<p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/_E_PMbHBw0nR7hf_lDGUjSltS6g/0/da"><img border="0" ismap="true" src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/_E_PMbHBw0nR7hf_lDGUjSltS6g/0/di" /></a><br /> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/_E_PMbHBw0nR7hf_lDGUjSltS6g/1/da"><img border="0" ismap="true" src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/_E_PMbHBw0nR7hf_lDGUjSltS6g/1/di" /></a></p><p><em>This is a guest article contributed by Adam Costa*.</em></p> <p class="intro">Recently, I invested in a start up company. Their business plan appeared solid, they identified a common problem and created a valuable solution.</p> <p>Everything seemed in place… except for design.</p> <p>When it came to <a href="http://justcreative.com/2009/10/20/how-to-choose-a-logo-designer/" title="How to choose a designer">logo design</a>, site layout and development, the founders passed it by, shrugging their shoulders as if to say “We’ll let the designers figure that out.”</p> <p>This is a recipe for disaster.</p> <p>The following post will take you, step-by-step, through the <a href="http://justcreative.com/2007/11/26/how-to-be-creative/" title="Creativity">creative process</a>. And once you go through it, you’ll hand your prospective designers everything they need to get started.</p> <p>OK, the first step is to…</p> <h3>Brainstorm What You Want Your Website To Be and Do</h3> <div><img alt="Baseball Pitch" class="border" height="426" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/baseball-pitch-640x426.jpg" title="baseball-pitch" width="640" /></div> <p>I write down everything I want my site to have. <strong>Everything</strong>. I even put items in there which I’d like to have, but don’t necessarily need. Then, when you hand over the document to prospective designers, you can ask them two important questions:</p> <ol> <li>Can you do each of these items, and…</li> <li>Which of these take the most time to complete?</li> </ol> <p>When shopping for a designer/developer, these two questions help weed out poor candidates, and give you an idea of what the most expensive requests are. For example, if you’d like to set up multiple admin levels with complicated workflows, this may be too costly to implement at first.</p> <p><strong>It also helps with negotiation.</strong> If you’re receiving quotes outside your budget, ask designers which elements they could skip for a lower price. <strong></strong> Once you’ve got your ideas written down, the next step is to…</p> <h3>Choose a Content Management System (CMS)</h3> <div><img alt="Wordpress" class="border" height="383" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/wordpress.gif" title="wordpress" width="640" /></div> <p>This is important to determine before hiring a designer/developer, although you may need their help in deciding too. Most professionals specialize in one or two systems: <a href="http://wordpress.com" title="Wordpress">WordPress</a>, <a href="http://drupal.com" title="Drupal">Drupal</a>, and <a href="http://joomla.com">Joomla</a> all have different capabilities/interfaces, each with their own learning curve. You can compare every CMS with <a href="http://www.cmsmatrix.org/">CMSMatrix</a>.</p> <p>Once you’ve chosen the right CMS for your site, you should…</p> <h3>Create a Mockup</h3> <p>Ideally, you should have a clear idea of what you want your site to look like in terms of functionality.  Ask yourself:</p> <ul> <li>How many page ‘templates’ do you need? (e.g. home page, category page, article page, checkout page, etc.).</li> <li>What do you want to include on each page? (value proposition, logo, content, multimedia, etc.)</li> <li>Where will you place navigation menus? On top? On the side?</li> </ul> <div><img alt="Wireframing by Mockingbird" class="border" height="383" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/mockingbird.jpg" title="mockingbird" width="640" /></div> <p>Spend some time drawing out your ideas on paper. Then, use a <a href="http://mashable.com/2010/07/15/wireframing-tools/" title="Wireframing Tools">wireframing tool</a> such as <a href="https://gomockingbird.com/">Go</a><a href="https://gomockingbird.com/">Mockingbird</a> to create a simple mockup you can send to designers. Don’t worry; I am not a designer, and GoMockingbird makes it easy to sketch out your ideas. You literally drag and drop different shapes onto a page until it resembles a website.</p> <p>The mockup ensures you and the designer see eye-to-eye from the very beginning. It sets expectations on both sides, and saves a lot of back and forth on little things. The designer can then take these rough ideas and create a branded user experience, while keeping in mind the core functionality and goals of the site.</p> <p>Now that you’ve created a mockup, the next step is to…</p> <h3>Record A Walk-Through of Your Site</h3> <div><img alt="Camtasia 7" class="border" height="434" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/camtasia-7-640x434.png" title="camtasia-7" width="640" /></div> <p>Although this step is not always essential, it is very useful to do. Using <a href="http://www.techsmith.com/camtasia.html" title="Camtasia">Camtasia</a> (or similar screen recording tool), record yourself using the site mockups you created earlier.</p> <p>The video lets you highlight key points, while providing a visual walk-through for designers. It also saves you from repeatedly explaining your idea to prospective designers; <strong>simply send them a video overview and you’re done. </strong></p> <p>Once you’ve heard back from several designers…</p> <h3>Conduct a Short Interview</h3> <div><img alt="Interview Designer" class="border" height="380" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/interview-designer-640x380.jpg" title="interview-designer" width="640" /></div> <p>Choose 3 -5 designers and set up a time to chat. Don’t make it too long, as they’re doing this for free. The interview lets you get a feel for the person, and helps ensure they are responsible (obviously, if they miss the interview, they aren’t the ideal candidate!).</p> <p>The final step is to…</p> <h3>Develop Your Website Creative</h3> <p>A website <a href="http://justcreative.com/2008/09/26/how-to-write-an-effective-design-brief/" title="Design Brief">creative brief</a> helps your designer/developer understand your vision. It should include your design preferences, sites you like, and a list of involved parties. The designer can then advise you on recommendations and take the design further.</p> <p>If you have existing marketing materials, be sure to include them as well so designers can help maintain your brand.</p> <p>This <a href="http://limeshot.com/documents/Website-Creative-Brief-Reader.pdf" title="Creative Brief PDF">web design brief sheet</a> (PDF) by Limeshot Design is one of the best I’ve seen; it covers everything necessary for effective implementation. Most designers will have their own version of this, which is why I list it last. If they don’t have one, use the above example as a starting point.</p> <h3>In Conclusion…</h3> <p>The key to obtaining realistic quotes from talented designers is to provide everything - your vision, mockups, design preferences - upfront. It saves everyone time, and helps you and your designer work get off to a strong start.</p> <p>-</p> <p><em><a href="http://twitter.com/%23%21/MrAdamCosta">Adam Costa</a> is a San Francisco based business consultant who provides <a href="http://www.lewisuniversityonline.com/ma-organizational-leadership-courses.asp">organizational leadership training</a> training to start-up companies. </em></p> <p><em><a href="http://www.bigstockphoto.com/image-2000871/stock-photo-interview" title="Interview Photo">Interview photo</a> by <a href="http://bit.ly/big_stock" title="Big Stock">Big Stock Photo</a>.</em></p> <hr /><br /> © This article is copyright of <a href="http://justcreative.com">JUST™ Creative</a> and should not be found elsewhere.<br /><br /> <div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=4f1qcjr10qs:Yxrfyi2Wfxw:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?i=4f1qcjr10qs:Yxrfyi2Wfxw:gIN9vFwOqvQ" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=4f1qcjr10qs:Yxrfyi2Wfxw:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?i=4f1qcjr10qs:Yxrfyi2Wfxw:V_sGLiPBpWU" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=4f1qcjr10qs:Yxrfyi2Wfxw:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=4f1qcjr10qs:Yxrfyi2Wfxw:qj6IDK7rITs"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?d=qj6IDK7rITs" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=4f1qcjr10qs:Yxrfyi2Wfxw:7Q72WNTAKBA"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?d=7Q72WNTAKBA" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=4f1qcjr10qs:Yxrfyi2Wfxw:D7DqB2pKExk"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?i=4f1qcjr10qs:Yxrfyi2Wfxw:D7DqB2pKExk" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=4f1qcjr10qs:Yxrfyi2Wfxw:I9og5sOYxJI"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?d=I9og5sOYxJI" /></a> </div>

<p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/KEHVQfYLFS_k_lr4ySBzSjOvImo/0/da"><img border="0" ismap="true" src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/KEHVQfYLFS_k_lr4ySBzSjOvImo/0/di" /></a><br /> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/KEHVQfYLFS_k_lr4ySBzSjOvImo/1/da"><img border="0" ismap="true" src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/KEHVQfYLFS_k_lr4ySBzSjOvImo/1/di" /></a></p><p class="intro">As the user base of <a href="http://justcreative.com/2012/04/24/pinterest-guide/" title="Pinterest: What, Why, How and Who? + Tips & Pin Optimisation">Pinterest</a>, a “pin board-based” image and inspiration social media site, continues to explode, we are now seeing a shift toward using Pinterest for creating brand awareness and engaging customers.</p> <p>Leading brands, celebrities, and nonprofits are flocking to Pinterest because of the simplicity of launching an account and because of the large market of passionate, engaged fans.</p> <p>Though we are still in the early stages of using Pinterest as a marketing tool, there are a few brands who have put together marketing campaigns. Here are a few examples to use as inspiration in order to give marketing on Pinterest a shot:</p> <h3>Host a Contest on Pinterest</h3> <p>Brands have created a variety of contests where users create pin boards related to a brand that wins a prize based on the number of likes it receives or based on a random drawing. These contests are often called “Pin it, to win it” contests, since contestants must pin a brand’s contest advertisement along with other images to their pin boards in order to participate.</p> <p><img alt="Pinterest Contest" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-10296" height="720" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/pinterest_contest.jpg" title="pinterest_contest" width="600" /></p> <p>Clothing brand ModCloth put together a <a href="http://blog.modcloth.com/2012/01/23/something-mc-pinterest-contest/" title="Contest">contest</a> on Pinterest for the ‘best pin board’ that provided an extensive list of images that entrants must track down and post to their Pin boards. Their rules included:</p> <ul> <li>Must follow @ModCloth on Twitter</li> <li>Pins have to include relevant hashtags (#modcloth and #wedding)</li> <li>Pinboards must include a pin from 20 categories as outlined in the announcement</li> <li>Pins must have a caption listing the number and name the pin corresponds to</li> <li>Entrants share their boards by posting a comment (with a link back to their board) on the ModCloth contest announcement pin.</li> </ul> <p>This promotion offered the dual benefits of creating a challenge for users, while still creating a broader brand awareness among customers.</p> <p>Similarly, a simple contest was put together by Barney’s New York that offered customers a chance to win items they had posted to their pin boards, a campaign very similar to one run by <a href="http://www.lisapetrilli.com/2011/12/14/lands-end-contest-confirms-strategic-role-of-pinterest-for-brands/" title="Lands End Pinterest">Land’s End</a>. According to <a href="http://mashable.com/2012/03/07/pinterest-brand-marketing" title="Pinterest Brand Marketing">Lauren Indvik of Mashable</a>, Barney’s “encouraged followers of its other social channels to follow its <a href="http://pinterest.com/barneysny/" title="Barneys">Pinterest page</a> and create a ‘Barneys New York Valentine’s Day Wish List’ board in the Women’s or Men’s Apparel categories. Participants were welcome to pin anything they wanted to their boards, but at least five items needed to be sourced from barneys.com to qualify for the contest. Entries were handled by email.”</p> <h3>Cross Social Media Platforms on Pinterest</h3> <p>Since Pinterest is easily linked to Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and other social media tools, it’s easy to encourage customers to cross link their pins in order to increase your brand’s exposure through a Pinterest promotion.</p> <p><a href="http://socialfresh.com/pinterest-marketing-campaign-kotex/" title="Kotex Social Campaign">Kotex used Pinterest</a> to figure out what 50 influential and “inspiring” women like and then sent them inspiration kits based on their pins if they agreed to post about them on Pinterest and other social media sites such as Twitter and Facebook. Though the ROI of this campaign has been hard to determine, the amount of exposure has been significant, especially since Kotex even made a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=UVCoM4ao2Tw#!" title="YouTube video by Kotex">YouTube video</a> introducing the concept of the campaign to a wider audience.</p> <p></p> <h3>Create a Puzzle on Pinterest</h3> <p>One of the most creative Pinterest campaigns that also drove a lot of customer traffic to a brand’s website came from the French car company Peugeot. <a href="http://mashable.com/2012/03/23/pinterest-marketing-campaigns/" title="Pinterest Marketing Campaigns">Todd Wasserman of Mashable</a> writes, “French car maker Peugeot’s Panama unit recently ran a contest that awarded fans who completed a Pinterest puzzle. The brand’s Pinterest profile featured images of cars running over two or more boards. In each case, a board was missing. To get the missing pieces, fans had to go to Peugeot Panama’s Facebook Page or website.”</p> <p><img alt="Peugeot on Pinterest" class="border" height="378" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Peugeot-Pinterest.jpg" title="Peugeot on Pinterest" width="640" /></p> <p>This complex and original campaign brought both greater exposure to the Peugeot website and the Peugeot Pin board.</p> <p>With this all said, brands are still trying to figure out how to best utilise Pinterest for marketing campaigns, and it may be some time before they have a firm idea of a campaign’s ROI. However, we’re in an exciting time where brands can expand their marketing into uncharted territory, surprising and delighting customers and possibly even generating attention simply by virtue of giving Pinterest marketing a shot.</p> <p>Feel free to <a href="http://pinterest.com/jacobcass/" title="Pinterest Jacob Cass">follow my boards on Pinterest</a>.</p> <p><strong>Have you used Pinterest for any of your marketing campaigns? How did they work for you?</strong></p> <hr /><br /> © This article is copyright of <a href="http://justcreative.com">JUST™ Creative</a> and should not be found elsewhere.<br /><br /> <div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=ACvsfhzGh0c:jHpDASJLkFE:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?i=ACvsfhzGh0c:jHpDASJLkFE:gIN9vFwOqvQ" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=ACvsfhzGh0c:jHpDASJLkFE:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?i=ACvsfhzGh0c:jHpDASJLkFE:V_sGLiPBpWU" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=ACvsfhzGh0c:jHpDASJLkFE:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=ACvsfhzGh0c:jHpDASJLkFE:qj6IDK7rITs"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?d=qj6IDK7rITs" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=ACvsfhzGh0c:jHpDASJLkFE:7Q72WNTAKBA"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?d=7Q72WNTAKBA" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=ACvsfhzGh0c:jHpDASJLkFE:D7DqB2pKExk"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?i=ACvsfhzGh0c:jHpDASJLkFE:D7DqB2pKExk" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=ACvsfhzGh0c:jHpDASJLkFE:I9og5sOYxJI"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?d=I9og5sOYxJI" /></a> </div>

<p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/Fu1pJL589YdH7CgvO9ALPwoXPWE/0/da"><img border="0" ismap="true" src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/Fu1pJL589YdH7CgvO9ALPwoXPWE/0/di" /></a><br /> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/Fu1pJL589YdH7CgvO9ALPwoXPWE/1/da"><img border="0" ismap="true" src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/Fu1pJL589YdH7CgvO9ALPwoXPWE/1/di" /></a></p><p><img alt="Top Australian Logos" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-10270" height="300" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/top-australian-logos.gif" title="Top Australian Logos" width="640" /></p> <p>I was intrigued by an article put out by <a href="http://desktopmag.com.au/magazine" title="Desktop Magazine">Desktop Magazine</a> (#<a href="http://www.beautifulpages.com.au/products/desktop-magazine-282-may" title="Desktop Magazine 282">282</a>) that listed the top 10 Australian logos of all time based from an online readers’ poll and votes from an expert panel.</p> <p>I’m still awaiting to receive my copy in the mail, but I’d thought I would share their top ten picks below to hear your thoughts. Speaking on behalf of the Australians, I find all of these quite iconic, but <a href="http://justcreativedesign.com/2009/07/27/what-makes-a-good-logo/" title="What makes a good logo?">how do they rank</a> in your books for those outside of Oz?</p> <h4>10. SBS (Special Broadcasting Service)</h4> <div><img alt="SBS Logo" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-10183" height="300" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/SBS-Logo.gif" title="SBS-Logo" width="640" /></div> <h4>9. Australia Post</h4> <div><img alt="Australia Post Logo" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-10141" height="300" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/australia-post-logo.gif" title="Australia Post Logo" width="640" /></div> <h4>8. Sydney Olympics 2000</h4> <div><img alt="Sydney Olympics 2000" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-10142" height="300" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/sydney-2000-logo.gif" title="sydney-2000-logo" width="640" /></div> <h4>7. Nine Network</h4> <div><img alt="Nine Network" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-10143" height="300" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/nine-network-logo.gif" title="Nine Network" width="640" /></div> <h4>6. Woolmark</h4> <div><img alt="Woolmark" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-10144" height="300" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/woolmark-logo.gif" title="woolmark-logo" width="640" /></div> <h4>5. Woolworths</h4> <div><img alt="Woolworths Logo" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-10145" height="300" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/woolworths-logo.gif" title="woolworths-logo" width="640" /></div> <h4>4. Commonwealth Bank</h4> <div><img alt="Commonwealth Bank Logo" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-10146" height="300" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/commonwealth-bank-logo.gif" title="commonwealth-bank-logo" width="640" /></div> <h4>3. City of Melbourne</h4> <div><img alt="City of Melbourne" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-10147" height="300" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/city-of-melbourne-logo.gif" title="city-of-melbourne-logo" width="640" /></div> <h4>2. Qantas</h4> <div><img alt="Qantas Logo" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-10149" height="300" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/qantas.gif" title="Qantas Logo" width="640" /></div> <h4>1. ABC (Australian Broadcasting Company)</h4> <div><img alt="ABC Logo" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-10148" height="300" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/abc-logo.gif" title="abc-logo" width="640" /></div> <h4>My Pick: Australian Made</h4> <p>If I were to choose a logo to add to the top ten, this would be my pick. What about you?</p> <div><img alt="Made In Australia" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-10140" height="300" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/made-in-australia-logo.gif" title="made-in-australia-logo" width="640" /></div> <hr /><br /> © This article is copyright of <a href="http://justcreative.com">JUST™ Creative</a> and should not be found elsewhere.<br /><br /> <div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=ht3iPK9cLXs:m5ttalm3uho:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?i=ht3iPK9cLXs:m5ttalm3uho:gIN9vFwOqvQ" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=ht3iPK9cLXs:m5ttalm3uho:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?i=ht3iPK9cLXs:m5ttalm3uho:V_sGLiPBpWU" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=ht3iPK9cLXs:m5ttalm3uho:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=ht3iPK9cLXs:m5ttalm3uho:qj6IDK7rITs"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?d=qj6IDK7rITs" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=ht3iPK9cLXs:m5ttalm3uho:7Q72WNTAKBA"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?d=7Q72WNTAKBA" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=ht3iPK9cLXs:m5ttalm3uho:D7DqB2pKExk"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?i=ht3iPK9cLXs:m5ttalm3uho:D7DqB2pKExk" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=ht3iPK9cLXs:m5ttalm3uho:I9og5sOYxJI"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?d=I9og5sOYxJI" /></a> </div>

<p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/-TScV7y7VD8y-sf0U2VJe87qYVY/0/da"><img border="0" ismap="true" src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/-TScV7y7VD8y-sf0U2VJe87qYVY/0/di" /></a><br /> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/-TScV7y7VD8y-sf0U2VJe87qYVY/1/da"><img border="0" ismap="true" src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/-TScV7y7VD8y-sf0U2VJe87qYVY/1/di" /></a></p><p class="intro">I often share short news snippets on <a href="http://twitter.com/justcreative/" title="Jacob Cass on Twitter">Twitter</a> & <a href="http://facebook.com/justcreative/" title="Just Creative on Facebook">Facebook</a> however this news doesn’t often make its way to my blog so here is a quick run down of some recent news.</p> <div><img alt="FundingGates Website" height="500" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Website__0022_FundingGates.jpg" title="FundingGates Website" width="700" /></div> <div></div> <h4>New Work</h4> <p>I’ve posted some new work to my portfolio, including work for <a href="http://justcreative.com/2012/05/22/funding-gates-website/" title="Funding Gates Website">Funding Gates</a>, a “one stop shop to manage your receivables” and <a href="http://justcreative.com/2012/05/22/forexware/" title="Forexware">Forexware</a>, a trading technology company. This site also got <a href="http://forexware.com/cn" title="Forexware Chinese">translated into Chinese</a> which is kinda neat.</p> <h4>Annual Design Awards 2012</h4> <p>The <a href="http://www.annualdesignawards.com/" title="Annual Design Awards">2012 Annual Design Awards</a> will start accepting entries on June 3rd. I will be on the Jury again this year, alongside other jurors such <a href="http://elliotjaystocks.com/">Elliot Jay Stocks</a>, <a href="http://sagihaviv.com/">Sagi Haviv</a>, <a href="http://www.cgstudionyc.com/" title="Ivan Chermayeff">Ivan Chermayeff</a> and more.</p> <h4>New Home Page Slider</h4> <p>I’ve added a new responsive slider on the home page, which also works on touch devices. The slider will rotate through my most recent work & news.</p> <h4>New Sub Navigation</h4> <p>As <a href="http://justcreative.com/2012/05/04/win-a-hp-envy-14-spectre-laptop/" title="HP envy">requested</a>, I’ve added a <a href="http://justcreative.com/about/#navigation" title="Sub Navigation">sub navigation</a> to my long about page.</p> <h4>The Art of Personal Branding</h4> <p>Check out <a href="http://logonest.com" title="LogoNest">Logo Nest Vol 2.</a>, a book by logo designers for logo designers. Inside I wrote an article on ‘<a href="http://www.logonest.com/articles/the-art-of-personal-branding/" title="Personal Branding">The Art of Personal Branding</a>‘.</p> <h4>Zynga Bubble Safari Logo<strong><br /> </strong></h4> <p>I designed the logo for Zynga’s new arcade game ‘Bubble Safari’ which you <a href="http://techcrunch.com/2012/05/08/zynga-bubble-safari/" title="Bubble Safari">can see here in motion</a>. Quite glossy but that’s the arcade market for you. Designed at Ammirati.</p> <h4>HP Envy Winner</h4> <p>Congratulations to <a href="http://stanbanks.com" title="Stan Banks">Stan Banks</a> of Delaware who won the <a href="http://justcreative.com/2012/05/04/win-a-hp-envy-14-spectre-laptop/" title="Giveaway">HP Envy in my last giveaway</a>.</p> <h4>Ammirati NYC Looking for an Intern</h4> <p>Ammirati is <a href="http://bit.ly/HCEiHY">looking for a summer developer intern</a> who will work along side myself and another 2 developers. Must have HTML, CSS & Javascript knowledge.</p> <h4>Elsewhere</h4> <p>You can find some of my advice and work in the publications below.</p> <ul> <li><a href="http://www.creativebloq.com/creative-careers/industry-insight-augmented-reality-1233829/" title="Augmented Reality">Industry insight: Augmented reality</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.creativebloq.com/inspiration/industry-insight-are-design-competitions-spec-work-1233697/" title="Spec Work">Are Design Competitions Spec Work?</a></li> <li>2 logos featured in the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/International-Communication-Design-Yearbook-2011/dp/3899391292" title="Yearbook Design">International Communication Design Yearbook 2011/2012 </a></li> <li><a href="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/jacobcass-freelanceguidebook.jpg" title="Jacob Cass Freelance Guidebook">Featured</a> inside the ‘<a href="http://www.myfavouritemagazines.co.uk/design-bookazines/The-Freelance-Handbook.html" title="Freelance Handbook">Freelancers Handbook</a>’ by Computer Arts</li> </ul> <h4>New Work In The Pipeline</h4> <p>An iPad app for a whiskey brand, a secret project for Jerry Seinfeld, a new website for the Coffee Shop in Union Square, a home page refresh for Energy Kitchen and a few more which are under wraps for now.</p> <hr /><br /> © This article is copyright of <a href="http://justcreative.com">JUST™ Creative</a> and should not be found elsewhere.<br /><br /> <div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=a6GbDDTnpUg:LJYyJExTgb8:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?i=a6GbDDTnpUg:LJYyJExTgb8:gIN9vFwOqvQ" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=a6GbDDTnpUg:LJYyJExTgb8:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?i=a6GbDDTnpUg:LJYyJExTgb8:V_sGLiPBpWU" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=a6GbDDTnpUg:LJYyJExTgb8:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=a6GbDDTnpUg:LJYyJExTgb8:qj6IDK7rITs"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?d=qj6IDK7rITs" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=a6GbDDTnpUg:LJYyJExTgb8:7Q72WNTAKBA"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?d=7Q72WNTAKBA" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=a6GbDDTnpUg:LJYyJExTgb8:D7DqB2pKExk"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?i=a6GbDDTnpUg:LJYyJExTgb8:D7DqB2pKExk" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=a6GbDDTnpUg:LJYyJExTgb8:I9og5sOYxJI"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?d=I9og5sOYxJI" /></a> </div>

<p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/C5Y0bt0afa8HxjWzwL2Sfg8f0h8/0/da"><img border="0" ismap="true" src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/C5Y0bt0afa8HxjWzwL2Sfg8f0h8/0/di" /></a><br /> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/C5Y0bt0afa8HxjWzwL2Sfg8f0h8/1/da"><img border="0" ismap="true" src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/C5Y0bt0afa8HxjWzwL2Sfg8f0h8/1/di" /></a></p><div class="wp-caption alignnone" id="attachment_9779"><img alt="Jacob Cass in Computer Arts Magazine, Issue 200" class="size-full wp-image-9779" height="612" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/jacob-cass-issue-200-computer-arts.jpg" title="jacob-cass-issue-200-computer-arts" width="612" /><p class="wp-caption-text">The article in Computer Arts Magazine, Issue 200. Photo by Luisedtr.</p></div> <div class="intro"> I was recently asked by Computer Arts magazine to answer a series of short questions on pricing yourself as a designer. You can find my answers in <a href="http://www.computerarts.co.uk/blog/issue-200-sale-now-123078" title="Issue 200 Computer Arts">Issue 200 of Computer Arts</a> or below. </div> <h3><strong> How should designers determine an hourly wage?</strong></h3> <p>There are a number of factors to keep in mind when figuring out what your worth such as what you <em>think</em> you’re worth, what you can get away with, your experience, the amount of work you currently have on, how badly you want an individual project and the terms of the project, as well how long you think each project will take. There are many other factors to consider, but this is a start. See here for more info on <a href="http://justcreativedesign.com/2009/02/26/how-much-to-charge-for-design-work/" title="How much to charge for design work">how much to charge for design work</a>.</p> <h3><strong>What are the pros and cons of fixed pricing versus and hourly rate?</strong></h3> <p>Pricing hourly has its benefits at times and you should always be flexible in <a href="http://freelanceswitch.com/money/hourly-vs-fixed-pricing/" title="Hourly vs Fixed Pricing">which way you choose</a>, however, I would personally recommend pricing per project as it demonstrates that you will <em>give results</em>, not just X number hours of work.<strong></strong></p> <h3><strong>How can designers ensure they price competitively?</strong></h3> <p>Ask your friends in the industry and also do some competitive researching. How do your competitors charge, and what do they charge? Once you know this valuable information, you will have better judgement on how to price your work, as well as how to position yourself. Learn <a href="http://justcreative.com/2010/11/01/client-liason/" title="Negoiate Budgets">how to negotiate budgets</a> also.</p> <div> <h3><strong>Should designers take a lower wage for a cut of future project earnings or shares?</strong></h3> <p>This should be judged on a project to project basis. Always be wary when taking on these types of partnerships as it really is a gamble. Sometimes it pays off, sometimes it doesn’t. Be wary of people who offer this as it could be a scam and make sure you have everything in writing with a signature.</p> </div> <div> <h3><strong>How protective of copyright and IP should a designer be?</strong></h3> </div> <p>As someone who gets notified of a <a href="http://justcreative.com/2009/07/14/copyright-patents-trademarks-registered-designs/" title="Copyright">copyright infringement</a> of my work every week (yes, every week!) I will tell you that it is <strong>a lot</strong> of effort to resolve these issues. You should be protective of your work, but don’t let it bog you down. I usually send a polite email at first and in most cases, they remove the work straight away with their tail between their legs. A few times I’ve threatened with a a <a href="http://rising.blackstar.com/how-to-send-a-dmca-takedown-notice.html" title="DMCA Take Down">DMCA take down notice</a> but fortunately, I’ve never had to go further.</p> <p>On this topic, be sure to read ‘<a href="http://justcreative.com/2011/07/14/how-not-to-write-a-personal-biography/">how not to write a personal biography</a>‘.</p> <h3><strong>Do you recommend a designer has a legal eagle check a contract?</strong></h3> <p>At the very least you should read over anything you sign, at least once or twice. If you’re work and fees are getting high profile, then yes it may be worth getting an ‘eagle’.<strong></strong></p> <h3><strong>Can a designer ever charge more than they originally quoted? </strong></h3> <p>If a project is going out of the <a href="http://justcreative.com/2012/02/14/how-to-deal-with-scope-creep/" title="Scope Creep">original scope</a>, known as scope creep, then yes of course.</p> <p><strong>Have any other questions that you’d like my opinion on? What’s your opinion?</strong></p> <hr /><br /> © This article is copyright of <a href="http://justcreative.com">JUST™ Creative</a> and should not be found elsewhere.<br /><br /> <div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=UBkRWIaoJ7E:x8YQXqIkuu0:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?i=UBkRWIaoJ7E:x8YQXqIkuu0:gIN9vFwOqvQ" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=UBkRWIaoJ7E:x8YQXqIkuu0:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?i=UBkRWIaoJ7E:x8YQXqIkuu0:V_sGLiPBpWU" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=UBkRWIaoJ7E:x8YQXqIkuu0:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=UBkRWIaoJ7E:x8YQXqIkuu0:qj6IDK7rITs"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?d=qj6IDK7rITs" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=UBkRWIaoJ7E:x8YQXqIkuu0:7Q72WNTAKBA"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?d=7Q72WNTAKBA" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=UBkRWIaoJ7E:x8YQXqIkuu0:D7DqB2pKExk"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?i=UBkRWIaoJ7E:x8YQXqIkuu0:D7DqB2pKExk" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=UBkRWIaoJ7E:x8YQXqIkuu0:I9og5sOYxJI"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?d=I9og5sOYxJI" /></a> </div>

<p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/psy8MV-8N9qImB2rYtAFOS9csxU/0/da"><img border="0" ismap="true" src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/psy8MV-8N9qImB2rYtAFOS9csxU/0/di" /></a><br /> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/psy8MV-8N9qImB2rYtAFOS9csxU/1/da"><img border="0" ismap="true" src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/psy8MV-8N9qImB2rYtAFOS9csxU/1/di" /></a></p><div><img alt="Costa Rica" class="border" height="400" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/costa-rica.jpg" title="Costa Rica" width="620" /></div> <p>In April, I spent two weeks in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Costa_Rica" title="Costa Rica">Costa Rica</a>, traveling around Guanacaste province. I took about 900 photos on my <a href="http://store.sony.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10551&storeId=10151&langId=-1&partNumber=NEX5NK/B" title="Sony NEX 5N">Sony NEX 5N</a> (a great portable cam!) and have have finally filtered through them. Feel free to <a href="http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.3761125022419.2163889.1105358824&type=3" title="Costa Rica">check out the album on Facebook</a>, which features forty of my favourites.</p> <p>Costa Rica is definitely an awesome place to visit and below were some of my highlights:</p> <ul> <li>White water tubing</li> <li>Ziplining</li> <li>ATV riding</li> <li>Volcano exploring (mud, steam, etc.)</li> <li>Bathing in the hot springs</li> <li>Backwards abseiling</li> <li>Rock climbing</li> <li>Horseback riding</li> <li>Hiking & exploring the rainforests</li> <li>Off road four-wheel driving</li> <li>Riding an ox</li> <li>Tarzan swinging into a refreshing pool</li> <li>Driving around from place to place</li> <li>Interacting with nature, monkeys & wildlife</li> <li>Surfing Tamarindo</li> <li>Watching the amazing sunsets</li> <li>Enjoying Costa Rican food & culture</li> <li>and of course relaxing at the pool & beach.</li> </ul> <p>Feel free to subscribe to my <a href="http://www.facebook.com/justcreative/">personal Facebook updates</a> or <a href="http://www.facebook.com/justcreativedesign/" title="Facebook Just Creative">this blog only</a>.</p> <p><strong>Have you been to Costa Rica?</strong> There was plenty I missed and would love to explore the rest of the country. What would you recommend? If you haven’t been, I highly recommend it!</p> <hr /><br /> © This article is copyright of <a href="http://justcreative.com">JUST™ Creative</a> and should not be found elsewhere.<br /><br /> <div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=S79WneeVMEM:lwOGZyH1abE:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?i=S79WneeVMEM:lwOGZyH1abE:gIN9vFwOqvQ" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=S79WneeVMEM:lwOGZyH1abE:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?i=S79WneeVMEM:lwOGZyH1abE:V_sGLiPBpWU" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=S79WneeVMEM:lwOGZyH1abE:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=S79WneeVMEM:lwOGZyH1abE:qj6IDK7rITs"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?d=qj6IDK7rITs" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=S79WneeVMEM:lwOGZyH1abE:7Q72WNTAKBA"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?d=7Q72WNTAKBA" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=S79WneeVMEM:lwOGZyH1abE:D7DqB2pKExk"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?i=S79WneeVMEM:lwOGZyH1abE:D7DqB2pKExk" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=S79WneeVMEM:lwOGZyH1abE:I9og5sOYxJI"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?d=I9og5sOYxJI" /></a> </div>

<p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/oYAZIxEZ-Ro2o1ZBQYa4Z1C9BO0/0/da"><img border="0" ismap="true" src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/oYAZIxEZ-Ro2o1ZBQYa4Z1C9BO0/0/di" /></a><br /> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/oYAZIxEZ-Ro2o1ZBQYa4Z1C9BO0/1/da"><img border="0" ismap="true" src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/oYAZIxEZ-Ro2o1ZBQYa4Z1C9BO0/1/di" /></a></p><div class="wp-caption alignnone" id="attachment_9668"><img alt="HP Spectre" class="size-full wp-image-9668" height="544" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/hp-spectre.jpg" title="hp-spectre" width="640" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Win this HP ENVY 14 Spectre. Details below.</p></div> <p>I was recently invited to attend a ‘top secret’ event held by HP. They emailed me and asked if I would like to attend an exciting ‘hunt’ between 4 and 8pm on a Thursday afternoon, at an undisclosed location. They were extremely vague about the event and they said to just show up, “it would be worth it”. Knowing how <a href="http://justcreative.com/2010/12/07/hp%E2%80%99s-elitebook-8740w-mobile-workstation-first-impressions/" title="HP Elitebook">HP works with PR</a>, I agreed and showed up.</p> <p>What was to follow was a set of extraordinary events, especially if you know how the company <a href="http://accomplicetheshow.com/" title="Accomplice">Accomplice</a> works - the company that runs the show / hunt / tour / experience. Without giving too much away the hunt consisted of a variety of random, extremely funny events and objects. A few are outlined below.</p> <p><em><em>Singing Italian construction workers, fortune cookies, live frogs, 3D maps found in locked boxes held by paranoid bums, </em>Russians on the the run from the police, USB sticks with self exploding videos, blind men giving directions, albino midgets holding lemons and flying snakes.</em></p> <p><em></em>With a line up like that you can just imagine how interesting, weird & fun the tour was - I highly recommend checking out Accomplice if you are in New York, London or Hollywood.</p> <p>Anyway, at the end of the hunt, a winner was chosen from our group to win a HP Spectre laptop. Unfortunately I didn’t win, however I do have one to give away! <a href="http://bit.ly/spectrenyc" title="Spectre Photos">Check out the photos</a> and how to win below. (Entries now closed)</p> <div class="wp-caption alignnone" id="attachment_9670"><img alt="Jacob Cass at Dinner" class="size-full wp-image-9670" height="427" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/hp-event-7.jpg" title="hp-event-7" width="640" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Me, awaiting the announcement of who won the HP Spectre at the event. Sadly, I didn't!</p></div> <div class="wp-caption alignnone" id="attachment_9672"><img alt="Live frog with construction worker" class="size-full wp-image-9672" height="427" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/hp-event-5.jpg" title="hp-event-5" width="640" /><p class="wp-caption-text">We picked up a live frog from a singing construction worker.</p></div> <div class="wp-caption alignnone" id="attachment_9674"><img alt="Blind Man Giving Advice" class="size-full wp-image-9674" height="427" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/hp-event-3.jpg" title="hp-event-3" width="640" /><p class="wp-caption-text">The "blind" man who gave advice to the group.</p></div> <div class="wp-caption alignnone" id="attachment_9676"><img alt="Eating with the group and an Italian Accomplice actor / comedian." class="size-full wp-image-9676" height="427" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/hp-event-1.jpg" title="HP " width="640" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Eating with the group and a 'Russian' Accomplice actor / comedian.</p></div> <div class="wp-caption alignnone" id="attachment_9675"><img alt="HP Spectre Laptop Demonstration" class="size-full wp-image-9675" height="427" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/hp-event-2.jpg" title="hp-event-2" width="640" /><p class="wp-caption-text">The group testing out the HP Spectre at the end of the hunt.</p></div> <h3>About the HP ENVY 14 Ultrabook</h3> <ul> <li>It has scratch-resistant glass on three surfaces for a stunning look</li> <li>Beautiful 14” inch high definition display and up to 9 hours of battery life</li> <li>Beats Audio sound technology, designed by HP with Dr. Dre and Jimmy Iovine, and an analog dial to adjust audio levels</li> <li>Backlit keyboard for those late nights</li> </ul> <p>You can read more about the <a href="http://www.hp.com/go/spectre" title="HP Envy 14">HP ENVY 14 Spectre</a> here or a <a href="http://tech.uk.msn.com/laptops/hp-envy-14-spectre-review" title="Envy 14 Review">review</a> here.</p> <h3>Win a HP ENVY 14 of your own. (Now Closed)</h3> <p>I’d love to get some feedback on my blog and how it is currently running, so to enter, simply let me know what things you think could be improved on my blog. Let me know what you like, don’t like and what you would like to see (or not see) on the blog. Simply leave your comment below, that’s it!</p> <ul> <li>Only USA residents can enter</li> <li>Only one entry per person</li> <li>The winner will be drawn from the best ten answers</li> <li>The winner will need to fill out a a W-9 tax form</li> <li>The winner will be emailed directly and announced on this post on May 20th</li> </ul> <h3>The Winner!</h3> <p>Congratulations to <a href="http://stanbanks.com" title="Stan Banks">Stan Banks</a> of Delaware, the winner of the HP Envy. Thank you everyone else for your entries, and may the odds ever be in your favour.</p> <p><strong>Legal Disclaimer:</strong><br /> Prizes and promotional support was provided by HP. I was not compensated for this post in any way. Good luck!</p> <hr /><br /> © This article is copyright of <a href="http://justcreative.com">JUST™ Creative</a> and should not be found elsewhere.<br /><br /> <div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=cQhBkg3Z0bM:6_FMtlJeVuU:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?i=cQhBkg3Z0bM:6_FMtlJeVuU:gIN9vFwOqvQ" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=cQhBkg3Z0bM:6_FMtlJeVuU:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?i=cQhBkg3Z0bM:6_FMtlJeVuU:V_sGLiPBpWU" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=cQhBkg3Z0bM:6_FMtlJeVuU:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=cQhBkg3Z0bM:6_FMtlJeVuU:qj6IDK7rITs"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?d=qj6IDK7rITs" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=cQhBkg3Z0bM:6_FMtlJeVuU:7Q72WNTAKBA"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?d=7Q72WNTAKBA" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=cQhBkg3Z0bM:6_FMtlJeVuU:D7DqB2pKExk"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?i=cQhBkg3Z0bM:6_FMtlJeVuU:D7DqB2pKExk" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=cQhBkg3Z0bM:6_FMtlJeVuU:I9og5sOYxJI"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?d=I9og5sOYxJI" /></a> </div>

<p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/AsB6GDWy8D1kFruCjBXx2qn_X5A/0/da"><img border="0" ismap="true" src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/AsB6GDWy8D1kFruCjBXx2qn_X5A/0/di" /></a><br /> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/AsB6GDWy8D1kFruCjBXx2qn_X5A/1/da"><img border="0" ismap="true" src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/AsB6GDWy8D1kFruCjBXx2qn_X5A/1/di" /></a></p><p class="intro">Every design project is different. When it comes to making a final decision on which commercial printing process to choose, designers must take into consideration the quality and volume they desire and their budget and timescale.</p> <p>The two main forms of commercial printing are digital and traditional offset printing, both of which have their pros and cons. Before you make your final decision, weigh up their pros and cons against what you want from your print job and make an informed decision.</p> <h3><strong>The Pros and Cons of Digital Printing</strong></h3> <div><img alt="Digital Printing" height="480" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/shutterstock_80810590-640x480.jpg" title="Digital Printing" width="640" /></div> <h4>PROS</h4> <p><strong>Digital printing is incredibly fast</strong>, making it ideal for projects with a tight deadline. Traditional offset printing has a much slower turnaround due to the set up, so consider your deadline carefully when choosing which type of commercial printing to opt for. If the deadline is short and you’re running out of time, digital printing could be your best choice.</p> <p>Budgetary concerns are extremely important when choosing how to print your project. If you have a <strong>low volume print job, digital printing is far more cost effective</strong> than traditional offset printing.</p> <div class="superquote"> If you need a fast turnaround of a short print run you should use a digital printer to meet your deadline and keep the cost down. </div> <p>One of the key advantages of digital printing is the <strong>accuracy of the proofing</strong> it allows. Extremely detailed samples can be made of your print job quickly and cost effectively, enabling you to hold a sample in your hands which will be exactly recreated in the final print run.</p> <p>Another great strength of digital printing is how easily a design <strong>project’s text, images and colours can be customised</strong> during the print process without significantly slowing it down. If you need to customise different parts of the print run, for diverse marketing campaigns for example, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Variable_data_printing" title="Variable Data Printing">Variable Data Printing</a> presses are by far the best option in terms of speed and affordability.</p> <p><img alt="Pantone Colors" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-9648" height="426" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/shutterstock_69667570-640x426.jpg" title="Pantone Colors" width="640" /></p> <h4>CONS</h4> <p>What are the cons of digital printing? Well, despite digital printers constantly improving, they still can’t quite match the colour quality and sheer flexibility of traditional offset printers, which offer a <strong>wider range of paper, ink and finish options</strong> and use the Pantone Matching System and inks to deliver unparalleled <strong>colour accuracy</strong>. Digital printers use a four colour printing process utilising a colour matching process to simulate colours, which cannot compete with traditional offset printers.</p> <p>Another weakness is that digital printer inks aren’t fully absorbed into the print paper, which means <strong>cracks can appear in the colour near edges</strong> which are folded in the finished publication. This isn’t a problem in traditional offset printing.</p> <p>It’s also important to remember that traditional offset printing can be <strong>more cost effective than digital printing for higher volume print runs</strong> as the individual unit price comes down.</p> <div class="superquote"> Considering the superior quality of traditional offset printing, a traditional offset printer is a better choice for higher volume print runs than a digital printer. </div> <h3><strong>The Pros and Cons of Traditional Offset Printing</strong></h3> <div><img alt="Offset Printing" class="size-large wp-image-9647" height="419" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/shutterstock_33096130-640x419.jpg" title="Offset Printing" width="640" /></div> <h4>PROS</h4> <p>The pros of traditional offset printing are clear. It remains the <strong>best quality type of printing available</strong> for graphic designers, particularly when image quality is concerned. Technology has developed so that the computer-to-plate system delivers superlative accuracy and quality.</p> <p>As previously mentioned, traditional offset printing enables <strong>more choice when it comes to print materials</strong>. Many graphic design projects demand unusual paper types and sizes, specialised inks and finishes. If this is the case with your project you should use a traditional offset printer. <strong>Special effects like spot varnishes are far better quality</strong> when done through traditional offset printing.</p> <p>The combination of the Pantone Matching System and the Pantone inks makes traditional offset printers the <strong>best choice when complete control is needed</strong> and colour accuracy is paramount. The four colour process used for digital printing simply cannot compete with traditional offset printers, so if colour counts opt for traditional offset printing.</p> <p>If your graphic design project is high volume, traditional offset printing is not only more cost effective but can be quicker. Much of the costs and time involved with traditional offset printing relate to the preparation and press set up. However, if you have a high volume print job the unit costs are drastically reduced, because once the set up is complete the extra units are relatively cheap to print.</p> <h4>CONS</h4> <p>What are the cons of traditional offset printing? It is <strong>far more difficult to personalise and customise print jobs</strong> during the print run as the printer set up has to be adjusted. This  can be rather time consuming, particularly when compared to digital printing, which is perhaps the best option for print jobs requiring a lot of customisation within a short time frame.</p> <p>Traditional printing is also slower and more costly for lower volume print jobs than digital printing. This is because of the time it takes to set a traditional printer up for a job, which raises the individual unit prices for shorter print runs. <strong>Digital printers remain the best choice for quick and low cost short run print jobs</strong>.</p> <h3>Summary</h3> <p>Your choice of commercial printing process will depend on your <strong>quality and volume demands, budget and time schedule</strong>. Carefully list what you require before following the above guidelines and making your final decision. Remember, commercial printers are there to help, so always contact them for further advice on your project.</p> <p><strong>What’s your preference? How do you usually decide on which printing method you use? </strong></p> <p><em>Photos by <a href="http://shutterstock.com" title="Shutterstock">Shutterstock</a> & <a href="http://www.printerinks.com/2p-n-002/inkjet-cartridges/">Inkjet Catridges</a>.</em></p> <hr /><br /> © This article is copyright of <a href="http://justcreative.com">JUST™ Creative</a> and should not be found elsewhere.<br /><br /> <div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=I4oEU7rZwy8:kwZobgtDzXA:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?i=I4oEU7rZwy8:kwZobgtDzXA:gIN9vFwOqvQ" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=I4oEU7rZwy8:kwZobgtDzXA:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?i=I4oEU7rZwy8:kwZobgtDzXA:V_sGLiPBpWU" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=I4oEU7rZwy8:kwZobgtDzXA:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=I4oEU7rZwy8:kwZobgtDzXA:qj6IDK7rITs"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?d=qj6IDK7rITs" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=I4oEU7rZwy8:kwZobgtDzXA:7Q72WNTAKBA"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?d=7Q72WNTAKBA" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=I4oEU7rZwy8:kwZobgtDzXA:D7DqB2pKExk"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?i=I4oEU7rZwy8:kwZobgtDzXA:D7DqB2pKExk" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=I4oEU7rZwy8:kwZobgtDzXA:I9og5sOYxJI"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?d=I9og5sOYxJI" /></a> </div>

