Posts Tagged ‘Freehand’

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Blog holiday, 3 year anniversary

Tuesday, August 24th, 2010

See me in person in Portland when I keynote WhereCampPDX the weekend of September 25; Barcelona for FOSS4Geo; or Borsa, Romania for the Int’l Mountain Cartography conference. I’ve got a few projects I need to wrap up and start this Fall so please expect only intermittent updates rather than daily digests.

Over the last three years (almost to the day), I’ve had more than 600,000 pageviews in this space, from original pieces like Meet Toni Mair — Terrain Artist Extraordinaire to promoting other’s work like Public Art in Google Street View (Good Mag). I’ve tooted my own horn on projects like Create Calendars Automatically in Illustrator: Version 5 (Kelso) and helped folks with Freehand and VBA in ArcMap. I have two more big posts planned the next several weeks, so don’t unsubscribe quite yet 😉

In the meantime, I will continue to tweet @kelsosCorner, the micro-blogging service. A sample of Twitter posts is featured in the upper right sidebar on this page.

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Posted in General | Comments Off on Blog holiday, 3 year anniversary

A Magic Wand for Selecting Text in Adobe Illustrator – 11e (KELSO)

Wednesday, November 18th, 2009

[Editor’s note: The beta had expired; this is purely an extension of the testing period to November 2010. No new features. I’ve been caught up in Natural Earth the last year and will return to the project at a date uncertain.]

I have been developing a plugin / script for Adobe Illustrator to make it easier to select type in Illustrator by attributes like font family, style, size, and fill color. I hope to release this as a commercial plugin for designers and cartographers at some point. If you would like to beta test this plugin for me, please send me an email at nathaniel@kelsocartography.com or…

Download version 11e of Find and Replace Fonts Script (1.6m). Good thru November 2010.

More information on this script available in this March 2009 post.

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Posted in Best practices, Design, Mapping, Print, Self promo, Software | 11 Comments »

Freehand + Mac OS 10.6 Snow Leopard (update)

Monday, September 28th, 2009

[Editor’s note: Adobe has listened and made it easy to use Freehand under Snow Leapard Mac OS 10.6. Follow earlier procedure in this post but with new registration file from Adobe. Thanks Curt!]

[Adobe now has released] an official solution you can access here:

http://kb2.adobe.com/cps/504/cpsid_50468.html

This is a Freehand registration file you replace your own copy with. This will bypass the activation component which causes the crash on Snow Leopard. Please use the above link rather than relinking the file to the forum since we are tracking the number of times documents get accessed to give us a and idea of the scale of particular issues.

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Posted in Mapping, Software | 17 Comments »

Freehand + Mac OS 10.6 Snow Leopard

Thursday, September 17th, 2009
UPDATE: Adobe has released a non-activation registration file to address Warning 1 below. Read more »

[Editor’s note: Cartographers still migrating to Illustrator from Freehand MX should be wary of upgrading to the new Mac OS as it breaks your Freehand install due to the licensing restrictions the app uses on startup. There is a workaround, but only if you have a volume (company) license code. Thanks Curt!]

Republished from Adobe User-to-User Forum.

I had been unable to replicate the success of others which was quite frustrating but I finally got everything working and wanted to post my solution.  I think it either comes down to lack of complete details in the posted instructions, here is how I was able to get it working properly:
  • Step 1: Delete your local installation of Freehand.  This *includes* the /Library/Application Support/Macromedia directory (well, place it on the desktop)
  • Step 2: Reinstall Freehand. VERY IMPORTANT—DO NOT RUN FREEHAND AFTER INSTALL OR PROCEDURE WILL FAIL
  • Step 3: Recreate the Macromedia directory
  • Step 4: Place your “FreeHand MXa Registration” file back into the newly created Macromedia directory
  • Step 5: Run Freehand

For whatever reason, this was the only way I was capable of repairing my licensed copy of Freehand. Simply updating the “FreeHand MXa Registration” file or installing a new copy ofFreehand *without* first removing the Macromedia directory did nothing to help my situation.

A couple of things you should be aware of:

  • Warning 1: You may need a serial number which starts with WPD700…
    [Editor: WPD700 serial numbers are volume (corporate) licenses, your personal license will likely not work.]

