INTERACTIVE DESIGNER

Fast-paced, fast-growing, creative firm seeks full-time innovative multidisciplinary Interactive Designer with 2+ years experience. Applicant must be able to create funky, progressive sites as proficiently as enterprise-wide corporate sites. Candidate should be unafraid to “push the envelope” while remaining sensitive to client needs and timeframe. Deep technical knowledge coupled with creativity and a sense of humor is a crucial. Candidate must demonstrate the following technical capabilities:

- Exceptional project planning skills and documentation
- Firm knowledge of information design, usability principles, and the technical limitations of database-driven Web sites.
- Presentation skills
- Ability to create Flash-based Web sites
- Ability to write DHTML, AJAX, or ActionScript a plus
- Ability to build Web sites using ASP, PHP (database-driven sites) a plus

Send resume, non-returnable portfolio samples, jpegs or web-link to:
Don Charlton, Director of Interactive Strategy
don@walltowall.com

Adobe Photoshop CS3 Extended Review

Photoshop, that can’t live without application that we use everyday. I have to say that when I heard about Photoshop CS3 coming out that I was very eager. I have been using Photoshop since version 4 and I couldn’t’t imagine what they could be adding to improve the application further. That’s when I found out I must not have a very good imagination. Photoshop CS3 Extended has brought some amazing new features to the table that may radically change the way you use and think about Photoshop.

Extended?
For the first time Adobe has released Photoshop in two different versions, Photoshop CS3 and Photoshop CS3 Extended. So what’s the difference? Because the features in Photoshop CS3 Extended are so ground breaking I decided that it would be best to concentrate on what makes up the extended version.

Video Editing Capabilities
Photoshop CS3 Extended has the ability to import video files. Users can import video frames to layers for manipulation or use the unique video editing capabilities in the AfterEffects-like animation panel.

You can even use the clone tool to paint out areas in individual frames and duplicate the modified frames so that they carry through throughout the rest of the video that you are editing.

Once you have the video as you wish you can actually export the video back out of Photoshop to several different video formats.

3D Model Importing
The ability to import 3D models right into Photoshop has to be my favorite new feature by far. You can literally import 3D objects (3ds, COLLADA, etc) right into Photoshop.

You can then adjust texture visibility, adjust lighting, rotate the image and reposition cameras.

I can really see a lot of designers getting into downloading 3D models for compositing into their designs. For people like me with limited 3D exposure this is an excellent addition. I can simply download a free model, open it with Photoshop and adjust it until the lighting and angles that I want are just right!

Vanishing Point with 3D
If you have ever used the Vanishing Point filter in previous versions of Photoshop you may know the massive amount of power that it has. Photoshop CS3 Extended ships with Vanishing Point with 3D. This allows you to actually clone areas of your source image in perspective but then map that cloned image to a 3D plane. Once you have the planes created you can then export them to a Photoshop layer or 3D model format.

Medical Imaging and MATLAB Support
Photoshop CS3 Extended also brings some new features for those in the medical field and those mathematically inclined that like to view their algorithm visualizations.

Measurement Tools
Another really neat feature of Photoshop CS3 Extended is the ability to measure and log measurements.

For example, if you had a rough layout of a house in an image format you would be able to measure along a known distance, say the width of a room, and then set the pixel scale size. This would enable you to measure the rest of the measurements in the house using the ruler tool while logging the readings formatted in the unit of your choosing.

You are able to gather the remaining measurements of the house by using the pixel scale to return the equivalent in the unit of measurement that you have selected.

Conclusion
Photoshop CS3 Extended is an excellent tool that provides a few additional tools to the already excellent Photoshop CS3 application. If you are a developer interested in working with 3D or video then you are going to want the freedom and flexibility that Photoshop CS3 Extended offers.

If you are feeling like the features in Extended might be a much for you Photoshop CS3 has added numerous updates such as Smart Filters, Quick Selection and Refine Edge tools, Advanced compositing, Streamlined interface, Better raw image processing, Improved Adobe Bridge, Enhanced Vanishing Point, Enhanced 32-bit HDR support, Peak performance and Black-and-white conversion. These features alone are an excellent upgrade from CS2.

If you have not had a chance to use Photoshop or Photoshop CS3 Extended then I suggest you download a trial copy to try out!

More Information
Photoshop CS3 Extended retails for $999.00 and is available as an upgrade for $349.00. Additonal features and details can be viewed at the Photoshop CS3 Extended page on Adobe.com.

Thanks to everyone that showed up for the AS3 Primer class. I hope you guys enjoyed the new swag as well. As promised, you can access the Primer files below. Heather also emailed me a nice version of the AS2-AS3 Migration sheet. You can download there here:

AS3 Primer Files
AS2-AS3 Migration Sheet

Those of you with more questions on the DisplayObject can read more here.

The meeting for the August PittMFUG will be moved to the 17th as Adobe’s AIR (Adobe Integrated Runtime – previously Apollo) Bus Tour will be rolling into town that day! The event will be happening at the Heinz History Center and will include sessions from Kevin Hoyt, Mikey Downey and Mike Chambers! It should be an awesome show and a great time!

We are told that the PittMFUG will have a table or area at the show – so come and represent! You can get more info, tweets, flickr, etc from the other events across the country here: onair.adobe.com

Here is the Pittsburgh Event page.

Make sure you signup!

Hey all you MFUGers out there! This is just a reminder that the next meeting is June 21st. We will be trying something different this meeting – this meeting will run more like a workshop. I will be presenting a primer on ActionScript 3. So bring a laptop or even a desktop – we will have trial copies of Flash CS3 to install in case you don’t have it. I will step you through some basic code; This should be a nice, low-level intro into getting started with AS3/Flash 9.

We also have a new shipment of swag in – so show up and win some door prizes why don’t ya! I also still have one copy of Flash CS3 Pro available for purchase on the cheap. Let me know if you are interested. Can’t wait to see you all there!

In the meantime, if you want to play with something new – you can check out my new Kuler Panel for Flash CS3 that I wrote.