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Extensis has released CS3-compatible versions for your font management and creative assets management products.

mary | 28 September, 2007 18:24

Make sure your workflow is humming along at top speed with the latest Extensis CS3-ready font management and creative assets management software.

Whether working alone or in a workgroup, Suitcase 11 for Windows (Academic Pricing) provides the type of industrial-strength font management that Windows users need. It is the ideal add-on for Adobe InDesign, Adobe Illustrator and QuarkXPress users who work with fonts daily, speeding your workflow and making your design applications more responsive and reliable.

Boris FX Red 4.1 By Kevin McAuliffe/Creative Mac

mary | 27 September, 2007 08:49

I have been an editor for a long time (about 11 years now), and I have been familiar with Boris FX 9.1 (Academic Pricing)'s plug-ins for almost as long, and when I was asked if I would be interested in taking a look at Boris RED 4.1 (Academic Pricing), I really didn't have my expectations set very high, as I have always had a bit of a preconceived notion in my head of what the package is and what it can do. Let me just say that I have now seen the light. The RED light! Let's take a look at Boris RED 4.1 (Academic Pricing).

The installation for RED can look a bit daunting, but one thing that Boris FX 9.1 (Academic Pricing) has done is give the users options. The first thing that I loved about this program is that it can run as a standalone application, like Adobe After Effects, as an "effect" inside of Final Cut Pro or both. For all the users out there, I would suggest installing both the Boris RED Engine to use as a standalone, and then install the Boris RED for Final Cut (the effect) for either Mac Universal or Power PC, so you have the best of both worlds.

The "effect" version of Boris appears in your video filters under "Boris FX", and the "engine" portion appears in your "Applications" folder under Boris RED 4.1 (Academic Pricing). Both installations are quick and simple, and you will be up and running in a matter of minutes. Boris offers a two week trial of the application, and then you can purchase it directly in the "Help" menu.

When I saw what you get with Boris RED 4.1 (Academic Pricing), I was completely blown away. You not only get all of FX and Grafitti's effects and functionality, but you also get all of Continuum Complete's effects in one package. In total, you are looking at over 180 effects. Believe it or not, but there are also some Final Effects and DigiEffects Delirium plug-ins thrown in there for good measure. Some of the effects highlights include nineteen different keying filters including Chroma, Luma and RGB difference Keyers, thirteen different blur filters including Gaussian, basic and directional blurs, you also get Glows, Lighting effects, Partical effects, and so many more that I almost can't even count. You even get a Wire Removal filter to remove rigging from your shots. I've only scratched the surface of filters that you get, but let me tell you that you will have more effects than you could possibly ever need.

Visual Learning Software Company Celebrates 25th Anniversary With 2007 EdNET Impact Award

mary | 26 September, 2007 15:27

PORTLAND, OR – Sept. 19, 2007

Inspiration Software was named winner of the 2007 EdNET Impact Award, honoring the company's significant impact on education through quality educational support and instructional resources, at the 19th Annual Educational Networking Conference held recently in Chicago. The Impact Award is part of the EdNET Industry Awards program that honors organizations that have made important contributions to the education technology market.

Inspiration Software is the only organization to have been honored three times in the 15-year history of the EdNET Industry Awards program. In 2001, the company received the Pioneer Award for contributing most significantly to the growth of the market and, in 2000, won a HERO Award for having a positive impact on education through technology.

Celebrating its 25th anniversary, Inspiration Software has been under the continuous leadership of its co-founders, Donald Helfgott and Mona Westhaver. The privately held company is recognized as the leader in visual thinking and learning. The company's award-winning software products, Inspiration 8 (Academic Pricing), Kidspiration 2.1 (Academic Pricing) and InspireData 1.5 (Academic Pricing), are based on proven visual learning methodologies. With the powerful combination of visual learning and technology, students in grades K-12 learn to clarify thoughts, organize and analyze information, integrate new knowledge and think critically. (More)

MathRealm announces the release of the Middle School Pre-Algebra Part 1

mary | 26 September, 2007 08:55

MathRealm announces the release of the Middle School Pre-Algebra Part 1 (School Version)

A number of educators teaching struggling students have discovered that their students learn more and faster when they work through MathRealm software on their own before a class presentation or discussion on the topic. Educators report that student comprehension increases when they learn at their own individual paces and then pose questions during class discussion. This way the educator acts as a facilitator or coach, addressing problem areas individually or as a group, instead of having to repeat the same things many times to students who did not grasp the concept during the lecture.

