An update to Lightroom version 2.4 is now available! To update your copy of Lightroom simply start the application and you should receive an dialog asking whether you want to update. To download the update directly from Adobe Mac user can click here, Windows users can click here.
The update to 2.4 adds support for cameras from Canon, Nikon, Hasselblad, and more.

InDesign in the Summer Time!

If you use styles with InDesign
than you're probably wondering how things could get any better? I mean
paragraph styles are pretty great, and when combined with the Next
style, Nested style & Object style features almost one-click
instant for your formatting needs.

BUT...

What if you
could just set the criteria for formatted objects? What if InDesign
automatically formatted text AS YOU TYPED? That would be something
wouldn't it?

The latest version of Flex is now in beta and you can download it from Adobe labs for free.  Instead of calling it Flex Builder, they are now calling it Flash Builder.  The framework is still called Flex.  Anyway, download it and be sure to watch the videos that tell you what is new in this version.

Download: http://labs.adobe.com/technologies/flashbuilder4/

This is interesting. I'm not quite sure what it is yet, but it appears that Adobe is offering the beta version of a service that will let developers add social networking functionality to their Flash and Flex apps with ease. Check out the link if you are interested...

http://labs.adobe.com/technologies/afcs/

On May 27th from 8pm to 10pm learn Photoshop retouching techniques from one of the best! Join Chris Tarantino online at a RetouchPRO live event. The cost is ONLY $10. If you are interested in enhancing your Photoshop skills I recommend you sign up NOW!!!

Chris calls Flower Mound home and is an expert at color management and retouching and has worked in the retouching and color correcting field since 1983. Chris has been described as someone who "breaks" Photoshop to make it work better.

Thanks to everyone who braved the weather to make it to our May meeting!

If you want to see the slides again you can get them at http://files.me.com/genemcc/dp7t2w

Here are the links to some of the sites I mentioned:

• Gavin Seim's Bride HDR shot 
• Trey Ratcliff's excellent HDR tutorial
• Photomatix Pro from HDR Soft (Remember we have a 20% discount code - use the contact link above and provide your login ID for DFWAUG to verify membership and I'll send you the code.)
• My site - Lightroom Secrets

If you have any questions feel free to contact me directly at gene at lightroomsecrets dot com

Up until recently, I wasn't really fully sure of what I could accomplish via Adobe's desktop sharing application - ConnectNow. I had thought that it was a pay-per-use option only. Boy was I wrong. Turns out it is FREE for up to 3 users. At first glance you might think - that's not really a whole lot of people. But keep in mind many times clients will be meeting in a conference room, sharing a connection. In situations like that, 3 users is all you need.

The Biggest ABOSG Event of the YEAR. Tickets go on sale at MIDNIGHT on
May 1, 2009.

Presenters include:
Digital Domain
CafeFX
Massive Black
and special presentations by:
Michele Gagne
J. Hawkins
Jason Manley
And more...

MasterClasses hosted by:
Brett Briley – id Software

Greg Punchatz - Janimation
David Tart - formerly of Pixar and Blue Sky
Digital Tutors and more...

Plus the all*NEW* Artists Alley

More details coming soon...

The next Guild usergroup meeting is on Saturday, May 2, from 9am to 11 am at Collin county Community College, Room C104, click for map

Our guest speaker will be Wes “Rio” Riojas, President of Headlight Creative, who will be talking about how he balances his time between freelancing, family, and Animation Mentor.  Here is a brief Rio bio.

Our very own A.J. Wood is trying to convince the powers that be to let him teach a class as Photoshop World. We all know from personal experience what a great (and entertaining) teacher A.J. is. So let's lend a hand. Go read his blog post at http://www.ajwood.com/2009/04/08/i-need-psw-love/ and leave a comment. Then digg the article. If you are a NAPP member use the member contact form and let them know you'd like to hear A.J. teach at Photoshop World!