One resource I get great use out of online is iStockphoto, especially when seeking out stock photographs and vectors for inclusion in CD artwork and poster design.

If you stop by iStockphoto this week you’ll find a great tutorial from Chad Neuman, an internationally published freelance magazine writer, graphic designer, photographer, and educator from Florida. Chad walks you through combining raster (bitmap) images and vector (scalable) images using resources direct from the iStockphoto library.

If you’re looking for something funky do to with photos for your next presentation or poster piece then this could be perfect for you.

As files from iStockphoto are usually delivered with JPG, EPS / AI versions of your image or vector, it is assumed for the tutorial that you have access to a raster image editor such as Adobe Photoshop and a vector editor such as Adobe Illustrator.

Failing that, why not see my previous post on open source alternatives for designers.

Check out the tutorial by clicking here.

Popularity: 9% [?]

I’m working on some Wordpress themes for friends and new clients at the moment and it’s always nice to have a little bit of inspiration in your day.

While the designs I’m working on have been well and truly settled, here’s a list of 25 Outstanding Wordpress Designs from Jacob & Co. at Six Revisions.

People continue to be amazed at the flexibility of the Wordpress design process and after viewing some of the themes on offer in the list I think you’ll see why!

If you’ve got a custom design you would like to showcase, why not drop me a line.

Popularity: 12% [?]

“Can you do a mockup for me?”

“Can you do a template design for me?”

“Why can’t I click anything in this? What did you send me?”

If you’ve ever had the first two questions thrown at you as a web designer, it is quite possible you’ve also had the third question fired at you as well.

I read a post from Verne Ho at Creative Briefing a few weeks ago in relation to managing mockups. Depending on the client, and the delivery (am I delivering a strict skin/template in Photoshop or do I need to make up a html/css bundle), my preference has been to develop in Photoshop and like Verne, export as a high quality JPG for approval.

However, in more recent projects I’ve found myself skipping photoshop altogether and going straight to designing through html/css.

Verne posed the question “how do you manage mockups?”. I now manage mockups by going straight to the build. Particularly if I’m doing any Wordpress development work. It is becoming increasingly easier for me to progress through Wordpress template development and while it is nice to start out in Photoshop and look pretty in a bitmap environment I, much like my client, would rather see something working.

So rather than deliver a flattened JPG file dumped from Photoshop, I prefer to deliver some class of interactive template design - working links, browser-safe colours, web page look and feel. I find that it also gives the sense you’re getting value for your time or money when at an early stage you can get the grasp of how something actually looks as opposed to how something might look when rendered in a browser.

Does the more interactive you get mean your mockup is no longer a mockup? Was it every a mockup to begin with?

Popularity: 20% [?]

If, as a designer, you’ve been looking for a little creative inspiration, then take a look at this article from Web Designer Wall on 2008 Design Trends.

I’m a big fan of those who go out of their way to put a unique twist, look or feel on their blog design and some of the designs are quite staggering in their display.

There’s a fantastic selection of themes ranging from grunge to handwritten notes, paper clips, retro and vintage designs, splattered ink layouts, watercolours, sketches and more.

Check the above link or alternatively check an even bigger collection at the Best Web Gallery.

It feels great to be inspired!

Popularity: 27% [?]

I’m looking to put together a list of freelance Wordpress theme developers who have experience in or have developed music-centric themes for Wordpress, namely themes for bands or musicians.

You wouldn’t need to worry about content or anything that goes into the site, so long as you can deliver a theme based on a short brief from the band (colours, music genre, etc.) and make allowances for the MP3 player plugin of your choosing. Unless specific to your theme, you need not worry about additional plugins as they can be catered for after the fact.

If you fit the bill and would like to get your name on the list (the list would be used in conjunction with a project I’m currently working on) as a possible go-to designer then email me (ken at profreelanceblogger dot com), contact me here, or leave a comment with your details including

• 3-5 samples of previous work
• Expected turnaround (hours / days)
• Cost per theme

If you don’t want to disclose these details in public comments then I’m happy to get them by email.

Popularity: 24% [?]

If there’s something I’ve found effective for promoting for offline enterprises, it has to be custom tshirts. I’ve got no problem in walking down the street as a human billboard for my own wares - get a name on the front and my URL on the back and I’m sorted, especially in the summer.

For me it relates more to music and events that I organise. I’ll get the name of the event or organistation printed up on the front of the tshirt and the vitals on the back. Going for a front and back print at least I know that those walking in front of me and behind me have something to see!

Whats more is you’ll know you’re on a winner with your tshirt when someone comes up asking where they can buy some - now you’ve the possibility of a new revenue stream.

Where To Go For Custom Clothes

Two online services I’ve been using over the past few years are Spreadshirt and Cafepress, both of whom I’ve had great success with in the printing of custom tshirts. Outside of tshirts, both offer additional items like bags, cups, pens, clocks, mousemats, all the things you could give away (or sell) in promotion of your own blog, gig, book, business or event.

Both services offer an easy upload feature too for your designs, though I will admit I found Cafepress.com that bit easier thanks to the ability to upload PNG images for designs with no turnaround (uploading a vector image on Spreadshirt can take up to 48 hours for approval / denial).

You can also use the interactive designers on the site - drag and drop free custom images and designs, different styles of text and font and place your order once you’re done.

Find me at a gig or event or strolling around town in the run up to a gigI’m running then I’m likely to have one of my own tees on me. In fact, I’m already working on a new batch of tshirts for MyMusicPR. If you’re a social person and like to get out and about, then don’t overlook the opportunity using yourself as a walking billboard for your business!

Popularity: 25% [?]

Smashing Magazine made a great post yesterday highlighting 40 free icon sets for web design and there’s some terrific icons and graphics included in the sets.

There’s plenty to choose from including

• Old School Icon Pack (82 icons)
• Circular Icons (100+ in 16×16 size)
• Social Web buttons (these look great, 20 in all)
• Bright! Icons (free for personal and commercial use)
• Monofactor Icon Set (25 scalable Illustrator format icons)

The above are some of my favourite from the collection published yesterday.

Check out the full post of icon sets on SmashingMagazine.com.

Popularity: 20% [?]

Before the weekend, I discovered that SitePoint are giving away a free (as in forever - or at least for the next 23 days at time of writing) copy of Corrie Haffly’s ‘The Photoshop Anthology: 101 Web Design Tips, Tricks & Techniques‘.

Some of the tips included in the book are

• Design attractive web graphics
• Touch up photographs for web use
• Create web site mockups using Photoshop
• Improve your digital workflow
• Master menus, buttons and background tiles
• Use nondestructive editing techniques

I’m a lover of all things photoshop and when it comes to design I’ve been building quite a collection of ebooks so I’ve already added this one to my collection. If you’re a beginner to working in Photoshop or you’re a graphic designer looking to brush up on your Photoshop skills then give it a look. There’s more of an emphasis on working for the web rather than print as well which is a bonus in itself.

Who should read the book? As they say themselves - “Every web designer who uses Photoshop to produce web graphics needs a copy of this book. Whether you’re relatively inexperienced, or you already have a host of sites in your portfolio, you’ll find countless useful examples, techniques, tips, and tricks that you can apply immediately to your own designs in this book.”

You can’t argue with getting a 278-page book for free! Save yourself the bones of $30 and grab it while you can.

Click here to visit SitePoint for your download.

Popularity: 13% [?]