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The best the month includes:
How to create a portfolio page
How to make a presentation with type and music
What you should know about copyright
Where to learn Photoshop from a pioneer

And much more. Enjoy.

Chuck Green

P.S. Do you use InDesign, Quark, PageMaker? See the my ideabooks here:
For InDesign > http://www.ideabook.com/indesign_templates.html
For PageMaker > http://www.ideabook.com/pagemaker_templates.html
For QuarkXPress > http://www.ideabook.com/quarkxpress_templates.html

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Illustration > Where to find vector silhouettes and symbols

It's been a long time since I've come across a large collection of black and white vector silhouettes. These remind me of the material offered by Ultimate Symbol. Both are worth a look.

Here > Examples of Neubauladen vector illustrations (and fonts)...
http://www.neubauladen.com/product/1233

Here > An index of the Neubauladen images...
http://www.neubauladen.com/sitemap

Here > The Ultimate Symbol Collection...
http://www.ultimatesymbol.com/

Here > In the Ideabook Design Store: Before & After: Page Design...
http://www.ideabook.com/store_page_design.html

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Typography > What we can learn through the relationship between penmanship and typography

One way to improve your understanding of typography and to master proportion and placement is to study the relationship between characters and shapes in fine handwriting and calligraphy. And the ideal place to start is at the International Association of Master Penmen, Engrossers, and Teachers of Handwriting (IAMPETH).

Here > The gallery......
http://www.iampeth.com/artwork.php

Here > A wonderful collection of out-of-print books on calligraphy and penmanship in PDF form...
http://www.iampeth.com/books.php

Here > In the Ideabook Design Store: Before & After: Graphics For Business...
http://www.ideabook.com/store_business_graphics.html

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Typography > How to build visual effects in InDesign and After Effects

On the cover of Adobe's Font page is an interesting collection of type plus motion. It demonstrates some theoretical uses and provides an abbreviated look at how you build an effect in programs such as InDesign and After Effects. I particularly like selection number five: DVD Menus.

Here > Click "Step inside and be moved"...
http://www.adobe.com/type/

Here > In the Ideabook Design Store: Becoming a Graphic Designer
http://www.ideabook.com/store_becoming_a_graphic_designer.html

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Learning > How design (and everything else) has progressed in the last 100 history

I came across another valuable resource today (a new collection of images from the National Archives on Flickr) and couldn't help but pause to reflect on the exciting potential of our world. It was around this time 100 years ago that the first stable aircraft flights and radio broadcasts were taking place. It would be another twenty years before rudimentary television and roughly forty before the first practical computers. Simple infections took people's lives and average life expectancy in the United States was under 50.

Today, less than one hundred years later, a child with access to the World Wide Web can tap much of the cumulative knowledge of mankind. Can you imagine where such awareness could lead?

Here > The 100-year-old web page...
http://flickr.com/photos/library_of_congress/2179044484/sizes/o/

Here > Imagine the potential of children who grow up with access to records of the past such as the Library of Congress' Prints & Photographs archive...
http://www.flickr.com/commons

Here > And access to graduate level university teaching...
http://ocw.mit.edu/OcwWeb/web/courses/av/

Here > And to much of the great literature of the age...
http://www.gutenberg.org/wiki/Main_Page

Here > In the Ideabook Design Store: Getting It Printed...
http://www.ideabook.com/store_getting_it_printed.html

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Graphics Tech > How to create a simple portfolio page

This is a wonderfully simple solution for creating a online portfolio using Flickr and PictoBrowser. You use Flickr to upload and organize your images and PictoBrowser to customize and automate the display of the images on your site.

If you don't already have a Flickr account, the first step is to sign up and upload your images. Then you configure PictoBrowser to match the size and shape of your page and copy and paste the code. That's all there is to it. If you already have a Flickr account, you'll be up and running in a matter of half an hour.

Thanks to Diego Bauducco, Carlos Gomez, and Maya Gorton for PictoBrowser--a truly elegant system and set of tools.

Here > An example I created from a set of snapshots for a client...
http://www.ideabook.com/a_simple_portfolio.html

Here > Create a Flickr account...
http://flickr.com/

Here > Then you configure PictoBrowser and copy and paste the code...
http://pictobrowser.com/

Here > New in the Ideabook Design Store: Creative Advertising...
http://www.ideabook.com/store_creative_advertising.html

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Learning > Learn Photoshop and photography from a pioneer

Ree Drummond is a mother, wife, photographer, designer, and writer--a real Renaissance woman. She is also part pioneer. If you have not heard her story or enjoyed her clear, smart insights on photography and Photoshop (and those of her contributors), you're in for a treat.

Here > The photography and Photoshop area of The Pioneer Woman...
http://thepioneerwoman.com/photography/

Here > The cover...
http://thepioneerwoman.com/

Here > In the Ideabook Design Store: FontHead Typefaces...
http://www.ideabook.com/store_fonthead.html

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Typography > How to make a compelling presentation in two minutes and twenty-three seconds with nothing more than type and music

I don't know that I have seen anything quite like this before. It is so simple yet so compelling, it just stopped me in my tracks. The fact that you must read your way through it ensures you get the message. On top of all that, the idea of supporting folks around the world with micro loans is a wonderful idea that is proving to be an valuable way to communicate caring and sharing--love it. Thanks to Jesse Gardner at plasticmind.com for pointing to it.

