Well, after an exhausting week of filming the next dekePod video and launching our new audio podcast, it finally occurred to me that I owe you good dekeFolk a new video from Photoshop CS4 Channels and Masks One-on-One. It didn't hurt that Deke called to say, "Hey, I thought you were going to post another video."

In this episode, this tempting creature introduces you to layer masks and actually demos how one can use the new (CS4) Masks palette. Although y'all know by now Deke's feelings -- that the Masks palette is not essential to the task of creating and editing layer masks -- it can nevertheless be quite helpful in this situation, permitting you to apply powerful selection functions, such as Color Range and Refine Edge, to layer masks as well as make temporary modifications. And the Masks palette happens to be exclusively applicable to layer masks, so that makes it a win-win for everybody. Read more » 

Today at dekeOnline we prove that a tech podcast can be warm, friendly, and inviting. Welcome to the first episode of our semi-regular, very-possibly-close-to-weekly, audio-only podcast, Martini Hour. Here's an insanely large graphic to honor the occasion.

Think of it as a mid-season replacement for dekePod, only completely different -- by which I mean unscripted, conversational, altogether relaxed, video-free, and with three olives. The video portion occurs only in your mind as you listen to me and Colleen sip cocktails in the dekeLounge and discuss the digital imaging issues of the day. Read more » 

Hello, gentle people. A few developments in the works.

First, I recorded about 105 movies last week for lynda.com. These will be part of my Photoshop CS4 One-on-One: Advanced series, which is Part 2 of that epic tome. Here's a sharpening example captured by fellow presenter (and good bud) Chris Orwig, which I call Breakfast explains itself.jpg. Just so's you know the wonders of imaging goodness that await you.

Second, if you're in a mood for my mutterings, you can subscribe to my twitter tweeterings. I regard my late entry into this particular -- uh, what is it again? -- as a little sad, frankly. But every human on the planet was podcasting before me, so what the hell? Read more » 

Never fear, more dekePods are in the works.

In the meantime, we have something special ready to go live this coming week.

Its format will be an audio-only podcast.

And its content will be Colleen and I kicking back with an adult beverage or two in the dekeLounge. We invite you to do the same as we discuss all things graphics and imaging to the dulcet stylings of Buddy and the Pims Quartet. It's name:

Read more »