Posts by Jeff Hipp
Helpful Photoshop Layer Organization
How to use a simple system for Photoshop layer structure to allow one to quickly find an item buried in the layers. This will not only increase the speed of your design, but allows others to access and edit in your absence.
Adobe Illustrator Math Bug
One great thing in Adobe Illustrator is the ability to duplicate and move an object - then repeat that action as many times as you need. This is a handy tip, but also a "be aware of a problem".
I love a lot of Adobe products, Photoshop and Illustrator are cutting-edge software that no Designer can do without. However, there is a bug in Illustrator that has been on the top of my list of "things that piss me off" for years. It's a bug in their duplicate function - and has been there since…
Combining multiple steps using single photoshop layers
Streamlining any process in Photoshop and simplifying the quantity of layers can really speed up your project. Here are two simple steps that I use every day and always find myself teaching to design interns and junior designers.
Duplicating an object within a single layer
Say you have a bulleted list or navigation column that needs a graphic next to each topic – in this case we'll use a red arrow. Most-often when you have a Photoshop document with hundreds of layers – ease of editing and…
Easy Design Path Rules in Photoshop
The ability to create professional and useable paths in Photoshop (and Illustrator) is very important.
original photo - background needs removing
Paths are an essential design tool for lorez web work, and especially important in hirez print work. I don't know how many times I've had to train design interns and new hires on this basic process.
We've probably all seen poorly pathed images that have that halo on the edges. Sure ideally you would shoot the image on a background suitable for what…
Help smoothing out PSD color blends
You've created a nice design that has a strong element of a color blend, but you notice that no matter what you do there is subtle banding in the blend. This is true in web design and more so in hi-res print design – the unfortunate part is that it probably won't show it's ugly banding head until you get your first print proof or so. Frustrating! Trust me, I know.
A few years back I was designing a series of pricey high-end 4 color product booklets that showcased the item large silhouetted…
The Value of a Designer’s Cheat Sheet
Cheat sheets can be your best friend and daily ally. No, I'm not talking about that small piece of paper or notes on the palm of your hand that you used in Ninth grade Spanish class on test day. I'm talking about the use of a cheat sheet in Photoshop.
There are items, shapes or icons that you favor and use often in your web designs. You have your own style, a style your company uses, or simply things you know clients love to see. I can't recall the hours I've spent trying to remember which…
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