Editor's Column for DTG Magazine Online Edition

AUGUST
Web Design, Education

00 Welcome to August...; 01 The month of entertainers...; 03 Star Trek creator's birthday; 04 August color is Peridot; 06 Designers review reader's web pages; 07 Finding a Web designer; 08 Unique sites posted by readers:; 09 This month in DT&G, PDF Edition:; 10 Overwhelmed with digital files?; 11 Optimizing Photos with Photoshop Elements; 12 Photoshop Type Effects Encyclopedia; 13 Back to school reading; 14 Dreamweaver? Look out, Joyce is back ...; 15 Letters: Looking for TEXT Effects for Photoshop; 16 Letters: How much to charge?; 18 Letters: Sending Graphics on Disk; 19 Enjoy what's left of August...
Welcome to August...: Did anyone else notice how fast June and July went by? I got back from Macworld New York, and suddenly it was August. What happened? Busy, busy.
You'll see a few things slightly different in this month's newsletter -- a trend I think will continue. Each month we have a number of items which don't fit into the ongoing venue. So, below you'll see I've some additional items not usually found in this edition. Please enjoy...
... http://www.graphic-design.com/news/index.html [top]
The month of entertainers...: August is the month of entertainers... Robert Redford and I share birthdays in August... along with Shelley Winters (1920), Roman Polanski (1933), Martin Mull (1943), Patrick Swayze (1952), Gail Fisher (1935), and Edward Norton (1969). In 1956, the original version of "Hound Dog," by Big Mama Thornton, was released. Ringo Starr made his first appearance as a Beatle at a Cavern Club show. Peter, Paul & Mary's "If I Had A Hammer" (1962) was released... and, of course, (1977) the funeral services for Elvis Presley were held at Graceland. In 1937, the first FM radio construction permit was issued in Boston, MA -- but the station didn't go on the air until two years later. Publishing fans note that the "Evening Post" of Boston, MA, was published for the first time on August 18, 1735.
Star Trek creator's birthday: In 1921 Gene Roddenberry was born in El Paso, Texas. Roddenberry's first career was as an airline pilot but after a string of best selling science fiction books, he created the TV series Star Trek -- and a whole generation was changed forever. So all during August we'll be celebrating Gene's birthday in El Paso, Texas. We're all looking forward to the next Star Trek movie "Nemesis" due to open on December 13th, 2002. Movies anyone?
Fred's Favorite Site of the Week ... If you're QuickTime enabled, you can see the "Nemesis" movie trailer at: http://www.apple.com/quicktime/ [top]
August color is Peridot: In keeping with our Roddenberry birthday celebration and the birth of Star Trek, August's lucky stone is peridot.
Believe it or not, PERIDOT is found in meteorites, and has been called the "Visionary stone" because it helps connect us to our destinies and to an understanding of the purpose of existence. Wow... pretty heady stuff. Also for August is the carnelian, the "blood" stone. It also happens to be an incredible source of green tones.Later this month, Mr. Pixelsmith will show you some cool palettes directly from the greens found in this stone. (At left is an 8 color palette!)
Have fun, and PLEASE send in YOUR favorite color combinations.
... Find Mr. Pixelsmith in his studio at: http://www.graphic-design.com/Web/PixelSmith/index.html [top]
Designers review reader's web pages: I want to send out a big 'thank you' to all those who took the time to visit the reader-posted web sites during July and actually share their views and reviews with us.
I've posted reviews from: Bruce, Gloria, Kurt, Stefan, D. Grant, I. Chapman, L. Stephens, M. Jaklovsky, S. Hetu, S. Jameson, V. Ijay, and Y. Kuhns
Thank you for sending in your critiques of reader web sites. You all had valuable input, and several provided in-depth reviews that are superb!
... You can visit their comments and critique at: http://www.graphic-design.com/Web/Critique/index.html [top]
Finding a Web designer: One of the questions many shrewd art directors will ask prospective Web designers is: "What do you think of this site" ... or... "Tell me how you would improve this site."
Web design is a subjective art -- always ruled by opinion. The designer/client relationship is governed by whether or not the designer can deliver work that the client likes and agrees is good.
When you post solid suggestions to the reviews department, you indirectly demonstrate your ability to evaluate the subject matter and verbalize good design solutions. That's why we invite all web designers to contribute meaningful site reviews of our reader-posted sites. They've posted their site to get your opinion.
