10 Websites To Make You A Photoshop Ninja

Photoshop is hard. There’s all kinds of menus, commands, and keyboard shortcuts that you’ve got to figure out. Once you learn how it works, it’s an unbelievably useful and powerful tool, but the learning curve is enormous. Here are ten sites to learn Photoshop online and get you Photoshopping like a champion:

http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/10-websites-to-make-you-a-photoshop-ninja/

Microsoft Security Essentials (Free AntiVirus)

Download free antivirus, antispyware security software...

Microsoft Security Essentials can help protect against viruses, spyware, worms, and more.

About Microsoft Security Essentials

Microsoft Security Essentials provides real-time protection for your home PC that guards against viruses, spyware, and other malicious software.

Microsoft Security Essentials is a free download from Microsoft that is simple to install, easy to use, and always kept up to date so you can be assured your PC is protected by the latest technology. It’s easy to tell if your PC is secure — when you’re green, you’re good. It’s that simple.

Microsoft Security Essentials runs quietly and efficiently in the background so that you are free to use your Windows-based PC the way you want—without interruptions or long computer wait times.

http://www.microsoft.com/security_essentials/default.aspx

Photoshop an Avatar of yourself...

This tutorial will show you some simple but efficient techniques that will help you make your own Avatar movie poster from a portrait picture of yourself. Check it out!

http://free-web-design.co.cc/create-james-camerons-avatar-movie-poster-in-photoshop-tutorial.html

Audio, Video, & Photo Editing Software Resources

Movies:
For Windows you have the following options:

• Movie Maker can be downloaded here: http://download.live.com/moviemaker
• avidemux can be downloaded here: http://fixounet.free.fr/avidemux/download.html (note: can also run on OS X, BSD and Linux)

For Linux you have the following options (may also be in your distributions repositories):

• PiTiVi can be downloaded here: http://www.pitivi.org/?go=download
• avidemux can be downloaded here: http://fixounet.free.fr/avidemux/download.html (note: can also run on OS X, BSD and Linux)
• open movie editor can be downloaded here: http://www.openmovieeditor.org/download.html

For Photo Management (replace iPhoto)
For Windows you have the following options:

• Photo Gallery can be downloaded here: http://download.live.com/photogallery
• Picasa can be downloaded here: http://picasa.google.com

For Linux you have the following options (may also be in your distributions repositories):

• F-Spot can be downloaded here: http://f-spot.org/Main_Page
• Picasa can be downloaded here: http://picasa.google.com/linux/
• Digicam can be downloaded here: http://www.digikam.org/drupal/download

Garage Band:
For Windows your options are:

• JoKosher can be downloaded here: http://www.jokosher.org/download/
• LMMS can be downloaded here: http://lmms.sourceforge.net/download.php
• Renoise can be downloaded here: http://www.renoise.com/download/renoise/

For Linux your options are (they may already be included in your distributions repos):

• Ardour can be downloaded here: http://ardour.org/download
• JoKosher can be downloaded here: http://www.jokosher.org/download/
• LMMS can be downloaded here: http://lmms.sourceforge.net/download.php
• Renoise can be downloaded here: http://www.renoise.com/download/renoise/

Photoshop Tutorials @ 10Steps.SG...

Great resource for a large number of different tutorials...

http://10steps.sg/category/tutorials/photoshop/

40 Best Ever Photoshop Tutorials of Web Layout Designs

Here is a collection of 40 Best Ever Photoshop Tutorials of Web Layout Designs to teach you create your own layout for your website, check them out, learn and enjoy the tutorials.
http://www.tutoriallounge.com/2009/12/40-best-ever-photoshop-tutorials-of-web-layout-designs/

10 Free Apps - Turn Ubuntu into a Video Studio...

Ubuntu (Linux OS) has got some excellent FREE applications which can turn your PC into Live Studio! Highlighted and linked are the top 10 free applications available to make your PC into a Live Studio.