NEW! Middle School Pre-Algebra Part 1 (School Version)

Middle School Pre-Algebra Part 1 (School Version) provides a dynamic learning environment that motivates students to succeed in math. The major topics covered are: Factoring, Fraction Review, Equivalent Fractions, Simplify Fractions, Fraction Operations (including add/subtract like and unlike fractions, multiply/divide like and unlike fractions, working with mixed numbers), Lines, Angles, Polygons, Perimeter, Area. Each topic includes step-by-step, research-based lessons and activities designed to teach key mathematical concepts.

Skill Assessments - The program includes skill assessment tests that are based on state standardized tests.

Special Bonus #1! – The program includes a Math Tool that provides students with an easy way to create and manipulate interactive worksheets using graphs, fraction and percent diagrams, tables, and plots. The Math Tool allows students to represent numerical relationships and patterns using a variety of graphing formats.

Special Bonus #2! - The program includes a GeoBoard that allows students to draw line segments, angles and polygons, as well as measure length, radius and angles. Students can flip figures horizontally and vertically.

More MathRealm products:

Middle School Pre-Algebra Part 2 (School Version)

Pre-Algebra Part 1 Curriculum with Reporting One Year Subscription

Pre-Algebra Part 1 Learning Module Collection

Pre-Algebra Part 2 Curriculum with Reporting One Year Subscription

Pre-Algebra Part 2 Learning Module Collection

Algebra 1 Explorer (School Version)

Algebra 2 Curriculum with Reporting One Year Subscription

Nik Sharpener Pro 2.0 ranked as one of most useful tools available for digital photographers

mary | 25 September, 2007 13:24

Top professionals agree that nik Sharpener Pro 2.0 Complete Edition (Academic Pricing) is one of the most useful products available for digital photographers. nik Sharpener Pro 2.0 Complete Edition (Academic Pricing) was designed to optimize detail of any given image based entirely on what you, the photographer, will do with the image and eliminate guesswork.

After opening the selected image in Adobe Photoshop and selecting nik Sharpener Pro 2.0 Complete Edition (Academic Pricing) from the filter drop down menu or from the nik Sharpener Pro 2.0 Complete Edition (Academic Pricing) Selective Palette, select the type of output to be used. For example, if you are going to print a large wall portrait on an Epson Ink Jet printer, select Ink Jet: Epson from the menu. The size sliders will automatically adjust to the parameters set by your image editing application. By leaving the viewing distance option to the auto setting, sharpening will be adjusted to match the appropriate amount needed for a typical viewing distance based on the size of the image. You can however override this setting by selecting an alternative viewing distance. Next, select the type of paper to be used for the print. Click OK to process the image using the settings you set up within the filter interface and nik Sharpener Pro 2.0 Complete Edition (Academic Pricing) will automatically optimize detail throughout the image.

When using the nik Sharpener Pro 2.0 Complete Edition (Academic Pricing) Selective tool, apply your settings to the entire image by clicking Fill and OK to apply to the entire image area. For selective sharpening click Paint. Brush the effect exactly where you want it, and then click OK to apply.

Genuine Fractals Print Pro 5 & Nik Sharpener Pro 2.0 Bundle (Academic Pricing)

nik Sharpener Pro 2.0 Inkjet Edition (Academic Pricing)

nik Professional Suite (Academic Pricing)

Dfine 2.0 (Academic Pricing)

Adobe Photoshop CS3 Extended (Academic Pricing)

Universal binary version of MediaWorks (formerly MovieWorks Deluxe) is now available

mary | 25 September, 2007 10:51

PLEASANTON, Calif., September 17, 2007 - Interactive Solutions, Inc. today announced that a Universal binary version of MediaWorks (formerly MovieWorks Deluxe) is now available. In addition to running natively on Intel-based Macintosh computers, there have been over 100 minor improvements and bug fixes to the Macintosh version of MediaWorks Author including new menu options to export to iPhone™ and AppleTV®. The Macintosh version of MediaWorks Animator now supports drag and drop of multiple files, free rotation and has a new checkbox to show an outline of the previous frame. The Windows version of MediaWorks has been updated to run on Vista, and the Help system has been significantly improved on both the Macintosh and Windows versions.