If you would like credit for your review, just include a note at the end of the review with your studio info, links, etc. We're happy to include that as part of the published review.
You never know when someone looking for a designer will read your review. And what better way to learn about a designer than in the way they evaluate existing sites.
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Unique sites posted by readers:: August brings a bumper crop of interesting and unique sites to review and, again the nonprofits seem to be ever popular in the Web review department.
So, here are just a few sites we've selected from the 90 freshly posted in the Reviews Department for August.
* First stop is the Art Department with "1600 Travel Pictures" web site. Lots of fine art photos from around the world including lots of nature, landscape and adventure shots. I think you'll enjoy this one, but is there room for improvement? Another interesting one in Art is the site called "Ain't Page." The author says: "bought my first computer ever in 2000, so I still have much to learn." It's up to us, folks, to help out!
* In the Business department we always get a wide array of sites to review -- from cool ones to pure propaganda. The "Kirk's Pawn Shop web site" needs your pair of eyes. The author says: "This is my 1st attempt at a business web site." an open invitation to come in and critique.
* Education was light this month with only two entries. The Willows Academy is a worthy beneficiary for your input. Take a look.
* If you want to see the results of a content management system take a look at this month's Industrial site: Rocca Tiles. Does it work for you? Can you make suggestions? (I knew you could.)
* Batter Up! In keeping with baseball season you sports fan designers should look at the: Hockomock Adult Baseball League web site. It was built for the submitter's amateur baseball league in Massachusetts using Macromedia Flash MX! I think you'll be able to sink your teeth into this one. If baseball is not your cup of tea, how about having a dance at the "Little Rock Bop Club" web site. Here you can learn to dance. It's the social swing dance club in Little Rock, Arkansas -- you see what I see?
* Now don't miss "The Unofficial Hilary Thomson Fan Site!" A spoof of web pages dedicated to a celebrity. I think you'll get a kick out of this one -- and stop by the "Digital Dementia Network" ... where the author says: "a normal site for, by, and about a semi-normal teenager." Interesting?
* Those who have experience with genealogy may want to see two personal sites this month: the "Mary's Place, Your Beebe Connection" web site -- created by a 74-year old, self taught HTML coder! -- and the "The Radic Family of Reims" web site including a chronological information of family history.
* Last of note this month is our only publication submission, the "Reversible Eye" web site. One might think we would get lots of publication sites to review, but they seem to be scarce. This one focuses on underground art and music of the post variety, post-expressionist, post-punk, post-rock. Put on your shades and give'em a visit!
* And there you have our baker's dozen selection from this month's reader review requests. Remember, there are some 90 others in the August Reviews department all asking for just a few minutes of your time. Take a look, browse around and if you see someone you can help, just email or post your comments and review to our review form. You'll be glad you did.
... see all our sites for review this month at:http://www.graphic-design.com/Web/Reviews/index.html [top]
This month in DT&G, PDF Edition:: Our August theme is Web Design with two important tutorials.
* What to do with all those graphics files: Databasing Media
* Technique: Optimizing Web Graphic (PS/ PS Elements)
* Letters: Is there a real need for optimization
* Photoshop Type Effects: with Roger Pring
* 60-Seconds #146: Ten important questions about your web site
* Else Design News includes: *nothing but fun stuff this moth . . Need a little learning? * iVillage cuts out pop-up ads from new format * Add Voting to your site * New Search Engine? * Creative idea source: Puppets * Another real idea starter * Advertising Age covers the Century * Just for laughs * Help with Public Relations * Been ripped off?
... Download the latest at:http://www.graphic-design.com/PubWarehouse/DTG-Library.html [top]
Overwhelmed with digital files?: In today's digital world one quickly becomes deluged with files of all kinds. The tendency is to keep them -- but most often you run across them two years later after they're no longer of use. You say "Darn, I wish I had know I had that file." Or, wonder where I put that file.
Then there are those of us who shoot dozens and dozens of images with our digital cameras but have to churn through them changing names and reorganizing to make some sense out of it all. I have several thousand shots on my laptop right now, but I'm not worried. I've got Cumulus 5.5.
If you've got hundreds, maybe thousands of digital photos, clip art files, quicktime clips, or web site graphics -- and you'd like to get them into a highly structured, easy to find and use storage facility, then you need to check this month's review of Cumulus 5.5.
This cross-platform, easy to automate digital assets management program has proved to me it is the ultimate software for dealing with your files.
