Graphic Design Blog at CreativeBlvd.comGraphic Design Blog at CreativeBlvd.comCreativeBlvd is made up of a group of industry leaders covering all aspects of the design field. Our goal is to provide you with the latest in articles, information, tools, tips, products and opinions. Articles
callas software Presents New pdfAutoOptimizer for Adobe AcrobatProfessional
2007-11-12 22:31:00 callas software " specialist in the development of PDF verification and optimization tools " presents a new version of pdfAutoOptimizer for automatic transparency flattening in PDF files. The plug-in has been particularly optimized for the new Adobe Acro bat Professional in Version 8.1. Thus, users have access to the latest Adobe technology for flattening transparencies on the basis of PDF. Berlin, 2.11.2007. The new pdfAutoOptimizer is the main component of a special software package from callas software for automated transparency flattening using Adobe Acrobat Professional. The pdfAutoOptimizer carries out various optimizations on PDF documents automatically. So now, you can flatten PDF files containing transparencies more efficiently to rule out problems while printing. (more…) More About: Software , Presents , Resent
Corel Rolls Out DVD Copy 6 Plus
2007-11-09 19:52:00 Nov 07, 2007 (CORPORATE IT UPDATE via COMTEX) — CREL | charts | news | PowerRating — Corel Corp., a developer of graphics, productivity and digital media software, announced DVD Copy 6 Plus, a new integrated software suite designed to enable consumers to enjoy their favorite video content at home or on-the-go. With DVD Copy 6 Plus, consumers have a single, easy-to-use solution for copying unencrypted DVDs and converting videos for playback on PCs, home theaters and the latest mobile devices, including the new Apple iPhone. The suite offers a host of new features and innovations that make it the best choice for duplicating, converting, sharing and protecting unencrypted video files. With DVD Copy 6 Plus, consumers can copy DVDs and convert video in three simple steps. Converted videos can be shared on the Web, emailed or sent to an iPhone, iPod, PSP, Zune, or Nintendo DSas well as a variety of PDAs and mobile phones. Users can even send video directly to an iPod or PSP wit...
Color Standards System for French Fries
2007-11-09 19:27:00 X-Rite, the company that’s buying Pantone Inc. and its Pantone Matching System (a series of standard colors used in printing and design) offers a system of color standards for cooking frozen french fries (pictured). Called the Munsell USDA Frozen French Fry Standard, “this fast, easy visual color reference helps ensure perfectly cooked fries every time.” It’ll run you $119.50 (MSRP). There are also standards for canned ripe olives, tomato grades A & C, honey, and pumpkins and squash, among others. More About: Standards , Color , French Fries
Convert Photos to Pencil Drawings with AKVIS Sketch, Plus New Canvas Effect
2007-11-09 19:24:00 AKVIS LLC announces the release of AKVIS Sketch v.6.0 for Windows and Macintosh. Now the software does not only convert photos to realistic pencil and watercolor drawings, but also allows adding a canvas or any other textured surface to your picture. The new version is available as a stand-alone application, as well as a plugin to a photo editor. Upgrade for registered users is free. (PRWEB) November 8, 2007 — AKVIS LLC announces the release of AKVIS Sketch v.6.0 for Windows and Macintosh. Now the software does not only convert photos to realistic pencil and watercolor drawings, but also allows adding a canvas, or any other textured surface to your picture. The new version is available as a stand-alone application, as well as a plugin to a photo editor. Upgrade for registered users is free. AKVIS Sketch is an award-winning program for conversion of photos into pencil sketches and watercolor drawings. Make any photo look like a B&W or color drawing, imitate the technique of... More About: Photos , Drawings , Effect , Convert , Pencil
PixelNovel Releases Adobe Photoshop Files Comparison Tool for Photoshop Pro
2007-11-09 19:20:00 ComparePSD makes it easy for Photoshop professionals to compare two PSD files layer-by-layer, effect-by-effect and find the differences. London, UK (PRWEB) November 9, 2007 — PixelNovel, the company behind Flickrshop, a free Adobe Photoshop plug-in for uploading files to Flickr.com, unveils ComparePSD, an Adobe Photoshop files comparison tool. ComparePSD is aimed to help graphic designers and other professionals compare two PSD files and quickly spot the differences. ComparePSD features an intuitive interface which resembles the Adobe Photoshop layers palette to simplify the user’s experience. ComparePSD highlights mismatching layers and effects in red and offers a preview area where a user can zoom in and zoom out the images synchronously. (more…) More About: Tool , Comparison
onOne Software Announces Availability of Essentials 2…
2007-11-09 18:59:00 onOne Software Anno unces Availability of Essential s 2 for Adobe Photoshop Elements Software New version incorporates newly acquired PhotoTune color correction software Portland, OR - November 6, 2007 - onOne Software, Inc., announces today the availability of Essentials 2 for Adobe Photoshop Elements. This updated version of onOne Softwares popular software suite includes technology from onOne Softwares newly acquired PhotoTune color correction software, and onOne Softwares Mask Pro, PhotoFrame, and Genuine Fractals software products fine-tuned specifically for Adobe Photoshop Elements. Make it Better! Cut it Out! Frame it! and Enlarge it! These four tools incorporated in Essentials 2 allow amateur and advanced amateur photographers to spend less time in front of their computer screen correcting their digital images and more time behind their camera taking pictures, said Craig Keudell, president of onOne Software. And with this new version of Essentials comes an entirely new version...
