The Blog of Colin Smith (aka kiwicolin)

*Gridiron Software is offering PhotoshopCAFE members a $50 discount off the store price of $299. But for those of you who want to take advantage of another $50 off you only need to purchase before midnight tonight (6/29) to get it for $199! Use Photoshop Cafe promo code: PSCAFE09 to get your discount today!
http://www.gridironsoftware.com/store

Gridiron Flow
Be totally organized without organizing anything
Flow is a Visual Workflow Manager that keeps creative professionals and workgroups streamlined and informed.

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Thanks to one of our members (elemento) for this new tutorial. Raul (Elemento) has shown quite a flair for this type of art, so I was happy when he agreed to write a tutorial for us. http://www.photoshopcafe.com/tutorials/planet/planet.htm

Build stunning websites with Photoshop CS4 and Flash CS4!

http://www.photoshopcafe.com/video/products/Photoshop_Flash_Integration.htm
Even if you have no prior experience, this video will teach you what you need to know to create web sites that will blow the competition out of the water. This 6 1/2 hour DVD ROM shows you how to plan, design and launch your website. Combining popular web design tools, Adobe Photoshop and Flash, you’ll learn the workflow that the pros use. In a simple step-by-step, plain English approach, Colin will show you exactly what you need to know. This one-of-a-kind guide will show you how to create visually appealing and technically effective professional web sites. You’ll add an image gallery, formated text, feedback form, video and animation.

This fast loading DVD ROM contains 6.5 hours of sharp wide-screen video. The advanced interface allows the user to instantly jump to any of the 47 lessons with complete control over the playback. All the lesson files are included, so you can follow along at your own pace!

If you’ve ever dreamed of creating a website that looks great, is functional and is easily updated, this is the video for you!
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As you know, nothing has an on/off switch these days. Because of this, everything is draining power. I found that my office would get really hot because of the heat footprint of all these little devices running, really hot! To the point I would have to run a/c even in winter. I went to electronics stores looking for a power switch. All I could find were the typical surge protectors etc.

I finally went to Guitar Center and found these little DJ lighting switches for about $30 a piece. I got 3 of them and a half space clamshell rack. I got a 4 unit rack and left space between the units to allow room for the power adapters. Total cost, around $200

I now have the ability to individually turn the power on and off for every device in my office. When you turn the switch off, the device is off, it’s not making a slow draw on standby mode. The result is I use a lot less power now because I only turn things on when I need them. It also cuts down noise and heat. I don’t need to run a/c now. Also I have been able to clean up the huge birds nest of wires and cables.

The top 2 units are going through a UPS backup battery and the bottom unit is going through a power conditioner/surge protector so I have cleaner power too.
Just thought I would share.

Colin

Hey all. I’m excited that Jeff has finally finished his new DVD. Photoshop CS4 Video and Animation. I’m thrilled to be publishing this title because there is nothing else out there like it! I can see why it took him so long to record it, amazing stuff

http://www.photoshopcafe.com/video/products/photoshop_video.htm

Jeff will also be speaking at the NAB show next week I’m flying on for a couple of days, always love NAB. It’s the place to see all the latest in video and broadcast. I think there’s something like 100,000 people there. I do enjoy the large trade shows, so much to see!

Here is Jeff’s Schedule at the Post Production conference:
4/20 Mon 3:30-4:45pm [N254] – Character Animation from Photoshop Layers with After Effects

4/20 Mon 5:00-6:15pm [N254] – 3D Stereoscopic Motion Graphics in After Effects CS4

4/21 Tues 2:00-3:15pm [N254] – Motion tracking & Stabilization with After Effects CS4

4/21 Tues 3:30-4:45pm [N264] – Green Screen Keying and Mattes in After Effects CS4

