Play time with your images. Want quick, turn-key one click away cool effects? Here are few links to get you started if you are a beginner action designer.

First watch this fun and informative video on Photoshop action basics. gettotallyrad.com

After you've installed the actions, watched the basics video... play. Here is a sample of my action playtime.

These actions came from another great site called thepioneerwoman.com
Check them out and they are freeeee!

 

My first year to Adobe Max was better than I ever imagined in education, connecting with fellow designers and the WOW of a large, well organized, detailed conference. But, this is Adobe we are talking about right? Kinda like Apple, they do things right ya know?

The Max 2009 was held at the LA Convention Center and Nokia Theater. Keynotes included updates on products, celebrities like John Mayer and Mark Hamill, informative training classes, freebies, great lunches, and a huge night party that took over the LA LIVE venues. Sadly, I couldn't attend the party, but heard and saw pictures of it and it looked amazingly fun.

Will definitely be attending in 2010... and it's here again in LA! woot!

You can view the sessions and keynotes at adobe.tv.

No... stop... not me. :P I love working as the web/graphic designer at WACC. This post was inspired through so many, but mostly through my good friend. Just thought I'd share what has transpired and some helpful info and links that might help someone else out there looking for work as a graphics/web designer.

A great friend, neighbor, former coworker and awesome designer is looking for a job. No new thing there with the economy. But is hard as she has never worked f/t outside the home since having 3 kids and their busy schedules of sports, lessons, music and being the "taking care of it all mom" for many years. She currently does freelance, but it just isn't enough. We chatted the other day for some time. It included laughter, tears and brainstorming on what she could be doing to take some steps toward finding f/t work.

These are some of the things we came up with:
NETWORK, NETWORK, NETWORK - Join Facebook, Twitter and LinkedInto name a few good ones.

Search job listing sites more targeted for designers -
(Most listed below are targeted for designers, but a few may be more general like Disney)
Crunchboard
Disney
Coroflot
PhotoshopCafe
AuthenticJobs
CareerBuilder
CreativeGroup
HowDesign
MediaBistro
SmashingMagazine
CraigsList
Monster
The Center for Church Communication Job Lab

If you have anymore designer job listing links to add to this... please forward them to me or comment on them. I'd love to add them to the list.

Create an online portfolio
Here's an article I found the other day that has some great ideas in it for new online portfolios, if you already have one and if you are thinking about doing a redesign... like myself.
10 Steps to the perfect portfolio website

Here’s mine... Totally need to redo. Old style... 5 years old I think.
Amy Kimes Design
This project is on my vision board

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http://344design.typepad.com/344_loves_you/

Found this site through my Flickr/LAB for creative ministry people like me. Check out this awesome artist. Amazing and so fun!