I have been working as an in-house designer for a technology business in San Diego, CA for the last 5 years. I also own a freelance design business (Titan Strides Creative) and of course host and produce the two podcasts weekly. Because of these jobs, I am experienced in many different disciplines including print design, web design, multimedia, video production, 3-D animation and more.

I started Rookie Designer mainly due to curiosity of the new technology of podcasting. When I chose the topic, I never imagined that I would be affecting the lives of designers all over the world, but that is what it has become. So many times, I receive emails from strangers about how I helped them get a job, or inspired them out of a creative rut. It doesn't get much better than that for me! About a half-year into Rookie Designer, I decided to start Quicktips for designers, which is a "screen-sharing" podcast that allows viewers to see what I'm doing in each design application. This "screencast" has taken off and doubled Rookie Designer in downloads.

I suppose I always envisioned a career in education... eventually, but I have been enjoying every minute of the podcasting experiment. I talk about my experiences in the field and relate it to lessons that many can benefit from. Because I never saw it getting to this point, I really have no set goals or expectations. One avenue I still have yet to develop is that of interviews with industry figures. I completed one great two-part discussion about typography with Ken Barber but that is where it stopped. Basically I will continue on as long as the audience can benefit from it.

In Rookie Designer we discuss more theory than specific details of the software. That is more the nature of Quicktips. Using the Mac application Snapz Pro X, I record all the actions on my screen into a Quicktime movie that is available for download from the blog or the accompanying feed. So far, in the first 47 episodes of Quicktips, 20 either deal specifically with Photoshop, or include it in a workflow with other apps. Photoshop is a vital tool that all designers use, whether they create print, web, 3-D, video or multimedia, so I try to include it whenever possible. I myself would describe it as the most powerful application I have ever used (with the only possible exception being Maya).

People should download these podcasts because they are free references. There is no better reason than that! I always justify the lessons taught in this way: If you're a beginner, there's a lot you can learn from someone like me, even though I've only been in the business a short time. If you're a "pro" there are still fundamental lessons that are most likely overlooked on a daily basis. Re-learning, or brushing up on these lessons will make you an even more dynamic pro. As designers, we can never know enough. The business and its tools evolve every day and we need some way to keep up. This is one more way.

They're all free and he likes dogs. How can you beat that? Go and start downloading!

Rookie Designer
See the world of graphic and multimedia design through the eyes of a beginner, and acquire the skills necessary to become a veteran designer. Discussions include design techniques, workflow solutions, business practices, application specific tips and tutorials, and general graphic and multimedia topics.

Quicktips For Designers
Covers many of the major titles in professional graphic, web and media design software in a video tutorial format. Includes tips, techniques and best practices to enhance your design workflow and knowledge of the applications.

Here are links to the blog pages that host the PS CS3 video tutorials:
Quicktips 43 - Photoshop CS3 First Look
Quicktips 44 - PS CS3 Quick Selections
Quicktips 46 - PS CS3 Vanishing Point

For a list of Photoshop podcasts, see our Podcast Directory
For tutorial sites see our Photoshop Tutorials Page.
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Photoshop CS4 & Photoshop CS4 Extended - Best Deals From Adobe

Photoshop CS4 and Photoshop CS4 Extended feature a newly refined, tab-based interface in a single, integrated window, with self-adjusting panels arranged in docked groups. Automatically keeping tools well organized and away from your work area means you get greater efficiency, less clutter, and better results, faster than before.

Delivering all the features of Adobe Photoshop CS4 software, including the new Adjustments and Masks panels, Adobe Photoshop CS4 Extended also provides breakthrough 3D editing and compositing power to paint directly on 3D models, create 3D animations, convert 2D images to 3D objects, and more; richer motion graphics editing; and more powerful and flexible image analysis and tracking. Learn more on our Photoshop CS4 Tutorials Page. To download the free trial, see details on our Photoshop CS4 Free Trial Download Page.

Find upgrade options and package deals at the Adobe USA Store. Teachers and students get special pricing at the Adobe Education Store. You can also buy in your country currency and language at the following Adobe International Stores:
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onOne Software's Plug-In Suite combines full versions of six essential software tools — Genuine Fractals Print Pro, PhotoTools Pro, PhotoFrame Pro, Mask Pro, PhotoTune and FocalPoint — an affordable combination that includes everything a photographer needs to make their images look their best.

Why do you need plugins? Photoshop is an amazing image editing application that has forever changed graphic design and digital photographic editing, but like any tool, if you don't have time to fully learn it, you can't get the most out of it.

