JULY

From CS to CS5:
lynda.com has the Adobe CS training you need.

3ds Max 2011 Essential Training

with: Aaron F. Ross

In 3ds Max 2011 Essential Training, author Aaron F. Ross demonstrates how to use this top-tier application for digital content creation, widely used in diverse industries such as architecture, industrial design, motion pictures, and games and virtual worlds. This course covers modeling with polygons, curves, and subdivision surfaces, defining surface properties with materials and maps, setting up cameras and lights, animating objects, and final output rendering.

Running Time: 10:04

SharePoint 2010 Getting Started

with: Simon Allardice

In SharePoint 2010 Getting Started, senior author Simon Allardice walks through the first few hours a new user will spend with SharePoint working with Web sites, communities, content, and search. This course covers creating and using SharePoint sites, lists and libraries, how SharePoint streamlines teamwork, Office integration, and solutions for workflows and business intelligence.

Running Time: 2:29

Pro Tools 8: Film Scoring

with: Christopher Brooks

In Pro Tools 8: Film Scoring, author Christopher Brooks introduces the tools in Avid’s digital recording, editing, and mixing software used for creating music for films, television and other visual media. Its wide-spread use on scoring stages and dubbing stages makes it the ideal choice for many of the tasks associated with creating music for films, television, and other visual media. This course also covers creating effective session templates, preparing recording sessions, and final mixing techniques.

Running Time: 2:38

Photoshop CS5 for Photographers: Camera Raw 6

with: Chris Orwig

In Photoshop CS5 for Photographers: Camera Raw 6, Chris Orwig provides in-depth training on Camera Raw 6, the CS5 component that enables photographers to open and manipulate images in non-destructive and now even more efficient ways. This course covers the benefits of the raw processing, which makes it possible to more precisely control an image’s appearance—exposure, shadow and highlight detail, color balance, sharpness, and more—including new workflow procedures and technical concepts and issues. Learn the entire Camera Raw workflow, from opening and resizing, toning and cropping, to sharpening and saving.

Running Time: 6:28

lynda.com Presents: AIGA

with: AIGA

As a long-time member of AIGA and newly elected member of its national board of directors, lynda.com founder Lynda Weinman was invited to attend the organization’s annual design awards gala in New York City last fall. A few days before the event, she spent some time getting to know some of the AIGA’s key members and touring the organization’s offices and archives.

Lynda’s journey introduces us to the professional association for design, through the eyes of some of the most talented and influential designers of our time. Lynda visits AIGA’s National Design Center on Fifth Avenue, home to the breathtaking design archives (dating back to the 1920’s) as well as this year’s premiere of 365: AIGA’s Annual Design Exhibition. She also touches down at New York’s School of Visual Arts and at Sterling Brands, the largest brand consultancy in the country, located in the Empire State building. Those interviewed include executive director Ric Grefé, national AIGA president Debbie Millman, former president Sean Adams, and editor Steven Heller from Voice: AIGA’s Journal of Design.

Running Time: 1:01

Outlook 2010 New Features

with: Karen Fredricks

In Outlook 2010 New Features, Karen Fredricks demonstrates the new and upgraded features in Outlook 2010. This course teaches how to create Quick Steps to automate commonly performed tasks, find email faster with enhanced search, and connect to social networking sites such as LinkedIn directly within Outlook.

Running Time: 0:44

Excel 2007: Managing Multiple Worksheets and Workbooks

with: Dennis Taylor

In Excel 2007: Managing Multiple Worksheets and Workbooks, author Dennis Taylor shows how to move and copy data to multiple worksheets and gives tips for adding, moving, and navigating worksheets and workbooks efficiently. This course covers how to make global changes, create simple formulas that connect different worksheets, make super-efficient 3-D formulas to calculate summary totals from multiple worksheets, and use pivot tables to summarize data from multiple workbooks.

Running Time: 1:12

PowerPoint 2010 New Features

with: David Diskin

In PowerPoint 2010 New Features, David Diskin explores the latest version of Microsoft’;s presentation software. This course covers themes and transitions, the ability to add equations and over forty new SmartArt diagrams to presentations, new photo retouching and video editing features, and new ways to collaborate and share presentations across the Internet.

