Photoshop Version CS6 to be Released First Half of 2012

It has been over 18 months since the release of Photoshop Creative Suite version 5 (CS5) and the new version CS6 is expected to be released the first half of 2012. Based on previous version release dates, speculation is that it will be in May. Read "When Will Adobe Creative Suite 6 be Out, Including Photoshop CS6?" for more information. Adobe developers have already released the prerelease (beta) version of CS6 to those interested in testing it and some videos showing CS6 new features are already posted on the internet. Ps CS6 will include a new user interface (interaction of the software and the computer) that improves the rendering of some effects and has a different looking window. Tools and features are enhanced such as the camera raw processing, 3D effects, addition of three image blurring effects, greatly improved vector pen tool, a new color replacement brush, and will include an auto file saving feature.

New Adobe Software Updating Policy
Because updating software is expensive, many artists do not update every time a new version is released. It normally is not a problem with Adobe software because in the past Adobe has allowed discounted software upgrades for users of three previous versions of the software. But Adobe's policy has changed starting with CS6 and now they only discount an upgrade of the previous main version. However, users owning CS3 and CS4 will be allowed to purchase CS6 at the upgrade price until December 31, 2012. An alternative way in using many of Adobe software packages is to sign up for Adobe Creative Cloud. Creative Cloud is a membership service (starting at $49.99/month) that allows the member access to all the CS software, Adobe Apps, services, and new products as soon as they are released. Unfortuately very few artists can afford it.

Below are some videos of a sneak peak at the new Photoshop CS6. Note: The sound in a few of the videos is not very good or the presenter is hard to understand.

• Camera Raw Processing tool: "Sneak Peak #1"

• Liquify Tool and Background Save: "Sneak Peak #2"

• Vector pen improvements: dash and dotted vector lines along a shape "Photoshop CS6 sneak peek video #3"

• Vector pen tool: "Photoshop CS6 New Features - Pentool / Stroke /Layer Palette Filters"

• Color Replacement brush: "Photoshop cs6 - new features - color replacement brush"

• New blurring filters: "Photoshop CS6 Review ( NEW 2012)"

• Magically move and remove images in painting: "Photoshop CS6 Content-Aware Sneak Peak"

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Art Licensing: High hopes that successful 2012 Gift Markets translates into licensing deals

The 2012 gift market season started off with a bang with a significant increase in buyer attendance and order writing at the Atlanta Gift Market. The reason is that retail sales were up during the 2011 Christmas season and buyers hit the showrooms to restock their depleted inventory. And the increase in buyer attendance and purchasing continued with many of the following markets although not all were hopping like Atlanta. That is not too surprising because the high cost to exhibit at trade shows and the reduction in number of retailers makes it tough to support the abundance of regional shows. Instead retailers are traveling farther to the larger ones, purchasing over the internet, and depending on vendor sales reps to visit their stores. There are over 20 U.S. Gift Market shows in January and scads more throughout the year.

The increase in spending during the Christmas season was mainly due to heavily discounted prices to entice consumers. However, this may not be a good marketing tactic in the long run because merchants may have to keep cutting prices as pointed out by Anne D'Innocenzio of Associated Press in "Retail group forecasts 3.2 pct growth for 2012." Retailers expect there will be a slow growth in the economy as it pulls out of the recession. They report consumers without jobs are cautious in spending while ones that have jobs have increased their spending. Online stores are growing rapidly but brick and mortar stores are still important avenues in selling merchandise. Products need to be aimed to where buyers shop and that there is a huge growth in emerging international markets. Learn more by watching a video of retail experts discuss "2012 Retail Trends and The Economy" on The Marketing Boutique website.

So what does this all mean to the art licensing industry and property owners? The sluggish economy is not out of the woods yet but agents and artists hope the increase in retail buying at the start of 2012 will mean an increase in licensing deals as more art is needed for more products. Artists should be aware of the kind of art consumers are looking for so that they can enhance their opportunities in getting deals by creating it. Or in reality what kind of art that manufacturers "think" consumers want. Read the following articles and view the videos to learn about the trends seen at six major 2012 gift markets.