<p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/hyv-v6UXF71sr_oBaEFhedkc4MQ/0/da"><img border="0" ismap="true" src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/hyv-v6UXF71sr_oBaEFhedkc4MQ/0/di" /></a><br /> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/hyv-v6UXF71sr_oBaEFhedkc4MQ/1/da"><img border="0" ismap="true" src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/hyv-v6UXF71sr_oBaEFhedkc4MQ/1/di" /></a></p><p><img alt="Pinterest Logo" class="border" height="260" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/pinterest-logo.gif" title="pinterest-logo" width="640" /></p> <p>This article is a product of <a href="http://pinterest.com/jacobcass/" title="Pinterest">getting into Pinterest</a> and clients coming forward saying, “What is Pinterest?”. In fact, there is a lot to <a href="http://mashable.com/2012/03/18/pinterest-brand-attention/">learn from Pinterest</a> and it is worthy of analysis which I will get to below. According to <a href="http://www.experian.com/hitwise/digital-marketer-2012.html">ExperianHitwise</a>, Pinterest is now the #3 social media site behind Facebook and Twitter. It is also the #16th most visited site in the USA, so it is not something you should ignore.</p> <p>Let’s have a look at what Pinterest is, why it’s different, who uses it, what makes for the most popular pins and how to optimise websites for the best Pinterest exposure.</p> <h3>What is Pinterest?</h3> <p>“Pinterest is a pinboard-style social photo sharing website that allows users to create and manage theme-based image collections such as events, interests, hobbies and more. Users can browse other pinboards for inspiration, ‘re-pin’ images to their own collections and or ‘like’ photos. Pinterest’s mission is to “connect everyone in the world through the ‘things’ they find interesting” via a global platform of inspiration and idea sharing.”</p> <div><img alt="Pinterest Screenshot" border="0" class="border" height="351" hspace="10" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/general-pinterest-2.jpg" vspace="10" width="640" /></div> <h3>Why is Pinterest different?</h3> <p><a href="http://mashable.com/follow/topics/pinterest">Pinterest</a> is an <strong>excellent site for inspiration and ideas and it is also a very cool community filled with artistic souls.</strong> ‘So what?’ you might be thinking, I already belong to ten of those and I don’t have time to read all the blogs and articles as it is… so here are four reasons why Pinterest is different:</p> <ul> <li>Pinterest uses a new type of social interface to drive traffic and it is linked to Facebook and Twitter.</li> <li>Pinterest appeals to both the general public and to the art & design crowd</li> <li>Pinterest is an excellent marketing tool</li> <li>Pinterest is the first of similar sites and it signals a shift in Internet marketing, viewing and usage.</li> </ul> <p>Pinterest challenges most social media and current computer trends. <strong>It’s fast, beautiful, visual and easy to use</strong>. Just as so many sites are opting for utility over beauty, Pinterest invites users to think visually and appreciate beautiful things every time they enter the site. Most importantly, it saves you time especially when researching.</p> <div><img alt="Pinterest is Beautiful" border="0" class="border" height="659" hspace="10" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/pinterest-example.jpg" vspace="10" width="640" /></div> <h3>Who uses Pinterest & why?</h3> <p>The social king pings of the moment, <a href="http://justcreative.com/2009/11/24/facebook-marketing/" title="Facebook Marketing">Facebook</a>, <a href="http://justcreative.com/2009/09/15/how-to-use-linkedin/" title="LinkedIn">LinkedIn</a> and Google+, take copious amounts of time to interact with. Twitter, at least got the speed part of the equation right. Time intensive social media such as those mentioned above, is fine for college kids or even unemployed professionals, but neither group is exactly the demographic most businesses are targeting. According to <a href="http://www.alexa.com/siteinfo/pinterest.com">Alexa</a>, Pinterest users are <strong>predominantly female between the ages of 25-34</strong>.</p> <p>Facebook in particular has an interface that is purposely constructed like a series of rat holes to keep viewers on the site as long as possible. This is a carefully chosen strategy to increase the ratings of Facebook in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Search_engine_results_page" title="SERPS">SERPS</a>. However, it isn’t user friendly and one of the top reasons people leave Facebook or refuse to join, is: <strong>Facebook takes too much time</strong>.</p> <p>In contrast, Pinterest is easy to learn and quick to use. <strong>The visual interface is stimulating to the brain and it invokes almost an addictive response in users</strong>. This is appealing to both the art crowd and to general users. Males, although they do not currently make up a large section of Pinterest viewers, could in the future due to the male affinity for visual stimulation. In addition, from a conversion perspective a buyer interested in shopping for anything, can quickly assemble a Pinterest shopping list on the site and come back to it for comparison-shopping when ready to buy.</p> <p>On a side note, there is now an app that turns <a href="http://mashable.com/2012/04/19/pinview-facebook-pinterest-app/">Facebook into a Pinterest-like board</a>.</p> <h3>A look at how to use Pinterest</h3> <div><img alt="Chairs on Pinterest" border="0" class="border" height="351" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/chairsexample1.jpg" width="640" /></div> <p>A quick search & compilation of ‘dining room chairs’ took exactly 6 minutes to create.</p> <p>This included creating the board, searching, and selecting products from Pinterest and Google search. This is a busy buyer’s dream. The introduction of this type of fast, visually based shopping platform could spark a small ‘revolution’ in how websites are designed and constructed; especially for large online retailers.</p> <h2>Designing with Pinterest in Mind</h2> <p><strong>Pinterest pulls photos from a website and then provides a link back to the source.</strong> The use and reuse of these photos as they are repinned may not be in accordance with the photo usage agreements that were established with the photographer or photographic copyright holder. But legally, the responsibility of pinning and <strong><a href="http://justcreative.com/2009/07/14/copyright-patents-trademarks-registered-designs/" title="Copyright">copywrite </a>infringement exists with the pinner</strong>, not the site owner or Pinterest.</p> <p>However, in reality the photographers will come after the site owner rather than Joe Pinner for compensation related to copyright infringement. Large clients need to clarify the ownership rights and contracts with their photographers in the event that they start to see an up tick in profits from Pinterest photo pinning and re-pinning. There are also ways to <a href="http://llsocial.com/2012/02/pinterest-offering-code-to-block-pinning/">block images from being used as pins</a>.</p> <p>Clear, beautiful engaging photos are the backbone of Pinterest… but what makes for a good pin?</p> <div><a href="http://www.clickdiscounthotels.com/"><img alt="clickdiscounthotels.com" border="0" class="border" height="468" hspace="10" longdesc="http://clickdiscounthotels.com" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/clickdiscounthotels.jpg" vspace="10" width="640" /></a></div> <h3>What makes for a popular ‘pin’?</h3> <p><strong>Clients looking for pins by the community should have several excellent photos available</strong> for pinning on every page of their site, keeping in mind that great photos, logos, infographics and memes are the most popular pins. Pinterest’s own search engine includes a “popular search” and a quick examination of the most popular pins reveals the following:</p> <p><strong>Sample: 500 Most Popular Pinterest Pins by Type</strong></p> <ul> <li>Photos: 317 total pins; includes most categories.</li> <li>Meme / infographics: 129 total pins; includes anything that has text/and or visuals in the pin.</li> <li>Practical: 36 total pins; are how to posts, excludes food.</li> <li>Ads: 10 total pins; professional marketing ads or brand logos as pins.</li> <li>Celebrity: 7 total pins; excludes celebrities used in memes.</li> <li>Video: 1 total pin.</li> </ul> <p><strong>Sample: 500 Most Popular Pinterest Pins by Category</strong></p> <ul> <li>Black and white photos that didn’t fit into another category: 14 pins</li> <li>Color photos that didn’t fit into another category: 47 pins</li> <li>Memes / infographics that didn’t fit perfectly into another category: 97 pins</li> <li>Food and Drink: 64 pins</li> <li>Home design: 47 pins</li> <li>Nails and Hair: 31 pins</li> <li>Fashion / jewelry / clothes: 30 pins</li> <li>Love / Wedding: 35 pins</li> <li>Crafts: 34 pins</li> <li>Garden: 22 pins</li> <li>Practical: 15 pins</li> <li>Pets: 19 pins</li> <li>Children/baby: 11 pins</li> <li>Ads: 10 pins</li> <li>Celebrity: 7 pins</li> <li>Tattoo: 6 pins</li> <li>Health and sports: 7 pins</li> <li>Car: 3 pins</li> <li>Tech: 1 pin</li> </ul> <p>The data above is only a single sample. Furthermore, it is <strong>seasonally influenced by seasons</strong>, such as Spring when weddings and prom are popular topics. Similar samples would need to be collected over time to establish valuable data but even one sampling is revealing. For example, health and fitness is surprisingly absent in this particular sampling.</p> <div><a href="http://www.gopromotional.com/" title="Promotional Products"><img alt="Promotional Products" class="border" height="347" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/pinterest-most-popular-example1.jpg" title="Promotional Products" width="640" /></a></div> <h3>Tips & Pin Optimisation</h3> <p><strong>Pins that generate comments and are <a href="http://mashable.com/2012/03/26/optimize-images-pinterest/">physically longer</a></strong>, dominate the Pinterest site. The five-column format naturally favors vertical orientation of both photos and memes. <strong>The majority of both in the most popular section are vertically oriented</strong>. Comments and lengthy text increase the page space accompanied by any pin making it more likely to be repined and shared by other viewers. Consequently, adopting and using vertical formats into web designs, where pinning is desired, makes sense.</p> <p>Even though ads make up only a small percentage of the most popular pins, many were presented as <strong>logos</strong>. For example, Trader Joes’s logo is one of the most popular pins on the site. Each time the logo is pinned it is an endorsement not only for the store but also for the designer of the logo – if it is credited by the pinner.</p> <p>Also check out these <a href="http://www.tripwiremagazine.com/2012/04/pinterest-boards-for-designers.html" title="Pinterest Boards for Designers">40 interest Pinterest boards for designers</a>.</p> <h3>Over To You</h3> <p>I’d love to know if you are using Pinterest and what value you get from it? How have you optimised your site for Pinterest, if anything? Got any other Pinterest tips to share?</p> <hr /><br /> © This article is copyright of <a href="http://justcreative.com">JUST™ Creative</a> and should not be found elsewhere.<br /><br /> <div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=Dk2xF2kXIXY:Lekio5Cmy9U:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?i=Dk2xF2kXIXY:Lekio5Cmy9U:gIN9vFwOqvQ" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=Dk2xF2kXIXY:Lekio5Cmy9U:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?i=Dk2xF2kXIXY:Lekio5Cmy9U:V_sGLiPBpWU" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=Dk2xF2kXIXY:Lekio5Cmy9U:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=Dk2xF2kXIXY:Lekio5Cmy9U:qj6IDK7rITs"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?d=qj6IDK7rITs" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=Dk2xF2kXIXY:Lekio5Cmy9U:7Q72WNTAKBA"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?d=7Q72WNTAKBA" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=Dk2xF2kXIXY:Lekio5Cmy9U:D7DqB2pKExk"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?i=Dk2xF2kXIXY:Lekio5Cmy9U:D7DqB2pKExk" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=Dk2xF2kXIXY:Lekio5Cmy9U:I9og5sOYxJI"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?d=I9og5sOYxJI" /></a> </div>

<p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/cclOyD1-7dTLXnQaQ0wOVqLSqik/0/da"><img border="0" ismap="true" src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/cclOyD1-7dTLXnQaQ0wOVqLSqik/0/di" /></a><br /> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/cclOyD1-7dTLXnQaQ0wOVqLSqik/1/da"><img border="0" ismap="true" src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/cclOyD1-7dTLXnQaQ0wOVqLSqik/1/di" /></a></p><p class="intro">I’ve been using <a href="http://www.photoshop.com/">Adobe Photoshop</a> on a near daily basis, since 2006 and over this time I’ve learned quite a number of <a href="http://sixrevisions.com/photoshop/21-advanced-photoshop-tips-tricks-and-tutorials-roundup/" title="Photoshop Tips and Tricks">tips & tricks</a>. I’ve <a href="http://aisleone.net/photoshoptimize/">optimized Photoshop for performance</a>, learned all the essential <a href="http://devcheatsheet.com/tag/adobe-photoshop/" title="Cheatsheets for Photoshop">shortcut keys and tools</a>, and have recently found out what I consider the ‘ultimate web design workspace’.</p> <h4>What is a workspace?</h4> <blockquote><p>“By saving the current size and position of panels as a named workspace, you can restore that workspace even if you move or close a panel. The names of saved workspaces appear in the workspace switcher in the Application bar of Photoshop.”</p></blockquote> <p>For more information on <a href="http://help.adobe.com/en_US/photoshop/cs/using/WS9403857B-903B-4bd5-95D4-D6B4F21C24BB.html" title="Workspaces">workspaces</a>, see here.</p> <h4>The Ultimate Web Design Workspace</h4> <p>In this post, I outline how I have personally set up my web design workspace and why I have found it to be the most productive layout for producing web work since I’ve started using Photoshop. Take note that I am using a 27″ monitor at 2560×1440 resolution though this layout should work on monitors 17″ and up.</p> <p>You can <a href="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/TheUltimate-WebDesign-Workspace.zip" title="Ultimate Workspace">download the workspace</a> here. Instructions for installation can be found in the link above.</p> <div><a href="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Ultimate-Photoshop-WebDesign-Workspace.jpg" rel="prettyphoto"><img alt="Ultimate Photoshop Web Design Workspace" class="size-full" height="360" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Ultimate-Photoshop-WebDesign-Workspace-640x360.jpg" title="Ultimate Photoshop Web Design Workspace" width="640" /></a></div> <h4>1. Document Set-Up</h4> <p>This is where the magic happens, the blank canvas. I usually start with the <a href="http://960.gs/" title="960">960 GS</a> and set the width at 1400 pixels. The main Photoshop tools are still on the left (by default) with the canvas in the middle and the other windows on the right of the screen.</p> <h4>2. Layer Comps</h4> <p>If you’re not using <a href="http://www.myinkblog.com/using-layer-comps-for-web-design-in-photoshop/" title="LayerComps">Layer Comps</a> already and you’re working as a designer, you’re mind is about to be blown. This isn’t the place to give a tutorial on them but having them in your workflow is pretty much essential, as it saves hours of time. Layer Comps are also very handy for putting together a <a href="http://justcreativedesign.com/2008/08/25/what-is-the-best-way-to-present-a-website-to-a-client/" title="Presenting Websites">presentations</a> via the ‘Export Layer Comps’ script.</p> <h4>3. History & Snapshots</h4> <p>The History window allows you to go back in time based on every change you make. I usually have my history settings set at the default of 20, but often take ‘<a href="http://help.adobe.com/en_US/photoshop/cs/using/WSfd1234e1c4b69f30ea53e41001031ab64-7491a.html" title="Photoshop Snapshots">Snapshots</a>‘ so I can easily come back to previous states with a simple click. Take note that snapshots do not save with the PSD.</p> <h4>4. FontShop & Extensis Web Font Plugins</h4> <p><a href="http://www.fontshop.com/plugin/"><img alt="Fontshop Plugin Overview" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-9544" height="544" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/fontshop-plugin-overview.png" title="fontshop-plugin-overview" width="525" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://www.fontshop.com/plugin/">FontShop</a> & <a href="http://webink.extensis.com/en/webfontplugin/" title="Extensis">Extensis</a> allow you to view and use <a href="http://www.alistapart.com/topics/design/web-fonts/" title="Web Fonts">web fonts</a> right within Photoshop. I only click this icon when needed as it often can slow PS down. Also, take note for Extensis you will need the Suitcase Fusion font management software, which is available for 30 day trial.</p> <h4>5. Folders & Layers</h4> <p>A large Layers window allows for easy scanning and <a href="http://photoshopetiquette.com/#internal" title="Internal Organisation">organisation</a> which boosts productivity while designing. I break down each ‘page’ down into 4 general folders; Header, Content, Footer & Background.</p> <p>I also have ‘Auto Select’ set as ‘Layer’ and the ‘Show Transform Controls’ checked on. See the very top left toolbar in the screenshot to toggle these to your liking.</p> <h4>6. Swatch Palette</h4> <p>The Swatch palette ensures that the colors you use are consistent through the document. Simply add colors to the Swatches palette and then when needed, highlight your text or layer and change the color.</p> <h4>7. Styles Window</h4> <p>Similar to the Swatch window, the Styles window allows you to easily change colors and add effects to elements throughout your document. Handy for buttons, forms, rectangles, navigation, etc.</p> <h4>8. Character</h4> <p>The Character window allows you to easily change the most common text settings on the fly such as the font, size, leading, tracking and color. Pretty much essential for web layout.</p> <h4>9. Paths / Channels</h4> <p>I break up the Character and Paragraph windows with <a href="http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2009/08/18/mastering-photoshop-with-paths/" title="Paths">Paths</a> & Channels as a personal preference so the type tools don’t seem so cluttered. The Paths window allows you to easily create paths, shapes & selections and <a href="http://www.sketchpad.net/channels1.htm">Channels</a> is mainly used for photo editing.</p> <h4>10. Paragraph</h4> <p>The Paragraph window controls the justification of text, as well as margins, spacing, hyphenation (set this as off by default) and roman hanging punctuation.</p> <p>So there you have it, the ultimate Photoshop web design workspace. What do you think? <strong>Do you have any Photoshop workspaces to share? Please do!</strong></p> <h3>More Photoshop Tips & Tricks:</h3> <ul> <li><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com//2010/09/21/photoshop-dreamweaver-tips/" rel="bookmark" title="Tuesday, September 21, 2010">Tips For Working with Photoshop & Dreamweaver</a></li> <li><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com//2010/10/12/photoshop-illustrator-tips/" rel="bookmark" title="Tuesday, October 12, 2010">Tips For Working with Photoshop & Illustrator</a></li> <li><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com//2010/09/13/photoshop-indesign-tips/" rel="bookmark" title="Monday, September 13, 2010">Tips For Working with Photoshop & InDesign</a></li> <li><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com//2010/12/29/adobe-cs-review/" rel="bookmark" title="Wednesday, December 29, 2010">Speed up Photoshop Projects using Adobe CS Review</a></li> </ul> <hr /><br /> © This article is copyright of <a href="http://justcreative.com">JUST™ Creative</a> and should not be found elsewhere.<br /><br /> <div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=fltmneFwMfA:i7KtasMPH-w:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?i=fltmneFwMfA:i7KtasMPH-w:gIN9vFwOqvQ" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=fltmneFwMfA:i7KtasMPH-w:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?i=fltmneFwMfA:i7KtasMPH-w:V_sGLiPBpWU" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=fltmneFwMfA:i7KtasMPH-w:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=fltmneFwMfA:i7KtasMPH-w:qj6IDK7rITs"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?d=qj6IDK7rITs" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=fltmneFwMfA:i7KtasMPH-w:7Q72WNTAKBA"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?d=7Q72WNTAKBA" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=fltmneFwMfA:i7KtasMPH-w:D7DqB2pKExk"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?i=fltmneFwMfA:i7KtasMPH-w:D7DqB2pKExk" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=fltmneFwMfA:i7KtasMPH-w:I9og5sOYxJI"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?d=I9og5sOYxJI" /></a> </div>

<p><a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/TDW119.t_trans.opener.jpg" rel="lightbox[35093]"><img alt="" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-35098" height="348" src="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/TDW119.t_trans.opener.jpg" title="TDW119.t_trans.opener" width="580" /></a></p> <p class="strap">Transformers week draws to a close with this video training from Dan DeEntremont. Master key animation skills in this Transformer-style tutorial as you rig a robot to animate its transformation from train to humanoid</p> <p>To celebrate <a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/2012/03/07/digital-tutors-releases-new-transforming-robot-tutorials/">Digital-Tutors’ new Transformation training</a>, we thought we’d make an event of it and post online all things Transformery!</p> <p>We’ve already posted up two making-of Transformers articles:<br /> <a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/2012/03/07/the-making-of-transformers/">The making of Transformers</a><br /> <a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/2012/03/08/the-making-of-transformers-2/">The making of Transformers 2</a></p> <p>And you can also read a making-of article on the cult Transformers-style advert for Citroën - <a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/2012/03/13/the-embassy-the-art-of-robotics/">The Embassy: The art of Robotics</a></p> <p>To complete the Transformers roundup, here’s the train-transforming video tutorial we’ve been talking about.</p> <h3>Rig your own Transformer in LightWave</h3> <p>This article demonstrates the workflow for creating a transforming robot, similar to the designs in the live-action Transformers movies.</p> <p>The films’ director, Michael Bay, is well known for taking the level of special and visual effects over the top in his films. These Transformers are not the simple ones everyone has seen in the cartoon show, but a gigantic mass of moving metal that somehow manages to form a human-like (or sometimes animal-like) robot. The transforming train that you’ll rig and animate has about 300 moving parts.</p> <p>There are three videos available to show in detail the techniques described here. The first two videos focus on setting up the upper arms of the robot: you can take the principles you learn and apply them to the remaining parts of the figure. The first video will focus on rigging the upper arms. In this section, you will also be setting up the rig in a way that helps to cut the animation time nearly in half, using the useful Follower modifier. Bones will be used for moving the parts instead of separate layers.</p> <p>In Video 2, we will continue with the animation of the rigged upper arms. Here, I will demonstrate how to bring each piece to its destination position without causing geometry to intersect. I will also demonstrate a number of key techniques to help the movement of the different sections to be more realistic.</p> <div class="wp-caption alignleft" id="attachment_35099" style="width: 590px;"><p class="wp-caption-text">Discover how you can rig this robot to animate its transformation from train to humanoid</p></div> <p>Video 3 has a completely rigged transforming train. This video focuses on animating the transformation from a train to a robot, ending in a cool pose. A proxy version of the train will be used in this video. IK/FK Blending will also be implemented to allow smoothness in the transformation. If you get stuck at any point, the CD includes completed scene files you can study.</p> <p><em>Click Next to begin the train-transforming video tutorial</em></p> <img border="0" height="1" src="http://3dworldmag.com.feedsportal.com/c/33151/f/538495/s/1d821264/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=Video+tutorial%3A+Rig+your+own+Transformer+in+LightWave&link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.3dworldmag.com%2F2012%2F03%2F16%2Fvideo-tutorial-rig-your-own-transformer-in-lightwave%2F%3Futm_source%3Drss%26utm_medium%3Drss%26utm_campaign%3Dvideo-tutorial-rig-your-own-transformer-in-lightwave" 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=Video+tutorial%3A+Rig+your+own+Transformer+in+LightWave&link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.3dworldmag.com%2F2012%2F03%2F16%2Fvideo-tutorial-rig-your-own-transformer-in-lightwave%2F%3Futm_source%3Drss%26utm_medium%3Drss%26utm_campaign%3Dvideo-tutorial-rig-your-own-transformer-in-lightwave" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/images/bookmark.gif" /></a></td></tr></table></div><br /><br /><a href="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/129200441230/u/49/f/538495/c/33151/s/1d821264/a2.htm"><img border="0" src="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/129200441230/u/49/f/538495/c/33151/s/1d821264/a2.img" /></a><img border="0" src="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/129200441230/u/49/f/538495/c/33151/s/1d821264/a2t.img" /><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/3dWorldrss/~4/VscwAZ8sOVc" width="1" />

<p><a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/ftr.jpg" rel="lightbox[35136]"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-35137" height="243" src="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/ftr.jpg" title="ftr" width="580" /></a></p> <p class="strap">Find out how this atmospheric, painterly animated short was created using Maya, Photoshop and After Effects. Watch the film here too</p> <p>For the Remainder depicts the last moments of a house cat who bids farewell to its home before leaving to perish. The short was a graduation project created by Omer Ben David while studying at the <a href="http://www.bezalel.ac.il/en/">Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design</a> in Jerusalem, Israel. Ben David first began working on the plot in November last year. </p> <p>“I was dwelling on a concept of a cat that leaves his house and searches for his final resting place for some time before then,” he says. “I pondered on that notion since hearing the rumour that old cats sometime leave their home to die somewhere else unseen by their beloved ones or enemies. I felt that this essence of a story is very poetic and thus should be treated as a song rather than a narrative.”</p> <h4>First impressions</h4> <p>After developing the main plot, the director carefully considered the importance of the film’s characters and what role each would play. </p> <p>“From the beginning, the story was about a cat and a house,” Ben David explains. “The cat’s owner was also a main character but I wasn’t sure if he would be performing or his presence just suggested. The spider came somewhat in the middle of the storyboarding stage, when I was searching for a death motif to allow the cat to deal with.”</p> <p>“I was greatly inspired by sketches and calligraphy, and some colour blocking when searching for the look of the characters. I figured the house, as a character, should be mostly colour blocked while the cat should be wired so they were in contrast.”</p> <p><a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/ftr1.jpg" rel="lightbox[35136]"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-35138" height="243" src="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/ftr1.jpg" title="ftr1" width="580" /></a></p> <h4>Creating perfect brush strokes</h4> <p>The film’s unique style was inspired by a number of sources. “I was very moved by a series of paintings by <a href="http://lukpazera.blogspot.com/">Lukasz Pazera</a> called <a href="http://postcardsfromthezone.com/">Postcards from the Zone</a> and his brilliant <a href="http://lukpazera.blogspot.com/2011/06/dog-of-zone-animation-sample.html">Dog of Zone</a>, which I figured would be awesome animated,” Ben David says.</p> <p>While researching, the director also watched Andrei Tarkovsky’s film Stalker. “I thought it to be the exact poem-like atmosphere I was searching for both visually and musically. I love the ambiance and slow rhythm,” he says. “I was also greatly inspired by color block paintings such as <a href="http://www.gerhardmozsi.com/">Gerhard Mozsi’s</a>, and the dreamy feel and pace in animated films such as Tekkonkinkreet or Ghost in the Shell which I adore.”</p> <div class="wp-caption alignleft" id="attachment_35159" style="width: 590px;"><a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/remainder_infl.jpg" rel="lightbox[35136]"><img alt="" class="size-full wp-image-35159" height="389" src="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/remainder_infl.jpg" title="remainder_infl" width="580" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">One of the film’s main influences was a series of paintings by Lukasz Pazera called Postcards from the Zone. You can see similarities in tone and style between them and For the Remainder</p></div> <p>Ben David’s extensive research and inspirations helped him to develop the unique painterly style of the film. In order to achieve this in 3D, he turned to the powerful tools of Maya. </p> <p>“This software was vital to production,” he explains. “It was an inherent rendering method that got the look for my characters and objects, combined with the overlapping textures on the sets. Photoshop was of course crucial for painting the textures, but Maya allowed me to rig and control almost everything I needed.”</p> <p>The film’s style, however, also presented some technical challenges. “The whole sketchiness and painterly look was the biggest technical issue,” says Ben David. “I did a lot of research about NPR (non photo realistic) rendering before developing the technique for creating it, and it was pretty much an experiment throughout the entire process. I didn’t have a clear point of reference on a technical level on how to achieve this look, and so I did a lot of testing until I reached a certain point where I knew that the composited render would satisfy me.”</p> <p>Despite extensive research and testing, Ben David managed to complete the film within a fairly short time period. “It took me around nine months to finish the short,” he says. “I did some touch-ups, on and off, for a few months afterwards as I was not completely happy with some renders and I’ve worked some more on mastering the soundtrack with <a href="http://onili.com/">Onili</a>. I’m very pleased with the final result. Both on the aesthetics and the feel of it.”</p> <p></p> <h3>Like this film?</h3> <p><a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/category/showcase/shorts/">Check out the selection of other awesome animations on our shorts page</a></p> <p><em>Make sure you visit next week for more Friday Animation Fun!</em></p> <img border="0" height="1" src="http://3dworldmag.com.feedsportal.com/c/33151/f/538495/s/1d81a18a/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=Friday+Animation+Fun%3A+For+the+Remainder&link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.3dworldmag.com%2F2012%2F03%2F16%2Ffriday-animation-fun-for-the-remainder%2F%3Futm_source%3Drss%26utm_medium%3Drss%26utm_campaign%3Dfriday-animation-fun-for-the-remainder" 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=Friday+Animation+Fun%3A+For+the+Remainder&link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.3dworldmag.com%2F2012%2F03%2F16%2Ffriday-animation-fun-for-the-remainder%2F%3Futm_source%3Drss%26utm_medium%3Drss%26utm_campaign%3Dfriday-animation-fun-for-the-remainder" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/images/bookmark.gif" /></a></td></tr></table></div><br /><br /><a href="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/129200396320/u/49/f/538495/c/33151/s/1d81a18a/a2.htm"><img border="0" src="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/129200396320/u/49/f/538495/c/33151/s/1d81a18a/a2.img" /></a><img border="0" src="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/129200396320/u/49/f/538495/c/33151/s/1d81a18a/a2t.img" /><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/3dWorldrss/~4/W9nf4RJbbCw" width="1" />

<p><a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/johncarter_desert_cinesite.jpg" rel="lightbox[35145]"><img alt="Disney's John Carter movie still" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-35150" height="242" src="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/johncarter_desert_cinesite.jpg" title="Disney's John Carter movie still - opener" width="580" /></a> <p class="strap">Cinesite has completed 831 VFX shots and converted 87 minutes of film into stereoscopic 3D for Disney’s John Carter, which hit cinemas last week</p> <p>The 3D work in John Carter - Andrew Stanton’s first live-action feature film, based on Edgar Rice Burroughs ‘Mars’ series of novels - was split between three leading London FX houses: Cinesite, Double Negative and The Moving Picture Company. </p> <p>Cinesite, renowned for its photoreal environment work, was responsible for creating and populating the majority of environments for John Carter. The team of 310-strong completed 831 visual effects shots, which included creating and populating the majority of environments for the film. They also converted 87 minutes of the film into stereo 3D.</p> <p>Cinesite’s VFX supervisor Sue Rowe spent several months on set in the UK and Utah. Due to the scale of the project, Rowe divided the work between four other VFX supervisors.</p> <div class="wp-caption alignleft" id="attachment_35151" style="width: 590px;"></p> <p><a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/johncarter_wireframe_helium_cinesite.jpg" rel="lightbox[35145]"><img alt="John Carter VFX shots" class="size-full wp-image-35151" height="242" src="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/johncarter_wireframe_helium_cinesite.jpg" title="johncarter_wireframe_helium_cinesite" width="580" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Helium is shown from different angles throughout the film, and is used as the backdrop for the final battle sequence</p></div> <p>Christian Irles supervised work on Princess Dejah’s city, Helium. The city presented a challenge as it had to match the art department concept stills. While this was easy enough to do in matte painting, it was very time-consuming and render heavy to get actual full 3D renders. Projections were created for the terrain and these were worked up in matte painting to achieve the level of detail required. </p> <div class="wp-caption alignleft" id="attachment_35152" style="width: 590px;"><a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/johncarter_helium_cinesite.jpg" rel="lightbox[35145]"><img alt="John Carter Helium city" class="size-full wp-image-35152" height="242" src="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/johncarter_helium_cinesite.jpg" title="John Carter Helium city" width="580" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Cinesite created a matte painting of the outside of the city of Helium and, using projections, built up the terrain using high-res stills taken on location in Utah</p></div> <p>The shots presented the city as a whole with both Helium Major and Helium Minor visible, resulting in a huge amount of texture maps and shaders. Render time was very high for these shots and all layers, such as crowds, terrain, etc were rendered separately. </p> <p>Helium stats:</p> <ul> <li>346 models in the city structure</li> <li>74 individual props created</li> </ul> <div class="wp-caption alignleft" id="attachment_35153" style="width: 590px;"><a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/Zodanga_cinesite.jpg" rel="lightbox[35145]"><img alt="" class="size-full wp-image-35153" height="242" src="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/Zodanga_cinesite.jpg" title="Zodanga_cinesite" width="580" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">The mobile city of Zodanga crawls like a myriapod across the surface of Mars: giving the city a sense of scale and animating the digital legs was challenging</p></div> <p>Jonathan Neill supervised Cinesite’s work on the mobile city of Zodanga, a mile-long rusty metal tanker that crawls like a myriapod across the surface of Mars. The city was heavily textured using a combination of Photoshop, Mari and Mudbox in tandem with bespoke shaders and lighting development, to give an industrial look and feel.</p> <p>A handful of sets were built which were locations within the city, but these needed considerable extension work to make the depth and scale of the city believable. Cinesite modelled thousands of pieces of geometry for the city buildings, and created hundreds of CG props to dress the sets.</p> <div class="wp-caption alignleft" id="attachment_35154" style="width: 590px;"><a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/johncarter_city_cinesite.jpg" rel="lightbox[35145]"><img alt="John Carter VFX. Interior of city" class="size-full wp-image-35154" height="242" src="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/johncarter_city_cinesite.jpg" title="John Carter VFX. Interior of city" width="580" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Cinesite filled the city with warships and troops, before dressing it with hundreds of CG props</p></div> <p>With 674 legs, the mobile city was technically challenging to animate: Timed animation caches were used to ensure the digital legs moved in a random fashion. “Variations in movement and secondary animation such as cogs and cabling were used to create interest in the leg movement,” says Cinesite.</p> <p>Zodanga City Model stats: </p> <ul> <li>291 structural element models</li> <li>Up to 20,000 objects in a single shot</li> <li>1-2 billion polygons, dependent on camera position and detail required</li> <li>242 CG props created to populate the city</li> </ul> <p>Zodanga City Legs stats:</p> <ul> <li>674 legs </li> <li>44 claws</li> </ul> <div class="wp-caption alignleft" id="attachment_35155" style="width: 590px;"><a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/johncarter_airship_cinesite.jpg" rel="lightbox[35145]"><img alt="John Carter" class="size-full wp-image-35155" height="242" src="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/johncarter_airship_cinesite.jpg" title="johncarter_airship_cinesite" width="580" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">The texturing and detailing of the giant airships had to be spot on since they feature in many close up shots</p></div> <p>Ben Shepherd oversaw the huge aerial battle between Zodanga and Helium. His team created each side’s airships which use solar wings to travel on light, as well as explosions, fire, people and set extensions.</p> <p>The giant airships needed to be finely detailed for close-up shots. A challenge for look development was that they were required to be more like a 19th-Century sailing ship, than the type of spaceship which a modern-day audience might expect. </p> <p>For Sab’s flagship corsair, a partial set was created for the bridge/cockpit and one deck of a single ship. This was scanned and photographed for reference and recreated. The remaining areas were created as full CG models. </p> <p>Dejah’s ship and the flagship Helium ship, the Xavarian, were created in 3D also. Each ship had a full set of wings which were sized and laid out specifically for each ship. These were controlled by pulleys and ratchet-type controls to give a sailing look. Each of the wings was covered in hundreds of individual solar tiles which needed to be able to be controlled in animation. </p> <div class="wp-caption alignleft" id="attachment_35156" style="width: 590px;"><a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/Thern-Sanctuary_Final-Comp.jpg" rel="lightbox[35145]"><img alt="John Carter movie" class="size-full wp-image-35156" height="242" src="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/Thern-Sanctuary_Final-Comp.jpg" title="John Carter movie" width="580" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">The entire Thern effect system was designed and built from scratch using a combination of Maya, Houdini and custom software developed in house</p></div> <p>Simon Stanley-Clamp directed work on the Thern sanctuary, a huge underground cave that forms around Carter and Dejah as self-illuminating blue branches as the characters walk through it. </p> <p>The entire Thern effect system was designed and built from scratch using a combination of Maya, Houdini and custom software developed in house. Based on the principles of nanotechnology, the system provided a semi-automated way to ‘grow’ Thern into any environment and geometry. It took a full year of development time to evolve and bring to the big screen.</p> <div class="wp-caption alignleft" id="attachment_35157" style="width: 590px;"><a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/Thern-Sanctuary_3_Final-comp.jpg" rel="lightbox[35145]"><img alt="" class="size-full wp-image-35157" height="247" src="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/Thern-Sanctuary_3_Final-comp.jpg" title="Thern-Sanctuary_3_Final-comp" width="580" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">These ‘growing Thern’ shots were some of the most complex VFX shots Cinesite undertook, and can be seen to great effect in 3D</p></div> <p>In the sequence, as the tunnel itself ends, the main Thern Sanctuary room is seen to build itself, opening out within the Thern matrix of the pyramid interior. This shot required extensive Thern simulation and growing effects, blending multiple elements together in Nuke to build the shot up.</p> <p><em>John Carter is in cinemas now. We’ve not seen the film yet, and reviews so far seem to be fairly mixed, so if you do go, let us know what you think of it via the comments box below, or on Facebook or Twitter </em></p> <h3>The making of John Carter</h3> <p>This article focuses on Cinesite’s contribution to the film, but the 3D work was split between three leading London FX houses: Cinesite, Double Negative and The Moving Picture Company. </p> <p>Read the making-of John Carter article in issue 155 of 3D World magazine, where Renee Dunlop takes us behind the scenes of all three VFX facilities.</p> <p><strong>Issue 155 of 3D World goes on sale on 27th March</strong></p> <img border="0" height="1" src="http://3dworldmag.com.feedsportal.com/c/33151/f/538495/s/1d801946/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=Disney%E2%80%99s+John+Carter%3A+The+VFX+of+Cinesite&link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.3dworldmag.com%2F2012%2F03%2F16%2Fdisneys-john-carter-the-vfx-of-cinesite%2F%3Futm_source%3Drss%26utm_medium%3Drss%26utm_campaign%3Ddisneys-john-carter-the-vfx-of-cinesite" 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=Disney%E2%80%99s+John+Carter%3A+The+VFX+of+Cinesite&link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.3dworldmag.com%2F2012%2F03%2F16%2Fdisneys-john-carter-the-vfx-of-cinesite%2F%3Futm_source%3Drss%26utm_medium%3Drss%26utm_campaign%3Ddisneys-john-carter-the-vfx-of-cinesite" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/images/bookmark.gif" /></a></td></tr></table></div><br /><br /><a href="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/129200459259/u/49/f/538495/c/33151/s/1d801946/a2.htm"><img border="0" src="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/129200459259/u/49/f/538495/c/33151/s/1d801946/a2.img" /></a><img border="0" src="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/129200459259/u/49/f/538495/c/33151/s/1d801946/a2t.img" /><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/3dWorldrss/~4/SAa9hvj4MmU" width="1" />

<p><a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/TDW152.f_tintin.tin17_998034v28.jpg" rel="lightbox[35108]"><img alt="" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-35134" height="247" src="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/TDW152.f_tintin.tin17_998034v28.jpg" title="TDW152.f_tintin.tin17_998034v28" width="580" /></a> <p class="strap">Weta Digital embarked on a new quest with The Adventures of Tintin, complete with crashing waves, pirate battles and an extremely stylish wardrobe. Renee Dunlop takes us behind the scenes</p> <p>As the Blu-ray of The Adventures of Tintin goes on sale, we thought we’d share this article from <a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/2012/01/07/3d-world-152-create-fire-water-and-more/">issue 152 of 3D World magazine</a>. </p> <p>If you haven’t watched the film already, we suggest you do - The Adventures of Tintin looks like a mix of live-action and CG, which adds up to something unique on screen. It’s possible that The Adventures of Tintin missed out at the Oscars this year because of this very thing, which is a real shame as we think the film has some of the best CG we’ve ever seen. </p> <h3>Weta’s Adventures of Tintin</h3> <p>Weta Digital is delving into a new world – that of the journalist. Enter Tintin, a popular post-World War One comic strip hero who travels about with his dog, Snowy, cracking cases with a little help from his friends. Created in 1929 by the artist and writer best known as Hergé, the stellar artists of Weta, led by director Steven Spielberg and producer Peter Jackson, have brought the story to 3D animated life on the big screen. </p> <p>It took some of Weta’s best to tackle the wide array of arduous effects required to complete the film. Keith Miller, one of five VFX supervisors, was among those appointed to the task. He was in charge of roughly 340 shots.</p> <div class="wp-caption alignleft" id="attachment_35113" style="width: 590px;"><a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/TDW152.f_tintin.opener_ships1.jpg" rel="lightbox[35108]"><img alt="" class="size-full wp-image-35113" height="326" src="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/TDW152.f_tintin.opener_ships1.jpg" title="TDW152.f_tintin.opener_ships1" width="580" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">An epic sea battle required Weta Digital’s team to simulate stormy ocean waves</p></div> <p>For Miller, the big challenge was the pirate battle. “It’s such a dynamic sequence,” he says. “There are nearly 60 pirates running about, two ships that are sailing in 60-metre seas complete with lightning storms, rain, hurricane winds, fire, explosions – you name it, it’s all there.” The most difficult challenge was the water, with 60-metre waves interacting with the ships that needed to compositionally match the representations provided by the pre-viz team.</p> <p>Miller’s team approached the work from a few different angles. “First, we updated our FFT [fast Fourier transform] library, a system of generating waves using measurements collected in oceanic research,” says Miller. They also completely rewrote their library using a more up-to-date spectrum that provided the ability to incorporate the ideas of the depth of the ocean and the fetch, or the distance that wind stays at a constant velocity. “We added those new variables into the system and we were able to generate much more realistic wave scenarios for the high wind systems,” he adds. </p> <p>Weta’s FX team did quite a bit of work approximating the surface velocity from the newly generated ocean surfaces and applied those to Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) particle simulations, much of which was used for the white water simulation, breaking waves that rode on top of the ocean surface. These were pushed through Weta’s in-house 3D effects solution, Synapse, a node-based system that’s a container for solvers. In some cases, Naiad data was also incorporated into Synapse for the initial bounded simulation elements.</p> <div class="wp-caption alignleft" id="attachment_35116" style="width: 590px;"><a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/TDW152.f_tintin.pirate1.jpg" rel="lightbox[35108]"><img alt="" class="size-full wp-image-35116" height="245" src="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/TDW152.f_tintin.pirate1.jpg" title="TDW152.f_tintin.pirate1" width="580" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">The battle sequence combines water, fire, wind and lightning, and featured as many as 60 pirates in combat</p></div> <p>In addition to reworking the FFT system, senior water TD Chris Horvath updated Weta’s shading model for raytraced water, using an improved model for participating media for underwater light extinction and scattering. He also made improvements to the procedural texture foam system. </p> <h4>Creating the hands</h4> <p>While Miller and his team battled with the pirate ships, Weta’s digital creature supervisor Simon Clutterbuck focused on some of the smallest of details through his modelling department. “We build the animation puppets, the deformation rigs, we do all the cloth and hair simulations, muscle dynamics, flesh dynamics – anything that has to do with the monster or character,” he says. “We interact with all the departments in the studio to produce stuff for them to use, like the puppets or the baked light, and we work closely with shots and animation.” </p> <p>The creature department work includes providing all the puppets for the animators. “Our animation puppet isn’t the thing that gets cached and ends up in the shot,” says Clutterbuck. “The animation puppets are kind of an interactive, almost real-time version of the character. They don’t have to see amazing hand deformations to pose the hand correctly, so they’re just posing [and] animating this thing that’s much lower resolution.” Clutterbuck’s Creature Department provides the animators with approximations of clothes and low-res hands and bodies that allow for faster animation. “Then the animation data is cached off of that puppet and plugged into a high-resolution creature rig, which gets cached and given to lighting,” he says. “This way there’s no requirement for interactivity in our actual deformation models.” </p> <div class="wp-caption alignleft" id="attachment_35111" style="width: 590px;"><a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/TDW152.f_tintin.new_013025261.jpg" rel="lightbox[35108]"><img alt="" class="size-full wp-image-35111" height="326" src="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/TDW152.f_tintin.new_013025261.jpg" title="TDW152.f_tintin.new_013025261" width="580" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">A single complex rig was used as the basis for all characters’ hands</p></div> <p>It’s hardly all low-res work, though. “There’s a big focus on faces and hands in the show, so a good deal of time was focused on building a detailed hand rig,” says Clutterbuck. “We had all these incredibly close shots of Tintin’s hands. It’s a treasure hunt, so there are all these clues that lead to the treasure, and there are lots of shots where he’s inspecting things. The shots are incredibly long, so you’ll have minutes focused on their face or hands. The stability of the cloth solve, the fidelity of the hands [and] the deformation all had to be very high. It was pretty unforgiving.”</p> <p>Weta Digital’s workflow uses a generic model called Gen Man as a baseline for building humanoid characters. This starting point is used for reference, scanning and motion capturing, tailoring clothes, and even cross-referencing MRI data. Clutterbuck explains: “We produced a whole bunch of life casts in all different poses that were used to build support moulds, 36 in all, that went into the MRI machine, so the character could put his hand into a similar pose and hold it there. Then we could derive the meshes of his joints from the MRIs.” The result was a series of high-resolution joint meshes of his actual skeleton in the selected poses. </p> <div class="wp-caption alignleft" id="attachment_35110" style="width: 590px;"><a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/TDW152.f_tintin.new_00402825.jpg" rel="lightbox[35108]"><img alt="The story requires characters to grip and manipulate objects" class="size-full wp-image-35110" height="326" src="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/TDW152.f_tintin.new_00402825.jpg" title="TDW152.f_tintin.new_00402825" width="580" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">The story is a treasure hunt, so there are lots of shots where the characters have to pick things up and be able to manipulate them</p></div> <p>“The metacarpals in the wrist do all these crazy rolling motions – it’s really complex,” Clutterbuck says. “We couldn’t build that complexity into the animation puppets because it would have been prohibitive to animate with, but we also needed the correct degrees of freedom in the wrist and joints to give us the right deformations of the hand.” It took nearly five months to get the hands working the way they wanted.</p> <p>“The hand rig looks pretty amazing,” says Clutterbuck. “The hand model propagates out into the show, procedurally warped into new shapes, so we built one hand rig and it was fitted to all the characters’ hands. We have a process that was developed on Avatar to transfer the rig and deformation data onto other models.” </p> <p>Weta Digital’s model supervisor Marco Revelant was responsible for all the assets created in the model department and was involved with grooming and developing the fur system from the user side for the dog, Snowy. However, it was the clothing that both Clutterbuck and Revelant found the most challenging. The multiple layers and the way the different fabrics fell and moved presented a daunting task. </p> <h4>Folding the clothes</h4> <p>Weta Digital set up a Tintin-specific costume department that helped define the design of the clothing, offering insight into how the fabric would drape and move over a character. “The problem is,” says Revelant, “when you do digital clothing and give it to a modeller, the modeller will try to put in features like wrinkles and folds, but won’t necessarily take into account the quantity of fabric.”</p> <div class="wp-caption alignleft" id="attachment_35114" style="width: 590px;"><a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/TDW152.f_tintin.other1_04800542SS_dist.jpg" rel="lightbox[35108]"><img alt="" class="size-full wp-image-35114" height="326" src="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/TDW152.f_tintin.other1_04800542SS_dist.jpg" title="TDW152.f_tintin.other1_04800542SS_dist" width="580" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Care was taken with getting clothing folds to animate correctly</p></div> <p>To manage this issue, the Creature Department worked closely with modelling, providing tools that helped drape the character as they were modelling so that they could see how the fabric was behaving, rather than waiting until the Creature Department ran their simulations. Weta used NCloth in Maya, but spent a huge amount of time up-front shooting parameters and getting the topology in the models and construction correct, especially in cross-sections such as sleeves. </p> <div class="wp-caption alignleft" id="attachment_35124" style="width: 590px;"><a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/TDW152.f_tintin.tin8_020003215SS.jpg" rel="lightbox[35108]"><img alt="" class="size-full wp-image-35124" height="326" src="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/TDW152.f_tintin.tin8_020003215SS.jpg" title="TDW152.f_tintin.tin8_020003215SS" width="580" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">There are eight principal characters, and several have multiple costumes. In all, there were 551 individual costumes to build for the film</p></div> <p>Several characters had multiple layers of clothing, requiring layers of geometry to simulate friction. There were eight principal characters, and several – including Tintin, Captain Haddock and Sakharine – have multiple costumes. In all, there were 551 individual costumes to build for the film. “Take the Captain,” Clutterbuck says. “He had a big woollen jacket, a woollen jumper, trousers, and socks and shoes.” Again, proper reference was key. Weta filmed a man running on a treadmill wearing a tailored suit they provided, and gathered reference on how cloth breaks across the seams, collecting data on details such as the effects of double versus single stitching. </p> <p>Weta first tried just solving the visible clothing, but found that it didn’t quite look correct. “We ended up going for full coupled solutions where everything was solved,” says Clutterbuck. “Tintin might enter with his trench coat on, then take it off and toss it onto the back of a chair, and continue the scene wearing the rest of his costume,” says Clutterbuck. “We had to handle this level of complexity where we had all these variations of costume elements and they had to solve coupled. We hadn’t really done anything that complicated before in terms of clothes.” </p> <p>Coupling affects even supporting characters such as Silk, who dresses in a formal jacket, a waistcoat and a shirt. “We didn’t solve the shirt, then put the waistcoat on, then the jacket,” says Clutterbuck. “We solved everything at the same time, so the solutions were all fully coupled. All the costume elements are plugged into one solver. Since they’re all plugged in, they all interact.”</p> <p>Weta defers everything to its render wall. The costumes were assembled as a master file that contained a costume description. During the baked simulation step that file would assemble the costume, plug it into all the solvers, bring it in, attach it to the character, then do the simulation. The result was a final sim and a series of files generated to show what Weta calls pre-files, which are pre-simulation. The individual costume assets are iterated in parallel as an ensemble of costume elements. </p> <div class="wp-caption alignleft" id="attachment_35130" style="width: 590px;"><a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/TDW152.f_tintin.tin14_03802770SS.jpg" rel="lightbox[35108]"><img alt="" class="size-full wp-image-35130" height="326" src="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/TDW152.f_tintin.tin14_03802770SS.jpg" title="TDW152.f_tintin.tin14_03802770SS" width="580" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text"> “There’s a big focus on faces and hands in the show, so a good deal of time was focused on building a detailed hand rig,” says Clutterbuck</p></div> <p>The costumes took several minutes a frame to simulate, but there was no interactivity requirement because that’s all happening on the render wall and animation was working with real-time puppet versions. “So we have these two parts of every character, with the puppet which goes to animation and the creature deformation model that’s the thing the animation curves get plugged into that simulates on the wall,” says Clutterbuck. </p> <p>Weta’s flexible pipeline paid off, according to Miller. “I know a lot of facilities tend to lock down their technology, branch it off and continue developing it outside of current shows, but that’s very different from how Weta works,” he says. “It’s got pros and cons for sure, but it’s one of those things that helps us to stay at the leading edge of technology. We’re constantly throwing in new technology and updating and developing new aspects, and trying to get it pushed into production all the way through the course of the show.” </p> <h4>Setting the scene </h4> <p>The entire Tintin project was done in-house at Weta Digital, including the artwork for the environment and character studies. The translation of the environments from 2D to 3D was left to Weta’s modelling department under modelling supervisor Marco Revelant’s guidance. An internal art department was assembled to research information about the time when the film takes place. </p> <div class="wp-caption alignleft" id="attachment_35133" style="width: 590px;"><a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/TDW152.f_tintin.tin16_08900835.jpg" rel="lightbox[35108]"><img alt="" class="size-full wp-image-35133" height="326" src="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/TDW152.f_tintin.tin16_08900835.jpg" title="TDW152.f_tintin.tin16_08900835" width="580" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">“Every element that was drawn in the book, we tried to find the respective real element from that period that could have been the inspiration for the Hergé drawing," explains Revelant. "Everything was checked against real period data.” </p></div> <p>“One important thing is [creator] Hergé was very careful in depicting a kind of reality that was around the 1940s,” explains Revelant. “Every element that was drawn in the book, we tried to find the respective real element from that period that could have been the inspiration for the Hergé drawing. Everything was checked against real period data.” </p> <h4>Creating the hair </h4> <p>Weta was working on Rise of the Planet of the Apes and Tintin at the same time. While the requirements for hair on Tintin weren’t anything near what they were for Apes, some of the aspects translated over. Tintin required wind effects, wet hair and a lot of development to get the hair to work coupled with the clothes. </p> <div class="wp-caption alignleft" id="attachment_35125" style="width: 590px;"><a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/TDW152.f_tintin.tin9_030016v405.jpg" rel="lightbox[35108]"><img alt="" class="size-full wp-image-35125" height="246" src="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/TDW152.f_tintin.tin9_030016v405.jpg" title="TDW152.f_tintin.tin9_030016v405" width="580" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Character hair in The Adventures of Tintin has to interact with objects and the environment</p></div> <p>With the hat on, the Captain has a groom, styled so his hair doesn’t stick through the hat. When the hat is off, the hair is groomed appropriately. Sometimes the Captain put his hat on or took it off, so transitional shots with appropriate grooms were needed. The Captain’s hair ended up having a very dense particle set on the hair and collision objects with the hat, and his hair would spring up a bit during the transition. </p> <p><a href="http://www.myfavouritemagazines.co.uk/design/3dworld-magazine-back-issues/3d-world-feb-12/">Buy issue 152 of 3D World magazine to read the full article</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Adventures-Tintin-Two-Disc-Blu-ray-Digital/dp/B0034G4P4Y/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1331150699&sr=8-3">Buy the Blu-ray of The Adventures of Tintin via Amazon</a></p> <img border="0" height="1" src="http://3dworldmag.com.feedsportal.com/c/33151/f/538495/s/1d77d052/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=Weta+Digital+on+the+making+of+The+Adventures+of+Tintin&link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.3dworldmag.com%2F2012%2F03%2F15%2Fweta-digital-on-the-making-of-the-adventures-of-tintin%2F%3Futm_source%3Drss%26utm_medium%3Drss%26utm_campaign%3Dweta-digital-on-the-making-of-the-adventures-of-tintin" 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=Weta+Digital+on+the+making+of+The+Adventures+of+Tintin&link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.3dworldmag.com%2F2012%2F03%2F15%2Fweta-digital-on-the-making-of-the-adventures-of-tintin%2F%3Futm_source%3Drss%26utm_medium%3Drss%26utm_campaign%3Dweta-digital-on-the-making-of-the-adventures-of-tintin" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/images/bookmark.gif" /></a></td></tr></table></div><br /><br /><a href="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/129200327135/u/49/f/538495/c/33151/s/1d77d052/a2.htm"><img border="0" src="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/129200327135/u/49/f/538495/c/33151/s/1d77d052/a2.img" /></a><img border="0" src="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/129200327135/u/49/f/538495/c/33151/s/1d77d052/a2t.img" /><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/3dWorldrss/~4/D4s7vJZZjr8" width="1" />

