In the tutorial on Designing SceneXCore Apparel, I explain how to convert any photo to a 3 color separation in Photoshop. Which then enables you to take those layers and Live Trace them in Illustrator. But it was a little more confusing than it needed to be. I mentioned creating an action for it in Photoshop and have had numerous people ask me if I could send them the action. So I went ahead and saved it out and am sharing it with you.

To install the action, the easiest way is to open Photoshop, and then physically drag and drop the gomedia3color.atn file into your open Photoshop window. And it will automatically add the action to your actions palette.

Note: Sometimes after you complete the action, depending on how you have your layers set up, you might have to rearrange the 3 new layers it creates. The 3 new layers are the black, white, and grey layers. And they might be out of order. So you can figure it out once you run the action.

The post Free: Photoshop Action – 3 Color appeared first on GoMediaZine.

While working on the poster for DIT Fest last week I managed to create an impressive text effect that I will likely reuse for awhile. It’s very subtle and does not look like a filter. I’m simply adding a slightly aged, worn, or screen-printed look to any typeface. You can even apply this effect to any solid color shape or vector graphic for a hand-made screen-printed look—all done in Photoshop.

• Create your type as you normally would
• Rasterize the type
• Add noise, around 25%. Be sure the check the ‘Monochromatic’ checkbox.
• Adjust the Input Levels, bring the black level up to about 70
• Run a very slight Gaussian Blur on your type – like 1 or 2 px
• Run Smart Sharpen to remove the blur but keep some of the organic distressing / softening that occurs. Like 200% for the amount and about 15 for the radius.
• Adjust Levels again – bring black up to about 50 and white down to 69.

Or just download the Aged Text Effect Photoshop Action (41548) and never have to remember how to do it again.

If you want to take it further:

Buy our Stamp Effect action for $1.99 – more info

See example images:

The post Aged Type Effect in Photoshop (w/Ps Action) appeared first on GoMediaZine.

Layer Lifter is a simple, free Adobe InDesign plug-in from Rorohiko that offers an alternative method to using the layers palette for moving objects between layers.

Using it couldn’t simpler: first select one or more objects on a spread, and then right-click (Win) or control-click (Mac), and pick a destination layer from the LayerLifter context menu.

The post Layer Lifter for InDesign appeared first on GoMediaZine.

The FoldRite Template Master plugin for Adobe InDesign by Fold Factory is an interesting niche tool for working with folded paper.

Paper is dimensional, and if it is to fold into itself to form a brochure, the panels that fold in must be slightly smaller to accommodate for the thickness of the sheet, and for subtle process variation in the mechanical folding process. This mathematical adjustment is called folding compensation.

The overwhelming majority of client-provided files do not account for this critical adjustment, which almost ensures dissatisfaction with the end product (or extra charges for fixing the file). FOLDRite provides precise, mathematically adjusted folding templates through an easy software tool for a seamless, automated and repeatable process. In doing this, we are able to solve the longstanding problem of improper file setup for folded materials by removing the “human element” from the file-setup process. Automated template creation also saves time and reduces paper waste.

Features:

• Fast, accurate custom template creation

• Industry-approved folding styles and algorithms

• Eliminates the need for manually calculating folded template sizes—no more math.

• Significantly reduces production time and errors associated with creation, proofing, and correction of templates.

• Eliminates costs associated with creating or repairing file manually

• Fosters better communication between printers and designers

A single license will set you back $99, which seems reasonable if you do a lot of projects with folds. Mac & PC versions available, however it seems the plugin is only compatible up to CS4. A demo is available, and there are also some informative videos on their website. Note that the demo is not the full-featured plugin — however you can request a time-limited demo of the full-featured version.

— via Adobe guru Rufus Deuchler on Twitter

The post FoldRite Template Master plugin for Adobe InDesign appeared first on GoMediaZine.

Hot on the heels of the Adobe HTML5 Pack, here’s a handy new Adobe Illustrator plug-in from Microsoft’s MIX Online web developer resource site that will export vector and bitmap artwork directly to an HTML5 canvas element that can be rendered in a canvas-enabled browser.

The Ai->Canvas plug-in enables Adobe Illustrator to export vector and bitmap artwork directly to an HTML5 canvas element using JavaScript drawing commands. Animation can be added to control rotation, scaling, opacity, and motion along a path. Then, events can be used to trigger other animations. Finally, the exported HTML and JavaScript can be extended and used in your own applications running on the latest versions of Internet Explorer 9, Firefox 3.6, Chrome 6, Safari 5, and Opera 10.

