Link via Broadcasting & Cable
 Avid Technology has opened a new 137,000 square foot School of Cinematic Arts at University of Southern California. The state-of-the-art complex features over 260 Avid audio and video systems, the largest Avid workflows in any U.S. film school.
The new facility contains Pro Tools LE and HD systems as well as six ICON digital consoles that allows students hands-on mixing capabilities. For editing, there are more than 140 Media Composer systems including Media Composer software, Mojo DX, Nitris DX, and Symphony Nitris systems. The Avid Unity ISIS shared storage network allows students, faculty, and staff to access media across a range of applications from workstations all across the network.
“Avid is committed to serving students, educators, and institutions with competitively priced, world class solutions that allow them to unleash their creative talents at an early age and then go on to create some of tomorrow’s most watched and loved media,” said Kirk Arnold, GM and EVP of customer operations at Avid.
Avid Media Composer 3.5 is available at an academic discount price of $295.
Link via Dreamweaver Course
 Lately I’ve fielded a lot of questions from people considering upgrading from Dreamweaver 8 (CS2) to Dreamweaver CS4. While it’s fairly easy to find information about the incremental updates: from DW8 to CS3 and from CS3 to CS4 (links at the end of this post) I haven’t found a source that offers an overview of what’s in store if you make the leap from 8 directly to CS4. So I’ve put together a quick overview with some brief comments of the features that await you at the end of the DW8 to DWCS4 upgrade process.
Should you upgrade from Dreamweaver 8 to CS3?
In a word, YES. You’ll get the benefit of two excellent updates, an improved UI and access to “modern” web technologies like CSS and AJAX.
Dreamweaver CS4 is available at an academic discount price of $199
Whether you use the lens blur filter in Photoshop or a plug-in, creating or enhancing the depth of field through software helps focus the viewer on the subject of your photo.
The depth of field effect can be added in Photoshop with the lens blur filter according to this Photoshop Tutorial, but there are also Photoshop plug-ins with the specific purpose of adding depth of field to your photos.
Alien Skin’s Bokeh Photoshop plug-in manipulates focus just like fast expensive lenses. Bokeh can draw attention to your subject by manipulating focus and depth of field after the shot has been taken. From changing the depth of field to placing a radial sweet spot and adding a vignette, Bokeh provides many techniques for realistic blurring and altering the mood of a scene.
onOne’s FocalPoint Photoshop plug-in gives photographers a way to create realistic depth of field control, plane of focus control and selective focus to any image after it is photographed allowing for more control and precision. The focus bug control in FocalPoint has a tangible, hardware feel much like using a lens. It makes it fast for a photographer to define the “sweet spot” either in a round shape or a plane and then control how much and of what kind of blur they would like to add.
Photoshop CS4 Extended is available at an academic discount price of $299.
Bokeh is available at an academic discount price of $139.
FocalPoint is available at an academic discount price of $79.
Link via CGArena
Created by artist Giorgio Luciano in 3ds max. These tutorials will throw light from basic settings of Lighting and Materials to final render. This approx. 1 hour series will help you in refining your skills.
3ds Max 2009 Student Superpack Windows (13-month term) is available at an academic discount price of $195.
Link via Adobe.com
Federal funding resources for educational technology software and curriculum-related integration at schools and districts are available through numerous government programs.
See whether your purchases of Adobe education solutions are eligible for one or more of these funding sources.
Adobe products are available at an academic discount price from Creation Engine.
Adobe volume license discounts are also available to schools.
Link via Hit Talk
 Classic, timeless Hip Hop music is built on a solid foundation of soulful, yet addictive rhythm. So far, at Hit Talk, we’ve addressed many melodic production concepts, taking rhythm and basic beat-making skills as given. Still, many readers have asked for specifics in creating compelling rhythms and beat-making. In this tip article, we get busy revealing the techniques that result in hit drum rhythms. To illustrate, we use Adobe Audition to explain the concepts of downbeat and backbeat, plus reveal the enormous difference in feel you can create by varying the placement of the kick drum.
Audition 3 is available at an academic discount price of $145.
Link via Creation Engine
Wacom introduces the Intuos4, a revolutionary new pen tablet that delivers new features and unparalleled performance to professional photographers, designers and artists. With amazing new pen performance, capable of capturing the slightest nuance of pen pressure against the tablet surface and offering 2048 levels of pressure sensitivity, creators of digital content will covet the pen’s responsiveness and natural feel when working with their favorite creative software applications. Additionally, the innovative Intuos4 boasts an intelligent industrial design, providing real advancements in looks, comfort and control, including OLED-lit ExpressKeys and multi-function Touch Ring for customizing keyboard shortcuts and modifiers.
Intuos4 Small Tablet w/Pen – $219
Intuos4 Medium Tablet w/Pen – $339
Intuos4 Extra Tablet w/Pen – $469
Intuos4 Extra Large Tablet w/Pen – $749
Link via Creation Engine
 Genuine Fractals 6 Professional Edition
$50 mail-in rebate: Only $99 after mail-in rebate! For only $20 more than Genuine Fractals 6, you get Genuine Fractals 6 Professional Edition! Supports RGB & CMYK Workflow. Offer good through 4/30/2009.
Link via Creation Engine
 Corel Painter 11 is the ultimate digital art studio for anyone ready to expand their definition of creativity. Working with the most advanced digital painting and natural media tools available, you can create the art you’ve always envisioned.
Painter 11 is available at an academic discount price of $99.
Painter 11 Special (for purchase with any Wacom or Adobe CS4 product) is available at an academic discount price of $49.
Link via USATODAY.com
Of all the many plug-ins available for Photoshop to instantly enhance photos, one of the best is Nik Software’s Color Efex Pro. Now it’s available for Adobe’s Lightroom too, a great time-saver for Lightroom fans.
Color Efex (prices start at $99.95) is a series of over 50 filters that do things such as soften skin (wipe those wrinkles away), add rich colors selectively to sunset shots (see the examples here), and boost contrast. From Nik’s application window, you can see the effect before it’s applied to the photo, and adjust the colors and effects accordingly.
Lightroom is the Adobe program for organizing your shoots, and quickly applying quick editing tools such as lightening, darkening and cropping. To add an Nik effect before, you can had to click the “Edit in Photoshop,” tab in Lightroom and wait for the big photo editing program to open. Now, it all happens within Lightroom, which is much more efficient.
The update is free for Color Efex Pro users. Once it’s downloaded, you apply the filters by right-clicking the photo and choosing the “Edit in Color Efex” tab.
Nik says that all its programs will now be made available for Lightroom in 2009 as well, with Silver Efex Pro (a black and white converter) next-in line.
Nik Color Efex Pro 3.0 Complete is available at an academic discount price of $169.
Nik Color Efex Pro 3.0 Select is available at an academic discount price of $85.
Photoshop Lightroom 2 is available at an academic discount price of $98.
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