DTG News and Else
DT&G: Vol. 13, Number 6, JUNE, 2003 ~ The eZine for Design, Typography, & Graphics   (since 1990)  

June: Design Vacation

Ahhhh... vacation!

This month we have two enjoyable field trips from New York City, U.S. to Frankfurt, Germany -- both featured in the June DTG Gallery!
      Traditionally, in the US, we celebrate Fathers' Day in June, and for most, it marks the end of another school year, and the beginning of Vacation season. I'm going to take a few days off next week and trip on out to Catalina Island, California -- then join the graduating class of 2003 at UCLA for graduation. It'll be fun for all. From there I'll headquarter in one of my favorite places to visit, Berkeley, CA -- restock on Pete's coffee, and visit my favorite Dim Sum place over in Oakland. From there its back to Ole' Virginia to get back to the grind.
      Part of our JUNE Design Vacation issue also highlights some pretty great books for designers in case you are inclined to take along a good book on vacation. First, D'Lynn points out her favorite Photoshop books, then I lead you to the best in Web Design books, as experienced in my year long trials and tribulations trying to learn the CSS.
      I've also posted some info about dates and upcoming events of note.
Graphic-Design.com

Perspective Insets in Photoshop

How do you insert a photo into a computer screen, building window, or billboard? I'm glad you asked! A reader wrote Photoshop 911 -- about making perspective insets -- so we show how to create crafty insets using Transformation and layers for perspective   In the Photoshop Department

Perspective Correction for Photoshop

Speaking of perspective, photographing buildings can create some perspective problems. Follow along as Dr. D'Lynn Waldron points out some pit-falls of perspective, and demonstrates how ImageAlign Pro can solve those headaches in Photoshop. Image Align Pro

Field Trip #1: The New York Story

Steve Ladner is back from France, and doing his thing in New York! See some rather unique and exciting views of life from this amazing, self-taught photographer. ... in the Gallery!

Field Trip #2: BildFinder Studio, Frankfurt

Next, let's journey across the Atlantic to the studios of Michael Samstag, the BildFinder! Check out Frankfurt Germany, some of Michael's stunning feats of pure eye candy in a unique style of cartooning, calligraphy and design. There's even some great clip art you can take home as a souvenir from Bildfinder

Feature: Best Photoshop Books

Vacation? Take along a book or two... Dr. D'Lynn Waldron has just what the doctor ordered -- follow along as she shares her favorites for the "Best Photoshop Books"

All Designers should practice Thumbnailing

In a recent request on the university discussion list one instructor asked if teachers should still have their students produce thumbnails. Yes indeed. Here's the story about thumbnailing... � 60-Seconds: The Joys of Thumbnailing

Fear of Styling

If you've followed the saga of learning and converting to CSS, then you're probably up to date on all this. However, as I promised last month, I've posted my Web Design Bibliography to the Design Bookshelf.
      Hopefully my CSS Bibliography will help any of you who may be experiencing the "Fear of Styling" like I have. I studied of the books listed there, and I firmly believe that a good foundation in CSS is not available through a single book. If you'll look at the top three, these were the ones which had the best tutorials, and the best influence in regards to the philosophies of using the CSS. I stand behind all of the recommendations as "BEST" solutions.
      Also, on the front page you'll see a link to "Molly Holzschlag's definition of "new" design -- which may not be what you expected! It's fresh and persuading -- in the style that Molly is known for!" -- called "Integrated Web Design" -- which could be a pivotal new book for you too.
      Also of note is Cascading Style Sheets: The Designer's Edge - which in my humble opinion, is Molly's finest hour. It's a beautiful book and jam-packed with excellent training. You'll find it listed, I think #3 on the link below.
      Let me also share with you the link to a sample chapter of this book in Adobe Acrobat PDF format. Hope you enjoy it: ftp://ftp.sybex.com/4184/4184ch03.pdf, or try: http://www.sybex.com/4184/4184ch03.pdf in case your browser doesn't do ftp links. Click: Web Design Bibliography

Entertaining collection of sites this month

This month brings a good line-up of web sites to review -- go to the reviews department (link below and click on "Business" ... check out: FireNews.net, a news and info site for statewide fire agencies. Then truck over to Granny's Attic for quilter and needle art enthusiasts.
      Clicking the Art department button, you definitely want to check out Laughing Stock -- the authors say: "We've tried to make the site user friendly, easy to navigate and utilitarian. Any suggestions or feedback for improvement would be helpful."
      Now click on the Organizations button, and then "American Distractions" -- the author, Tristan, says: "I would love any comments or insight other designers may have, since it is targeted to a (relatively) small audience, I want to make it as interesting as possible."
      In the "Personal" web pages department, the authors of "Beach St. Design" have written to say: "My wife and I are graphic designers specializing in packaging. We've fretted for years about not having a web site up, but recently, we managed to get it going. This is the first and only web site we've done, so I'm sure there are things that could be improved upon."
      While in the Personal department, Beatriz Matar invites you to visit and download any of the images you like.
      Finally I recommend you check out "Bubba's Redneck Ezine" for a tongue in cheek view of Dixie in this humorous, child safe site.
      Visit any of more than 70 all-new reader web sites for review this month in the Web Design Reviews department

