Getting the Red Out without Eyedrops

<p>Red eye occurs when the subject of a picture looks directly into the flash, and the unfortunate result is that eerie reddish luminescence in the eyes that says, "Not only didn't I get any sleep last night, but I'm also auditioning for the remake of Michael Jackson's<i>Thriller</i> video."</p> <p>The flash bouncing off the blood vessels in the retina and right back into the camera's lens causes the red-eye effect. You'll see red eye most often in pictures taken in dim light because the pupils are at their largest in low-light conditions. You may also see red eye if you're using a camera with a flash that's very close to the camera's lens (thereby making it easier for the light to bounce straight back into the lens). The best way to fix red eye is to avoid it completely. That usually means getting a flash camera that can work around it:</p> <p>Many cameras have a red-eye prevention mode. Usually, this mode triggers a quick, bright preflash just before the actual picture is taken. The preflash causes the subjects' irises to contract, making their pupils smaller when the second flash (that is, the real flash) goes off.Some cameras mount the flash high or to one side of the lens. This simple trick also minimizes the chance of red eye.</p> <p>However, these preventive measures are of little solace when you have a great picture that features bright red pupils as its most dominating feature.</p> <p>Here's a quick way to paint out red eye and restore your image to a less zombielike look:</p> <p>1. Open the original photo with red eye showing.</p> <p>2. Select the pupil of one of the eyes.</p> <p>An easy way to avoid changing the color of more than the red part of the eye is by painting the selection by using the Quick Mask tool.</p> <p>3. Double-click the Quick Mask icon in the Tool palette.</p> <p>The Quick Mask Options dialog box appears.</p> <p>Make sure that the Selected Areas option is selected. This tells Photoshop that the area you're painting should be considered a selection.</p> <p>4. Double-click the Color preview box to produce the Color Picker dialog box. Choose a bright green color as the mask color.</p> <p>Photoshop uses a red hue by default that would make it difficult to see what part of the image you've already painted, so using a contrasting color eliminates this problem.</p> <p>5. Click OK to dismiss the Color Picker dialog box, and then click OK to close the Quick Mask Options dialog box and begin painting a mask.</p> <p>6. Choose a fuzzy-edged brush from the Brushes palette and paint around one iris.</p> <p>7. Press Q to exit Quick Mask mode.</p> <p>Only the pupil of the eye is selected, so you can paint without fear of covering up any other parts of the eye.</p> <p>8. Choose Select --> Save Selection and store the pupil selection. Give it a name, such as "Last Iris."</p> <p>You can reuse the pupil selection later if you accidentally deselect the area while working.</p> <p>9. Select the Brush tool and choose a small fuzzy-edged brush.</p> <p>10. In the Options bar, choose Hard Light as the blending mode from the Mode drop-down list.</p> <p>11. Choose a color that matches the iris color but is quite a bit darker.</p> <p>Pupils are ordinarily much darker than the iris that surrounds them.</p> <p>l2. Paint over the pupil.</p> <p>You may notice that two catchlights (reflections of light sources such as windows or the flash that made the picture) on the eye, which is unnatural. Of course, having no catchlight at all is even more unnatural! Cover the extraneous left catchlight in each pupil, but try not to obscure the main, right catchlight.</p> <p>If you must paint over one of the main catchlights to remove the red-eye effect, use some white paint to insert a new one.</p><p>www.digitalsankalp.org</p>

Getting the Red Out without Eyedrops

Red eye occurs when the subject of a picture looks directly into the flash, and the unfortunate result is that eerie reddish luminescence in...

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Drawing with the Pencil Tool in Photoshop Elements 4

