evo design - graphics, photography, web

  • Creating compound paths in InDesign

    01
    Jun

    Ever needed to knock out (mask) a section of an object to allow a background object to show through?  All very easy in Photoshop and Illustrator but is it possible in InDesign, of course it is - here’s how.

    Exaple

    Looking at the example above shows how the ornamental rules break in the middle for the text labels.  They also allow the background image to show through.  With no background image this is as simple as drawing a white object but this isn’t possible when an object sits behind.

    Example

    Here is a closer look minus background.  So how to create a compound path, just follow the steps below:

    Example

    The process is the same as Illustrator.  Create an object to be used as the mask and place it behind the object to be masked.

    Example

    Select both objects (the mask and the object to be masked) and select ‘Minus Back’.  Voila, a perfect mask which objects behind will show through.

    Tutorials, Design, InDesign,

  • Coffee Shop Security

    10
    Jun

    These days we are carrying a lot of secure data on our mobile devices and increasing prevalence of free wireless internet access offers huge convenience.  But how can we make sure we’re not being watched?

    If you find yourself in a coffee shop using the free wireless broadband keep in mind that you are operating on the same network as anybody else in that coffee shop.  As such your device, and all the other connected devices are visible.  When something can be seen, it means it’s easier to access.

    You first line of security when working on open networks is to disable File Sharing.  Under Windows this can be accessed via network properties, on a Mac via System Preferences, File Sharing.  By disabling this feature you substantially increase the effort required to browse your computers hard drive remotely.

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    Tutorials,

  • A Simple Mootools Slider

    05
    Apr

    Mootools is a great Javascript framework.  Using it to achieve great effects couldn’t be easier.

    With essentially no Javascript knowledge whatsoever you can use many of the effects in the library with ease.  For instance the slider effect to switch the navigation on and off at the top of this page is done like this.

    Firstly, head on over to Mootools and download yousrself the framework.  To keep you code light on its feet you can choose to only download the bits you need and leave the rest.  You will need the Core, obviously, Window.DomReady and Fx.Slide.  Tick each component and then download the js file.

    Place it in a suitable location on your website and then include it in the head of your website…

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    Tutorials, Javascript,