<p><a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/19.jpg" rel="lightbox[35032]"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-35091" height="326" src="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/19.jpg" title="19" width="580" /></a></p> <p class="strap">Find out how this ultra photorealistic film was pieced together using 3ds Max and V-Ray. Watch the animated short here too</p> <p><span id="more-35032"></span></p> <p>The Accuracy of Time is a depiction of part of the process of building a watch, more specifically the ceramic crown. Created by art director Javi Martinez, the short was made as a case study for his upcoming <a href="http://lightrendergroup.com/">CGI training roadshow TAOT2012</a>.</p> <p>The idea was to replicate a real advertisement and the entire production process behind it. The film will be used as part of the roadshow training to highlight some of specific challenges currently facing digital artists.</p> <p>The project was created using a 3ds Max and V-Ray pipeline. “The decision to use this software was simply to make a technical demonstration of the many capabilities offered by the two working together,” explains Martinez. </p> <h4>3ds Max and V-Ray: an ideal combo</h4> <p>“3ds Max allowed us to develop the short very easily using the new MASSFX to perform physical dynamics and the ceramic particles and at the same time offered great performance in the modelling and animation of objects and cameras. The reason we chose V-Ray was the quality of representation of light, versatility, simplicity to recreate materials and the optimisation of production times.”</p> <p><a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/14.jpg" rel="lightbox[35032]"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-35092" height="326" src="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/14.jpg" title="14" width="580" /></a></p> <h4>More-than-reasonable render times</h4> <p>Rather amazingly, The Accuracy of Time was created using only one workstation! It just goes to show what can be achieved if you’ve got the right amount of dedication: “The short includes the processing of raw materials [to create the watch], the material injection to obtain the piece itself, then it passes through the baking stage and ends with the exposure of the product with elegance and quality,” says Martinez. “But the whole film was in fact a very simple macro CG production playing with a basic geometric model, a virtual light and virtual camera. Given that the piece was produced using a single workstation, the render times were very manageable, ranging from five to 35 minutes per frame.”</p> <h4>Playing with the look</h4> <p>It wasn’t all plain sailing, however. Due to the style and close-up nature of the short, Martinez had to work out solutions in order to achieve the correct look. “The animation treatment and lens blurs were resolved by ZD channels and working on it in post,” Martinex explains. “The animation of the camera lens can easily change the meaning of a sequence so experimenting with this technique was very attractive to me.”</p> <p>Overall, the short took Martinez approximately just under a year to complete from start to finish. “The 10-month production time was an amazing experience,” Martinez says. “But it led to a lot of sacrifice and [it was a] joy to finally get my work out to reach the community of artists in an industry which is so difficult and exquisite.”</p> <h4>Watch the new animation short:</h4> </p> <p></p> <h4>Want more animated shorts of the same calibre?</h4> <p>If you liked this film, check out a selection of other awesome animations on our <a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/category/showcase/shorts/">Shorts page</a></p> <img border="0" height="1" src="http://3dworldmag.com.feedsportal.com/c/33151/f/538495/s/1d6f8c5d/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=New+animation+short%3A+The+Accuracy+of+Time&link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.3dworldmag.com%2F2012%2F03%2F14%2Fnew-animation-short-the-accuracy-of-time%2F%3Futm_source%3Drss%26utm_medium%3Drss%26utm_campaign%3Dnew-animation-short-the-accuracy-of-time" 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=New+animation+short%3A+The+Accuracy+of+Time&link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.3dworldmag.com%2F2012%2F03%2F14%2Fnew-animation-short-the-accuracy-of-time%2F%3Futm_source%3Drss%26utm_medium%3Drss%26utm_campaign%3Dnew-animation-short-the-accuracy-of-time" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/images/bookmark.gif" /></a></td></tr></table></div><br /><br /><a href="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/129200299806/u/49/f/538495/c/33151/s/1d6f8c5d/a2.htm"><img border="0" src="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/129200299806/u/49/f/538495/c/33151/s/1d6f8c5d/a2.img" /></a><img border="0" src="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/129200299806/u/49/f/538495/c/33151/s/1d6f8c5d/a2t.img" /><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/3dWorldrss/~4/HB_RZPTmu4k" width="1" />

<p><a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/TDW94.t_trade.ad_seq3.jpg" rel="lightbox[35067]"><img alt="" class="alignright size-full wp-image-35088" height="348" src="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/TDW94.t_trade.ad_seq3.jpg" title="TDW94.t_trade.ad_seq3" width="580" /></a></p> <p class="strap">Do you remember the original Transformers-style Citroën C4 spot? Five years ago it became a worldwide cult hit and we asked The Embassy’s CG team to reveal some of the ad’s technical secrets. Catch up as Transformers week continues…</p> <p>To celebrate <a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/2012/03/07/digital-tutors-releases-new-transforming-robot-tutorials/">Digital-Tutors’ new Transformation training</a>, we thought we’d make an event of it and post online all things Transformery!</p> <p>We’ve already posted up two making of Transformers articles:<br /> <a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/2012/03/07/the-making-of-transformers/">The making of Transformers</a><br /> <a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/2012/03/08/the-making-of-transformers-2/">The making of Transformers 2</a></p> <p>We plan to post up a <strong>train-transforming walkthrough tutorial</strong> this week too, so remember to check back.</p> <h3>Here’s the Embassy’s making of the Citroën ‘Runner’ spot</h3> <h4>ABOUT THE ORIGINAL AD</h4> <p>Created for the launch of Citroën’s C4 range, The Embassy Visual Effects’s original 2004 ad, ‘Alive with Technology’, opens with a hand-held camera shot of a car that transforms into a robot, performs an?impromptu series of dance moves and then reverts back to vehicular form.</p> <div class="wp-caption alignright" id="attachment_35068" style="width: 590px;"><a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/TDW94.t_trade.orig_ad.jpg" rel="lightbox[35067]"><img alt="" class="size-full wp-image-35068" height="320" src="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/TDW94.t_trade.orig_ad.jpg" title="TDW94.t_trade.orig_ad" width="580" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">The Embassy Visual Effects’s original 2004 ad, ‘Alive with Technology’, opens with a hand-held camera shot of a car that transforms into a robot, performs an?impromptu series of dance moves and then reverts back to vehicular form</p></div> <p>As well as making other VFX teams green with envy, the spot proved to have unexpected longevity. A full two years on, it was regularly appearing on TV, picking up fresh awards, and inspiring numerous spoofs and tributes, including a memorable parody replacing the C4 with a rather less glamorous Citroën 2CV and a viral for Danish bacon. The Mill even got a shot at producing a follow-up, before The Embassy itself jumped back on board for a third in the series.</p> <p>“It’s hard to say what it was about that original ad that hit people,” says studio president Winston Helgason. “Technically we did a good job, but something else struck a chord with them. While the ad has that geek factor, it’s just really fun to watch.”</p> <p>Television audiences got their first taste of vehicular dancefloor magic back in 2004. A?relative newcomer to the field of CG, Vancouver-based VFX studio The Embassy Visual Effects had already turned heads with its viral short film <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1zGLx6H3f4&feature=related">Tetra Vaal</a> and some impressively photoreal ads for the likes of Nike.</p> <p>But it was the Citroën ‘Alive with Technology’ ad that really put the studio on the map – and a spring in the step of CG?based car ads. Fusing perfectly believable virtual visuals, directorial flair, and some seriously cool dance moves, The Embassy created what is now regarded as a?genuine classic.</p> <h3>Watch the Citroën ‘Alive with Technology’ spot</h3> <p></p> <p>Now the studio is back on board for the third spot in what is becoming an increasingly long-running campaign, and has been working hard to push the concept of a car that transforms into a robot to even greater heights.</p> <p>In contrast to the original spot, for which director Neill Blomkamp utilised a virtual camera and 3D environment constructed from photographs, the new ad’s director, Trevor Cawood, chose to undertake a live shoot in South Africa – a location chosen principally for its favourable lighting conditions. A new transforming CG vehicle was then integrated into the plates with the help of elements rebuilt in?3D to aid the creation of shadows and reflections.</p> <p>“The brief was pretty open,” says The Embassy president Winston Helgason. “The idea was to have the robot running, but other than that, it was simply ‘make it look cool’. The client did come back and ask if we could find something else for the robot to do, though, so we came up with the rail slide [which the bot performs along the restraining barrier by the side of the road].”</p> <p>Here, the studio’s 3D and compositing staff reveal just how their cybernetic star was rigged and animated to perform such a stunt. They also explore some of the shading and lighting techniques used to generate the photorealistic renders of the modified car necessary to composite it seamlessly into the background plate.</p> <p>Helgason reveals that the studio’s preferred tool for this kind of work is LightWave 3D’s own renderer, its raytracing proving particularly well suited to hard surface lighting. Dropping HDRI set data into the program and adding additional lights, the studio is able to get a scene fully lit in a matter of minutes. But ultimately, he says that the real secret of photorealism in the Citroën ads is simply attention to detail.</p> <p>“The most important thing is to understand how lighting really works, and then learn to match the way it reacts to metallic surfaces,” he says. “That, and then adding loads of extra model detail is what makes the results so effective.”</p> <h3>Watch the Citroën ‘Runner’ spot</h3> <p></p> <p><em>Click Next to read about how ILM had to rip apart the original robot design</em></p> <img border="0" height="1" src="http://3dworldmag.com.feedsportal.com/c/33151/f/538495/s/1d689117/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=The+Embassy%3A+The+art+of+robotics&link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.3dworldmag.com%2F2012%2F03%2F13%2Fthe-embassy-the-art-of-robotics%2F%3Futm_source%3Drss%26utm_medium%3Drss%26utm_campaign%3Dthe-embassy-the-art-of-robotics" 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=The+Embassy%3A+The+art+of+robotics&link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.3dworldmag.com%2F2012%2F03%2F13%2Fthe-embassy-the-art-of-robotics%2F%3Futm_source%3Drss%26utm_medium%3Drss%26utm_campaign%3Dthe-embassy-the-art-of-robotics" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/images/bookmark.gif" /></a></td></tr></table></div><br /><br /><a href="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/129200298402/u/49/f/538495/c/33151/s/1d689117/a2.htm"><img border="0" src="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/129200298402/u/49/f/538495/c/33151/s/1d689117/a2.img" /></a><img border="0" src="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/129200298402/u/49/f/538495/c/33151/s/1d689117/a2t.img" /><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/3dWorldrss/~4/z_DGLpUWdbI" width="1" />

<p><a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/r_iclone5.hero_.jpg" rel="lightbox[35061]"><img alt="iClone's new toon shader" class="alignright size-full wp-image-35062" height="326" src="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/r_iclone5.hero_.jpg" title="iClone's new toon shader" width="580" /></a> <p class="strap">Real-time 3D animation tool, iClone, has everything you need to set up your directorial ?debut. But is it too limited, asks Paul Champion?</p> <p>PRICE?: $200.? Upgrade from $120. ??Other editions: Standard, $80??<br /> PLATFORM?: Windows??<br /> MAIN FEATURES: <ul> <li>Real-time animation?</li> <li>In-screen motion editing and puppeteering?</li> <li>Advanced timeline editing with transition curve?</li> <li>Animate in real-time with motion-capture device??</li> </ul> <p>DEVELOPER: <a href="http://www.reallusion.com">Reallusion</a></p> <p>Converting your finished story idea into a pre-viz or polished animation often presents some daunting challenges, and selecting the right software applications to use can be a key factor in the time (and cost) spent completing it. </p> <p>iClone5 Pro offers a happy medium between high-end applications that have seemingly endless options to tweak, and frustratingly feeble, user-unfriendly low-end software. The latest version of iClone has new animation tools, is still a breeze to use and remains competitively priced.?</p> <div class="wp-caption alignright" id="attachment_35063" style="width: 590px;"><a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/r_iclone5.assets.jpg" rel="lightbox[35061]"><img alt="iClone5" class="size-full wp-image-35063" height="463" src="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/r_iclone5.assets.jpg" title="iClone5" width="580" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Now you can create your own version of Pixar’s The Incredibles, in a park and on a merry-go-round!</p></div> <p>If you’re unfamiliar with iClone, it’s primarily a template-based hassle-free solution for real-time animation with plenty of bells and whistles. In terms of workflow, you’re limited to working with the rudimentary content supplied with the application, unless you’re prepared to buy additional assets via Reallusion’s Content Marketplace (which always seems to have some sort of deal on offer). </p> <p>Getting your own assets into iClone5 Pro is quick and easy, but it requires Reallusion’s 3DXchange4, which converts files from applications such as ZBrush, Photoshop, Blender, Poser, Daz Studio, Vue and Maya, and costs $80 for the Standard version. You’ll need 3DXchange4 Pro ($120) to use assets in FBX, 3DS, OBJ and SKP formats. ?</p> <p>Pre-viz users or anyone presenting a concept pitch to clients should find that the content provided is more than adequate for demonstration, where the actual look of assets is less relevant. End users, who will no doubt grow tired of the limited content provided, will be disappointed that they have to shell out for 3DXchange to import more material.?<br /> With the assets in place, it’s time to animate, and there are many new tools to help you with this.??</p> <div class="wp-caption alignright" id="attachment_35064" style="width: 590px;"><a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/r_iclone5.market.jpg" rel="lightbox[35061]"><img alt="iClone5" class="size-full wp-image-35064" height="402" src="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/r_iclone5.market.jpg" title="iClone5" width="580" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Whether it’s sexy girls, gym kits or vampires you’re after, the marketplace has plenty of assets for you to buy</p></div> <h4>New features</h4> <p>?<br /> Direct Puppet lets you record your actor’s animation in real time, and if necessary lock body parts to locations. MixMoves enables seamless blending between motions. Body Motion Puppeteering enables the user to control the animation speed and direction. ?</p> <p>Simple floor contact is taken care of with Human IK Motion Editing for Actors, and allows props (which can now be animated in real time) to be held onto realistically. The Timeline has been updated so that animation curves can be varied in playback by adding curve adjustments such as Ease In and Ease Out. For physics animation there are Rigid and Soft Body options for simulation, and other uses such as game prototyping.?</p> <div class="wp-caption alignright" id="attachment_35065" style="width: 590px;"><a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/r_iclone5.effects.jpg" rel="lightbox[35061]"><img alt="iClone5" class="size-full wp-image-35065" height="464" src="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/r_iclone5.effects.jpg" title="iClone5" width="580" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Effects can help to enhance your movies, but they are limited to a maximum of five within a project</p></div> <p>The premium new animation tool being touted for use with iClone5 Pro is the Mocap Device plug-in. With this you can act out your animations in real-time – the recorded mocap data is then applied to actors. </p> <p>At $140, this is a lot cheaper than buying your own professional mocap studio, although it requires you to have an Xbox 360 with Kinect. It’s also only compatible with the Pro edition. </p> <p>The plug-in is a significant add-on that falls outside the remit of this review. Judging by forum responses, however, it’s a successful product and great for anyone who wants to physically generate their own movement.</p> <p>?Other notable tools and settings, with which Reallusion is catching up with market competitors rather than introducing groundbreaking innovations, include Ambient Occlusion, which improves the quality of visual output with barely any impact on render times; post-FX tools for colour and blur, which are easy to apply; and cartoon rendering, which can be achieved with just a few clicks and some minor texture corrections. ?</p> <div class="wp-caption alignright" id="attachment_35066" style="width: 590px;"><a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/r_iclone5.rigid_.jpg" rel="lightbox[35061]"><img alt="iClone5" class="size-full wp-image-35066" height="371" src="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/r_iclone5.rigid_.jpg" title="iClone5" width="580" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Rigid body simulations can pep up high-speed chases. In iClone5 Pro they are easy to deploy</p></div> <p>There’s still plenty of room for improvement in the renderer. The options are minimal and simplistic – which is part of the general charm of iClone, but it doesn’t always do justice to the end result. Multiple cameras and Picture-In-Picture features offer greater control between shots. Much-requested duplication settings enable you to instance objects with ease, and adjustable pivots, snapping and aligning tools are now possible for objects.?</p> <p>More resource-hungry improvements include higher poly counts for actors, with notable increases to head meshes, which enable more natural deformations. In practice this works far better than before, and since faces are areas that most viewers’ eyes are naturally drawn to, it’s a clearly visible improvement. However, it can still be difficult and time-consuming to tweak. </p> <div class="wp-caption alignright" id="attachment_35062" style="width: 590px;"><a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/r_iclone5.hero_.jpg" rel="lightbox[35061]"><img alt="iClone's new toon shader" class="size-full wp-image-35062" height="326" src="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/r_iclone5.hero_.jpg" title="iClone's new toon shader" width="580" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">The new Toon Shader is found in the Atmosphere section of the Stage tab, and can be adjusted for your project needs</p></div> <p>Cartoon character facial controls have been advanced to include exaggeration. Height Map Terrains now allow bigger landscapes, but they are limited to just five. Smart iProps have been updated for game-like interaction.</p> <p>?During testing, these new tools all worked admirably, yet iClone crashed a number of times for no apparent reason. When pushed to reasonable extremes for any shot – such as 20 actors set up with different parameters and animations applied – iClone responded well. But other times it would crash with, for example, a fairly empty scene during terrain set-up. Ordinarily, this would only be a minor annoyance, but since there’s no autosave option in the program, it becomes more ?of a frustration. </p> <p>?Hardware-wise, iClone doesn’t require an overly demanding system. Rather misleadingly, it’s listed as being 32-bit and 64-bit Windows compatible, but it’s not actually a native 64-bit release, so it won’t take advantage of any extra memory installed over 32-bit limitations. It’s rumoured that a 64-bit update will be released, although this was unconfirmed as we went to press.?</p> <p>Overall, iClone5 Pro remains an easy-to-use application, and it can be a real time-saver for pre-viz work and presentations. The learning curve isn’t too steep, and setting up shots is intuitive. For existing iClone users, it should be a no-brainer to upgrade because content from previous versions is compatible, the upgrade price is good, and the new tools (and mocap plug-in, if you choose to buy it) will enhance its usability. New users will need to assess whether they have the funds for additional content and a copy of 3DXchange. </p> <h3>VERDICT</h3> <h4>PROS</h4> <ul> <li>Simple for novices without previous animation experience?</li> <li>Easily modifiable preset models?</li> <li>Ready-made animation categories?</li> <li>Intuitive editing?</li> <li>Options for advanced animators</li> </ul> <h4>??CONS</h4> <ul> <li>Facial profiles are difficult to tweak?</li> <li>Additional content incurs extra costs</li> <li>Rendering options still limited?</li> <li>Not a true 64-bit application??</li> </ul> <p><strong>A speedy solution for pre-viz but hampered by limited content options, basic render settings, and lack of true 64-bit support</strong></p> <h4>About the author</h4> <p>?Paul Champion is the demonstrator for undergraduate and postgraduate 3D and VFX courses at the National Centre for Computer Animation, Bournemouth</p> <h3><a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/2012/02/06/win-a-copy-of-reallusions-iclone5-pro/">Win a copy of Reallusion’s iClone5 Pro</a></h3> <p>Enter our <a href="http://http://www.3dworldmag.com/2012/02/06/win-a-copy-of-reallusions-iclone5-pro/">iClone5 Pro prize draw</a> for your chance to win one of four packages featuring Reallusion’s real-time animation suite, <strong>worth $1,352 in total</strong></p> <img border="0" height="1" src="http://3dworldmag.com.feedsportal.com/c/33151/f/538495/s/1d5d1225/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=Software+review%3A+iClone5+Pro&link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.3dworldmag.com%2F2012%2F03%2F12%2Fsoftware-review-iclone5-pro%2F%3Futm_source%3Drss%26utm_medium%3Drss%26utm_campaign%3Dsoftware-review-iclone5-pro" 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=Software+review%3A+iClone5+Pro&link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.3dworldmag.com%2F2012%2F03%2F12%2Fsoftware-review-iclone5-pro%2F%3Futm_source%3Drss%26utm_medium%3Drss%26utm_campaign%3Dsoftware-review-iclone5-pro" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/images/bookmark.gif" /></a></td></tr></table></div><br /><br /><a href="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/129168239143/u/49/f/538495/c/33151/s/1d5d1225/a2.htm"><img border="0" src="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/129168239143/u/49/f/538495/c/33151/s/1d5d1225/a2.img" /></a><img border="0" src="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/129168239143/u/49/f/538495/c/33151/s/1d5d1225/a2t.img" /><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/3dWorldrss/~4/FfSl8XDXlLw" width="1" />

<p><a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/Mass_effect_3_trailer.jpg" rel="lightbox[35052]"><img alt="Mass Effect 3 trailer" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-35053" height="325" src="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/Mass_effect_3_trailer.jpg" title="Mass Effect 3 trailer" width="580" /></a> <p class="strap">Remember the phenomenal CG trailer that Bioware released a few weeks ago? Don’t worry if you missed it: as Mass Effect 3 goes on sale in the UK, we take a look at Bioware’s cinematic for the final installment of the massively popular RPG</p> <p>We’re so lucky that big budget games can’t be released without an accompanying cinematic teaser to go alongside the standard gameplay trailer, as the animations produced are truly stunning. </p> <p>Bioware’s Mass Effect 3 trailer is a fine example - the teaser features children, aliens and devastating lasers. The cinematic action really gets your adrenaline pumping. </p> <p>One YouTube user commented that if the video keeps going like it does, [the character you play] Shepard has only got about 30-35 minutes to take back Earth, tops, before it’s completely annihilated!</p> <h3>Watch Bioware’s Mass Effect 3 trailer online</h3> <p></p> <h3>Want to learn how Bioware created the cinematic?</h3> <p>So do we, that’s why we’ve asked Bioware to contribute a ‘making of’ article for 3D World magazine. So look out for that in the next issue!</p> <h3>Want more like this?</h4> <p><a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/2012/03/09/platige-images-witcher-2-trailer-and-making-of-video/">Watch Platige Image’s Witcher 2 trailer and making of video</a></p> <img border="0" height="1" src="http://3dworldmag.com.feedsportal.com/c/33151/f/538495/s/1d4c5888/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=Bioware%E2%80%99s+Mass+Effect+3%3A+Take+Earth+Back+trailer&link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.3dworldmag.com%2F2012%2F03%2F09%2Fbiowares-mass-effect-3-take-earth-back-trailer%2F%3Futm_source%3Drss%26utm_medium%3Drss%26utm_campaign%3Dbiowares-mass-effect-3-take-earth-back-trailer" 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=Bioware%E2%80%99s+Mass+Effect+3%3A+Take+Earth+Back+trailer&link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.3dworldmag.com%2F2012%2F03%2F09%2Fbiowares-mass-effect-3-take-earth-back-trailer%2F%3Futm_source%3Drss%26utm_medium%3Drss%26utm_campaign%3Dbiowares-mass-effect-3-take-earth-back-trailer" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/images/bookmark.gif" /></a></td></tr></table></div><br /><br /><a href="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/127698767040/u/49/f/538495/c/33151/s/1d4c5888/a2.htm"><img border="0" src="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/127698767040/u/49/f/538495/c/33151/s/1d4c5888/a2.img" /></a><img border="0" src="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/127698767040/u/49/f/538495/c/33151/s/1d4c5888/a2t.img" /><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/3dWorldrss/~4/NvLT8p93M8g" width="1" />

<p><a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/Scene-2.jpg" rel="lightbox[35045]"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-35047" height="244" src="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/Scene-2.jpg" title="Scene-2" width="580" /></a></p> <p class="strap">Find out how this new short about a fascinating sensory condition was created using a combination of Maya, After Effects and Photoshop. Watch the film here too</p> <p>Synaesthesia tells the life experience of a synaesthete; a person with a condition where two or more of the five senses that are normally experienced separately are involuntarily and automatically joined together. Synaesthetes can experience sounds, tastes, smells, shapes, or touches in almost any combination. Synaesthesia features a character as a small boy, an adult worker and a retired man, who can see and feel shapes and depicts his different reactions to the phenomenon.</p> <p>The short was a final year project created by four students - Tien Hee, Kasumi Saito, Leo Chida and Nikko Hull - of <a href="http://www.massey.ac.nz">Massey University</a>, New Zealand. The quartet had to think of an idea to suit the brief of the school, which had a self-driven component as well as a pre-defined part. “This was basically to pick a topic and find a need or something that needs changing etc,” says Hull. “We chose Synaesthesia.”</p> <h4>Things shaped up nicely</h4> <p>In order to tackle such a complicated condition, the team spent a lot of time researching Synaesthesia and how it was going to affect their characters and set designs. “We decided during the research stage what we were going to do,” says Chida. “Each character was associated with a shape as were the environments. These were contrasting, for example, the first scene the kid was a circle, round and innocent and the environment was a triangle, sharp, scary and alert.”</p> <p>The team also used many sources of inspiration to achieve the look and style they were after. “For the environments, I looked at lots of animations, <a href="http://www.studio4c.co.jp/english/">Studio 4°C</a>, <a href="http://vimeo.com/user2825043">Team Cerf</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0831888/">Tekkonkintreet</a> etc and mixed them all together to get the end result,” says Saito. “It was hard to simplify the forms to get it right. We ended up mixing all of these with our own ideas to get the style we came up with.”</p> <p><a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/Scene-1.jpg" rel="lightbox[35045]"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-35046" height="247" src="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/Scene-1.jpg" title="Scene-1" width="580" /></a></p> <h4>Added Layers</h4> <p>With set and character designs completed, the team began creating the film’s assets in Maya and UV layout tool, <a href="http://www.uvlayout.com/">Headus</a>. “This software is pretty awesome, I was really happy with how Headus sped things up,” says Chida. They also adopted a rendering technique which helped with production times.</p> <p>“The process was quite simple, which also helped in a way,” says Hull. “Each layer was kind of easy, it was just a matter of putting it all together in After Effects. We found the technique demonstrated (kind of) on <a href="http://www.deviantart.com/">Deviant Art</a>, I can’t remember the specific artist, but then we tried to figure it out in Maya and it worked quite well. But we didn’t choose that because of its ease, we chose it because of the style.”</p> <p>The scenes were separated to make the whole process more manageable. “The old man walking down the hall is a good example,” says Hull. “We had the walls, which were all on different render layers. The background and walls were a single layer and frame. Then anything which was moving, so the phone and the character, were on their own layers and were the only sequences. There also had to be a sequence for the shadows so they could cast on the walls. Then we had diffuse, shadows, highlight, AO and particle layers. This all went into After Effects with some lights and colour correction.”</p> <p>After two semesters worth of work, the student team completed the film and are pleased with the final result considering their prior experience in animation. “Up until the end, you have no idea what it’s going to turn out like,” says Chida. “But it was so rewarding finding out that all the effort wasn’t wasted and the film actually looked OK. I mean, some was wasted but we’re learning so it’s all good. Our degree consisted of lots of general design and even fine art so we’ve only really had about a year of animation training (in total). With this in mind, I’m pretty happy with how it turned out.”</p> <p></p> <p>Like this film? <a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/category/showcase/shorts/">Check out the selection of other awesome animations in our shorts section</a></p> <p><em>Make sure you visit next week for more Friday Animation Fun!</em></p> <img border="0" height="1" src="http://3dworldmag.com.feedsportal.com/c/33151/f/538495/s/1d4bec67/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=Friday+Animation+Fun%3A+Synaesthesia&link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.3dworldmag.com%2F2012%2F03%2F09%2Ffriday-animation-fun-synaesthesia%2F%3Futm_source%3Drss%26utm_medium%3Drss%26utm_campaign%3Dfriday-animation-fun-synaesthesia" 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=Friday+Animation+Fun%3A+Synaesthesia&link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.3dworldmag.com%2F2012%2F03%2F09%2Ffriday-animation-fun-synaesthesia%2F%3Futm_source%3Drss%26utm_medium%3Drss%26utm_campaign%3Dfriday-animation-fun-synaesthesia" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/images/bookmark.gif" /></a></td></tr></table></div><br /><br /><a href="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/127698680485/u/49/f/538495/c/33151/s/1d4bec67/a2.htm"><img border="0" src="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/127698680485/u/49/f/538495/c/33151/s/1d4bec67/a2.img" /></a><img border="0" src="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/127698680485/u/49/f/538495/c/33151/s/1d4bec67/a2t.img" /><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/3dWorldrss/~4/_jN_z2Gm7AM" width="1" />

<p><a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/witcher2_09032012.jpg" rel="lightbox[35048]"><img alt="Witcher 2" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-35049" height="317" src="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/witcher2_09032012.jpg" title="Witcher 2" width="580" /></a> <p class="strap">Watch the jaw-dropping animation in the trailer for The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings. Then catch Platige Image’s ‘making of’ video too… </p> <p>In January, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and CD Projekt RED released the epic and impactful CG intro trailer for The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings, produced by the award-winning animation studio, Platige Image. </p> <p>We were simply blown away when we watched this four-minute cinematic online at the start of the year. Directed by Tomek Bagi?ski and produced by Platige Image, this trailer is packed with stunning animation and effects. Watch it below.</p> <p>Now Platige Image has produced a behind-the-scenes look at the production of the trailer, from the early renders and mocap sessions to the final clip. You can also watch this three-minute video below.</p> <h4>Behind the scenes of Witcher 2</h4> <p>“The idea of the script came from CD Projekt couple years ago, right after the premiere of ‘The Witcher’. It was so called ‘soft’ version and we used it as basis for the work. In spite of vast changes we made, the project went on hold for almost two years until it was brought back to life in Xbox 360 version.”</p> <p>“As it turned out these two years gave both parties necessary perspective. Once we started working on the script again we were able to create new, better and richer version very fast.”</p> <p>“What was left from the original is the ship and main characters. All the rest has been changed. For example in the first version a hornet’s nest was used in the attack. The ship was turned into chaos - all crew started running around. They looked like a group of crazy or electrocuted people. Well… we got rid of this ‘dance’ but left the chaos and add a lot of steroids. It helped,” says director Tomek Bagi?ski.</p> <p>“It was one of the most demanding projects in Platige Image history. The script set up very high standards. As for such a short movie there were a lot of main, detailed characters, difficult face close-ups, very dynamic action full of special effects: cloth and particles simulation and hard slowmotion shots.”</p> <p>“The ship also became one of the main characters. First our graphic artists created a fantastic scenery and most of all great, very detailed sailing ship. Then the particles simulation team went rough with it. They created a vast interaction system covering the whole construction with milions of ice crystals and they smashed the whole thing,” adds CG Supervisor Maciek Jackiewicz.</p> <p>The team of 40 graphic designers and animators was involved in the project for couple moths.</p> <p>The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings is due on on Xbox 360 on 17 April. The Windows version is shipping now.</p> <h3>Watch the Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings trailer:</h3> <p></p> <h3> Watch the making-of video for the cinematic:</h3> <p></p> <p><a href="http://www.cgsociety.org/index.php/CGSFeatures/CGSFeatureSpecial/the_witcher_2_cinematic">Read a longer interview with CG supervisor Maciej Jackiewicz on CGSociety</a></p> <h4>If you liked this, look out for our ‘making of’ Mass Effect 3 cinematic, due in the next issue of 3D World</h4> <img border="0" height="1" src="http://3dworldmag.com.feedsportal.com/c/33151/f/538495/s/1d4b9af0/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=Platige+Image%E2%80%99s+Witcher+2+trailer+and+making+of+video&link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.3dworldmag.com%2F2012%2F03%2F09%2Fplatige-images-witcher-2-trailer-and-making-of-video%2F%3Futm_source%3Drss%26utm_medium%3Drss%26utm_campaign%3Dplatige-images-witcher-2-trailer-and-making-of-video" 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=Platige+Image%E2%80%99s+Witcher+2+trailer+and+making+of+video&link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.3dworldmag.com%2F2012%2F03%2F09%2Fplatige-images-witcher-2-trailer-and-making-of-video%2F%3Futm_source%3Drss%26utm_medium%3Drss%26utm_campaign%3Dplatige-images-witcher-2-trailer-and-making-of-video" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/images/bookmark.gif" /></a></td></tr></table></div><br /><br /><a href="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/127698762514/u/49/f/538495/c/33151/s/1d4b9af0/a2.htm"><img border="0" src="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/127698762514/u/49/f/538495/c/33151/s/1d4b9af0/a2.img" /></a><img border="0" src="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/127698762514/u/49/f/538495/c/33151/s/1d4b9af0/a2t.img" /><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/3dWorldrss/~4/b7YwnVrsgeA" width="1" />

ROYAL OAK, MI — RTT has released updated software for its RTT DeltaGen 3D visualization solution. It enables users in professional, high-end visualization to enhance workflows by becoming more efficient across the entire product lifecycle – from design and development, to marketing and sales – all while significantly reducing time-to-market.

The SIGGRAPH 2012 Technical Papers program is the premier international forum for disseminating new scholarly work in computer graphics and interactive techniques. The 39th International Conference and Exhibition on Computer Graphics and Interactive Techniques, 5–9 August 2012 at the Los Angeles Convention Center, features Technical Papers that detail new advances across many fronts, including 3D display technology, photographic prints for HDR images, textile design, and more.

SAN RAFAEL, CA — Autodesk’s (www.autodesk.com) redesigned Smoke 2013 editing and VFX tool for the Mac is now available as a free trial download.

SANTA MONICA — Company 3 (www.bydeluxe.com) provided color grading services for four different versions of 20th Century Fox's new film, Prometheus. Directed by Ridley Scott, the 3D sci-fi/thriller is a prequel to the Alien franchise and stars Noomi Rapace, Michael Fassbender, Guy Pearce, Idris Elba, Logan Marshall-Green, and Charlize Theron.

Launch brings industry’s first single-card solution capable of driving up to six displays.

FX Art Director Steven Messing creates the film’s CG designs, setting the visual tone for the sci-fi thriller.

LOS ANGELES — VFX company Pixomondo (www.pixomondo.com) created more than 270 visual effects for the new Universal Pictures feature Snow White and the Huntsman. The film’s VFX supervisors Cedric Nicolas-Troyan and Phil Brennan enlisted Pixomondo to work on much of the prologue, which features a barrage of fighting, as well as the film’s final siege sequence. 

SANTA MONICA, CA — Visual effects facility Luma Pictures can count itself as a participant in the battle for the future of humanity, after adding holographic effects work to 20th Century Fox and Scott Free Productions' Prometheus.

BEVERLY HILLS – Thirteen students from colleges and universities around the world were honored recently as winners at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ 39th  Annual Student Academy Awards. In the Animation category, David Wolter from the California Institute of the Arts was awarded the Gold Medal for his short film “Eyrie.”

PALO ALTO, CA — What do you get when you combine the power of HP technology and the creativity of DreamWorks Animation? A wild 3D treat.

