You can subscribe to receive the free CAFE cup each month here. (Note: You will never be spammed)

Welcome to the first issue of the CAFÉ cup, from PhotoshopCAFE.

This is the first issue where I am testing this new format. Drop me an email and let me know what you think about this format. I really want to jam these newsletters with more useful content. What can you expect?

  • You will receive News about what’s hot with Photoshop.
  • Notice of new Products
  • Dates of events
  • Lots more Photoshop Tips
  • FAQ: this is where I will answer some frequently asked questions
  • Notice of hot tutorials.
  • Special offers on books, Cds and software from Photoshop CAFÉ and partners.
  • Prizes and giveaways
  • Coffee with Colin: I will have a monthly rant about Photoshop, design and things of interest.
Tell your friends and get them to sign up on the list, they may just win a prize! As always this list will never be shared or sold to slimy spammers.
Tip: Why choose precision tools from the preferences? There is a better way: Press the Caps Lock Key to toggle between standard and precision tools. This way you can see the brush sizes as well as work with precision when you need it.
Coffee with Colin: What are you designing?

It’s a common trap for a young designer to want to cut loose with all the new tricks. Say you have just learned a cool new effect and you are just bursting to use it? Don’t be tempted to force it into your next design "no matter what."

The message must drive the design: The design must never dictate the message. Remember that Graphic Design is Visual Communication and the message presented in the most tasteful way is the successful design. Before choosing a design element, ask yourself this question: “Will this add or subtract from the message?” This is the reason we have private and commercial work, the private pieces are the place to explore and try out our new techniques.

Just be patient, there will be a great time for them sometime in the future. In the meantime, post your pieces over at the CAFÉ. There are over 4,000 friendly members just waiting to look at your work and offer helpful suggestions. You will receive a warm welcome!

Of course there are times when you discover, just the right technique exactly when you need it! When that happens, you are in bliss.

New Product Spotlight: Photoshop Secrets - Special FX (PhotoshopCAFE live 2)

This, my latest CD contains around 2 hours of the coolest special effects around. Follow along with the video as I show you step by step in plain English how to create things like Segmented Chrome Tentacles, realistichighlight glints, cool colorizing techniques, realistic effects, pixel stretching, reflective glass surfaces, Toxic Waste effects and lots more. You will learn how to master many tools such as quick mask, clipping layers and filters. You will even learn how to install hidden plugins that ship on your Photoshop CD. This is suitable for beginners and contains enough to whet the appetite of intermediate users. All the final PSDs are included for you to deconstruct.

Click here to check out this new CD

Tip: To draw a straight line with any tool: Click, hold down the shift key and click again… no more guess work!
PLUG-IN SPOTLIGHT

Andromeda Software, developer of high-end of Photoshop compatible plug-ins, has announced the release of its three “Collections” to its online store.  Each Collection was designed to boost and enhance the creative needs from photographers to web/graphic designers.  Here’s what included:

            Photographic Tools & Lens Effects Collection–
                        RedEyePro
                        ScatterLight Lenses
                        LensDoc
                        VariFocus
                        Perspective

            Artistic Screening Tools Collection–
                        Series 3 Screens
                        Cutline
                        EtchTone

            Graphic Design Resources Collection–
                        Series 2 Three-D Luxe
                        Series 4 Techtures
                        Shadow
                        Velociraptor

For more product info, free demos or to purchase visit www.andromeda.com.
PhotoImaging and Design Expo - San Diego

Mark your calendars for this 3 day event.

I will be teaching 3 sessions.

Creating a knockout Digital Portfolio

Photoshop Secrets for Digital Photographers (2 hour hands-on)

Photoshop Most Wanted effects and Design Tips. (2 Hour -hands on)

See more about the conference here

FAQ

Q: I did something and now I have a little square on all my images at the top left corner. How do I make it go away?

A: You have activated the view slices. To turn them off choose View >Show>Slices

Q: What is all this Photoshop CS business and when is Photoshop 8 coming out?

A: Photoshop CS is the full version of Photoshop and it is actually Photoshop 8. Adobe decided to coordinate the upgrades of all their design products at once and have called all the latest versions CS. CS stands for Creative Suite and Photoshop (8), InDesign (3), Illustrator (11), Go Live (8) and Acrobat (6) are now bundled into a suite that includes Version Cue for better integration.

 
Free Sample Video clips are now online! + Special Offer:

When we were at Photoshop World, we bundled all 3 training CDs together:

 

PhotoshopCAFE live

Photoshop Secrets for Digital Photographers and

Photoshop Secrets: Special FX.

 

We called this the “Guru Bundle” and sold it for a special price. This was very popular and I have received many requests for the bundle. Check out Photoshopcd.com for your chance to get the Guru Bundle at a special price.

(sample clips are now online)

check it out here

You can subscribe to receive the free CAFE cup each month here. (Note: You will never be spammed)