tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-50830051857482336752024-02-06T18:56:46.830-08:00GuyWhoSteals :DOne of the many lists that steal content from other sites and get the best for you.GuyWhoStealshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02565802673814348537noreply@blogger.comBlogger153125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5083005185748233675.post-5899309873289852102011-01-15T07:34:00.000-08:002011-01-15T07:34:47.350-08:00Why You Should Use OpenGL And Not DirectX<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;"></span><br />
<div style="font-size: 12px;">Often, when we meet other game developers and say that we use <a href="http://www.opengl.org/" style="color: #336633; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">OpenGL</a> for our game <a href="http://www.wolfire.com/overgrowth" style="color: #336633; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Overgrowth</a>, we're met with stares of disbelief -- why would anyone use OpenGL? <a href="http://www.microsoft.com/games/en-US/aboutGFW/pages/directx.aspx" style="color: #336633; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">DirectX</a> is the future. When we tell graphics card representatives that we use OpenGL, the temperature of the room drops by ten degrees.</div><div style="font-size: 12px;">This baffles us. It's common geek wisdom that standards-based websites, for instance, trounce Silverlight, Flash, or ActiveX. Cross-platform development is <a href="http://blog.wolfire.com/2008/12/why-you-should-support-mac-os-x-and-linux/" style="color: #336633; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">laudable and smart</a>. No self-respecting geek enjoys dealing with closed-standard Word documents or Exchange servers. What kind of bizarro world is this where engineers are not only going crazy over Microsoft's latest proprietary API, but actively denouncing its open-standard competitor?</div><div style="font-size: 12px;">Before we dive into the story of why we support OpenGL, let's start with a bit of history:</div><h1 style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bolder; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-top: 1.25em;">What is OpenGL?</h1><div style="font-size: 12px; text-align: center;"><img alt="OpenGL" border="0" src="http://cdn.wolfire.com/blog/prototype/opengl2.png" /></div><div style="font-size: 12px; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-size: 12px;">In 1982, Silicon Graphics started selling high-performance graphics terminals using a proprietary API called <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IRIS_GL" style="color: #336633; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Iris GL</a>(GL is short for "graphics library"). Over the years, Iris GL grew bloated and hard to maintain, until Silicon Graphics took a radical new step: they <a href="http://www.sgi.com/products/software/opengl/" style="color: #336633; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">completely refactored Iris GL and made it an open standard</a>. Their competitors could use the new Open Graphics Library (OpenGL), but in return, they had to help maintain it and keep it up to date.</div><div style="font-size: 12px;">Today, OpenGL is managed by the <a href="http://www.khronos.org/" style="color: #336633; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Khronos Group</a> -- a non-profit organization with representatives from many companies that are interested in maintaining high-quality media APIs. At a lower level, it's managed by the <a href="http://www.opengl.org/about/arb/" style="color: #336633; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">OpenGL Architecture Review Board (ARB)</a>. OpenGL is supported on every gaming platform, including Mac, Windows, Linux, PS3 (as a GCM wrapper), Wii, iPhone, PSP, and DS. Well, every gaming platform except for the XBox -- which brings us to our next topic:</div><h1 style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bolder; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-top: 1.25em;">What is DirectX?</h1><div style="font-size: 12px; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://cdn.wolfire.com/blog/opengl/directx2.jpg" /></div><div style="font-size: 12px; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-size: 12px;">Ever since MS-DOS, Microsoft has understood that games play an important role in users' choice of operating systems. For this reason, in 1995, <a href="http://craig.theeislers.com/2006/02/directx_then_and_now_part_1.php" style="color: #336633; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">they created a proprietary set of libraries in order to encourage exclusive games for their new Windows 95 operating system</a>. These libraries included Direct3D, DirectInput and DirectSound, and the entire collection came to be known as DirectX. When Microsoft entered the gaming market in 2001, it introduced the <a href="http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=24831" style="color: #336633; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">DirectX Box, or XBox for short</a>. The XBox was a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loss_leader" style="color: #336633; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">loss leader</a> (<a href="http://www.forbes.com/global/2005/1003/036A_4.html" style="color: #336633; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">losing over 4 billion dollars</a>), intended to set the stage to dominate the games market in the next generation.