type

Dreadfully sorry getting this post up late today. I usually get them up the night before, but an unexpected thing happened. Lynda Weinman and Bruce Heavin (principals of lynda.com) invited Colleen Wheeler, David Gassner, and me to the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, for which lynda.com is the primary sponsor. We walked down a red carpet (during which the people on the edges gave us conspicuous glances of who the hell are you?), enjoyed Chopin cocktails in a private club, and sat in the same row as Colin Firth. For the sake of comparison, my typical evening in California involves recording videos in a soundproof cube. So as you might imagine, I got somewhat discombobulated and forgot to write this post. Read more » 

Today's installment of Deke's Techniques shows you how to create an entirely automated background pattern using a trio of smart filters and a pattern overlay. Here's the official (and extremely awesome) description:

It's another week and time for another quick technique from Deke. In this week's episode, Deke shows you how to create something heartily substantial from something virtually nonexistent. Specifically, Deke creates a hammered metal background (featured behind last week's gold type) from insubstantial clouds and glass. Leave it to Photoshop (and Deke) to create such opportunities for irony.

Start with a field of black pixels, apply some smart filters, and top it off with a little rusty metal pattern, and you have a wall of textured metal that will support any creation you want to build on top of it. And because you're using the Clouds and Difference Clouds filters, which are based on random fractal noise, your wall of steel won't look exactly like anyone else's when you put it to use in your own projects. Read more » 

Today's installment of Deke's Techniques is about rendering type in gold. Here's the official descrip:

Welcome to this week's technique from Deke, in which lynda.com author Deke McClelland shows you how to turn ordinary type into extraordinary gold. And being the noted Photoshop trainer that he is, Deke manages this feat of alchemy in under ten minutes. This is no garish fool's gold, but a lovely soft, volumetric effect that will lend luster to your own creations. And because it's all done with Photoshop's layer effects, your treasured text can be edited at any moment if you change your mind about its gilded message.

Stop back next week for another of Deke's Techniques, brought to you free every week. And lynda.com members should check out the entire course in the Online Training Library, where you'll not only find all the techniques to date collected in one place, but also discover additional short videos that show you how to enhance the effects you see here, apply them with greater efficiency, or display them with greater flexibility. Read more »