... My article is in the PDF edition of DTGhttp://www.graphic-design.com/PubWarehouse/DTG-Library.html [top]
Optimizing Photos with Photoshop Elements: This month we address a reader's problem optimizing photos of cars they want to upload AutoTrader.com. Similar questions find their way into our mailbox each month so we have two articles in the August DTG which address optimizing images for the web.
Don't ever assume that everyone is running on a fast-internet or T1 connection. You may be running a muscle machine with fast-internet but there's still a real need for tight optimization of graphics on the web.
See this month's DTG PDF edition.
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Photoshop Type Effects Encyclopedia: The cover says "encyclopedia" and I believe it. This month's "Editor's Choice" is probably one of the most fun books to come along in a long time. If you love Photoshop or Photoshop Elements and typography, then you really need to take a look at Roger Pring's "Photoshop Type Effects Encyclopedia". I would have to rank it at the very top of a very short list of type effect books for Photoshop.
... http://www.design-bookshelf.com/Editors.html [top]
Back to school reading: In a few short weeks many will be turning their attention to school. I'll be kicking off my digital graphics courses at James Madison University with bright new crop of students -- eager to learn Photoshop, Illustrator and Quark XPress!
May and June were somewhat light on new books hitting the shelves, but in July the Design Bookshelf began filling with lots of great new books for fall.
Sharon Steuer's new "Illustrator WOW" book arrived along with an all new edition of Photoshop Artistry, and Steve Kurth adds the "Illustrator 10 Shop Manual" to his fantastic series of manuals.
In keeping with our Web Design theme this month you'll find a super line-up of new books to get your design on track. Check out "Skip Intro: Flash Usability and Interface Design" and the all new "Beyond HTML Goodies" from our friend Joe Burns! If it's ecommerce sites you're building, check out Shayne Bowman and Chris Willis' new "Designing Web Sites That Sell" as well as Hillman Curtis' awesome and inspiring "MTIV: Process, Inspiration and Practice for the New Media Designer."
All in all, it's a super season for anyone wanting to give those creative skills a boost.
... Find them all at: http://www.design-bookshelf.com/ [top]
Dreamweaver? Look out, Joyce is back ...: We always enjoy getting Joyce's slant on new books. She disappears for months at a time while she finishes up on her latest book, but then reappears with a whole new lineup of reviews to share with you. This month she applies the critics eye to the genera of Dreamweaver books: Dreamweaver 4 H.O.T., Inside Dreamweaver 4, Dreamweaver 4 The Missing Manual, Learning UltraDev.
... http://www.design-bookshelf.com/Joyce/index.html [top]
Letters: Looking for TEXT Effects for Photoshop: Krishna K writes in to say:
I want to know more about Text effects created using Photoshop? Are there any readymade plugins or actions available for different kinds of text effects? Kindly let me know. Thanks
FRED ANSWERS:
* Try the Photoshop Elements WOW book -- it's inexpensive and has literally thousands of effects. While it says "Elements" -- the set of plug-ins ALSO works with Photoshop It's absolutely the best thing since sliced bread for Photoshop users.
... Read my full review at: http://www.design-bookshelf.com/Photoshop/elements/index.html [top]
Letters: How much to charge?: Am D. writes in to comment:
"I was hired to create a logo for a company and create a CD design, and I was looking for some advice. I'm not sure how I can go about charging for my services and/or products. Right now, they are paying me $8.00 an hour for my work: trying to put together a logo and CD label. As I'm surfing around, I see that people are being paid a lot more than $8.00 an hour. How should I be charging for my services and graphics? How much should I be charging?

FRED's COMMENT:
Am says she's currently employed by a college at $8 and this is how she set the price for her freelance work.
Sometimes we 'lock' ourselves into price ranges like this, and it's really tough to break out of the pattern. I would recommend Am call around and get prices on similar work being produced in the area and let that guide her in setting rates for future work. We hear a lot about high wages for designers but it isn't always the case everywhere. Sometimes due to competition or local economic conditions design fees can be quite low.
When it comes to logo design, hourly rates usually don't apply. AM should set a "base" rate, stating exactly what the client gets for that base rate. Then, have a rate for additional work. Many designers will say:
"Logo prices start at $150, which yields three conceptual layouts, and the mechanical work-up for the one selected." (This pays you $50 for each idea or condeptualization -- which you should be able to do in a half-hour or so.) Then make sure they understand that each additional layout, or 'generation' to a presented layout will be an additional $50. Projects requiring the logo would then become a 'new' contract.