1. AvideMux

2. CinePaint

3. Cinelerra

4. Kino

5. Jahsakha

6. Slideshow Creator

7. Lives

8. Vivia

9. KDEnlive

10. FFmpeg

http://www.programmerfish.com/10-free-apps-that-turn-your-ubuntu-into-video-studio/

Five Best Free Data Recovery Tools

The best way to recover from unexpected data loss is to be properly prepared. With one of the following tools on hand, you'll always be ready to save your data from the Reaper.

http://lifehacker.com/5237503/five-best-free-data-recovery-tools

Handy Tweaks To Make GIMP Replace Photoshop

GIMP is the favorite graphics editing program of many designers and graphic artists. It is free and compatible with Windows, Mac and Linux (the two big reasons for its popularity). It has a wide array of features, as well as plug-ins, filters and brushes. Documentation is primarily available in online communities, as well as through extensive add-ons.

GIMP was never designed to replace Photoshop, yet with every release, it comes a little closer to being able to do so. It can be used to author graphics, create logos and edit photos, as well as make short animations (using GAP). Despite these features, the open-source app is a foreign world for many users switching from Photoshop. Familiar tools are missing, menus are laid out differently and tasks must be accomplished in unknown ways.
This article lists eight tweaks to make GIMP a more serious Photoshop replacement option. Version 2.6 was used to test the following tweaks, but past versions of the app should work as well.

http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2009/04/03/8-handy-tweaks-to-make-gimp-replace-photoshop/

60+ Logo Design Tutorials And Resources

When we talk about a famous brand, the first thing that comes to mind is its logo. The logo is the most essential component of any personal brand and also the hardest part to execute. A logo must be appropriate, aesthetically pleasing and a reflection of the company’s credibility. Furthermore, a logotype should be synonymous with the company or product it represents and should penetrate people’s minds as a selling agent.
An amateurish logo design can more likely make your business fail for a number of reasons. A logo is of great importance in creating brand identity, and you should be very careful in selecting one for your business.

http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2009/04/30/60-beautiful-logo-design-tutorials-and-resources/

You may be interested in the following related posts:
Drawing Inspiration From Creative Logos
Beautiful And Creative Logo Designs For Your Inspiration

Free Graphics, Video & Audio Software

Good reference Blog for Free Software relating to Graphic, Video, and Audio programs...
http://free-graphics-video-audio-software.blogspot.com/2009/03/free-mac-graphics-software.html

System Information and Startup Items

This page contains a collection of information about entries that may appear in important parts of the Microsoft Windows™ registry and your system startup.

http://www.sysinfo.org/

CCleaner System Optimization Tool Freeware

CCleaner (Crap Cleaner) is a freeware system optimization tool. That removes unused and temporary files from your system - allowing Windows to run faster, more efficiently and giving you more hard disk space. The best part is that it's fast! (normally taking less than a second to run) and Free. :)
http://www.ccleaner.com/

TurnKey Linux

TurnKey Linux is a new open source project that aims to develop high quality software appliances that are easy to use, easy to deploy, and free. In a nutshell, they believe everything can be easy, and should be easy!

Packaging a solution as a software appliance can be incredibly useful because it allows you to leverage guru integration skills to build ready to use systems (I.e., turn key solutions) that just work out of the box with little to no setup. http://www.turnkeylinux.org/

Portable Ubuntu for Windows

Portable Ubuntu for Windows is a Ubuntu system running as a Windows application.

Portable Ubuntu for Windows is a useful tool when you need to move yourself to other machine that have Windows as operating system.

http://portableubuntu.sourceforge.net/

Blender 3D Modeling Animation Software Program

Blender is a 3D software animation program. It has been designed for modeling, UV unwrapping, texturing, rigging, skinning, animating, rendering, particle and other simulating, non-linear editing, compositing, and creating interactive 3D applications.

The Blender Web Site is an astonishingly complete site which includes the following: Features & Gallery, Download, Tutorials & Help, Community, Development, and e-Shop.

If you’re into 3D creation, then this solid program will more than impress you...

