A Graphics.com site

Google after introducing Similar Images Search which recently graduated from Labs, now brings us another lab project: Google Image Swirl.

Adapted from Real World Image Sharpening with Adobe Photoshop, Camera Raw, and Lightroom, 2nd Edition (Peachpit Press)
By Bruce Fraser and Jeff Schewe
Version: Adobe Photoshop CS4

Creative sharpening is the catch-all term for localized adjustments to image detail. Unlike optimizations for capture and output processes, creative adjustments can’t be applied automatically based on specific parameters—they require creative judgment, hence the name.

But automation plays an important role in making many of the tools we use for creative sharpening. The only part of the process that can’t be automated is the actual localizing of an effect to a specific area of an image. So in this section we’ll discuss building creative sharpening (and blurring) tools and applying them effectively to images in Photoshop. The first valuable lesson to learn is that you can turn any adjustment into a brush!

Read the full article on Graphics.com

I love minimalist ads. They feel like they were created without much effort. They are usually quick and easy to get. They minimize visual clutter. The signature of a minimal advertisement is the use of few elements, single color and handful of words to deliver a simple yet witty idea.

The winners were announced today:
We are pleased to announce that Drupal has won the Best Open Source PHP CMS Category in the 2009 Open Source CMS Award. This category featured a very close contest between the top three, Drupal, WordPress, and Joomla! in which Drupal ended up as the overall choice for the judges and the public.

While Drupal and Joomla! have always consistently featured among the top three in this category, WordPress made its way into the top five for the first time. The fact that it was outranked by Drupal by a very slight margin indicates how popular it has become with users as well as developers over the past year.

Creativebits runs on Drupal since 2005 when we switched over from Google's blogger and phpBB forum engines. So far it served us well because it was relatively easy to maintain and upgrade when there was a need.

I would be highly interested to hear what is your preferred platform of web development and why?

Adapted from Photoshop CS4 After the Shoot (Wiley Publishing)
By Mark Fitzgerald
Version: Adobe Photoshop CS4

I’ve met many photographers who don’t understand how to change an image’s size or resolution correctly. The problem usually stems from a lack of understanding about image resolution and how it affects image size.

Caution: Always save a master file with all layers before changing size or cropping. Otherwise it may be hard to back up and resize the file for a different output use later.

Understanding Resolution

One of the things that can be the hardest to get your head around when you start down the digital path is resolution. This confusion is compounded by the fact that there are two different kinds of resolution in the digital world. One is dots per inch, and the other is pixels per inch.

Andy Rutledge (who's site is well worth putting some time aside to read) has put together a great design test.

Working through the questions not only makes you realise what you are capable of as a designer (and where further study is required) - it also certainly made me better able to clarify what it is that I actually bring to a project and to explain that to others.

Definitely recommended reading.

HypeForType just released Exclusive Faces Volume 02 including one off type creations from the likes of Non-Format, Research Studios, MWM Graphics, Suprb, and Richard Perez. To celebrate this HypeForType are offering 10 free typefaces (one per person, non exclusive only) for the first 10 people to comment on the release. All you have to do is write down the font of your choice in the comments box, and it will be mailed to you free of charge. Here's a preview of Exclusive Faces Volume 02 featuring Otto, Capset, and Vetena.

There was an error in our email subscription module which resulted in sending out a lot of email notifications from creativebits to some members. I would like to ask for apologies and report that the problem has been fixed. You won't be getting any such emails unless you specifically subscribe to them.

You can check your settings by going to My account/ Subsciptions and Settings. Let me know if you need any help with anything and thank you for being a creativebits reader and member.

Google Wave seems to be a game changer in online collaboration. It's improving every day and several people started using it seriously for real work.

Following up on our tradition of giving away invites to beta services I would like to offer up my invites to creativebits members. The first 12 commenters will get the invites.

No need to give your email in the comment. I can get it from your account.

Hope you will enjoy it!