Accordion Flash on Semiomantics XO

While I am in the process of creating an Evolution Flashsite for Monkey Valley Beach Nature Resort in Noordhoek, South Africa, I am thinking of ways of promoting it on the Internet.

A brilliant way of doing this is by using an Accordion Flash as I did on Semiomantics XO; see it yourself on my Web Design Blog and on the screenshot below. Click on it and it opens in an overlay in a bigger format. But going through to the website itself and seeing it all in action is much better to understand how it all works. It’s just a first try for me; there will be many versions with the same technique. It’s just a matter of getting the hang of it and then going a bit overboard :)

Accordion Flash on Semiomantics XO

This Accordion Flash on Semiomantics XO gives us the possibility to basically insert up to 8 pictures accompanied by semi-transparent text fields that we can fill with slogans or any form of information that relates to what we show or what we want to express.

Semiomantics Evolution Flash

We have seen the same principle on our brand-new Semiomantics Evolution Flash – see my example on Bookcovers.

Once I have sorted out the conversion of the intro video into something even slow lines like ours down here where pink elephants abound can download and see without buffering, I will provide links.

The Semiomantics Evolution Flash is available in my SHOP and will be entirely personalized for you. More on this to follow. . .

Author: Bianca Gubalke, Art, Media, Publishing. Co-Founder of YORGOO, YCADEMY and Semiomantics. If you enjoyed reading the above, please consider following future tips and strategies by RSS reader, Email delivery, or Kindle subscription.

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• Monkey Valley Beach Nature Resort
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• Working from Monkey Valley
• Learning Flash at Ycademy Seminar

Learning Flash at Ycademy Seminar

“Learning Flash” is the main topic at this month’s Ycademy Seminar – May 2010 that is.

Well – it can’t be done over the period of 2 days, however, it’s been well prepared over weeks and – while we all know there’s yet a wide field to cover over time to come -, we will already be able to successively integrate attractive Flash components into our websites and blogs, especially Semiomantics Evolution! This and more will be covered, including some additional fundamentals in xml.

Learning Flash at Ycademy Seminar

As discussed in my earlier post, I was interested to find out from ADOBE as well as Autodesk teachers and pro’s at the Autodesk Entertainment Conference in Cape Town, South Africa, last Thursday, how “learning Flash” advances us on a possible route in direction of 3D Animation and, ultimately, Movie Production.

Think “Avatar”. . . and immediately all those incredibly exciting programs and techniques that played key roles in the production of this stunning and ground-breaking movie when it comes to technologic innovations – come to mind. Accordingly, they were displayed all over at the Roadshow.

The answers I got weren’t really conclusive nor inspiring. It became more and more apparent that there are not too many connections to Web Design… the way we work it… online.

The Flash teacher herself uses Flash exclusively to animate her characters – sketched out on paper and scanned in first – and then those are sent on to other programs following the workflow. She sees Flash as a way to familiarize students with the computer. There was no knowledge of ActionScript.

So there’s a wide field open for us to expand into – and learning Falsh at the Ycademy Seminar and regular daily Ycademy Workshops will fastforward us in the visual development of our Blogs and their subsequent appeal.

Web Design Consulting

While I am clearly in the learning process myself – and who pretends that one ever ends? -, I will be integrating more and more Flash Components into “Web Design Consulting”. And I am excited about it!

The new Semiomantics Evolution Script – as seen HERE presenting a selection of my Custom Bookcovers  -  is proving to be a real winner… and my current project on a Nature Resort – included also in My Noordhoek Project – will soon be published.

Meanwhile, you may want to browse my WP Best eShop for inspiration!

Author: Bianca Gubalke, Art, Media, Publishing. Co-Founder of YORGOO, YCADEMY and Semiomantics. If you enjoyed reading the above, please consider following future tips and strategies by RSS reader, Email delivery, or Kindle subscription.

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• Redefine Great Entertainment
• Happy Birthday Yorgo
• Better Digital Photography 2010 with Active Scripts
• Custom Bookcovers
• QR Code Art

Increase Your Business Exposure

As any business owner knows, business is about making those sales, whatever your product. Even if you are a handyman, tiler or carpenter, you need customers in order to sell your skill and be paid. You need business exposure to bring you those customers.

Simple methods are great and work well, the tried and tested methods like logos, business cards, stickers, flyers, brochures but in todays ‘googling’ society you need a good presence online to, it gives you credibility too.

