Filter Foundry

The <a href="http://tdc.org">Type Directors Club</a> in New York City has been holding an annual competition for the best in typography (that is, the use of type in graphic design) since the 1950s. In 1997, James Montalbano and Paul Shaw founded TDC2, a second competition that dealt specifically with the design of typefaces. Together, they chaired the first two TDC2 competitions, and they have remained closely involved with it ever since. As Paul wrote in his chairman’s statement for that first competition, “The genesis for the Type Directors Club Type Design Competition (TDC2) came about from my frustration, shared by the other type designers on the Board of Directors of the TDC, over the number and quality of type designs chosen in the annual competition.” Until then, type designs had been judged alongside books, brochures, annual reports, and packaging. Now they would be judged on their own merits, by judges who understood the design of type. One of the crucial factors in judging the design of a typeface is seeing it in use. For the first TDC type competition, Montalbano and Shaw devised a template that they hoped would show all of the typefaces in comparable situations, at a variety of sizes. As James said in his chairman’s statement, although they had “created a poster that most people liked,” they had also “created submission templates that most people hated.” In later years, designers were free to send in their typeface samples in any form they liked, though the organizers encouraged them to include a complete character set and to show off their work at its best. (When I chaired the type-design competition in 2001, we asked for 11&#8243×17&#8243 or A3 proof sheets, one typeface per sheet, and explained: “Each proof should show the typeface in whatever way seems appropriate for that face; proofs may include, but are not limited to, headlines, short or long passages of text, sample pages/double-page spreads of book or magazine make-up, or multiple-column text.”) But not all type designers, even the best ones, are very good graphic designers; this problem of displaying the typeface at its best for the judging has bedeviled the competition from the beginning. This year’s competition—the fifteenth, if I’m counting right—was chaired by Maxim Zhukov, who chose an all-star jury of well-known names: Matthew Carter, Roger Black, Erik Spiekermann, and Paul Shaw. The number of submissions was slightly down from the year before (173 entries from 27 countries); submissions from outside the United States outnumbered the US entries, but not by as much as they had the year before. (In 1997, that first competition had twice as many submissions – but then, it was the first, and its scope was larger, as it covered the entire decade up to then. Subsequent competitions have covered only single years.) <img alt="" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/12/TDC12001_Judging_007.jpg" title="TDC12001_Judging_007" /> From the outset, the TDC type design competition has encouraged submissions of non-Latin type designs, although it is sometimes a problem making sure that there are judges who are familiar with each script. Many type designers can judge the soundness of character designs in a script that they can’t read, but to evaluate how a text typeface works in practice requires familiarity with the language it’s used for. Even when he wasn’t chairing the competition, Maxim has made heroic efforts over the years to back up the juries with expert advice on unfamiliar writing systems. The judging takes place in New York over a weekend in January. The essentials of a type-design judging are always the same: the judges walk along a series of long tables where the type specimens are laid out side by side, peering down at the designs, sometimes bending close to examine details, other times clustering together to discuss a particular question. The first cut is where the unsuccessful designs get weeded out. In some competitions, the judges choose which ones to eliminate; in others, they indicate which ones they think should stay in for the next round, and the rest are eliminated. TDC2 uses the latter method. Either way, the second round is where it gets interesting: narrowing it down to the truly best designs. This is where the judges start arguing, or at least discussing the merits of particular typefaces and what works and doesn’t work about them. As I recall from the year I chaired the competition, these discussion were the most fascinating; they really brought out the judges’ individual experiences and knowledge, as each wrestled with fundamental questions of how to evaluate quality. This year, the TDC2 jury chose only thirteen typefaces as winners – an unusually low percentage of those that were entered. The general feeling among the judges seemed to be that while there were plenty of good type designs submitted, there weren’t very many that stood out for their excellence. As Paul Shaw said afterward, “During the judging we all agreed that the level of type design has risen so much in recent years that we found ourselves looking for typefaces that had something extra. Just being a very good, very usable typeface was no longer enough to be chosen.” Many of the entries seemed to be good but not great: “We had a difficult time finding typefaces that seemed fresh and exciting.” Or, as Roger Black put it, “As we’ve seen in magazine and web site design, if the bottom is to be raised, the best design has to be more than accurate, clean and professional. It has to hit it out of the park.” <img alt="" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/12/TDC12001_Judging_014.jpg" title="TDC12001_Judging_014" /> This is a constant debate in design competitions: should the winners be limited to those that are spectacular and original, or should they include those that are steady and craftsmanlike but not outstanding? It’s far from obvious which answer is preferable. In every aspect of graphic design, including the design of type, there is work that’s pyrotechnic and in your face, but that lacks real craft in how it’s put together. Then there is work that is solid and reliable, that rises to the best standards of competence, but that doesn’t break out of the box in any way. As Roger Black pointed out, “The problem here is exactly what the AIGA was trying to address [in a recent debate about its own design competitions]: how do you judge design, when all the qualities may not be on the surface? A print advertising competition, a book cover competition, or even a book design competition are easier to judge than, say, a web site, where how it works is as important a part of the design as how it looks. With typefaces, the TDC is relying on the experience of judges to assess these issues. A stylish new stencil font (which was a winner this year), is easier to vote for than a new agate font, which really must be seen in use… And as for web fonts, God spare the judges.” It’s easy to forget that during the judging process, the jury is seeing a whole host of entries all at once, which have to be judged quickly, intuitively, without any time to put them through their paces and see how they work in the real world. (The equivalent in book-design competitions is that the judges don’t have time to sit down and try to read any of the books, which is the ultimate test. It’s always easier, and tempting, to judge by the display typography or the images or the title page.) A counter to this, for the individual submitters, is to produce a specimen showing off their typefaces the way they would most like to see them used. But too many of them don’t do this very well. “Some perfectly good typefaces were probably unfairly rejected,” according to Paul Shaw, “but the fault lay with the submitters more than with the jury. Many submitters do not showcase their typefaces properly.” The designs of the typeface showings need to be “both compelling and appropriate.” Paul said that he had voted for some typefaces that he was already familiar with and thought were excellent, but that the other judges didn’t agree. “Upon reflection, I realized that the showings were a let down. I was able to see beyond that because I had previously seen what the fonts were capable of. This may seem unfair, but it is the same way that fonts are often judged in the marketplace. It is not enough to be a good typeface. It is essential that a typeface show why it is good and what it is good for.” <img alt="" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/12/TDC12001_Judging_042.jpg" title="TDC12001_Judging_042" /> There is another factor, which complicates the matter of showing all the aspects of a digital font: the increasing popularity of advanced OpenType layout features, whether they be something subtle like small caps and alternate styles of numerals or something exuberant like an explosion of ligatures and alternate letter forms. Complex scripts like Arabic or Devanagari complicate the problem because there’s so much to show; similarly, Chinese and Japanese fonts contain so many characters that it would be almost impossible to showcase them all in any meaningful way. As Maxim, this year’s chairman, put it, “Evaluating and judging OpenType entries to design competitions has become more challenging for the jurors than TrueType or Type 1 fonts, partly for the same reason: their glyph sets often transcend the traditional boundaries of text, display, pi, Latin, and other design and script categories used for the submission of entries.” Not only might a single OpenType font include a plethora of alternates and special features, it might also contain what is essentially more than one typeface. Many current type releases, for instance, include Latin, Greek, and Cyrillic versions in one font. (This is what Adobe means when it calls a font “Pro,” although most of us tend to think of this as indicating the presence of small caps, old-style figures, and related typographic niceties of the Latin alphabet.) All of this needs to be displayed gracefully and compellingly in the type specimen, if the designer hopes to have the jury adequately judge his or her work. It’s also possible, as Maxim points out in his chairman’s statement, for one part of a large OpenType font to work better than another. Does the display version work as well as the text? Does the Greek match the quality of the Cyrillic? In past TDC competitions, sometimes the judges have decided to give an award to just one part of a type family, even though the whole family was submitted as one entry. Paul Shaw sums up the perennial problem of judging a design competition: “I am looking for excellence more than innovation, but innovation always gets one’s attention.” But let’s give Roger Black the last word: “When the TDC judges went over to a Pratt Institute building that weekend to look at the type design submissions, we saw a variety of designs, representing a wide range of styles from informal cursives to fresh takes on classic Romans. Nothing knocked us dead. But there were no howlers, either. We agreed that the bottom has been raised a great deal. There is better type design education (at Reading, RISD, and now Cooper), and better training of junior designers at dozens of foundries (following the example of David Berlow and the Font Bureau). This is encouraging, but we were left wistful and unsatisfied.” Video of TDC Salon: The Judges Night 2012. A panel discussion with Roger Black, Matthew Carter, Paul Shaw and Erik Spiekermann. Moderated by Maxim Zhukov. <a href="http://johndberry.com">John Berry</a> usually describes himself as an editor & typographer — reflecting his care for both the meaning of words and how they are presented. He is president of ATypI (Association Typographique Internationale) and the former editor and publisher of U&lc (Upper & lower case). He writes, speaks, and consults extensively on typography, and he has won numerous awards for his book designs. He has written and edited several books, including Language culture type: international type design in the age of Unicode (ATypI/Graphis, 2002), Contemporary newspaper design: shaping the news in the digital age (Mark Batty Publisher, 2004), and U&lc: influencing design & typography (Batty, 2005). He has been a program manager on the Fonts team at Microsoft, where he established improved typographic standards for Windows and other Microsoft products. He lives in Seattle with the writer Eileen Gunn. <a class="noborder" href="http://www.typography.com/index.php?affiliateID=250"><img src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/10/idlewild-light-fonts.png" /></a> Sponsored by <a href="http://www.typography.com/index.php?affiliateID=250">H&FJ</a>. <a href="http://ilovetypography.com/2012/12/09/tdc-type-design-competition-2012/">TDC type-design competition 2012</a> <div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?a=yeLuwPI0LuA:ZVN2bvQtX4g:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?i=yeLuwPI0LuA:ZVN2bvQtX4g:gIN9vFwOqvQ" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?a=yeLuwPI0LuA:ZVN2bvQtX4g:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?i=yeLuwPI0LuA:ZVN2bvQtX4g:F7zBnMyn0Lo" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?a=yeLuwPI0LuA:ZVN2bvQtX4g:qj6IDK7rITs"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?d=qj6IDK7rITs" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?a=yeLuwPI0LuA:ZVN2bvQtX4g:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?i=yeLuwPI0LuA:ZVN2bvQtX4g:V_sGLiPBpWU" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?a=yeLuwPI0LuA:ZVN2bvQtX4g:D7DqB2pKExk"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?i=yeLuwPI0LuA:ZVN2bvQtX4g:D7DqB2pKExk" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?a=yeLuwPI0LuA:ZVN2bvQtX4g:TzevzKxY174"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?d=TzevzKxY174" /></a> </div><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/ILoveTypography/~4/yeLuwPI0LuA" width="1" />

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

The Voice of all the Gods

Today I’ve released two limited edition prints along with some originals. The prints are based on words penned by William Shakespeare and Dylan Thomas. ‘The Voice of all the Gods’ is a quote from Shakespeare’s ‘Loves Labours Lost.’ The first time I read the passage in which this phrase occurs I couldn’t get it out of my head for weeks. The words are extraordinarily rich, and I wanted my visual interpretation to reflect this. The main source of inspiration for the letterforms comes from the 18th century, but I’ve tried to rework or re-imagine them in the spirit of our time. Above all, I wanted my interpretation of Shakespeare’s words to capture their shimmering beauty and harmony. <a href="http://seblester.co.uk"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-13558" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/11/VoiceOfAllTheGods_4_LR.jpg" title="VoiceOfAllTheGods_4_LR" /></a> ‘The Voice of all the Gods’ Signed edition of 100, 594 X 420 mm. Metallic Gold ink on black Plike art paper. Dylan Thomas’s ‘Do not go gentle into that good night’ is one of the most powerful and compelling poems I know. I have always found the words incredibly moving. Dramatic, fiery, beautiful and poignant — I wanted my interpretation to capture that. I developed a modern, sharpened italic style which I felt suited the tone of the piece, with what might be described as sharpened flourishes carefully integrated into the design. The forms are based on my cursive italic calligraphy which you can see demonstrated in the video below. I tried to do something unconventional and progressive with this piece. I wanted all the forms to be extremely graceful but also have a tension about them in keeping with the words. I wanted to evoke flames, lightning, and stars blazing in a night sky. <a href="http://seblester.co.uk"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-13565" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/11/DoNot_Detail2_LR.jpg" title="DoNot_Detail2_LR" /></a> ‘Do Not Go Gentle’ Signed edition of 200, 594 X 420 mm. Gold foil blocked on Midnight blue Plike art paper. © The Trustees for the Copyright of Dylan Thomas I have also released several original pieces of art today. Here are two of them, the rest are on my website. <a href="http://seblester.co.uk"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-13570" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/11/Arse_Bollocks_sebLester.jpg" title="Arse_Bollocks_sebLester" /></a> I designed bespoke Roman monumental capital letters. I then commissioned a very talented and respected letter carver to carve rude words into the finest Welsh slate using them. <a href="http://seblester.co.uk"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-13569" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/11/Bollocks_Slate1_LR.jpg" title="Bollocks_Slate1_LR" /></a> ‘Slate 1’ Bespoke Roman monumental capitals carved in Welsh slate. 50cm X 12.5cm X 7.5cm. Signed by the artist. One of a series of three. <a href="http://seblester.co.uk"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-13566" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/11/Slate_2_LR.jpg" title="Slate_2_LR" /></a> ‘Slate 2’ Bespoke Roman monumental capitals carved in Welsh slate. 25cm X 12.5cm X 7.5cm. Signed by the artist. One of a series of three. It has become apparent to me that doing calligraphy makes you a better type designer, and doing type design makes you a better calligrapher. That was a beautiful revelation to me and one that I hope I will continue to benefit from. <a href="http://seblester.co.uk">Seb Lester</a> is a designer and artist whose clients include Apple, Nike, Intel, Absolut Vodka, Levi’s & The New York Times. You can find him on <a href="https://twitter.com/seblester">Twitter</a> and <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Seb-Lester/143768095661303">Facebook</a>. <a class="noborder" href="http://www.typography.com/index.php?affiliateID=250"><img src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/10/idlewild-light-fonts.png" /></a> Sponsored by <a href="http://www.typography.com/index.php?affiliateID=250">H&FJ</a>. <a href="http://ilovetypography.com/2012/11/01/new-prints-from-seb-leste/">The Voice of all the Gods</a> <div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?a=CNQE-Ih7y5s:vhX0SwLP_eo:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?i=CNQE-Ih7y5s:vhX0SwLP_eo:gIN9vFwOqvQ" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?a=CNQE-Ih7y5s:vhX0SwLP_eo:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?i=CNQE-Ih7y5s:vhX0SwLP_eo:F7zBnMyn0Lo" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?a=CNQE-Ih7y5s:vhX0SwLP_eo:qj6IDK7rITs"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?d=qj6IDK7rITs" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?a=CNQE-Ih7y5s:vhX0SwLP_eo:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?i=CNQE-Ih7y5s:vhX0SwLP_eo:V_sGLiPBpWU" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?a=CNQE-Ih7y5s:vhX0SwLP_eo:D7DqB2pKExk"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?i=CNQE-Ih7y5s:vhX0SwLP_eo:D7DqB2pKExk" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?a=CNQE-Ih7y5s:vhX0SwLP_eo:TzevzKxY174"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?d=TzevzKxY174" /></a> </div><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/ILoveTypography/~4/CNQE-Ih7y5s" width="1" />

UPDATED: 7 MONTHS, 2 WEEKS

Hipster Hummingbirds

The week in type Let’s start with some fantastic news: Issue #2 of <a href="http://codexmag.com/" title="codex journal of typography">Codex magazine</a> is now available for pre-order. What’s more, you can now purchase a subscription. The second issue is rather special — A new Editor in Chief (Paul Shaw), a complete redesign (Linda Florio), more pages, more of the very, very best content. Spread the word. <a href="http://codexmag.com"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-13533" height="288" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/10/codex-ilt.png" title="codex-ilt" width="500" /></a> <h3>Inspiration</h3> More <a href="http://vimeo.com/13124405">Luca Barcellona</a> in action in Firenze: Erik Spiekermann talks about Type on Screens at <a href="http://www.creativemornings.com">Creative Mornings</a> Berlin: I posted this Ampersand Balloon project by <a href="http://www.conoranddavid.com/project/ampersand-poster/">Conor & David</a> months ago. Have just discovered the making of video: <a href="http://uppercasemagazine.com/beautifulbitmaps">Beautiful Bitmaps</a>, a project from Uppercase mag. Here are a couple of my favorites: <a class="noborder" href="http://uppercasemagazine.com/beautifulbitmaps"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-13458" height="311" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/09/beautiful-bitmaps.jpg" title="beautiful-bitmaps" width="500" /></a> Each letter of the alphabet is available as a print from the <a href="http://uppercasemagazine.com/beautifulbitmaps">Uppercase</a> store. Great idea from Tim Brown: <a href="http://nicewebtype.com/notes/2012/10/05/type-set-match/">Type Set Match</a> hosted on Dribbble. <a class="noborder" href="http://nicewebtype.com/notes/2012/10/05/type-set-match/"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-13523" height="188" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/10/type-set-match.jpg" title="type-set-match" width="500" /></a> <a href="http://50watts.com/20-Swedish-Posters-for-1930s-Hollywood">Twenty Swedish Posters</a> for 1930s Hollywood: <a class="noborder" href="http://50watts.com/20-Swedish-Posters-for-1930s-Hollywood"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-13522" height="715" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/10/01-Eric-Rohman-poster-for-Sky-Hawk-1929.jpg" title="01-Eric-Rohman--poster-for-Sky-Hawk-1929" width="500" /></a> HT: @<a href="http://twitter.com/tealtan">tealtan</a> <h3>Books</h3> I’ve ordered mine, and can’t wait to get my hands on it. <a href="https://www.uniteditions.com/shop/herb-lubalin" title="Herb Lubalin">Herb Lubalin</a> from Unit Editions: <a href="https://www.uniteditions.com/shop/herb-lubalin"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-13326" height="252" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/09/HL_banner_3_page-header-500x252.jpg" title="Herb Lubalin" width="500" /></a> <blockquote>This meticulously researched book offers a complete career overview of Herb Lubalin, beginning with his early days as one of the original Mad Men in the New York advertising world of the 50s and 60s, and continuing into the years of his greatest achievements as one of the world’s most influential typographers and graphic designers.</blockquote> <h3>Process</h3> An interesting short read on a logo(type) <a href="http://www.typejockeys.com/blog/Cleaning-Up">redesign</a> by Typejockeys: <a class="noborder" href="http://www.typejockeys.com/blog/Cleaning-Up"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-13330" height="274" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/09/Saubermacher-logo-old-new-500x274.gif" title="Saubermacher logo old and new" width="500" /></a> The <a href="http://klim.co.nz/blog/airnz/">Air New Zealand Logotype</a> Design Process from Kris Sowersby: <a class="noborder" href="http://klim.co.nz/blog/airnz/"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-13333" height="300" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/09/AirNZ-Sketches-Composite-500x300.jpg" title="AirNZ Sketches Composite" width="500" /></a> <h3>New fonts</h3> <a href="http://www.fountaintype.com/typefaces/taca" title="Taca fonts from fountain type">Taca</a> designed by Rúben Dias, and released through Fountain Type — a kind of Jean Claude Van Damme meets Eurostile: <a class="noborder" href="http://www.fountaintype.com/typefaces/taca"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-13469" height="832" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/10/Taca_spec.png" title="Taca fonts" width="500" /></a> The really lovely <a href="http://www.myfonts.com/fonts/laura-worthington/hummingbird/">Hummingbird</a> from Laura Worthington. Replete with a bucket-load of contextual alternates: <a class="noborder" href="http://www.myfonts.com/fonts/laura-worthington/hummingbird/"><img alt="" class="noborder" height="491" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/10/hummingbird.png" title="hummingbird font" width="500" /></a> <a href="http://www.fountaintype.com/typefaces/gira-sans" title="Gira Sans fonts">Gira Sans</a> by Rui Abreu of Fountain Type: <a class="noborder" href="http://www.fountaintype.com/typefaces/gira-sans"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-13337" height="766" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/09/GiraSans.png" title="Gira Sans fonts" width="500" /></a> And a lovely promo <a href="http://vimeo.com/48936929" title="Gira sans fonts promotional video">video</a>: Another script from the maestro Ale Paul. <a href="http://www.myfonts.com/fonts/sudtipos/hipster-script-pro/" title="hipster script font">Hipster Script</a>: <a class="noborder" href="http://www.myfonts.com/fonts/sudtipos/hipster-script-pro/"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-13319" height="500" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/09/ILTdiscount-500x500.jpg" title="Hipster Script Pro font from Ale Paul of Sudtipos" width="500" /></a> New from Typotheque, <a href="http://www.typotheque.com/blog/beauty_and_ugliness" title="karloff fonts">Karloff</a>: <a class="noborder" href="http://www.typotheque.com/blog/beauty_and_ugliness"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-13452" height="800" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/09/karloff-fonts.png" title="karloff-fonts" width="500" /></a> Read more about the design process and inspiration in <a href="http://ilovetypography.com/2012/09/25/beauty-and-ugliness-in-type-font-design/" title="beauty and ugliness in font design">Beauty & Ugliness in Type Design</a>. A large family from Adobe, <a href="http://sourceforge.net/projects/sourcesans.adobe/">Source Sans Pro</a>. And free to download, including the source files (open source): <a href="http://www.myfonts.com/fonts/cultivated-mind/luella/">Luela</a> from Cindy Kinash is fun. Combine it with Luela Frames for Etsy-esque feel: <a class="noborder" href="http://www.myfonts.com/fonts/cultivated-mind/luella/"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-13462" height="250" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/09/luella-500x250.jpg" title="luella fonts" width="500" /></a> From Font Bureau, <a href="http://www.fontbureau.com/ReadingEdge/">The Reading Edge</a>™ Series of fonts for small sizes on screens: <a class="noborder" href="http://www.fontbureau.com/ReadingEdge/"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-13322" height="386" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/09/Screen-Shot-2012-09-13-at-6.53.52-PM-500x386.png" title="reading edge series of fonts for small sizes on screens" width="500" /></a> The site itself is testament to what can be achieved typographically on screen. Great stuff. A fun way for kids or adults to learn Korean: <a href="http://vimeo.com/25892113">Korable Block</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user5164213">Allied Operations</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>. <h3>Type-related book marks</h3> <a href="https://github.com/daneden/Baseline.js">Baseline.js</a>, a jQuery plugin for fixing vertical baselines. <a href="http://observatory.designobserver.com/michaelbierut/feature/the-typeface-of-truth/35428/" title="The Typeface of Truth">The Typeface of Truth</a>. <a href="http://www.kerning.it">Kerning</a> — the Italian typography conference. <a href="http://fontsinuse.com/uses/2181/paris-vs-new-york-a-tally-of-two-cities">Paris vs New York</a> — Fonts in Use. <a href="http://blog.typekit.com/2012/09/24/introducing-adobe-edge-web-fonts/">Abobe Edge Webfonts</a>. <a href="http://webfonts.info/using-font-face-resolution-independent-graphics">Using @font-face for resolution independent graphics</a>. <a href="http://craigmod.com/satellite/publishing_startups/">Publishing startups and great fuzziness</a>. <h3>Finally</h3> Don’t forget to order your copy of <a href="http://codexmag.com">Codex journal of typography</a>! You’ll love it. <a class="noborder" href="http://www.typography.com/index.php?affiliateID=250"><img src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/10/idlewild-light-fonts.png" /></a> Sponsored by <a href="http://www.typography.com/index.php?affiliateID=250">H&FJ</a>. <a href="http://ilovetypography.com/2012/10/16/hipster-hummingbird-type-font-news-ilt/">Hipster Hummingbirds</a> <div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?a=CnED0fPdQo4:bNl3mFQrRRs:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?i=CnED0fPdQo4:bNl3mFQrRRs:gIN9vFwOqvQ" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?a=CnED0fPdQo4:bNl3mFQrRRs:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?i=CnED0fPdQo4:bNl3mFQrRRs:F7zBnMyn0Lo" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?a=CnED0fPdQo4:bNl3mFQrRRs:qj6IDK7rITs"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?d=qj6IDK7rITs" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?a=CnED0fPdQo4:bNl3mFQrRRs:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?i=CnED0fPdQo4:bNl3mFQrRRs:V_sGLiPBpWU" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?a=CnED0fPdQo4:bNl3mFQrRRs:D7DqB2pKExk"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?i=CnED0fPdQo4:bNl3mFQrRRs:D7DqB2pKExk" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?a=CnED0fPdQo4:bNl3mFQrRRs:TzevzKxY174"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?d=TzevzKxY174" /></a> </div><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/ILoveTypography/~4/CnED0fPdQo4" width="1" />

UPDATED: 8 MONTHS

Beauty and Ugliness in Type design

<a href="http://www.typotheque.com/authors/peter_bilak" title="Peter Bi?ak">Peter Bi?ak</a> on the process of designing his newly released <a href="http://www.typotheque.com/blog/beauty_and_ugliness" title="Karloff fonts">Karloff</a> typeface, demonstrating just how closely related beauty and ugliness are. Karloff explores the idea of irreconcilable differences — how two extremes could be combined into a coherent whole. In 2010 I was invited to a design conference in Copenhagen to speak on the subject of conceptual type. The organisers were interested in examples of typefaces whose principal design feature was not related to aesthetic considerations or legibility, but rather some underlying non-typographical idea. In my address I argued that there is no such thing as conceptual type, since type design is a discipline defined by its ability to execute an outcome; the process that transforms the pure idea into a functional font is a critical part of the discipline. Having rejected the topic of the conference, I nevertheless went on to speculate on what a true example of a <a href="http://www.typotheque.com/articles/conceptual_type">conceptual typeface</a> might be like. <img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-13374" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/09/Karloff-sketch1080.jpg" title="Karloff-sketch1080" /> At the time I was also interested in the idea of irreconcilable differences and how two extremes could be combined into a coherent whole. As an example, I looked for the most beautiful typeface in the history of typography — as well as the ugliest one — and for a way to meld them. The Beauty While any choice representing beauty is bound to be very personal and subjective, many agree that the high-contrast typefaces created by Giambattista Bodoni and the Didot clan are some of the most beautiful in existence. Bodoni was one of the most widely-admired printers of his time and considered amongst the finest in the history of the craft. Thomas Curson Hansard wrote in 1825 that Bodoni’s types had “that beautiful and perfect appearance, which we find it difficult and highly expensive to equal.”<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/ILoveTypography?format=xml#_ftn1" id="_ftnref1" name="_ftnref1">¹</a> In his Manuale Tipografico of 1818, Bodoni laid down the four principles of type design “from which all beauty would seem to proceed”, namely: regularity, clarity, good taste, and charm. <img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-13426" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/09/Manuale-Tipografico1.jpg" title="Manuale Tipografico, Bodoni" /> His close competitors in France were the Didots. Not only did François-Ambroise Didot invent many of the machines used in printing, but his foundry endeavoured to render the types more beautifully than his rivals Baskerville and (later) Bodoni. Some considered Didot’s works the most beautiful types that had ever been used in France (up to that period),<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/ILoveTypography?format=xml#_ftn2" id="_ftnref2" name="_ftnref2">²</a> though others found them delicate but lifeless.<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/ILoveTypography?format=xml#_ftn3" id="_ftnref3" name="_ftnref3">³</a> <img alt="Didot, Impremirie Nationale, 36pt" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-13407" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/09/IN-didot-36pt.jpg" title="Didot, Impremirie Nationale, 36pt" /> The Ugliness I have to admit that dealing with ugliness was a lot more interesting than revisiting the beauty contests of the classicist printers. The search for ugliness triggers a certain primal, voyeuristic curiosity, and from the designer’s perspective there is simply a lot more space to explore. Capturing beauty has always been considered the primary responsibility of the traditional artist, and even now it is rare to find examples of skilled and deliberate ugliness in type design, (although examples of inexperience and naïveté abound). The eccentric ‘Italian’ from the middle of the Industrial Revolution was a clear choice. This reversed-contrast typeface was designed to deliberately attract readers’ attention by defying their expectations. Strokes that were thick in classical models were thin, and vice versa — a dirty trick to create freakish letterforms that stood out in the increasingly saturated world of commercial messages. <img alt="Five-Line Pica Italian" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-13413" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/09/5-line-pica-italian.jpg" title="Five-Line Pica Italian" /> No other style in the history of typography has provoked such negative reactions as the Italian. It was first presented in Caslon & Catherwood’s 1821 type specimen, and as early as 1825, in his Typographia Thomas Hansard called the type a “typographic monstrosity”. Nicolete Gray called it “a crude expression of the idea of perversity”<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/ILoveTypography?format=xml#_ftn4" id="_ftnref4" name="_ftnref4">?</a>, while others labeled it as “degenerate”.<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/ILoveTypography?format=xml#_ftn5" id="_ftnref5" name="_ftnref5">?</a> <img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-13429" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/09/FourLinePica.jpg" title="FourLinePica" /> The goal of my project was to show just how closely related beauty and ugliness are. Donald Knuth, an American computer scientist with a special interest in typography identified over 60 visual parameters that control the appearance of a typeface. I was interested in designing typeface variations that shared most of these parameters, yet included both the ugliest and most beautiful letterforms. <a href="http://www.typotheque.com/fonts/karloff_positive">Karloff</a>, the result of this project, connects the high contrast Modern type of Bodoni and Didot with the monstrous Italians. The difference between the attractive and repulsive forms lies in a single design parameter, the contrast between the thick and the thin. <div class="img-caption-overlay"> <a class="noborder" href="http://www.typotheque.com/fonts/karloff_positive"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-13415" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/09/Positive.png" title="Karloff Positive" /></a> <div class="caption-overlay">Karloff Positive</div> </div> <div class="img-caption-overlay"> <a class="noborder" href="http://www.typotheque.com/fonts/karloff_positive"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-13417" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/09/PositiveItalic-new.png" title="Karloff Positive Italic" /></a> <div class="caption-overlay">Karloff Positive Italic</div> </div> <div class="img-caption-overlay"> <a class="noborder" href="http://www.typotheque.com/fonts/karloff_negative"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-13419" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/09/Karloff-Negative-Bold.png" title="Karloff Negative Bold" /></a> <div class="caption-overlay">Karloff Negative Bold</div> </div> <div class="img-caption-overlay"> <a class="noborder" href="http://www.typotheque.com/fonts/karloff_negative"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-13420" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/09/Karloff-Negative-Bold-Italic.png" title="Karloff Negative Bold Italic" /></a> <div class="caption-overlay">Karloff Negative Bold Italic</div> </div> I asked Pieter van Rosmalen for help, and both of us worked on both versions. While at the beginning I looked at the Didot from Imprimerie Nationale as a reference, Pieter departed from this model and made the project more personal. We worked on both models at the same time, trying to be very strict about mathematically reversing the contrast between two weights. The advantage of working on both versions together was that we could adjust both of them to achieve the best forms, rather than creating one as an afterthought of the other. <img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-13422" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/09/AAA.png" title="AAA" /> <img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-13423" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/09/BeautyUgliness_orange.png" title="BeautyUgliness_orange" /> Towards the end of the project, I worked with Nikola Djurek, our frequent collaborator, who helped with interpolation and fine-tuning of the fonts. Having designed two diametrically opposite versions, we undertook a genetic experiment with the offspring of the beauty and the beast, interpolation of the two extremes, which produced a surprisingly neutral low contrast version. Karloff Neutral required only minimal intervention, because the master weights from which it was interpolated were well defined. About the name Karloff was the artistic name of the British actor William Henry Pratt. He chose this pseudonym to prevent embarrassment to his dignified family, who considered him the black sheep of the family. Although he played mainly sinister characters, in real life, Karloff was known as a very kind gentleman who gave generously, especially to children’s charities. <img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-13424" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/09/boris_karloff.jpg" title="boris karloff" /> Thanks to Paul Shaw, James Clough, and David Shields. <a id="_ftn1" name="_ftn1">1.</a> Hansard, Thomas C. Typographia: an Historical Sketch of the Origin and Progress of the Art of Printing, 1825. <a id="_ftn2" name="_ftn2">2.</a> Encyclopædia Americana, 1832. <a id="_ftn3" name="_ftn3">3.</a> Updike, Daniel B. Printing Types: Their History, Forms, and Use, 2001. <a id="_ftn5" name="_ftn4">4.</a> Gray, Nicolete. Nineteenth Century Ornamented Typefaces, 1938 <a id="_ftn5" name="_ftn5">5.</a> Benson, John H and Carey, Arthur J. The Elements of Lettering, 1940 <a class="noborder" href="http://www.typography.com/index.php?affiliateID=250"><img src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/10/idlewild-light-fonts.png" /></a> Sponsored by <a href="http://www.typography.com/index.php?affiliateID=250">H&FJ</a>. <a href="http://ilovetypography.com/2012/09/25/beauty-and-ugliness-in-type-font-design/">Beauty and Ugliness in Type design</a> <div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?a=Oeh9NVfwBLY:JhyOWNg7qT8:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?i=Oeh9NVfwBLY:JhyOWNg7qT8:gIN9vFwOqvQ" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?a=Oeh9NVfwBLY:JhyOWNg7qT8:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?i=Oeh9NVfwBLY:JhyOWNg7qT8:F7zBnMyn0Lo" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?a=Oeh9NVfwBLY:JhyOWNg7qT8:qj6IDK7rITs"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?d=qj6IDK7rITs" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?a=Oeh9NVfwBLY:JhyOWNg7qT8:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?i=Oeh9NVfwBLY:JhyOWNg7qT8:V_sGLiPBpWU" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?a=Oeh9NVfwBLY:JhyOWNg7qT8:D7DqB2pKExk"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?i=Oeh9NVfwBLY:JhyOWNg7qT8:D7DqB2pKExk" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?a=Oeh9NVfwBLY:JhyOWNg7qT8:TzevzKxY174"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?d=TzevzKxY174" /></a> </div><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/ILoveTypography/~4/Oeh9NVfwBLY" width="1" />

