Apr 28
Graphics Tech
If you design web sites and have not come across the Blueprint CSS Framework, I recommend you take a look to see if any of its parts and pieces could be of use to you. The framework includes a layout grid, basic typographic styles, and underlying code contributed by a coalition of high-powered CSS experts.
I know there are folks who think that if you don't create everything from scratch that you are somehow “cheating”—I'm not one of them. To me, a well designed grid or template is like any other tool—a smart way to amplify productivity.
The Google Blueprint CSS framework...
An introduction by Jeff Croft, one of the original contributors...
A demonstration of the web framework (all of which can be edited)...
A demonstration of the typographic styles...
In the Ideabook Design Store: Creative Business CD-ROM...
Apr 4
Graphics Tech
Well, kind of. Now you can introduce your friends and family to the magic of Photoshop. The link leads to a test drive of Adobe Photoshop Express, a scaled back, happier version of the tool so many of us have grown to know and love. You simply double-click an image to access basic Photoshop tools for editing Basics, Tuning, and Effects.
But the real value of this offering is the opportunity it affords us to recount the heights and valleys of our own experience with the “real” Photoshop (don't forget to warn your audience that using the real version requires decades of study and membership in stuff like professional guilds and unions—no sense stirring up a bunch of unnecessary competition).
Think of the hours you'll spend explaining layers, recalling the day you applied your first drop shadow, and communicating the anguish of creating 86 layers you didn't bother to label.
To friends and family—run.
Go here and select “My Photos”...
More details from the blog of Photoshop's Senior Product Manager, John Nack...
In the Ideabook Design Store: Before & After: Graphics For Business...
Mar 12
Graphics Tech
New York Magazine challenged five designers to come up with a cover for their “Best of New York” issue. One of the answers came in the form of a wall of words crafted by Gretel, the home of Greg Hahn—a smart concept with just the right contrast to the nameplate.
The question? Is the cover real or computer generated? I must admit I could not be certain. So I asked. (To see the answer, click comments.)
The New York Magazine cover by Gretel...
Other entrants...
The Gretel site...
In the Ideabook Design Store: The Copywriter's Handbook...
Jan 23
Graphics Tech
I have been using Basecamp for a few months now and I recommend it without reservation. In short, it is a collaboration tool that allows you to easily create a separate, password protected project center for each of your clients. You simply add a new section for the client and Basecamp automatically invites them (via e-mail) to enter the project center. The space resides on Basecamp's server, but it is branded with your organization's name and logo.
Your Basecamp subscription includes space for multiple projects and provides the tools for managing jobs, interacting with clients, editing copy, sharing files, and so on. It is a truly elegant solution. Thanks to my friend, web developer and designer Jesse Gardner of plasticmind.com for pointing me to it.
Having read the comments, let me add this: This experience also punctuated one of the fundamentals of marketing—less is often more. Basecamp is a product of 37signals, a true web innovator. Their philosophy states: “We believe most software is too complex. Too many features, too many buttons, too much confusion. We build easy to use web-based products with elegant interfaces and thoughtful features. We’re focused on executing on the basics beautifully.” They deliver just that. I never would have tried Basecamp had it not been for the simplicity and elegance of the interface. It looked usable to me and, more importantly, to my clients.
Take the Basecamp tour...
Dec 7
Graphics Tech
My word processor is heavy—bloated with all types of complexities that I never use. In fact, I seem to spend more time finding and disabling features than I do enabling them. Enter Buzzword. Adobe just bought this elegant little gem so it may be going somewhere. Not only can you perform all the basic word processing tasks, you can also invite others to collaborate.
Buzzword...
Nov 26
Graphics Tech
There is good news for all of us who have tried (in vain) to explain that you can't create a billboard using a half-inch logo from a web page. VectorMagic.com, a research project by James Diebel and Jacob Nordapart at the Stanford University Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, allows you to import a low-quality pixel (bit-mapped) image and create a vector image from it. (Thanks to my friend Sheila Hanchard for sharing this.)
VectorMagic.com is a sophisticated, easy-to-use tracing tool. Some samples...
The VectorMagic.com cover...