If I need a tiler, handyman or carpenter in Essex where I live, where do I go to find one?

I know that I am not the only one these days to go and ‘google’ my request to find exactly what I need, unless of course someone has recommended such a service before and I have kept a record, otherwise it’s straight to Google. Googling is much more common these days and very much a habit for many people, like myself. Forget the big cumbersome yellow tome ‘the yellow pages’ give me Google any day. Type in your request and up comes a selection of businesses or suggestions to choose from. If you are a business owner, this is the place to be ….and be seen!

Business Presentation

A good presence online starts with your business name and brand and a website design. Your website is your business presentation, active and working for you 24 hours a day, 7 days  week and all  year around. A permanent ad that displays your business. A one time fee that works for you for a full year.

I know from past experience that I have grabbed a business card and stuffed it in my pocket, and when the time was right I checked out the www on the card to view the business presentation in more detail. In our busy lives these  days quiet times when things get done are often long past normal business hours, but your business presentation continues to work for you even when you are asleep.

Website Design

Website design is not as expensive as some may think. A good basic website design displaying a business presentation is an investment and costs much less than placing an ad in a newspaper all year round. Discussing your needs with a web site designer is much more cost effective in the long run than making a decision yourself. An IT Consultant can direct you to the best possible solution for your business needs  and provide you with an affordable website design.

Author: Zo Nicholas, Media, Marketing, Publishing. Co-Founder of YORGOO, Ycademy,YORGOO Press and Semiomantics. If you enjoyed reading the above, please consider following future tips and strategies by RSS reader or Subscribe by Email.

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• Christmas 2009 and beyond
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3D Animation follows Flash

When one studies the exciting Flash features and especially Flash Components in our Ycademy Workshops and in Adobe Flash Tutorials and Manuals, it becomes clear that knowing Flash is a good foundation when looking at 3D Animation.

From my professional background as an artist and moviemaker, it becomes more and more apparant that 3D Animation follows Flash.

Bookcover Design on Semiomantics Flash Evolution

My above Bookcover Design on Semiomantics Flash Evolution was just the first step into the direction of Flash – just click the picture for the whole show – , much more has followed in the past and I am aware that Flash is essential to enhance our Web Design and offer more value to our Customers.

This is also why Flash – especially also in combination with Semiomantics Evolution – is the topic of this month’s Ycademy Seminar that will take place this coming weekend.

Please visit WP Best eShop for more information.

3D Animation follows Flash

With the optic on “3D Animation follows Flash” or how Adobe Flash and 3D Animation are related – I will be asking the big Pro’s of Autodesk and Adobe at today’s Autodesk Launch about their professional opinion, on how the two are related even while being two totally different stand-alone disciplines, what combines them and especially where they differentiate – and how learning Flash advances us on the path to understanding 3D Animation… especially when having a fair understanding of Adobe Photoshop.

I’m sure I will be meeting with my friends from Toonboom Animation as well and get some conclusive answers.

So while the storms are hurling across the mountain range with heavy rains in their wake and workers cutting up the wood of fallen trees for the Church…, while transport strikes are still causing havoc all over the city… and on top we have to deal with destructive threats… just when we all should stand as one and welcome the world to the fairest of all Cape with its famous abundance of fresh creativity, musical vibes and talents, I’m off to share that cherished atmosphere of creative independent people of all ages, full of ideas, gifted with many accomplishments and  with big dreams… sort of an offline open-source format.

Never mind the chaos outside and around… if we have a Big Dream… it expands without limits and encompasses all that is!

I will be back with news…

Author: Bianca Gubalke, Art, Media, Publishing. Co-Founder of YORGOO, YCADEMY and Semiomantics. If you enjoyed reading the above, please consider following future tips and strategies by RSS reader, Email delivery, or Kindle subscription.

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• New Noordhoek Flash Intro
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Best Cape Town Restaurants

Best Cape Town Restaurants – a beautiful, practical and mouth-watering virtual journey through one of the most spectacular places in the Western Cape – called “Paradise on Earth” by many who visited it – is almost ready after many weeks of preparation and very intense work.

Best Cape Town Restaurants

Best Cape Town Restaurants is completely built on a very basic Semiomantics Evolution Script and only needs a reduction in size concerning the Flash Movie as 8 MB are still too big for slow connections despite encoding by the new Media Encoder on Adobe CS4. Then it needs more branding and protection of course. And we want to copy it onto a CD to wipe out any connectivity problems and slow lines alltogether and thus create a brilliant marketing tool!

