Adobe Photoshop is the leading photo manipulation application used by graphic professionals and the software developer has just released a new Beta version demo of Creative Suite 3.0 for the PC and Macintosh platform.

The new Photoshop CS3 is now running on Universal Binary (first time on a Mac) that will work at its optimum performance under Intel’s Core 2 Duo Processors.

So what are the new features in Photoshop CS3? Well here is a list of notable items in the industry standard digital imaging software:

Non-destructive Smart Filters

Smart Filters are Photoshop filters that are applied non-destructively, and that remain live and re-editable.

Quick Selection Tool

The new Quick Selection Tool creates selections by painting the general area of interest.

Refine Edge

The new Refine Edge feature offers a simple, flexible way to modify the edge of any selection.

Automatic layer alignment and blending

Using automatic layer alignment and blending, easily combine the best parts of multiple images of the same scene into one “best” image.

Vanishing Point with multiple, adjustable angle perspective planes
One of the most powerful new features of Photoshop CS2 is now even more flexible. Vanishing Point adjusts brush strokes, healing and cloning as you paint over its perspective planes.

Black and White conversion

Advanced black-and-white conversion is now simpler and faster. With the new Black and White adjustment, one button analyzes the image and offers conversion settings.

Enhanced Adobe Camera
Raw
Camera Raw 4.0 now features Fill Light, Recovery, and Vibrance controls.

In addition, a new user interfaces, with an upgrade to Adobe Bridge plus an all-new Adobe Device Central. This new application will allow Photoshop users to design, preview, and test mobile content, created specifically for smaller screens.

Adobe Photoshop CS3 beta is available in English only. Customers who have a valid serial number for all other language versions of qualifying Adobe products can still download the software.

Even without a serial number, Adobe will still allow users to download a version of Photoshop CS3 beta that will expire after two days. However, customers must register online (which is free) with Adobe or have an existing Adobe.com membership account to access the software.

Download Photoshop CS3 Beta here

To see the new Photoshop in action with video commentary, see this link here

Are you a fan of retro gaming? Want a new look to your computer desktop? If you answered these two questions with an enthusiastic ‘yes’, then head over to Freaky Fonts to download some retro-looking wallpaper images.

The simple looking ‘spirits’ will look elegant as your background picture and won’t clutter the screen as much as your dozen icons.

Click here for the collection

Where it all began… 1984.

John Lasseter, employee at the computing department for Disney industries, make a first test to demonstrate power of computers animated technology.
The legend says after the meeting with his superiors, he got a phone call where he was told he was fired from Disney. Funny when you know he is now Chief Creative Officer of both Pixar and Disney animation studios) (wiki)

Anyway ok, Disney didn’t believed this new medium may have any consistent potential.
But Lasseter and LucasFilm did. John was hired by LucasFilm soon afterwards, and they continued their research in using their specialized computer workstations and software for animation.
Someone called Steve Jobs bought the company from George Lucas in 1986 and Gave it the strange name of Pixar…by then, he wasn’t sure filmmaking should be the company’s primary business focus ^^, Lasseter had to prove it. Seems like he managed to…

Well…^^ Anyone doesn’t know how things continued to grow ?

This very first try is now released on youtube. See how the improvement has been big since ; )

Running out of ideas for little Christmas gifts? Know someone with a sweet tooth? Then maybe this could be the answer from our friends over at TokyoToys.com. Containing a huge amount of sweets this could work as either an individual gift to someone or as part of a pack to use at a party.

All this can be yours for £19.60 @ www.TokyoToys.com

x2 Packet of Blackberry hi-Chew (JAP)
Each packet contains 12pieces of candy.

x2 Packet of Green Apple Hi-Chew (JAP)
Each packet contains 12pieces of candy.

x2 Packet of Strawberry Hi-Chew (JAP)
Each packet contains 12pieces of candy.

x2 Packet of Lemon Hi-Chew (JAP)
Each packet contains 12pieces of candy.

x1 Packet of Tropical Flavour Shigekix Super Sour (JAP)
Each packet contains 25g of candy.

x1 Packet of Lemon Flavour Shigekix Super Sour (JAP)
Each packet contains 25g of candy.

x1 Packet of Cola Flavour Shigekix Super Sour (JAP)
Each packet contains 25g of candy.

x1 Packet of Plum Flavour Shigekix Super Sour (JAP)
Each packet contains 25g of candy.

x1 Packet of Grape Flavour Shigekix Super Sour (JAP)
Each packet contains 25g of candy.

x1 Packet of Soda Flavour Shigekix Super Sour (JAP)
Each packet contains 25g of candy.