Ai->Canvas supports rotation, scaling, fading, and movement along a path. For more advanced users, add triggers that start one animation when another animation completes.

The purpose of Ai->Canvas is to accelerate your HTML5 canvas development. The HTML and JavaScript that it exports is meant to be copied into your own application and extended.

The post Ai to Canvas HTML5 Plug-in appeared first on GoMediaZine.

Scriptographer is a pretty amazing plugin available for Adobe Illustrator. It basically frees the user (at least those familiar with JavaScript) from relying on a third-party developer to create the plugin or script that you have in mind, by allowing you to create it yourself.

I’m going to start off by saying that I don’t know the first thing about JavaScript, but I know a lot of our readers straddle the web coding and design fence, so this might be of huge interest for you. Me, not so much. I’m much more of an end user — but Scriptographer has something to offer for us non-coders as well. More on that later.

Let’s start off with some videos created by the Scriptographer team showing the plugin and scripts in action. Below are two videos, the first demonstrating some basic mouse-based tools, the second some effects on placed raster images:

Of course the real power here is the ability to roll your own scripts, and the Scriptographer team has you covered with some seriously in-depth tutorials helping you get started.

For those of us not familiar with JavaScript, there are plenty of sample scripts uploaded by users which are available to download on the site. Below are just a few samples of the kinds of effects you can generate using Scriptographer:

Some fancy, some functional, regardless I think you’d agree these would be an excellent addition to your design arsenal.

There are plenty more where this came from, so be sure to set some time aside to browse the Scriptographer scripts. And any of your coders out there, take a peek at the creation tools and let us know what you think. If you create any of your own, we’d love to hear about it. If we get any Scriptographer scripts created by our readers, we’ll feature them in an upcoming post.

Go!

The post Scriptographer appeared first on GoMediaZine.

Works great on any single color logo, emblem, mark, seal, crest.

Because of the great response to my Aged Type action, I took it a bit further and made a similar effect that could be applied, not only to text, but to your logo to give it an authentic stamp or print effect. I have seen various rubber stamp effects on google and none are all that great. So let me show you why mine is the bees knees.

This is a premium Photoshop action that took some time to perfect. So we’re selling it for the cheap price of $1.99.  Credit Cards and Paypal accepted.

Download Now – $1.99

Instructions

1. After downloading the action, simply open up the .ATN file and it will automatically load it into your Photoshop Actions panel ready for use! For best results start with a black and white image that’s at least 800-1,000 pixels wide.
2. In Photoshop, select the layer you want to turn into a stamp and press PLAY on the “Stamp/Print by Go Media” action. It will apply the effect!

Here are some tips:

• Works best on images at least 800 px wide
• Works on any logo, text, or even photos!
• Can also be used as a faux screenprint or letterpress effect
• Final result is on its own layer.
• Settings are completely customizable, tweak to your heart’s content

Examples:

Result is on its own layer

Even works on photos!

For best results, you might have to adjust the contrast of your source image. And again, the settings are fully adjustable inside the action so you can tweak it to your hearts content!

Download Now – $1.99

The post Photoshop Action: Stamp/Print Effect appeared first on GoMediaZine.

In the tutorial on Designing SceneXCore Apparel, I explain how to convert any photo to a 3 color separation in Photoshop. Which then enables you to take those layers and Live Trace them in Illustrator. But it was a little more confusing than it needed to be. I mentioned creating an action for it in Photoshop and have had numerous people ask me if I could send them the action. So I went ahead and saved it out and am sharing it with you.

To install the action, the easiest way is to open Photoshop, and then physically drag and drop the gomedia3color.atn file into your open Photoshop window. And it will automatically add the action to your actions palette.

Note: Sometimes after you complete the action, depending on how you have your layers set up, you might have to rearrange the 3 new layers it creates. The 3 new layers are the black, white, and grey layers. And they might be out of order. So you can figure it out once you run the action.

The post Free: Photoshop Action – 3 Color appeared first on Go Media™ · Creativity at Work.

While working on the poster for DIT Fest last week I managed to create an impressive text effect that I will likely reuse for awhile. It’s very subtle and does not look like a filter. I’m simply adding a slightly aged, worn, or screen-printed look to any typeface. You can even apply this effect to any solid color shape or vector graphic for a hand-made screen-printed look—all done in Photoshop.