Lattice Technology Releases XVL Plug-in for Adobe Acrobat 3D
2007-11-09 18:53:00 3D Data Collaboration Workflows Greatly Enhanced November 06, 2007, San Francisco - LATTICE TECHNOLOGY, Inc., developers of the XVL ultra-compressed 3D data format, today announced the release of a groundbreaking new product, XVL Plug -In for Adobe Acrobat 3D. The software operates with Acrobat 3D Version 8 to enable easy bi-directional conversion between Adobe PDF and Lattices XVL. The plug-in is available for purchase in November. The lightweight XVL format allows 3D data to be used throughout the product lifecycle. Acrobat 3D Version 8 enables virtually any 3D CAD file to be delivered as a convenient PDF document. The new plug-in by Lattice provides users the convenience of PDF distribution with the power to edit the data in Lattices XVL-based applications, wherein users can produce 3D process animations, training manuals, customer documentation, engineering process documents and more. (more…) More About: Technology , Adobe Acrobat
plasq Releases Comic Life for Windows
2007-11-09 18:48:00 Comic Life — Expand what you can do with your digital photos — now on Mac or PC. (PRWEB) November 8, 2007 — plasq today announced the immediate availability of the brand new Windows version of their Award-Winning Comic Life application. Comic Life, acclaimed by kids, parents, teachers and office workers around the world, is now available for Windows. This brand new version for Windows makes it a snap to turn digital images into fun comics, picture albums, storyboards and more. Use speech balloons, panels, captions and lettering to turn family, friends and pets into sensational comic book stars. (more…) More About: Comic
Search Tool ClipaSearch Pro - Search in Only Two Steps
2007-11-09 18:41:00 ClipaTool s has released ClipaSearch Pro 1.0, the search utility that enables OS X users to search favorite web sites, perform Spotlight searches, and search the iTunes store from any open application in just two steps. Academic, business, and casual internet users find what they want faster and easier with ClipaSearch Pro. Valletta, Malta (PRWEB) November 8, 2007 — ClipaTools has released ClipaSearch Pro 1.0, the revolutionary search tool for OS X that dramatically decreases the steps needed to find information. ClipaSearch Pro users can highlight text in any open application such as Excel, Word, Acrobat, iChat, and have the search results pop up in their browser, Spotlight, or iTunes with only one more movement of their mouse or tablet pen. (more…) More About: Steps
Fox River’s Outstanding Design Awards
2007-11-06 17:23:00 Deadline: Entries receivedbefore Dec. 31 are judged in January of the following year Be distinctive. Be creative. Be recognized when you enter your best work in Fox River s juried competition of todays outstanding design. Entries must be printed on Fox River and/or Gilbert paper (a combination with coated stocks is acceptable). The Best of Show winner will be featured in the following years call for entries and shared with designers everywhere. For more information, go to: www.foxriverpaper.com. More About: Design , Awards , Outstanding
Something Italian
2007-11-06 17:21:00 Deadline: April 30, 2008 The grand-prize winner in Gruppo Cordenons 2nd Annual Design Contest will be rewarded with business class airfare and five days/4 nights accommodations for two at either the Portofino Hotel in Universal City, Florida or The Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada. The contest is open to all design professionals. The winning entry will demonstrate outstanding use of Gruppo Cordenons impressive papers in any printed format. For complete details and to download an entry form, please log on to www.gruppocordenons-usa.com/newsEvents.ph p. More About: Italian , Some
HOW InHOWse Design Awards
2007-11-06 17:18:00 HOW InHOWse Design Awards Deadline: April 14, 2008 Enter your best corporate work in HOWs second annual InHOWse Design Awards. This is an exclusive opportunity to have your creative projects judged alongside the work of other in-house designers. Among other things, the Best Of Show winner receives a two-page spread in HOWs February 2009 issue; three HOW Design Conference registrations for the 2009 event; and $500 HOW Books gift certificate to be redeemed at the 2009 HOW Design Conference Bookstore. Complete contest details can be found at www.howdesign.com/competitions.
