Computer Arts (January 2004)

136 Pages·2004·14.727 MB·English

0870 333 0919
(cid:1)(cid:2)(cid:3)(cid:4)(cid:5)(cid:6)(cid:7)(cid:8)(cid:9)(cid:10) (cid:11)(cid:12)(cid:13)(cid:1)(cid:12)(cid:7)(cid:11)(cid:14)(cid:2)(cid:6)(cid:5)(cid:14)(cid:1)(cid:10)
[email protected] www.webfusion.co.uk
CD EXCLUSIVES
Official Photoshop
CS video training
PLUSFlash tools
worth £150!
THE WORLD’S BEST–SELLING CREATIVE MAGAZINE
ILLUSTRATION
SECRETS UNVEILED
How to fulfil any brief – experts reveal the
ideas and techniques behind real-life design
SELFRIDGES EUROSTAR ORB DRINKS ATTIK
EDITORIAL ADVERTISING PACKAGING POSTERS
27 PAGES OF TUTORIALS
THE PERFECT BLEND
Our ultimate guide to
Photoshop Blending modes
ATTENTION SEEKERS
Design and output a club
flyer – we show you how
WEBSITE ESSENTIALS
Control your typography
in Dreamweaver
PLUS: DV CAMS UNDER £700
Printed in the UK Outside the UK and Éire £6 C$ 19.95
No CD? Please see JANUARY 2004 £6
your newsagent
0 1
9 771360 537024
Host Unlimited Domains
with the UK's best reseller solution
The Reseller account is a great way to manage multiple websites.
Our unbeatable range of features - such as brandable web-mail, website
creator and spam filtering - sets you apart from the competition and
TTeecchhnniiccaall SSuuppppoorrtt our award winning online control panel allows you to set up and manage
services in real-time.
ffoorr yyoouurr ccuussttoommeerrss
Unlimited Domains FrontPage Extensions
You can easily add an unlimited number of You can install Microsoft FrontPage Extensions
Exclusively available from Fasthosts, and unique domains to your account at no extra cost. All your 2002 on any of your domains.
to the hosting market - Fasthosts' Resellers domains are load balanced across multiple servers
using our unique envisage Hosting Technology. Control Panel
can now choose to enhance their technical
Each domain is a full Virtual Server hosted on your Our award winning online control panel is the
support with Brandable TechDesk: choice of Windows 2003 IIS6 or Linux Apache industry leading tool for managing and
servers. provisioning your services.You can control
•Every element of the the service branded in your name.
everything from the web - from setting up
•Full technical support available covering: email, hosting, Scripting domains, email, databases, installing
domain registration, Internet access and more - envisage supports ASP, ASP.NET, Perl, FrontPage Extensions and more! All of the
9am to 9pm, Monday to Friday. PHP, ODBC and CGI.You can also instantly enable features of the reseller package are managed
the .NET framework on any of your domains. via your control panel.
•You specify the technical support your customers receive.
•All support calls answered in your name. Web Builder Customized Control Panels
•Instant online set up and activation from your Our feature-rich online website building tool You can setup control panels for your customers
Reseller Control Panel. enables your customers to create their site with an to use to manage their individual domain names
easy to use wizard.There are advanced editing and services.You can completely customize the
•Unique script debugging and advice service covering
options for more knowledgeable users and as a look and feel of your client control panels.
technologies such as CGI, PHP, ASP and Perl.
reseller, you can custom brand the web builder
•Online support ticket reports keep you informed 100% with your own identity and logos. Plus....
of the time. • Your own custom name servers
•Your own unique technical support premium rate Matrix Web Stats • Create unlimited FTP accounts
With Matrix Stats you can monitor and analyse • SSL Support
number - your customers only pay for the expert advice
your websites traffic. Matrix Stats runs in real time • Media Streaming
they receive over the phone, at just £1 per minute
and can be installed on any of your domain names. • Password Protected Folders on your sites
including VAT. • Create dialup accounts for your
•Your Brandable TechDesk set up, managed and Email customers: become a virtual ISP!
administered by us. All your domains have unlimited POP3 accounts
and forwarders.We also offer web-mail (which FREE
......................................................
you can brand for your customers), virus scanning, INSTANT SET UP
£50
spam filtering and SMS email alerts.
