xTrain Blog -

I just watched the Virgina Brodie and Shellie Hall InDesign classes. I never knew InDesign could be so easy! I’ve used other layout programs to make newsletters and papers. But seeing these two instructors travel through the ins and outs of designing in this program. Well it made it easier for me to learn. For example master pages rocks. The whole “smart” layers rocks my world because I can use filters and change up the graphic in one program and have it effect the other if I wish. Or not. I’d totally check out their classes or even say Chris Botellos and Illustrator because they of course work well together.

Some of the most informative tips I have received thus far on working in Illustrator has come from the Chris Botello Class.

For example I can work with the color wheels and get complimentary colors because of the improvements made in CS3. Or how about using real life sketches that are scanned in and I get to digitized them for a logo? I feel the best for me was the Frida example. That was helpful beyond belief.

So my quick tip for the day, check out the Christ Botello Class (www.xtrain.com/chris) and catch his other amazing tips in his xTrain shows!

So we do alot of things at xTrain, and one of them is to help spread the word of events going on with our instructors.

Today, please take a moment to Vote for Shellie Hall’s Mahalo Daily Video Entrance! She’s one of our very on instructors, a very TECHY girl and an all around fun chick to hang out with.

To vote, all you have to do is:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NS0m0dn7WBg]

For more info go to pushingart.com

shh. Here’s a secret of the day. Ok not really but, today I felt the urge to write about – if you don’t use the knowledge you have – you will loose it.

Case #1:

• 4 yrs studying History yields a degree in History
• Job out of College: Sales, profitable, however after 8 years it took a while to build wealth, if any.
• After 12 years – how much do you think he will remember of his history studies?

Is this a profitable venture? Or would you spend $20 a month to continue your studies in history – even if you were working in sales?

Case #2:

• Art student, photography major, graphic design minor. 5 yrs in school.
• After 6 years of multiple jobs, an increase in pay from $20K to $55K
• Does working in the field constitute as the only place to advance ones skills? No?

For the rest of the article go to www.pushingart.com

Adobe just announced Adobe TV and Adobe Media player today. Adobe TV is your on-line source for expert insight and inspiration. Feed your passion for Adobe products with insider tips, innovative techniques, and behind-the-scenes tours. Get to know Adobe personalities by tuning in to Russell Brown Photoshop Laboratory. What you didn’t read on Digg – was that xTRAIN’s CONTENT is featured on Adobe TV! Silly! Go to tv.adobe.com to watch many of our shows!

For more information go to www.pushingart.com

xTrain Features Over 100 Free Shows on Adobe Systems’ New Adobe® TV & Media Player - Splash Media & xTrain are honored to be featured on AMP and tv.adobe.com

That’s Right – That’s the DIGG article that SAYS xTrain’s on Adobe TV!!!

for more details go to www.pushingart.com

I stumbled upon this link using stumbleupon… It stopped, i laughed so HARD I cried… and I couldn’t believe how true this situation is….. I couldn’t figure out the website, so here’s the credit line: http://www.fukung.net/images/2674/designer.gif

I can’t tell you how many times people say – oh you’re an artist do something free for me. And I’m sitting there nieve enough to go sure why not…. And then, i spent my 10 years in the industry wondering where my time went… ok so it was more like the first 3 years i didn’t get it, 4 more years went by of picking and choosing free projects… and the last few… hell no, pay me, pay me up front, or forget it. I’m not going to waste my time trying to please you, trying to collect money from you – after my services are rendered… oh and btw – our company has a 90 day pay period.

For the rest of the article go to www.pushingart.com

You can only have so much fun while doing multiple press releases… so Jennifer & Tabitha… They made sure they had fun… check em out!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JnpcaMMnmcs]

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TgckKlRDwBg]

For more info go to www.pushingart.com

There comes a time when the studio isn't necessary to have fun... and sitting back with our laptops is more interesting and inspirational for those... creative moments...

Tabitha & Jennifer present:

So excited ADOBE has put MANY xTrain videos on their tv.adobe.com!!!!!

Excerpt from our press release: xTrain is proud to announce its new featured partnership on Adobe Systems’ new Adobe TV site. The new site features over 100 training segments from xTrain that include topics such as photography, graphic design, video, web developing and design, business and more. We are honored to be teaming up with such a significant leader in the software and technology industry, as we believe it will enable both our companies to deliver high-end education to a broad spectrum of Adobe software users.

For more information go to www.pushingart.com

xTrain is proud to announce its new featured partnership on Adobe Systems’ new Adobe TV site. The new site features over 100 training segments from xTrain that include topics such as photography, graphic design, video, web developing and design, business and more. We are honored to be teaming up with such a significant leader in the software and technology industry, as we believe it will enable both our companies to deliver high-end education to a broad spectrum of Adobe software users.

Just wanted to drop everyone a note that while we’ve been concentrating on marketing and getting myself healthy again… we’re still doing really cool shows such as 2 new courses with Shellie Hall – focusing on InDesign.

As always she rocks!

Check out www.xtrain.com/shellie for details of current live courses and when today’s studio shoot gets done, then you’ll be able to see these great Q2ID and ID Portfolio courses!!

Additionally – if you haven’t heard about a new documentary of High Tech Women – then you really need to check out TechGirlz.com

Want more from Shellie? Hey you need to see CreativePro.com where you can find weekly videos of creative industry news. Hey.. and if you want to find the creative side of Shellie, she runs ducktypedigital.com and getcreative.com

For more details go to www.pushingart.com

At xTrain, we know what it’s like to find a job in today’s market. We we green around the collars when the .com bust happened. Being aspiring artist, my husband and I were hit hard. So here are some tips that I have for you….

There’s plenty of resources out there for job hunting… For example, monster.com, careerbuilder, hotjobs.com etc. But then there are specialty groups online that are either consulting firms or geared to local art jobs, for us we use the Dallas Society of Visual Communications… http://www.dsvc.org this has local job listings that are usually paid listings that the person who’s hiring recognizes these guys have the best network for local talent.

But did you know you could find jobs on Myspace & Linked in?

Be warey of any job that requires money up front. A head hunter may, but usually if your go with aplacement agency that’s legit they will have a client that will pay it on top of your salary.

For more details go to www.pushingart.com

The world is full of people who love to take pictures. As we travel, fellowship with friends and family, or have other important experiences, we love to have pictures to share with each other and with the world. Everyone that takes pictures has also likely experienced frustrations with having taken an important picture, whether it’s a great scene while on a vacation, a group portrait, or just a casual snapshot, that just doesn’t turn out great. As important as these documented memories can be, I am still appalled by how often people will simply trash the picture, assuming it’s ruined and completely unfixable. This is such a tragedy! Everyone should know how to touch up pictures, as many of these images can be salvaged without a hint of bad lighting, glare, blurriness or the like. At xTrain, classes such as Ben Wilmore’s Enhancement class or The Russell Brown Show series can help users recover pictures that have fallen prey to such negative external influences. So don’t just toss an important memorable picture because you think it’s ruined, learn how to recover it and save it so you can look back on your memories for years to come!