Photoshop Tip: Use Layers to Create Super Realistic Shadows
A good drop shadow is hard to come by. There is no shortage of Photoshopped “shadows” on the web that are nothing more than a grayscale circle with a little Gaussian blur. In their simplest form, shadows are obstructions of light produced by the object…
Brooke Shaden on Lighting: It Doesn’t Have to Be Fancy to Look Good
Who needs diffusion cloth when you have a bare bulb and a piece of paper? Brooke Shaden doesn’t. Brooke is known for her down-to-earth teaching style and her other-worldly imagery. In Fine Art Compositing she needed to create a light source that mimicked the light…
5 Graphic Design Portfolio Mistakes to Avoid
As a visual artist or graphic designer, your graphic design portfolio opens doors. A sub-par presentation of your work closes them (even if you have stunning graphic design work to show off) — and may lock them for good. But as a graphic designer how…
Did You Get a Sewing Machine for Christmas? We’ve Got Some Helpful Sewing Tips for Beginners
Got a sewing machine for Christmas? How exciting! There are few more things more thrilling than the promise of a new creative tool. We know you’ll be an ace in no time and to make sure you get off to a strong start, we assembled a…
What’s In Tom Mangelsen’s Bag? A Wildlife Photography Gear Guide
“I’m not a gear fanatic,” confesses wildlife photographer Tom Mangelsen “I don’t read most magazines, especially about gear. It just makes me crazy.” All of the newest gadgets and constant technological changes might drive Tom crazy, but there is no denying that he knows a thing or…
Pumpkins and Power Drills: 10 Inspiring Jack-O’-Lantern Ideas
The Halloween season is upon us and trick-or-treaters will shortly be knocking down your door for delicious sweets! It is the time of year when we celebrate the transition of the seasons by adorning our porches with pumpkins and stocking our shelves with multi-hued ornamentals…
15 Spooktacular Halloween Craft Ideas for Kids
If your house is anything like mine, Halloween kicks off a holiday season that doesn’t end until sometime next year. October instigates a whirlwind of spooktacular soirees, Halloween decorations, black cats and pumpkin crafts. I like to think of the cooler weather and waning sunlight…
Model Photography Tips from a DIY Fashion Photographer
Bringing your vision to life as a professional photographer generally requires more than you, a Canon or Nikon camera and a photo session. You need a subject – and, if you’re a lifestyle or fashion photographer, that subject is often a real model. But where…
Shoot Better Photos in Direct Sunlight Using This One Rule
What’s the worst possible lighting situation for photographers? If you’re Scott Robert Lim, it’s mid-day, or, as he so aptly puts it: “Outside at noon! Right? In the bright sun.” And he’s right — bright overhead light can give your subjects raccoon eyes and cast…
Picking a Color Palette? Don’t Make One of These Common Mistakes
Selecting a color palette is making a commitment. Colors work together to express an idea. Choose the wrong color and run the risk of expressing the wrong idea. Whether you are painting a room or designing a poster, you want to choose a color scheme that creates…
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