• Atlanta Gift Market - January 11-18, 2012

artist Joan Beiriger article "2012 January Atlanta Gift Market: surge in buyer traffic gives high hope to economic recovery"

agent Jim Marcotte of Two Town Studios article "Atlanta Tidbits"

• Dallas Gift Market - January 18 - 24, 2012

Gifts & Decorative Accessories article "Direct from Market: Dallas"

Dallas Market Center article "Ground-breaking Dallas Market Signals Success in 2012"

• Los Angeles Gift Market - January 18 - 24, 2012

Gifts & Decorative Accessories article "Direct from Market: Los Angeles"

• Chicago Gift Market - January 19-25, 2012

Gifts & Decorative Accessories article "Direct from Market: Chicago"

• New York Gift Market - January 28 - February 2, 2012

Gifts & Decorative Accessories article "Direct from Market: New York"

• Las Vegas Gift Market - January 30 - February 3. 2012

Gifts & Decorative Accessories article "Direct from Market: Las Vegas"

Gifts & Decorative Accessories videos "Video coverage of Gift + Home Show" (overview and interviews with One Coast, C.R. Gibson, Evergreen Enterprises)

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Photoshop Tips: Improve Workflow with Photoshop Actions Command

If you do the same repetitive steps to create and edit art in Photoshop, then the Actions command saves you time and improve your work flow. Actions allows a person to record and save a series of commands that can be applied to other images by simply playing the action that had previously been recorded. Many blending, text effects, special effects, and texture Actions commands comes with Photoshop. Also more Actions are available on the internet and can be downloaded free or for a nominal fee.

The picture at the top of this article shows examples of some text effects created by Actions that are already available in Photoshop. Clicking on the play button for the Action in the Action panel took seconds to convert the text to the effect (cast shadow, outline, brushed metal, die cut, wavy, wood paneling). More importantly you can use existing Actions and edit them to your specifications so that you do not have to start an Action from scratch. You can also place a stop on any of the steps in the Action so that a window for the command opens and you can alter the command on the fly.

For instance, in the above example, the text must be generated in Photoshop before you play the Action. So if you want a different font, words, color, etc. then you would have to first type the text with the correct options and then play the Action. To make the Action more versatile and time efficient, the Action can be edited by adding an open text command at the start of the Action and stop it so that the text window opens. The text can then be typed, a font and color selected as well as other text options before pressing okay to continue the Action.

The Actions panel is located in Photoshop Window pull down window (Window > Actions). The panel can also be opened with Option + F9 keystrokes on the Macintosh or Alt + F9 keystrokes on the PC computer.

Actions can be created for many purposes. Below is a list of just a few ideas.
• change the size of the image and place it in another folder so that it can be used on tearsheets for manufacturers
• change the resolution and file format of images for use on websites and blogs
• place borders and drop shadows around images for advertisements and tearsheets
• create effects on text to be used in art
• resize and crop images for product mock-ups such as plates
• apply patterns, textures, and other effects to images and backgrounds

Recording a series of Photoshop commands in Actions is very easy to do. Below are numerous videos illustrating how to use the Actions panel, edit Actions, find the Actions that come with Photoshop, and how to record your own Actions. Many of the videos show the same process in creating Actions but some show more details on using the Action panel, some give additional hints on the steps in recording Actions such as how to stop the script to edit a command, and some show how to use Actions with batch processing of multiple files. I recommend that you watch all of them to understand the process in creating your own Actions and see examples on how others have used Actions to optimize their workflow.

