The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)http://www.tuaw.comThe Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tuaw.com/media/feedlogo.gifThe Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)http://www.tuaw.comen-usCopyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only.Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Super-panoramic showdown for Machttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/11/21/super-panoramic-showdown/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/11/21/super-panoramic-showdown/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/11/21/super-panoramic-showdown/#commentsFiled under: Software, Reviews, Graphic Design

There are several photo-stitchers available for Mac (and several for iPhone as well), and most do a stellar job for stitching together 3-4 images into a panoramic image. However, I recently completed a project that required stitching together hundreds of images into some very large panoramas of several locations around beautiful Peoria, Illinois. What I found is that some of the programs which do admirable work on small stitching jobs performed very poorly on larger-scale panoramas. I tried several programs with varying results, and you can check out my showdown below.

Continue reading Super-panoramic showdown for Mac

Super-panoramic showdown for Mac originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sat, 21 Nov 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Super-panoramic showdown for Mac originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sat, 21 Nov 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>autopano proAutopanoProcalicodoubletakepanoramapanoramicphotoshopTim WassonSat, 21 Nov 2009 14:00:00 ESTNvidia CEO loves Apple, possesses mysterious alien devicehttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/11/10/nvidia-ceo-loves-apple-possesses-mysterious-alien-device/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/11/10/nvidia-ceo-loves-apple-possesses-mysterious-alien-device/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/11/10/nvidia-ceo-loves-apple-possesses-mysterious-alien-device/#commentsFiled under: Hardware, Rumors, Graphic Design

Talk about burying the lead -- Shufflegazine did a piece on Nvidia CEO Jen-Hsun Hwang during a visit to Dubai recently, in which he talks about how much he and his family love their Macs, and Apple's machines add value, and in his house it's just "Mac, Mac, Mac," and OH MY GOD, what is that SITTING ON THE TABLE in front of him? OK, it's ~~probably not~~ definitely not an Apple tablet (yet), as there's no clear Apple logo on it, but man that's a nice looking tablet device, and even Engadget says they have no idea what it is.

The thing is, this picture just appeared with Shufflegazine's piece, and while Hwang did go on and on about how much he loves Apple stuff (and yes, the two companies have a long history of sharing some hardware), there's not word one about that tablet or anything like it in the piece, no hint of any other hardware or partnership announcement. It could be a prototype, it could be another tablet we're just not recognizing, or yes, Hwang could have just thrown it down on the table during the interview, and Shufflegazine could have just completely missed it. [They didn't. -Ed.]

Though if that last one is true, we have no idea how it happened. How do you cover Apple and their gadgets and avoid being drawn to that tablet. It's so... thin and well-designed. We'll be honest, if we were in the room, we might have licked it then and there to claim it as our own.

Thanks to Nemanja for the tip.

Nvidia CEO loves Apple, possesses mysterious alien device originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 10 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Nvidia CEO loves Apple, possesses mysterious alien device originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 10 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>alienappleceodevicedubaiengadgetitabletjen-hsun-hwangmysterynvidianvidia-ceoomgpicturerumorshufflegazinetablettourMike SchrammTue, 10 Nov 2009 08:00:00 ESTUnboxing... an Apple job offerhttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/05/unboxing-an-apple-job-offer/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/05/unboxing-an-apple-job-offer/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/05/unboxing-an-apple-job-offer/#commentsFiled under: Apple Corporate, Odds and ends, Apple, Graphic Design

This is exactly the kind of thing we love to see here at TUAW (and thanks for sending it along, Danny) -- Glyph of the Twisted project got a job offer from Apple last week, and over on his blog, he posts a set of unboxing pics.

Which might sound silly (an unboxing for a new hire packet?), but when you're talking about Apple, it's worth it. It turns out they put nearly as much thought into the design of their paperwork as they do into the rest of their projects. From the iconic folder to the way it's organized, designed, and laid out, getting a job offer from Apple isn't just super exciting, it's apparently a thing of beauty.

To tell the truth, we half expected him to turn the folder over and see the words "Designed by Apple in California." Good luck to Glyph with his job, and it warms our hearts here as Apple fans at TUAW to see that something the company never expected to be shown to the public was assembled with such care and thought.

