Entries Tagged as “Design”
Straighten your horizons in just a few clicks
It's pretty common to to be given a tilted photo to use on a project. I find the tilted horizon to be distracting so a straightening is in order. Most of the time I see people placing a line or rule over the photo and straightening a photo by sight. This may be adequate for some photos, however, if accuracy and speed are are necessary this trick will allow you to straighten photos like a pro.
This is old trick to fix photos with slanted horizons. I think Scott Kelby demonstrated this technique way back in photoshop 5 so it's not a new trick by any stretch of the imagination. Designers today are still amazed when I show it to them. This trick is so simple and so easily overlooked that I just had to put it out there one more time for anyone that might be newer to photoshop or work infrequently in the program.
→ Respond NowTags: Design · Photography · Photoshop
Applications to help you create more accessible designs
Back in May, I wrote an article on tips for improving your web design. One small piece of that article discussed converting your design to greyscale so that you can get an idea of your color contrast ratio. Though I believe this is important to do, it is a bit time consuming when your in a design grove, and speed is of importance. Sometimes I just want a quick preview to see where I was going or how I was doing thus far in my process.
I remember seeing an online contrast analyzer and decided to look it up to see what it was about. My search turned up quite a few helpful tools that I just had to share with the rest of you. Before I get to the tools, let me take a minute to explain why we would want tools for testing contrast ratios in our designs.
→ Respond NowTags: Accessibility · CSS · Design · Freebies · Software · usability
15 Photoshop tips to increase your productivity
I don't consider myself to be a power user of Photoshop but I use a few shortcuts that really make my life easier. I have compiled a list of some of the lesser known tips that can really help make your life easier. Take the time to learn the ones that you find most useful. Chances are your productivity will increase and you will feel better knowing that your more efficient.
→ Respond NowTags: Design · Photoshop
Arial or Helvetica
I happened on this site a few days ago where the author tests your skills in knowing the difference between Arial and Helvetica fonts. To the untrained eye, the difference is unknown. For us designer types the difference is pretty obvious. I scored a 100%, though the second word "APPLE" had me guessing. Honestly I just took a guess, and luckily I guessed correct. Take the test yourself and post your score in the comments area.
Additional Related Links
- How to spot Arial (do not read before taking the test)
- Not sure this is a related link or not. But designers should check out Helvetica the Movie. It's a really great documentary on this legendary font.
→ Respond NowTags: Design
52 Doodles
I work with a strange cat at Page Design named Kurt. A real oddball guy. Okay, not really… Kurt's pretty normal I guess, if there is such a thing as normal. However his art work is strange, quirky, odd, fun, humorous, and a few other colorful descriptive words. Check out Kurt Kland's website 52 Doodles where he does a doodle a week during our Monday morning meetings when he is supposed to be paying attention.
→ Respond NowTags: Design · General · Inspiration
