Celebrate Adobe Photoshop’s 25th Birthday With 25 Inspiring Resources on Tuts+

Posted on by mgxdesignstudio

This year, Adobe Photoshop turns 25! Let’s celebrate this iconic software’s birthday by sharing with you some of the awesome resources here on Tuts+. Not only that, but for the next month, one of our premium video courses on Photoshop is free to access! Read on to find out more.

5 Photoshop Sessions to Master

Sometimes just one tutorial on a topic isn’t enough and you want to learn an area of Photoshop from more than one tutorial. We have several collections of themed content, which will help you explore specific areas of design with Photoshop or a specific process, here on Tuts+. Here are my five favourite from the past few years for you to get your teeth into.

Photoshop Basix

Are you new to Photoshop? Have you been trying to teach yourself the basics of Photoshop, but found the amount of educational material available on the net a bit overwhelming? Photoshop Basix, by Adobe Certified Expert and Instructor Martin Perhiniak, is a series of 25 short video tutorials, around 5 to 10 minutes in length, that will teach you all the fundamentals of working with Photoshop.

Pixels Image Size and Resolution

Photoshop Brushes from Scratch

Join us in this series to learn how to create your own Adobe Photoshop brushes from scratch. Ideal for beginners and pros alike, these tutorials cover everything from the basic textures to more advanced techniques, taking your brush making skills to the next level.

How to Make Your Own Watercolor Brushes in Adobe Photoshop

Animation in Adobe Photoshop

Create your own animated GIFs and loops using Adobe Photoshop with this series of tutorials made of fun projects. 

Create a Run Cycle Animation from Scratch in Adobe Photoshop

Isometric Pixel Art

Create your own world using Adobe Photoshop with our isometric pixel art series of tutorials by René Alejandro Hernández.

These tutorials are ideal for beginners and show you pixel by pixel how to create your own people and buildings.

Isometric Pixel Art Neighborhood Block in Adobe Photoshop

Introduction to Photoshop Layer Styles

Photoshop layer styles are a popular way to add effects, such as drop shadows and strokes, to layers in a non-destructive way. In this Session, we’ll show you how to unlock their potential!

Introduction to Photoshop Layer Styles

5 Beginners Photoshop Tutorials

If you’re just starting out, perhaps the first place to explore the potential of this program is by trying our beginners tutorials. Here are just five of the tutorials we’ve posted over the past year which have gone down well with our community.

5 Advanced Photoshop Tutorials

Looking for something more challenging? Here are some recent advanced tutorials you may have missed which will inspire you to explore Photoshop further. 

5 Inspiring Photoshop Text Effects

Text effects in Photoshop will always be popular, which is why we publish so many of them to cope with the demand! Here’s a selection of my all time favourite text effect tutorials, using a variety of techniques from simple layer styles, to photo manipulation to 3D effects.

5 In Depth Photoshop Video Courses

Tuts+ have over 480 video based courses to help you learn creative and technical skills. Of those we have over 60 courses specific to a variety of Photoshop users. So if you use Photoshop for design and illustration, website design or to complement your photography, we’ve got you sorted. Here are five of my personal favourites.

Photoshop Essentials

It’s easy enough to pick up Photoshop and mess around with it for a bit, but if you want to really get things done, you need a few essential tips. Fortunately, we’ve got you covered.


Mastering the Wacom Tablet in Adobe Photoshop

One of the most valuable pieces of equipment for digital drawing is the pressure-sensitive graphics tablet. The leading manufacturer of these tablets is Wacom, and its products are remarkable. Yet simply owning the device doesn’t necessarily translate to creating better digital artwork. This course aims to initiate the beginning digital artist into the world of digital drawing with a tablet. Primarily focused on use in Adobe Photoshop, this course will teach you how to set up, customize, use, and master your own tablet.


Working with Text in Photoshop

Working with type in Photoshop is never as straightforward as we think, so in this course Howard Pinsky will first teach you the basics of type and then on to more advanced effects that can be accomplished, such as 3D effects, chrome text effect and much much more. So if you have been struggling with how to use type effectively in Photoshop, then struggle no more!


Photoshop for Photographers

With all of its tools and functions, attempting to learn Photoshop can be an intimidating prospect. In this course, Photoshop expert Dave Cross will help you learn to use the tools and techniques that are essential to any photographer’s workflow. You won’t learn about every single tool and menu, because you don’t need to! Instead, you will finish this course with a strong understanding of key Photoshop techniques for photographers, including best practices, working non-destructively, adjusting images, retouching, resizing, working with Camera Raw and Lightroom, and much more.