Unboxing... an Apple job offer originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 05 Oct 2009 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Unboxing... an Apple job offer originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 05 Oct 2009 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>appledesigndesigned-by-apple-in-californiafolderglyphjob-offerlayoutpaperworktwistedunboxingMike SchrammMon, 05 Oct 2009 21:00:00 ESTMega-super TUAW shootout of the iPhone UI sketchbookshttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/03/mega-super-tuaw-shootout-of-the-iphone-ui-sketchbooks/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/03/mega-super-tuaw-shootout-of-the-iphone-ui-sketchbooks/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/03/mega-super-tuaw-shootout-of-the-iphone-ui-sketchbooks/#commentsFiled under: Analysis / Opinion, Odds and ends, Reviews, Developer, iPhone, Graphic Design, SDK, iPod touch

Part of my work requires me to mock up iPhone apps, often to show developers how I would redesign a user interface to work better than something they've come up with. Over the past few months, a number of paper sketchbooks have appeared on the market, all designed expressly for this purpose. I decided to try out all of the sketchbooks that I could find in a cursory Google search, just to see which one would work best for me. Of course, that meant that I had to write a review!

The three products I discovered and tested were App Sketchbook (US$16.99), iPhone Application Sketch Book (US$14.99), and The Developer Sketchbook for iPhone Apps (US$19.99). All of them are designed for the same reason, to let iPhone devs or business analysts describe how they want an application's user interface to look. Follow along as I take a look at these three sketchbooks, as well as a metal stencil template for drawing UI elements.

Continue reading Mega-super TUAW shootout of the iPhone UI sketchbooks

Mega-super TUAW shootout of the iPhone UI sketchbooks originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sat, 03 Oct 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Mega-super TUAW shootout of the iPhone UI sketchbooks originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sat, 03 Oct 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>developeriphoneipod touchIpodTouchsketchbookstencilUIuser interfaceUserInterfaceSteven SandeSat, 03 Oct 2009 17:00:00 ESTPantone offers color libraries for iPhone, mostlyhttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/21/pantone-offers-color-libraries-for-iphone-mostly/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/21/pantone-offers-color-libraries-for-iphone-mostly/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/21/pantone-offers-color-libraries-for-iphone-mostly/#commentsFiled under: Graphic Design, App Review

While it's been in the App Store for the last few days, Pantone is officially launching its color discovery and management app for iPhone today, called myPANTONE.

The Pantone Matching System, among other Pantone products, is the indispensable color system for printers and graphic designers, and it offers a wider gamut of color than traditional process color printing. myPANTONE lets iPhone and iPod touch users discover new and interesting Pantone color combinations, share them, and create palette files suitable for importing in desktop applications.

You can start one of two ways: You can scrub through one of Pantone's color sets, including PMS coated, uncoated and matte colors, Goe, Pastels, and Fashion + Home. You can then drag individual chips into an area below the fanbook display, and build a palette of five colors. You can view each color full-screen, and add tags to colors, too.

Alternatively, you can take a picture with your iPhone (or select an image from Pictures on your iPod touch) and build a palette from the colors in that image.

myPANTONE exports HTML colors and .ase files (suitable for importing in Adobe CS products). You can also share palettes directly with other myPANTONE users nearby, and also upload them to the mypantone.com website (annoying sound warning), which is very similar to Adobe's Kuler (though it uses Pantone swatches, naturally).

This is all well and good, of course, but for the technical color professional? Meh.

Continue reading Pantone offers color libraries for iPhone, mostly

Pantone offers color libraries for iPhone, mostly originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 21 Sep 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Pantone offers color libraries for iPhone, mostly originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 21 Sep 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>adobeappstorecmykcoloriphonekulermatchingmypantonepantonepmsRobert PalmerMon, 21 Sep 2009 11:00:00 ESTFashion alert! Pogo Stylus / Pogo Sketch now in hot pinkhttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/18/fashion-alert-pogo-stylus-pogo-sketch-now-in-hot-pink/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/18/fashion-alert-pogo-stylus-pogo-sketch-now-in-hot-pink/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/18/fashion-alert-pogo-stylus-pogo-sketch-now-in-hot-pink/#commentsFiled under: Accessories, Hardware, Odds and ends, iPhone, Graphic Design, iPod touch

We've discussed Ten One Design's Pogo Stylus and Pogo Sketch before; they're great if you like to sketch and need a finer brush than your finger can provide.