UPDATED: 8 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS

The Complete Engraver

A review by James Puckett When it comes to the Gilded Age, the canon of design history teaches of broadside posters and the Kelmscott press. Wood type and artistic printing have attracted a following and are fighting their way in. Further outside the canon lies a neglected facet of design woven into society, personal lives and business — engraved stationery. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1616890673/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1616890673&linkCode=as2&tag=japanagocom-20">The Complete Engraver</a> introduces engraving as a subject worthy of the canon, and is an approachable, interesting, and compelling read. Designer, teacher, and historian Nancy Sharon Collins is a leader in the preservation and revival of engraved stationery. She collects engraved ephemera, restores vintage presses, and designs stationery that has drawn praise from the likes of Martha Stewart and Vogue. Collins is erudite, formerly of the elite New York design establishment, and now works in New Orleans. She is eminently qualified to tackle the challenge of broadening our view of design history. <a class="noborder" href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1616890673/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1616890673&linkCode=as2&tag=japanagocom-20"><img alt="The Complete Engraver cover image" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-13353" height="700" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/09/CompleteEngraver_cover_41.jpg" title="The Complete Engraver cover image" width="500" /></a> <h3>Writing</h3> Like letterpress and lettering, engraving is attracting renewed interest from artists and designers who want to express themselves via analog processes. Collins writes for them, and for those who aspire to be them, persuading readers to engage with a tradition that is not dead, but merely in slumber. Collins reminds us that engraving is an integral part of the bigger picture of printing and design history. She makes this case by weaving an elaborate history from threads about paper, department stores, and postal mail. These connections are critical to bringing engraving into the canon of design history rather than treating it as an aside. Of course Collins explores the intersection of type design and engraving. Around the turn of the twentieth century type designers blatantly lifted designs from the work of engravers. Engravers later used popular typefaces in modern business stationery. We see stark evidence of this mutual expropriation in a specimen of engraved lettering styles that includes Franklin Gothic Extended, Helvetica, and Eurostile’s predecessor, <a href="http://www.myfonts.com/fonts/urw/microgramma/">Microgramma</a>. What makes engraving an especially compelling aspect of design history is the personal significance of engraved stationery. Stationery was inextricably linked to Gilded Age high-society, with young people demanding impeccable calling cards that spoke to their status. Personal monograms were common among the upper classes. Mourning required special stationery that changed to express the stages of grief. <a class="noborder" href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1616890673/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1616890673&linkCode=as2&tag=japanagocom-20"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-13358" height="405" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/09/SteelDie.jpg" title="Steel Die" width="500" /></a> Collins does not limit herself to engraving’s past. The Complete Engraver introduces engraving and printing techniques. Logo designers will find her examination of monograms and ciphers relevant. And Collins makes a case for reviving the calling card as a sort of business card without static contact details. The practice of serious letter writing is explained and advocated, although it may be a lost cause in this age of poor penmanship. <a class="noborder" href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1616890673/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1616890673&linkCode=as2&tag=japanagocom-20"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-13359" height="511" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/09/steel_Die.jpg" title="steel Die" width="500" /></a> <h3>Format</h3> Designers Paul Wagner and Elena Schlenker created an appropriate vehicle for this content and subject. Formal script juxtaposed with all-caps sans type has never looked so good in a book. Similar to Marian Bantjes’ digestibly small <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1580932967/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1580932967&linkCode=as2&tag=japanagocom-20">I Wonder</a>, Collins’s The Complete Engraver is an octavo that one can sit down and read comfortably. Books this size are welcome in design, a field overrun with bloated, oversized tomes best suited to <a href="http://www.subtraction.com/2012/09/12/are-design-books-meant-to-be-read">winning awards and collecting dust</a>. <a class="noborder" href="http://www.fonts.com/browse/promotions/the-complete-engraver"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-13355" height="731" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/09/jmc-engraver.png" title="jmc engraver" width="500" /></a> Two companion fonts, both revivals of engraving alphabets, were created by Steve Matteson and Terrance Weinzierl of Monotype. A short study of their process is presented as an appendix. Both fonts can be <a href="http://www.fonts.com/browse/promotions/the-complete-engraver" title="free fonts">downloaded for free</a> from fonts.com. <h3>Conclusion</h3> Covering so much in 216 richly illustrated pages makes The Complete Engraver more of a complete introduction than a comprehensive encyclopedia. But The Complete Engraver is a grand introduction that should ignite further explorations of engraving. Collins herself will no doubt follow with years more writing and speaking. And young designers with a passion for elegance will find plenty of historical inspiration and justification for their work. The Complete Engraver succeeds as a welcome addition to the canon of design history. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1616890673/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1616890673&linkCode=as2&tag=japanagocom-20">The Complete Engraver: A Guide to Monograms, Crests, Ciphers, Seals, and the Etiquette and History of Social Stationery</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=japanagocom-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1616890673" style="border: none !important; padding: 0; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> ISBN: 978-1-61689-067-4 <a href="http://www.nancysharoncollinsstationer.com/">Nancy Sharon Collins</a> Foreword by Ellen Lupton James studied graphic design at the Corcoran College of Art and Design in Washington, DC. He developed a love of typography at the Corcoran and wrote a thesis about the development of versatile typefaces as branding devices. After graduating with honors James decided to pursue type design full-time. In 2009 he started <a href="http://www.dunwichtype.com/">Dunwich Type Founders</a> in New York City.< <a class="noborder" href="http://www.typography.com/index.php?affiliateID=250"><img src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/10/idlewild-light-fonts.png" /></a> Sponsored by <a href="http://www.typography.com/index.php?affiliateID=250">H&FJ</a>. <a href="http://ilovetypography.com/2012/09/24/free-fonts-and-book-review-the-complete-engraver/">The Complete Engraver</a> <div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?a=tF-Pm7Rxxbg:ZPXuwZkh6Yc:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?i=tF-Pm7Rxxbg:ZPXuwZkh6Yc:gIN9vFwOqvQ" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?a=tF-Pm7Rxxbg:ZPXuwZkh6Yc:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?i=tF-Pm7Rxxbg:ZPXuwZkh6Yc:F7zBnMyn0Lo" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?a=tF-Pm7Rxxbg:ZPXuwZkh6Yc:qj6IDK7rITs"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?d=qj6IDK7rITs" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?a=tF-Pm7Rxxbg:ZPXuwZkh6Yc:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?i=tF-Pm7Rxxbg:ZPXuwZkh6Yc:V_sGLiPBpWU" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?a=tF-Pm7Rxxbg:ZPXuwZkh6Yc:D7DqB2pKExk"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?i=tF-Pm7Rxxbg:ZPXuwZkh6Yc:D7DqB2pKExk" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?a=tF-Pm7Rxxbg:ZPXuwZkh6Yc:TzevzKxY174"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?d=TzevzKxY174" /></a> </div><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/ILoveTypography/~4/tF-Pm7Rxxbg" width="1" />

UPDATED: 8 MONTHS, 4 WEEKS

Condensed Typeface Design Program

The <a href="http://coopertype.org/condensed">Condensed Typeface Design Program</a> at the Cooper Union is a five-week-long studio course that at first glance, simply teaches the basics and traditions of typeface design. In reality, it was an amazing and intense summer spent with passionate people immersed in the world of type. During the 12-hour days (with breaks!) we studied type history, calligraphy, different drawing techniques, and learned the process of designing and digitizing a font. Most of the program time was spent on a final project in which each of us created an industry-standard OpenType font. <div id="theDeck-1"></div> This year we were split into two groups, each taught by renowned typeface designers. Group 1 was with Just van Rossum and Hannes Famira; group 2 with <a href="http://typofonderie.com/about/foundry-team/">Jean François Porchez</a> and <a href="http://www.stephaneelbaz.com">Stéphane Elbaz</a>. <a href="http://stonetypefoundry.com/aboutsumnerstone.html">Sumner Stone</a> was on hand with his expertise and knowledge of design history, as were other visiting designers and lecturers who rounded off the course. As a student it was incredibly enriching to be around these luminaries, and the diversity of our peers only enhanced the experience. The 29 students represented 16 different countries; most being graphic designers, and all sharing a passion for typography. Some of us came with the intention of becoming typeface designers, while others wanted to better understand type to become better designers. Experience levels were across the board: some had never drawn letters before, while others had published multi-weight typefaces. <div class="img-caption-overlay"><a href="http://ilovetypography.com/"><img alt="" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/08/cooper-type-condensed.jpg" title="cooper-type-condensed" /></a> <div class="caption-overlay">Left: Critique session with Erik Van Blokland. Right: Class with Just Van Rossum.</div> </div> The Final Project At our final presentations on the last day, we each introduced our completed typeface and talked about the journey we took to get there. Despite everyone beginning the course the same way, we all were pleasantly surprised to see the variety of work. Projects ranged from revivals based on tombstone lettering, to traditional Baskerville-inspired faces, to beautifully ornate display type, to text families with 7 weights geared towards publications. Some had created a bold version to accompany their font, while others created a sans accompaniment. Knowing how much time and effort we put into our work, each and every one of us was proud of the results. <div class="img-caption-overlay"><a href="http://ilovetypography.com"><img alt="" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/08/condensed-type-design-sample1.png" title="condensed-type-design-sample" /></a> <div class="caption-overlay">Just five of the many typefaces. Clockwise from top left: Barapa by Etienne Aubert Bonn; Moriarty by Kevin Paolozzi; Cancellarecta by Lara Captan; Cumulus by Laura Coombs; Robin by Sian Binder.</div> </div> How We Got There Before we started on our final font design, the instructors put us through the following course of exercises aimed at teaching us the ins and outs of letterforms, their traditions and history, the rules of construction (and how to modify them), and how to critique our works in progress. Calligraphy During the first days we did not touch a computer, but instead kicked things off with an introduction to calligraphy. We began with the broad-nib pen, focusing on correct construction of the letterforms, a process that helped us understand the proportions of each letter and why they look the way they do. Group 1 also worked on italics and how they differ from roman shapes, while Group 2 worked on Carolingian and Renaissance models before moving on to tracing the letters, then modifying the outlines and creating new forms. <div class="img-caption-overlay"><a href="http://ilovetypography.com/"><img alt="" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/08/calligraphy.jpg" title="calligraphy" /></a> <div class="caption-overlay">Left: Chalk Calligraphy. Right: Chavelli’s Calligraphy.</div> </div> Understanding Serifs Using selected letters to base our alphabet on, we worked on refining them by hand (again, based on broad-nib pen strokes) and adding serifs. After focusing on medium contrast forms, we moved on to low contrast then high contrast forms which taught us the relationship between serifs and letter strokes. Sketching & Exploring When it came time to consider our final project, some people had ideas for the direction they wanted to go in, but others were open to ideas and were encouraged to sketch and seek inspiration for their final project (or use TypeCooker!). For some that meant looking at found letters and developing a full font based on those forms; and for others it meant applying a strict set of rules and a concept to drawing new letters. There were a variety of approaches and sources of inspiration. <div class="img-caption-overlay"><a href="http://ilovetypography.com"><img alt="" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/08/draw-trace.jpg" title="draw-trace" /></a> <div class="caption-overlay">Left: Ron’s Carolingian Calligraphy. Right: Ron’s tracing.</div> </div> We were taught to approach a typeface design by first experimenting, drawing by hand, searching for the right forms, and only then, when the design is cohesive and consistent, go to the computer. Instructors showed us Gerrit Noordzij’s approach to sketching letters, a method more efficient than drawing outlines first, as the focus is more on form and contrast from the outset. Digitizing After a quick FontLab tutorial we were expected to dive straight in, scan our precise sketches and move to drawing bezier curves instead of pencil lines. We had wonderful TA’s to help and answer questions, they themselves having gone through the same learning process as they were students in the <a href="http://coopertype.org/extended/" title="typeface font design education">Extended Type@Cooper program</a>. The fonts were all digitized and perfected using the program of our choice. We learned how to use <a href="http://www.fontlab.com" title="fontlab font editor">Fontlab</a>, but <a href="http://doc.robofont.com" title="robofont font editor">RoboFont</a> and <a href="http://glyphsapp.com" title="Glyphs app font editor software">Glyphs</a> were other options too. <div class="img-caption-overlay"><a href="http://ilovetypography.com/" name="SumChez"><img alt="" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/08/fontlab-stone-porchez.jpg" title="fontlab-stone-porchez" /></a> <div class="caption-overlay">Left: Ron’s proofs & comments. Right: Sumner Stone & Jean François Porchez. (best caption wins a copy of <a href="http://ilovetypography.com/2012/08/05/inside-paragraphs-book-review-cyrus-highsmith/" title="Inside paragraphs by cyrus highsmith">Inside Paragraphs</a> — seriously.)</div> </div> Critiques & Lectures Our daily studio sessions were supplemented with guest critiques and lectures. The first night featured a type design panel moderated by <a href="http://elupton.com">Ellen Lupton</a>; <a href="http://coopertype.org/faculty/allanhaley">Allan Haley</a> and <a href="http://www.letterror.com">Erik van Blokland</a> lectured in later weeks, along with Valerie Lester, who spoke in depth about Bodoni (the person, not the typeface) and really brought him to life. There were also intimate group critique sessions with Erik in week four, as he evaluated the progress of our typefaces and gave us tips on spacing. <a href="http://occupant.org">Cyrus Highsmith</a> critiqued our work in the final week as our typefaces were coming together for the final presentation. <div class="img-caption-overlay"><a href="http://ilovetypography.com/"><img alt="" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/08/19_Hannes-plus-wall.jpg" title="19_Hannes-plus-wall" /></a> <div class="caption-overlay">Left: Class with Hannes Famira. Right: Zeynep’s Wall.</div> </div> Library Visits & Type History Talks Every Friday gave us a little break from studio time with field trips to rare books libraries. Sumner Stone shared his invaluable knowledge of typographic history from the Gutenberg Bible through to the present in our visits to the New York Public Library, Columbia University’s Butler Library, as well as the Grolier Club. During the week, 45 minutes were dedicated to learning about the evolution of letters all the way back from cuneiform, further bolstering our type education. Conclusion All in all the program was fantastic. We won’t lie and say it was easy, as it required a huge amount of focus and dedication. Sleep and socializing took second place as we devoted our attention to perfecting curves and tweaking serifs. Most of us would come home from 12-hour days of class only to spend a few more hours working on our typefaces. We did the same on weekends. It was a fun experience though, and at the final presentation, the fruits of our hard labor were clear and most certainly worth it. The energy and dynamic of the people involved (students as well as instructors) was really inspiring, and we were all incredibly sad to see the course come to a close. While five weeks is not enough time to learn everything about type design, this course makes the most of that time and does a great job of jumpstarting things. Anyone looking to enhance their graphic design knowledge or get into the world of typeface design would definitely benefit from this course. The program is now in its second year and is still evolving, so we guess it will only get even better. Special Thanks We’d like to thank Cara Di Edwardo, the coordinator of the program; our teachers Just van Rossum, Hannes Famira, Jean François Porchez, Stéphane Elbaz and Sumner Stone; and all the great students that we got to meet and work with during the program. Text & images by <a href="http://kishkoosh.com/">Ron Gilad</a> & <a href="https://twitter.com/chavellitsui">Chavelli Tsui</a>. <a class="noborder" href="http://www.typography.com/index.php?affiliateID=250"><img src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/10/idlewild-light-fonts.png" /></a> Sponsored by <a href="http://www.typography.com/index.php?affiliateID=250">H&FJ</a>. <a href="http://ilovetypography.com/2012/08/24/condensed-typeface-design-program/">Condensed Typeface Design Program</a> <div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?a=B63tLx0T19Y:O_eUNgaXMJg:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?i=B63tLx0T19Y:O_eUNgaXMJg:gIN9vFwOqvQ" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?a=B63tLx0T19Y:O_eUNgaXMJg:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?i=B63tLx0T19Y:O_eUNgaXMJg:F7zBnMyn0Lo" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?a=B63tLx0T19Y:O_eUNgaXMJg:qj6IDK7rITs"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?d=qj6IDK7rITs" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?a=B63tLx0T19Y:O_eUNgaXMJg:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?i=B63tLx0T19Y:O_eUNgaXMJg:V_sGLiPBpWU" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?a=B63tLx0T19Y:O_eUNgaXMJg:D7DqB2pKExk"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?i=B63tLx0T19Y:O_eUNgaXMJg:D7DqB2pKExk" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?a=B63tLx0T19Y:O_eUNgaXMJg:TzevzKxY174"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?d=TzevzKxY174" /></a> </div><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/ILoveTypography/~4/B63tLx0T19Y" width="1" />

UPDATED: 9 MONTHS, 4 WEEKS

Space: The Initial Frontier

Book review — Inside Paragraphs I have long admired <a href="http://www.fontbureau.com/people/CyrusHighsmith/" title="cyrus highsmith biography font bureau">Cyrus Highsmith</a>, both for his type design (Benton Sans, Prensa, Zócalo, & many besides) and his wonderfully unique style of illustration and lettering. In his debut book, <a href="http://insideparagraphs.com">Inside Paragraphs: typographic fundamentals</a>, he brings both of these talents to bear on a single topic, the paragraph. The book might alternatively have been titled ‘Space: the initial frontier’ for its principal focus is what goes on inside — not a book, not a page, but — a single paragraph of text — and as what goes on inside is mostly space, white space, or negative space, it is the ideal starting point for an introduction to the craft of setting type, to typography. <a class="noborder" href="http://insideparagraphs.com"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-13195" height="375" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/08/12_13-500x375.jpg" title="Inside paragraphs cyrus highsmith" width="500" /></a> Usually I dislike books that are wider than they are tall. I find them uncomfortable to hold for extended periods of reading. However, Inside Paragraphs works despite its backwards proportions: it is light and perfect bound, happily folding back on itself for single-handed reading. The typography is simple and precise: Ibis Text plus Scout (both by Highsmith), generous margins, white space aplenty, beautiful and practical illustrations. The writing is informal, incisive, and fluid; the tone never condescending. Inside Paragraphs is a TARDIS of a book, its 100 pages peppered with gems like, <blockquote>‘Setting type can be thought of as a collaboration between the typographer and the typeface.’</blockquote> phrases like ‘hierarchy of white space’, plus practical advice about everything from optimal and optimum parameters for H&J, and why all-caps settings require more space. <a class="noborder" href="http://insideparagraphs.com"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-13196" height="375" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/08/18_19-500x375.jpg" title="inside paragraphs by cyrus highsmith" width="500" /></a> Too often introductory texts fail the reader by trying to cover too many topics superficially — like a whistle-stop tour of some great city, where you’ll be sure to see all the sites, but learn little of any substance about them. Highsmith might easily have expanded each section by tens of pages, but the book is all the better for its brevity and his abstemiousness. To write more about this book would demand spoiler alerts, so I will wrap it up here in, appropriately enough, a single paragraph: Inside Paragraphs should be required reading for everyone who studies typography and graphic design. It will also be of interest to anyone else wondering why typography matters. It costs about three Venti Iced Peppermint White Chocolate Mochas ($15). Buy it. <a class="noborder" href="http://www.typography.com/index.php?affiliateID=250"><img src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/10/idlewild-light-fonts.png" /></a> Sponsored by <a href="http://www.typography.com/index.php?affiliateID=250">H&FJ</a>. <a href="http://ilovetypography.com/2012/08/05/inside-paragraphs-book-review-cyrus-highsmith/">Space: The Initial Frontier</a> <div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?a=i1OqLSMC1X4:_NjhYGt7XxM:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?i=i1OqLSMC1X4:_NjhYGt7XxM:gIN9vFwOqvQ" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?a=i1OqLSMC1X4:_NjhYGt7XxM:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?i=i1OqLSMC1X4:_NjhYGt7XxM:F7zBnMyn0Lo" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?a=i1OqLSMC1X4:_NjhYGt7XxM:qj6IDK7rITs"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?d=qj6IDK7rITs" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?a=i1OqLSMC1X4:_NjhYGt7XxM:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?i=i1OqLSMC1X4:_NjhYGt7XxM:V_sGLiPBpWU" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?a=i1OqLSMC1X4:_NjhYGt7XxM:D7DqB2pKExk"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?i=i1OqLSMC1X4:_NjhYGt7XxM:D7DqB2pKExk" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?a=i1OqLSMC1X4:_NjhYGt7XxM:TzevzKxY174"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?d=TzevzKxY174" /></a> </div><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/ILoveTypography/~4/i1OqLSMC1X4" width="1" />

UPDATED: 10 MONTHS, 2 WEEKS

The Week in Type

Closing your eyes to see, covering your ears to hear It has been a while since my last roundup, so buckle up. For those interested, I recently moved 4322.8 km (2686.06 miles) from my home in Japan to my new home in Vietnam. After nine wonderful years in Japan, it was time to move on. The other day I read an interview with my friend and too-infrequent chess partner, <a href="http://www.theverge.com/2012/7/24/3177332/ia-oliver-reichenstein-writer-interview-good-design-is-invisible">Oliver Reichenstein</a>, who pretty much describes my own feelings on reaching Japan. <blockquote>Arriving in Japan without any knowledge of the language, I lived in a world without words, where, almost like a baby, I had to learn everything from scratch. I think the experience of being illiterate and then slowly growing back into society has made me a better designer. When you can’t read or write and you need to interpret everything you encounter by deciphering visual clues, you begin to understand how things and people function behind the words…it was a magnificent training in basic interface phenomenology.</blockquote> I felt the very same way coming to Japan, and feel the same kind of naive wonder as an ‘illiterate’ newcomer to Vietnam. That’s quite enough about me; let’s move on to more important matters: Rather than wear your heart on your sleeve, why not wear some of <a href="http://tattly.com/">these</a> — wherever: <a class="noborder" href="http://tattly.com/collections/all/typographic"><img alt="" class="noborder" height="257" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/07/tattly-typographic-lettering.png" title="tattly-typographic-lettering" width="500" /></a> See all of the <a href="http://tattly.com/collections/all/typographic">‘typographic’ Tattly.</a> An enormous and beautiful collection of <a href="http://www.markerstage.at/fensterzeichen/index.html">Viennese Façades</a>: <a class="noborder" href="http://www.markerstage.at/fensterzeichen/index.html"><img alt="" class="padb" height="345" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/07/vienese-storefronts.jpg" title="vienese-storefronts" width="481" /></a> Via @<a href="http://twitter.com/swissmiss">swissmiss</a> <h3>New fonts</h3> <a href="http://www.typonine.com/fonts/font-library/thema/" title="Thema fonts">Thema</a> from Typonine, the beautiful un-stenciled version of <a href="http://www.myfonts.com/fonts/typonine/ty-stencil/" title="Typonine Stencil fonts">Typonine Stencil</a>. I can see these two teaming up particularly well for editorial design. <a class="noborder" href="http://www.typonine.com/fonts/font-library/thema/"><img alt="" class="noborder" height="500" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/07/thema-specimen.png" title="thema fonts specimen" width="500" /></a> <a href="http://www.typography.com/fonts/font_overview.php?productLineID=100043" title="idlewild fonts">Idlewild</a>, a new all-caps sans from H&FJ: <a class="noborder" href="http://www.typography.com/fonts/font_overview.php?productLineID=100043"><img alt="" class="noborder" height="500" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/07/idlewild1.png" title="idlewild fonts from h and fj" width="500" /></a> TypeManufactur’s wonderful revival of Georg Salden’s <a href="http://www.typemanufactur.com/eng/index.html" title="daphne fonts">Daphne</a> typeface of the same name: <a class="noborder" href="http://www.typemanufactur.com/eng/index.html"><img alt="" class="noborder" height="253" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/07/daphne-fonts.jpg" title="daphne-fonts" width="500" /></a> <a class="noborder" href="http://www.typemanufactur.com/eng/index.html"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-13155" height="200" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/07/Daphne.gif" title="Daphne" width="500" /></a> Replete with numerous alternate glyphs and calligraphic swashes. Related: An interview with Georg Salden over at <a href="http://www.typeradio.org/loudblog/index.php?cat=Salden,Georg">Typeradio</a>. Following up on the huge success of <a href="http://www.myfonts.com/fonts/hvdfonts/pluto/" title="pluto font family">Pluto</a>, <a href="http://www.myfonts.com/fonts/hvdfonts/pluto-sans/" title="pluto sans fonts">Pluto Sans</a>: <a class="noborder" href="http://www.myfonts.com/fonts/hvdfonts/pluto-sans/"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-13136" height="209" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/07/pluto-sans1.png" title="pluto-sans fonts" width="500" /></a> <a href="http://commercialtype.com/typefaces/atlas/grotesk" title="atlas grotesk fonts from commercial type">Atlas Grotesk</a> by Kai Bernau, Susana Carvalho, and Christian Schwartz of Commercial Type: <a class="noborder" href="http://commercialtype.com/typefaces/atlas/grotesk"><img alt="" class="noborder" height="554" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/07/atlas-grotesk-fonts1.png" title="atlas-grotesk-fonts" width="500" /></a> The delicious <a href="http://www.myfonts.com/fonts/filmotype/zephyr/" title="filmotype zephyr fonts from ale paul">Filmotype Zephyr</a> from Ale Paul: <a class="noborder" href="http://www.myfonts.com/fonts/filmotype/zephyr/"><img alt="" class="noborder" height="234" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/07/Screen-Shot-2012-07-28-at-5.56.23-PM-500x234.png" title="Screen Shot 2012-07-28 at 5.56.23 PM" width="500" /></a> <h3>Inspired</h3> Really enjoyed Stephen Coles’s <a href="https://vimeo.com/42992621">Chromeography talk</a> for Creative Mornings: <a href="http://vimeo.com/42992621">Creative Morning Berlin #10: Stephen Coles</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/berlincm">CreativeMornings/Berlin</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>. And be sure to visit <a href="http://chromeography.com">chromeography.com</a> <a class="noborder" href="http://chromeography.com"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-13133" height="370" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/07/Screen-Shot-2012-07-28-at-5.27.26-PM-500x370.png" title="chromeography.com" width="500" /></a> Celebrating <a href="http://new.pentagram.com/2012/05/the-forty-story/" title="40 years of Pentagram">40 years of Pentagram</a>. Beautifully done: <a href="http://vimeo.com/42562659">The Forty Story</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user3163512">Pentagram</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>. Support <a href="http://www.uppercasemagazine.com/typewriter/">Uppercase</a> Magazine’s crowd-funded homage to the typewriter, <a href="http://www.uppercasemagazine.com/typewriter/">The Typewriter: a Graphic History of the Beloved Machine.</a> <a href="https://vimeo.com/43023483">Spirograph</a>, the animated typeface: <a href="http://vimeo.com/43023483">Spirograph Promo</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/animography">Animography</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>. More about the project at <a href="http://www.animography.net/">animography.net</a> <a href="http://www.erikmarinovich.com">Erik Marinovich</a>’s work is brilliant: <a class="noborder" href="http://www.erikmarinovich.com"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-13128" height="370" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/07/Screen-Shot-2012-07-28-at-5.11.55-PM-500x370.png" title="erik marinovich letterer and designer" width="500" /></a> Nice use of Kris Sowersby’s <a href="http://klim.co.nz/blog/leaf-on-bold-street/">Karbon Slab Stencil</a> for bar and tea shop, Leaf on Bold St. <a class="noborder" href="http://klim.co.nz/blog/leaf-on-bold-street/"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-13124" height="309" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/07/Karbon-Slab-Stencil-Leaf-03.jpg" title="Karbon-Slab-Stencil-Leaf" width="500" /></a> Still some of Seb Lester’s <a href="http://www.keepcalmgallery.com/new/slbedblue.htm">So Much To Do</a> prints available: <a class="noborder" href="http://www.keepcalmgallery.com/new/slbedblue.htm"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-13148" height="336" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/07/so-much-to-do.jpg" title="so-much-to-do" width="500" /></a> Thoroughly enjoying Nina Stössinger’s <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ninastoessinger/sets/72157629933739982/with/7286487070/">type sketches</a> — a number of them based on <a href="http://typecooker.com/">TypeCooker</a> recipes: <a class="noborder" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ninastoessinger/sets/72157629933739982/with/7286487070/"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-13141" height="358" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/07/nina-type-sketches.jpg" title="nina-type-sketches" width="500" /></a> <h3>Type sites</h3> The brilliant resource that is <a href="http://fontsinuse.com/">Fonts in Use</a> is now open to the public. Now anyone can now add to the archives. What are you waiting for you? <a class="noborder" href="http://fontsinuse.com/"><img alt="" height="295" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/07/Screen-Shot-2012-07-26-at-3.33.09-PM-500x295.png" title="new fonts in use" width="500" /></a> Lovely redesigned portfolio site of <a href="http://www.jblt.co/v2/">Jean-Baptiste Levée</a>: <a class="noborder" href="http://www.jblt.co/v2/"><img alt="" class="noborder" height="326" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/07/Screen-Shot-2012-07-25-at-3.51.41-PM-500x326.png" title="JBL" width="500" /></a> <a href="http://www.gridsetapp.com">Gridset</a> app is looking very good. Be sure to sign up for the beta. <a class="noborder" href="http://www.gridsetapp.com"><img alt="" height="370" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/07/Screen-Shot-2012-07-28-at-4.16.37-PM-500x370.png" title="gridset app" width="500" /></a> Some good work from the <a href="http://typemedia2012.com">Type & Media</a> Masters students, class of 2012: <a class="noborder" href="http://typemedia2012.com"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-13126" height="370" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/07/Screen-Shot-2012-07-28-at-5.09.11-PM-500x370.png" title="type and media 2012" width="500" /></a> Experiment with and combine over 23,000 web fonts with the <a href="http://beta.typecastapp.com">Typecast</a> app. <a class="noborder" href="http://beta.typecastapp.com"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-13168" height="381" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/07/Screen-Shot-2012-07-29-at-12.42.30-PM-500x381.png" title="typecast app" width="500" /></a> Frank Blokland’s <a href="http://www.lettermodel.org">blog</a> accompanying his PhD research at Leiden University. Harmonics, Patterns, and Dynamics in Formal Typographic Representations of the Latin Script: <a class="noborder" href="http://www.lettermodel.org"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-13180" height="381" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/07/Screen-Shot-2012-07-29-at-2.04.59-PM-500x381.png" title="Screen Shot 2012-07-29 at 2.04.59 PM" width="500" /></a> <h3>Type books</h3> I have high hopes for this book, and have ordered two: <a href="http://insideparagraphs.com/">Inside Paragraphs: Typographic Fundamentals</a>, a new title from Cyrus Highsmith. <a class="noborder" href="http://insideparagraphs.com/"><img alt="" height="375" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/07/22_23-500x375.jpg" title="Inside Paragraphs by Cyrus Highsmith" width="500" /></a> Perhaps it could become the typography primer. Read <a href="http://imprint.printmag.com/paul-shaw/inside-cyrus-highsmiths-new-book-a-typographic-classic-in-the-making/" title="paul shaw’s review of inside paragraphs book by cyrus highsmith">Paul Shaw’s review</a> over at Print Mag. <blockquote>In roughly 100 spreads, Highsmith explains the fundamentals of typography by focusing exclusively on one thing: white space. — Paul Shaw</blockquote> A new book from a brand new publisher: Lazy Dog offers Luca Barcellona’s <a href="http://lazydog.eu">Take Your Pleasure Seriously</a> for pre-order. Books ships in October. <a href="http://lazydog.eu"><img alt="" height="365" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/07/luca-barcellona-book.jpg" title="luca-barcellona-book" width="500" /></a> And it looks as though <a href="http://codexmag.com">Codex magazine</a> had a small part to play: <blockquote>I had been following Luca Barcellona for a couple of years, ever since I’d discovered him, almost by chance, online; I was struck by his hand and its expressive, determined naturalness. Each new work fascinated me more and more. And then, late in the spring of 2011, I bought the first issue of Codex, a new American [sic] typography magazine that featured an interview with him as well as a piece of his on the cover. When his interviewer asked if he’d ever thought about publishing a book of his work he replied that, to date, he hadn’t received any good offers… That’s when lightening struck, and I realized that was the road I had to take.</blockquote> <a class="noborder" href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1592537669/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=japanagocom-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1592537669">Stop, Think, Go, Do: How Typography and Graphic Design Influence Behavior</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=japanagocom-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1592537669" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> by Steven Heller and Mirko Ili?: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1592537669/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=japanagocom-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1592537669"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-13113" height="503" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/07/typography-and-graphic-design.jpg" title="typography-and-graphic-design" width="500" /></a> <h3>Bookmarks</h3> <ul style="margin-bottom: 1.5em;"> <li>New and <a href="http://blog.typekit.com/2012/07/19/new-improved-embed-code/">improved embedding code</a> for Typekit.</li> <li>An <a href="https://www.fontfont.com/news/interview-with-nick-shinn" title="interview with nick shinn">interview</a> with Nick Shinn.</li> <li>A new design podcast from Matt McInerney (Pentagram) and friends: <a href="http://onthegrid.co">On the Grid</a>. Also available on <a href="">iTunes</a>.</li> <li><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/nadine-chahine/cern-comic-sans-a-time-and-a-place-for-ty_b_1650339.html" title="Nadine Chahine typography">A Time and a Place for Typography?</a></li> <li><a href="http://opentype.info/blog/2012/06/27/logo-font-indesign/">Generating a logo font</a> in InDesign.</li> <li><a href="http://www.vanseodesign.com/web-design/responsive-typography/">How To Maintain Readable Type</a> In Responsive Design.</li> <li>Monotype Imaging: <a href="http://monotypeimaging.com/ProductsServices/TypeEnhancementsAndroid.aspx">Type Enhancements for Android.</a></li> <li>Ministry of Type: <a href="http://ministryoftype.co.uk/words/article/typographic_rhythm/">Typographic Rhythm.</a></li> <li>A new <a href="http://blog.fontdeck.com/post/23601339698/body-text-tester">body text tester</a> from Fontdeck.</li> <li>Event: two-day <a href="http://www.typographichub.org/diary/entry/industry-and-genius-in-the-printing-trade/">printing history conference</a>, 4-5 September 2012.</li> <li>Benefits of <a href="http://blog.webink.com/benefits-of-using-import-and-tags-for-web-fonts/">using @import and tags for web fonts.</a></li> <li>An interview with type designer, <a href="http://www.camcreative.net/2012/05/31/qa-with-jeremy-tankard-talking-typefaces-follow-up/">Jeremy Tankard</a>.</li> <li>How to Explain <a href="http://www.commarts.com/Columns.aspx?pub=5566&pageid=1595">Why Typography Matters.</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.roughtype.com/?p=1615">Reading with Oprah.</a></li> <li>H&FJ: <a href="http://www.typography.com/ask/showBlog.php?kwID=142&blogID=25">Books as furniture.</a></li> <li>Kindle: <a href="http://dailyexhaust.com/2012/06/improved-reading-experience-no.html">Improved reading experience?</a> No.</li> <li>Trent Walton: <a href="http://trentwalton.com/2012/06/19/fluid-type/">Fluid Type.</a></li> <li>Typedia: <a href="http://typedia.com/blog/post/type-news-tall-bold-slugger-set-vivid/" title="typedia type news">Tall Bold Slugger Set Vivid.</a></li> </ul> Issue #2 of <a href="http://codexmag.com">Codex magazine</a> is coming next month (August). We have settled on a twice a year publishing schedule. Issue #3 will be available in March 2013. <a href="http://codexmag.com"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-13119" height="647" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/07/codex-magazine-issue-2.png" title="codex-magazine-issue-2" width="500" /></a> Sign up to the infrequent <a href="http://codexmag.com">newsletter</a> to learn more. ILT will be five years old come August 8. How shall we celebrate? Any favorite or memorable moments? Hope you enjoyed this edition of <a href="http://ilovetypography.com/category/the-week-in-type/" title="typography and font news from i love typography">the week in type</a>. Have a stupendously great weekend. <a class="noborder" href="http://www.typography.com/index.php?affiliateID=250"><img src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/10/idlewild-light-fonts.png" /></a> Sponsored by <a href="http://www.typography.com/index.php?affiliateID=250">H&FJ</a>. <a href="http://ilovetypography.com/2012/07/29/the-week-in-type/">The Week in Type</a> <div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?a=c8yoV5JcGx0:GX-socir2Mo:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?i=c8yoV5JcGx0:GX-socir2Mo:gIN9vFwOqvQ" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?a=c8yoV5JcGx0:GX-socir2Mo:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?i=c8yoV5JcGx0:GX-socir2Mo:F7zBnMyn0Lo" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?a=c8yoV5JcGx0:GX-socir2Mo:qj6IDK7rITs"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?d=qj6IDK7rITs" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?a=c8yoV5JcGx0:GX-socir2Mo:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?i=c8yoV5JcGx0:GX-socir2Mo:V_sGLiPBpWU" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?a=c8yoV5JcGx0:GX-socir2Mo:D7DqB2pKExk"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?i=c8yoV5JcGx0:GX-socir2Mo:D7DqB2pKExk" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?a=c8yoV5JcGx0:GX-socir2Mo:TzevzKxY174"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?d=TzevzKxY174" /></a> </div><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/ILoveTypography/~4/c8yoV5JcGx0" width="1" />

