Archive for January, 2009
More Billboard
A marketing director I worked with always liked to add more elements to my designs. I usually put in less elements, knowing that we’d settle on a reasonable compromise of elements…
I came up with the joke that every design I did for him just needed more cowbell. (If this makes no sense, watch this video).
That being said, cowbell really at the heart of the matter was something you didn’t want. So, when I came across this billboard, I had to laugh.
Why… on earth… would anybody REALLY want more cowbell?
Photoshop CS2 Tutorial – Reflective Type – Beginner Level
Download a printable PDF of this Tutorial Here.
This reflective type effect we will be doing is often seen on the web and it can help give a sleek, glossy look to a website. You will need a semi-recent version of Photoshop to follow along with this tutorial. I’m using Photoshop CS2 in this tutorial but the shortcuts should be the same for all versions.
(Final Image)
1. First, create a new photoshop document. In this case I made it 300 pixels high by 300 pixels wide at 72 dpi.
(fig. 1)
Now Select all by typing “command-A” if you’re on a mac and “control-A” on a PC.
We’ll make our background layer blue by clicking on the top square at the bottom of the palette.(Fig-A)
Figure A – The Photoshop Pallete
I chose a blue, #000066 hexidecimal color but feel free to choose whatever color you want. Hit “option-delete” if you’re on a Mac or “Alt-delete” on a PC to fill your selected area with the foreground color that you chose.
(Fig. 2)
2. Next we’ll make a surface for the text to sit on. (Fig. 2) Select the Marque tool, it’s the one shaped like a square at the top of the palette.(Fig A) Make a selection by clicking and dragging just outside the left side of the document. Fill this new selection with the color of your choice, in this case we used #9999cc. (Hit optn/alt-delete to fill the selection)
(Fig. 3)
3. Type in the text you want to display. Hit the (T) key on the keyboard or click on the type tool,(the one shaped like a T about midway down the palette) and type the text “4Life IT”. (Fig 3) I used the typeface Trebuchet MS, 60 point, white. Drag the text into the position so that it’s just sitting on top of the surface we created in step 2.
4. Duplicate the type layer that you just created by putting your cursor over the text and holding option on a Mac or alt on a PC. (You will see your cursor turn to two arrows to indicate that you are duplicating the layer.
(Fig. 4)
5. Flip the new layer you created by going to the top menu and selecting Edit/Transform/Flip Vertical. Move the new layer in position right below your type. For a hovering effect you can leave some space between the text and the reflection. For this tutorial we won’t leave any space between the text and the reflection.(Fig. 4)
Make the new layer 40 percent transparent by dragging your opacity at the top of your layers palette to the left.
Figure B – The Layers Palette
(By default the layers palette in Photoshop is located to the bottom right of your screen) (Fig. B)
A good shortcut for this transparency/opacity effect is to make sure your move tool is selected (V key), make sure your on the correct layer, and hit the number 4 for 40 percent opacity.
(Fig. 5)
6. Now make the new reflection fade by using the gradient tool with a layer mask (Fig. 5). Make sure your reflection layer is selected. At the bottom of the layers palette, click the rectangle with a circle in the middle.(Fig B) This will add a layer mask to the selected layer.
Now select the gradient tool (G) on the keyboard and hit (D) on the keyboard to make sure your colors are set to default. This will ensure your gradient goes from a solid black to white. Put your cursor at the bottom of the reflective text, hold the shift key to constrain the effect and drag upward.
Hit cmd/ctrl z to undo the change if you don’t like it and try again until you get the effect you’re after. I found the effect I liked was when I dragged the cursor all the way from the bottom to the very top of the reflective text.
WaLa! That’s some sleek and glossy reflective type!
Download a printable PDF of this Tutorial Here.
Selecting a Barber
For most people, getting a haircut is a monthly ritual, so with that in mind it is important to select a barber or hair stylist that you enjoy. It is surprising how often once a month actually is, so don’t select someone who you don’t like or you’ll end up procrastinating your haircuts. You can always tell people who don’t like their barbers because their hair always looks like crap.
My barber is silent and only says the essentials, like “how do you want your haircut?” Then, he remains silent for the duration of the actual haircutting. This I enjoy. I think it would be much easier to select barbers if there was a such thing as a “silent barber”. “Silent Barber” could be a tag-line on their sign and could be a promotional item on their advertisements.
The other thing that is important when selecting a barber is ensuring that they are inexpensive. For me it’s got to be less than $10 with tip or I’m going to start looking like someone who doesn’t like their barber.
For me, the barber never picks up a scissors and only uses the electric clippers with different length attachments. It’s funny that every barber thinks that you should know what number their attachment is. “Would you like a number 4 on top or a number 3?” I answer with “leave about an inch” and they tell me “Okay, that’s a number 4″.
One time I even wrote the number down, thinking it would make the experience easier. It seemed to work, but it must have made things too easy on the barber because they started talking to me, asking me what I was doing today and how my weekend was. “SILENCE”, I said… but asked for silence is not the same as initial silence, it was just awkward. I no longer go to that barber.
Dining Out
When you sit down at the table there will usually be a menu waiting for you. Open it up and discuss food selection with your companion. If you do not have a companion, discuss it with yourself.
While you are deciding what to order, several other people will likely pass your table on their way to be seated. You can look at them if you want to but do not follow them. Keep concentrated on your food selection and get ready to place your order.
When the waiter comes to your table to take your order, it is important that you are ready to order. If you are not, the waiter will happily leave but will often not return for a very, very long time.
Once you have ordered, you will sit and wait. It sometimes helps to talk while you wait. For example at my last dining out experience, I talked about how two of the restaurant tables were round while the majority of tables were rectangular. The inconsistnacy bothered me and it helped to ease the tension by talking about it. Time also flies when you’re having an engaging conversation with yourself.
Anyway, when the food arrives it is best to eat it. The owners of the restaurant appreciate this and afterall it’s the main task you are here at the restaurant to complete. When you are finished, ask the waiter for your check and pay your bill. Now that you have finished going out to eat, congratulate yourself.
Going to the Liquor Store
Pull into the parking lot and find the entrance to the store. This is usually simple because there will be a sign that says “pull” adjacent to the handle. Some liquor stores unfortunately do not have this instruction, making it difficult to enter. If you run into this problem ask someone who looks like they’ve been inside the store. They will usually be able to direct you.
Once inside, browse the isles and notice all the different colored bottles that are actually various types of alcoholic beverages. Clear colors and browns are often a good choice, choose one that suits you.
Once you have your selection you’ll want to pay for it at the cashier. There will usually be several of them, it is often best to choose the one with the shortest line. This is not always the case however because sometimes the cashier with the shortest line is also the one who’s trying to get you to invite them to a party. People tend to avoid this line and this is usually why it is the shortest.
The general reason why nobody wants to invite these cashiers to their party is because they don’t know who they are. Unfortunately, the cashiers do not understand this and therefore act like someone who would be well placed at the center of any party. If you hear a cashier’s voice throughout the duration of your liquor store visit, it’s generally a good idea to avoid their line even though it is the shortest. Unless of course you are in a hurry and are willing to endure a story or two about how well they know how to party.
Anyway, once you’ve checked out, make your way to the exit. This is usually the same as your entry point but not always. If you can’t find the exit, ask someone who looks like they’re headed that direction and you should be good to go.
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