Best of the Blogs: March 16, 2011

Pam Pfiffner

Are you having a hard time keeping up with the information circulating through the blog stream? This week, CreativePro.com launches a new feature that culls interesting items from the creative blogosphere.
In each installment of Best of the Blogs, I’ll divide the things I find into categories; for example, Typography, Photoshop, and Web. When appropriate, I’ll also include links to the blog where I first saw an item.
Japan Disaster Relief
Watching the disaster unfold in Japan has been a heart-wrenching experience. Many in our community have responded by designing and selling items to benefit relief efforts in Japan. I’ve listed a few below, but if you know others, please post them in the Comments:

Aqua Velvet links to posters and t-shirts designed by various artists.

Limited-edition photographs are available from Life Support Japan (via Conscientious).
eBookNewser reports that author Maureen Johnson is raising funds to supply earthquake victims with boxes of supplies.

Steven Heller showcases a few more Japan-relief posters in his Daily Heller Newsletter.

Flyer Goodness rounds up some more stunning quake- and tsunami-themed posters.
Typography
Design Festival published an article on choosing the best font size for Web type.
David Airey writes on selecting faces that work well together in book design.

Here’s a handy aid for classifying type faces from Typofonderie (via imjustcreative.)
For a maddening and addictive font game, go to ilovetypography (via How Design). I started out strong, flagged in the middle, regained my stride in the last leg, but ended with a lackluster score of 18/30. I’ll be going back for a rematch!

A photographic alphabet called “Type the Sky” was created by looking skyward (via Blurb).
“Typeface,” an independent film about the Hamilton Wood Type Museum, will be aired on many PBS stations in April.

“Gratuitous Type” was designated as magazine of the week by
magCulture, and it’s not hard to see why.
Nifty examples of unique type-centered design gathered by noupe.
Cleaning out my office this week, I came across the book The Art of the Letter, which I received at a lecture by its author Doyald Young. It’s a beautiful book and I was glad to rediscover it, especially as Young passed away on February 28 at the age of 84. Here are some reflections on this influential lettering and logotype designer:
• An appreciation by friends at Felt and Wire. The post includes how instructions on how to get your own copy of The Art of the Letter courtesy of Mohawk Fine Papers.
• An observance, including a list of Young’s commercial typefaces, at FontFeed.
• A tribute to his influence at isdgn.
• His New York Times obituary, written by Steven Heller.
InDesign/Layout
InDesign is used for many types of publishing these days, as these posts from InDesignSecrets attest:
Find free software for the Adobe Digital Publishing Suite that lets you publish on the iPad.
Banish unwanted white lines in PDFs.
And just in time for spring…

Document Geek shows you how to make a gingham pattern in InDesign.
Illustration
Use these free icons to freshen up your designs, via noupe.

Check out spoongraphics’ tutorial for creating abstract poster art in Illustrator.
Photoshop
Photoshop CS5 is still an enigma to many. Here’s some insider info from Adobe folks.
The ever-delightful John Nack posted a fun and insightful video of Photoshop CS5 engineers talking about the development of this latest version.
Terry White gives the inside scoop on five things you may not know about Photoshop CS5.

Even if you don’t have CS5, you can download and use 10 sets of free watercolor brushes for Photoshop, via Designer Daily.
Or how about 33 sets of free smoke brushes for Photoshop, via YouTheDesigner.
Smashing Magazine delivers useful tips for photo retouching.

When you have a lot of time, dip into 25 Photoshop photo-manipulation tutorials from YouTheDesigner. (OK, so you may not need to create a “Surreal Fiery Burnt Wood Lady Figure with Vexel Hair” or an “Angelic Style Owl Warrior with Abstract Patterns,” but who knows what your clients want?)
Create art from scratch with LifeHackers’ Digital Painting 101 video, via Gizmodo.
Photography
Equipment, techniques, projects—you can never have too much photography advice!
Macworld looks at the hottest trends in digital cameras.
Here’s a must-read: “Dispelling common photo myths—ppi does matter” by Photofocus.
Blurb provides a tip-sheet about when to use manual focus.
Digital Photography School offers ideas about how to take photos that will distinguish your work from others’.
Turn your laptop into a lightbox with help from Photojojo.

This is another fun project from Photojojo: Use two photos, a glue stick and rubber bands to make a Thaumatrope, a Victorian-era “animation.”
Web
There are new browsers to consider, background patterns to download, and a Website to swoon over.
Technologizer compares the beta version of Google’s Chrome browser with Firefox 4.

Download free “Funkies” Web patterns from WebDesigner Depot.
PagePlane explains why the design and implementation (especially the navigation) of a Website about the Titanic is worth exploring.
EBooks
There’s a lot of activity in the eBook arena, including new software and service models.
Interested in transforming your print publication for tablet computing? Read this piece by Joe Zeff Design.
A service that lets users share digital books from Amazon and Barnes & Noble debuts, via eBookNewser.
A media executive asks if the publishing industry could benefit from the Hulu business model, via GalleyCat.
Can digital eBook signatures replace in-store book signings? eBookNewser reports on software that lets authors do just that.
This breakthrough lets designers use the same typeface for both Web and mobile devices, via SwissMiss.
Design
The blogosphere produced practical and informational posts about making good designs and educating good designers.
AIGA posted a “Design Education Manifesto,” written by Mitch Goldstein, a student himself. Interesting reading for pros, too.

The HOW Design poster/article “29 things young designers need to know” popped up on several blogs, and I can see why: It contains excellent advice. I first read about it on SwissMiss.
Sharpen your pencils for another design competition, this one from Core77.
Two opportunities to learn from the masters: interviews with Paula Scher on
Design Indaba and with Milton Glaser by Creative Mornings.
Creative Professionalism
The business of being in a creative field is often more demanding than the work itself. These posts may prove helpful.

DesignM.ag links to wonderful examples for self promotion: “25 Creative Resumes” and “35 Professionally Designed Personal Portfolio Websites.”
Here’s an interesting thread on Core 77 about what a design student should include on his first business card.

Noupe has two related articles about when to say “No” to clients and to other designers and developers, which includes a link to Jessica Hische’s wicked-cool decision-tree flow chart, Should I Work for Free?
Can a freelancer claim ownership of a logo created for a company? Read the discussion on creativebits.
Every creative professional needs to factor in content when designing. A List Apart provides a thoughtful checklist for content work.
In recognition of International Women’s Day, GalleyCat posted a Twitter directory of women in publishing.
Finally, just in time for tax season, Hongkiat checks out accounting and invoice tools for freelancers.
Miscellaneous
Odds and ends from the blogosphere:
Microsoft wants Apple to re-file its App Store lawsuit because the font Apple used in its paperwork is too small, reports GeekWire.

MIT’s new logo has 40,000 permutations. Watch the video at Fast Company Design.

See movies made into barcodes, via the New York Times .
Software hack creates 3-D images on the Web viewable without 3-D glasses (trust me, it’s cool), via New York Times.

Talk about old meets new: an iPad app that emulates letterpress, as posted by CRAFT Magazine. As someone with a letterpress studio in her basement and an iPad in her bedroom, I’ll be happy when LetterMpress gets beyond the funding stage.