Images Part 2 - Word
Word in Microsoft Office2007 provides the ability to post entries to websites and has outstanding image manipulation features. I love image manipulation in Word the drop shadow and reflection effects are simple, and quick.
Word does make the images fuzzy and grainy.
Shadow
Images Part 1 - Snagit
A picture may be worth a thousand words, but it me takes about the same time or longer to edit images as it does to type. Snagit by TechSmith helps me a great deal.
Snagit is not a full photo editor by any means, but it does help provide some useful embellishments to images or screen shots without requiring a lot of work.
I love Snagit for three reasons.
- To capture scrolling windows (for web designs)
- To add annotation, drawing, and markup on the image
- The quick drop shadow effect
Key features I use:
- Edges- Drop shadow, fade, torn, wave, saw, shark tooth, beveled
- Watermark, resize, flip
- Image types: jpg, png, gif
Drop Shadow
Machine Wash Effect
Mister Retro has a great set of Photoshop plug-in's that will save a significant amount of time and effort when manipulating files in Photoshop for creating those textured and stunning artistic effects. Prices start at $49.95.
Machine wash CD 3 - Abusive Filter:
Free Photos
Where can you find some photos without paying an arm and a leg? Here are some helpful sites to try for inspiration.
Sidewalk Chalk
Shakespeare may have thought All the world's a stage, but Julian Beever thinks all the world (or at least the sidewalk) is his canvas. Mr. Beever has some interesting artwork he calls pavement drawings. I don't think he actually digs up the sidewalk (pavement if you live in the UK), but it sure looks like it.
Visit Julian Beever's site to take a look at his portfolio of interesting chalk drawings.
Best High End Nikon Lenses 2008
What's the best Nikon lens? Everybody asks that question, but can you really afford it? Thom Hogan has written one of the best detailed explanations I've seen in his article Nikkor Lens Assessment. The only thing missing is the prices in his best pick list.
I've written about some of these lenses in Nikon Lens Best Values. Just read the Flickr Nikon D80 group and you'll see these lenses recommended time and time again. Save some bucks and lift some weights though, these pro class lenses are heavy and not light on the pocketbook either.
These lenses are extremely popular and you'll often find them out of stock, so if you want one, you better act soon. If you wanted a reason to get a D80, D200, D300 or D3 over a D40, many of these lenses are not compatible with the D40.
Most of these lenses hold their value over time. So if you buy one and are lucky, you might be able to sell it a few years down the road and you'll have had the use of a fine lens for less than the cost of a fine meal. More...
Common Layout Sizes
What size should you make your layout for a web site? Is there one layout that will fit all monitor sizes?
The basic width of a layout determines a lot of the internal layout sizes for panes, modules, images, and internal content. More...