iPhone Pictures update

I’ve been playing around for about a month now with creative ways to take better iPhone pictures. I’m now to the point where I would like to show everyone the work. So next month I will be launching a website dedicated to 5 iPhone photographers to prove that creative problem solving is sometimes more important than your equipment

How to Successfully Design For the Web – 7 Easy Steps

by Jeremy Vest
Author of “Exploring Web Design”

Step 1 Plan your site
Understand the reason the site exists
Understand the site goals
Understand the target audience
Create site map and get approval from client
References: Web Design Project Management Guide by Wendy Willard – xTrain.com

Step 2 Consider
Remember, people with disabilities use the web too – CSS, W3C, Alt tags

Step 3 Content
The text and images in your site are more important than your design
References: Search Engine Optimization – SEO Training – xTrain.com

Step 4 Mock
Less is always more, avoid the blank screen of death, usability rules
References: Fast Track Photoshop CS3 – xTrain.com
References: Photoshop CS3: for Web Designers – xTrain.com
References: Illustrator CS3: Quick & Easy – xTrain.com

Step 5 Design
Think of the client not yourself
Go simple rather than complicated
Bad user experience means bad business
If your working with programmers, make sure they are part of this phase
References: Fast Track Photoshop CS3 – xTrain.com
References: Developers & Designers Guide to Communication – xTrain.com

Step 6 Test
Browser testing
Grandmother testing
Message testing

Step 7 Market
Your web site does not matter if no one see’s it. Marketing your site is where most of the real work begins
References: Social Networking – xTrain.com
References: How to Podcast – xTrain.com
References: Search Engine Marketing: Pay Per Click Advertising – xTrain.com
References: Online Brand Reputation Management – xTrain.com

DSVC Student show starts today

The 4th annaual DSVC student show starts today. Speakers include: Robynne Raye, MK12, Stanley Hainsworth, Steven Ryan and Me . I will be talking to graphic designs students about web design and how to think big picture.
To learn more about the coolest Visual Communication group in America click here

Adobe lightroom 2.0 beta download

Adobe lightroom 2.0 beta launches today at Adobe labs

Get it here!

According to John Nack here are the features:

Unbeatable Photoshop CS3 Integration:

• Open files in Photoshop as Smart Objects.  (This way you can tweak your Lightroom adjustments within Photoshop just by double-clicking the Smart Object layer that contains your raw file.)
• Select multiple images to merge as a panorama
• Merge multiple exposures into a single Photoshop HDR image
• Load multiple files (or virtual copies of a single file) into Photoshop as separate layers in a single document

Selective image editing that rocks:

• Lightroom 2 adds a Retouch tool right within the Develop module (see screenshot).  That means you can paint regions of the image to dodge, burn, saturate/desaturate, adjust contrast, and more.  Edits are stored as metadata, just as all other LR adjustments are stored, and are applied directly to your raw images. (Because people will quickly ask, I’ll point out that unlike Apple’s newly released Aperture 2.1, Lightroom integrates its selective editing tools right in with the other adjustment tools.  In Lightroom you don’t have to generate a TIFF file for editing, and unlike in Aperture, you can always tweak the results later.  In addition, Lightroom features Auto Mask technology for tweaking the clicked region without bleeding into neighboring areas.)

Other goodness:

• Library Module:
  • Streamlined Library layout
  • Smart Collections (based on search criteria)
  • Powerful Filter Bar to search and refine images
  • Suggested Keywords for simplified keywording
  • 10,000 pixel size limit raised to 30,000 pixels
  • Output-based collections
• Multiple monitor support:
  • Four flexible modes for an alternate window: Grid, Loupe, Compare, Survey
  • Live Loupe mode
• Export functionality:
  • Auto-add exported images to the Lightroom catalog
  • Auto Output Sharpening for images on export
• Develop Module:
  • Non-Destructive Localized Correction for dodging and burning specific areas of an image
  • Post-Crop Vignette
  • Basic Panel Keyboard Shortcuts
  • Improved Auto Adjustment
  • Improved memory handling through 64-bit support on OS X 10.5 and Vista 64-bit.(Not limited to develop module)
• Print Module:
  • Picture Package for multi-page layouts
  • Print Module output directly to JPEG
  • Enhanced Print Sharpening based on PhotoKit Sharpener algorithms
  • 16-bit Printing for Mac OS X 10.5

Get it here!

Adobe BRIO is very cool!

The new beta Adobe BRIO is the next version of  Adobe Acrobat Connect. This is a online screen/voice/document-sharing system that runs through the Flash Player.  Brio lets you collaborate in real time with up to two partners.

What I like so far:

• The user interface is amazingly simple to use
• I was afraid that the software would be slow to respond but it is lighting fast!
• I like how easy it is to add a user, share notes and make annotations
• The whiteboard feature allows you to draw just like a real whiteboard
• The upload file feature is simple and great

All-in-All

I have used 4 different meeting softwares and none of them have been as fast and easy to use as BRIO. I’m not sure why but untill now online meetings have been harder than they need to be.

set up your FREE BRIO account

More iPhone pictures

I’m starting to experiment more with my iPhone and think I’m on to something. The concept for this project is to show that anyone can solve any problem with creativity. My problem is the iPhone currently does not do anything but snap photos. I’m still working on solutions but am getting closer to my goal of making amazing iPhone pictures.

Click Here to see my iPhone pictures 

Let me know what you think