EBSCO Media in Birmingham, Alabama is pleased to present…
Claudia McCue's Adobe Boot Camp
Only 40 15 Seats Available for this Highly Interactive, Professional Seminar.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009 in Birmingham, Alabama.
Go beyond free "demo-nars" that just showcase flashy features. Slash the time you spend on complex projects. Quit wasting time and money on frustrating software behavior. Eliminate expensive problems caused when you get results you didn't expect. The Adobe Boot Camp is 100% hard-core, professional-level info for people who need to earn a living every day.
Get personal access to a nationally-recognized expert whose full-time job is solving complex problems and delving deep into the software to identify the very best way to ensure trouble-free results.
- Develop a stronger set of skills that lets you work faster and create more accurate, reliable output with less effort; giving your clients the best work possible with the least chance of errors and surprises!
- Go beyond flashy features to master the tools and techniques that let you work smarter, faster, and more profitably every day.
- Tackle the most complex or troublesome projects, confident in your ability to diagnose problems and rapidly determine what went wrong and where.
- Bring your laptop, load up the CD of cross-platform training files, and get a full day of hands-on experience to ensure your new skills “stick.” Ask questions throughout the seminar!
- Job won't print? Text doesn't line up? Bring problem files on disk or USB drive for troubleshooting!
- Learning doesn't stop when the class ends: Take home a full set of cross-platform lesson files, reference materials, and courseware.
- As a Boot Camp alumnus you'll receive a free, 1-year subscription to email technical support, special discounts on training tutorials, and valuable discounts on future training programs.
Please Note: This professional seminar is not for everyone.
We won't waste your time on beginner material. You should have at least one full year of working experience - meeting deadlines, working with printers, etc. - as well as using the software on a daily basis.
We don't cover web-specific software like Dreamweaver or Flash. There's a lot here that will help web professionals, but there's not enough time to cover HTML, video, or Flash media tools.
To truly benefit from this seminar, you should be using Creative Suite 3 or 4. If you are using CS2 or earlier, you will not be able to open the InDesign lesson files provided, and the substantial differences in interface in all the applications may be disorienting.
How much does the Adobe Boot Camp cost?
The Adobe Boot Camp is only $129 for a full day of intense, high-quality education. If you purchase three (3) or more tickets at the same time, you pay only $99 each. There's no sales pitch or company agenda. The day is jam-packed with advanced techniques for professionals. It's a truly "life changing" event that can alter your entire work experience. But it gets better!
“Canned” courses of one-size-fits-all content can cost nearly $500 per day. The Adobe Boot Camp is built from years of experience and based on material you can't find in any book or commercial courseware. Yes, “demo-nars” are free. They're sales pitches for new software.
Think about this — how much does your shop charge for a billable hour? $75? $125? $150? Even at the lowest rates, if you save just four billable hours in the next year my Adobe Boot Camp has paid for itself! I guarantee you'll save that, and more.
100% Zero-Risk Guarantee
I'm so confident you'll love this seminar I'm going to offer something almost unheard of — a 100%, No Questions Asked, Money-back Guarantee!
You can attend the entire morning session risk-free. If you don't feel you're getting your money's worth just tell us at the lunch break. We'll issue a 100% refund and you can leave without spending a penny. Plus, you can keep the CD of free tutorials, Plug-ins and utilities as my gift. Just remember, no refunds after lunch!
How did you develop the Adobe Boot Camp?
I've been helping graphics professionals like you master the Adobe Creative Suite for a decade. I used to spend all day battling complex prepess jobs, then spend nights and weekends searching for new solutions.
One day I went to a seminar by a real expert and immediately got answers to problems I had been fighting for months. I realized that mastering these complex tools was my ticket to increasing my value and making more money. I dedicated myself to learning the fastest, smartest way to work, and what I discovered changed my life.
Professionals work hard — tight deadlines, demanding printers, and even more demanding clients — and depend on their knowledge for success. My Adobe Boot Camp is your opportunity to master features and techniques you'll use every day in Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign, and Acrobat so you can work smarter, faster, and more enjoyably. Investing one day in your career can pay dividends for years. I hope you'll join me and get the edge you need in 2009!
What's in the Adobe Boot Camp?
Adobe's Creative Suite is a powerfully complex set of tools. We'll go in-depth into the applications that print professionals must know, and show you how to make them work together the way Adobe intended.