<p><b>Drawing with the Pencil tool in Photoshop Elements 4 creates hard edges. You can't get the soft, feathery edges that you can with the Brush tool. In fact, the edges of a pencil stroke can't even be anti-aliased (where edges are softened). So keep in mind that if you draw anything other than vertical or horizontal lines, your lines will have some jaggies when viewed up close. But hey, don't diss the Pencil just yet. Those hard-edged strokes can be perfect for Web graphics. And what's more, the Pencil tool has the ability to erase itself, and it's great for digital sketches, as shown in Figure 1.</b></p> <p><img src="http://media.wiley.com/assets/1020/79/0-471-77483-9_1204.jpg"><br></p> <p><b>Figure 1:</b> The Pencil tool can be used for digital drawings.</p> <p>The awkwardness of trying to draw with a mouse disappears if you use a pressure-sensitive digital drawing tablet — the Pencil tool will behave much more like a real lead pencil.</p> <p>Follow these steps to become familiar with the Pencil tool:</p> <p>1. Select the Pencil tool from the Tools palette.</p> <p>You can also press the N key. By default, the Pencil tool's brush tip is the 1-pixel brush. (Yes, even though the Pencil tip is hard-edged, it's still referred to as a brush.)</p> <p>2. On the Options bar, choose your desired pencil options, beginning with a brush preset.</p> <p>3. Click the arrow and select your desired brush from the Brush Preset Picker drop-down palette.</p> <p>To load another preset library, click the Brushes menu at the top of the palette.</p> <p>Remember, you aren't limited to the standard old brush strokes. Check out the Assorted and Special Effects brushes. You'll be surprised at some of the interesting brushes lurking in these palettes. Use them to create stand-alone images or to enhance your photographic creations.</p> <p>Access the pop-up menu on the drop-down palette to save, rename, or delete individual brushes and also save, load, and reset brush libraries.</p> <p>4. Choose your brush size.</p> <p>A preset brush's pixel diameters are shown as text below a thumbnail image of the brush shape. If you want to change the size of that brush tip, drag the slider or enter a value.</p> <p>5. Select a blending mode.</p> <p>6. If you want the background to show through your strokes, adjust the Opacity by dragging the slider or entering an opacity percentage less than 100 percent.</p> <p>The lower the percentage, the more the background images show through.</p> <p>Your strokes must be on a separate layer above your images for you to be able to adjust the opacity and blend modes after you've drawn them.</p> <p>7. Select Auto Erase if you want to enable that option.</p> <p>This option removes portions of your pencil strokes.</p> <p>8. Click and drag with the mouse to create your freeform lines.</p> <p>To draw straight lines, click at a starting point, release the mouse button, and then Shift+click at a second point.</p>

Drawing with the Pencil Tool in Photoshop Elements 4

Drawing with the Pencil tool in Photoshop Elements 4 creates hard edges. You can't get the soft, feathery edges that you can with the Br...

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Drawing with the Pencil Tool in Photoshop Elements 4

<p><b>Drawing with the Pencil tool in Photoshop Elements 4 creates hard edges. You can't get the soft, feathery edges that you can with the Brush tool. In fact, the edges of a pencil stroke can't even be anti-aliased (where edges are softened). So keep in mind that if you draw anything other than vertical or horizontal lines, your lines will have some jaggies when viewed up close. But hey, don't diss the Pencil just yet. Those hard-edged strokes can be perfect for Web graphics. And what's more, the Pencil tool has the ability to erase itself, and it's great for digital sketches, as shown in Figure 1.</b></p> <p><img src="http://media.wiley.com/assets/1020/79/0-471-77483-9_1204.jpg"><br></p> <p><b>Figure 1:</b> The Pencil tool can be used for digital drawings.</p> <p>The awkwardness of trying to draw with a mouse disappears if you use a pressure-sensitive digital drawing tablet — the Pencil tool will behave much more like a real lead pencil.</p> <p>Follow these steps to become familiar with the Pencil tool:</p> <p>1. Select the Pencil tool from the Tools palette.</p> <p>You can also press the N key. By default, the Pencil tool's brush tip is the 1-pixel brush. (Yes, even though the Pencil tip is hard-edged, it's still referred to as a brush.)</p> <p>2. On the Options bar, choose your desired pencil options, beginning with a brush preset.</p> <p>3. Click the arrow and select your desired brush from the Brush Preset Picker drop-down palette.</p> <p>To load another preset library, click the Brushes menu at the top of the palette.</p> <p>Remember, you aren't limited to the standard old brush strokes. Check out the Assorted and Special Effects brushes. You'll be surprised at some of the interesting brushes lurking in these palettes. Use them to create stand-alone images or to enhance your photographic creations.</p> <p>Access the pop-up menu on the drop-down palette to save, rename, or delete individual brushes and also save, load, and reset brush libraries.</p> <p>4. Choose your brush size.</p> <p>A preset brush's pixel diameters are shown as text below a thumbnail image of the brush shape. If you want to change the size of that brush tip, drag the slider or enter a value.</p> <p>5. Select a blending mode.</p> <p>6. If you want the background to show through your strokes, adjust the Opacity by dragging the slider or entering an opacity percentage less than 100 percent.</p> <p>The lower the percentage, the more the background images show through.</p> <p>Your strokes must be on a separate layer above your images for you to be able to adjust the opacity and blend modes after you've drawn them.</p> <p>7. Select Auto Erase if you want to enable that option.</p> <p>This option removes portions of your pencil strokes.</p> <p>8. Click and drag with the mouse to create your freeform lines.</p> <p>To draw straight lines, click at a starting point, release the mouse button, and then Shift+click at a second point.</p>

Drawing with the Pencil Tool in Photoshop Elements 4

Drawing with the Pencil tool in Photoshop Elements 4 creates hard edges. You can't get the soft, feathery edges that you can with the Br...

