Web 2.0 Style Graphics

In keeping with the theme of last weeks tutorial, I’d like to round out the discussion of Web 2.0 styles. Last week we took a look at using Photoshop to create Web 2.0 style text and type, while this week we turn the focus to Web 2.0 style graphics. With the emphasis on Web 2.0 style effects lately, one may ask what this has to do with photography. Well, in creating our photographs, we often like to use the web as a means of displaying them. With the myriad of cookie cutter templates out there, creating a customized and personalized web site is becoming more and more crucial if you want your images to stand out.

If it helps, think of the web as your framing process. Sure, you could hire it out. There are web designers out there that would be fully capable of creating a custom web site for you. But, if you are limited in your budget, and are like many of us, you can create a nicely polished website that will enhance your images nicely. The website in this sense represents the mat and the frame through which your clients and customers view your products.

This is not to say that a photographer should dedicate serious amounts of time to web and graphic design. Au contraire! Rather, take a default template from the likes of the Photoshop and Lightroom options you already have, and customize them with your own graphics. It’s not that difficult and can serve to take you to the next level of quality image presentations. Now, having said all that, it should also be noted that next week, I will be returning to more photography-specific tips and tricks for the weekly tutorials, so we’re not going to be stuck in web graphic design forever.

I also wanted to offer a brief explanation for the late posting of the tutorial… someone had emailed saying that the intro was producing a white line on the left side of the video. As it turns out the intro was recorded at a different resolution so I took some time tonight to correct that. The timings were a little off afterward so I had to adjust for that as well. But, it is now fixed. The reason I am saying this? The animated text has gotten a little boring. I would like to move toward a flash-based intro (the original was recorded in Powerpoint *shudder*). But, I really don’t know much about Flash. I am on day 7 of the trial version and have miles and miles to go before even grasping some of the basics. So…if any Flash gurus out there would like to do a charity case, feel free to email me – you’ll see your name up in lights, (I’ll set up a contributor tag in all future videos) and I’ll be more than happy to provide a link to your website. (Hey, it’s all about helping one another out, right?) 🙂

One final note is that Canon Blogger is now in iTunes! After some initial testing of graphics, audio, and determining what feeds best for iTunes from the blog, there’s a good working feed where you can subscribe to the shows from there. Stop in and check it out. Feel free to share your ideas on the value (or lack thereof) by offering a review. It looks like a few have found it already, but no reviews as of yet. Be the first and review the show on iTunes today! I’ll likely be adding an iTunes feed button to the sidebar tomorrow too, but in the meantime, just search for “Canon”, and I’ll be the second podcast under the “Software: How To” section, right beneath Rick Sammon’s show… it’s getting late, but I’ll try to get a link feed generated for the sidebar tomorrow. In the meantime, you can view the show directly in iTunes from here: iTunes Feed

Okay…enough of me blathering – on to the tutorial!

Web 2.o styled Graphics

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