Which reminds me that I still have to design that one… the CD or DVD cover!

Ycademy Seminar May 2010

The Ycademy Seminar May 2010 will go into Flash and Flash encoding. All ticket holders will already be able to download a converter from Powerpoint to Flash… so get ready to flash!

Author: Bianca Gubalke, Art, Media, Publishing. Co-Founder of YORGOO, YCADEMY and Semiomantics. If you enjoyed reading the above, please consider following future tips and strategies by RSS reader, Email delivery, or Kindle subscription.

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• Blog for Money
• Building Your Personal Blog
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Upgrading to 64 bit

As we are moving into a completely media-oriented future – just watch improved streaming options and Adobe CS5 changes for that and be amazed! – upgrading to 64 bit becomes essential.

Upgrading to 64 bit

Though a little bit nervous, I went into upgrading my laptop to 64 bit, kicking out basically everything, including my CS3 Master Collection!

It went rather smoothly and fast, but there were really no programs left… they all needed a new, fresh installation!

Adobe CS5 Master Collection

Meanwhile, I also installed my Adobe CS5 Master Collection without any hassles and have started looking into what Adobe Evangelists call their favorite top 5 to 10 new features if compared with the previous version, CS4.

There are brilliant tutorials out there to learn from.

Interestingly, and to come back to updating to 64 bit, certain Adobe programs run only on 64 bit and some we still have to pick up from CS4. Also, I had to instal the Adobe Flash player on the 32-bit Internet Explorer this morning – not possible on the 64bit Internet Explorer. So all is moving, changing, flowing . . .

However, I believe the Adobe magicians have come up with a fantastic release and I will spend precious quality time learning the new features and Web Graphics Tutorials… besides Flash of course, which is the topic of our current Ycademy Workshops and Seminars.

Author: Bianca Gubalke, Art, Media, Publishing. Co-Founder of YORGOO, YCADEMY and Semiomantics. If you enjoyed reading the above, please consider following future tips and strategies by RSS reader, Email delivery, or Kindle subscription.

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Adobe Flash Workshops and Seminar by Ycademy

A  new important Ycademy development cycle will start next week: Adobe Flash will be the focus for the next 3 weeks and beyond as the case may be.

The Ycademy May Seminar, which will take place on May 29 and 30, 2010 will concentrate on practical flash application and template modification accessible to people who have followed the flash cycle as well as for participants who have no clue about flash coding: we will work along two parallel workflows, one focused on flash editing, the second on xml editing.

Photo Yorgo Nestoridis

Flash Animated Photo Album

Here is our ambitious educational plan:

Week 1: Introduction and Graphics Creation and Animation

Week 2: Action Script 3.0, Flash Audio and Flash Video

Week 3: Interactive Flash, Project Editing and Publishing

The Great Ycademy Flash Seminar

The Program of the Seminar will be released shortly, however we already know that the Seminar will focus on productivity and using Flash to increase our service level for the benefit of our customers. Namely we will develop and implement flash based products and add them to our product range.

Pre-requisites

This cycle is for participants who have Flash CS4 or CS5 installed or who will install it shortly. The Trial Version available at Adobe will do for the time of the cycle. Please contact Bianca for more information and the best way of equipping your computer with the software.

It is recommended to follow all daily calls as from Monday, May 10, 2010 to acquire the basics; the calls will be recorded. Recordings are available for free to Ycademy Pros, and they are included in the Seminar ticket available shortly.

The Ycademy Flash Cycle is accessible to beginners and there is no need to have any special knowledge. Basic Photoshop knowledge is an asset but not necessary.

Note

The Ycademy Flash Cycle is the most Cost and Time effective way to take our online Web Design and Site Development business to the next level. Join Ycademy Pro and take advantage of permanent updates and cutting edge of technology made available to interested ordinary people wanting to do extraordinary things.

Author: Yorgo Nestoridis, Media Marketing & Publishing, Founder of YORGOO Publishing, YORGOO Press and Semiomantics. If you enjoyed reading the above, please consider following future tips and strategies by RSS reader, Email delivery, or Kindle subscription.

