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"Photoshop CS4 Smart Objects" Begins

Submitted by deke on 16 August 2009 - 12:21am.

A few months ago, I began polling members of this site about what video series you'd like me to do next for lynda.com. Thus far, more than 1,500 of you have responded! (See Decide Deke's Fate.) At first, Blend Modes was the more popular topic. But then Smart Objects slowly and inevitably rose to the top. Now Smart Objects leads by a 9 percent margin.

Regarding the above graphic: Both foreground and background photos come from image vendor, Fotolia. Check out my deal with them (or don't). It's generous. Read more » 

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"Illustrator CS4 One-on-One: Mastery" Is Complete (and "Advanced" Is Out)

Submitted by deke on 20 July 2009 - 12:00am.

As many of you know, my beloved video publisher lynda.com has released the second part of my "Illustrator One-on-One" video series, Advanced. Together with Part 1, Fundamentals, this brings my Illustrator CS4 content to 330 movies lasting nearly 30 hours.

But it's not over yet! Last week, I finished recording the 140+ movies that will make up the final installment, Mastery, which I estimate will last 13 action-packed, highly educational hours.

Update: Illustrator CS4 One-on-One: Mastery is live now! Members of lynda.com can click the link to check it out.

These videos aren't yet available. They have to be cataloged, edited, and all the rest. But I hate a secret, so I naturally feel compelled to share with you the many wonders that wait in store. Read more » 

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dekeOnline News: May 4, 2009

Submitted by deke on 4 May 2009 - 11:00am.

Hello friends of dekeOnline,

I have much to announce in this issue! I take you on a deep-sea diving excursion with dekePod, I unveil the longest video series ever released on lynda.com, and finally, my sidekick Colleen and I have a rousing chat with Russell Brown and John Nack on Martini Hour. In short, I offer you a feast for your mind and your senses.

dekePod Takes the Ultimate Plunge

Photoshop and the Lost Undersea Channel

Have you ever taken a camera underwater? I've used a few disposable underwater cameras and they don't include a flash. Which is crazy, because if there was ever a place where you need a strobe, it's underwater. Water and the distance filters away light and colors, starting with red, then orange, then yellow, leaving a world of greens and blues. How do you bring those colors back? I explain in dekePod 015: "Photoshop and the Lost Undersea Channel." Read more » 

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"Photoshop CS4 One-on-One: Mastery" Is Complete (At Least, in Terms of Filming)

Submitted by deke on 3 April 2009 - 3:53am.

After roughly 540 movies, "Photoshop CS4 One-on-One" draws to an end.

And by "Photoshop CS4 One-on-One," I mean my three-part, 50-hour-plus (no joke!) video series for the bleeding-edge, on-demand training library lynda.com.

Of those, only 180 or so movies are up right now. Which leaves another 360 movies to go. In other words, 1/3 are up, 2/3 remain.

The series includes three parts: Fundamentals (up now), Advanced (coming in the next week or so), and Mastery (due out by end of April).

In the name of getting you psyched, I offer this visual pastiche from the final installment, "Photoshop CS4 One-on-One: Mastery." Read more » 

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Two News Items Worth Imparting: Photoshop CS4 One-on-One Advanced and dekePod Episode 012

Submitted by deke on 4 March 2009 - 4:16am.

Hello Dear Friends,

Thanks for the Martini Hour love. CW and I's audio-only podcast is doing much better than expected here at the site and on iTunes. I thought people were going to flame us and say things like, "Why are you degenerates drinking on a tech podcast?" or "C'mon, get with the times: do crack!" But no, everyone's all nice and so thanks for that.

But that's not one of the two news items. Here are the news:

First, I finished filming my video "Photoshop CS4 One-on-One: Advanced," the second installment in my cradle-to-grave series for lynda.com. Spanning 10 chapters and 213 movies, it might be the longest, most comprehensive piece I've created so far. Plus, it offers the usual "Corrections to the High Renaissance Masters," including a fews movies in which I turn Raphael's porcine and dour Maddalena (left) into a poised and powerful gal-about-the-village (not left). Also helpful, my rendition includes something resembling a below-the-neck skeletal structure. (Raphael, a gifted artist who obviously hated this woman with everything in him, rendered Maddalena's body as belonging to a fleshy and formless Weeble.)

Read more » 

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