</div><div style="font-size: 12px;">Looking at the games scene now, it's clear that this strategy is succeeding. Most major PC games now use DirectX, and run on both Windows and XBox 360. With few exceptions, they don't work on competing platforms, such as Playstation, Mac OS, and Wii. These are significant markets to leave out, bringing us to the big question:</div><h1 style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bolder; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-top: 1.25em;">Why does everyone use DirectX?</h1><div style="font-size: 12px;">Everyone uses DirectX because API choice in game development is a positive feedback loop, and it was shifted in favor of DirectX in 2005.</div><div style="font-size: 12px;">It's a positive feedback loop because whenever one API becomes more popular, it keeps becoming more and more popular due to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Network_effect" style="color: #336633; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">network effects</a>. The most important network effects are as follows: the more popular API gets better support from graphics card vendors, and graphics programmers are more likely to already know how to use it.</div><div style="font-size: 12px;">API use was shifted in favor of DirectX by Microsoft's two-pronged DirectX campaign around the launch of XBox 360 and Windows Vista, including the spread of FUD (fear, uncertainty and doubt) about the future of OpenGL, and wild exaggeration of the merits of DirectX. Ever since then, the network effects have amplified this discrepency until OpenGL has almost disappeared entirely from mainstream PC gaming.</div><h2 style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bolder; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-top: 1.25em;">1. Network effects and vicious cycles</h2><div style="font-size: 12px; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://cdn.wolfire.com/blog/opengl/graphics-cards.jpg" /></div><div style="font-size: 12px; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-size: 12px;">On Windows, it's a fact that the DirectX graphics drivers are better maintained than the OpenGL graphics drivers. This is caused by the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vicious_cycle" style="color: #336633; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">vicious cycle</a> of vendor support. As game developers are driven from OpenGL to DirectX by other factors, the graphics card manufacturers (vendors) get less bug reports for their OpenGL drivers, extensions and documentation. This results in shakier OpenGL drivers, leading even more game developers to switch from OpenGL to DirectX. The cycle repeats.</div><div style="font-size: 12px;">Similarly, it's a fact that more gaming graphics programmers know how to use DirectX than OpenGL, so it's cheaper (less training required) to make a game using DirectX than OpenGL. This is the result of another vicious cycle: as more game projects use DirectX, more programmers have to learn how to use it. As more programmers learn to use it, it becomes cheaper to for game projects to use DirectX than to use OpenGL.</div><h2 style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bolder; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-top: 1.25em;">2. FUD about OpenGL and Vista</h2><div style="font-size: 12px; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://cdn.wolfire.com/blog/opengl/vista.jpg" /></div><div style="font-size: 12px; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-size: 12px;">Microsoft initiated a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fear,_uncertainty_and_doubt" style="color: #336633; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">fear, uncertainty, and doubt (FUD)</a> campaign against OpenGL around the release of Windows Vista. <a href="http://www.theregister.co.uk/2003/03/03/microsoft_quits_opengl_board/" style="color: #336633; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">In 2003, Microsoft left the OpenGL Architecture Review Board</a> -- showing that they no longer had any interest in the future of OpenGL. Then in 2005, they gave presentations at <a href="http://www.siggraph.org/" style="color: #336633; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">SIGGRAPH</a> (special interest group for graphics) and<a href="http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/WinHEC/default.mspx" style="color: #336633; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">WinHEC</a> (Windows Hardware Engineering Conference) giving the impression that Windows Vista would remove support for OpenGL except to maintain back-compatibility with XP applications. This version of OpenGL would be layered on top of DirectX as shown <a href="http://cdn.wolfire.com/blog/opengl/oglinterpreted.png" style="color: #336633; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">here</a>, (from the <a href="http://download.microsoft.com/download/9/8/f/98f3fe47-dfc3-4e74-92a3-088782200fe7/TWPR05007_WinHEC05.ppt" style="color: #336633; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">HEC presentation</a>) causing a dramatic performance hit. This campaign led to <a href="http://www.opengl.org/discussion_boards/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=228674&page=1" style="color: #336633; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">panic in the OpenGL community</a>, leading many professional graphics programmers to switch to DirectX.