connected .00
Databases
PER MONTH OR
You can setup MYSQL and MSSQL databases
"I've tried all the £500.00 PA
instantly and use them with any of your websites.
reseller offerings out
there and it's no *Some of the features mentioned above incur additional charges. Please see www.fasthosts.co.uk for full price tariff.
wonder that everyone .......................................................................................................
follows Fasthosts" The power behind web hosting All your hosting needs
• Multiple Internet Connections • Starter package from £1.99
GEOFF COLLINS MXT LOGISTICS • Xtreme Support 24 x 7, 365 phone and email • Business packages from £14.99
• Online FAQs, Knowledge Base and White Papers • Developer packages from £19.99
• State of the Art UK based Data Centre • Dedicated server solutions from £89
• UK's best value domain names at www.ukreg.com • 30 Day Money Back Guarantee
To speak to our Sales team call
0870 888 3770
0
For more details and to launch your service within minutes, visit www.fasthosts.co.uk 10
A
C
INTRO
E
veryone’s curious – Computer select those colours or opt for that
Artsreaders especially. If we’re particular style? And what software
not getting emails asking the helped them achieve their goal? The
designers and illustrators we result is a must-read – not just for the
profile how much they charge for technical insight, but the imagery, too.
projects, we’re being badgered to put a Once you’re buzzing with your own
Webcam in the office (not a chance). But creative ideas, try some of our in-depth
recently, emails have been arriving along tutorials on flyer design in FreeHand MX,
a different theme. It seems that you want interface design in ImageReady CS
to know not just about the techniques andFlash MX 2004,or typography in
involved in a project, but the real nitty- Dreamweaver MX 2004. Read our
gritty – the decisions about colours, comprehensive guide to Photoshop’s
EMAIL OUR DESIGNERS
composition and style. And it’s these Blending modes or head over to the
AND ILLUSTRATORS – elements that could well determine a CD-ROM for over two hours of exclusive
THEY WILL GET BACK project’s success or failure. video tutorial by Adobe’s own Photoshop
It’s not all innate, of course; it‘s not guru, Russell Preston Brown.
TO YOU WITH REALLY
always a case of you’ve either got it or you Our profiles this issue feature Hydro74
INSIGHTFUL ANSWERS haven’t. You can gain a lot of inspiration and Subliminal Associates – two very
from looking at other people’s work and different but successful design outfits
thinking about how and why they did who offer plenty of advice of their own.
what they did. Don’t hold back on The illustrations this issue also have
emailing our illustrators or designers an international flavour to them, with
about the creative process – a lot of the contributions from all over the world –
time they will get back to you with some indisputable evidence that computer art
ILLUSTRATORS
really insightful answers. This is an has truly gone global.
interactive magazine, so make use of us! Finally, the Computer Artsteam wishes
But this issue, you needn’t bother, you all a very happy New Year. Keep
We take our illustrations seriously here at Computer Arts, and this because we’ve done the legwork for emailing and sending in your artwork
month wanted to look internationally for designers. We’re always you. Starting on page 26, the talents throughout 2004.
on the lookout for new international talent – so if you’re interested behind four commercial illustration
in contributing, contact [email protected] projects reveal exactly what it takes to VICKI ATKINSON
fulfil a typical creative brief… How much EDITOR,THE WORLD’S BEST-SELLING
input did they really have? Why did they CREATIVE MAGAZINE
CIRCUS BY ACRYLICK, SPAIN
Amanda Nolan of Madrid-based design agency COVER ILLUSTRATOR EDITORIAL
Acrylick designed the illustration for our Affordable
DV Cam Group Test on page 94.