UPDATE: Adobe has released a non-activation registration file to address this. Read more »

  • Warning 2: If you had other registration information for Flash, Fireworks etc, you can safely move those back into the Macromedia directory.
Continue the discussion at the Adobe Forums . . .

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Posted in Mapping, Software | 50 Comments »

A Magic Wand for Selecting Text in Adobe Illustrator (KELSO)

Wednesday, May 6th, 2009

[Editor’s note: The beta expired so this is purely an extension of the testing period. No new feature.]

I have been developing a plugin / script for Adobe Illustrator to make it easier to select type in Illustrator by  attributes like font family, style, size, and fill color. I hope to release this as a commercial plugin for designers and cartographers late 2009? If you would like to beta test this plugin for me, please send me an email at nathaniel@kelsocartography.com or…

Download version 11d of Find and Replace Fonts Script (1.6m). Good thru summer 2009.

More information on this script available in this March 2009 post.

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Posted in Best practices, Design, Mapping, Print, Self promo, Software | 1 Comment »

A Magic Wand for Selecting Text in Adobe Illustrator (KELSO)

Friday, March 6th, 2009

[Editor’s note: This is largely a republish of my post here last September and before but with the added benefit of now being a public alpha (download version 11d) of the script that is good thru summer 2009. Why am I expanding testing? I’d like more feedback as I haven’t heard of any major problems with the script. And I need a little motivation to finish programming 😉 ]

I have been developing a plugin / script for Adobe Illustrator to make it easier to select type in Illustrator by  attributes like font family, style, size, and fill color. I hope to release this as a commercial plugin for designers and cartographers first quarter 2009? If you would like to beta test this plugin for me, please send me an email at nathaniel@kelsocartography.com or…

Download version 11d of Find and Replace Fonts Script (1.6m). Good thru summer 2009.

¡¡Warning!! This is not final release-quality product!!! Please save your work before running the script. I have never had it crash my machine but don’t take chances!!! Use at your own risk!!!

To install new scripts you need to:

  • Download the ZIP file using “Save as”.
  • Quit Illustrator
  • Copy the script files into the Illustrator application folder’s “Presets” » “Scripts” subfolder
  • After restarting Illustrator, you can find the scripts in the menu “File” » “Scripts”;
  • TIP: You can create subfolders in the scripts folder to organize your scripts

NOTE: You will need version CS3 or CS4 of Illustrator. If you have CS or CS2, get a trial version of CS4 from Adobe.

Insure you get further updates to the Script by joining this email list:
Name:
E-mail:

What is this tool and why would you use it?

  1. A magic wand for clicking on text and selecting like-styled text
  2. A non-modal eye dropper tool for copying font attributes and pasting them onto other text objects without directly eye dropping (like Freehand’s copy and past attributes).
  3. Menu items for Select > Type > Same font, same style, same size, same font color, overprinting, etc
  4. A pro version of the Find Fonts dialog already in Illustrator that does find / replacing in locked and hidden layers, or only in the active layer, sublayer, or window view.

Usage Tips

The resulting non-contiguous text can only be affected (eg: by the Character panel) by:

  1. Hitting escape on the keyboard and then making changes
    • but the original instance will not be changed
    • all others will be, though
  2. The entire text object was selected
  3. Initiating the “similar text (described in 2nd New features below) in text object mode, NOT text range or text insertion point mode.
  4. Using the Full Dialog mode’s replace functions
Looking Forward

Developing the plugin has taken a lot longer than I expected to implement all the basic and advanced features but I am now 90% complete with the script version, which is over 8,000 lines of code or a 300 page book! I need to start working on the plugin version which will entail completely translating the script from JavaScript into C in XCode on the Mac and Visual Studio on the PC.

  • Port to XCode and start testing as Illustrator Plugin, first for Mac, second for Windows

  • Settle on price and start selling. Perhaps thru a distributor.

  • There will be a cheap version and a pro version.