UPDATED: 10 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS

An Interview with Stéphane Elbaz

Stéphane Elbaz is graphic and type designer working in New York and Paris. In 2009 he was awarded the Certificate of Excellence in Type Design from the Type Directors Club of New York for his type family <a href="http://typofonderie.com/fonts/geneo-family/">Geneo</a>, recently published by Typofonderie. He is the first typeface designer from outside the foundry to be published by Typofonderie. <div id="theDeck-1"></div> <h3>How do you define yourself?</h3> I am a designer. I intend to solve problems with aesthetic solutions, but at the same time develop a personal expression. It’s this gap that I find interesting. My taste for letters appeared really early in my life, during my teenage years. At that time it wasn’t properly an interest in type, but certainly a taste for letters as plastic shapes. Going to the Arts Décoratifs school in Paris led me to discover classic typography. How could one not to be nostalgic when contemplating those school years? It’s very important for me because of how much I learned during these years. Classes with <a href="http://www.rudi-meyer.com/">Rudi Meyer</a> and Jean François Porchez gave me the context and the latitude to look at the subject with a more experimental way of thinking. <img alt="" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/07/StephaneElbazInterview_Stephane_and_JeanFrancois_BW1.jpg" title="Stephane Elbaz and Jean Francois" /> It was during the type design courses lead by Jean François Porchez that I was involved in the creation of the <a href="http://porchez.com/ateliertypo/155">Caffeine</a> and <a href="http://porchez.com/ateliertypo/119/CookerBlacksemaine8finale">Cooker Black</a> typefaces. This was clearly an important starting point for me; I don’t know if I would have been brave enough to involve myself in rigorous typographic projects without this first step. Thus letters for me became the dominant element of my graphic design. Type design is a discipline that requires a taste for abstraction plus a systematic mind — two things that fit well with my professional mindset. <img alt="" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/07/StephaneElbazInterview_caffeine_cookerblack.jpg" title="StephaneElbazInterview_caffeine_cookerblack" /> <h3>You do both web design and type design, which is pretty rare. How does this affect how you work?</h3> Concerning my web design skills, it’s a question I should ask of my colleagues. I don’t know if working with headlines devoid of kerning, or the inability to set a nicely ragged left paragraph is more difficult for me to live with than it is for others. I do, however, have good reasons to be optimistic. Things are evolving more quickly and always improving. The future will bring with it more and more screens and resolutions, and it is important that the typographic quality on these devices improves accordingly. I think what has occurred on the Internet for some years is a perfect illustration of the importance of typography in graphic design. The capacity to use a large font palette, in comparison to the three or four standards that were used for dynamic texts, changes everything, and permits designers to express different identities. <img alt="" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/07/4fb2767e47d321.14862674.png" title="Geneo fonts" /> Beyond the technical constraints of various screens, I don’t think there is any fundamental difference between the content presented on a screen or on paper — in much the same way as I don’t think that twitter or text messages radically changes our language. After all, it’s the graphic designer that has to choose the typefaces appropriate to the subject, and deal with technical constraints with a broader focus than just the screen or the piece of paper. <h3>Why did you leave France to live and work in New York? From there, what can you say about type design in the United States and in France?</h3> I like the charm of tiny cities. Seriously though, the United States is a big country and therefore has a great diversity of expression. There is certainly a tone in American graphic design that is quite different; the references are not exactly the same as in France. It seems, for instance, that the idea of tradition and the images associated with it are not the same in Paris and New York. The shapes and the imaginative world of tradition are an important foundation upon which type designers work, thus there are going to be differences in the type aesthetic. <img alt="" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/07/Screen-Shot-2012-07-14-at-3.37.59-PM.png" title="Geneo Bold New York" /> <h3>What is the genesis of your typeface, Geneo?</h3> Geneo was a personal project that I began without thinking of a context or a specific use. I was attracted to slab serifs and began drawing a really thin weight, a little like a typewriter character, but with some kind of Renaissance spirit. I think that I was trying to find an anachronistic mix that actually worked. I was also fond of the brush-made flourish shapes of the Art Nouveau period, and I was particularly inspired by them. All of these elements combined could feel a bit heavy, but my idea was to make a contemporary character where the shapes had to be synthetic while at the same time retaining some flesh, some of the organic. <img alt="" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/07/StephaneElbazInterview_ensad2004_01.jpg" title="StephaneElbazInterview_ensad2004_01" /> Geneo won the <a href="http://tdc.org/">TDC</a> prize back in 2009, and today it is distributed by Typofonderie, although it’s not exactly the same typeface. Its original identity remains intact, but it had to evolve to conform with the foundry’s standards. This meant a lot of work, but I benefitted from the guidance and exceptional eye of Jean François Porchez. We worked together on both the design of each particular glyph’s details as well as the weight scale of the entire family. Time was also spent designing dingbats and alternative glyphs. <img alt="" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/07/Screen-Shot-2012-07-14-at-3.49.36-PM.png" title="Geneo Thin" /> I believe that this new typeface family permits a great diversity of uses. The lighter weights used in headlines can convey both a delicatessen or a piece of literature. The intermediate weights can be used to set body text in an academic journal or in the logo of a new social network. We imagine the heavier weights being used on posters or in editorial design. The family as a whole can also be used in works needing a complex typographic hierarchy. Also, I think that in the context of a rational and minimal text layout, Geneo can add a connotative dimension, a level of contrast. For me, an even more exciting prospect is to see my typeface appear in ways that I couldn’t have envisaged. It’s from other graphic designers’ creations that I am waiting to see new and interesting interpretations. <h3>Can you share something about the new typefaces you are working on?</h3> I have a few things in progress, which I think is often the case with type designers; having several typeface ideas in the back of their minds. What determines if a typeface will one day be completed and released or not is the relevancy of its shapes and its identity. Some others will never be finished because they are shaky in their concept or just not original. I currently have a sans-serif project that I would like to finish. Unfortunately, it’s a category that already appears saturated and therefore is particularly challenging, but nonetheless stimulating. Interview by <a href="https://twitter.com/jjjlllnnn">Jérémy Landes-Nones.</a> Graphic and type designer Stephane Elbaz holds degrees in Visual Communication (2003) and Interactive Research (2004) from the <a href="http://www.ensad.fr/">École Nationale Supérieure des Arts Décoratifs.</a> In 2009 he was awarded the Certificate of Excellence in Type Design from the Type Directors Club of New York for his type family Geneo (published by Typofonderie). He works in New York and Paris. <a class="noborder" href="http://www.typography.com/index.php?affiliateID=250"><img src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/10/idlewild-light-fonts.png" /></a> Sponsored by <a href="http://www.typography.com/index.php?affiliateID=250">H&FJ</a>. <a href="http://ilovetypography.com/2012/07/17/interview-with-font-designer-stephane-elbaz/">An Interview with Stéphane Elbaz</a> <div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?a=QNAIhoEdG8o:l84A2uutjnM:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?i=QNAIhoEdG8o:l84A2uutjnM:gIN9vFwOqvQ" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?a=QNAIhoEdG8o:l84A2uutjnM:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?i=QNAIhoEdG8o:l84A2uutjnM:F7zBnMyn0Lo" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?a=QNAIhoEdG8o:l84A2uutjnM:qj6IDK7rITs"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?d=qj6IDK7rITs" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?a=QNAIhoEdG8o:l84A2uutjnM:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?i=QNAIhoEdG8o:l84A2uutjnM:V_sGLiPBpWU" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?a=QNAIhoEdG8o:l84A2uutjnM:D7DqB2pKExk"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?i=QNAIhoEdG8o:l84A2uutjnM:D7DqB2pKExk" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?a=QNAIhoEdG8o:l84A2uutjnM:TzevzKxY174"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?d=TzevzKxY174" /></a> </div><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/ILoveTypography/~4/QNAIhoEdG8o" width="1" />

UPDATED: 11 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

Krul & the untold history of the ‘Amsterdamse Krulletter’

<div id="theDeck-1"></div> In a way, my research into the ‘Amsterdamse Krulletter’ (Amsterdam’s Curly Letter) began eight years ago as I was walking down the streets of what is possibly the city’s most beautiful district, the Jordaan. As every local knows, this area hosts quite a few of the old, traditional pubs that the locals call ‘bruin cafés’ (brown cafés). In urban environments, type designers are always looking at letters, and especially at hand-painted ones. It didn’t take me very long to notice that many of the pubs in the area had their windows painted in a very interesting and beautifully executed script. Later I discovered they had been painted throughout other parts of Amsterdam too, notably also in the De Pijp area. <img alt="" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/05/image-01.jpg" title="image-01" /> Upon closer inspection of the letters painted on the windows and wooden panels, it was obvious that the style was very consistent. Leaving aside the natural variations you would expect from work done by hand, each letter had a defined design that had been strictly followed every time. Interestingly, this mysterious script was unknown to me. I could tell it had influences from seventeenth-century Dutch penmanship, but it also differed in many ways from the handwriting that Jan van den Velde, Felix van Sambix, and Cornelis Boissens — among others — had published in their writing manuals. <img alt="" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/05/image-02.jpg" title="image-02" /> I started asking Dutch colleagues about this pub lettering tradition, but no one had much information about its authors or origins. It is true that almost without exception every ‘connoisseur’ of good lettering who took a look at them immediately expressed admiration, but the specialized press and Dutch design authors had never seriously taken this tradition into consideration. <a href="http://www.pietschreuders.com/">Piet Schreuders</a>’s groundbreaking essay ‘Lay in - Lay out’, first published in 1977, had dedicated two separate chapters to two of the most representative and original of Amsterdams’s vernacular letters: the ‘Bruggenletter’ and the almost extinct ‘Spiegelglas’ letter. However, there is not a single mention in the book of pub lettering, which at that time would have been omnipresent. In a more recent example, the 2008 photography book ‘<a href="http://www.mimoa.eu/blog/?p=416">Amsterdam in letters</a>’ by Marteen Helle, features numerous examples of fine Amsterdam lettering, but, again, the ‘Krulletter’ is absent. It was only in 1983 that the trade magazine, ‘Grafisch Nederland’ published an issue including an article entitled ‘Kijk! Letters!’ (Look! Letters!), with pictures of several pub facades bearing the style along with an interview with Leo Beukeboom, one of the two people responsible for painting it. Nevertheless, the article focused more on the most general and everyday aspects of Mr. Beukeboom’s work, and it failed to delve any deeper into the origins of his most celebrated letters and what may have influenced them. The fact that such gorgeous and original letters have largely been ignored in a country with such a rich type- and letter-making tradition reminds me of the plot of Edgar Allan Poe’s famous story “The Purloined Letter”. In the story, an important document cannot be found because it is lying in plain sight. Sometimes things can become invisible to us because of their very familiarity. I have mentioned the name of Leo Beukeboom. This talented and prolific sign painter, responsible for many of the best ‘Krulletter’ that still can be found in Amsterdam and neighbouring cities, began painting them in 1967 when he was hired by the Heineken Brewery to be its in-house letter painter and to provide services to the pubs sponsored by the firm. But the history of the style goes back further than that. It was created by the sign painter Jan Willem Visser (Amsterdam, 1911-1987) who from the early 50s to 1968 worked for the Amstel Brewery (the company was sold to Heineken that same year, almost at the same time as Leo Beukeboom began painting the style for Heineken). <img alt="" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/06/image-04.jpg" title="image-04" /></a> Jan Willem Visser was the son of Johannes Visser, another letter painter, and he was very gifted and highly respected by his colleagues, but his story has never been properly told. He learned the trade from his father, and in 1941 he opened his own workshop in Da Costakade street. At its peak it was one of the biggest in Amsterdam, with 24 employees. <img alt="" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/06/image-05.jpg" title="image-05" /> Numerous images kept in the Amsterdam Photographic Archives show that by the early 50s Mr. Visser had already painted the ‘Krulletter’ in many bars in a manner almost identical to the one that still can be found today. For a long time I wondered what exactly had influenced him. His capital letters were undoubtedly inspired by one particular plate published in the second volume of “Spieghel der Schrijfkonste” (1605), Jan van den Velde’s most important work, but some of the details of the lowercase letters were too original to have come from that source, and were unlike anything published in the works of the famous calligrapher. Thanks to a visit to his daughter, Annick Visser, who kindly allowed me to inspect her father’s belongings and documents, I was able to solve this little palaeographic mystery. Jan Willem Visser owned a book published in 1885 entitled ‘Letters en hare grondvormen naar de beste bronnen bewerkt voor schilders, steenhouwers, graveurs en voor het onderwijs aan Ambachts en Kunstnijverheidsteekenscholen’ by the engraver P. van Looy Jr. The book was a catalogue of different alphabets ‘from the best sources’, designed to serve as a guide for craftsmen in the rendering of letters. This volume featured three plates that had undoubtedly served as models for Visser’s pub lettering. In hand-written captions, the book’s author P. van Looy Jr. gives credit for the images, indicating that these models were taken from J. Heuvelman’s work. <img alt="" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/05/image-06.jpg" title="image-06" /> Johannes Heuvelman was a Dutch writing master from Haarlem, and his only known published book is: ‘Stichtich ABC tot Nut der Jeucht geschreven’ from 1659. A comparison of the script models of J. Heuvelman, P. van Looy Jr., and J. W. Visser is particularly interesting. Although each of them could have made an exact copy of his predecessor’s lettering, none of them chose to do so. Each of them introduced variations and diverse influences that made their versions richer and more remarkable. Realizing this fact had important consequences for the development of my revival. I had worked for a long time on a model that was an attempt to reproduce the Kruletter design as accurately as possible. I was very concerned that Amsterdam might be about to lose one of the most distinctive and beautiful elements of its graphic identity. Many of the window displays with the painted letters had been lost forever due to renovations of bars or changes in ownership, and there are no letter painters left in the area with the skills to paint the style properly. <img alt="" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/06/image-07.png" title="image-07" /> But at the end of 2011 I suddenly came to the conclusion that I was on the wrong track. These letters had been painted to meet needs different from those that my letters would serve. The letters’ finishing required the use of a fine-pointed brush, and their contrast had been planned to work in really big sizes. I was seeking something with a wider range of possible uses, and the letters as they were written were of limited use in the contemporary graphic industry. Even more, I felt just as Visser had, that instead of simply creating an accurate copy, as a designer my role should be to offer my own interpretation, changing things I considered undesirable or incorrect while enshrining the attributes in new letters of my own. In this way I would be preserving the tradition and making my discreet contribution. Therefore I redrew my version and made ‘<a href="http://www.myfonts.com/fonts/jazzfonts/krul/">Krul</a>’ more ‘typographic’: a disconnected script, a bit more ‘rationalistic’ and less sloped. Some problematic characters were altered or downgraded to the category of ‘alternates’, while new letter shapes which were not present in Visser’s model but were part of the Dutch formal penmanship tradition were included. The style owes both its name and much of the appreciation it has earned from Amsterdam’s people to the abundance and exuberance of its plentiful swashes. Naturally, ‘Krul’ includes many of these typographic decorative elements like different swashy ascenders, ending forms, numerous fleurons and ornaments. <img alt="" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/06/image-08.png" title="image-08" /> <img alt="" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/06/image-09.png" title="image-09" /> <img alt="" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/06/image-10.png" title="image-10" /> For the moment it is too early to tell what the fate of this attempt to revive a endangered fine lettering tradition will be, but there is something I know for sure: I have done all I possibly could to recover a forgotten chapter of Amsterdam’s popular culture and to give its protagonist the credit he deserves. <a href="http://www.myfonts.com/fonts/jazzfonts/krul/" title="Krul fonts">Krul</a> fonts on MyFonts. <div style="width: 100%; margin-top: 3em; background-color: #25120d;"> Author: <a href="http://www.re-type.com/">Ramiro Espinoza</a>. Acknowledgements: I would like to thank the following people and institutions for helping me in different parts of my research: Tom Croiset van Uchelen, James Mosley, Mathieu Lommen, Annick Visser, Leo Beukeboom, Library of the University of Amsterdam, & Noord-Holland Archives. </div> <a class="noborder" href="http://www.typography.com/index.php?affiliateID=250"><img src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/10/idlewild-light-fonts.png" /></a> Sponsored by <a href="http://www.typography.com/index.php?affiliateID=250">H&FJ</a>. <a href="http://ilovetypography.com/2012/06/18/krul-the-untold-historyof-the-amsterdamse-krulletter/">Krul & the untold history of the ‘Amsterdamse Krulletter’</a> <div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?a=nW5oXhmbqGs:TbG7HAjxXUQ:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?i=nW5oXhmbqGs:TbG7HAjxXUQ:gIN9vFwOqvQ" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?a=nW5oXhmbqGs:TbG7HAjxXUQ:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?i=nW5oXhmbqGs:TbG7HAjxXUQ:F7zBnMyn0Lo" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?a=nW5oXhmbqGs:TbG7HAjxXUQ:qj6IDK7rITs"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?d=qj6IDK7rITs" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?a=nW5oXhmbqGs:TbG7HAjxXUQ:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?i=nW5oXhmbqGs:TbG7HAjxXUQ:V_sGLiPBpWU" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?a=nW5oXhmbqGs:TbG7HAjxXUQ:D7DqB2pKExk"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?i=nW5oXhmbqGs:TbG7HAjxXUQ:D7DqB2pKExk" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?a=nW5oXhmbqGs:TbG7HAjxXUQ:TzevzKxY174"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?d=TzevzKxY174" /></a> </div><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/ILoveTypography/~4/nW5oXhmbqGs" width="1" />

UPDATED: 1 YEAR

BOOOOOOM!

SHOW NEXT 5 >

First-Ever Booooooom Book!

<a href="http://www.booooooom.com/book/"><a class="no_underline" href="http://www.booooooom.com/2012/12/13/first-ever-booooooom-book/"><img alt="We're making a book!" src="http://cdn.booooooom.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/remakebook.jpg" /></a></a>   Hello friends! Allow me to be the first to tell you that I am beginning work on the first-ever Booooooom book! The best part of it is that it’s gonna be published by one of my favourite publishers, Chronicle Books! Chronicle Books has approached me to turn our <a href="http://www.booooooom.com/2011/10/04/remake-submissions/" target="_blank">Remake Project</a> into a book. If you missed it, this was the project where we had everyone remaking masterworks of art as photographs. The project was shared by hundreds of blogs and major news outlets including Huffington Post, Yahoo News, AOL, MSNBC, The Washington Post, The Boston Globe, The MOMA, The Guardian (two different articles), Reader’s Digest, you get the idea. It was HUGE. So what I want to do is turn all of your amazing submissions into an incredible art book. It is not gonna be cheap to produce this thing, doing this the right way means getting the image rights to reproduce all the classic works. Hopefully we will be able to secure the rights to 50 classic works. As a contributor to this book you won’t be paid but you will receive two copies of the finished book. At the end of the day, the point of the book is for more people to see the amazing things you created. I also think it will just be cool to have this book as a piece of history – art history – and also Booooooom history. If you would like to be considered for the book I would love it if you submitted! If you already made work that was featured in our gallery please re-submit it. If you are just hearing about this project for the first time and want to make something, you have until the end of January to submit work. What I need from you is a signed release saying that we have permission to print your Remake in the book, as well as the highest resolution image that you have of your work.   1. Download the release form: <a href="http://cdn.booooooom.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/remake_releaseform.pdf" target="_blank">here</a> 2. Email the form and high resolution artwork with the subject line “REMAKE SUBMISSION” to: <a href="mailto:projects@booooooom.com?subject=REMAKE%20SUBMISSION" target="_blank">projects@booooooom.com</a>. Please include the following details: YOUR NAME: THE NAME OF ORIGINAL ARTIST: TITLE OF ORIGINAL ARTWORK: *In order to be published in the book the artwork needs to be as high resolution as possible. If the work is too big to email, please use a service such as <a href="http://wetransfer.com/" target="_blank">WeTransfer</a>.   We will notify you if your work has been selected for the book! Thank you all for being a part of this, I’m really excited to take it further than I’ve ever taken any of the projects. <div>Stoked for this!</div> -Jeff<img border="0" height="1" src="http://booooooom.feedsportal.com/c/34916/f/643993/s/26911454/mf.gif" width="1" /><div class="mf-viral"><table border="0"><tr><td valign="middle"><a href="http://share.feedsportal.com/viral/sendEmail.cfm?lang=en&title=First-Ever+Booooooom+Book%21&link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.booooooom.com%2F2012%2F12%2F13%2Ffirst-ever-booooooom-book%2F" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/images/emailthis2.gif" /></a></td><td valign="middle"><a href="http://res.feedsportal.com/viral/bookmark.cfm?title=First-Ever+Booooooom+Book%21&link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.booooooom.com%2F2012%2F12%2F13%2Ffirst-ever-booooooom-book%2F" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/images/bookmark.gif" /></a></td></tr></table></div> <a href="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/151883358448/u/0/f/643993/c/34916/s/26911454/a2.htm"><img border="0" src="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/151883358448/u/0/f/643993/c/34916/s/26911454/a2.img" /></a><img border="0" height="1" src="http://pi.feedsportal.com/r/151883358448/u/0/f/643993/c/34916/s/26911454/a2t.img" width="1" />

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

Osma Harvilahti

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

Nicholas Alan Cope and Dustin Edward Arnold

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

Meghan Howland

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

Jessica Drenk

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

Patrick Kyle

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

PEGASVS “La melodía del afilador”

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

Matchstick sculptures by Ryan and Trevor Oakes

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

Nina Katchadourian

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

Dave Kinsey

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

YOUTHEDESIGNER.COM

SHOW NEXT 5 >

Looking to Steer Clear the HTML5 Potholes?

Every emerging technology undergoes the test of fire which is a given fact and HTML5 is no exception in the strict sense. Touted to replace flash, HTML5’s proponents blew its capabilities out of proportion even while HTML5 was still in its nascent stages. This, over the past months, has been fueling a glaring gap between what’s expected of HTML5 and the actuals. Although developers are tearing ahead making considerable headway, it’s the browsers that need to catch up. <center> <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_37118" style="width: 610px;"><img alt="" class="size-large wp-image-37118 " height="448" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/hole-600x448.png" style="border: 0px;" width="600" /><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/vimeo.com">Source</a></div> </center> <h2></h2> <h2> Browser Bottleneck</h2>   The developer community has always been head over heels about latest technologies and shows no inhibitions to embrace it with both hands. Developers have a clear idea about what HTML5 is capable of given the stance of certain platform vendors. Despite the official validation not expected before 2020, developers are in no mood to slow down. While this can be a problem of sorts when viewed from the standardization point of view, but for the developer community it’s a free world with no rules/guidelines. <center> <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_37119" style="width: 610px;"><img alt="" class="size-large wp-image-37119 " height="257" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/browser-600x257.png" style="border: 0px;" title="browser" width="600" /><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/infocustesting.net">Source</a></div> </center> Keeping apace with the progress being made by the developer community, browsers are toiling day in and day out to support the capabilities acquired by HTML5. In the days to come, HTML5 support would be the key defining factor as far as browser capabilities are concerned. This is because the advancement in HTML5 is of little meaning if browser capabilities are not enhanced parallelly. The rampant use of HTML5 to build apps and sites have put tremendous pressure on browser developers to prepare browsers that are fast, light on resources and efficient. As of now Internet Explorer 9 & 10, Firefox 7 and higher, Chrome 14 and higher, Safari 5 and higher, Opera 11 and higher, Mobile Safari 3.2 and higher, Opera Mobile 5 and Android 2.1 support HTML5 elements. However, in order for browsers to support all HTML5 elements, there’s still a long way to cover as revealed in the Ringmark test. Various studies, particularly by IDC, predict HTML5 to form a major portion (if not 100%) of mobile apps’ code in the near future. And the ratio of HTML5 in mobile apps can only be expected to go north. Having said that, the question looms large for adopters – has HTML5 matured enough? Well, this would need a collective answer from all the quarters.   <h2>HTML5 Woes</h2>   HTML5 is surely on its way to glory unless it gets over the woes that are a constant irritant for developers and users. <ul> <li> Out of sync</li> </ul> The offline and online nature of apps is an area of concern especially when it comes to syncing of data. While being connected, syncing is automatic but when not, syncing doesn’t happen. And when substantial amount of data is accumulated in the server, synchronization can be a major headache. It’s the same case when the app is accessed from a different device or location. <ul> <li>Namesake database</li> </ul> A salient feature of HTML5 is offline data storage, wherein the data is stored in the browser. This is one reason why HTML5 is adored because it gives a desktop type feeling to the user. But the flip side to this feature is that the user has no means to access the data like they do on a desktop. The user can’t see where the data is stored; they can’t know the contents, create copies or backup the data. Since the format in which the data is stored is unknown, the user cannot surf through the data if they need any information. <ul> <li>Data insecurity</li> </ul> HTML5 has limitations in storing data and that’s why we’ve the servers, be it cloud or not. Now the user pay for the app, the device, the service and even for the hosting, but what’s the right the user has on their data? The terms and conditions speak nothing about ownership of data. They’re more or less a virtual ownership of one’s data and occurrences of loss of data ain’t uncommon wherein the server people just wash their hands off the issue. Neither HTML5 nor the hosting company can guarantee that your data will stay. <ul> <li>Compulsory upgradation</li> </ul> Ever thought upgrades would be a problem? Upgrades for HTML5 powered apps are imposed on its users even if they don’t want it. This poses serious risks to the users in the form of corrupt allied programs or apps that worked well pre-upgradation. <h2>Bridging The Gap</h2>   The tremendous pace at which changes are being introduced is a reason why developers and users aren’t on the same page. At times it is confusing as to what’s developed and for whom the development is being done. <center> <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_37121" style="width: 610px;"><img alt="" class="size-large wp-image-37121 " height="390" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/bridging_gap11-600x390.jpg" style="border: 0px;" width="600" /><a href="http://chasingtheperfectmoment.com/bridges/">Source</a></div> </center> For users it is essential that they clearly put across what they expect from the HTML5 website or app to avoid any future discontentment. Users should know that the mind blowing capabilities of HTML5 is not something that is independent but a combination of various technologies tied to the browsers’ capabilities. Needless to say that this technology is evolving and a clear cut timeframe about when all the proposed capabilities are realized is obscure Developers should have constant interaction with the users in order to have a clear idea about the expectations. Provide the users with snapshots of how their app or site would look like, since seeing is believing. Make them understand as to how much of their expectations can actually be met because no matter what potential HTML5 holds, the end product should reflect the users’ needs and expectations.   <table style="padding: 15px; border: 5px solid #5d5d5d; background-color: #30302f;"> <tbody> <tr> <td><img alt="Rohit Singhal" class="alignright" src="http://0.gravatar.com/avatar/0baada9baeb3c9cec4099a744f8dccc8?s=75&d=identicon&r=G" style="float: left; margin-right: 10px;" width="100? height=" /> <h3>About the Author</h3> Rohit Singhal is an emarketer working with PixelCrayons, a web development company. The company specializes in ecommerce solutions, CMS solutions, <a href="http://html.pixelcrayons.com/responsive-design-coding.html">responsive web design</a> implementation, <a href="http://html.pixelcrayons.com/">HTML5 Web Development</a> and more.</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> Read more posts by <a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/author/guest-blogger/" rel="author">Guest Blogger</a><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/YouTheDesigner/~4/UI9svPxSUZ4" width="1" />

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

7 Vector Starburst

A lot of graphic designers and artists all over the world employ a number of elements in their designs and artwork making them extremely complicated and intricate. But as most people would say, the devil is in the details. And the mark of a true artist may usually be seen when his work is scrutinized to the smallest part of his masterpiece. That is the reason why it is very important for graphic artists, both novice and professional alike to pay attention to the details of their work as meticulously as possible. Every element, every layer and every stroke should be given an appropriate amount of attention. Background images and design accents for example play a pivotal role in tying up the overall look and feel of a design, which in turn makes for a well-polished and balanced work. We at You The Designer recognize this need, so today, we are giving you this amazing set of 7 starburst vector graphics that will definitely add some fine details into any design. <img alt="" class="size-full wp-image-37112 aligncenter" height="1000" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/post-cover.jpg" style="border: 0px;" width="600" /> Download this stunning set of vector graphics by tweeting or sharing over Facebook. Click the button below and unlock the awesomeness! (Email subscribers, please visit the actual post page to download.) <center></center> So there you have it guys. What other freebie do you want me to make for you in the future? Do tell us by leaving a comment below. You can also find us on <a href="http://facebook.com/youthedesigner" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/youthedesigner" target="_blank">Twitter</a>, <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/cadencewu" target="_blank">Pinterest</a> and <a href="https://plus.google.com/116824150281780256954/" target="_blank">Google Plus</a> or subscribe to our blog through our <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/YouTheDesigner" target="_blank">RSS Feeds</a>. And please, do check out our <a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/blank-print-templates" target="_blank">print templates</a> page and download any of our blank print templates for all your print designing needs. Read more posts by <a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/author/geno/" rel="author">Geno Arguelles</a><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/YouTheDesigner/~4/X_5uWWbZZ7A" width="1" />

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

The Superhero Media Crossover Project by Butcher Billy

Most live action movies today are based if not in best-selling books, are from classic comics and graphic novels. Major characters in comics especially most of our favorite superheroes have been transformed into major motion pictures today which appeal not only to kids and fans but across all ages. A successful superhero live action movie is mostly dependent on how the filmmakers have captured the exact character found on its two-dimensional, spandex-clad superhero origin. The classic look and style in comics combined with some modern aspects like slight changes in costumes and storyline is a common technique found in making movies today. To remember how much the comic stylings of the 60’s and 70’s have inspired modern films, Brazilian artist <a href="http://www.behance.net/butcherbilly">Butcher Billy</a> created an awesome project which answers his thought about just how thin is the line that separate movies from comics. Butcher Billy, who focuses on graphic design and illustration created the series called “<a href="http://www.behance.net/gallery/The-Superhero-Media-Crossover-Project/6192521">The Superhero Media Crossover Project</a>” which features a mash-up of images combining art from classic comic books overlapped on screenshots from the latest superhero films. The project makes us realize how often movie makers rely on the format of classic comic books and graphic novels, making them easy to translate them on the screen by interlacing cinematography with storyboard.   <img alt="The Superhero Media Crossover Project by Butcher Billy" class="size-full wp-image-37070 aligncenter" height="300" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/112.jpg" style="border: 0px;" title="The Superhero Media Crossover Project by Butcher Billy" width="600" />   <img alt="The Superhero Media Crossover Project by Butcher Billy" class="size-full wp-image-37072 aligncenter" height="300" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/210.jpg" style="border: 0px;" title="The Superhero Media Crossover Project by Butcher Billy" width="600" />   <img alt="The Superhero Media Crossover Project by Butcher Billy" class="size-full wp-image-37075 aligncenter" height="300" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/34.jpg" style="border: 0px;" title="The Superhero Media Crossover Project by Butcher Billy" width="600" />   <img alt="The Superhero Media Crossover Project by Butcher Billy" class="size-full wp-image-37076 aligncenter" height="300" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/42.jpg" style="border: 0px;" title="The Superhero Media Crossover Project by Butcher Billy" width="600" />   <img alt="The Superhero Media Crossover Project by Butcher Billy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-37077" height="300" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/52.jpg" style="border: 0px;" title="The Superhero Media Crossover Project by Butcher Billy" width="600" />   <img alt="The Superhero Media Crossover Project by Butcher Billy" class="size-full wp-image-37079 aligncenter" height="300" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/62.jpg" style="border: 0px;" title="The Superhero Media Crossover Project by Butcher Billy" width="600" />   <img alt="The Superhero Media Crossover Project by Butcher Billy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-37080" height="300" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/72.jpg" style="border: 0px;" title="The Superhero Media Crossover Project by Butcher Billy" width="600" />   <img alt="The Superhero Media Crossover Project by Butcher Billy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-37081" height="300" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/82.jpg" style="border: 0px;" title="The Superhero Media Crossover Project by Butcher Billy" width="600" />   <img alt="The Superhero Media Crossover Project by Butcher Billy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-37082" height="300" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/93.jpg" style="border: 0px;" title="The Superhero Media Crossover Project by Butcher Billy" width="600" />   <img alt="The Superhero Media Crossover Project by Butcher Billy" class="size-full wp-image-37084 aligncenter" height="300" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/102.jpg" style="border: 0px;" title="The Superhero Media Crossover Project by Butcher Billy" width="600" />   <img alt="The Superhero Media Crossover Project by Butcher Billy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-37085" height="300" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/113.jpg" style="border: 0px;" title="The Superhero Media Crossover Project by Butcher Billy" width="600" />   <img alt="The Superhero Media Crossover Project by Butcher Billy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-37086" height="300" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/122.jpg" style="border: 0px;" title="The Superhero Media Crossover Project by Butcher Billy" width="600" />   <img alt="The Superhero Media Crossover Project by Butcher Billy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-37087" height="300" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/132.jpg" style="border: 0px;" title="The Superhero Media Crossover Project by Butcher Billy" width="600" />   <img alt="The Superhero Media Crossover Project by Butcher Billy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-37088" height="300" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/142.jpg" style="border: 0px;" title="The Superhero Media Crossover Project by Butcher Billy" width="600" />   <img alt="The Superhero Media Crossover Project by Butcher Billy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-37089" height="300" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/152.jpg" style="border: 0px;" title="The Superhero Media Crossover Project by Butcher Billy" width="600" />   The series is a homage to various comic artists from the 60′s and 70′s such as Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko, and John Romita Sr. and nice way of showing how their timeless works continue to inspire modern media and all of us. Check out more of the amazing works of Butcher Billy on his <a href="http://www.behance.net/butcherbilly">Behance</a> page.   <hr noshade="noshade" />   Which among the crossover designs is your most favorite? Share to us your thoughts and as well as your suggestions by commenting below. Find us on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/youthedesigner">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/youthedesigner">Twitter</a>, <a href="https://plus.google.com/116824150281780256954/posts">Google Plus</a> and <a href="http://pinterest.com/cadencewu/">Pinterest</a> for more design awesomeness! Also, don’t forget to <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/YouTheDesigner">subscribe</a> to our blog for the latest design inspirations, stories and freebies. Speaking of freebies, check out our <a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/blank-print-templates">free print templates</a> page where you can download templates for calendars, brochures, business cards and more! Stay awesome everyone! Read more posts by <a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/author/kerby/" rel="author">Kerby Rosanes</a><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/YouTheDesigner/~4/lxahROMCX04" width="1" />

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

Announcing the Winners of the YTD – Themespectrum Giveaway

Hello everyone! We’re now here to announce the 5 winners of our giveaway last week . But before that, we would just like to thank everyone who joined our giveaway which was sponsored by our friends from Themespectrum.   <img alt="" class="aligncenter" height="328" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/superslide.jpg" style="border: 0px;" width="735" />   Here are the 5 winners of the 5 premium themes from Themespectrum that includes premium support and free future updates:   <ul> <li> <h2>Susan Geiger</h2> </li> <li> <h2>Ricardo Gonzalez</h2> </li> <li> <h2>Michael Paul</h2> </li> <li> <h2>Naomi Estreicher</h2> </li> <li> <h2>Rony Mattar</h2> </li> </ul>   For our lucky winners, please accept our warmest congratulations and please wait for an email from a representative of Themespectrum as they will contact you shortly to instruct you on how to claim your prize. As for those who joined, again, please accept our sincere appreciation. For those who didn’t win, we have a new <a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/2012/12/10/im-creator-and-ytd-nexus-7-giveaway/" target="_blank">giveaway</a> on our site, so by all means, feel free to join. For any questions, suggestions, or sponsorship offers, please feel free to contact us using the contact form in our Contact Us page or just leave a comment below and we’ll certainly give you feedback. Lastly, please don’t forget to <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/YouTheDesigner" target="_blank">subscribe</a> to our blog or add us up on <a href="http://facebook.com/youthedesigner" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/youthedesigner" target="_blank">Twitter</a>, <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/cadencewu" target="_blank">Pinterest</a> and <a href="https://plus.google.com/116824150281780256954/" target="_blank">Google Plus</a> for more design related news, features, <a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/blank-print-templates" target="_blank">freebies</a> and of course giveaways. Stay Awesome everyone!   Read more posts by <a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/author/cadence/" rel="author">Cadence Wu</a><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/YouTheDesigner/~4/K9ZrCrmD_1c" width="1" />

