New Strata 3D Plug-Ins for Photoshop

On this week’s episode of Photoshop User TV Dave Cross demonstrated one of the new 3D plug-ins for Photoshop CS3 Extended, available from Strata. He uses the new Strata Design 3D[in] to import a generic 3D model and give it some lighting effects using the Strata’s familiar interface. With Dave being a relative newcomer to 3D apps, you can see how easy it is to get through the basics and achieve some really interesting effects. Also available is the Strata Foto[in] which can take a series of photos and turn them into a 3D model and Strata Live[in] which lets you generate Live 3D web and PDF pages from Photoshop layouts. Get more info about these plug-ins here.

August 23rd, 2007 | Corey Barker | Blog | Comments (0)

My New DVD!!

Hey everyone, Happy Monday!! (If that’s possible.) Anyway, if any of you Photoshop Planeteers use Illustrator, I want to tell you that my new DVD: Illustrator CS3 Down & Dirty Tricks is now available. This DVD goes past the technical mumbo jumbo and gets right to the good stuff. I cover the easy ways to achieve some of the most popular effects around, such as retro effects and dimensional backgrounds. It’s all good stuff and most important, it’s a lot of fun. Find out more about this DVD here. Also, Dave Cross has just released Photoshop CS3 & Illustrator CS3: Creative Integration.

August 20th, 2007 | Corey Barker | Blog | Comments (0)

This is just too COOL!!!

From Scott Kelby’s Blog:
At the upcoming Photoshop World Conference & Expo, Adobe (and Adobe’s own Russell Preston Brown) will have a special booth setup to capture 3D head, and face scans of conference attendees which they can manipulate inside of Photoshop CS3 Extended.

But wait! – There’s more! Then, you take your 3D head/face scans to the Adobe printing station (also in the booth), and you can make your own personalized 3D pillow. That’s right, a pillow with your face printed on the surface!

Here’s how it all works: each day, when the Expo opens, just come to the Adobe scanning booth (Booth #620), to pick up a special pass that will indicate your time slot for when to come back and get scanned (the number of passes are limited, but when Adobe runs out of passes, you can also wait in line at the booth for any available openings.). If you don’t want to wait in line, simply purchase a copy of Photoshop CS3 Extended at the Tech Expo, bring it to the booth, and you’ll be escorted to the front of the line.

August 16th, 2007 | Corey Barker | Blog | Comments (0)

Photoshop Gurus Assemble!!!!

Well if you are registered to attend Photoshop World in Las Vegas you have just two days, that’s right, two days to enter your best work in the Guru Awards before the deadline on Wednesday, August 15th. You never know, you might find yourself standing in front of three thousand people receiving the coveted trophy. I entered once and actually won. It’s a great way to get some exposure and to make yourself visible to the world out there. Don’t wait, enter right now. No, I mean it, stop reading this blog and enter.

August 14th, 2007 | Corey Barker | Blog | Comments (0)

Photoshop Book of the Week

This week’s pick is the new Photoshop CS3 Book for Digital Photographers by Scott Kelby. This series by Scott is one the best selling Photoshop books anywhere. This book covers all the newest features in the Photoshop CS3 including nondestructive Smart Filters, Vanishing Point with Adjustable Perspective Planes, Automatic Layer Alignment and Blending, and a streamlined interface, and much more. Written in the same straightforward style that Scott is known for, this book is as entertaining as it is educational. Get more info on this book here.

August 11th, 2007 | Corey Barker | Blog | Comments (0)

Photoshop User TV is here!!

Well after a bit of a hiatus from an actual studio and shooting in odd locations around town including my car. Photoshop User TV (formally NAPP TV) debuted its first show in its all new studio this week. With a new name, new graphics, and new studio, but still the same great content featuring the Photoshop Guys and occasionally, yours truly. With awesome Photoshop tips and great contests and prizes, it is not to be missed.

August 9th, 2007 | Corey Barker | Blog | Comments (0)

New DVD Coming Soon!

Our very own RC has just completed a new training course: PS CS3 & Dreamweaver CS3: Creative Integration. This DVD will be covering everything you need to get your designs from Photoshop into Dreamweaver to create a fully functional web site. All the while taking advantage of newly enhanced integration of these two powerful applications. To find out more or to pre-order go here.