Turning the script into a plugin will bring several benefits:

  • Speed: much faster execution
  • Work with 1,000s of type objects / characters, not 100s
  • Menu items that can be assigned keyboard shortcuts
  • Can be recorded with Actions for automating routine tasks
  • New tool: magic wand for text and non-modal eyedropper for text font appearances
  • Allow me to recoup development costs

Example uses:

  • Selection:
    • Find all other type objects with same font – View video
    • Find all other type objects with same type size – View video
    • Find all other type objects with same character fill color
  • Applying / creating character styles:
    • Cartographer: ArcMap text imported to Illustrator >> have plugin apply matching style or create new styles that match each of the implicate styles
    • Designer: Quickly comp out a design and select all matching text with certain font attributes with the new Text magic wand tool and make them styles. Great for deadline projects.
  • Find and Replace fonts on hidden and locked layers (better than Illustrator’s default Find Font)

Demonstration videos:

Selecting by Font Color – Basic

Including exactly the same color, pattern, swatch, same color mode, by character and by object.

View video – 7.8 megs

Selecting by Font Color – Advanced

Including selecting type object NOT a color and overprints, replacing with knockout.

View video – 17.2 megs

Changing Alignment and Registration of Type

Includes limiting to just point, area, or line type objects

View video – 11.0 megs

Why Change the Registration for Point Type?

To scale type size when it is registered to a townspot or other graphic element.

View video – 1.1 meg

Finding Scope

Limit your selection to active layer, sublayer, current view, selection, artboard/page, and document.

View video – 20 megs

Finding by Text Content

Find all type that has the “River” or “Road” or “Street” in it and then change those text range’s attributes. Options include Is, Starts, Ends, and more.

View video – 13.5 megs

Replacing by Text Contents

With exact phrase or add to the end or beginning of the matched text.

View video – 9.3 megs

Simplified Interface

This dialog is similar to what’d you see for the planned “magic wand” for type tool settings. Thanks to Tom for this suggestion!

View video – 7.6 megs

FEATURES NEW THIS VERSION (and the Last)

  1. Significant speed increase
    • Will now deal with 100s of text objects (or characters in a single text object)

    • But still slow in 1000s of text objects; change seach scope to text frame for best result
  2. Now selects ranges of text, not just text objects!
  3. “Just do it” non-dialog scripts
    • Select text with same font face and style
    • Select text with same font size
    • Select text with same font face, style, and size
    • Select like text within current selection
  4. Zoom to next and previous matching objects

  5. Can initiate “similar” text font styling based on currently selected

    • Text object

    • Selected text range within text object

    • Text insertion point within text object
  6. Non-contiguous text that matches search criteria will be selected in the same text object
  7. Character styles can now be found and replaced
  8. Find options revamped
  9. Selection (results) scope now functional
  10. Hidden and locked layers now (mostly?) functional
  11. Less use of pure math logic in GU

  12. Fill color now works.

  13. Registration and Justification now work

  14. Simple dialog interface

  15. Search in active layer, active sublayer, and current document view

STILL NOT FIXED
  • Character styles has a few bugs relating to color

  • Find by text string still hinky

CONCLUSION

Please let me know what you think, what bugs you find, and how it can be made more useful. Send to nathaniel@kelsocartography.com.

If you couldn’t find the download links above, here it is again:

http://kelsocartography.com/beta/frf/files/FindReplaceFonts_a11d.zip

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Posted in Best practices, Design, Interactive, Mapping, Print, scripting, Self promo, Software | 6 Comments »

James Talmage’s Great Illustrator Scripts

Wednesday, February 25th, 2009

[Editor’s note: James has some great scripts that bring Freehand functionality into Illustrator. Ones I like are a better “replace with symbol” script than mine or John’s. Another draws legend boxes for each color used in the artwork. Two others add the ability to deselect paths that were only partially selected, or to select the unselected portions of paths is awesome. Thanks John vdH!]

Republished from James Talmage’s site.
View all of Jame’s scripts.

You’re a graphics person, right? Conventional wisdom says you’re a decidedly right-brained person. You use Illustrator to draw things, not to mess with cryptic code.

Maybe. But even if you’re the kind of Illustrator user who steers away from rulers, snaps, and numerically-entered values, and instead dives right for the Paintbrush, Symbol Sprayer, and Warp Tool, you still use Illustrator to get graphic things done and to use its features and commands. Scripting enhances both of those things.

