December Celebrate Creativity!

DT&G Traditional Gifts Package waits For You at the Publishers' Warehouse Loading Dock clip art, borders, and printers' ornaments? Fonts and more? * Miss Something Last month? December's Theme: Celebrate Creativity Welcome to December! The year is almost over! . In view of everything that's been going on, I thought I would use the 60-Second Windows column to point out a few things. One, most important is the spirit of the creative mind. We cite the two artists and two architects in New York who have proposed the "Tower of Lights" as the monument dedicated to the September 11 terrorists attack on the World Trade Center. So, be sure to read this month's 60-Second Windows, both on the web and in the PDF Edition. . We Have Winners in the 12 Days... . On the Sixth Day Chod Lang from Whitehouse Station, NJ Skipped the six geese a laying, and went directly to a gift from the Designers' Bookshelf ___ On the Fifth Day Nancy Putman from Huntsville, AL, didn't need the five golden rings, but needs a new book instead. ___ On the Fourth Day, Roseann Ramos from Stafford, Virginia, USA didn't get the four calling birds but went for the prize. ___ On the Third day of Christmas Rex Baumgardner from Klamath Falls, OR WINS. No, NOT the three French Hens... but his selected gift! ___ On the SECOND day of holiday, Allen Herman from Murrieta, CA said to me: "sign me up for the 12 Days contest." And, we did. He was our 2nd day winner. ___ Our first Day winner was Kristina Jones from Detroit, MI, who writes "I live by my copy of inside Photoshop 6. The greatest thing about the book (besides it's clear and simple instructions) is it's concise index making the items that I wish to look up easy to find. I would also like to be entered in the 12 days of holiday contest." Congratulations, Kristina, Allen and Rex. . Fall Fonts Festival Winners. . We're pleased to announce our Fall Fonts Festival was a huge success, and welcomed more visitors to the Publishers' Warehouse than ever. . We also have two winners of our Gallo Fonts CD giveaway: . While the drawing was purely random, we did read all of the "25 words or less" why you would like to have the Gallo Fonts CD. Some were really hilarious. We made several drawings, and a couple had no statement, or something we wouldn't want to publish. . Our winners are: . Winner: Christina Nelson is a graphic designer from Tennessee, specializing in design work for internal marketing departments. She works usually in Photoshop, QuarkXPress, and Illustrator. . Christina said: I feel that I should be considered for the free font CD because I believe that fonts truly express a lot. It is the first thing one see's when glancing at text, and it needs to set the tone for the piece. Fonts are statements among themselves, and every statement needs to be expressed appropriately by its appearance. . Winner: John Centofanti is a graphic designer from Ohio, involved in print layout and design of all kinds for brochures, posters, newsletters, and more. . John said: As a freelance graphic artist, I've done much of my work for free or cheaply, whether it's for a non-profit organization, a good cause, or someone who cannot afford my services. As such, I don't have a lot of room to purchase fonts and software like I want or need to do. So, that's my best reason for wanting to win the Gallo fonts CD. . Congratulations guys! . We're pleased to meet John because he's volunteered to join the book review group in the Design Bookshelf, so you'll probably be hearing from John again in the future. . The 12 Days of Holiday . Okay... sing along: . On the first day of Hol - i - day my true love gave to meeeee A gift from Design - er's Book - Shelf . We couldn't hardly sing you the song: "12 Days of Christmas" and besides, some of our readers will not be celebrating the predominately Christian holiday, anyway. So we will just call it "Holiday", and on each of the 12 days before December 25th we'll draw a names of readers who will then select a present from our collection of latest books! Call it our gift to you for the holidays . All you have to do is go to: . http://www.design-bookshelf.com/gifts/ . and put your name in the hat. You might just win one of our "BEST" books! . Speaking of Gifts: DT&G Gifts have been Posted . Our holiday gifts gallery is now opened at the Publishers' Warehouse and you are invited to drop in and pick up your gift. . It's really a lot of fun adding new items to our collection which has returned each year since we began the tradition in 1994. Included are many of our favorites from years past... a number of seasonal theme the cut'n'paste projects like our Pyramid Puzzle and our holiday delivery truck. (Always a hit with the kids!) Also are our folding templates, stained glass templates, fonts, clip art and more. Please enjoy our Holiday Gallery. . If you