Happy Birthday Mac

Believe it or not, the Apple Macintosh turns 25 this Saturday. Everyone give a collective cheer for the two geniuses responsible for saving our creative lives. 

Also, be sure to check the Apple website Saturday for a surprise. 

What is Adobe Fireworks?

A common dilemma when creating websites is the efficient interaction between the designer and the programmer. When the designer isn't happy, the design suffers. When the programmer isn't happy, the site suffers. Success is dependent on the compromises made between the two.

Adobe Fireworks is the middle ground between these individuals. Its environment caters to both the designers and the programmers. Fireworks supports native Photoshop and Illustrator files (which makes the designers happy) and it exports flawlessly to Dreamweaver (and the programmers rejoice).

Advantages for the Designer:
Fireworks is a pixel editor and a vector editor, which means it is a combination of Photoshop and Illustrator. It also supports multiple pages and paragraph styles just like InDesign. Since InDelutratorshop wasn't a very good name for a program, Fireworks had to do. Rollover buttons, hotspots and drop down menus can be designed without having to touch any code. Common elements like form elements and buttons are built into the program which makes laying out a webpage a breeze.

Advantages for the Programmer:
WYSIWYG features for the designer are great, but if they caused the programmer grief when they build the webpage, trouble might be brewing. Thankfully, image exporting for the web is fantastic. With the entire layout intact, you can choose exactly what pieces or area that you would like to export and fine tune the compression settings to the level that you require. Even form elements that the designer put in the layout can be exported into correct form tags in the HTML.

Exporting a click-through website is a hidden strength of Fireworks. Anyone can easily export the prototype of the website for a client to test drive. This is not a finished website by any means, but it will give your client an understanding of the functionality of the site. It can contain rollovers, drop-down menus and hyperlinks, all without the need for any programming. This is important because if the client changes their mind, you are still early enough in the design stage that you can accommodate the change without having to retool everything.

This is just the tip of the proverbial iceberg of Fireworks. Don't miss out on this month's $5 Friday and see Fireworks in action. When you are ready to learn more, contact Kate about our upcoming Fireworks classes.

Photoshop Goodies and Fun

Adobe Photoshop CS4 Goodies

Check out this great article by Derrick Story from Macworld.com. Some of the features are just mind blowing (bird's eye view) and others will really help push your workflow in a faster direction. 

Whats in Photoshop CS4?

Scott Kelby and the gang at Photoshop User TV have come out with a series (this is part 1 of 4) on what is so great about Photoshop CS4. A lot of good inside tips and tricks are revealed and some bad jokes as well.  

Keynote 09

As a designer, I use the Adobe Creative Suite on a daily basis, however there are some projects that require me to use other apps. One of those that come up more frequently than most is creating a presentation or slideshow. 

Now I know what you are thinking - PowerPoint right? Nope. Keynote. I actually used PP for years and still teach it from time to time, but ever since Apple launched iWork with Keynote, I haven't found a compelling reason to switch back.

At this year's MacWorld Conference Apple announced iWork 09. Now in the spirit of full disclosure, I don't use any of the other apps in iWork except Keynote. If you use Pages, stop reading, look to the left of your screen and take an InDesign Class. 

Here are some of the new features of Keynote:

Better Animations and Transitions. Apple has really ramped it up with Text Based Transitions, including Anagram, Slide In and improvements to Shimmer, Sparkle, among others. Slide transitions include the very cool Object Zoom, Object Push, Twist and many more. Even object animations are greatly improved with Magic Move. Click and record the movement for easy animations. 

Enhanced Themes. Not that I use themes a whole lot, but these are a very cool way to start a new presentation quickly and just modify for an original look. 

3D Charts and animations. This was an unexpected improvement. 3D Charts were around in previous versions, but now the animations are specific to Charts. Watch them pop up and enhance your graphs. 

Keynote Remote. This is still a big unknown with me. It has the potential to be cool if 1) you have a iphone and 2) you have a WiFi connection to run your presentation through. A less expensive alternative is to use your Apple Remote. 