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

You! Be Inspired! – Creative Mug Designs

For most part of the world, Christmas is often associated with cold weather. This is probably because there have been many types of media in the past that mentions of a white Christmas, with houses covered in a layer of snow and people huddle near a fire place to drink coffee or hot chocolate. So in today’s You! Be Inspired! post, we decided to showcase 25 of the most creative mug designs that will certainly get you in the mood this holiday season. Mugs have been around for more than 5000 years and were used by early civilizations for the sole purpose of drinking water or any form of fluid from it. Earlier forms of mug were produced by shaping clay or carved wood. However, these types of mugs were very hard to use especially with their thick walls that were unfit for the mouth. This changed upon the invention and discovery of different alternative materials like metal, porcelain and eventually plastic. Today, mugs are produced in a variety of ways using different materials, sometimes even combining two or more materials in order to come up with the best result for a product. So without further ado, here are the 25 creatively designed mugs we’ve collected from the far reaches of the online world.   <hr noshade="noshade" />   <center> <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_37020" style="width: 610px;"><img alt="" class="size-large wp-image-37020" height="600" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/r2d2-600x600.jpeg" title="r2d2" width="600" />For the Star Wars fan <a href="http://www.bitrebels.com/geek/star-wars-r2-d2-coffee-tea-mug/">Source</a></div>   <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_37021" style="width: 610px;"><img alt="" class="size-full wp-image-37021" height="522" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/biscuit-pocket.jpg" title="biscuit pocket" width="600" />For the Biscuit Lover <a href="http://justamazingthings.blogspot.com/2012/07/top-10-creative-coffee-cup-designs.html#.UMfakuTYdSQ">Source</a></div>   <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_37022" style="width: 610px;"><img alt="" class="size-large wp-image-37022" height="508" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/chemist-600x508.jpg" title="chemist" width="600" />For the Chemist <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/111658600/coffee-caffeine-molecule-etched-coffee">Source</a></div>   <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_37023" style="width: 610px;"><img alt="" class="size-full wp-image-37023 " height="420" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/tennis-player.jpg" title="tennis player" width="600" />For the Tennis Player <a href="http://decorating-ideas-for.com/decorating-ideas-for-coffee-mugs/">Source</a></div>   <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_37024" style="width: 610px;"><img alt="" class="size-full wp-image-37024" height="300" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/angel-and-devil.jpg" title="angel and devil" width="600" />Good vs Bad <a href="http://decorating-ideas-for.com/decorating-ideas-for-coffee-mugs/">Source</a></div>   <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_37026" style="width: 610px;"><img alt="" class=" wp-image-37026 " height="600" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/golfer.jpg" title="golfer" width="600" />The Golfer’s Mug <a href="http://egotvonline.com/2011/10/06/25-awesome-mugs/">Source</a></div>   <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_37029" style="width: 610px;"><img alt="" class="size-large wp-image-37029 " height="600" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/dog-lover-600x600.jpg" title="dog lover" width="600" />Dog Lover’s Mug <a href="http://dogmugs.blogspot.com/2011_12_01_archive.html">Source</a></div>   <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_37031" style="width: 610px;"><img alt="" class="size-full wp-image-37031" height="637" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/musician1.jpg" title="musician" width="600" />Musician’s Mug <a href="http://dogmugs.blogspot.com/2011_12_01_archive.html&quot">Source</a></div>   <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_37032" style="width: 600px;"><img alt="" class="size-full wp-image-37032" height="483" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/poop.jpg" title="poop" width="590" />Poop Mug <a href="http://www.squidoo.com/cool-coffee-mugs">Source</a></div>   <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_37033" style="width: 610px;"><img alt="" class=" wp-image-37033 " height="574" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/spill-proof-mug.jpg" title="spill proof mug" width="600" />Spill Proof Mug <a href="http://ilovecoffee.co.za/2011/02/17/cool-coffee-cups/">Source</a></div>   <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_37039" style="width: 610px;"><img alt="" class=" wp-image-37039 " height="339" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/knuckle.jpg" title="knuckle" width="600" />The Knuckle Mug <a href="http://bifty.com/cool-stuff/thabto-coffee-mugs/2204/">Source</a></div>   <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_37040" style="width: 610px;"><img alt="" class="size-large wp-image-37040" height="600" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/ninja-600x600.jpeg" title="ninja" width="600" />Ninja Mug <a href="http://thecooleststuffever.com/ninja-coffee-mug">Source</a></div>   <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_37041" style="width: 610px;"><img alt="" class="size-full wp-image-37041" height="600" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/cookie.jpg" title="cookie" width="600" />Cookie Mug <a href="http://www.barnorama.com/cool-coffee-and-tea-mugs/">Source</a></div>   <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_37042" style="width: 610px;"><img alt="" class=" wp-image-37042 " height="447" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Gun-Handle-Mug.jpg" title="Gun-Handle-Mug" width="600" />Gun Handle Mug <a href="http://www.likecool.com/Gun_Handle_Mug--Office--Gear.html&quot">Source</a></div>   <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_37043" style="width: 610px;"><img alt="" class="size-large wp-image-37043" height="519" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/twitter-600x519.jpg" title="twitter" width="600" />Twitter with Hashtag Mug <a href="http://www.forkparty.com/28384/ten-cool-tech-company-coffee-mugs-gallery/coffeemugs001">Source</a></div>   <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_37044" style="width: 610px;"><img alt="" class="size-large wp-image-37044" height="600" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/keyboard-600x600.jpg" title="keyboard" width="600" />Programmer’s Mug <a href="http://www.shop4juan.com.ph/Cool-Unique-Keyboard-Design-Coffee-Mug-Set_p_19.html">Source</a></div>   <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_37045" style="width: 610px;"><img alt="" class="size-large wp-image-37045" height="591" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/cow-600x591.jpg" title="cow" width="600" />Cow Mug <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005QB9TEQ/ref=as_li_ss_tl? ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B005QB9TEQ&linkCode=as2&tag=squid0d8-20">Source</a></div>   <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_37046" style="width: 610px;"><img alt="" class=" wp-image-37046 " height="641" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/camera.jpg" title="camera" width="600" />Photographer’s Mug <a href="http://www.flavorwire.com/96838/design-porn-coffee-mugs?all=1">Source</a></div>   <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_37047" style="width: 610px;"><img alt="" class="size-large wp-image-37047" height="600" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/behind-600x600.png" title="behind" width="600" />The Behind Mug <a href="http://www.tripwiremagazine.com/2011/12/unique-and-creative-mugs.html">Source</a></div>   <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_37048" style="width: 610px;"><img alt="" class="size-large wp-image-37048" height="564" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/creature-cups-600x564.jpeg" title="creature cups" width="600" />Creature Cups <a href="http://creaturecups.com/store">Source</a></div>   <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_37049" style="width: 610px;"><img alt="" class=" wp-image-37049 " height="600" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/animal-nose.jpg" title="animal nose" width="600" />Animal Nose Cup <a href="http://www.designrulz.com/product-design/2011/07/creative-clever-coffee-mug-designs/">Source</a></div>   <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_37050" style="width: 610px;"><img alt="" class="size-large wp-image-37050" height="552" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/gameboy-600x552.png" title="gameboy" width="600" />Gameboy Mug <a href="http://churchm.ag/2012/02/page/3/">Source</a></div>   <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_37051" style="width: 610px;"><img alt="" class="size-full wp-image-37051" height="558" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/rubix-cube.jpg" title="rubix cube" width="600" />Rubix Cube Mug <a href="http://1oet.com/funny-coffee-mugs-pictures/">Source</a></div>   <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_37064" style="width: 610px;"><a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/self-stirring.jpg"><img alt="" class="size-large wp-image-37064" height="449" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/self-stirring-600x449.jpg" title="self stirring" width="600" /></a>Self Stirring Mug <a href="http://find-gift-ideas.net/tag/creative-coffee-mug">Source</a></div>   <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_37052" style="width: 610px;"><img alt="" class=" wp-image-37052 " height="600" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/toilet.png" title="toilet" width="600" />Toilet Mug <a href="http://www.tripwiremagazine.com/2011/12/unique-and-creative-mugs.html">Source</a></div> </center> <hr noshade="noshade" />   And that concludes today’s edition of You! Be Inspired! So which mug design did you find most interesting? Tell us by leaving a comment below. For other design related news, features and freebies, do <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/YouTheDesigner" target="_blank">subscribe</a> to our blog or drop by our <a href="http://facebook.com/youthedesigner" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/youthedesigner" target="_blank">Twitter</a>, <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/cadencewu" target="_blank">Pinterest</a> and <a href="https://plus.google.com/116824150281780256954/" target="_blank">Google Plus</a> social profiles. Lastly, if you’re currently working on a project that involves a print product, don’t forget to check out our <a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/blank-print-templates" target="_blank">print templates page</a> and download any of our 1,100 templates completely FREE! Read more posts by <a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/author/zyril/" rel="author">Zy Gonzales</a><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/YouTheDesigner/~4/NgrBxr9kNvE" width="1" />

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

The Battle between Lettering and Calligraphy

Typography techniques are improved by constant practicing and when given the challenge of competition. This idea inspired the new website called “<a href="http://www.letteringvscalligraphy.com/">Lettering vs. Calligraphy</a>” which features two amazing Berlin based designers in a unique challenge celebrating the creative process of hand drawn lettering and penned calligraphy.   <img alt="Lettering vs. Calligraphy" class=" wp-image-36963 aligncenter" height="1038" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/lvsc1.jpg" style="border: 0px;" title="Lettering vs. Calligraphy" width="524" />   The type designers involved are <a href="http://www.martinaflor.com/">Martina Flor</a> and <a href="http://www.resistenza.es/">Giuseppe Salerno</a> who are both exceptionally talented and have been in the industry for more than a decade. The duo create a design each day based on a keyword provided by a moderator. Then they post their work online and let the viewers vote for their favorite. The two go head to head each day – the unique hand drawn lettering of Martina Flor versus the exquisitely penned calligraphy of Giuseppe Salermo. The adventure aims to explore and showcase the capabilities of the two technical approaches in type design. Below are some of the latest designs featured on their website (left – lettering, right – calligraphy):   <a href="http://www.letteringvscalligraphy.com/distinguished-u/"><img alt="DISTINGUISHED “U”" class="size-medium wp-image-36966 aligncenter" height="300" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/U-600x300.jpg" style="border: 0px;" title="DISTINGUISHED “U”" width="600" /></a> Distinguished “U”   <a href="http://www.letteringvscalligraphy.com/v-for-vendetta/" target="_blank"><img alt=""V" for Vendetta" class="size-medium wp-image-36967 aligncenter" height="300" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/v-600x300.jpg" style="border: 0px;" title=""V" for Vendetta" width="600" /></a> “V” for Vendetta   <a href="http://www.letteringvscalligraphy.com/j-bizarre/" target="_blank"><img alt="Bizarre "J"" class="size-medium wp-image-36969 aligncenter" height="300" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/j-600x300.jpg" style="border: 0px;" title="Bizarre "J"" width="600" /></a> Bizarre “J”   <a href="http://www.letteringvscalligraphy.com/swashy-t/" target="_blank"><img alt="Swashy "T"" class="size-medium wp-image-36970 aligncenter" height="300" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/t-600x300.jpg" style="border: 0px;" title="Swashy "T"" width="600" /></a> Swashy “T”   <a href="http://www.letteringvscalligraphy.com/dynamic-n-2/" target="_blank"><img alt="Dynamic "N"" class="size-medium wp-image-36971 aligncenter" height="300" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/n-600x300.png" style="border: 0px;" title="Dynamic "N"" width="600" /></a> Dynamic “N”   <a href="http://www.letteringvscalligraphy.com/b-happy/" target="_blank"><img alt="Happy " B"" class="size-medium wp-image-36972 aligncenter" height="300" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/B-600x300.jpg" style="border: 0px;" title="Happy " B"" width="600" /></a> Happy “B”   <a href="http://www.letteringvscalligraphy.com/simple-z/" target="_blank"><img alt="Simple "Z"" class="size-medium wp-image-36973 aligncenter" height="300" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Z-600x300.jpg" style="border: 0px;" title="Simple "Z"" width="600" /></a> Simple “Z”   <a href="http://www.letteringvscalligraphy.com/art-nouveau-9" target="_blank"><img alt="Art Nouveau "9"" class="size-medium wp-image-36974 aligncenter" height="300" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/92-600x300.jpg" style="border: 0px;" title="Art Nouveau "9"" width="600" /></a> Art Nouveau “9″   <a href="http://www.letteringvscalligraphy.com/sophisticated-3/" target="_blank"><img alt="Sophisticated "3"" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-36975" height="300" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/33-600x300.jpg" style="border: 0px;" title="Sophisticated "3"" width="600" /></a> Sophisticated “3″   <a href="http://www.letteringvscalligraphy.com/shop/time-to-fight-postcards/" target="_blank"><img alt="Time To Fight postcards" class="aligncenter wp-image-36978" height="318" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/time-600x318.jpg" style="border: 0px;" title="Time To Fight postcards" width="600" /></a> “Time To Fight” postcards   Which of the type designs is your most favorite? Vote for them on their official <a href="http://www.letteringvscalligraphy.com/">website</a>. This amazing project is not just a design challenge but an opportunity to discover the various styles and possibilities in type design in both lettering and calligraphy. Moreover, the series will be a huge source of inspiration for typography addicts out there as the battle continues. Tell us your thoughts as well as your suggestions by commenting below. Find us on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/youthedesigner">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/youthedesigner">Twitter</a>, <a href="https://plus.google.com/116824150281780256954/posts">Google Plus</a> and <a href="http://pinterest.com/cadencewu/">Pinterest</a> for more design awesomeness! Also, don’t forget to <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/YouTheDesigner">subscribe</a> to our blog for the latest design inspirations, stories and freebies. Speaking of freebies, check out our <a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/blank-print-templates">free print templates</a> page where you can download templates for calendars, brochures, business cards and more! Stay awesome everyone!   Read more posts by <a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/author/kerby/" rel="author">Kerby Rosanes</a><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/YouTheDesigner/~4/oU1Onf6UAXY" width="1" />

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

Win a Depositphotos Free Subscription and $50 UPrinting Print Credits in this International Giveaway!

This week, <a href="http://depositphotos.com/">Depositphotos</a> and <a href="http://www.uprinting.com/?utm_source=youthedesigner.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=gdm_ytdcon_0612">UPrinting</a> are collaborating to give you an international giveaway! Here you can win a 20-day free stock photo subscription where you can download 10 images a day (the normal setup is 7 days and 5 images a day), and $50 worth of print credits to spend however you like too!   Here are the various means of entry:   - Follow <a href="http://www.twitter.com/Depositphotos">@Depositphotos</a> on Twitter - Like the <a href="http://www.facebook.com/DepositPhotosEN">Depositphotos (English)</a> Facebook page - Tweet about this giveaway – you can find the premade tweet in the PunchTab app - Like the You The Designer blog (we know you do, it’s just that sometimes we need reminding!) - Leave a comment on this post saying what you’ll use the subscription and the print credits for - Visit (and join, if you like!) the <a href="http://www.ucreative.com/?utm_source=youthedesigner.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=gdm_ytdcon_0612">UCreative Network</a>, the social network for creative professionals! - Give the <a href="https://plus.google.com/116824150281780256954/">You The Designer Google+ page</a> a +1   Make sure you do all that via the PunchTab app so all your entries are counted! As usual, the more times you enter, the better your chances of winning.   <center></center>   Giveaway ends on Saturday, June 16, 2012, midnight PST. International except where prohibited.   Print credits do not include shipping costs. If the print job costs less than $50, the remaining print credits may be subtracted from the shipping costs.   Once the giveaway ends, the PunchTab widget will reflect this, and we’ll publish another post to announce the winners as well as notify the winners privately.   Now that you’ve read all that, start submitting your entries and good luck, everyone!   In case you need some printing done right now and can’t wait for this giveaway to end, UPrinting has a <a href="http://www.uprinting.com/coupons.html?utm_source=youthedesigner.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=gdm_ytdcon_0612">summer marketing sale</a> going on – that’s up to 20% off selected products until the 28th. <a href="http://www.uprinting.com/coupons.html?utm_source=youthedesigner.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=gdm_ytdcon_0612">Check it out!</a>   If you are looking for quality images, and the subscription you can win isn’t enough for you, feel free to join Depositphotos. You will have an ability to use <a href="http://depositphotos.com/free-photos.html">free images</a> with their Free Trial Program!   Read more posts by <a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/author/cadence/" rel="author">Cadence Wu</a><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/YouTheDesigner/~4/6V4eEMK19_M" width="1" />

UPDATED: 1 YEAR

You! Be Informed! #0008 – Bonnaroo 2012, WordCamp NYC 2012, and The Innovation Whiteboard

This week, as I was browsing The New Yorker magazine’s site for covers</a> (thanks to the curiosity sparked by <a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/2012/06/06/the-art-of-the-new-yorker-magazine-covers/" target="_blank">one of our articles</a>), I saw this <a href="http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/books/2012/06/loving-ray-bradbury.html" target="_blank">tribute</a> to Ray Bradbury written my Junot Diaz. It was an intimate look at how he is well-loved by his fans and friends. Of all the tributes I read about him this week, one that discussed his answer to a question on passing a legacy to future generations is my favorite —   “If you don’t read or write, you can’t be educated, you can’t care about anything — you’ve gotta put something in people’s heads so the metaphors bounce around and collide with each other and make new metaphors. That’s the success I’ve had of daring to put different metaphors together, mashing their heads together, saying, ‘Oh my god, I didn’t think of that — how wonderful!’”   Continue learning and discovering new things by signing up for our <a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/signup/" target="_blank">monthly newsletter</a> and subscribing to our <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/YouTheDesigner" target="_blank">RSS Feed</a>. Enjoy this week’s edition of You! Be Informed!   Bonnaroo 2012 Four days of camping out in Manchester, Tennessee with more than 10 stages for music performance is what the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival is all about! Mingle with fellow revelers and explore the different options for food and entertainment! Know more about what you can bring, how to behave yourself during the festival, and more useful things <a href="http://www.bonnaroo.com/festival-info/" target="_blank">here</a>.   <center><a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Bonnaroo2012-via-YouTheDesigner.com_.jpg"><img alt="Bonnaroo2012 via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26585" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Bonnaroo2012-via-YouTheDesigner.com_.jpg" title="Bonnaroo2012 via YouTheDesigner.com" /></a></center>     Gallery 1988 – “Excuuuuuse Meeeeeeeee” One of our favorite galleries is holding an exhibit that’s beyond awesome for words. Gallery1988 Venice will be holding “Excuuuuuse Meeeeeeeee,” a tribute to one of my favorite funnymen, Steve Martin. Artists participating in the exhibit created pieces inspired by Steve’s work in movies, books, TV, and music. The opening gala will be held on June 8, Friday, and the gallery will be up until the end of June 2012. If you’re a Steve Martin fan, or you just want to unwind by looking at contemporary art pieces, take time to drop by Gallery1988 Venice! Images from <a href="http://g1988.tumblr.com/post/24405864636/this-friday-at-g1988-venice-we-open-excuuuuuuse" target="_blank">G1988</a>   <center><a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Gallery-1988-Steve-Martin.jpg"><img alt="Gallery 1988 Steve Martin Exhibit via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26524" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Gallery-1988-Steve-Martin.jpg" title="Gallery 1988 Steve Martin Exhibit via YouTheDesigner.com" /></a></center>   <center><a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Gallery-1988-Michael-DePippo.jpg"><img alt="Gallery 1988 Michael DePippo via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26526" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Gallery-1988-Michael-DePippo.jpg" title="Gallery 1988 Michael DePippo via YouTheDesigner.com" /></a></center>   <center><a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Gallery-1988-Jason-Edmiston.jpg"><img alt="Gallery 1988 Jason Edmiston via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26525" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Gallery-1988-Jason-Edmiston.jpg" title="Gallery 1988 Jason Edmiston via YouTheDesigner.com" /></a></center>   <center><a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Gallery-1988-Nicole-Gustafsson.jpg"><img alt="Gallery 1988 Nicole Gustafsson via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26527" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Gallery-1988-Nicole-Gustafsson.jpg" title="Gallery 1988 Nicole Gustafsson via YouTheDesigner.com" /></a></center>     WordCamp New York City 2012 WordPress users in New York, rejoice! WordCamp New York City 2012 is upon you, and it will be held on June 9-10, 2012 at Baruch College in Manhattan. Gear up for two whole days to learn the latest about everything and anything about WordPress. If you’re planning to attend the event, learn more about it <a href="http://2012.nyc.wordcamp.org/" target="_blank">here</a>.   <center><a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/WordCampNYC.jpeg"><img alt="WordCampNYC via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26531" height="500" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/WordCampNYC.jpeg" title="WordCampNYC via YouTheDesigner.com" width="500" /></a></center>     Asketic Riga – getCirulis We’re all about discovering and learning new things here at You the Designer, that’s why finding something graphic designers will find useful excites us. Asketic Riga is a design office from Riga, Latvia that’s taking a bold step to turn one of the region’s most unique typefaces, Cirulis, into a usable font family. <a href="http://getcirulis.com/" target="_blank">Sign up</a> and be among the first designers to receive Cirulis Pro Bold!   <center><a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/getCirulis.jpg"><img alt="getCirulis via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26538" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/getCirulis.jpg" title="getCirulis via YouTheDesigner.com" /></a></center>   <center><a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Cirulis-poster.jpg"><img alt="Cirulis-poster via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26541" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Cirulis-poster.jpg" title="Cirulis-poster via YouTheDesigner.com" /></a></center>   <center><a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Cirulis-book.jpg"><img alt="Cirulis-book via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26540" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Cirulis-book.jpg" title="Cirulis-book via YouTheDesigner.com" /></a></center>     AFA – Maurice Sendak Retrospective Exhibit On the day before what would have been Maurice Sendak’s 84th birthday, AFA (Animazing Fine Art) will be opening a retrospective exhibit featuring his art. The exhibition will open on Saturday, June 9, and will be up until Labor Day. Original artwork and published pieces that celebrate the life of Maurice Sendak will be on display. Learn more about the exhibit by visiting the <a href="http://afanyc.com/" target="_blank">AFA website</a>.   <center><a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Maurice-Sendak-Retrospective-Exhibit-via-YouTheDesigner.jpg"><img alt="Maurice Sendak Retrospective Exhibit via YouTheDesigner" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26561" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Maurice-Sendak-Retrospective-Exhibit-via-YouTheDesigner.jpg" title="Maurice Sendak Retrospective Exhibit via YouTheDesigner" /></a></center>   <center><a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Maurice-Sendak-Retrospective-Exhibit-02-via-YouTheDesigner.jpg"><img alt="Maurice Sendak Retrospective Exhibit 02 via YouTheDesigner" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26559" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Maurice-Sendak-Retrospective-Exhibit-02-via-YouTheDesigner.jpg" title="Maurice Sendak Retrospective Exhibit 02 via YouTheDesigner" /></a></center>   <center><a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Maurice-Sendak-Retrospective-Exhibit-03-via-YouTheDesigner.jpg"><img alt="Maurice Sendak Retrospective Exhibit 03 via YouTheDesigner" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26560" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Maurice-Sendak-Retrospective-Exhibit-03-via-YouTheDesigner.jpg" title="Maurice Sendak Retrospective Exhibit 03 via YouTheDesigner" /></a></center>     The Innovation Whiteboard A month ago, The New York Times invited readers to share innovations that would make daily life easier. They called this <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/magazine/innovation-whiteboard.html" target="_blank">The Innovation Whiteboard</a>, a repository of ideas that features lifehacks.   <center><a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Innovation-Whiteboard-via-YouTheDesigner.com_.jpg"><img alt="Innovation Whiteboard via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26570" height="55" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Innovation-Whiteboard-via-YouTheDesigner.com_.jpg" title="Innovation Whiteboard via YouTheDesigner.com" width="600" /></a></center>   <center><a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Innovation-Whiteboard-02-via-YouTheDesigner.jpg"><img alt="Innovation Whiteboard 02 via YouTheDesigner" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26569" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Innovation-Whiteboard-02-via-YouTheDesigner.jpg" title="Innovation Whiteboard 02 via YouTheDesigner" /></a></center>     Also share and discuss graphic design news with other You The Designer readers through our <a href="http://facebook.com/youthedesigner" target="_blank">Facebook</a> and <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/youthedesigner" target="_blank">Twitter</a> accounts!   Read more posts by <a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/author/chin/" rel="author">Chin de Vera</a><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/YouTheDesigner/~4/a6hvP3cXl_w" width="1" />

UPDATED: 1 YEAR

Logo Design: Raster Graphics or Vector Graphics

Logo design is made up of different defining aspects – from the designer’s influences and personal whims, to the design’s colour and its shape. We’ve discussed how logos are defined by colour and shape in our <a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/2012/06/05/logo-design-the-color-and-the-shape/">previous post</a>. This time we’d like to talk about the file types and the things that you ought to know when you’re designing a logo for different media.   As technical as these two graphic design terms may sound, they’re actually very simple. Raster graphics are basically made up of pixels, the things you see on your screen, the rough edges that you see on an image when you zoom in too much. On the other hand, vector graphics are made up of lines and anchor points that are auto-adjusted by Adobe Illustrator (or any other vector software editor you’re using) when you’re resizing your work. That’s the basic gist of raster and vector graphics, but let’s delve deeper into the abyss and know where and when to use them, and on what project, aside from logo design, you can use them.   <center><img alt="Sample Raster Logo via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26546" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/full_ps.jpg" title="Sample Raster Logo via YouTheDesigner.com" /></center> Upon first inspection, raster and vector graphics will basically look the same way. The difference becomes apparent once reproducing the design becomes an issue.   <h3>Raster Graphics</h3> If you’re going to zoom in on an image, you’ll notice that the edges become more pixelated. This is because most images (JPEG, JPG, PNG, etc.) are rasterized to allow an artist or photographer to manipulate the image using a graphics editing software, like Adobe Photoshop.   A raster graphic image is made up of pixels, with each pixel having only one colour. This means that if you have fewer pixels in your image, you’ll have lesser colour and a low quality image. Otherwise, you’ll have a perfectly crisp and sharp image.   Why it’s not for any logo project The primary concern in using raster graphics to create your logo design is the resolution. As I’ve mentioned before, rasterized images tend to be more pixelated or jagged on the edges. Resizing will be the main problem when it comes to reproducing a rasterized logo. You may be able to produce high resolution image on Photoshop, but you’ll never know how big the logo needs to be in actual production.   <center><img alt="Sample Raster Logo via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26546" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/zoom_ps.jpg" title="Sample Raster Logo via YouTheDesigner.com" /></center> A logo design that’s created using Photoshop will show pixels once you zoom in within the image. This becomes an issue when you need to create a larger design from your original.   Another issue is professional quality. If you’re designing logos as a professional, you’d aim for the best quality and using a raster file for your project doesn’t help your cause. As mentioned earlier, upon closer inspection rasterized images would eventually produce pixelated images. This’ll reflect your knowledge about industry standards and practice, which is better that you know it now, than later.   What’s it for? Photos and graphic rendering are done in raster graphics. Because of the extensive colour manipulation capabilities of raster graphic editors, they’re apt tools in adding and editing colours, tones, and textures on images, and photos. Usual projects done in Adobe Photoshop are web design, promotional graphics, and your usual illustration colour rendering.   <h3>Vector Graphics</h3> In simple terms, vector graphic images are collections of lines and anchor points that make up a whole image. The lines serve as your drawing’s outline and the anchor points control where your lines should go. It’s similar to how the Photoshop pen tool works. If you’re familiar with it you’ll be fine, if not it’s time you work on it.   The anchor points and lines that make up a vector graphic image are manipulated through mathematical calculations (done by the software you’re using, no worries), which make the image done in vector to be scalable to any size.   Why it’s used in creating logos Because of the ease in resizing a vector graphic image, logo designers find it easier to reproduce a logo in any size, any time, without losing quality. Aside from resolving sizing issues on a logo design, editing it will be a lot easier. Logos made in vector graphics are more adaptable and streamlined when applied to different media – from promotional prints and corporate stationery, like <a href="http://www.uprinting.com/business-cards.html?utm_source=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youthedesigner.com%2F&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=gdm_ytd_0612" target="_blank">business cards</a> and letterheads, to web design applications and other media.   <center><img alt="Zoomed in Vector Logo via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26549" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/zoom_vector.jpg" title="Zoomed in Vector Logo via YouTheDesigner.com" /></center> Vector Graphics’ primary strength lies on its scalability. Since you’ll be applying the logo on different media, you’ll have to create different sizes of the same design. But if you’ve created the logo design as a vector graphic, size and scaling issues are easily resolved.   Other applications Most conceptual artists directly sketch their work on vector graphic editors and just render them on Adobe Photoshop, or other raster graphic editors. Because of the power combination of Adobe Illustrator’s intuitive drawing tools that work best with a tablet – this makes it easier for artists and illustrators to create sketches, concept designs, or adding details to a drawing easier.   Look out for our other logo design posts for the month of June. Make sure that you’re subscribed to our <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/YouTheDesigner" target="_blank">RSS Feed</a> to receive awesome design news and inspiration. If you’ve got any questions, topic suggestions, or some love to share, just hit us up on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/youthedesigner" target="_blank">Facebook </a>or <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/youthedesigner" target="_blank">Twitter</a>.   Read more posts by <a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/author/cadence/" rel="author">Cadence Wu</a><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/YouTheDesigner/~4/NbyxvDmYX_E" width="1" />

UPDATED: 1 YEAR

You! Be Inspired! #0008 – Conrad Roset, Chibi Tarot, and Project: Rooftop

As you’ve seen in our recent posts, we’re cooking up a series of articles focusing on logo design and the issues and elements concerning the design process as well as the technicalities that come with it. Watch out for this week’s upcoming posts – we’ll be featuring illustrated covers of The New Yorker magazine, we’ll also publish another logo design post discussing the difference between raster and vector graphics.   Going into the things I dug up the past weekend, here are some amazing graphic design samples, illustrators, and their artwork:     Emma Block – Illustrator We’ve seen some amazing illustration from <a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/2012/05/30/you-be-inspired-0007/" target="_blank">last week’s Be Inspired</a> post, this week we’ve got another female illustrator in <a href="http://emmablock.co.uk" target="_blank">Emma Block</a>. Her work has a touch of 1930s jazz and 1950s lifestyle, some of her works somehow reminisce the film Breakfast at Tiffany’s and a little hint of Dorothy Parker’s era.   <center><img alt="Emma Snow via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26481" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/emma01.jpg" title="" /></center>   <center><img alt="Emma Snow via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26482" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/emma02.jpg" title="" /></center>   <center><img alt="Emma Snow via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26483" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/emma03.jpg" title="" /></center>   <center><img alt="Emma Snow via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26484" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/emma04.jpg" title="" /></center>   <center><img alt="Emma Snow via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26485" height="580" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/emma05.jpg" title="" width="600" /></center>     Chibi Tarot – A Cute Take on an Ancient Tradition A project by artist Adam Bodgett, the <a href="http://chibitarot.com/" target="_blank">Chibi Tarot</a> project aims to recreate the major and minor arcana of the Tarot deck, through the lens of chibi. If you’re not familiar with the term chibi meaning “Short Person”, it’s used to describe a thing or person as cute or small.   <center><img alt="Chibi Tarot by Adam Bodgett via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26469" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/chibitarot01.png" title="" /></center>   <center><img alt="Chibi Tarot by Adam Bodgett via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26470" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/chibitarot02.png" title="" /></center>   <center><img alt="Chibi Tarot by Adam Bodgett via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26472" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/chibitarot03.png" title="" /></center>   <center><img alt="Chibi Tarot by Adam Bodgett via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26473" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/chibitarot04.png" title="" /></center>   <center><img alt="Chibi Tarot by Adam Bodgett via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26474" height="1111" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/chibitarot05.png" title="" width="600" /></center>     Conrad Roset – Illustrator A common muse among graphic artists and illustrators is the image of a woman. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/conradroset" target="_blank">Conrad Roset’s gallery</a> of works exemplifies this appreciation of the female form – from his muse collections to his commercial works. Though Conrad’s work primarily focuses on the sensual form of a woman, his portfolio boasts an assortment of different projects, from photography to <a href="http://www.uprinting.com/postcard-printing.html?utm_source=youthedesigner.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=gdm_ytd_0612" target="_blank">postcard prints</a>, and children’s books.   <center><img alt="Conrad Roset via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26476" height="925" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/conrad01.jpg" title="" width="600" /></center>   <center><img alt="Conrad Roset via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26477" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/conrad02.jpg" title="" /></center>   <center><img alt="Conrad Roset via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26478" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/conrad03.jpg" title="" /></center>   <center><img alt="Conrad Roset via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26479" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/conrad04.jpg" title="" /></center>   <center><img alt="Conrad Roset via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26480" height="830" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/conrad05.jpg" title="" width="600" /></center>     Movie Posters by Neil Kellerhouse If you’re into films and <a href="http://www.uprinting.com/poster-printing.html?utm_source=youthedesigner.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=gdm_ytd_0612" target="_blank">movie posters</a>, you’ll love <a href="http://kellerhouse.com/" target="_blank">Neil Kellerhouse’s work</a>. He has worked on the posters for The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, The Social Network, and I’m Still Here among others. His unique, sleek, and compact style in photography, and the typography he uses together in the movie posters provide a unique character to each film’s promotional media.   <center><img alt="Neil Kellerhouse via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26486" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/neil01.jpg" title="" /></center>   <center><img alt="Neil Kellerhouse via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26487" height="888" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/neil02.jpg" title="" width="600" /></center>   <center><img alt="Neil Kellerhouse via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26488" height="944" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/neil03.jpg" title="" width="600" /></center>   <center><img alt="Neil Kellerhouse via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26489" height="888" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/neil04.jpg" title="" width="600" /></center>   <center><img alt="Neil Kellerhouse via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26490" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/neil05.jpg" title="" /></center>     The Great Showdowns – Scott Campbell Everyone has a favorite scene from a film – from the first Matrix’s bullet time fight scenes to Gandalf’s epic confrontation with the Balrog. These have been memorable scenes from our most beloved movies. Now, Scott Campbell recreates all the battle scenes, the close encounters, and the conversations into cute and cuddly illustrations. Check out his project, <a href="http://greatshowdowns.com/" target="_blank">The Great Showdowns</a> on tumblr for more action!   <center><img alt="The Great Showdowns via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26496" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/scott01.jpg" title="" /></center>   <center><img alt="The Great Showdowns via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26497" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/scott02.jpg" title="" /></center>     Project: Rooftop <a href="http://www.tencentticker.com/projectrooftop/about/" target="_blank">Project: Rooftop</a> aims to promote and expand the founders’ idea of superhero costume and character redesign as a skill. It’s being spearheaded by comic book artist Dean Trippe and journalist Christ Arrant. The project was inspired by reality shows and other related superhero literature, and by the trend of costume redesign on different superheroes.   <center><img alt="Project: Rooftop via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26491" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/rooftop01.jpg" title="" /></center>   <center><img alt="Project: Rooftop via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26492" height="330" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/rooftop02.jpeg" title="" width="600" /></center>   <center><img alt="Project: Rooftop via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26493" height="423" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/rooftop03.jpg" title="" width="600" /></center>   <center><img alt="Project: Rooftop via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26494" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/rooftop04.jpg" title="" /></center>   <center><img alt="Project: Rooftop via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26495" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/rooftop05.png" title="" /></center>     Vintage Book Collection by Mallory McInnis “In the Thrift Shop we trust” – that pretty much sums up my affection for thrift shops that sell pre-owned and cheap curiosities. One of the nice things that you’ll never regret buying off thrift shops are books. Now, Mallory McInnis, a curious online case of a curator, has compiled more than a hundred vintage books and posted their prints online. The prints from her collection have a unique and eerie feel (well, most vintage books have eerie illustrations), and somehow transport you back in time. Check out her collection at <a href="http://myvintagebookcollectioninblogform.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">My Vintage Book Collection</a>.   <center><img alt="Vintage Book Collection by Mallory McInnis via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26498" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/vintage01.png" title="" /></center>   <center><img alt="Vintage Book Collection by Mallory McInnis via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26499" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/vintage02.png" title="" /></center>   <center><img alt="Vintage Book Collection by Mallory McInnis via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26500" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/vintage03.png" title="" /></center>   <center><img alt="Vintage Book Collection by Mallory McInnis via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26501" height="948" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/vintage04.png" title="" width="600" /></center>   <center><img alt="Vintage Book Collection by Mallory McInnis via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26502" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/vintage05.png" title="" /></center> Got something awesome to share, or a topic you want us to discuss? Hit us up on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/youthedesigner" target="_blank">Facebook</a> or <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/youthedesigner" target="_blank">Twitter</a>. Also be more amazing and subscribe to our <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/YouTheDesigner" target="_blank">RSS Feed</a>.   Read more posts by <a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/author/victor/" rel="author">Victor Pontejos</a><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/YouTheDesigner/~4/MVnVWKIh9To" width="1" />

UPDATED: 1 YEAR

GRAPHICS.COM

SHOW NEXT 5 >

PageZephyr Enhanced for Adobe InDesign Document Search and Content Extraction

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

DxO ViewPoint Adobe Photoshop Plugin Enhanced for Restoring Photo Proportions

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

Adobe Photoshop CS6 Receives a Significant Upgrade

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

Snapheal Updated for Mac Image Editing, Now Claims to Equal Photoshop

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

Resize Sense Mac Batch Image Resizer Updated

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

Retina Support Added to Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator CS6

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

Coloriage Adobe Photoshop Plugin Updated for Photo Colorization

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

Mac Version of ColorStyler Adobe Photoshop Plugin Released

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

Alien Skin Software Updates Eye Candy Filters Collection

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

MAGIX Page and Layout Designer Launched for Business Document Creation

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 2 WEEKS

CREATIVEAPPLICATIONS.NET

SHOW NEXT 5 >

REWORK (Philip Glass Remixed) by Snibbe Studio

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

Digital Manager at Warp Records

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

HOLO – Final days on Kickstarter – Digital Gifts and More!

