Illustrator Basics – Using the Pen Tool
A good reason exists as to why the Pen Tool is the Grandfather of all the tools in Illustrator: with the Pen Tool alone, just about anything can be created. But that darn little tool can cause a LOT of headache for people that have had previous experience with Photoshop. This tutorial walks you through the most basic use of the Pen Tool so you can get on your way to the more important tools available to you.
Top 10 Picks of Outstanding Surreal Artwork for the Week
There is no mistaking the grandeur and prestige when it comes to the timeless art pieces of Da Vinci, Van Gogh and Monet. But timeless as they may be, they are still marks of a certain defined art during a certain period. In the 21st century, we also have certain ways by which we define art and, albeit with the help of more accurate technology, we still employ some concepts inherent in the art pieces of old. Here are our 10 picks of Outstanding Surreal Modern Artworks from the talented artists of deviantart.
Tried, Tested and True Techniques for Effective Brochures
Brochure design from the 1950s is so dramatic – the fonts, the typefaces, the images. They make you think you are really going somewhere special – something a lot of brochures of today could stand to learn from! This is a highlight of a Flickr collection from newhousedesign.
Green Marketing in an Unstable Economy
Sustainability and “going green” have been on consumers for the past couple of years. Going green was the issue du jour for most of 2007 and 2008 according to GreenBiz.com. And now with people losing their jobs and issues of paying the rent are at the forefront of consumers’ minds? The green momentum started in the last couple of years is bound to slow. But many consumers are willing to buy green, if they can afford it or if they think it’s important. If you’ve got a green product or if your entire company is built around sustainable products and practices, don’t totally switch off the green marketing machine. Just give it a little tweak with these strategies.
Running Out of Business Cards? Cheap Alternatives to Printing Business Cards
If you’re in a tight financial spot and can’t afford to order more business cards, there are alternatives. Cheap alternatives at that. Instead of ordering more business cards, why not use resources you already have to substitute for business cards? Here are some cheap alternatives that might garner more business than a usual business card would anyway. (more…)
The Top 15 Common Desktop Publishing Mistakes To Avoid
Almost everybody these days can do desktop publishing at home. With the digital age in full swing a lot of easy to use and fully featured desktop publishing software are available our there for novice and professional alike. However, good as these tools seem to be, the person who uses them still needs to know the correct ways in designing one’s page. Unfortunately, a lot of people seem lacking in this area. In fact if you look at published material in print and over the Internet, a lot of people are making a lot of simple but very unfortunate mistakes in desktop publishing. Some of these mistakes should actually have been avoided with the proper training and a little good advice.
If you are going to embark on desktop publishing then it is good to learn from other’s mistakes. Avoid the common pitfalls in desktop publishing below and you should find yourself creating effective and professional looking pages in no time.
8 Smart Notebooks Made From Recycled Goods
We all have them: sketch books, journals, notebooks. They are the trusted sidekick for many designers, artists, and free thinkers. If you’re anything like me, you have a notebook for every purpose. But what if you want more? Something unique and customized to your own creative flare? I’ve found many intriguing notebooks but the ones I’ve found most appealing are the ones that are not only unique but environmentally friendly. Below are 9 selected notebooks using recycled goods.
Starbucks Coffe Cup Sleeve Notebook