</div><div style="font-size: 12px;">When Vista was released, it <a href="http://www.dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=3760" style="color: #336633; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">backpedaled on its OpenGL claims</a>, allowing vendors to create fast installable client drivers (ICDs) that restore native OpenGL support. The OpenGL board sent out <a href="http://www.opengl.org/pipeline/article/vol003_9/" style="color: #336633; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">newsletters</a> proving that OpenGL is still a first-class citizen, and that OpenGL performance on Vista was still at least as fast as Direct3D. Unfortunately for OpenGL, the damage had already been done -- public confidence in OpenGL was badly shaken.</div><h2 style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bolder; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-top: 1.25em;">3. Misleading marketing campaigns</h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pcgameshardware.com/aid,694840/Stalker-Call-of-Pripyat-DirectX-10-versus-DirectX-9-comparison/Practice/" style="color: #336633; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://cdn.wolfire.com/blog/opengl/comparison.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-size: 12px;"></div><div style="font-size: 12px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-size: 12px;">The launch strategies for Windows Vista and Windows 7 were both accompanied with an immense marketing push by Microsoft for DirectX, in which they showed 'before' and 'after' screenshots of the different DirectX versions. Many gamers now think that switching from DirectX 9 to DirectX 10 magically transforms graphics from stupidly dark to normal (as in the comparison above), or from <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/22/dubious-marketing-microsoft-makes-directx-9-look-really-bad/" style="color: #336633; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Halo 1 to Crysis</a>. Game journalists proved that there was <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/features/6182140/index.html" style="color: #336633; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">no difference between Crysis DX9 and DX10</a>, and that its <a href="http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2007/10/30/the-directx-10-criysis/" style="color: #336633; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">"DX10" features worked fine with DX9</a> by tweaking a config file. However, despite its obvious inaccuracy, the marketing has convinced many gamers that DirectX updates are the only way to access the latest graphics features.</div><div style="font-size: 12px;">While many games participate in Microsoft's marketing charade, more savvy graphics programmers like <a href="http://www.techradar.com/news/computing-components/graphics-cards/doom-iii-successor-will-not-use-dx10-138777" style="color: #336633; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">John Carmack</a> refuse to be swept up in it. He <a href="http://www.xbitlabs.com/news/video/display/20070115233110.html" style="color: #336633; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">put it this way</a>, "Personally, I wouldn’t jump at something like DX10 right now. I would let things settle out a little bit and wait until there’s a really strong need for it."</div><h1 style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bolder; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-top: 1.25em;">So why do we use OpenGL?</h1><div style="font-size: 12px;">Given that OpenGL is has less vendor support, is no longer used in games, is being actively attacked by Microsoft, and has no marketing momentum, why should we still use it? Wouldn't it be more profitable to ditch it and use DirectX like everyone else? No, because in reality, OpenGL is more powerful than DirectX, supports more platforms, and is essential for the future of games.</div><h2 style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bolder; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-top: 1.25em;">1. OpenGL is more powerful than DirectX</h2><div style="font-size: 12px; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://cdn.wolfire.com/blog/opengl/openglsdk.jpg" /></div><div style="font-size: 12px; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-size: 12px;">It's common knowledge that OpenGL has faster draw calls than DirectX (see NVIDIA presentations like <a href="http://developer.nvidia.com/object/opengl-nvidia-extensions-gdc-2006.html" style="color: #336633; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">this one</a> if you don't want to take my word for it), and it has first access to new GPU features via <a href="http://www.opengl.org/wiki/OpenGL_Extensions" style="color: #336633; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">vendor extensions</a>. OpenGL gives you direct access to all new graphics features on all platforms, while