WWW.ACRYLICK.COM MAGICTORCH, UK THE CA TEAM
VICKI ATKINSONEDITOR
{THS}, GERMANY This month’s ‘Creative [email protected]
Founded by Thomas Schostok, {ths} is a small design secrets’ cover image RODDYLLEWELLYN ART EDITOR
studio providing print, Web and illustration solutions was produced by [email protected]
worldwide. It created our Dreamweaverillo on page 68. Sam Williams, one ROB CARNEYDEPUTY EDITOR
WWW.THS.NU third of illustration [email protected]
company and RACHEL ELLIOTTOPERATIONS EDITOR
BENNYLUK,HONG KONG Computer Artsregular, [email protected]
24-year-old Hong Kong designer Benny Luk is crazy about Magictorch. Alongside JON ALONGICD EDITOR
vector art, graphics and Chinese culture. He designed the Mike Chipperfield [email protected]
spread for our PhotoshopBlending feature on page 58. and Sam Chivers,
WWW.SIXSTATION.COM Magictorch has CONTACT
contributed reams Computer Artsmagazine,
123KLAN, FRANCE of stunning artwork to Computer Arts, Computer Future Publishing, 30 Monmouth
Aconsortium of vector enthusiasts who delight in ArtsProjectsand other publications, including Street, Bath, BA1 2BW
bringing a stylised graffiti aesthetic to the Web, 123Klan Dazed and Confused andTotal Guitar. PHONE[phone]
illustrated our Flashfeature, starting on page 36. [email protected]
WWW.123KLAN.COM WWW.MAGICTORCH.COM SUBS0870 444 8455
ComputerArts_January2004 3
CONTENTS
JANUARY ISSUE 92
FULL LIST OF CONTENTS SUBSCRIBE TODAY
AND SAVE40 PER CENT!
NEWS FEATURES REVIEWS RMEASKOEL UA TNIOENW NYOEAWR…’S
1124ANtemwo 2s0p-hinecrhe i1M, LaicvseMotion 0 2462ISlluubstlirmatiinoanl sAescsroectisa utensveiled 7778FCurella ltisivtien Sguite INSESVUEER– MTUISRSN A TNOO PTAHGEER 64
16Doing the Tango 66Hydro 74 in profile 82Modelshop
20Guest font showcase 88PowerBook 17-inch
94Affordable DV camcorders
TUTORIALS SHORTCUTS REGULARS
36Photoshop CS&Flash MX 24InDesign CS 10Your letters
50Flyer design 35Illustrator CS 22Win a shiny new Wacom tablet!
58Blending modes 48After Effects 6 64Save 40 per cent on the price you
68Dreamweaver MX 563ds max pay in the shops when you subscribe
75Photoshop CS 100Back issues
108Exposure
114Retrospective
ON THE COVER
26ILLUSTRATION
SECRETS UNVEILED
Four of the world’s top designers and design
studios reveal the secrets of commercial
illustration – from packaging to advertising
58PHOTOSHOP
BLENDING MODES
Master some of Photoshop’s best Blending
modes and make your illustrations and designs
stand out from the crowd!
50FLYER DESIGN
Discover the ins and outs of professional print
design, as leading firm Output guides you
26
through the process of creating a club flyer
36PHOTOSHOP CS
AND FLASH MX
Learn the secrets of combining Photoshop CS,
ImageReady CSandFlash MX 2004to create
dynamic interface elements and designs
58 50
Illustration by Spencer Hickson. Turn to Exposure on page 108
Have your work featured here – email [email protected]
OTHER HIGHLIGHTS
42 78
42
SUBLIMINAL ASSOCIATES
We meet the subconscious design firm that’s
not afraid of throwing their briefs in the bin
68
DREAMWEAVER MX 2004
68
Take control of your site’s text and layout with
Dreamweaver MX 2004’s fantastic CSS tools
94
AFFORDABLE DV CAMS
Five of the best budget digital video camcorders
put to the CAtest. Which will come out on top?
78
CREATIVE SUITE REVIEW
We deliver our verdict on 2003’s hottest creative
94
software release – don’t miss this!
FULL LIST OF CD CONTENTS
FULL PROGRAM PC + MAC^
AUTO-ILLUSTRATOR 1.0
Check out this awesome illustration tool from Signwave!
This month, Computer Artsteams up
S
with Adobe to bring you exclusive video ignwave’s Auto-Illustratoris a To use Auto-Illustrator 1.0, simply enter the
training from Photoshopguru Russell different kind of vector graphics following serial number when prompted:
Preston Brown. Learn Photoshop CSfrom the utility. The company proudly claims
man who was there when John and Thomas that it’s “an experimental, semi- 3XP3N-51VE-50FT-W4R3
Knoll pitched the app to Adobe! There’s also Dr autonomous, generative software” – in
INFOwww.signwave.co.uk. See your CD inlay for the
Brown’s handy conversion tool Image Processor other words, a fully functional, vector
application’s system requirements
(see page 7 for more), plus cool full products graphic design application that can
Auto-Illustrator 1.0 andFlashAmp 1.1.2. Enjoy! automatically generate graphics for you
with the minimum of fuss.
