March 26, 2008

Photoshop Express RIA arrives!

I’m happy to report that Photoshop Express, Adobe’s new online tool for organizing, editing, and sharing images, has launched in beta form. Some highlights at a glance:

• Includes tools for applying spot healing, distortions, sharpening/softening, color tweaks, image filters, and more
• Offers 2GB of space for storing images
• Supports tie-ins to Facebook, MySpace, and Picasa
• Runs in any browser on Mac, Windows, or Linux using the Flash Player (v9) [Update: Sounds like there are some beta-ish glitches in some browsers]
• Will include an AIR-based desktop version (useful for editing images offline) and printing services
• Will remain free, with paid service adding more functionality

Adobe’s Terry White gives a great intro with screenshots, and you can jump right into using Express by hitting the “Test Drive” button on the right side of the landing page.  More info is in the press release, this CNET overview, and more stories that are popping up by the minute. [Update: Kelby Training has created an online learning center for Express.]

[Update 2: Here's what Adobe SVP John Loiacono has to say about Photoshop Express, software as a service at Adobe, and more.]

Enjoy!

Fire, ketchup & Aquafresh = typography; more

• 7 hours + a lot of gasoline = Fire Poi typography. [Via]
• The crew at Autobahn has created fonts by squeezing out what looks like ketchup & Aquafresh, then digitizing the results in Illustrator.
• I Love Typography wants you to feel the love with their iPhone wallpapers.
• For more love try Times Square and this collection of 15 love banners.
• "Liam Ealone": Give people a type-savvy brush-off with None Of Your Business Cards. [Via]
• My mom learned to type years ago and still uses the numeral 1 in place of lowercase L’s (which evidently weren’t on her generation of keyboards).  Mabye she wi11 enjoy a whole blog devoted to signs written in all caps, except for the l’s. [Via]
• Father and son (?) team paint the alphabet together in 4 minutes. (Maybe it’s because I’ve been up since 2am due to fatherhood, but somehow the result is cooler than it may sound.)
• Argentina’s Sudtipos foundry creates a swatch-rich environment.
  

You Suck at Photoshop #9

"Hooray for the big boy!"  Donnie gets "too surly for the horde" in the latest installment, this time featuring Curves.  The season finale is due soon.