Adobe Creative Suite 4 : Special Features

Hi all,

Today, I'll be showing you some of the special features of the all new Adobe Creative Suite 4! You gonna love it!




Discover new dimensions in digital imaging
Adobe® Photoshop® CS4 Extended software delivers all the features in Photoshop CS4, plus new features for working with 3D imagery, motion-based content, and advanced image analysis.

Revolutionary 3D painting and compositing
Now paint directly on 3D models, wrap 2D images around 3D shapes, convert gradient maps to 3D objects, add depth to layers and text, get print-quality output with the new ray-tracing rendering engine, and enjoy exporting to supported common 3D formats.

Adjustments panel
Simplify image adjustment by easily accessing every tool you need to nondestructively adjust and enhance the color and tone of your images; on-image controls and a wide variety of presets are also included in the new live and dynamic Adjustments panel.

3D object and property editing
Edit, enhance, and manipulate 3D images in a streamlined interface without dialog boxes. Adjust lighting, meshes, and materials. Easily orient objects and position the camera using 3D axes and a ground plane.

Industry-leading color correction
Enjoy dramatically enhanced color correction with reengineered Dodge, Burn, and Sponge tools that now intelligently preserve color and tone details.


Create and deliver rich interactive content
Adobe® Flash® CS4 Professional software is the industry-leading authoring environment for creating engaging interactive experiences. Deliver to audiences across platforms and devices.

Object-based animation
Gain complete control over individual animation attributes with object-based animation, which applies tweens directly to objects instead of to keyframes. Easily make changes to motion with Bezier handles.

3D transformation
Animate 2D objects through 3D space with exciting new 3D translation and rotation tools, which allow you to animate along the x, y, and z axes. Apply local or global transformation to any object.

Procedural modeling with Deco and Spray Brush
Turn symbols into instant design tools. Apply symbols in a variety of ways: Quickly create kaleidoscope-like effects and apply fills using the Deco tool, or randomly spray symbols across any defined area using the Spray Brush.

Motion presets
Jump-start your project with prebuilt animations that can be applied to any object. Select from dozens of presets or create and save your own. Share presets with others to save animation time.

Inverse kinematics with the Bones tool
Create chain-like animation effects with a series of linked objects, or quickly distort a single shape using the new Bones tool.


Design, develop, and maintain standards-based websites and applications
Build world-class websites and applications with one of the industry's leading web authoring tools. Adobe® Dreamweaver® CS4 software is ideal for web designers, web developers, and visual designers.

Code hinting for Ajax and JavaScript frameworks
Write JavaScript more efficiently with improved support for JavaScript core objects and primitive data types. Put the extended coding functionality of Dreamweaver CS4 to work by incorporating popular JavaScript frameworks, including jQuery, Prototype, and Spry.

Related Files and Code Navigator
Click any included file shown in the Related Files bar to see both its source in Code view and the parent page in Design view. The new Code Navigator feature shows you the CSS source code that affects your current selection and allows you to access it quickly.

CSS best practices
Implement CSS best practices without writing code. Create new CSS rules in the Properties panel, and get clear, simple explanations of where each property fits in the cascade of styles.

Adobe Photoshop Smart Objects
Insert any Adobe Photoshop® PSD document in Dreamweaver to create an image Smart Object tightly linked to the source file. Make changes to the source image, and update your image in Dreamweaver without opening Photoshop.


Explore new paths with the essential vector tool
Adobe® Illustrator® CS4 software is a comprehensive vector graphics environment with new transparency in gradients and multiple artboards that invite you to explore more efficient ways to design.

Transparency in gradients
Define the opacity of any individual color stop in a gradient. Reveal underlying objects and images, and create rich color and texture mixes using multiple layers, knockouts, and cover-up fades.

Gradients exposed
Interact with gradients right on your object. Set gradient angle, position, and elliptical dimensions. Add and edit colors using sliders — all with immediate feedback where you work.

In-panel appearance editing
Edit object characteristics directly in the Appearance panel, eliminating the need to open fill, stroke, or effects panels. Work with shared attributes and control display for faster rendering.