Use the award-winning Auto-Illustratorto
CD92 CONTENTS
help you create incredible vector graphics
and shapes, then export them to your main
graphics tools for further manipulation.
Remember: this is a full version with no
OFFICIAL
restrictions – and it won’t time out. Use it to
ADOBE TRAINING explore a wide range of generative and
(PC + MAC)
procedural techniques, then, with a little
VIDEO TRAINING: Russell Preston Brown,one
effort and creativity, it could become one of
ofthemen responsible for Photoshop, reveals
your favourite and most-used apps.
some time-saving techniques and creative
ideas in these fantastic video tutorials
With just a few clicks,
you’ll soon be creating
AUTO-ILLUSTRATOR 1.0 superb vector art.
(PC + MAC)
FULL PRODUCT:A superb, fully functional
vector graphic design app to sit alongside your FULL PROGRAM PC & MAC^
existing professional graphic utilities – for free! FLASHAMP 1.1.2
FLASHAMP 1.1.2
(PC + MAC)
FULL PRODUCT:Use this fantastic utility with
Flashto control animations and other events FantasticFlashapp for controlling animations using sound
via sound. See opposite for more
W
MDM STUDIO HOME e’re really excited to be Username: Computer Arts Special
(PC) bringing you this full product. Serial number: IN70674
FULL PRODUCT: MDM Studio Homeoffers four FlashAmp 1.1.2is a utility for Licence type: Single-User
great Web utilities, including FlashCast Home– use with Macromedia Flash Number of licences: 1
a tool that enables you to create SWF-based that enables you to control animations and
training videos and product demos. See page 8 other events in Flashusing amplitude or IaNpFpOlicawtwiown’.sm sayrsmteamla rdeeqmuierdeima.ecnotms.au. See your CD inlay for the
spectrum (frequency) values derived from
THE TAB
(PC) sound files. Amplitude values represent the
15-DAY TRIAL:Take The Tabfor a 15-day relative loudness of a sound wave, whereas
test-drive, exploring all the features of this spectrum values represent the relative power SPECIAL OFFER!
comprehensive 2D animation package. See of individual frequency bands within a sound.
page 83 for the CAreview WithFlashAmp, you can create lip sync Take advantage of our upgrade offers!
inFlash MXin seconds, rather than hours.
ARTIST SHOWREELS Make sure you take advantage of the special FlashAmp Lite
Check out these fantastic showreels from upgrade offer to FlashAmp Pro 2below. Upgrade offer:$15 (£9) – normally $35 (£20)
Yann Caloghiris and The Ronin To use FlashAmp 1.1.2, you’ll need to enter Secure order form:https://secure.element5.com/
the following information when prompted: shareit/checkout.html?productid=196844&language
TUTORIAL FILES =English
You’ll find all the files you need to complete FlashAmp Standard
this month’s tutorials here – Blending modes, Upgrade offer:$35 (£20) - normally $65 (£38)
Flyer design, Interface design and more Secure order form:https://secure.element5.com/
shareit/checkout.html?productid=196846&language
BOOK CHAPTERS =English
Free sample chapters from the latest Apress FlashAmp Pro
and Peachpit design books!
Upgrade offer:$70 (£41) – normally $120! (£70)
Secure order form:https://secure.element5.com/
shareit/checkout.html?productid=196845&language
=English
Lip-synching need never be a problem with FlashAmp.
6 ComputerArts_January2004
On the CD
VIDEO TRAINING PC + MAC^
RUSSELL BROWN’S POWER HOUR
COMPUTER ARTS EXCLUSIVE!Official video training and brand new Photoshop CS
techniques from the godfather of Photoshop, Russell Preston Brown
LearnPhotoshop CSfrom one of the pioneers
of the application – Russell Preston Brown.
(Left) Preston Brown talks you through the
intricacies of the new Layer Comps feature.
These exclusive video tutorials from Russell Preston Brown and Adobe discuss the new features
ofPhotoshop CS– including the new Lens Blur feature, pictured above.
T
his month, we’ve teamed up
with Adobe to offer you
exclusivePhotoshop CS
video training from Russell
Brown – one of the forefathers of the
application. There are a whopping
eleven video tutorials in total, each
presented in Russell Brown’s unique
and entertaining manner and dealing
with a massively diverse range of Take advantage of the new features of the File Browser, as Preston Brown shows you how to
get your Photoshopand digital photography workflow just right.