<p>Are you a web designer or a web developer? <strong>Are you blogging yet</strong>?</p> <p>There are several thousands of web designers and web developers actively seeking new opportunities online. A lot of them are excellent at what they do, but among those many excellent designers and developers only a hundred will actually be known on the internet.</p> <p>It is depressing to know that you probably won’t get noticed.</p> <p>What if I told you that you can change the course of your life simply by blogging?</p> <p><span id="more-71682"></span></p> <h2>Why Should Web Designers and Web Developers Blog?</h2> <p>You are probably very limited to what you are currently doing. 9-5 job as a web designer/developer, and the people who will be awestruck by your work won’t probably even know your name.</p> <p>If you are a freelancer, then it’s a bigger problem if you don’t have a blog. Admit it, you want to be famous someday in your field, but how?</p> <p>Why not start a blog? A blog can act as three things, as a repository of your daily life, both work and personal, as an archive of ideas that you’d want to realize in the future, and a place where you can teach your trade to people.</p> <h2>Question: Should I Blog?</h2> <p>Being a web designer/developer means working alone most of the time, even if you are on a team. You have your own ideas, own methods, and own preferences of how things should go, and being limited by rules is everyone’s nightmare. Now, where does blogging enter?</p> <p>I have a friend who is a great web developer who works with a team, and frequently he would tell me his ideas of how he could have done their project faster and better, or in many cases how he felt utterly confused trying to read someone else’s code to integrate their modules. I was, to say the least, his “blog” where he shared his thoughts and ideas.</p> <p>I am pretty sure you have similar feelings. You have friends around you that you can speak to anytime about your work, and about the future you want for it. That’s just one or a couple of people, but with blogging you can reach hundreds, even thousands.</p> <p>By nature, web designers and web developers are creators. You create things. But you cannot create when limitations are set. With blogging, there is no limit to where you can go and what you can do. It is a stimulant, which can help you think of more bright ideas that could lead to your big break!</p> <h3>Advantages of Blogging:</h3> <h4><strong>1. You’ll get noticed</strong></h4> <p>Blogging is one of the best ways to establish your online presence. It is not enough that you have a good portfolio, you also need to tell others that you are good at what you do and that you exist!</p> <p>Google your name right now and tell us what the results are. Facebook? Google+? Twitter? Wouldn’t it be cool to have your name point to your own blog? Because if people are serious about commissioning you for opportunities, then they will first do a background check. It is always a plus to have a blog where you can freely talk about your life or the things you know.</p> <h4><strong>2. You get to mentor others</strong></h4> <p>So, you have great skills, that’s a given, but what are you doing about it aside from work? Why not share part of your knowledge to thousands of people out there?</p> <p>As our favorite spider once said, “with great power comes great responsibility” which is not too different with your skills that you have acquired through years of experience. You have a responsibility to help and educate those who are dreaming of becoming the same as you.</p> <p>I am neither a web designer nor a web developer by trade, just a hobbyist, but in my line of work as a writer I can’t help but share useful tips with everyone!</p> <p>The main idea here is if you can alleviate others’ hardships, they’ll remember you and talk about you to other, and besides, blogging won’t take more then an hour of your day. Seriously! You get to exercise your writing skills too, which is very important.</p> <h4><strong>3. You’ll have a personal, yet public, place</strong></h4> <p>Below you will see blogs of established developers and designers where they speak their minds about their daily lives and work life.</p> <p><strong>A blog can act as:</strong></p> <ul> <li>your personal stress reliever</li> <li>a place where you can ask your followers for ideas</li> </ul> <p>If you haven’t started blogging yet, you will find sooner or later that it will be a necessary aspect of your life.</p> <h4><strong>4. Extra source of income</strong></h4> <p>Blogging is actually a good way to help you transition from being a full-time web designer/developer to being a freelancer, or full-time blogger. Websites like 1stwebdesigner  are usually created by web designers and web developers who have that passion inside of them to teach. Instead of designing and developing websites and applications, they have set their goals to teaching, which is a very noble act. Trust me, if 1WD isn’t here along with similar websites, where will you get your new techniques easily?</p> <p>But the point is, you can actually make a living from blogging about your field!</p> <h2>Top Designers and Developers’ Blogs</h2> <p><strong>Ryan Carson, Treehouse CEO and Founder</strong></p> <p><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-71691" height="332" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/ryan-carson.png" title="ryan-carson" width="550" /></p> <p><a href="http://ryancarson.com/about">Ryan Carson</a> is the CEO and Founder of <a href="http://teamtreehouse.com">Treehouse</a>, an online school that teaches people how to code for the web, make iPhone/iPad and Android apps, and how to leverage those to make a business.</p> <p><strong>Matt Mullenweg, WordPress co-founder</strong></p> <p><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-71686" height="455" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/matt-mullenweg.png" title="matt-mullenweg" width="550" /></p> <p><a href="http://ma.tt/about/">Matt Mullenweg</a> regularly blogs about almost anything WordPress related down to comments that have amused him. He left WordPress in 2005 to start Automattic, the company behind the great successes <a href="http://wordpress.com/">WordPress.com</a>, <a href="http://akismet.com/">Akismet</a>, <a href="http://gravatar.com/">Gravatar</a>, <a href="http://vaultpress.com/">VaultPress</a>, <a href="http://intensedebate.com/">IntenseDebate</a>, <a href="http://polldaddy.com/">Polldaddy</a>, and <a href="http://automattic.com/">more</a>.</p> <p><strong>Dan Cederholm, Dribbble co-founder</strong></p> <p><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-71688" height="364" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/dan-in-studio.jpg" title="dan-in-studio" width="550" /></p> <p><a href="http://simplebits.com/about/">Dan Cederholm</a>‘s blog is not updated regularly, but he understands the importance of having a personal blog where he can post about the important stuffs. He’s a designer, author and speaker, and his blog acts as his portfolio.</p> <p><strong>Chris Coyier, founder of CSS-tricks.com, worked at Wuffoo/Survey Monkey</strong></p> <p><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-71685" height="154" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/chris-coyier.png" title="chris-coyier" width="550" /></p> <p><a href="http://chriscoyier.net/blog/">Chris Coyier</a> updates a lot about his work and personal life, which can easily be an inspiration if you want to start your own blog now. He has a huge fan-base, which is important in the online world, especially if you want to be competitive. It’s all about how many people follow you, and how many good connections you have.</p> <p><strong>Patrick McNeil, author and developer, featured on .NET Magazine</strong></p> <p><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-71687" height="390" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/patrick-mcneil.png" title="patrick-mcneil" width="550" /></p> <p><a href="http://pmcneil.com/about-me/">Patrick McNeil</a> is a developer, author, teacher, and speaker. He was featured in .net Magazine. You might know him from his blog Design Meltdown and his book series The Web Designer’s Idea Book.</p> <h2>Will You Start A Blog?</h2> <p>All the established web designers and developers have their own blogs, why shouldn’t you? Don’t wait before you get yourself featured in a magazine, start your own blog now and share your thoughts there. Say, update it at least four times a month or even more. What’s important is that you are then already anchoring your roots in the ground!</p> <p><strong>Already have one? Share it below!</strong></p> <div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/1stwebdesigner?a=t75j-i1zmMI:bgPqHc7FFZ8:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/1stwebdesigner?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/1stwebdesigner?a=t75j-i1zmMI:bgPqHc7FFZ8:7Q72WNTAKBA"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/1stwebdesigner?d=7Q72WNTAKBA" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/1stwebdesigner?a=t75j-i1zmMI:bgPqHc7FFZ8:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/1stwebdesigner?i=t75j-i1zmMI:bgPqHc7FFZ8:F7zBnMyn0Lo" /></a> </div><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/1stwebdesigner/~4/t75j-i1zmMI" width="1" />

<p>Patterns are everywhere around us. In art, patterns are an important medium of expression. Is a pattern worth more than a thousand words? We can leave that discussion for later, but it’s certain that patterns do liven up everything they’re applied to. Patterns can be used for nearly everything from website backgrounds to your phone case, for example. For this roundup we’ve prepared 40 fresh, colorful and jovial patterns from this year that’ll conjure up the mood of summer.<span id="more-71372"></span></p> <h3>1. <a href="http://pixelsdaily.com/resources/photoshop/patterns/25-seamless-pixel-patterns-for-photoshop/">25 Seamless Pixel Patterns for Photoshop</a></h3> <p><a href="http://pixelsdaily.com/resources/photoshop/patterns/25-seamless-pixel-patterns-for-photoshop/"><img alt="Seamless-pixel-free-photoshop-patterns" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/patterns/seamless-pixel-free-photoshop-patterns.jpg" /></a></p> <p>25 incredibly versatile, easy to use patterns that make a brilliant addition to a plain background.</p> <h3>2. <a href="http://graphicclouds.com/morning-coffee-pattern/">Morning Coffee Pattern</a></h3> <p><a href="http://graphicclouds.com/morning-coffee-pattern/"><img alt="Morning-coffee-free-photoshop-patterns" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/patterns/morning-coffee-free-photoshop-patterns.jpg" /></a></p> <p>A retro and coffee-flavored pattern in vector and Photoshop (.pat) format.</p> <h3>3. <a href="http://www.premiumpixels.com/freebies/11-light-subtle-patterns-pat/">11 Light Subtle Patterns</a></h3> <p><a href="http://www.premiumpixels.com/freebies/11-light-subtle-patterns-pat/"><img alt="Light-subtle-free-photoshop-patterns" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/patterns/light-subtle-free-photoshop-patterns.jpg" /></a></p> <p>A super-handy set of subtle patterns – great for giving backgrounds a little edge. The download includes the .pat file along with jpgs for quick and dirty use.</p> <h3>4. <a href="http://designmoo.com/24279/geometric-patterns-png-and-pat/">Geometric Patterns</a></h3> <p><a href="http://designmoo.com/24279/geometric-patterns-png-and-pat/"><img alt="Geometric-free-photoshop-patterns" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/patterns/geometric-free-photoshop-patterns.jpg" /></a></p> <p>A set of Subtle Seamless Geometric Pattern for you to download for free in .PNG and .PAT file format.</p> <h3>5. <a href="http://designmoo.com/22321/jeans-pattern/">Jeans Pattern</a></h3> <p><a href="http://designmoo.com/22321/jeans-pattern/"><img alt="Jeans-free-photoshop-patterns" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/patterns/jeans-free-photoshop-patterns.jpg" /></a></p> <p>Simple, easy to use jeans pattern (.pat).</p> <h3>6. <a href="http://subtlepatterns.com/?p=1293">Dark Wall</a></h3> <p><a href="http://subtlepatterns.com/?p=1293"><img alt="Dark-wall-free-photoshop-patterns" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/patterns/dark-wall-free-photoshop-patterns.jpg" /></a></p> <p>Simple dark wall pattern from SutblePatterns.</p> <h3>7. <a href="http://subtlepatterns.com/?p=1257">Escheresque</a></h3> <p><a href="http://subtlepatterns.com/?p=1257"><img alt="Escheresque-free-photoshop-patterns" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/patterns/escheresque-free-photoshop-patterns.jpg" /></a></p> <p>Cubes as far as your eyes can see. You know, because they tile.</p> <h3>8. <a href="http://pattern8.com/free-repeat-patterns/plaid-pastel">Plaid Pastel</a></h3> <p><a href="http://pattern8.com/free-repeat-patterns/plaid-pastel"><img alt="Plaid-pastel-free-photoshop-patterns" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/patterns/plaid-pastel-free-photoshop-patterns.jpg" /></a></p> <p>Free seamless pattern with a tartan look.</p> <h3>9. <a href="http://www.backgroundlabs.com/detail/link-486.html">Playing Cards Symbols Pattern</a></h3> <p><a href="http://www.backgroundlabs.com/detail/link-486.html"><img alt="Playing-cards-free-photoshop-patterns" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/patterns/playing-cards-free-photoshop-patterns.jpg" /></a></p> <p>Attractive playing card pattern (.gif and .pat).</p> <h3>10. <a href="http://www.backgroundlabs.com/detail/link-478.html">Plaid Pattern</a></h3> <p><a href="http://www.backgroundlabs.com/detail/link-478.html"><img alt="Plaid-floral-free-photoshop-patterns" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/patterns/plaid-floral-free-photoshop-patterns.jpg" /></a></p> <p>Plaid floral pattern in honour of summer. .gif and .pat.</p> <h3>11. <a class="broken_link" href="http://www.pixeden.com/graphic-web-backgrounds/subtle-light-tile-pattern-vol1">Subtle Light Tile Pattern</a></h3> <p><a class="broken_link" href="http://www.pixeden.com/graphic-web-backgrounds/subtle-light-tile-pattern-vol1"><img alt="Subtle-light-free-photoshop-patterns" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/patterns/subtle-light-free-photoshop-patterns.jpg" /></a></p> <p>These subtle light texture patterns are comprised of 4 light tile patterns ideal to create a subtle and original light web background for your next project.</p> <h3>12. <a href="http://pattern8.com/free-repeat-patterns/blue-geo">Blue Geo</a></h3> <p><a href="http://pattern8.com/free-repeat-patterns/blue-geo"><img alt="Blue-geo-free-photoshop-patterns" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/patterns/blue-geo-free-photoshop-patterns.jpg" /></a></p> <p>Free repeat pattern with a blue geometric theme.</p> <h3>13. <a href="http://www.patterncooler.com/editor/?M=2&P=877492E3E4CE_210">Leaf Curls</a></h3> <p><a href="http://www.patterncooler.com/editor/?M=2&P=877492E3E4CE_210"><img alt="Leaf-curls-free-photoshop-patterns" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/patterns/leaf-curls-free-photoshop-patterns.jpg" /></a></p> <p>Seamless leaf curl pattern. You can modify the colors, scaling and design.</p> <h3>14. <a href="http://www.patterncooler.com/editor/?M=2&P=E27A6FFFFFE5862E53_202">Daisy Chain</a></h3> <p><a href="http://www.patterncooler.com/editor/?M=2&P=E27A6FFFFFE5862E53_202"><img alt="Daisy-chain-free-photoshop-patterns" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/patterns/daisy-chain-free-photoshop-patterns.jpg" /></a></p> <p>Seamless flower pattern. You can modify the colors, scaling and design.</p> <h3>15. <a href="http://www.patterncooler.com/editor/?M=2&P=FFFFFF909839FFFFFF000000909839_169">Sine Wave Tartan</a></h3> <p><a href="http://www.patterncooler.com/editor/?M=2&P=FFFFFF909839FFFFFF000000909839_169"><img alt="Wave-tartan-free-photoshop-patterns" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/patterns/wave-tartan-free-photoshop-patterns.jpg" /></a></p> <p>Seamless wave tartan pattern. You can modify the colors, scaling and design.</p> <h3>16. <a href="http://www.webtexture.net/photoshop-resources/patterns/6-seamless-grungy-beige-patterns/">Seamless Grungy Beige Patterns</a></h3> <p><a href="http://www.webtexture.net/photoshop-resources/patterns/6-seamless-grungy-beige-patterns/"><img alt="Grungy-beige-free-photoshop-patterns" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/patterns/grungy-beige-free-photoshop-patterns.jpg" /></a></p> <p>6 seamless grungy beige patterns. It comes with a .pat file that you can easily generate any size pattern you want.</p> <h3>17. <a href="http://www.webtexture.net/photoshop-resources/patterns/8-seamless-grungy-heart-and-flower-textures/">Seamless Grungy Heart And Flower Textures</a></h3> <p><a href="http://www.webtexture.net/photoshop-resources/patterns/8-seamless-grungy-heart-and-flower-textures/"><img alt="Grungy-heart-free-photoshop-patterns" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/patterns/grungy-heart-free-photoshop-patterns.jpg" /></a></p> <p>8 grungy heart and flower textures that come with several colour schemes and are totally repeatable.</p> <h3>18. <a href="http://allvectorart.com/heart-pattern-background-vector/">Heart Pattern</a></h3> <p><a href="http://allvectorart.com/heart-pattern-background-vector/"><img alt="Heart-free-photoshop-patterns" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/patterns/heart-free-photoshop-patterns.jpg" /></a></p> <p>Heart pattern background is available in vector (.eps) and .jpeg format.</p> <h3>19. <a href="http://www.hires-wallpaper.com/background-patterns-and-background-wallpaper-page-4/victorian4321111/">Victorian Wallpaper</a></h3> <p><a href="http://www.hires-wallpaper.com/background-patterns-and-background-wallpaper-page-4/victorian4321111/"><img alt="Victorian-free-photoshop-patterns" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/patterns/victorian-free-photoshop-patterns.jpg" /></a></p> <p>Interesting pattern for various artwork since it’s a low-quality photograph.</p> <h3>20. <a href="http://covermyfb.com/covers/19544/hearts+and+peace">Hearts and Peace</a></h3> <p><a href="http://covermyfb.com/covers/19544/hearts+and+peace"><img alt="Hearts-peace-free-photoshop-patterns" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/patterns/hearts-peace-free-photoshop-patterns.jpg" /></a></p> <p>Abstract and striking. Perfect for madly creative ideas.</p> <h3>21. <a href="http://covermyfb.com/covers/17672/swirls">Swirls</a></h3> <p><a href="http://covermyfb.com/covers/17672/swirls"><img alt="Swirls-free-photoshop-patterns" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/patterns/swirls-free-photoshop-patterns.jpg" /></a></p> <p>This is intentionally created for Facebook covers but there’s no limits in using such a great pattern.</p> <h3>22. <a href="http://covermyfb.com/covers/17096/diamonds">Diamonds</a></h3> <p><a href="http://covermyfb.com/covers/17096/diamonds"><img alt="Diamonds-free-photoshop-patterns" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/patterns/diamonds-free-photoshop-patterns.jpg" /></a></p> <p>Diamonds. Pure diamonds.</p> <h3>23. <a href="http://covermyfb.com/covers/12688/rose+pattern">Rose Pattern</a></h3> <p><a href="http://covermyfb.com/covers/12688/rose+pattern"><img alt="Rose-free-photoshop-patterns" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/patterns/rose-free-photoshop-patterns.jpg" /></a></p> <h3>24. <a href="http://www.firstcovers.com/covers/530/pattern.html">Pattern</a></h3> <p><a href="http://www.firstcovers.com/covers/530/pattern.html"><img alt="Ornament-free-photoshop-patterns" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/patterns/ornament-free-photoshop-patterns.jpg" /></a></p> <h3>25. <a href="http://99covers.com/black-and-white-floral-facebook-covers/2546/">Black and White Floral</a></h3> <p><a href="http://99covers.com/black-and-white-floral-facebook-covers/2546/"><img alt="Bw-floral-free-photoshop-patterns" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/patterns/bw-floral-free-photoshop-patterns.jpg" /></a></p> <h3>26. <a href="http://99covers.com/plus-circle-light-green-facebook-covers/2585/">Light Green</a></h3> <p><a href="http://99covers.com/plus-circle-light-green-facebook-covers/2585/"><img alt="Light-green-free-photoshop-patterns" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/patterns/light-green-free-photoshop-patterns.jpg" /></a></p> <h3>27. <a href="http://www.colourlovers.com/pattern/2531046/%E2%9D%A4Hibiscus_Stripe">Hibiscus Stripe</a></h3> <p><a href="http://www.colourlovers.com/pattern/2531046/%E2%9D%A4Hibiscus_Stripe"><img alt="Hibiscus-stripe-free-photoshop-patterns" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/patterns/hibiscus-stripe-free-photoshop-patterns.jpg" /></a></p> <h3>28. <a href="http://www.colourlovers.com/pattern/2388654/x">X</a></h3> <p><a href="http://www.colourlovers.com/pattern/2388654/x"><img alt="X-free-photoshop-patterns" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/patterns/x-free-photoshop-patterns.jpg" /></a></p> <h3>29. <a href="http://www.colourlovers.com/pattern/2434012/L_o_v_e_S_o_n_g_*">Lovesong</a></h3> <p><a href="http://www.colourlovers.com/pattern/2434012/L_o_v_e_S_o_n_g_*"><img alt="Lovesong-free-photoshop-patterns" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/patterns/lovesong-free-photoshop-patterns.jpg" /></a></p> <h3>30. <a href="http://www.colourlovers.com/pattern/2490358/Warm_Day">Warm Day</a></h3> <p><a href="http://www.colourlovers.com/pattern/2490358/Warm_Day"><img alt="Warm-day-free-photoshop-patterns" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/patterns/warm-day-free-photoshop-patterns.jpg" /></a></p> <h3>31. <a href="http://www.colourlovers.com/pattern/2384692/%E2%99%A5">?</a></h3> <p><a href="http://www.colourlovers.com/pattern/2384692/%E2%99%A5"><img alt="Heart-doodle-free-photoshop-patterns" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/patterns/heart-doodle-free-photoshop-patterns.jpg" /></a></p> <h3>32. <a href="http://www.colourlovers.com/pattern/2516302/For_xxLynxx">For xxLynxx</a></h3> <p><a href="http://www.colourlovers.com/pattern/2516302/For_xxLynxx"><img alt="Xxlynxx-free-photoshop-patterns" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/patterns/xxlynxx-free-photoshop-patterns.jpg" /></a></p> <h3>33. <a href="http://www.colourlovers.com/pattern/2578377/lonely_as_a_cloud">lonely as a cloud</a></h3> <p><a href="http://www.colourlovers.com/pattern/2578377/lonely_as_a_cloud"><img alt="Lonely-cloud-free-photoshop-patterns" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/patterns/lonely-cloud-free-photoshop-patterns.jpg" /></a></p> <h3>34. <a href="http://www.colourlovers.com/pattern/2182392/jacked_up_rainbow">jacked up rainbow</a></h3> <p><a href="http://www.colourlovers.com/pattern/2182392/jacked_up_rainbow"><img alt="Rainbow-free-photoshop-patterns" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/patterns/rainbow-free-photoshop-patterns.jpg" /></a></p> <h3>35. <a href="http://123freevectors.com/free-damask-seamless-pattern/">Damask seamless pattern</a></h3> <p><a href="http://123freevectors.com/free-damask-seamless-pattern/"><img alt="Damask-seamless-free-photoshop-patterns" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/patterns/damask-seamless-free-photoshop-patterns.jpg" /></a></p> <p>Vector damask seamless pattern (.eps).</p> <h3>36. <a href="http://123freevectors.com/blume-pattern-free-vector/">Flower pattern</a></h3> <p><a href="http://123freevectors.com/blume-pattern-free-vector/"><img alt="Flower-free-photoshop-patterns" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/patterns/flower-free-photoshop-patterns.jpg" /></a></p> <h3>37. <a href="http://patterns.ava7.com/pattern-1699.php">1699</a></h3> <p><a href="http://patterns.ava7.com/pattern-1699.php"><img alt="1699-free-photoshop-patterns" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/patterns/1699-free-photoshop-patterns.jpg" /></a></p> <h3>38. <a href="http://illustratorcs6.com/pattern-pack-flowers/">Flower patterns</a></h3> <p><a href="http://illustratorcs6.com/pattern-pack-flowers/"><img alt="Flower-pack-free-photoshop-patterns" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/patterns/flower-pack-free-photoshop-patterns.jpg" /></a></p> <p>Pack of 14 flower Photoshop patterns looks like tapesery.</p> <h3>39. <a href="http://www.colourlovers.com/pattern/2531288/SockHop">SockHop</a></h3> <p><a href="http://www.colourlovers.com/pattern/2531288/SockHop"><img alt="Sockhop-free-photoshop-patterns" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/patterns/sockhop-free-photoshop-patterns.jpg" /></a></p> <h3>40. <a href="http://www.colourlovers.com/pattern/2513049/S_u_t_r_a_*_0_1">Sutra</a></h3> <p><a href="http://www.colourlovers.com/pattern/2513049/S_u_t_r_a_*_0_1"><img alt="Sutra-free-photoshop-patterns" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/patterns/sutra-free-photoshop-patterns.jpg" /></a></p> <h3>Want more?</h3> <h3><a href="http://www.colourlovers.com/">Colourlovers</a></h3> <p><a href="http://www.colourlovers.com/"><img alt="Colourlovers-free-photoshop-patterns" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/patterns/colourlovers-free-photoshop-patterns.jpg" /></a></p> <p>You’ll find over 2 million user-created seamless patterns to use in your creative projects here. Absolutely best resource for free patterns.</p> <h3><a href="http://printpattern.blogspot.com/">print & pattern</a></h3> <p><a href="http://printpattern.blogspot.com/"><img alt="Print-free-photoshop-patterns" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/patterns/print-free-photoshop-patterns.jpg" /></a></p> <p>This is a website that celebrates the world of surface pattern design. A lot of artwork is showcased here.</p> <h3><a href="http://www.patternpeople.com/">PatternPeople</a></h3> <p><a href="http://www.patternpeople.com/"><img alt="People-free-photoshop-patterns" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/patterns/people-free-photoshop-patterns.jpg" /></a></p> <p>Pattern People is a surface design studio founded by designers Claudia Brown and Jessie Whipple Vickery who came together with a mutual appreciation of patterns and a shared vision. Collectively they bring their illustrations to all types of surfaces from fashion to interiors. They have a regulary updated blog which offers a lot of inspiration.</p> <p>What do you think of these patterns and designs? Got any that we missed? Share with us in comments!</p> <div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/1stwebdesigner?a=IF_OQgFde-g:pE2CWlH0Qy0:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/1stwebdesigner?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/1stwebdesigner?a=IF_OQgFde-g:pE2CWlH0Qy0:7Q72WNTAKBA"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/1stwebdesigner?d=7Q72WNTAKBA" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/1stwebdesigner?a=IF_OQgFde-g:pE2CWlH0Qy0:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/1stwebdesigner?i=IF_OQgFde-g:pE2CWlH0Qy0:F7zBnMyn0Lo" /></a> </div><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/1stwebdesigner/~4/IF_OQgFde-g" width="1" />

<p>With so many apps being released in such a short period of time, designers need to really create apps that stand out. In this roundup we’re sharing 40 beautifuld mobile app designs with excellent UI experience in mind. Also at the end of the post you’ll find some more resources to follow top mobile app design trends.</p> <p>Mobile apps are even changing the way we design anything nowadays! Everybody is pushing to higher resolution with new retina displays (ipad3) and I believe whole web will get super beautiful and sleek soon enough!</p> <p><span id="more-71469"></span></p> <p>But before it happens we can inspire from these high quality inspirational mobile app designs! It doesn’t matter for which platform you create design, you can transfer experience from mobile to web, from web to tablets!  As you can see even print and web is not so different now! Big typography, textures, images are used everywhere!</p> <p>Only one big difference in my opinion is touch screens - for mobile and tablets you need to put big attention in UX, usability. Make sure buttons are easy to click, you effectively use touch controls to swipe, expand, minimize with your fingers.</p> <p>If you are designing mobile apps yourself I would strongly encourage to download a lot of these apps on your mobile, tablet and play with them! Even if you are just designer not developer you need to plan whole experience with your design! Ok, now off to the inspirational part - enjoy this roundup we put together for you!</p> <p>Which is your favorite mobile app by design and usability? Leave your feedback in comments!</p> <h3>1. <a href="http://www.codegoo.com/">Camera Genius</a></h3> <p><img alt="Camera-genius-mobile-app-designs" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/mobile-apps/camera-genius-mobile-app-designs.jpg" /></p> <p>Camera Genius is a camera application that significantly increases standard functionality. It has separate focus and exposure areas, picture editing tools and effects, social network sharing features and more. Great idea to blend SLR with phone and the UI design is nice and clean.</p> <h3>2. <a href="http://deteristid.nu/">Istid</a></h3> <p><img alt="Istid-mobile-app-designs" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/mobile-apps/istid-mobile-app-designs.jpg" /></p> <p>Overview of the shops selling good quality ice cream. The usability and typography are great.</p> <h3>3. <a href="http://www.getjauntly.com/">Jauntly</a></h3> <p><img alt="Jauntly-mobile-app-designs" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/mobile-apps/jauntly-mobile-app-designs.jpg" /></p> <p>Mobile website of Jauntly - a simple goal setting web application. Simple design with a beautiful color scheme.</p> <h3>4. <a href="http://www.meer.li/designs/chownow-tip">ChowNow Tip</a></h3> <p><img alt="Chownow-mobile-app-designs" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/mobile-apps/chownow-mobile-app-designs.jpg" /></p> <p>Tip screen for the forthcoming <a href="http://www.chownow.com/">ChowNow</a> mobile ordering platform. Crisp design with a gentle touch of texture.</p> <h3>5. <a href="http://blog.wkstudio.com/">Wieden + Kennedy BlackBook</a></h3> <p><img alt="Blackbook-mobile-app-designs" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/mobile-apps/blackbook-mobile-app-designs.jpg" /></p> <p>Browse employees alphabetically. Awesome contact list.</p> <h3>6. <a href="http://www.meer.li/designs/nike-fuel-plus-app-concept">Nike Fuel+ App Concept</a></h3> <p><img alt="Nike-fuel-mobile-app-designs" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/mobile-apps/nike-fuel-mobile-app-designs.jpg" /></p> <p>A new concept for Nike Fuel+ app. Fine contrast and vibrant colors.</p> <h3>7. <a href="http://www.behance.net/gallery/Moodswings-iPhone/3627631">Moodswings</a></h3> <p><img alt="Moodswings-mobile-app-designs" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/mobile-apps/moodswings-mobile-app-designs.jpg" /></p> <p>Moodswings helps you add and track your daily mood through time and location. Check how people in your neighborhood are feeling and understand the reasons behind your mood swings. Good concept brought to life with a beautiful design.</p> <h3>8. <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/memocards/id515767040">MemoCards</a></h3> <p><img alt="Memocards-mobile-app-designs" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/mobile-apps/memocards-mobile-app-designs.jpg" /></p> <p>MemoCards is the ultimate flashcard app for language learners. Excellent design that combines both usability and creativity.</p> <h3>9. <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/de/app/einkaufsliste-px/id516515371">Grocery List</a></h3> <p><img alt="Grocery-list-mobile-app-designs" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/mobile-apps/grocery-list-mobile-app-designs.jpg" /></p> <p>Make shopping easier with ordered lists.</p> <h3>10. <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/quote-roller/id477972467">Quote Roller</a></h3> <p><img alt="Quoteroller-mobile-app-designs" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/mobile-apps/quoteroller-mobile-app-designs.jpg" /></p> <p>Quote Roller for iPhone lets you access your QuoteRoller account from wherever you are. Lucid and neat web app’s transfer to mobile.</p> <h3>11. <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/aircassette/id445325105">AirCasette</a></h3> <p><img alt="Aircasette-mobile-app-designs" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/mobile-apps/aircasette-mobile-app-designs.jpg" /></p> <p>AirCassette is a unique cassette player application for iPhone and iPod Touch. Creative design but the functionality lacks a bit.</p> <h3>12. <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/meernotes/id447450957">Meernotes</a></h3> <p><img alt="Meernotes-mobile-app-designs" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/mobile-apps/meernotes-mobile-app-designs.jpg" /></p> <p>Another to-do list app yet this one really feels like a notebook in your pocket.</p> <h3>13. <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/mingle!/id443064933">Mingle</a></h3> <p><img alt="Mingle-mobile-app-designs" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/mobile-apps/mingle-mobile-app-designs.jpg" /></p> <p>Mingle is the new, fun way for professionals to network anywhere they are. Modern and glossy interface which might not go with the app’s goals.</p> <h3>14. <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/id426472181">Sudoku</a></h3> <p><img alt="Sudoku-mobile-app-designs" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/mobile-apps/sudoku-mobile-app-designs.jpg" /></p> <p>The best sudoko app for iPhone. Tough game but at least you have a beautiful interface.</p> <h3>15. <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/app/i-do-lists/id431752820">I Do Lists</a></h3> <p><img alt="Lists-mobile-app-designs" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/mobile-apps/lists-mobile-app-designs.jpg" /></p> <p>I Do Lists is a list creating app. But it’s for lists of things that “I do” rather than things “to do”. It combines good graphic design with ease of use.</p> <h3>16. <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/racesplitter/id414675226">RaceSplitter</a></h3> <p><img alt="Racesplitter-mobile-app-designs" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/mobile-apps/racesplitter-mobile-app-designs.jpg" /></p> <p>RaceSplitter is an easy-to-use, yet powerful race timer, that allows you to time a race or training session, and get splits and relative standings while out on the course. Clean interface and great functionality.</p> <h3>17. <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/billings-touch/id343938310">Billings Touch</a></h3> <p><img alt="Billings-mobile-app-designs" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/mobile-apps/billings-mobile-app-designs.jpg" /></p> <p>Billings Touch is a part of a unique time tracking and invoicing solution called Billings Pro. Clean and crisp design makes it easy to keep an eye on your money and projects.</p> <h3>18. <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/ogorod-stuff/id515907498">Ogorod Stuff</a></h3> <p><img alt="Ogorod-mobile-app-designs" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/mobile-apps/ogorod-mobile-app-designs.jpg" /></p> <p>Ogorod Stuff is a great way to share pictures of your clothes, gadgets, vehicles and all the other stuff that you use everyday. I don’t see the point of this app but you got to admit that the design is neat and refined.</p> <h3>19. <a href="http://www.meer.li/designs/tv-app-2">TV App</a></h3> <p><img alt="Tv-mobile-app-designs" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/mobile-apps/tv-mobile-app-designs.jpg" /></p> <p>TV Show tracker app idea with glazed and pixel-perfect interface.</p> <h3>20. <a href="http://www.wooobee.com/">WoooBee</a></h3> <p><img alt="Wooobee-mobile-app-designs" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/mobile-apps/wooobee-mobile-app-designs.jpg" /></p> <p>WoooBee is a location based service, where you can share the hottest spots in town with your friends and receive discounts. Beautiful color scheme with pixel-perfect elements, yet it looks like the functionality of the app won’t be that great.</p> <h3>21. <a href="http://www.meer.li/designs/probki-dot-tv">Probki.tv</a></h3> <p><img alt="Probki-mobile-app-designs" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/mobile-apps/probki-mobile-app-designs.jpg" /></p> <p>Blogging app for those who are unlucky enough to spend their lives in traffic jams. Clean interface with a touch of retro.</p> <h3>22. <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/se/app/arla-kokets-kokbok/id293130272">Arla Köket</a></h3> <p><img alt="Arlakoket-mobile-app-designs" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/mobile-apps/arlakoket-mobile-app-designs.jpg" /></p> <p>A cooking app with trendy design and great color accents.</p> <h3>23. <a href="http://avatron.com/apps/air-dictate">Air Dictate</a></h3> <p><img alt="Airdictate-mobile-app-designs" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/mobile-apps/airdictate-mobile-app-designs.jpg" /></p> <p>An iPhone app that uses Siri’s speech to text to dictate text to your Mac. Luxurious look with a nice touch of texture.</p> <h3>24. <a href="http://www.meer.li/designs/iphone-restaurant-app">iPhone Restaurant App</a></h3> <p><img alt="Restaurant-mobile-app-designs" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/mobile-apps/restaurant-mobile-app-designs.jpg" /></p> <p>A restaurant app concept with a warm and cozy look.</p> <h3>25. <a href="http://www.jetlagapp.com/">Jet Lag</a></h3> <p><img alt="Jetlag-mobile-app-designs" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/mobile-apps/jetlag-mobile-app-designs.jpg" /></p> <p>Suffering from jet lag? Flying between timezones may cause your biological clock to run amok making you feel tired and disoriented. Jetlag App helps combat these feelings so you can enjoy your trip and be alert all day long. Minimal design with a nice color scheme.</p> <h3>26. <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/it/app/italian-challenge-voi-la-sfida!/id453708847">Italian Challenge</a></h3> <p><img alt="Italian-mobile-app-designs" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/mobile-apps/italian-mobile-app-designs.jpg" /></p> <p>Deepen your knowledge of Italy by answering more than 1000 questions that this app offers. Attractive design with cool illustrations.</p> <h3>27. <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/un-news-reader/id496893005">UN News App</a></h3> <p><img alt="News-mobile-app-designs" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/mobile-apps/news-mobile-app-designs.jpg" /></p> <p>The UN News Reader is a free mobile news application for quick and easy access to all stories from the UN News Centre. Perfectly aligned elements and plain design.</p> <h3>28. <a href="http://redpepperland.com/">redpepper</a></h3> <p><img alt="Redpepper-mobile-app-designs" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/mobile-apps/redpepper-mobile-app-designs.jpg" /></p> <p>Mobile website of an advertising <a href="http://redpepperland.com/">agency</a>. Bold and engaging design, a great transfer from web version.</p> <h3>29. <a href="http://www.bosquetapp.com/">Bosquet</a></h3> <p><img alt="Bosquet-mobile-app-designs" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/mobile-apps/bosquet-mobile-app-designs.jpg" /></p> <p>Your new favorite <a href="http://forrst.com/">Forrst</a> app? The appealing design might help make it.</p> <h3>30. <a href="http://dribbble.com/shots/397841-My-Seeen-Screen-2">My Seeen</a></h3> <p><img alt="Seeen-mobile-app-designs" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/mobile-apps/seeen-mobile-app-designs.jpg" /></p> <p>A movie app concept with clean, pixel-perfect, detailed design.</p> <h3>31. <a href="http://wallet.tmn.pt/">tmn wallet</a></h3> <p><img alt="Wallet-mobile-app-designs" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/mobile-apps/wallet-mobile-app-designs.jpg" /></p> <p>With this service customers can purchase products in vending machines, catering spaces and custom food delivery services using just their mobile phones. Clear and bold.</p> <h3>32. <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/mountain-high/id490451490">Mountain High</a></h3> <p><img alt="Mountain-mobile-app-designs" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/mobile-apps/mountain-mobile-app-designs.jpg" /></p> <p>The official Mountain High app for your next ski and snowboard experience. Bright and rich interface with bold accents.</p> <h3>33. <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/readability/id460156587">Readability</a></h3> <p><img alt="Readability-mobile-app-designs" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/mobile-apps/readability-mobile-app-designs.jpg" /></p> <p>Readability turns any web page into a clean view for reading now or later on your computer, iPhone or iPad. It’s all about simplicity and the reading experience.</p> <h3>34. <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/red-stamp/id414561551">Red Stamp</a></h3> <p><img alt="Redstamp-mobile-app-designs" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/mobile-apps/redstamp-mobile-app-designs.jpg" /></p> <p>Email, text, tweet, facebook, and paper mail personalized photo cards, notes, invitations + announcements right from your iPhone, iPad<br /> or iPod Touch. The app itself is very simple but those photo card designs are awesome.</p> <h3>35. <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/snapguide/id421477397">Snapguide</a></h3> <p><img alt="Snapguide-mobile-app-designs" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/mobile-apps/snapguide-mobile-app-designs.jpg" /></p> <p>Snapguide is a simple, beautiful way to share and view step-by-step how to guides. The good looking design and usability makes creating a guide fun.</p> <h3>36. <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/app/crouwelclock/id432110530">crouwelclock</a></h3> <p><img alt="Crouwelclock-mobile-app-designs" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/mobile-apps/crouwelclock-mobile-app-designs.jpg" /></p> <p>Clock made from kick-ass typography.</p> <h3>37. <a href="http://mysterioustrousers.com/calvetica">Calvetica</a></h3> <p><img alt="Calvetica-mobile-app-designs" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/mobile-apps/calvetica-mobile-app-designs.jpg" /></p> <p>A super simple calendar app using helvetica typography that looks worlds better than inbuilt.</p> <h3>38. <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/app/robick/id417016186">robick</a></h3> <p><img alt="Robick-mobile-app-designs" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/mobile-apps/robick-mobile-app-designs.jpg" /></p> <p>Robick is an audio player for listening to music deeply. change and visualize the way you listen to music.</p> <h3>39. <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/eboy-fixpix/id371977953">eBoy FixPix</a></h3> <p><img alt="Fixpix-mobile-app-designs" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/mobile-apps/fixpix-mobile-app-designs.jpg" /></p> <p>Tilt your iPhone to explore eBoy’s mind-boggling art and find the right angle to solve the puzzle. Graphics by the <a href="http://hello.eboy.com/eboy/">Eboy</a> artists.</p> <h3>40. <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/sktch/id369434236">SKTCH</a></h3> <p><img alt="Sktch-mobile-app-designs" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/mobile-apps/sktch-mobile-app-designs.jpg" /></p> <p>SKTCH is a generative drawing application for the iPhone and iPod Touch. Instead of adopting traditional “brush” based drawing, SKTCH is about presets, created by a number of digital artists around the globe. In this app you’re the designer.</p> <h2>Want more?</h2> <h3><a href="http://mobile-patterns.com/">Mobile UI Patterns</a></h3> <p><img alt="Ui-patterns-mobile-app-designs" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/mobile-apps/ui-patterns-mobile-app-designs.jpg" /></p> <p>Website showcasing various mobile UI design elements.</p> <h3><a href="http://app.itize.us/">app.itize.us</a></h3> <p><img alt="Appitize-mobile-app-designs" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/mobile-apps/appitize-mobile-app-designs.jpg" /></p> <p>app.itize.us is a painstakingly curated presentation of the best produced and designed iPhone and iPad applications available for download via the App Store.</p> <h3><a href="http://theymakeapps.com/">They Make Apps</a></h3> <p><img alt="Theymakeapps-mobile-app-designs" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/mobile-apps/theymakeapps-mobile-app-designs.jpg" /></p> <p>Home of the finest mobile app makers.</p> <h3><a href="http://www.meer.li/">Meer.li</a></h3> <p><img alt="Meerli-mobile-app-designs" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/mobile-apps/meerli-mobile-app-designs.jpg" /></p> <p>Meer.li is a place where exceptional mobile designers connect, show off their designs and promote themselves.</p> <p>Aware of some more awesome mobile apps? Share with us in the comments!</p> <div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/1stwebdesigner?a=Y7NsfUszzYQ:GNYQhNdh0C0:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/1stwebdesigner?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/1stwebdesigner?a=Y7NsfUszzYQ:GNYQhNdh0C0:7Q72WNTAKBA"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/1stwebdesigner?d=7Q72WNTAKBA" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/1stwebdesigner?a=Y7NsfUszzYQ:GNYQhNdh0C0:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/1stwebdesigner?i=Y7NsfUszzYQ:GNYQhNdh0C0:F7zBnMyn0Lo" /></a> </div><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/1stwebdesigner/~4/Y7NsfUszzYQ" width="1" />

<p>Pagination is a technique used to break large data sets into small blocks in order to reduce the server load. We used to create pagination buttons with page numbers and next/previous links. Now pagination has gained a new perspective with infinite scrolling.</p> <p><span id="more-71187"></span></p> <p>Are you new to infinite scrolling? Then take a quick look at the demo before we start.</p> <div class="note"> <p><strong><a href="http://www.innovativephp.com/demo/infinitescroll/" target="_blank">Demo</a> | </strong><a href="http://dl.dropbox.com/u/35995890/infinite-scrolling.zip">Download</a></p> </div> <h2>What is Infinite Scrolling</h2> <p>Infinite scrolling is where you can keep scrolling and data will keep coming until all the data is displayed. In this technique, the first set of data will be displayed initially. Once you scroll to the end of the window the next page of data will be generated and so on. No pagination buttons are required and you get the data on demand. Let’s see how we can create infinite scrolling.</p> <h2>What are we going to do?</h2> <p>We are going to create an infinite scrolling page with images, similar to Pinterest. These are the requirements needed before we start coding.</p> <p><img alt="Infinite Scrolling Page" height="229" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Infinite-Scrolling-Page.png" title="Infinite Scrolling Page" width="570" /></p> <ul> <li>Initial data set should be loaded on page load.</li> <li>Once the scrollbar reaches the end of the window the next page of data should be displayed.</li> <li>When we are close to the end of a page, message should be displayed mentioning “Loading More Content”.</li> <li>Once all the data is generated, message should be displayed as “No More Content”.</li> </ul> <h2>Generating the Initial Data Set</h2> <p>When the page is loaded we have to get the data from the database and display the initial result. I have stored the names of the images in a database table. I have simplified the code using basic syntax so that beginners can go through the tutorial without any problems.</p> <pre class="brush: php; title: ; notranslate"> <!--?php $con = mysql_connect("localhost", "username", "password"); mysql_select_db("database_name"); $result = mysql_query("select SQL_CALC_FOUND_ROWS * from scroll_images order by id asc limit 12"); $row_object = mysql_query("Select Found_Rows() as rowcount"); $row_object = mysql_fetch_object($row_object); $actual_row_count = $row_object--->rowcount; ?> </pre> <p>The result will be broken into pages of 12 images. So the above code generates the first 12 results from the database table. Also keep in mind that $actual_row_count variable will hold the total number of images available in the table.</p> <p>So lets move onto creating the initial version of our HTML document.</p> <pre class="brush: xml; title: ; notranslate"> Infinite Scroll <script type="text/javascript" src="jquery-1.7.2.js"></script></pre> <div id="more">Loading More Content</div> <pre> </pre> <div id="no-more">No More Content</div> <pre> </pre> <div id="result"></div> <pre> "; } ?> </pre> <p>I have included jQuery and some sample CSS code to style our page at the top. In the body section you can see 2 div elements called more and no-more. These are used to show the status when we keep scrolling and position of these divs are made fixed. Next we are going to display the images inside the PHP code using the results we generated earlier. So the initial data set is displayed now and we have to create the scrolling part. </p> <h2>Paginating Data Using Scrolling</h2> <p>Let’s add the jQuery scrolling event to our page. jQuery provides a built-in function called scroll as shown in the code below.</p> <pre class="brush: jscript; title: ; notranslate"> $(window).scroll(function () { }); </pre> <p>Whenever you scroll to the top or bottom, the code inside this function will be executed. <strong>Identify end of the Page</strong> We are loading the next set of data, once the scroll reaches the end of the page. So first we have to identify the end of the page. Now I’ll show you a simple technique for that. <img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-71765" height="297" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/is.jpg" title="is" width="570" /></p> <pre class="brush: jscript; title: ; notranslate"> if($(window).scrollTop() + $(window).height() == $(document).height()) { } </pre> <p>jQuery scrollTop function will return the area hidden on the top of your page. $(window).height() gives the height of the browser viewport. So addition of both values will be equal to the page height, when scroll reaches the bottom. Pretty simple isn’t it? Now we got the basics covered and we can move onto the full script code as shown below.</p> <pre class="brush: jscript; title: ; notranslate"> <script type="text/javascript">// <![CDATA[ var page = 1; $(window).scroll(function () { $('#more').hide(); $('#no-more').hide(); if($(window).scrollTop() + $(window).height() > $(document).height() - 200) { $('#more').css("top","400"); $('#more').show(); } if($(window).scrollTop() + $(window).height() == $(document).height()) { $('#more').hide(); $('#no-more').hide(); page++; var data = { page_num: page }; var actual_count = "<?php echo $actual_row_count; ?>"; if((page-1)* 12 > actual_count){ $('#no-more').css("top","400"); $('#no-more').show(); }else{ } } }); // ]]></script> </pre> <p><strong>Code Explanation</strong></p> <ul> <li>First we define the variable to hold the current page number. Initially it will be 1.</li> <li>Message boxes are made hidden at the beginning of scroll.</li> <li>Next you can see the if statement which I didn’t explain earlier. We have to show the message “Loading More Content” just before the scroll reaches end. I have defined it to be displayed 200px before the end of document.</li> <li>Then inside the if statement used to identify bottom of page, page number is increased by one and the total data count is stored.</li> <li>Then simple calculation is done to check whether total results are displayed. If so we show the message “No More Content”.</li> <li>Now it’s time to generate the next page, which I will be explaining in the next section.</li> </ul> <p><strong>Requesting Data for Next Page</strong></p> <p>We have to use an Ajax call to request the next page from server as shown below. This code should be inside the else part we left empty in the earlier code.</p> <pre class="brush: jscript; title: ; notranslate"> $.ajax({ type: "POST", url: "data.php", data:data, success: function(res) { $("#result").append(res); } }); </pre> <p><strong>Creating Page for Data Generation</strong></p> <p>We need a separate PHP file to request the Ajax request data. I have created a file called data.php to generate results as shown below.</p> <pre class="brush: php; title: ; notranslate"> <!--?php <br ?-->$requested_page = $_POST['page_num']; $set_limit = (($requested_page - 1) * 12) . ",12"; $con = mysql_connect("localhost", "username", "password"); mysql_select_db("database_name"); $result = mysql_query("select * from scroll_images order by id asc limit $set_limit"); $html = ''; while ($row = mysql_fetch_array($result)) { $html .= "</pre> <div><img src="images/&quot; . $row[" alt="" name="" /></div> <pre> "; } echo $html; exit; ?> </pre> <p>We are done with creating the infinite scrolling pagination. Let’s have a look at how it is used in popular websites.</p> <h2>Inspirational uses of Infinite Scrolling</h2> <p><strong>1. Google Reader</strong></p> <p>Google Reader uses this technique to generate feed items. You can see a 3 colored circles at the end of the page while more data is loaded.</p> <p><img alt="Google Reader Infinite Scrolling" class="aligncenter" height="226" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Screenshot-65.png" title="Google Reader Infinite Scrolling" width="570" /><br /> <strong>2. Facebook Wall</strong></p> <p>Facebook uses infinite scrolling to display the posts in the wall.</p> <p><img alt="Facebook Wall Infinite Scrolling" class="aligncenter" height="281" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Screenshot-70.png" title="Facebook Wall Infinite Scrolling" width="570" /></p> <p><strong>3. Pinterest</strong></p> <p>Pins are generated on demand as you keep scrolling.</p> <p><img alt="Pinterest Infinite Scrolling" class="aligncenter" height="260" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Screenshot-69.png" title="Pinterest Infinite Scrolling" width="570" /></p> <p><strong>4. Twitter</strong></p> <p>Twitter tweet stream is generated using the infinite scrolling technique.</p> <p><img alt="Twitter Infinite Scrolling" class="aligncenter" height="372" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Screenshot-72.png" title="Twitter Infinite Scrolling" width="570" /></p> <p>We have learned how to create an infinite scrolling page and various kind of practical uses of this techniques using most popular sites in the world. Now it’s your chance to make a move and create something new with infinite scrolling.</p> <p>How are you going to use this technique? Feel free to share your comments.</p> <div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/1stwebdesigner?a=fhOXSTD8zHc:TujTCX2zHr4:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/1stwebdesigner?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/1stwebdesigner?a=fhOXSTD8zHc:TujTCX2zHr4:7Q72WNTAKBA"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/1stwebdesigner?d=7Q72WNTAKBA" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/1stwebdesigner?a=fhOXSTD8zHc:TujTCX2zHr4:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/1stwebdesigner?i=fhOXSTD8zHc:TujTCX2zHr4:F7zBnMyn0Lo" /></a> </div><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/1stwebdesigner/~4/fhOXSTD8zHc" width="1" />