4/22 Wed 10am-1:00pm [N260] – Boot Camp: Photoshop for Video & Animation

4/22 Wed 3:30-4:45pm [N264] – Creative Titles with CS4 Production Premium

Wacom Intuos 4 first look and review at PhotoshopCAFE
Review by Colin Smith

Today Wacom announced a new line of pressure sensitive tablets. It’s been a while since the Intuos 3 was released and there have been a few murmurings that a version 4 release must be around the corner.
Meet the Intuos 4 line of Pressure sensitive tablets. These new tablets, are sexy! Dressed in satin black, they are very sleek, they have a slimmer footprint than the Intuos 3 and you will notice the OLED display proudly showing the assigned shortcuts.
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WPPI was a huge success for us. The booth was packed and people gobbled up our innovative and original training. (Sadly: Not so much original stuff around these days).

Both my sessions were also packed. I can’t wait for WPPI 2010 in MGM Grand Vegas. I’ve said it before. WPPI is my fav trade show period! It’s head and shoulders above any other Photographers shows.

See more pix at the PhotoshopCAFE Facebook group. (Oh yeah, don’t forget to join!)

I just got home from WPPI. What a show! 12,000 people attended. For the first time they moved the show to MGM Grand.

We had a new booth for PhotoshopCAFE and some new shirts that we were wearing. I’ll post siome pictures soon. We also had a drawing with $3,000 worth of prizes and drew a huge crowd

I spoke 2x and both sessions were packed with people sitting on the floor to get in. All in all, a very sucessful show. Once again, pics coming soon!

This one came about as a request in the forums. Someone wanted to know how to create a zoom effect. This effect can be done in camera and is quite fun.  If you didn’t do it in camera, fear not, we have Photoshop. This works in all versions of Photoshop.

Tutorial

The 2nd picture is an example of the effect in-camera at Flash Forward Austin Texas.

I used a slower shutter speed and pulled the lens in as I took the shot. Start moving the lens before clicking the shutter, this way you will get a smoother movement.

I’m honored to be chosen by Nvidia to be featured in their new ad campaign for Adobe products. As a result, I’m currently featured on their homepage www.nvidia.com (click the 3rd box, or wait). Ok blah, blah.. There is a lesson in all this for us.

Let me tell you about the experience, it was very surreal…

They flew me up to San Fransisco to a studio to do all the shooting. I walked in the door and was immediately sat down in a room where a hairstylist and nail-lady got busy on me (luckily someone offered me water, the trip there was very eventful). If you know me, I’m not exactly the type of guy who likes to have his nails lacquered. Some people call this stuff pampering, to me it’s torture! When all that was done, they said “it’s time for makeup”. I asked “Do I have to do makeup?”. A firm yes and I was sitting in another seat where a makeup artist tortured me with soft brushes and all kinds of powders. Luckily I didn’t have to wear eye makeup, I’d still be there pulling away from the mascara brush (memories of a high school play come flooding back). Basically it was just powder to stop shine from the lighting.

Then it was time for wardrobe. They took me to a room where there was a whole rack of clothes for me to choose from. Me choose? lol. More like they chose for me, but I did have power of veto and refused to wear a polo shirt “hurl…” (If you wear polo shirts, that’s fine, but not my thing at all). At this point I have a whole new level of respect for women who wear makeup on a daily basis.(it gets everywhere).

Then it was time for the shoot, there were people everywhere, I had to do this, do that, and every time I turned around there was someone with a makup brush touching up my powder. The whole thing took about 4 hours, with photos, video, interviews etc. All in all it was a lot of fun in the end.

As a creative Professional, I’m used to being on the other side of all this. I’m the one that shines blinding lights in people’s faces and makes silly comments to get the right expression before I press the shutter. I would never enjoy being a professional model, or actor, hats off to them! This experience gives me a whole new appreciation for the people on the other side of the camera. I think this is something every creative pro should do. Just to get an understanding of what it’s like to be on the other side. At the same time, models and actors should try shooting someone and this would also give them appreciation. Here’s a novel concept, next photoshoot, try switching places for about 15 mins and a whole new world will open up to you. In the future, I’ll be a little more understanding.