PhotoshopNews » Graphic Design

Adobe Labs Introduces Kuler

PSN Editorial Staff — Thu, 16 Nov 2006 18:08:28 +0000

kuler is a new hosted application for creating, exploring and sharing color harmonies.

At the web site, users can use the hosted app to create color schemes and themes based on predefined color formulas, or by mixing their own color themes using an interactive color wheel. Color themes can be created in multiple colorspaces including RGB, CMYK and LAB. Themes can be tagged, shared and commented on. Users can search the kuler online community for top rated colors, or search for schemes by tag word or date created. Users of Adobe Creative Suite 2 applications can download any color theme as an Adobe Swatch Exchange (.ASE) file that can be imported in their preferred creative application and can be applied on their artwork.

Creating a color theme can be based upon “rules” or custom…

…you can drag the color wheel to do color themes of your own making.

The color swatches on the top were rotated to achieve a new theme on the bottom.

Rules allow for quick formations of themes or you can check other popular or highly rated color themes.

You can name and save themes and publish them for others to access.

Each of the colors in a theme show readouts in various color values such as HSV, RGB, CMYK, LAB and HEX. The readouts of the color values can be copied to the clipboard. The themes can also be downloaded to use with Adobe Creative Suite applications.

Above, other users have created and shared themes you can browse though.

For the full kuler experience, sign in using your Adobe ID. You can then save, publish, download, rate and comment on themes. Be sure to check out the kuler talk forum.

QuarkXPress 7 now available as a UB application for Mac OS X Tiger

PSN Editorial Staff — Tue, 08 Aug 2006 16:20:16 +0000

Leading publishing software runs natively on Intel-based Macs

Press Release: SAN FRANCISCO – August 7, 2006 – Quark Inc. today announced the immediate availability of QuarkXPress 7 as a Universal application for Mac OS X 10.4 “Tiger.” The QuarkXPress 7.01 update, which is available at no additional cost for Mac users of QuarkXPress 7.0, was built to run at peak performance on both Intel- and PowerPC-based Macs.

QuarkXPress is the first major design and publishing tool to be released as a Universal application, and its new graphics engine, XDraw, leverages the power of Quartz 2D to achieve the highest-quality rendering of text and graphics.

“QuarkXPress 7 delivers on our commitment to being an open and customer-focused company,” said Jürgen Kurz, senior vice president of desktop products at Quark. “With this QuarkXPress 7.01 Universal update, forward-thinking designers and publishers can take advantage of high performance and optimum productivity of the latest Intel-based Apple hardware.””Xcode and other innovative Apple tools give developers the power to quickly and easily create Universal versions of their applications,” said Ron Okamoto, vice president of worldwide developer relations at Apple. “We’re thrilled to have Quark deliver a Universal version of QuarkXPress 7 to join the thousands of Universal applications now available for our blazing fast Intel-based Macs.”

GA Communications, a marketing and advertising company that works primarily with large retail-industry clients, is upgrading to QuarkXPress 7 on new Intel-based Macs.

“Using QuarkXPress 7 on the new computers is just incredible in terms of speed,” said Marc Konik, vice president of technology. “We’re very excited to have the latest hardware and the latest version of QuarkXPress. QuarkXPress takes full advantage of the speed of the Intel-based Macs, and now we do more work in less time while maintaining tight deadlines and stay in step with the industry.”

QuarkXPress 7 is the latest version of the design and publishing software that transforms creative communications by empowering customers to achieve their design, production, and collaboration goals. This powerful upgrade combines more design features with job-driven production capabilities in a collaborative environment, delivering faster creative development and high-quality print production.

QuarkXPress 7 is shipping now and is available through Quark resellers and partners worldwide and from the Quark online store at $749 for new users and $249 to upgrade.

To learn more about QuarkXPress 7 and how to purchase or upgrade, visit the Quark Web site at www.quark.com/sales/desktop) . The QuarkXPress 7.01 update is available for download from www.quark.com/universalmac.

About Quark
Quark Inc. (www.quark.com) is an industry-leading software company providing design, production, and collaboration solutions that are transforming the business of creative communications. Quark has provided award-winning software for professional publishers since its flagship product, QuarkXPress, changed the course of traditional publishing. Founded in 1981, Denver-based Quark Inc. is privately held.

50 ways to become a better designer

PSN Editorial Staff — Thu, 15 Jun 2006 14:31:42 +0000

Source: Computer Arts

The way you work can have a huge impact on your creative success. We present the best advice from leading designers on every stage of the creative process, so that you can keep clients satisfied and make the most of your talents

What is design? Design is both the process and the final product of an endeavour to fulfil a personal or professional brief. Whether you are creating a piece of graphic work, a website, or a design for a new product, the underlying principal is the same – the creative process is everything.

Bad design results from faults with this process – poor planning, ignoring the conventions of the media, poor technical skills or poor communication. So how can you streamline your working methods? How do you go from haphazard doodler to a well-oiled design machine? Listen to the experts.

We approached 17 leading designers working in print, video and on the web, to obtain their words of wisdom on every stage of the design process, from ideas and planning, through to best practice and software skills, and finally putting the finishing touches on their work. We also asked each of our experts to reveal their worst experiences, and how they turned them to their advantage.

Despite their very different backgrounds, many of our designers offered the same advice – about reading the brief, and planning your work on paper. Design is a subjective thing, and we all have different ways of getting results, but take heed of the expert advice offered within the following pages and you’re sure to improve the way you work.

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Proxy Vol II No 2 released

PSN Editorial Staff — Thu, 25 May 2006 16:05:53 +0000

Adobe has released the new issue of Proxy–the free, quarterly, interactive design publication.

In this issue: Meet with John Maeda of MIT’s Media Lab; top ten keyboard commands in Adobe® Creative Suite 2; enhancements to Adobe Stock Photos Service.

You can sign up for new issues emailed directly at the Proxy page or download the PDF directly (6MB).

Quark Releases Feature-Rich QuarkXPress 7

PSN Editorial Staff — Wed, 24 May 2006 15:33:35 +0000

Source: Publish
Written by Stephen Bryant

Quark announced May 23 the release of QuarkXPress 7, the first update to its QuarkXPress graphic layout program in two years.

With this release, Quark is attempting to rejoin the desktop publishing battle with Adobe. Quark has been losing mind share to Adobe, of San Jose, Calif., ever since the latter company launched its InDesign software in 1999.

XPress 7 offers several eagerly awaited new features, including composition zones, job jackets, transparency, and support for OpenType and Unicode fonts.

Quark, based in Denver, said it is hoping these new features will “transform the business of creative communications” by helping creative professionals work more efficiently.

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