To get the most out of Dreamweaver CS4, it’s important not only to master the application, but also to understand fundamental concepts of modern web design. James Williamson teaches just that in Dreamweaver CS4 Essential Training, covering everything from site structure to the value of standards-compliant XHTML and CSS. He shows how to create clean and accessible code in Dreamweaver, as well as how to publish compelling content. James demonstrates how to use a variety of techniques for adding interactivity, creating and styling forms and tables, and saving time with templates. He explains the benefits of using programs like Word and Photoshop to speed up

Photoshop has become an indispensible tool for photographers, designers, and all other creative professionals, as well as students. Photoshop CS4 Essential Training teaches a broad spectrum of core skills that are common to many creative fields: working with layers and selections; adjusting, manipulating, and retouching photos; painting; adding text; automating; preparing files for output; and more. Instructor Jan Kabili demonstrates established techniques as well as those made possible by some of the new features unique to Photoshop CS4. This course is indispensable to those who are new to the application, just learning this version, or expanding their skills. Example files accompany the course.

In After Effects CS4 Essential Training, Chad Perkins teaches fundamental motion graphics design techniques from the ground up. He shows how to gather video, audio, and graphical source materials into layered compositions, make edits and adjustments, then bring it all to life with a powerful array of visual effects and animation techniques. These skills are demonstrated in a series of increasingly intricate projects, from creating a galaxy to building a fantasy battle scene. Chad also demonstrates workflows for keying and compositing, shows how to integrate with other applications, shares useful tips and secrets, and much more. Exercise files accompany the course.

From understanding the basics to creating advanced effects like explosions and smoke, ActionScript 3.0: Building Particle Systems covers each step involved in creating particles and building particle systems. Instructor Todd Perkins explains how to make a versatile particle class that controls particle movement, gravity, friction, spin, rotation, fading, scaling, and other movement effects. He also demonstrates how each unique particle system can be added to a real world application. Exercise files accompany the course.

The elusive alpha channel remains one of the most misunderstood yet powerful tools in Photoshop. Alpha channels are collections of luminance data that control the transparency of an image, and they inform just about every aspect of Photoshop. As he builds transitional blended layers, fashions a depth map, makes edge adjustments, and takes on extreme channel mixing, Omni Award-winning expert Deke McClelland teaches Photoshop users that where there's a will, there's a way. Photoshop CS3 Channels and Masks: Advanced Techniques covers mapping texture on an image, turning flesh into stone, using vector masks, working with all different channels, creating a rustic edge effect, and much more. Exercise files accompany the tutorials.

In Windows Vista Essential Training , instructor Jeff Van West offers comprehensive guidance through the often-daunting task of upgrading Windows system software. After discussing Vista's many new features and demonstrating the initial installation, Jeff explains how to run older software, customize settings and the desktop, and troubleshoot along the way. The tutorials also cover the ins and outs of taking Vista on the road for portable computing, from setting up security to working with all types of media and optimizing performance. Exercise files accompany the training.

In these tutorials, instructor Rich Shupe delves into the essentials of delivering Flash to mobile devices. He covers everything from creating applications with ActionScript to making basic wallpaper and screensavers. Exercise files accompany the tutorials.

In The AJAX Crash Course, published by SitePoint, instructor Kevin Yank explores the many technologies that come together in AJAX applications. These technologies include the Document Object Model (DOM), Extensible Markup Language (XML), JavaScript, and XMLHttpRequest (XHR). Along with providing an application tour, Kevin explains how to make intelligent decisions about which of these tools to use, and gives hands-on examples of how to apply them.
Running Time: 1.25 hours

All design starts with an idea, and generating good ideas is what separates the wheat from the chaff. But unlike software than can easily be learned, the practice of generating ideas is far more complex. In Interaction Design: Process and Inspiration, acclaimed designer Brendan Dawes takes you through some of the processes he employs in his own work. He’ll show you how he approaches projects as a series of “sketches,” more akin to working with pencil and paper than pushing pixels. From interface design, usability, and using sound to branding, designing for the audience, and experimental approaches, Interaction Design offers an award-winning designer’s insight into the techniques he uses every day to push, play, and constantly explore the realm of possibilities in interactive design.

A strong understanding of Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) is vital to producing websites that look good, load quickly, and are easy to maintain. In The CSS Crash Course , published by SitePoint, Kevin Yank shows how CSS changes the way websites are designed. Whether the goal is to build a site from scratch or redesign an existing site, Kevin thoroughly explains how to use CSS to accomplish that goal, including how to create and modify a single CSS file to control the look of every page on a site.