CS4

You know, it seems like only yesterday, our favorite little pixel-wrangler was just learning how to grasp things with its tiny little hand tool. And today a grown-up Photoshop turns 20---as sophisticated, complex, and worldly a piece of software as there ever was. It's also the one-year anniversary of the day Deke and I lost our heads and decided to record the goings-on in the dekeLounge, so we could share with our martini-quaffing, computer graphics-loving friends everywhere. We celebrate these two happy occasions on the Martini Hour this week, by sipping champagne out of martini glasses and chatting with our good friends Adobe Product Managers John Nack and Bryan O'Neil Hughes. 

And forward-thinkers that we four are, rather than wax sentimentally about the last 20 years of Photoshop, we decided to look ahead to what might inform the next 20 years: Read more » 

Hey there, dekeOphiles, especially you fans of that refreshing auditory cocktail known as Martini Hour. Deke and I are proposing a panel at next year's SXSW in which we try to pull off a live version of what usually goes on behind secret velvet doors at the dekeLounge. We're calling it "Martini Hour Presents: Adobe CS4 Under the Influence," and we hope to get some luminary friends of the lounge to join us. If you think this is a delightful idea, you can vote for our "panel" (just replace "panel" with "cocktail-sipping discussion" in your mind) by clicking on the graphic below then giving our gin-soaked idea the thumbs up by clicking the...thumbs up button. If we get enough votes, maybe we'll see you in Austin---shoes off, libations in hand.

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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 » 

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 »