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May 2008 | ||
 
NAPP Extreme Makeover: Homepage Edition If you've gone to the NAPP member website since Tax Day, you've probably noticed a few tweaks here and there. Actually, you should read "a few tweaks" as "a complete makeover." On April 15th, the all-new, all-different NAPP website went live, and so far the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. MORE | ||
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Kelby Training Live Seminars - Spring Schedule May 16, 2008 May 19, 2008 May 22, 2008 May 28, 2008 May 30, 2008 May 30, 2008 June 4, 2008 June 6, 2008 June 9, 2008 June 10, 2008 June 16, 2008 June 30, 2008 September 3-6, 2008 |
MOREPhotoshop World is Headed to Vegas! MORECatch PhotoshopUser TV and Layers TV on Adobe TV MOREOutstanding New Member Discounts From Apple and CDW MOREThe Macintosh Community Loses One of Its Pioneers - Stan Flack
MOREAcrobat 9 This Summer? MOREDNG: Adobe's New Standard for Video MOREonOneSoftware Releases New Photoshop Plug-In Suite MOREFilter Forge, Inc. Releases Third Free Photoshop Plugin, Announces 20% Discount MOREHard Drive, Easy Cost, Peace of Mind
by Laurie Excell Question: I am looking to buy a macro lens for my D300. There are so many to choose from how do I decide which one to buy 60mm, 105mm or 200mm? Answer: Any one of the three micro lenses that Nikon has will work fine on your D300. What you need to decide is which one best suits your needs. They all get you to a 1:1 reproduction ratio, the big difference is angle of view, minimum focus distance, size, weight, and price. Here is a breakdown between the three: Lens: AF-S 105mm 2.8G VR Lens: AF 200mm 4.0D So, what does that mean to you in photographic terms? The longer focal length lenses (105mm & 200mm) have a greater working distance that can be good for photographing insects so you don't scare them away. The longer focal length lenses also have a narrower angle of view that allows you to control the background better...the slightest movement left, right, up or down and you have an entirely different background. On the other hand, the 60mm micro with the closest focus distance of the three does a great job in tight quarters and costs the least. The 105mm Micro has Vibration Reduction, making hand holding much easier in lower light. Additionally, it makes a terrific portrait lens. All three lenses are incredibly sharp and work from minimum focus distance to infinity so they can do double duty as either a normal lens (60mm), a portrait lens (105mm), or a moderate telephoto lens (200mm). Keep smiling,
Adobe The 15% savings will be subtracted from your order on the subtotaled amounts prior to calculation of tax and shipping fees prior to checkout. Use promo code NAPP07 to redeem this offer. For items which are not eligible for the NAPP 15% discount, use code DIQ108 to receive a 10% discount. Graphic Authority Freeway Pro Check out the features, take it for a test drive, use promotion code NAPP33%291106ReL to buy a copy at an unbeatable 33% discount. Voices That Matter Photodex Contact Photodex at 800-37-PHOTO to get 20% off the price of ProShow Producer; just use discount code 94NDJPTE. For more information please visit http://www.photodex.com. Nik Software If you reside in the EU, please call Nik Software at +49-40-4711350 to order Viveza at an exclusive discounted price. CDW To take advantage of this exciting offer: Call CDW at 888-491-4239 to place your order, or visit www.cdw.com/adobe Email a copy of your CDW invoice to cdwoffer@kelbymediagroup.com Once your CDW invoice is received, Kelby Training will email you a unique code giving you unlimited access to its collection of online classes for one full month. | |
If you've gone to the NAPP member website since Tax Day, you've probably noticed a few tweaks here and there. Actually, you should read "a few tweaks" as "a complete makeover." On April 15th, the all-new, all-different NAPP website went live, and so far the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. The redesigned site now has a slick, clean look that highlights all the perks and benefits of NAPP membership (ie: tutorials, discounts, and insider news) and a super-simple design that makes navigation of the site easy...even for new members. Also, keep an eye out for a collection of new video walkthroughs of the site hosted by NAPP executive director, Larry Becker. These tours will ensure you can find everything on the site, and that you take advantage of everything your membership offers. If you haven't checked it out yet (a) shame on you, and (b) go to http://www.photoshopuser.com to log-in and check out the new look.
After finishing up an outstanding Orlando show, the folks here at NAPP HQ are pleased to announce that the Photoshop World Conference & Expo is headed to Vegas from September 4th thru 6th, 2008. Photoshop World is your chance to mix with graphic designers, photographers, computer animators, and videographers from around the world, while learning the latest techniques and technology from some of the biggest legends of the industry...right in the heart of the Vegas Strip. This year's Vegas conference will be held at the fabulous Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, and - of course - NAPP members receive special rates on attendance, hotel rooms, car rentals, and more. For early registration discounts, class schedules, a list of instructors, and other info visit www.photoshopworld.com.