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

Woods – Structured landscape of responsive light by Nocte

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

Computational Designer at ART+COM

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

Energy Flow – Non-linear film experience by FIELD for the iOS and Android

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

“Every Day Of My Life” by Marcin Ignac

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

Front-end Interactive Developer at Less Rain Ltd

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 2 WEEKS

Artists in Laboratories (#A.I.L) – Regine Debatty

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 2 WEEKS

10 PRINT – Single line of code as a lens through creative computing

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 2 WEEKS

GIZMODO

SHOW NEXT 5 >

Wink: Instantly Share Your Photos With Friends So They Stop Bugging You

<div style="float: left; padding-right: 10px;">  <div><a class="pp_image" href="http://gizmodo.com/5967645/wink-instantly-share-your-photos-with-friends-so-they-stop-bugging-you" title="Click here to read Wink: Instantly Share Your Photos With Friends So They Stop Bugging You"> <img alt="Click here to read Wink: Instantly Share Your Photos With Friends So They Stop Bugging You" height="120" src="http://img.gawkerassets.com/img/18820j7rv2do7png/original.png" style="border-color: #B3B3B3; border-width: 0 1px 1px; border-style: none solid solid;" title="Click here to read Wink: Instantly Share Your Photos With Friends So They Stop Bugging You" width="190" /> </a></div> </div> Email me that photo. Hey don't forget to Facebook those pictures. That kind of nagging you hear over and over from your friends gets annoying. But if you all download <a href="http://winktheapp.com/">Wink</a>, then they no longer have a reason to beg you to post your pics. <a href="http://gizmodo.com/5967645/wink-instantly-share-your-photos-with-friends-so-they-stop-bugging-you" title="Click here to read more about Wink: Instantly Share Your Photos With Friends So They Stop Bugging You">More »</a> <img border="0" height="1" src="http://gizmodo.feedsportal.com/c/34976/f/647164/s/2694fa13/mf.gif" width="1" /> <a href="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/151883355872/u/49/f/647164/c/34976/s/2694fa13/a2.htm"><img border="0" src="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/151883355872/u/49/f/647164/c/34976/s/2694fa13/a2.img" /></a><img border="0" height="1" src="http://pi.feedsportal.com/r/151883355872/u/49/f/647164/c/34976/s/2694fa13/a2t.img" width="1" /><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~4/R-TTe6slShU" width="1" />

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

You Can Buy Original Art From the Woman Who Ruined That Jesus Portrait

<div style="float: left; padding-right: 10px;">  <div><a class="pp_image" href="http://gizmodo.com/5968317/you-can-buy-original-art-from-the-woman-who-ruined-that-jesus-portrait" title="Click here to read You Can Buy Original Art From the Woman Who Ruined That Jesus Portrait"> <img alt="Click here to read You Can Buy Original Art From the Woman Who Ruined That Jesus Portrait" height="120" src="http://img.gawkerassets.com/img/1889bfp7xm2cvjpg/original.jpg" style="border-color: #B3B3B3; border-width: 0 1px 1px; border-style: none solid solid;" title="Click here to read You Can Buy Original Art From the Woman Who Ruined That Jesus Portrait" width="190" /> </a></div> </div> Monkey Jesus lady, you gave us one of our favorite things of 2012: the botched restoration of a 19th century fresco called "Ecce Homo" in an old Spanish church. If you, too, are a fan of the work of Cecilia Gímenez, here's some welcome news: You can buy her <a href="http://www.ebay.es/itm/CUADRO-DE-Cecilia-Gimenez-Restaurado-del-Ecce-Homo-/261141247968?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_186&hash=item3ccd3b37e0%C2%A3ht_886wt_1156#ht_914wt_1068">original art on eBay</a>. <a href="http://gizmodo.com/5968317/you-can-buy-original-art-from-the-woman-who-ruined-that-jesus-portrait" title="Click here to read more about You Can Buy Original Art From the Woman Who Ruined That Jesus Portrait">More »</a> <img border="0" height="1" src="http://gizmodo.feedsportal.com/c/34976/f/647164/s/26947e51/mf.gif" width="1" /> <a href="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/151883466786/u/49/f/647164/c/34976/s/26947e51/a2.htm"><img border="0" src="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/151883466786/u/49/f/647164/c/34976/s/26947e51/a2.img" /></a><img border="0" height="1" src="http://pi.feedsportal.com/r/151883466786/u/49/f/647164/c/34976/s/26947e51/a2t.img" width="1" /><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~4/pWf_dKOe6qs" width="1" />

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

Organize Your Desk With a Boat

<div style="float: left; padding-right: 10px;">  <div><a class="pp_image" href="http://gizmodo.com/5968279/organize-your-desk-with-a-boat" title="Click here to read Organize Your Desk With a Boat"> <img alt="Click here to read Organize Your Desk With a Boat" height="120" src="http://img.gawkerassets.com/img/18894x4fm2e5njpg/original.jpg" style="border-color: #B3B3B3; border-width: 0 1px 1px; border-style: none solid solid;" title="Click here to read Organize Your Desk With a Boat" width="190" /> </a></div> </div> You should see my desk. It's a goddamn nightmare explosion of pens, business cards, empty coffee cups, and random crap. These modular <a href="http://mocoloco.com/fresh2/2012/12/10/desktructure-by-hector-serrano.php?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+mocoloco/KGTY+(MoCo+Loco)">Desktructure Organizers</a> would more than do the job of sprucing things up. <a href="http://gizmodo.com/5968279/organize-your-desk-with-a-boat" title="Click here to read more about Organize Your Desk With a Boat">More »</a> <img border="0" height="1" src="http://gizmodo.feedsportal.com/c/34976/f/647164/s/269445e9/mf.gif" width="1" /> <a href="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/151883550192/u/49/f/647164/c/34976/s/269445e9/a2.htm"><img border="0" src="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/151883550192/u/49/f/647164/c/34976/s/269445e9/a2.img" /></a><img border="0" height="1" src="http://pi.feedsportal.com/r/151883550192/u/49/f/647164/c/34976/s/269445e9/a2t.img" width="1" /><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~4/5v1h-7Kfp-w" width="1" />

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

Are There Any Side Effects of Masturbation?

<div style="float: left; padding-right: 10px;">  <div><a class="pp_image" href="http://gizmodo.com/5968314/are-there-any-side-effects-of-masturbation" title="Click here to read Are There Any Side Effects of Masturbation?"> <img alt="Click here to read Are There Any Side Effects of Masturbation?" height="120" src="http://img.gawkerassets.com/img/1889bbn7ohuzmjpg/original.jpg" style="border-color: #B3B3B3; border-width: 0 1px 1px; border-style: none solid solid;" title="Click here to read Are There Any Side Effects of Masturbation?" width="190" /> </a></div> </div> The most common "side effects" of masturbation are ejaculation (mostly among men, but sometimes among women); relief of boredom; fun; pleasure; relief of tension; easier time falling asleep; relaxation; and general happiness. No, you are not going to go blind. <a href="http://gizmodo.com/5968314/are-there-any-side-effects-of-masturbation" title="Click here to read more about Are There Any Side Effects of Masturbation?">More »</a> <img border="0" height="1" src="http://gizmodo.feedsportal.com/c/34976/f/647164/s/26947707/mf.gif" width="1" /> <a href="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/151883465730/u/49/f/647164/c/34976/s/26947707/a2.htm"><img border="0" src="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/151883465730/u/49/f/647164/c/34976/s/26947707/a2.img" /></a><img border="0" height="1" src="http://pi.feedsportal.com/r/151883465730/u/49/f/647164/c/34976/s/26947707/a2t.img" width="1" /><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~4/wwwI9iUMLtc" width="1" />

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

The Most Important Laptops of 2012

<div style="float: left; padding-right: 10px;">  <div><a class="pp_image" href="http://gizmodo.com/5967988/the-most-important-laptops-of-2012/gallery/" title="Click here to read The Most Important Laptops of 2012"> <img alt="Click here to read The Most Important Laptops of 2012" height="120" src="http://img.gawkerassets.com/img/1885mha3nmiq1jpg/original.jpg" style="border-color: #B3B3B3; border-width: 0 1px 1px; border-style: none solid solid;" title="Click here to read The Most Important Laptops of 2012" width="190" /> </a></div> </div> 2012 was a big year for laptops. Windows 8 came along with its touch-centric worldview, Intel kept plugging away on its ultrabook crusade, and Apple finally started pumping out Retina MacBooks. Here's our list of the most important machines of the year. <a href="http://gizmodo.com/5967988/the-most-important-laptops-of-2012/gallery/" title="Click here to read more about The Most Important Laptops of 2012">More »</a> <img border="0" height="1" src="http://gizmodo.feedsportal.com/c/34976/f/647164/s/26942041/mf.gif" width="1" /> <a href="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/151883374283/u/49/f/647164/c/34976/s/26942041/a2.htm"><img border="0" src="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/151883374283/u/49/f/647164/c/34976/s/26942041/a2.img" /></a><img border="0" height="1" src="http://pi.feedsportal.com/r/151883374283/u/49/f/647164/c/34976/s/26942041/a2t.img" width="1" /><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~4/hglil-XHINQ" width="1" />

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

Boozy Gifts for Merry Drunkards

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

Major Brooklyn Gang Taken Down by Cops on Facebook and Also by Extreme Stupidity

<div style="float: left; padding-right: 10px;">  <div><a class="pp_image" href="http://gizmodo.com/5968234/major-brooklyn-gang-taken-down-by-cops-on-facebook-and-also-by-extreme-stupidity" title="Click here to read Major Brooklyn Gang Taken Down by Cops on Facebook and Also by Extreme Stupidity"> <img alt="Click here to read Major Brooklyn Gang Taken Down by Cops on Facebook and Also by Extreme Stupidity" height="120" src="http://img.gawkerassets.com/img/1888st6jpxac4jpg/original.jpg" style="border-color: #B3B3B3; border-width: 0 1px 1px; border-style: none solid solid;" title="Click here to read Major Brooklyn Gang Taken Down by Cops on Facebook and Also by Extreme Stupidity" width="190" /> </a></div> </div>  In the second season of the nerdiest adaptation of The Wire to date, New York City police have <a href="http://bushwickdaily.com/2012/12/cops-took-down-a-major-bushwick-gang-using-social-media/">busted up a violent 41-member gang</a> in Brooklyn using—you guessed it—Facebook and Twitter. Again. <a href="http://gizmodo.com/5968234/major-brooklyn-gang-taken-down-by-cops-on-facebook-and-also-by-extreme-stupidity" title="Click here to read more about Major Brooklyn Gang Taken Down by Cops on Facebook and Also by Extreme Stupidity">More »</a> <img border="0" height="1" src="http://gizmodo.feedsportal.com/c/34976/f/647164/s/269438d2/mf.gif" width="1" /> <a href="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/151883548397/u/49/f/647164/c/34976/s/269438d2/a2.htm"><img border="0" src="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/151883548397/u/49/f/647164/c/34976/s/269438d2/a2.img" /></a><img border="0" height="1" src="http://pi.feedsportal.com/r/151883548397/u/49/f/647164/c/34976/s/269438d2/a2t.img" width="1" /><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~4/CCdzG1yUlZY" width="1" />

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

Samsung Galaxy Camera Review: Android Franken-Camera, You Are Absurd and Almost Wonderful

<div style="float: left; padding-right: 10px;">  <div><a class="pp_image" href="http://gizmodo.com/5967855/samsung-galaxy-camera-review-android-franken+camera-you-are-absurd-and-almost-wonderful" title="Click here to read Samsung Galaxy Camera Review: Android Franken-Camera, You Are Absurd and Almost Wonderful"> <img alt="Click here to read Samsung Galaxy Camera Review: Android Franken-Camera, You Are Absurd and Almost Wonderful" height="120" src="http://img.gawkerassets.com/img/18885ykkuipgvjpg/original.jpg" style="border-color: #B3B3B3; border-width: 0 1px 1px; border-style: none solid solid;" title="Click here to read Samsung Galaxy Camera Review: Android Franken-Camera, You Are Absurd and Almost Wonderful" width="190" /> </a></div> </div> "Android camera." It doesn't even sound like a real thing. That's why the Samsung Galaxy Camera could easily have been a nonsense concept—two desirable things hurled together in hopes that the result will be a revolutionary hybrid, and not a catastrophe. <a href="http://gizmodo.com/5967855/samsung-galaxy-camera-review-android-franken+camera-you-are-absurd-and-almost-wonderful" title="Click here to read more about Samsung Galaxy Camera Review: Android Franken-Camera, You Are Absurd and Almost Wonderful">More »</a> <img border="0" height="1" src="http://gizmodo.feedsportal.com/c/34976/f/647164/s/26940658/mf.gif" width="1" /> <a href="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/151883463625/u/49/f/647164/c/34976/s/26940658/a2.htm"><img border="0" src="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/151883463625/u/49/f/647164/c/34976/s/26940658/a2.img" /></a><img border="0" height="1" src="http://pi.feedsportal.com/r/151883463625/u/49/f/647164/c/34976/s/26940658/a2t.img" width="1" /><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~4/QVDBtmMvapY" width="1" />

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

These Deceptive Camouflage Cans Are Your Stoner-Channel Deal of the Day

<div style="float: left; padding-right: 10px;">  <div><a class="pp_image" href="http://gizmodo.com/5968245/these-deceptive-camouflage-cans-are-your-stoner+channel-deal-of-the-day" title="Click here to read These Deceptive Camouflage Cans Are Your Stoner-Channel Deal of the Day"> <img alt="Click here to read These Deceptive Camouflage Cans Are Your Stoner-Channel Deal of the Day" height="120" src="http://img.gawkerassets.com/img/18891ukqbn5cujpg/original.jpg" style="border-color: #B3B3B3; border-width: 0 1px 1px; border-style: none solid solid;" title="Click here to read These Deceptive Camouflage Cans Are Your Stoner-Channel Deal of the Day" width="190" /> </a></div> </div> Let's be honest: you've got some possessions in your room that would be, let's say, a sticky situation if someone found them. Locking your hideables in a safe just draws more attention and seems a bit like overkill. Pros cut out the center section from a book, but you're a dummy and you don't have a library. The answer? These clever stash cans look like everyday objects, but they're hollow, and you can hide your contraband in them. You've got two options: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Southwest-Specialty-Products-30007C-Barbasol/dp/B000HZ8RN0/ref=pd_bxgy_hi_img_z">one that looks like shaving cream</a>, and one that looks like a <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0009ZEXJU/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0009ZEXJU&linkCode=as2&tag=gmgamzn-20">Dr. Pepper can</a>. At stores that sell—ahem—tie-dye, I've seen these handy stash spots go for $20 or $25. Today from Amazon they're both under $10 with free Prime shipping. To be blunt, that's a pretty good deal. [<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Southwest-Specialty-Products-30007C-Barbasol/dp/B000HZ8RN0/ref=pd_bxgy_hi_img_z">Amazon</a>] <a href="http://gizmodo.com/5968245/these-deceptive-camouflage-cans-are-your-stoner+channel-deal-of-the-day" title="Click here to read more about These Deceptive Camouflage Cans Are Your Stoner-Channel Deal of the Day">More »</a> <img border="0" height="1" src="http://gizmodo.feedsportal.com/c/34976/f/647164/s/2693ee79/mf.gif" width="1" /> <a href="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/151883351532/u/49/f/647164/c/34976/s/2693ee79/a2.htm"><img border="0" src="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/151883351532/u/49/f/647164/c/34976/s/2693ee79/a2.img" /></a><img border="0" height="1" src="http://pi.feedsportal.com/r/151883351532/u/49/f/647164/c/34976/s/2693ee79/a2t.img" width="1" /><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~4/OAxiMmN6w0c" width="1" />

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

This Polygamist Mouse Can Partner with 9 Devices

<div style="float: left; padding-right: 10px;">  <div><a class="pp_image" href="http://gizmodo.com/5968224/this-polygamist-mouse-can-partner-with-9-devices" title="Click here to read This Polygamist Mouse Can Partner with 9 Devices"> <img alt="Click here to read This Polygamist Mouse Can Partner with 9 Devices" height="120" src="http://img.gawkerassets.com/img/1888qboi8w6bsjpg/original.jpg" style="border-color: #B3B3B3; border-width: 0 1px 1px; border-style: none solid solid;" title="Click here to read This Polygamist Mouse Can Partner with 9 Devices" width="190" /> </a></div> </div> Besides a lack of unruly cables, the other big advantage to using wireless accessories like a Bluetooth mouse is that they can be easily swapped between devices. And Elecom is betting that there are enough consumers using nine different devices at once to profit on its new <a href="http://www.elecom.co.jp/news/201212/m-nv1br/index.html">9nove wireless mouse</a>. Good luck with that. <a href="http://gizmodo.com/5968224/this-polygamist-mouse-can-partner-with-9-devices" title="Click here to read more about This Polygamist Mouse Can Partner with 9 Devices">More »</a> <img border="0" height="1" src="http://gizmodo.feedsportal.com/c/34976/f/647164/s/26940e86/mf.gif" width="1" /> <a href="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/151883371776/u/49/f/647164/c/34976/s/26940e86/a2.htm"><img border="0" src="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/151883371776/u/49/f/647164/c/34976/s/26940e86/a2.img" /></a><img border="0" height="1" src="http://pi.feedsportal.com/r/151883371776/u/49/f/647164/c/34976/s/26940e86/a2t.img" width="1" /><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~4/dQpkZggNF3w" width="1" />

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

NEWS FROM CGW

SHOW NEXT 5 >

Magical Performance

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

Cinema 4D/Illustrator: A Better Match

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

Studio Creates Edgy Effects for Commercial

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

Blast from the Past

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

Color Correcting: It's Elementary, My Dear Watson

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

Union Creates Invisible Effects For 'Hyde Park On Hudson'

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

VES Renews Executive Director Contract

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

CG Plays Intergalactic Role

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

UK Looks at Tax Credits for Entertainment Projects

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 2 WEEKS

VIEW Conference

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 2 WEEKS

DIGITAL IMAGE MAGAZINE

SHOW NEXT 5 >

Digital Image Magazine is for sale

UPDATED: 1 YEAR, 2 MONTHS

Digital Image is on hiatus

<div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_2625" style="width: 600px;"><a href="http://www.bobnolin.com"><img alt="Friends Stick Together, by Bob Nolin. Painted with Photoshop CS5. " class="size-full wp-image-2625" height="361" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/wp-content/uploads2010/2011/06/hiatus.jpg" title="hiatus" width="590" /></a>Friends Stick Together, by Bob Nolin. Painted with Photoshop CS5. </div> <h5>Digital Image Magazine is on hiatus for an indefinite time. In the meantime, please make use of the more than 180 articles (tutorials, reviews, inspirations, etc.) here for you. </h5> <div class="shr-publisher-2624"></div><div style="clear: both; height: 3px; width: 100%;"></div><div class="shareaholic-like-buttonset" style="float: none; height: 30px;"><a class="shareaholic-fblike"></a><a class="shareaholic-fbsend"></a></div><div style="clear: both; height: 3px; width: 100%;"></div><img alt="" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/?ak_action=api_record_view&id=2624&type=feed" /> Related posts:<ol><li><a href="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/featured/a-collection-of-helpful-websites-for-digital-artists/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link: A Collection of Helpful Websites for Digital Artists">A Collection of Helpful Websites for Digital Artists</a> Here's a hand-picked list of great websites devoted to creating...</li> <li><a href="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/featured/resources-online-training-for-digital-painting/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link: Resources: Online Training for Digital Painting">Resources: Online Training for Digital Painting</a> Learn digital art in the comfort of your own home!...</li> <li><a href="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/featured/tutorial-how-to-create-your-own-image-hose-nozzles/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link: Tutorial: How to create your own Image Hose nozzles">Tutorial: How to create your own Image Hose nozzles</a> You can do amazing things with the Image Hose loaded...</li> </ol>

UPDATED: 1 YEAR, 12 MONTHS

Review: Secrets of Corel Painter Experts

<div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_2605" style="width: 600px;"><a href="http://www.andreasrocha.com"><img alt="Beacon, by Andreas Rocha" class="size-full wp-image-2605" height="251" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/wp-content/uploads2010/2011/05/Beacon.jpg" title="Beacon" width="590" /></a>Beacon, by Andreas Rocha</div> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/143545720X/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=digiimagmaga-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399349&creativeASIN=143545720X">Secrets of Corel Painter Experts: Tips, Techniques, and Insights for Users of All Abilities</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=digiimagmaga-20&l=as2&o=1&a=143545720X&camp=217145&creative=399349" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> by Daryl Wise and Linda Hellfritsch, is a new title from Course Technology PTR. It is printed in their familiar 7×9″ horizontal format. This makes it a bit hard to read, holding it in your lap, but it works very well lying open on a desk. The spine design allows the book to lie flat quite easily, without damaging the book. This is a dense, 314-page, color-filled book, with lots of great paintings to look at and be inspired by. Inspiration, in fact, is what this book is all about. <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_2607" style="width: 586px;"><img alt="A New York Minute, by Richard Swiatlowski" class="size-full wp-image-2607" height="384" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/wp-content/uploads2010/2011/05/A-NEW-YORK-MINUTE-06.jpg" title="A-NEW-YORK-MINUTE-06" width="576" />A New York Minute, by Richard Swiatlowski</div> The book highlights the work of 17 artists currently using Painter as part of their workflow. The range of styles is quite diverse, which is one of the book’s strengths. The majority of the works here are paintings created from scratch. Only a few artists here use Painter to modify photographs. Mostly what is presented here are what I would call illustrations or fine art paintings. The artists, for the most part, are new, to me at least. It’s nice to see some new blood. The stable of Corel Masters is getting rather tired at this point. <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_2608" style="width: 600px;"><img alt="The Moon, by Song Yang" class="size-full wp-image-2608" height="862" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/wp-content/uploads2010/2011/05/the-moon.jpg" title="the-moon" width="590" />The Moon, by Song Yang</div> Each chapter includes information about the artist (software and hardware used, education, clients, and awards), a short interview section, a gallery of work, and a Technique section. This is where you’ll find one or two tutorials by each artist. These vary in level of detail. For instance, Chet Phillips’ tutorial is just that: a low-level, what-settings-to-use sort of tutorial (it’s great, too, by the way); most of the tutorials are more high-level. You’ll gain an understanding of the artist’s approach and workflow. For the most part, these are not follow-along projects. For this sort of book, that’s perfect. As the title indicates, there are some “secrets” here: you’ll pick up quite a few clever tricks and new ideas browsing through each chapter. It’s fascinating to see how many different ways a single program can be used. Of course, nearly all of the artists here use Photoshop and other programs, in addition to Painter. This is the way it is in the world of professional art: no one program does it all. The printing quality is first-rate. There is a DVD attached which pretty much contains nothing more than the same works shown in the printed book. These images look better in the book than in the tiny JPGs on the DVD. Be warned–the back of the book states that the DVD contains video tutorials, desktop wallpaper, and Painter movies. I found only two artists who had additional content. Still, the book itself is very worthwhile. You’ll be happy to have it on hand next time you need some inspiration and new ideas. <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_2609" style="width: 600px;"><img alt="Page from Anomaly graphic novel, by Brian Haberlin" class="size-full wp-image-2609" height="392" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/wp-content/uploads2010/2011/05/page-from-anomaly-graphic-novel.jpg" title="page-from-anomaly-graphic-novel" width="590" />Page from Anomaly graphic novel, by Brian Haberlin</div> <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_2610" style="width: 600px;"><img alt="Together, by Pete Revonkorpi" class="size-full wp-image-2610" height="490" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/wp-content/uploads2010/2011/05/Together.jpg" title="Together" width="590" />Together, by Pete Revonkorpi</div> <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_2614" style="width: 600px;"><img alt="Anno 1404 - Harbour, by Torsten Wolber" class="size-full wp-image-2614" height="785" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/wp-content/uploads2010/2011/05/Anno1404_Harbour-01.jpg" title="Anno1404_Harbour-01" width="590" />Anno 1404 - Harbour, by Torsten Wolber</div> <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_2615" style="width: 537px;"><img alt="William Shakespaw, by Chet Phillips" class="size-full wp-image-2615" height="897" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/wp-content/uploads2010/2011/05/William-Shakespaw.jpg" title="William-Shakespaw" width="527" />William Shakespaw, by Chet Phillips</div> <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_2616" style="width: 510px;"><img alt="Tupac, by Mike Thompson" class="size-full wp-image-2616" height="476" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/wp-content/uploads2010/2011/05/Tupac.jpg" title="Tupac" width="500" />Tupac, by Mike Thompson</div> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/143545720X/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=digiimagmaga-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399349&creativeASIN=143545720X">Secrets of Corel Painter Experts: Tips, Techniques, and Insights for Users of All Abilities</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=digiimagmaga-20&l=as2&o=1&a=143545720X&camp=217145&creative=399349" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> by Daryl Wise and Linda Hellfritsch. <div class="shr-publisher-2597"></div><div style="clear: both; height: 3px; width: 100%;"></div><div class="shareaholic-like-buttonset" style="float: none; height: 30px;"><a class="shareaholic-fblike"></a><a class="shareaholic-fbsend"></a></div><div style="clear: both; height: 3px; width: 100%;"></div><img alt="" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/?ak_action=api_record_view&id=2597&type=feed" /> Related posts:<ol><li><a href="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/featured/review-advanced-painter-techniques-by-don-seegmiller/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link: Review: Advanced Painter Techniques by Don Seegmiller">Review: Advanced Painter Techniques by Don Seegmiller</a> An in-depth review of a new book from Don Seegmiller,...</li> <li><a href="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/featured/bob-nolin/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link: Review: Digital Collage and Painting, by Susan Ruddick Bloom">Review: Digital Collage and Painting, by Susan Ruddick Bloom</a> An indepth review of Digital Collage and Painting, by Susan...</li> <li><a href="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/featured/book-review-karen-sperlings-painting-for-photographers/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link: Book Review: Karen Sperling’s Painting for Photographers">Book Review: Karen Sperling’s Painting for Photographers</a> Karen Sperling has a wonderful new book out for anyone...</li> </ol>

UPDATED: 2 YEARS

Tutorial: A Photomanip Journal, Part 3

<div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_2586" style="width: 600px;"><a href="http://www.bobnolin.com"><img alt="This week, we'll see how to take last week's image (left) and turn it into the image on the right. " class="size-full wp-image-2586" height="377" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/wp-content/uploads2010/2011/05/before-after-header.jpg" title="before-after-header" width="590" /></a>This week, we'll see how to take last week's image (left) and turn it into the image on the right. </div> Before we begin Part 3, let’s do a quick review. In Part 1, we chose a photo of a model and an environment for her to “live” in. We added a third piece (a new floor) to complete the initial photo composition. In Part 2, we used the ornate stained glass window to create its own mask, thus “removing” the panes of glass. Now we can add a new background image, to serve as the view out the window. Today, in Part 3, we will add 17 layers to adjust the coloring and lighting, to change the image from Part 2 into something exciting and colorful. <div class="wp-caption alignleft" id="attachment_2584" style="width: 233px;"><img alt="To help us stay sane, we'll put the layers into groups, since there are 17 total layers. " class="size-full wp-image-2584" height="184" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/wp-content/uploads2010/2011/05/all-groups.jpg" title="all-groups" width="223" />To help us stay sane, we'll put the layers into groups, since there are 17 total layers. </div>Before you run screaming out of the room at the very thought of 17 layers, let me assure you it’s not as bad as you might think. Photoshop’s groups act like folders, which help us to organize the layers. Groups can really save your sanity. Here you can see the 17 layers arranged into four groups. The layers are arranged into groups according to the major object being modified. So, for example, the topmost group is the figure group, and it contains the layers which modify our lady in waiting. Here’s what is in the Figures group. <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_2587" style="width: 360px;"><img alt="Clicking on the side-pointing arrow opens up the group. Here are the layers which make up the Figures group. " class="size-full wp-image-2587" height="534" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/wp-content/uploads2010/2011/05/figure-group-layers.jpg" title="figure-group-layers" width="350" />Clicking on the side-pointing arrow opens up the group. Here are the layers which make up the Figures group. </div> The very top layer is set to blending mode hard light. This is a blank layer, and the blending mode allows us to paint on her hair and brighten it up a lot. We also can shape the hair a bit, and add some queenly length. Notice that the figure itself is on a transparent layer. We can use this transparency to clip (mask) layers above the figure. That’s what those right-angle symbols mean: a clipping mask is turned on. You can have more than one layer clipped by the bottom layer, as here (we have two layers being clipped by the queen figure). This means that we can only paint inside the area taken up by the pixel in the Original image layer (the queen). We can add a rim light (a glowing edge) by painting with an airbrush all around the upper edges of the figure, on a blank layer (see layer “rim light”). Turn on blending mode Linear Dodge (add) to punch up the glow. Don’t worry about painting “outside the lines:” the clipping mask won’t let you. Clipping masks are very helpful, and a big time saver. Once you see how they work, you’ll use them all the time. The layer I lazily left named “Levels 3″ also uses the queen image layer as a clipping mask. Here, I’ve added a levels adjustment layer with a layer mask. The clipping mask restricts the levels adjustment to just the queen, and nothing else. The layers mask allows me to lighten, with the paint brush, the darkening created by the levels adjustment, in selected areas. This is a technique I’ve explained in detail in past tutorials, so I won’t spend any more time on it here. The bottom-most layer in the Figure group is a simple blank layer, with dark, soft-edged shadows painted behind the queen. She overlaps the shadows, because her layer is above the layer with the shadows. Next we have the Floor group. <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_2588" style="width: 360px;"><img alt="Here is the Floor group, opened up. " class="size-full wp-image-2588" height="476" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/wp-content/uploads2010/2011/05/floor-layers-group.jpg" title="floor-layers-group" width="350" />Here is the Floor group, opened up. </div> Here again, the floor object is on a transparent layer, so we can use it with clipping masks. This group is fairly straightforward: we just add three adjustment layers with clipping turned on. The adjustments modify the color, saturation, and hue. To turn it on, by the way, go Layer > Add Clipping Mask. Next comes the much more complicated group, the Wall and Windows. <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_2589" style="width: 360px;"><img alt="There's quite a bit going on here in the Walls and Windows group. " class="size-full wp-image-2589" height="556" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/wp-content/uploads2010/2011/05/walls-windows-group.jpg" title="walls-windows-group" width="350" />There's quite a bit going on here in the Walls and Windows group. </div> The layer we created last week sits on the bottom of the stack in this group. Notice the layer mask we made, making the panes disappear. In this group, we are going to modify the walls and the windows only, not the view out the window. That we’ll save for last. Just as in the Floor group, we use three adjustment layers. The key here, though, is a blank layer set to Overlay blend mode. Paint on this layer to alter colors, brighten them, etc., without covering over the original pixels. It’s like painting with…stained glass! Kind of appropriate, I guess! Notice that here, too, we’re using the clipping masks. In this case, that means we don’t have to worry about affecting anything that’s transparent in the bottom layer. We can’t get paint on the panes, in other words, because they are made transparent by the layer mask we created in Part Two. <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_2585" style="width: 360px;"><img alt="The bottommost group is the Background group. This is only what is visible outside the window. " class="size-full wp-image-2585" height="423" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/wp-content/uploads2010/2011/05/background-group.jpg" title="background-group" width="350" />The bottommost group is the Background group. This is only what is visible outside the window. </div> The fourth and last group contains the layers for the view outside the window. As such, they come last, so that everything else lies on top of the “view.” The only areas that show through are where we’ve created the layer mask in Part Two. The bottom-most layer in this group is an image I chose for the “view out the window.” I’ve also painted on this layer with an intense blue, which shows through nicely in the top windows. I’ve added a vibrance adjustment layer and a blank layer with yellow paint for the clouds. This yellow is supposed to look reflected in the room, on the walls. So as you work, you’ll be shifting up and down through the groups. It’s not a strictly linear process as I have shown here. Photomanipulation, in fact, is a process of play and experimentation. Here we’ve had a look at the final result. But it took hours to come up with these 17 layers. Luckily, groups came to the rescue, and made staying organized a breeze. I hope you found this walkthrough helpful. The final step, for me, is to flatten the image and paint it in Painter and/or Photoshop. Here’s a close-up of the final result of the painting. <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_2594" style="width: 600px;"><img alt="Painting close-up. Painting by Bob Nolin, with thanks to Elandria on Deviant Art for the use of her stock photograph. " class="size-full wp-image-2594" height="1074" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/wp-content/uploads2010/2011/05/painting-cu.jpg" title="painting-cu" width="590" />Painting close-up. Painting by Bob Nolin, with thanks to Elandria on Deviant Art for the use of her stock photograph. </div> <div class="shr-publisher-2583"></div><div style="clear: both; height: 3px; width: 100%;"></div><div class="shareaholic-like-buttonset" style="float: none; height: 30px;"><a class="shareaholic-fblike"></a><a class="shareaholic-fbsend"></a></div><div style="clear: both; height: 3px; width: 100%;"></div><img alt="" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/?ak_action=api_record_view&id=2583&type=feed" /> Related posts:<ol><li><a href="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/featured/tutorial-a-photomanip-journal-part-2/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link: Tutorial: A Photomanip Journal, Part 2">Tutorial: A Photomanip Journal, Part 2</a> In Part Two, we learn how to create a complex...</li> <li><a href="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/featured/tutorial-a-photomanip-journal-part-one/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link: Tutorial: A Photomanip Journal, Part One">Tutorial: A Photomanip Journal, Part One</a> The thinking process behind creating a photomanip is this week's...</li> <li><a href="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/featured/tutorial-preparing-a-beach-photo-for-painting-in-corel-painter/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link: Tutorial: Preparing a Beach Photo for Painting in Corel Painter">Tutorial: Preparing a Beach Photo for Painting in Corel Painter</a> Learn how to use Photoshop to correct exposure problems in...</li> </ol>

