Graphic designers, web designers, illustrators, typographers, digital artists and everyone in the creative fields -- IT'S SUMMER and we're hot, hot, hot! (Unless you happen to be in the Southern Hemisphere, and then you might not be so hat!) Send us your samples for DTG readers to share and discover your skills and talents
Vol 27, #6 ~ JUne / July 2017
Table of Contents : What's here:
- JUNE & July: Design Vacation
- 101 Photoshop Tutorials: From Competent to Magnificent; basics; masks; retouching
- Extraordinary visions of image elements that don't exist ... until you create them
- Creative Tidbits #228: Free Vectors, Tumblr Type, Creativity, Sketch and more!
- Generate abstract paintings full of imaginative shapes and expressive color
- Marketing Update May: Print, Visual, Email, Digital Ads, avoiding Facebook and more
- Photos on iPhone and iPad - interactive and inspirational Book released
- ShotList 8.0 brings order to chaos for movie shoots
- Nothing beats fun communications like Comics ... try Comic Draw, the Comic Creation App
- Ah, Provence! That charming region of France now can frame your prized photos!
- We were thrilled with this new writing app which automatically formats your content
- Marketing Update : Hashtags, Video Content, mobile, performance measurement and more
- &Else: your iPhone is a webcam, and can send live video where you want it to go
- &Else: Draw fascinating variations with simple pen pressure
- July, August and Summertime Design
JUNE & July: Design Vacation
It's June, and in many places, people will be planning or embarking on summer vacations! When the designer goes on vacation, all design problems may be left behind at the office or studio -- or, perhaps a little bit of the studio will come along. So, this issue we're asking readers to send their best or favorite photo -- taken on vacation, or during June.
101 Photoshop Tutorials: From Competent to Magnificent; basics; masks; retouching
You can really never have too many Photoshop tutorials, but it's tough weeding the good from the bad! Thank goodness Brenda Barron has done a lot of hard work culling just the best of the best. Special thanks to Ashley Denham of Who-Is-Hosting-This.com, for sending us this article. She ran across a 2006 web page in Photoshop911 and thought DTG readers would really like this. We agreed! We're thrilled to introduce Brenda Barron to Design Center readers 101 Photoshop Tutorials
Extraordinary visions of image elements that don't exist ... until you create them
We've told you about some of the crazy things Akvis has been doing with images ... now they're empowering you with a light stick that will generate impressive light effects in a fast and uncomplicated way. The new version includes new futuristic light effects reminiscent of UFO landings lights, starburst, laser beams, and neon flashes. Take advantage of ready-to-use presets to make your photos look extraordinary!
Creative Tidbits #228: Free Vectors, Tumblr Type, Creativity, Sketch and more!
This issue focuses on essays that are important to the overall scheme of graphic design. But it's not all work and no play -- we got free vector art along with insights into a really fun drawing app that does other stuff too!
- 20 Free Vector Pallet Wood Textures in AI, EPS & PNG Format
- I didn’t know Sketch could do that!
- Creativity on Demand
- Stereotype Tumblr
Generate abstract paintings full of imaginative shapes and expressive color
I was at an art fair on Las Olas recently and booth after booth was selling spectacular oil paintings. I noticed how "perfect" they were, so I went in for a very close look. Wow -- nobody else noticed, but these were digital paintings -- and they were flying off the shelf at anywhere from $200 to $20,000. Hello!