do not know the directions to the Publishers' Warehouse, you'll have to go ask for them: http://www.graphic-design.com/PubWarehouse/ . However, if you keep reading, you won't need to ask! <Grin> . Speaking of BEST: 2001 DT&G BEST AWARDS . We've started our "BEST" awards early this year -- in December rather than January. So the first two of our selections for the honor of "BEST" are in the PDF edition of DT&G. . They'll all appear in the web site this week, so drop in and get our recommendations for the best products from 2001 for anyone in the creative (computing) visual communications fields. . BEST Photoshop Add-on: Auto FX "Dream Suite" BEST Peripheral: IrisPEN USB hand digitizer BEST Digital Camera is the new Olympus BRIO BEST New Program is Adobe Elements BEST Graphics Plug-In(s) Sapphire Filters Vol 4 . In addition to these, we'll also be holding our "BEST BOOKS" and they'll be posted in the Design-Bookshelf.com site. . We've installed a "Hall of Fame" books list, as well as a "Bummer Books" list just to keep you informed. . You'll find all of these at . [GO] http://www.design-bookshelf.com/ . FEATURE: Newsletter Make-Over Clinic . A reader, and fellow User Group Newsletter Editor has written in and asked me to critique her newsletter. I said I would only if she would agree to letting me publish the initial critique for all our readers. She agreed, so we've posted it for you. . # Newsletter Rules - are in thePDF Edition # At the web site: [GO] http://www.graphic-design.com/DTG/Design/newsletter/index.html . Illuminated Initial Caps In Quark Xpress. . In the &Type! Department this month we follow last month's piece on Initial Letters with a look at more classic use of illuminated letters for your holiday communications. . We'll give you some tricks on how to do it right, by NOT using Quark's "auto" drop cap feature. . We'll also pass along a good half-dozen great fonts for initials, along with some all new Mac and Windows dingbats fonts in the Publishers' Warehouse Loading Dock. . [GO] http://www.graphic-design.com/Type/caps/caps.html . DT&G PDF FEATURES: Type Rules, Custom Brushes, and more............................. * &Editor - Yes, We have a Winner... Welcome to the Holidays * News & Reviews: Whatever You Dream: Software of the Year Awards * News & Reviews: IrisPEN II: Product of the Year Awards * FEATURE: Newsletter Make-over Clinic for a reader . Letters@: * Converting Color Slides to Black & White Prints * Photoshop Elements and Photoshop * Ownership of Digital Images * 60-Seconds #138: Make a list... Check it Twice . [GO] http://www.graphic-design.com/PubWarehouse/DTG-Library.html . &Else * Great Downloads in time for the Holidays, * Killer text editing for both platforms, * Manipulating huge text files, * Alternative to QuickTime? iMovie? Get HIP, * Printing 'Smart' just got easier ... and many more at the &Else web page . [GO] http://www.graphic-design.com/news/else/ . POP QUIZ: What's the fastest way to convert Photoshop Web designs into finished web pages, complete and ready to go? Answer: PhotoWebber: http://www.medialab.com . Web Design Listserv Returns . Many of us have been pining the loss of the famous Web Design discussion list. . Well, we're bringing it back. After the first of the year, you'll once again be able to post your web design and programming questions and enjoy all the fun and camaraderie of the original list. I hope it will be come as fun and popular as its name sake! Stand by for news of that for sure . [GO] http://www.graphic-design.com/subscribe.html . December's Colors: Icy Blues & Holiday Hues . Icy blues and holiday hues are December's colors... the bright red of the cardinal on the fresh snow... the evergreens who show their color all winter long, and the subtle shades of blues in the deep shadow areas of pure white snow all go together to make our first winter landscape. . Introspect about DT&G and YOU, our readers . Probably one of the few web sites to actually listen to readers' requests -- it's now time for your suggestions and comments. Last month we asked for your advice. Well, we didn't get the turnout response we had wanted, but we did get a lot of good suggestions. . We want to thank you all for your input and feedback. Remember you can give us your comments any time by simply spilling your heart at: . http://www.graphic-design.com/contact.html . NEW ! Mid-Month DT&G Content Newsletter . Following the above item, we've gotten a lot of response from you the readers that say: "Give Us A Content Listserv" . For the last four or five years you've watched the DT&G EMAIL Newsletter evolve from full content in each issue, to primarily a collection of teasers for the monthly PDF edition and web site content updates. . Besides the 30-some thousand people who happily read the DTG Newsletter Email each month, there are always dozens who see it as spam