe has released the CS6 Beta for Photoshop. As a part of Photoshop World currently taking place in Washington, DC, the National Association of Photoshop Professionals (NAPP) has released a "great Photoshop CS6 beta resource page for the tools you’ll need to master this latest version of Photoshop" viewable by non NAPP members Here's the link: http://bit.ly/GIRorj.

While you are there, or by clicking on  the image on my sidebar (right), why don't you join? It is well worth the $99 cost. You get great training videos and more and you get discounts when attending NAPP sponsored training's. If you, like the rest of us, are on a limited budget I suggest you spend your money on NAPP. You won't be disappointed.

Julieanne’s Top 6 in CS6

Compressing Photos in a PowerPoint 10 Presentation

I received a call yesterday from a staff member wanting to know  how to reduce the file size of a PowerPoint presentation. The best choice is to deal with the issue BEFORE you create the presentation.

For example, if you have a group of photos on your camera and you want to share them with your friends/colleagues, adding the images to a PowerPoint slide show makes sense. However, the original images are likely large in size and will quickly add up to an enormous file. I routinely take photos that are 3-4MB each and if I want to create a presentation from 20 or more it is going to be an issue. So, you should batch process the photos in Photoshop. Click here to see how to do so, but first, create a new file folder for your presentation. Copy the photos to the folder and then follow the batch processing instructions. When you add the processed photos to your PowerPoint presentation, they will be much smaller and as a result, the final product will be as well. Remember – to e-mail a file it must be under 5MB otherwise it will not be sent.

Okay, so you have a presentation already done with larger images and you realize it is too big and need to fix it. There is a way in PowerPoint (2010) to do so. Choose the Compress Pictures option under Format > Picture Tools. Next check the Delete cropped areas of pictures option to reduce the overall size of the presentation. Also select the appropriate output file size (i.e. 96dpi, 200dpi, etc.) depending on how you plan to use the file. The smaller the dpi, the smaller the file size will be.  

That’s great, but what if you can’t find compress pictures on your tool bar? Here’s how to add it:

1. Click on File Tab
2. Click on Options
3. Click on Quick Access Toolbar
4. Choose commands from: Commands not in ribbon
5. The list is alphabetical. The one you want is “compress picture”.
6. Scroll to it and highlight it (click once).
7. Click add
8. You can also add some of the other picture options like change picture, reset picture if you want – it’s up to you how much or how little you add.
9. Click ok

The format tab will appear on your menu.  

I Didn't Know Acrobat Could Do That!

How to Make Your Black & White Photos More Dramatic

IceflowStudios: Photoshop: Wood Texture

New Links

Hi Everyone - From time to time I create a list of links I think you will find helpful as you advance your learning with all the great Adobe products. This is the latest list - enjoy! Faye


Acrobat:

• AcrobatUsers.com Tutorials (videos)
• Comparing Documents (video)
• Create Fillable Forms (videos and PDF's)
• Create PDF Portfolios (videos and PDF's)
• How to Optimize your PDF File (video)
• Online Document Reviews (video and PDF's)
• Streamline Routine Tasks (videos and PDF's)

Captivate:

• Adobe Captivate Advanced Functions (videos)  -  Learn how to use Adobe Captivate advanced functions like variables, advanced actions, widgets to create custom interactions or to personalize learning experience
• Adobe Captivate 5 Button Actions and Project Branching (video)
• Rapid eLearning | Adobe Captivate Blog
• Working with Multiple Images and Buttons (video)

Illustrator:

• Applying a Gradient to Editable Type in Illustrator - (video)
• Creating Retro Graphics in Illustrator
• Illustrator Tutorials: 70 Awesome Hot New Tips
• 30 Really Fresh and Stunning Adobe Illustrator Tutorials

InDesign:

• Anchoring Objects in InDesign CS5.5 - (video)
• AutoFit Images in InDesign CS5 - (video)
• Preflight InDesign CS5-FlightCheck for Adobe InDesign CS4-CS5.5
• Quick Apply in InDesign CS5 - (video)
• Using Mini-Bridge with InDesign CS5 - (video)

Photoshop:

• Ask Dave Podcast: All About Tool Presets - (video)
• Ask Dave Podcast: Change the Color of an Area without Making a Selection - (video)
• Ask Dave Podcast: Have You Made a Good Selection?  - (video)
• Fake a Photo Matte - (video)
• Getting Creative with Photoshop’s Mixer Brush  - (video)

When text disappears from a text frame

017 When text disappears from a text frame

InDesign Secrets | by David Blatner and Anne-Marie Concepcion

View this entire course and more in the lynda.com Online Training Library®.

The Seven Lively Sins: Try These InDesign Type Effects

Future Innovation: Video & Photoshop

10 indispensable InDesign type tips

Why Is InDesign Soooo Slow?

Creating a Vanity Frame with Deke from lynda.com

104 Creating a vanity frame

Deke's Techniques | by Deke McClelland

View this entire Photoshop course and more in the lynda.com Online Training Library®.

Tip of the Week - Use an Image of Your Document on Website

I had a meeting in one of our county offices earlier this week. While talking with their wonderful support staff I mentioned using an image of a document on the website to link to the actual document. It’s more visually pleasing then just text and easy to do. They were eager to learn how and very happy with the results, so I figured I would share the technique here for others. Here’s what you do:

• Bring the image of the front page of your document up on screen. Make sure the whole page is visible.
• Click on the PrtScn key (print screen) which is generally located to the right of your F12 key. You won’t see anything happen, but it takes an image of your screen.
• Click on Start > All Programs > Accessories > Paint
• Click the Paste button (or CTRL V). An image of your screen will appear.
• Depending on the version of Paint on your computer, you may be able to select the area (page image) you want and then crop it, but I prefer to wait until I open it with Photoshop. Do whatever feels best for you.
• Click on the drop down arrow at the top right and choose Save As. Save as a png file. It will look great and the size will be small.
• Save the file to your desktop for easy access.
• Open the file with Photoshop.
• Choose the crop key (marching ants square) and crop the image to the page.
• If you are planning on using the image in the “What’s New” box, you need to make sure the image is 165px wide or less. The height does not matter as much. Click on Image > Image Size and resize to 165px wide. Be sure “Constrain Proportions” is checked so the width will change with the height proportionally.
• Save the file.
• You are now ready to place the image on the website. 

Once you add it to the website, click on the image and choose the link command. Link the photo to the image. Remember, if you don’t want the image to have a blue square around it, right click on the image, choose properties and choose “0” for the border size. Give it a try and let me know what you think.

Adobe Creative Suite 5.5 Printing Guide

Editing Video in Photoshop CS5 Extended