Digital Photography 2010

Being a passionate photographer since I was a little girl, and having integrated it into my artistic work with exhibitions in Europe back in the late 80’s, I am very excited to give Digital Photography 2010 a lot of attention and focus over the next two weeks. Our Daily Workshops are ideal to fill all the gaps and shadow areas that have accumulated over the years of little or no practice or that are normal if one just uses the digital camera to take some quick shots here and there without any higher ambitions.

The fact is that we could turn almost any decent digital camera into a brilliant tool to express ourselves the way we feel it.

For the more seasoned photo afficinados: maybe it’s time to step on the brake and look at something with new eyes, like one was seeing it for the very first time. . . re-discovering it, witnessing evolution, observing the similarities as well as the differences of what we may have been used to before… or what we may have been completely overlooking as sticking to our favourite routine. . .Recall… rethink basic principles and their interpretation and practical application. Experiment. Dig deeply into that excitement that comes when we go beyond the technique and … improvise!

In Digital Photography – as with Photography in general – it’s a Dance with Light!

Digital Photography 2010

The learning never stops… and while obviously the same principles of light and shadow, black & white or color… speed… frame and composition apply – to name a few – definitely, Digital Photography 2010 is not what traditional photography was a few decades ago.

Besides, the way we organize our photographic workflow and especially the post-editing complex on our computer today will not be what we will be looking at in 5 or 10 years’ time! By then the camera itself may be obsolete and we possibly just look and paste – directly via the most sensitive sensor there is: the retina – laser-beamed onto transparent screens… where we create the picture itself – perhaps in form of a hologram – directed by the power of thoughts, of memories, of imagination – who knows? Ok… back to basics :)

Learn Digital Photography Basics at Ycademy Seminar April 2010

The Internet with its content-oriented websites and blogs has turned into a virtual showcase of images in all forms and shapes – pictures, videos, media – and it all starts with a digital photo or some graphically designed image. So that’s exactly where the starting point has to be for anyone wanting to adorn their blogs, posts, articles and of course websites with captivating good quality pictures… or who wants to take it further and sell digital photography online in a professional way.

If this resonnates with you and you own a digital camera, I can only recommend you Learn Digital Photography Basics together with us at the Ycademy Seminar April 2010 – just get in touch with me via the Contact Form and I provide you with the necessary information.

Dates: 24 and 25 April 2010 – 100% online with recordings for ticket holders only.

Ticket Price: $65 all materials included. The direct Ticket Link is HERE – but do confirm with me.

Author: Bianca Gubalke, Art, Media, Publishing. Co-Founder of YORGOO, YCADEMY and Semiomantics. If you enjoyed reading the above, please consider following future tips and strategies by RSS reader, Email delivery, or Kindle subscription.

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• Digital Photography 2010
• Resizing Pictures for Noordhoek Evolution Flash
• Font Study 3 for my Noordhoek Project
• New Noordhoek Flash Intro
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Custom Bookcovers

Attractive Book Covers sell the book… almost any book that is.

The question is: how does one present something like Custom Bookcovers – or any product or service – in a fresh, new, dynamic and captivating way? Especially now that the computer screen has become the most sought-after and expensive ‘real estate’ – or shall I say “virtual estate” – in the world?

Based on the enthusiastic feedback I receive from many interested parties, I believe that with the new Semiomantics Evolution Flash Script we’ve found the answer! This could turn into a real winner – watch this space!

Please click on the picture here and you will be guided to the Book Cover Presentation to see just a very reduced sample of what is possible for yourself.

Custom Bookcovers on Google Top 10

While we may be carried away with the smashing visual aspect of our current developments, we keep monitoring the results of our articles and blogs on Google – the mos timportant measuring stick online.

Yesterday’s post on “Presenting Custom Bookcovers” made it straight to Google Top 10 – and we see similar results under ‘customized’ as you see on the screenshot – in fact Rank 1 and more. . . :

Amazing – that’s Semiomantics. . .  plus some smart Editing and Publishing!

Get more info in MY SHOP HERE.

Author: Bianca Gubalke, Art, Media, Publishing. Co-Founder of YORGOO, YCADEMY and Semiomantics. If you enjoyed reading the above, please consider following future tips and strategies by RSS reader, Email delivery, or Kindle subscription.

