http://www.claudiamccue.com Graphic Arts Training for Professionals Sat, 10 Jul 2010 17:01:31 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en If you've used the built-in contact sheet generator in Adobe Bridge, you know it only gives you the option to generate PDFs (or Web galleries). That's nice — but there's a much better way. I've blogged in the past about Bob Stucky's great scripting solution, which enables you to invoke InDesign ... http://www.claudiamccue.com/2010/07/bridgeindesign-contact-sheet-for-cs5-now-available/ JUST TO CLARIFY: This is only true for images in which the first layer comp hides some effects (aka layer styles). If the first layer comp only involves hiding some layers, without hiding any effects, all is well. It’s not a showstopper (once you know about it) -- it's just ... http://www.claudiamccue.com/2010/06/layer-comps-bug/ ...and I shouldn't HAVE to. I've been sort of mentoring a woman who's transitioning from marketing to doing freelance design work. Even though she didn't train as a designer, she has very good instincts for what looks good, and she's done a very good job of teaching herself InDesign; I just ... http://www.claudiamccue.com/2010/04/gee-i-hate-to-impose/ Little on the outside, big on the inside: the Seagate FreeAgent Go 640GB (that's 671,088,640MB) drive is currently on sale for about $110 at Best Buy (regularly priced from $129-$145 at other sources). Available in Ruby Red and Tuxedo Black. Other capacities are also available, from 250GB-1TB. The drives are ... http://www.claudiamccue.com/2010/01/room-to-go/ True confession: I don't have an iPhone (what?! What's wrong with you?!). That's right -- I'm a cellphone infidel. I'd like to have a sleek, hip iPhone, but I'm not willing to abandon Sprint for the more expensive AT&T service that's spotty out here in the sticks where I live. Yet, ... http://www.claudiamccue.com/2010/01/color-expert-app-for-iphoneipod-touch/ If you've ever had to silhouette a girl with windblown hair, you know what a challenge it can be to create the perfect mask. I've always used channels, duplicating the best one and using Levels, Curves and judicious handwork to create a mask. As long as the subject has some ... http://www.claudiamccue.com/2010/01/ez-does-it-really/ I realize this doesn't fall under the heading of "graphics," but I'll bet a lot of you have an iPod touch. Even though I'd heard that the screen is sturdy and scratch-resistant, I wanted to ensure its smooth surface would remain unmarred. There are a bazillion products to protect these things; ... http://www.claudiamccue.com/2010/01/great-cheap-ipod-touch-screen-protector/ ======================================= Don't you just love the tabbed document display in Creative Suite 4 applications? If you do, you're in the minority, judging by the number of people who ask "How do I change that?" often followed by "What were they thinking?!" I can help a bit with the first question, but I ... http://www.claudiamccue.com/2009/11/please-dont-put-it-on-my-tab/ You're probably familiar with Helvetica Neue. On the Mac, it's even one of the built-in System fonts. It's a commonly-used font — and commonly mispronounced. It's not "Helvetica Nu." It's "Helvetica Noy-yeh." Sparked by my teenage love of German cars and a stint in high-school German classes, I long ago learned ... http://www.claudiamccue.com/2009/10/its-not-helvetica-nu/ The Font Bureau, Inc. has filed a $2 million lawsuit against NBC over unlicensed installations of fonts, including Bureau Grotesque and Interstate. Apparently, NBC used purchased fonts on many more computers than the original license allowed, and also used fonts which had not been purchased. More information here. Guess we can look forward ... http://www.claudiamccue.com/2009/10/nbc-sued-over-font-licensing/