Put a Little Spring In Your Break!
by skocko on Mar.27, 2009, under Educators, Students
Spring Break is right around the corner and I know many of you will be suffering from horrible withdrawal symptoms. To ease the pain and anxiety associated with going off the Mac Lab cold turkey for two weeks, might I suggest Adobe’s wonderful software trials? Rather than simply downloading the Master Collection, why not just try a program or two at first? Since the software times out after 30 days, it makes more sense to download only what you’ll be able to use over the next month, yes? Think about how delicious (Steven M) that would be! 3D students may also download the Cinema 4D trial.
If you plan on purchasing the software, use an academic reseller and consider buying one of Adobe’s collections rather than individual programs to save money. Here’s one example of collection pricing. Even better pricing can be had through Cuyamaca or Grossmont Colleges. C4D is also available.
While we’re talking about purchases, Wacom just release their newest graphics tablet at Photoshop World. For a real treat watch this promo for the product. It moves the creative spirit in me and both Scott Kelby and John Nack are raving about it, and for good reason. The folks at Wacom hit one outta the park. What an artist’s tool! I’ve already begun searching for grant money to put one of these at each computer next year. As for Photoshop World/Vegas in September… I took 5 kids to the one in San Diego in 2002 but it’s only been in San Francisco and Las Vegas (the permanent West Coast location now) since then. I’ve gone alone every year except the last one (because we hadn’t landed CS4 yet). It’s an unbelievable experience, learning from the best of the best, and I wish I could take a few choice students in September. But chaperoning kids in Vegas?! That’s too scary to contemplate. Well, almost too scary. We’ll see.
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Translator
Paint the World with Light now available
March 27th, 2009 on 2:04 pm
Oh my gosh,
I want a drawing tablet for my computer at home.
I just have to save up 470 dollars
No Biggy
haha
But seriously that’s awesome.
March 27th, 2009 on 3:00 pm
I have the whole Master Suite CS4 Collection (not free trial). I really like it. I wanna start learning how to use Adobe After Effects, InDesign, Flash, Fireworks, etc. But as of now, I only use Illustrator since its the best application I am used to. But I really wanna try Cinema 4D too; it looks fun and interesting and kind of my style. So I guess I will try the Cinema 4D trial. One question though, it is (30 day-ish trial like Adobe or a limited tools sort of thing). Either way, I plan to make something happen during Spring Break.
March 27th, 2009 on 11:28 pm
I also purchased the CS4 Master Collection and I believe I speak for all the digital artists when I say that it is the most awesome bundle of programs ever created.
http://img24.imageshack.us/img24/7876/desktopufh.jpg
It’s great being able to check out cameras over the weekend and bring them right into camera raw at home without having to wait until Monday. (Yes, I know, 5 Hours of Fun™, but I usually can’t make it that early in the morning!)
Just my little contribution to the blog in the middle of the night
March 28th, 2009 on 5:32 am
Kim, I’m looking at the “medium” tablets for the lab. “Only” $349 from Amazon with free shipping. I’ve got two leads on potential grants already.
Fadi, it’s a full-feature 42 day trial (at least that’s what I think I remember reading). Try it and let us know. If it really is 42 days, I’d like to know the story behind that as 42 is quite the interesting number, for a number of reasons.
Brandon, beautiful photo of the foreground but how in the world do you manage to make all of your skies so white? Michael R is here already this morning and he’s salivating over the 5D Mark II we finally received yesterday (ordered last year). I wonder which student will be first to snap full-frame pics with this game-changing wonder of technology? May the best photographer win! (C’mon, girls. Don’t let the boys get there first.)
March 28th, 2009 on 6:29 am
Dang! I should also take a picture of my desktop so people won’t think I am lying. I’ll take one as soon I get home.
I will sure let you know if it is a 42 day trial. And yes, 42 is mysterious but it’s better since we are not limited to 30 days like Adobe.
March 28th, 2009 on 6:40 am
No one is going to think you’re lying, Fadi. Both of you guys are very fortunate to have this amazing software. What a time to be an artist!
March 28th, 2009 on 1:52 pm
Here we go! I finally have the image. http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/1595/fadidesktop.jpg .
