Blog

thefullmontage - resource for Photoshop Artists

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 20:07:49 GMT

thefullmontage introduces the concept of readymades, a unique automated Photoshop system that allows users to map their images onto photographed surfaces with consummate ease.

As a resource for photomontage professionals and enthusiasts, thefullmontage also specialises in component images that other photo libraries don’t carry:

complex cutouts of trees, fences, barbed wire, cranes and architectural elements
ordinary people, photographed from the side and from behind, to act as photographic extras
transparent objects, including drinking glasses and windows
scenes of urban decay
perspective surfaces, landscapes and empty backgrounds, ready to provide a backing to a photomontage illustration

Cocomo Web Services public beta available

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Codename "Cocomo" is a Platform as a Service that allows Flex developers to easily add real-time social capabilities into their RIA (rich Internet applications). Comprised of both Flex-based client components and a hosted services infrastructure, Cocomo allows you to build real-time, multi-user applications with Flex in less time than ever before. And because Acrobat.com hosts the service, issues like deployment, maintenance, and scalability are taken care of for you.

Add social features to your existing Flex apps or build totally new ones, such as real-time productivity/collaboration apps, multiplayer games, and audio/video chat.

Features of the Cocomo beta include the following:

VoIP Audio
Webcam Video
Chat
Multi-User Whiteboards
Real-Time File Sharing
User Management
Roles and Permissions
Robust Data Messaging

Sign-up for the public beta now by following the steps in Getting Started section below.

Adobe CS4 Trial Downloads Now Available

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 17:48:52 GMT

Individual point CS4 products are now available for download. CS4 Suite DVD's are available for order at 10.99 US.

Details and download here.

Fireworks to XAML Panel Updates (CS4 + Silverlight Fixes)

Wed, 05 Nov 2008 09:59:19 GMT

Streamline workflow between Adobe® Fireworks® CS4 and XAML associated application development (Microsoft Expression Blend, Visual Studio, SilverLight), with this updated free Panel.

Summary of Changes

New Clipboard Logic - supports Fireworks CS4, improved performance
Support for both percentage and pixel-based rectangle roundness modes (pixel-based mode introduced with FW CS4)
Text to Paths operation results in fewer XAML objects
No longer render empty Resources collection (exposed via Silverlight)

Eric Meyer's CSS SCULPTOR™ 2.0.0 Released

Tue, 04 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

CSS Experise Meets Complete Layout Control
Only $79.99 for a limited time.

The new and improved Web standards compliant CSS layout creator from Eric Meyer and WebAssist

Let Eric Meyer, renowned CSS master, help you create the custom Web standards compliant, CSS-based layout you want and flatten the CSS learning curve.

Feature Overview:

Certified by CSS guru Eric Meyer

48 Web standards compliant preset CSS layouts included

Major cross browser compatibility

Completely simplifies CSS based layouts

Combines screen and print style sheets to save you time

Easily integrates background images into your layouts

Saves and restores layout designs with a click

Gives you complete control of your CSS from top to bottom

Dreamweaver CS3 and Dreamweaver CS4 compatible

Complete details here.

Adobe Bridge CS4 Scripts available

Tue, 04 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

BrowseBar2
Adds a path or bar to Bridge so you can navigate simply by typing a path name.

BridgeExportToJpegCS4
Quickly export customized JPEG versions of images using Bridge's Thumbnail and Preview cache.

BridgeCS4EmailerPPC
This is a version of the BridgeCS4Emailer Extension, packaged for PowerPC based Macs.

BridgeCS4Emailer
E-Mail files directly from Bridge. (This Package is for Windows and Intel Macs.)

Auto Preview Latest File
Turn on an auto-preview mode in a Bridge window to select the latest file automatically.

All Scripts require Adobe Bridge CS4 and Adobe Extension Manager CS4 installed. Check the above associated links for details and dowloads.

