What would you like Deke to do?

I really enjoy all you do and appreciate your selfless contributions. I was *tinkering* with Illustrator (as I usually do), and was confronted with some tasks that (I thought) should have been elementary. I've listed them below to get your expert feedback:

1. Glyphs in the character map panel should be *drag-n-dropable.* as editable symbols either to the artboard or directly to the symbols panel.

2. Bulk symbol creation, for example, selecting a group of font alternates, converting to outlines, then dragging the group to the symbol panel creating individual symbols. Also, (or in-lieu of) a right-click menu item for *create symbol library from selection* would be deke-a-lish.

3. A single-click align solution (I have an action). Perhaps with modifiers for *to selection* and *to artboard.*

4. Context menu for a combined *Align and Distribute* when working with a group of items within a specified area.

5. Auto-kern/lead dissimilar sized words between guides or within a marquee selection, etc... (working on a tedious Kenetic Type project).

6. *Always-on* or Global color palettes instead of document based (probably something I'm missing) :)

7. A more *Photoshop-like* foreground/background color well, where the background color is the Stroke color. Also, left-click a swatch to fill with foreground color and right-click to set stroke. In addition, once the eyedropper is selected you could click an object to set the foreground and ctrl or alt-click to set the background (or stroke).

I'm sure I'll bump into more *Why can't I just _____________* dilemmas as I continue to explore the program, but I do thank you for your time.

Sincerely, [m9]

Is there anything new in CS6 about Actions and Automations? Or do you think the CS2 18hour and 18 minute tutorial is the way to go to answer any and all challenges that arise when one is saving time for Adult Libations?

" They thought it would be a disgrace to go forth as a group .
Each entered the forest at a point that he himself had chosen,
where it was darkest and there was no path .
If there is a path it is someone else's path and you are not
on the adventure

I am learning Illustrator CS4 Fundaments on Lynda.com. This maybe a stupid question but: how do I get the layers to remain the same row size each time I open the program? I change the row size each time from medium to other pixel size of 40, however the next time I open a document the row size goes back to the previous size. Also, is there a way to get the entire suite (I am using the CS5 Masters Collection) to all have the same layer row size?
Thanks
Caitlin

Deke, sorry to bother you again (honestly sorry :))
But maybe you'll be interested to make a technique about that flying paint waves, 'cause I really have no idea how to achieve it and maybe some people too.

http://cinema5.ru/sites/all/images/flying_paint.jpg <<-- flying paint waves example

Or, if not, could you tell, please how to do it or how that thing called properly so I could try to find a tutorial about it?

What do you think?

Deke

I'm new to Photoshop. I started using the Bridge and adding keywords for about 1000 pictures taken at my daughter's recent wedding. Only part way through and the list of keywords under people alone has grown to over 60. I realize now that the list would be more manageable if I grouped each of the people into a group with the individuals as sub items e.g. there are several different families or organizations represented and it might be easier to group accordingly.

To be clear right now I have persons A,B,C,D,E,F,G etc. and they belong to family 1, 2, 3 so that I might have Family 1, A,D,E,G; Family 2, B,C; Family 3, F etc. Same number of people but subgrouped. This would also help because usually families at events tend to stick together so that opening a phot and Family 1, might be enough.

Problem is that I don`t see how to move the keywords without creating lot of work. The bottom line is How do I work with keywords to reorganize them after initial use without having to recategorize each and every photo. It seems like an impossible chore to recognize and organize such things in advance.

Hi Deke, i'm a premium member of lynda.com you truly are the master. I just wanted to ask, i upgraded from photoshop cs4 extended to photoshop cs5 extended and that's fine and dandy. Now though my computer has 2 versions of photoshop, can i delete cs4 now and only leave cs5 on my computer, to save RAM, or will that stop cs5 from working?

Will you at anytime on lynda.com show how to use 3d in the extended version? And one final question, hope that's not cheeky of me, i use window vista, but when i open the 'open dialougue" box in photoshop, there is no thumbnail preview, only the title and the PS logoo. If i right click and select preview, it brings up vistas version to preview the file, i've tried absolutely everything!!

Keep up the good work Deke, it's very, very appreciated!! There doesn't seem to be a contact field on your site where you can ask questions, so i've had to bung this inbetween other blogs, so i hope it gets to you.
Many, many thanks in advance.
AB

Ausbloke

William L. (Frank) Collins
Will Treasure Trove and the Channels + Masks Configurators work in PSCS5?????

I have both the Channels + Masks and the PSCS4 Books and the Disks that accompany them.....

Thanks for your help...
Frank

I only just started working with InDesign CS4, and have just over a month to re-create a small catalog for my employers... with minor changes.
I was watching the tutorials on lynda.com, but am very confused on termanlogy, and how the master pages work... There is the icon for one page, or 2, on the masters, and not sure how to set it up...
My next feat will be to work with the previous version of the catalog...
I have designed a new cover page, and a new background... the rest of it, I have no idea of what I'm doing... I need to add a page, but don't know how to do that, and alter or delete some text which I can do.
I have no idea how to work with the older files to cut down on the work I have to do, or just create a new catalog...
If anyone can please help me, I would GREATLY appreciate any and all help!!!
Thanks!!!!

Jamie Beall
Oceanside Images
oceansideimages@gmail.com

In cs5 Bridge can changes made to raw files (eg. rating, Adj's, crop etc.) be saved as a backup if needed, and if so, how to do this and also apply the backup. I had a power blackout whilst working in Bridge, and " ALL " the bridge files were defaulted back to their original RAW state. I realise I can save individual folders as such, but I would like to backup ALL my bridge image changes on a regular basis. Is this possible.
I am using Windows Vista 64 bit and PS 32/64 bit. Also have LR. Prefer PS Bridge as workhorse.
(Bugger) kk