The only draw backs that I have noticed and its really been an ongoing issue, is that with each new advance, Keynote becomes less and less compatible with PowerPoint. This is a critical issue in mixed usage workflows. You can create a cool preso on a Mac, but then when you export it for your client or coworker to work on in PP, all hope is lost for keeping your cool design. The other is I wish Apple would sell Keynote as a stand alone app, and not part of a package with other useless apps (anyone use Numbers instead of Excel?)

New Years Resolutions for Photoshoppers

After reading all the posts on the net about the "Year in Review", I thought it would be good to have a "Year in Preview" for Photoshop Users. This is my list of things to look forward to in 2009 and have the potential to make you geek out in a good way.

First is the advances in Photoshop CS4. We've all talked about it, posted about it, and shown you a lot of cool things, but I know people are slow to adopt. But when you do, watch out and be ready for a great time. CS4 makes Photoshop fun again (not that it really wasn't before...).

Second is Photoshop World Conferences. With Apple pulling out of MacWorld after this year, and Adobe following suit, this poises PSWorld to be the biggest Adobe related conference outside of the über expensive MAX.

Be sure to check out Photoshop User Magazine and subscribe here. PS User Magazine and its counterpart, Layers are the two best resources for Adobe Creative Suite applications that I have found. Plus, as they are the main sponsors of PS World and The Photoshop Tours, you get insider information and discounts to events hosted by them. The website alone is worth the subscription cost. Be sure to click the link posted here for a bonus DVD with your order. 

Next, I am really looking forward to the new Intel chips (dual-core nano processors, etc.) and what they can mean to both Mac and PC users. Im expecting a big ramp up on speed and in turn more Photoshop wow from Adobe. 

And lastly is something that I talk about from time to time – Adobe Labs. This is Adobe's cutting edge tech available for you to preview and read about before it is released to the masses. 

Adobe has released two really awesome applications/plug-ins for Photoshop in the past two months and they are really going to push the app into the new year.

First is Pixel Bender. If you haven't hear the gossip about this, Pixel Bender allows everyday users an interface to create their own complex filters using simple coding interfaces and a small number of tools that are sufficient to write complex image-processing algorithms (ie. Filters or Effects.

Next is Configurator. This Flex App allows you to create your own custom Photoshop panel with tools, menu options and information specific to your needs. Think of it as a way to simplify all the panels in Photoshop to fit your workflow. 

So that is my short list of what I think will be the big news for 09 with Adobe Photoshop. Id love to hear what geeks you out with your favorite app. 

Steve Jobs Responds to Rumors

Apple has published a letter today from Apple CEO Steve Jobs that addresses speculation surrounding his health. Steve Jobs reveals that he has been recovering from a hormone imbalance that has been causing an unhealthy weight loss.

Dear Apple Community,

For the first time in a decade, I'm getting to spend the holiday season with my family, rather than intensely preparing for a Macworld keynote.

Unfortunately, my decision to have Phil deliver the Macworld keynote set off another flurry of rumors about my health, with some even publishing stories of me on my deathbed.

I've decided to share something very personal with the Apple community so that we can all relax and enjoy the show tomorrow.

As many of you know, I have been losing weight throughout 2008. The reason has been a mystery to me and my doctors. A few weeks ago, I decided that getting to the root cause of this and reversing it needed to become my #1 priority.

Fortunately, after further testing, my doctors think they have found the cause - a hormone imbalance that has been "robbing" me of the proteins my body needs to be healthy. Sophisticated blood tests have confirmed this diagnosis.

The remedy for this nutritional problem is relatively simple and straightforward, and I've already begun treatment. But, just like I didn’t lose this much weight and body mass in a week or a month, my doctors expect it will take me until late this Spring to regain it. I will continue as Apple's CEO during my recovery.

I have given more than my all to Apple for the past 11 years now. I will be the first one to step up and tell our Board of Directors if I can no longer continue to fulfill my duties as Apple's CEO. I hope the Apple community will support me in my recovery and know that I will always put what is best for Apple first.

So now I've said more than I wanted to say, and all that I am going to say, about this.

Steve


Apple's board of directors also distributed the following statement:
It is widely recognized both inside and outside of Apple that Steve Jobs is one of the most talented and effective CEOs in the world.

As we have said before, if there ever comes a day when Steve wants to retire or for other reasons cannot continue to fulfill his duties as Apple's CEO, you will know it.

