Set Default Font in Illustrator and Photoshop CS6

Under “Window” in the top menu bar, select “Type > Character Styles.”

A pop-up window will appear.

Double-click “[Normal Character Style]” and another dialog box will appear.

Select “Basic Character Formats” from the list on the left, and you can define all of your default text properties.

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Creating Photobooks for Gifts

There are a lot of places that do “photobooks” these days.  I’ve seen books from Snapfish and Costco, and while they’re fine (especially for quick presents for friends and family), they always seem just a little under par for what I’d like to see.

I did a bit of research a while back, and from what I found, I really liked Blurb.  Not only do they have the typical “upload your picks and choose from our styles,” but they allow designers like me to go crazy and do everything from the ground up.  They’ve even got a plug-in for InDesign.  This I really like.

I ordered a sample pack of their papers (both for pages and covers), and I think these guys are where its at.

Their prices are reasonable, and for the quality of what you receive, I think it’s the best deal going.

Not only that, but if you use this link:

http://bit.ly/195lPjo

…you’ll receive $20 off your first book (full disclosure: so will I!!!). [smile]

Positioning Lens Flare Center in Photoshop

It’s not like I use “lens flare” very often, but every once in a while, the mood strikes.  Since first I started using Photoshop, it’s been an exercise in happenstance and randomness; trial and error until (hopefully) I can at last position the lens flare correctly.
After 15 years, I have found the answer (I guess maybe it wasn’t that important… as I’ve never looked it up):
In the Lens Flare Filter dialogue window, if you alt-click in the preview area, you can actually enter the coordinates (pixels) of the lens flare center.
Before you do this, you can use your cursor and the “info” window to find the exact pixel coordinates so you know what to enter into this box (p.s. there’s a little plus next to the x,y coordinates in the info window that conceals a drop down that allows you to select the units displayed).
Typical Adobe bullshit… why in the HELL don’t they just include this option in the window dialogue?  Seriously.  WHAT THE FUCK?!
Some moron (or team of morons) actually made a decision to hide this option behind alt-click?  When would you ever NOT want to know where you’re positioning something you’re rendering?
I am at a loss for words.
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