UPDATED: 2 YEARS

Tutorial: A Photomanip Journal, Part 2

<div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_2571" style="width: 600px;"><a href="http://www.bobnolin.com"><img alt="In Part 2, we'll create the mask on the right from the image itself. This will allow us to have a new view out the window. " class="size-full wp-image-2571" height="382" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/wp-content/uploads2010/2011/05/step-one-plus-mask.jpg" title="step-one-plus-mask" width="590" /></a>In Part 2, we'll create the mask on the right from the image itself. This will allow us to have a new view out the window. </div> In Part Two, we’ll remove the window panes, so to speak, to give our lady in waiting a new view. Once the panes are removed, we can insert a new layer underneath, using any landscape or scene we choose. In order to remove the current pixels making up the window in our scene (<a href="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog.featured/tutorial-a-photomanip-journal-part-one/">begun in Part 1 </a>), we need to select all the panes. At first, the Select Color Range tool looks like a good choice, but it leaves too much unselected. Ditto with the Magic Wand and the Quick Selection tools. In this case, the view outside the window is very pale: almost white. Using the Curves adjustment tool (see below) we can push the panes to nearly pure white, and darken the cames (the leading between the panes) at the same time. Once we’ve done that, Select Color Range works like a champ. Note the area (circled in red) where the bright sunlight “blew out” the cames in a few areas. We’ll have to correct that next. <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_2574" style="width: 600px;"><img alt="A curve adjustment increases the light areas and darkens the dark areas, which is just what we want. Now the Select Color Range will work much better. " class="size-full wp-image-2574" height="279" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/wp-content/uploads2010/2011/05/curves-adj.jpg" title="curves-adj" width="590" />A curve adjustment increases the light areas and darkens the dark areas, which is just what we want. Now the Select Color Range will work much better. </div> Here’s the process: <img alt="layers" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-2578" height="300" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/wp-content/uploads2010/2011/05/layers1-234x300.jpg" title="layers" width="234" /> 1. Take the original photo and rename the layer it’s on to Layer 0, or “original photo”. 2. Duplicate this layer, and name it “working layer” 3. Apply a Curves adjustment to make the window panes nearly white, and the cames (leading) solid black. 4. Use Select Color Range to select the white panes. 5. Use Quick Mask (tap the q key) to make sure only the panes are selected. Then exit Quick Mask (toggle with q). 6. Invert the Selection: go Select > Invert. 7. Make the Original photo layer active. Click once on the Add Layer Mask icon at the bottom of the layers palette. This will create a layer mask that has the window panes masked out. 8. To fill in the gaps in the cames (circled in red, above), pick a hard-edged brush, and make it the same size as the cames (about 8 pixels, in this case). Choose solid black as the foreground color. Tap once with the brush, hold down the shift key, and then tap again on the other side of the “broken” came. Photoshop draws a perfectly straight hard-edged 8 pixel-wide line, replacing the missing black areas. Next, use the eraser tool to remove little bits of windowpane which are still hanging around. This goes pretty quickly. Once you’re done making the cames perfect and the panes completely empty, you’re ready to add a new background layer for our lady to look at. 9. Lastly, delete the “working layer.” Add back in the image of Elandria from Part One. Paste a new image as your bottom layer, for a new view outside. Here’s what we have at this point. <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_2580" style="width: 600px;"><img alt="Try different landscape images till you find one that suits your vision. " class="size-full wp-image-2580" height="586" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/wp-content/uploads2010/2011/05/end-of-step-two.jpg" title="end-of-step-two" width="590" />Try different landscape images till you find one that suits your vision. </div> <hr /> Next week, we’ll look at how modify this image to really make it glow, using layer adjustments and painting. Thanks for reading! <div class="shr-publisher-2570"></div><div style="clear: both; height: 3px; width: 100%;"></div><div class="shareaholic-like-buttonset" style="float: none; height: 30px;"><a class="shareaholic-fblike"></a><a class="shareaholic-fbsend"></a></div><div style="clear: both; height: 3px; width: 100%;"></div><img alt="" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/?ak_action=api_record_view&id=2570&type=feed" /> Related posts:<ol><li><a href="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/featured/tutorial-a-photomanip-journal-part-3/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link: Tutorial: A Photomanip Journal, Part 3">Tutorial: A Photomanip Journal, Part 3</a> In our last installment, the photo manipulation is finished. Learn...</li> <li><a href="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/featured/tutorial-a-photomanip-journal-part-one/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link: Tutorial: A Photomanip Journal, Part One">Tutorial: A Photomanip Journal, Part One</a> The thinking process behind creating a photomanip is this week's...</li> <li><a href="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/featured/tutorial-preparing-a-beach-photo-for-painting-in-corel-painter/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link: Tutorial: Preparing a Beach Photo for Painting in Corel Painter">Tutorial: Preparing a Beach Photo for Painting in Corel Painter</a> Learn how to use Photoshop to correct exposure problems in...</li> </ol>

UPDATED: 2 YEARS, 1 MONTH

Tutorial: A Photomanip Journal, Part One

<div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_2551" style="width: 600px;"><a href="http://elandria.deviantart.com/"><img alt="One of the Nature's Lore series by Elandria. Click on photo to see more by Elandria. " class="size-full wp-image-2551" height="1091" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/wp-content/uploads2010/2011/05/natures_lore_38_by_elandria-d3fy9is.jpg" title="natures_lore_38_by_elandria-d3fy9is" width="590" /></a>One of the Nature's Lore series by Elandria. Click on photo to see more by Elandria. </div> Today I came upon the photo above, by Deviant Art stock artist <a href="http://elandria.deviantart.com/">Elandria</a>, and decided I just had to create a photomanipulation with it. For this tutorial, I’m going to emphasize the thought process, more than the actual Photoshopping. I have no idea where I’m going with this photo. So let’s get started! First, I’ll separate the image of the woman in the blue dress from the background. The background, in this case, is nearly one color, so I’ll start with the magic wand to select the majority of the background quickly. Make sure “contiguous” is checked on. I used a tolerance setting of 30, which works well, but one of her hand disappears, since it is flesh toned and so is the background (this is why a lime green background–a green screen– is used for this sort of work). Once the selection is made, hit the Q key for Quick Mask. You can make the Quick Mask any color you like; mine is green. <div class="wp-caption alignleft" id="attachment_2553" style="width: 260px;"><img alt="In Quick Mask mode, you can see where the Magic Wand got a little too aggressive. Paint over the missing fingers with white to recover them. " class="size-full wp-image-2553" height="302" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/wp-content/uploads2010/2011/05/missing-fingers.jpg" title="missing-fingers" width="250" />In Quick Mask mode, you can see where the Magic Wand got a little too aggressive. Paint over the missing fingers with white to recover them. </div> Zoom in and clean up the edge of the mask. Paint with white to recover areas; paint with black to mask out unwanted areas. Once the edge is all cleaned up, tap the Q key again. This returns you to select mode, and you’ll see the “marching ants” defining the selection edge. At this point, we’ve selected the background. Go Select > Inverse to select the figure. Now, let’s find a setting for our figure. For this, I turn to my ever-growing collection of stock photos. I keep these on my hard drive, and add to the collection whenever I see a stock photo (on Deviant Art, Morguefile, sxc.hu, etc.) that catches my eye. The images are organized into a large library of folders (Maps, Globes, Clocks, Rocks, Seascapes, Landscapes, etc.). Keeping organized really helps when it’s time to look for an image, as we’re doing right now. I have several promising folders for this image. Since she’s in Medieval garb, I’ll look in my Castles folder, and maybe the Cathedrals folder. She seems to be looking out a window, at least in my mind, so I look in the Windows folder, and find this image: <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_2559" style="width: 600px;"><a href="http://xNickixstockx.deviantart.com"><img alt="This will become the main setting for the final photomanipulation. The pink area shows where I'll be adding a new floor. Stock used with permission by xNickixstockx on Deviant Art. " class="size-full wp-image-2559" height="885" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/wp-content/uploads2010/2011/05/Castle_Window___Battle_Abbey_by_xNickixstockx-small.jpg" title="Castle_Window___Battle_Abbey_by_xNickixstockx-small" width="590" /></a>This will become the main setting for the final photomanipulation. The pink area shows where I'll be adding a new floor. Stock used with permission by xNickixstockx on Deviant Art. </div> I go back to the selected image of Elandria, and go Cmd+C (or Cntl+C on Windows) to copy. Then I paste it into the window image. I resize the figure a bit using Edit > Transform > Scale. After moving her around a bit, I decide that she needs a higher floor to stand on. I will grab a floor from another image on my hard drive. After adding the floor, I’ll crop the bottom of the window image. First, let’s find a new floor. <div class="wp-caption alignleft" id="attachment_2560" style="width: 260px;"><a href="http://mirandarose-stock.deviantart.com"><img alt="This image, by stock artist MirandaRose-stock on Deviant Art, shows a nice floor under a lit window. It's a good match for our renovation project. " class="size-full wp-image-2560" height="287" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/wp-content/uploads2010/2011/05/new-flooring.jpg" title="new-flooring" width="250" /></a>This image, by stock artist MirandaRose-stock on Deviant Art, shows a nice floor under a lit window. It's a good match for our renovation project. </div> This is a good example of how you need to adapt images to suit your purposes sometimes. This flooring looks good, but it’s not the right polygonal shape (see the pink shape, above). What I’ll do is copy it to another layer, and then flip it horizontally. Then I’ll move the copy until left and right halves make a shape similar to the pink polygon. Next I copy and paste this new flooring into the main image of the castle window (see below). After pasting, it appears in the middle of the image, as you see here. The arrows show where I’ll be moving it. It doesn’t match the original shape exactly. But I kind of like the way it comes forward to a point, so I’ll go with that. For fine tuning, I’ll use the Edit > Transform > Warp tool. <div class="wp-caption alignleft" id="attachment_2562" style="width: 600px;"><img alt="The new floor matches pretty closely, though it comes forward to a point, unlike the pink shape I made earlier. " class="size-full wp-image-2562" height="454" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/wp-content/uploads2010/2011/05/new-floor-right-left.jpg" title="new-floor-right-left" width="590" />The new floor matches pretty closely, though it comes forward to a point, unlike the pink shape I made earlier. </div> Here’s the new floor, ready to lower into place. <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_2564" style="width: 600px;"><img alt="I may need to use the Warp transform a bit, but this flooring should pop right into place. Good enough for government work, as they say. " class="size-full wp-image-2564" height="885" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/wp-content/uploads2010/2011/05/new-floor-ready-to-install.jpg" title="new-floor-ready-to-install" width="590" />I may need to use the Warp transform a bit, but this flooring should pop right into place. Good enough for government work, as they say. </div> Now I copy the image of Elandria into the setting (below). This concludes Step One. Next week, we’ll give Elandria something to look at out the window! <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_2567" style="width: 600px;"><img alt="Step One, complete. Next we'll change the window view, and some other neat stuff. " class="size-full wp-image-2567" height="762" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/wp-content/uploads2010/2011/05/step-one-complete.jpg" title="step-one-complete" width="590" />Step One, complete. Next we'll change the window view, and some other neat stuff. </div> <div class="shr-publisher-2550"></div><div style="clear: both; height: 3px; width: 100%;"></div><div class="shareaholic-like-buttonset" style="float: none; height: 30px;"><a class="shareaholic-fblike"></a><a class="shareaholic-fbsend"></a></div><div style="clear: both; height: 3px; width: 100%;"></div><img alt="" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/?ak_action=api_record_view&id=2550&type=feed" /> Related posts:<ol><li><a href="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/featured/tutorial-a-photomanip-journal-part-3/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link: Tutorial: A Photomanip Journal, Part 3">Tutorial: A Photomanip Journal, Part 3</a> In our last installment, the photo manipulation is finished. Learn...</li> <li><a href="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/featured/tutorial-a-photomanip-journal-part-2/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link: Tutorial: A Photomanip Journal, Part 2">Tutorial: A Photomanip Journal, Part 2</a> In Part Two, we learn how to create a complex...</li> <li><a href="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/featured/create-fantasy-painting-with-photoshop-and-painter/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link: Tutorial: Create a Fantasy Painting with Photoshop and Corel Painter">Tutorial: Create a Fantasy Painting with Photoshop and Corel Painter</a> Learn how to assemble a fantasy image using stock images,...</li> </ol>

UPDATED: 2 YEARS, 1 MONTH

Tutorial: The Making of ‘Five Chicks Named Moe’

<div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_2534" style="width: 600px;"><a href="http://www.bobnolin.com"><img alt="Five Chicks Named Moe, by Bob Nolin. Painted with Photoshop CS5 and a Wacom Intuos 4 tablet." class="size-full wp-image-2534" height="274" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/wp-content/uploads2010/2011/05/Five-chicks_final.jpg" title="Five-chicks_final" width="590" /></a>Five Chicks Named Moe, by Bob Nolin. Painted with Photoshop CS5 and a Wacom Intuos 4 tablet.</div> The painting above, “Five Chicks Named Moe,” took about three weeks to complete, working on it a few hours a day on average. I would guess that’s about 45 hours of work. I followed a fairly complex working method, and I’d like to share it with you today. This isn’t really a tutorial, but more of a “making of.” I won’t talk much about the actual painting. Instead, I’ll lay out the steps I took. You may find this method has some advantages for your own work. In a nutshell, I take a stock photo (<a href="http://www.fotolia.com/id/6674607">this one</a>, from Fotolia, in this case), create a black and white “underpainting” (a grisaille), and then paint on top of that until the grisaille is completely covered over. This is different from my previous hand-painted Photoshop works, in that I’m using a grayscale layer that becomes part of the final image. Previously, I’d use a line drawing layer for reference, and then delete it at the end. With this new method, I’m attempting to follow the Old Masters’ way of working, with a monochrome underpainting. Grisaille (pronounced “griz-eye”) is a French word meaning “gray tones.” The advantage of starting with a monochrome underpainting is it allows the painter to establish the forms and values first, and then develop the color on top of that. More info available <a href="http://grisaille.com/">here</a>. <h4>Step One – Topaz Adjust to add detail</h4> <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_2528" style="width: 600px;"><a href="http://www.topazlabs.com/303.html"><img alt="Original stock photo on left. Topaz Adjust (Mild Detail preset) on right. " class="size-full wp-image-2528" height="388" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/wp-content/uploads2010/2011/05/Chick-2-orig-vs-TA.jpg" title="Chick-2-orig-vs-TA" width="590" /></a>Original stock photo on left. Topaz Adjust (Mild Detail preset) on right. </div> I use<a href="http://www.topazlabs.com/303.html"> Topaz Adjust</a> whenever I need to add some punch to a photo. After trying out several of the presets that come with Adjust, I went with the Mild Detail setting. The original photo is very high key, with very little variation in tone. It’s all bright. So the first step is to bring out detail that has been washed out by the bright, even lighting. My goal is to achieve a dark, chiaroscuro look, as though the chicks were painted by a Dutch master of the 16th century. As you can see above, Adjust brings out each individual feather, but the Mild setting doesn’t overdo it. Before we go any further, let me show you where we’re going. Here’s what the layer palette is going to look like once we get through the next several steps. The layer with the chicks is in the middle of the stack. The background is below the birds, and the adjustment layers are above them. <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_2536" style="width: 600px;"><img alt="Here's our goal: layers that create the look we're after. " class="size-full wp-image-2536" height="856" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/wp-content/uploads2010/2011/05/layers.jpg" title="layers" width="590" />Here's our goal: layers that create the look we're after. </div> <h4>Step Two – Create the dark background</h4> <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_2527" style="width: 600px;"><img alt="A simple dark-to-very-dark gradient makes up the background. It will be painted over to add texture and variety." class="size-full wp-image-2527" height="273" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/wp-content/uploads2010/2011/05/backgrd-grad.jpg" title="backgrd-grad" width="590" />A simple dark-to-very-dark gradient makes up the background. It will be painted over to add texture and variety.</div> The bottom-most layer in the stack is the Dark Gradient background. This is just a start, and we’ll paint over it later to make it look hand-painted, and not machine made. <h4>Step Three – Give the chicks a table to stand on</h4> <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_2538" style="width: 600px;"><img alt="There are two wood layers, with the upper one set to Overlay mode. The upper one is blurry, and this helps to eliminate the photographic detail of the wood photo. " class="size-full wp-image-2538" height="272" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/wp-content/uploads2010/2011/05/wood-layers.jpg" title="wood-layers" width="590" />There are two wood layers, with the upper one set to Overlay mode. The upper one is blurry, and this helps to eliminate the photographic detail of the wood photo. </div> The wood tabletop is actually a photograph of an old drawing board. I used the Perspective adjustment tool to make the board look like it’s lying down (it was shot head on). Next I copy one layer, and blur it, set the blending mode to Overlay, and turn down the Opacity until the detail is softened but not eliminated altogether. Then I add a layer mask with a soft edge between black and white. This makes the far end of the table get darker. The layer mask allows the dark gradient to show through. <h4>Step Four – Add shadows under the chicks </h4> <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_2537" style="width: 600px;"><img alt="Soft, blurry shadows are cast by the chicks' bodies, while small, hard-edged shadows are cast by their feet. " class="size-full wp-image-2537" height="274" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/wp-content/uploads2010/2011/05/shadows-added.jpg" title="shadows-added" width="590" />Soft, blurry shadows are cast by the chicks' bodies, while small, hard-edged shadows are cast by their feet. </div> Add two new, blank layers. The lower of these layers will contain the blurry shadows cast by the bodies of the chicks. The upper layer will show the shadows cast by their feet. Use a large, soft airbrush at low opacity for the lower layer. For the feet, use a much smaller brush, at higher opacity. Paint right on the edges of their feet. Aren’t layers great? <h4>Step Five – Add the adjustment layers </h4> <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_2526" style="width: 600px;"><img alt="The new Exposure Adjustment Layer, along with a layer mask, gives the chicks volume and directional lighting. " class="size-full wp-image-2526" height="272" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/wp-content/uploads2010/2011/05/adj-layers-added.jpg" title="adj-layers-added" width="590" />The new Exposure Adjustment Layer, along with a layer mask, gives the chicks volume and directional lighting. </div> Now that the stage is set and the actors are in place, we’re ready to adjust the lighting. This is done with adjustment layers. As you can see in the Layers screenshot shown earlier, there are the usual Curves, Levels, and Hue/Sat adjustment layers. These make subtle adjustments. The star performer here, though, is the new Exposure adjustment level combined with a layer mask. Set the exposure setting so that the chicks are under-exposed (i.e., darkened). You will make them look like they are completely in shadow. Then you’ll reveal the light by painting on the layer mask. It’s like magic! <h4>Step Six – Collapse all the layers and create the grisaille</h4> <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_2535" style="width: 600px;"><img alt="The Black&White adjustment is used to create a grayscale image, or grisaille. " class="size-full wp-image-2535" height="271" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/wp-content/uploads2010/2011/05/grissaile.jpg" title="grissaile" width="590" />The Black&White adjustment is used to create a grayscale image, or grisaille. </div> Save your work to this point; flatten the image, and save with a different name. Now we have our painting base. You could just use this as your starting point. If you like to work with the cloning tools in Painter, you could clone this file and begin to paint. But my goal is to try to emulate the Old Masters, so I go Image > Adjustments > Black & White, use the Auto setting, which creates my grayscale underpainting. <h4>Step Seven – Add “glazes” of color </h4> <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_2532" style="width: 600px;"><img alt="Two layers here: the Color layer on top of the Grisaille layer" class="size-full wp-image-2532" height="275" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/wp-content/uploads2010/2011/05/color-layer-added.jpg" title="color-layer-added" width="590" />Two layers here: the Color layer on top of the Grisaille layer</div> In traditional painting, thin glazes of color are applied on top of the underpainting. We can do something similar in Photoshop and/or Painter. Insert a new layer above the Grisaille layer, and change the blending mode from Default to Color. (In Painter, choose Colorize.) Now when you paint, you can’t cover over the greyscale; you can only “tint” it with color. This is similar to the hand-tinting of photographs which photographers used to do before the advent of color film. (See <a href="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/featured/tutorial-colorizing-vintage-photos-with-corel-painter/">this article</a> and <a href="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/featured/tutorial-turn-a-civil-war-era-photo-into-a-painting//">this article</a> for two tutorials.) The Color blending mode allows you to paint as though you were laying in transparent washes of watercolor or acrylic, or oil glazes. The values of the grayscale interact with and alter the colors, as you will see. This hand-colored base is now ready for us to paint with opaque colors, in the next step. <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_2529" style="width: 600px;"><img alt="This close-up shows what the Color layer on top of the Grisaille layer looks like. " class="size-full wp-image-2529" height="739" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/wp-content/uploads2010/2011/05/chick2-color-on-gris.jpg" title="chick2-color-on-gris" width="590" />This close-up shows what the Color layer on top of the Grisaille layer looks like. </div> <h4>Step Eight – Opaque painting</h4> <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_2530" style="width: 600px;"><a href="http://www.bobnolin.com"><img alt="Many hours and brushstrokes later, here's the final painted chick. " class="size-full wp-image-2530" height="740" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/wp-content/uploads2010/2011/05/chick2-final.jpg" title="chick2-final" width="590" /></a>Many hours and brushstrokes later, here's the final painted chick. </div> To begin the next phase, insert a new blank layer as the top layer. Leave the blending mode and opacity as is (Default and 100%). Now here’s where the work really begins! All that has come before is really just preparation for the actual painting. No, I’m not kidding! The first seven steps should take an afternoon, give or take. It’s not very time-consuming; it’s just a lot to explain, a lot of details. While painting, refer to the first file you created (the flattened, full-color one). I use the eye-dropper to sample colors from this base file, and then adjust them as needed. To cover the grisaille lines and tones completely, the paint will need to be quite opaque. However, I use many glazes of low-opacity color, which build up and eventually cover the greyscale image. So that’s basically it. I hope you find this method helpful. At the very least, I’ve laid out one method of painting in the classical mode of the Old Masters. It’s been a fun experiment! I invite your comments and questions below, in the comments box. Thanks for reading! <div class="shr-publisher-2525"></div><div style="clear: both; height: 3px; width: 100%;"></div><div class="shareaholic-like-buttonset" style="float: none; height: 30px;"><a class="shareaholic-fblike"></a><a class="shareaholic-fbsend"></a></div><div style="clear: both; height: 3px; width: 100%;"></div><img alt="" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/?ak_action=api_record_view&id=2525&type=feed" /> Related posts:<ol><li><a href="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/featured/tutorial-the-making-of-viking-chieftain-part-2/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link: Tutorial: The Making of Viking Chieftain, Part 2">Tutorial: The Making of Viking Chieftain, Part 2</a> In Part 2, we complete the corrections to the exposure,...</li> <li><a href="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/featured/tutorial-the-making-of-viking-chieftain/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link: Tutorial: The Making of Viking Chieftain">Tutorial: The Making of Viking Chieftain</a> Put away that Dodge and Burn tool! Learn some non-destructive...</li> <li><a href="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/featured/tutorial-the-making-of-viking-chieftain-part-3/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link: Tutorial: The Making of Viking Chieftain, Part 3">Tutorial: The Making of Viking Chieftain, Part 3</a> In the third and last installment, we look at how...</li> </ol>

UPDATED: 2 YEARS, 1 MONTH

Marketing: Fine Art America Review, Part 2

<div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_2514" style="width: 600px;"><a href="http://www.bobnolin.com"><img alt="The custom header I created for my Fine Art America website. " class="size-full wp-image-2514" height="91" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/wp-content/uploads2010/2011/04/artofbn.jpg" title="artofbn" width="590" /></a>The custom header I created for my Fine Art America website. </div> Back around the end of February, <a href="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/featured/marketing-artist-websites-on-fine-art-america/">I wrote about</a> my experiences getting started with Fine Art America. Two months have gone by, so it’s time for the update I promised in Part One. Certain negative aspects have been corrected, so that’s good news. There remain some things I’d like to see changed, but overall I would highly recommend FAA to artists looking for an online presence, especially if they need a print-on-demand (POD) provider. For $30 a year, FAA gives you unlimited gallery space on their main site, as well as a distinct website that has no FAA branding. Customers can order framed prints through either venue. However, when customers order through your personal website, the customer sees only that you have a professional ecommerce site, allowing them to order prints, framed and unframed, prints on canvas, and greeting cards. From a marketing standpoint, this is more impressive than a customized Zazzle or Redbubble gallery, since it appears to be a stand-alone business site. Even better is the ease with which you can create your professional-looking site using FAA’s tools. Customization on other POD sites is difficult, to say the least, and often requires a solid understanding of Cascading Style Sheets (CSS). FAA, on the other hand, is very easy to use. I created the customized header (above) in Photoshop, which really helps the site look unique. Sean Broihier, the owner of FAA, seems to be very focused on the needs of his artist customers, as well as the buying public who visit FAA. Knowing that customers will want to take a close look at artwork before buying, Broihier created a high-resolution zoom tool. This helps increase buyer confidence. The only other place I’ve seen this sort of thing is on a stock photo site. Other POD sites don’t seem to realize the importance of such a tool. Broihier provides artists with a neat slideshow widget, which you can see over on the right here on my blog. When I add artwork to my gallery, the slideshow automatically picks it up. The slideshow’s movement attract the visitor’s attention, and shows off my work at the same time. I think it’s really useful. FAA also automatically provides buyers with color swatches based on the main colors in a piece of artwork. Again, I can’t think of a similar site that does that. Along with visitor counts, there are visitor comments. These help build buyer confidence. When you upload artwork, it appears automatically in the huge gallery on FAA, as well as on your own website. No need to do dual maintenance of two sites. The buying experience is very professional. I ordered an unframed and a framed print from FAA, in order to check out the printing and framing quality, as well as delivery time and packaging. My order arrived in about ten days, and was packed very securely in a big box. The framed print looked just great. The colors seemed to be an exact match, and the framing quality was excellent. I used to work in a frame shop, and I’ve framed dozens of my own pieces, so I know what to look for. I couldn’t have done a better job myself. The back was covered nicely with kraft paper, and wired ready to hang. I should step back and mention that the online process for ordering a frame is intelligently designed. You pick a frame color and you’re presented with all frames that match that color. You can then order a mat, and the viewer shows what your work will look like in that frame with that mat. The color of the displayed mat didn’t seem to match the color I picked, always, so that may be a little bug. As an artist, you determine the minimum and maximum print sizes available for ordering. The site lets you know what the biggest size printable is for your given file, so that’s helpful. Other sites don’t address this sort of thing well, if at all. Buyers can choose from a range of papers. If you know that your work will not look good on the default matte archival paper, you can’t stop buyers from ordering it, unfortunately. You can, however, add a note in the piece description, recommending the proper paper. The unframed print I ordered was printed on the matte paper, which is the cheapest available. The dark blacks didn’t look as dark as they should have, due to the paper. The Somerset paper I used in the framed print showed accurate and rich colors, though it was a bit more expensive. Normally, an unframed print comes rolled in a tube. Since I was also ordering a framed print, FAA used a large flat box, and packed the unframed print flat in the box, which was a pleasant surprise. I was quite pleased with my purchasing experience on FAA, and feel confident that my customers will be getting a quality product when they order. FAA also has an unconditional guarantee. Back in <a href="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/featured/marketing-artist-websites-on-fine-art-america/">Part One</a> of this review, I mentioned that you can’t pick your own domain name for your FAA website. What I failed to explain is how easy it is to work around that. If you own your own domain name (such as <a href="http://www.bobnolin.com">www.bobnolin.com</a>, you can tell your domain registrar (the company that you pay each year to maintain your URL) to “point” to your FAA site. If you roll your mouse over the slideshow on the right, you’ll notice, down at the bottom of your browser, that it says “www.bobnolin.com.” When you click on it, it takes you to the FAA site, which is really www.bob-nolin.artistwebsites.com. Here’s how you make that happen: <img alt="1&1-control-panel" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-2519" height="504" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/wp-content/uploads2010/2011/04/11-control-panel.jpg" title="1&1-control-panel" width="499" /> You select “Forward Your Domain” and then tell it where to forward to. Each registrar has a way to do this, I believe. It is free, too. Also, I tell it what title I want to appear up top in the visitor’s browser (”The Art of Bob Nolin”). Choosing “Frame Redirect” causes the URL to say “www.bobnolin.com”, which keeps the visitor from getting confused by seeing www.bob-nolin.artistwebsites.com. I’ve had some questions about how I did this, so forgive me if I got too techie there! As I mentioned in Part One, the FAA website was not working very well when I was trying to sign up. Sean Broihier assures me this was due to heavy maintenance to the search engine, and that the server should be up all the time now. In two months, I’ve never again experienced a problem. So that’s a relief. Also, FAA employs several full-time customer service people, which was another issue in Part One. I need to wrap up here, but I do want to mention the community on FAA. My works are frequently commented on by other FAA’ers, and they’re all very nice and supportive. There are groups and an online forum, you can create a blog, an email newsletter, and so forth. These things all add to the feeling of a community, and they’re free. The $30 fee is only if you want to use the POD service and/or have your own website. From what I’ve seen so far, this was $30 well-spent. If you have questions I didn’t answer here, please leave a comment below. Also, I’d love to hear about your own experience with FAA. Thanks for reading! <div class="shr-publisher-2513"></div><div style="clear: both; height: 3px; width: 100%;"></div><div class="shareaholic-like-buttonset" style="float: none; height: 30px;"><a class="shareaholic-fblike"></a><a class="shareaholic-fbsend"></a></div><div style="clear: both; height: 3px; width: 100%;"></div><img alt="" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/?ak_action=api_record_view&id=2513&type=feed" /> Related posts:<ol><li><a href="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/featured/marketing-a-review-of-fine-art-america/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link: Marketing: A Review of Fine Art America">Marketing: A Review of Fine Art America</a> Fine Art America is an online art marketplace offering an...</li> <li><a href="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/featured/marketing-artist-websites-on-fine-art-america/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link: Marketing: Artist Websites on Fine Art America">Marketing: Artist Websites on Fine Art America</a> A look at Fine Art America's artist website option. Come...</li> <li><a href="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/featured/marketing-7-places-to-sell-your-work-online/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link: Marketing: 7 Places to Sell Your Work Online">Marketing: 7 Places to Sell Your Work Online</a> Learn how to get your digital works printed and into...</li> </ol>

UPDATED: 2 YEARS, 1 MONTH

Tutorial: Digital Painting with Photoshop

<div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_2504" style="width: 600px;"><a href="http://www.cgarena.com/freestuff/ezine/"><img alt="Learn how to use Photoshop to paint photorealistic wildlife, with this new tutorial on CG Arena. " class="size-full wp-image-2504" height="378" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/wp-content/uploads2010/2011/04/article-shot.jpg" title="article-shot" width="590" /></a>Learn how to use Photoshop to paint photorealistic wildlife, with this new tutorial on CG Arena. </div> The computer graphics website CG Arena (<a href="http://www.cgarena.com">www.cgarena.com</a>) publishes a free online magazine every other month. The new issue, just out today, includes <a href="http://www.cgarena.com/freestuff/ezine/">a 7-page tutorial</a> I wrote about painting a highly-realistic bald eagle portrait using Photoshop. This tutorial is about twice the length of the ones I publish here on Digital Image Magazine, so there’s lots of detail and screen captures to explain the process. The tutorial is called “The Making of Sentinel.” You can download the free magazine and read the tutorial, along with lots of other great content, <a href="http://www.cgarena.com/freestuff/ezine/">here</a>. Here’s a close-up look at the finished painting. <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_2508" style="width: 600px;"><a href="http://www.bobnolin.com"><img alt="Sentinel (detail), by Bob Nolin. Digital painting created in Photoshop. Based on photograph by Joshua Sexton. Used with permission. " class="size-full wp-image-2508" height="421" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/wp-content/uploads2010/2011/04/Sentinel-dim-cu.jpg" title="Sentinel-dim-cu" width="590" /></a>Sentinel (detail), by Bob Nolin. Digital painting created in Photoshop. Based on photograph by Joshua Sexton. Used with permission. </div> <div class="shr-publisher-2503"></div><div style="clear: both; height: 3px; width: 100%;"></div><div class="shareaholic-like-buttonset" style="float: none; height: 30px;"><a class="shareaholic-fblike"></a><a class="shareaholic-fbsend"></a></div><div style="clear: both; height: 3px; width: 100%;"></div><img alt="" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/?ak_action=api_record_view&id=2503&type=feed" /> Related posts:<ol><li><a href="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/featured/beginning-digital-painting-with-photoshop/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link: Beginning Digital Painting with Photoshop">Beginning Digital Painting with Photoshop</a> Want to learn how to paint with Photoshop? Here's a...</li> <li><a href="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/featured/resources-online-training-for-digital-painting/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link: Resources: Online Training for Digital Painting">Resources: Online Training for Digital Painting</a> Learn digital art in the comfort of your own home!...</li> <li><a href="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/featured/book-review-digital-painting-in-photoshop/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link: Book Review: Digital Painting in Photoshop">Book Review: Digital Painting in Photoshop</a> A review of Susan Ruddick Bloom's new book, Digital Painting...</li> </ol>

