Planning a Website with Dreamweaver CS5

For those of you who haven't taken the time to visit Adobe TV, I highly recommend you do so. There are great videos (short) on all Adobe programs. Here's one for planning a website with Dreamweaver CS5:

Want to create a form the easy way? Check this out!

Adobe has created Form Central. A quick, free way to create a form. To utilize Form Central, you need an Adobe account - free and easy to create. Sign in and then start creating - on your own or from one of their templates. It's easy and looks professional.

If you want to see an example check out this form I created for the  user group (on the right attached to the signup button). It is a registration form for new members. You can add images (I didn't), chance the colors, fonts, etc. Once you publish your file, it will give you an e-mail link to the file. You can add it to your e-mail, webpage or blog and then sign in when you want to view the responses. Form Central keeps track of all your forms and responses for you. Lots of fun and it only took me a few minutes to create. Give it a try and let me know what you think.

Firefox 4 Ready to Download

For those of you who are Firefox users - and I admit I am more likely to use Google Chrome now - there is a new version 4.0 available. It is also available for your phone. I'd love to know what you think of it.

Adobe InDesign Tips I Wish I'd Known When Starting Out

If you are an InDesign user, you should read and save this great article by Lisa Valuyskaya. I promise you it is worth it. The article is from Smashing Magazine. Check out the site. It has a lot of great articles, books and more, including a freebies page.

Next Meeting

Hope you noticed the posting in the sidebar for the next meeting. I am looking forward to it. I have received some really great prizes and I'm excited about revitalizing the group with your help. So, I'd love to hear some ideas from you. One of the prizes (a big one) will be raffled off to those who come up with some way of helping the group - and act on it. So far, Jason is at the head of the pack. He designed the great logo and set up our Twitter account. So put your thinking caps on and let's hear from you! Faye

Social Media and Disasters

I was reminded this weekend of how our lives have been altered due to social media (i.e. Facebook, Twitter, etc.). My cousin's daughter, a recent college graduate, took a job teaching in Japan.  She has been living and teaching in Fukushima, the region hit hardest by the earthquakes and where the nuclear plants in trouble are located. Shortly after the inital earthquake, she was able to send a message via Facebook to her family and friends. Since then, she has sent short messages and photos detailing her harrowing ordeal. As tough as it has been, particularly for her mom and dad, knowing that she is safe has been such a blessing. It made me think of the families of the victims of past disasters and how agonizing it must have been not to know your loved one is safe. So, for all who say social media has ruined our society, I have to say I respectfully disagree with you. Here are a few photos Stephanie sent.

Update: Stephanie got to Tokyo, finally, today. She will wait at the airport until Sunday for the flight her dad was able to get her on. She finally has heat and some water. She will be able to buy some clothes - she's been living in the same clothes since last Friday. All she was able to take with her was her passport and some papers. Still, she's glad to be alive and coming home. 

Adobe After Effects CS5 Demonstration

If you've never tried After Effects, take a look and see what it can do:

Adobe Digital Career Teaching Resources

There are some wonderful areas of the Adobe site that you may not notice unless you spend some time looking around. A year or so ago I found the Digital Career Teaching Resources area. It is free to those with an Adobe account (easy, free to all). You will find yearlong, project-based curriculum to download, including instructor and student materials. If you teach, or just want to upgrade your skills in visual or digital design or digital video production I strongly urge you to check it out.

Great site for anyone who wants to create videos

I found a great site a while back - Videomaker. It has lots of great information for newbies and seasoned professionals. You can sign up (I highly recommend that you do) for their free newsletter. Check it out and let me know what you think. While you are at it, how about some recommendations of your own?

Photographers Take Note - Scott Kelby in Boston March 24th

From Scott Kelby:
Light it, Shoot it, Retouch it, Tour

This are just some of the dates from the first leg of my new nationwide “Light it, Shoot it, Retouch It”tour, but since we have these dates already locked down, I thought I’d share them.

• Boston, MA – Thursday, March 24th
• Minneapolis, MN – Monday, April 4th
• Indianapolis, IN – Wednesday, April 6th
• Chicago, IL – Thursday, April 7th

Here’s how each session is structured:

1. I start each session with an empty stage and then I build the lighting set-up for a particular kind of lighting look from scratch, explaining everything as I go, all step-by-step.
2. Then, I actually do a portrait shoot live in each class, sharing all the camera settings, lighting settings, and exactly what you need to do to nail that type of look.
3. Finally, I take those images into Photoshop to show you how to do all the post processing, including editing the Raw image, all the portrait retouching techniques, and the finishing effects, so you see the entire process, from beginning to end, with nothing left out.

Not only will you be able to nail all these exact same looks, (using a simple, inexpensive studio lighting set-up), but best of all you’ll learn all the post processing techniques as well.

This all takes place in every class session, all day long—–the lighting set-up, then the shooting, and then all the post processing for every set-up, and every look.

I hope you’ll join me in one of these cities. It’s only $99 for the full day of training (or $79 for NAPP members), and includes a detailed, step-by-step workbook that follows along exactly with what I’m doing in the class.

As soon as the rest of cities and dates are locked down, I’ll announce those here too. I am super psyched about this tour, and I can’t wait to get there with you guys. Here’s the link to the full class schedule, or to sign up. I hope I get to see you in person soon.

Welcome to the NH Adobe User Group

The NH Adobe Users group is designed as a forum for Adobe software developers, designers and users primarily in New Hampshire. Although Adobe is our main sponsor, we have additional sponsors (see logos in sponsor area) and are open to other products.

We meet, the second Tuesday of every month from 1:30 to 3:30. Our meetings are free and open to all. If you wish to become a member, please contact me.