Adobe recently released Adobe TV, a free online source for video tutorials on a wide range of Adobe products, and NAPP is honored to be a part of the launch with free episodes of PhotoshopUser TV and Layers TV included as part of their channel. In addition to PhotoshopUser TV and Layers TV, Adobe TV features free educational and training content by such industry experts as Russell Brown, Julieanne Kost, Greg Rewis, John Schuman, Jason Levine, Karl Soulè, Rufus Deuchle, and Tim Cole. And, just for kicks, you can take virtual tours of cutting-edge creative shops, and find out what Adobe employees do with technology in their spare time. See a complete listing of shows and more details.
The NAPP discount page on the website is a huge member benefit, and we're constantly working to bring you more money-saving offers from the companies and brands you use most. And, we know you're taking advantage of those exclusive discounts because we're constantly hearing stories and receiving emails from members that save hundreds - and, in some cases, thousands - of dollars a year. Well, we've put together some pretty cool discount offers with CDW, Kelby Training and Apple in the last month that you'll definitely want to check out. Our friends over at Apple are pleased to offer you a spectacular leasing deal on select Apple products. Eligible NAPP members get a 0% lease for 24 months on a new Mac systems and software (some restrictions apply). For more information about the leasing offer and to access your savings from Apple, please visit www.apple.com/eppstore/napp (you must be logged into the NAPP website to access this page) or call 800-854-3680 to speak with a product specialist. Additionally, NAPP members receive savings up to 17% on everything from iPods to iMacs, free technical advice and online custom product configuration, easy payment options, and free shipping on all orders over $50. We've also teamed-up with CDW and Kelby Training to offer you an outstanding opportunity to get some bonus training. Through June 30, when you purchase any Adobe software from CDW, you'll receive free unlimited access to online classes from Kelby Training for one month. To take advantage of this exciting offer, you'll need to... Call CDW at 888-491-4239 to place your order, or visit www.cdw.com/adobe. Email a copy of your CDW invoice to cdwoffer@kelbymedia.com. Once your CDW invoice is received, Kelby Training will email you a unique code giving you unlimited access to its collection of online classes for one full month. So, now when you buy Photoshop, Lightroom, Illustrator, or any other Creative Suite application from CDW, you'll have 30 days worth of classes taught by Scott Kelby, Dave Cross, Katrin Eisman, Terry White, Dan Margulis, Joe McNally, Fay Sirkis, and many others to help you make the most of your purchase. Even if you only have 5 minutes a day, Kelby Training guarantees you'll find plenty of 5-minute lessons to jump in to, learn a thing or two, and get back to work creatively inspired. For more information on these fantastic offers, and many others from such companies as Adobe, Dell, HP, Office Depot, CDW, onOne Software, Strata, Nik Software, iStockphoto, Lensbabies, Layers magazine, and many others, visit the discount page on the newly-updated NAPP website.
I have such sad news to report; our longtime buddy Stan Flack, of MacCental and MacMinute fame, has passed away, at the age of 43, due to a pre-existing condition. Stan became one of the pioneers of online Mac journalism when he launched MacCentral.com, which grew to become the leading Mac news site in the world, and it was such a success that it was eventually acquired by MacWorld magazine. Years later, Stan launched the popular Macminute.com, and was a great friend not only to the Mac community, but to us Photoshop Guys as well, with his coverage of design and photography related news. It was Stan who, many years ago, introduced me to a man who would become my best buddy and the CEO of Kelby Media Group, Dave Moser. I will always be grateful to Stan for bringing us together. Some of Stan's friends have written some really wonderful tributes to him, and if you would, take a moment to read a little about a man who dedicated his career to keeping us informed, for telling "the other side of the story," and whose passion, courage, and commitment made him a true legend in the Macintosh community. He will be missed.
According to a story first printed online by eWeek, Adobe is expected to release the next version of Acrobat sometime this summer, and details of the application's new features have begun to surface. According to industry rumor and hints made by Rick Brown, Adobe's product manager for Acrobat, there will be only one version of Acrobat 9 for Mac users (a Professional version), however Windows users will still have the option of choosing the Standard or Professional versions. One question is whether Adobe will include Acrobat 3D (Acrobat 3D enables users to take three-dimensional designs and embed them in PDF files) features in the Standard or Professional versions of Acrobat 9. Whereas the eWeek article indicated that Acrobat 3D technology (generally targeted at the architectural, engineering and CAD/CAM/CAE market) would be a part of to the professional version of the upcoming release, other sources are skeptical.