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Getting the Red Out without Eyedrops

<p>Red eye occurs when the subject of a picture looks directly into the flash, and the unfortunate result is that eerie reddish luminescence in the eyes that says, "Not only didn't I get any sleep last night, but I'm also auditioning for the remake of Michael Jackson's<i>Thriller</i> video."</p> <p>The flash bouncing off the blood vessels in the retina and right back into the camera's lens causes the red-eye effect. You'll see red eye most often in pictures taken in dim light because the pupils are at their largest in low-light conditions. You may also see red eye if you're using a camera with a flash that's very close to the camera's lens (thereby making it easier for the light to bounce straight back into the lens). The best way to fix red eye is to avoid it completely. That usually means getting a flash camera that can work around it:</p> <p>Many cameras have a red-eye prevention mode. Usually, this mode triggers a quick, bright preflash just before the actual picture is taken. The preflash causes the subjects' irises to contract, making their pupils smaller when the second flash (that is, the real flash) goes off.Some cameras mount the flash high or to one side of the lens. This simple trick also minimizes the chance of red eye.</p> <p>However, these preventive measures are of little solace when you have a great picture that features bright red pupils as its most dominating feature.</p> <p>Here's a quick way to paint out red eye and restore your image to a less zombielike look:</p> <p>1. Open the original photo with red eye showing.</p> <p>2. Select the pupil of one of the eyes.</p> <p>An easy way to avoid changing the color of more than the red part of the eye is by painting the selection by using the Quick Mask tool.</p> <p>3. Double-click the Quick Mask icon in the Tool palette.</p> <p>The Quick Mask Options dialog box appears.</p> <p>Make sure that the Selected Areas option is selected. This tells Photoshop that the area you're painting should be considered a selection.</p> <p>4. Double-click the Color preview box to produce the Color Picker dialog box. Choose a bright green color as the mask color.</p> <p>Photoshop uses a red hue by default that would make it difficult to see what part of the image you've already painted, so using a contrasting color eliminates this problem.</p> <p>5. Click OK to dismiss the Color Picker dialog box, and then click OK to close the Quick Mask Options dialog box and begin painting a mask.</p> <p>6. Choose a fuzzy-edged brush from the Brushes palette and paint around one iris.</p> <p>7. Press Q to exit Quick Mask mode.</p> <p>Only the pupil of the eye is selected, so you can paint without fear of covering up any other parts of the eye.</p> <p>8. Choose Select --> Save Selection and store the pupil selection. Give it a name, such as "Last Iris."</p> <p>You can reuse the pupil selection later if you accidentally deselect the area while working.</p> <p>9. Select the Brush tool and choose a small fuzzy-edged brush.</p> <p>10. In the Options bar, choose Hard Light as the blending mode from the Mode drop-down list.</p> <p>11. Choose a color that matches the iris color but is quite a bit darker.</p> <p>Pupils are ordinarily much darker than the iris that surrounds them.</p> <p>l2. Paint over the pupil.</p> <p>You may notice that two catchlights (reflections of light sources such as windows or the flash that made the picture) on the eye, which is unnatural. Of course, having no catchlight at all is even more unnatural! Cover the extraneous left catchlight in each pupil, but try not to obscure the main, right catchlight.</p> <p>If you must paint over one of the main catchlights to remove the red-eye effect, use some white paint to insert a new one.</p>

Getting the Red Out without Eyedrops

Red eye occurs when the subject of a picture looks directly into the flash, and the unfortunate result is that eerie reddish luminescence in...

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Knowing Multiple Ways to Save Documents in InDesign CS3

<h1 style="font-size:20px;margin:0.25rem 0px;padding:0px 0px 0.5rem;border-width:0px 0px 1px;border-bottom-style:solid;border-bottom-color:rgb(204,204,204);color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:17px;line-height:24px">The InDesign File menu contains a group of commands — Close, Save, Save As, Save a Copy, Check In, and Revert — that provide options for saving the active (frontmost) document. Here's a rundown of what each command does:</span><br> </h1> <ul style="padding:0px 1rem;margin:0px;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:16px"><li><b>Close</b> (Command+W, or Ctrl+W or Ctrl+F4) closes the active document. If the document has never been saved or if it has been changed since it was last saved, a dialog box lets you save, close without saving, or cancel and return to the document.</li> </ul><ul style="padding:0px 1rem;margin:0px;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif">To close multiple windows at once, use the shortcuts Option+Shift+Command+F4 or Ctrl+Alt+Shift+W.</ul><ul style="padding:0px 1rem;margin:0px;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:16px"> <li><b>Save</b> (Command+S or Ctrl+S) saves changes you've made to the active document since you last saved. (If you choose Save for a document that hasn't yet been saved, the Save As dialog box is displayed.)</li> </ul><ul style="padding:0px 1rem;margin:0px;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:16px"><li><b>Save As</b> (Option+Command+S or Ctrl+Alt+S) lets you save a copy of the active document using a different name (or with the same name in a different folder). When you choose Save As — and when you choose Save for an unsaved document — the Save As dialog box appears. This dialog box lets you create or choose a folder for the document, as well as name the document.</li> </ul><ul style="padding:0px 1rem;margin:0px;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:16px"><li><b>Check In</b> saves the current document as a version within a Version Cue project. (Version Cue is Adobe software that helps track different versions of your projects.) This latest save will be considered a version of the previously saved file. (This expert option is available only if Version Cue is enabled. It had been called Save a Version in previous versions of InDesign.)</li> </ul><ul style="padding:0px 1rem;margin:0px;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:16px"><li><b>Save a Copy</b> lets you create a copy of the active document in a different (or in the same) folder using a different (or the same) name. When you use the Save a Copy command, the original document remains open and retains its original name. It differs from Save As only in that it keeps the original document open.</li> </ul><ul style="padding:0px 1rem;margin:0px;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:16px"><li><b>Revert</b> undoes all changes you've made to a document since you last saved it.</li></ul>

