Adobe Creative Suite 4 Design

Sometimes used at a funeral or distributed right after a person has passed away, prayer memorial cards are a way to work through grief while keeping a friend or family member’s memory close at heart. Prayer memory cards may have religious tones, with scriptural passages and symbols, or they can be secular, with images such as flowers, doves or a gravestone. Prayer cards may feature a photograph of the departed, and a personal message or a poem can be used to say goodbye.

1. Open Publisher and choose “Publications for Print,” then “Greeting Cards.” Scroll down to the “Sympathy” option; don’t worry if you don’t like the images and designs, they’ll be changed in the following steps. Double-click a card to open it in your workspace.
2. Step 2

   Look at the small page icons at the bottom of the screen. Right-click on the page 2 and select “Delete Page.” At the prompt box, select “Both pages” and click the “OK” button. Right-click on the page 2 again and choose “Delete Page” again. Now you have just the prayer memorial card front.

3. Step 3

   Scroll through the design options on the left side toolbar. Click on one to have it update the card in your workspace. To remove all the pre-set designs, draw a square around them with your cursor, then press the “Delete” key.

4. Step 4

   (Optional) Click the “Color Schemes” link, then choose a new color scheme for the card. All images and text colors will update with your choice.

5. Step 5

   (Optional) Click “Insert,” then click “Picture” and choose “From File.” Browse to a location on your computer where you have an image or photo to use for the prayer card, such as a headshot of the person who passed away or a drawing of praying hands. Double-click the image for it to appear on the card; drag it into place with your mouse.

6. Step 6

   Click the “Insert” menu, then click “Picture” and choose “Clip Art.” Pull down the “Search in” menu and ensure that all boxes are checked. Pull down the “Results should be” menu and select “Clip Art,” “Photographs” or both. Type a word or phrase, such as prayer, funeral, grave or cross into the “Search for” box and click “Go.”

7. Step 7

   Scroll to an image to use for the card and double-click it. It will appear in the center of the card; drag it into place with your mouse. Repeat to add any more images that you want.

8. Step 8

   Click the “Text” tool, which looks like an index card with an “A” on it, on the “Tools” palette on the left side of the screen. Draw a rectangle with your mouse into the area where you’ll add the prayer. The text toolbar at the top of the screen will become enabled.

9. Step 9

   Choose a font (select something ornate and ceremonial such as French Script, Pristina or Monotype Corsiva), a size and color. Type your prayer memorial text into the text box. Prayer memorial poems may be found online and copied and pasted into the text box. Add other text boxes as required, such as one that lists the person’s name and birth and death dates.

Whether you want new icons for your computer’s programs and file images or to use online for gaming, chatting and message boards, you can create your own custom ones with just a few mouse clicks. When you draw your own icons, give them an extra added edge with transparency tools, which are available with the Photoshop graphics program included in the Adobe Creative Suite. Transparency allows your icons to layer on top of a background or other object and have the backdrop show through, avoiding the telltale white design box.

1. Open Photoshop and click “File,” then click “New.” Name the file “MyIcon” and set your preferred dimensions. Icons are small files, with some sites requiring dimensions of 48 x 48 pixels, for example. Set the “Mode” to “RGB Color” and click the “Transparent” button under the “Contents” menu, then click the “OK” button.
2. Step 2

   Click “View” and choose “Fit on Screen.” This doesn’t enlarge your icon, it just gives you more room to draw.

3. Step 3

   Click the “Paintbrush” tool on the “Tools” palette on the left side of the screen. Note the new toolbar at the top of the screen. Pull down the “Brush” menu and select a brush head to use to draw the outline of your icon. Check the “Wet Edges” box on the toolbar.

4. Step 4

   Choose a color for the outline from the “Color Picker” by double-clicking the top left colored square of the two overlapping squares. Double-click on a color, then click the “OK” button. Hover your mouse over the “MyIcon” box and notice the cursor changes to the brush head. Draw the icon outline. Note that the outline is transparent; you can see through it to the checkerboard pattern below.

5. Step 5

   Click the “Fill” tool, which looks like a tipping paint bucket. Notice the new toolbar at the top of the screen. Change the “Opacity” slider to 50%, then click inside the outline you just drew, which fills with transparent color.

6. Step 6

   Click the “Paintbrush” tool again and change paint colors, then add more features and elements to the icon. The “Wet Edges” check box will remain checked until you uncheck it, so you don’t need to worry about checking it again.