<p>Trends come and go, minimalism stays. Icons bring designs and interfaces alive, they engage people and help them interact. Minimal, glyph-type icons are still the most used ones around. Simplicity of them is also their advantage. In this roundup we have prepared 26 clean and minimal icon designs to brighten up your designs. All of the sets are fresh (except for one, couple of weeks till 2012, sorry), there are also some premium (really stunning) sets included. Be sure to check licenses before using any of them.</p> <p><span id="more-71377"></span></p> <h3>1. <a href="http://goo.gl/cIoHI">Premium Pixels Icon Set</a></h3> <p><img alt="Pixel-free-minimal-clean-icons" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/minimal-icons/pixel-free-minimal-clean-icons.jpg" /></p> <p>The icon set contains 58 pixel-perfect icons which you are free to use in personal and commercial projects. The download includes the PSD, the CSH file for the shapes, and PNGs.</p> <h3>2. <a href="http://www.premiumpixels.com/freebies/pixicus-icon-set-106-pixel-perfect-icons/">Pixicus Icon Set</a></h3> <p><img alt="Pixicus-free-minimal-clean-icons" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/minimal-icons/pixicus-free-minimal-clean-icons.jpg" /></p> <p>A set of 106 pixel perfect icons by Fabio Basile <a href="https://twitter.com/#%21/fffabs">(@fffabs)</a>.</p> <h3>3. <a class="broken_link" href="http://www.pixeden.com/media-icons/soft-media-icons-set-vol-2">Soft Media Icons Set Vol 2</a></h3> <p><img alt="Soft-media-free-minimal-clean-icons" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/minimal-icons/soft-media-free-minimal-clean-icons.jpg" /></p> <p>A set of 32 icons in 32x32px with subtle and useful icons including e-commerce icons such as shopping basket, price tag, delivery box and more.</p> <h3>4. <a href="http://glyphicons.com/">Glyphicons</a></h3> <p><img alt="Glyphicons-free-minimal-clean-icons" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/minimal-icons/glyphicons-free-minimal-clean-icons.jpg" /></p> <p>GLYPHICONS is a library of precisely prepared monochromatic icons and symbols, created with an emphasis on simplicity and easy orientation. You get 400 small PNGs for free.</p> <h3>5. <a href="http://www.designdeck.co.uk/a/1276">Clean Icon Set</a></h3> <p><img alt="Set-free-minimal-clean-icons" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/minimal-icons/set-free-minimal-clean-icons.jpg" /></p> <p>A set of 20 clean action icons at 32px x 32px in size and in PNG format, the original PSD is also included. Free for personal and commercial use.</p> <h3>6. <a href="http://salleedesign.com/resources/mimi-glyphs/">MimiGlyphs</a></h3> <p><img alt="Mimiglyphs-free-minimal-clean-icons" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/minimal-icons/mimiglyphs-free-minimal-clean-icons.jpg" /></p> <p>Hand crafted, infinitely scalable icons for user interface designers. 80 icons, 16 by 16px. Photoshop file, CSH file & PNG. Free for personal and commercial use.</p> <h3>7. <a href="http://www.icondeposit.com/theicondeposit:27">Micro Icon Set</a></h3> <p><img alt="Micro-free-minimal-clean-icons" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/minimal-icons/micro-free-minimal-clean-icons.jpg" /></p> <p>A set of 110 icons at 16x16px. Vector and fully scalable. A backlink is required if you use them.</p> <h3>8. <a href="http://www.icondeposit.com/theicondeposit:24">Glyph UI Icon Set</a></h3> <p><img alt="Glyph-ui-free-minimal-clean-icons" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/minimal-icons/glyph-ui-free-minimal-clean-icons.jpg" /></p> <p>Hand crafted set of 48 icons at 16x16px. PNG, PSD, CSH (custom vector shape). A backlink is required if you use them.</p> <h3>9. <a href="http://dribbble.com/shots/462398-Minicons-">Minicons.</a></h3> <p><img alt="Miniicons-free-minimal-clean-icons" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/minimal-icons/miniicons-free-minimal-clean-icons.jpg" /></p> <p>A set of 30 minimal icons at 16x16px. You can also purchase the full version with 110 icons at <a href="http://graphicriver.net/item/110-mini-icons-web/1856318?ref=1stwebdesigner">GraphicRiver</a>.</p> <h3>10. <a href="http://dribbble.com/shots/587469-Free-16px-Broccolidryiconsaniconsetitisfullof-icons">Broccolidryiconsaniconset</a></h3> <p><img alt="Dry-free-minimal-clean-icons" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/minimal-icons/dry-free-minimal-clean-icons.jpg" /></p> <p>A set of 108 at 32x32px. Comes as PSD.</p> <h3>11. <a href="http://dribbble.com/shots/436701-Slowly-But-Surely-UPDATE-Free-Download">Geomicons</a></h3> <p><img alt="Geomicons-free-minimal-clean-icons" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/minimal-icons/geomicons-free-minimal-clean-icons.jpg" /></p> <p>A set of 32 icons. .EPS Licensed under Creative Commons 3.0</p> <h3>12. <a href="http://vicbell.co.uk/shop/tinycons-freebie-pack/">Tinycons</a></h3> <p><img alt="Tinycons-free-minimal-clean-icons" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/minimal-icons/tinycons-free-minimal-clean-icons.jpg" /></p> <p>A free preview of 310 carefully crafted interface icons. Unfortunately the checkout process is quite time-consuming and you’ll have to leave your email at yet another website. But you can purchase the full set <a href="http://vicbell.co.uk/shop/tinycons/">here</a> which will be more useful.</p> <h3>13. <a href="http://icondevs.com/">Delicious Berries</a></h3> <p><img alt="Delicious-berries-free-minimal-clean-icons" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/minimal-icons/delicious-berries-free-minimal-clean-icons.jpg" /></p> <p>Delicious Berries Icons is a premium icon set containing 560 vector Photoshop shapes, perfect for apps or projects of any kind. You can download a preview of 50 icons for free.</p> <h3>14. <a href="http://brankic1979.com/icons/">350 Pixel Perfect Icons</a></h3> <p><img alt="Vector-free-minimal-clean-icons" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/minimal-icons/vector-free-minimal-clean-icons.jpg" /></p> <p>A set of 350 pixel perfect glyphs icons, perfect for apps, websites or just about anything you can think of. You may use this icon set for both personal and commercial use, which means this resource can be used in any project without worrying about licensing.</p> <h3>15. <a href="http://dribbble.com/shots/385189-Freecns-FREE-UI-Icons">Freecns</a></h3> <p><img alt="Freecns-free-minimal-clean-icons" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/minimal-icons/freecns-free-minimal-clean-icons.jpg" /></p> <p>A set of 218 UI icons (16px) for free download.</p> <h3>16. <a href="http://pixiconz.janjan.in/">pixiconz</a></h3> <p><img alt="Pixiconz-free-minimal-clean-icons" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/minimal-icons/pixiconz-free-minimal-clean-icons.jpg" /></p> <p>A set of 285 hand drawn 12/12 pixel icons for designers, in a single PSD file. A pack of 33 icons can be downloaded for free.</p> <h3>17. <a href="http://pixeds.com/">Pixeds</a></h3> <p><img alt="Pixeds-free-minimal-clean-icons" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/minimal-icons/pixeds-free-minimal-clean-icons.jpg" /></p> <p>Set of 209 perfect pixel icons made in16x16 for your projects in a single .psd file. The free pack includes only 20 icons but the price is just too good to not to buy the full set.</p> <h3>18. <a href="http://dribbble.com/shots/487497-Jigsoar-icons-60-free-creative-commons-icons">Jigsoar icons</a></h3> <p><img alt="Jigsoar-free-minimal-clean-icons" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/minimal-icons/jigsoar-free-minimal-clean-icons.jpg" /></p> <p>A free, creative commons licensed custom designed icon set with 60 vector shapes, perfect for the web.</p> <h3>19. <a href="http://designmodo.com/impressionist-free/">Impressionist UI</a></h3> <p><img alt="Impressionist-free-minimal-clean-icons" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/minimal-icons/impressionist-free-minimal-clean-icons.jpg" /></p> <p>Impressionist is a kit of UI design elements. It also includes an icon set designed by Sergey Shmidt. You can find all icons in the paid version.</p> <h3>20. <a href="http://www.designdeck.co.uk/a/1252">Pace Social Icon Set</a></h3> <p><img alt="Pace-social-free-minimal-clean-icons" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/minimal-icons/pace-social-free-minimal-clean-icons.jpg" /></p> <p>24 social icons in JPG, PNG & PSD format. 21.</p> <h3>21. <a href="http://freebie.secretpixels.com/icon/">Vector Icon Set</a></h3> <p><img alt="Vector-pixels-free-minimal-clean-icons" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/minimal-icons/vector-pixels-free-minimal-clean-icons.jpg" /></p> <p>A set of 35 crisp minimal vector icons.</p> <h3>22. <a href="http://graphicriver.net/item/northwood-icons-volume-4/1723791?ref=1stwebdesigner">Northwood Icons </a>(premium – $9)</h3> <p><img alt="Northwood-free-minimal-clean-icons" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/minimal-icons/northwood-free-minimal-clean-icons.jpg" /></p> <p>The set includes 150 icons (vector shapes) available in formats .csh and .psd.</p> <h3>23. <a href="http://graphicriver.net/item/aircons-241-glyphs-in-psdcsh-and-more/2390462?ref=1stwebdesigner">Aircons (premium – $9)</a></h3> <p><img alt="Aircons-free-minimal-clean-icons" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/minimal-icons/aircons-free-minimal-clean-icons.jpg" /></p> <p>241 icons glyphs in PNG and PDF – 16×16 px. A CSH to import the vector shapes to Photoshop.</p> <h3>24. <a href="http://pixelsdaily.com/resources/icons-resources/70-simple-css3-icons/">70+ Simple CSS3 Icons</a> (premium – $6)</h3> <p><img alt="Css3-free-minimal-clean-icons" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/minimal-icons/css3-free-minimal-clean-icons.jpg" /></p> <p>This is a very high quality icon set made that can be used anywhere and for any purpose. These icons are not limited for a particular use and hence, you can combine the techniques used here to create new icons or use these techniques in your designs in any way.</p> <h3>25. <a href="http://pixelsdaily.com/resources/icons-resources/metro-vector-icons/">Metro Vector Icons</a> (premium – $4)</h3> <p><img alt="Metro-free-minimal-clean-icons" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/minimal-icons/metro-free-minimal-clean-icons.jpg" /></p> <p>This awesome set of vector icons contains 28 different elements, in the style of the Windows 7 “Metro” interface. They’re bold and simple, with plenty of impact. The icons are provided as an Ai & EPS file, and are fully editable vectors.</p> <h3>26. <a href="http://medialoot.com/item/free-mini-vector-app-icons/">Free Mini Vector App Icons</a></h3> <p><img alt="Mini-free-minimal-clean-icons" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/minimal-icons/mini-free-minimal-clean-icons.jpg" /></p> <p>A collection of 150 pixel-perfect, mini vector icons. Each one has been optimized for display at sizes as small as 16 x 16 pixels, and they are all infinitely scalable for larger sizes. Multiple formats are included for easy customization, including PSD, EPS, AI, and the original Fireworks source file.</p> <h3></h3> <div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/1stwebdesigner?a=nC_FV-SPw8Y:cn4k6nLEK-o:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/1stwebdesigner?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/1stwebdesigner?a=nC_FV-SPw8Y:cn4k6nLEK-o:7Q72WNTAKBA"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/1stwebdesigner?d=7Q72WNTAKBA" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/1stwebdesigner?a=nC_FV-SPw8Y:cn4k6nLEK-o:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/1stwebdesigner?i=nC_FV-SPw8Y:cn4k6nLEK-o:F7zBnMyn0Lo" /></a> </div><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/1stwebdesigner/~4/nC_FV-SPw8Y" width="1" />

<p>So you wrote a lot of great posts over the past few years which still receive a lot of traffic from search engines, but you’re always wondering how long it will last. Or maybe you were affected by the latest Google Panda or Penguin changes and lost some traffic to that old content?</p> <p>Perhaps you have noticed that you have been affected by these issues, perhaps not.</p> <p><strong>Whether you are affected or not, one question remains:</strong>  how do I clean up and optimize my existing blog posts?</p> <p><span id="more-71142"></span></p> <p>While there are many aspects related to your website’s backend — site speed, ads, past link building — there is <strong>one more very important aspect to deal with</strong>: see that your articles are getting updated! Ever heard of the concept “evergreen content”? It’s best to write content which never becomes outdated, but in reality it is nearly impossible. Things change so fast now, new technologies are released, programming languages are changing, everything is changing every day! You need to keep up with that! And while you can write more new articles, it is much harder to get good rankings to new pages than it is to just update your old ones! Makes sense?</p> <p>But how do you do that? What tools can you use to make post editing and optimizing easier and faster?</p> <p>You cannot automate processes where you need to rewrite tips and techniques because of changing technologies. We’ll get to that, but updating some tips just to make sure the content is still appropriate is not that time-consuming and hard!</p> <p>Ok, let me point out some of the most common issues with old posts:</p> <ul> <li>Some tips and techniques aren’t relevant anymore</li> <li>You have broken links in your posts, where sources you linked to aren’t there anymore</li> <li>Even with anti-spam plugins, you have some bad comments on your old posts</li> <li>SEO in posts do not exist, or is bad or average, but definitely could be improved</li> </ul> <h2><strong>How do you find content worth updating?</strong></h2> <p>If you don’t have that many posts, it may not be an issue for you, but in case you have written 100, 200, 1000 posts in the past, it quickly can start to become one. If you have a few number of posts, you should update all of them as soon as you can, because it won’t take too much time.</p> <p>However if you want to save some time or it’s not realistic to update all your articles, you should take a look at your Google Analytics (or any other tool you are using to monitor your traffic) and check which of your posts receive the most traffic. With Google Analytics you can easily export this data to an XLS or PDF document so you have something to refer to.</p> <p>Here are some easy steps to get your information from Google Analytics:</p> <ol> <li>Sign in to Google Analytics, pick a range of one to three months</li> <li>Browse through Content/Site Content/Landing Pages</li> <li>Check show rows (50, 100, 200 - your pick) on the bottom of landing page list</li> <li>Export document and you have your list!</li> </ol> <p><img alt="Landing pages google analytics" border="0" height="449" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/landing-pages-google-analytics.jpg" title="landing-pages-google-analytics.jpg" width="500" /></p> <p>Since those pages drive the most traffic to your website (and usually those aren’t the newest pages), it makes sense to update those posts to let them perform even better and to improve your visitors experience!</p> <p>At least in 1WD analytics, we have the most traffic coming from Google, where people’s attention span is really short. Either they find what they are looking for or they go back on Google to keep browsing. Your goal is to provide visitors with up-to-date information, to increase the likelihood that they will stick around more.</p> <p>Let’s start focusing on each  aspect one at time, so you have clear action list what to do to update your old articles, pages.</p> <h2><strong>Issue No. 1: Some tips, techniques have changed and aren’t up to date anymore</strong></h2> <p>There are different kind of content and each type requires a different approach, but let me summarize. Basically you have two paths you can take:</p> <ol> <li>Changes are small and in few minutes you can update the post and it is all good again</li> <li>Changes are huge and it is easier to quickly update the biggest changes and create a new followup post about the same topic.</li> </ol> <p>The first step would be awesome because it doesn’t require a lot of time, but unfortunately usually we will have to take the second route. We still should update information in old posts which are really not appropriate anymore, but just make the most necessary changes to save time.</p> <p>And yes, it is actually better to write a new post (unless that’s not landing page, but you should update it regularly anyway) and just interlink those articles. But don’t think it’s that bad! If an existing article received a lot of traffic on a specific topic, chances are a new article will perform even better!</p> <div class="note"> <p>By the way, looking through past articles is a great source for new article ideas too! And by interlinking articles, you’ll have nice SEO bumps to the new one already increasing chances for new post to rank well.</p> </div> <h2><strong>Issue No. 2: Fixing broken links</strong></h2> <p>With old posts you will often have some broken links which lead nowhere and makes the user experience worse. In this post I will assume you are using WordPress and list some useful plugins and online tools you can use to find those broken links.</p> <h3><strong><a href="http://home.snafu.de/tilman/xenulink.html">Xenu’s Link Sleuth</a></strong></h3> <p>Xenu’s Link Sleuth checks web sites for broken links. Link verification is done on “normal” links, images, frames, plug-ins, backgrounds, local image maps, stylesheets, scripts and java applets. It displays a continuously updated list of URLs which you can sort by different criteria. A report can be produced at any time.</p> <p>This is the most popular broken link checker, but it’s only on Windows.</p> <p><img alt="Xenu" border="0" height="356" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/xenu.jpg" title="xenu.jpg" width="500" /></p> <h3><strong><a href="http://www.screamingfrog.co.uk/seo-spider/">Screaming Frog</a></strong></h3> <p>ScreamingFrog is my favorite because I am a Mac user. The app interface is a bit better and processing is really fast compared to other software and online solutions.</p> <p>The Screaming Frog SEO Spider is a small desktop program you can install on your PC or Mac which spiders websites’ links, images, CSS, script and apps from an SEO perspective. It fetches key onsite page elements for SEO, presents them in tabs by type and allows you to filter for common SEO issues, or slice and dice the data how you see fit by exporting into Excel. You can view, analyze and filter the crawl data as it’s gathered and updated continuously in the program’s user interface.</p> <p>How to find broken links:</p> <ol> <li>Download and install software</li> <li>Enter URL to spider, press start and wait while processing is done</li> <li>Check external links and filter:all (I thought it should be HTML, but it’s not showing all the links there)</li> <li>Order list by status, and check for statuses with errors like DNS lookup failed, connection refused, etc.</li> </ol> <p><img alt="Screaming frog" border="0" height="270" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/screaming-frog.jpg" title="screaming-frog.jpg" width="500" /></p> <h3><strong><a href="http://validator.w3.org/checklink">W3C Link Checker</a></strong></h3> <p>This Link Checker looks for issues in links, anchors and referenced objects in a web page, CSS style sheet, or recursively on a whole web site. This is an option you can use in case you want an online tool, however it is much slower while processing data and results aren’t showcased in a clean list like other downloadable tools.</p> <p><img alt="W3C Link Checker" border="0" height="329" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/W3C-Link-Checker.jpg" title="W3C-Link-Checker.jpg" width="500" /></p> <h3><strong><a href="http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/broken-link-checker/">WordPress Plugin: Broken Link Checker</a></strong></h3> <p>I guessed you would also like to have WordPress plugin for this task so I found a very popular and recently updated plugin with more than one million downloads.</p> <p>This plugin will monitor your blog, looking for broken links and let you know if any are found. I would recommend to use this plugin for overall site monitoring and link checking, but not exactly for old article cleaning up process. It has some handy features, but it’s not that effective for our task.</p> <ul> <li>Monitors links in your posts, pages, comments, the blogroll, and custom fields (optional).</li> <li>Detects links that don’t work, missing images and redirects.</li> <li>Notifies you either via the Dashboard or by email. Makes broken links display differently in posts (optional).</li> <li>Prevents search engines from following broken links (optional).</li> <li>You can search and filter links by URL, anchor text and so on.</li> </ul> <div class="note"> <p>One possible route you can take is just have Broken Link Checker find those links and just unlink them, so you are not linking to non-existent sources and Google don’t have anything bad on you link wise! Downside is that you still can, and will, receive complaints that some links are not working (especially if it’s roundup article). But this technique is a quick solution for SEO purposes, even if not recommended.</p> </div> <p>I used this plugin to scan all of my broken links and to unlink all comment links where target sources were nonexistent. It was very handy for this task, however I didn’t unlink broken links in articles, because I want to clean them up manually (recommended).</p> <p><img alt="Broken link checker" border="0" height="440" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/broken-link-checker.jpg" title="broken-link-checker.jpg" width="500" /></p> <p>Here you go, with these tools you can easily find broken links in posts. Updating these links can be a bit messy and time-consuming, since you need to actually find the link in the article and then Google its new destination.</p> <ul> <li>Open post in WordPress dashboard so you can edit it</li> <li>Use your preferred software to search for broken links in posts (recommended: ScreamingFrog)</li> <li>Open broken links in browser</li> <li>Copy broken link and search for it (Code view: CTRL+F for search) on WordPress post, so you can see how previous headline was called or get some keywords to search for</li> <li>Use Google to search for these keywords to find if link has changed destination</li> <li>If you find that article/resource, just replace links in WordPress post and you’re done</li> <li>If you cannot find past posting, just pick new article or remove link completely</li> </ul> <p>This is quite a messy process that you need to do, but I haven’t figured or found a way to do that faster and not sure if you can do that at all. If you know of a better solution, please let me know - I will be very, very thankful!</p> <h2><strong>Issue No. 3: Cleaning up comment section from SPAM</strong></h2> <p>Ok, this is a really huge issue - no matter what you do, there are still some spam comments that get through even the best plugins and there’s nothing you can do about it other than coming back and cleaning up the mess.</p> <p>I would advise to close comments to old posts, because most visitors just come and spam there hoping to get some link juice, they don’t usually don’t come to contribute or be helpful. Visitors tend to leave valuable comments in new posts, but as posts become older they start to attract spammers.</p> <p>Unfortunately after extensive research I couldn’t find any plugin to rely on to clean up existing spam. I found one plugin which checked existing comments, but it hasn’t updated since 2009. There are also some database queries you can create and use, like banning some users by ip, website or email, but they are a bit risky. With database editing you greatly improve chances to mess something up, so if you consider taking this route, always backup your database - better to be safe than sorry. Since my site wasn’t heavily targeted by one spammer, I didn’t consider banning IP’s an option.</p> <p>Some tips I suggest:</p> <ul> <li>Close comments on WordPress after 60-90 days.</li> <li>In the beginning of this post I advised you to get a list with the most popular monthly articles from analytics, remember? Visit these posts in WordPress dashboard and check comments there. Since they are the most popular pages, it is the most likely that you’ll find the most spam comments there trying to hurt your rankings. Just clean the most popular articles from bad comments and links getting maximal impact from smallest effort.</li> <li>However if you are really hating SPAM like I do, go to WordPress comment section and work your way through ALL the approved comments, mercifully deleting all of them looking like spam (or ones which didn’t add anything to discussion). I have 30,000 comments on 1WD, but today I spent 4 hours to go through 2,000 of them, and surprisingly almost half of them where SPAM (even Akismet plugin didn’t catch them).</li> </ul> <p>These tips may sound stupid and time-consuming, but I really couldn’t find a better solution. You can try some automated ways, but no matter how good your software or plugin is, it won’t find comments, which are submitted manually in very sneaky manner.</p> <h3><strong>Make sure new SPAM doesn’t get through</strong></h3> <p>Ok, while there aren’t any good plugins to check existing spam comments, thankfully there are a lot of awesome plugins doing a great job  to make sure you don’t get new spam!</p> <p>To make sure you don’t get new spam, you can improve WordPress’ built-in settings and use a few handy plugins to take care of it.</p> <p>Here are my WordPress Discussion settings:</p> <p><img alt="Discussion settings" border="0" height="498" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/discussion-settings.jpg" title="discussion-settings.jpg" width="501" /></p> <p>What do we have here?</p> <ul> <li>I do not allow ping backs and trackbacks anymore, because usually these just make my site look spammy and do not spread the word and help as it was intended in past.</li> <li>Automatically close comments on articles older than 90 days. I picked 3 months - more than enough. Believe me I know that most comments to old posts are being created with the intention of gaming the system and are spam.</li> <li>I always approve each comment manually, with the exception that a comment author has a previously approved comment. This technique is encouraged because you should reply to each good comment anyway and by keeping track of them, you make sure you notice it and respond!</li> </ul> <h2><strong>What AntiSpam plugins you should use?</strong></h2> <h3><strong><a href="http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/akismet/">Akismet</a></strong></h3> <p>No brainer really, even with all the criticism about this plugin lately, I still think it is a must-have plugin. It gets most of the spam out of the way and it has several handy features in comment panel like the Check for Spam button for example.</p> <p>Must-have plugin.</p> <p><img alt="Akismet wordpress plugin" border="0" height="165" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/akismet-wordpress-plugin.jpg" title="akismet-wordpress-plugin.jpg" width="500" /></p> <h3><strong><a href="http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/antispam-bee/">AntiSpam Bee</a></strong></h3> <p>If you completely hate Akismet for whatever reason you can alternatively get Antispam Bee. It uses a similar system to Akismet, but instead of sending comment to Akismet, you send comments to <a href="http://www.projecthoneypot.org/">Project Honey Pot</a> which is community based.</p> <p>You can get an API key to HoneyPot and join the fight against spammers by reporting spammers and learn from other people’s spammer reports.</p> <p><img alt="Antispam bee" border="0" height="169" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/antispam-bee.jpg" title="antispam-bee.jpg" width="500" /></p> <h3><strong><a href="http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/growmap-anti-spambot-plugin/">Growmap Anti Spambot Plugin: GASP</a></strong></h3> <p>Defeat automated spambots by adding a client side generated checkbox asking the comment author to confirm that they are not a spammer.</p> <p>Very simple plugin, but it has a unique checkbox instead of classic CAPTCHAs. Spammers have tools which help break captchas, but they would need to put extra effort to get that checkbox checked. And personally I hate to fill captcha’s when I  just want to leave comment on my favorite blog, I would prefer a simple checkbox instead. Tried it on 1WD and it works.</p> <p><img alt="Gasp" border="0" height="421" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/gasp.jpg" title="gasp.jpg" width="458" /></p> <h3><strong><a href="http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/si-captcha-for-wordpress/">SI CAPTCHA Anti-Spam</a></strong></h3> <p>If you still want a CAPTCHA on your blog, this is the most popular plugin for that. This plugin adds CAPTCHA anti-spam methods to WordPress on the forms for comments, registration, lost password, login, or all. For WP, WPMU, and BuddyPress.</p> <p><img alt="Si captcha wordpress plugin" border="0" height="407" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/si-captcha-wordpress-plugin.jpg" title="si-captcha-wordpress-plugin.jpg" width="501" /></p> <p>With these plugins you will be very well prepared for future SPAM coming to your site!</p> <h2><strong>Issue No. 4: Improving SEO on past posts</strong></h2> <p>Chances are, if your posts are ranking well, you did something right with your SEO or social promotion. There isn’t much you can do on old articles, because articles are already ranking well for specific keywords.</p> <p>You can still check which keywords your articles are rank well for and you may find that you are targeting the wrong keywords with your existing SEO plugin. If you want to find out which keywords bring traffic to exact posts read below.</p> <p>Follow these steps if you have Google Analytics:</p> <ul> <li>Go to Content/Landing pages and click the post you want to research;</li> <li>Select secondary dimension:Keyword and you’ll see which are the top keywords used to find your post;</li> <li>Use this information to change, improve existing search key phrases you are targeting in post SEO settings. Oh, you can update SEO headline and meta description too;</li> </ul> <p><img alt="Keywords posts" border="0" height="359" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/keywords-posts.jpg" title="keywords-posts.jpg" width="501" /></p> <p><strong>Recommended SEO Plugins To Choose For WordPress Optimization</strong></p> <p>I am not sure which SEO plugins you are using now, but here is what I suggest. In the past I used the All in One SEO plugin, but a few months ago I switched to Yoast WordPress SEO plugin and have never been more satisfied!</p> <h3><strong><a href="http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/wordpress-seo/">WordPress SEO by Yoast</a></strong></h3> <p>Improve your WordPress SEO: Write better content and have a fully optimized WordPress site using the WordPress SEO plugin by Yoast.</p> <p>With this plugin you can easily optimize your new and existing content by setting SEO headlines, focus keyword, meta descriptions. This plugin really helps to get your posts and whole WordPress website ready for SEO.</p> <p>I won’t give any tips on how to use this plugin because all the training you need is included in the WordPress dashboard itself!</p> <p><img alt="Yoast seo" border="0" height="157" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/yoast-seo.jpg" title="yoast-seo.jpg" width="500" /></p> <h3><strong><a href="http://scribeseo.com/">Scribe SEO</a></strong></h3> <p>This plugin won’t do any wonders for your SEO, but it will help you analyze if you have optimized your articles enough. This is a paid plugin, but I suggest you try it for a month or two, get familiar with positive SEO practices and then do it on your own.  Scribe will help you do keyword research, analyze your content and help crosslink content within your own site. Optionally you might be set just with this excellent <a href="http://www.seomoz.org/blog/perfecting-keyword-targeting-on-page-optimization">Chocolate Donuts</a> optimization guide from SEOmoz.</p> <p>Their analyzing feature is why I recommend Scribe, using it myself on 1WD. Keyword research is better with the Google Keywords Tool, but their analyze feature is irreplaceable!</p> <p><img alt="Scribe seo" border="0" height="339" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/scribe-seo.jpg" title="scribe-seo.jpg" width="500" /></p> <p>That’s it about the SEO plugin part, I tried a lot of different plugins lately, but those are the only ones I find really helpful while optimizing articles for SEO.</p> <p>However, if your site is really badly affected by Google, you might take a look at the article I wrote before. It’s all about spotting red flags on your site overall, and there is also an extensive list of tools and plugins which can help you with the process. Here is the <a href="http://www.1stwebdesigner.com/design/revised-google-seo-guide-2012-edition/">Google SEO article</a>. Enjoy!</p> <p>Let me know how you clean up and optimize your existing articles or spam comments! I would love to hear your techniques and tips so I can improve this post even further! I would love to hear your feedback in the comment section!</p> <div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/1stwebdesigner?a=3JVkkY1GlfM:jHLtUjx1Vm8:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/1stwebdesigner?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/1stwebdesigner?a=3JVkkY1GlfM:jHLtUjx1Vm8:7Q72WNTAKBA"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/1stwebdesigner?d=7Q72WNTAKBA" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/1stwebdesigner?a=3JVkkY1GlfM:jHLtUjx1Vm8:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/1stwebdesigner?i=3JVkkY1GlfM:jHLtUjx1Vm8:F7zBnMyn0Lo" /></a> </div><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/1stwebdesigner/~4/3JVkkY1GlfM" width="1" />

<p>This is a release from Annual Design Awards, an organization aimed towards discovering and recognizing outstanding individuals who have proven themselves within the Design Industry.</p> <p>Do you want to get your hands on over 30,000 Pounds of prizes while displaying your design skills? Join now and help spread the word!</p> <p><span id="more-71402"></span></p> <p>Categories include:</p> <ul> <li>Logo/Brand Design</li> <li>Website Design</li> <li>Design for Print</li> <li>Designer/Agency of the Year</li> <li>and a lot more!</li> </ul> <p><em>Below is an unedited press release of Annual Design Awards</em></p> <p><span style="font-family: 'Arial Black';"><strong>CALLING ALL CREATIVES FROM AROUND THE WORLD. THE WORLDS LARGEST FREE DESIGN CELEBRATION IS NOW OPEN FOR SUBMISSIONS FOR 2012.</strong></span></p> <p>The <a href="http://www.annualdesignawards.com/" target="_blank">Annual Design Awards</a> is a global recognition of cutting edge visual communications, set up to reward outstanding contributions within the Design industry. This years jury panel boasts some of the most amazing talents and respected figures from around the world to <a href="http://www.annualdesignawards.com/the-jury-2012.html" target="_blank">judge</a> this global online event including Fabio Sasso, Louise Fili, Jacob Cass, Jeremy Kaplan, Alberto Russo and Ivan Chermayeff amongst many others.</p> <p>The Annual Design Awards are unlike any other design awards as they don’t offer hundreds of categories to enter, nor do they charge ridiculous entry fees so that only the large corporates can enter. The awards exist to discover and celebrate outstanding talents in the design world and to reward creativity with a meaningful honour.</p> <p>The Annual Design Awards is open to creatives from all over the world, from large corporate professionals to work-from-home freelancers, and entry is FREE so that we don’t restrict creativity.</p> <p>All finalists will feature in numerous promotions and media coverage and will gain global respect within the industry as well as receiving promotional tools from us, with all winners receiving the glamourous trophy and additional promotions around the world, not to mention the huge range of design related <a href="http://www.annualdesignawards.com/why-enter-the-annual-design-awards.html" target="_blank">prizes</a> on offer from our sponsors.</p> <p>The amazing 12 inch trophy was custom made for the 2011 awards and was designed and manufactured by the worlds leading trophy suppliers ‘Mode Design’ and ‘Society Awards’ who are famous for designing trophies such as The Golden Globes and The MTV Awards to name a few.</p> <p><strong>Last years <a href="http://www.annualdesignawards.com/winners.html" target="_blank">winners</a> included some amazing artwork for brands and events such as Black Swan (Movie Poster Winner), Mark Ronson (Album Cover Winner), Paramore (People’s Choice Winner) and Versace (Website Winner) amongst others.</strong><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /> </span></p> <p>To find out more about last years winners or the upcoming 2012 Awards please visit <a href="http://www.annualdesignawards.com/" target="_blank">www.annualdesignawards.com</a>.<br /> For all sponsorship queries, partnership proposals, interviews or media requests please contact David Laird on the details below. High res images and winners interviews can be supplied upon request.</p> <p>CONTACT<br /> David Laird, Chairman</p> <p><span style="font-family: Arial;">Annual Design Awards</span></p> <p><span style="font-family: Arial;">1a Sussex Ring • Woodside Park • North Finchley </span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial;">N12 7HY • London • United Kingdom</span></p> <p><span style="font-family: Arial;">Tel: </span>020 3131 0066<br /> E: <a href="mailto:[email protected]" target="_blank">[email protected]</a><br /> <a href="http://www.annualdesignawards.com/" target="_blank">www.annualdesignawards.com</a></p> <div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/1stwebdesigner?a=JNm8ms3WTuA:RevLnhSQlLA:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/1stwebdesigner?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/1stwebdesigner?a=JNm8ms3WTuA:RevLnhSQlLA:7Q72WNTAKBA"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/1stwebdesigner?d=7Q72WNTAKBA" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/1stwebdesigner?a=JNm8ms3WTuA:RevLnhSQlLA:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/1stwebdesigner?i=JNm8ms3WTuA:RevLnhSQlLA:F7zBnMyn0Lo" /></a> </div><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/1stwebdesigner/~4/JNm8ms3WTuA" width="1" />

<p>We have compiled the best photo manipulation tutorials just for you! Many people are not satisfied with their photographs and they want to make certain changes in order to make them look good. Photo manipulation is their way out because it is the only technique that allows them to manipulate their photos the way they want them. Even to make them surreal!</p> <p>If you think editing your photos to make them look stunning is difficult thing, then you must check out this post of 40 Photo Manipulation tutorials. You can learn some amazing technique from these tutorials that you can apply next time you want to manipulate your photos. All you need to do is just put on some creativity and imagination, and you will see some really appealing and amazing results. Let’s have a closer look!</p> <p><span id="more-71339"></span></p> <p><strong>1. <a href="http://photoshoptutorials.ws/photoshop-tutorials/photo-manipulation/create-this-surreal-representation-of-the-mind-artwork-in-photoshop.html" target="blank">Create Surreal Representation of the Mind Artwork</a></strong></p> <p>Learn how to create a surreal representation of the thoughts of a creative and business minded individual. You’ll learn how to make objects come out of the womans head and place steampunk objects over the eyes.</p> <p><img alt="Create This Surreal Representation of the Mind Artwork in Photoshop" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/manipulation76.jpg" width="570" /></p> <p><strong>2. <a href="http://psd.fanextra.com/tutorials/photo-effects/create-a-surreal-smoking-photo-manipulation/" target="blank">Create a Surreal Smoking Photo Manipulation</a></strong></p> <p>Learn how to create a surreal photo manipulation with a smoking man and abstract background design. You’ll work with masking, adjustment layers, blending options and more.</p> <p><img alt="Create a Surreal Smoking Photo Manipulation" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/manipulation91.jpg" width="570" /></p> <p><strong>3. <a href="http://photoshoptutorials.ws/photoshop-tutorials/photo-manipulation/how-to-create-a-high-tech-cyborg-photo-manipulation-in-photoshop.html" target="blank">How to Create a High-Tech Cyborg Photo Manipulation</a></strong></p> <p>Learn how to create this android head in a sci-fi environment. You’ll learn how to take a picture face, plasticize it and turn it into an abstract cyber artwork by combining multiple images together.</p> <p><img alt="How to Create a High-Tech Cyborg Photo Manipulation in Photoshop" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/manipulation80.jpg" width="570" /></p> <p><strong>4. <a href="http://psd.fanextra.com/tutorials/photo-effects/photo-manipulate-a-surreal-gravity-defying-desert-scene/" target="blank">Photo Manipulate a Surreal, Gravity-Defying Desert Scene</a></strong></p> <p>In this tutorial, we will learn how to create a conceptual surreal photo-manipulation. We are going to learn the process of creating depth of field using a few advance tools. We are going to learn how to blend images so seamlessly that it would look like a single image using the Brush tool, the Eraser tool and several adjustment layers.</p> <p><img alt="Photo Manipulate a Surreal, Gravity-Defying Desert Scene" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/manipulation88.jpg" width="570" /></p> <p><strong>5. <a href="http://www.psdvault.com/photo-effect/design-a-unique-wooden-face-with-fiery-eye-and-tear-in-photoshop/" target="blank">Design a Unique Wooden Face with Fiery Eye and Tear</a></strong></p> <p>In this Photoshop tutorial, we will show you the steps we took to Design a Unique Wooden Face with Fiery Eye and Tear in Photoshop. This is an intermediate level tutorial so some steps can be tricky, but why not have a try!</p> <p><img alt="Design a Unique Wooden Face with Fiery Eye and Tear in Photoshop" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/manipulation84.jpg" width="570" /></p> <p><strong>6. <a href="http://psd.fanextra.com/tutorials/photo-effects/members-area-tutorial-create-a-cat-in-a-magical-pond-scene-photo-manipulation/" target="blank">Create a Cat in a Magical Pond Scene Photo Manipulation</a></strong></p> <p>In this tutorial we will show you how to create a magical pond scene with a lovely cat. You will know through step by step how to blend various stock images together, paint natural looking cat hair, retouch a dull photo, use brushes, masking, adjust colors, work with lighting and different kinds of shadow and more.</p> <p><img alt="Create a Cat in a Magical Pond Scene Photo Manipulation" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/manipulation87.jpg" width="570" /></p> <p><strong>7. <a href="http://photoshoptutorials.ws/photoshop-tutorials/photo-manipulation/how-to-create-this-freezing-cold-portrait-photo-manipulation-in-photoshop.html" target="blank">How to Create This Freezing Cold Portrait Photo Manipulation</a></strong></p> <p>Learn how to create this freezing cold manipulation with Photoshop! You’ll learn how to work with difference ice and crystal photos and complete the look with a cold blue photo effect.</p> <p><img alt="How to Create This Freezing Cold Portrait Photo Manipulation in Photoshop" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/manipulation81.jpg" width="570" /></p> <p><strong>8. <a href="http://psd.fanextra.com/tutorials/photo-effects/members-area-tutorial-create-the-firey-photo-manipulation-satans-judgement/" target="blank">Create the Firey Photo Manipulation ‘Satan’s Judgement’</a></strong></p> <p>In this tutorial you will learn how to create the fiery photo manipulation ‘satan’s judgement’.</p> <p><img alt="Create the Firey Photo Manipulation ‘Satan’s Judgement’" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/manipulation92.jpg" width="570" /></p> <p><strong>9. <a href="http://psd.tutsplus.com/tutorials/photo-effects-tutorials/red-riding-hood-photo-manipulation/" target="blank">Create a Red Riding Hood Themed Photo Manipulation</a></strong></p> <p>In this tutorial, author Wojciech Magierski will explain how to create a Red Riding Hood themed photo manipulation in Photoshop.</p> <p><img alt="Create a Red Riding Hood Themed Photo Manipulation in Photoshop" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/manipulation71.jpg" width="570" /></p> <p><strong>10. <a href="http://psd.tutsplus.com/tutorials/photo-effects-tutorials/surreal-and-dreamy-photo-manipulation-in-photoshop/" target="blank">Create a Surreal and Dreamy Photo Manipulation</a></strong></p> <p>In this tutorial, author Marcela Bolivar will explain how create a surreal and dreamy photo manipulation using atmosphere, lighting, masks, textures, and custom brushes.</p> <p><img alt="Create a Surreal and Dreamy Photo Manipulation in Photoshop" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/manipulation72.jpg" width="570" /></p> <p><strong>11. <a href="http://photoshoptutorials.ws/photoshop-tutorials/photo-manipulation/how-to-create-an-outdoor-fantasy-manipulation-in-photoshop.html" target="blank">How to Create an Outdoor Fantasy Manipulation</a></strong></p> <p>Learn how to create this photo manipulation using a combo of different stock photos and artworks. You’ll learn how to create a soft photo effect, add moss to rocks, and enhance a pool of water with some water lilies.</p> <p><img alt="How to Create an Outdoor Fantasy Manipulation in Photoshop" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/manipulation73.jpg" width="570" /></p> <p><strong>12. <a href="http://www.psdvault.com/photo-effect/design-a-natural-abstract-photo-manipulation-in-photoshop/" target="blank">Design a Natural Abstract Photo Manipulation</a></strong></p> <p>In this tutorial, we will show you the steps we took to Design a Natural Abstract Photo Manipulation in Photoshop. Along the way, we will apply some basic Photo Manipulation techniques such as layer blending and masking, we will also practice some selection techniques with Pen Tool and some photo retouch skills.</p> <p><img alt="Design a Natural Abstract Photo Manipulation in Photoshop" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/manipulation86.jpg" width="570" /></p> <p><strong>13. <a href="http://photoshoptutorials.ws/photoshop-tutorials/photo-manipulation/create-a-emotional-midnight-photo-manipulation-with-painting-like-effects.html" target="blank">Create an Emotional Midnight Photo Manipulation</a></strong></p> <p>Learn how to composite this nighttime artwork and retouch skin with a smooth painting-like effect! This tutorial will show you how to composite this image with various stock photos, soften skin, and apply special lighting and color effects.</p> <p><img alt="Create a Emotional Midnight Photo Manipulation with Painting-Like Effects" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/manipulation74.jpg" width="570" /></p> <p><strong>14. <a href="http://www.webdesign.org/photoshop/photo-editing/learn-to-create-a-fire-light-effect-in-photoshop.21451.html" target="blank">Learn to Create A Fire Light Effect</a></strong></p> <p>In today’s tutorial we will learn how to Create Stylish Fire Lines on a Girl’s image to make her look as if she is dancing amidst fire in the Space. You can click on the images to view larger version.</p> <p><img alt="Learn to Create A Fire Light Effect in Photoshop" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/manipulation93.jpg" width="570" /></p> <p><strong>15. <a href="http://photoshoptutorials.ws/photoshop-tutorials/photo-manipulation/how-to-create-this-qinto-the-wildq-photo-manipulation-in-photoshop.html" target="blank">How to Create “Into the Wild” Photo Manipulation</a></strong></p> <p>Learn how to create this photo manipulation with this detailed step-by-step walk-through. You’ll learn how to combine a beautiful redhead model with a black raven in a mystical landscape scene.</p> <p><img alt="How to Create this " border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/manipulation75.jpg" width="570" /></p> <p><strong>16. <a href="http://photoshoptutorials.ws/photoshop-tutorials/photo-manipulation/how-to-create-an-emotional-soft-tone-photo-manipulation.html" target="blank">How to Create an Emotional Soft-Tone Photo Manipulation</a></strong></p> <p>Learn how to create your own emotional photo manipulation! This Photoshop tutorial will show you how to blend a beautify lady with a dreamy background. You will also learn how to make color, lighting, and contrast adjustments to fit everything into this beautiful artwork.</p> <p><img alt="How to Create an Emotional Soft-Tone Photo Manipulation" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/manipulation77.jpg" width="570" /></p> <p><strong>17. <a href="http://psd.fanextra.com/tutorials/photo-effects/photo-manipulate-a-kick-ass-flaming-skull-scene/" target="blank">Photo Manipulate a Kick Ass Flaming Skull Scene</a></strong></p> <p>Learn how to create a cool flaming skull effect as part of a dark, gothic photo manipulation. You’ll work with image transformations, blending, lighting effects and more!</p> <p><img alt="Photo Manipulate a Kick Ass Flaming Skull Scene" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/manipulation89.jpg" width="570" /></p> <p><strong>18. <a href="http://photoshoptutorials.ws/photoshop-tutorials/photo-manipulation/create-a-city-destruction-photo-manipulation-in-photoshop.html" target="blank">Create a City Destruction Photo Manipulation</a></strong></p> <p>Learn how to create this photo manipulation of a city being destructed by robots and spaceships. This tutorial will show you how to composite a city using various stock photos then add smoke, fire, and explosions to it.</p> <p><img alt="Create a City Destruction Photo Manipulation in Photoshop" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/manipulation78.jpg" width="570" /></p> <p><strong>19. <a href="http://photoshoptutorials.ws/photoshop-tutorials/photo-manipulation/create-this-heaven-a-hell-photo-manipulation.html" target="blank">Create this “Heaven & Hell” Photo Manipulation</a></strong></p> <p>Create this Fantasy depicting scene of heaven and hell. This tutorial covers topics like creating reflections in moving water, ice cube with frost on it, turning daytime photos into nighttime, and many more.</p> <p><img alt="Create this “Heaven & Hell” Photo Manipulation" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/manipulation79.jpg" width="570" /></p> <p><strong>20. <a href="http://psd.fanextra.com/tutorials/photo-effects/photo-manipulate-an-eye-catching-poster-design-for-earth-hour/" target="blank">Photo Manipulate an Eye Catching Poster Design for Earth Hour</a></strong></p> <p>In this tutorial, we will learn how to create a conceptual earth hour photo-manipulation. We are going to learn the process of creating depth of field using a few advanced tools. We are going to learn how to blend images so seamlessly that it would look like a single image using the Brush tool, masking tools and several adjustment layers. We will learn how to create light and darkness to make the background look seamless.</p> <p><img alt="Photo Manipulate an Eye Catching Poster Design for Earth Hour" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/manipulation82.jpg" width="570" /></p> <p><strong>21. <a href="http://psd.fanextra.com/tutorials/photo-effects/members-area-tutorial-create-an-emotional-sunset-scene-photo-manipulation/" target="blank">Create An Emotional Sunset Scene Photo Manipulation</a></strong><br /> In this tutorial we will show you how to create a beautiful emotional sunset scene. We’ll work with manipulating techniques, blending, masking, painting and more.</p> <p><img alt="Create An Emotional Sunset Scene Photo Manipulation" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/manipulation83.jpg" width="570" /></p> <p><strong>22. <a href="http://www.psdvault.com/photo-effect/create-abstract-dark-photo-manipulation-with-splatter-brushes-in-photoshop/" target="blank">Create Abstract Dark Photo Manipulation with Splatter Brushes</a></strong></p> <p>In this tutorial, we will show you the steps designer took to Create Abstract Dark Photo Manipulation with Splatter Brushes in Photoshop. This is an intermediate level Photoshop tutorial and some steps can be a bit tricky, but why not have a try!</p> <p><img alt="Create Abstract Dark Photo Manipulation with Splatter Brushes in Photoshop" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/manipulation85.jpg" width="570" /></p> <p><strong>23. <a href="http://psd.fanextra.com/tutorials/photo-effects/photo-manipulate-a-surreal-coffee-machine-contraption/" target="blank">Photo Manipulate a Surreal Coffee Machine Contraption</a></strong></p> <p>Learn how to create a surreal photo manipulation featuring a conceptual coffee contraption. You’ll work with photo manipulation, retouching, masking, brush application, blending and more!</p> <p><img alt="Photo Manipulate a Surreal Coffee Machine Contraption" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/manipulation90.jpg" width="570" /></p> <p><strong>24. <a href="http://psd.tutsplus.com/tutorials/photo-effects-tutorials/elephant-sundae/" target="blank">Create an Elephant Sundae Using Photo Manipulation Techniques</a></strong></p> <p>Photoshop is great at seamlessly combing photos to create an entirely new scene. In this tutorial we will create an elephant sundae using several stock photos. Let’s get started!</p> <p><img alt="Create an Elephant Sundae Using Photo Manipulation Techniques" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/manipulation1.jpg" width="570" /></p> <p><strong>25. <a href="http://photoshoptutorials.ws/photoshop-tutorials/photo-manipulation/how-to-create-a-dramatic-fisheye-spartan-scene-with-photoshop.html" target="blank">How to Create a Dramatic Fisheye Spartan Scene</a></strong></p> <p>In this tutorial we are going to learn how to blend and distort different desert landscape stock images to create a dynamic fisheye-like perspective and use different adjustment layers to get different coloring and feel to the manipulation so let’s get started!</p> <p><img alt="How to Create a Dramatic Fisheye Spartan Scene with Photoshop" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/manipulation5.jpg" width="570" /></p> <p><strong>26. <a href="http://psd.tutsplus.com/tutorials/photo-effects-tutorials/create-a-lambs-coat/" target="blank">Create a Lamb’s Coat in Photoshop</a></strong></p> <p>In this tutorial you will learn how to create a Lamb’s Coat in Photoshop.</p> <p><img alt="Photo Effects Week: Create a Lamb’s Coat in Photoshop" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/manipulation69.jpg" width="570" /></p> <p><strong>27. <a href="http://www.psdbox.com/tutorials/professional-widow-manipulationtutorial/" target="blank">Professional Widow</a></strong></p> <p>In this manipulation we will show you how to play with fire, how to smoothen skin using the Mixer Brush Tool and how to create realistic light effects. This is for the slightly more advanced manipulator. Enjoy.</p> <p><img alt="Professional Widow – ManipulationTutorial" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/manipulation68.jpg" width="570" /></p> <p><strong>28. <a href="http://photoshoptutorials.ws/photoshop-tutorials/photo-manipulation/how-to-create-a-fantasy-haven-for-travelers-in-photoshop.html" target="blank">How to Create a Fantasy Haven for Travelers</a></strong></p> <p>Learn how to create a secret haven in the sky! This Photoshop tutorial will show you how to create this surreal scene where boats pick up travelers and fly them to a secret mountain passage in the sky. This tutorial will show you how to blend images seamlessly and work with lighting and shadows.</p> <p><img alt="How to Create a Fantasy Haven for Travelers" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/manipulation6.jpg" width="570" /></p> <p><strong>29. <a href="http://www.psdvault.com/photo-effect/create-an-unique-surreal-photo-manipulation-with-nebula-effect-in-photoshop/" target="blank">Create an Unique Surreal Photo Manipulation with Nebula Effect</a></strong></p> <p>In this Photoshop tutorial, we will show you the steps designer took to Create a Unique, Dark Surreal Photo Manipulation with Nebula Effect in Photoshop. Along the way, we will be using some simple retouch skills, as well as some custom brushes and the liquify filter to produce special effect.</p> <p><img alt="Create an Unique Surreal Photo Manipulation with Nebula Effect" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/manipulation60.jpg" width="570" /></p> <p><strong>30. <a href="http://photoshoptutorials.ws/photoshop-tutorials/photo-manipulation/create-a-surreal-scene-with-a-cool-snail-that-flies.html" target="blank">Create a Surreal Scene with a Cool Snail that Flies</a></strong></p> <p>Learn how to create a surreal mother nature photo manipulation. This tutorial will show you how to create a completely surreal scene by combining stock photos and blending them seamlessly. You’ll also learn how to fix and enhance the lighting of your images.</p> <p><img alt="Create a Surreal Scene with a Cool Snail that Flies" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/manipulation7.jpg" width="570" /></p> <p><strong>31. <a href="http://psd.fanextra.com/tutorials/photo-effects/photo-manipulate-a-magical-shoe-house-scene/" target="blank">Photo Manipulate a Magical Shoe House Scene</a></strong></p> <p>In this tutorial you will learn how to Manipulate a photo into magical Shoe House Scene.</p> <p><img alt="Photo Manipulate a Magical Shoe House Scene" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/manipulation53.jpg" width="570" /></p> <p><strong>32. <a href="http://psd.tutsplus.com/tutorials/photo-effects-tutorials/serene-fantasy-photo-manipulation/" target="blank">Create a Serene Fantasy Photo Manipulation</a></strong></p> <p>In this tutorial you’ll learn how to compose magical scene from different stock images, how to create strong atmosphere and add interesting lights and shadows. You’ll also learn many different ways of color adjustments to get the exact images you’ve always wished. Let’s get started!</p> <p><img alt="Create a Serene Fantasy Photo Manipulation" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/manipulation51.jpg" width="570" /></p> <p><strong>33. <a href="http://www.webdesign.org/photoshop/photo-editing/create-a-magical-photo-manipulation-with-flowery-effect-in-photoshop.21203.html" target="blank">Create a Magical Photo Manipulation with Flowery Effect</a></strong></p> <p>In this tutorial, we will show you the steps author took to Create a Magical Photo Manipulation with Flowery Effect in Photoshop. This is an intermediate tutorial so some steps can be tricky, but why not have a try :)</p> <p><img alt="Create a Magical Photo Manipulation with Flowery Effect" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/manipulation56.jpg" width="570" /></p> <p><strong>34. <a href="http://photoshoptutorials.ws/photoshop-tutorials/photo-manipulation/floating-island-on-water.html" target="blank">Floating Island on Water</a></strong></p> <p>In this Photoshop tutorial, we will learn how to create a picture with two different stories, one: a town on an island and two: the deep and huge body of water below it. We will learn how to blend images perfectly, make an underwater image look realistic through the use of applying brushes in different colors, the eraser tool to soften the edges and the clone stamp tool.</p> <p><img alt="Floating Island on Water" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/manipulation67.jpg" width="570" /></p> <p><strong>35. <a href="http://photoshoptutorials.ws/photoshop-tutorials/photo-manipulation/create-a-vivid-alien-invasion-scene-with-photoshop.html" target="blank">Create a Vivid Alien Invasion Scene with Photoshop</a></strong></p> <p>Create a surreal alien photo manipulation with vivid colors. This tutorial will show you how to create an alien creature and add multiple UFOs.</p> <p><img alt="Create a Vivid Alien Invasion Scene with Photoshop" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/manipulation70.jpg" width="570" /></p> <p><strong>36. <a href="http://psd.tutsplus.com/tutorials/photo-effects-tutorials/scenic-landscape-composition/" target="blank">Create a Scenic Landscape Composition</a></strong></p> <p>Photoshop is a fantastic application for combining average photos to create something entirely new. In this tutorial we will combine several stock photos to create a scenic landscape panorama. Let’s get started!</p> <p><img alt="Create a Scenic Landscape Composition in Photoshop" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/manipulation94.jpg" width="570" /></p> <p><strong>37. <a href="http://psd.tutsplus.com/tutorials/photo-effects-tutorials/racing-snail/" target="blank">Create a Racing Snail</a></strong></p> <p>In this tutorial author Mario Sanchez Nevado will put the “car” and “go” into escargot by creating a snail so big and fast that you could ride it at highway speeds. In the process, we will explain how to select the proper photos, as well as how to correctly integrate them into your scene using lighting, depth of field, and movement.</p> <p><img alt="Create a Racing Snail in Photoshop" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/manipulation95.jpg" width="570" /></p> <p><strong>38. <a href="http://psd.tutsplus.com/tutorials/photo-effects-tutorials/integrate-3d-into-photograph/" target="blank">Integrate a 3D Render Into a Macro Photograph</a></strong></p> <p>In this tutorial we will explain how to integrate a rendered 3D model into a photograph to create a macro photography effect.</p> <p><img alt="Integrate a 3D Render Into a Macro Photograph" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/manipulation96.jpg" width="570" /></p> <p><strong>39. <a href="http://psd.tutsplus.com/tutorials/photo-effects-tutorials/photoshop-compositing-secrets/" target="blank">Create a Studio Sports Portrait</a></strong></p> <p>In this tutorial Matt Kloskowski will demonstrate how to create a studio sports portrait using the same techniques that you may have seen on billboards and in magazines. Let’s get started!</p> <p><img alt="Create a Studio Sports Portrait" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/manipulation97.jpg" width="570" /></p> <p><strong>40. <a href="http://10steps.sg/tutorials/photoshop/fantasy-photoshop-tutorial-to-create-awesome-effects/" target="blank">Fantasy Photoshop tutorial to create awesome effects</a></strong></p> <p>In this tutorial you’ll learn how to use stock photos, adjustment layers, and blending tricks to compose a dark fantasy photo manipulation in Photoshop.</p> <p><img alt="Fantasy photoshop tutorial to create awesome effects" border="0" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/manipulation98.jpg" width="570" /></p> <div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/1stwebdesigner?a=P1Ep-wpVZ7A:SYovZW96sJY:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/1stwebdesigner?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/1stwebdesigner?a=P1Ep-wpVZ7A:SYovZW96sJY:7Q72WNTAKBA"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/1stwebdesigner?d=7Q72WNTAKBA" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/1stwebdesigner?a=P1Ep-wpVZ7A:SYovZW96sJY:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/1stwebdesigner?i=P1Ep-wpVZ7A:SYovZW96sJY:F7zBnMyn0Lo" /></a> </div><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/1stwebdesigner/~4/P1Ep-wpVZ7A" width="1" />

