Sneak Peek! Adobe Creative Cloud Photoshop: Introduction

Creative opportunities abound with Adobe’s Creative Cloud.  Last year, Adobe announced that it would no longer release new versions of its Creative Suite.  The plans for a cloud based software service that was first suggested in 2011, became a reality.

The Creative Cloud has many of the same features as the suite version, but there are new features as well.  There are also new mobile apps that give the end user more power and mobility in their creative expression.

Adding to our extensive library, we have recently completed recording on courses for Adobe Creative Cloud Photoshop: Introduction and Adobe Creative Cloud Photoshop: Advanced.  These courses will be available in the coming weeks on our website: www.knowledgecity.com

Enjoy this sneak peek:

Want more sneak peeks of our courses? You can view the first three lessons of any course for free at our website.  Want to be the first to know when we post a sneak peek or post a course live? Follow our: New Course Showcase Page

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Learn the Fundamentals of Photoshop using the Creative Cloud

KnowledgeCity’s new course, Adobe Creative Cloud Photoshop: Introduction, will be available soon.

Adobe Creative Cloud Photoshop: Introduction is a beginner’s course which introduces students to the fundamentals of Adobe Photoshop, a pixel-based image editing software application, using the Creative Cloud. 

It is the same software used by professional graphic artists and photographers to create and modify images for use in print, multimedia and web design.

This graphic design training course includes topics on: working with the tools and the user interface, using brushes, making selections, masking, layer basics, repairing and colorizing photos, correcting and enhancing digital photographs and much more.

The course is taught by Carolyn O’Barr; a certified Adobe Education Trainer. She is a freelance graphic artist and instructor. She has taught media arts and technology at colleges and universities for 15 years, and is proficient in numerous software programs in the Adobe Creative Suite.

Carolyn works with students of all levels, from the computer novice to professionals in the workplace. She is patient and very good at taking complex topics and explaining them in a clear and concise way. She is responsible for nurturing many students who have become award winners and successful professionals.

If you are using an older version of Photoshop we have courses in CS3 and CS4 too!

If you would like to be notified when this course goes live, follow our New Courses Page on LinkedIn and be the first to know!

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Freelancers: The New Face of the Workforce

According to Freelancing in America: A National Survey of the New Workforce, 40 percent of the workforce—21.1 million people—are independent contractors.  Another 5 percent—2.8 million people—are freelance business owners.

When faced with the prospect of underemployment or temporary employment many workers have decided to freelance and the number of freelancers is expected to grow to 65 to 70 million over the next decade.  This would mean that over half of the total workforce will be freelancers.

If you are a freelancer or considering making the switch here are the top ten skills that are in demand as reported in a surveys conducted by Freelancer.com and Elance.com:

1. IT & Programming
2. Design and Multimedia (These include: Illustration, Photoshop Design, Banner and Logo Design)
3. 3D Rendering, Modeling and Animation
4. Android and iOS Development
5. Social Media
6. Presentations (PowerPoint and Report writing)
7. Accounting
8. Writing and Translation
9. Marketing, Strategy and Public Relations
10. Business Management

Looking for freelance gigs? Here are some sites where you can find jobs just for your skill set:

https://www.freelancer.com

http://www.craigslist.org

https://www.odesk.com/

http://www.elance.com

http://www.peopleperhour.com/

Need to update or obtain new skills to launch your freelance career?  KnowledgeCity has courses in Business Management and Computer Software.  Try the first 3 lessons of any course for free!

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Create Your Own Festive Greeting Cards

Halloween is coming soon! Rather than spending a fortune on holiday greeting cards (which can cost up to $5 a card!), why not design your own?

Programs like InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, Publisher, Word, and even PowerPoint allow you to create your own high-quality cards that are customizable with personal images and messages. You can even create customized labels for your card envelopes. Click here for our blog post on design and layout tips.

Tip: Remember, paper makes all the difference in the look of your card, so be sure to pick out a good quality or paper stock. Try printing out your card first on plain paper, to make sure everything looks okay and will fold the way you want it to. If you're using a card template, make sure to note the size of paper the template is using (these typically use the 8.5x11in. paper size). Envelopes can be purchased at a department or crafts store. A 6x9 envelope is a good size to use for a half fold card using 8.5x11in. paper.

People will appreciate the personal touch of a handmade card just as much, if not more, than a store bought card. Plus, family photos are a great touch when sending cards to relatives and friends.

Need help navigating the Microsoft and Adobe programs? No problem! We offer video training tutorials in both suites, complete with in-depth examples to really help you understand how to work with the available tools. Check out the first 3 FREE lessons of each course to get a feel for the programs!

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Digital Imaging with Adobe Illustrator CS4 Training

KnowledgeCity's introduction to Digital Imaging with Adobe Illustrator CS4 is the first step toward creating professional graphics and visual effects. Learn the power of 2 and 3 dimensional vector artwork, including how to improve your productivity with brushes, create new formats for text along curved lines, within shapes, and as objects, and customize shape and object drawing and image tracing with the Pencil and Line tools. This course builds a firm foundation for a future of creating dynamic images with the number one graphics software in logo design, illustrations, and Web development.

Additional Course Topics

• Use of rulers and guides
• Changing colors of objects and paths with fill and stroke
• Creating precise shapes with the Pen tool
• Color management and selection
• How to instantly clip parts of an image or objects with masks
• Applying transparency effects to native and imported objects
• Use of gradients to fade and mix colors
• Creating smooth transitions between objects and colors with the Blend tool
• How to organize, isolate, mask, clip, select, move, and edit with layers
• Making fine adjustments to letter spacing with the kern/track options

Check out our computer software courses and other digital imaging courses, including more Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop!

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