Most InDesign production artists have a routine they repeat dozens of times a day: Place a graphic into an image frame, and quickly type a keyboard command to fit the graphic to the frame size. It becomes an instinctive keystroke.

Command-Option-Shift-E fits the graphic proportionally.
Command-Option-Shift-C fills the frame with your graphic.

But, no matter how fast your fingers are, there is a quicker way: InDesign's frame fitting options. Select an image frame, and choose Object > Fitting > Frame Fitting Options. You can preset how you want your graphics to fit when they are placed into that frame. Perfect for catalogs and magazines where large numbers of images are used in existing layout templates. Add this setting to an Object Style and you've really got a timesaving technique!

TextExpander 2.5 ($30) isn't for everyone, but if you find yourself typing on the computer on a daily basis, text substitutions can save you a lot of time. TextExpander automatically expands abbreviated text snippets into predefined words or phrases. It can also run scripts based on what you type. As an example, whenever I type "ctadd" on my Mac, TextExpander automatically replaces that abbreviation with the full CreativeTechs mailing address.

Watch some video tutorials to see TextExpander in action, and read a great review at Lifehacker to get a sense of the time-saving possibilities.

Source: This tip inspired by my recent visit to Forget Computers, a Mac IT support company in Chicago, whose team uses TextExpander every day. This write-up also inspired by a tip in the November 2008 issue of Design Tools Monthly.

www.copypastecharacter.com

Call it the poor man's PopChar. Pull up the web page, copy the character you need, and paste it right into your document. Try it. It really works.

Source: This gem comes courtesy of the always wonderful Swiss Miss blog.

We get frequent questions from designers wanting to use HTML email for client projects or their own marketing. Here is our comparison of the four prominent email delivery services on the market today.

1. Campaign Monitor
2. MailChimp
3. AWeber
4. Constant Contact

Implemented properly, email newsletters are a powerful marketing tool. Financially, they are one of the most cost-effective ways you can keep in front of clients and prospects. We're seeing more creative studios using email as a core part of their own marketing effort. And we're seeing a lot of design projects with studios creating email marketing templates for their clients.

Our new hybrid workshop/webcast training format is a hit! Last week, designers from Seattle and around the world joined us in person and online for our inaugural workshop on What's New in CS4.

This Thursday, we present an updated version of one of our most popular workshops: Photoshop color correction.

How do you improve the color balance of your images? This workshop will show you the basic principals of color correction — with real-world application of those principals. All updated for Photoshop CS4.

With an intimate look at one of the biggest changes in Photoshop CS4: The new Adjustments Panel interface.

Here is how the training works: Local designers participate at our training room in Seattle, while online attendees participate via the web on their home/office computer. Internet viewers can type questions using a webinar interface — and the instructor answers, just as if that person was attending in person.

Each workshop runs 90 minutes, and includes a handy PDF reference booklet. Workshops cost $49 each. We've started with a couple updates of popular topics:

Thursday, Nov 6 — Photoshop CS4: Color Correction Techniques.

We've put a lot of work into this new training format — and the results so far have been a lot of fun. So, this Thursday, come join us in Seattle! Regardless where in the world you happen to live.

Note: We're taking $10 off for tips readers. Use the discount code tipsreader when you sign up (the links above enter the discount for you).

Flash skills are increasingly in demand, and there is a shortage of good Flash designers on the market today. Yet, despite the business opportunities, many print designers find the leap to interactive Flash design intimidating.

If that sounds familar, here is a great series of tutorials detailing how to create a simple Flash-based shooter game from scratch. The series was developed by Kongregate.com and includes free downloadable Flash source files for the game "Shoot" shown above. The tutorials walk novices through the fundamentals of using Flash as a game building tool, and explores the elements needed to pull together a simple, interactive shooter game.

While building a simple arcade game might appear a bit frivolous, the Flash skills you'll pick up along the way are serious business.

http://maps.google.com/vote

Enter your home address, and Google shows you the address of your local voting location.

Jack-O-Lantern Here is a screen saver that displays a carved 3D pumpkin, right down to the flickering candle inside. Several carving designs are included, or you can create your own personal carving.

Spooked! (Sound activated) This screensaver uses your Mac's microphone. The screen remains dark until your victim makes a noise. That triggers a leering skull to jump out with an optional scream, startling unsuspecting co-workers.

3D Desktop Zombies! This one is fun! Watch as the undead come back to life and roam your desktop, fighting, crawling, and leaving messy footprints, blood and gore. All as your screen rotates in 3D.

iPhone Crazy Pumpkin This one isn't technically a screensaver. Turn your iPhone into a digital jack-o-lantern. Swipe your finger to change the carvings for the eyes, nose, and mouth. Give your iPhone a shake to change the color. Perfect for a night out trick-or-treating with your kids. [iTunes Link]

In honor of Halloween, we offer up a fun collection of zombie papercraft templates. Download a PDF template, print, fold, and enjoy.

Link: Zombie Foldskull Heroes
Link: Zombie Dude
Link: Zombie Grumm
Link: Zombie Fold And Fun
Link: Zombiefie Bopper
Link: Zombie Lemi

Source: Regular readers know we like a good papercraft project to celebrate holidays. When our customer service manager David saw these on Boing Boing, he knew they would be a good fit.

Mon, November 10 — HTML Email Newsletters.
Mon, December 8 — Managing Your Google Brand.

You've been meaning to start an email newsletter for years. They are a great, inexpensive way to easily keep your business in front of clients and prospects. Get this important part of your marketing effort in place before the end of the year. Let's finally get this checked off your to-do list!

Read on for a video clip from an earlier webinar version of this talk.

Thu, October 30 — What's New in CS4 Overview. FREE!
Wed, November 5 — InDesign CS4: Building Interactive PDFs.
Wed, November 6 — Photoshop CS4: Color Correction Techniques.

Note: We're offering another $10 off for tips readers. Use the discount code tipsreader when you sign up (the links above enter the discount for you).

Arthur C. Clarke once wrote "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic." Magic is certainly the word that comes to mind with Photoshop CS4's new Content-Aware Scaling feature. This 3-minute clip shows off one of the flashy features in the CS4 upgrade. This video was recorded at a recent CS4 Preview hosted by CreativeTechs and Luminous Works in Seattle.

Photoshop CS4 Documentation — Content-aware scaling.

Creative Suite 3.3 Design Standard:

• CS3 Standard - Full Version - Mac
• CS3 Standard - Full Version - PC
• CS3 Standard - Upgrade Version - Mac
• CS3 Standard - Upgrade Version - PC

Creative Suite 3.3 Design Premium:

• CS3 Premium - Full Version - Mac
• CS3 Premium - Full Version - PC
• CS3 Premium - Upgrade Version - Mac
• CS3 Premium - Upgrade Version - PC

Source: This tip inspired by today's request from Coolstone Design Works among others.

Thu, October 30 - What's New in CS4 Overview. FREE!

Seattle-area designers can attend these short, focused workshops in-person at the CreativeTechs office, and readers from around the world can participate remotely through a live online webinar.

If you manage a creative team with even a few designers, please, please, take advantage of Adobe's Volume Licensing program when you purchase Adobe software and upgrades. Just call Adobe's volume licensing service at 800-443-8158, or visit the website to easily break the cycle of serial number management in your studio.

Link: Adobe Volume Licensing

Source: We've preached this message for years here, here, and here!