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• Custom Bookcovers

Presenting Custom Bookcovers

Creating attractive book covers is one thing, Presenting Custom Bookcovers is another. That’s why I am very excited about the development of our brand-new Semiomantics Evolution Flash that offers us an impressive option of presenting custom bookcovers – or any other product or service – on the Internet. Here the short movie version on YouTube :

Ideally, we hook the Flash Presentation to our Author Blog or Business Blog to give a much more impressive and dynamic picture of what we have to offer.

From there our visitors are guided to our Blog or a Shop – just as you can see on  the smashing flash presentation below. If you click on the picture you get to the Flash Presentation itself.

Presenting Custom Bookcovers

Presenting Custom Bookcovers can obviously be done through a Microsoft PowerPoint Presentation alone, however, a smashing flash site as we have just developed now is just a totally different ballgame! But one has to know one’s way around to achieve speed and an astonishing picture quality at the same time.

One can imagine so many applications… and you’ll see lots of applications! It’s very exciting! And what a great and original way of advertising – even in South Africa!

Bookcovers or Book Covers

“Bookcovers or Book Covers?” is really the question when editing this topic in a Search Engine efficient way, meaning having Google Top 10 rankings in mind. There are clearly differences although we are talking about the exact same theme.

While our Flash Presentation focuses on visual attraction having the potential reader or customer in mind, Semiomantics Scripts are tuned to reach high Google rankings fast – so we continue to keep an eye on our movements on the Internet highway to always compete with the best, reach the top and stay there if that’s our ambition.

Smashing Flash Presentations

If you enjoy the Bookcover Flash, get your Book Covers custom tailored for your needs in my WP Best eShop.

Author: Bianca Gubalke, Art, Media, Publishing. Co-Founder of YORGOO, YCADEMY and Semiomantics. If you enjoyed reading the above, please consider following future tips and strategies by RSS reader, Email delivery, or Kindle subscription.

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• Accommodation Noordhoek (Accomodation Noordhoek)
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Bookcover Design by Bianca Gubalke

Finally, my first “Bookcover Design by Bianca Gubalke” Flash Presentation is ready, including a brief yet comprehensive video introduction – just published on YouTube.

Bookcover Design by Bianca Gubalke

The Flash Presentation itself about Bookcover Design by Bianca Gubalke you can watch by clicking on the picture that follows:

The introductory video could be shorter, but I would have to choose a different music. Here I really enjoyed creating an ‘ensemble’ of picture and sound… testing all sorts of new tools I had not worked with before. It cost me a lot of hair this Easter weekend to get to this point – and I am happy … patience and persistence pay!

However, converting the wmv file into a flashfile and loading it up to my server gave me a huge file – so I published it in YouTube which gave me the above result.

Microsoft PowerPoint 2010 Beta

The 15 slides for the movie on Bookcover Design were all created from original digital photos and web graphics in Adobe Photoshop and then inserted in Microsoft PowerPoint 2010 Beta.

The graphic tools on the new Microsoft PowerPoint 2010 Beta are great to work with and the more one does, the more possibilities open up.

However, I find the Audio tools are not satisfactory … or let’s say unfinished … in many ways.

It cost me a lot of nerves to find that I wouldn’t find what I was looking for – so after some hours of frustration I saved my pictures as single slides and then imported them into Windows Live Movie Maker. Perhaps there is a trick – but then it’s so well hidden I didn’t discover it… and as I exchanged thoughts on this issue with other spiffy people, the fact is that noone came to another conclusion than I did.

I had worked quite successfully on the old Windows Movie Maker and although this new one on Windows 7 looks sleek, one has to find one’s way through here as well… and having edited movies in the real world, I liked working with the timeline and the music and sound/voice lines and I am missing this here. They were so precise to work with… this is not the case here. Also, I really searched for it: but it seems I can only add one line, so here I chose public classical music.

Flash Presentations on Flash Evolution

Flash Presentations on Flash Evolution are fabulous and highly dynamic and captivating ways of introducing or presenting a product, service or just anything we wish to share on the Internet.

As I love working with media and am thrilled about our new Flash Evolution Script, creating Flash Presentations will now be offered in  WP Best eShop!

If you are interested in this fascinating new way of attracting visitors to your website or blog, and you haven’t seen the Flash Presentation on Bookcover Design yet, please do so now  HERE.

Author: Bianca Gubalke, Art, Media, Publishing. Co-Founder of YORGOO, YCADEMY and Semiomantics. If you enjoyed reading the above, please consider following future tips and strategies by RSS reader, Email delivery, or Kindle subscription.

