Daily Web Design Inspiration & Ideas
Vandelay Design posted this collection of 40 Photoshop Tutorials for Lighting and Abstract Effects that I found awesome and am filing it here on WDI for later use.
I hope you can use it too and remember to come back here to find it.
Popularity: 50%
This is a simple way of creating a Lightning effect in Photoshop CS3. It could also easily be done in any version of Photoshop.
After I got done editing and publishing this video I desided to also create a Photoshop Action to make the lightning effect by just playing the Action. So here you can download the Photoshop CS3 Lightning Effect Action:
Download: Photoshop CS3 Lightning Effect Action
To use this Action, with Photoshop closed, download and unZIP the file.
Move the unZIPPED file to the following folder:
C:\Documents and Settings\YOUR_USER_NAME\Application Data\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop CS3\Presets\Actions\*Start Photoshop and open a new file.
Open your Actions pallet and click lightning action folder and click the lightning action, like you see in the picture below.
When ready, click the play button (looks like a triangle on it’s side) at the bottom of the pallet.
This will create a lightning bolt. You can apply additional effects that you saw in the video to this to layer more lightning bolts on top or to colorize it.
Enjoy!
Popularity: 30%
Here is a little video tutorial I did on creating a certificate seal or a badge, what ever you want to call this. I used Photoshop CS3 to create this although it can be done in Illustrator for even better results. Since Illustrator creates vector graphics, it would be a lot cleaner and would be re-sizeable. This video tutorial is a quickie.
At the end on the video, I also desided to change the color of the outer edge of the seal to gold.
Let me know what you think.
Popularity: 8%
PSDTuts put out a tutorial last month detailing how to create text that looks like a well manicured lawn. The tutorial is very detailed so that even rookies like me are able to complete this task. I’m sure that advanced PS users will be able to breeze right through this tutorial. However, it’s a great tool to have available…especially in today’s “green” mindset. So…just keep this tutorial in the back of your mind (or bookmarked) for future reference.
Popularity: 5%
ExposedSEO.com has put together a great collection of creative advertisments from a variety of formats. When you have a moment, go check out all of them and let us know which one is your favorite. Hopefully by reviewing advertisements such as these, it will spur us all on to greater creativity. Perhaps one of these days, we’ll have an ad or two that pops up on lists such as this one!
By the way, my favorite one is pictured here in this post. Honestly, those shoes remind me of my oldest son’s shoes. Holy cow, he has stinky feet, haha!
Popularity: 3%
Recently we were made aware of an article listing 30 Free Web-based Image Editing Applications. After reading through the article, we agreed that perhaps one of these applications might be useful to designers. Having the ability to use a web based system to edit and store images is a great way to save space on your own computer and utilize an easy to use system. No downloads, no hard drive space…piece of cake.
I suggest reading through their well put together list and selecting the service that works out best for you. By the way, there is also another interesting article listed in The News in Print. 20 Creatively Hacked Urban Garden Shed Offices sheds some light on creative office space design for people who work from home. Again, check it out. But, be forewarned…it will cause you to think about making your own unique, creative office space at home!
**This article is based on a request by a reader. If you would like the team at WDI to create a post about a particular subject or website, please send us a message with your request! Thanks!
Popularity: 3%
Just put together this Photoshop CS3 tutorial for creating a simple, quick, Web 2.0 text logo. This is my first time so I hope it’s not too bad. 
I’d love to hear your comments and ideas for improvement.
Popularity: 12%
Need to refine your CSS skills? Are you looking for some cool tips and tricks for CS3, Acrobat, Illustrator or MS Office? If you are, then go check out the free video tutorials at Ten Ton Books! Geoff has put together some great, informative tutorials on all of the subjects listed above. Currently there are 8 free videos. I watched the first in a three part series on ‘Creatin’ CSS Layouts in Dreamweaver’ and it was great. I’d highly recommend them to anyone interested in refining their abilities in Dreamweaver.
Go check ‘em all out!
Popularity: 8%
While looking for some cool ‘parchment’ effects, papers, and paper textures, I came across this site that gave a pretty good, detailed tutorial on how to make a burnt scroll navigation bar. I like the texture and the paper or parchment they chose to use. The effects they chose were tastefully done as well.
I think I would have chosen a different font though. While it is a pretty cool font, it leans too much toward something out of Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings Trilogy. Because of that, I think it creates a dated design. I know some of you are thinking…’well, you’re talking about a design featuring a scroll…it seems appropriate in that context.’ Well, it’s my opinion, haha. I think it would be better served with a different font. A font that doesn’t look trendy and easily pinned down to a specific date or period. With the availability of so many different fonts, I’m sure one could be found that would work well with the scroll.
I like the technique of using old papers, maps, parchment, etc. I like sites with an earthy feel to them. I think this scroll lends itself well to sites that are going with that type of theme. It’s a good tutorial and something to check out and remember when a request pops up for a similar design.
Popularity: 20%
Ai Vault is an excellent resource for tutorials and information about how to effectively use Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop. This is a treasure trove if you use these two programs on a consistent basis for graphic or web design. Here’s what they have to say about their site:
“Ai Vault is a blog showcasing and offering some of the best of web illustrator related tutorials and resources . Here you will find Brushes , Symbols , swatches and patterns to download freely , not only that you will also find helpful tutorials written by expert illustration artists .”
Not only will you find some great freebies (check out the “Free Friday Illustrations”), you can also purchase some really excellent brushes, vector packs, and other great stuff. I would encourage you to check in at Ai Vault frequently for new content and material to spur you on to greater creativity! We will also be diving into more of their information here in the blog as well. I think we’ll also do a feature about their logo too…it’s great!
Popularity: 11%