• Create your type as you normally would
• Rasterize the type
• Add noise, around 25%. Be sure the check the ‘Monochromatic’ checkbox.
• Adjust the Input Levels, bring the black level up to about 70
• Run a very slight Gaussian Blur on your type – like 1 or 2 px
• Run Smart Sharpen to remove the blur but keep some of the organic distressing / softening that occurs. Like 200% for the amount and about 15 for the radius.
• Adjust Levels again – bring black up to about 50 and white down to 69.

Or just download the Aged Text Effect Photoshop Action (51088) and never have to remember how to do it again.

If you want to take it further:

Buy our Stamp Effect action – more info

See example images:

The post Aged Type Effect in Photoshop (w/Ps Action) appeared first on Go Media™ · Creativity at Work.

Layer Lifter is a simple, free Adobe InDesign plug-in from Rorohiko that offers an alternative method to using the layers palette for moving objects between layers.

Using it couldn’t simpler: first select one or more objects on a spread, and then right-click (Win) or control-click (Mac), and pick a destination layer from the LayerLifter context menu.

The post Layer Lifter for InDesign appeared first on Go Media™ · Creativity at Work.

The FoldRite Template Master plugin for Adobe InDesign by Fold Factory is an interesting niche tool for working with folded paper.

Paper is dimensional, and if it is to fold into itself to form a brochure, the panels that fold in must be slightly smaller to accommodate for the thickness of the sheet, and for subtle process variation in the mechanical folding process. This mathematical adjustment is called folding compensation.

The overwhelming majority of client-provided files do not account for this critical adjustment, which almost ensures dissatisfaction with the end product (or extra charges for fixing the file). FOLDRite provides precise, mathematically adjusted folding templates through an easy software tool for a seamless, automated and repeatable process. In doing this, we are able to solve the longstanding problem of improper file setup for folded materials by removing the “human element” from the file-setup process. Automated template creation also saves time and reduces paper waste.

Features:

• Fast, accurate custom template creation

• Industry-approved folding styles and algorithms

• Eliminates the need for manually calculating folded template sizes—no more math.

• Significantly reduces production time and errors associated with creation, proofing, and correction of templates.

• Eliminates costs associated with creating or repairing file manually

• Fosters better communication between printers and designers

A single license will set you back $99, which seems reasonable if you do a lot of projects with folds. Mac & PC versions available, however it seems the plugin is only compatible up to CS4. A demo is available, and there are also some informative videos on their website. Note that the demo is not the full-featured plugin — however you can request a time-limited demo of the full-featured version.

— via Adobe guru Rufus Deuchler on Twitter

The post FoldRite Template Master plugin for Adobe InDesign appeared first on Go Media™ · Creativity at Work.

Hot on the heels of the Adobe HTML5 Pack, here’s a handy new Adobe Illustrator plug-in from Microsoft’s MIX Online web developer resource site that will export vector and bitmap artwork directly to an HTML5 canvas element that can be rendered in a canvas-enabled browser.

The Ai->Canvas plug-in enables Adobe Illustrator to export vector and bitmap artwork directly to an HTML5 canvas element using JavaScript drawing commands. Animation can be added to control rotation, scaling, opacity, and motion along a path. Then, events can be used to trigger other animations. Finally, the exported HTML and JavaScript can be extended and used in your own applications running on the latest versions of Internet Explorer 9, Firefox 3.6, Chrome 6, Safari 5, and Opera 10.

Ai->Canvas supports rotation, scaling, fading, and movement along a path. For more advanced users, add triggers that start one animation when another animation completes.

The purpose of Ai->Canvas is to accelerate your HTML5 canvas development. The HTML and JavaScript that it exports is meant to be copied into your own application and extended.

The post Ai to Canvas HTML5 Plug-in appeared first on Go Media™ · Creativity at Work.

Scriptographer is a pretty amazing plugin available for Adobe Illustrator. It basically frees the user (at least those familiar with JavaScript) from relying on a third-party developer to create the plugin or script that you have in mind, by allowing you to create it yourself.

I’m going to start off by saying that I don’t know the first thing about JavaScript, but I know a lot of our readers straddle the web coding and design fence, so this might be of huge interest for you. Me, not so much. I’m much more of an end user — but Scriptographer has something to offer for us non-coders as well. More on that later.

Let’s start off with some videos created by the Scriptographer team showing the plugin and scripts in action. Below are two videos, the first demonstrating some basic mouse-based tools, the second some effects on placed raster images:

Of course the real power here is the ability to roll your own scripts, and the Scriptographer team has you covered with some seriously in-depth tutorials helping you get started.