What ever you do, don't fall prey to the "MSU" trap. This one will get you ever time: the client wants a web page -- for which you charge a fee -- but you discover they don't have a logo. The client says "Just 'Make Something Up'" to put on the page. You do a great job, just to make the web page look good -- but then find the client has begun using your MSU design on business cards, newspaper ads and other LOGO applications. You've been duped, giving the client a logo AND a web page for the price of one!
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Letters: Sending Graphics on Disk: David L writes in with this:
"I have a question about graphic art files association. I save my artwork as jpeg files, burn a disk with them on it but when I bring them over to show someone else on their computer they cannot be viewed. I use ACDSee as a viewer for my work. Is there a way to use both Explorer as a viewer and ACDSee; to be able to switch between the two. I like some of the features of both but really need to be able to show others the work saved on disks too. My work is mostly done with Photoshop..does that have any bearing on the problem?

FRED's COMMENT:
Dave, you have answered your own question.
When making disks for others and you're not sure what system or software they may be running, use a 'generic' or 'neutral' viewing scheme -- browser and html being the best bet. Since Macs can read any files but Windows can't, you'll want to tailor the set-up for Windows. Make the CD ISO966 compatible, and build the file set as if it is a web site. This way the user only needs to open the "index.html" page with a browser and they're off and running.
This is the most simple way to go -- there are lots of other solutions ranging from QuickTime to extravagant multimedia authoring solutions. But they usually require some expensive software and lots of time invested in learning curve. If you use the html method, you can get it done quickly and get on with more important work. :-)
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Enjoy what's left of August...: Alfred, Lord Tennyson (1809-1892) the English poet born was born in August. He was the Poet Laureate, 1850-92 who wrote "Charge of the Light Brigade," 1854 and "Idylls of the King," 1885. My favorite quote from Tennyson is: "Knowledge comes, but wisdom lingers." How true.
As we move toward autumn, here's hoping you've had a great summer!; Fred
your loyal editor; 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.
... http://www.graphic-design.com/contact.html [top]

Join us for discussions:: Here's an invitation to you all to join us in discussions about graphic arts, design, illustration, or just about whatever might be on your mind. You can take your pick of the Design Cafe, or the WebDesign Review list, or both. We'll be looking forward to meeting you there real soon...
* Go To: http://www.graphic-design.com/subscribe.html [top]
Help the community do something about spam...: Do you get spam? Do you wish you didn't?
The Design Center is helping sponsor a SPAM SURVEY conducted by the Association of Apple Computer Users & Groups. The organization is chartered for community service, education and legislation advocacy for technology. SPAM is one of the big issues they hope to take to Washington D.C. this year, and they need YOUR help. Go there and fill out the simple, secure and safe SPAM SURVEY. It will help them gather data for their UCE Presentation.
* Go To: http://www.user-groups.net/submit.html [top]
Speaking of spam... read this:: 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 hundreds of them who would sell their mother for a quarter, or stab you in the back for a nickel. Not a pretty sight.
* Go To: http://www.60-Seconds.com/articles/130a.html [top]
How to contact us?: http://www.graphic-design.com/contact.html
Post your web site for review
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Post your news & stuff
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60-Second Windows, Editorials
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The User Group Network
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Mac Shareware
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and of course, the Design Center News Page
* Go To: http://www.graphic-design.com/news/ [top]
Folks, we can't help you if you don't cooperate...: 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.
* Go To: http://www.graphic-design.com/contact.html [top]

Thank you for visiting the Design & Publishing Center's online newsletter for DT&G. You are currently reading the Editor's column, where each month Editor and Chief Fred Showker writes, from the heart, about what's happening in the Design Center. Contents Copyright (c) 2002, Reproduction or reuse of parts or all of this manuscript without prior written permission is expressly forbidden. The Design & Publishing Center is the product and trade name for Showker, Inc., in Harrisonburg, Virginia, USA, trading as Showker Graphic Arts & Design -- a Virginia State Corporation since 1972. DT&G: The Online Journal of Design, Typography & Graphics has been distributed continuously each month since May of 1990, originally on the GEnie and CompuServe networks, then on America Online, and in 1993 on Apple Computer's "EWorld", migrating to the internet world wide web in 1994.