Separations Preview
Avoid color output surprises such as unexpected spot colors, unwanted overprinting, overprints that don't overprint, white overprinting, and CMYK blacks in text and placed files.


Rapidly prototype and design for the web
Rapidly prototype websites and application interfaces with Adobe® Fireworks® CS4 software. Create and optimize images for the web more quickly and accurately than ever before with an enhanced toolset.

PDF export
Generate high-fidelity, protected PDF documents from your Fireworks comps for client communication. Help safeguard your designs with password protection — separate passwords can be created for viewing and other tasks such as printing, copying, and commenting.

Customizable and reusable assets
Jump-start your design process with the Common Library, a repository of graphic symbols, form elements, text symbols, and animations frequently used in web and software applications, interfaces, and websites. Expand your collection with your own custom symbols and styles for continued rapid design.

CSS export
Design complete web pages in a robust graphic environment and then export standards-compliant, CSS-based layouts, complete with external style sheets, in one step. Integrate foreground and background graphics with new slice types.
Styles panel upgrades
Work more efficiently with the enhanced Styles panel. With the click of an icon, choose between default Fireworks styles, current document styles, or styles from other libraries. Multiple style sets can easily be accessed.

Adobe Flash Tutorials - Vectorize Car

Usually when it comes to vectoring, Adobe Illustrator is the first choice but for me, Adobe Flash comes first in mind :D



Here's the simple tutorial on how to vector a sports car.

Download the Car photo here : http://the-pit-monsterstock.deviantart.com/art/Car-stock-29-59811242

Step 1

Open Adobe Flash and go to File> Import> Import to stage. Locate the saved car photo and click OK.

Step 2

We need to make the photo look transparent for easier tracing later on. To do this, click on the photo and press F8. Choose the graphic option and click OK.

Step 3

Select the photo and on the properties bar (Ctrl-F3), change the Color bar to Alpha. Set the opacity to 38% - 50%.

Step 4

You can now use the pencil or pen tool to start draw the outline of the car. You might want to set the "Smoothing" to 60 and the option part (below the tools) to "Smooth" for better tracing :)

Step 5

Once you've done with the outline, it's time to color the car. Use the paint bucket tool to fill in the color you prefer. You can even use the gradient colors!

Step 6

Remove the photo layer and you're done! Try export the image to JPG or any other format for various usage.

The Vector Car fla available for download, here - http://www.ramesstudio.com/adobetuts/car-vector.fla

Thanks and hope its useful for you.

Adobe Flash Tutorials - Rollover Effect

This is my first ever tutorial on Adobe Flash! Hope you'll like it. I assume you've already use Flash before follow my steps. Even if you're not, I made it simple to follow. Do try!

We're going to learn how to make interactive flash file which is known as "Rollover Effect". To compare 2 different photos (before and after). Sample below.






First of all download these 2 photos. We going to use these photos in the tutorial.

Before - http://www.ramesstudio.com/adobetuts/flash/AFTER.jpg

After - http://www.ramesstudio.com/adobetuts/flash/BEFORE.jpg

Step 1

Open new flash document and click on the "Settings" on the properties bar. If you can't find it, go to Windows> Properties> Properties.

Step 2

On the popup, set the width, height and frame rate like above.

Step 3

Go to File> Import> Import to Stage and place the "After" photo right in the middle of the document. Next click on the photo, and go to Modify> Convert to Symbol. On the popup, add name and select the type. Click OK once you've done that.

Step 4

Now, click on that same photo again and go to Modify> Convert to Symbol again. We need to convert it to "Movie Clip" type and give it a name "movie". Click OK.

Step 5

Make sure the photo is still selected and then go to properties box and type "movie" just like above.

Step 6

On the timeline, add a new layer. Right click the first frame and select "Actions".

Step 7

On the Action popup, add the action "stop();"

Step 8

Add a new layer in between these 2 layers. Go to the "Rectangle Tool" on the toolbar and make a box on the photo (any color will do). This is done to create the button map.