Advanced Retouching Techniques for Advertisements

Creative advertising is what drives brands and makes them relevant to the modern world. In this course you’ll learn how to use compositing and retouching to create an effective advertisement. You’ll learn how to incorporate a product shot, in this case a beer bottle, into a dramatic scene to help emphasise the beer and create an effective advert that you couldn’t produce with natural photography.


Our Birthday Gift to the Photoshop Community!

We love Adobe Photoshop here at Tuts+ and we want to help celebrate with style. If you’re new to the software or want to brush up on your Photoshop skills, for the next month, we’ve made available our Photoshop Essentials video course for free! We think everyone should get to know this wonderful program and this is one of the best ways to start.

Happy Birthday Adobe Photoshop, you look fabulous for 25!

How to mix photoreal and conceptual renders

Posted on by mgxdesignstudio

Read more about How to mix photoreal and conceptual renders at CreativeBloq.com

Axis Viana Hotel is a personal project by my archviz company LS • ROOM, based on the amazing photography by Nelson Garrido of an existing building created by VHM in Viana do Castelo, Portugal. When conceptualising a project like this you have to consider several issues. First, we considered the two distinct lines of approach we intended to explore: photorealistic and conceptual.

Celebrate Adobe Photoshop’s 25th Birthday With 25 Inspiring Resources on Tuts+

Posted on by mgxdesignstudio

This year, Adobe Photoshop turns 25! Let’s celebrate this iconic software’s birthday by sharing with you some of the awesome resources here on Tuts+. Not only that, but for the next month, one of our premium video courses on Photoshop is free to access! Read on to find out more.

5 Photoshop Sessions to Master

Sometimes just one tutorial on a topic isn’t enough and you want to learn an area of Photoshop from more than one tutorial. We have several collections of themed content, which will help you explore specific areas of design with Photoshop or a specific process, here on Tuts+. Here are my five favourite from the past few years for you to get your teeth into.

Photoshop Basix

Are you new to Photoshop? Have you been trying to teach yourself the basics of Photoshop, but found the amount of educational material available on the net a bit overwhelming? Photoshop Basix, by Adobe Certified Expert and Instructor Martin Perhiniak, is a series of 25 short video tutorials, around 5 to 10 minutes in length, that will teach you all the fundamentals of working with Photoshop.

Pixels Image Size and Resolution

Photoshop Brushes from Scratch

Join us in this series to learn how to create your own Adobe Photoshop brushes from scratch. Ideal for beginners and pros alike, these tutorials cover everything from the basic textures to more advanced techniques, taking your brush making skills to the next level.

How to Make Your Own Watercolor Brushes in Adobe Photoshop

Animation in Adobe Photoshop

Create your own animated GIFs and loops using Adobe Photoshop with this series of tutorials made of fun projects. 

Create a Run Cycle Animation from Scratch in Adobe Photoshop

Isometric Pixel Art

Create your own world using Adobe Photoshop with our isometric pixel art series of tutorials by René Alejandro Hernández.

These tutorials are ideal for beginners and show you pixel by pixel how to create your own people and buildings.

Isometric Pixel Art Neighborhood Block in Adobe Photoshop

Introduction to Photoshop Layer Styles

Photoshop layer styles are a popular way to add effects, such as drop shadows and strokes, to layers in a non-destructive way. In this Session, we’ll show you how to unlock their potential!

Introduction to Photoshop Layer Styles

5 Beginners Photoshop Tutorials

If you’re just starting out, perhaps the first place to explore the potential of this program is by trying our beginners tutorials. Here are just five of the tutorials we’ve posted over the past year which have gone down well with our community.

5 Advanced Photoshop Tutorials

Looking for something more challenging? Here are some recent advanced tutorials you may have missed which will inspire you to explore Photoshop further. 

5 Inspiring Photoshop Text Effects

Text effects in Photoshop will always be popular, which is why we publish so many of them to cope with the demand! Here’s a selection of my all time favourite text effect tutorials, using a variety of techniques from simple layer styles, to photo manipulation to 3D effects.

5 In Depth Photoshop Video Courses

Tuts+ have over 480 video based courses to help you learn creative and technical skills. Of those we have over 60 courses specific to a variety of Photoshop users. So if you use Photoshop for design and illustration, website design or to complement your photography, we’ve got you sorted. Here are five of my personal favourites.