On April 14 at the National Association of Broadcasters 2008 show in Las Vegas, Adobe unveiled its idea for a new open video format called CinemaDNG (DNG - Digital Negative), intended to improve compatibility between RAW video files coming from different camera manufacturers. "The DNG format is used in the photographic world today...it enables you to get as close as you can to a digital negative," said Simon Hayhurst, Adobe senior product manager for dynamic media. CinemaDNG is to be developed alongside camera makers and software vendors in the attempt to create better options for cross-application editing. Besides improved resolution, it will enhance image control for cinematographers, motion graphics designers, and video editors. The format could also come in handy in the case of archiving films that could be reissued having an entirely different look. "With the CinemaDNG initiative, Adobe is extending its leadership in developing open, interchangeable formats for digital still cameras into the realm of digital cinematography," Jim Guerard, vice president of Dynamic Media at Adobe, said. "By taking a proactive role and working collaboratively with leading digital cinema manufacturers, Adobe is helping to define an industry-standard approach that benefits the entire filmmaking ecosystem. Filmmakers will be able to adopt digital cinema cameras with confidence, and camera manufacturers will be able to provide specialized functionality while ensuring instant file format compatibility with existing workflows." Adobe also said that if CinemaDNG is adopted as a standard, it could bring down vendor development costs, as conversion tools would not be necessary anymore. A release date for CinemaDNG was not announced but the company did mention something: future releases of After Effects and Premiere Pro will support the CinemaDNG format. They did not say whether the CameraDNG format would be supported by Photoshop Extended or Premiere Elements.
onOne Software has announced version 4 of their popular suite of Photoshop plug-ins, and launched a public preview of its new Liquid Resize software. Liquid Resize is the company's new image resizing and retargeting software. It uses a technique known as "seam carving" to reduce the distortion that typically occurs when manipulating the aspect ratio of an image. The tool allows users to maintain the original aspect ratio of a digital image when they resize or adjust the composition of their images. Plug-in Suite 4 for Photoshop ships in early May and includes six essential software tools: Genuine Fractals 5 Print Pro, PhotoTools 1.0 Professional Edition, PhotoFrame 3.1 Professional Edition, Mask Pro 4.1, PhotoTune 2.2 and FocalPoint 1.0. The suite works with Photoshop CS2 and CS3 and includes tools to improve workflow and overall image quality. Genuine Fractals 5 Print Pro can resize digital images over 1,000 per cent with no loss of detail or sharpness. It allows poster-sized prints to be made from almost any image. PhotoTools 1.0 Professional Edition uses Photoshop Actions to furnish a library of effects created by Kevin Kubota and Jack Davis. PhotoFrame 3.1 Professional Edition builds border and edge effects with thousands of provided templates, while Mask Pro 4.1 can create high-quality masks and selections even from tough subjects like hair and glass, making it easy to place a subject in a new background. PhotoTune 2.2 offers good quality colour correction while FocalPoint 1.0 simulates selective focus or tilt-shift lenses. Remember, NAPP members receive discounts on all onOne Software applications.
Continuing its series of free Photoshop plugins, Filter Forge, Inc. released Filter Forge Freepack 3 - Frames, and announced a 20% discount for its flagship product, Filter Forge. The theme of the third Filter Forge freepack is frames, and the plug-in comprises seven effect filters capable of framing any photo in a creative way. For example, Painting Frame generates realistic wooden frames with paint flaking off; Halftone Frame will frame an image with a pattern of dots of varying size; Simple Frame gives photos a classic elegant feel; Grunge Frame makes a photo look ragged and edgy; and Film Frame produces a black film-like vignette. Additionally, a 20% discount is available for all editions of Filter Forge. The offer is time-limited and is not combinable with other promotions. To buy Filter Forge with a 20% discount, click here: http://www.filterforge.com/buy/. Over the course of the year 2008, Filter Forge, Inc. plans to release four more Filter Forge freepacks, each centered around a different theme. The freepacks are based on the technology used in the company's flagship product, Filter Forge, an innovative Photoshop plug-in allowing users to create their own filters in a visual editor. All Filter Forge freepacks are available for download at the company website: http://www.filterforge.com/download/. Registration is not required. The plug-ins currently work under Windows only, the OS X version for both Intel and PowerPC processors is in development.