Using Actions
• "Learn Adobe Photoshop - Actions Panel"

• "Loading and Using Actions in Photoshop"

• "Learn How to Use the Actions in Photoshop CS3 Tutorial"

• "Recording Actions in Photoshop - www.DaveRapoza.com" and also shows how to easily access Actions using a Wacom Tablet

• "White Poster Style Mount With a Stroke using actions in Photoshop"

Using Actions with Batch Processing
• "Photoshop Tutorial: Using Actions and Batch Processing"

• "Photoshop Question: Watermarking"

On the internet you can find simple Actions, complicated Actions, and also very artistic and innovative actions already generated. A selection of over 5000 Photoshop Actions by many individuals are listed on the Adobe website and can be downloaded. Some cost a nominal fee but many are free. Caution: The results of some of these Actions are unique and distinctive. Check out the license for the approved usage (for private use only or professional use) to make sure that you are not infringing on the owners copyright before using the Action on your art.

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2012 January Atlanta Gift Market: surge in buyer traffic gives high hope to economic recovery

The 2012 Atlanta Gift (January 11-18) was buzzing. Licensed artist signings in manufacturer (vendor) showrooms, the fun of a Flash Parade that marched down aisles of the temporary booths and even a Flash Mob of dancers in the concession area created excitement for buyers during the show. But for vendors the excitement was because the number of buyers were up from recent years, steady traffic streamed into the showrooms, and at times the showrooms and temporary booths were jam-packed with buyers purchasing products for their stores. Vendors were ecstatic and some reported sales were significantly greater than the 2011 and 2010 shows. To find out more about the traffic, vendor experiences, and trends seen at the show, read editors of Gift and Dec publication articles "Direct From Market - Atlanta," and " Direct From Market - Atlanta, part 2."

Many manufacturers took advantage of social media and posted press releases and artist signings on Americas Mart (venue where the Atlanta Gift Show was held) facebook page. Others used their own facebook pages, blogs, and youtube.com to announce new products. And at least one publication (Smart Retailer) used facebook to make comments and show pictures of the show.

Below are links to SOME facebook pages, a video, blog articles by artists, a publication and vendors that attended the show. But in the coming weeks there will be more articles about the 2012 Atlanta Gift Market so make sure that you search the internet for them.

Artist Blogs
• Terri Conrad "After the Market"

• Robin Davis "Atlanta Scrapbook"

• Phyllis Dobbs  "Atlanta Gift Market was bussing!"

• Janet Wecker Frisch "Atlanta Agenda"

• Cathy Heck "Atlanta Gift Show 2: Mini Trend Report"

• Jane Maday "Atlanta Gift Show"

• Tara Reed "This little artist went to market . . . "

• Things with Wings (Laura, Connie, Jill, Emily - family of artists) "Atlanta Market + Demdaco, 2012"

• Susan Winget "Atlanta Gift Show 2012"

• Beth Yarbrough - "Market Wrap"

• Sue Zipkin - "Fun in Atlanta"

Licensing Agent Blog

Jim Marcotte (Two Town Studio) "Atlanta and Some Exhibiting Realities"

Publication & TV Show
• Smart Retailer (facebook albums) "Atlanta Displays & Showrooms"

• The Balancing Act (TV show blog) "Vivid Color at the Atlanta Gift Show"

Vendors
• Grasslands Road (video) "Spring 2012 gift collection at Atlanta Gift Show" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_c065KPraE&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL

• Magnetic Works (facebook pictures) "Atlanta Market - january 2012"
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.349568211721276.89287.184445154900250&type=1

Americas Mart
If you have not been to the Atlanta Gift Show and Americas Mart where the show is held, you may enjoy the following videos. They were created in 2011 and shows a view of how huge the Mart is, vendor showrooms and eye-candy products galore. What inspiration and no wonder that everyone that attends the Atlanta Gift Show is overwhelmed!

• Country Business magazine (now called Smart Retailer) "Creative Store Displays from the Atlanta Gift & Home Furnishings Market"

• Americas Mart "Holiday & Floral / Home Décor"

• Americas Mart "Tips for Success from Market Veterans"

Comments are welcomed. Enter them in the below comment section.