Running Time: 1:05

Excel 2007: Macros in Depth

with: Dennis Taylor

In Excel 2007: Macros in Depth, author Dennis Taylor demonstrates common tasks for which macros are used, and walks through the process of creating and running simple macros. This course also covers more advanced topics, including making macros widely available through the Personal Macro Workbook, recording a macro in stages, absolute and relative recording, and using Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) for actions that can’t be recorded. The course wraps up with a macro project that brings together each of the elements in a real-world scenario.

Running Time: 2:29

OneNote 2010 New Features

with: David Rivers

In OneNote 2010 New Features, David Rivers demonstrates the new and enhanced features in Microsoft’s robust application for gathering and sharing information. The course reviews OneNote 2010 interface features, including the Ribbon and Backstage View, and workflow enhancements such as quick filing, linked notes, and Word styles. It also teaches new and improved ways to collaborate on notebooks with others.

Running Time: 0:58

SharePoint 2010 New Features

with: Simon Allardice

In SharePoint 2010 New Features, Simon Allardice highlights the new tools and user interface enhancements Microsoft includes in the 2010 version of SharePoint Server. This course covers document collaboration and the social computing features in SharePoint, editing pages, creating themes, and integration with Office 2010. Improvements to the user interface, as well as updated permission controls, are also demonstrated.

Running Time: 1:59

3ds Max 2011 New Features

with: Steve Nelle

In 3ds Max 2011 New Features, author Steve Nelle introduces the new features and productivity enhancements in 3ds Max 2011, with a special emphasis on the Slate Material Editor and CAT character animation system. The course examines enhancements to existing features, customization options to the modeling ribbon, scene management improvements, as well as creating scene objects using the Object Paint tool.

Running Time: 2:44

Maya 2011 New Features

with: George Maestri

Author George Maestri explores the significant and robust feature set in Maya 2011 that add functionality for its 3D workflows in Maya 2011 New Features. This course covers the addition of Bezier curves for NURBS modelers, the Connect Component and Spin Edge tools in the polygonal modeling mode, and rigging tools for character animation. Enhancements to rendering and special effects are also reviewed.

Running Time: 1:22

WILL YOU WEAR BLUE???

International Picture of the Year
Here are two very touching photos honored this year

First Place :                                                                      

Todd Heisler The Rocky Mountain News

When 2nd Lt. James Cathey's body arrived at the Reno Airport , Marines climbed into the cargo hold of the plane and draped the flag over his casket as passengers watched the family gather on the tarmac.

During the arrival of another Marine's casket last year at Denver International Airport , Major Steve Beck described the scene as so powerful: 'See the people in the windows? They sat right there in the plane, watching those Marines. You gotta wonder what's going through their minds, knowing that they're on the plane that brought him home,' he said 'They will remember being on that plane for the rest of their lives. They're going to remember bringing that Marine home. And they should .'

Second Place                                                                    
Todd Heisler The Rocky Mountain News

The night before the burial of her husband's body, Katherine Cathey refused to leave the casket, asking to sleep next to his body for the last time The Marines made a bed for her, tucking in the sheets below the flag. Before she fell asleep, she opened her laptop computer and played songs that reminded her of 'Cat,' and one of the Marines asked if she wanted them to continue standing watch as she slept. 'I think it would be kind of nice if you kept doing it,' she said. 'I think that's what he would have wanted'

Blue Fridays.

Very soon, you will see a great many people wearing blue every Friday. The reason? Americans who support our troops used to be called the 'silent majority' We are no longer silent, and are voicing our love for God, country and home in record breaking numbers. We are not organized, boisterous or overbearing.

Many Americans, like you, me and all our friends, simply want to recognize that the vast majority of America supports our troops. Our idea of showing solidarity and support for our troops with dignity and respect starts this Friday -- and continues each and every Friday until the troops all come home, sending a deafening message that every red-blooded American who supports our men and women afar, will wear something blue. By word of mouth, press, TV -- let's make the United States on every Friday a sea of blue much like a homecoming football game in the bleachers. If every one of us who loves this country will share this with acquaintances, coworkers, friends, and family, it will not be long before the
USA is covered in BLUE and it will let our troops know the once 'silent' majority is on their side more than ever, certainly more than the media lets on. The first thing a soldier says when asked 'What can we do to make things better for you?' is . 'We need your support and your prayers.' Let's get the word out and lead with class and dignity, by example, and wear something blue every Friday..