Photoshop Essentials

It’s easy enough to pick up Photoshop and mess around with it for a bit, but if you want to really get things done, you need a few essential tips. Fortunately, we’ve got you covered.


Mastering the Wacom Tablet in Adobe Photoshop

One of the most valuable pieces of equipment for digital drawing is the pressure-sensitive graphics tablet. The leading manufacturer of these tablets is Wacom, and its products are remarkable. Yet simply owning the device doesn’t necessarily translate to creating better digital artwork. This course aims to initiate the beginning digital artist into the world of digital drawing with a tablet. Primarily focused on use in Adobe Photoshop, this course will teach you how to set up, customize, use, and master your own tablet.


Working with Text in Photoshop

Working with type in Photoshop is never as straightforward as we think, so in this course Howard Pinsky will first teach you the basics of type and then on to more advanced effects that can be accomplished, such as 3D effects, chrome text effect and much much more. So if you have been struggling with how to use type effectively in Photoshop, then struggle no more!


Photoshop for Photographers

With all of its tools and functions, attempting to learn Photoshop can be an intimidating prospect. In this course, Photoshop expert Dave Cross will help you learn to use the tools and techniques that are essential to any photographer’s workflow. You won’t learn about every single tool and menu, because you don’t need to! Instead, you will finish this course with a strong understanding of key Photoshop techniques for photographers, including best practices, working non-destructively, adjusting images, retouching, resizing, working with Camera Raw and Lightroom, and much more.


Advanced Retouching Techniques for Advertisements

Creative advertising is what drives brands and makes them relevant to the modern world. In this course you’ll learn how to use compositing and retouching to create an effective advertisement. You’ll learn how to incorporate a product shot, in this case a beer bottle, into a dramatic scene to help emphasise the beer and create an effective advert that you couldn’t produce with natural photography.


Our Birthday Gift to the Photoshop Community!

We love Adobe Photoshop here at Tuts+ and we want to help celebrate with style. If you’re new to the software or want to brush up on your Photoshop skills, for the next month, we’ve made available our Photoshop Essentials video course for free! We think everyone should get to know this wonderful program and this is one of the best ways to start.

Happy Birthday Adobe Photoshop, you look fabulous for 25!

Quick Tip: Working With Adobe Illustrator Vectors in InDesign

Posted on by mgxdesignstudio
Final product image
What You’ll Be Creating

Adobe InDesign is a fantastic layout design program, but it isn’t usually the software of choice for editing images. Instead, Illustrator and Photoshop have traditionally been the best programs for editing vector and raster images, before saving and then placing them in InDesign.

In this quick tip tutorial we’ll take a look at an alternative method of working with images in InDesign, by pasting vector graphics directly into your documents. This gives you more flexibility and control over editing simple graphics while you work in InDesign, allowing you to switch up colors and stroke effects with ease.

We’ll weigh up the advantages and disadvantages of the technique, so you can start to play around with images in your InDesign layouts with confidence.

Pasting in Vector Graphics: The Advantages

So when is it a good idea to paste graphics directly into your InDesign artwork?

1. Simple Vectors Are a Breeze to Copy and Paste

In this example, I want to prepare a book cover layout which is covered in cute, collage-like clouds (learn how to create the book cover from scratch using this tutorial).

book cover final

I’ve created a simple cloud outline in Illustrator using the Arc Tool (found under the Line Segment Tool drop-down menu, in the Tools panel).

I then went to Object > Path > Join to create an enclosed shape.

cloud vector shape

The shape has a black stroke and no fill. It’s important when you copy and paste vector graphics that they have either a Fill or Stroke Color, as InDesign will otherwise not be able to paste the vector. You’ll get this message instead:

import failed message

As a final step I selected the cloud shape, complete with its black stroke, and went to Edit > Copy.

I then returned to InDesign and went to Edit > Paste. The cloud vector was dropped onto the page without a problem.

pasted vector

2. Pasted Graphics Are Directly Editable

I can now apply formatting to the vector, adjusting the Stroke Color to [None] and setting the Fill Color to [Paper]. I’m also able to apply effects to the graphic, in the same way I would apply effects to shapes or frames created in InDesign. Here I navigated to Object > Effects > Drop Shadow to add a slight shadow behind the cloud.

vector with effects applied

I could also add gradients, satin effects, bevel or emboss, etc., if I wanted to—all the different options which are accessible from the Effects window (Object > Effects).