Knowing Multiple Ways to Save Documents in InDesign CS3

The InDesign File menu contains a group of commands — Close, Save, Save As, Save a Copy, Check In, and Revert — that provide options for sav...

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Knowing Multiple Ways to Save Documents in InDesign CS3

<h1 style="font-size:20px;margin:0.25rem 0px;padding:0px 0px 0.5rem;border-width:0px 0px 1px;border-bottom-style:solid;border-bottom-color:rgb(204,204,204);color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:17px;line-height:24px">The InDesign File menu contains a group of commands — Close, Save, Save As, Save a Copy, Check In, and Revert — that provide options for saving the active (frontmost) document. Here's a rundown of what each command does:</span><br> </h1> <ul style="padding:0px 1rem;margin:0px;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:16px"><li><b>Close</b> (Command+W, or Ctrl+W or Ctrl+F4) closes the active document. If the document has never been saved or if it has been changed since it was last saved, a dialog box lets you save, close without saving, or cancel and return to the document.</li> </ul><ul style="padding:0px 1rem;margin:0px;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif">To close multiple windows at once, use the shortcuts Option+Shift+Command+F4 or Ctrl+Alt+Shift+W.</ul><ul style="padding:0px 1rem;margin:0px;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:16px"> <li><b>Save</b> (Command+S or Ctrl+S) saves changes you've made to the active document since you last saved. (If you choose Save for a document that hasn't yet been saved, the Save As dialog box is displayed.)</li> </ul><ul style="padding:0px 1rem;margin:0px;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:16px"><li><b>Save As</b> (Option+Command+S or Ctrl+Alt+S) lets you save a copy of the active document using a different name (or with the same name in a different folder). When you choose Save As — and when you choose Save for an unsaved document — the Save As dialog box appears. This dialog box lets you create or choose a folder for the document, as well as name the document.</li> </ul><ul style="padding:0px 1rem;margin:0px;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:16px"><li><b>Check In</b> saves the current document as a version within a Version Cue project. (Version Cue is Adobe software that helps track different versions of your projects.) This latest save will be considered a version of the previously saved file. (This expert option is available only if Version Cue is enabled. It had been called Save a Version in previous versions of InDesign.)</li> </ul><ul style="padding:0px 1rem;margin:0px;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:16px"><li><b>Save a Copy</b> lets you create a copy of the active document in a different (or in the same) folder using a different (or the same) name. When you use the Save a Copy command, the original document remains open and retains its original name. It differs from Save As only in that it keeps the original document open.</li> </ul><ul style="padding:0px 1rem;margin:0px;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:16px"><li><b>Revert</b> undoes all changes you've made to a document since you last saved it.</li></ul>

Knowing Multiple Ways to Save Documents in InDesign CS3

The InDesign File menu contains a group of commands — Close, Save, Save As, Save a Copy, Check In, and Revert — that provide options for sav...

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Trekking through Web Design Tips