and want OFF the list. . Well, we're about to change all that. And, I think you'll be thrilled to be in on the ground floor. . While no "First" issue date has been set, you can expect to receive our NEW Mid Month DTG some time after the first of the year. . The new edition will be content only... we'll have the mid-month &Else selections, shareware tips and leads, software tips, and most importantly, LETTERS@Graphic-Design.com column. . That's right, we'll be answering YOUR letters. For months and months we've not gotten to everyone's question. Now with a mid month content newsletter we'll be able to address the most urgent and most enlightening letters we receive from you. . Everyone now subscribed to this Newsletter List will automatically be in the first issue of DTG Content. If you don't wish to stay on board, you can simply unsubscribe, no hard feelings! . You can always unsubscribe, or subscribe by going to: . http://www.graphic-design.com/subscribe.html . A Message from the Editor . This Publishers' Warehouse loading dock folks are off all month, with no forwarding address other than the "north pole". Hmmmmmm. So, we'll just have to find them at the "northpole" to see what they're up to. . This about wraps it up for another year of DT&G. . It's actually very exciting to be entering our 12th year of publishing online. . We know that something must be right, because you don't just keep publishing online for a dozen years without making some people happy. We're proud to be of service to you and we appreciate your loyalty, and camaraderie. . There are lots of good things awaiting us all this season, and for many seasons to come. . If we'll just take a moment and be thankful for our blessings, then spread those blessings to those less fortunate than us, all good things will come. . Here's hoping you and yours have the best holiday season ever. . Go forth and be creative. See'ya next year. . Fred . Fred Showker, your lowly editor . Design & Publishing Center * http://www.graphic-design.com/news/index.html . Just think about this. . . . I have learned that success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome while trying to succeed. Booker T. Washington . Those who deny freedom to others deserve it not for themselves. Abraham Lincoln . Please read: Top Ten Signs You're About to be RIPPED OFF Fred tracks the illusive spammer! With the influx of thousands of new UCEs ('Unsolicited Commercial Email" -- aka: SPAM) hitting the Graphic Design Network servers, our spam-hunting team decided to track a few of these low-lifes down, and find out where it's all coming from. ___ What we found was rather alarming, and out of more than 7,000 UCEs gathered since January 1st -- so far -- we haven't found but ONE honest person. But we've found lots of them who would sell their mother for a quarter, or stab you in the back for a nickel. Not a pretty sight. ___ * http://www.60-Seconds.com/articles/130a.html . -------------------------- POSTSCRIPT ----------------------------- . * Design-U Associate Program Brings You Cash -- If you think YOUR site has sufficient traffic of people who would benefit from the Design University seminars, why not become a Design University Extension Campus. This allows you to offer D-U courses to your visitors, and earn a 15% commission for every Seminar your readers buy! Contact: Admissions at Design-U.org for details . How to contact us? http://www.graphic-design.com/contact.html . Photo Retouching Seminar .. http://www.design-U.org/Photoshop.html The Designers'Bookshelf ......... http://www.design-bookshelf.com/ News Serve Net, news & stuff........... http://www.news-serve.net/ 60-Second Windows, Editorials ......... http://www.60-Seconds.com/ The User Group Network ............... http://www.user-groups.net/ The Rumor Manager ....... http://www.user-groups.net/RumorManager/ The Resource Manager ....... http://www.user-groups.net/resources/ Mac Shareware .... http://www.user-groups.net/shareware/index.html . . Folks, we can’t help you if you don’t cooperate... Each month accesses (looking for that new EPS clip art disk) and prize registrations are denied in the Publishers’Warehouse. __ Why? Because the email address keyed into the Loading Dock request was incorrect, or no longer in use. I find it hard to believe that people would register for something and then drop the address. __ Remember: no spaces, correct spelling. Dozens of AOL users didn't put in "@aol.com" -- remember: name@aol.com, no spaces. (We assume they were AOL since they had no "@" indicator.) __ Remember too, that the loading dock changes locations each month. You'll find the clue you need to the new location in each issue of this column. Don't forget to write. . Contents Copyright (c) 2001, Reproduction or reuse of parts or all of this manuscript without prior written permission is expressly forbidden.