Now the company has provided just the thing for the artistic members of our readership, and a good reason to show a booty shot on TUAW -- the new Hot Pink versions of the Pogo Stylus and Pogo Sketch.

While the model in this photo appears to have neatly manicured nails, our contact at Ten One Design says that many women with long, luscious nails have been buying the Pogos so they can keep those back scratchers and still be able to use the touch user interface of the iPhone and iPod touch.

The Pogos are also useful with the Autograph application. I use one with my MacBook Air to make my signature via the touchpad look a lot more like it's been done with a pen.

The hot pink anodized finish for the US$14.95 Pogo Stylus or Pogo Sketch joins the other colors: black, white, and my personal favorite, gunmetal. And yes, this is a slow news day...

Fashion alert! Pogo Stylus / Pogo Sketch now in hot pink originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 18 Sep 2009 13:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Fashion alert! Pogo Stylus / Pogo Sketch now in hot pink originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 18 Sep 2009 13:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>booty callBootyCallbreast cancer awarenessBreastCancerAwarenessfashionfingernailspinkstylusSteven SandeFri, 18 Sep 2009 13:10:00 ESTMaking the most of Preview.app for image editinghttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/17/making-the-most-of-preview-app/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/17/making-the-most-of-preview-app/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/17/making-the-most-of-preview-app/#commentsFiled under: Software, Tips and tricks, Graphic Design

Inspired by Bear Grylls's (of Discovery's Man vs. Wild) "make the most out of your situation" scenarios, I present you with a tutorial for making the most out of Preview.app. While not as powerful as graphics editing powerhouse Adobe Photoshop, Preview can oftentimes get you from Point A to Point B -- and sometimes quicker too.

Like Bear Grylls, you'll need to parachute out of a plane and into the house of a friend who doesn't have Photoshop -- just kidding.

First, a little bit of background. Preview comes pre-installed on Mac OS X, and it's the default image viewer on the system. For PC-to-Mac converts, you could think of it as the Microsoft Paint of OS X; except that it can do a whole lot more. Besides the ability to open a host of image file formats (JPG, BMP, GIF, among them, and even PSD and AI files), Preview can also open PDF files natively. I actually prefer it over Adobe Acrobat for opening PDFs, as I find that they open much quicker using Preview. And like Adobe Reader, Preview contains advanced features, such as annotating.

Continue reading Making the most of Preview.app for image editing

Making the most of Preview.app for image editing originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 17 Sep 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Making the most of Preview.app for image editing originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 17 Sep 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>costimage editingimage editorImageEditingImageEditorkanye westKanyeWestphotoshoppreview appPreviewApptaylor swiftTaylorSwiftSang TangThu, 17 Sep 2009 10:00:00 ESTInside the new iTunes LP formathttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/15/inside-the-itunes-lp-format/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/15/inside-the-itunes-lp-format/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/15/inside-the-itunes-lp-format/#commentsFiled under: Odds and ends, iTunes, Graphic Design

With the release of iTunes 9 came iTunes LP. Our own Dave Caolo gave iTunes LP a glowing review, but if you're wondering just how Apple worked their magic with the new format, web developer Jay Robinson has picked it apart thoroughly. As it turns out, simply replacing the ".itlp" extension with ".zip" reveals the contents of the package, which are actually HTML, CSS, and a little JavaScript. The Flash-like interfaces really use no Flash, but instead rely on the proposed CSS3 animation properties. If you're a web developer like yours truly (or a few other TUAW bloggers), you'll definitely want to check out Jay's analysis of the format.

We've also been informed by a loyal tipster that if you take that unzipped folder of content and put it in your Sites directory (with Web sharing turned on, naturally), you might try browsing to it from your iPhone or iPod touch and seeing what shows up in Mobile Safari. Fascinating.

