Layers Magazine » Web Editor

Layers TV: Episode 83

Web Editor — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 14:54:32 +0000

Corey has a tip on using Photoshop actions that he learned at Photoshop World from his friend Emily. RC recently discovered a site named Animoto that is great for creating slide shows.

You can download each episode by subscribing to the podcast on iTunes.

Thank you so much to iStockphoto for providing us with images to use for the show. Be sure to visit them for all of your image needs: iStockphoto

Have an idea for the show? Click on the Contact Us link below and send us an email. Be sure to select Layers TV from the drop down. We’d love to hear from you!

View past episodes of Layers TV

Corey has a tip on using Photoshop actions that he learned at Photoshop World from his friend Emily.
RC recently discovered a site named Animoto that is great for creating slide shows.

Links mentioned:

Animoto is a site that allows you to upload images and create a slide show that is set to music
Jeff Tranberry is a programmer at Adobe whose website is a great resource for users that want to write custom scripts for Photoshop
Doug Gordon has a workshop series that has a lot of good information
Lesa Snider King’s new book, Photoshop CS4: The Missing Manual is a great reference for Photoshop users
Corey is joining Scott Kelby on the upcoming Down and Dirty Seminar Tour, organized by Kelby Training

Contest Winner
RC and Corey have decided that the weekly contest winner from Layers TV will be announced in RC’s blog post. Remember when you submit your answer in the contact form to choose Layers Blog from the drop-down menu. Be sure to check the front page post for the name of this week’s winner and tune in to this week’s episode to find out what the contest question and prizes are.

Layers TV: Episode 82

Web Editor — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 16:09:38 +0000

Corey shares a tutorial about designing a tropical logo using Illustrator. RC talks about embedding web widgets and Google calendar into your Dreamweaver web page.

You can download each episode by subscribing to the podcast on iTunes.

Thank you so much to iStockphoto for providing us with images to use for the show. Be sure to visit them for all of your image needs: iStockphoto

Have an idea for the show? Click on the Contact Us link below and send us an email. Be sure to select Layers TV from the drop down. We’d love to hear from you!

View past episodes of Layers TV

Corey shares a tutorial about designing a tropical logo using Illustrator.
RC talks about embedding web widgets and Google calendar into your Dreamweaver web page.

Links mentioned:

This week Corey and RC are giving away a copy of Joe McNally’s new book, The Hot Shoe Diaries

Layers TV: Episode 81

Web Editor — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 15:39:54 +0000

RC discusses Photoshop’s Zoomify tool and how it can be used to post hi-res images to the web. Corey uses Photoshop to create a background graphic using distort filters, halftone patterns, and gradients.

You can download each episode by subscribing to the podcast on iTunes.

Thank you so much to iStockphoto for providing us with images to use for the show. Be sure to visit them for all of your image needs: iStockphoto

Have an idea for the show? Click on the Contact Us link below and send us an email. Be sure to select Layers TV from the drop down. We’d love to hear from you!

View past episodes of Layers TV

RC discusses Photoshop’s Zoomify tool and how it can be used to post hi-res images to the web.
Corey uses Photoshop to create a background graphic using distort filters, halftone patterns, and gradients.

Links mentioned:

Corey has a course on Photoshop and Illustrator integration available on Kelby Training

Layers TV: Episode 80

Web Editor — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 19:54:38 +0000

Corey and RC demonstrate some new features of the Wacom Intuos 4 tablet. RC has a tutorial on producing better web layouts in Photoshop.

You can download each episode by subscribing to the podcast on iTunes.

Thank you so much to iStockphoto for providing us with images to use for the show. Be sure to visit them for all of your image needs: iStockphoto

Have an idea for the show? Click on the Contact Us link below and send us an email. Be sure to select Layers TV from the drop down. We’d love to hear from you!

View past episodes of Layers TV

Corey and RC demonstrate some new features of the Wacom Intuos 4 tablet.
RC has a tutorial on producing better web layouts in Photoshop.

Links mentioned:

Wacom Intuos 4
Corey’s Wacom Intuos 4 class on Kelby Training

Layers TV: Episode 79

Web Editor — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 16:15:50 +0000

RC has a tutorial about sharing video files on the web using Flash or a third party hosting site. Special guest Christy Winter joins RC to talk about using layers with InDesign.

You can download each episode by subscribing to the podcast on iTunes.

Thank you so much to iStockphoto for providing us with images to use for the show. Be sure to visit them for all of your image needs: iStockphoto

Have an idea for the show? Click on the Contact Us link below and send us an email. Be sure to select Layers TV from the drop down. We’d love to hear from you!

View past episodes of Layers TV

RC has a tutorial about sharing video files on the web using Flash or a third party hosting site.
Special guest Christy Winter joins RC to talk about using layers with InDesign.