7. Step 7

   (Optional) Click the “Text” tool, which looks like a “T,” then click your cursor inside the “MyIcon” box. The cursor changes to a blinking line and a new toolbar appears. Select a font, size and color, then type your name, the name of the icon or a short phrase. The color remains at the 50 percent transparency.

8. Step 8

   Save the icon by clicking “File” and “Save As” and choosing “GIF” for the format option; “GIF” files are the only ones that allow transparency.

   You can use other software programs to make icons, but Photoshop is the only way to get a transparent image. Your computer’s Microsoft Paint, which is included in your installation package, allows basic icon drawing and design, but it can only handle transparent backgrounds, not actual image transparency.

Look at the world around you, and everywhere you will find the work of graphic artists. From newsletters to book covers, magazine layouts to video game cases, bulletin boards to marketing materials, a graphic artist touches the print and online media world on a daily basis. A graphic artist career field can be a rewarding one for someone who craves creativity and challenge. While it takes natural talent, success in the graphic design field also takes dedication and persistence.

1. Purchase the necessary software. Most graphic artists work in the Adobe Creative Suite, which includes Photoshop, InDesign and Illustrator. Some designers also like to add other software to the arsenal in the form of animation software such as Maya and web design software such as Dreamweaver.
2. Step 2

   Enroll in an educational program. There are several programs available to those interested in digital media. Whether you desire a certificate program, a two-year degree, a four-year degree, or a graduate degree in the field, you can find graphic arts programs at most major universities and in art and trade schools in most major cities. See Resources below for school listings.

3. Step 3

   Complete an internship. After you have gained the educational experience and put together a light portfolio, you should search for a graphic design internship. Most schools will have listings of local businesses and organizations offering internships to graduates.

4. Step 4

   Ask for an apprenticeship. If you don’t want to go to school, you can always offer to work for free as an apprentice under a local designer in order to gain experience and create a portfolio. The best way to get an apprenticeship is to find a local designer or design firm whose work you admire and bring in a portfolio of artwork (it doesn’t necessarily have to be graphic design work if you can prove you have an artistic eye) and a resume and simply ask. Apprenticeships are rarely advertised, but quite often firms and artists are happy to teach an eager artist in return for a little hard work on your part.

5. Step 5

   Try your hand at online tutorials. If you are unable to attend school or do an apprenticeship, online tutorials can help you to at least learn the software tools of the trade. The Abduzeedo blog (see Resources below) offers great graphic design tutorials.

Adobe Updater is an application that comes with Adobe applications such as Reader or Creative Suite. It launches automatically and connects to the Internet, where it prompts you with frequent notifications to download updates from the Adobe server. If you prefer to update your program manually when you want to, disable the Adobe Updater application to get rid of the notifications.

Windows Users

1. Step 1

   Click the Windows “Start” menu and click “My Computer” (Windows XP) or “Computer” (Windows Vista and 7).

2. Step 2

   Double-click the “C:” drive, double-click the “Program Files” folder and then double-click the “Common Files” folder. Double-click the “Adobe” folder and double-click the “Adobe Updates” folder.

3. Step 3

   Locate the AdobeUpdater.exe file on the Adobe Updates folder and double-click it. Click “Preferences” and uncheck the “Automatically check for updates” check box. Click “OK” to save the changes. This disables the Adobe Updater application

Mac OS X Users

4. Step 1

   Click the “Macintosh HD” drive on the desktop and click “Applications” on the left panel.

5. Step 2

   Double-click “Utilities” and double-click “Adobe Utilities.” Double-click the “Adobe Update 5″ folder.

6. Step 3

   Find the AdobeUpdater file and double-click it. Click “Preferences” and uncheck the “Automatically check for updates” check box. Click “OK” to save the changes. This disables the Adobe Updater application.

Thanks to the Photoshop graphics software available from Adobe’s Creative Suite, photographers, artists and designers are no longer tied fast to their cameras, time of day, lighting or even subjects’ clothing or makeup. Photoshop’s tools, filters, colors and palettes can aid even the most novice user in enhancing, editing and tweaking pictures. Photoshop can even handle color noise, which may come from colors clashing next to each other, colors appearing too harsh or the need to eliminate color completely, all with a few quick steps.

1. Open Photoshop and click “File,” then click “Open.” Browse to a photo on your computer to edit for color noise, then double-click it so it appear in your workspace.
2. Step 2

   Click the “Lasso” tool on the “Tools” palette on the left side of the screen. Draw an outline around an object in the picture giving off color noise, such as a t-shirt, balloon, flower or road sign. A dotted blinking line will appear.