DirectX only <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_OpenGL_and_Direct3D#Extensions" style="color: #336633; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">provides occasional snapshots of them</a> on their newest versions of Windows. The tesselation technology that <a href="http://www.microsoft.com/games/en-US/aboutGFW/pages/directx.aspx" style="color: #336633; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Microsoft is heavily promoting for DirectX 11</a> has been <a href="http://developer.amd.com/gpu_assets/AMD_vertex_shader_tessellator.pdf" style="color: #336633; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">an OpenGL extension for three years</a>. It has even been possible for years before that, using <a href="http://http.developer.nvidia.com/GPUGems3/gpugems3_ch05.html" style="color: #336633; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">fast instancing and vertex-texture-fetch</a>. I don't know what new technologies will be exposed in the next couple years, I know they will be available first in OpenGL.</div><div style="font-size: 12px;">Microsoft has worked hard on DirectX 10 and 11, and they're now about as fast as OpenGL, and support almost as many features. However, there's one big problem: they don't work on Windows XP! <a href="http://store.steampowered.com/hwsurvey/" style="color: #336633; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Half of PC gamers still use XP</a>, so using DirectX 10 or 11 is not really a viable option. If you really care about having the best possible graphics, and delivering them to as many gamers as possible, there's no choice but OpenGL.</div><h2 style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bolder; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-top: 1.25em;">2. OpenGL is cross-platform</h2><div style="font-size: 12px; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://cdn.wolfire.com/blog/opengl/crossplatform.jpg" /></div><div style="font-size: 12px; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-size: 12px;">More than half of our <a href="http://www.wolfire.com/lugaru" style="color: #336633; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Lugaru</a> users use Mac or Linux (as shown in this <a href="http://blog.wolfire.com/2008/12/why-you-should-support-mac-os-x-and-linux/" style="color: #336633; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">blog post</a>), and we wouldn't be surprised if the same will be true of our new game <a href="http://www.wolfire.com/overgrowth" style="color: #336633; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Overgrowth</a>. When we talk to major game developers, we hear that supporting Mac and Linux is a waste of time. However, I've never seen any evidence for this claim. Blizzard <a href="http://us.blizzard.com/diablo3/faq/?rhtml=y#3_3" style="color: #336633; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">always releases Mac versions of their games simultaneously</a>, and they're one of the most successful game companies in the world! If they're doing something in a different way from everyone else, then their way is probably right.</div><div style="font-size: 12px;">As John Carmack said <a href="http://www.maximumpc.com/article/features/e3_2008_the_john_carmack_interview_rage_id_tech_6_doom_4_details_and_more" style="color: #336633; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">when asked if Rage was a DirectX game</a>, "It’s still OpenGL, although we obviously use a D3D-ish API [on the Xbox 360], and CG on the PS3. It’s interesting how little of the technology cares what API you’re using and what generation of the technology you’re on. You’ve got a small handful of files that care about what API they’re on, and millions of lines of code that are agnostic to the platform that they’re on." If you can hit every platform using OpenGL, why shoot yourself in the foot by relying on DirectX?</div><div style="font-size: 12px;">Even if all you care about is Windows, let me remind you again that <a href="http://store.steampowered.com/hwsurvey/" style="color: #336633; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">half of Windows users still use Windows XP</a>, and will be unable to play your game if you use the latest versions of DirectX. The only way to deliver the latest graphics to Windows XP gamers (the single biggest desktop gaming platform) is through OpenGL.</div><h2 style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bolder; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-top: 1.25em;">3. OpenGL is better for the future of games</h2><div style="font-size: 12px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://pyxelated.deviantart.com/" style="color: #336633; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://cdn.wolfire.com/blog/opengl/future.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-size: 12px; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-size: 12px;">OpenGL is a non-profit open standard created to allow users on any platform to experience the highest quality graphics that their hardware can provide. Its use is being crushed by a monopolistic attack from a monolithic corporate giant trying to dominate an industry that is too young to protect itself. As Direct3D becomes the only gaming graphics API supported on Windows, Microsoft is gaining a stranglehold on PC gaming.