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• Microsoft PowerPoint 2010 Beta

Custom Bookcovers by Bianca Gubalke

Announcing a new custom bookcover designed by Bianca Gubalke:

Custom Bookcovers by Bianca Gubalke

The above motive was already introduced in form of some elegant DVD Packaging on Valentine’s Day 2010; here now follows the Custom Bookcover designed by Bianca Gubalke.

WP Best eShop

All new custom bookcovers will be presented in my SHOP and can be used as guidelines when ordering an attractive bookcover design for your novel, a kid’s book or any form of publication.

Author: Bianca Gubalke, Art, Media, Publishing. Co-Founder of YORGOO, YCADEMY and Semiomantics. If you enjoyed reading the above, please consider following future tips and strategies by RSS reader, Email delivery, or Kindle subscription.

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QR Code Art

QR Code Art – what the heck is that now?

Following Yorgo’s creative invitation HERE I could obviously not resist to play with the interesting code, especially as Art, Web Graphics and Web Design are all along my line – and I always wanted to create a bookcover for Semiomantics. So here is one of my quick excursions in form of a direct application – more on it see below:

QR Code Art

Besides creating the QR Code Art itself, what interested me as well was the behaviour of certain fonts I plan to use on my Noordhoek Project at the coming Ycademy Seminar this weekend.

Custom Bookcover for Semiomantics Demystified

The custom bookcover for “Semiomantics Demystified” integrates my QR Code Art Design perfectly as you see below… and yes, it just started with the simple QR Code in black and white… nothing else!

Custom Bookcovers at WP Best eShop

Custom Bookcovers are available at my SHOP HERE – and as I am and always was passionate about books and even created bookcovers by hand in the traditional French way during my years in Paris, France, and later produced Graphic Artwork for large Publishing Houses in Germany – I would be very pleased to work on any bookcover project; just get in touch with me via the Contact Form.

Author: Bianca Gubalke, Art, Media, Publishing. Co-Founder of YORGOO, YCADEMY and Semiomantics. If you enjoyed reading the above, please consider following future tips and strategies by RSS reader, Email delivery, or Kindle subscription.

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QR Code fun

Just for the fun of on a TGIF!

Taking up Yorgo’s challenge to create a fun graphic with the QR code here is my contribution to the fun.

It certainly is a bit of lighthearted fun you can have when you need to get your mind of more serious matters in hand. Sometimes taking a fun break can re-energise the old brain matter into action.   With a little bit of help from Photoshop one can create some unique,  fun images. 

QR Code

Personally I have never heard of QR code before but here is a simple explaination of what it is from Wikipedia.
“A QR Code is a matrix code (or two-dimensional bar code) created by Japanese corporation Denso-Wave in 1994. The “QR” is derived from “Quick Response”, as the creator intended the code to allow its contents to be decoded at high speed… initially used for tracking parts in vehicle manufacturing, QR Codes are now used in a much broader context, including both commercial tracking applications and convenience-oriented applications aimed at mobile phone users.” 
It looks like the application of this code is still in its infancy but like the more common bar code it may be here to stay.

Author: Zo Nicholas, Media, Marketing, Publishing. Co-Founder of YORGOO, Ycademy,YORGOO Press and Semiomantics. If you enjoyed reading the above, please consider following future tips and strategies by RSS reader or Subscribe by Email.

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• 3D Logo Design
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• Creating a Flash Website
• Creating a Flash Website

Resizing Pictures for Noordhoek Evolution Flash

Resizing Pictures for my new Noordhoek Evolution Flash under construction is a crucial undertaking when it comes to creating large, screenfilling background images that are light – meaning around 100k and opening rapidly – and yet still of reasonably good quality.

A background picture is what it says: it’s in the background, sort of a framework or a support. It sets a mood, an ambience, even a style… it can be a stage, a scene, an overall setting – but it still is and has to remain in the background and basically showcase whatever is the main center of interest, eg. smaller pictures, slideshows, sliders, videos or of course text boxes in semi-transparent overlays.

If you think that we start with a 3000 x 4000 px x 300 resolution digital picture from our camera that is so large that it exceeds memory when you even try to save it for web and devices, then getting it down to around 100k without sitting with no picture at all or vague nothingness seems like almost impossible – unless you know how to get there… and get the results you want and need for your purpose.