Then I get this note from Akvis and I'm thinking ... maybe I ought to give up this internet publishing and sell oil paintings in Key West. It would probably pay for my retirement! Akvis oil paintings
Marketing Update May: Print, Visual, Email, Digital Ads, avoiding Facebook and more
As we move toward the buy seasions of back to school and the holidays, marketing strategy should change. Many now are saying let's get away from Facebook -- with the news that Facebook delivers only a fraction of the views you think they're getting, your money might be better spent elsewhere. But read the news, test the rules and keep on keeping up :
- Display Advertising Statistics for Different Types of Digital Ads
- Why Visual Communication Will Dominate Marketing tomorrow
- 7 Tips to Running a Successful Email Marketing Campaign
- Here’s Another Way Digital Could Complement Print
- Why Publishers are Shifting Away From Facebook
- 5 Easy Ways To Improve Your Website
Photos on iPhone and iPad - interactive and inspirational Book released
I don't know about you, but these days the apps and devices are getting too many features and too many problems to keep up. Yes, there are only ten thousand photo apps for the iPhone. Sheesh ... thanks Thomas Anthony, now you can actually learn something about mobile photography so your images are better, and your life is easier! Photos on iPhone and iPad
ShotList 8.0 brings order to chaos for movie shoots
If you do video or photography shoots, you always need to be aware of potential troubles. If something unexpected happens during the shoot such as weather, location or cast availability problems) Shotlist makes it easy to rapidly rearrange the shooting order on the spot, and email a full-colour revised schedule to the entire team in a few taps from your mobile device.
Nothing beats fun communications like Comics ... try Comic Draw, the Comic Creation App
Comic Draw, a full-featured comic creation and publishing application for iPad makes it real fun to generate awesome comics and comic style layouts. Comic Draw, the Comic Creation App
Ah, Provence! That charming region of France now can frame your prized photos!
If you like to enhance your imagery, or photos, or you just want a bit of pinash for gift photos, then these romantic and adorable picture frames capture the essence of French countryside living. For flat prints or canvas, add an artful balance between rustic and chic. Get inspired by the authentic Provence motifs!
We were thrilled with this new writing app which automatically formats your content
In a world of content management systems, auto style sheets and all manner of automation, some things work, and some things don't. I got so tired of flaky Wordpress default formatting I had to go back to doing it myself. This app really looks promising.
Marketing Update : Hashtags, Video Content, mobile, performance measurement and more
Marketing update for graphic designers An understanding of PR and marketing go hand-in-hand with graphic design, especially once you get into branding and product markings. In the connected world, with social media and consumer input on such a wide-spread scope, all the rules have to be considered with a grain of salt and a lot of testing! What's hot these days :
- 4 things every event professional should know about social media measurement
- Why publishers are rethinking their pursuit of huge numbers
- How to Use Hashtags to Improve Your Social Media Marketing
- How Visual Advertising Will Change Marketing In 2017
- 4 Ways to Totally Nail Your Video Content Marketing
- How Publishers Can Increase Their Mobile Advantage
&Else: your iPhone is a webcam, and can send live video where you want it to go
Maybe you really don't need a webcam. Maybe you just need one for a short use or specific use? PixWebcam turns any iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch into an ad-hoc webcam for taking photos in definable intervals. Photos are then uploaded to various channels like Dropbox or Twitter. PixWebcam
&Else: Draw fascinating variations with simple pen pressure
I wrote about this new app in 2016, when they launched Calligraphy Penmanship for iOS devices. Its most important feature is based on the pressure control of the Apple Pencil on the screen of the iPad Pro. Calligraphy Penmanship for iOS devices
July, August and Summertime Design
Take this opportunity to share your Photos with DTG readers. During the summer, through August you'll probably see items appearing on a scattered schedule. I'm gearing up for another coast to coast trip, and some other unusual activities, so our publication schedule will not be quite as rigid as usual. We do have some great stuff lined up for JULY though, and two more creative tidbits coming in the next two weeks
Don't forget, we'll continue adding your favorite web sites and surfing experiences for another big surf in July. So don't hesitate to post yours 
to my watched email.
We wish you happy surfing ... and good times during June -- enjoy the show.
HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY
Here's to your health and safety -- be careful and protect yourself at all times!
Thanks for reading... go forth and be creative!
+FredShowker, Editor / Publisher @Showker
Parting words for June
Good ideas realized in a mediocre way ...
are still better than mundane ideas executed with technical skill!
Fred Showker
Graphic Design & Publishing Center
Don't forget ... we encourage you to share your discoveries about favorite or famous graphic designers and illustrators with other readers. Just contact me.
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