And yes, my desktop is that chaotic. I will try Cinema 4D trial in the summer. So I guess we have to wait before we know how long the trial is.
March 29th, 2009 on 3:28 pm
Wacom has taunted me since the Cintiq.
Also Fadi:
The utorrent, bittorrent, vuze, daemon and the Adobe Master Suit Install File on your desktop have nothing to do with each other, right? I’ve seen Skocko assault kids before. He literally grinds their bones to make his bread. Then he sells the bread to buy tablets. It’s a valid and effective system.
March 29th, 2009 on 8:24 pm
LOL Caught with torrents and VBA hahahhaha
March 29th, 2009 on 9:15 pm
Calm down! So … ya, I used to play it but now I just leave it sitting there. And for the torrents, I mostly download just videos, movies, etc. The other stuff are also things that I don’t use much of the time. But I posted this screenshot just to show you that I have the Adobe Master CS4 Collection so don’t be that crazy about the other stuff that are on my desktop. I might as well change it soon.
March 29th, 2009 on 10:40 pm
No one doubted you had it. It’s easily the most powerful tool an artist (both digital and traditional) can wield.
But you have the install file(s) on the desktop (far right)
That being said; you shouldn’t really have to defend against comments “LOL VBA”. Mostly because said comments shouldn’t exist. But also note that PC stands for PERSONAL Computer and you are placing yourself in a very vulnerable spot by posting screenshots and I think it should be avoided.
On a good note, any person who has three browser shortcuts is ok in my book. I had the misfortune of learning my personal website did not function AT ALL in Internet Explorer (because I had the icon burned and deleted) during a live job interview where I was presenting on a big screen to the VP of Marketing and Creative Head of a very big company. Easily my most embarrassing moment. Still kicking myself. Didn’t get the job because of it. That horrid little browser always gets me.
Not to make a giant wall of text, but back on topic:
I believe me, cat, and kyle were 3 of the 5 that went to the 2002 Photoshop Event and it was amazing. You get hit with the feeling of “I will never be THAT good” and then they surround you with the tools and motivation to get you there. But also the three of us had to fight over the same 4″ x 4″ tablet.
I have a hunch that the next time I walk into the MacLab there will be students using the same computers they used at Zion (The Matrix). I wish I were held back.
March 30th, 2009 on 12:06 am
I don’t see the big deal about tablets. I barely use tablets since they are awkward and not as accurate as the point-to-point accuracy you get from clicking a mouse. But I can’t really denounce it without really trying the new models first. I would start using tablets if they became as conformable and as sharp as the precision you get with a fine-sharpened pencil and a clean flat paper.
Now that you got me hyped up for the Photoshop feast, it makes me eager to see it. I barely know how to use Photoshop at all nor have I ever used it for new artworks (I have only used Camera Raw,Photoshop’s burn & dodge tool, etc.). But I still love to see people artworks shine with Photoshop. I hope I can see it once to have an amazing experience like Michael did.
March 30th, 2009 on 4:26 am
Y’know, Fadi, that pencil/paper combo can be used to create a wide variety of expressive lines, depending upon the angle/pressure one applies. A mouse can’t do that. A stylus/tablet combo can. Our little tablets can. It takes practice. The new ones add missing workflow functionality that kept me from making the jump before. Those who use them say it takes a few weeks for it to become a natural extension of one’s artistic self.
Speaking of artistic selves, movies are made by artists (well, most are). Artists deserve to be compensated for their work. Don’t steal! When you can rent movies for $1 at the grocery store there’s no possible excuse anymore.
More to say but gotta get to today’s post.
Wait a minute… Do I smell fresh baked bread?
March 30th, 2009 on 6:51 am
Fadi don’t you ever insult a tablet where i can see and/or hear it.
March 30th, 2009 on 12:41 pm
“That being said; you shouldn’t really have to defend against comments “LOL VBA”. Mostly because said comments shouldn’t exist.”
Are you trying to start a flame war?!? Hahaha.
March 30th, 2009 on 12:48 pm
No flame wars in the Mac Lab! (Inside joke)
Let’s keep it civil or I’ll have to have a bake sale.
March 30th, 2009 on 9:28 pm
A civil war huh…
March 31st, 2009 on 2:26 am
LOL. I walked right into that one.