welcome new digital artists!
As usual, let me greet all the new subscribers and wish you happy digital creating...
I had an interesting conversation the other day. I was talking to someone from a reasonably large organisation who'd recently become a design client of mine. I was touting for more work (naturally). But what shocked me was that this woman told me the job I'd just completed was probably a one-off, because the organisation employed a full-time graphic designer. I'd only gotten the work because she (the staff designer) was snowed under.
Then I learned who this designer was, and knew immediately why this organisation constantly put out substandard work. You see, I had always thought that they had no designer, and the pamphlets and posters that they produced were knocked up by a receptionist (no offence to receptionists!). Hence my probing to pick up some of their output.
This 'person' who was apparently employed as a 'designer' worked in Microsoft Office. That's it. No other application. This organisation has an annual turnover exceeding 100 million dollars, and they employ a 'designer' who works in POWERPOINT? You've got to be kidding me!
My mission, should I decide to accept it, is now to convince the powers above that DESIGN is more than letters and presentations. Even if I'm not the one to get the work, at least they can employ a decent graduate whose skills exceed the use of WORDART.
My point here is that this 'company' is not alone. There are countless organisations out there who have yet to drag their design and desktop publishing mind-set into the 21st century. And these places are ripe for the picking for skilled designers and learners like you and me! You don't have to be much better than this woman to be EXPONENTIALLY better! Have you ever heard of a thing called a MARGIN?
I'll keep you informed.
print the course
My recent offer of a discount for the Learn Professional Computer Graphics & Digital Illustration Course met with resounding success. So much so that I'm considering dropping the price for my subscribers PERMANENTLY. The only reason that it hasn't happened is that there is still a constant stream of people taking up the course from the internet, and no one has ever moaned about the price. In fact I have several emails wanting to know why it's so cheap!
One thing that did arise from the offer, however, was a number of additional sales of the PRINTED version. In fact, I sold out and had to put two unfortunate learners off.
But not to worry, I was already in the process of organising a third-party printer for the course, and the renewed demand had me working over the weekend to finalise the project.
The 15 books of the course have now been condensed into 4 (four) to allow easier printing. Nothing is missing, it's just that instead of 15 books averaging 80 pages, there are now 4 with one at 500 pages, one at 400, one at 200 and a colour book with the plates.
Here's what they look like;
There's still over 1100 pages and over 600 illustrations covering EVERY topic you can think of to get you started and up to speed with computer graphics and graphic design. The printed version is a LIBRARY of professional computer graphics techniques to which you can return again and again. You will find out more about this comprehensive course - and the printed version - at;
http://www.learncomputergraphics.com
new tutorial
I've uploaded new tutorials for InDesign and Photoshop. You can see them here:
InDesign: create numbered raffle tickets
Photoshop: Quick and Dirty photographic enhancement techniques
You're never too old
It seems that every week I receive a number of emails from subscribers who have read my 25 Essential Photoshop Moves book, or who have bought one of my other books or simply enjoy the tutorials, who are past retirement age. I don't know if it's because a large percentage of my subscribers are over 65, or if the 'war' generation are more apt to write.
Whatever the truth, I don't care. It's just so great to hear from 83-year-olds who have just created their own website, or a 79-year-old ex-photographer who is discovering the joys of Photoshop. It's a pleasure to hear from you!
Mind you I don't mind hearing from the 17-year-olds who have yet to choose their career paths either. Knowing that I might have a positive influence on the 'next' generation is just as satisfying.
mac vs PC Part II
For years I've switched back and forth between these two platforms. It all began when I had a Mac at work, but couldn't afford to buy one for home, so like many in my position I bought an IBM clone PC.
Years later I was able to have both - and I needed both, because I had software that only ran on one platform, not the other. This is a situation I'm still in today.
But I think the battle has finally been won. The winner...?
Boot Camp.
That's right. If you haven't heard of it, Boot Camp is a native setup on the Mac OSX 10.5 (Leopard) that enables a Mac to install, load and boot in Windows. That includes both XP and Vista!
No, it's not a virtual window that runs Windows ON TOP of the Mac OS, and thus at a reduced speed and with no support for drivers etc. It's a genuine boot for Windows on the latest Mac, with all print drivers, hardware drivers etc. intact.
As to which platform to choose, here's a direct quote from my Learn Professional Computer Graphics & Digital Illustration course, Book Two: The Tools and the Workplace;
• If you are an experienced computer user, make up your own mind.
• If you are relatively new to computers, look to your mentor(s). All new users have someone to whom they will turn for advice and support, whether it is a parent, child, sibling or work colleague. I suggest you see what platform they’re most comfortable with and choose that one.
I would now have to say that if I was compelled to owning only one computer, it would have to be a Mac, with my PC-only applications accessible through Boot Camp. If you're just starting out, that may also be your best decision. At least until the good people at Microsoft acknowledge the existence of Apple and include a Boot Camp of their own.
the membership site
It's now June, and this I promise;
The MEMBER'S SITE will be up this month!
How's that for confidence?
I'm also organising all the videos to be made available as iPOD movies for download to members. I'm testing them with my own iPOD and ironing out some bugs. I'm also getting together a range of exclusive videos that will only be available to members. These are on such topics as duotones, clipping paths and Photoshop brushes.
Remember the fees for the membership site will be between 93 cents and $1.83 per WEEK. You can learn more about it here:
http://www.theelectricartist.com/members.html
That's it for now. There are new tutorials on the way, as well as an announcement that the member's site is up!
cheers all
Gary
