LAdobe :: Los Angeles Adobe User Group

It’s Photoshop Idol Time Again!

It’s getting close to LAdobe’s 4th Anniversary and as spring has sprung yet again,, it’s time to roll out our 4th annual Photoshop Idol competition to find the next great designer in Los Angeles and Southern California.

If you’re familiar with our previous competitions, Photoshop Idol normally is where we select three or four great portfolios and have them come to our LAdobe May meeting to compete live as they have 15 minutes to create a composition using nothing more than Photoshop, a web browser and three key ‘ingredients’ selected at random. The best design of the night wins Idol and the latest copy of Creative Suite and other great prizes from our sponsors.

This year, we’re stirring up the formula and changing things around for one year and one year only.

Many of you know that once again, Adobe is presenting it’s annual MAX user conference in LA this October and once again, LAdobe and its’ sister user groups in LA and Orange County will be presenting MiniMAX X for the locals who can’t attend either due to the excessive cost or being unable to attend due to work schedules. So once again, on October 27th, we’ll present MiniMAX at a location in Santa Monica (exact location to be determined) with six speakers each spending 15 minutes presenting tips and tricks on all sorts of Adobe apps from Photoshop to After Effects. Last year, we had a surprise when one of the keynoters showed up and did a ‘mini’ keynote presentation on the FedEx calculator created in Flex. Who knows what will happen this year on the Westside?

But we need a little help from you.

MiniMAX 9 LogoWe need a logo.

If you were at our meeting this past Thursday night, you know what we’re talking about. We’re looking for someone to creatively design a logo best emphasizing the tenth edition of MiniMAX. The logo can be themed anyway you like. Obviously think of Southern California and Los Angeles but go beyond the obvious ‘Hollywood Sign’ or ‘Beach Scene’ you see everywhere. Let’s see some real creativity!

The rules are simple. Just email your logos to LAdobe. They can be created in any program (Yes, we’ll even accept Microsoft Expression!) and can even be scans from pencil sketches. We’ll work with you on the final design if we see promise. The entries should be emailed around 8 1/2 x 11 inches or around 640×480 pixels at 72 or 96 dpi. Please do not email at print resolution (150-300dpi or more) as they will be disqualified. You can send as many entries as you like. However, only one entry per person will make the finals so we can have at least three participants. On Thursday Night, May 27th at Key Code Media in Santa Monica, we will have the finals with LAdobe managers Adam Bell and Michele Weisbart presiding along with our special guest speaker, Photoshop Cafe’s Colin Smith, who helped judge the first Photoshop Idol. Each finalist must appear that evening and do a short presentation (anywhere from 2-5 minutes) describing the logo and his or her thoughts in creating it. If the finalist does not appear by 8pm on the evening of May 27th, they are disqualified. Contestants must live in Los Angeles or Orange County, CA.

The winner of Photoshop Idol 2010 will receive a copy of one of the three bundles (Print, Production, Video) of the brand new Creative Suite 5, 2 plugin sets from Alien Skin Software and a series of books from Peachpit Press. More prizes will be announced at a later time as part of the winners’ package. All finalists will receive one Photoshop book from Peachpit as well as some swag from Adobe.

The cost of entering all LAdobe competitions is always free and complimentary and you have until May 1 to submit your entries to us. So get sketching, drawing, illustrating and thinking of what you think will be the best logo to represent MiniMAX X and GOOD LUCK to all!

FITC 15% Discount for Toronto

Now in its 9th year, FITC Toronto (occurring April 25-27) is one of the largest and longest running events of its kind in the world. With some of the most unique and engaging presenters from around the globe, FITC Toronto is an information blitz of presentations, demonstrations, and panel discussions, sandwiched between our legendary FITC parties and abundant networking opportunities. Topped off with the FITC Award Show, it’s three days and nights that will leave you inspired,energized and awed.

LAdobe Members get a 15% discount to the event by using the discount code usergroup upon checkout. Hope you can make it up to Canada for the best Flash event of the year!

Pixmac: 5 free photo credits

LAdobe User Group members are eligible for a 5 credit ($5 value) in return for putting a link to the Pixmac website on their personal website. Members will need to make an account on the Pixmac website, visit the Pixmac Buy Credits page, and enter the code ADOBE5BONUS into the “Redeem a promo code” field. 5 credits will be added to any purchase. If they have already registered, members can follow this link instead.

March 25: Last year’s Photoshop Idol winner and more Photoshop goodies

Join LAdobe on Thursday night, March 25th at 7pm at our new location at Key Code Media at 1004 Santa Monica Blvd. in Santa Monica. Parking is available on the street for free after 6pm. Remember, all LAdobe events and meetings are always free to attend with no RSVP required.

For our March meeting we have at least two presentations set for the Lightning Round. This is the portion of our program where we offer our members a chance to share a few quick tips on various Adobe apps without having to do a full program. For this Lightning Round we already have Photoshop tips in place from Dan Kaufman and David Foto and we’re looking for more. If you have an Adobe tips or series of tips and can present in anywhere from 5 to 20 minutes, please contact LAdobe with your Lightning Round ideas.

For our main presentation, we have last year’s Photoshop Idol winner, Martin Bruinsma, who is back to show off some of the latest techniques from some of the best billboard designs. With all the latest advances in billboard design thanks to the controversial digital billboards sprouting across LA, this is going to be a very interesting session.

We’ll have a number of Photoshop and other design books to give away from all our major publishing sponsors and free food and beverages from Key Code Media and Function. So we hope to see you in Santa Monica at Key Code Media on the 25th!