</div><div style="font-size: 12px;">We need competition and freedom to drive down prices and drive up quality. A Microsoft monopoly on gaming would be very bad for both gamers and game developers.</div><h1 style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bolder; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-top: 1.25em;">Can OpenGL recover?</h1><div style="font-size: 12px;">Back in 1997, the situation was similar to how it is now. Microsoft was running a massive marketing campaign for Direct3D, and soon everyone "just knew" that it was faster and better than OpenGL. This started to change when<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Hecker" style="color: #336633; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Chris Hecker</a> published his <a href="http://chrishecker.com/images/3/33/Gdmogl.pdf" style="color: #336633; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">open letter denouncing DirectX</a>. Soon after that, John Carmack posted his famous<a href="http://www.bluesnews.com/archives/carmack122396.html" style="color: #336633; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">OpenGL rant</a>, and put his money where his mouth was by implementing all of Id Software's games in OpenGL, proving once and for all that DirectX was unnecessary for high-end 3D gaming.</div><div style="font-size: 12px;">This lesson appears to have been forgotten over the last few years. Most game developers have fallen under the spell of DirectX marketing, or into the whirlpool of vicious cycles and network advantages. It's time to throw off the veil of advertisements and buzzwords, and see what's really happening. If you use DirectX, you have to choose between using the weak, bloated DirectX 9 or sacrificing most of your user-base to use DirectX 10 or 11.</div><div style="font-size: 12px;">On the other hand, if you use OpenGL, you get faster and more powerful graphics features than DirectX 11, and you get them on all versions of Windows, Mac and Linux, as well as the PS3, Wii, PSP, DS, and iPhone. You also get these features in the <a href="http://blog.wolfire.com/2009/09/preview-of-webkits-webgl-canvas3d/" style="color: #336633; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">rapidly-developing WebGL standard</a>, which may become the foundation for the next generation of browser games.</div><div style="font-size: 12px;">If you're a game developer, all I ask is that you do the research and compare the figures, and decide if OpenGL is a better choice. Some programmers prefer the style of the DirectX 11 API to OpenGL, but you're going to be wrapping these low-level APIs in an abstraction layer anyway, so that shouldn't be a deciding factor. If there's anything about OpenGL that you don't like, then just ask the ARB to change it -- they exist to serve you!</div><div style="font-size: 12px;">If you're a gamer who uses Windows XP, Mac, or Linux, I hope you can see that DirectX only exists in order to keep new games from reaching your platform, and the only way you can fight back is to support games that use OpenGL.</div><div style="font-size: 12px;"><br />
</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;">Taken from: h</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal;"><a href="http://linkive.com/home/browser/MTU5NDU0/Comedy/Why%20You%20Should%20Use%20OpenGL%20And%20Not%20DirectX"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">ttp://linkive.com/home/browser/MTU5NDU0/Comedy/Why%20You%20Should%20Use%20OpenGL%20And%20Not%20DirectX</span></a></span>GuyWhoStealshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02565802673814348537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5083005185748233675.post-85261006774467947732011-01-15T07:16:00.000-08:002011-01-15T07:16:27.317-08:00Superman is a menace to societySuperman, a super hero wearing tight pants and sporting a dorky haircut. The ultimate epitomization of repressed sexuality in a world of puritanism and double standards wrapped in lackluster bubble of unimaginative depression of the early-to-mid 20th century. <br />
But what if we forget Superman's shiny red latex (not <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LaTeX">LaTeX</a>) and focus on the actual character. If we believe the comics books and the four (or five) rather bad movies created, Superman is meant to be our savior. However, what the publishers of the entertainment brochures and the silver screen features did not want you to know is that Superman is one big menace to modern society. <br />
<br />
Now, let's see why you should not befriend the nerdy journalist/superhero guy.<br />
<h3> Superman is deadly to those he rescues </h3>I can't take any credit for this. In his <a href="http://www.qwantz.com/fanart/superman.pdf">Unified Theory of Superman</a> (PDF), Ben Tippett smartly notes the fact Superman does not dip when he catches people plummeting from the sky. Now, if we focus one moment on the basic laws of physics, including the conservation of momentum, this means that Superman is as soft and inviting to those he catches as the patch of solid asphalt that people would have hit instead of our would-be superhero. <br />
<table class="custom10"><tbody>
<tr> </tr>