3. Step 3

   Click “Image,” then click “Adjust” and select “Hue/Saturation.” Move the “Hue” slider bar to the left or the right, which completely changes the color of the item without reducing or increasing its brightness or depth of color. Click the “OK” or “Cancel” button.

4. Step 4

   Use the “Lasso” again to circle another area of color noise, one that is too bright or deeply colored for the picture. Bring up the “Hue/Saturation” menu again, but this time, move the “Saturation” bar to the left. As you do, color is gradually removed from the image, starting with the highest amounts. The farther left you go, the more grayscale the image appears. Click the “OK” or “Cancel” button.

5. Step 5

   Deselect any selected areas or blinking dotted lines by right-clicking and choosing “Deselect.” Click “Image” and then choose “Mode.” Choose “Grayscale” and click “OK” to the warning window. This removes all color from your image, including the noise; you can now pick and choose color to add back in.

6. Step 6

   Use the “Lasso” tool to select an area, such as someone’s eye, hat or a river. Click “Image,” “Mode” and choose “CMYK Color.” Nothing will happen yet. With the area still blinking, click “Image,” Adjust” and “Hue/Saturation.” Move the “Hue” slider bar and you can add in color to your desire.

Windows Media Audio (WMA) files may be burned to DVD using the Data DVD function in a DVD burning application. Burning the WMA file to the DVD as a data file preserves the original format of the audio file. DVD burning utilities such as Nero Burning ROM and Roxio Creative Suite may be used to create Data DVDs, as well as DVDs in other formats. Creating a Data DVD with a DVD burning application is simple and requires just a few steps to complete the task.

1. Insert a blank DVD into the DVD burner.
2. Step 2

   Open the DVD burning application.

3. Step 3

   Select “Burn Data Disk” or “Burn Data DVD.”

4. Step 4

   Drag and drop the WMA file into the DVD burning interface.

5. Step 5

   Click the red “Burn” button to burn the WMA to the DVD.

6. Step 6

   Verify the WMA file saved to DVD by opening Windows Explorer and navigating to the WMA file on the DVD. Play the WMA file in Windows Media Player or another compatible player.

Graphic design is a learned skill, but it’s not necessary to have a degree to make a living as a graphic artist. With a good eye for design and an aptitude for problem solving, becoming a professional graphic designer is a challenging yet attainable goal.

By devoting the hours necessary to learning software skills and then creating projects that reflect a talent for design, a career can be won without having to enroll in design school.

Get Started

1. Step 1

   Acquire either a PC or Macintosh and design software like one or more of Adobe Creative Suite packages. Adobe products (Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop and Dreamweaver) have become the standard in the design and print industry.

2. Step 2

   Find on-line tutorials for the design software installed on your computer. Proficiency at using this software is required by most graphic design employers, but even an independent freelancer must learn to use the tools of the trade. Continuing education courses at a community college or private tutors are also comprehensive sources of education.

3. Step 3

   Contact a local design studio or advertising agency and offer to be an apprentice. Though unpaid, this type of work is invaluable as on-the-job training and the projects created make credible additions to a designer’s portfolio. Professional affiliations like this add authority to a new designer’s resume.

4. Step 4

   Build a portfolio of completed design projects and make them available for viewing on-line. This can be done using a dedicated Web site or blog. Also, prepare a portfolio of printed works to show versatility as a designer with layout skills.

5. Step 5

   Create a resume that details apprenticeships, software skills, special training, and any professional memberships associated with the design industry.

The Adobe Creative Suite gives users the benefit of relatively easy integration between its programs. One of the ways the programs work together is by allowing the vector program, Illustrator, to work with one of the raster programs, Photoshop. Using Illustrator’s Live Trace functions, you can convert even the most complicated layered Photoshop files into resizable vector artwork.

1. Open Illustrator and select “File” and “Open” from the application window. Locate the layered PSD file you want to vectorize on your computer, and click “Open.”
2. Step 2

   Choose to convert layers to objects or flatten all of the layers into a single image in the “Photoshop Import Options” dialog box that appears. Unless you are sure otherwise, choose the “Flatten Layers to a Single Image” option for most photographs. Click “OK.”

