Imposing a document with InDesign


There is no imposition function within InDesign, but with a little creativity using the FILE > PRINT BOOKLET we can create a document that can made into a PDF and then printed and assembled into a saddle-stitched book.
Continue reading

Color replacement using the HUE blending mode


For this tutorial we’ll be using the HUE color mode to replace an image’s color without affecting the underlying contrast or luminosity.
Continue reading

Grids, Guides, Proportions and InDesign Math


You can get obsessed with grids. Grids act as the skeleton or backbone of most design work and are considered integral to the process of balancing aesthetics with information exchange. Grids are beloved by some and bemoaned by others – some find the rigid parameters invaluable to harmonious design, others find it limiting and constricting. I find myself falling somewhere in the middle – there’s an inner geek inside of me that loves to find a clever way to break up space, but there also the anti-establishment side of my personality that likes to break rules and push the boundaries. For that reason, I like using grids as I see it as an opportunity to act as both lawman and outlaw, I can be both the cops and the robbers.
Continue reading

A Digital Watermark

This tutorial will provide some tips on creating a digital watermark, making alpha channels and using layer adjustments. There are endless variations on this so it would be in your best interest to give yourself time to experiment and  play around with settings you like.

Continue reading

Unheralded Moments of the Creative Process


When we think about the Creative Process, we typically think about the more positive or at least productive aspects: visioning, execution, decision making, consideration, experimentation. These are all skills that are the focus of classes at school and in furthering our professional professional development. This is critical knowledge for us creative folk.
But what of negative aspects of the creative process, the one’s which on the surface don’t feel as if they are productive: failure, discouragement, procrastination, justification? They all factor into how ideas move forward (although some may make us feel as if we’re moving backwards – or want to give up all together) and should be embraced as skills as the aspects listed above.
As this collection of thoughts expands through these blog posts, I hope to explore all of the aspects of the creative process and certainly welcome the input of friends and strangers alike to help me elaborate on them.

Photoshop Tutorial – Halftones…and beyond


A student of mine wanted to create text that had an old school analog halftone look. While the Photoshop Halftone filter does an adequate job, it is fairly limited and doesn’t allow for a full range of experimentation and exploration.
Continue reading

Homage to MacPaint..

…or why I made an Illustrator swatch set of the original Macpaint patterns

Continue reading

Photoshop/InDesign Tutorial – Create a super-duper black graphic


To provide yourself some flexibility in InDesign with scanned graphics – changing colors to match swatches, using graphics as knockouts etc.. graphics need to be converted to a superblack – or in this case a super-duper black – a CMYK file with all levels of ink at 100%

Continue reading

Photoshop Tutorial – Photoshop Cross Fader


So, my friend Mike writes me again
Yo Nick-baby,

I thought I could figure out my photoshop trick to have five pictures blend seamlessly into one another, but no can do.  I re-learned how to make and use adjustment layers, and how to use a gradient to mask the amount of the adjustment that shows through…..but how do i set up an adjustment layer for opacity/transparency?

thanks,
-mk

Mike, I can help you!
Continue reading

InDesign Tutorial #5 – Transparency


A student asked if it would be possible to convert a drawing from full color to black and white in InDesign. The answer is “of course you can but why would you want to do it when you have better tools in Photoshop?” The method uses InDesign’s effects Palette to do the conversion which is why this questions lends itself nicely to making a tutorial exploring Transparency.
Continue reading