Apple is very lucky to have Steve as its leader and CEO, and he deserves our complete and unwavering support during his recuperation. He most certainly has that from Apple and its Board.

What NLE should I learn?

Some of my students have asked me over the years, which is the best non-linear editor to learn? There is only one answer I can give them.

It depends.

This is not just because I don’t like to give firm answers. The truth is there is a lot of reasons to learn different editing software. Here is the rundown of some of the main editing systems, and their advantages. Also this is biased towards the Milwaukee market, as that is where my current experience comes from. Each market is slightly different. This does not apply to New York or L.A.

Adobe Premiere: They recently had a new release of this software in the new CS4 package. The editor has had some greatly improved functionality, especially in the media browser. The transcription program is neat but awful in terms of accuracy. It works great as part of the Adobe suite, which is such a good package of software that it seems a shame to use all Adobe products except for the editor.

Who uses it? Mostly corporate locations that buy the package as a whole and tell their print graphics designers to learn how to edit using this software that they bought. Also I noticed that when working in D.C. that the government agencies use it a lot.

Good for price and the software has caught up tremendously in the last four years. Still not quite as good as the top dogs but good enough that you will likely not find anything that you can’t do in it that you want. They teach this in a lot of schools which leads to people using this as freelancers but most production houses still are too snobbish to use Premiere. It is cross-platform which is a huge plus.


Apple Final Cut Pro: The Final Cut Pro suite is great. Final Cut Pro is a tremendously useful editor, though it would be nice if it could be transfered more easily to other editing systems (as is true with all of them). Motion 3 is the best yet and is quickly giving After Effects more of a run for its money. Soundtrack has always been a cool tool, and in combination with the Mac software Garageband, makes music making a much easier task. Livetype is by now a dinosaur and should be removed since you can do it all in Motion. DVD Studio Pro needs an upgrade (Blu-ray!!!!) but is still a very powerful authoring tool.

Who uses it? To be perfectly honest, every time I have heard of freelance jobs needed (in general) it has been for Final Cut Pro. Boutique production houses and design firms are gaga for Apple, so they like Final Cut Pro as well. I am ambivalent on this, but I have worked now in Mac shops for the last 7 years. They are gaining traction in bigger firms as well as the suite is quite convenient.

If you have a Mac and you love your Mac, use it. If you want to find the most freelance opportunities in this area, this is probably your safest bet. It will do everything you want and more. If you like PC, then you cannot use this.

Avid Express Pro (or Media Composer): To be honest I have not had the opportunity to even use an Avid in five years. My basis for this is based on my historical use of it. Still the “big” dog of the field, Avid is the top name in video and film editing. That does not necessarily make it the best choice. As more and more places switch over to software based editors, the advantages of the Avid dissipate quickly.

Who uses it? Big ad firms, powerful production houses. If you want the best jobs, know Avid. It looks much more impressive than Final Cut Pro. You aren’t likely to get as many freelance jobs, but these are the decent staff jobs.

Only for the PC (though they sometimes pretend to make MAC versions, everyone knows better). Market share shrinking. But at the end of the day it looks the best on the resume....unless the shop uses only a different editor.


Sony Vegas: Let me say this up front. I have only barely used this. And never for a job. This software is neat and has everything you need in one program (unlike say FCP or Premiere where you really need to go to things like After Effects and Motion). It is also quite popular in Wisconsin (which I hear is partly due to the fact that it was partly developed in the Madison area).

Who uses it? Established freelance veterans. It seems like people who have been at it for some time gravitate to this software. It definitely has some advantages, mainly that as part of the Sony line it interfaces better with its own products which means that Sony cameras and Blu-ray technology is much better placed.

Only for the PC, but cool, cool program. Not very popular so people may not even know what the program is.

So what does this all mean - you still haven’t answered the question.

Basically it does not matter which editor you know, as long as you can edit. Practice as much as possible and at least get your hands on each software. This will give you the basis to edit with any of them - and flexibility is so often the name of the game now.