I can also copy and paste the vector several times, and resize, rotate or flip it, easily and quickly.

several clouds with effects applied

It’s also really useful to have pasted vectors as you’re preparing different drafts or playing around with different color schemes for your InDesign layouts. If a client says they would prefer a pink background with a black cloud, I can switch up the colors in no time to let them see the result instantly, without needing to hop back and forth between Illustrator and InDesign, resaving different versions of the image file as I go.

switching up color

Pasting in Vector Graphics: The Disadvantages

It can be really useful to know that you can paste vectors into InDesign—after all, it’s quick, easy, and gives you direct control over image editing in InDesign.

But it isn’t always appropriate or even possible to paste graphics into your InDesign documents. Some notes of caution…

1. Complex Vectors Can Cause Problems

Graphics which have effects applied to them (e.g. gradients or transparencies), or have any excessive detail or texture, may cause problems when you try to paste them into InDesign.

Take this example. This is a group of characters typed up in REIS and then outlined in Illustrator.

original text
outlined characters

When I copy the graphic, and head over to InDesign to Edit > Paste, the vector is pasted in without a problem, but the speed at which InDesign operates immediately begins to slow down dramatically.

pasted into InDesign

Sure, I can edit the Fill and Stroke Color of the graphics from the controls panel at the top of the screen (or from the Swatches panel [Window > Color > Swatches]), but it’s going to take a while to do, and building up the rest of the layout is going to be hair-tearingly slow!

In another example, I tried to paste an even more complex vector graphic into the InDesign layout, but I got this message, saying that the program would simply embed the image instead, meaning that the editing power you were hoping for becomes redundant.

warning message

There are ways of getting round this issue, if you still want to be able to edit more complex vectors directly in InDesign. Firstly, you can set the Display Performance to Fast Display, which can help to speed up the program and reduce any time delays as you navigate or apply formatting. Of course, this means you are less able to view the accurate result of any formatting changes you might make to the graphic, other than sizing or rotation, such as color or effects.

display performance mode

You can also paste your vector graphics onto a separate layer and switch off the visibility of the layer as and when needed, which can improve the speed at which InDesign operates.

layers panel

You can also check that your Preferences are optimised to ensure that the graphic you are pasting preserves any original detail (such as a gradient effect).

In Illustrator, go to Illustrator > Preferences > File Handling & Clipboard to edit your preferences for copying and pasting images. Ensure that the option for AICB (no transparency support) is checked and check the box next to Preserve Appearance and Overprints. Click OK when you’re done.

illustrator preferences

Back in InDesign, navigate up to InDesign > Preferences > Clipboard Handling and ensure that the option at the top of the Preferences window, Prefer PDF When Pasting, is not checked. Click OK.

InDesign preferences

2. InDesign Links to Images for a Good Reason

Linked images, not embedded or pasted, take up much less space, and are more efficient for your workflow as a result.

Placing (File > Place) and linking images in InDesign creates a connection between the placeholder image on the page and its file location on your computer. This is good practice, particularly if your document is going to be image-heavy. You can view the InDesign document on High Quality Display (View > Display Performance) and see your document in high-resolution without sacrificing speed or performance, if your images are linked, not embedded.

This also means you can create multiple copies of the linked image in InDesign without a problem, and you can also easily relink or relocate multiple instances of the same image by simply hopping over to the Links panel (Window > Links) and clicking the Relink… chain icon.

links panel with missing links
corrected links

When you’re ready to export your InDesign work for print or digital, InDesign brings back the original graphics that are linked to in the document, setting the final exported file with the resolution quality of the original images.

Conclusion

Pasting vector graphics straight into your InDesign layouts can be a huge timesaver, and is particularly useful when you’re still in the experimental, draft stages of a design, where you want to be switching up colors and effects constantly without the hassle of having to resave and relink freshly edited Illustrator images all the time.

You can see how editing the formatting of a graphic will change the look of your designs in real time, which promotes a speedy, dynamic workflow.

However, there are some pitfalls to be wary of. Complex Illustrator vectors can lose detail (such as gradients or transparencies) when pasted, slow down InDesign to a painful extent, or even refuse to be pasted at all.

The basic rule is: If you have a simple vector shape, with no effects applied to it, you’ll be good to go ahead with copying and pasting across; but exercise caution if you have a more complex vector design.

Train To Use Dreamweaver CS5 Or CS6 Online And Build Your Own Website!