Inside the new iTunes LP format originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 15 Sep 2009 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Inside the new iTunes LP format originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 15 Sep 2009 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>csshtmlitlpitunes 9itunes lpItunes9ItunesLpjavascriptwebkitzipTim WassonTue, 15 Sep 2009 11:30:00 ESTInfectious 'Cut to the Core' design challenge winnershttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/10/infectious-cut-to-the-core-design-challenge-winners/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/10/infectious-cut-to-the-core-design-challenge-winners/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/10/infectious-cut-to-the-core-design-challenge-winners/#commentsFiled under: Accessories, Odds and ends, Graphic Design

We reported the Infectious "Cut to the Core" design contest a while back, but the winners have just been announced and their designs are truly gorgeous. I rarely sticker my computers, but the Infectious skins are vinyl and won't leave a mess behind when you remove them. These designs are created to work around the glowing Apple logo on the top half of your notebook computers, and the winners really hit the mark.

Congratulations to Jun Nuñez who takes home first prize of $1000 for his vision of the Apple logo as the pulsing heart of a robot with ReCharged. Kudos as well to Aren Vandenburgh and his design "Creative Workflow, Dimo Trifonov and his old-school rainbow striped Back to Basics and to Jamal Issawi and his arcade game-inspired Mac Man.

You can buy the winners' designs directly from Infectious for your 13", 15" and 17" Mac laptops. Skins cost $29.99 each. Check out the winners in the gallery, below.

Gallery: Cut to the Core Winners

Back to Basics

Macman

Recharged

Creative Workflow

Infectious 'Cut to the Core' design challenge winners originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 10 Sep 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Infectious 'Cut to the Core' design challenge winners originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 10 Sep 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>accessorydesigninfectiouslaptopmacbookmacbook proMacbookProskinVictor Agreda, Jr.Thu, 10 Sep 2009 16:00:00 ESTPixelmator 1.5 Spider update outhttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/09/pixelmator-1-5-spider-update-out/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/09/pixelmator-1-5-spider-update-out/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/09/pixelmator-1-5-spider-update-out/#commentsFiled under: Odds and ends, Developer, Graphic Design, Snow Leopard

The Pixelmator team has released another update to my favorite little photo editor. Pixelmator 1.5 Spider brings a host of web exporting and sharing options, including a new "Save for Web" feature and the option to send a picture straight to Mail or iPhoto. Additionally, there's a new Trim tool that will cut off transparent or background pixels, and a new Slice tool that will let you cut an image up into pieces and optimize each for the 'net. There's also the usual round of bug fixes, including support for full compatibility with Snow Leopard.

As usual, the new version is available for update from right within the current app. For new users, Pixelmator is available for $59 over on their website, complete with a free trial if you want to check out this photo editing powerhouse before buying. I really enjoy using Pixelmator -- it's lightweight and easy to use, and while it's not quite as full-featured as Photoshop (though with every big version release like this, they get closer), it's a great app to do a little image editing in.

Pixelmator 1.5 Spider update out originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 09 Sep 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Pixelmator 1.5 Spider update out originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 09 Sep 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>applicationsbugfixesiphotomailos-xpixelmatorpixelmator-1.5-spidersave-for-webslicesnow-leopardtrimupdatesMike SchrammWed, 09 Sep 2009 08:00:00 ESTThe beautifully detailed art of Mac OS X app iconshttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/05/the-beautifully-detailed-art-of-mac-os-x-app-icons/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/05/the-beautifully-detailed-art-of-mac-os-x-app-icons/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/05/the-beautifully-detailed-art-of-mac-os-x-app-icons/#commentsFiled under: OS, Software, Cult of Mac, Odds and ends, Graphic Design, Snow Leopard

Over at his blog Cult of Mac, writer Leander Kahney published a post this morning featuring full-size 512 x 512 pixel screenshots of Mac icons. As he notes, the highly detailed icons are part of a move to make the OS resolution independent, but they're also an indication of Apple's attention to detail.

Many of the icons are works of art when viewed at their full size. The TextEdit icon, for example, is actually a note from "John Appleseed" to "Kate" featuring the text of the "Here's to the crazy ones" ads of the late 1990s. The Jar Launcher app, featuring a cup of hot Java sitting on a paper napkin, reveals miniscule bubbles on the side of the coffee, as well as real Java code written on the napkin.