<h1 style="font-size:20px;margin:0.25rem 0px;padding:0px 0px 0.5rem;border-width:0px 0px 1px;border-bottom-style:solid;border-bottom-color:rgb(204,204,204);color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><br></h1> <p style="margin:0.75em 0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-size:17px;color:rgb(51,51,51);line-height:24px;font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif">The majority of Flash movies end up on Web sites. To help ensure that your Web site is as attractive and useful as possible, consider these pearls of wisdom, some of which apply to all Web sites and others are specific to those sites using Flash movies.</p> <h2 style="margin:0.25rem 0px 1.25rem;padding:0px;border:0px;font-size:18px;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif">Set your goal</h2><p style="margin:0.75em 0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-size:17px;color:rgb(51,51,51);line-height:24px;font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"> A general principle of Web design is to know why you have a Web site. Write out one main goal and perhaps one or two secondary goals. For example, the main goal of your site may be to sell used music CDs. A secondary goal may be to provide viewers with music reviews so that they can decide which CDs they want to buy. Avoid putting material on your site that doesn't help you reach your goal.</p> <p style="margin:0.75em 0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-size:17px;color:rgb(51,51,51);line-height:24px;font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif">How does your Flash movie help you attain your Web site's goal? Perhaps your movie displays the covers of your most widely sold CDs and plays some of the music, giving viewers an instant understanding of your site's purpose. On the other hand, if your Flash movie just displays an animated logo, it may even distract viewers from the important features of your home page.</p> <h2 style="margin:0.25rem 0px 1.25rem;padding:0px;border:0px;font-size:18px;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif">Keep pages clean and clear</h2><p style="margin:0.75em 0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-size:17px;color:rgb(51,51,51);line-height:24px;font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"> Unlike television, the Web is an interactive medium. Viewers need to understand the purpose of your site and how to navigate it. Clutter and complex structures are counterproductive. You can use Flash to create a simple, compelling navigational system. But you must be careful when mixing and matching HTML and Flash elements in order to avoid confusion. Let all your buttons look similar — don't create five different shapes and colors of Flash buttons just because you can.</p> <p style="margin:0.75em 0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-size:17px;color:rgb(51,51,51);line-height:24px;font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif">By default, the Flash HTML file loops your files. Looped short animations tend to look like the animated GIFs we all know and hate . . . and ignore. Avoid looped animation unless you have a good reason for it, especially if it moves across the Web page in a banner. Viewers may assume it's advertising.</p> <h2 style="margin:0.25rem 0px 1.25rem;padding:0px;border:0px;font-size:18px;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif">Don't overwhelm viewers with color</h2><p style="margin:0.75em 0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-size:17px;color:rgb(51,51,51);line-height:24px;font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"> Too many colors create a chaotic impression. While your Web site doesn't have to be dull, you don't want it to be overwhelming either. Of course, there's nothing wrong with full-color photographs or graphics, but use a maximum of three colors for the background, text, and navigational aids. Most of your Web content is probably text, which viewers expect to be mostly in one font and one color. Navigational aids, such as buttons and links, should be the same color throughout your site.</p> <h2 style="margin:0.25rem 0px 1.25rem;padding:0px;border:0px;font-size:18px;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif">Use fewer than four fonts</h2><p style="margin:0.75em 0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-size:17px;color:rgb(51,51,51);line-height:24px;font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"> To create a Web page design with maximum coherence and impact, you should probably restrict your page design to two or three fonts at most. It makes visual sense to use one font for the body of your text and one font for the headlines. You could perhaps use a third font for a logo or for some other special item, but this may look best if it has some kind of strong visual harmony with the other fonts you are using.</p> <p style="margin:0.75em 0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-size:17px;color:rgb(51,51,51);line-height:24px;font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif">Use four fonts and people may start to think that you're designing a ransom note, not a Web page.</p> <h2 style="margin:0.25rem 0px 1.25rem;padding:0px;border:0px;font-size:18px;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif">Be consistent</h2><p style="margin:0.75em 0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-size:17px;color:rgb(51,51,51);line-height:24px;font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"> Each page on your site should have the same logo. Certain links should go on each page (such as a link to your home page) and be in the same place on each page. If you have other links, such as Search, E-mail, and so on, these should also be consistent throughout your site.</p> <p style="margin:0.75em 0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-size:17px;color:rgb(51,51,51);line-height:24px;font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif">Text color, fonts, hyperlinks, backgrounds, buttons, and so on should all be consistent to avoid confusion and error.</p> <p style="margin:0.75em 0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-size:17px;color:rgb(51,51,51);line-height:24px;font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif">If you're combining HTML and Flash content, use consistent fonts and colors for both.</p> <h2 style="margin:0.25rem 0px 1.25rem;padding:0px;border:0px;font-size:18px;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif">KISS</h2><p style="margin:0.75em 0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-size:17px;color:rgb(51,51,51);line-height:24px;font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"> As you may know, KISS stands for<i>Keep It Simple, Stupid.</i> Sketch out the map of your site and make sure the lines of navigation are short and simple. Don't use long explanations when a short one will do. Don't use lots of images when one will suffice.</p> <p style="margin:0.75em 0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-size:17px;color:rgb(51,51,51);line-height:24px;font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif">Your Flash movies should also be as simple as possible. Animation goes by fast. If too many objects are moving at once, viewers don't know where to focus their attention.</p> <h2 style="margin:0.25rem 0px 1.25rem;padding:0px;border:0px;font-size:18px;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif">Know who's watching and how</h2><p style="margin:0.75em 0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-size:17px;color:rgb(51,51,51);line-height:24px;font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"> Many Web site hosts provide you with information on the browsers (including which version) and the resolutions used by your viewers. You may not be able to cater to everything out there, but you should try to create a Web site that the vast majority of people can see.</p> <p style="margin:0.75em 0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-size:17px;color:rgb(51,51,51);line-height:24px;font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif">Many sites that use Flash offer a non-Flash alternative rather than force viewers without the Flash Player to download it. The non-Flash alternative has non-animated graphics in place of the Flash movie.</p> <p style="margin:0.75em 0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-size:17px;color:rgb(51,51,51);line-height:24px;font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif">Remember that viewers on a screen with 640 x 480 resolution can see a lot less than viewers on screens with a higher resolution. Those with lower resolution may miss important parts of your Web page and Flash animation.</p> <h2 style="margin:0.25rem 0px 1.25rem;padding:0px;border:0px;font-size:18px;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif">Support the Flash Player</h2><p style="margin:0.75em 0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-size:17px;color:rgb(51,51,51);line-height:24px;font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"> You can choose to publish an HTML file that detects whether the Flash Player is installed on the viewer's computer. If not, it displays an image file. (You need to publish to one of the image formats at the same time for this to work.)</p> <p style="margin:0.75em 0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-size:17px;color:rgb(51,51,51);line-height:24px;font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif">The default HTML text doesn't check for the Flash player, but it includes the location to download the player. In some situations, the Flash Player will download automatically when not available or a window will pop up offering the viewer the chance to download it. Many sites include a button that says, <i>Can't see the animation? Download the Flash Player here,</i> or something to that effect. The button links to<a href="http://www.macromedia.com/shockwave/download/index.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash" style="color:rgb(1,69,138)" target="_blank">Macromedia's download center</a>.</p> <p style="margin:0.75em 0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-size:17px;color:rgb(51,51,51);line-height:24px;font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif">Many Web surfers have no idea how Web sites are created and have never heard of Flash. Therefore, giving viewers a choice of Flash and non-Flash sites may not be meaningful. (Of course, if you're a Web site designer and you think potential clients viewing your site may be savvier than most viewers, you may have no problem in this regard.) In most situations, it may be better to use the words <i>animated</i> and <i>non-animated</i>. Of course, feel free to use the word <i>Flash</i> along with some explanation.</p>