System Requirements:

· Windows 98, ME, 2000, XP, Vista
· Mac OS X (PPC and Intel)

Download the latest version (2.48a), from the Blender Foundation.

Google Summer of CodeTM 2009 site!

Google Summer of Code is a global program that offers student developers stipends to write code for various open source software projects. We have worked with several open source, free software, and technology-related groups to identify and fund several projects over a three month period. Since its inception in 2005, the program has brought together nearly 2500 successful student participants and 2500 mentors from 98 countries worldwide, all for the love of code. Through Google Summer of Code, accepted student applicants are paired with a mentor or mentors from the participating projects, thus gaining exposure to real-world software development scenarios and the opportunity for employment in areas related to their academic pursuits. In turn, the participating projects are able to more easily identify and bring in new developers. Best of all, more source code is created and released for the use and benefit of all.

To learn more about the program, peruse our 2009 Frequently Asked Questions page. You can also subscribe to the Google Open Source Blog or the Google Summer of Code Discussion Group to keep abreast of the latest announcements.

Adobe Photoshop Tutorials

Adobe Photoshop is probably the most widely used graphics editor in the world. Everyday professional and enthusiast designers use Photoshop to create graphics, logos, special effects and even web templates. Members of this site have submitted hundreds of photoshop tutorials on topics such as web design, logos, buttons, photo effects and more.

TheDesignWorld.com
http://www.thedesignworld.com/photoshop-tutorials/

Make Your Own Handwriting Fonts For Free

YourFonts.com is a FREE online font generator that allows you to create your own OpenType fonts within a couple of minutes. Go make your own handwriting as a font! 100% Free!

* Your own handwriting turned into your very own font for free
* Optionally include your signature
* You'll have your very own font within 15 minutes
* Make as many fonts as you like
* Use your fonts on Windows, Mac OS X and Linux
* Personalize your digital scrapbook pages
* Make your own "family handwriting history"
* Use your fonts in Microsoft Word, PowerPoint and every program that you own

11 Free And Useful Open-Source Alternatives For Designers

There are lots of commercial graphic design software available to use on many different platforms, but they are not free. The following are 11 Free And Useful Open-Source Alternatives For Designers... most of them are cross-platform.
http://www.smashingapps.com/2009/02/18/11-free-and-useful-open-source-alternatives-for-designers.html

21 Amazing Firefox Ad-Ons That You Must-Have In 2009

Firefox was the fastest growing popular web browser in 2008 and its chances are bright to be fastest growing web browser. There are lots of ease provided by the firefox and this is the main reason for its popularity. There are lots of free download able extensions and add-ons available on the internet for firefox, we also featured them before and there demands are increasing every day. In this post, I am listing down 21 Amazing Firefox Ad-Ons That You Must-Have In 2009.
http://www.smashingapps.com/2008/12/30/21-amazing-firefox-ad-ons-that-you-must-have-in-2009.html

Free Quick Reference Cards

Tons of programs and information topics... Quick Reference Cards for learning short cuts to software as well as information relating to the specific topics.
Web Site - http://k12.customguide.com/

New Google Gadgets for Linux 0.10.4

Google Gadgets for Linux provides a platform for running desktop gadgets under Linux, catering to the unique needs of Linux users. It's compatible with the gadgets written for Google Desktop for Windows as well as the Universal Gadgets on iGoogle. Following Linux norms, this project is open-sourced under the Apache License.

An important area where Google Desktop for Linux is different from its siblings on other operating systems is support for gadgets. Now, the Linux version of Google Gadgets will extend the gadgets platform to Linux users. By enabling cross-platform gadgets, a large library of existing gadgets are immediately available to Linux users. In addition, gadget developers will benefit from a much larger potential user base without having to learn a new API.

There's two main components to the application: one is a common gadget library responsible for running and presenting a gadget, and the other is a host program that allows the user to choose gadgets and run them on the desktop. Currently we have hosts written for GTK+ and QT, with the GTK+ host offering a sidebar similar to that of Google Desktop for Windows.

Click for the Full Story
http://www.getdeb.net/app/Google+Gadgets