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New Release of Adobe Digital School Collection for K-12 Institutions Announced Today!

mary | 24 September, 2007 09:30

The Adobe Digital School Collection for K-12 Institutions w/Teacher Resource CD (K-12) includes software tools and teaching resources that help K-12 educators engage students in learning while teaching them important digital communication skills. The software—which includes Adobe Photoshop Elements 6.0 (Academic Pricing), Adobe Premiere Elements 4.0 (Academic Pricing), Adobe Contribute CS3 (Academic Pricing), and Adobe Acrobat 8.1 Professional (Academic Pricing)—empowers students to express what they’ve learned through images, video, audio, web pages, and multimedia reports. The collection delivers ideal solutions for digital storytelling, web publishing, and enhanced communication and collaboration. It also includes a Teacher Resource DVD with ready-to-use lesson plans and guides that help everyone get started.

Visit our Adobe product page for information about these and other products.

Adobe Acrobat 8.1 Standard (Academic Pricing)

Adobe After Effects CS3 Professional DVD (Academic Pricing)

Adobe Creative Suite 3 Design Premium (Academic Pricing)Adobe

Creative Suite 3 Design Standard (Academic Pricing)

Adobe Creative Suite 3 Design Standard with Graphire Bluetooth 6x8 Tablet (Academic Pricing)

Adobe Creative Suite 3 Master Collection (Academic Pricing)

Adobe Creative Suite 3 Production Premium (Academic Pricing)

Adobe Creative Suite 3 Web Premium (Academic Pricing)

Adobe Creative Suite 3 Web Standard (Academic Pricing)

Adobe Dreamweaver CS3 (Academic Pricing)

Adobe Fireworks CS3 (Academic Pricing)

Adobe Flash CS3 Professional (Academic Pricing)

Adobe Illustrator CS3 (Academic Pricing)

Adobe InDesign CS3 (Academic Pricing)

Adobe Photoshop CS3 Extended (Academic Pricing)

Adobe Photoshop Elements 6.0 (Academic Pricing)

Adobe Photoshop Elements 6.0/Premiere Elements 4.0 Bundle w/Teacher Resource CD (Academic)

Adobe Announces Release of Photoshop Elements 6 and Photoshop Premiere Elements 4

mary | 24 September, 2007 08:32

Adobe Photoshop Elements 6.0 (Academic Pricing) software combines power and simplicity so you can easily tell great stories with your photos. Make your photos look their best with Adobe Photoshop Elements 6.0 (Academic Pricing) whatever your level of editing experience—a friendly new design and step-by-step editing assistance help get you started. Easily perform more advanced retouching and enhancing thanks to Adobe Photoshop Elements 6.0 (Academic Pricing) easy image-selection tools, amazing compositing capabilities, and more. Share your stories in imaginative photo books, scrapbook pages, slide shows, interactive web galleries, and more. And always find and view all your photos and video clips with ease.

Product highlights
• Make your photos look their best with easy-to-use editing tools
• Do more with your photos in unique creations for print and web
• Easily find and view all your photos and video clips

Create and share great-looking movies in minutes with Adobe Premiere Elements 4.0 (Academic Pricing)—the newest version of the best-selling consumer video-editing software. Get started with Adobe Premiere Elements 4.0 (Academic Pricing) quickly with all your video clips and photos at your fingertips and a choice of easy options for transforming them into polished movies. Show your personal style with amazing visual effects, rich audio, and interactive menus. Then broadcast far and wide by uploading your movies directly to YouTube™ or your personal sharing site; share with family and friends on DVD, mobile phones, and portable media devices; and even enjoy movies in high definition, including on Blu-ray Disc.