Automation
Let’s face it: Repetition gets old, fast. It’s long been said that necessity is the mother of invention. I tend to think most cool inventions are the offspring of that cranky old couple, Laziness and Boredom. Some of the scripts in this collection arose from the shamelessly selfish desire to end the repetitious tedium of certain tasks.

But isn’t automation what Illustrator Actions are for? Well, yes. But Illustrator’s Actions Palette lets you create mere “macros.” With Actions, you can record and play back a series of most operations that you would normally perform by using the tools and commands that are directly accessible in Illustrator’s user interface. But scripts allow you to do more.

New Functionality
If little Invention was borne of daddy Laziness and mommy Boredom, he’s also been at least baby-sat by cousin Curiousity. Many of the scripts shared here were self-inflicted experiments, inspired by comments, complaints, and double-dog-dares in the Illustrator User-to-User Forums where I often hang out for recreation.

Scripting can enable you poke around a bit “under the hood” of Illustrator’s user interface, and manipulate many things from which the normal interface isolates you. For example, did you know that…

  • An Illustrator file has an internal list referred to as the “inkList” which determines the color separation plates?
  • A path can be designated closed or open, regardless of whether the whole path or just a part of it is selected?
  • You don’t have to settle for merely defining an ellipse in terms of the height and width settings of the Ellipse Tool’s dialog; you can define it like a technical illustrator often wants to: in terms of size and angle?

So it’s about more than merely automating repetitive tasks. It’s also about doing things which can’t be done with the normal feature set. Scripting effectively lets you add your own new “features” to Illustrator. All it takes is an ulterior motive, a little experimentation, and a bit of creativity. See? You don’t have to turn off the right side of your brain, after all.

Which Scripts of James’ Nathaniel Recommends:

  • Cleanup Scripts (zip | html)
  • JET_FixRegColorFromFH.jsx
    When opening a FreeHand file, Illustrator fails to assign AI’s [Registration] swatch to paths and text having FreeHand’s Registration swatch. Instead, it imports FH’s Registration swatch as a process swatch.
  • JET_RemoveSegmentsShorterThan.jsx
    Reduces the number of anchorpoints on selected paths, according to a minimum specified by the user. Removes from each selected PathItem, segments shorter than the measure entered by the user. Useful for certain types of path simplification and cleanup chores, as in imported DXF files.
  • JET_RemoveShortSegment.jsx
    General path simplification. Allows the user to specify the minimum number of segments to be retained. This script removes the shortest segment from each selected PathItem that has more than the number of segments entered by the user.
  • JET_RemoveShortSegmentsUntil.jsx
    General path simplification. Allows the user to specify the number of segments to be left for each path. This script repeatedly removes the shortest segment from each selected PathItem until the number of segments is no more than the number entered by the user.
  • Draw Scripts (zip | html)
  • JET_Centroid.jsx
    Finds the centroid (center of gravity) of selected triangles and other straight-sided multigon paths and draws a user-defined circle at that location. To use, make a selection which includes normal paths. Then call the script.

  • JET_ReplaceWithSymbol.jsx
    Replaces selected items with Instances of a Symbol from the Symbols Panel. The desired Symbol can be defined by its index number (its number of occurrance in the Panel). The document must have at least one Symbol defined. Simply select some objects. Then run the script.


  • Label Scripts (zip | html)
    JET_X_SwatchesLegend.jsx
    Creates a series of labeled squares at the bottom left of the Artboard, each filled with one Swatch in the Swatches Panel. Useful for adding a “color legend” on pages of identity graphics, to specify colors. For each named Swatch in the Swatches Palette, the script draws a square filled with the Swatch color, and creates beside it a PointType object containing the name of the Swatch. The text labels are filled with Registration color. A prompt allows the user to set the desired size of the squares (in points). The label text size is 1/3 the size of the squares.

  • Path Scripts (zip | html)
    (Various scripts)
    The batch of scripts I call PathScripts are those which manipulate paths, anchorPoints and handles. Most of these are my cheezy workarounds for features which FreeHand users take for granted, but which Illustrator still lacks.
  • Selection Scripts (zip | html)
    It’s no secret that Illustrator’s path/point/handle selection interface is just about the most cumbersome of all. In fact, only the most devoted Illustrator-only users deny it. These scripts are mere workarounds for some of the awkward selection chores; but they do make life a little easier in a few common situations.
  • JET_SelectSameLength2ptPaths.jsx
    Selects paths in the document which have 2 points and are the same length as the currently selected 2-point path. Purpose: to select the individual dashes of dashed lines which commonly come into AI from converted DXF files. Useful for removing “hidden lines” from such files.

