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So last week, I showed you how to begin the process of creating a 3D pie chart in Photoshop CS5 Extended. And this week, I show you how to take that very basic thing and make it a tangible slice of business-graphics reality. By which I mean: splitting the meshes, coloring the slices, and moving the wedges forward and back.

And if that's not enough, I'll teach you intrepid members of the lynda.com Online Training Library how to exploit Photoshop CS5 Extended's amazingly powerful Ground Plane Shadow Catcher. Read more » 

As a rule, business graphics are rarely regarded as the sexiest of design projects. But just about every creative professional has to create one in his or her career. So when it comes your turn, why not make that graphic as gorgeous as it can possible be? Which is why, this week, I show you how to create a 3D pie chart so colorful and lustrous you'll want to reach out and touch it. Read more » 

Feature #9 is my favorite adjustment command: Levels. Adjusted only slightly since its introduction in Version 1.0, this seminal feature lets you set the black and white points, as well as correct the midtones without harming either. It refrains from clipping colors unless you tell it to. It boasts Photoshop's first on-board histogram. And it works as well in CMYK and Lab as in RGB.

(Well there's another clue for you all.)

We had nearly twice as many entries last week as the week before, with 19 of you correctly guessing Levels or some variation. The winner is earthrat, whose guessed "Using Levels to work." Congrats to earthrat!

Now it's time to guess Feature #8. Hint: It's the ultimate convenience tool. All members have been sent an email invitation with a URL to enter the contest. (No direct URL this time around.) Join dekeOnline now to receive a reminder and an invitation to next week's contest!
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