<tr> <td class="decorations1"> This is what you would look like if Superman caught you, only probably a lot less tasty! And maybe not so neatly arranged on the BBQ grille, hmmm ... </td> </tr>
</tbody> </table>Think about it. You're hurling at 300kph and then you brake to a miraculous standstill instantly. Your internal organs would suffer irreparable damage due to deceleration, exceeding the acceptable human limit of about 25g. <br />
Without Superman performing a very intricate rescue, where he matches the speed of the falling victim, then slowly brakes his vertical descent, the effect on the victims would be the same as slamming head-first into a concrete wall or even worse, because while concrete is known to crack in some circumstances, Superman is not. What more, having been caught in Superman's arms also prevents you from bouncing off, which could, potentially help dissipate some of the impact energy, reducing the damage to your organs. With your body flattened against Superman's, the recoil of the impact would be contained entirely inside your anatomy, amplifying the damage. You would probably undergo resonance of some sort, which would effectively turn your internal organs into soup. <br />
There you go, proof #1. Superman is deadly to those he rescues. You definitely do not need Superman to be there when you die. Somehow, the sight of his oily, dorky haircut makes the dying experience all the worse. At least solid concrete has no pretensions about what it is. <br />
Hitting the ground or Superman, it's pretty much the same. Only shiny latex feels more embarrassing. <br />
<h3> Superman is deadly to those he ogles nastily with his X-ray perverticles </h3>Perverticles are spectacles worn by perverts. If you're wondering what the exact definition of a pervert is, it's a person who feels ashamed of his/her deeds yet is compelled to do them. Example, someone wearing sunglasses in a restaurant, so they can comfortably check out the merchandise without being noticed. Hence, the catchy phrase perverticles, which I just coined in. Feel free to use, GPL style. <br />
Clark Kent, Superman's nerdy alter ego, is a guy wearing thick-rimmed 50's era spectacles. Sometimes, he happens to be wearing them when using his X-ray vision. Combined, you get perverticles. <br />
Most people have no idea what X-rays are, so I'll elaborate here a little. <br />
X radiation, which is formed of so-called X rays (or particles) is a form of the electromagnetic radiation, characterized by a very short wavelength, high frequency and high energy, all of which are synonymous. To be classified as X ray, a photon has to have the wavelength of about 0.01 to 10 nanometers, corresponding to energy of about 100eV to 150KeV. For reference, visible light has a wavelength of about 500 nanometers and the energy of only about 2.5eV. <br />
<br />
In practical terms, energy means ability to penetrate objects; the more energetic the particle is, the more deeply it can go through objects, including solid mass that is opaque to visible light. <br />
X rays are used widely in many branches of industry, including medical, military and security. For example, you have the X rays machines in hospitals used to scan patiences for fractures, CT machines used for angiography, powerful X ray scanners used for detecting fatigue and cracks in aircraft frames, and scanners used for screening baggage at airports. All of these rely on feisty photons for their hard work. <br />
However, one thing that is in common with all these devices is that they also rely on an array of sensors, usually positioned on the other side of scanned objects, to work. Radiation that is absorbed inside the scanned objects or scattered away is deducted from the input flux, allowing complex computer algorithms to map detailed 2D and 3D imagery of scanned objects. <br />
Superman does not have any external sensors to help him with his X-ray scans, which means he uses a different method altogether. As to how dangerous it is, we will discover soon. <br />
Superman must use his X-ray vision in highly focused pulses. To be able to see what is actually hidden behind any which layer of scanner objects, he needs to have some of his X-ray photons bounce back and be collected in his X-ray sensitive retinae. Since the radiation density is inversely proportional to the square of distance, most of Superman's photons are scattered away before reaching the desired objects, many more are scattered away by the object's geometry and even those that bounce back at Superman are partially lost traveling back to his retinae. <br />
Without getting too technical, Superman must make a very cunning use of his eyes. First, he probably fires monochromatic pulses, starting with high-energy beams. These photons normally bounce off their target, without getting absorbed. This is similar to the new scanners used at airports, which allow you to see people skin-deep. Next, Superman must use lower-energy X-rays, which will penetrate the scanned target and illuminate what is beyond. But then, they must travel back. <br />
This means many things: <br />
Some radiation is absorbed in the intermediate object, especially the low-energy photons. This is a known risk in CT scanners, where the low-energy absorption accounts for most damage to the patients. A kind of a paradox really. While the medical industry strives to reduce dosage, going for lower energy settings in the X-ray cannon are sometimes more detrimental to the health of the patient than using higher energies. <br />