  • JET_MarqueeDeselectPartials.jsx
    RWhen making marquee selections in Illustrator, all objects crossed or touched by the selection marquee are selected. Unlike most other drawing programs, Illustrator does not provide a Contact Sensitive toggle setting to cause marquee selection to select only objects which are fully enclosed by the marquee. This script deselects paths in the current selection which are only partially selected.

  • JET_MarqueeSelectRest.jsx
    When making marquee selections in Illustrator, all objects crossed or touched by the selection marquee are selected. Unlike most other drawing programs, Illustrator does not provide a Contact Sensitive toggle setting to cause marquee selection to select only objects which are fully enclosed by the marquee. This script finds paths in the current selection which are only partially selected, and adds their unselected points to the selection.
  • Transform scripts (zip | html)
    Transformation Scripts is another category for which I anticipate hacking out additional scripts. One can imagine a wide range of re-iterative transformation routines, applicable at the object/path/points/handles level beyond those already in Illustrtor’s feature set.
  • JET_StackTopToBottom.jsx
    This script re-stacks the selected objects according to their vertical positions, top to bottom. After running the script, the selected object positioned highest on the page will be rearmost; the one lowest on the page will be frontmost. This is mainly useful for correcting the stacking order of individual PointType textFrames in imported CAD drawings before concatenating them into a single AreaType textFrame, as in a parts list.

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Posted in Best practices, Mapping, Promote, scripting, Software | 1 Comment »

Code Line Announces CS4 Compatible Apps (MacNN)

Tuesday, February 24th, 2009

[Editor’s note: I originally promoted SneakPeek Pro back in March of 2008. It’s a great tool for Mac users to see what your design files look like, their fonts, images, and colors without opening them while staying in the Finder. Now new and improved for CS4 versions supports updated Illustrator and InDesign file formats.]

Republished from MacNN.
Originally published 20 Feb. 2009.

Code Line has announced its Art Files and SneakPeek Pro now compatible with Adobe Creative Suite 4. Art Files is a stand-alone application that helps users gather and package Illustrator documents, linked images, and fonts for graphics files, which in turn can be archived, shared, or printed off. The software is designed for production artists who work with graphics files, and features the ability to collect several documents at once to help minimize the time spent organizing.

SneakPeek Pro is a QuickLook plugin that allows users to preview Illustrator, InDesign, EPS and Freehand documents without having to launch an application. In addition, people can also view fonts, images and colors that are used in CS3 and CS4 documents.

Art Files is compatible with Mac OS X 10.4 or higher and is priced at $50, while SneakPeek Pro requires Mac OS X 10.5 or later and costs $20. Code Line also offers a bundle pack of both Art Files and SneakPeek Pro that is priced at $60. Any pre-existing users can download the update for free.

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Posted in Best practices, Promote, Software | Comments Off on Code Line Announces CS4 Compatible Apps (MacNN)

A Magic Wand for Selecting Text in Adobe Illustrator (KELSO)

Monday, September 29th, 2008

Warning, contains spoilers for my NACIS Practicle Cartography Day presentation in Missoula, Montana. Countdown: less than 10 days!

I have been developing a plugin / script for Adobe Illustrator to make it easier to select type in Illustrator by  attributes like font family, style, size, and fill color. I hope to release this as a commercial plugin for designers and cartographers first quarter 2009. If you would like to beta test this plugin for me, please send me an email at nathaniel@kelsocartography.com.

What is this tool and why would you use it?

  1. A magic wand for clicking on text and selecting like-styled text
  2. A non-modal eye dropper tool for copying font attributes and pasting them onto other text objects without directly eye dropping (like Freehand’s copy and past attributes).
  3. Menu items for Select > Type > Same font, same style, same size, same font color, overprinting, etc
  4. A pro version of the Find Fonts dialog already in Illustrator that does find / replacing in locked and hidden layers, or only in the active layer, sublayer, or window view.