For those of us not familiar with JavaScript, there are plenty of sample scripts uploaded by users which are available to download on the site. Below are just a few samples of the kinds of effects you can generate using Scriptographer:

Some fancy, some functional, regardless I think you’d agree these would be an excellent addition to your design arsenal.

There are plenty more where this came from, so be sure to set some time aside to browse the Scriptographer scripts. And any of your coders out there, take a peek at the creation tools and let us know what you think. If you create any of your own, we’d love to hear about it. If we get any Scriptographer scripts created by our readers, we’ll feature them in an upcoming post.

Go!

The post Scriptographer appeared first on Go Media™ · Creativity at Work.

Works great on any single color logo, emblem, mark, seal, crest.

Because of the great response to my Aged Type action, I took it a bit further and made a similar effect that could be applied, not only to text, but to your logo to give it an authentic stamp or print effect. I have seen various rubber stamp effects on google and none are all that great. So let me show you why mine is the bees knees.

This is a premium Photoshop action that took some time to perfect. So we’re selling it for the cheap price of $7.  Credit Cards and Paypal accepted.

Download Now – $7

Instructions

1. After downloading the action, simply open up the .ATN file and it will automatically load it into your Photoshop Actions panel ready for use! For best results start with a black and white image that’s at least 800-1,000 pixels wide.
2. In Photoshop, select the layer you want to turn into a stamp and press PLAY on the “Stamp/Print by Go Media” action. It will apply the effect!

Here are some tips:

• Works best on images at least 800 px wide
• Works on any logo, text, or even photos!
• Can also be used as a faux screenprint or letterpress effect
• Final result is on its own layer.
• Settings are completely customizable, tweak to your heart’s content

Examples:

Result is on its own layer

Even works on photos!

For best results, you might have to adjust the contrast of your source image. And again, the settings are fully adjustable inside the action so you can tweak it to your hearts content!

Download Now – $7

The post Photoshop Action: Stamp/Print Effect appeared first on Go Media™ · Creativity at Work.

Layer Lifter is a simple, free Adobe InDesign plug-in from Rorohiko that offers an alternative method to using the layers palette for moving objects between layers.

Using it couldn’t simpler: first select one or more objects on a spread, and then right-click (Win) or control-click (Mac), and pick a destination layer from the LayerLifter context menu.

The post Layer Lifter for InDesign appeared first on Go Media™ · Creativity at Work.

The FoldRite Template Master plugin for Adobe InDesign by Fold Factory is an interesting niche tool for working with folded paper.

Paper is dimensional, and if it is to fold into itself to form a brochure, the panels that fold in must be slightly smaller to accommodate for the thickness of the sheet, and for subtle process variation in the mechanical folding process. This mathematical adjustment is called folding compensation.

The overwhelming majority of client-provided files do not account for this critical adjustment, which almost ensures dissatisfaction with the end product (or extra charges for fixing the file). FOLDRite provides precise, mathematically adjusted folding templates through an easy software tool for a seamless, automated and repeatable process. In doing this, we are able to solve the longstanding problem of improper file setup for folded materials by removing the “human element” from the file-setup process. Automated template creation also saves time and reduces paper waste.

Features:

• Fast, accurate custom template creation

• Industry-approved folding styles and algorithms

• Eliminates the need for manually calculating folded template sizes—no more math.

• Significantly reduces production time and errors associated with creation, proofing, and correction of templates.

• Eliminates costs associated with creating or repairing file manually

• Fosters better communication between printers and designers

A single license will set you back $99, which seems reasonable if you do a lot of projects with folds. Mac & PC versions available, however it seems the plugin is only compatible up to CS4. A demo is available, and there are also some informative videos on their website. Note that the demo is not the full-featured plugin — however you can request a time-limited demo of the full-featured version.

— via Adobe guru Rufus Deuchler on Twitter

The post FoldRite Template Master plugin for Adobe InDesign appeared first on Go Media™ · Creativity at Work.

Hot on the heels of the Adobe HTML5 Pack, here’s a handy new Adobe Illustrator plug-in from Microsoft’s MIX Online web developer resource site that will export vector and bitmap artwork directly to an HTML5 canvas element that can be rendered in a canvas-enabled browser.