- Adobe® Illustrator®
- Why the Appearance panel is your new best friend.
- Letting the Pathfinder panel do the work for you.
- Making your peace with the Pen tool.
- Avoiding common printing problems by consistently using the simple built-in troubleshooting tools.
- Simplifying your work in complicated illustrations with just a double-click.
- Taking advantage of the new multiple Artboards feature.
- Using Live Effects.
- Creating and using Symbols.
- Adobe Photoshop®
- Color Correction tips.
- Generating backgrounds without using the Rubber Stamp tool. (Adobe hid this function in CS4, but I'll show you how to find it.)
- Retouching tips.
- Creating realistic, organic masks without using the Pen tool or the Magic Wand.
- Wrapping artwork around a shape or mapping onto a surface.
- Getting the most out of the new Content-Aware Scaling feature.
- Adobe InDesign®
- Text geekery: numbers, bullets, variables, easy fixes for common problems, and the hidden macro typing trick.
- Tables.
- Anchored objects.
- Long document features: bookmarks, cross-references, indexes, and tables of contents (and how they pay off in a PDF).
- Using InDesign's extensive troubleshooting tools, so you'll know your file is healthy!
- Using the new Live Preflight feature to find problems early.
- Indispensable self-defense and repair techniques.
- Adobe Acrobat®
- How to make a bulletproof PDF that prints predictably.
- Using the forensic tools in Acrobat.
- What you can edit (and what you can't) in Acrobat.
- Adding interactive and multimedia features to PDFs.
When and Where will the seminar be held?
Training will take place on Tuesday, August 18th from 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. EBSCO Industries will provide the classroom facilities at their beautiful international headquarters at 5724 Hwy. 280 East, Birmingham, Alabama 35242 (see map here.) Lunch will be provided onsite by EBSCO Media. Seating is strictly limited to 40 students, so register early to lock in your spot. Please bring your laptop (Mac or Windows) with Creative Suite 4 (or CS3) installed. You'll get much more out of the class if you "play along" on the exercises and demonstration files.
Adobe, Creative Suite, Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign, and Acrobat are registered trademarks of Adobe Systems Incorporated. This event not affiliated with Adobe Systems Incorporated.
Vital Info
Seminar content
When and Where
Who should attend
What does it cost
Zero-Risk Guarantee
Claudia McCue is a nationally recognized expert in the areas of graphic arts coaching, training, and speaking. Her specialty is coaching and support for print service providers, print media advertisers, and production professionals.
Claudia is the author of Real World Print Production with Adobe Creative Suite Applications (Peachpit Press, 2009). The original edition, Real World Print Production (Peachpit Press, 2006), was published in three languages and is widely used as a reference text in graphic arts teaching institutions worldwide. She is the primary author of Adobe's Creative Suite 4 Printing Guide. She is Contributing Editor for Real World Quark XPress 7 by David Blatner and Professional Design Techniques with Adobe Creative Suite 3 by Scott Citron. She is a former contributor to Adobe's InDesign certification tests.
Since 2002 her wit and humor have entertained thousands at seminars and conferences across the country, including the HOW Design conference and the InDesign Conference. She is a frequent speaker at Adobe-sponsored events for Print Service Providers, as well as hosting her own series of seminars and webinars.
Claudia's instructional articles and tutorials are regular features in both HOW Magazine and Dynamic Graphics, as well as appearing on Graphics.com. Her client list contains numerous nationally-known companies, including:
- BBDO
- CIBA Vision
- Dynamic Graphics Magazine
- GSD&M
- HOW Magazine
- L.P. Thebault
- Lowe's Home Improvement
- MCI
- MTV Networks
- QuebecorWorld
- SAS Institute
- The College Board
- World Wrestling Entertainment
Claudia has more than 20 years of experience as a real-world, working graphic arts production professional in print, packaging, prepress, photo retouching, and layout. Her practical experience and approachable manner have made her a favorite with audiences across the country. Her expertise and up-to-date knowledge of current desk#top prepress and graphics software has made it possible for thousands to work smarter, work less, and have happier customers.
Tip: Quark to InDesign Conversion
Quark-to-InDesign file conversion is easy, it's a complicated translation process. Consequently, there may be small errors in the conversion that can cause file corruption later on. To ensure healthy converted files, choose File > Export and select the InDesign Interchange format.
