DTG News and Else
DT&G:   Vol. 17, Number 5,   May, 2007   ~   The eZine for Design, Typography, & Graphics   (since 1990)  

DT&G Newsletter for May

Welcome new subscribers & Friends

Before getting into this month's content, I wanted to send a special welcome to all those who have subscribed or become active in the Design Center.

Our email newsletter, and update to THIS PAGE will hit around the 1st or 2nd of May... watch for it.

Meanwhile, here's our "&Else!" links for May... many others are in the &Else! section of the DTG news

May DTG TABLE OF CONTENTSDesign Graduation

May: Design Graduation, Color and more

May signals the end of most school years. So for all the young designers, illustrators and visual artists graduating, we say congratulations! This month is an action-packed month of tips and advice for anyone -- especially you graduates -- embarking on a career in graphic design. We have several noted authorities, as well as some seasoned veterans who send along their advice on getting started.
Come on in and discuss this in the DTG Forums...

DTG Friends: StillEffects

Special thanks to our friends in the Netherlands, StillEffects.com - with an online treasure trove of Photoshop Effects! Professional -- high resolution, and editable within any Photoshop version. Oogle this eye-candy at:www.stilleffects.com

Can I send you a new book?

We're always looking for friends to link to because DTG readers like to discover new and exciting web sites beyond our monthly Mailbag and Site-of-the-month.
* Link to your favorite article in the Design Center,
* Send a link to YOUR page (where the link is found)
* Include your mailing address (U.S. and Canada only, sorry.)
* Note your 'passion' in computing topics
* and a new book from the Design Bookshelf is on its way to you! Questions?

Made with FontFont: Type for Independent Minds

Erik Spiekerman & Jan Middendrop bring you this spectacular book -- thrilling anyone involved in the visual arts! This is one that no self-respecting graphic designer should be without! Made with FontFont: Type for Independent Minds

Photoshop Major Event: Removing Backgrounds with Katrin Eismann

This is the ultimate tutorial for selecting fine images, delicate objects, wispy hair, and removing the background to replace it with a totally different image - Selecting hair and fine details in Photoshop

Designers talk about Freelancing

Sooner or later where there are graphic designers, illustrators, photographers, or other creative practitioners, Designers talk about freelancing

Essential tips for Freelancers

Following our series of tips and advice for freelancing, we discovered one listee excelling in the field of web design, with this important advice, and a delightful web site and blog to back it up. Here, Lori Leach-Forster shares her Tips For Freelancing.

Interview: Sara Horowitz, Freelancers Union

Sara Horowitz founded Working Today to meet the needs of the new, independent workforce -- which became the Freelancers Union, to deliver benefits to independent workers in New York City's Silicon Alley. This interview courtesy of Sessions.edu Sara Horowitz, Freelancers Union

Creating Information Architecture

Author Ivy Hastings shares her insights into building information architecture -- the easy and best way! The beauty of her technique is that you don't need an Information Architect for Creating Information Architecture

Color Palettes in Design

The art of color is a difficult art to learn, and apply. So many people today think they can design a pleasing color palette, but really cannot. But one thing they can do -- seek out the fabulous Art Nouveau design and ornament period for an unlimited wellspring of ideas for Color Palettes in Design

Rev your color palette...

Our spring color editions brought out the colors in many of our readers -- but dull and unimaginative color palettes still abound. What to do? Take a stroll over to the Genopal web site for a new twist on planning and designing your next project -- colors the human eye likes!

Using Numbers in the proper Case

With the new typography fonts now include several sets of numbers to be used in different areas of your documents. David Bergsland shares some expert advice on Using Numbers in the proper Case

Setting Angel Snares

You've finally decided to take the plunge and start your own business. The only problem is your bank account. You don't have quite the amount you'll need to make a successful run as an entrepreneur. Not to worry! Entrepreneurial expert Ty Freyvogel shares what you can do with Ten Tips for Appealing to Angel Investors

60-Seconds: Giving up on Google

In my own search for answers about Google's AdSense sharp decline, I ran across Sramana Mitra, a bright, young author associated with MIT and internet marketing strategies, who has graciously provided this article for all our benefit. She explains why she is Giving up on Google

Perfect Mother's Day Gift

www.digitalfoci.com has a nice Mother's Day Promotion for their Image Moments 8" digital photo frame -- get mom the frame and you will receive a FREE Gold or Silver interchangeable frame (a $20 value) For more details, go to: www.digitalfoci.com

Skype: Gift of Gab for Mother's Day

Skype and Intel have launched the "Gift of Gab" promotion with the goal of bringing families and friends together this Mother's Day. U.S. and Canadian residents can use Skype to call anyone, anywhere in the world for free all day on Mother's Day (Sunday, May 13th). That's twenty-four hours to call mom

Site of the Month: "DESIGN"

This reader understands that "DESIGN" affects more than print and media. we were delighted to visit www.eujinpei.com and discover his fantastic findings blog. Here's a lot of fun stuff... and idea starters -- like this ad for Clorets gum. ake a look... you'll like it:

Breaking news: Alien Skin Mac Universal

For those of you patiently waiting with your universal Mac -- our favorite plug-in company, Alien Skin, has rolled out Macintosh Universal updates for all their Photoshop plug-ins. If you qualify, you'll get the updates free.www.alienskin.com

Mailbag: New Apple Product for kids?

Long-time friend, Del Missier, from the user group community sent in this link and we had to pass it along to all you moms and grand-moms out there -- new Apple product? No, a very old product with a new name for the baby. (Del found this at the Kim Komando web site... www.komando.com) just for kids

Mailbag: Beautiful Web Design

Jason writes:
      For many web developers, myself included, the most intimidating part of the design process is getting started. Imagine for a moment that you're sitting at your desk with nothing other than a cup of coffee and the business card of a potential client who needs a basic corporate web site. Beautiful Web Design

Mailbag: Unfair European $oftware

Danielle Libine writes in to encourage all our European readers to participate in the partition to say NO to abusive pricing! If you are tired of being "milked" for the sole benefit of US shareholders, please sign in.Unfair European $oftware Pricing

Design CALL FOR ENTRIES

Gain worldwide recognition for your finest work by entering the most prestigious juried competitions for graphic design and advertising. Communication Arts' 2007 Design Annual or Advertising Annual will go to more than 70,000 potential clients and colleagues. Deadline: June 1, 2007www.commarts.com

& Else

In this month's Loading Dock download section, you'll find a ton of new clip art samples, and a collection of all-time favorite Photoshop PDF tutorials you simply download. You know where to look!

As we head toward summer, those graduates will be pouring out of school and hitting the streets for jobs. Congratulations on a great job in your education -- now we'll be looking forward to seeing the great work you do in the future.

And, once again you've already wasted a perfectly good hour reading the DTG newsletter. Hopefully all is not wasted and you've gained at least one helpful tidbit of info

Thanks for reading...

Fred Showker
Editor / Publisher, DT&G Magazine

Parting words for May...

"The secret of all effective originality...
      is not the creation of new and tricky words and pictures
          but one of putting familiar words and pictures
              into new relationships"
                - Advertising genius, Leo Burnett

PS: if you've made it this far, the Loading Dock address for May will be changed to "mom" on or around the 1st of May -- in honor of Mothers Day, (the second Sunday in May.) Just add the word "mom" after the last slash in www.graphic-design.com/

WHO IS Fred Showker?

Advertising in the Design Center: When you advertise, your small contribution to the Design Center helps us continue the mission... and get's you lots and lots of traffic and visitors to your web site! Just ask us how.

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.