UPDATED: 2 YEARS, 2 MONTHS

Inspiration: 20 Amazing Photomanipulations

<div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_2474" style="width: 600px;"><a href="http://rekano.deviantart.com"><img alt="Dream of a Photomanipulator, by Rekano" class="size-full wp-image-2474" height="443" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/wp-content/uploads2010/2011/04/Dream_of_a_Photomanipulator_by_Rekano.jpg" title="Dream_of_a_Photomanipulator_by_Rekano" width="590" /></a>Dream of a Photomanipulator, by Rekano</div> To celebrate the 175th article on Digital Image Magazine, I’ve decided to celebrate by doing one of my favorite things: a showcase of great work. Besides, I love being able to share the work of fabulous, incredibly imaginative artists with you. All of these images come from deviantArt.com. These are some of the best examples of photomanipulation I’ve come across. Most of the time, the image will be a collage of several photographs. Often, the photocollage is then hand-painted in Photoshop or Painter. Additional elements can be painted in, partially covering over the original photographs. In the deviantArt community, “photomanipulation” is any image that includes photography (as opposed to digital painting, which is done from scratch). Here then is my collection of the best of the best. Enjoy! (Click on the artist’s name or the image to go to their gallery.) <h4><a href="http://michaelo.deviantart.com">Michael O</a> </h4> <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_2468" style="width: 600px;"><a href="http://michaelo.deviantart.com"><img alt="Apple, by Michael O. This is a great example of how photomanipulation can start with a photo (inset), and turn it into a completely new and amazing work of art. " class="size-full wp-image-2468" height="885" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/wp-content/uploads2010/2011/04/apple_by_michaelo.jpg" title="apple_by_michaelo" width="590" /></a>Apple, by Michael O. This is a great example of how photomanipulation can start with a photo (inset), and turn it into a completely new and amazing work of art. </div> <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_2470" style="width: 539px;"><a href="http://michaelo.deviantart.com"><img alt="Another amazing work by Michael O. Click on the image to see more. " class="size-full wp-image-2470" height="1000" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/wp-content/uploads2010/2011/04/crocodile-tears-michaelo.jpg" title="crocodile-tears-michaelo" width="529" /></a>Another amazing work by Michael O. Click on the image to see more. </div> <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_2486" style="width: 600px;"><a href="http://michaelo.deviantart.com"><img alt="Trophy Wife, by Michael O" class="size-full wp-image-2486" height="860" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/wp-content/uploads2010/2011/04/trophy-wife-by-michaelo.jpg" title="trophy-wife-by-michaelo" width="590" /></a>Trophy Wife, by Michael O</div> <h4><a href="http://cristalart.deviantart.com">Cristalart</a></h4> <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_2469" style="width: 600px;"><a href="http://cristalart.deviantart.com"><img alt="The Bird's Queen, by Cristalart" class="size-full wp-image-2469" height="940" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/wp-content/uploads2010/2011/04/bird__s_queen_by_cristalart.jpg" title="bird__s_queen_by_cristalart" width="590" /></a>The Bird's Queen, by Cristalart</div> <h4><a href="http://autumnsgoddess.deviantart.com">Autumns Goddess</a></h4> <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_2478" style="width: 600px;"><a href="http://autumnsgoddess.deviantart.com"><img alt="Intention, by AutumnsGoddess" class="size-full wp-image-2478" height="843" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/wp-content/uploads2010/2011/04/intention_by_AutumnsGoddess.jpg" title="intention_by_AutumnsGoddess" width="590" /></a>Intention, by AutumnsGoddess</div> <h4><a href="http://higherdepths.deviantart.com">Higherdepths</a></h4> <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_2484" style="width: 600px;"><a href="http://higherdepths.deviantart.com"><img alt="Submariner, by Higherdepths" class="size-full wp-image-2484" height="382" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/wp-content/uploads2010/2011/04/Submariner_by_higherdepths.jpg" title="Submariner_by_higherdepths" width="590" /></a>Submariner, by Higherdepths</div> <h4><a href="http://schnette.deviantart.com">Schnette</a></h4> <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_2477" style="width: 600px;"><a href="http://schnette.deviantart.com"><img alt="Follow Your Heart, by Schnette" class="size-full wp-image-2477" height="590" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/wp-content/uploads2010/2011/04/follow-your-heart-by-schnette.jpg" title="follow-your-heart-by-schnette" width="590" /></a>Follow Your Heart, by Schnette</div> <h4><a href="http://onetaintedangel.deviantart.com">OneTaintedAngel</a></h4> <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_2475" style="width: 600px;"><a href="http://onetaintedangel.deviantart.com"><img alt="Dream of Silk and Silence Part 2, by OneTaintedAngel" class="size-full wp-image-2475" height="590" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/wp-content/uploads2010/2011/04/dream-of-silk-and-silence-pt2-by-onetaintedangel.jpg" title="dream-of-silk-and-silence-pt2-by-onetaintedangel" width="590" /></a>Dream of Silk and Silence Part 2, by OneTaintedAngel</div> <h4><a href="http://indigodeep.deviantart.com">Indigodeep</a></h4> <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_2485" style="width: 576px;"><a href="http://indigodeep.deviantart.com"><img alt="The Summoner, by Indigodeep" class="size-full wp-image-2485" height="832" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/wp-content/uploads2010/2011/04/The_Summoner_by_indigodeep.jpg" title="The_Summoner_by_indigodeep" width="566" /></a>The Summoner, by Indigodeep</div> <h4><a href="http://gloom82.deviantart.com">Gloom82</a></h4> <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_2499" style="width: 600px;"><a href="http://gloom82.deviantart.com"><img alt="Society, by Gloom82" class="size-full wp-image-2499" height="885" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/wp-content/uploads2010/2011/04/society_by_gloom82.jpg" title="society_by_gloom82" width="590" /></a>Society, by Gloom82</div> <h4><a href="http://billy-pilgrim.deviantart.com">Billy Pilgrim</a></h4> <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_2482" style="width: 600px;"><a href="http://billy-pilgrim.deviantart.com"><img alt="Portrait of a Sad Song, by Billy Pilgrim" class="size-full wp-image-2482" height="590" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/wp-content/uploads2010/2011/04/portrait_of_a_sad_song_by_billy_pilgrim.jpg" title="portrait_of_a_sad_song_by_billy_pilgrim" width="590" /></a>Portrait of a Sad Song, by Billy Pilgrim</div> <h4><a href="http://zwir.deviantart.com">ZWIR</a></h4> <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_2481" style="width: 600px;"><a href="http://zwir.deviantart.com"><img alt="Once in Venice, by ZWIR" class="size-full wp-image-2481" height="750" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/wp-content/uploads2010/2011/04/Once_in_Venice_by_ZWIR.jpg" title="Once_in_Venice_by_ZWIR" width="590" /></a>Once in Venice, by ZWIR</div> <h4><a href="http://heakmeat.deviantart.com">Heakmeat</a></h4> <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_2480" style="width: 600px;"><a href="http://heakmeat.deviantart.com"><img alt="Nature, by Heakmeat" class="size-full wp-image-2480" height="867" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/wp-content/uploads2010/2011/04/Nature_by_heakmeat.jpg" title="Nature_by_heakmeat" width="590" /></a>Nature, by Heakmeat</div> <h4><a href="http://mrnoxx.deviantart.com">MrNoxx</a></h4> <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_2476" style="width: 600px;"><a href="http://mrnoxx.deviantart.com"><img alt="Endangered Species, by MrNoxx" class="size-full wp-image-2476" height="590" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/wp-content/uploads2010/2011/04/endangered_species_by_mrnoxx.jpg" title="endangered_species_by_mrnoxx" width="590" /></a>Endangered Species, by MrNoxx</div> <h4><a href="http://taenaron.deviantart.com">Taenaron</a></h4> <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_2473" style="width: 600px;"><a href="http://taenaron.deviantart.com"><img alt="Dream, by Taenaron" class="size-full wp-image-2473" height="369" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/wp-content/uploads2010/2011/04/dream_by_taenaron.jpg" title="dream_by_taenaron" width="590" /></a>Dream, by Taenaron</div> <h4><a href="http://ghwamba.deviantart.com">Ghwamba</a></h4> <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_2472" style="width: 600px;"><a href="http://ghwamba.deviantart.com"><img alt="Do You Believe in Magic, by Ghwamba" class="size-full wp-image-2472" height="395" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/wp-content/uploads2010/2011/04/do_you_believe_in_magic__by_ghwamba.jpg" title="do_you_believe_in_magic__by_ghwamba" width="590" /></a>Do You Believe in Magic, by Ghwamba</div> <h4><a href="http://betweentheclouds.deviantart.com">BetweenTheClouds</a></h4> <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_2471" style="width: 600px;"><a href="http://betweentheclouds.deviantart.com"><img alt="Depression, by Betweentheclouds" class="size-full wp-image-2471" height="826" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/wp-content/uploads2010/2011/04/depression_by_betweentheclouds.jpg" title="depression_by_betweentheclouds" width="590" /></a>Depression, by Betweentheclouds</div> <h4><a href="http://tammara.deviantart.com">Tammara</a></h4> <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_2467" style="width: 600px;"><a href="http://tammara.deviantart.com"><img alt="After the Ball, by Tammara" class="size-full wp-image-2467" height="566" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/wp-content/uploads2010/2011/04/after_the_ball_by_tammara.jpg" title="after_the_ball_by_tammara" width="590" /></a>After the Ball, by Tammara</div> <h4><a href="http://bnolin.deviantart.com">Bob Nolin (me!</a>)</h4> <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_2479" style="width: 600px;"><a href="http://bnolin.deviantart.com"><img alt="Myrddin, by Bob Nolin. Hope you don't blame me for including one of my own!" class="size-full wp-image-2479" height="600" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/wp-content/uploads2010/2011/04/myrddin.jpg" title="myrddin" width="590" /></a>Myrddin, by Bob Nolin. Hope you don't blame me for including one of my own!</div> <div class="shr-publisher-2463"></div><div style="clear: both; height: 3px; width: 100%;"></div><div class="shareaholic-like-buttonset" style="float: none; height: 30px;"><a class="shareaholic-fblike"></a><a class="shareaholic-fbsend"></a></div><div style="clear: both; height: 3px; width: 100%;"></div><img alt="" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/?ak_action=api_record_view&id=2463&type=feed" /> Related posts:<ol><li><a href="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/featured/inspiration-photomanipulation-masters-part-1/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link: Inspiration: Photomanipulation Masters Part 1">Inspiration: Photomanipulation Masters Part 1</a> A look at the visionary work of Phatpuppy, our first...</li> <li><a href="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/featured/inspiration-photomanipulation-masters-part-2/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link: Inspiration: Photomanipulation Masters Part 2">Inspiration: Photomanipulation Masters Part 2</a> In part 2, we'll look at the work and the...</li> <li><a href="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/featured/inspiration-photomanipulation-masters-part-3/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link: Inspiration: Photomanipulation Masters Part 3">Inspiration: Photomanipulation Masters Part 3</a> Our photomanip master today is Pat Brennan, a.k.a. Moonmomma on...</li> </ol>

UPDATED: 2 YEARS, 2 MONTHS

DESIGN FLOAT

SHOW NEXT 5 >

Stylish Custom User Settings Dropdown Menu with CSS

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

3,000 Items! MEGA Design Bundle (worth over $1,000) - only $49!

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

40 Brilliant iPhone & iPad Application Icons

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

40 Happy New Year Wallpapers 2013 - Lucky WP

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

25 Fresh HTML5 jQuery And CSS3 Tutorials

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

Best Free Christmas Resources

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

How to design forms that convert

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

The Way it Moves – Kinetic Typography Tutorials

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

The Filipino Mythical Horror Creatures

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

Latest Cosmetics Websites Trends: Beauty will Save the World

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

DIGITAL ARTS

SHOW NEXT 5 >

Interview: Founder of #includedesign campaign to save Britain from a creative education crisis

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

Taschen opens shop in The Simpsons to make Springfield hip

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

Flickr iOS app redesigned

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

WordPress 3.5 gets a media management makeover

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

Parasol Island's boys' choir singing Mad World get a million hits in two weeks

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

Adobe releases Photoshop & Illustrator updates, tools for teams to Creative Cloud subscribers & a Dropbox-style app

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

Pictoplasma Berlin 2013 artists revealed

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

UK design industry tells Michael Gove to put design into the EBacc

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 2 WEEKS

BBEdit 10.5 adds Retina display support & better navigation

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 2 WEEKS

BBEdit 10.5 adds Retina display support, navigation improvements, and more

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 2 WEEKS

COMMUNICATION ARTS

SHOW NEXT 5 >

News - 12/13/2012

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

Webpick of the Day - Lark

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

FRÏS Vodka package redesign

<div><a href="http://www.commarts.com/exhibit/fr-iuml-vodka-package.html"><img border="0" hspace="0" src="http://image.commarts.com/images1/1/3/2/5/523144_71_0_NzA4NTgyNTQtMTQ4ODUyMTM0Mg.jpg" vspace="0" /></a></div>The Brand Union recently developed a new identity with standout appeal that delivers on the unique positioning, “Freeze Time. Seize Pure Moments.” The creative team worked two- and three-dimensionally to create a bottle that represents the essence of ice: The crystalline shape communicates icy purity and the dark color provides greater contrast to the memorable silhouette. The logo was developed in line with the structure and the end result is a beautifully frozen identity that corresponds with the “FRÏS the Moment” tagline. It’s an elegantly frosted, contemporary design that’s successfully led to a strong reaction from young male consumers. Credits: <a href="http://www.thebrandunion.com">www.thebrandunion.com </a> | <a href="http://frisvodka.com">frisvodka.com </a> <div><a href="http://www.commarts.com/exhibit/fr-iuml-vodka-package.html"><img border="0" src="http://image.commarts.com/images1/1/3/2/5/523146_71_0_LTE2MTYxODUyMTIxMzAzMzE0Njgz.jpg" /></a></div> <div><a href="http://www.commarts.com/exhibit/fr-iuml-vodka-package.html"><img border="0" src="http://image.commarts.com/images1/1/3/2/5/523145_71_0_LTExOTI2OTc3MDktMTYxNTgzNzQ4OA.jpg" /></a></div> <div><a href="http://www.commarts.com/exhibit/fr-iuml-vodka-package.html"><img border="0" src="http://image.commarts.com/images1/1/3/2/5/523143_71_0_NDk0MzQ1NzU3LTE3NDU0MjczNTg.jpg" /></a></div> <div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.commarts.com/~ff/commarts/index?a=YNtA2VN8Tv8:c5joTwjbLh8:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/commarts/index?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.commarts.com/~ff/commarts/index?a=YNtA2VN8Tv8:c5joTwjbLh8:qj6IDK7rITs"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/commarts/index?d=qj6IDK7rITs" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.commarts.com/~ff/commarts/index?a=YNtA2VN8Tv8:c5joTwjbLh8:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/commarts/index?i=YNtA2VN8Tv8:c5joTwjbLh8:gIN9vFwOqvQ" /></a> </div><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/commarts/index/~4/YNtA2VN8Tv8" width="1" />

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

Cooperative! Part 3

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

Coming Soon: 2013 Typography Annual!

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

News - 12/12/2012

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

VW "Smiles" spot

<div><a href="http://www.commarts.com/exhibit/smiles-spot.html"><img border="0" hspace="0" src="http://image.commarts.com/images1/6/2/2/5/522609_71_0_Mzc1Mjc5NzM1LTE2OTI1NjU1Mjg.jpg" vspace="0" /></a></div>Deutsch Inc. recently launched the new “Why VW” social media campaign for Volkswagen of America to capture and share its stories in a whole new way. The campaign officially kicked off with the airing of <a href="http://www.epochfilms.com/directors/usa/everynone/volkswagen-smiles-30" target="_blank">this commercial</a>, a showcase of beautifully simple human moments of joy. In the heartwarming spot people of all ages and nationalities embody the spirit, fun and positivity that have defined the brand and its vehicles for decades. Credits: <a href="http://www.deutschinc.com">www.deutschinc.com </a> | <a href="http://why.vw.com">why.vw.com </a> <div><a href="http://www.commarts.com/exhibit/smiles-spot.html"><img border="0" src="http://image.commarts.com/images1/6/2/2/5/522608_71_0_Mzc1Mjc5MzA0LTY5NzgyMzcxMw.jpg" /></a></div> <div><a href="http://www.commarts.com/exhibit/smiles-spot.html"><img border="0" src="http://image.commarts.com/images1/6/2/2/5/522607_71_0_Mzc1Mjc5MzA0MTU5MTY1OTYzOQ.jpg" /></a></div> <div><a href="http://www.commarts.com/exhibit/smiles-spot.html"><img border="0" src="http://image.commarts.com/images1/6/2/2/5/522606_71_0_Mzc1Mjc5MzA0MTAwNjAwMjc4NA.jpg" /></a></div> <div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.commarts.com/~ff/commarts/index?a=OwMv5kArrnM:Y2wDlLGA26Q:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/commarts/index?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.commarts.com/~ff/commarts/index?a=OwMv5kArrnM:Y2wDlLGA26Q:qj6IDK7rITs"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/commarts/index?d=qj6IDK7rITs" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.commarts.com/~ff/commarts/index?a=OwMv5kArrnM:Y2wDlLGA26Q:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/commarts/index?i=OwMv5kArrnM:Y2wDlLGA26Q:gIN9vFwOqvQ" /></a> </div><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/commarts/index/~4/OwMv5kArrnM" width="1" />

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

Webpick of the Day - BOHAN Advertising

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

News - 12/11/2012

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

Handlebar identity

<div><a href="http://www.commarts.com/exhibit/handlebar-identity.html"><img border="0" hspace="0" src="http://image.commarts.com/images1/6/2/2/5/522604_71_0_NDI3MTQyMjU3Njk1Njk0OTIx.jpg" vspace="0" /></a></div>In summer 2012, this bicycle-themed bar opened in Toronto’s famously eccentric Kensington Market. Using a philosophy of adaptation and alteration and an eclectic mix of old and new, local creative agency Open created an identity and an an experience that resonates. The logo uses a simple sans serif font with added custom elements; it’s a playful language of authentic Victorian imagery overlaid with a half-tone pattern to create a modern feel. Communication pieces reinforce Handlebar’s spirit by referring to the history of bicycle culture of Toronto. From bathroom signage and a direct marketing card (placed in the spokes of bicycles in Toronto’s downtown core) to a special draft lager (The Handlebrew) and the bar’s signature shot (The Tandem, which comes on its very own coaster built for two) it’s an experience uniquely Toronto. Credits: <a href="http://www.openacreativecompany.com">www.openacreativecompany.com </a> | <a href="http://www.thehandlebar.ca">www.thehandlebar.ca </a> <div><a href="http://www.commarts.com/exhibit/handlebar-identity.html"><img border="0" src="http://image.commarts.com/images1/6/2/2/5/522602_71_0_NDI3MTQyMjU3Mzg4OTUwMDU4.jpg" /></a></div> <div><a href="http://www.commarts.com/exhibit/handlebar-identity.html"><img border="0" src="http://image.commarts.com/images1/6/2/2/5/522601_71_0_LTM1NzI5MzU5NDgyNTQwODc1Nw.jpg" /></a></div> <div><a href="http://www.commarts.com/exhibit/handlebar-identity.html"><img border="0" src="http://image.commarts.com/images1/6/2/2/5/522603_71_0_NDI3MTQyMjU3LTE3MDc0NDYzMg.jpg" /></a></div> <div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.commarts.com/~ff/commarts/index?a=B_nhRIfhFT0:GKE6QTeiPlo:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/commarts/index?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.commarts.com/~ff/commarts/index?a=B_nhRIfhFT0:GKE6QTeiPlo:qj6IDK7rITs"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/commarts/index?d=qj6IDK7rITs" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.commarts.com/~ff/commarts/index?a=B_nhRIfhFT0:GKE6QTeiPlo:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/commarts/index?i=B_nhRIfhFT0:GKE6QTeiPlo:gIN9vFwOqvQ" /></a> </div><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/commarts/index/~4/B_nhRIfhFT0" width="1" />

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

THE GNOMON WORKSHOP

SHOW NEXT 5 >

Designing High Tech Characters with Joe Peterson

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

Rick Baker

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 2 WEEKS

Anatomy Workshop Vol. 5 – Structure and Anatomy of the Human Torso

UPDATED: 7 MONTHS

Anatomy Workshop Vol. 4 – Anatomy of the Human Head

UPDATED: 7 MONTHS

Anatomy Workshop Vol. 3 – Skeletal Structure, Mechanics and Proportion

UPDATED: 7 MONTHS

V-Ray Fundamentals: Materials, Lights and Linear Workflow

UPDATED: 7 MONTHS

Hyper-real Insect Design with Eric Keller

UPDATED: 7 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

Gnomon Launches 55 New Online Courses

UPDATED: 7 MONTHS, 2 WEEKS

Autodesk User Group Meeting

UPDATED: 8 MONTHS

Fundamentals of Perspective 3 Three-Point Principles and Concepts

UPDATED: 8 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

LOGOPOND

SHOW NEXT 5 >

Aces

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

Sipco Coffee

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

NyxTek

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

Curzon Decor

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

Legion

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

Lovell Brothers

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

happy mom

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

FCC

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

SnapGet Logo Proposal

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

ShiftDock

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

PRESIDIA CREATIVE

SHOW NEXT 5 >

30 CSS3 and HTML5 Tutorials

CSS3 and HTML5 are the two updated versions of long-standing web development markup languages HTML and CSS. While the fundamental principles remain the same, there are a lot of fresh new techniques and new possibilities available. Learning HTML5 and CSS3 is essential for web developers (and designers as well). However, learning them can be tricky, as they are still relatively new and there is less content available on them. In this post, I’ve gathered up 30 HTML5 and CSS3 tutorials. Create an Audio Player in jQuery, HTML5 & CSS3 <a href="http://designmodo.com/audio-player/"><img src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/css3-html5-tutorial-1.png" width="500" /></a> Coding a CSS3 & HTML5 One-Page Website Template <a href="http://tutorialzine.com/2010/02/html5-css3-website-template/"><img src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/css3-html5-tutorial-2.jpg" width="500" /></a> Implementing HTML5 Drag & Drop <a href="http://net.tutsplus.com/tutorials/html-css-techniques/implementing-html5-drag-and-drop-new-premium-tutorial/"><img src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/css3-html5-tutorial-3.jpg" width="500" /></a> HTML5 File Uploads with jQuery <a href="http://tutorialzine.com/2011/09/html5-file-upload-jquery-php/"><img src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/css3-html5-tutorial-4.jpg" width="500" /></a> Making an HTML5 iPhone App <a href="http://sixrevisions.com/web-development/html5-iphone-app/"><img src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/css3-html5-tutorial-5.jpg" width="500" /></a> Have a Field Day with HTML5 Forms <a href="http://24ways.org/2009/have-a-field-day-with-html5-forms"><img src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/css3-html5-tutorial-6.png" width="500" /></a> How To Create a Cute Popup Bar With HTML5, CSS3 and jQuery <a href="http://spyrestudios.com/how-to-create-a-cute-popup-bar-with-html5-css3-and-jquery/"><img src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/css3-html5-tutorial-7.jpg" width="500" /></a> Designing Search Boxes with HTML5 and CSS3 <a href="http://azadcreative.com/2010/11/designing-search-boxes-html5-css3/"><img src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/css3-html5-tutorial-8.jpg" width="500" /></a> Code a Vibrant Professional Web Design with HTML5/CSS3 <a href="http://designinstruct.com/web-design/code-a-vibrant-professional-web-design-with-html5css3/"><img src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/css3-html5-tutorial-9.jpg" width="500" /></a> Designing Modern Web Forms with HTML5 CSS3 <a href="http://legendthemes.com/2010/04/10/designing-modern-web-forms-with-html-5-and-css3/"><img src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/css3-html5-tutorial-10.jpg" width="500" /></a> Designing a Contact Form in CSS3 and HTML5 <a href="http://www.sendesignz.com/index.php/css/104-designing-contact-form-in-css3-and-html5"><img src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/css3-html5-tutorial-11.jpg" width="500" /></a> Code a Backwards Compatible, One Page Portfolio with HTML5 and CSS3 <a href="http://inspectelement.com/tutorials/code-a-backwards-compatible-one-page-portfolio-with-html5-and-css3/"><img src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/css3-html5-tutorial-12.png" width="500" /></a> Sticky Notes With HTML5 and CSS3 <a href="http://ajaxian.com/archives/view-source-tutorial-sticky-notes-with-html5-and-css3"><img src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/css3-html5-tutorial-13.png" width="500" /></a> Blowing Up HTML5 <a href="http://www.craftymind.com/2010/04/20/blowing-up-html5-video-and-mapping-it-into-3d-space/"><img src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/css3-html5-tutorial-14.jpg" width="500" /></a> Web Applications On Mobile Devices With HTML5 <a href="http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/web/library/wa-offlineweb/index.html"><img src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/css3-html5-tutorial-15.jpg" width="500" /></a> CREATING A MOBILE-FRIENDLY HTML5ROCKS.COM <a href="http://www.html5rocks.com/en/mobile/mobifying/"><img src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/css3-html5-tutorial-16.jpg" width="500" /></a> Rubik’s cube with HTML5 (CSS3 + JavaScript) <a href="http://html5rubik.com/tutorial/"><img src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/css3-html5-tutorial-17.png" width="500" /></a> Create an Video Player in jQuery, HTML5 & CSS3 <a href="http://designmodo.com/video-player/"><img src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/css3-html5-tutorial-18.png" width="500" /></a> Create a Drop-Down Navigation Menu with HTML5 and CSS3 <a href="http://www.ourtuts.com/create-a-drop-down-navigation-menu-with-html5-and-css3/"><img src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/css3-html5-tutorial-19.jpg" width="500" /></a> Simple and effective dropdown login box with HTML5, CSS3 and jQuery <a href="http://dhirajkumarsingh.wordpress.com/2012/04/20/simple-and-effective-dropdown-login-box-with-html5-css3-and-jquery/"><img src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/css3-html5-tutorial-20.jpg" width="500" /></a> Making a Beautiful HTML5 Portfolio <a href="http://tutorialzine.com/2011/06/beautiful-portfolio-html5-jquery/"><img src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/css3-html5-tutorial-21.jpg" width="500" /></a> Detect Geolocation On Web Browser Using HTML5 <a href="http://www.bloggermint.com/2011/01/geolocation-web-browser-html5/"><img src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/css3-html5-tutorial-22.jpg" width="500" /></a> Creating an E-Store HTML5 CSS3 Single Page Layout <a href="http://www.script-tutorials.com/creating-new-html5css3-single-page-layout-e-store/"><img src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/css3-html5-tutorial-23.jpg" width="500" /></a> Create a Minimal Coming Soon Page using HTML5 and CSS3 <a href="http://www.1stwebdesigner.com/css/create-coming-soon-page-using-html5-and-css3/"><img src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/css3-html5-tutorial-24.jpg" width="500" /></a> HTML5 Image Effects – HDR simulation <a href="http://www.script-tutorials.com/html5-image-effects-hdr-simulation/"><img src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/css3-html5-tutorial-25.jpg" width="500" /></a> Coding the Digg v4 Layout with HTML5 and CSS3 <a href="http://speckyboy.com/2012/05/15/coding-the-digg-v4-layout-with-html5-and-css3/"><img src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/css3-html5-tutorial-26.jpg" width="500" /></a> Create Offline Web Applications on Mobile Devices with HTML5 <a href="http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/web/library/wa-offlineweb/index.html"><img src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/css3-html5-tutorial-27.jpg" width="500" /></a> Create an HTML5 Tutorial Progress Bar <a href="http://www.developphp.com/view.php?tid=1228"><img src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/css3-html5-tutorial-28.jpg" width="500" /></a> How to Create a Slick Features Table in HTML & CSS <a href="http://line25.com/tutorials/how-to-create-a-slick-features-table-in-html-css"><img src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/css3-html5-tutorial-29.jpg" width="500" /></a> Create an Upload Form using jQuery, CSS3, HTML5 and PHP <a href="http://designmodo.com/create-upload-form/"><img src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/css3-html5-tutorial-30.png" width="500" /></a> <div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/PresidiaCreative?a=sgqvkyetk0k:_VuUzXEq34A:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/PresidiaCreative?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/PresidiaCreative?a=sgqvkyetk0k:_VuUzXEq34A:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/PresidiaCreative?i=sgqvkyetk0k:_VuUzXEq34A:F7zBnMyn0Lo" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/PresidiaCreative?a=sgqvkyetk0k:_VuUzXEq34A:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/PresidiaCreative?i=sgqvkyetk0k:_VuUzXEq34A:V_sGLiPBpWU" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/PresidiaCreative?a=sgqvkyetk0k:_VuUzXEq34A:qj6IDK7rITs"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/PresidiaCreative?d=qj6IDK7rITs" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/PresidiaCreative?a=sgqvkyetk0k:_VuUzXEq34A:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/PresidiaCreative?i=sgqvkyetk0k:_VuUzXEq34A:gIN9vFwOqvQ" /></a> </div><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PresidiaCreative/~4/sgqvkyetk0k" width="1" />

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

Best Premium Web Elements and UI Kits for Web Designers

UI kits, free PSD files, UI elements and plugins are all over the place these days. While these resources can often be useful for professional designers and developers, as well as those who are looking to learn, there’s a lot of them out there to choose from. Not all UI elements were created equal. Some UI kits are lacking in quality, or that aren’t presented in a usable state. In this post, I’ve gathered up the best of the best when it comes to web elements and UI kits for web designers. Cream UI pack free PSD <a href="http://freebiesbug.com/psd-freebies/cream-ui-pack-free-psd/"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-19895" src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/kit-1.jpg" title="kit-1" width="500" /></a> The Bricks – Bundle Pack Addons <a href="http://designmodo.com/the-bricks-addons/"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-19896" src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/kit-2.jpg" title="kit-2" width="500" /></a> Impressionist UI – User Interface Pack <a href="http://designmodo.com/impressionist/"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-19897" src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/kit-3.jpg" title="kit-3" width="500" /></a> Pandora UI for iOS – User Interface Pack <a href="http://designmodo.com/pandora/"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-19898" src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/kit-4.jpg" title="kit-4" width="500" /></a> Call to Action <a href="http://www.bestpsdfreebies.com/freebie/call-to-action-buttons/"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-19899" src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/kit-5.jpg" title="kit-5" width="500" /></a> Responsive Website Navigation <a href="http://www.freebiesgallery.com/responsive-website-navigation/"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-19900" src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/kit-6.jpg" title="kit-6" width="500" /></a> Google Plus Buttons <a href="http://www.idream-design.co.uk/blog/freebie-download-your-free-google-follow-buttons"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-19901" src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/kit-7.jpg" title="kit-7" width="500" /></a> Futurico Pro <a href="http://designmodo.com/futuricopro/"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-19902" src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/kit-8.jpg" title="kit-8" width="500" /></a> Dark Amber <a href="http://designmodo.com/dark-amber/"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-19903" src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/kit-9.jpg" title="kit-9" width="500" /></a> Black UI Kit <a href="http://www.designkindle.com/2011/05/09/black-ui-kit/"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-19904" src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/kit-10.png" title="kit-10" width="500" /></a> UI Elements <a href="http://www.denniscovent.be/?p=1036"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-19905" src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/kit-11.jpg" title="kit-11" width="500" /></a> Transparent Ui kit <a href="http://kbsportfolio.com/2012/05/04/resource-for-designer-transparent-ui-kit/"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-19906" src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/kit-12.png" title="kit-12" width="500" /></a> Black ui kit <a href="http://kbsportfolio.com/2011/10/13/resource-for-designer-black-ui-kit/"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-19907" src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/kit-13.jpg" title="kit-13" width="500" /></a> Dark Orange UI Kit <a href="http://elementaldesign.com.ar/en/downloads/"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-19908" src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/kit-14.jpg" title="kit-14" width="500" /></a> 70 User Interface Elements <a href="http://duckfiles.com/70-user-interface-elements-free-psd/"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-19909" src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/kit-15.png" title="kit-15" width="500" /></a> Sleek UI Elements <a href="http://www.designkindle.com/2011/07/25/sleek-ui-elements/"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-19910" src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/kit-16.jpg" title="kit-16" width="500" /></a> Lion UI Kit <a href="http://www.designkindle.com/2011/08/09/lion-ui-kit/"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-19911" src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/kit-17.jpg" title="kit-17" width="500" /></a> Cloudy UI Kit <a href="http://www.sebastiengabriel.com/blog/resource-for-designer-psd-18/"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-19912" src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/kit-18.png" title="kit-18" width="500" /></a> Silver Form UI Kit <a href="http://www.bestpsdfreebies.com/freebie/pay-with-a-tweet-friday-silver-form-ui-kit/"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-19913" src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/kit-19.jpg" title="kit-19" width="500" /></a> Dark Form UI Kit <a href="http://www.bestpsdfreebies.com/freebie/pay-with-a-tweet-friday-dark-form-ui-kit/"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-19914" src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/kit-20.jpg" title="kit-20" width="500" /></a> <div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/PresidiaCreative?a=oiKx59DsTOk:WGihupYnx-0:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/PresidiaCreative?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/PresidiaCreative?a=oiKx59DsTOk:WGihupYnx-0:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/PresidiaCreative?i=oiKx59DsTOk:WGihupYnx-0:F7zBnMyn0Lo" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/PresidiaCreative?a=oiKx59DsTOk:WGihupYnx-0:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/PresidiaCreative?i=oiKx59DsTOk:WGihupYnx-0:V_sGLiPBpWU" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/PresidiaCreative?a=oiKx59DsTOk:WGihupYnx-0:qj6IDK7rITs"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/PresidiaCreative?d=qj6IDK7rITs" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/PresidiaCreative?a=oiKx59DsTOk:WGihupYnx-0:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/PresidiaCreative?i=oiKx59DsTOk:WGihupYnx-0:gIN9vFwOqvQ" /></a> </div><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PresidiaCreative/~4/oiKx59DsTOk" width="1" />