This export process creates a file with the file extension ".inx," and eliminates unnecessary information, thus "purifying" the file in the process. Then, choose File > Open, select the .inx file, and start working. By the way, the InDesign Interchange operation can fix misbehaving InDesign files, regardless of their history: try it the next time your InDesign file gets cranky!
What attendees say about Claudia
“It is not enough to say that Claudia McCue is an InDesign expert. It is her teaching approach which makes a real difference. Whether one-on-one or in front of a crowd of 500, Claudia brings a level of comfort that is truly admirable. You quickly get the impression that Claudia is "just one of us" without a trace a condescension, all while she imparts great knowledge with gentle humor. As both a trainer and a trainee, I find this truly admirable.” — Ray Robertson, Atlanta, GA
“I've under-utilized Acrobat as a design tool in conjunction with the other CS apps. I'm excited about further exploring the possibilities…” — Skip, Greenville, SC
“I attended your session at the HOW conference on prepress and thought it was fantastic! I appreciate your humor and love how you find a way to weave it into your work. I've been a designer for 8 years now and it still amazes me how fast technologies change and how much effort it takes to keep up. The information I absorbed at your session made me feel confident that I'm right along with the times.” — Shawna Heide, Edmonton, AB, Canada
“It's really difficult for me to say that there was only one "Aha!" moment. It's rare when I attend a seminar and find SO many things helpful to me. I just thought it was fantastic!” — Jennifer, Upper Marlboro, MD
“Hi Claudia - I always love seeing what's new in upcoming Adobe releases. Yesterday was the 3rd time I've seen you speak. I've enjoyed each time – thanks for making the sessions fun.” — Melanie P., Tampa, FL
“Loved your presentation!!! You do a great job and have a great sense of humor!!!!! ” — Charlene, Williamston, SC
“It's really difficult for me to say that there was only one "Aha!" moment. It's rare when I attend a seminar and find SO many things helpful to me. I just thought it was fantastic!” — Jennifer C., Baltimore, MD
“I want to begin by thanking you for your help in solving our printing ‘bugs’ — using your suggestions I solved the crazy printing problems we were having. You're the bomb!” — Melinda Scott, Atlanta, GA
“Too many good tips to mention! But I'm looking forward to the new "Refine edge to smooth" in Photoshop CS4.” — Elena, Raleigh, NC
“You are an excellent presenter with a great sense of humor. I thank you for the great tips and insight” — Lisa P., Baltimore, MD
“There were too many to mention, but one big one was how to create animated pdf's for posting on the web. We are paying a company big $$ to do that for us!” — Fredi, Tampa, FL
“Your discussion of how older versions of Acrobat don't handle transparency well wsa very helpful. It explained some of the problems I've had with drop shawdows and other transparent objects to showing up correctly in pdfs.” — Skip T., Williamston, SC
“I just loved the acrobat.com information. I can't wait to use it. It will make my life so much easier at work!” — Heath M., Raleigh, NC
“Wow! there were a lot of Aha moments!! It was something that I needed to learn a long time ago so I'm glad I learned it here.” — Natalia G., Baltimore, MD
“There were numerous tips that I hope to incorporate into my work...things to make me more efficient and my work more appealing.” — LIsa M., Greenville, SC
“I LOVED all the new features that Photoshop CS4 has especially 'Content Aware Scaling.' You have no idea how much that feature alone will help me in my job.” — Jenn B., Raleigh, NC
“I was super excited to learn about the Content Aware Scaling. So much time saved!” — Lynzie T., Greenville, SC
“There were too many aha moments to mention! Your sense of humor is wonderful and made the entire day really enjoyable. Not that it "needs" to be part of the seminar, but it made it REALLY fun. Have you thought about being a stand-up comic as a sideline career? Has to be "sideline" though - because we designers wouldn't want to lose you!” — Jan J., Raleigh, NC
“I loved the seminar and found it very informative. I enjoyed learning about the spread rotation ability in InDesign and the vanishing point tool in Photoshop. Thanks for a great seminar!” — Camille, Tampa, FL
“There were too many aha moments! Great program, learned so much, you should go on the road :)” — Adeola D., Raleigh, NC