Trekking through Web Design Tips

The majority of Flash movies end up on Web sites. To help ensure that your Web site is as attractive and useful as possible, consider th...

Read more »

Trekking through Web Design Tips

<h1 style="font-size:20px;margin:0.25rem 0px;padding:0px 0px 0.5rem;border-width:0px 0px 1px;border-bottom-style:solid;border-bottom-color:rgb(204,204,204);color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><br></h1> <p style="margin:0.75em 0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-size:17px;color:rgb(51,51,51);line-height:24px;font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif">The majority of Flash movies end up on Web sites. To help ensure that your Web site is as attractive and useful as possible, consider these pearls of wisdom, some of which apply to all Web sites and others are specific to those sites using Flash movies.</p> <h2 style="margin:0.25rem 0px 1.25rem;padding:0px;border:0px;font-size:18px;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif">Set your goal</h2><p style="margin:0.75em 0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-size:17px;color:rgb(51,51,51);line-height:24px;font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"> A general principle of Web design is to know why you have a Web site. Write out one main goal and perhaps one or two secondary goals. For example, the main goal of your site may be to sell used music CDs. A secondary goal may be to provide viewers with music reviews so that they can decide which CDs they want to buy. Avoid putting material on your site that doesn't help you reach your goal.</p> <p style="margin:0.75em 0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-size:17px;color:rgb(51,51,51);line-height:24px;font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif">How does your Flash movie help you attain your Web site's goal? Perhaps your movie displays the covers of your most widely sold CDs and plays some of the music, giving viewers an instant understanding of your site's purpose. On the other hand, if your Flash movie just displays an animated logo, it may even distract viewers from the important features of your home page.</p> <h2 style="margin:0.25rem 0px 1.25rem;padding:0px;border:0px;font-size:18px;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif">Keep pages clean and clear</h2><p style="margin:0.75em 0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-size:17px;color:rgb(51,51,51);line-height:24px;font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"> Unlike television, the Web is an interactive medium. Viewers need to understand the purpose of your site and how to navigate it. Clutter and complex structures are counterproductive. You can use Flash to create a simple, compelling navigational system. But you must be careful when mixing and matching HTML and Flash elements in order to avoid confusion. Let all your buttons look similar — don't create five different shapes and colors of Flash buttons just because you can.</p> <p style="margin:0.75em 0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-size:17px;color:rgb(51,51,51);line-height:24px;font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif">By default, the Flash HTML file loops your files. Looped short animations tend to look like the animated GIFs we all know and hate . . . and ignore. Avoid looped animation unless you have a good reason for it, especially if it moves across the Web page in a banner. Viewers may assume it's advertising.</p> <h2 style="margin:0.25rem 0px 1.25rem;padding:0px;border:0px;font-size:18px;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif">Don't overwhelm viewers with color</h2><p style="margin:0.75em 0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-size:17px;color:rgb(51,51,51);line-height:24px;font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"> Too many colors create a chaotic impression. While your Web site doesn't have to be dull, you don't want it to be overwhelming either. Of course, there's nothing wrong with full-color photographs or graphics, but use a maximum of three colors for the background, text, and navigational aids. Most of your Web content is probably text, which viewers expect to be mostly in one font and one color. Navigational aids, such as buttons and links, should be the same color throughout your site.</p> <h2 style="margin:0.25rem 0px 1.25rem;padding:0px;border:0px;font-size:18px;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif">Use fewer than four fonts</h2><p style="margin:0.75em 0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-size:17px;color:rgb(51,51,51);line-height:24px;font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"> To create a Web page design with maximum coherence and impact, you should probably restrict your page design to two or three fonts at most. It makes visual sense to use one font for the body of your text and one font for the headlines. You could perhaps use a third font for a logo or for some other special item, but this may look best if it has some kind of strong visual harmony with the other fonts you are using.</p> <p style="margin:0.75em 0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-size:17px;color:rgb(51,51,51);line-height:24px;font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif">Use four fonts and people may start to think that you're designing a ransom note, not a Web page.