In that sense, I am sure last night’s Ycademy Workshop on “Resizing Pictures in Photoshop” was not only extremely useful but also an eye-opener for many… and it’s just the beginning!

Meanwhile, I studied Yorgo’s great explanation on Resizing Pictures in Photoshop – which I only discovered this morning – and I am very grateful for clarifying this important chapter that remains a mystery unless understood through direct application.

Resizing Pictures for Noordhoek Evolution Flash

Based on all the new knowledge and understanding, there is no more guesswork and resizing Pictures for my Noordhoek Evolution Flash became real fast and efficient – and still amazes me!

The secret to remember is that resizing the image means that we intervene on the number of pixels per square inch; while resizing the document means that we intervene on the dimensions of the image.

Our goal is to optimize the relation between the number of pixels per square inch. . . and the size of the document. . . to obtain the best possible full-screen view in our Semiomantics Evolution. Also remember the comparison with the apples and strawberries per inch/cm! I always preferred strawberries anyway. . .

Web Graphics Design

For all those who attend the Ycademy Seminar March 2010 (this coming weekend) and could not attend or follow our Web Graphics Design Workshop on Photoshop last night, the resizing of pictures and photos is elementary for your Evolution Flash – so get to grips with it by reading Yorgo’s explanation and follow the steps for resizing your own background images in preparation of the Seminar.

I got to exactly the results I wanted as you see on the comparison above. Yes, there obviously is a difference in quality and sharpness between the two… however, it’s so minimal in terms of my purpose that it’s negligible for getting a great, expressive background picture . . . that’s opening real fast and is simply awesome when it comes to lightness!

Do join tonight’s Ycademy Workshop for the next preparatory step! Surprise! Our Evolution Flash will rock – with Noordhoek or without it!

Author: Bianca Gubalke, Art, Media, Publishing. Co-Founder of YORGOO, YCADEMY and Semiomantics. If you enjoyed reading the above, please consider following future tips and strategies by RSS reader, Email delivery, or Kindle subscription.

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Font Study 3 for my Noordhoek Project

Lastly, here is Font Study 3 for my Noordhoek Project, incorporating a font I’ve been using to brand myself since a while – here in the title and red heading. For the general text and sub-titles I kept the same font as in the other versions.

Also, here I used my personal preferred color scheme – red, white, black – and as I will be integrating many images in the red tones, this could theoretically work as well. . . no easy choice!

Font Study 3 for my Noordhoek Project

For the purpose of this exercise, I also tested ways of scaling down the weight of images while keeping a maximum of quality. We do this in two ways mainly: reducing the image size and then scaling down the quality of the picture.

As the image for Font Study 3 for my Noordhoek Project was reduced to 600 pixels wide and I don’t have that sexy magnifying glass, I add a detail shot to show the quality and sharpness of the fonts I used.

Ycademy Seminar March 2010

All these preparations target what we will be doing at the Ycademy Seminar March 2010 where we will build a beautiful Flash site. To optimize the learning process and be more efficient during the workshops, it makes sense to have these issues resolved and the images needed at hand.

Please join tonight’s call in yorgotalk where we will look into the creation and resizing of images and discuss issues in connection with Web Graphics Design and Website Development that we can handle or  improve with Photoshop CS4.

Author: Bianca Gubalke, Art, Media, Publishing. Co-Founder of YORGOO, YCADEMY and Semiomantics. If you enjoyed reading the above, please consider following future tips and strategies by RSS reader, Email delivery, or Kindle subscription.

Read more...

• Noordhoek on Flash
• Images that Create Empathy
• Font Study 2 for my Noordhoek Project
• Font Study 1 for my Noordhoek Project
• New Noordhoek Flash Intro

Font Study 2 for my Noordhoek Project

Here I am presenting Font Study 2 for my Noordhoek Project :

Font Study 2 for my Noordhoek Project

Font Study 2 for my Noordhoek Project applies the same color scheme as Font Study 1 in my earlier post HERE – however, I have used a very bold and solid font. It has a lot of character and as said before, it’s a matter of personal taste.

Web Design Consulting

Normally, when private people or companies request some Web Design, they already know their fonts and color scheme as this represents part of their branding – just as you know Coca Cola for its red font color and specific and widely recognizeable typical Coca Cola font – as an example.