Developing the plugin has taken a lot longer than I expected to implement all the basic and advanced features but I am now 90% complete with the script version, which is over 8,000 lines of code or a 300 page book! Once I return from vacation in October, I will start working on the plugin version which will entail completely translating the script from JavaScript into C in XCode on the Mac and Visual Studio on the PC.

Turning the script into a plugin will bring several benefits:

  • Speed: much faster execution
  • Work with 1,000s of type objects / characters, not 100s
  • Menu items that can be assigned keyboard shortcuts
  • Can be recorded with Actions for automating routine tasks
  • New tool: magic wand for text and non-modal eyedropper for text font appearances

Example uses:

  • Selection:
    • Find all other type objects with same font – View video
    • Find all other type objects with same type size – View video
    • Find all other type objects with same character fill color
  • Applying / creating character styles:
    • Cartographer: ArcMap text imported to Illustrator >> have plugin apply matching style or create new styles that match each of the implicate styles
    • Designer: Quickly comp out a design and select all matching text with certain font attributes with the new Text magic wand tool and make them styles. Great for deadline projects.
  • Find and Replace fonts on hidden and locked layers

Demonstration videos:

Selecting by Font Color – Basic
Including exactly the same color, pattern, swatch, same color mode, by character and by object.
View video – 7.8 megs

Selecting by Font Color – Advanced
Including selecting type object NOT a color and overprints, replacing with knockout.
View video – 17.2 megs

Changing Alignment and Registration of Type
Includes limiting to just point, area, or line type objects
View video – 11.0 megs

Why Change the Registration for Point Type?
To scale type size when it is registered to a townspot or other graphic element.
View video – 1.1 meg

Finding Scope
Limit your selection to active layer, sublayer, current view, selection, artboard/page, and document.
View video – 20 megs

Finding by Text Content
Find all type that has the “River” or “Road” or “Street” in it and then change those text range’s attributes. Options include Is, Starts, Ends, and more.
View video – 13.5 megs

Replacing by Text Contents
With exact phrase or add to the end or beginning of the matched text.
View video – 9.3 megs

Simplified Interface
This dialog is similar to what’d you see for the planned “magic wand” for type tool settings. Thanks to Tom for this suggestion!
View video – 7.6 megs

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Posted in Design, Mapping, scripting, Self promo, Software | 3 Comments »

A Magic Wand for Selecting Text in Adobe Illustrator

Sunday, June 15th, 2008

find and replace fonts screenshot b8

I’ll be showing off my new script / plugin (here, in beta testing) for Adobe Illustrator this Tuesday in DC at the MiniMax conference (June 17th at 8PM ET) at the Lafayette Room at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in downtown Washington. I hope to release this as a commercial plugin for designers and cartographers this summer.

What is this tool and why would you use it?

  1. A magic wand for clicking on text and selecting like-styled text
  2. A non-modal eye dropper tool for copying font attributes and pasting them onto other text objects without directly eye dropping (like Freehand’s copy and past attributes).
  3. Menu items for Select > Type > Same font, same style, same size, same font color, overprinting, etc
  4. A pro version of the Find Fonts dialog already in Illustrator that does find / replacing in locked and hidden layers.

Example uses:

  • Selection:
    • Find all other type objects with same font
    • Find all other type objects with same type size
    • Find all other type objects with same character fill color
  • Applying / creating character styles:
    • Cartographer: ArcMap text imported to Illustrator >> have plugin apply matching style or create new styles that match each of the implicate styles
    • Designer: Quickly comp out a design and select all matching text with certain font attributes with the new Text magic wand tool and make them styles. Great for deadline projects.
  • Find and Replace fonts on hidden and locked layers

I have some videos that show the tool in action here.

MiniMAX 8 is a series of 15 minute tutorials provided by some of the best experts in the web, print, broadcast and interactive design and development community in the Greater Washington DC and Capitol Region area and across North America. Expect to see sessions on ColdFusion, Flash, After Effects, AIR, Flex, Photoshop, Dreamweaver as well as other Adobe related applications mixed in for good pleasure. Attendance is free but preregistration is required.

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Posted in Mapping, Print, scripting, Self promo, Software | 2 Comments »

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