Article of the Month:  (Top)
The digital graphic designers deal with file formats different from those used by the print graphic designers. Often we don’t even find time to find out what a file format extension stands for.

As Wavelength’s first media article, we bring a short and crisp reference of the different graphic file formats for you in form of the article “Making Friends with File Formats”. This article is available at:
http://www.vibrantwavelength.com/medianl/articles/file_formats.htm

Art Styles:  (Top)
Has it ever happened to you? Were you ever required to create artwork in a specific style? For example, Manga or Mughal? This section shall introduce you to the popular (and sometimes historical) art styles of the world.

We begin this section by introducing Chibi art. Chibi art comes from the same family as Manga art (a Japanese art style), but it is simpler to create. But then what is Chibi Art? Chibi Art is a sub-set of Manga art, and is characterized by small characters that have huge heads and little bodies.

Chibi Art (A Japanese Artform - Chibi means "Small")
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Check out Chibi Art examples at:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Chibichibi.jpg
http://sandcat.nl/~jake/art/exalted/exalted-chibi-wallpaper.jpg

Read more about Chibi Art at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chibi

Learn how to sketch a Chibi character through a simple tutorial at:
http://www.polykarbon.com/tutorials/chibi/chibiart.htm

The Technological Front:  (Top)
Adobe Photoshop CS3
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This month, let us talk about the new and upcoming version of most graphic designer’s favorite Photoshop.

Almost everyone who has worked on CS2 has loved it. With all those lovable features intact, Adobe has now launched the Beta version of Photoshop CS3. The CS3 interface is probably the most customizable interface that we have seen so far. Adobe has also improved many other tools in this new version.

In the technological front this month, we take a closer look at Camera Raw, which allows you to edit JPEG, TIFF as well as raw images from Camera. Now you can even refine
edges of your selection more accurately. You will also find better options for converting color photos to grayscale and for controlling the quality of printouts.

Of course, there are many other improvements that you would like to explore. Click http://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop/photoshop/ to visit the Adobe site and find out more about CS3. You can also visit http://www.photoshopuser.com/cs3/sk_features.html to read about the special features of CS3.

Auto-FX Mystical Lighting:
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If you’ve ever wanted to play with the magic of lights and shadows, but found Photoshop’s tools rather limiting, we would like to draw your attention to Mystical Lighting – a tool that can help you apply photo-realistic lighting and shading effects to digital images.

First click http://www.autofx.com/mystical_lighting/fairy_wood_large.jpg to see what this tool can help you achieve (you will still have to draw the fairies.) This image is from the jewel-case of the software.

Mystical Lighting includes number of visual effects & presets for variety of looks. To view more examples of what this US$179 software can help you achieve, click http://www.autofx.com/mystical_lighting/mystical_lighting.html

The Great Masters:  (Top)
This section will introduce you to a great artist each month. This month, we shall look at the great works of Raphael Santi and read about his short but invaluable life.

Raphael Santi or Raffaello Sanzi was an Italian High-Renaissance artist and architect. Santi was born in 1483 AD in Urbino and he died at the young age of 37 in the year 1520. His 26-year career (he began painting under the tutelage of his father when he was 11) gave us many great works of art.

Read Raphael's detailed biography at: http://www.globalgallery.com/artist.bio.php?nm=raphael

View Raphael's works at: http://www.abcgallery.com/R/raphael/raphael.html

At this point, I would also like to recommend Dan Brown’s “Angels & Demons” to all those graphic designers who find time to enjoy novels (I know – designers seldom have time to enjoyL.) Some of Raphael Santi’s works form the theme of this book.

Site of the Month:  (Top)
The Site of the Month for March 07 is http://www.1007.peugeot.co.uk/home.asp
If you are a designer who loves color, you will not be impressed by the opening animation - but wait. Let the site load completely.

This site uses colors to help the visitor locate the focus area. The focus area in this case is the car and its features. All the rest provides an interesting background for improving the visitor's experience. Here are a few clues that will help you discover how this site is different from other car-sites.

1. This car is called 1007 (the day is not far off when we will be out-of-stock for the names for humans and may be called, X342, 45D2, and so on,) and the main selling point is that this car makes life easy and simple. The site looks quite simple and easy to navigate...this is exactly what they want to say about their car.
   
   
2. The starfish with a balloon, the eyes of the octopus, the goblin in the box, the vines, the hidden camera, and the key! All the elements come together as an abstract but simple background for the car.
   