WPPC PDF Handout

Yesterday, Dec 2nd, was the annual WPPC Production Technology Update. As promised here is the link to download the layout with the information about CS4.
WPPC PDF

Here is the link to Robert's Tech Update on Apple Technology
APPLE TECH

You're in my Heart and InDesign

This video was shown at the InDesign Master Class in Seattle a few weeks ago. It was created using Adobe After Effects new Cartoon effect.

For more information about this video, check out the original video at InDesign Secrets

The Future of Video Manipulation

This video submitted by the University of Washington showcases the first glimpse of a new project in collaboration with Adobe and the college. It is groundbreaking and will become the future of video manipulation as we know it. Very cool. 

InDesign Secrets Contributor

I just wanted to announce that I am now a contributor on InDesignsecrets.com
Check it out, it is an amazing resource for all things InDesign.

Top 10 Reasons to Attend Photoshop World (#09)

Ok continuing with the Top 10 Reasons....

Number 9 is The Guru Awards

This special Photoshop competition is just for Photoshop World attendees. 

Winners will receive awesome trophies, prizes, and have their work showcased in Photoshop User magazine. Their work willl also be prominently displayed for all to see at Photoshop World.

Seriously, there's no better (or more fun) way to get your work noticed by your peers and the industry! Having entered at last years event, I can tell you that the competition is tough! Be sure to check out this years winners here.

Printing - How it used to be

Please take a moment to watch this 1947 video about careers in printing. It's fascinating! I also love the web site that hosts the video, www.ilovetypography.com.

Enjoy!


Printing—your life work series (1947) from ilovetypography.com on Vimeo.

I Make Videos, Why Should I Upgrade?

Ok, so maybe you are like me and you see these new enhancements to Flash, Dreamweaver, Photoshop, etc. and you wonder why, as a video editor/graphics person, you should upgrade to Creative Suite 4. There are not nearly as many 'sexy' updates on the video side as we may have seen before. I know exactly what you are saying:

"With Cs3, After Effects had some really neat updates to After Effects like the Puppet Tool and the Brainstorm function. This version just seems to have some dumb filter called Cartoon."

Ok, yes. Cartoon is dare I say it...pretty useless. Someone else has mentioned it out there but it is basically there to do the Richard Linklater effect which is apparently now in vogue now with those Charles Schwab commercials (which seems to be a really silly use of the effect, in my opinion).

Before I get to After Effects, let me start with Premiere. As a Final Cut Editor, reading down the list of improvements, I certainly notice a lot of, let's say, similar functions which have been added to the product. But they really were worth adding on. The functionality has been greatly improved.

The neatest part of Premiere however is definitely the Speech/Transcription function which labels clips with searchable metadata. Now before you get out your credit card - this is not an effective automatic transcription. But it is pretty good. And you can edit the text easily. Plus you can just edit based upon these words which are tagged to the time code.... I hope I am not the only one that thinks that this is incredible. It is not yet perfect - but it is sure pretty cool.

Now back to After Effects - two really neat things (neither having to do with Cartoon). Ok not the most interesting thing, but very useful: Improved composition navigation. Mini-flowcharts and keyboard shortcuts makes it SO much easier to jump into your precomps. I have always hated how difficult it is to go four comps deep...and I really like to precomp.

Second thing, Unified Camera tool. Ok this should have been a no-brainer several versions ago, but Adobe put this into place where you do not need to switch between three different camera tools, just to change between x, y , and z movement. I was amazed at how much easier Motion's camera was when it came out, but this is now once again comparable. All you need is a three button mouse and it work much like some popular 3-D programs work.

So final verdict...you'll be fine with CS3 if you don't want to outlay the cash. If you are CS2 or earlier, it is definitely worth it for you to update. These updates are not nearly as essential as something like Flash CS4 is or as I felt AE 6.5 and 7 were - but still cool enough to venture a look.

Oh - and all of the products now have trials available for download....FINALLY.

Top 10 Reasons to Attend Photoshop World (#10)

With Fritz out of the office attending Adobe HQ in Seattle (sooo jealous!) I am posting the top 10 reasons why you should attend Photoshop World coming up in Boston this spring. 

My number 10 reason to attend Photoshop World is the Portfolio Reviews and a Help Desk - LIVE! 

Check out the links or go to www.photoshopworld.com to register!