Plugins for Photoshop allow you to either do something that you cannot do with the features included in Photoshop or they allow you to do something easier, faster or better than you could do in Photoshop without the plug-in. Whether it is color correction, resizing, masking or creating an effect, you can find a Photoshop plug-in that can help you be more efficient with your time.

Did You Know You Could Create An Entire Website In Photoshop?
SiteGrinder Photoshop Plugin - Create Websites Instantly

There often seems to be a strict division of labor within the world of web design and development. Creative professionals tend to stick to the Photoshop domain, while those well-versed in scripting are left to the task of implementing their work. Indeed, the two realms are quite different from each other, to which any of us even vaguely familiar with either can easily attest.

Essentially, Photoshop is a no-holds-barred design studio, offering the artist a seemingly endless array of creative options. On the other hand, HTML, CSS, Java and the like follow strict rules of engagement, requiring the developer to take any number of esoteric concerns into consideration in order to ensure that designs are properly displayed on the web.

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Generate Your Web Pages Directly From Photoshop
By generating web pages directly from Photoshop, you'll be able to spend much more time on the creative end of the spectrum, since you'll know right off the bat how well particular designs will translate to the web. No more going back to the Photoshop drawing board after getting a phone call from your development team, telling you that what you had envisioned doesn't have a chance of being displayed on the web. You can immediately visually and interactively test your designs, which permits you to then make changes to either esthetics or functions while it's still relatively early on in the design process.

Pricing and Availability
Mac OS X and Windows versions of the SiteGrinder unlockable demo are available now via download. SiteGrinder can be ordered from Media Lab's online store.

Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Available At The Adobe Store

Adobe has announced the immediate availability of Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 2 software, the photographer's essential toolbox for managing, adjusting and presenting large volumes of digital photographs. With new enhancements such as dual-monitor support, radical advances in non-destructive localized image correction, and streamlined search capabilities, Photoshop Lightroom 2 is a compelling upgrade that simplifies photography from shoot to finish. Visit the Adobe site to download a free 30 day Photoshop Lightroom trial free download.

As Adobe’s first application to support 64-bit for Mac OS X 10.5 Macintosh computers with Intel processors and Microsoft Windows Vista 64-bit operating systems, Lightroom 2 also provides improved memory performance for dealing with large scale images. Find the latest Lightroom 2 tutorials on our Photoshop Lightroom 2 Tutorials page.

Photoshop CS4 Book - Photoshop CS4 Essential Skills - By Mark Galer And Philip Andrews

Brimming with beautiful pictures, Photoshop CS4 Essential Skills guides you through a project-based, progressive curriculum so that you can build all the essential skills to enhance photographs creatively and professionally with Photoshop CS4. If you are an aspiring professional or a student learning photography, digital imaging, or design graphics, you'll be amazed at the stunning results you can achieve. A DVD is included free.

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Read 2 free sample chapters:
Skin Retouching Tips In Photoshop CS4
Transforming Smart Objects In Photoshop CS4
Find more Photoshop CS4 tutorials on our Photoshop CS4 Tutorials Page.

Find More Adobe Photoshop Books at Amazon.com
Find all the latest bestselling Photoshop books at discount prices at Amazon.com.

Photoshop CS3 Book - CS3 Essential Skills - By Mark Galer And Philip Andrews

Brimming with beautiful pictures, Photoshop CS3 Essential Skills guides you through a project-based, progressive curriculum so that you can build all the essential skills to enhance photographs creatively and professionally with Photoshop CS3. If you are an aspiring professional, enthusiastic amateur photographer, or a student learning photography, digital imaging, art and design, or design graphics, you'll be amazed at the stunning results you can achieve. A DVD is included free.

The Essential Skills Photography Series from Focal Press uniquely offers a structured learning experience for photographers of all ages, with both the underlying theory and loads of invaluable 'how to' and real-life practice projects - all from the most talented photography practitioners/educators in the world.

Read 2 free sample chapters:
Adjusting Exposure in Adobe Camera Raw CS3
Photoshop CS3 Tutorial High Dynamic Range

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Total Training for Adobe Photoshop
Learn Adobe Photoshop with 21 hours of interactive Adobe Photoshop tutorials. This is training for real-world situations and includes additional tips and techniques used by the pros.

View Sample Photoshop, Dreamweaver and Flash Pro Video Tutorials
Free Adobe Photoshop CS3 video tutorials
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Free Adobe Dreamweaver video tutorials
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Technorati Tag: Photoshop
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BANNER PHOTO CREDIT: © Eric Martin of Futura Studios