Software Features

How To: Use vanishing points in Photoshop CS3

This video shows you how to use the latest version of Vanishing Point in Photoshop. You learn how to edit perspective, define a linked plane at an arbitrary angle, wrap images around multiple planes, and measure in a perspective view. Check out this video created by John Nack now! Use vanishing points in Photoshop CS3.

How To: Zoom in modo

Devolped by the same team of engineers responsible for LightWave 3D, modo, lowercase, delivers the next evolution of 3D modeling, painting and rendering in a single integrated and accelerated package for the Mac and PC. And now, modo is a true end-to-end solution that includes true 3D sculpting tools, animation and network rendering! More than just features, modo is a truly elegant integration of technology, raw horsepower and refined workflow. With such a wealth of inbuilt features, however,...

How To: Clear formatting from a cell in Microsoft Excel

New to Microsoft Excel? Looking for a tip? How about a tip so mind-blowingly useful as to qualify as a magic trick? You're in luck. In this MS Excel tutorial from ExcelIsFun, the 7th installment in their series of digital spreadsheet magic tricks, you'll learn how to remove the formatting from a given Excel cell without erasing the cell content!

How To: Add data to an Excel cell range via keyboard shortcut

New to Microsoft Excel? Looking for a tip? How about a tip so mind-blowingly useful as to qualify as a magic trick? You're in luck. In this MS Excel tutorial from ExcelIsFun, the 4th installment in their series of digital spreadsheet magic tricks, you'll learn how to add data or a formula to a range of cells by using the Excel's ever-useful ctrl+enter keyboard shortcut.

How To: Render objects in Blender

This clip presents a quick introduction to rendering within Blender, the popular (and free) 3d modeling app. Whether you're new to the Blender Foundation's popular open-source 3D computer graphics application or are a seasoned digital artist merely on the lookout for new tips and tricks, you're sure to be well served by this free video software tutorial from the folks at CG Cookie. For more information, including step-by-step instructions on how to get started rendering, take a look!

How To: Extract the top five records from a table in Excel

New to Excel? Looking for a tip? How about a tip so mind-blowingly useful as to qualify as a magic trick? You're in luck. In this Excel tutorial from ExcelIsFun, the 273rd installment in their series of digital spreadsheet magic tricks, you'll learn how to extract the top (i.e., max high) 5 values and their associated names from a column allowing for duplicates. This is accomplished with recourse to Excel's TRANSPOSE, COUNTIF, MAX, INDIRECT, IF, COLUMNS, INDEX, SMALL and ROW functions.

How To: Work with SharePoint calendars in Outlook 2007

When you link your calendar from a Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 site to Microsoft Office Outlook 2007, you can view and work with the SharePoint calendar right alongside your Outlook calendar. When you make changes in one calendar, the two calendars are synchronized automatically. Take a look at this tutorial and learn how to overlay the calendars to make viewing your complete schedule even easier.

How To: Transform any photo into a sketch using Photoshop

In this video, we learn how to sketch a photo in PhotoShop. First, open up PhotoShop and open up the picture you want to convert. Then, click "image", "adjustments" and "desaturate". You will now copy this layer by dragging it down to the "new layer" button. Now click on your copied layer and go to "image", "adjustments" then "invert". Now click the "blend" option which will change your layer to completely white. Now, click "filter" then "other" then "minimum". You will now see your image sho...

How To: Make quick rounded corners in Xara Xtreme

By utilizing the click and drag features of Xara Xtreme, users can take shapes and duplicate them for quick work (ctrl K). Further by identifying them by colors and other subsets, users can add or delete with just a button push, or (use the add shapes, subtract shapes options.) All this is done in the event for the sake of convenience; eliminating the tediousness of creating shapes one by one, and using them as plot points on a map to create projects within record times.

How To: Use Adobe Flash

In this series of easy-to-follow diy videos, our Flash expert explains the intricacies of importing Photoshop layers of text and graphics, as well as import entire files into the Flash program. Once imported, these files can be turned into buttons for your interface, images and movies for your website or simply moving pictures to show your friends and family. Our expert also show you how to retain the links of the files you are importing and how to use the Flash video encoder. He also demonst...

How To: Get cool blue eyes in Photoshop

The presenter beings the video by describing the screen cast program he is using to record the video. It is giving him some problems but he asks us to bear with him. The video then shows before and after images to demonstrate the effect. The effect is achieved by duplicating the eye color to another layer and then using layer blending options to achieve the desired brightness. The presenter has a website with many other Photoshop technique videos.

How To: Create & work with text layers in Adobe After Effects

This AE user's guide provides a basic introduction to the concept of text layers. Whether you're new to Adobe's popular motion graphics and compositing software or a seasoned video professional just looking to better acquaint yourself with the program and its various features and filters, you're sure to be well served by this video tutorial. For more information, including detailed, step-by-step instructions, watch this free video guide.

How To: Use delete queries in Microsoft Office Access

The Microsoft Office Access 2007 relational database manager enables information workers to quickly track and report information with ease thanks to its interactive design capabilities that do not require deep database knowledge. In this Microsoft Access video tutorial, you'll learn about using queries to selectively delete records. For more information on using delete queries in Access, take a look.