<p>How to Manage Clients Effectively? I already missed a deadline! Are these few of the usual sentences in your daily life? You know what? At least you should be happy that you are loaded with clients. Facing the situation positively you know. But, you should be aware of the fact that with multiple deadlines being missed, the load of these clients will soon vanish. Nobody wants to stick around with a star designer who cannot stick to pre-decided dates. So, either you take heed of this fact right away or be prepared to lose it all.</p> <p><span id="more-69967"></span></p> <p>Today, we will discuss the importance of deadlines and how to manage clients effectively. Buckle up!</p> <h2>Say No!</h2> <p>Well, that is by far the easiest way to avoid messing up your deadlines. Say no to work which you think you cannot complete or the work which won’t pay you for your hard work. In business, just like your daily life, some relationships will have that element of confusion which will later on result into unavoidable conditions. Think a bit and avoid such conditions from the beginning only.</p> <p><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-70666" height="300" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/say_no.jpg" title="say_no" width="570" /></p> <p><strong>Suggested Reading:</strong></p> <ul> <li><a href="http://www.1stwebdesigner.com/design/what-is-spec-work/" target="_blank" title="Say No!">What is Spec Work and Why You Should Say No</a></li> </ul> <h2>Avoid Clients that Hurt Your Business</h2> <p>This is one more way to not even get close to clients that you cannot manage. How about understand that sort of client you are about to deal with and stay away from them. One of the best ways to avoid mess ups is to not even let those messed up situations take step one. That is exactly what I am asking you to do. Don’t entertain clients that can make your life hell.</p> <p><strong>Suggested Reading:</strong></p> <ul> <li> <a href="http://www.1stwebdesigner.com/design/avoid-clients-that-could-hurt-your-business/" target="_blank" title="Clients that hurt your business">How to Avoid 6 Clients that could Hurt Your Business</a></li> </ul> <h2>Plan Short Term Goals for Long Term Benefits</h2> <p>Instead of planning for the end of the project that you are working on, you should instead target the internal dates for the smaller modules of that project. It will make it easier to achieve the smaller goals and the overall achievement will show quickly when start inching close to the final project end date. It is all about how honestly you work towards your goals. If you can manage these dates easily then you will easily end up managing your clients effectively.</p> <p><strong>Suggested Reading:</strong></p> <ul> <li> <a href="http://www.1stwebdesigner.com/design/tips-to-stay-focused-project-deadlines/" target="_blank" title="Tips to stay focused on project deadlines">6 Tips to Stay Focused on Project Deadlines</a></li> </ul> <h2>Face to Face Meetings in order to Understand Clients Effectively</h2> <p>I agree that in the world of globalization it becomes tough for you to have a face to face meeting with your client but if you somehow manage a cam to cam chat (if the face to face meeting is not possible) then trust me that the level of comfort between you and your client will skyrocket. It is this level of comfort which will help you manage your respective project and (indirectly) your client effectively.</p> <p><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-70667" height="245" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/hand_shake.jpg" title="hand_shake" width="570" /></p> <p><strong>Suggested Reading:</strong></p> <ul> <li><a href="http://www.1stwebdesigner.com/design/things-to-consider-web-development-pricing/" target="_blank" title="Things to Consider When Estimating for a Website Development Project">Things to Consider When Estimating for a Website Development Project</a></li> </ul> <h2>Use Email Lists To Keep Clients Updated</h2> <p>Managing clients effectively doesn’t mean that you have to manage only your current clients. It means that you have to take care of current clients with the future clients and the returning clients. Now, you cannot expect your clients to visit your website regularly to find out what work you are doing and how much free time you have. There are too many freelance web designers out there. You will be forgotten in no time. So, it is better if you keep raising your hand after short intervals. It will remind all your clients about your schedule and your free time. It will also help you inform your current clients that you are actually working on their project and where it has reached.</p> <p><strong>Suggested Reading:</strong></p> <ul> <li><a href="http://www.1stwebdesigner.com/design/power-of-email-lists/" target="_blank" title="The Power of Email List for Web Designers">The Power of Email List for Web Designers and How to Get One Started</a></li> </ul> <h2>Follow 10 Commandments for Freelance Web Designers</h2> <p>Rules aren’t made just for fun. They are smartly crafted to make life organized. Even the life of a freelance web designer needs to be organized otherwise the end result will be a true mess up. 1WD already published the 10 commandments that can organize your life like never before. Just be honest enough and follow them to the core.</p> <p><strong>Suggested Reading:</strong></p> <ul> <li><a href="http://www.1stwebdesigner.com/design/ten-freelance-web-designers-commandments/" target="_blank" title="10 Commandments for Freelance Web Designers">10 Commandments for Freelance Web Designers</a></li> </ul> <h2>Use Tools that Make Your Job Easier</h2> <p>In the world of technology why should one do all the work manually? Internet has plenty of tools to make sure that some part of your daily work becomes a cake walk. So, why wait? Just Google for some of the best tools out there that will make life of daily freelance web designer super easy. Remember, you cannot manage your clients effectively if you are doing everything manually.</p> <p><strong>Suggested Reading:</strong></p> <ul> <li><a href="http://www.1stwebdesigner.com/design/7-webmaster-tools-make-job-easier/" target="_blank" title="7 Webmaster Tools">7 Webmaster Tools that will Make Your Job Easier</a></li> </ul> <h2>Set Up the Perfect Home Office</h2> <p>One advantage of freelance web designing is that you get to work from home. No office hours and no boss to harass you. But, the home environment has its own disadvantages too. The biggest of them all being that you cannot concentrate on your work because any home that makes you feel comfortable will make you feel lazy too. So, it is suggested that you develop some sort of office environment in your home in order to bring in that work sort of feeling even while working from home. It really helps your work and indirectly the clients too.</p> <p><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-70668" height="300" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/home_office.jpg" title="home_office" width="570" /></p> <p><strong>Suggested Reading:</strong></p> <ul> <li> <a href="http://www.1stwebdesigner.com/design/motivate-yourself-perfect-home-office/" target="_blank" title="Perfect Home Office">Motivate Yourself By Setting Up the Perfect Home Office</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.1stwebdesigner.com/design/improve-home-office-setup/">5 Tips to Improve Your Home Office Setup</a></li> </ul> <h2>Market Your Products the Right Way to Avoid Confusions</h2> <p>If you sell what you don’t have then you surely will raise the expectation of your clients. They will come to you for those non-existent expectations and once you fail to deliver those then they will be super upset. This is why you should understand the importance of honest marketing. Sell whatever you have. Nothing more. Nothing less. Then, managing clients will be super easy for you.</p> <p><strong>Suggested Reading:</strong></p> <ul> <li><a href="http://www.1stwebdesigner.com/design/market-sell-digital-goods-the-right-way/" target="_blank" title="Market Your Digital Products the Right Way">Market and Sell Your Digital Goods the Right Way</a></li> </ul> <h2>Be A Star Communicator</h2> <p>Communication is key to every format of success unless the goal can be achieved individually. So, you need to be that star communicator who honestly communicates everything to clients. You must follow the instructions given by clients and show high amount of professionalism. Without these factors you are bound to disappoint your clients.</p> <p><strong>Suggested Reading:</strong></p> <ul> <li><a href="http://www.1stwebdesigner.com/design/crucial-client-communication/" target="_blank" title="Be A Star Communicator">Stand Out Among Freelancers by Communicating with Your Clients</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.1stwebdesigner.com/design/things-designers-teach-clients/">8 Things Designers Should Teach Their Clients</a></li> </ul> <h2>Educate Your Clients so as to Avoid Over Expectations</h2> <p>Clients might well assume web designers to be Gods. It is suggested that web designers should clear out any sort of confusion before the project begins. Designers must follow a list of pointers that they will teach to their clients so that clients do not end up over expecting anything from them. Crystal clear beginning is what everyone will be comfortable with.</p> <p><strong>Suggested Reading:</strong></p> <ul> <li> <a href="http://www.1stwebdesigner.com/design/things-designers-teach-clients/" target="_blank" title="8 Things Designers Should Teach Their Clients">8 Things Designers Should Teach their Clients</a></li> </ul> <div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/1stwebdesigner?a=jNESnw-qNng:jQ9LoF42kH4:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/1stwebdesigner?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/1stwebdesigner?a=jNESnw-qNng:jQ9LoF42kH4:7Q72WNTAKBA"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/1stwebdesigner?d=7Q72WNTAKBA" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/1stwebdesigner?a=jNESnw-qNng:jQ9LoF42kH4:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/1stwebdesigner?i=jNESnw-qNng:jQ9LoF42kH4:F7zBnMyn0Lo" /></a> </div><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/1stwebdesigner/~4/jNESnw-qNng" width="1" />

<p>Almost everyone, at one point during childhood, has played jigsaw puzzles. Today I am going to show you how to create a jigsaw puzzle using jQuery and PHP.</p> <p>Lets start creating puzzles. I know that you must be waiting to see the puzzle in action. I am not going to keep you guessing. Here is the sample demo of the puzzle and download of tutorial files.</p> <p>Now you got your wish. So lets move onto creating the puzzle.<br /> <span id="more-70210"></span></p> <div class="note"> <p><strong><a href="http://innovativephp.com/demo/puzzles" target="_blank">Demo</a></strong></p> <p><strong><a href="http://dl.dropbox.com/u/35995890/puzzles.zip">Download</a></strong></p> </div> <h2><strong>Splitting an Image into Smaller Parts</strong></h2> <p>First thing we have to do is choose an image for the puzzle. Only jpg images can be used in this example. I am going to use the 1stwebdesigner header image for the puzzle. Once you choose the image it has to be split into smaller images to create the puzzle components.</p> <p>There are a lot of online tools available for splitting images. But I am going to use my own php code to split the image. The purpose of this tutorial is to make the puzzle. So I am not going to explain the whole PHP code for splitting images. I’ll just explain the necessary configurations.</p> <pre class="brush: php; title: ; notranslate"> <?php $image_file = 'puzzle.jpg'; $src = imagecreatefromjpeg($image_file); list($width, $height, $type, $attr) = getimagesize($image_file); $split_size = '150'; $cal_width = $width % $split_size; $cal_height = $height % $split_size; if ($cal_width > 0) { $new_width = intval($width / $split_size) * $split_size + 100; } else { $new_width = $width; } if ($cal_height > 0) { $new_height = intval($height / $split_size) * $split_size + 100; } else { $new_height = $height; } if ($width > 1200) { $width = 1200; $new_width = 1200; } $image_p = imagecreatetruecolor($new_width, $new_height); $image = imagecreatefromjpeg($image_file); imagecopyresampled($image_p, $image, 0, 0, 0, 0, $new_width, $new_height, $width, $height); imagejpeg($image_p, $image_file, 100); $x_comp = intval($new_width / $split_size); $y_comp = intval($new_height / $split_size); $winning_string = ''; $image_names = ''; $src = imagecreatefromjpeg($image_file); $dest = imagecreatetruecolor($split_size, $split_size); for ($y = 0; $y < $y_comp; $y++) { for ($i = 0; $i < $x_comp; $i++) { $characters = 'abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz'; $ran_string = ''; for ($p = 0; $p < 4; $p++) { $ran_string .= $characters[mt_rand(0, strlen($characters) - 1)]; } imagecopy($dest, $src, 0, 0, $i * $split_size, $y * $split_size, $split_size, $split_size); imagejpeg($dest, "images/$ran_string.jpg"); $winning_string .= $ran_string; $image_names .= $ran_string . ","; } } $image_names = substr($image_names, 0, -1); $images = explode(',', $image_names); shuffle($images); ?> </pre> <p><strong>Code Explanation</strong></p> <ul> <li>First you have to provide the name of your image in the <strong>$image_file</strong> variable. I have used puzzle.jpg as the name and it should be on the same path as the file which contains the above php code.</li> <li>In line 8 you see the variable <strong>$split_size</strong>. It is defined in pixels and you can change the value if you want. I have used 150. So the image will be split into parts of <strong>150px * 150px</strong> images.</li> <li>Also make sure total width and height of your image is a multiple of 150. If it is not a multiple of 150 some parts of the original image will be removed when split.</li> <li>Then in line 54 you should specify a folder for the split images to be stored. I have used the folder name as <strong>images</strong>.</li> </ul> <p>Now what you have to do is download the tutorial files first. Then copy it to your web server and give necessary permissions to folders. Then open the <strong>split.php</strong> file and make the changes mentioned above or keep the default values.</p> <p>Once you execute it in the browser you will get a output like the following.</p> <p><img alt="Puzzle Winning and Load Strings" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-70418" height="65" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Screenshot-16.png" title="Puzzle Winning and Load Strings" width="570" /></p> <p>You should keep both <strong><em>Winning String</em></strong> and <strong><em>Load String</em></strong> as shown in the above screen. Now we are done with the image split. So lets move onto the next section.</p> <h2>Creating the Puzzle Using Jquery</h2> <p>I have already created images for our puzzle in the images folder. Now we have to create the puzzle by loading the puzzle images. Before that we need to enable Drag and Drop support using Jquery UI library. So I’ll show you the necessary files to be included.</p> <p>I have downloaded and included the necessary files of jQuery UI Library in the tutorial files. You can use the following code to include the files related to our tutorial.</p> <pre class="brush: xml; title: ; notranslate"> <html lang='en'> <head> <title>Jquery Drag and Drop Puzzle</title> <script src="jquery-1.7.2.js" type="text/javascript"></script> <script src="ui/jquery.ui.core.js" type="text/javascript"></script> <script src="ui/jquery.ui.widget.js" type="text/javascript"></script> <script src="ui/jquery.ui.mouse.js" type="text/javascript"></script> <script src="ui/jquery.ui.sortable.js" type="text/javascript"></script> <link rel="stylesheet" href="demos.css"> </head> <body> </body> </html> </pre> <p>In the code you can see the file called <strong>jquery.ui.sortable.js</strong>. It is used to handle the drag and drop and then sort the items inside the given container. This is called <strong>Sortable in Jquery UI</strong> library. Once you make an element sortable, you will be able to both drag and drop items inside that element. You can make item sortable using the following code.</p> <p><strong>Jquery Code for Making Unordered List Sortable</strong></p> <pre class="brush: jscript; title: ; notranslate"> $("#sortable").sortable(); </pre> <p><strong>Unordered List with Items</strong></p> <pre class="brush: xml; title: ; notranslate"> <ul id='sortable'> <li>Item 1</li> <li>Item 2</li> </ul> </pre> <p>Above codes will enable <strong>sortable event</strong> on all the <strong>li</strong> items inside the <strong>ul</strong> container with the id <strong>sortable</strong></p> <p><strong>Basic CSS Styles for Sortable Element</strong></p> <pre class="brush: css; title: ; notranslate"> <style type='text/css'> #sortable { list-style-type: none; margin: 0; padding: 0; } #sortable li { float: left;} .msg_text{ text-align: center; padding: 20px; font-size: 30px; text-shadow: 1px 1px 1px rgb(21, 23, 28); } </style> </pre> <h2>Loading Images for the Drag and Drop Puzzle</h2> <p><img alt="Puzzle Before Starting" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-70419" height="252" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Screenshot-14.png" title="Puzzle Before Starting" width="570" /></p> <p>Now I am going to display the image parts as puzzle. We can use the following PHP code with small configurations to load the images. This code is located in <strong>puzzle.php</strong> file on the project folder. You can run the puzzle.php file in your web server to directly execute the demo. Now get ready with the <strong>Winning String</strong> we created earlier.</p> <pre class="brush: php; title: ; notranslate"> <?php $image_names = "ilsc,scmz,lsea,derv,logi,eyen,vkxl,ihrx,mwgc,bwdk,rfwb,oezh"; $images = explode(',', $image_names); shuffle($images); $new_width = "900"; $new_height= "300"; $split_size= "150"; echo "<ul id='sortable' style='width:" . $new_width . "px;height:" . $new_height . "px;'>"; foreach ($images as $key => $image_name) { echo "<li class='ui-state-default' id='recordArr_$image_name' style='width:" . $split_size . "px;height:" . $split_size . "px;'> <img src='images/$image_name.jpg' /></li>"; } echo "</ul>"; ?> </pre> <p><strong>Code Explanation</strong></p> <ul> <li>First enter the <strong>Load String</strong> we generated earlier into the variable called <strong>$image_names</strong>. Keep it as it is if you are going to use the default demo.</li> <li>Each time you change the image of your puzzle and split it with the <strong>split.php</strong> file, you have to assign the <strong>Load String</strong> here.</li> <li>Then we have variables called <strong>$new_width and $new_height</strong>. These values should be defined according to the number of parts in your puzzle.</li> <li>We created <strong>150px * 150px</strong> images and we have 6 images horizontally since original image I used was 900*300px. So <strong>$new_width</strong> should be 150*6 = 900. Also we have 2 images vertically. So <strong>$new_height</strong> should be 150*2 = 300. Configure those values according to size of your image. Also <strong>$split_size</strong> is set to 150 since we are using 150*150 images.</li> <li>Then we load all the images for the puzzle inside unordered list. You don’t have to do anything there.</li> <li>Now we have completed displaying the puzzle images.</li> </ul> <p><strong><em><br /> You can see the puzzle on your screen and try to drag and drop images. You must be wondering why the puzzle is not working. That’s because we haven’t made the puzzle sortable yet. That’s where the magic happens. So lets make it sortable.</em></strong></p> <h2>Making the Puzzle Sortable</h2> <p><img alt="Puzzle After Starting" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-70420" height="242" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Screenshot-15.png" title="Puzzle After Starting" width="570" /></p> <p>Include the following code snippet on the head section of your document after the <strong>js</strong> and <strong>css</strong> files.</p> <pre class="brush: jscript; title: ; notranslate"> <script type="text/javascript"> $(function() { $("#sortable").sortable({ opacity: 0.6, cursor: 'move', update: function() { } }); }); </script> </pre> <p>Now you can drag and drop the images and you will be able to see that images are changing in the puzzle. But there is no way you can check whether puzzle is solved or not unless its a very simple one. So now I am going to tell you how to check whether puzzle is solved using a very simple method.</p> <h2>Identify the Winning Moment</h2> <p><img alt="Winning Moment of Puzzle" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-70421" height="255" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Screenshot-17.png" title="Winning Moment of Puzzle" width="570" /></p> <p>Here is the code that will notify you when the puzzle is solved. Include it inside the update function of the code we created in the previous section</p> <pre class="brush: jscript; title: ; notranslate"> <script type="text/javascript"> $(function() { $("#sortable").sortable({ opacity: 0.6, cursor: 'move', update: function() { var winningString = "oezh,rfwb,lsea,vkxl,ihrx,ilsc,eyen,mwgc,derv,logi,bwdk,scmz"; var currentString = ''; $('#sortable li').each(function(){ var imageId = $(this).attr("id"); currentString += imageId.replace("recordArr_", "")+","; }); currentString = currentString.substr(0,(currentString.length) -1); if(currentString == winningString){ alert("You Won"); } } }); }); </script> </pre> <p><strong>Code Explanation</strong></p> <ul> <li>Each time you move an item in the puzzle the update function will be executed.</li> <li>First insert the <strong>Winning String</strong> we got earlier when creating images, into <strong>winningString</strong> variable.</li> <li>Then the code will get the current positions of the images in the puzzle and creates a string with current item order.</li> <li>Next we check whether current string matches the winning string and displays the winning message.</li> </ul> <p><strong><em><br /> We have completed our tutorial on creating puzzles and now you can enjoy creating and solving puzzles.<br /> </em></strong></p> <h2>Bonus Tip</h2> <p><strong>Have you tried fixing the puzzle yet ?</strong></p> <p>You might have done it pretty easily since only 12 parts are available in the demo. But when the number of parts increases it will be very difficult unless you find out the correct method.</p> <blockquote><p><strong><em>If you are a designer or developer who has knowledge in working with HTML DOM, you will be able to find the correct method. Drag and drop images a few times and see how the images are positioning. Then try to match that with how the HTML DOM works when you add and remove elements dynamically. I am sure that you will be able to figure it out.</em></strong></p></blockquote> <p>So you can learn about the DOM while having fun with fixing puzzles. Let me know if you figure it out using the comments section.</p> <h2>Whats Next?</h2> <p>Now we have completed creating a basic puzzle using jQuery drag and drop features. What we did was manually create image parts using some php code and including those parts of the puzzle. You can extend this by allowing users to upload images and create the image parts dynamically. Then allow the users to select the puzzle from a dropdown and fix it. So you will be able to create puzzles out of any image.</p> <p><strong>Sounds good right ? Here is some more functionality you can include in your puzzle.</strong></p> <p><strong>1. Assign a time to fix the puzzle in a given time period using javascript setTimeout function.</strong></p> <p><img alt="Puzzle with Time " class="alignnone size-full wp-image-70382" height="247" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Screenshot-9.png" title="Puzzle with Time " width="570" /></p> <p><strong>2.Save image names in a database table with correct order and provide a score on how many parts have been completed inside the given time.</strong></p> <p><img alt="Display Puzzle Score" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-70405" height="281" src="http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Screenshot-10.png" title="Display Puzzle Score" width="570" /></p> <p>You can extend these features and create a puzzle site for users very easily. Let me know if you have any questions regarding using these puzzles or extending features. Use the instructions in the project files to execute the demo properly. Hope to hear from you.</p> <div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/1stwebdesigner?a=0Q9R3ZJJRVc:Qi2w-S9RZ6s:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/1stwebdesigner?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/1stwebdesigner?a=0Q9R3ZJJRVc:Qi2w-S9RZ6s:7Q72WNTAKBA"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/1stwebdesigner?d=7Q72WNTAKBA" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/1stwebdesigner?a=0Q9R3ZJJRVc:Qi2w-S9RZ6s:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/1stwebdesigner?i=0Q9R3ZJJRVc:Qi2w-S9RZ6s:F7zBnMyn0Lo" /></a> </div><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/1stwebdesigner/~4/0Q9R3ZJJRVc" width="1" />

<p>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!<br />  <br /> Here are the various means of entry:<br />  <br /> - Follow <a href="http://www.twitter.com/Depositphotos">@Depositphotos</a> on Twitter<br /> - Like the <a href="http://www.facebook.com/DepositPhotosEN">Depositphotos (English)</a> Facebook page<br /> - Tweet about this giveaway - you can find the premade tweet in the PunchTab app<br /> - Like the You The Designer blog (we know you do, it’s just that sometimes we need reminding!)<br /> - Leave a comment on this post saying what you’ll use the subscription and the print credits for<br /> - 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!<br /> - Give the <a href="https://plus.google.com/116824150281780256954/">You The Designer Google+ page</a> a +1</p> <p> <br /> <strong>Make sure you do all that via the PunchTab app</strong> so all your entries are counted! As usual, the more times you enter, the better your chances of winning.<br />  <br /> <center></center><br />  <br /> Giveaway ends on <strong>Saturday, June 16, 2012, midnight PST. International except where prohibited.</strong><br />  <br /> 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.<br />  <br /> 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.<br />  <br /> Now that you’ve read all that, start submitting your entries and good luck, everyone!<br />  <br /> <em>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></em><br />  <br /> <em>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!</em></p> <p>  Read more posts by <a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/author/cadence/" rel="author">Cadence Wu</a></p><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/YouTheDesigner/~4/6V4eEMK19_M" width="1" />

<p>This week, as I was browsing <em>The New Yorker</em> 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 — </p> <p> </p> <p><em>“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!’”</em></p> <p>  </p> <p>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! </p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Bonnaroo 2012</strong></p> <p>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"><strong>here</strong></a>.</p> <p> </p> <p><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></p> <p> <br />  </p> <p><strong>Gallery 1988 - “Excuuuuuse Meeeeeeeee”</strong></p> <p>One of our favorite galleries is holding an exhibit that’s beyond awesome for words. Gallery1988 Venice will be holding <strong>“Excuuuuuse Meeeeeeeee,”</strong> 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!</p> <p><em>Images from <a href="http://g1988.tumblr.com/post/24405864636/this-friday-at-g1988-venice-we-open-excuuuuuuse" target="_blank">G1988</a></em></p> <p> </p> <p><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></p> <p> </p> <p><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></p> <p> </p> <p><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></p> <p> </p> <p><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></p> <p> <br />  </p> <p><strong>WordCamp New York City 2012</strong></p> <p>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"><strong>here</strong></a>.</p> <p> </p> <p><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></p> <p> <br />  </p> <p><strong>Asketic Riga - getCirulis</strong></p> <p>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! </p> <p> </p> <p><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></p> <p> </p> <p><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></p> <p> </p> <p><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></p> <p> <br />  </p> <p><strong>AFA - Maurice Sendak Retrospective Exhibit</strong></p> <p>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>. </p> <p> </p> <p><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></p> <p> </p> <p><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></p> <p> </p> <p><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></p> <p> <br />  </p> <p><strong>The Innovation Whiteboard</strong></p> <p>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. </p> <p> </p> <p><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></p> <p> </p> <p><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></p> <p> <br />  </p> <p>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! </p> <p>  Read more posts by <a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/author/chin/" rel="author">Chin de Vera</a></p><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/YouTheDesigner/~4/a6hvP3cXl_w" width="1" />

<p>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.</p> <p> </p> <p>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.<br />  </p> <p><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><br /> <em>Upon first inspection, raster and vector graphics will basically look the same way. The difference becomes apparent once reproducing the design becomes an issue.</em></p> <p> </p> <p><strong><br /> <h3>Raster Graphics</h3> <p></strong></p> <p>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.</p> <p> </p> <p>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.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Why it’s not for any logo project</strong></p> <p>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.</p> <p> </p> <p><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><br /> <em>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.</em> </p> <p> </p> <p>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.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>What’s it for?</strong></p> <p>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.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong><br /> <h3>Vector Graphics</h3> <p></strong><br /> 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.<br />  <br /> 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.<br />  <br /> <strong>Why it’s used in creating logos</strong><br /> 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.<br />  </p> <p><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><br /> <em>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.</em><br />  </p> <p><strong>Other applications</strong></p> <p>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.</p> <p> </p> <p>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>. </p> <p>  Read more posts by <a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/author/cadence/" rel="author">Cadence Wu</a></p><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/YouTheDesigner/~4/NbyxvDmYX_E" width="1" />

<p>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.</p> <p> <br /> Going into the things I dug up the past weekend, here are some amazing graphic design samples, illustrators, and their artwork:</p> <p> <br />  <br /> <strong>Emma Block – Illustrator</strong></p> <p>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.<br />  <br /> <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><br />  <br /> <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><br />  <br /> <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><br />  <br /> <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><br />  <br /> <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></p> <p> <br />  <br /> <strong>Chibi Tarot – A Cute Take on an Ancient Tradition</strong></p> <p>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.<br />  <br /> <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><br />  <br /> <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><br />  <br /> <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><br />  <br /> <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><br />  <br /> <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></p> <p> <br />  <br /> <strong>Conrad Roset – Illustrator</strong></p> <p>A common muse among graphic artists and illustrators is the image of a woman. <a href="  <br /> <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><br />  <br /> <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><br />  <br /> <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><br />  <br /> <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><br />  <br /> <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></p> <p> <br />  <br /> <strong>Movie Posters by Neil Kellerhouse</strong></p> <p>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 <em>The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo</em>, <em>The Social Network</em>, and <em>I’m Still Here </em>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.<br />  <br /> <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><br />  <br /> <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><br />  <br /> <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><br />  <br /> <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><br />  <br /> <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></p> <p> <br />  <br /> <strong>The Great Showdowns – Scott Campbell</strong></p> <p>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!<br />  <br /> <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><br />  <br /> <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></p> <p> <br />  <br /> <strong>Project: Rooftop</strong></p> <p><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.<br />  <br /> <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><br />  <br /> <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><br />  <br /> <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><br />  <br /> <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><br />  <br /> <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><br />  <br />  <br /> <strong>Vintage Book Collection by Mallory McInnis</strong></p> <p>“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>.<br />  <br /> <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><br />  <br /> <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><br />  <br /> <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><br />  <br /> <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><br />  <br /> <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></p> <p>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>. </p> <p>  Read more posts by <a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/author/victor/" rel="author">Victor Pontejos</a></p><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/YouTheDesigner/~4/MVnVWKIh9To" width="1" />

<p><em>The New Yorker</em> is one of the few magazines that featured illustrated cover art since its first issue in 1925. 47 issues are released yearly, and each cover is composed of the magazine’s iconic nameplate, a full bleed illustration, and a narrow vertical strip of color on the left. The design, type, and style of the magazine from 1925 until today depicts <em>The New Yorker</em>’s social and cultural awareness, thanks to one man. The signature typeface is Irvin named after its creator, Rea Irvin, who also served as the magazine’s first art director and also created the Eustace Tilley portrait that graced the cover of the first issue. </p> <p> </p> <p>Tilley appears yearly on the cover of the issue closest to February 21, the magazine’s anniversary, except in 1994. He is a dandy wearing a morning coat and a top hat. On the initial cover and succeeding anniversary issues, he’s seen peering keenly at a butterfly with his monocle. </p> <p> </p> <p><center><a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Rea-Irvin-NY-02-21-1925.jpg"><img alt="Rea Irvin NY 02-21-1925 via YoutheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26418" height="834" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Rea-Irvin-NY-02-21-1925.jpg" title="Rea Irvin NY 02-21-1925 via YoutheDesigner.com" width="600" /></a></center></p> <p> </p> <p>What we like most about the covers of <em>The New Yorker</em> is how its current Art Director, Françoise Mouly, asks the artists she works with to not hold anything back in their sketches. The results are often covers that inspire discussion, sometimes even earning the ire of the easily-offended. </p> <p> </p> <p>Issues of <em>The New Yorker</em> have become collectibles because aside from chronicling political and cultural developments, they also make great <a href="http://www.uprinting.com/poster-printing.html?utm_source=youthedesigner.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=gdm_ytd_0612" target="_blank">posters</a> and wallpaper art. Here are magazine cover art samples from different illustrators whose work have graced the magazine. </p> <p> <br />  </p> <p><center><a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Ray-Rohn-NY-03-28-1925.jpg"><img alt="Ray Rohn NY 03-28-1925 via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26438" height="844" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Ray-Rohn-NY-03-28-1925.jpg" title="Ray Rohn NY 03-28-1925 via YouTheDesigner.com" width="600" /></a></center></p> <p> </p> <p><center><a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Max-Ree-10-17-1925.jpg"><img alt="Max Ree 10-17-1925 via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26437" height="810" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Max-Ree-10-17-1925.jpg" title="Max Ree 10-17-1925 via YouTheDesigner.com" width="600" /></a></center></p> <p> </p> <p><center><a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Toyo-San-NY-04-02-1927.jpg"><img alt="Toyo San NY 04-02-1927 via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26439" height="827" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Toyo-San-NY-04-02-1927.jpg" title="Toyo San NY 04-02-1927 via YouTheDesigner.com" width="600" /></a></center></p> <p> </p> <p><center><a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Ilonka-Karasz-NY-04-16-1927.jpg"><img alt="Ilonka Karasz NY 04-16-1927 via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26436" height="827" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Ilonka-Karasz-NY-04-16-1927.jpg" title="Ilonka Karasz NY 04-16-1927 via YouTheDesigner.com" width="600" /></a></center></p> <p> </p> <p><center><a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Witold-Gordon-NY-06-1-1946.jpg"><img alt="Witold Gordon NY 06-1-1946 via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26444" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Witold-Gordon-NY-06-1-1946.jpg" title="Witold Gordon NY 06-1-1946 via YouTheDesigner.com" /></a></center></p> <p> </p> <p><center><a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Abe-Birnbaum-03-77-1962.jpg"><img alt="Abe Birnbaum NY 03-77-1962 via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26426" height="811" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Abe-Birnbaum-03-77-1962.jpg" title="Abe Birnbaum NY 03-77-1962 via YouTheDesigner.com" width="600" /></a></center></p> <p> </p> <p><center><a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Arthur-Getz-NY-12-18-1965.jpg"><img alt="Arthur Getz NY 12-18-1965 via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26440" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Arthur-Getz-NY-12-18-1965.jpg" title="Arthur Getz NY 12-18-1965 via YouTheDesigner.com" /></a></center></p> <p> </p> <p><center><a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Ronald-Searle-NY-05-06-1972.jpg"><img alt="Ronald Searle NY 05-06-1972 via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26442" height="834" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Ronald-Searle-NY-05-06-1972.jpg" title="Ronald Searle NY 05-06-1972 via YouTheDesigner.com" width="600" /></a></center></p> <p> </p> <p><center><a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Saul-Steinberg-NY-03-29-1976.jpg"><img alt="Saul Steinberg NY 03-29-1976 via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26443" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Saul-Steinberg-NY-03-29-1976.jpg" title="Saul Steinberg NY 03-29-1976 via YouTheDesigner.com" /></a></center></p> <p> </p> <p><center><a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Pamela-Paparone-NY-09-19-1988.jpg"><img alt="Pamela Paparone NY 09-19-1988 via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26441" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Pamela-Paparone-NY-09-19-1988.jpg" title="Pamela Paparone NY 09-19-1988 via YouTheDesigner.com" /></a></center></p> <p> </p> <p><center><a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Warren-Miller-NY-10-29-1990.jpg"><img alt="Warren Miller NY 10-29-1990 via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26451" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Warren-Miller-NY-10-29-1990.jpg" title="Warren Miller NY 10-29-1990 via YouTheDesigner.com" /></a></center></p> <p> </p> <p><center><a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Art-Spiegelman-NY-02-15-1993.jpg"><img alt="Art Spiegelman NY 02-15-1993 via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26431" height="789" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Art-Spiegelman-NY-02-15-1993.jpg" title="Art Spiegelman NY 02-15-1993 via YouTheDesigner.com" width="600" /></a></center></p> <p> </p> <p><center><a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Art-Spiegelman-NY-05-10-1993.jpg"><img alt="Art Spiegelman NY 05-10-1993 via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26432" height="789" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Art-Spiegelman-NY-05-10-1993.jpg" title="Art Spiegelman NY 05-10-1993 via YouTheDesigner.com" width="600" /></a></center></p> <p> </p> <p><center><a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Barry-Blitt-NY-06-17-1996.jpg"><img alt="Barry Blitt NY 06-17-1996 via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26445" height="802" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Barry-Blitt-NY-06-17-1996.jpg" title="Barry Blitt NY 06-17-1996 via YouTheDesigner.com" width="600" /></a></center></p> <p> </p> <p><center><a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Charles-Burns-NY-07-29-1996.jpg"><img alt="Charles Burns NY 07-29-1996 via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26446" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Charles-Burns-NY-07-29-1996.jpg" title="Charles Burns NY 07-29-1996 via YouTheDesigner.com" /></a></center></p> <p> </p> <p><center><a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Michael-Roberts-NY-11-04-1996.jpg"><img alt="Michael Roberts NY 11-04-1996 via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26448" height="792" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Michael-Roberts-NY-11-04-1996.jpg" title="Michael Roberts NY 11-04-1996 via YouTheDesigner.com" width="600" /></a></center></p> <p> </p> <p><center><a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Anita-Kunz-03-10-1997.jpg"><img alt="Anita Kunz NY 03-10-1997 via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26430" height="807" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Anita-Kunz-03-10-1997.jpg" title="Anita Kunz NY 03-10-1997 via YouTheDesigner.com" width="600" /></a></center></p> <p> </p> <p><center><a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Art-Spiegelman-NY-05-26-1997.jpg"><img alt="Art Spiegelman NY 05-26-1997 via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26433" height="797" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Art-Spiegelman-NY-05-26-1997.jpg" title="Art Spiegelman NY 05-26-1997 via YouTheDesigner.com" width="600" /></a></center></p> <p> </p> <p><center><a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/R.-Sikoryak-NY-09-15-1997.jpg"><img alt="R. Sikoryak NY 09-15-1997 via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26450" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/R.-Sikoryak-NY-09-15-1997.jpg" title="R. Sikoryak NY 09-15-1997 via YouTheDesigner.com" /></a></center></p> <p> </p> <p><center><a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Mankoff-NY-12-15-1997.jpg"><img alt="Mankoff NY 12-15-1997 via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26447" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Mankoff-NY-12-15-1997.jpg" title="Mankoff NY 12-15-1997 via YouTheDesigner.com" /></a></center></p> <p> </p> <p><center><a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Owen-Smith-NY-12-27-1999-01-03-2000.jpg"><img alt="Owen Smith NY 12-27-1999 01-03-2000 via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26449" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Owen-Smith-NY-12-27-1999-01-03-2000.jpg" title="Owen Smith NY 12-27-1999 01-03-2000 via YouTheDesigner.com" /></a></center></p> <p> </p> <p><center><a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Ana-Juan-NY-07-31-2000.jpg"><img alt="Ana Juan NY 07-31-2000 via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26428" height="811" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Ana-Juan-NY-07-31-2000.jpg" title="Ana Juan NY 07-31-2000 via YouTheDesigner.com" width="600" /></a></center></p> <p> </p> <p><center><a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Art-Spiegelman-NY-12-18-2000.jpg"><img alt="Art Spiegelman NY 12-18-2000 via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26435" height="840" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Art-Spiegelman-NY-12-18-2000.jpg" title="Art Spiegelman NY 12-18-2000 via YouTheDesigner.com" width="600" /></a></center></p> <p> </p> <p><center><a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Art-Spiegelman-NY-09-24-2001.jpg"><img alt="Art Spiegelman NY 09-24-2001 via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26434" height="828" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Art-Spiegelman-NY-09-24-2001.jpg" title="Art Spiegelman NY 09-24-2001 via YouTheDesigner.com" width="600" /></a></center></p> <p> </p> <p><center><a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Barry-Blitt-NY-07-21-2008.jpg"><img alt="Barry Blitt NY 07-21-2008 via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26457" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Barry-Blitt-NY-07-21-2008.jpg" title="Barry Blitt NY 07-21-2008 via YouTheDesigner.com" /></a></center></p> <p> </p> <p><center><a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Barry-Blitt-NY-02-01-2010.jpg"><img alt="Barry Blitt NY 02-01-2010 via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26456" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Barry-Blitt-NY-02-01-2010.jpg" title="Barry Blitt NY 02-01-2010 via YouTheDesigner.com" /></a></center></p> <p> </p> <p><center><a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Ana-Juan-NY-03-29-2010.jpg"><img alt="Ana Juan NY 03-29-2010 via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26427" height="820" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Ana-Juan-NY-03-29-2010.jpg" title="Ana Juan NY 03-29-2010 via YouTheDesigner.com" width="600" /></a></center></p> <p> </p> <p><center><a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Richard-McGuire-NY-06-28-2010.jpg"><img alt="Richard McGuire NY 06-28-2010 via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26458" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Richard-McGuire-NY-06-28-2010.jpg" title="Richard McGuire NY 06-28-2010 via YouTheDesigner.com" /></a></center></p> <p> </p> <p><center><a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Ana-Juan-NY-09-12-2011.jpg"><img alt="Ana Juan NY 09-12-2011 via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26429" height="820" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Ana-Juan-NY-09-12-2011.jpg" title="Ana Juan NY 09-12-2011 via YouTheDesigner.com" width="600" /></a></center></p> <p> </p> <p><em>All images used are from <a href="http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/" target="_blank">The New Yorker Archives</a></em></p> <p> </p> <p>See more samples of covers of different magazines, books, and comics by browsing through our <a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/?s=covers" target="_blank">archives</a>. You can also tell us about the covers that caught your attention through our <a href="http://facebook.com/youthedesigner" target="_blank">Facebook</a> or <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/youthedesigner" target="_blank">Twitter</a> accounts! </p> <p>  Read more posts by <a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/author/cadence/" rel="author">Cadence Wu</a></p><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/YouTheDesigner/~4/03DMSpyOni4" width="1" />