Adobe DNG Converter and Camera Raw 5.1 update available

Thu, 23 Oct 2008 08:54:41 GMT

This new version of the Camera Raw plug-in replaces the original Camera Raw plug-in that was installed with Adobe Creative Suite 4, Adobe Photoshop CS4, Adobe Photoshop Elements 6.0 or 7.0 and Premiere Elements 4.0 or 7.0 software.

Download and details for above specific application here.

BatchOutput Server for Indesign

Wed, 22 Oct 2008 09:56:00 GMT

Toronto (ON), Canada - October 20, 2008 - Zevrix Solutions announced today the release of BatchOutput Server, a new powerful output workflow automation solution for Adobe InDesign. The software automates printing and exporting to PDF and PostScript by processing InDesign files from network-based hotfolders. BatchOutput Server automates, simplifies, and streamlines output workflows of publishing houses, printers, prepress service providers, ad agencies, magazines and newspapers. Platform independent, it can process InDesign files from both Mac and Windows PC computers.

BatchOutput Server was originally developed for a major magazine publisher in the United States. They approached Zevrix about developing an automated solution that would free up their operator computers from outputting InDesign files after their market research failed to find suitable tools. BatchOutput Server was thoroughly tested on site to ensure it met the demands of a fast-paced publishing production workflow.

BatchOutput Server saves companies countless hours that are lost each year because operators have to wait for InDesign to print and export files. With BatchOutput Server, production and layout artists, prepress operators, proofreaders, retouchers and designers simply copy files to hotfolders that reside on the network. BatchOutput Server automatically outputs the files from its dedicated station using hotfolder settings, and will auto-activate document fonts as well. Operator workstations will never again be tied up by the output process.

BatchOutput Server also allows for a single set of output settings for an entire workgroup, solving problems caused by inconsistent settings across workstations and dramatically simplifying support tasks. Wrong output settings on user stations are a source of significant monetary losses for companies that can spend hundreds of dollars in wasted printing materials and tens of thousands on reprints.

Production managers and operators can monitor all BatchOutput Server activities from their own workstations using the BatchOutput Server Monitor application. Processing errors are handled automatically, with the added feature of skipping files with common problems. The program will also notify managers and administrators of errors and other user-generated events via the e-mail notifications feature.

BatchOutput Server also includes the following features:
-output InDesign documents as single page PDF and PostScript files;
-update modified links automatically during output;
-variable output file names;
-XMP variables which allow for base output settings on the InDesign document XMP metadata;
-detailed logging of all activity.

Pricing and Availability
BatchOutput Server runs on Mac OS X 10.4.2 or later (including Leopard), a Universal Binary, and works with Adobe InDesign CS, CS2, CS3 and CS4. Files can be submitted from both Mac and Windows PC computers. BatchOutput Server Monitor requires Mac OS X 10.4.2 or later. BatchOutput Server can be purchased for an introductory price of $499.95 from the Zevrix Solutions website, http://zevrix.com/, as well as from authorized resellers.

About Zevrix Solutions
Located in Toronto, Canada, Zevrix Solutions provides productivity solutions for Adobe Creative Suite software, graphic file diagnostics, and Microsoft Office on Mac OS. Zevrix Solutions makes it easier for professionals to achieve more while doing less by automating their everyday tasks, producing error-free documents, saving disk space and cutting down on production costs.

Adobe InDesign CS3 5.0.4 update available

Tue, 21 Oct 2008 06:13:43 GMT

The Adobe® InDesign® CS3 5.0.4 update is a CS4 compatibility update, containing fixes that address known issues with CS4 to CS3 Export to INX (Save Back) workflows. This update also provides key fixes in the areas of File Size, Hyphenation, Performance, Anchored Objects, Character Alignment, Step and Repeat, Indexing and Table of Contents, Text and Fonts, Dictionaries, Color, Scripting, Import/Export Graphics, InDesign Interchange files (INX), XML, Library files, Printing, and others.