August 7th, 2007 | Corey Barker | Blog | Comments (0)

Tech Book of the Week

Alright, I know I usually spotlight a Photoshop book every week but this week my book pick is the new iPhone Book by Scott Kelby and Terry White. There has been such a surge of popularity with this little piece of technology that you’re gonna want to get the most out of it, and the iPhone Book is the way to do it. Some of you may remember how immensely popular Scott’s iPod Book was. Well the iPhone Book is written in the same straightforward humorous style and along with Terry’s overwhelming tech knowledge, it is the quintessential iPhone manual. Find out more here.

August 3rd, 2007 | Corey Barker | Blog | Comments (0)

Time Is Running Out!!!

Photoshop World early bird registration ends this Friday (August 3rd). So if you plan on joining us in Las Vegas for the Photoshop love-fest of the year, don’t wait. You can find out more about registering here. Don’t forget about the Guru Awards. If you are interested in getting your work out there for the world to see, then enter your best stuff and it might be seen in front of better than three thousand people. Of course, there is the PS World party at the ESPN Zone at New York New York Casino and the one event that is not to be missed: Midnight Madness. It has never been more fun to learn.

August 1st, 2007 | Corey Barker | Blog | Comments (0)

Scott On Location

Scott Kelby was invited  to Cincinnati over the weekend to join world-class wedding photographer David Ziser to shoot an enormous black-tie wedding. You can view some of the shots here. Scott even describes the equipment and settings used to achieve these  images.

July 30th, 2007 | Corey Barker | Blog | Comments (0)

Photoshop Book of the Week

This weeks selection is Ben Willmore’s: Photoshop CS3: Up To Speed. This book jumps right in and gets you up to speed with all the new features in Photoshop CS3. With straightforward explanations and easy to find topics, it’s a handy resource for not only becoming familiar with these new features but  you may discover a thing or two you never thought of. If you have ever read any of Ben’s books before,  you know that you are getting the good stuff. You can find out more about this book here and also check out Ben’s blog here.

July 26th, 2007 | Corey Barker | Blog | Comments (0)

Inspired by Hollywood

For the longest time, Apple has had a page on their site devoted exclusively to movie trailers. It’s a great place to get some Photoshop inspiration because there are a lot of really cool poster designs. You may even see something cool in the trailers themselves. The site has just recently been redesigned and has a boat-load of new HD trailers for current and upcoming movies. Check it out here. At the very least, it’s one heck of a time killer.

July 23rd, 2007 | Corey Barker | Blog | Comments (0)

Scott Tutorial at Lexar

Hey everyone. Well Friday is finally here and what better way to kick off the weekend than with a really sweet tutorial. Lexar’s Pro Digital Photography site has just posted a tutorial by Scott Kelby on converting your images to black and white using Camera Raw. Go here to download the tutorial and also view some samples photos taken by the man himself.

July 20th, 2007 | Corey Barker | Blog | Comments (0)

Photoshop Book of the Week

This week’s selection is Welcome to Oz: A Cinematic Approach to Digital Still Photography with Photoshop by renowned photographer and Photoshop World instructor Vincent Versace. This book explores the many uses of Photoshop and how to enhance digital photos in ways you would never think, turning impossible scenarios into stunning images. It is an inspirational piece and will certainly challenge you to use Photoshop to take your images to that next level. Find out more about the book and Vincent’ s work by going here.

July 18th, 2007 | Corey Barker | Blog | Comments (0)

Photoshop World Early Bird

The time is near. That’s right, Photoshop World Las Vegas is ever so close. We’re just over a month and a half away from the Photoshop love fest of the year. Join Scott Kelby, Dave Cross, Matt Kloskowski, RC and myself, among many others, to talk about nothing but Photoshop. Of course, I’m sure we will manage to talk about other apps as well. I have a new class called Earth, Wind, & Fire. It’s all about using Photoshop to create natural effects like water, ice, clouds, fire, etc. And there will even be a couple surprises. It’s going to be a lot of fun. Also, if you haven’t registered yet, you only have a couple of weeks to take advantage of the early bird registration, which ends on August 3. You can save a hundred bucks that you can then throw down on the craps tables.

July 16th, 2007 | Corey Barker | Blog | Comments (0)