<p>Thank you to everyone who participated in this <a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/2012/05/28/thelogolab-com-uprinting-com-logo-design-business-cards-giveaway/">giveaway</a>! We’re also notifying the winners via email, but here’s so you know the chosen winners and what they’ll do with their prizes:<br />  <br /> <center><img src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/thelogolab....png" /></center><br />  <br /> <strong><a href="http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youthedesigner.com%2F2012%2F05%2F28%2Fthelogolab-com-uprinting-com-logo-design-business-cards-giveaway%2F%3Ffb_comment_id%3Dfbc_10150903845317485_22973493_10150941415942485&h=NAQEdoEwe">Christian Waite</a></strong> will be using the logo and cards to kickstart a Visual Effects company.<br />  <br /> <strong><a href="http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youthedesigner.com%2F2012%2F05%2F28%2Fthelogolab-com-uprinting-com-logo-design-business-cards-giveaway%2F%3Ffb_comment_id%3Dfbc_10150903845317485_22956438_10150937625742485&h=IAQGvgDs9">Andrea Miller Gomez</a></strong> will use the logo and cards for her husband’s music composition / film scoring website.<br />  <br /> <strong><a href="http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youthedesigner.com%2F2012%2F05%2F28%2Fthelogolab-com-uprinting-com-logo-design-business-cards-giveaway%2F%3Ffb_comment_id%3Dfbc_10150903845317485_22982720_10150943093632485&h=xAQHQG8zO">Monique Jones</a></strong> will use the logo and cards for a nonprofit she’s started.<br />  <br /> Congratulations to all the winners! Lucian and I will be corresponding with you via email shortly.<br />  <br /> This giveaway has also inspired me to start a series of posts about logo design, starting with <a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/2012/06/05/logo-design-the-color-and-the-shape/">color and shape</a>. A number of you entered this giveaway to get another logo designer’s perspective into your own work. Even if you didn’t win, you can still discuss logo design with others here on You The Designer until the end of the month!<br />  <br /> By all means, YTD readers, this is not the last giveaway we’re planning for the year, especially since we’ve been talking with other potential sponsors. So make sure that you <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/YouTheDesigner">subscribe</a> or <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/youthedesigner">follow</a> us using the <a href="http://www.facebook.com/youthedesigner">channel</a> of your <a href="https://plus.google.com/116824150281780256954/">choice</a>!</p> <p>  Read more posts by <a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/author/cadence/" rel="author">Cadence Wu</a></p><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/YouTheDesigner/~4/rJT6-85DBW4" width="1" />

<p>I know I just ripped the title off Foo Fighters’ 1997 album. But what can I do? I find the album’s title relevant to graphic design, particularly in logo design. If you’re going to look closely at any logo, it’s actually the color and the shape that define a logo’s uniqueness and memorability.<br />  <br /> The primary aim of a logo is to be distinguishable and memorable to the public. Most logos designed today look simple yet effective in portraying the company they represent. Just look at logos from companies that in the food industry and notice the dominance of the colors yellow and red on their logos. These colors are used by companies because of their effects on human judgment and behavior, especially to appetite.<br />  </p> <p><strong>The Psychology of Color</strong></p> <p>There have been various studies regarding the effects of colors on a person’s performance, attitude, and behavior. One particularstudy shows how the colors red and blue affect a person’s performance in different tasks. It proves that colors, in one way or another, do have an effect on people.<br />  </p> <p><center><img alt="Color Infographic from Print Media Centr via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26367" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/color-infographic.png" title="" /></center><br /> <em>You can check out more about different colors and their corresponding effect and meaning on Infographic: The Psychology of <a href="http://printmediacentr.com/2011/02/infographic-the-psychology-of-color-for-web-design/" target="_blank"><em>Color for Web Design</em></a></em><br />  <br /> Companies have learned to use these psychological studies and have applied them in their modern branding. You’ll notice that different companies today align their designs based on classic and proven design tactics — from using red and yellow for the food industry, blue for corporate and finance businesses, and so on.<br />  <br />  <br /> <strong>Shape and Details</strong></p> <p>We recognize logos by the form they take, next to that we remember the color normally associated with them. An ideal example would be the Coca-Cola logo. Every time we see the Spencerian script used on their bottles and cans we automatically remember the brand. Other examples would include much of the social websites that we use every day – from Facebook’s “F” on a blue backdrop to Twitter’s “T” on light blue and so on.<br />  </p> <p><center><img alt="Logo Typography: Logo on Pico from Maniackers Design via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26371" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/pico-on-twitter.jpg" title="" /></center><center>(<a href="  <em>Pico – the typeface that was used to create Twitter’s logo, it has been modified to accommodate the hip and informative site that provides real time news and information.</em><br />  </p> <p><center><img alt="Logo Typography: Logo on Pico from Aaron Hunt via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26368" height="249" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/kavika-on-facebook.gif" title="" width="450" /></center><center>(<a href="http://webdevrefinery.com/forums/topic/2708-large-icon-for-facebook/page__p__18934#entry18934" target="_blank">Source</a>)</center><br />  <em>Facebook’s logo is from a modified Klavika typeface. It was tailored to make the whole look and feel of the logo more streamlined. </em><br />  <br /> As companies and other entities invest in getting themselves and their products online, proper branding further becomes a necessity. As the web is a more graphic place than the real world, people will be more attracted to proper, compact, and well-designed logos that suit their lifestyles.<br />  <br />  <br /> <strong>Color vs. Shape?</strong></p> <p>An important issue in creating a corporate logo is choosing between type- or symbol-based designs. There are different advantages between these two types of logos. We’ve featured an article before presenting how typographic and symbol logos work, and how a choice combination of both works for different companies as well. However, the color and the shape of a logo are inherent elements of a company logo. Since the logo will represent the breadth of the company, it will visualize the type of business, the philosophy, and the commitment of the company to its vision and goal.<br />  </p> <p><center><img alt="Logo Design: Open University London Logo from David Airey via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26370" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/logo-minus-color.jpg" title="" /></center><br />  <br /> <em> An example from David Airey’s article, <a href="http://www.davidairey.com/what-makes-a-good-logo/" target="_blank"><em>What Makes a Good Logo?</em></a> the logo used above can be considered as a flexible and dynamic logo. Even without the color or accompanying text it still stands out as a logo for the Open University.</em><br />  <br /> In creating a logo, the designer must always consider that his design may be used in different media by the company. These media may range from corporate stationery, such as business cards and letterheads, to print and digital advertisements, company products, and so on. In this context, the logo’s design must be flexible to the different constrains that these media provide. </p> <p> <br />  <br /> <strong>Design for Flexibility</strong></p> <p>I’d prefer a logo that’s flexible and dynamic – a design that requires little to no alteration, and that is relevant to both time and the company’s target market. If you’re going to look at decades – or even century old companies, you’ll notice how most of them barely changed their logo. Ideal examples are GE and Levi’s branding.<br />  </p> <p><center><img alt="Campbell Letterhead from Letterheady.com via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26366" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/campbells-letterhead.jpg" title="" /></center><center>(<a href="http://www.letterheady.com/post/10723103372/campbells" target="_blank">Source</a>)</center><br />  <em>Campbell’s Soups’ logo is so flexible it’s been used as a <a href="http://www.uprinting.com/letterhead-printing.html?utm_source=youthedesigner.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=gdm_ytd_0612" target="_blank"><em>letterhead</em></a> by the company. It even became part of a pop culture icon, The Campbell’s Soup Cans by Andy Warhol.</em><br />  <br />  <br /> <center><img alt="Vintage Levi's Billboard from Hotboots.com via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26369" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/levis-billboard.jpg" title="" /></center><center>(<a href="http://www.hotboots.com/levis.html" target="_blank">Source</a>)</center><br />  <em>Levi’s iconic name and the red tab are easily recognizable even from afar and on different advertising media.</em><br />  <br /> The choices involved in creating a logo will still fall on the designer’s hands. If he chooses to apply a combination of shape, type, and color, it’s his call. But a designer must also learn that his client will still have the final say on the logo’s final form. </p> <p>If you’ve got logo design tips you’d like to share with us, or some interesting logo design facts, just hit us up via <a href="http://www.facebook.com/youthedesigner" target="_blank">Facebook </a>or <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/youthedesigner" target="_blank">Twitter</a>. </p> <p>We’ve planned a month-long series of articles related to logo design, so make sure to subscribe to our <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/YouTheDesigner" target="_blank">RSS Feed</a>, too! </p> <p>  Read more posts by <a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/author/cadence/" rel="author">Cadence Wu</a></p><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/YouTheDesigner/~4/6mHc3Fd5abI" width="1" />

<p>As I was going through some blogs I follow, I noticed that one of them brought up this question: If you had to take one <a href="http://www.uprinting.com/poster-printing.html?utm_source=youthedesigner.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=gdm_ytd_0612" target="_blank">poster</a> that was on your wall in middle school and hang it in your house today, which would you choose? I thought hard about it, and came up with two photos I had on my wall when I was growing up. The first is a photo of Paul McCartney with a baby peeking out of his jacket, and the other is the John Lennon and Yoko Ono Rolling Stone magazine cover. Both photos made me think of the women who took them, and their careers in a male-dominated industry.</p> <p> </p> <p>Each of the three women photographers featured in this article took hundreds of photos that show a plethora of emotions on subjects that are often relatable yet sometimes offbeat. Read on and enjoy the photos of Linda McCartney, Diane Arbus, and Annie Leibovitz. Tell us about your favorite photographers and their work through <a href="http://facebook.com/youthedesigner" target="_blank">Facebook</a> or <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/youthedesigner" target="_blank">Twitter</a>!</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Linda McCartney</strong></p> <p>Linda McCartney is an accomplished artist in her own right. She’s remembered for many things such as her animal rights activism and vegetarianism, and she captured photos of the Swinging Sixties depicting that era during its heyday. The fact that she’s married to a Beatle (and the cutest Beatle, at that) did not overshadow her talent in photography. Her images include those of some famous musicians such as the Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, Bob Dylan, and Aretha Franklin.</p> <p> </p> <p><center><a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Linda-McCartney-Brian-Jones-and-Mick-Jagger.jpg"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26304" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Linda-McCartney-Brian-Jones-and-Mick-Jagger.jpg" title="Linda McCartney - Brian Jones and Mick Jagger" /></a></center><center><a href="http://www.rollingstone.com/music/pictures/photos-linda-mccartneys-shots-of-paul-and-other-iconic-musicians-20110429/brian-jones-and-mick-jagger-0689936" target="_blank">Source</a></center> </p> <p><center><a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Linda-McCartney-Jimi-Hendrix.jpg"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26305" height="886" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Linda-McCartney-Jimi-Hendrix.jpg" title="Linda McCartney - Jimi Hendrix" width="600" /></a></center><center><a href="http://everyday-i-show.livejournal.com/121371.html" target="_blank">Source</a></center> </p> <p><center><a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Linda-McCartney-Johnny-and-Kate.jpg"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26306" height="914" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Linda-McCartney-Johnny-and-Kate.jpg" title="Linda McCartney - Johnny and Kate" width="600" /></a></center><center><a href="http://everyday-i-show.livejournal.com/121371.html" target="_blank">Source</a></center> </p> <p><center><a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Linda-McCartney-Paul-and-Linda.jpg"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26307" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Linda-McCartney-Paul-and-Linda.jpg" title="Linda McCartney - Paul and Linda" /></a></center><center><a href="http://linda-mccartney.tumblr.com/post/23915495445/100-photos-the-mccartneys-23-100" target="_blank">Source</a></center> </p> <p><center><a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Linda-McCartney-Paul-and-Martha.jpg"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26308" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Linda-McCartney-Paul-and-Martha.jpg" title="Linda McCartney - Paul and Martha" /></a></center><center><a href="http://everyday-i-show.livejournal.com/121371.html" target="_blank">Source</a></center> </p> <p><center><a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Linda-McCartney-Paul-Los-Angeles-1968.jpg"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26309" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Linda-McCartney-Paul-Los-Angeles-1968.jpg" title="Linda McCartney - Paul, Los Angeles 1968" /></a></center><center><a href="http://www.harpersbazaar.com/magazine/feature-articles/linda-mccartney-photographs-0411" target="_blank">Source</a></center> </p> <p><center><a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Linda-McCartney-Paul.jpg"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26310" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Linda-McCartney-Paul.jpg" title="Linda McCartney - Paul" /></a></center><center><a href="http://dollyrockergirl.blogspot.co.uk/2011/11/linda-mccartney-photography-all-in.html" target="_blank">Source</a></center> </p> <p><center><a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Linda-McCartney-The-Grateful-Dead.jpg"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26311" height="397" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Linda-McCartney-The-Grateful-Dead.jpg" title="Linda McCartney - The Grateful Dead" width="600" /></a></center><center><a href="http://everyday-i-show.livejournal.com/121371.html" target="_blank">Source</a></center> </p> <p><center><a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Linda-McCartney-Twiggy.jpg"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26312" height="840" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Linda-McCartney-Twiggy.jpg" title="Linda McCartney - Twiggy" width="600" /></a></center><center><a href="http://everyday-i-show.livejournal.com/121371.html" target="_blank">Source</a></center><br /> <strong>Diane Arbus</strong></p> <p>Diane Arbus came from a privileged family that owned a famous Fifth Avenue department store. Her first photos were for the store’s advertisements. She and her husband, Allan Arbus, contributed to magazines such as Glamour, Harper’s Bazaar, and Vogue. However, they eventually quit commercial photography, with Diane accepting assignments from magazines such as Esquire and The Sunday Times. Some of her well-known photographs show eerie and offbeat subjects. These photos were criticized by other photographers, some saying that the photos fail to make the viewer feel compassionate about Arbus’s subjects.</p> <p> </p> <p><center><a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Diane-Arbus-Young-Man-and-His-Pregnant-Wife-in-Washington-Square-Park.jpg"><img alt="Diane Arbus - Young Man and His Pregnant Wife in Washington Square Park via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26322" height="600" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Diane-Arbus-Young-Man-and-His-Pregnant-Wife-in-Washington-Square-Park.jpg" title="Diane Arbus - Young Man and His Pregnant Wife in Washington Square Park" width="600" /></a></center> </p> <p><center><a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Diane-Arbus-Young-Brooklyn-Family-Going-for-Sunday-Outing-NYC-1966.jpg"><img alt="Diane Arbus - Young Brooklyn Family Going for Sunday Outing NYC 1966 via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26321" height="634" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Diane-Arbus-Young-Brooklyn-Family-Going-for-Sunday-Outing-NYC-1966.jpg" title="Diane Arbus - Young Brooklyn Family Going for Sunday Outing NYC 1966" width="600" /></a></center> </p> <p><center><a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Diane-Arbus-Woman-at-a-Counter-Smoking-NYC.jpg"><img alt="Diane Arbus - Woman at a Counter, Smoking, NYC via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26320" height="611" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Diane-Arbus-Woman-at-a-Counter-Smoking-NYC.jpg" title="Diane Arbus - Woman at a Counter, Smoking, NYC" width="600" /></a></center> </p> <p><center><a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Diane-Arbus-Teenage-couple-on-Hudson-street-New-York-1963.jpg"><img alt="Diane Arbus - Teenage Couple on Hudson street New York 1963 via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26319" height="614" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Diane-Arbus-Teenage-couple-on-Hudson-street-New-York-1963.jpg" title="Diane Arbus - Teenage Couple on Hudson street New York 1963" width="600" /></a></center> </p> <p><center><a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Diane-Arbus-Junior-Interstate-Ballroom-Dance-Champs-Yonkers-NY-1962.jpg"><img alt="Diane Arbus - Junior Interstate Ballroom Dance Champs Yonkers, NY 1962 via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26318" height="636" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Diane-Arbus-Junior-Interstate-Ballroom-Dance-Champs-Yonkers-NY-1962.jpg" title="Diane Arbus - Junior Interstate Ballroom Dance Champs Yonkers, NY 1962" width="600" /></a></center> </p> <p><center><a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Diane-Arbus-Jewish-Giant-taken-at-Home-with-His-Parents-in-the-Bronx-New-York-1970.jpg"><img alt="Diane Arbus - Jewish Giant, taken at Home with His Parents in the Bronx, New York, 1970 via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26317" height="677" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Diane-Arbus-Jewish-Giant-taken-at-Home-with-His-Parents-in-the-Bronx-New-York-1970.jpg" title="Diane Arbus - Jewish Giant, taken at Home with His Parents in the Bronx, New York, 1970" width="600" /></a></center> </p> <p><center><a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Diane-Arbus-Identical-Twins-Roselle-New-Jersey-1967.jpg"><img alt="Diane Arbus - Identical Twins, Roselle, New Jersey, 1967 via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26316" height="613" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Diane-Arbus-Identical-Twins-Roselle-New-Jersey-1967.jpg" title="Diane Arbus - Identical Twins, Roselle, New Jersey, 1967" width="600" /></a></center> </p> <p><center><a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Diane-Arbus-Child-with-Toy-Hand-Grenade-in-Central-Park-New-York-City-1962.jpeg"><img alt="Diane Arbus - Child with Toy Hand Grenade in Central Park, New York City, 1962 via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26315" height="678" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Diane-Arbus-Child-with-Toy-Hand-Grenade-in-Central-Park-New-York-City-1962.jpeg" title="Diane Arbus - Child with Toy Hand Grenade in Central Park, New York City, 1962" width="600" /></a></center> </p> <p><center><a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Diane-Arbus-Boy-With-a-Straw-Hat-Waiting-to-March-in-a-Pro-War-Parade-N.Y.C.-1967.jpeg"><img alt="Diane Arbus - Boy With a Straw Hat Waiting to March in a Pro-War Parade, N.Y.C. 1967 via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26314" height="608" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Diane-Arbus-Boy-With-a-Straw-Hat-Waiting-to-March-in-a-Pro-War-Parade-N.Y.C.-1967.jpeg" title="Diane Arbus - Boy With a Straw Hat Waiting to March in a Pro-War Parade, N.Y.C. 1967" width="600" /></a></center> </p> <p><center><a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Diane-Arbus-A-Family-on-Their-Lawn-One-Sunday-in-Westchester-N.Y.-1968.jpg"><img alt="Diane Arbus - A Family on Their Lawn One Sunday in Westchester, N.Y. 1968 via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26313" height="599" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Diane-Arbus-A-Family-on-Their-Lawn-One-Sunday-in-Westchester-N.Y.-1968.jpg" title="Diane Arbus - A Family on Their Lawn One Sunday in Westchester, N.Y. 1968" width="600" /></a></center><center>All Diane Arbus photos from <a href="http://diane-arbus-photography.com/" target="_blank">source</a></center></p> <p style="text-align: left;"><strong>Annie Leibovitz</strong></p> <p style="text-align: left;">One of the most well-known commercial photographers today, Annie Leibovitz and her photos are often associated with glossy magazines. She started her career as a staff photographer for Rolling Stone magazine and was the chief photographer there for 10 years. Her celebrity photos for the magazine helped define its look. Her memorable photos include that of Yoko Ono and John Lennon for the magazine’s cover, shot hours before Lennon was assassinated.</p> <p> </p> <p><center><a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Annie-Leibovitz-The-Blues-Brothers.png"><img alt="Annie Leibovitz - The Blues Brothers via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26340" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Annie-Leibovitz-The-Blues-Brothers.png" title="Annie Leibovitz - The Blues Brothers via YouTheDesigner.com" /></a></center><center><a href="http://marshallmatlock.com/2011/08/annie-leibovitz-at-work-again/" target="_blank">Source</a></center> </p> <p><center><a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Annie-Leibovitz-Spiderman.jpg"><img alt="Annie Leibovitz - Spiderman via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26339" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Annie-Leibovitz-Spiderman.jpg" title="Annie Leibovitz - Spiderman via YouTheDesigner.com" /></a></center><center><a href="http://www.comicsalliance.com/2010/11/15/annie-leibovitz-spider-man-musical-photos/" target="_blank">Source</a></center> </p> <p><center><a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Annie-Leibovitz-Queen-Elizabeth-II.jpg"><img alt="Annie Leibovitz - Queen Elizabeth II via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26338" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Annie-Leibovitz-Queen-Elizabeth-II.jpg" title="Annie Leibovitz - Queen Elizabeth II via YouTheDesigner.com" /></a></center><center><a href="http://reelfoto.blogspot.com/2011/04/royal-portrait.html" target="_blank">Source</a></center> </p> <p><center><a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Annie-Leibovitz-William-Borroughs.png"><img alt="Annie Leibovitz - William Borroughs via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26341" height="1043" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Annie-Leibovitz-William-Borroughs.png" title="Annie Leibovitz - William Borroughs via YouTheDesigner.com" width="600" /></a></center><center><a href="http://marshallmatlock.com/2011/08/annie-leibovitz-at-work-again/" target="_blank">Source</a></center> </p> <p><center><a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Annie-Leibovitz-John-Lennon.png"><img alt="Annie Leibovitz - John Lennon via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26336" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Annie-Leibovitz-John-Lennon.png" title="Annie Leibovitz - John Lennon via YouTheDesigner.com" /></a></center><center><a href="http://marshallmatlock.com/2011/07/annie-leibovitz-at-work/" target="_blank">Source</a></center> </p> <p><center><a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Annie-Leibovitz-Kirsten-Dunst-Bruce-Willis-James-McAvoy.png"><img alt="Annie Leibovitz - Kirsten Dunst, Bruce Willis, James McAvoy via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26337" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Annie-Leibovitz-Kirsten-Dunst-Bruce-Willis-James-McAvoy.png" title="Annie Leibovitz - Kirsten Dunst, Bruce Willis, James McAvoy via YouTheDesigner.com" /></a></center><center><a href="http://marshallmatlock.com/2011/07/annie-leibovitz-at-work/" target="_blank">Source</a></center> </p> <p><center><a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Annie-Leibovitz-Disney-Ursula.jpg"><img alt="Annie Leibovitz - Disney, Ursula via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26335" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Annie-Leibovitz-Disney-Ursula.jpg" title="Annie Leibovitz - Disney, Ursula via YouTheDesigner.com" /></a></center><center><a href="http://thedisneyblog.com/" target="_blank">Source</a></center> </p> <p><center><a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Annie-Leibovitz-Disney-Little-Mermaid.jpg"><img alt="Annie Leibovitz - Disney, Little Mermaid via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26333" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Annie-Leibovitz-Disney-Little-Mermaid.jpg" title="Annie Leibovitz - Disney, Little Mermaid via YouTheDesigner.com" /></a></center><center><a href="http://thedisneyblog.com/" target="_blank">Source</a></center> </p> <p><center><a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Annie-Leibovitz-Disney-Fairies.jpg"><img alt="Annie Leibovitz - Disney, Fairies via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26332" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Annie-Leibovitz-Disney-Fairies.jpg" title="Annie Leibovitz - Disney, Fairies via YouTheDesigner.com" /></a></center><center><a href="http://thedisneyblog.com/" target="_blank">Source</a></center> </p> <p><center><a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Annie-Leibovitz-Disney-Prince.jpg"><img alt="Annie Leibovitz - Disney, Prince via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26334" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Annie-Leibovitz-Disney-Prince.jpg" title="Annie Leibovitz - Disney, Prince via YouTheDesigner.com" /></a></center><center><a href="http://thedisneyblog.com/" target="_blank">Source</a></center> </p> <p style="text-align: left;">Never miss out on more samples of stunning <a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/?s=photography" target="_blank">photography</a> and graphic design goodies by subscribing to our <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/YouTheDesigner" target="_blank">RSS feed</a> and signing up for our monthly <a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/signup/" target="_blank">newsletter</a>!</p> <p> </p> <p>  Read more posts by <a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/author/cadence/" rel="author">Cadence Wu</a></p><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/YouTheDesigner/~4/wnjjyeuTLxY" width="1" />

<p>“Not all those who wander are lost,” according to the great J.R.R. Tolkien. Have you ever felt the need to just disappear for a few days (or months) and go somewhere you’ve never been to before? It’s not uncommon for artists to experience it. However, if you find yourself stuck and planning, always planning for that trip, let me tell you that the next best thing is to motivate yourself to take the risk and just wander. Traveling doesn’t necessarily mean going to a different country or town. This week’s roundup of graphic design news includes links to websites and projects that celebrate creativity and satisfy curiosity, sites that let your mind travel. </p> <p> <br />  </p> <p><strong>Wander</strong></p> <p><a href="http://onwander.com/" target="_blank">Wander</a> is a website that’s about to launch its beta version in a few weeks. In the meantime, users are encouraged to upload images with themes that change on a weekly basis. The first week is for photos of places where you’d rather be, while the second week is for sharing memories from a place you’ve been. The third and current week is about your favorite local spots. The site’s creators also launched a <a href="http://www.uprinting.com/postcard-printing.html?utm_source=youthedesigner.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=gdm_ytd_0512" target="_blank">postcard</a> project that lets illustrators “imagine a postcard from everywhere and nowhere at once.” You can also download the designs for your mobile device. </p> <p> </p> <p><center><a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/wander02.jpg"><img alt="Wander Postcard Project via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26252" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/wander02.jpg" title="Wander Postcard Project via YouTheDesigner.com" /></a></center></p> <p> </p> <p><center><a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/wander03.jpg"><img alt="Wander Postcard Project No. 13 by Ed Nacional via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26253" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/wander03.jpg" title="Wander Postcard Project No. 13 by Ed Nacional via YouTheDesigner.com" /></a></center></p> <p> </p> <p><center><a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/wander01.jpg"><img alt="Wander Postcard Project No.8 by Philipp Dornbierer via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26255" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/wander01.jpg" title="Wander Postcard Project No.8 by Philipp Dornbierer via YouTheDesigner.com" /></a></center></p> <p> </p> <p><center><a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/wander04.jpg"><img alt="Wander Postcard Project No. 11 by Jory Dayne via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26254" height="800" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/wander04.jpg" title="Wander Postcard Project No. 11 by Jory Dayne via YouTheDesigner.com" width="600" /></a></center></p> <p> <br />  </p> <p><strong>The Wellcome Collection</strong> </p> <p>The Wellcome Collection in London dubbed themselves “a free destination for the incurably curious,” making it natural for information nerds like us to be drawn to their site. Take a look at their lineup of <a href="http://www.wellcomecollection.org/whats-on/exhibitions.aspx" target="_blank">tours, exhibits, and events</a> and lose yourself in their mix of scientific (“Brains: The Mind as Matter) and anthropological (“Victorian Britain”) displays and guided tours. </p> <p> </p> <p><center><a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/wellcomecollection.jpg"><img alt="The Wellcome Collection via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26264" height="205" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/wellcomecollection.jpg" title="The Wellcome Collection via YouTheDesigner.com" width="600" /></a></center></p> <p> </p> <p><center><a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/wellcomecollection2.jpg"><img alt="The Wellcome Collection, Victorian Britain via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26265" height="371" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/wellcomecollection2.jpg" title="The Wellcome Collection, Victorian Britain via YouTheDesigner.com" width="600" /></a></center></p> <p> </p> <p><center><a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/wellcomecollection3.jpg"><img alt="The Wellcome Collection, Brains Exhibit via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26266" height="347" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/wellcomecollection3.jpg" title="The Wellcome Collection, Brains Exhibit via YouTheDesigner.com" width="600" /></a></center></p> <p> <br />  </p> <p><strong>Art Nerd New York</strong></p> <p>If you ever find yourself in New York looking for art hubs to visit, this website just might come in handy. <a href="http://artnerdnewyork.com/" target="_blank">Art Nerd New York</a> is “part travel guide, part art history lesson” according to its creators. The site features an Art Nerd Map of New York City, where notable sites to visit are marked. Articles about exhibit openings, art installations, and tracking the trail of famous artists are also worth a visit. </p> <p> </p> <p><center><a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/artnerdny.jpg"><img alt="Art Nerd New York via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26262" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/artnerdny.jpg" title="Art Nerd New York via YouTheDesigner.com" /></a></center></p> <p> </p> <p><center><a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/artnerdny2.jpg"><img alt="Art Nerd New York Midtown Tour via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26263" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/artnerdny2.jpg" title="Art Nerd New York Midtown Tour via YouTheDesigner.com" /></a></center></p> <p> <br />  </p> <p><strong>“Dear Photograph” Book</strong></p> <p>Dear Photograph, one of our favorite sites, celebrated its 1st year with a book! <a href="http://dearphotograph.com/" target="_blank">Dear Photograph</a> is a blog that showcases photos within photos, submitted to and curated by Taylor Jones. His idea became viral and it was even praised by another curator of nostalgic ephemera, Frank Warren of Post Secret. </p> <p> </p> <p><center><a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/dearphotographbook.png"><img alt="Dear Photograph Book via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26267" height="549" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/dearphotographbook.png" title="Dear Photograph Book via YouTheDesigner.com" width="600" /></a></center></p> <p> <br />  </p> <p><strong>The Design Museum - Designs of the Year, 2012</strong></p> <p>The Design Museum in London is a place where “creative thinking and inspired problem solving” are celebrated. Their annual contest, <a href="http://www.designsoftheyear.com/2012/04/25/london-2012-olympic-torch-wins-designs-of-the-year/" target="_blank">Designs of the Year</a>, is now on its 5th year. The list of nominees shows how creativity is seen in different forms. Artists and their architectural, digital, furniture, fashion, graphic, product, and transportation designs composed the 89 entries, from which the London 2012 Olympic Torch was chosen as the overall winner. </p> <p> </p> <p><center></center></p> <p> </p> <p><center><a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/designawards-olympictorch.jpg"><img alt="London 2012 Olympic Torch prototype via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26269" height="801" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/designawards-olympictorch.jpg" title="London 2012 Olympic Torch prototype via YouTheDesigner.com" width="600" /></a></center></p> <p> </p> <p><center><a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/designawards-olympictorch2.jpg"><img alt="Design Awards, 2012 Olympic Torch via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26268" height="423" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/designawards-olympictorch2.jpg" title="Design Awards, 2012 Olympic Torch via YouTheDesigner.com" width="600" /></a></center></p> <p> <br />  </p> <p><strong>The Yellow Submarine Folios, Dark Hall Mansion</strong></p> <p>Take a trip down memory lane when Dark Hall Mansion releases the limited edition print Folio for The Beatles’ 1968 cinematic masterpiece, Yellow Submarine. Tom Whalen’s designs, reminiscent of the psychedelic aesthetic of the late 60s, are made more special by the fact that it’s the first time The Beatles have formally allowed a contemporary artist to reinterpret their film’s imagery. </p> <p>The availability of <a href="http://www.darkhallmansion.com/?p=1193" target="_blank">The Yellow Submarine Folios</a> will coincide with the release of the digitally restored 1968 animated feature film, Yellow Submarine. </p> <p> </p> <p><center><a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Tom-Whalen-Yellow-Submarine-Variant-Colorway-Set-2.jpg"><img alt="Tom Whalen, Yellow Submarine Variant Colorway Set 03 via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26274" height="684" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Tom-Whalen-Yellow-Submarine-Variant-Colorway-Set-2.jpg" title="Tom Whalen, Yellow Submarine Variant Colorway Set 03 via YouTheDesigner.com" width="600" /></a></center></p> <p> </p> <p><center><a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Tom-Whalen-Yellow-Submarine-Variant-Colorway-Set-3.jpg"><img alt="Tom Whalen, Yellow Submarine Variant Colorway Set 04 via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26275" height="364" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Tom-Whalen-Yellow-Submarine-Variant-Colorway-Set-3.jpg" title="Tom Whalen, Yellow Submarine Variant Colorway Set 04 via YouTheDesigner.com" width="600" /></a></center></p> <p> </p> <p><center><a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Tom-Whalen-Yellow-Submarine-Variant-Colorway-Set-4.jpg"><img alt="Tom Whalen, Yellow Submarine Variant Colorway Set 02 via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26273" height="780" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Tom-Whalen-Yellow-Submarine-Variant-Colorway-Set-4.jpg" title="Tom Whalen, Yellow Submarine Variant Colorway Set 02 via YouTheDesigner.com" width="600" /></a></center></p> <p> </p> <p><center><a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Tom-Whalen-Yellow-Submarine-Variant-Colorway-Set.jpg"><img alt="Tom Whalen, Yellow Submarine Variant Colorway Set via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26272" height="255" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Tom-Whalen-Yellow-Submarine-Variant-Colorway-Set.jpg" title="Tom Whalen, Yellow Submarine Variant Colorway Set via YouTheDesigner.com" width="600" /></a></center></p> <p> <br />  </p> <p>Tell us what you think about this week’s post through <a href="http://facebook.com/youthedesigner" target="_blank">Facebook</a> or <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/youthedesigner" target="_blank">Twitter</a>. You can also share your graphic design news with us to let other You the Designer readers know about your latest projects and events! </p> <p>  Read more posts by <a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/author/chin/" rel="author">Chin de Vera</a></p><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/YouTheDesigner/~4/V6YeK7fydiQ" width="1" />

<p>You know how, when you take a stroll in the park, it doesn’t matter where you’re walking to as long as you’re there with the sky, the trees, the grass, and your legs that are keepin’ on walkin’? Me neither. But I should, and so should you. But in case you haven’t had the time for that lately either, here’s a piece of summer art I made for you all to make your June 2012 wallpaper calendar interesting.<br />  <br /> Since this design is reversible, I made two (2) versions of this calendar. Version 1 has the girl in pink at the bottom, but if you prefer to see the couple right side up you can download Version 2.<br />  <br /> You can also check out this artwork’s project page on <a href="http://www.behance.net/gallery/PARK-PEOPLE-(FREE-WALLPAPER)/4075053">Behance</a>. Appreciates are much appreciated!<br />  <br /> <center><img src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/park-people-500-x-429..jpg" /></center><br />  <br /> Download Version 1 here:<br />  <br /> <center><img src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/parkpeople-ver1-preview.jpg" /></center><br /> <a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/plugins/download-monitor/download.php?id=Park-People-June-2012-Wallpaper-Ver-1-GenoArguelles-YouTheDesigner.zip"><img height="37" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/download-btn.jpg" style="border: none; float: left; padding-right: 10px;" width="136" /></a><div style="padding-top: 7px;"> Downloaded 290 times </div><br />  <br /> Download Version 2 here:<br />  <br /> <center><img src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/parkpeople-ver2-preview.jpg" /></center><br /> <a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/plugins/download-monitor/download.php?id=Park-People-June-2012-Wallpaper-Ver-2-GenoArguelles-YouTheDesigner.zip"><img height="37" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/download-btn.jpg" style="border: none; float: left; padding-right: 10px;" width="136" /></a><div style="padding-top: 7px;"> Downloaded 197 times </div><br />  <br /> Hope you enjoy this latest monthly calendar! To make sure you catch the next one, check that you <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/YouTheDesigner">subscribe</a> or <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/youthedesigner">follow</a> us using the <a href="http://www.facebook.com/youthedesigner">channel</a> of your <a href="https://plus.google.com/116824150281780256954/">choice</a>. </p> <p>  Read more posts by <a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/author/geno/" rel="author">Geno Arguelles</a></p><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/YouTheDesigner/~4/QclawxK68nQ" width="1" />

<div style="float: right; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 5px;"><a href="http://www.stumbleupon.com/submit?text=sdasdasd&url=http://mashable.com/2012/06/14/steve-jobs-bill-gates-rap-battle/" target="_blank"><img align="right" src="http://5.mshcdn.com/wp-content/themes/v7/img/share-buttons/stumbleupon.png" style="border: none; margin-right: 5px;" /></a><br /> <a href="http://digg.com/tools/diggthis/login?url=http://mashable.com/2012/06/14/steve-jobs-bill-gates-rap-battle/&title=Steve Jobs Vs. Bill Gates in Epic Rap Battle [VIDEO]&related=true&style=true"><img align="right" src="http://6.mshcdn.com/wp-content/themes/v7/img/share-buttons/diggme.png" style="border: none; margin-right: 5px;" /></a><br /> <a href="http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=http://mashable.com/2012/06/14/steve-jobs-bill-gates-rap-battle/&src=sp" name="fb_share" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" type="box_count"><img align="right" src="http://6.mshcdn.com/wp-content/themes/v7/img/share-buttons/fb.jpg" style="border: none; margin-right: 5px;" /></a><br /> <a href="http://api.tweetmeme.com/share?url=http://mashable.com/2012/06/14/steve-jobs-bill-gates-rap-battle/&service=bit.ly&source=mashable" target="_blank"><img align="right" height="61" src="http://api.tweetmeme.com/imagebutton.gif?url=http://mashable.com/2012/06/14/steve-jobs-bill-gates-rap-battle/" style="border: none; margin-right: 5px;" width="51" /></a></div> <p><a href="http://mashable.com/2012/06/14/steve-jobs-bill-gates-rap-battle/" style="float: left; margin-bottom: 10px;"><img src="http://7.mshcdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Steve-Jobs-Versus-Bill-Gates-Rap-Battle-600.jpg" style="float: left; margin-bottom: 10px;" /></a>The Epic Rap Battle of History music video series takes on two tech heavyweights -- late Apple innovator Steve Jobs and Microsoft chairman Bill Gates -- in its latest rap-off.</p> <p>Lyrics mock both men and throw jabs at Bill's wife, Melinda, and Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak. </p> <p>And then, <em>holy sh*t</em>, Jobs becomes HAL 9000 from the movie <em>2001: A Space Odyssey</em>? Yup, Jobs continues the war of words as a "heuristically programmed algorithmic computer."</p> <p><a href="http://epicrapbattlesofhistory.com/" target="_blank">Epic Rap Battle</a>'s past matchups include Darth Vader vs. Adolf Hitler, Gandalf vs. Dumbledore, Dr. Seuss vs. Shakespeare, Justin Bieber vs. Beethoven and more.</p> <p><strong>SEE ALSO: <a href="http://mashable.com/2012/05/31/drake-pickens-tweet/">Billionaire Tycoon One-Ups Rapper Drake’s Money Tweet</a></strong></p> <p>If you lik… <br /><a href="http://mashable.com/2012/06/14/steve-jobs-bill-gates-rap-battle/">Continue reading...</a></p> <p>More About: <a href="http://mashable.com/tag/apple/">apple</a>, <a href="http://mashable.com/tag/bill-gates/">bill gates</a>, <a href="http://mashable.com/tag/entertainment/">Entertainment</a>, <a href="http://mashable.com/tag/humor/">humor</a>, <a href="http://mashable.com/tag/microsoft/">microsoft</a>, <a href="http://mashable.com/tag/music/">Music</a>, <a href="http://mashable.com/tag/parody/">parody</a>, <a href="http://mashable.com/tag/rap/">rap</a>, <a href="http://mashable.com/tag/steve-jobs/">steve jobs</a>, <a href="http://mashable.com/tag/viral-videos/">viral videos</a></p> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/MqtENKab6c-FdggRwNiqReozFC4/0/da"><img border="0" ismap="true" src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/MqtENKab6c-FdggRwNiqReozFC4/0/di" /></a><br /> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/MqtENKab6c-FdggRwNiqReozFC4/1/da"><img border="0" ismap="true" src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/MqtENKab6c-FdggRwNiqReozFC4/1/di" /></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.mashable.com/~ff/Mashable?a=unzagsOCz-c:s7wsYUqH_rc:D7DqB2pKExk"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Mashable?i=unzagsOCz-c:s7wsYUqH_rc:D7DqB2pKExk" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.mashable.com/~ff/Mashable?a=unzagsOCz-c:s7wsYUqH_rc:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Mashable?i=unzagsOCz-c:s7wsYUqH_rc:V_sGLiPBpWU" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.mashable.com/~ff/Mashable?a=unzagsOCz-c:s7wsYUqH_rc:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Mashable?i=unzagsOCz-c:s7wsYUqH_rc:F7zBnMyn0Lo" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.mashable.com/~ff/Mashable?a=unzagsOCz-c:s7wsYUqH_rc:qj6IDK7rITs"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Mashable?d=qj6IDK7rITs" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.mashable.com/~ff/Mashable?a=unzagsOCz-c:s7wsYUqH_rc:_e0tkf89iUM"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Mashable?d=_e0tkf89iUM" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.mashable.com/~ff/Mashable?a=unzagsOCz-c:s7wsYUqH_rc:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Mashable?i=unzagsOCz-c:s7wsYUqH_rc:gIN9vFwOqvQ" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.mashable.com/~ff/Mashable?a=unzagsOCz-c:s7wsYUqH_rc:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Mashable?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.mashable.com/~ff/Mashable?a=unzagsOCz-c:s7wsYUqH_rc:P0ZAIrC63Ok"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Mashable?d=P0ZAIrC63Ok" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.mashable.com/~ff/Mashable?a=unzagsOCz-c:s7wsYUqH_rc:I9og5sOYxJI"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Mashable?d=I9og5sOYxJI" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.mashable.com/~ff/Mashable?a=unzagsOCz-c:s7wsYUqH_rc:CC-BsrAYo0A"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Mashable?d=CC-BsrAYo0A" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.mashable.com/~ff/Mashable?a=unzagsOCz-c:s7wsYUqH_rc:_cyp7NeR2Rw"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Mashable?i=unzagsOCz-c:s7wsYUqH_rc:_cyp7NeR2Rw" /></a> </div><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Mashable/~4/unzagsOCz-c" width="1" />

<div style="float: right; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 5px;"><a href="http://www.stumbleupon.com/submit?text=sdasdasd&url=http://mashable.com/2012/06/14/major-league-gaming-streaming-numbers/" target="_blank"><img align="right" src="http://5.mshcdn.com/wp-content/themes/v7/img/share-buttons/stumbleupon.png" style="border: none; margin-right: 5px;" /></a><br /> <a href="http://digg.com/tools/diggthis/login?url=http://mashable.com/2012/06/14/major-league-gaming-streaming-numbers/&title=Millions Tune in to MLG Anaheim eSports Competition&related=true&style=true"><img align="right" src="http://6.mshcdn.com/wp-content/themes/v7/img/share-buttons/diggme.png" style="border: none; margin-right: 5px;" /></a><br /> <a href="http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=http://mashable.com/2012/06/14/major-league-gaming-streaming-numbers/&src=sp" name="fb_share" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" type="box_count"><img align="right" src="http://6.mshcdn.com/wp-content/themes/v7/img/share-buttons/fb.jpg" style="border: none; margin-right: 5px;" /></a><br /> <a href="http://api.tweetmeme.com/share?url=http://mashable.com/2012/06/14/major-league-gaming-streaming-numbers/&service=bit.ly&source=mashable" target="_blank"><img align="right" height="61" src="http://api.tweetmeme.com/imagebutton.gif?url=http://mashable.com/2012/06/14/major-league-gaming-streaming-numbers/" style="border: none; margin-right: 5px;" width="51" /></a></div> <p><a href="http://mashable.com/2012/06/14/major-league-gaming-streaming-numbers/" style="float: left; margin-right: 10px;"><img style="float: left; margin-bottom: 10px;" /></a></p> <p>Major League Gaming, one of the largest companies devoted to livestreaming professional gaming, announced its latest <em>Star Craft II</em> tournament shattered viewership records, with more than 4.7 million unique online viewers tuning in for the three-day event. </p> <p>A long-time passion of gamers in South Korea and Europe, pro-gaming has been steadily on the rise here in the U.S. with games like <em>StarCraft II</em> and <em>League of Legends</em> pushing the sport's popularity. Earlier this year, CBS Interactive announced a partnership deal with MLG to broadcast eSports events, piggybanking off the <a href="http://mashable.com/2012/03/20/twitchtv-gaming-community/">growing numbers of online viewers</a> MLG has brought to its live events. </p> <p>Along with the high viewership numbers… <br /><a href="http://mashable.com/2012/06/14/major-league-gaming-streaming-numbers/">Continue reading...</a></p> <p>More About: <a href="http://mashable.com/tag/esports/">esports</a>, <a href="http://mashable.com/tag/major-league-gaming/">major league gaming</a>, <a href="http://mashable.com/tag/starcraft-ii/">Starcraft II</a></p> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/0lNaTRthgkh-NX2Fedy8Mj8xn8M/0/da"><img border="0" ismap="true" src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/0lNaTRthgkh-NX2Fedy8Mj8xn8M/0/di" /></a><br /> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/0lNaTRthgkh-NX2Fedy8Mj8xn8M/1/da"><img border="0" ismap="true" src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/0lNaTRthgkh-NX2Fedy8Mj8xn8M/1/di" /></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.mashable.com/~ff/Mashable?a=a7u9mubRpco:wduNlPvqXyM:D7DqB2pKExk"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Mashable?i=a7u9mubRpco:wduNlPvqXyM:D7DqB2pKExk" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.mashable.com/~ff/Mashable?a=a7u9mubRpco:wduNlPvqXyM:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Mashable?i=a7u9mubRpco:wduNlPvqXyM:V_sGLiPBpWU" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.mashable.com/~ff/Mashable?a=a7u9mubRpco:wduNlPvqXyM:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Mashable?i=a7u9mubRpco:wduNlPvqXyM:F7zBnMyn0Lo" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.mashable.com/~ff/Mashable?a=a7u9mubRpco:wduNlPvqXyM:qj6IDK7rITs"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Mashable?d=qj6IDK7rITs" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.mashable.com/~ff/Mashable?a=a7u9mubRpco:wduNlPvqXyM:_e0tkf89iUM"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Mashable?d=_e0tkf89iUM" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.mashable.com/~ff/Mashable?a=a7u9mubRpco:wduNlPvqXyM:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Mashable?i=a7u9mubRpco:wduNlPvqXyM:gIN9vFwOqvQ" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.mashable.com/~ff/Mashable?a=a7u9mubRpco:wduNlPvqXyM:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Mashable?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.mashable.com/~ff/Mashable?a=a7u9mubRpco:wduNlPvqXyM:P0ZAIrC63Ok"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Mashable?d=P0ZAIrC63Ok" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.mashable.com/~ff/Mashable?a=a7u9mubRpco:wduNlPvqXyM:I9og5sOYxJI"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Mashable?d=I9og5sOYxJI" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.mashable.com/~ff/Mashable?a=a7u9mubRpco:wduNlPvqXyM:CC-BsrAYo0A"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Mashable?d=CC-BsrAYo0A" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.mashable.com/~ff/Mashable?a=a7u9mubRpco:wduNlPvqXyM:_cyp7NeR2Rw"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Mashable?i=a7u9mubRpco:wduNlPvqXyM:_cyp7NeR2Rw" /></a> </div><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Mashable/~4/a7u9mubRpco" width="1" />