Links mentioned:

RC recommends BlipTv as a good option for hosting video files on the web
The PhotoshopWorld conference is coming up at the end of March.
RC will be teaching a pre-conference workshop at the Voices That Matter design conference, coming up April 27-30 in San Francisco.

Layers TV: Episode 78

Web Editor — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 16:06:44 +0000

Corey’s tutorial is in response to a magazine reader’s question about creating a custom vector pattern using Photoshop and Illustrator. RC shows how to use Slideshow Pro along with Dreamweaver to add an image slideshow to your web page.

You can download each episode by subscribing to the podcast on iTunes.

Thank you so much to iStockphoto for providing us with images to use for the show. Be sure to visit them for all of your image needs: iStockphoto

Have an idea for the show? Click on the Contact Us link below and send us an email. Be sure to select Layers TV from the drop down. We’d love to hear from you!

View past episodes of Layers TV

Corey’s tutorial is in response to a magazine reader’s question about creating a custom vector pattern using Photoshop and Illustrator.
RC shows how to use Slideshow Pro along with Dreamweaver to add an image slideshow to your web page.

Links mentioned:

Corey has a new Illustrator/Photoshop CS4 Integration course on the Kelby Training website.
Take a look at RC’s catalog of courses on the Kelby Training site.
The PhotoshopWorld conference is coming up at the end of March.
RC will be teaching a pre-conference workshop at the Voices That Matter design conference, coming up April 27-30 in San Francisco.
Check out the new design contest at PlanetPhotoshop.

Instant Inspiration: John Masse

Web Editor — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 20:19:54 +0000

Instant Inspiration is a new feature where we showcase an established commercial designer and pick their brain in an effort to gain insights on the creative process and inspiration in general.

What’s the “method to your madness?”

Everything I do begins the old fashioned way with pencil and paper. I like to leave the “dirt” and rough edges in as often as I can to keep the “humanity” in my work. I’ve been using Photoshop since ’91. It is hands down the most amazing program ever made. There, I said it. Not a week goes by that I don’t discover something new about it, or a new way to approach a familiar problem.

I have tried to remain a “purist,” artistically speaking, so I rely heavily on customizing my brush palettes and avoiding plug-ins as much as possible. Needless to say, if I am not using a pressure-sensitive drawing tablet, I feel I am missing out on about 40% of Photoshop’s firepower.
For logo and graphic design, or for crisp vector-based artwork, I look no further than Illustrator.

What inspires you?

There’s nothing like a deadline to get my creative spirit moving. If I know where the finish line is, it makes the journey that much more fun. It’s go time!
A void is a wonderful discovery, professionally speaking. It is a hole in the creative and/or marketing world. It’s wonderful when you can find it, like a parking space up front or a spot to lay your blanket on a busy beach. Without reference or limitations, I get to explore an original concept without boundaries.

My artistic influences, in no particular order: Windsor McKay, Walt Disney, Franco Dragone, Beethoven, coffee, overseas travel, Japanese cartoons, and my father, Jean Charles Massé. He was a brilliant Renaissance man who thought “outside of the box” every day.

On Layers magazine:

I really enjoy the tutorials in Layers magazine. Each issue always opens my eyes to new methods, techniques, tips, and ways to approach my work. Plus, it’s just a great resource to have. It’s a wonderful thing to be able to slip my laptop, drawing tablet, and latest issue of Layers into a backpack and take my office with me around the world.

What are you working on now?

Currently I’m completing the next wave of animated commercials for Skechers. There’s lots of writing and storyboarding to do for some, and lots of hand-drawn cel frames to finish in Photoshop for others. I’m continuing stage and scenic design for theatrical productions in Japan and Dubai, and I’m also trying my hand as playwright for an upcoming musical. I want to do it all!

What has been your crowning achievement so far?

Doing what I love for a living and being my own boss… that is a crowning achievement that never ends!

Skechers

To the surprise of most serious animators, I actually create, clean up and color all my animation cels in Photoshop. Here are some examples from my Kewl Breeze and Z-Strap 30-second commercials for Skechers, seen in over 15 countries in 10 languages.

Zstrap

The cover for a Skechers comic book that comes with the shoes.

Orcus

Here is a piece for Necromancer Games.

Kewl Breeze

One of the characters I created for Skechers.

Beach Bully

My Dad always said, “Son, if you can draw beautiful women, you’ll never starve.” Thanks Dad!

RidingHood and the Big Bad

1. Rough pencil art – scanned at 300dpi and placed on layer 1 “multiplied.”
2. Gray tone brushwork roughed in with drawing tablet.
3. Laying in color with layers and brushwork. Starting to concentrate on detail. I frequently turn the pencil layer on and off. In the end, very little of the original pencil work will remain.
4. Most pencil art is erased. Just a few highlight touches left to do.

John Massé

Owner Massé Graphics, Inc. Las Vegas, Nevada

Current projects Aside from his work with Skechers and Franco Dragone, John currently is developing two animated television shows and a Broadway musical.