All of these icons are indications of the fanatical attention to detail of Apple designers. After looking at Kahney's gallery of art, I gathered my own collection of icon goodness from both Apple and third-party apps. Click the gallery icon below to see what I found. If you have found any 512 x 512 icons that are incredibly good, send 'em to us at http://tuaw.tumblr.com/submit.

Gallery: The Art of Mac App Icons

Front Row

GarageBand

Photo Booth

Transmit

Picturesque

Continue reading The beautifully detailed art of Mac OS X app icons

The beautifully detailed art of Mac OS X app icons originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sat, 05 Sep 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The beautifully detailed art of Mac OS X app icons originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sat, 05 Sep 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>artcult of macCultOfMaciconsleander kahneyLeanderKahneymac os x 10.6MacOsX10.6snow leopardSnowLeopardSteven SandeSat, 05 Sep 2009 18:00:00 ESTPhotoshop CS3 and Snow Leopard. Yea or nea?http://www.tuaw.com/2009/08/27/photoshop-cs3-and-snow-leopard-yay-or-nay/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/08/27/photoshop-cs3-and-snow-leopard-yay-or-nay/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/08/27/photoshop-cs3-and-snow-leopard-yay-or-nay/#commentsFiled under: Analysis / Opinion, Software, Graphic Design, Snow Leopard

One of the dark spots hanging over the excitement over Snow Leopard is whether or not Photoshop CS3 will work.

Adobe caused some real consternation when they announced earlier this week that CS3 would get no support (along with the rest of the older Creative Suite) and suggested people upgrade to CS4.

In an Adobe FAQ [PDF download link] it's stated: "Older versions of Adobe creative software were not included in our testing efforts. While older Adobe and Macromedia applications may install and run on Mac OS X Snow Leopard (v10.6), they were designed, tested,and released to the public several years before this new operating system became available. You may therefore experience a variety of installation, stability, and reliability issues for which there is no resolution."

Then there was some backtracking from John Nack, Adobe Photoshop product manager. "It turns out that the Photoshop team has tested Photoshop CS3 on Snow Leopard, and to the best of our knowledge, PS CS3 works fine on Snow Leopard."

Hmmm. So will it work? People have invested a fortune in Adobe products. Some users who have used CS3 says it runs OK with late beta releases of Snow Leopard, but others have said there are a lot of problems. I've heard both stories from people using it, and remember, Adobe isn't saying CS4 is perfect either.

If I were making my living with Photoshop or other parts of the Creative Suite and was running CS3, I think I'd wait until there are a lot of user reports. Yes, CS3 has been out for a long time, and yes, Adobe would love to have us update to CS4, but in my case there are some critical plug-ins I use that haven't yet been updated to work with CS4, and I'm probably not alone.

Here's a link to John Nack's blog where some customers are commenting none too happily about Adobe right now.

I expect this issue is going to get a lot of attention when people start upgrading to Snow Leopard. Stand by.

Photoshop CS3 and Snow Leopard. Yea or nea? originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 27 Aug 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Photoshop CS3 and Snow Leopard. Yea or nea? originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 27 Aug 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>AdobeApplePhotoshop CS3Snow LeopardMel MartinThu, 27 Aug 2009 13:00:00 ESTFirst Look: Watermark your iPhoto pictures with Impressionhttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/08/21/first-look-watermark-your-iphoto-pictures-with-impression/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/08/21/first-look-watermark-your-iphoto-pictures-with-impression/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/08/21/first-look-watermark-your-iphoto-pictures-with-impression/#commentsFiled under: iLife, Software, Graphic Design, First Look

Blue Crowbar Software is a small Belgian Mac development firm that is quickly making a name for itself for its innovative iPhoto and Aperture plugins. We've previously covered iPhoto2Twitter here on TUAW, and now Blue Crowbar has announced a new iPhoto plugin for adding watermarks to pictures in your iPhoto library.