Photoshop CStopics.
These expert tutorials will teach
you the ins and outs of the new Learn how to create stunning lighting effects OFFICIAL
just using layers with this insightful tutorial.
Shadow/Highlight command, give ADOBE
you a valuable insight into Photoshop we challenge any user of this program
colour management, give you the full not to discover something new. VIDEO
lowdown on the new Layer Comps We also bring you Dr Brown’s Image TRAINING
feature and much more. There’s also a Processor. This is a fantastic script,
fascinating tutorial on how to light your accessible from the Photoshop
photographs by using layer masks – a File>Scripts menu (just browse for it
THERE ARE A WHOPPING ELEVEN VIDEO TUTORIALS
IN TOTAL, EACH PRESENTED IN RUSSELL BROWN’S
UNIQUE AND ENTERTAINING MANNER
technique you will certainly use in from this menu), enabling you to
many projects. quickly convert images from any
There’s over an hour of valuable format, to any format. Powerful
advice, tips, tricks and techniques here batching capabilities make this a
that you cannot afford to miss – Russell fantastic time-saver.
Preston Brown is one of the world’s
leading authorities on Photoshopand IwNwFOw.Hadeoabde t.oc ow.uwkw fo.rru mssoerlelb irnofwon.com and The new Shadow/Highlight feature in action – learn all about how to bring dark areas of your
photographs back into view with the expert tips.
ComputerArts_January2004 7
FULL PRODUCT PC^
MDM STUDIO HOME
Your chance to experiment with MDM’s feature-rich application development suite
M
DM Studio HOMEis a suite of four exciting Web tools that
will add to your productivity and give you the ability to produce
fantastic applications, training videos and Flash-based interactive
desktop wallpaper.
Usually sold for £150, the HOMEedition is for use on personal
projects only. If you want to distribute your files on a royalty-free FULL
basis, upgrade to the PROedition – see below. In the meantime, APP
check out exactly what you’re getting with MDM Studio Home…
WORTH
£150
FLASHCAST HOME
This gem of a utility is a nifty application that you can use to create training videos
and learning tools in the SWF format. The application captures your desktop
activity, including mouse-clicks and key presses, and then enables you to output
the resulting file as an SWF.
An intuitive spreadsheet-like interface gives you control over individual
captures – making it easy to create SWF-based video training for showing your
colleagues a new technique or as a general training resource.
FLASH STUDIO HOME
Flash Studio HOME is a superb tool for compiling a fully customisable projector
file (.exe) or Windows screensaver (.scr) from your Flash 4, 5 orMXSWF files.
In addition, the tool enables you to create organic-shaped .exe files, so you
can give your applications new and interesting shapes – perfect for making
presentations stand out. It also enables you to extend FlashActionScript with
fscommands and pack five additional files into the .exe application.
FIRESTORM REMOTE EDIT HOME
Firestorm Remote Edit HOMEenables you to connect to any Website on the
Internet via FTP, and edit or update any aspect of it in a true WYSIWYG
environment. You can actually make changes as if you’re working locally.
With the HOMEedition, you can upload images, as well as make changes
to text and so on. Spot a mistake online while you’re out of the office and,
thanks to this highly practical tool, it’s easy to remedy the situation.
Save £100 on MDM Studio PRO!
We’ve teamed up with Multidmedia Limited to bring you the chance of getting
your hands on MDM Studio PRO, the fully-specced tool with many more features,
FLASHCANDY HOME and one that grants you the right to distribute your files commercially – all for only
£119.99. That’s a saving of £100!
To take advantage of this offer, simply go through the ordering process as
FlashCandyis one of those tools that’s both useful and fun to use. In a nutshell,
normal at www.multidmedia.com and enter the following coupon code:
it enables you to create Flash-based wallpaper for Windows machines – so you
mdmHomeUPG
can add interactive and animated content to your desktop with ease.
You can create an installer for the wallpaper, and the tool even gives you a
WYSIWYG preview of the wallpaper before you create it, so you can add installer
INFOFor more details about MDM Studio HOMEandMDM Studio PRO, see www.multidmedia.com.
messages and change the install directory. Please note: you must have an Internet connection to install this product. Offer ends 31 May 2004
8 ComputerArts_January2004