</p> <h2 style="margin:0.25rem 0px 1.25rem;padding:0px;border:0px;font-size:18px;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif">Be consistent</h2><p style="margin:0.75em 0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-size:17px;color:rgb(51,51,51);line-height:24px;font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"> Each page on your site should have the same logo. Certain links should go on each page (such as a link to your home page) and be in the same place on each page. If you have other links, such as Search, E-mail, and so on, these should also be consistent throughout your site.</p> <p style="margin:0.75em 0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-size:17px;color:rgb(51,51,51);line-height:24px;font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif">Text color, fonts, hyperlinks, backgrounds, buttons, and so on should all be consistent to avoid confusion and error.</p> <p style="margin:0.75em 0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-size:17px;color:rgb(51,51,51);line-height:24px;font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif">If you're combining HTML and Flash content, use consistent fonts and colors for both.</p> <h2 style="margin:0.25rem 0px 1.25rem;padding:0px;border:0px;font-size:18px;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif">KISS</h2><p style="margin:0.75em 0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-size:17px;color:rgb(51,51,51);line-height:24px;font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"> As you may know, KISS stands for<i>Keep It Simple, Stupid.</i> Sketch out the map of your site and make sure the lines of navigation are short and simple. Don't use long explanations when a short one will do. Don't use lots of images when one will suffice.</p> <p style="margin:0.75em 0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-size:17px;color:rgb(51,51,51);line-height:24px;font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif">Your Flash movies should also be as simple as possible. Animation goes by fast. If too many objects are moving at once, viewers don't know where to focus their attention.</p> <h2 style="margin:0.25rem 0px 1.25rem;padding:0px;border:0px;font-size:18px;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif">Know who's watching and how</h2><p style="margin:0.75em 0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-size:17px;color:rgb(51,51,51);line-height:24px;font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"> Many Web site hosts provide you with information on the browsers (including which version) and the resolutions used by your viewers. You may not be able to cater to everything out there, but you should try to create a Web site that the vast majority of people can see.</p> <p style="margin:0.75em 0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-size:17px;color:rgb(51,51,51);line-height:24px;font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif">Many sites that use Flash offer a non-Flash alternative rather than force viewers without the Flash Player to download it. The non-Flash alternative has non-animated graphics in place of the Flash movie.</p> <p style="margin:0.75em 0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-size:17px;color:rgb(51,51,51);line-height:24px;font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif">Remember that viewers on a screen with 640 x 480 resolution can see a lot less than viewers on screens with a higher resolution. Those with lower resolution may miss important parts of your Web page and Flash animation.</p> <h2 style="margin:0.25rem 0px 1.25rem;padding:0px;border:0px;font-size:18px;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif">Support the Flash Player</h2><p style="margin:0.75em 0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-size:17px;color:rgb(51,51,51);line-height:24px;font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"> You can choose to publish an HTML file that detects whether the Flash Player is installed on the viewer's computer. If not, it displays an image file. (You need to publish to one of the image formats at the same time for this to work.)</p> <p style="margin:0.75em 0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-size:17px;color:rgb(51,51,51);line-height:24px;font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif">The default HTML text doesn't check for the Flash player, but it includes the location to download the player. In some situations, the Flash Player will download automatically when not available or a window will pop up offering the viewer the chance to download it. Many sites include a button that says, <i>Can't see the animation? Download the Flash Player here,</i> or something to that effect. The button links to<a href="http://www.macromedia.com/shockwave/download/index.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash" style="color:rgb(1,69,138)" target="_blank">Macromedia's download center</a>.</p> <p style="margin:0.75em 0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-size:17px;color:rgb(51,51,51);line-height:24px;font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif">Many Web surfers have no idea how Web sites are created and have never heard of Flash. Therefore, giving viewers a choice of Flash and non-Flash sites may not be meaningful. (Of course, if you're a Web site designer and you think potential clients viewing your site may be savvier than most viewers, you may have no problem in this regard.) In most situations, it may be better to use the words <i>animated</i> and <i>non-animated</i>. Of course, feel free to use the word <i>Flash</i> along with some explanation.</p>

Trekking through Web Design Tips

The majority of Flash movies end up on Web sites. To help ensure that your Web site is as attractive and useful as possible, consider th...

