Ascend training and Mogo Media are proud to announce the internationally acclaimed “The InDesign Conference” is coming to Chicago November 2-4th, 2010. All 3 day attendees receive a $400 credit towards hands-on training at Ascend Training. Learn about our Adobe InDesign training.
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As much as I love the applications included in the Adobe Creative Suite I sometimes wonder if my computer is going to make it through my next Flash project or if it will even be able to open the flier I am editing with InDesign. So, seeing as the computers I own are getting on in years, I’ve been thinking it is about time for an upgrade. Now I have always been a Mac guy myself, but their prices are getting more and more outrageous. To get the power I want in a desktop without breaking the bank, I am in the process of choosing parts for a computer I intend to build myself. Now this may sound completely beyond your knowledge and skills, but surprisingly enough its no more complicated than my Lego Death Star I built in the 4th grade. All you need is proper manuals, here is a useful site that will tell you the necessary components and how to choose the correct ones. There are many more tutorials to be found by simple Google searches. Buying your own components and building your own computer will give you about twice as much bang for your buck. Yeah, the jig is up Dell and HP.
That being said, I have a few tips to save you even more cash. When it comes to computer hardware, take your time, you don’t want to get something that’s outdated but also don’t want to be spending too much on a piece of hardware that you could find on sale or cheaper elsewhere. If you are unfamiliar with Gizmodo, this site is your best friend when it comes to tech deals. Each day, Gizmodo will post an article called Dealzmodo that lists the best deals of the day for primarily tech items. There are always hardware deals on Gizmodo. Newegg is one of the best sources in general for hardware, everything you need will be on Newegg at reasonable prices. For in depth reviews of hardware, tomshardware.com is the place to go. One last thing, and this should go with out saying, avoid ebay. As appealing as some of those prices are, this is fragile technology and I, for one, would not trust ebayers with this stuff.
On second thought, building a computer may be less complicated than the old Lego Death Star. I must’ve had a lot more patience back then.
Thats all for today,
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Wow! Ascend Training would like to thank everyone that attended last night’s HTML Email Marketing Event. Because of you it was a roaring success! Not only will we be repeating this event in Deerfield (date to be determined), but we have also added a new class to our offerings.
Description of class:
This 2 day class is aimed at those with little or no HTML experience who want to create effective email marketing campaigns. The class will cover how to use HTML to create email layouts and forms, import graphics, and generate cascading style sheets (CSS). Most importantly, the class will cover how to avoid being tagged as a “spammer”. Students leave with the comprehensive skill-set they need to return to the office and start their own e-marketing campaigns.
Creating HTML Emails: Building and Broadcasting Successful Email Campaigns, will be offered for a limited time at a special promotional rate. Regularly $895, you can register for this exciting new class for $635 (offer expires September 10, 2010).
For class details and dates, please visit our website.
Adobe AIR allows developers to build web applications without a browser. Why is this important? AIR apps are a combination of a web and desktop applications allows users to run web applications on any desktop whether it’s Windows, Mac, or Linux.
Adobe AIR utilizes HTML and Flash to give the user a consistent experience that feels like a desktop application. This enables applications to have more power and functionality, and because they run in the background, can enable notifications.
One example is Earth Browser by Lunar Software. It’s a 3D view of the earth that relays real-time weather conditions including live earthquakes, satellites, wildfires and more. With a simple click, you can view volcanos all over the world, and get real-time data on their activity.
With the recent Adobe-Apple war, we have to ask if this means that CS6 will be released via AIR? Clearly AIR is a pet project of Adobe, and has already taken off like a rocket.
From a practical point of view, users may love their Macs, but need their Adobe apps. Most of us consider Photoshop/Flash/Dreamweaver/InDesign a lifestyle, and with a library of existing files, a change to anything else is impossible.
It will be interesting to see how the current debates between Adobe/Apple/Flash/iPhone/AIR continue.
Sadly, it is time for Ascend to say goodbye to CS4 classes on our regular schedule. It’s time to make room for our exciting new CS5 classes! As a final homage to CS4, we are offering $100 off of every CS4 class. For your convenience, here is a list of classes and dates. Please contact us directly for pricing and a custom code. All of our class pricing includes 8 months of free retakes (including the ability to retake the class in the CS5 version) and a guarantee of 10 students or less. CS4 classes will be scheduled by request for groups of 3 or more after these dates.