Watermarks are those faint, transparent designs that websites often use to mark exclusive photos when breaking a big story. For example, many of the great fake iTablet "photos" that we've received during the past few weeks have been emblazoned with a watermark for one Mac site or another. Impression (€9.90 -- about US$14.10) works in iPhoto to put watermarks onto your iPhoto pictures. If you're worried that a watermark might ruin a perfectly good picture, don't be. Impression makes a copy of the picture, then creates a watermarked version which is also saved into your iPhoto library.

Continue reading First Look: Watermark your iPhoto pictures with Impression

First Look: Watermark your iPhoto pictures with Impression originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 21 Aug 2009 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

First Look: Watermark your iPhoto pictures with Impression originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 21 Aug 2009 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>first lookFirstLookiphotophotopluginwatermarkSteven SandeFri, 21 Aug 2009 07:00:00 ESTFive Apps for the art loverhttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/08/10/five-apps-for-the-art-lover/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/08/10/five-apps-for-the-art-lover/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/08/10/five-apps-for-the-art-lover/#commentsFiled under: Software, iPhone, Graphic Design, App Store

I haven't always loved art. During my life, I went through a phase where I think my engineer / logical-brain kicked the artist brain out of the nest. Now my wife and I are avid art collectors, and I'm writing this while on our annual tour of Santa Fe, New Mexico art galleries. The picture above is a panorama taken on August 6th from the Santa Fe Opera House using the outstanding Pano app for iPhone.

As part of our continuing Five Apps series, I decided to take on the challenging task of finding five applications for Mac and iPhone that would be useful to the art lover or collector. Read on for my take on the cream of the art crop.

Continue reading Five Apps for the art lover

Five Apps for the art lover originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 10 Aug 2009 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Five Apps for the art lover originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 10 Aug 2009 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>5appsartfiveappsiphonemacsoftwareSteven SandeMon, 10 Aug 2009 10:30:00 ESTLineform 1.5.1 is out: TUAW readers can save $30http://www.tuaw.com/2009/07/21/lineform-1-5-1-is-out-tuaw-readers-can-save-30/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/07/21/lineform-1-5-1-is-out-tuaw-readers-can-save-30/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/07/21/lineform-1-5-1-is-out-tuaw-readers-can-save-30/#commentsFiled under: Software, Graphic Design

It's been a while since Freeverse's vector application, Lineform, got an update. Lineform 1.5 came out in January 2008, but the Apple Design Award winner has remained unchanged since then. That's not a bad thing; as we've mentioned in the past, Lineform is great vector program. But it's always nice to get new features.

Freeverse has just released Lineform 1.5.1, fixing some bugs and adding some new treats for users.

Here are some of the highlights:

Improved gradient behavior -- you now have more control over your gradients.
Improved performance with multiple objects on a canvas
Undo now includes the function name, so you can see what you are undoing
New Lineform Clips available in the Media Browser.

That last item is actually pretty great. Lineform now comes with a bunch of vector clips in various shapes and symbols that you can drag into your documents to use as they are, or edit. You can also add additional vector clips to save and use later.

When Robert did a faceoff amongst low-cost vector apps, he commented that having more shapes would be a good addition to Lineform. Lineform now has pre-built polygons and star shapes that can be simply dragged into your project.

Plus, Lineform continues to support SVG, PDF and EPS formats and it's easy to apply non-destructive filters to your projects.

The guys at Freeverse were also nice enough to extend a $30-off coupon code to TUAW readers! Enter tuawlineform151 when ordering at Freeverse's site and you can score Lineform 1.5.1 for just $49.95.

$50 for a vector app that is as powerful and easy to use as Lineform is really, really hard to beat. If you want to give it a trial before buying, you can download it free and use it for 30 days. Lineform now requires OS X 10.5 (previous versions did run on Tiger) and it is a Universal Binary. Existing users can install this free update either by using the built-in update check or downloading the DMG from Freeverse.