Posted on by mgxdesignstudio

Train To Use Dreamweaver CS5 Or CS6 Online And Build Your Own Website!

At first glance, the key question of how to come up with a website is straightforward and, thus, straightforward to answer even for folks who suffer from little to no know-how about web site design and development. Blogger tools, sacramento web design tutorials together with other resources like books, e-books and courses are widely accessible, assuming you understand where you can try the off the shelf and digital media.

1. Conceptualize a concept. Think whatever you as if your future site being. What audience do you need to cater? Everything you do must redound on their own fulfillment. They will be visiting to get what they need. Be sure that their requirements are answered. That way they’ll be satisfied and will frequently come additional. Not only that, they’re capable to recommend your SACREMENTO WEB DESIGN website on his or her friends as long as they believe it is functional and nice.

First things first, grab a pencil plus some paper, you’ve some going to do! Figure out first the kind of website that you desire. The “niche” as it were. It should be something so many people are considering and wants to learn about, maybe something people search for a lot. Maybe a community website just as the one I crated applying this same method. Now discover principle layout it’s advisable. Where you would really like links to see, if any, and everything you look for the theifs to connect to…stuff prefer that. Or perhaps investigating the advantages of Sacramento SEO Tactics

Create a Slick Tabbed Content Area using CSS & jQuery:A great solution for adding more content on pages while preserving usability, tabs can be obtained from all sorts of flavors. This particular tutorial will disclose not simply the basic principles on the way to create tabs, and a nice animation effect for tables of multiple sizes. Check it out.

Many new web owners want to include the maximum volume of information as you can once they design their sites. It’s understandable; that being said, you’re probably eager for your small business, organization or hobby. Too much information can overwhelm your potential clients and make your Sacramento Web Designers website hard to move through. That’s extremely true in case you are simply by using a site builder that permits you to include blogs, social network feeds, animations and also other extras.

c-c-center.org

6 Easy Ways to Start Your a Sacramento Web Design Career

Posted on by mgxdesignstudio

6 Easy Ways to Start Your a Sacramento Web Design CareerWe truly realize of Adobe Photoshop and the way its application leads to better learning of Photoshop. To be an Expert Sacramento Web Design guru, you will need to work hard. It is a application for image editing which allows its users to edit, change, add, improve or delete pictures. Those who are aspiring to know the way you utilize this program can adequately become a professional from it making money making use of it.

Before we even start this Sacramento web page design tutorial, the 1st step to this procedure is obviously research. When making an internet site you will need to first understand a couple of things about your purpose in doing the web page to start with. Some things to question yourself are, am I looking for an optin list, and I selling something, or possibly am I seeking to just have a word out about a upcoming product I will should be found in the forseeable future? Once you’ve figured this out now you have absolutely understand your audience you’ll be making this web site design for. Some things to consider about your audience is what is the person thinking, how come he or she often unwilling to buy, just how do this system enhance their life, exactly what some selling features (apply customer wants), and perhaps what are the risks involved?

Webmaster World – Webmaster World is amongst the oldest and several established online marketing forums there is obviously and it is a crucial resource for first time and experienced webmasters alike. More heavily skewed towards more technical side of website design it is possible to numerous resources on SEO, traffic development and content generation.

Never and ever leave the whole designing process of the designer alone. You should have a perception regarding how to develop your website attractive. Try to transport your opinions for the designer and produce him help it. You can obtain suggestions together with their comments. However, don’t completely give you the designing to your web-site designers.

Take time and energy to be precise as part of your requirements and research to make certain your Sacramento web site design company is the required amount of expertise in website design. You should also employ a glimpse about the portfolio of the web site design company you wish to assign the project to.

After you’ve mastered web page design. Try Sacramento SEO with your area!

Sacramento SEO Services – (916) 667-8732 – WEB & SEO Company

Posted on by mgxdesignstudio

Sacramento SEO Services - (916) 667-8732 - WEB & SEO CompanySacramento SEO Services – (916) 667-8732 – WEB & SEO Company

Sacramento SEO services that produces results!!! Having trouble touching the 1st page of Google with your website? With our affordable SEO services in the Sacramento area, we can place your website in front of potential traffic. Nowadays SEO companies come a dime a dozen. But compared to other SEO companies in Sacramento, MGX Studio will actually GET YOU RANKED!!! Contact our Internet Marketing Company today and get concrete strategies on how we can help you grow your business in your area and get more leads with our Sacramento SEO services.