Read more »

Adding Dirt and Grime to 3D Game Animation

<h1 style="font-size:20px;margin:0.25rem 0px;padding:0px 0px 0.5rem;border-width:0px 0px 1px;border-bottom-style:solid;border-bottom-color:rgb(204,204,204);color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><br></h1> <p style="margin:0.75em 0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-size:17px;color:rgb(51,51,51);line-height:24px;font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif">Although most game-animation textures are created externally and wrapped onto objects, most 3D software programs also include a separate set of tools for painting directly on the objects themselves. Using these painting tools, you can add details, such as dirt and grime, to the texture applied to the object after the texture image has already been applied.</p> <p style="margin:0.75em 0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-size:17px;color:rgb(51,51,51);line-height:24px;font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif">One helpful way to use these paint tools is to add realistic dirt and grime to objects. Adding these layers of dirt to the texture map can be tricky because you're not always sure where the map will match the folds of the skin or the edges and corners of an object where dirt is likely to accumulate. Painting tools are also helpful for defacing nice textures with spray paint to resemble graffiti.</p> <p style="margin:0.75em 0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-size:17px;color:rgb(51,51,51);line-height:24px;font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif">3D painting tools typically let you select from a selection of brushes that offer different styles. You can also adjust the brushes' size, pressure, and color. In some software, the painting tools work only if the surface has a texture file applied to it.</p> <p style="margin:0.75em 0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-size:17px;color:rgb(51,51,51);line-height:24px;font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif">Follow these steps to use the painting tools:</p><p style="margin:0.75em 0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-size:17px;color:rgb(51,51,51);line-height:24px;font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"> 1. Choose the Create --> Polygon Primitives --> Cube menu command.</p><p style="margin:0.75em 0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-size:17px;color:rgb(51,51,51);line-height:24px;font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"> A polygon cube is placed in the center of the view.</p><p style="margin:0.75em 0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-size:17px;color:rgb(51,51,51);line-height:24px;font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif">2. Select the Lighting/Shading --> Assign New Material --> Lambert menu command to create a new material for the cube object.</p> <p style="margin:0.75em 0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-size:17px;color:rgb(51,51,51);line-height:24px;font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif">The Lambert2 node in the Attribute Editor is opened with the material properties for the assigned material displayed.</p> <p style="margin:0.75em 0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-size:17px;color:rgb(51,51,51);line-height:24px;font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif">3. Press the 6 key to enable a Texture view.</p><p style="margin:0.75em 0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-size:17px;color:rgb(51,51,51);line-height:24px;font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"> In Texture view, you'll be able to see the brush strokes as you paint.</p><p style="margin:0.75em 0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-size:17px;color:rgb(51,51,51);line-height:24px;font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"> 4. Select the Texturing --> 3D Paint Tool menu command to access the painting tool, and then select the Window --> Settings/Preferences --> Tool Settings menu command to open the Tool Settings panel to the right of the view pane.</p> <p style="margin:0.75em 0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-size:17px;color:rgb(51,51,51);line-height:24px;font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif">All the settings for the 3D Paint Tool are displayed within the Tool Settings panel. Initially, there isn't a surface to paint on, so you'll need to create one.</p> <p style="margin:0.75em 0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-size:17px;color:rgb(51,51,51);line-height:24px;font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif">You can also switch among the Attribute Editor, the Tool Settings, and the Channel Box using the three buttons located at the top right of the interface beneath the Minimize, Maximize, and Close buttons.</p> <p style="margin:0.75em 0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-size:17px;color:rgb(51,51,51);line-height:24px;font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif">5. In the File Textures section of the Tool Settings panel, click the Assign/Edit Textures button.</p> <p style="margin:0.75em 0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-size:17px;color:rgb(51,51,51);line-height:24px;font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif">The Assign/Edit File Textures dialog box appears.</p><p style="margin:0.75em 0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-size:17px;color:rgb(51,51,51);line-height:24px;font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"> 6. Set the SizeX and SizeY values to 256 and click the Assign/Edit Textures button.</p><p style="margin:0.75em 0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-size:17px;color:rgb(51,51,51);line-height:24px;font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"> This creates a texture that you can paint on top of that is saved with the scene file.</p><p style="margin:0.75em 0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-size:17px;color:rgb(51,51,51);line-height:24px;font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"> 7. Set the Brush Scale value to 1.0 and the color to light blue, and drag over the top of the image in the view pane.</p><p style="margin:0.75em 0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-size:17px;color:rgb(51,51,51);line-height:24px;font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"> The color is added to the texture image on all the cube faces.</p><p style="margin:0.75em 0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-size:17px;color:rgb(51,51,51);line-height:24px;font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"> 8. Select the File --> Save Scene As menu command and save the file as Painting tool.mb.</p><p style="margin:0.75em 0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-size:17px;color:rgb(51,51,51);line-height:24px;font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"> The ability to paint directly on an object's surface is very helpful as you add materials to objects.</p>

Adding Dirt and Grime to 3D Game Animation

Although most game-animation textures are created externally and wrapped onto objects, most 3D software programs also include a separate...

Read more »