Lineform 1.5.1 is out: TUAW readers can save $30 originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 21 Jul 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Lineform 1.5.1 is out: TUAW readers can save $30 originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 21 Jul 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>freeverselineformvectorvector graphicsVectorGraphicsChristina WarrenTue, 21 Jul 2009 11:00:00 ESTInfectious sponsors "Cut to the Core" design contest for new laptop skinshttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/07/14/infectious-sponsors-cut-to-the-core-design-contest-for-new-lap/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/07/14/infectious-sponsors-cut-to-the-core-design-contest-for-new-lap/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/07/14/infectious-sponsors-cut-to-the-core-design-contest-for-new-lap/#commentsFiled under: Accessories, Cult of Mac, Macbook Pro, MacBook, Graphic Design

If you'd like to see your design on a laptop and earn a little extra money to boot, head over to Infectious and check out their Cut to the Core design contest. They are accepting entries for a new run of MacBook and MacBook Pro laptop skins from now until August 4. Each skin is designed around a cut out that'll expose the glowing Apple logo on laptops. Be sure to read the rules carefully (you can't, for example, use the Apple logo in your design) and remember that the contest is voted on by the Infectious community.

First place winner gets $1000 cash prize, $100 of Infectious product and 5% net sales. All winners get $100 Infectious product and 5% net sales. Yep, net sales. Winning designs will be announced exclusively on TUAW around August 20, 2009. Stay tuned and good luck to those who enter!

Infectious sponsors "Cut to the Core" design contest for new laptop skins originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 14 Jul 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Infectious sponsors "Cut to the Core" design contest for new laptop skins originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 14 Jul 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>contestcut to the coreCutToTheCoredesigninfectiouslaptoplaptop skinLaptopSkinVictor Agreda, Jr.Tue, 14 Jul 2009 17:00:00 ESTiPhone artists: paint your way to $500 in the Pogo Stylus art contesthttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/06/11/iphone-artists-paint-your-way-to-500-in-the-pogo-stylus-art-co/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/06/11/iphone-artists-paint-your-way-to-500-in-the-pogo-stylus-art-co/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/06/11/iphone-artists-paint-your-way-to-500-in-the-pogo-stylus-art-co/#commentsFiled under: Accessories, Odds and ends, iPhone, Graphic Design, iPod touch

The iPhone is designed to work with your fingers, but those stubby appendages aren't the best for doing detailed work. That's why Ten One Design developed the Pogo Stylus (US$14.95), an aluminum stylus with a special tip that allows it to work on the capacitive display of the iPhone and iPod touch. It's also handy for operating your iPhone with gloves on, or for anyone who has trouble working with the touchscreen directly.

Ten One Design is holding an art contest through July 1st, 2009. The rules are simple; you must use a Pogo Stylus to create a work of art on an iPhone or iPod touch. You can use whatever software you desire, although most of the artwork seen below was created with the help of Brushes [App Store]. The winner will have $500 paid to his or her PayPal account.

What are you waiting for? Get your Pogo Stylus and get to work!

iPhone artists: paint your way to $500 in the Pogo Stylus art contest originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 11 Jun 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

iPhone artists: paint your way to $500 in the Pogo Stylus art contest originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 11 Jun 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>artcontestiphoneipod touchIpodTouchstylusSteven SandeThu, 11 Jun 2009 19:00:00 ESTCan you believe it? New Yorker cover done on iPhone app.http://www.tuaw.com/2009/05/25/can-you-believe-it-new-yorker-cover-done-on-iphone-app/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/05/25/can-you-believe-it-new-yorker-cover-done-on-iphone-app/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/05/25/can-you-believe-it-new-yorker-cover-done-on-iphone-app/#commentsFiled under: iPhone, Graphic Design, App Store, iPod touch

Looking at the cover of the June 1 New Yorker Magazine it is pretty hard to believe that it was created with a US$4.99 app on an iPhone.

The app is Brushes [App Store] and it allows painting on the iPhone /iPod touch screen using your fingers and a variety of brush styles. If you have a Mac, you can export your work at resolutions up to 1920x2880. The app also saves a record of your brushstrokes and other actions and can replay them on your Mac. The artist who did the New Yorker cover, Jorge Colombo, obviously has impressive talent. You can see some of his other iPhone work here.

Colombo told the New York Times he loves the app because it "made it easy for me to sketch without having to carry all my pens and brushes and notepads with me, and I like the fact that I am drawing with a set of tools that anybody can have easily in their pocket."

This video will show you a stroke by stroke look at how the cover was created.