Here > The Girl Effect...
http://www.girleffect.org/

Here > In the Ideabook Design Store: Moleskine Notebooks...
http://www.ideabook.com/store_moleskines.html

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Learning > How to become a better designer

Spend fifteen minutes skimming this article from Computer Arts and I guarantee you will come away with at least one significant insight on the design process--probably three or four. To me, there is nothing more valuable than stepping back from the wall and watching another climber navigate the same challenge.

Here > 50 ways to become a better designer...
http://www.computerarts.co.uk/in_depth/features/50_ways_to_become_a_better_designer

Here > In the Ideabook Design Store: Art Parts Clip Art...
http://www.ideabook.com/store_art_parts.html

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Web Design > How to add a sense of discovery to a web page

I'm always on the lookout for interesting ways of navigating the screen. Johnson Banks uses a simple click and drag method to move around a big picture. To me, adds a sense of discovery to the process.

Here > Climb the work tree...
http://www.johnsonbanks.co.uk/content/files/worktree/main.html

Here > There are many other interesting ideas to explore at Johnson Banks...
http://www.johnsonbanks.co.uk/

Here > In the Ideabook Design Store: Task Force Clip Art...
http://www.ideabook.com/store_task.html

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Illustration > Where to find maps for design projects

If you have ever needed a detailed, accurate map for a project you know that, though there are maps galore on the web, finding and licensing one can be a complicated proposition. That's why I want to point to a recently launched rights-managed and royalty-free map resource from GeoNova Publishing, Inc.-StockMaps.com. They offer base maps for custom map creation and what they characterize as "market-ready maps for media, marketing, publishing and display." GeoNova Publishing is a Discovery Communications / HowStuffWorks company.

Here > A new resource for maps...
http://stockmaps.com/

Here > In the Ideabook Design Store: Brenner Pricing Tables...
http://www.ideabook.com/store_brenner_pricing.html

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Reference > What every designer should know about copyright

I recently was asked if "mining" ideas, color schemes, layouts, and so on is intellectual piracy. My effort to provide a lucid answer led me to, among others, a series of articles written by Linda Joy Kattwinkel, an artist and attorney for Oliver, Kattwinkel & Sabec. I particularly appreciate her perspective because she sees things from a graphic design perspective.

Here > Is it intellectual piracy? Maybe, never, and always...
http://www.oliversabec.com/about_our_firm/legalities.htm

Here > More excellent insight...
http://www.cls.yale.edu/page.asp?file=2/170

Here > In the Ideabook Design Store: Creative Business CD-ROM...
http://www.ideabook.com/store_business_creativity.html

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Web Design > How to differentiate your product or service from theirs

This type of design grounds me. It reminds me that you can never go wrong by focusing on basics. To differentiate your product or service from your competitors you identify benefits, communicate your passion, demonstrate your uniqueness, and establish your style.

Here > Bakemania does it all-it is clear, passionate, and beautifully stated...
http://www.bakemaniacakes.com/

Here > In the Ideabook Design Store: Pantone Guide to Communicating with Color...
http://www.ideabook.com/store_pantone_guide.html

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Typography > How to create a typographic illustration

I have pointed to Michael Doret's typographic illustrations in an earlier post but I just became aware that Doret offers four comprehensive typefaces that you can use to build your own illustrations. Below is a link to the foundry (Alphabet Soup) followed by the instruction guides for each of the four typefaces.

Here > Michael Doret's Alphabet Soup...
http://michaeldoret.com/AlphabetSoup/soup.html

Here > Metroscript (600KB PDF)...
http://michaeldoret.com/AlphabetSoup/Metro_Alt_OT_Manual.pdf

Here > PowerStation (900KB PDF)...
http://michaeldoret.com/AlphabetSoup/PowerSta_Manual.pdf

Here > Bank Gothic AS (600KB PDF)...
http://michaeldoret.com/AlphabetSoup/BankGothic_Brochure.pdf

Here > Orion (1MB PDF)...
http://michaeldoret.com/AlphabetSoup/Orion_Brochure.pdf

Here > In the Ideabook Design Store: The Copywriter's Handbook...
http://www.ideabook.com/store_copywriters_handbook.html

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Do you use InDesign, Quark, PageMaker? See the my ideabooks here:
For InDesign > http://www.ideabook.com/indesign_templates.html
For PageMaker > http://www.ideabook.com/pagemaker_templates.html
For QuarkXPress > http://www.ideabook.com/quarkxpress_templates.html

About the briefing

I try to remain as objective as possible about the information I share here. Unless otherwise stated, I receive no compensation from the organizations and people mentioned except for occasional product samples.

Comments? Suggestions? Write me at [email protected]

> Chuck