<div style="float: right; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 5px;"><a href="http://www.stumbleupon.com/submit?text=sdasdasd&url=http://mashable.com/2012/06/14/kickstarter-band-project/" target="_blank"><img align="right" src="http://5.mshcdn.com/wp-content/themes/v7/img/share-buttons/stumbleupon.png" style="border: none; margin-right: 5px;" /></a><br /> <a href="http://digg.com/tools/diggthis/login?url=http://mashable.com/2012/06/14/kickstarter-band-project/&title=Kickstarter Project Forms a Band Through YouTube&related=true&style=true"><img align="right" src="http://6.mshcdn.com/wp-content/themes/v7/img/share-buttons/diggme.png" style="border: none; margin-right: 5px;" /></a><br /> <a href="http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=http://mashable.com/2012/06/14/kickstarter-band-project/&src=sp" name="fb_share" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" type="box_count"><img align="right" src="http://6.mshcdn.com/wp-content/themes/v7/img/share-buttons/fb.jpg" style="border: none; margin-right: 5px;" /></a><br /> <a href="http://api.tweetmeme.com/share?url=http://mashable.com/2012/06/14/kickstarter-band-project/&service=bit.ly&source=mashable" target="_blank"><img align="right" height="61" src="http://api.tweetmeme.com/imagebutton.gif?url=http://mashable.com/2012/06/14/kickstarter-band-project/" style="border: none; margin-right: 5px;" width="51" /></a></div> <p><a href="http://mashable.com/2012/06/14/kickstarter-band-project/" style="float: left; margin-bottom: 10px;"><img src="http://9.mshcdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/youtube-band-600.jpg" style="float: left; margin-bottom: 10px;" /></a><a href="http://mashable.com/category/youtube/">YouTube</a> has become a vital platform for emerging musicians, supporting and amplifying talented individuals more than they might have been along traditional routes of the music industry.</p> <p>Musician <a href="http://www.cobuspotgieter.com/" target="_blank">Cobus Potgieter</a> has received more than 100 million views on YouTube by playing the drums along to other popular songs.</p> <p>Potgieter launched a <a href="http://www.mashable.com/follow/topics/kickstarter/">Kickstarter</a> campaign in order to <a href="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/cobus/my-youtube-band-project" target="_blank">bring a whole band together</a> through YouTube. Other musicians can audition by downloading an <a href="http://myyoutubebandproject.com/auditions/" target="_blank">extension pack</a> and submitting their demos through YouTube.</p> <p>The campaign started with an initial goal of $35,000, which would fly the band members to Los Angeles for a few weeks to write and record an album. The rest of the mone… <br /><a href="http://mashable.com/2012/06/14/kickstarter-band-project/">Continue reading...</a></p> <p>More About: <a href="http://mashable.com/tag/google-hangouts/">Google Hangouts</a>, <a href="http://mashable.com/tag/kickstarter/">kickstarter</a>, <a href="http://mashable.com/tag/music/">Music</a>, <a href="http://mashable.com/tag/social-media/">Social Media</a>, <a href="http://mashable.com/tag/video/">Video</a>, <a href="http://mashable.com/tag/viral-tag/">viral</a>, <a href="http://mashable.com/tag/youtube/">YouTube</a></p> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/slub4cOURo-OKc1eQqwaI_1rMXo/0/da"><img border="0" ismap="true" src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/slub4cOURo-OKc1eQqwaI_1rMXo/0/di" /></a><br /> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/slub4cOURo-OKc1eQqwaI_1rMXo/1/da"><img border="0" ismap="true" src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/slub4cOURo-OKc1eQqwaI_1rMXo/1/di" /></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.mashable.com/~ff/Mashable?a=Sz2Ddh6R764:_W6DO0Eb0JA:D7DqB2pKExk"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Mashable?i=Sz2Ddh6R764:_W6DO0Eb0JA:D7DqB2pKExk" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.mashable.com/~ff/Mashable?a=Sz2Ddh6R764:_W6DO0Eb0JA:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Mashable?i=Sz2Ddh6R764:_W6DO0Eb0JA:V_sGLiPBpWU" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.mashable.com/~ff/Mashable?a=Sz2Ddh6R764:_W6DO0Eb0JA:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Mashable?i=Sz2Ddh6R764:_W6DO0Eb0JA:F7zBnMyn0Lo" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.mashable.com/~ff/Mashable?a=Sz2Ddh6R764:_W6DO0Eb0JA:qj6IDK7rITs"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Mashable?d=qj6IDK7rITs" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.mashable.com/~ff/Mashable?a=Sz2Ddh6R764:_W6DO0Eb0JA:_e0tkf89iUM"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Mashable?d=_e0tkf89iUM" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.mashable.com/~ff/Mashable?a=Sz2Ddh6R764:_W6DO0Eb0JA:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Mashable?i=Sz2Ddh6R764:_W6DO0Eb0JA:gIN9vFwOqvQ" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.mashable.com/~ff/Mashable?a=Sz2Ddh6R764:_W6DO0Eb0JA:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Mashable?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.mashable.com/~ff/Mashable?a=Sz2Ddh6R764:_W6DO0Eb0JA:P0ZAIrC63Ok"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Mashable?d=P0ZAIrC63Ok" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.mashable.com/~ff/Mashable?a=Sz2Ddh6R764:_W6DO0Eb0JA:I9og5sOYxJI"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Mashable?d=I9og5sOYxJI" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.mashable.com/~ff/Mashable?a=Sz2Ddh6R764:_W6DO0Eb0JA:CC-BsrAYo0A"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Mashable?d=CC-BsrAYo0A" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.mashable.com/~ff/Mashable?a=Sz2Ddh6R764:_W6DO0Eb0JA:_cyp7NeR2Rw"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Mashable?i=Sz2Ddh6R764:_W6DO0Eb0JA:_cyp7NeR2Rw" /></a> </div><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Mashable/~4/Sz2Ddh6R764" width="1" />

<div style="float: right; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 5px;"><a href="http://www.stumbleupon.com/submit?text=sdasdasd&url=http://mashable.com/2012/06/14/mobile-app-discovery/" target="_blank"><img align="right" src="http://5.mshcdn.com/wp-content/themes/v7/img/share-buttons/stumbleupon.png" style="border: none; margin-right: 5px;" /></a><br /> <a href="http://digg.com/tools/diggthis/login?url=http://mashable.com/2012/06/14/mobile-app-discovery/&title=Can Mobile App Discovery Be Fixed?&related=true&style=true"><img align="right" src="http://6.mshcdn.com/wp-content/themes/v7/img/share-buttons/diggme.png" style="border: none; margin-right: 5px;" /></a><br /> <a href="http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=http://mashable.com/2012/06/14/mobile-app-discovery/&src=sp" name="fb_share" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" type="box_count"><img align="right" src="http://6.mshcdn.com/wp-content/themes/v7/img/share-buttons/fb.jpg" style="border: none; margin-right: 5px;" /></a><br /> <a href="http://api.tweetmeme.com/share?url=http://mashable.com/2012/06/14/mobile-app-discovery/&service=bit.ly&source=mashable" target="_blank"><img align="right" height="61" src="http://api.tweetmeme.com/imagebutton.gif?url=http://mashable.com/2012/06/14/mobile-app-discovery/" style="border: none; margin-right: 5px;" width="51" /></a></div> <p><a href="http://mashable.com/2012/06/14/mobile-app-discovery/" style="float: left; margin-right: 10px;"><img style="float: left; margin-bottom: 10px;" /></a><em> </em></p> <p>In the last few years the growth of smart devices has exploded. As a result, there are now more than one million active apps. Other drivers that are contributing to app growth include the standardization of development tools, decreasing technology costs, and increased investment in mobile platforms. </p> <p>As recent entrants like Amazon and <a href="http://mashable.com/2012/06/09/facebook-app-center-guide/">Facebook</a> try to stake their claim in the mobile market, the ability to discover an app that doesn't somehow make its way onto a top-ten list continues to be an issue. So how's the marketplace attempting to address that problem? In short, primarily through a variety of supply-side and demand-side solutions. Here's what those look like.  <br /> <strong>Search Engi</strong>… <br /><a href="http://mashable.com/2012/06/14/mobile-app-discovery/">Continue reading...</a></p> <p>More About: <a href="http://mashable.com/tag/apps/">apps</a>, <a href="http://mashable.com/tag/contributor/">contributor</a>, <a href="http://mashable.com/tag/features/">features</a>, <a href="http://mashable.com/tag/mobile-apps/">mobile apps</a>, <a href="http://mashable.com/tag/trending/">trending</a></p> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/3W8pc4BrN_IdvCwxCoN3HK04pos/0/da"><img border="0" ismap="true" src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/3W8pc4BrN_IdvCwxCoN3HK04pos/0/di" /></a><br /> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/3W8pc4BrN_IdvCwxCoN3HK04pos/1/da"><img border="0" ismap="true" src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/3W8pc4BrN_IdvCwxCoN3HK04pos/1/di" /></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.mashable.com/~ff/Mashable?a=gLjyrGjhs0A:wbtqqUhoy-M:D7DqB2pKExk"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Mashable?i=gLjyrGjhs0A:wbtqqUhoy-M:D7DqB2pKExk" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.mashable.com/~ff/Mashable?a=gLjyrGjhs0A:wbtqqUhoy-M:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Mashable?i=gLjyrGjhs0A:wbtqqUhoy-M:V_sGLiPBpWU" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.mashable.com/~ff/Mashable?a=gLjyrGjhs0A:wbtqqUhoy-M:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Mashable?i=gLjyrGjhs0A:wbtqqUhoy-M:F7zBnMyn0Lo" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.mashable.com/~ff/Mashable?a=gLjyrGjhs0A:wbtqqUhoy-M:qj6IDK7rITs"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Mashable?d=qj6IDK7rITs" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.mashable.com/~ff/Mashable?a=gLjyrGjhs0A:wbtqqUhoy-M:_e0tkf89iUM"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Mashable?d=_e0tkf89iUM" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.mashable.com/~ff/Mashable?a=gLjyrGjhs0A:wbtqqUhoy-M:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Mashable?i=gLjyrGjhs0A:wbtqqUhoy-M:gIN9vFwOqvQ" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.mashable.com/~ff/Mashable?a=gLjyrGjhs0A:wbtqqUhoy-M:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Mashable?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.mashable.com/~ff/Mashable?a=gLjyrGjhs0A:wbtqqUhoy-M:P0ZAIrC63Ok"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Mashable?d=P0ZAIrC63Ok" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.mashable.com/~ff/Mashable?a=gLjyrGjhs0A:wbtqqUhoy-M:I9og5sOYxJI"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Mashable?d=I9og5sOYxJI" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.mashable.com/~ff/Mashable?a=gLjyrGjhs0A:wbtqqUhoy-M:CC-BsrAYo0A"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Mashable?d=CC-BsrAYo0A" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.mashable.com/~ff/Mashable?a=gLjyrGjhs0A:wbtqqUhoy-M:_cyp7NeR2Rw"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Mashable?i=gLjyrGjhs0A:wbtqqUhoy-M:_cyp7NeR2Rw" /></a> </div><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Mashable/~4/gLjyrGjhs0A" width="1" />

<div style="float: right; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 5px;"><a href="http://www.stumbleupon.com/submit?text=sdasdasd&url=http://mashable.com/2012/06/14/can-mobile-panic-buttons-replace-public-emergency-phone-systems/" target="_blank"><img align="right" src="http://5.mshcdn.com/wp-content/themes/v7/img/share-buttons/stumbleupon.png" style="border: none; margin-right: 5px;" /></a><br /> <a href="http://digg.com/tools/diggthis/login?url=http://mashable.com/2012/06/14/can-mobile-panic-buttons-replace-public-emergency-phone-systems/&title=Can Mobile Panic Buttons Replace Public Emergency Phone Systems?&related=true&style=true"><img align="right" src="http://6.mshcdn.com/wp-content/themes/v7/img/share-buttons/diggme.png" style="border: none; margin-right: 5px;" /></a><br /> <a href="http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=http://mashable.com/2012/06/14/can-mobile-panic-buttons-replace-public-emergency-phone-systems/&src=sp" name="fb_share" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" type="box_count"><img align="right" src="http://6.mshcdn.com/wp-content/themes/v7/img/share-buttons/fb.jpg" style="border: none; margin-right: 5px;" /></a><br /> <a href="http://api.tweetmeme.com/share?url=http://mashable.com/2012/06/14/can-mobile-panic-buttons-replace-public-emergency-phone-systems/&service=bit.ly&source=mashable" target="_blank"><img align="right" height="61" src="http://api.tweetmeme.com/imagebutton.gif?url=http://mashable.com/2012/06/14/can-mobile-panic-buttons-replace-public-emergency-phone-systems/" style="border: none; margin-right: 5px;" width="51" /></a></div> <p><a href="http://mashable.com/2012/06/14/can-mobile-panic-buttons-replace-public-emergency-phone-systems/" style="float: left; margin-right: 10px;"><img style="float: left; margin-bottom: 10px;" /></a></p> <p>MyForce is an advanced security app changing the face of personal safety. MyForce is a subscription-based app that launches a mobile panic button for emergencies. Members are urged to arm themselves with this safeguard during solitary walks, at night or in desolate areas.</p> <p>"There are so many incidents where you are out late at night or out in a lone parking lot and you're walking around and just feel unsafe," Co-founder Brad Zotti tells <i>Mashable</i>. "It's the blue light emergency phone that you can take around with you on smart phone."</p> <p>There are tons of emergency alert apps on iOS, Android and BlackBerry platforms, but <a href="http://myforce.com/">MyForce</a> is uniquely effective. Here's why -- other GPS security app… <br /><a href="http://mashable.com/2012/06/14/can-mobile-panic-buttons-replace-public-emergency-phone-systems/">Continue reading...</a></p> <p>More About: <a href="http://mashable.com/tag/android/">android</a>, <a href="http://mashable.com/tag/application/">application</a>, <a href="http://mashable.com/tag/blackberry/">blackberry</a>, <a href="http://mashable.com/tag/iphone/">iphone</a>, <a href="http://mashable.com/tag/mobile/">Mobile</a>, <a href="http://mashable.com/tag/security/">security</a>, <a href="http://mashable.com/tag/tech/">Tech</a></p> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/yggutqghw9dCeAM-qFWLjRnu3wk/0/da"><img border="0" ismap="true" src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/yggutqghw9dCeAM-qFWLjRnu3wk/0/di" /></a><br /> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/yggutqghw9dCeAM-qFWLjRnu3wk/1/da"><img border="0" ismap="true" src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/yggutqghw9dCeAM-qFWLjRnu3wk/1/di" /></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.mashable.com/~ff/Mashable?a=jzzjNc7khvY:d6SMYcROHh8:D7DqB2pKExk"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Mashable?i=jzzjNc7khvY:d6SMYcROHh8:D7DqB2pKExk" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.mashable.com/~ff/Mashable?a=jzzjNc7khvY:d6SMYcROHh8:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Mashable?i=jzzjNc7khvY:d6SMYcROHh8:V_sGLiPBpWU" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.mashable.com/~ff/Mashable?a=jzzjNc7khvY:d6SMYcROHh8:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Mashable?i=jzzjNc7khvY:d6SMYcROHh8:F7zBnMyn0Lo" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.mashable.com/~ff/Mashable?a=jzzjNc7khvY:d6SMYcROHh8:qj6IDK7rITs"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Mashable?d=qj6IDK7rITs" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.mashable.com/~ff/Mashable?a=jzzjNc7khvY:d6SMYcROHh8:_e0tkf89iUM"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Mashable?d=_e0tkf89iUM" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.mashable.com/~ff/Mashable?a=jzzjNc7khvY:d6SMYcROHh8:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Mashable?i=jzzjNc7khvY:d6SMYcROHh8:gIN9vFwOqvQ" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.mashable.com/~ff/Mashable?a=jzzjNc7khvY:d6SMYcROHh8:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Mashable?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.mashable.com/~ff/Mashable?a=jzzjNc7khvY:d6SMYcROHh8:P0ZAIrC63Ok"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Mashable?d=P0ZAIrC63Ok" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.mashable.com/~ff/Mashable?a=jzzjNc7khvY:d6SMYcROHh8:I9og5sOYxJI"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Mashable?d=I9og5sOYxJI" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.mashable.com/~ff/Mashable?a=jzzjNc7khvY:d6SMYcROHh8:CC-BsrAYo0A"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Mashable?d=CC-BsrAYo0A" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.mashable.com/~ff/Mashable?a=jzzjNc7khvY:d6SMYcROHh8:_cyp7NeR2Rw"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Mashable?i=jzzjNc7khvY:d6SMYcROHh8:_cyp7NeR2Rw" /></a> </div><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Mashable/~4/jzzjNc7khvY" width="1" />

<div style="float: right; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 5px;"><a href="http://www.stumbleupon.com/submit?text=sdasdasd&url=http://mashable.com/2012/06/14/macbook-pro-retina-worth-it/" target="_blank"><img align="right" src="http://5.mshcdn.com/wp-content/themes/v7/img/share-buttons/stumbleupon.png" style="border: none; margin-right: 5px;" /></a><br /> <a href="http://digg.com/tools/diggthis/login?url=http://mashable.com/2012/06/14/macbook-pro-retina-worth-it/&title=MacBook Pro With Retina Display: Is It Worth It? [POLL]&related=true&style=true"><img align="right" src="http://6.mshcdn.com/wp-content/themes/v7/img/share-buttons/diggme.png" style="border: none; margin-right: 5px;" /></a><br /> <a href="http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=http://mashable.com/2012/06/14/macbook-pro-retina-worth-it/&src=sp" name="fb_share" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" type="box_count"><img align="right" src="http://6.mshcdn.com/wp-content/themes/v7/img/share-buttons/fb.jpg" style="border: none; margin-right: 5px;" /></a><br /> <a href="http://api.tweetmeme.com/share?url=http://mashable.com/2012/06/14/macbook-pro-retina-worth-it/&service=bit.ly&source=mashable" target="_blank"><img align="right" height="61" src="http://api.tweetmeme.com/imagebutton.gif?url=http://mashable.com/2012/06/14/macbook-pro-retina-worth-it/" style="border: none; margin-right: 5px;" width="51" /></a></div> <p><a href="http://mashable.com/2012/06/14/macbook-pro-retina-worth-it/apple-new-display-640/" rel="attachment wp-att-1166565"><a href="http://mashable.com/2012/06/14/macbook-pro-retina-worth-it/" style="float: left; margin-right: 10px;"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1166565" style="float: left; margin-bottom: 10px;" title="Apple-New-Display-640" /></a></a><br /> On Monday, Apple’s World Wide Developers Conference in San Francisco was center stage for a much-anticipated release:  the 15” <a href="http://mashable.com/2012/06/11/retina-macbook-pro/" target="_blank" title="Apple Macbook retina display">MacBook with Retina display</a>. The question now is not whether people will buy it (there is already an 8-week backorder), but why.<br /> Many were ready to stampede the Apple store and drop some serious cash on the computer, which starts at $2,199. And while some say Apple is once again <a href="http://mashable.com/2012/06/11/retina-macbook-pro-vision/" target="_blank" title="With Retina MacBook Pro, Apple Leads the Pack Again">ahead of the game</a>, others see reasons to <a href="http://mashable.com/2012/06/14/reasons-not-to-buy-retina-macbook-pro/">pass</a>.</p> <p>The specs are impressive, including a light, slim design with <a href="http://mashable.com/2012/06/13/macbook-pro-retina-examples/" target="_blank" title="Retina MacBook Destroys Regular MacBook: 15 Eye-Popping Examples">powerful graphics</a> and a pace that feels like it's approaching the speed of light. But at such a price tag, is it worth it? </p> <p>Let us know how you feel about Apple's new Ret… <br /><a href="http://mashable.com/2012/06/14/macbook-pro-retina-worth-it/">Continue reading...</a></p> <p>More About: <a href="http://mashable.com/tag/apple/">apple</a>, <a href="http://mashable.com/tag/macbook/">macbook</a>, <a href="http://mashable.com/tag/poll/">poll</a>, <a href="http://mashable.com/tag/retina-display/">retina display</a>, <a href="http://mashable.com/tag/wwdc/">wwdc</a></p> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/PlbN4ikj5pQ_d1PpaYgqr_mrVDo/0/da"><img border="0" ismap="true" src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/PlbN4ikj5pQ_d1PpaYgqr_mrVDo/0/di" /></a><br /> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/PlbN4ikj5pQ_d1PpaYgqr_mrVDo/1/da"><img border="0" ismap="true" src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/PlbN4ikj5pQ_d1PpaYgqr_mrVDo/1/di" /></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.mashable.com/~ff/Mashable?a=S9RxsHkKj0M:bNE9k_vpXWM:D7DqB2pKExk"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Mashable?i=S9RxsHkKj0M:bNE9k_vpXWM:D7DqB2pKExk" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.mashable.com/~ff/Mashable?a=S9RxsHkKj0M:bNE9k_vpXWM:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Mashable?i=S9RxsHkKj0M:bNE9k_vpXWM:V_sGLiPBpWU" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.mashable.com/~ff/Mashable?a=S9RxsHkKj0M:bNE9k_vpXWM:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Mashable?i=S9RxsHkKj0M:bNE9k_vpXWM:F7zBnMyn0Lo" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.mashable.com/~ff/Mashable?a=S9RxsHkKj0M:bNE9k_vpXWM:qj6IDK7rITs"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Mashable?d=qj6IDK7rITs" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.mashable.com/~ff/Mashable?a=S9RxsHkKj0M:bNE9k_vpXWM:_e0tkf89iUM"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Mashable?d=_e0tkf89iUM" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.mashable.com/~ff/Mashable?a=S9RxsHkKj0M:bNE9k_vpXWM:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Mashable?i=S9RxsHkKj0M:bNE9k_vpXWM:gIN9vFwOqvQ" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.mashable.com/~ff/Mashable?a=S9RxsHkKj0M:bNE9k_vpXWM:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Mashable?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.mashable.com/~ff/Mashable?a=S9RxsHkKj0M:bNE9k_vpXWM:P0ZAIrC63Ok"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Mashable?d=P0ZAIrC63Ok" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.mashable.com/~ff/Mashable?a=S9RxsHkKj0M:bNE9k_vpXWM:I9og5sOYxJI"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Mashable?d=I9og5sOYxJI" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.mashable.com/~ff/Mashable?a=S9RxsHkKj0M:bNE9k_vpXWM:CC-BsrAYo0A"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Mashable?d=CC-BsrAYo0A" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.mashable.com/~ff/Mashable?a=S9RxsHkKj0M:bNE9k_vpXWM:_cyp7NeR2Rw"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Mashable?i=S9RxsHkKj0M:bNE9k_vpXWM:_cyp7NeR2Rw" /></a> </div><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Mashable/~4/S9RxsHkKj0M" width="1" />

<div style="float: right; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 5px;"><a href="http://www.stumbleupon.com/submit?text=sdasdasd&url=http://mashable.com/2012/06/14/events-6-14/" target="_blank"><img align="right" src="http://5.mshcdn.com/wp-content/themes/v7/img/share-buttons/stumbleupon.png" style="border: none; margin-right: 5px;" /></a><br /> <a href="http://digg.com/tools/diggthis/login?url=http://mashable.com/2012/06/14/events-6-14/&title=55+ Events in Social Media and Business&related=true&style=true"><img align="right" src="http://6.mshcdn.com/wp-content/themes/v7/img/share-buttons/diggme.png" style="border: none; margin-right: 5px;" /></a><br /> <a href="http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=http://mashable.com/2012/06/14/events-6-14/&src=sp" name="fb_share" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" type="box_count"><img align="right" src="http://6.mshcdn.com/wp-content/themes/v7/img/share-buttons/fb.jpg" style="border: none; margin-right: 5px;" /></a><br /> <a href="http://api.tweetmeme.com/share?url=http://mashable.com/2012/06/14/events-6-14/&service=bit.ly&source=mashable" target="_blank"><img align="right" height="61" src="http://api.tweetmeme.com/imagebutton.gif?url=http://mashable.com/2012/06/14/events-6-14/" style="border: none; margin-right: 5px;" width="51" /></a></div> <p><a href="http://events.mashable.com"><a href="http://mashable.com/2012/06/14/events-6-14/" style="float: left; margin-right: 10px;"><img style="float: left; margin-bottom: 10px;" /></a></a></p> <p>Are you ready to gear up for the year's biggest events in your industry? Keep your eyes on the curated listing of more than 55 events on Mashable's new <a href="http://events.mashable.com/">Events Board</a>. There are plenty of <a href="http://events.mashable.com">business conferences and exhibitions</a> in a wide range of topics -- plus some special and exclusive events that are sure to educate and entertain. If getting out and mingling with top executives in your field is on your to-do list, you'll find plenty to do.</p> <p>Every week we highlight new events that are at the top of our must-go list, and new events are added around the clock. Don't forget to visit our Events Board for <a href="http://events.mashable.com">networking opportunities, meetings and expos</a> that will help jumpstart your professional s… <br /><a href="http://mashable.com/2012/06/14/events-6-14/">Continue reading...</a></p> <p>More About: <a href="http://mashable.com/tag/events/">Events</a>, <a href="http://mashable.com/tag/features/">features</a>, <a href="http://mashable.com/tag/mashable/">mashable</a></p> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/vYv6YA4dvGYt8BUpAOPgHa7GHLY/0/da"><img border="0" ismap="true" src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/vYv6YA4dvGYt8BUpAOPgHa7GHLY/0/di" /></a><br /> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/vYv6YA4dvGYt8BUpAOPgHa7GHLY/1/da"><img border="0" ismap="true" src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/vYv6YA4dvGYt8BUpAOPgHa7GHLY/1/di" /></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.mashable.com/~ff/Mashable?a=NXdlKxmhKCg:yo_HE-qWuqA:D7DqB2pKExk"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Mashable?i=NXdlKxmhKCg:yo_HE-qWuqA:D7DqB2pKExk" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.mashable.com/~ff/Mashable?a=NXdlKxmhKCg:yo_HE-qWuqA:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Mashable?i=NXdlKxmhKCg:yo_HE-qWuqA:V_sGLiPBpWU" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.mashable.com/~ff/Mashable?a=NXdlKxmhKCg:yo_HE-qWuqA:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Mashable?i=NXdlKxmhKCg:yo_HE-qWuqA:F7zBnMyn0Lo" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.mashable.com/~ff/Mashable?a=NXdlKxmhKCg:yo_HE-qWuqA:qj6IDK7rITs"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Mashable?d=qj6IDK7rITs" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.mashable.com/~ff/Mashable?a=NXdlKxmhKCg:yo_HE-qWuqA:_e0tkf89iUM"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Mashable?d=_e0tkf89iUM" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.mashable.com/~ff/Mashable?a=NXdlKxmhKCg:yo_HE-qWuqA:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Mashable?i=NXdlKxmhKCg:yo_HE-qWuqA:gIN9vFwOqvQ" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.mashable.com/~ff/Mashable?a=NXdlKxmhKCg:yo_HE-qWuqA:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Mashable?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.mashable.com/~ff/Mashable?a=NXdlKxmhKCg:yo_HE-qWuqA:P0ZAIrC63Ok"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Mashable?d=P0ZAIrC63Ok" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.mashable.com/~ff/Mashable?a=NXdlKxmhKCg:yo_HE-qWuqA:I9og5sOYxJI"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Mashable?d=I9og5sOYxJI" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.mashable.com/~ff/Mashable?a=NXdlKxmhKCg:yo_HE-qWuqA:CC-BsrAYo0A"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Mashable?d=CC-BsrAYo0A" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.mashable.com/~ff/Mashable?a=NXdlKxmhKCg:yo_HE-qWuqA:_cyp7NeR2Rw"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Mashable?i=NXdlKxmhKCg:yo_HE-qWuqA:_cyp7NeR2Rw" /></a> </div><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Mashable/~4/NXdlKxmhKCg" width="1" />

<div style="float: right; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 5px;"><a href="http://www.stumbleupon.com/submit?text=sdasdasd&url=http://mashable.com/2012/06/14/call-me-maybe-abercrombie/" target="_blank"><img align="right" src="http://5.mshcdn.com/wp-content/themes/v7/img/share-buttons/stumbleupon.png" style="border: none; margin-right: 5px;" /></a><br /> <a href="http://digg.com/tools/diggthis/login?url=http://mashable.com/2012/06/14/call-me-maybe-abercrombie/&title=Half-Naked Abercrombie Models Perform ‘Call Me Maybe’ [VIDEO]&related=true&style=true"><img align="right" src="http://6.mshcdn.com/wp-content/themes/v7/img/share-buttons/diggme.png" style="border: none; margin-right: 5px;" /></a><br /> <a href="http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=http://mashable.com/2012/06/14/call-me-maybe-abercrombie/&src=sp" name="fb_share" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" type="box_count"><img align="right" src="http://6.mshcdn.com/wp-content/themes/v7/img/share-buttons/fb.jpg" style="border: none; margin-right: 5px;" /></a><br /> <a href="http://api.tweetmeme.com/share?url=http://mashable.com/2012/06/14/call-me-maybe-abercrombie/&service=bit.ly&source=mashable" target="_blank"><img align="right" height="61" src="http://api.tweetmeme.com/imagebutton.gif?url=http://mashable.com/2012/06/14/call-me-maybe-abercrombie/" style="border: none; margin-right: 5px;" width="51" /></a></div> <p><a href="http://mashable.com/2012/06/14/call-me-maybe-abercrombie/" style="float: left; margin-bottom: 10px;"><img src="http://6.mshcdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Abercrombie-Models-Perform-Call-Me-Maybe-600.jpg" style="float: left; margin-bottom: 10px;" /></a>Abercrombie & Fitch challenged its male models around the world to record themselves lip-syncing and dancing to this summer's most-viral song, "<a href="http://mashable.com/follow/topics/call-me-maybe/">Call Me Maybe</a>." </p> <p>The results of the mission (see above) show topless men freely getting their Carly Rae Jepsen on in New York City subways and in front of France's Eiffel Tower, among other global landmarks. </p> <p>"Call Me Maybe" hit number one on <em>Billboard</em>'s Hot 100 songs chart Wednesday in its 16th week on the list, besting Gotye's long-standing "<a href="http://mashable.com/2012/05/07/gotye-somebody-that-i-used-to-know-200-million-youtube-views/">Somebody That I Used to Know</a>." The tune previously hit number one on <em>Billboard</em>'s Digital Songs chart and iTunes singles chart in May. </p> <p>Lip-dubs similar to Abercrombie & Fitch's from the <a href="http://mashable.com/2012/05/08/this-is-crazy-harvard-athletes-perform-call-me-maybe-video/">Harvard bas</a>… <br /><a href="http://mashable.com/2012/06/14/call-me-maybe-abercrombie/">Continue reading...</a></p> <p>More About: <a href="http://mashable.com/tag/call-me-maybe/">Call Me Maybe</a>, <a href="http://mashable.com/tag/carly-rae-jepsen/">Carly Rae Jepsen</a>, <a href="http://mashable.com/tag/entertainment/">Entertainment</a>, <a href="http://mashable.com/tag/music/">Music</a>, <a href="http://mashable.com/tag/viral-tag/">viral</a>, <a href="http://mashable.com/tag/viral-videos/">viral videos</a></p> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/Xi9lSb8tVF-2nPiq6g3PHSPtWLw/0/da"><img border="0" ismap="true" src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/Xi9lSb8tVF-2nPiq6g3PHSPtWLw/0/di" /></a><br /> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/Xi9lSb8tVF-2nPiq6g3PHSPtWLw/1/da"><img border="0" ismap="true" src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/Xi9lSb8tVF-2nPiq6g3PHSPtWLw/1/di" /></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.mashable.com/~ff/Mashable?a=HHpjJpN_oIg:bDlqp5XTpuc:D7DqB2pKExk"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Mashable?i=HHpjJpN_oIg:bDlqp5XTpuc:D7DqB2pKExk" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.mashable.com/~ff/Mashable?a=HHpjJpN_oIg:bDlqp5XTpuc:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Mashable?i=HHpjJpN_oIg:bDlqp5XTpuc:V_sGLiPBpWU" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.mashable.com/~ff/Mashable?a=HHpjJpN_oIg:bDlqp5XTpuc:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Mashable?i=HHpjJpN_oIg:bDlqp5XTpuc:F7zBnMyn0Lo" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.mashable.com/~ff/Mashable?a=HHpjJpN_oIg:bDlqp5XTpuc:qj6IDK7rITs"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Mashable?d=qj6IDK7rITs" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.mashable.com/~ff/Mashable?a=HHpjJpN_oIg:bDlqp5XTpuc:_e0tkf89iUM"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Mashable?d=_e0tkf89iUM" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.mashable.com/~ff/Mashable?a=HHpjJpN_oIg:bDlqp5XTpuc:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Mashable?i=HHpjJpN_oIg:bDlqp5XTpuc:gIN9vFwOqvQ" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.mashable.com/~ff/Mashable?a=HHpjJpN_oIg:bDlqp5XTpuc:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Mashable?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.mashable.com/~ff/Mashable?a=HHpjJpN_oIg:bDlqp5XTpuc:P0ZAIrC63Ok"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Mashable?d=P0ZAIrC63Ok" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.mashable.com/~ff/Mashable?a=HHpjJpN_oIg:bDlqp5XTpuc:I9og5sOYxJI"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Mashable?d=I9og5sOYxJI" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.mashable.com/~ff/Mashable?a=HHpjJpN_oIg:bDlqp5XTpuc:CC-BsrAYo0A"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Mashable?d=CC-BsrAYo0A" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.mashable.com/~ff/Mashable?a=HHpjJpN_oIg:bDlqp5XTpuc:_cyp7NeR2Rw"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Mashable?i=HHpjJpN_oIg:bDlqp5XTpuc:_cyp7NeR2Rw" /></a> </div><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Mashable/~4/HHpjJpN_oIg" width="1" />

<div style="float: right; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 5px;"><a href="http://www.stumbleupon.com/submit?text=sdasdasd&url=http://mashable.com/2012/06/14/marc-nager-live-chat/" target="_blank"><img align="right" src="http://5.mshcdn.com/wp-content/themes/v7/img/share-buttons/stumbleupon.png" style="border: none; margin-right: 5px;" /></a><br /> <a href="http://digg.com/tools/diggthis/login?url=http://mashable.com/2012/06/14/marc-nager-live-chat/&title=Startup Weekend Founder Marc Nager Answers Your Questions [LIVE CHAT]&related=true&style=true"><img align="right" src="http://6.mshcdn.com/wp-content/themes/v7/img/share-buttons/diggme.png" style="border: none; margin-right: 5px;" /></a><br /> <a href="http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=http://mashable.com/2012/06/14/marc-nager-live-chat/&src=sp" name="fb_share" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" type="box_count"><img align="right" src="http://6.mshcdn.com/wp-content/themes/v7/img/share-buttons/fb.jpg" style="border: none; margin-right: 5px;" /></a><br /> <a href="http://api.tweetmeme.com/share?url=http://mashable.com/2012/06/14/marc-nager-live-chat/&service=bit.ly&source=mashable" target="_blank"><img align="right" height="61" src="http://api.tweetmeme.com/imagebutton.gif?url=http://mashable.com/2012/06/14/marc-nager-live-chat/" style="border: none; margin-right: 5px;" width="51" /></a></div> <p><a href="http://mashable.com/2012/06/14/marc-nager-live-chat/" style="float: left; margin-bottom: 10px;"><img src="http://9.mshcdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Marc-Nager-600.png" style="float: left; margin-bottom: 10px;" /></a><a href="http://marcnager.com/" target="_blank">Marc Nager</a> (pronounced "Naw-ger") is the CEO of <a href="http://startupweekend.org/" target="_blank">Startup Weekend</a>. With a degree in international business from Chapman University in Southern California, Marc left his MBA program after the first semester to pursue new direction. Itching to learn how to launch a startup, Marc found the opportunity to acquire Startup Weekend, LLC and to transform it into a non-profit with the help of co-directors Clint Nelsen and Franck Nouyrigat. </p> <p>Passionate and curious about the world of startups, Marc has found a way to help others pursue their ideas and dreams. Startup Weekend has landed him in over 50 cities around the world, where he’s listened, observed and helped hundreds in their… <br /><a href="http://mashable.com/2012/06/14/marc-nager-live-chat/">Continue reading...</a></p> <p>More About: <a href="http://mashable.com/tag/business/">Business</a>, <a href="http://mashable.com/tag/features/">features</a>, <a href="http://mashable.com/tag/live-chat/">Live Chat</a>, <a href="http://mashable.com/tag/startups/">Startups</a></p> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/judYlvM6kNSuo39mD8QOHuz3ctw/0/da"><img border="0" ismap="true" src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/judYlvM6kNSuo39mD8QOHuz3ctw/0/di" /></a><br /> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/judYlvM6kNSuo39mD8QOHuz3ctw/1/da"><img border="0" ismap="true" src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/judYlvM6kNSuo39mD8QOHuz3ctw/1/di" /></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.mashable.com/~ff/Mashable?a=v9ALxnAV6wE:Ynzhaijxe7A:D7DqB2pKExk"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Mashable?i=v9ALxnAV6wE:Ynzhaijxe7A:D7DqB2pKExk" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.mashable.com/~ff/Mashable?a=v9ALxnAV6wE:Ynzhaijxe7A:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Mashable?i=v9ALxnAV6wE:Ynzhaijxe7A:V_sGLiPBpWU" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.mashable.com/~ff/Mashable?a=v9ALxnAV6wE:Ynzhaijxe7A:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Mashable?i=v9ALxnAV6wE:Ynzhaijxe7A:F7zBnMyn0Lo" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.mashable.com/~ff/Mashable?a=v9ALxnAV6wE:Ynzhaijxe7A:qj6IDK7rITs"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Mashable?d=qj6IDK7rITs" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.mashable.com/~ff/Mashable?a=v9ALxnAV6wE:Ynzhaijxe7A:_e0tkf89iUM"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Mashable?d=_e0tkf89iUM" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.mashable.com/~ff/Mashable?a=v9ALxnAV6wE:Ynzhaijxe7A:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Mashable?i=v9ALxnAV6wE:Ynzhaijxe7A:gIN9vFwOqvQ" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.mashable.com/~ff/Mashable?a=v9ALxnAV6wE:Ynzhaijxe7A:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Mashable?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.mashable.com/~ff/Mashable?a=v9ALxnAV6wE:Ynzhaijxe7A:P0ZAIrC63Ok"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Mashable?d=P0ZAIrC63Ok" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.mashable.com/~ff/Mashable?a=v9ALxnAV6wE:Ynzhaijxe7A:I9og5sOYxJI"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Mashable?d=I9og5sOYxJI" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.mashable.com/~ff/Mashable?a=v9ALxnAV6wE:Ynzhaijxe7A:CC-BsrAYo0A"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Mashable?d=CC-BsrAYo0A" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.mashable.com/~ff/Mashable?a=v9ALxnAV6wE:Ynzhaijxe7A:_cyp7NeR2Rw"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Mashable?i=v9ALxnAV6wE:Ynzhaijxe7A:_cyp7NeR2Rw" /></a> </div><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Mashable/~4/v9ALxnAV6wE" width="1" />

<div style="float: right; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 5px;"><a href="http://www.stumbleupon.com/submit?text=sdasdasd&url=http://mashable.com/2012/06/14/google-ventures-web-design/" target="_blank"><img align="right" src="http://5.mshcdn.com/wp-content/themes/v7/img/share-buttons/stumbleupon.png" style="border: none; margin-right: 5px;" /></a><br /> <a href="http://digg.com/tools/diggthis/login?url=http://mashable.com/2012/06/14/google-ventures-web-design/&title=Google Ventures Helps Its Startups With Design, Branding&related=true&style=true"><img align="right" src="http://6.mshcdn.com/wp-content/themes/v7/img/share-buttons/diggme.png" style="border: none; margin-right: 5px;" /></a><br /> <a href="http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=http://mashable.com/2012/06/14/google-ventures-web-design/&src=sp" name="fb_share" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" type="box_count"><img align="right" src="http://6.mshcdn.com/wp-content/themes/v7/img/share-buttons/fb.jpg" style="border: none; margin-right: 5px;" /></a><br /> <a href="http://api.tweetmeme.com/share?url=http://mashable.com/2012/06/14/google-ventures-web-design/&service=bit.ly&source=mashable" target="_blank"><img align="right" height="61" src="http://api.tweetmeme.com/imagebutton.gif?url=http://mashable.com/2012/06/14/google-ventures-web-design/" style="border: none; margin-right: 5px;" width="51" /></a></div> <p><a href="http://mashable.com/2012/06/14/google-ventures-web-design/" style="float: left; margin-bottom: 10px;"><img src="http://8.mshcdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/google-ventures-design-600.jpg" style="float: left; margin-bottom: 10px;" /></a></p> <p>In <em>Mashable</em>'s new video series, <em><a href="http://mashable.com/behind-the-launch">Behind the Launch</a></em>, we're taking cameras behind the scenes at <a href="http://vungle.com" target="_blank">Vungle</a>, an in-app video advertising startup. New episodes air every Monday and Wednesday, but we're running <strong>bonus footage</strong> throughout the series to provide a deeper look into the startup experience. </p> <p>This week, two design partners from <a href="http://www.googleventures.com/" target="_blank">Google Ventures</a> -- a Vungle investor -- came by to talk about how to position the startup and design the dashboard. In the bonus clip above, designers Braden Kowitz and Jake Knapp offer tips for the Vungle website, in anticipation of launch.</p> <p>What resources would you want from an investor (besides, of course, money)? Join t… <br /><a href="http://mashable.com/2012/06/14/google-ventures-web-design/">Continue reading...</a></p> <p>More About: <a href="http://mashable.com/tag/behind-the-launch-series/">Behind the Launch Series</a>, <a href="http://mashable.com/tag/features/">features</a>, <a href="http://mashable.com/tag/google-ventures/">Google Ventures</a>, <a href="http://mashable.com/tag/investors/">investors</a>, <a href="http://mashable.com/tag/mashable/">mashable</a>, <a href="http://mashable.com/tag/startups/">Startups</a>, <a href="http://mashable.com/tag/vungle/">Vungle</a>, <a href="http://mashable.com/tag/web-design/">web design</a></p> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/DwxWrPg6mEwBJ4UcsVgqoc10OMo/0/da"><img border="0" ismap="true" src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/DwxWrPg6mEwBJ4UcsVgqoc10OMo/0/di" /></a><br /> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/DwxWrPg6mEwBJ4UcsVgqoc10OMo/1/da"><img border="0" ismap="true" src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/DwxWrPg6mEwBJ4UcsVgqoc10OMo/1/di" /></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.mashable.com/~ff/Mashable?a=OKnLnS8JaDk:2Dv1bY8sDPo:D7DqB2pKExk"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Mashable?i=OKnLnS8JaDk:2Dv1bY8sDPo:D7DqB2pKExk" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.mashable.com/~ff/Mashable?a=OKnLnS8JaDk:2Dv1bY8sDPo:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Mashable?i=OKnLnS8JaDk:2Dv1bY8sDPo:V_sGLiPBpWU" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.mashable.com/~ff/Mashable?a=OKnLnS8JaDk:2Dv1bY8sDPo:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Mashable?i=OKnLnS8JaDk:2Dv1bY8sDPo:F7zBnMyn0Lo" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.mashable.com/~ff/Mashable?a=OKnLnS8JaDk:2Dv1bY8sDPo:qj6IDK7rITs"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Mashable?d=qj6IDK7rITs" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.mashable.com/~ff/Mashable?a=OKnLnS8JaDk:2Dv1bY8sDPo:_e0tkf89iUM"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Mashable?d=_e0tkf89iUM" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.mashable.com/~ff/Mashable?a=OKnLnS8JaDk:2Dv1bY8sDPo:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Mashable?i=OKnLnS8JaDk:2Dv1bY8sDPo:gIN9vFwOqvQ" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.mashable.com/~ff/Mashable?a=OKnLnS8JaDk:2Dv1bY8sDPo:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Mashable?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.mashable.com/~ff/Mashable?a=OKnLnS8JaDk:2Dv1bY8sDPo:P0ZAIrC63Ok"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Mashable?d=P0ZAIrC63Ok" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.mashable.com/~ff/Mashable?a=OKnLnS8JaDk:2Dv1bY8sDPo:I9og5sOYxJI"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Mashable?d=I9og5sOYxJI" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.mashable.com/~ff/Mashable?a=OKnLnS8JaDk:2Dv1bY8sDPo:CC-BsrAYo0A"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Mashable?d=CC-BsrAYo0A" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.mashable.com/~ff/Mashable?a=OKnLnS8JaDk:2Dv1bY8sDPo:_cyp7NeR2Rw"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Mashable?i=OKnLnS8JaDk:2Dv1bY8sDPo:_cyp7NeR2Rw" /></a> </div><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Mashable/~4/OKnLnS8JaDk" width="1" />