The portion of radiation that traverses the scanned object is much reduced in its energy. Now it bounced back off the intended target and travels back to Superman. The intermediate object experiences yet another bombardment of photons, this time composed of an ever broader spectrum of low energy photons that get absorbed inside it. In case of the human body, we have photon damage to cells and DNA, causing ionization. <br />
<br />
Superman gets a partial image of the secondary target, so he must use even more of his vision to obtain more data and form the correct picture. Compared to X-ray scanners, which need traverse the body only once, Superman's soldiers need do that twice, at the very least. In technical terms, this means at least four times more radiation, and possibly much more, because the distances Superman uses and the unpredicted scattering are far less ideal than industry setups. <br />
With scattering and parasitic absorption tolling 99% of all radiation used in medical appliances, Superman's efficiency is probably several orders of magnitude lower, especially if the targets are moving or located in crowded places, with multiple objects and/or humans as random obstacles. <br />
I've done some basic calculations, assuming Superman wanted to see what's in Lois Lane's purse from about three meters away while cozily chatting in a side lane in New York city, with the concrete buildings as lovely scattering dishes, he probably irradiates her each time with the effective dose of about 20mSv, which is equivalent to at least a full Neonatal abdominal CT, or about ten years of average annual background exposure! <br />
Lois Lane, say bye bye to your Fallopian tubes. Superman just fried your ovaries. <br />
Speaking of ovaries ... <br />
<h3> Superman is deadly to those he makes love to </h3><table class="custom10"><tbody>
<tr> <td></td></tr>
<tr><td class="decorations1">A shooting range target after being hit by Superman's adamant DNA particles; Lois Lane stands no chance </td> </tr>
</tbody> </table>Again, I can't take credit. You need to read the perfect masterpiece called <a href="http://www.rawbw.com/~svw/superman.html">Men of Steel, Women of Kleenex</a>, by Larry Niven, in which the author elaborates on Superman's lovemaking fiasco. <br />
Assuming Superman is not a hermaphrodite or completely disinterested in sex, which does not seem to be case, since he uses his perverticles to ogle Lois and irradiate her every which way, Superman has or will have attempted coitus in some way. Which would probably lead to multiple fatalities. Just read the article above. <br />
<h3> Superman might cause black holes </h3>With his frivolous misuse of physics, including the rather inane trick of spinning Earth counterclockwise or whatever in the first movie, which somehow miraculously reversed time, go figure, Superman is far more likely to cause black holes in the Solar System than LHC is. <br />
Superman seems to be faster than anything else, which means he can probably attain the speed of light. And with mass growing as the speed of light limit is approached, Superman could very well cause cataclysmic disturbances in the fabric of the Universe. Imagine a 85kg man zooming by at 300,000kps, only he does not weight 85kg any longer but an infinity more. <br />
Such a comet would be a living blackhole, sucking everything in its wake after it, including the better part of our Solar system. In fact, Superman would probably disrupt the entire Galaxy with any speed-of-light tricks. The reason for this is very simple: as an active, roaming black hole, he would gather so much mass that when he finally decelerated and let this mass escape his exponentially growing Schwarzschild radius, he would have delivered countless trillions of tons of stellar mass at near light-speed to a new corner of the Galaxy, disrupting its mass, angular momentum and whatnot. In fact, even a single instance of Superman going ballistic in the vicinity of our planet would cause such a powerful yet instant gravitation pull, we would be all dead instantly. <br />
<br />
<h3> Unanswered questions </h3>No one has answers for these, but what happens when Superman sneezes or farts? Do we have a hail of plasma-quality droplets stripping oxygen molecules from the atmosphere or just a bad case of Kryptonite phlegm? Do we see spectacular cabbage-flavored earthquakes caused by colonic-tectonic rumbles in Superman's digestion system or we just get a bit of cabbage-flavored wind? <br />
<h2> Conclusion </h2>As you can see, Superman IS a menace to our society. With his X-ray vision, Superman is likely to cause numerous, severe cases of cancer and radiation sickness with unsuspecting populace. And with his uncaring rescues, you're minced meat! Finally, he can probably destroy the entire Universe, by mistake. <br />
Avoid Superman if you can! <br />
Cheers.<br />
<br />