The Ai->Canvas plug-in enables Adobe Illustrator to export vector and bitmap artwork directly to an HTML5 canvas element using JavaScript drawing commands. Animation can be added to control rotation, scaling, opacity, and motion along a path. Then, events can be used to trigger other animations. Finally, the exported HTML and JavaScript can be extended and used in your own applications running on the latest versions of Internet Explorer 9, Firefox 3.6, Chrome 6, Safari 5, and Opera 10.

Ai->Canvas supports rotation, scaling, fading, and movement along a path. For more advanced users, add triggers that start one animation when another animation completes.

The purpose of Ai->Canvas is to accelerate your HTML5 canvas development. The HTML and JavaScript that it exports is meant to be copied into your own application and extended.

The post Ai to Canvas HTML5 Plug-in appeared first on Go Media™ · Creativity at Work.

Scriptographer is a pretty amazing plugin available for Adobe Illustrator. It basically frees the user (at least those familiar with JavaScript) from relying on a third-party developer to create the plugin or script that you have in mind, by allowing you to create it yourself.

I’m going to start off by saying that I don’t know the first thing about JavaScript, but I know a lot of our readers straddle the web coding and design fence, so this might be of huge interest for you. Me, not so much. I’m much more of an end user — but Scriptographer has something to offer for us non-coders as well. More on that later.

Let’s start off with some videos created by the Scriptographer team showing the plugin and scripts in action. Below are two videos, the first demonstrating some basic mouse-based tools, the second some effects on placed raster images:

Of course the real power here is the ability to roll your own scripts, and the Scriptographer team has you covered with some seriously in-depth tutorials helping you get started.

For those of us not familiar with JavaScript, there are plenty of sample scripts uploaded by users which are available to download on the site. Below are just a few samples of the kinds of effects you can generate using Scriptographer:

Some fancy, some functional, regardless I think you’d agree these would be an excellent addition to your design arsenal.

There are plenty more where this came from, so be sure to set some time aside to browse the Scriptographer scripts. And any of your coders out there, take a peek at the creation tools and let us know what you think. If you create any of your own, we’d love to hear about it. If we get any Scriptographer scripts created by our readers, we’ll feature them in an upcoming post.

Go!

The post Scriptographer appeared first on Go Media™ · Creativity at Work.

Works great on any single color logo, emblem, mark, seal, crest.

Because of the great response to my Aged Type action, I took it a bit further and made a similar effect that could be applied, not only to text, but to your logo to give it an authentic stamp or print effect. I have seen various rubber stamp effects on google and none are all that great. So let me show you why mine is the bees knees.

This is a premium Photoshop action that took some time to perfect. So we’re selling it for the cheap price of $7.  Credit Cards and Paypal accepted.

Download Now – $7

Instructions

1. After downloading the action, simply open up the .ATN file and it will automatically load it into your Photoshop Actions panel ready for use! For best results start with a black and white image that’s at least 800-1,000 pixels wide.
2. In Photoshop, select the layer you want to turn into a stamp and press PLAY on the “Stamp/Print by Go Media” action. It will apply the effect!

Here are some tips:

• Works best on images at least 800 px wide
• Works on any logo, text, or even photos!
• Can also be used as a faux screenprint or letterpress effect
• Final result is on its own layer.
• Settings are completely customizable, tweak to your heart’s content

Examples:

Result is on its own layer

Even works on photos!

For best results, you might have to adjust the contrast of your source image. And again, the settings are fully adjustable inside the action so you can tweak it to your hearts content!

Download Now – $7

The post Photoshop Action: Stamp/Print Effect appeared first on Go Media™ · Creativity at Work.

While working on the poster for DIT Fest last week I managed to create an impressive text effect that I will likely reuse for awhile. It’s very subtle and does not look like a filter. I’m simply adding a slightly aged, worn, or screen-printed look to any typeface. You can even apply this effect to any solid color shape or vector graphic for a hand-made screen-printed look—all done in Photoshop.

• Create your type as you normally would
• Rasterize the type
• Add noise, around 25%. Be sure the check the ‘Monochromatic’ checkbox.
• Adjust the Input Levels, bring the black level up to about 70
• Run a very slight Gaussian Blur on your type – like 1 or 2 px
• Run Smart Sharpen to remove the blur but keep some of the organic distressing / softening that occurs. Like 200% for the amount and about 15 for the radius.
• Adjust Levels again – bring black up to about 50 and white down to 69.

Or just download the  and never have to remember how to do it again.

If you want to take it further:

Buy our Stamp Effect action – more info

See example images:

The post Aged Type Effect in Photoshop (w/Ps Action) appeared first on Go Media™ · Creativity at work!.