Not 100 percent clear about the distinction between bit-mapped and vector? Here is an article I wrote to explain it...
Nov 9
Graphics Tech
My friend Charles Boisvert points us to a wonderful example of how innovative presentation enhances the communication of statistical data (and everything else). Meet researcher Hans Rosling. He uses his Tendalyzer software to tell a story about the developing world. (It is said that Rosling met the founders of Google an TED and sold them the software.)
Rosling's presentation at TED...
Here is the actual graph...
Nov 6
Graphics Tech
For 15 years now Jay Nelson has edited this gem of a publication featuring an eclectic mix of insights, tips, news, and how-to on the business, craft, and technology of graphic design. To do it, he mines a mountain of information and refines it—the result being enough relevant, interesting, "Hey, I didn't know that," stuff that even the industry elite are willing to ante up.
Here's a free sample...
Aug 31
Graphics Tech
My friend Harold Thompson led me to news of the “Red One”—a nine pound digital cine camera with the quality of 35mm film and the convenience of pure digital. Suffice it to say, Steven Soderbergh, Director and Cinematographer of Ocean’s Eleven says, “This is the camera I’ve been waiting for my whole career.”
So how do you sell such a groundbreaking product? Whiz-bang flash animation? Nope. Crystal clear words and pictures that focus on three things: the architecture and design of the product, the images it creates, and what people in the know are saying about it. This is an excellent example of how, when faced with a complex task, a simple approach is often the most dramatic.
The Red One home page...
A gallery of images...
Ted Schilowitz of RED Digital Cinema Camera Company discussing the interface with Final Cut Studio...
In the Ideabook Design Store: Moleskine Notebooks...
Jul 9
Graphics Tech
Web Developer is a FREE web browser add-on (Firefox, Flock, Mozilla, Seamonkey) that allows you to view just about every element of a web page in any way you choose.
For example, selecting “Images” then “View Image Information” produces a list of all of the images that make up the page along with the name, location, width, height, and size of each. Choosing “Miscellaneous” then “Edit HTML” adds a box to the page that allows you to edit the code on the page to see effect changes make to the layout.
Web Developer is a great tool for both serious designers AND those who want to learn about what makes a web page tick. Just promise me, if you download and use this tool, that you will make a donation its developer, Chris Pederick—such a wonderful tool deserves the support of its users.
Chris Pederick's Web Developer ...
NEW in the Ideabook Design Store: Tintbook CMYK Process Color Selector...
Jul 5
Graphics Tech
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Add Chuck's Pageplane Blog to your Technorati Favorites...
Jul 2
Graphics Tech
In case you have not seen it, Seadragon and Photosynth are two mindboggling bits of technology that will very likely (and yet again) change the way we deal with images and information. Take a moment to watch this presentation by Blaise Aguera of Microsoft Live Labs at the 2007 TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design) Conference.
The presentation...
Other activity at Microsoft Live Labs...
In the Ideabook Design Store: Design-It-Yourself: Graphic Workshop...
May 25
Graphics Tech
Here is an inexpensive, elegant solution for organizing and displaying photo galleries and slide shows on your Web.
SlideShowPro...
In the Ideabook Design Store: Brenner Pricing Tables...
Mar 26
Graphics Tech
Wondering what new technologies and innovations the folks who brought us tools such as PhotoShop and InDesign are working on? Adobe Labs offers pre-release access to downloads, samples, documentation, release notes, tutorials and more of upcoming products.
Adobe Labs...
Dec 8
Graphics Tech
RichFX offers ways to visualize products on the Web: you can turn the pages of a virtual catalog and/or rotate, zoom in on, change the colors of, and even design individual products.
The RichFX product lineup...
Aug 14
Graphics Tech
I was working with a client recently that wanted to exchange files that were larger than our E-mail accounts can handle. He suggested yousendit.com—a free service for sending large files (up to 1 Gig)—new to me. Great service. Only thing I can't figure is how they profit from it.
http://www.yousendit.com/
Jul 5
Graphics Tech
Need a graph? You can generate it for free and save it in a variety of file formats using this simple tool provided by the National Center for Education Statistics.
http://nces.ed.gov/nceskids/Graphing/