How To: Screen record anything on your desktop with CamStudio

This is a highly informative video tutorial on how to use the software CamStudio to screen record anything on one's desktop. One simply has to open a search engine like Google, type in 'camstudio' and hit the search button. On Google, the official website, camstudio.org, is the first one in the search results. Once that is opened, just scroll down, click on the link camstudio20.exe, and then click 'save file'. Once downloaded, this software can capture all the audio and video activity on the ...

How To: Use the Ribbon and Backstage view in MS OneNote 2010

In this video, we learn how to use the Ribbon and Backstage view in MS OneNote 2010. First, open up MS OneNote 2010 on your desktop. You will now see a new user interface where the ribbon appears underneath the tabs. Click the home tab to see the ribbon and then you will see the options to change font, colors, headings, and more. These help you find the features you want to change much faster and is completely customizable. The options can be located on the backstage view, which is underneath...

How To: Add ringtones to your iPhone for free in GarageBand

Want to learn how to add ringtones to your iPhone for free? You can do it using GarageBand. First open both iTunes and GarageBand. After you open GarageBand, click Create A New Music Project. Use whichever title you would like and hit create. Close the keyboard, then go to the bottom of the page and click Hide and Close the Media bar. Make sure iTunes music is selected. Next, pick a song. Click and drag the song title to the beginning. Then GarageBand will convert the file. After the file is ...

How To: Use Paint Effects in Maya 7

Paint Effects are a great tool that help us fill out scenes and do all sorts of things quickly and easily. Learn how to find the brushes and use them, as well as some of the up sides and down sides of using them. Whether you're new to Autodesk's popular modeling software or a seasoned 3D artist just looking to better acquaint yourself with application and its workflow, you're sure to be well served by this video tutorial. For more information, including detailed instructions, watch this free ...

How To: Use the Adobe Flash CS4 deco tool

Having fun experimenting with Flash CS4’s Deco Tool. For more Adobe software tutorials from Layers Magazine, search Layers Magazine on WonderHowTo. WonderHowTo indexes all Layers Magazine tutorials for Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop, Acrobat, After Effects, Premiere Pro, Dreamweaver and Flash.

How To: Open a Reason 5 track in Record 1.5

Learn how to load and mix a Reason track within Record. This official video guide from James Bernard of Propellerhead will teach you everything you'll need to know. Whether you're new to Propellerhead's virtual music studio application, Reason, or their newer DAW app, Record, you're sure to find much to take away from this brief video software tutorial.

How To: Increase saturation without increasing contrast in Adobe Photoshop CS5

Want to increase the vividness of a photo without also adjusting its contrast? With Adobe Photoshop CS5, it's easy! And this clip will teach you what you need to know. Whether you're new to Adobe's popular raster graphics editing software or a seasoned professional just looking to better acquaint yourself with the program and its various features and filters, you're sure to be well served by this video tutorial. For more information, including detailed, step-by-step instructions, watch this f...

How To: Tweak the settings in CamStudio

Video is demonstrating a tutorial on how to tweak the settings in CamStudio. After downloading CamStudio there are a few things to be done. First Region option in the menu selected and in that full screen is selected. Then in the Options, Video Options is selected. In that both the frame rates are auto adjusted exactly to 30 frames per second. Now from the Options menu, Record audio from the microphone is selected. Now go to the Program Options, in that select minimize program on start record...

How To: Create and work with polygons in Houdini 10

This clip presents a look at one of the basics of Houdini: Polygons - point, vertex and primitive data, smoothing and faceting, subdivision, removing inline points, orienting polygons and making polygons planar. Whether you're new to Side Effects Software's popular 3D production program or a seasoned graphic artist just interested in better acquainting yourself with the application, you're sure to be well served by this free video tutorial. For more information, including detailed instruction...

How To: Create custom light rigs in modo

Devolped by the same team of engineers responsible for LightWave 3D, modo delivers the next evolution of 3D modeling, painting and rendering in a single integrated and accelerated package for the Mac and PC. And now, modo is a true end-to-end solution that includes true 3D sculpting tools, animation and network rendering! More than just features, modo is a truly elegant integration of technology, raw horsepower and refined workflow. With such a wealth of inbuilt features, however, things can ...

How To: Differentiate between pixel dimension & resolution when using Illustrator CS5

In this clip, you'll learn how to tell the difference between pixel dimension and resolution when working in Adobe Photoshop CS5. Whether you're new to Adobe's popular vector graphics editor or a seasoned graphic arts professional interested in better acquainting yourself with the new features and functions of Illustrator CS5, you're sure to benefit from this free software tutorial. For more information, and to get started using this trick in your own Illustrator projects, watch this video gu...

How To: Create custom gradients within the GIMP image editor

Wondering how to make a custom gradient in GIMP? This clip will show you how it's done. Whether you're new to the GNU Image Manipulation Program, GNU's popular free graphics editor, or a seasoned designer just looking to pick up a few new tips and tricks, you're certain to enjoy this free video software tutorial. For more information, including detailed, step-by-step instructions, and to get started making your own custom gradients, take a look!

How To: Use data validation with a list in Excel

This video shows you how to idiot-proof a data set in Excel pretty much. It demonstrates how to enable data validation in a cell, so that when you type something in it must be in a predetermined list or will not work. Start by typing in your data table in a second tab. His example is a date, then information about certain employees based on that day. To enter the data validation menu, click the cell you want to use and then hit ALT+D+L to bring it up. Go to settings, then under the Allow menu...