login | register
  • home
  • podcast
  • blog
  • eye candy
  • great sites
  • mypicks
  • portfolio
  • quantum tips
  • table tango
  • feedback
  • subscribe to this feed
  • Digital Photography
  • Web Effects I

  • It's Finally Here: My Book on MultimediaIt's Finally Here: My Book on Multimedia
    Well, my book has finally arrived. Exploring Multimedia for Designers from Thomson Delmar (now Cengage Learning) is an exploration of what it takes to become a multimedia artist. The DVD included with the book has 20 lessons with 8 hours of hands-on Flash tutorials. The book covers subjects like: The creative process, audio, video, storytelling, animation principles and much more. Check it out (patting my own back).
  • BasecampBasecamp
    I'm a closet organizer (this has to be read in a very punny fashion). I'm also very cheap and I rarely pay for stuff I can usually get for free, but every once in a while, there's a product I can't resist. Basecamp has been one of them. It's a simple way or organizing your projects. There's a free version, but I warn you, you'll quickly get hooked into one of the pricier packages.
  • El Gato Eye TV HybridEl Gato Eye TV Hybrid
    Clearly a thing of beauty, this little gadget allows you to make your computer a PVR, record any input source including S-Video, RCA and coax in real time, so plug in your x-box, your old VHS movies or your antenna. If that wasn't great enough the software is truly inspired.
  • VLC Media PlayerVLC Media Player
    I love VLC's capacity to play just about everything. This cross-platform media viewer let's you skip annoying DVD menus, read directly from a MP4, mov, CD, VCD and just about any other file format. Plus, it gives you control (although it's a pain to find) over how much caching it does so I can watch movies over my wireless network.
  • FireWorksFireWorks
    Who knows if Adobe will decide to keep Fireworks instead of the convoluted ImageReady/Photoshop combo. My vote is to keep this excellent program. It's vector approach to bitmap drawing is unique and superior than anything else for building web graphics.
  • Wiretap ProWiretap Pro
    nother application that's absolutely a must for any Mac professional. Wiretap Pro will let you record anything that you can hear through the mac audio port into an mp3. You can record any Real Player, Windows Media, iDVD or Itunes audio or sample something from anything that will play on your mac audio. From one of my favorite companies...Ambrosia, check it out.
  • The Writer's HandbookThe Writer's Handbook
    Face it...we're all writers. If you work in the creative field, you're called upon to write copy for your site, come up with a paragraph or two for your layouts, write a story for your flash pieces, etc. This excellent book will give you tips and techniques to make your copy great. With articles like Freelance 101, 10 Ways to Get Story Ideas, Creating a Worthy Villain...a total of 61 articles will weave through the mechanics of writing. I like the fact that the articles are short, and easy to read. Now in it's 69th edition (whoah!), the book has tons of information on how and where to submit articles to top magazines and publishers.
  • High Score: The History of Video GamesHigh Score: The History of Video Games
    Have you ever had a book that was so good, even if someone stole it you'd buy it again? I did, and High Score was it (alright, it was borrowed and never returned...same thing). A look through the history of video games from pinball machines to present day systems, thoroughly illustrated with behind the scenes information, screenshots of games and interviews with the people who changed the world...one quarter at a time. I hate to have bought this twice, but I just couldn't live without it. Dang!!! it's a new edition too, so I'm going to have to buy it again.
  • IPodsIPods
    A while back, I decided to buy an MP3 player. I thought I knew what I was doing so I made the mistake of buying something other than an iPod. After being disappointed about the product, I exchanged it for a nano and haven't looked back since. There's a reason why it's the most popular player in the market.
  • Spy Kids 2Spy Kids 2
    I'm going to recommend this movie, not for the film itself, but for the commentary. Robert Rodriguez (Once Upon a time in Mexico, From Dusk 'till Dawn) does a great job explaining his creative process and gives a behind the scenes account of the amazing special effects. In a lot of his movies, for example, the actors are filmed separately and put together digitally. The movie isn't half bad either, it's by far the best in the trilogy.
  • Flash Math CreativityFlash Math Creativity
    Math can be a powerful ally and help you create exciting special effects in your projects. This book shows you how some very smart people achieve top notch graphic effects using Flash and math.