Spam, security and the First Amendment

This month's 60-Second Window (#155) follows a recent news item on NPR about the university tradition of chalking your opinions on sidewalks. It prompts some reflection on what the First Amendment really means. Click: Chalking the First Amendment

The War Against Spam

As many of you already know, I'm up to my chin in the war against spam. Our efforts through AACUG, and my advocacy support for legislation on Capital Hill are beginning to show some light of making a difference.
      Yesterday, I had the pleasure of meeting with Frank Cavaliere yesterday on Capital Hill. Frank is the Deputy Legislative Director for Senator George Allen of Virginia. We had a good discussion about ways to fight the spam wars, and it was generally agreed that the AACUG "ISP Anti-UCE Initiative" is a good attack. It was also generally agreed that the anti-spam war should target the entity actually advertising in the message and forget about trying to chase down the headers of the email. This is the FIRST time I've been able to make that point in Congress or the Senate. Evidenced by a meeting with VeriSign, they seem to be in agreement with this approach as well. While the mob of anti-spam champions seem to be going down the wrong path provided by email headers, this new approach goes after the actual violator no matter how well covered the tracks are.
      I will continue working with Allen's office, as well as Goodlatte's until we forge some real progress in the spam war.
      Please read the initiative, link below. You are encouraged to provide comments, or additions that will make it more effective. We're lining up meetings with AOL, MSN and Earthlink to adopt the initiative, and I firmly believe that once we have such a program in place you'll see UCE greatly reduced.
      Notice also that the name "UCE" (Unsolicited Commercial Email) is evolving into "UBE" or "Unsolicited Bulk Email". This covers all definitions, particularly where the message is really spam, but it's not a commercial message.
Spam Forum

What's a megapixel?

I don't know how many of you are familiar with the column I've been writing for the MUG Newsletter, but it's called "This Old Mouse" and this month I discuss megapixels.
      So many people have been asking which digital camera to buy, how many "megapixels" do I need, or "What's a megapixel?" Well, you would need to read an entire book to get the real, in-depth answers to these questions, and after that you'd still be in a quandary about which camera to buy.
      In this issue I share some quick, simplified, rules of thumb for making your own decisions, and get the digital camera that's just right for you... from This Old Mouse

FLASH: Text Effects

Colby Devitt has alerted me to the Wild fx 3.0 major upgrade to Wildform's text animation software. Flash fans will want to check out this highly popular Flash text animation software, previously sold under the name SWfX. Wild fx 3.0 is a feature rich text animation software with 417 effects that work with a user's installed fonts, including double-byte characters such as Japanese and Chinese. With Wild fx creating a text animation is as easy as entering text and selecting an effect. Wild fx has over 100 new effects, including 45 that are infinitely customizable. It looks like some pretty cool stuff to me! Click: www.wildform.com

A great summer in the works...

Fred Speaking of books for vacation -- the only book I'll be taking is my trusty old PowerBook, and during those off hours I'll be preparing the "Graphic Design Bibliography" for those many of you who have requested my recommendations on the best "starter" books for graphic designers. Unfortunately some of those books will be old, and probably only located through Amazon's "used books" department, or any of the other "collectible" book sites out there.
      I'll also be working on a new collection of links pages for the DTP Jumpstation, as well as our summer line-up of font discoveries. So, stay tuned.
      When I return from vacation, I'll also be preparing cases to test Virginia's new spam laws. This is probably the nation's best law to date on unsolicited bulk email. So, it will be interesting if I can get to first base litigating against some of these low-lifes. It's time to do something about spam. You know that and I know that. Pretty soon the spammers will know that -- at least those who send their trash into the state of Virginia! If you'd like to help just let me know. There's lots YOU can do in your own state.
      Until next month, here's hoping you have a wonderful June. Stay in touch.
Next stop: L.A., and Berkeley, CA in the Publishers' Warehouse! Don't miss it.

Thanks for reading

Fred Showker
Editor / Publisher, DT&G Magazine

Parting words: On the subject of SPAM

"It's no longer a nuisance --
it's a matter of national concern... a matter of national security.
It threatens to undermine the very promise of online communications."
      FTC Commissioner Swindler, May 2, 2003

Participate in your Design Center

Lots of fun and information for all... don't forget, any community is only as good as the participation of its members. We invite your tips, tricks, comments, suggestions and camaraderie.
Advertise your products or services among these pages! Call: 540-433-8402 for details.