HOW Promotion Design Awards
2007-11-06 17:17:00 HOW Promotion Design Awards Deadline: March 21, 2008 HOW is now accepting entries for the 21st annual HOW Promotion Design Awards. Eligible promotion categories include design projects galore: annual reports, brochures, catalogs, direct mail, invitations, announcements, greeting cards, letterhead, logos, packaging and more. Best of Show winner receives a free trip to the 2009 HOW Design Conference and an award to be presented at the conference. All winners will see their work in HOWs October 2008 Self-Promotion Design Annual, get a $100 discount to the 2009 HOW Design Conference and receive a nifty certificate. Full contest rules and regs can be found at www.howdesign.com/competitions.
U B the Judge
2007-11-06 17:16:00 U B the Judge Deadline: January 4, 2008 U B the Judge is a design competition unlike other competitions. Entries are exhibited at events throughout North America and those in attendance judge the work of their peers. All winners will be featured on the Appleton Coated Web site and in press releases. They will also be recognized in a nationally distributed show book and become part of a touring exhibit for 2008. Entries must be printed all, or in part, on Utopia or Curious Collection products between January 1 and December 31, 2007. Five samples must accompany each entry to be eligible. For complete details, log on to www.appletoncoated.com/promotions/judge, where youll also find a downloadable entry form.
Strathmore Letterhead Contest
2007-11-06 17:12:00 Strathmore Letterhead Contest Deadline: December 31, 2007; March 31, June 30, 2007 and September 30, 2008 Mohawk Fine Papers continues to celebrate the designers who shape our world and invites you to show your best identity work on Strathmore Writing papers. Enter the new Strathmore Letterhead Contest, which accepts submissions of letterheads alone or complete identity systems, and win great incentives and cash prizes awarded quarterly. For more information and a contest entry form to download, call 1-800-the-mill or visit www.strathmore.com.
FiberMark’s Inspiration at Work Award
2007-11-06 17:08:00 FiberMarks Inspiration at Work Award Deadline: December 31, 2007 FiberMark invites you to enter your work in their Inspiration at Work 15th Annual Specifier Awards program which honors projects incorporating FiberMarks specialty Cover materials. The winning projects will be displayed on FiberMarks Web site Showcase and will be featured in the annual award winners brochure. For more information and entry forms along with a collection of previous award winners, go to www.fibermark.com.
AMERICAN PACKAGE DESIGN AWARDS
2007-11-06 17:06:00 AMERICAN PACKAGE DESIGN AWARDS Packaging, POP and the Instore Graphics Experience DEADLINE: DECEMBER 10, 2007 The newest of our competitions puts the spotlight on increasingly critical elements " packaging and instore graphics " that make the difference in how, when and where consumers make the purchasing decision. The competition arises from the backdrop of a cluttered and competitive communications environment in which manufacturers, marketers and retailers are challenged as never before to convey their message, to differentiate themselves and their products. In the inaugural 2006 competition, we had hundreds of exceptional entries running the gamut from packaging to point-of-sale to posters to shopping bags to store signage and branding. Winners will receive an embossed Certificate of Excellence for each piece selected and become eligible for reproduction in our new Package and Instore Design Awards Annual to be published in March and which will be seen by more than 100,000 at a... More About: American
Book Launch Party in NYC!!!