Contact MasseGraphics@cox.net

Layers TV: Episode 77

Web Editor — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 19:27:09 +0000

RC uses After Effects to create an animated title that can then be imported into Flash as an FLV file. Corey demonstrates how to use vector graphics from the Symbols panel and the Twirl tool to create flourishes that can be incorporated in grungy backgrounds.

You can download each episode by subscribing to the podcast on iTunes.

Thank you so much to iStockphoto for providing us with images to use for the show. Be sure to visit them for all of your image needs: iStockphoto

Have an idea for the show? Click on the Contact Us link below and send us an email. Be sure to select Layers TV from the drop down. We’d love to hear from you!

View past episodes of Layers TV

RC uses After Effects to create an animated title that can then be imported into Flash as an FLV file.
Corey demonstrates how to use vector graphics from the Symbols panel and the Twirl tool to create flourishes that can be incorporated in grungy backgrounds.

Layers TV: Episode 76

Web Editor — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 21:48:56 +0000

Corey recreates a graphic that you will recognize from an upcoming movie by using the 3D options in Photoshop Extended. RC talks about correcting a distorted image using the lens correction options in Photoshop.

You can download each episode by subscribing to the podcast on iTunes.

Thank you so much to iStockphoto for providing us with images to use for the show. Be sure to visit them for all of your image needs: iStockphoto

Have an idea for the show? Click on the Contact Us link below and send us an email. Be sure to select Layers TV from the drop down. We’d love to hear from you!

View past episodes of Layers TV

Corey recreates a graphic that you will recognize from an upcoming movie by using the 3D options in Photoshop Extended.
RC talks about correcting a distorted image using the lens correction options in Photoshop.

Links mentioned:

If you want to follow along with the second part of Corey’s tutorial, you can click here to go directly to the bonus episode.
PhotoshopWorld conference is coming up at the end of March. Take advantage of the Early Bird special and get $100 off the ticket price
MPIX.com is offering a promo code to get an additional $50 off the ticket price of Photoshop World by registering with Mpix using the code: PE09-APXM

Layers TV: Episode 76 Bonus Video

Web Editor — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 21:05:52 +0000

Corey finishes up the button graphic that he started in Episode 76.

You can download each episode by subscribing to the podcast on iTunes.

Thank you so much to iStockphoto for providing us with images to use for the show. Be sure to visit them for all of your image needs: iStockphoto

Have an idea for the show? Click on the Contact Us link below and send us an email. Be sure to select Layers TV from the drop down. We’d love to hear from you!

View past episodes of Layers TV

Corey finishes up the button graphic that he started in Episode 76.

Links mentioned:

PhotoshopWorld conference is coming up at the end of March. Take advantage of the Early Bird special and get $100 off the ticket price
MPIX.com is offering a promo code to get an additional $50 off the ticket price of Photoshop World by registering with Mpix using the code: PE09-APXM

Layers TV: Episode 75

Web Editor — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 16:17:19 +0000

RC creates a basic video intro using After Effects CS4. Corey talks about transferring color sets between Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop.

You can download each episode by subscribing to the podcast on iTunes.

Thank you so much to iStockphoto for providing us with images to use for the show. Be sure to visit them for all of your image needs: iStockphoto

Have an idea for the show? Click on the Contact Us link below and send us an email. Be sure to select Layers TV from the drop down. We’d love to hear from you!

View past episodes of Layers TV

RC creates a basic video intro using After Effects CS4.
Corey talks about transferring color sets between Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop.

Links mentioned:

PhotoshopWorld conference is coming up at the end of March. Take advantage of the Early Bird special and get $100 off the ticket price
MPIX.com is offering a promo code to get an additional $50 off the ticket price of Photoshop World by registering with Mpix using the code: PE09-APXM
Check out the new design contest at PlanetPhotoshop

Layers TV: Episode 74

Web Editor — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 20:42:16 +0000

RC goes start to finish through a Flash CS4 project using the new 3D tools and importing an audio file. Corey talks about the distortion features inside of Adobe Illustrator.

You can download each episode by subscribing to the podcast on iTunes.

Thank you so much to iStockphoto for providing us with images to use for the show. Be sure to visit them for all of your image needs: iStockphoto

Have an idea for the show? Click on the Contact Us link below and send us an email. Be sure to select Layers TV from the drop down. We’d love to hear from you!

View past episodes of Layers TV

RC goes start to finish through a Flash CS4 project using the new 3D tools and importing an audio file.
Corey talks about the distortion features inside of Adobe Illustrator.

Links mentioned:

PhotoshopWorld conference is coming up at the end of March. Take advantage of the Early Bird special and get $100 off the ticket price
MPIX.com is offering a promo code to get an additional $50 off the ticket price of Photoshop World by registering with Mpix using the code: PE09-APXM