However, sometimes people just start out and need professional advice based on what their product or service is or how they wish to brand themselves, based on their personal preferences. In each case, I would offer a couple of examples to choose from – after a solid briefing with the client of course. One change is usually included; the rest in terms of changes – and some people change their mind every hour – is calculated on hourly rates. . . otherwise one could end up in a never ending story. . . And it’s not an easy one either, agreed.

At Web Design Consulting we offer this Service; don’t hesitate to contact us HERE.

Author: Bianca Gubalke, Art, Media, Publishing. Co-Founder of YORGOO, YCADEMY and Semiomantics. If you enjoyed reading the above, please consider following future tips and strategies by RSS reader, Email delivery, or Kindle subscription.

Read more...

• Font Study 1 for my Noordhoek Project
• Noordhoek ready for Cape Argus Cycle Tour 2010
• Font Study 3 for my Noordhoek Project
• New Noordhoek Flash Intro
• My Noordhoek Indexed on Google

3D Logo Design

Relaxed Friday sessions are always a lot of fun. Using a logo creator that anyone can find online we created some fun 3D Logos. Ycademy sessions are always worth attending, especially for anyone who would like to accelerate their learning curve,  not only with fun stuff but also more serious topics concerning media, marketing or publishing online. 

3D Logo Fun Samples

These 3D logos were created very quickly during the friday session. For really professional looking logos one would spend time creating them with a professional tool like photoshop.

Sample 1.

Sample 2.

Sample 3 with more added fun.

Click on the above images for a larger view.

If you would like to  know more about Ycademy training sessions contact me here.

Author: Zo Nicholas, Media, Marketing, Publishing. Co-Founder of YORGOO, Ycademy,YORGOO Press and Semiomantics. If you enjoyed reading the above, please consider following future tips and strategies by RSS reader or Subscribe by Email.

Read more..

• New Logo Design
• Branding and Logo Design
• Photoshop Action Scripts fun
• Discovering Photoshop – Action Scripts
• Photoshop Action Script fun
• Discovering Photoshop
• Photoshop Tutorials
• Advertising with banners
• WP Best NewsPaper Theme
• International Women’s Day 2010

3D Logo Design

Relaxed Friday sessions are always a lot of fun. Using a logo creator that anyone can find online we created some fun 3D Logos. Ycademy sessions are always worth attending, especially for anyone who would like to accelerate their learning curve,  not only with fun stuff but also more serious topics concerning media, marketing or publishing online. 

3D Logo Fun Samples

These 3D logos were created very quickly during the friday session. For really professional looking logos one would spend time creating them with a professional tool like photoshop.

Sample 1.

Sample 2.

Sample 3 with more added fun.

Click on the above images for a larger view.

If you would like to  know more about Ycademy training sessions contact me here.

Author: Zo Nicholas, Media, Marketing, Publishing. Co-Founder of YORGOO, Ycademy,YORGOO Press and Semiomantics. If you enjoyed reading the above, please consider following future tips and strategies by RSS reader or Subscribe by Email.

Read more..

• New Logo Design
• Branding and Logo Design
• Photoshop Action Scripts fun
• Discovering Photoshop – Action Scripts
• Photoshop Action Script fun
• Discovering Photoshop
• Photoshop Tutorials
• Advertising with banners
• WP Best NewsPaper Theme
• International Women’s Day 2010

New Logo Design

A brand new website, Zo Web Design still in its preparatory stages, needs a new logo. After much deliberation and a brainstorming logo design study session I have decided on a very simple design. Even a simple design can take time to create and execute.

Font Based Logo

I have decided on a simple font based logo design conveying the message of the website and its purpose.  The design is clean, functional and yet stylish. The design utilises the professional Helvetica font which is very clear and crisp when used in a design. The only choice of colour is black on a white background, however the background  colour can always be changed to suit a particular site design.

This particular typeface also creates a clean design that works well on business stationery such as business cards, letter heads and newsletters etc. It is scalable and reproduces well in print.

Author: Zo Nicholas, Media, Marketing, Publishing. Co-Founder of YORGOO, Ycademy,YORGOO Press and Semiomantics. If you enjoyed reading the above, please consider following future tips and strategies by RSS reader or Subscribe by Email.

Read more..

• Branding and Logo Design
• Photoshop Action Scripts fun
• Small Business Shop
• Discovering Photoshop – Action Scripts
• Discovering Photoshop
• Photoshop Tutorials
• Web graphics for beginners 3
• Web graphics for beginners 2
• Web graphics for beginners
• Advertising with banners