Classroom, Hands-On
After Effects CS4 Level 1, Chicago, Nov 1 -3
After Effects CS4 Level 2, Chicago, Aug 4 – 6 and Sep 20 – 22
Dreamweaver CS4 Level 1, Chicago, Aug 30 – Sep 1, Deerfield, Oct 11 – 13
Flash CS4 Level 1, Chicago, Aug 23 – 25 and Oct 4 – 6, Deerfield, Sep 8 – 10
Flash CS4 Level 2, Chicago, Aug 30 – Sep 1
Illustrator CS4 Level 2, Deerfield, Aug 26 – 27
Online, Live, Instructor Led
InDesign CS4 Level 1, Online, Aug 30 – 31
InDesign CS4 Level 2, Online, Nov 11 – 12
Photoshop CS4 Level 1, Online, Sep 20 – 21
If you find yourself using files that are in two differen folders or even hard drives, Collections is for you! On the lower left side of the Bridge window you will notice 3 tabs reading Filter, Collections and Export. When you click on Collections you have 2 choices: A straight Collection, or a Smart Collection.
Smart Collections are fantastic because let’s say you buy images from istockphoto.com. The good thing is that the word “istock” is in the name of each image, and if you set up a Smart Collection with Filename Contains istock, Bridge will set up and save that search as a Collection.
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Learn the ins and outs of creating killer html email marketing blasts! Look at the behind the scenes html development, in addition to best practices and avoiding being tagged as a “spammer.” This free event is at our Chicago training facility August 17th, 2010 , 5pm.
Many of us remember a great little application called Adobe Dimensions. It created an easy way to create 3D from vector images. The 3D pieces of Dimensions has been incorporated in Illustrator for quite some time, but now we have the same features in Photoshop CS5 with Reproussé!
- Create a blank image using the preset for web at 1152 px by 864 px.
- Choose 3D > Repoussé > Text Layer.
- Set your Depth to 3, and Scale to .3.
- Choose the 3D Rotate tool and either drag straght downwards, or on the Control Bar type in 44 for Orentation X.
- Click OK and choose Window > 3D.
- At the top of the 3D window, choose Filter by: Materials.
- In the top part of the 3D window, choose Ascend Extrusion Material.
- If you click on the Material Picker in the bottom half of the window, you can choose existing materials to apply to your text.
- Diffuse: The color you are applying to the 3D object.
- Opacity: How opaque or transparent the material is.
- Bump: Creates a deeper 3D affect by increasing the contrast of raised areas. In Photoshop Extended, you can paint your own. Basically Bump increases depth.
- In the bottom part of the 3D window you will see a color that is being applied to the text. Next to that is a PICT image that allows you to choose an image.
- Click on the Edit Diffuse Texture icon and choose the texture you want to use.
- If you click on Edit Properties, you can edit the way the texture is displayed.
- Target Determines whether settings apply to a specific layer or the composite image.
- U and V Scale resize the new mapped textures. To repeat your pattern, decrease the values.
- U and V Offset repositions the new mapped textures.
The new 3D features in Photoshop CS5 offer a whole new realm of options to users. 3D is covered in Ascend Training’s Photoshop CS5 Level 2 class at our Chicago and Deerfield training facilities, and online. All Adobe Photoshop Class Offerings. Our Photoshop classes at our facilities feature small class sizes of 10 students or less with individualized attention.
Upcoming Adobe Photoshop Training Classes:
Chicago Dates
Sep 13 – 14
Oct 21 – 22
Dec 13 – 14
Deerfield Dates
Aug 12 – 13
Nov 18 – 19
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Layer Comps in Adobe Photoshop are a great alternative to Snapshots to save the way your image looks at a particular place in time. You can choose to save the Visibility, Position and Styles. Once you have everything the way you want it, click on the New Comp icon at the bottom of the Layer Comps Panel.
When you have mutiple comps, you can use the arrows to scroll through them. You also can make a change, and click on the Update button for a particular comp.
In addition, you can choose File > Scripts > Save Comps to Files to create separate images of your comps. The real power of Layer Comps comes when you export to InDesign.
When you import any layered Photoshop file to InDesign, either checking the Show Import Options button when you import, or selecting the file and choosing Object > Object Layer Options not only gives you access to the Photoshop Layers, but to the Layer Comps.
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As I was browsing the internet the other day, I stumbled across an article that may interest those of you who enjoy photography. It details a trick where you can use the rotation of the earth to create neat, long exposure photos. First, you need to know how to go about finding the North Star (Polaris), which is made easy by this picture:
Now with the north star located, you can create background designs with the stars. Over time, all the stars rotate about the North Star so the direction of your camera in terms of the North Star will change the pattern of the star movement in your photo. For example, angling your camera directly at the North Star will produce a circular effect whereas directing your camera to the left will produce arcs going from top to bottom in your photo. Chicago, obviously, wouldn’t be the best place to experiment with this, but the suburbs, and certainly while camping, would be great opportunities to experiment with this. Then once you get some photos you like, fine tune them or toy with them in Photoshop until they are to your liking. Get more details or see examples here.