2007-11-06 16:08:00 Andrew Darlow cordially invites The CreativeBLVD Meetup to a Book Launch Party for his new book “301 Inkjet Tips and Techniques” Sample prints made using pigment-based printers from Canon, Epson and HP will be on display, and Andrew will be signing copies of his book and answering questions about inkjet printing and photography. Andrew will choose one lucky Meetup member to receive a free autographed copy of his book. So RSVP now!!! Click here ***************************************** ******************** Date: Monday November 12 from 6-8pm Location: Kanvas Bar and Lounge 219 Ninth Ave. (Between 23rd and 24th Street) NY, NY 10011 Hot and cold Hors d’oeuvre will be served. Happy hour drink specials will be available for purchase at the bar from 6-8PM. ***************************************** ***
Design Tools Monthly Celebrates 15 Years in Print
2007-11-02 16:52:00 Boulder, Colorado — October 16, 2007 — With more than 180 monthly issues behind it, Design Tools Month ly proudly turns 15 years old. Launched before the dawn of the World Wide Web, and supported only by paid subscribers, this unique service continues to inform, inspire and protect designers in 41 countries. “We were an aggregator before there were aggregators,” quips Jay Nelson, editor and publisher of Design Tools Monthly since 1992. “Back then, just like today, there were plenty of sources of information for graphic designers, but they were too wordy, technical and cluttered with ads. Designers are incredibly busy people with no time to wade through pages and pages — in print or on the Web. They just want someone they trust to deliver what they need to know.” (more…) More About: Print , Years
I1 Photo XT: A Complete Color Management Package
2007-11-01 03:28:00 Review by Eric Berkow Oh, for the days when we didnt need all this gadgetry! Way back in the day type was set by professional typesetters using giant machines, and color artwork was actually separated by taking several filtered pictures of the artwork to create actual film separations! Here in the digital age, accurate color reproduction is available to almost anyone with a computer! All you need are a few tools to make sure that your equipment is accurate. If you are trying for accurate color reproduction, you need a good set of color management tools. The i1Photo XT is a good place to start for most photographers/designers. This color management package will calibrate and profile monitors, projectors, scanners, printers and digital cameras. Basically it can do everything a designer/photographer will need. (more…) More About: Color , Management , Complete , Package
Eye-Fi Unveils World’s First Wireless Memory Card for Digital Cameras
2007-11-01 03:13:00 Eye-Fi Inc., a company dedicated to helping people navigate, nurture and share their digital memories, today unveiled the Eye-Fi Card — the world’s first wireless SD memory card for digital cameras. The Eye-Fi Card uses home Wi-Fi networks to create an effortless and convenient way for users to send photographs directly from digital cameras to PCs, Macs and online photo and social networking sites. See release entitled “Eye-Fi Announces Support from Seventeen Online Photo Destinations.” Priced at $99.99 with 2GB of storage, the Eye-Fi Card is available now from major online retailers. “Digital cameras have made it extremely easy to take pictures, but the rest of the process is a hassle,” said Jef Holove, chief executive officer of Eye-Fi. “The Eye-Fi Card removes the barriers and lets users get to the fun part of sharing and printing their memories. We’re putting the magic back into photography.” (more…) More About: Wireless , World , Memory , Digital Cameras
X-Rite Announces Fundamentals of Color and Appearance Seminars
2007-11-01 03:06:00 (more…) More About: Color , Seminars , Appearance , Mina , Anno
301 Inkjet Tips and Techniques…
2007-10-31 19:40:00 301 Inkjet Tips and Techniques: An Essential Printing Resource for Photographers Boston, MA, October 10, 2007 " Course Technology PTR, a division of Cengage Learning, announces today the release of 301 Inkjet Tips and Techniques: An Essential Printing Resource for Photographers, a comprehensive, how-to guide to high-quality digital output that shows photographers of all levels how to make high-quality prints through detailed instructions and hundreds of full-color examples from more than 20 professional photographers and other artists. Author Andrew Darlow, a veteran photographer, educator, and digital imaging consultant, collected his years of experience with digital and fine art photography and inkjet printing to write the book. After using a variety of inkjet printers for more than ten years, Im very happy to be able to share many of the tips and techniques Ive been using to make exhibition, portfolio, and personal prints with others who share my passion for photography. (more&h...
Take Control Books Releases Five Leopard Ebooks
2007-10-29 09:53:00 (Press Release) In conjunction with the launch of Leopard , Take Control Books has announced that Leopard editions of five of their most popular electronic books are now available. Together, these ebooks help Mac users install Leopard successfully, customize its new and revamped features, share files more elegantly than was possible in Tiger, manage fonts effectively, and much more. The ebooks are available individually or in discounted bundles, and owners of previous editions receive a discount. Free samples and print versions are also available. Learn more at http://www.takecontrolbooks.com/. “Take Control of Upgrading to Leopard,” by Joe Kissell, shows readers the best ways to install, clean up after installation, troubleshoot problems, and even downgrade if necessary. 125 pages, $10 http://www.takecontrolbooks.com/leopard-u pgrading.html (more…) More About: Ebooks
From Adobe Labs… Product Codename: “Thermo”