Product highlights
• Get started quickly with easy moviemaking options
• Show your style with amazing video and audio effects
• Share on YouTube,™ your own website, DVD, HD Blu-ray Disc, and mobile devices

Wacom Technology Corp. introduces a new family of pen tablets

mary | 20 September, 2007 13:20

Wacom Technology Corp. introduces Bamboo pen tablet, an all new family of pen tablets available in the Americas for the first time. This new family of human interface devices includes Bamboo Pen Tablet and Bamboo Fun Pen Tablet, two distinct pen tablets that provide a natural, personal and creative digital input experience in any home or work environment.

Just like the first writing instruments in Asia created from bamboo and fur, Wacom's new Bamboo Pen Tablet and Bamboo Fun Pen Tablet reinvent the pen for the 21st century and offer new inking freedoms for our era. “Advances in both software applications and computer operating systems make this an ideal time for us to interact with computers in a more expressive and efficient manner,” said Dennis Hoff, Wacom’s consumer product manager. “Now, you can use a pen to create expressive content, personalize communications and navigate more freely.”

Both Wacom Bamboo Pen Tablet and Bamboo Fun Pen Tablet sport elegant designs with increased functionality and ease of use in mind. Four programmable ExpressKeys™ are situated on the tablet surface to customize commonly used commands, such as “undo” or “copy.” A finger-sensitive Touch Ring has been positioned to allow for quick and easy zooming and scrolling. The textured work surface of the tablet provides an intuitive pen-on-paper feel, while the stylish and ergonomically designed pens allow users to experience seemingly unlimited levels of pressure sensitivity, to create variations of pen strokes, from fine lines to bold brush marks. Additionally, Bamboo Pen Tablet and Bamboo Fun Pen Tablet work elegantly in both Mac and PC (including Windows 2000, Windows XP and Windows Vista) environments.

Bamboo Fun Pen Tablet: Create your World

Available to consumers immediately in two sleek sizes and four cool colors, Bamboo Fun Pen Tablet provides all the tools needed to have fun exploring digital creativity. Ideal for digital photo enthusiasts or those just wanting to satiate their creative hunger, Bamboo Fun Pen Tablet makes it easy to enhance photos and create artwork for scrapbooks, craft projects and slide shows. Bamboo Fun Pen Tablet includes valuable software applications that embrace pen support and deliver greater control when editing photos or creating works of art. These applications include Adobe Photoshop Elements 5.0 (Academic Pricing) which make it possible to quickly and easily edit and organize digital photos. Many of the retouching and brush strokes required in Photoshop are accomplished more accurately and rapidly with the use of a pen. Additionally, Nik®’s Color Efex Pro™ 2 GE filtering software allows one to simply select and apply high-quality photographic enhancements with the stroke of a pen. For those with an artistic flair, the natural feel of the Bamboo Fun Pen Tablet pen combined with the capabilities of Corel® Painter™ Essentials 3, also included, makes creating great looking artwork easy and fun. When used with a Bamboo Fun Pen Tablet, Painter Essentials 3 can take on the look and feel of just about any natural art tool and is perfect for creating original digital artwork from photos.

In addition to Wacom's patented cordless, battery-free pen, the Bamboo Fun mouse, uses the same electro-magnetic resonance technology as the pen, offering quick response times and accuracy. Because the mouse has no ball, wires or batteries, users discover a virtually maintenance free experience. When used alternately with a mouse, the Bamboo pen can effectively reduce repetitive motion and increase comfort and control.

Bamboo Fun Pen Tablet is offered in two sizes (small and medium) each in black, silver, white or blue.

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QuarkXPress Keeps On Winning

mary | 20 September, 2007 09:17

Quark continues its winning trend with QuarkXPress 7. In recent years the creative design and page layout software has surpassed the competition in design, collaboration, and production.

QuarkXPress 7 most recent award:

Macworld UK Editors' Choice Award

Macworld UK says, "In terms of practical design production, QuarkXPress 7 is second to none... For the first time in 10 years, QuarkXPress can stand up for itself as a compelling purchase rather than an upgrade for existing users who are too scared to switch"

More honors and awards for QuarkXPress:

Macworld Best of Show — MacExpo Cologne 2006

QuarkXPress 7 received a Best of Show award from the Macwelt editors at the MacExpo show and conference. The Cologne show awarded only 5 such awards that are "given to products either making their public debut at MacExpo or recently introduced, innovative and generating excitement on the show floor."