Ideas we’ve been rolling around include blogging for professionals, 3D techniques, Video, mobile app development, After Effects and more! What do YOU think?

There are 3d applications to fit every budget, purpose and skill level, from Google Sketchup for architectural plans, all-around programs like LightWave and Cinema 4d, to high-end applications used in gaming and Hollywood like Softimage, Maya and 3d Studio Max.

Every studio should have a person on staff who can service their customers with some type of 3d skill. How do you determine which software is right for your clients, your workload and your personnel’s skill levels and focus?

October 9th’s $5 Friday will help you navigate into the world of 3d, help you to figure out when to move into 3d, find out what software will suit you best, and even when to call in the big guns, like Radiance Media.

Brad Krause/Radiance Media has been creating every kind of 3d illustration and animation in the Milwaukee area for the last 5 years. He’s created TV commercials, movie monsters, 3d logo animations, product, medical, mechanical and architectural previsualizations, character animation… you name it. Prior to going freelance, he worked at a number of graphic design and advertising agencies, so he knows how 3d can fit into a variety of creative environments.

After a show-and-tell of some of his projects, Brad Krause will talk about integration of 3d into graphic, video and web design workflow, basic 3d concepts, tools and navigation, and the differences between major 3d applications.

creating communications visuals will rage on forever.  Given that, it can’t hurt to throw

my two-cents worth into the mix.

Reason Number Five: Illustration allows you to tell a story without the need

for elaborate sets. This affords both the Art Director and Client maximum

flexibility when crafting their message within a limited budget.

Reason Number Four: Illustration allows you to own your story, exclusively

maximizing the impact of the image. There is an advantage that comes with a

commissioned illustration. The advantage is that not just any Tom, Dick and Sherry will

own the rights to use the final image. This is a huge advantage over stock photography

or stock illustration.

Reason Number Three: Illustration affords a creative team the ability to

concept a difficult subject/message that may or may not be physically captured

with technology. For instance, your mind’s eye sees differently than the norm.

Reason Number Two: Illustration can reflect trends much more cost-effectively

than stock photography or stock illustration that generally has not captured

what hasn’t been seen yet.  Ever wonder why futuristic comic books

don’t use photography?

Reason Number ONE: Illustration is cool.

One last thought.

“Everything’s within walking distance , if you have enough time”

….if you can, please give us a little more time.

Matt Zumbo

Illustrator

July 14 Web Design for Print Designers Made Easy seminar is SOLD OUT! We’ve opened a second session at the same venue on August 11, click HERE to register.  (Coming to Madison as soon as we find a host location!)

July 24 Third Ward GALLERY NIGHT with the kids from OnRamp. Come to the lobby at 222 East Erie Street to see and purchase the cool Milwaukee-centric T-shirt designs of the 12 ambitious high schoolers who participated in OnRamp.  Want to see some of the designs and learn more about the program? Click HERE

OnRamp organizers were recently interviewed by 89.7 Lake Effect…Listen HERE

August 21 $5 Friday: The Art and Business of Professional Illustration + Advanced Digital Illustration Techniques  Register HERE

More pro devo: Want to attend upcoming AAF-Madison, AIGA, AMA, BMA and other local (Madison and Milwaukee) professional organization, meet-up and user group events?  Check out our PIPELINE!

Only 30 seats available for any of these events, register quickly if you’re interested.  Beverages and snacks provided.

August 21, 9 am – 12 pm: The Art and Business of Professional Illustration + Advanced Digital Illustration Techniques

Join two prolific professional illustrators, Mike Kasun & Matt Zumbo and an accomplished illustrator rep, Tom Stocki to discuss the value of original commissioned illustration versus use of stock illustration or other media.  Our panelists will share case studies that clearly “illustrate” the value of custom illustration for use in advertising, marketing or design as well as providing resources for finding the right talent for your job. They’ll also share some industry best practices for working with illustrators and illustrator reps. The second half of the presentation will cover some advanced, sexy, yet pragmatic, illustration techniques, tools and shortcuts using Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop CS4, facilitated by Kevin Stohlmeyer, C2 instructor. Register HERE

September 4, 3 – 5 pm: Best practices for integrating 3d with Flash, Illustrator, Photoshop & Dreamweaver

Technical illustration, logo animation, POP or packaging design and architectural rendering all benefit from the addition of a third dimension. Now, more than ever, 3d software is accessible and plays nicely with many of the Adobe products for print and web. If you want to see and learn how easy it is to incorporate 3d into your design skill set, join Brad Krause, Radiance Media, and the C2 instructors for this enlightening session. Brad, a 3d professional, primarily uses Lightwave and Maya to develop static and animated 3d art for clients.  Old Style Light will be served! Register HERE

September 18, 2 – 5 pm: SEM, SEO, PPC, HTML, CSS and other important web acronyms demystified!

We work in a quickly evolving industry. New versions of software, browsers and social media launch so often, keeping up can be challenging. Today clients expect that creative professionals, regardless of title, know it ALL! C2 understands your pain. We found a smart partner, Andrew Wintheiser and the team from Lightburn Designs, to clarify and simplify some of the more complex elements of search engine optimization (SEO), pay per click (PPC) and search engine marketing (SEM). Andrew and Jim Conway, C2 instructor, will fill the afternoon, and your brain with industry best practices, resources and case studies to help demystify these crucial web acronyms. Register HERE

Maybe not … depending on what your client’s budget is and what the image they’re going for may be it may be 100% feasible for original photography. Join us on January 18 in conjunction with Studio Two for this intimate discussion on the art of Photography & editing.

For only $5.00 you’ll get lunch, Photoshop Tips & Tricks and advice on how to invest appropriately in both stock and original photography.

Our Tips & Tricks for Photoshop will include the “Two Pass” Color Correction Method, Photoshop Botox, Electronic Liposuction, Tricks of the Trade and Cheats & Shortcuts.

Don’t miss the opportunity to sign up today!

http://5friday-makeoriginal.eventbrite.com/

By booking your classes by the end of next week we’ll help you use up your budget before the end of the year and save money by honoring 2007 rates for all classes booked in the first quarter of 2008.

We’ll even come to you! Our instruction for up to 4 hours of on-site training for up to 6 people is only $850.00* and for up to 9 hours of instruction is only $1400.00*. What if you don’t have a training room? You can also rent machines from us and we’ll set them up for your staff’s use during the training! (*plus travel if you’re more than 30 minutes away).

And don’t forget, all of our instruction comes with a reference textbook & follow up support from our Certified Instructors.

We currently have the following days open for your on-site, custom training – just contact Tiffany (that would be me) to arrange your class!

Photoshop/Illustrator Instruction:
December 17 December 19 December 27 December 28
January 2 January 3 January 4 January 9
January 10 January 16 January 17 January 23
January 23 January 24 January 30 January 31

Quark/InDesign Instruction:
December 17 December 20 December 28 January 2
January 3 January 4 January 8 January 11
January 14 January 15

Flash/Dreamweaver Instruction (including Actionscripting 3.0!):
December 28 January 9 January 11 January 18
January 23 January 24 January 28 January 29
January 30 January 31

Video Instruction:
December 19 December 20 January 2 January 3
January 4 January 14 January 15 January 16
January 18

And don’t forget about $5.00 Fridays! January 18, in conjunction with Studio Two, we’ll go over tips & tricks in deciding whether or not to use stock photography vs. original and we’ll show you time-saving trips for color correction & retouching. Get more information.

Did you miss the How to WOW with Direct Mail $5.00 Friday in October? We’re having round two on February 22. We ran out of space last time, so get your seat early.