   
3. Roll your mouse near the eyeballs at the top. The eyes follow your mouse. Roll the mouse over the key (the one with wings), the callout follows the motion of the mouse. These simple effects achieved through simple Flash ActionScript programming keep the visitor entertained.
   
   
4. Click the Open Sesame button (the key with wings) to check out a surrealistic animation. The animation created using simple but clean line-work and helps bring the focus back on the car.
   
   
5. Let us look at the top menu. Please click "Outside" from the top menu and select "Colours" from the sub-menu. Check out the curvaceous Ms. Lip who will color the car. How? Well, click the cards in the glove at the right bottom corner. Ms. lip's animation is simple but captivating. What's your opinion?
   
   
6. For the final touch... Click "Styling" from the "Outside" menu. There is this character, who looks a bit like Fidodido who is shown trying to get away from the camera (hiding behind a bush). This animation connects the tagline "Not for the Shy" to the car more strongly
   

Check out this excellent site at: http://www.1007.peugeot.co.uk/home.asp

Have fun!

Designer Holmes at Work:  (Top)

Media Designer: I want to create an interactive presentation using Flash. I have already designed the layout for the presentation using Photoshop. Can I export the Layered layout to Flash?

Designer Holmes: Yes, you can, but only through Photoshop CS2 or higher. Let us see how.

1. Create the layered artwork in Photoshop.
2. If you have added any layer effects, merge them with their respective layers, through the following steps:
• Create a new layer.
• Move the new layer adjacent to the layer with the layer effect.
• Merge the two layers.
3. Open the file in Image Ready.
4. Export the file as swf.
5. Import the file into Flash.
6. Redistribute the layers

If you work with an earlier version of Photoshop, you can use a plug-in called PSD2FLA. More details of PSD2FLA can be found at:
http://www.medialab.com/psd2fla/docs/index.html

Be Inspired:  (Top)
The focus of this section is to bring you the inspirational works of different artists and graphic designers (3D/2D)!

This month, we shall look at Alonzo Clemons’ art.

Art imitates reality...but this closely? Click http://www.artsales.com/ARTists/Alonzo_Clemons/index.html to view the works of Alonzo Clemons. Are you marveling at the accuracy of Clemons' representation? Now marvel at the fact that Clemons is an autistic savant. Human potential is unlimited...all we need is single-minded dedication to achieve what we wish to achieve in life.

The Laughter Palette!  (Top)
Being a graphic designer isn’t easy! Imagine splashing reds, blues, and yellow; when the only color you can feel is gray! Imagine drawing characters that leap, laugh, and dance when your muscles are tired after a 14-hour workday!

Stop! Laugh! The drawing board can wait. Take a break!

So...how do you know that you are an artist? Get the checklist at:
http://painting.about.com/od/inspiration/a/ArtJokes.htm

Also click http://www.jibjab.com/jokebox/jokebox/jibjab/id/47337/jokeid/32033 to find out what graphic designers do when they are bored.

Check out http://www.graphicdesignforum.com/forum/archive/index.php/t-11152.html for some cool photography humor.

Media Quiz:  (Top)
Here’s your monthly media quiz. Every month, Wavelength shall bring you a media quiz that will help you hone your knowledge of graphic design concepts and technology.

Take Monthly Media Quiz - April 2007 (Episode - 1)

Cartoon of the Month:
Here’s your opportunity to display your creativity to your kind of world. This media newsletter reaches the entire cross-section of the eLearning and web-design industry. Show your talent and let them connect with you. Send your entries to
iamacartoonist [at] vibrantwavelength [dot] com
with the subject – “Cartoon of the Month”. Include your name and email id, which shall be published along with the cartoon, if your cartoon is selected for publishing.

Please ensure the following while sending your submissions, or your submissions may not be entertained.

1. Submit the cartoons in jpg and gif formats only.
2. The file-size of the submission should not exceed 100 KB. (Files more than 100 KB will not be considered)
3. The subject of the email should be “For Cartoon of the Month”
4. Add your name, your organization’s name (else, “Independent Graphic Designer”), and the email id that you would like to see published in the newsletter.
5. Send your entries to
   iamacartoonist [at] vibrantwavelength [dot] com

For the May 2007 contest, please send us your entries latest by April 25, 2007.

Note: Wavelength’s decision with respect to the selection of the Cartoon of the Month shall be final.