If you're looking for more info on this app try the developer site here. Another similar app at the same price is Colors, [App Store] which has also been responsible for some impressive artwork.

Wow. Just wow.

Can you believe it? New Yorker cover done on iPhone app. originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 25 May 2009 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Can you believe it? New Yorker cover done on iPhone app. originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 25 May 2009 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>app storeBrushesiPhoneiPod touchNew YorkerpaintingMel MartinMon, 25 May 2009 13:30:00 ESTTUAW Tip: Saving InDesign CS4 files for InDesign CS2http://www.tuaw.com/2009/05/08/tuaw-tip-saving-indesign-cs4-files-for-indesign-cs2/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/05/08/tuaw-tip-saving-indesign-cs4-files-for-indesign-cs2/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/05/08/tuaw-tip-saving-indesign-cs4-files-for-indesign-cs2/#commentsFiled under: TUAW Tips, Graphic Design

Here's a frustrating problem: You have InDesign CS4, and your buddy needs your file, but has InDesign CS2. "Easy!" you think, "just save an InDesign Interchange (INX) file and send it to him."

Lo, wonder of wonders: InDesign saves an INX file that's compatible only with the immediately preceding version of InDesign. (As I found out the hard way today.) CS4 saves a file for CS3; CS3 saves a file for CS2. If you don't have both versions on your computer, you're out of luck. Way to Quark it up, Adobe.

An INX file is just a glorified XML file. And Adobe, clever lads and lasses they are, inserted a version number in the file. Adobe CS2 looks at the version number, sees that the INX file is targeted for CS3, and pops up an error message without even trying to open the file. Curses.

But Mike Rankin figured it out last November: Open the INX file with your favorite text editor (like TextMate or BBEdit) and change the version number. Replace line number 2 (which looks like this):

<?aid style="33" type="document" DOMVersion="6.0" readerVersion="5.0" featureSet="257" product="6.0(352)" ?>

with this:

<?aid style="33" type="document" DOMVersion="5.0" readerVersion="4.0" featureSet="257" product="5.0(662)" ?>

Easy peasy. Open the INX file in InDesign CS2, and you're good to go. Use caution, though: This works best for simple layouts. The more complex your layout, the more likely it will unexpectedly change when re-imported into a lesser version of InDesign.

[Via InDesignSecrets.]

TUAW Tip: Saving InDesign CS4 files for InDesign CS2 originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 08 May 2009 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

TUAW Tip: Saving InDesign CS4 files for InDesign CS2 originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 08 May 2009 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>adobebbeditcreative suiteCreativeSuitecs2cs3cs4inddindesignindesignsecretsinterchangeinxrankintextmatexmlRobert PalmerFri, 08 May 2009 15:30:00 ESTRob Janoff and how he made the Apple logohttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/03/31/rob-janoff-and-how-he-made-the-apple-logo/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/03/31/rob-janoff-and-how-he-made-the-apple-logo/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/03/31/rob-janoff-and-how-he-made-the-apple-logo/#commentsFiled under: Analysis / Opinion, Apple, Apple History, Graphic Design

ZLOK has re-posted an article (originally meant for the defunct Sync Magazine) about Rob Janoff, a designer who's credited with coming up with the iconic-as-they-come Apple logo. It's actually a really short piece, but he does talk pretty candidly about where he got the idea: by buying a bag of apples and slicing them up in different ways.

And the original design was just a single color Apple (which, of course, Apple has used versions of since), but Jobs thought the design should be more colorful, so the logo got its familiar colored bands. Janoff says he just threw the colors in where he thought they might fit, which makes sense -- they don't match up with the physical spectrum at all, they're just sort of in there.

Cool to see that something now so well known started off so simply. Janoff did the work for a design firm, and says that nowadays, he gets "not even a holiday card" for his invention. Apple does take their time recognizing inventors, though -- maybe the card's in the mail.

[via Cult of Mac]

Rob Janoff and how he made the Apple logo originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 31 Mar 2009 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Rob Janoff and how he made the Apple logo originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 31 Mar 2009 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>applescolorsdesigndesignerinterviewlogorainbowrob-janoffshortslicessteve-jobsMike SchrammTue, 31 Mar 2009 08:30:00 EST