3. Step 3

   Select “Object” followed by “Live Trace” and “Tracing Options” from the application menu. This will bring up a dialog box of tracing options for creating paths and fills from the lines of your layered PSD file. Unless you want some of the other tracing effects, select “Photo High Fidelity” from the Preset drop-down and set the Max Colors slider to “256.” This will create paths as close to identical as possible to your PSD. Click “Trace” and wait for the progress bar to finish.

4. Step 4

   Click back into the “Object” menu in the application bar and select “Expand.” This will convert the trace that was just made into paths, and your image will become a vector file.

5. Step 5

   Select “File” and “Save As” from the application menu, enter a name for your new file and select either “.ai” or “.eps” from the Format drop-down. These formats are the common vector file formats: “.ai” is the proprietary format for Illustrator, and “.eps” is a more universal format which can be edited in other vector programs.

Adobe Photoshop is considered the essential software for graphic design. It is sold on its own, or as part of Adobe’s Creative Suite, which also includes Illustrator, InDesign, Flash, Dreamweaver, Acrobat Pro and several other tools. Photoshop’s primary functions include photo editing, website design, and the creation of elements for any type of project. It is also commonly used to create layouts for design, such as posters and business cards, although Illustrator or InDesign are often better for those tasks.

1. Create the button shape. Select a circular area with the selection tool. (Hold down the shift key, this will make the selection stay circular, rather than being elliptical.) Fill the area with the paint bucket. This is the curved end of your web button.
2. Step 2

   Select a column for extension. Zoom in using Ctrl + and select a one-pixel wide area in the center of the circle. You can use the normal Selection Tool to do this, or you can hold down on the Selection Tool, and choose the Single Column Marquee Tool.

3. Step 3

   Extend the button shape. Select the web button and press Ctrl+T to “Free Transform” the selection. Extend the selection to the left as far as possible.

4. Step 4

   Color the web buttons. Press Ctrl+U to bring up the Hue/Saturation properties of the layer. Click “Colorize”. Drag the sliders around to pick a color. Choose your color.

5. Step 5

   Give the buttons “Effects.” To layer buttons in Photoshop 6.0 and 7.0 click on the layers list, double-click here to layer or right-click in Photoshop 5 and select “Effects”. Also this is where you can give web buttons a Drop Shadow and/or a Bevel look.

You will need an eye not only for composition but also for opportunity, new graphic design trends and technology, plus the will to promote and network yourself, if you want to set up a graphic design business. The field is overflowing with small, upstart graphic design businesses, many run right out of the homes of designers and artists. To set up your graphic design business, start by buying the right software, then register your business and find clients. Here are a few quick tips.

1. Register your business with your state. This requires filling out a simple form and paying a small fee to place your business name on the state’s permanent records. Now you are ready to approach clients.
2. Step 2

   Select a specific area of expertise. It could be 3-D graphics, T-shirt graphics, business logos, Web design or a combination of two or three areas. Whatever you choose, be sure there is a growing need for this type of work, and be sure you can deliver excellent results at a very low cost. Then buy the right software for your graphic design needs. Today many companies use the Adobe Creative Design Suite, Quark, Pagemaker or Microsoft Publisher. If you are really into design, you already know this.

3. Step 3

   Decide whether you want to hire employees, outsource or do the work yourself. Eventually, you will want to hire employees, but for the time being, you might consider outsourcing your overflow to freelancers, in exchange for a small percentage of their hourly rate. Hire only the best freelancers to complete your overflow assignments, because companies will judge you by how they perform.

4. Step 4

   Decide whether you want to run the business as a sole proprietorship (using your Social Security number for tax purposes) or as an LLC, corporation, joint venture and so forth. Forming an LLC is a good way to save on taxes, but consult your tax professional first before you incorporate or register your business name.

5. Step 5

   Manage your contacts and expenses with a program like Quickbooks bookkeeping software. Set up your program to keep track of expenses like ink, paper, photocopying, time spent on mock-up creations, client visits, outsourced work and any other expenses you incur. When it comes time to do your taxes, you might be amazed at how much you are allowed to deduct.

6. Step 6

   Find clients. Finding the right clients is crucial to success. Good clients will return to your business again and again, and if they are happy with your work, they will return the favor by recommending you to other businesses. Advertise in the phone book and on search engines, and network with other design companies, freelancers, business owners and clients you have freelanced for in the past.

7. Step 7

   Keep networking and use past clients for freelance or full-time roles to find new clients. Many times your old co-workers will be happy to help you out.

8. Step 8

   Set your rates. Do not hire yourself out cheap just to get new work. You will not benefit in the long run, and companies will expect you to do work cheaply.