For a list of resolved issues, see the Adobe InDesign CS3 5.0.4 ReadMe file.

This installer includes fixes from all previously released InDesign CS3 5.0.x updates. Note that the previous InDesign 5.0.x updates are no longer available separately.

Win Download

Dreamweaver Widget Packager available on Adobe Labs

Sat, 18 Oct 2008 16:09:44 GMT

The Web Widget Packager is a Dreamweaver extension that provides the ability to package widget files into a widget extension for Dreamweaver.

Details and Download here.

Creative Suite 4 Ships & Adobe Developer Connection content updates

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Creative Suite 4 shipping press release here.

Adobe Developer Connection content for Fireworks CS4, Dreamweaver CS4, Flash CS4

Retired features in Photoshop CS4

Sun, 12 Oct 2008 17:11:05 GMT

Direct quote from John Nack's blog:
"Extract, Pattern Maker, Web Photo Gallery, Contact Sheet, Picture Package, and PDF Presentation have been removed from the default installation. The latter four have been replaced by the Output module in Bridge CS4, and our intention is to replace Extract with features inside Photoshop (building on Refine Edge & more). All of these except PDF Presentation will remain available as optional installs (to be posted on Adobe.com), but over time they'll be phased out. "

Adobe DNG Converter and Camera Raw 4.6 update available

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 19:35:50 GMT

Now supporting the following Camera's:

Canon 1000D (Digital Rebel XS/EOS Kiss F)

Canon 50D

Fuji FinePix IS Pro

Kodak EasyShare Kodak Z1015 IS

Leaf AFi II 6

Leaf AFi II 7

Leaf Aptus II 6

Leaf Aptus II 7

Nikon D700

Nikon D90

Nikon Coolpix P6000

Olympus SP-565 UZ

Pentax K2000 (K-m)

Sigma DP1

Sony A900

Quickly Move multiple Objects in Fireworks Tip

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Besides the normal drag and drop, or copy and paste objects into another Layer routine there is another 'one click' method.

Details here.

Adobe Community Help + CS4 Help Documentation

Tue, 07 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Be sure to check out the Adobe Community Help search engine here, as well as, the available CS4 Help document references from the list below.

» Adobe Bridge and Adobe Version Cue CS4

» Photoshop, OnLocation, Soundbooth, Premiere and After Effects CS4

Designing a media player skin in Fireworks

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 09:24:51 GMT

Nikola Borisov did a nice job showcasing Fireworks vector tools with this media player skin design.

Check it out here.

The PanosFX COMICS Commercial Action released

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Ever spend copius amounts of time attempting to perfect the ideal 'comic' look for your photos.

I know I have.

Well, struggle no further.

PanosFX has just released a nice Comic action for Photoshop and Photoshop Elements that will simplify this process in just a few mouse clicks.

To boot, the action set is interactive and maintains user friendly Layer flexibility once the action is applied.

Some features include optional Halftoning, borders and 'Talk Bubbles'.

Check out all the feature details here and take advantage of an the

INTRODUCTORY PRICE of 14.90 Euros, valid until October 15.

The Mystical Painter Bundle

Sat, 04 Oct 2008 08:41:42 GMT

Get Mystical Tint Tone and Color, Mystical Lighting and Corel® Painter™X Bundled together for $349.

As a bonus, you will also receive training videos for each program! All 3 programs ship with both the Mac and Windows platform. This is an amazing deal worth $900. You save $550. This offer will not be repeated. While supplies last. Quantities are limited.

NAPP & Layers Magazine Learning Resource

Thu, 02 Oct 2008 10:45:00 GMT

If you haven’t noticed them by now, here is your chance to get a sneak peek into the newest features of the Creative Suite 4 lineup.

NAPP has unleashed a dozen or so feature demos on Photoshop CS4. NAPP members only also have access to additional demo content.

Layers Magazine has over 40 feature demo's for all the point CS4 applications.