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

30 Instructional CSS3 Tutorials

CSS3 is one of the most useful developments in web technologies over the past few years. When combined with HTML5 and CSS3, the possibilities for design and functionality are almost limitless and it’s possible to visualize a variety of applications. CSS3 isn’t altogether different from CSS, but there are some new rules and other selectors that have been added, and unfortunately there’s still a bit of browser specificity that can be confusing. But, to make it easy for you, I’ve selected 30 instructional CSS3 tutorials to share with you in this post. Button Switches with Checkboxes and CSS3 Fanciness <a href="http://tympanus.net/codrops/2012/09/13/button-switches-with-checkboxes-and-css3-fanciness/"><img src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/css3-tutorial-1.jpg" width="500" /></a> Creating an Animated 3D Bouncing Ball with CSS3 <a href="http://tympanus.net/codrops/2012/05/22/creating-an-animated-3d-bouncing-ball-with-css3/"><img src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/css3-tutorial-2.jpg" width="500" /></a> Pseudo elements with custom attributes to create a css3 menu that will bounce <a href="http://pehaa.com/2012/08/pseudo-elements-with-custom-attributes-to-create-a-css3-menu-that-will-bounce/"><img src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/css3-tutorial-3.jpg" width="500" /></a> The Creation of a CSS3 Clickable, Rotating Menu <a href="http://www.inserthtml.com/2012/09/rotating-menu/"><img src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/css3-tutorial-4.jpg" width="500" /></a> Create a stunning menu in CSS3 <a href="http://www.webdesignerdepot.com/2012/08/create-a-stunning-menu-in-css3/"><img src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/css3-tutorial-5.jpg" width="500" /></a> Fancy FAQ page using CSS3 only <a href="http://www.red-team-design.com/fancy-faq-page-using-css3-only"><img src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/css3-tutorial-6.jpg" width="500" /></a> Pricing Tables <a href="http://designmodo.com/create-css3-pricing-tables/"><img src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/css3-tutorial-7.jpg" width="500" /></a> Stylish Image Content Slider <a href="http://designmodo.com/slider-css3/"><img src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/css3-tutorial-8.jpg" width="500" /></a> Accordion Menu <a href="http://pelfusion.com/30-effective-css3-tutorials/"><img src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/css3-tutorial-9.jpg" width="500" /></a> Grid Based Web Design <a href="http://line25.com/tutorials/create-a-grid-based-web-design-in-html5-css3"><img src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/css3-tutorial-10.jpg" width="500" /></a> CSS3 Wheel Menu <a href="http://webdesign.tutsplus.com/tutorials/site-elements/how-to-create-a-css3-wheel-menu/"><img src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/css3-tutorial-11.jpg" width="500" /></a> Animated CSS3 helix using 3d transforms <a href="http://www.marcofolio.net/css/animated_css3_helix_using_3d_transforms.html"><img src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/css3-tutorial-12.jpg" width="500" /></a> Image Gallery with a 3D Lightbox Animation <a href="http://inspectelement.com/articles/create-a-css3-image-gallery-with-a-3d-lightbox-animation/"><img src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/css3-tutorial-13.jpg" width="500" /></a> Make A Stopwatch Using CSS3 Without Images & Javascript <a href="http://thecodeplayer.com/walkthrough/make-a-stopwatch-using-css3-without-images-or-javascript/"><img src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/css3-tutorial-14.jpg" width="500" /></a> A Pure CSS3 Cycling Slideshow <a href="http://coding.smashingmagazine.com/2012/04/25/pure-css3-cycling-slideshow/"><img src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/css3-tutorial-15.jpg" width="500" /></a> Circle Hover effects with css Transitions <a href="http://tympanus.net/codrops/2012/08/08/circle-hover-effects-with-css-transitions/"><img src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/css3-tutorial-16.jpg" width="500" /></a> Dynamic Stack of Index Cards <a href="http://designlovr.com/use-css3-to-create-a-dynamic-stack-of-index-cards/"><img src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/css3-tutorial-17.jpg" width="500" /></a> Halftone Navigation <a href="http://tutorialzine.com/2010/01/halftone-navigation-menu-jquery-css/"><img src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/css3-tutorial-18.jpg" width="500" /></a> Mega Drop-Down Menu <a href="http://net.tutsplus.com/tutorials/html-css-techniques/how-to-build-a-kick-butt-css3-mega-drop-down-menu/"><img src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/css3-tutorial-19.jpg" width="500" /></a> Dashboard Menu <a href="http://www.webstuffshare.com/2010/06/create-your-own-dashboard-menu/"><img src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/css3-tutorial-20.jpg" width="500" /></a> Create a CSS3 Dropdown Menu <a href="http://designmodo.com/css3-dropdown-menu/"><img src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/css3-tutorial-21.png" width="500" /></a> Circle Navigation Effect with CSS3to build an awesome <a href="http://tympanus.net/codrops/2011/10/10/circle-navigation-effect-with-css3/"><img src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/css3-tutorial-22.jpg" width="500" /></a> Slideshow with a parallax effect using CSS3 <a href="http://tympanus.net/codrops/2012/04/30/fluid-css3-slideshow-with-parallax-effect/"><img src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/css3-tutorial-23.jpg" width="500" /></a> Create CSS3 Buttons <a href="http://designmodo.com/create-css3-buttons/"><img src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/css3-tutorial-24.png" width="500" /></a> Create Accordion Menu in Pure CSS3 <a href="http://designmodo.com/css3-accordion-menu/"><img src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/css3-tutorial-25.png" width="500" /></a> Quickly Build a Swish Teaser Page With CSS3 <a href="http://webdesign.tutsplus.com/tutorials/htmlcss-tutorials/quickly-build-a-swish-teaser-page-with-css3/"><img src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/css3-tutorial-26.jpg" width="500" /></a> Build an Animated Photo Wall with CSS3 <a href="http://designshack.net/articles/css/build-an-animated-photo-wall-with-css/"><img src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/css3-tutorial-27.jpg" width="500" /></a> Stylish CSS3 progress bars <a href="http://www.red-team-design.com/stylish-css3-progress-bars"><img src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/css3-tutorial-28.jpg" width="500" /></a> Create some cool CSS3 buttons <a href="http://www.red-team-design.com/just-another-awesome-css3-buttons"><img src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/css3-tutorial-29.jpg" width="500" /></a> Create an animated 3d bar chart using CSS3 <a href="http://tympanus.net/codrops/2012/05/21/animated-3d-bar-chart-with-css3/"><img src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/css3-tutorial-30.jpg" width="500" /></a> <div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/PresidiaCreative?a=SC4gQJdIH1s:WKrLo5IH7HM:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/PresidiaCreative?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/PresidiaCreative?a=SC4gQJdIH1s:WKrLo5IH7HM:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/PresidiaCreative?i=SC4gQJdIH1s:WKrLo5IH7HM:F7zBnMyn0Lo" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/PresidiaCreative?a=SC4gQJdIH1s:WKrLo5IH7HM:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/PresidiaCreative?i=SC4gQJdIH1s:WKrLo5IH7HM:V_sGLiPBpWU" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/PresidiaCreative?a=SC4gQJdIH1s:WKrLo5IH7HM:qj6IDK7rITs"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/PresidiaCreative?d=qj6IDK7rITs" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/PresidiaCreative?a=SC4gQJdIH1s:WKrLo5IH7HM:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/PresidiaCreative?i=SC4gQJdIH1s:WKrLo5IH7HM:gIN9vFwOqvQ" /></a> </div><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PresidiaCreative/~4/SC4gQJdIH1s" width="1" />

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS

30 CSS3 and jQuery Tutorials

It’s one thing to be able to design beautiful websites, but it’s an entirely different matter to implement them in code. These days, it’s possible to visualize designs without the need for things like Flash, thanks instead to CSS3 and jQuery. Learning CSS3 isn’t too hard, but getting it to work with other code like jQuery can be trickier. In this post, I’ve gathered up 30 CSS3 and jQuery tutorials to get you up and coding in a flash. Create an Interactive Graph using CSS3 & jQuery <a href="http://designmodo.com/create-interactive-graph-css3-jquery/"><img src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/css3-jQuery-tutorial-1.png" width="500" /></a> Magnifying glass for image zoom using Jquery and CSS3 <a href="http://thecodeplayer.com/walkthrough/magnifying-glass-for-images-using-jquery-and-css3"><img src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/css3-jQuery-tutorial-2.jpg" width="500" /></a> Portfolio Flipping Slider Using jQuery & CSS3 <a href="http://www.webstuffshare.com/2012/07/portfolio-flipping-slider-using-jquery-css3/"><img src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/css3-jQuery-tutorial-3.jpg" width="500" /></a> Swatch Book with CSS3 and jQuery <a href="http://tympanus.net/codrops/2012/07/02/swatch-book-with-css3-and-jquery/"><img src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/css3-jQuery-tutorial-4.jpg" width="500" /></a> CSS3 And JQuery Progress Bar <a href="http://www.htmldrive.net/items/show/791/Very-Beautiful-CSS3-And-JQuery-progress-bar"><img src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/css3-jQuery-tutorial-5.jpg" width="500" /></a> FULLSCREEN SLIT SLIDER WITH JQUERY AND CSS3 <a href="http://tympanus.net/codrops/2012/06/05/fullscreen-slit-slider-with-jquery-and-css3/"><img src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/css3-jQuery-tutorial-6.jpg" width="500" /></a> PARALLAX CONTENT SLIDER WITH CSS3 AND JQUERY <a href="http://tympanus.net/codrops/2012/03/15/parallax-content-slider-with-css3-and-jquery/"><img src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/css3-jQuery-tutorial-7.jpg" width="500" /></a> 3D GALLERY WITH CSS3 AND JQUERY <a href="http://tympanus.net/codrops/2012/02/06/3d-gallery-with-css3-and-jquery/"><img src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/css3-jQuery-tutorial-8.jpg" width="500" /></a> Pretty Simple Content Slider with jQuery and CSS3 <a href="http://www.awwwards.com/gallery/4089/12-jquery-css3-resources-and-tutorials"><img src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/css3-jQuery-tutorial-9.jpg" width="500" /></a> GOOGLE PLAY’S MINIMAL TABS WITH CSS3 & JQUERY <a href="http://www.red-team-design.com/google-play-minimal-tabs-with-css3-jquery"><img src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/css3-jQuery-tutorial-10.jpg" width="500" /></a> jQuery CSS3 Image Hover Effects <a href="http://codecanyon.net/item/jquery-css3-image-hover-effects/234327?ref=aliqayyum786"><img src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/css3-jQuery-tutorial-11.jpg" width="500" /></a> Sticklr – Sticky Side Panel CSS3 + jQuery Plugin <a href="http://codecanyon.net/item/sticklr-sticky-side-panel-css3-jquery-plugin/302039?ref=aliqayyum786"><img src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/css3-jQuery-tutorial-12.png" width="500" /></a> jQuery CSS3 Sticky Mega Menu Bar <a href="http://codecanyon.net/item/jquery-css3-sticky-mega-menu-bar/239093?ref=aliqayyum786"><img src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/css3-jQuery-tutorial-13.jpg" width="500" /></a> Accordion Menu (CSS3+jQuery) <a href="http://designmodo.com/jquery-accordion-menu/"><img src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/css3-jQuery-tutorial-14.png" width="500" /></a> Easy CSS3 & jQuery tooltips <a href="http://www.red-team-design.com/easy-css3-jquery-tooltips"><img src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/css3-jQuery-tutorial-15.jpg" width="500" /></a> Image map with CSS3 & jQuery tooltips <a href="http://www.red-team-design.com/image-map-with-css3-jquery-tooltips"><img src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/css3-jQuery-tutorial-16.jpg" width="500" /></a> Typography Effects with CSS3 and jQuery <a href="http://tympanus.net/codrops/2011/11/28/typography-effects-with-css3-and-jquery/"><img src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/css3-jQuery-tutorial-17.jpg" width="500" /></a> Classic Digg-Style Radio Buttons with CSS and jQuery <a href="http://speckyboy.com/2012/09/11/classic-digg-style-radio-buttons-with-css-and-jquery/"><img src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/css3-jQuery-tutorial-18.jpg" width="500" /></a> Interactive menu with CSS3 and jQuery <a href="http://www.red-team-design.com/interactive-menu-with-css3-jquery"><img src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/css3-jQuery-tutorial-19.jpg" width="500" /></a> Create an Image Slider using jQuery and CSS3 <a href="http://designmodo.com/image-slider-jquery-css3/"><img src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/css3-jQuery-tutorial-20.jpg" width="500" /></a> Create Login Form with CSS3 and jQuery <a href="http://designmodo.com/css3-jQuery-dropdown-menu/"><img src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/css3-jQuery-tutorial-21.jpg" width="500" /></a> Portfolio Flipping Slider Using jQuery and CSS3 <a href="http://www.webstuffshare.com/2012/07/portfolio-flipping-slider-using-jquery-css3/"><img src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/css3-jQuery-tutorial-22.jpg" width="500" /></a> Shiny Knob Control with jQuery and CSS3 <a href="http://tutorialzine.com/2011/11/pretty-switches-css3-jquery/"><img src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/css3-jQuery-tutorial-23.jpg" width="500" /></a> How to Create Calendar using jQuery and CSS3 <a href="http://designmodo.com/calendar-jquery-css3/"><img src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/css3-jQuery-tutorial-24.jpg" width="500" /></a> Preserving vertical rhythm with CSS and jQuery <a href="http://www.netmagazine.com/tutorials/preserving-vertical-rhythm-css-and-jquery"><img src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/css3-jQuery-tutorial-25.jpg" width="500" /></a> Create Smooth Rotatable Images with CSS3 and jQuery <a href="http://www.awwwards.com/gallery/4092/12-jquery-css3-resources-and-tutorials"><img src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/css3-jQuery-tutorial-26.jpg" width="500" /></a> Beautiful Photo Stack Gallery with jQuery and CSS3 <a href="http://www.awwwards.com/gallery/4093/12-jquery-css3-resources-and-tutorials"><img src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/css3-jQuery-tutorial-27.jpg" width="500" /></a> Create an Image Slider using jQuery and CSS3 <a href="http://designmodo.com/image-slider-jquery-css3/"><img src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/css3-jQuery-tutorial-28.jpg" width="500" /></a> Create a Ribbon DropDown Menu with CSS3 and jQuery <a href="http://www.flashuser.net/tutorials/create-a-ribbon-dropdown-menu-with-css3-and-jquery.html"><img src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/css3-jQuery-tutorial-29.jpg" width="500" /></a> An Awesome CSS3 Lightbox Gallery With jQuery <a href="http://www.awwwards.com/gallery/4086/12-jquery-css3-resources-and-tutorials"><img src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/css3-jQuery-tutorial-30.jpg" width="500" /></a> <div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/PresidiaCreative?a=yZ43i8GlZFA:NZtQpfNuTxs:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/PresidiaCreative?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/PresidiaCreative?a=yZ43i8GlZFA:NZtQpfNuTxs:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/PresidiaCreative?i=yZ43i8GlZFA:NZtQpfNuTxs:F7zBnMyn0Lo" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/PresidiaCreative?a=yZ43i8GlZFA:NZtQpfNuTxs:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/PresidiaCreative?i=yZ43i8GlZFA:NZtQpfNuTxs:V_sGLiPBpWU" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/PresidiaCreative?a=yZ43i8GlZFA:NZtQpfNuTxs:qj6IDK7rITs"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/PresidiaCreative?d=qj6IDK7rITs" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/PresidiaCreative?a=yZ43i8GlZFA:NZtQpfNuTxs:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/PresidiaCreative?i=yZ43i8GlZFA:NZtQpfNuTxs:gIN9vFwOqvQ" /></a> </div><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PresidiaCreative/~4/yZ43i8GlZFA" width="1" />

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS

30 Adobe Illustrator Tutorials

Adobe Illustrator is an incredibly useful software package for designers, but it’s also one of the more complicated programs to use. Illustrator is designed to make working with vectors easy, as opposed to raster graphics in Photoshop that doesn’t have true vector support. Getting used to designing with vectors can be tricky and Illustrator does things a bit different from Photoshop. In this post, I’ve gathered up 30 Adobe Illustrator tutorials to get you up and designing. Create a Vector Film Slate Icon <a href="http://vector.tutsplus.com/tutorials/illustration/create-a-vector-film-slate-icon/"><img src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/illustrator-tutorial-1.jpg" width="500" /></a> Create a Vector RSS Icon with Illustrator <a href="http://blog.spoongraphics.co.uk/tutorials/create-a-vector-rss-icon-with-illustrator"><img src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/illustrator-tutorial-2.jpg" width="500" /></a> Translucent IM Style Illustrator Icon Tutoria <a href="http://blog.spoongraphics.co.uk/tutorials/translucent-im-style-illustrator-icon-tutorial"><img src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/illustrator-tutorial-3.gif" width="500" /></a> How to Create a Vintage Photo Camera icon for App Store in Adobe Illustrator <a href="http://designmodo.com/create-vintage-photo-camera/"><img src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/illustrator-tutorial-4.jpg" width="500" /></a> Creating convincing characters <a href="http://www.digitalartsonline.co.uk/tutorials/illustration/creating-convincing-characters/"><img src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/illustrator-tutorial-5.jpg" width="500" /></a> Creating a Vintage Ski Poster Design with Illustrator CS4 <a href="http://designrfix.com/resources/illustrator-tutorials"><img src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/illustrator-tutorial-6.jpg" width="500" /></a> Design with Swirls and Flourishes <a href="http://www.myinkblog.com/design-with-swirls-and-flourishes/"><img src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/illustrator-tutorial-7.png" width="500" /></a> Logo Design Process and Walkthrough for Vivid Ways <a href="http://blog.spoongraphics.co.uk/tutorials/logo-design-process-and-walkthrough-for-vivid-ways"><img src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/illustrator-tutorial-8.png" width="500" /></a> Create Courage, The Cowardly Dog in Illustrator <a href="http://abduzeedo.com/create-courage-cowardly-dog-illustrator"><img src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/illustrator-tutorial-9.jpg" width="500" /></a> How to Create a Vector Safari Compass in Illustrator <a href="http://blog.spoongraphics.co.uk/tutorials/how-to-create-a-vector-safari-compass-in-illustrator"><img src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/illustrator-tutorial-10.jpg" width="500" /></a> Simple organic shapes the Illustrator way <a href="http://veerle-v2.duoh.com/blog/comments/simple_organic_shapes_the_illustrator_way/"><img src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/illustrator-tutorial-11.jpg" width="500" /></a> Create a Tasty Burger Icon in Illustrator <a href="http://www.cutelittlefactory.com/tutorials/create-a-tasty-burger-icon-in-illustrator/"><img src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/illustrator-tutorial-12.jpg" width="500" /></a> How to Create a Glossy Bio hazard Icon <a href="http://vector.tutsplus.com/tutorials/tools-tips/quick-tip-how-to-create-a-glossy-biohazard-icon/"><img src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/illustrator-tutorial-13.jpg" width="500" /></a> Illustrate a Vector Tomato Using Gradient Mesh Tool <a href="http://vectorboom.com/load/tutorials/illustration/how_to_illustrate_a_tomato_using_adobe_illustrator/5-1-0-72"><img src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/illustrator-tutorial-14.jpg" width="500" /></a> Create a Stylish Switch Button in Illustrator <a href="http://vector.tutsplus.com/tutorials/interface-design/stylish-switch-button/"><img src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/illustrator-tutorial-15.jpg" width="500" /></a> How to Create Seamless Subtle Patterns in Adobe Illustrator <a href="http://designmodo.com/create-patterns-illustrator/"><img src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/illustrator-tutorial-16.jpg" width="500" /></a> Draw realistic liquids in vector art <a href="http://www.digitalartsonline.co.uk/tutorials/adobe-illustrator/draw-realistic-liquids-in-vector-art/"><img src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/illustrator-tutorial-17.jpg" width="500" /></a> Create a Detailed Scanner Illustration <a href="http://www.noupe.com/tutorial/adobe-illustrator-tutorial-create-detailed-scanner-illustration.html"><img src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/illustrator-tutorial-18.jpg" width="500" /></a> How to Create a Cute Cartoon Dinosaur <a href="http://vector.tutsplus.com/tutorials/illustration/quick-tip-how-to-create-a-cute-cartoon-dinosaur/"><img src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/illustrator-tutorial-19.jpg" width="500" /></a> How to Illustrate Crocus Flowers in the Snow <a href="http://vector.tutsplus.com/tutorials/illustration/illustrate-crocus-flowers/"><img src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/illustrator-tutorial-20.jpg" width="500" /></a> Create a Fairy Castle Using Adobe Illustrator and DrawScribe Plugin <a href="http://vector.tutsplus.com/tutorials/illustration/fairy-castle-inkscribe-tool/"><img src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/illustrator-tutorial-21.jpg" width="500" /></a> Create a Happy Sun Character <a href="http://vectips.com/tutorials/create-a-happy-sun-character/"><img src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/illustrator-tutorial-22.jpg" width="500" /></a> How to Create a Photorealistic iMac and Magic Mouse <a href="http://vector.tutsplus.com/tutorials/icon-design/how-to-create-a-photorealistic-imac-and-magic-mouse/"><img src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/illustrator-tutorial-23.jpg" width="500" /></a> How to create a Rubik’s Cube in Illustrator <a href="http://wegraphics.net/blog/tutorials/illustrator/how-to-create-a-rubiks-cube-in-illustrator/"><img src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/illustrator-tutorial-24.jpg" width="500" /></a> DESIGN RETRO ISOMETRIC ILLUSTRATIONS <a href="http://www.digitalartsonline.co.uk/tutorials/?FeatureID=3302671#1"><img src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/illustrator-tutorial-25.jpg" width="500" /></a> How to Create Infographics in Adobe Illustrator <a href="http://designmodo.com/create-infographics-illustrator/"><img src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/illustrator-tutorial-26.jpg" width="500" /></a> Create an Inspirational Vector Political Poster <a href="http://vector.tutsplus.com/tutorials/illustration/create-an-inspirational-vector-political-poster/"><img src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/illustrator-tutorial-27.jpg" width="500" /></a> Create a Twitter Style Bird Mascot <a href="http://vectortuts.com/illustration/create-a-twitter-style-bird-mascot/"><img src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/illustrator-tutorial-28.jpg" width="500" /></a> How to Illustrate a Cute Emo Kid <a href="http://vector.tutsplus.com/tutorials/illustration/how-to-illustrate-a-cute-emo-kid/"><img src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/illustrator-tutorial-29.jpg" width="500" /></a> How to Create a Mail App Icon Using Adobe Illustrator <a href="http://designmodo.com/create-app-icon-adobe-illustrator/"><img src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/illustrator-tutorial-30.jpg" width="500" /></a> <div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/PresidiaCreative?a=4x2pX2_99UE:jdCYnkXs3wI:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/PresidiaCreative?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/PresidiaCreative?a=4x2pX2_99UE:jdCYnkXs3wI:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/PresidiaCreative?i=4x2pX2_99UE:jdCYnkXs3wI:F7zBnMyn0Lo" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/PresidiaCreative?a=4x2pX2_99UE:jdCYnkXs3wI:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/PresidiaCreative?i=4x2pX2_99UE:jdCYnkXs3wI:V_sGLiPBpWU" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/PresidiaCreative?a=4x2pX2_99UE:jdCYnkXs3wI:qj6IDK7rITs"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/PresidiaCreative?d=qj6IDK7rITs" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/PresidiaCreative?a=4x2pX2_99UE:jdCYnkXs3wI:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/PresidiaCreative?i=4x2pX2_99UE:jdCYnkXs3wI:gIN9vFwOqvQ" /></a> </div><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PresidiaCreative/~4/4x2pX2_99UE" width="1" />

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS

Essential Resources For Designing A WordPress Site

Essential Resources For Designing A WordPress Site Building a new WordPress website can be a challenge—especially if you’re responsible for all the design decisions, and you’re just starting out. Even if you’re an experienced web designer, you’re going to need to learn new skills in order to make WordPress work for you. And it’s highly recommended, as the rewards for good WordPress skills pay off in easier maintenance, management, and all around user-friendliness for you and everyone else that deals with the site backend. We’ve put together a starter pack, if you will—the five things everyone must have in order to take a site from conception to launch with minimal previous exposure to WordPress theme design. Note that most of the items on this list are categories rather than specific tools—the WordPress development world is very diverse, and you’ll want to have plenty of options as you get started. <img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-19770" height="445" src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/wordpress.jpg" title="wordpress" width="590" /> Bonus: This <a href="http://www.simplybusiness.co.uk/microsites/wordpress-for-small-businesses/" target="_blank">WordPress guide</a> will show you what to do for every step of WordPress site development. If you’re having a problem, or just want to refer to a very quick best practices guide, start here. <h2>1. Tutorials</h2> <img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-19771" height="322" src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/webdesignfan.jpg" title="webdesignfan" width="590" /> While we think WordPress is definitely the easiest way to get a good-looking website up and running, that doesn’t mean that it’s just something you can pick up without working for it. <a href="http://webdesignfan.com/20-best-wordpress-tutorial-blogs/" target="_blank">Web Design Fan</a> has a great list of the 20 best WordPress tutorial blogs currently available. A word to the wise about the tutorials list: Not all tutorials are designed the same way. For absolute beginners, something like WPTutorials or TutsPlus is more appropriate. If you’re a bit more advanced, but would like good tips on making elements come together, hit the magazines—Smashing, Speckyboy, and the like. And, of course, there are great tutorials between those two extremes as well. <img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-19772" height="335" src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/tuts.jpg" title="tuts" width="590" /> <img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-19773" height="359" src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/speckyboy.jpg" title="speckyboy" width="590" /> <h2>2. A Template</h2> We’re going to go ahead and recommend two themes right away: <a href="http://wordpress.org/extend/themes/thematic" target="_blank">Thematic</a> and <a href="http://wordpress.org/extend/themes/responsive" target="_blank">Responsive</a>. Thematic is designed for theme development—that is, it’s a theme built for people who want to build their own themes. Responsive is also very extensible, but it’s designed specifically for sites that are targeting multiple platforms, such as phones and tablets. <img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-19774" height="346" src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/thematic.jpg" title="thematic" width="590" /> <img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-19775" height="392" src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/responsive.jpg" title="responsive" width="590" /> This is not to say there aren’t other great theme templates out there—if neither of these seems to meet your needs, spend some time on the <a href="http://wordpress.org/extend/themes/" target="_blank">WordPress Themes page</a> and find one that’s just right for you. <h2>3. Dummy text</h2> This may sound silly, but writing lengthy bits of nonsense is hard, and it’s essentially impossible to tell what your site will look like without some text. Here’s a list of the <a href="http://wpmu.org/lorem-ipsum-top-5-wordpress-dummy-content-filler-text-plugins/" target="_blank">top five dummy content plugins</a>, from WPMU, that’ll fill all your lorem ipsum needs. <h2>4. Images</h2> No website would be complete without pictures, but it can be difficult to find high-quality images in a palette your discerning designer eye approves of. Happily, Shutterstock has a brilliant solution: the <a href="http://www.shutterstock.com/blog/2012/11/shutterstocks-pantone-project-swatch-7-olympian-blue/" target="_blank">Shutterstock Pantone Project</a>, a series of posts that present a group of images in pre-chosen swatches. <img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-19776" height="600" src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/pantone.jpg" title="pantone" width="590" /> There are plenty of other swatches available, if Olympian Blue doesn’t strike your fancy. Keep your eyes on this page, though—there are still a few more installments in the works, and all of the swatch posts thus far have been great. <h2>5. A Reference Guide</h2> After you’ve gone through all the work of learning how to do WordPress right, you wouldn’t want to forget it all. Besides, who can remember every little thing about the development process? Even experienced designers are known to occasionally steal a glance at a cheat sheet. Here’s TutsPlus’s <a href="http://wp.tutsplus.com/category/articles/cheat-sheets/" target="_blank">repository of reference guides</a>. <img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-19777" height="569" src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/cheatsheet.jpg" title="cheatsheet" width="590" /> The thing to remember about reference guides is that they’re just as varied as the tutorials. If you’re looking for a basic reference, <a href="http://wp.tutsplus.com/articles/cheat-sheets/wordpress-cheat-sheat/" target="_blank">this sheet</a> is about the right speed. There are other sheets for SEO, theme development, widgets, and plugins, and not just on TutsPlus. Figure out where you’re going to be spending most of your time, and grab those cheat sheets. It’s important to remember that the tools are just that—tools, the things you use to make your creative vision real. Now that you know how to find the right ones, focus on the end goal, and your website will be a surefire hit. <div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/PresidiaCreative?a=-dNo4-eLlFk:u4ep55LYrl4:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/PresidiaCreative?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/PresidiaCreative?a=-dNo4-eLlFk:u4ep55LYrl4:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/PresidiaCreative?i=-dNo4-eLlFk:u4ep55LYrl4:F7zBnMyn0Lo" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/PresidiaCreative?a=-dNo4-eLlFk:u4ep55LYrl4:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/PresidiaCreative?i=-dNo4-eLlFk:u4ep55LYrl4:V_sGLiPBpWU" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/PresidiaCreative?a=-dNo4-eLlFk:u4ep55LYrl4:qj6IDK7rITs"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/PresidiaCreative?d=qj6IDK7rITs" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/PresidiaCreative?a=-dNo4-eLlFk:u4ep55LYrl4:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/PresidiaCreative?i=-dNo4-eLlFk:u4ep55LYrl4:gIN9vFwOqvQ" /></a> </div><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PresidiaCreative/~4/-dNo4-eLlFk" width="1" />

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS

Interesting Examples of Business Web Designs

If you are a web designer or if you want to <a href="http://www.shopify.com/blog/tagged/how-to-start-a-business">start a business</a>, understanding how to design websites for business is incredibly important. Businesses all have different purposes, some are customer service based, others are product selling based, but the principles of brand awareness and calls to action hold regardless of industry or purpose. In this post, I’ve gathered up some interesting examples of business web designs. Billionaire <a href="http://www.billionaire.com/"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-19750" height="325" src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/business-1.png" title="business-1" width="570" /></a> Winforever <a href="http://www.winforever.com/"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-19751" height="325" src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/business-2.png" title="business-2" width="570" /></a> Google Ventures <a href="http://www.googleventures.com/"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-19752" height="325" src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/business-3.png" title="business-3" width="570" /></a> Kern and Burn <a href="http://www.kernandburn.com/"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-19753" height="325" src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/business-4.png" title="business-4" width="570" /></a> ecomagination <a href="http://www.ecomagination.com/"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-19754" height="325" src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/business-5.png" title="business-5" width="570" /></a> Goldman Sachs <a href="http://www.goldmansachs.com/"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-19755" height="325" src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/business-6.png" title="business-6" width="570" /></a> Monocle <a href="http://monocle.com/"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-19756" height="325" src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/business-7.png" title="business-7" width="570" /></a> Crimson Investment Management <a href="http://crimson.pt/"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-19757" height="325" src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/business-8.png" title="business-8" width="570" /></a> Malcolm Reading Consultants <a href="http://www.malcolmreading.co.uk/"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-19758" height="325" src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/business-9.png" title="business-9" width="570" /></a> Greenhill SAVP <a href="http://greenhillsavp.com/"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-19759" height="325" src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/business-10.png" title="business-10" width="570" /></a> Abbell Associates <a href="http://www.abbell.com/"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-19760" height="325" src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/business-11.jpg" title="business-11" width="570" /></a> Australia Business Arts Foundation <a href="http://www.abaf.org.au/"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-19761" height="325" src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/business-12.png" title="business-12" width="570" /></a> Mahi FX <a href="https://mahifx.com/john-paulson/"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-19762" height="325" src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/business-13.png" title="business-13" width="570" /></a> Grind <a href="http://grindspaces.com/"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-19763" height="325" src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/business-15.png" title="business-15" width="570" /></a> <div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/PresidiaCreative?a=EhznoKL7hkg:oeRd_5Maqvg:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/PresidiaCreative?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/PresidiaCreative?a=EhznoKL7hkg:oeRd_5Maqvg:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/PresidiaCreative?i=EhznoKL7hkg:oeRd_5Maqvg:F7zBnMyn0Lo" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/PresidiaCreative?a=EhznoKL7hkg:oeRd_5Maqvg:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/PresidiaCreative?i=EhznoKL7hkg:oeRd_5Maqvg:V_sGLiPBpWU" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/PresidiaCreative?a=EhznoKL7hkg:oeRd_5Maqvg:qj6IDK7rITs"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/PresidiaCreative?d=qj6IDK7rITs" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/PresidiaCreative?a=EhznoKL7hkg:oeRd_5Maqvg:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/PresidiaCreative?i=EhznoKL7hkg:oeRd_5Maqvg:gIN9vFwOqvQ" /></a> </div><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PresidiaCreative/~4/EhznoKL7hkg" width="1" />

UPDATED: 7 MONTHS

Awesome Music-Themed Poster Designs

Music and design go together so well, not only because they are both creative fields, but because they combine two of the most dominant senses (visuals and sound). Many top designers have a specific style of music that inspire them the most while working on design, and there is no shortage of design work for the music industry as well. One of the great things about combining music with design is the ability to use common concepts from music in original ways for design. Here’s 30 awesome music-themed poster designs that illustrate how music and design can come together for poster printing. <img alt="" src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/music1.png" width="500" /> <img alt="" src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/music2.png" width="500" /> <img alt="" src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/music3.png" width="500" /> <img alt="" src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/music4.png" width="500" /> <img alt="" src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/music5.png" width="500" /> <img alt="" src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/music6.png" width="500" /> <img alt="" src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/music8.png" width="500" /> <img alt="" src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/music9.png" width="500" /> <img alt="" src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/music10.png" width="500" /> <img alt="" src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/music11.png" width="500" /> <img alt="" src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/music12.png" width="500" /> <img alt="" src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/music13.png" width="500" /> <img alt="" src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/music14.png" width="500" /> <img alt="" src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/music15.png" width="500" /> <img alt="" src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/music16.png" width="500" /> <img alt="" src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/music17.png" width="500" /> <img alt="" src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/music18.png" width="500" /> <img alt="" src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/music19.png" width="500" />           <img alt="" src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/music26.png" width="500" /> <img alt="" src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/music27.png" width="500" /> <img alt="" src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/music28.png" width="500" /> <img alt="" src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/music29.png" width="500" />

UPDATED: 1 YEAR

20 Eye-Catching Book Cover Designs

When most people think of design, they think of web design, business card design, and other major types of <a href="http://www.printrunner.com/" target="blank">online printing</a>. But actually, one of the bigger areas of design is that of book cover design. As more and more people look to publish books, especially thanks to digital publishing, book cover design becomes an even bigger part of the design world. Every book needs a good design cover, and aside from the content of the book and the author’s name recognition, it can be one of the most important factor in sales of books. Here’s 20 eye-catching book cover designs that struck me as particularly interesting. <a href="http://creattica.com/bookcovers/final-destination-book-trilogy/81687"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-18852" height="900" src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/book-1-497x900.jpg" title="book-1" width="497" /></a> <a href="http://www.behance.net/gallery/Bone-Anatomy-Illustrated/3173826"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-18853" height="583" src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/book-2-500x583.jpg" title="book-2" width="500" /></a> <a href="http://creattica.com/bookcovers/madeleine-s-war/36119"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-18854" height="361" src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/book-3-500x361.jpg" title="book-3" width="500" /></a> <a href="http://www.behance.net/gallery/Narnia/2437615"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-18855" height="391" src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/book-4-500x391.jpg" title="book-4" width="500" /></a> <a href="http://creattica.com/bookcovers/love-like-rain/35659"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-18856" height="553" src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/book-5-500x553.jpg" title="book-5" width="500" /></a> <a href="http://www.faceoutbooks.com/#29521/when-we-were-romans"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-18857" src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/book-6.jpg" title="book-6" width="500" /></a> <a href="http://www.behance.net/gallery/Book-Covers/290073"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-18858" height="337" src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/book-7-500x337.jpg" title="book-7" width="500" /></a> <a href="http://creattica.com/bookcovers/the-helix-literary-magazine/74720"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-18859" height="333" src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/book-8-500x333.jpg" title="book-8" width="500" /></a> <a href="http://www.behance.net/gallery/Recent-Illustrations/1692430"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-18860" height="333" src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/book-9-500x333.jpg" title="book-9" width="500" /></a> <a href="http://www.behance.net/gallery/Nachts-im-Ich/3696057"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-18861" height="333" src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/book-10-500x333.jpg" title="book-10" width="500" /></a> <a href="http://www.faceoutbooks.com/#357888/the-marrowbone-marble-company"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-18862" height="333" src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/book-11-500x333.jpg" title="book-11" width="500" /></a> <a href="http://www.faceoutbooks.com/#35067/was-superman-a-spy"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-18863" height="418" src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/book-12-500x418.jpg" title="book-12" width="500" /></a> <a href="http://creattica.com/bookcovers/year-of-the-marq-1981/40685"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-18864" height="733" src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/book-13-500x733.png" title="book-13" width="500" /></a> <a href="http://creattica.com/bookcovers/die-pflichten-der-eltern/44456"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-18865" height="312" src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/book-14-500x312.png" title="book-14" width="500" /></a> <a href="http://creattica.com/bookcovers/space-opera/42760"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-18866" height="304" src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/book-15-500x304.jpg" title="book-15" width="500" /></a> <a href="http://www.behance.net/gallery/Harrys-Tale/393384"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-18867" height="328" src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/book-16.jpg" title="book-16" width="500" /></a> <a href="http://www.behance.net/gallery/Where-there-is-smoke-there-is-fire-publication/251077"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-18868" height="333" src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/book-17-500x333.jpg" title="book-17" width="500" /></a> <a href="http://www.behance.net/gallery/Client-Work/1707005"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-18869" height="333" src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/book-18-500x333.jpg" title="book-18" width="500" /></a> <a href="http://www.behance.net/gallery/Penguin-Classics-Book-Covers/2661883"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-18870" height="331" src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/book-19-500x331.jpg" title="book-19" width="500" /></a> <a href="http://creattica.com/bookcovers/piracy/42748"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-18871" src="http://www.presidiacreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/book-20.jpg" title="book-20" width="500" /></a>

UPDATED: 1 YEAR

20 Creatively Designed Posters

UPDATED: 1 YEAR

City: Kiev	Personal Site: http://ti-igra.blogspot.com/
Location: UKR	Work URL:
Experience: Not defined	Facebook:
Employer:	Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/Ti_igra
Title:	LinkedIN:
Status: Available	Other:

SHARE PAGE: