In this issue:

• Letter from the Group Manager
• Last and next meeting highlights (Next meeting March 12 6:45PM)
  • Announcements (Adobe Suite Raffle)
  • Meeting highlights
• Book reviews
• Software reviews
  • Alien Skin: Exposure 2
  • AKVIS-ArtWork

  • AlphaPlugins—Engraver II

Letter from the Group Manager

Greetings all and Happy Valentine’s Day. Thank you those of you who were able to make it and we missed all of you who were not able to attend.

This latest meeting was I would say a unique one as we had a very small group. Nevertheless, it was nice because it allowed me to spend a bit more time getting to know some members in a friendlier way. Sometimes, I think our group meetings tend to be all business, demo, give away and then go home.  So it was nice to get to know those how came a little bit better.

From our last meeting time in January to this meeting, I spent a great deal of time getting new sponsors for our group. I can easily say that we now have plenty of great software to give away from some really super companies. I know recently I have been drilling in your head about Alien Skin Software. I cannot say enough about this company’s products. In this newsletter you will see some of the things that I was able to do with their product Exposure 2, as well as another of their filters Xenofex 2 to make one of my images just ridiculously better. Tracey, a long time member is now the proud winner of the copy of Exposure 2 that we gave away.

I also got three other sponsors: AlphaPlugins, Flashloaded, and Akvis. Flashloaded will be giving us Flash extensions to give away over the next few months. I will be using one of their Flash extensions PhotoFlow to display our books and software that we are giving away or recommend. Each of these companies has agreed to send us plug-ins for review.

You may also notice that I have been very busy on the website. I have added links under the Affiliates section in the navigation bar where you receive discounts from selected companies. To receive the discount you have to use that link to purchase from. This helps us get more from those companies too and supports your group.

As for books there are three new reviews up on the website which you can read here. One book which I sky highly recommend is Deke McClelland’s: Channels and Masks.This is without a doubt one of the most outstanding tutorial books I have ever been through for Photoshop. As you may imagine, he discusses mainly Channels and Masks. What I recommend this book for is its treatment of how to make GREAT selections for your masks by using channels.  He goes into almost fanatical detail about how to use every single selection to with exceptional precision. For me this has reduced the amount of time that it takes me to make selections by 70%. Remember time is money. This book is worth every penny. Check it out on our website and get a copy for yourself. It is going for a song now at Amazon.

Photoshop CS4 Channels & Masks One-on-One by Deke McClelland

Well thanks again for coming. Hope to see you ALL at the next meeting.

Next meetings highlights >>> Click to keep reading