Step 9

Select the box and go to Modify> Convert to Symbol. Choose type "button" and give it a name "button".

Step 10

Double click on the box and you'll see a small mini timeline (indicator no.1). Move the black box on the timeline from "Up" to "Hit". This is to make the box look invisible. Once you've done that, click on the "Scene 1"(shown above with the indicator no.2)

Step 11

You should see the document is now look just like above.

Step 12

Click on the middle button layer. We need to hide it, temporarily. How to hide it? Click on the small black dot on the "eye icon" row, see above. After that, double click on the photo layer.

Step 13

On the first layer, create 3 keyframes. How to do this? very easy! Click on the "15" frame and press "F6" on your keyboard. Another one at frame "30", press "F6". Your timeline now should look like above.

Step 14

Right click on the first frame and the "15" to add "Create Motion Tween". After that, stay at frame "15" and click on the main photo.

Step 15

On the properties bar, choose "Alpha" at the color bar and set the Opacity slider to "0%"

Step 16

Now go to the timeline and create a layer below the photo. Then go to File> Import> Import to Stage and locate the "Before" photo. Place it in the middle of the document.

Step 17

Add one more layer at the top most. We need to add some codes. Make 3 keyframes like above. Follow exactly like Step 13.

Step 18

Right click on the frame 1, 15, 30 and add the actions above. Next, click on the "Scene 1" tab. We're almost done! Just 1 more step!

Step 19

Unhide the button layer (Just click back on the black dot to unhide the layer). Click on the button, right click and add the code just like above. Now, go to Control> Test Movie (ctrl + ENTER) to test out the movie!

Can you see now? There you have a very cool interactive comparison file!

Download the source file here : http://www.ramesstudio.com/adobetuts/flash/template.fla

If you want to add the file into your blog or site, upload it first to any server. Copy the embed code below and change the path of the "swf". That's it!

Click here for embed code : http://www.ramesstudio.com/adobetuts/flash/embed.txt

Do let me know what do you think of my first tutorial on Flash. Hope its very useful for you guys :)

Thanks,

Adobe Flash & Photoshop Tutorials - Digital Painting

Do you like Digital Painting? Then this tutorial is for you. Even if you're not, you'll still enjoy learning it!




You need to have the following Adobe softwares
- Photoshop
- Flash (Any versions) but I'll be using Flash 8

Step 1


Open Adobe Flash then import any image source you like to trace. I'll be using sneakers as sample for this. Once you've imported in the sneakers, go to Modify> Convert to Symbol (F8).

Step 2

Once you've done with that, go to Properties bar. If you can't find the properties, go to Window> Properties> Properties.

Select "Alpha" on the Color drop down menu. By doing this, your tracing will be much easier.

Step 3

Next, make another layer (See above) right on top of the sneakers layer. You can now start tracing using the Pencil or Pen tool.

Step 4

There is few types of Strokes for you guys to choose from. I'll be using 3 types of strokes. The size of the Strokes is flexible, depends on your preference.

Step 5

Use the Text tool to type out the "All Star" text. Once you've done that, you need to "break it" by pressing "Ctrl B". Next, select the Free Transform tool and choose "Distort" to distort the text just like above.

Step 6

After you've completed tracing the whole sneakers, remove the Sneakers photo layer. Go to File>Export> Export Image. Choose "ai" type of file and save it.

Step 7

This will be the coloring stage. Open your Photoshop software and go to File> Open. Locate the "ai" file that you saved just now. A small window will popup. Choose "72" dpi resolution and click "OK"

Step 8

Rename the layers just like above.

Step 9

Start coloring the sneakers using the Brush tool. Make it messy kind of coloring style. Create different layers for different color parts of the sneakers. The top layer will always be the "outline". Choose any shapes of brush if you wanna have funky kind of shapes. It's all up to your creativity!

Note : You can do the coloring using Flash too but if you want different shapes of brushes and filters it's recommended to export the outline and use Photoshop for the coloring stage.

Download Source Files here Photoshop file, Flash File & Sneaker's image source - Get it here!

Now, don't you just love digital painting? :)