As NAPP's executive director I have heard countless horror stories of people losing invaluable data, images and more from a simple hard drive crash. So when a reliable, cost-effective, automated solution comes along, I feel compelled to tell our members all about it. We had a review (5 out of 5 diamonds) of the 500gb model in a recent Photoshop User magazine and I was impressed by it back then, but after talking with the guys from OWC at Photoshop World last month, and seeing how small and cool this drive is, I'm even more excited. That's because this drive is available in sizes from 250gb to 1 TB, it comes with a full 2 year warranty, it's mirrored (backs itself up automatically) and as a Mac user I was thrilled to find out that it not only has USB 2.0 but Firewire 400 and 800! And keep in mind, the 250gb drive is really two 250gb drives (the 1TB is really 2TB), one of which is an automatic backup! And in the next 7 to 10 days OWC will be offering NAPP members an exclusive discount on these already value priced backup solutions. So if you're worried about how reliable your backup really is, check out the NewerTech Guardian MAXimus from OWC. (And be sure to check back in NAPP's hardware discounts in the next week or so for special NAPP pricing.)
At the professional level, there are lots of products that claim to offer dramatic improvements to photos, but the Imagenomic Professional Plug-in Suite offers all the controls, yields excellent results, and is priced to compete with anything currently available. Today's digital photography standards demand less noise, better exposure, and smooth complexions without a loss of detail. Noiseware does exactly what you'd expect: It reduces noise, and it does so with fewer artifacts and less color loss than with Photoshop alone. As with all of the titles in this suite, the interface is complete and presents options for preview in several modes. Even oddly crossed, mixed-light sources and concert stage lighting become more defined and less pixelated without noticeable artifacts. Portraiture concentrates on enhancing skin. Using this plug-in may be trickier for some to get a handle on without an overdone and obviously corrected result. There are several well-thought-out presets that I found myself wanting to try repeatedly. The commonsense interface can let the user produce images that look great, if you don't overdo it. If you're looking for a way to control your noisy images, improve portraits, and add effects, you'll find the Imagenomic Professional Plug-in Suite an excellent addition to your digital toolbox. PRICE: $239.85
A first-rate combination projector and home-entertainment center, the Epson MovieMate 72 covers a wide range of audio/visual connectivity including VGA, USB, composite, component, and S-Video. The HDMI port connects to external Blu-ray and HD-DVD players, video-game consoles, or HDTV, all scaled to 720p, high-definition signal. The base of the MovieMate includes a built-in DVD/CD player that swivels for front or rear positioning. The four 5-W, built-in Dolby stereo speakers produce great sound but if that's not enough, you can connect to an external-powered subwoofer or optical audio output. I simultaneously inserted a DVD and connected a video iPod, TV, and my laptop and was able to switch smoothly between each device using the source control button on the unit and the remote. The projector houses a 140-W lamp and 3-LCD technology, producing beautiful, vibrant colors at up to 1,200 lumens with a 1000:1 contrast ratio at a native resolution of 1280x720. Images display at 4:3 and 16:9 aspect ratios and image adjustments include keystone and color correction. A fantastic set of manual, lens-control dials adjust the size and position the vertical/horizontal placement of the image-I projected an 80" diagonal image from 6.5 ' away. To optimize image quality, there are five preset color modes for specific situations, such as playing games or for use in rooms with bright ambient light. PRICE: $1,199 NAPP Newswire Editor-in-Chief: Scott Kelby US Mail: 333 Douglas Road, Oldsmar, FL 34677-2922 The National Association of Photoshop Professionals (NAPP) is a dynamic trade organization and the world's leading resource for Adobe Photoshop training, news, and education. Founded in 1988, NAPP has become the largest graphics and digital imaging association in the world, with more than 65,000 global members. NAPP is open to any individual using Photoshop for personal or professional reasons. To renew membership, visit www.photoshopuser.com or call 800-738-8513. Photoshop User is the official publication of NAPP. It is published exclusively for association members and is not available to the general public by subscription. This NAPP Newswire is produced and distributed by the National Association of Photoshop Professionals. Receipt of this online newsletter is voluntary, and your contact information has not been shared with outside parties. To be removed from our mailing click here. NAPP Newswire is an independent journal and not affiliated in any way with Adobe systems Incorporated. Adobe, the Adobe logo, Photoshop, Acrobat, Illustrator, InDesign, Premiere Pro, GoLive, Contribute, Bridge, Camera RAW, DNG, After Effects, Dreamweaver, Audition, Soundbooth, Encore, Shockwave, Flash, Fireworks, LiveCycle, ColdFusion, FreeHand, InCopy, PageMaker, Flex, PostScript, Photoshop Elements, OnLocation, Photoshop Premiere Elements, Apollo, Ultra, Visual Communication 3, Ovation, and Photoshop Lightroom are trademarks or registered trademarks of Adobe Systems Incorporated, all rights reserved. All other trademarks are the property of their respective holders. All content produced by NAPP except where noted. Any use of the contents of this newsletter without the written permission of the publisher is prohibited.
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