The Blip Festival is a four-day international cultural event taking place in New York City this December, focusing on the 8-bit scene — musicians and artists who use low-bit videogame and computer hardware as their creative tools.

The festival is the widest-reaching event in the history of the form, boasting a roster of over 30 international artists performing and exhibiting from places as diverse as Austria, Canada, Japan, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, and across the United States. The Blip Festival is a four-day international cultural event taking place in New York City this December, focusing on the 8-bit scene — musicians and artists who use low-bit videogame and computer hardware as their creative tools.

…Nintendo Entertainment Systems and Game Boys roaring with futuristic floor-stomping rhythms and fist-waving melody, art-damaged Sega hardware generating fluctuating and abstracted video patterns — and that’s only the beginning. An exploration of the chiptune idiom and its close relatives, the Blip Festival is the biggest and most comprehensive event in the history of the form, and will include daily workshops, art installations, and nightly music performances boasting an international roster larger and more far-reaching than any previous event of its kind. Small sounds at large scales pushed to the limit at high volumes — the Blip Festival is an unprecedented event that is not to be missed.

The show is in NY from Thu Nov 30th to Sunday Dec 3rd. More info and ticket info available from http://www.blipfestival.org/

Oh how kewl is this mashup. Che vs Star Wars Trooper ^_^

Its a limited edition numbered 6 inch resin sculpture.

You can order one for $50 from
http://www.urbanmedium.com/store_other_direct.html

[link via boing boing]

Visitors to London’s Tate Modern will see a unique sculpture in the main Turbine Hall, a giant slide.

There are five in total, with the largest of the spiralling slides is more than 55m (182ft) long and descends from the fifth floor… Visitors can actually try the slides!

Artist Carsten Höller said his work, named Test Site, is a “playground for the body and the brain”.

The slides are the seventh exhibit in the series commissioned for the gallery’s Turbine Hall.

Previous works in the 500ft (152m) long and 115ft (35m) high hall have included: The Weather Project, a foggy sunset by Danish artist Olafur Eliasson, and Anish Kapoor’s giant, red Marsyas sculpture.

Holler, 44, has constructed slides before, including one at the Prada headquarters in Milan (Italy) connecting boss Miuccia Prada’s office and the car park.

He says studies back up his belief that slides can help combat stress and depression.

More information can be seen on the Tate Modern site here

 or Painting with light in motion.

Anyone has seen one of those shots of light in motion taken with long exposure on a camera .

They're eye catching, even impressing when you can luckily come up with a shape more complex than a circle ; ) 

But now to get those results, I guess it requires some serious skills and a lot of practice…^^

Those guys from PIKAPIKA   made it a real artistic media, and explore .

Takeshi says :

We took a photo of each image using long exposures and put them together to make them look like one animation.

To work on this project,we went out to various places in
Japan:parks,under the train track,the Tokyo Bay,school hallways,and so on.

They're now in Ottawa, to present  their movie , nominated for the Ottawa International Animation Festival.

Anyone can make some pictures like this (even not that good ; ) ), I'd love to see them. ^_^

Come on guys, start training , or you'll never be ready for Guy Fawkes Night  ; )

Love Formula One? Seeking a way to spend all of your disposable cash for your cool pad based on your favourite sport? Then how about purchasing some really special items made exclusive from the championship-winning Renault R25 sound?

Yes, you can own bits and pieces of Fernando Alonso and Giancarlo Fisichella’s Grand Prix winning car by sampling the beautiful collection here: http://www.renaultf1teamcollection.com/collection.htm

Be warned though, some of the items are pretty expensive. The Candle Sticks for example is yours for around £1,900… The Wing Table, a very nice coffee table cost £4,000. But the pièce de résistance is the Chess Set. Made from the parts of the Renault F1’s suspension, hubs, uprights, wings and cockpit. With the materials from titanium, stainless steel, aircraft-spec aluminium, carbon fibre, sterling silver and leather. This board game is… Wait for it. £21,000!

So, if you got money to splash out and you’re looking for something unique and modern. You can’t go wrong by owning some rare and beautiful F1 pieces of equipment.

Hmm… Time to start saving I think!

The Emagi podcast should be releasing in a weeks time. Here are some concept logo’s created by our favourite designer. : )