2007-10-29 03:01:00 “Thermo” is an upcoming Adobe product that makes it easy for designers to create rich Internet application UIs. Thermo allows designers to build on familiar workflows to visually create working applications that easily flow into production and development. Features * Use drawing tools to create original graphics, wireframe an application design, or manipulate artwork imported from Adobe Creative Suite tools. * Turn artwork from Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, or Fireworks directly into functional components that use the original artwork as a skin. * Define and wire up interactive behavior, such as what to do when a user clicks on something, without having to write code. * Easily design UIs that work with dynamic data, such as a list of contacts or product information, without having access to the actual data source. Design-time sample data can be used as a realistic placeholder when laying out an application, testing interactivity, and choreographing motion. (more&hel... More About: Product , Labs
NEWS: Peachpit Releases ActionScript 3.0 for Adobe Flash CS3 Professional
2007-10-28 05:23:00 Peachpit announced ActionScript 3.0 for Adobe Flash CS3 Professional by Todd Perkins (ISBN 0-321-29390-8), a hands-on guide to ActionScript 3.0, complete with insider tips and color illustrations. ActionScript 3.0 for Adobe Flash CS3 Professional Hands-On Training provides a comprehensive review of ActionScript’s features, from manipulating movie clips and responding to user actions with variables, to writing functions and conditional operators. Readers will learn how to add ActionScript to the Timeline of Flash movies, develop scripts in external ActionScript files, add content dynamically, control the playback of movies, and more. A CD-ROM with classroom-proven exercises and QuickTime training videos accompanies the book. (more…) More About: News , Actionscript
Adobe Advances Web 2.0 in Education
2007-10-28 05:17:00 Offers Adobe Flex Builder 2 to Students and Faculty at No Cost SAN JOSE, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Adobe Systems Incorporated (Nasdaq:ADBE) today announced that it is offering Adobe Flex Builder 2 software at no cost to students and faculty at educational institutions worldwide. The Flex Builder 2 integrated development environment (IDE) is part of a powerful toolset for designing and developing rich Internet applications (RIAs), an essential part of Web 2.0. Web 2.0 technologies have spurred the development of RIAs that enable data sharing, collaboration, user participation, social networking, and more. Flex is the industry’s most advanced framework for building cross-operating system RIAs for the Web. By offering Flex Builder 2 at no cost, educational institutions will be able to improve students’ and researchers’ knowledge of RIA development. With Flex 3, currently in public beta, students will be able to extend their RIAs to the desktop using Adobe AIR... More About: Education , Duca , Vance
Adobe Fixes Vulnerability In Reader And Acrobat
2007-10-28 05:14:00 The vulnerability affects Adobe Reader 8.1 and earlier, Adobe Reader 7.0.9 and earlier, and a handful of Adobe Acro bat Professional versions. By Thomas Claburn InformationWeek Adobe (NSDQ: ADBE) on Monday released an update to fix a critical vulnerability its Reader and Acrobat software that could affect people running Microsoft (NSDQ: MSFT) Windows XP and Internet Explorer 7. The vulnerability could allow an attacker to take control of the computer running the affected Adobe software. It was first disclosed September 20th and confirmed by Adobe on October 5th. “A malicious file must be loaded in Adobe Reader or Acrobat by the end user for an attacker to exploit these vulnerabilities,” Adobe said. “This issue is remotely exploitable.” (more…) More About: Vulnerability
WebAssist Pro Maps for Google Makes Map Integration Simple for Adobe Dreamw
2007-10-28 01:18:00 WebAssist Pro Maps for Google Makes Map Integration Simple for Adobe Dreamweaver Users Pro Maps for Google enables developers and small business owners to easily integrate customized Google Maps that leverage address databases, traffic reporting, driving directions, and satellite view (Press Release) Thursday, October 25, 2007 Today’s release of Pro Maps for Google from WebAssist brings the power and flexibility of Google Maps to an even broader audience by taking the complexity out of integrating Google Maps into web sites. Pro Maps for Google, an extension to Adobe Dreamweaver, makes it possible for database-driven and manually entered addresses to be displayed in a custom Google map on any website<without complicated coding. Pro Maps for Google steps the user through the options, and integration process, with an easy to use wizard. (more…)
Corel® Painter™ X Wins Technology & Learning’s 2007 Award of Excel
More articles from this author:2007-10-27 18:36:00 OTTAWA–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Corel Corporation (NASDAQ: CREL; TSX: CRE), a leading developer of graphics, productivity and digital media software, today announced Corel Painter X has been honored with Technology & Learnings 2007 Award of Excel lence. Awarded annually for over 20 years, the Award of Excellence recognizes both the best of the best as well as creative new offerings that help educators in the business of teaching, training and managing with technology. “Corel Painter X is part of a group of winning products honored because they reflect an impressive effort by publishers to respond to the real needs of schools,” said Susan McLester, editor-in-chief of Technology & Learning. “The offerings being honored are practical, innovative and central to a variety of district and site operations.” Corel Painter X is the worlds most powerful natural media painting and illustration software, delivering a next-generation art studio that blurs the li... More About: Wins , Earning 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 |