Funnier articles on: http://www.dedoimedo.com/physics/superman.html (Keep surfing)GuyWhoStealshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02565802673814348537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5083005185748233675.post-65213441544852414782011-01-15T07:05:00.000-08:002011-01-15T07:05:13.205-08:00Common Mistakes as Python Web DeveloperA few weeks ago I had a heated discussion with a bunch of Python and Open Source people at a local meet-up about the way Python's path joining works. I was always pretty sure that people are aware of how the path joining works and why it works that way. However a bit of searching around on the internet quickly showed that it's actually a pretty common mistake to use the <cite>os.path.join</cite> function with arbitrary and unfiltered input, leading to security issues. Because the most common case where user input comes from another system is web development I went a bit further and tried to find a few other cases where people might be blindly trusting an API or operating system.<br />
So here it is: my list of things not to do when doing Python web development.<br />
<div class="section" id="untrusted-data-and-file-systems"> <h2>Untrusted Data and File Systems</h2>Unless you are running on a virtualized filesystem like when you are executing code on Google Appengine, chances are, vital files can be accessed with the rights your application has. Very few deployments actually reduce the rights of the executing user account to a level where it would become save to blindly trust user submitted filenames. Because it typically isn't, you have to think about that.<br />
In PHP land this is common knowledge by now because many people write innocent looking code like this:<br />
<br />
<div class="highlight"><pre><span class="cp"><?php</span>
<span class="k">include</span> <span class="s2">"header.php"</span><span class="p">;</span>
<span class="nv">$page</span> <span class="o">=</span> <span class="nb">isset</span><span class="p">(</span><span class="nv">$_GET</span><span class="p">[</span><span class="s1">'page'</span><span class="p">])</span> <span class="o">?</span> <span class="nv">$_GET</span><span class="p">[</span><span class="s1">'page'</span><span class="p">]</span> <span class="o">:</span> <span class="s1">'index'</span><span class="p">;</span>
<span class="nv">$filename</span> <span class="o">=</span> <span class="nv">$page</span> <span class="o">.</span> <span class="s1">'.php'</span><span class="p">;</span>
<span class="k">if</span> <span class="p">(</span><span class="nb">file_exists</span><span class="p">(</span><span class="nv">$filename</span><span class="p">))</span>
<span class="k">include</span> <span class="nv">$filename</span><span class="p">;</span>
<span class="k">else</span>
<span class="k">include</span> <span class="s2">"missing_page.php"</span><span class="p">;</span>
<span class="k">include</span> <span class="s2">"footer.php"</span><span class="p">;</span>
</pre><pre><span class="p">
</span></pre></div>Now the problem is that if you accept the filename blindly one could just pass a string with some leading “go one layer up” markers and access files somewhere else on the file system. Now many people thought that wouldn't be a problem because the file has to end with “.php” so only PHP files can be accessed. Turns out that PHP never (at least not until recently) removed nullbytes from the string before opening the file. Thus the underlying C function that opened the file stopped reading at the null byte. So if one attacker would access the page <tt class="docutils literal"><span class="pre">?page=../../../../htpasswd</span></tt> he would see the contents of the passwd file.<br />
Python programmers apparently don't care too much about this problem because Python's file opening functions don't have this problem and reading files from the filesystem is a very uncommon thing to do anyways. However in the few situations where people do work with the filenames, always always will you find code like this:<br />
<br />
<div class="highlight"><pre><span class="k">def</span> <span class="nf">upload_file</span><span class="p">(</span><span class="nb">file</span><span class="p">):</span>
<span class="n">destination_file</span> <span class="o">=</span> <span class="n">os</span><span class="o">.</span><span class="n">path</span><span class="o">.</span><span class="n">join</span><span class="p">(</span><span class="n">UPLOAD_FOLDER</span><span class="p">,</span> <span class="nb">file</span><span class="o">.</span><span class="n">filename</span><span class="p">)</span>
<span class="k">with</span> <span class="nb">open</span><span class="p">(</span><span class="n">destination_file</span><span class="p">,</span> <span class="s">'wb'</span><span class="p">)</span> <span class="k">as</span> <span class="n">f</span><span class="p">:</span>
<span class="n">copy_fd</span><span class="p">(</span><span class="nb">file</span><span class="p">,</span> <span class="n">f</span><span class="p">)</span>
</pre><pre><span class="p">
</span></pre></div>The problem there is that you expect <cite>os.path.join</cite> never to go a folder up. While in fact, that's exactly what <cite>os.path.join</cite> is capable of doing:<br />
<br />
<div class="highlight"><pre><span class="gp">>>> </span><span class="kn">import</span> <span class="nn">os</span>
<span class="gp">>>> </span><span class="n">os</span><span class="o">.</span><span class="n">path</span><span class="o">.</span><span class="n">join</span><span class="p">(</span><span class="s">'/var/www/uploads'</span><span class="p">,</span> <span class="s">'../foo'</span><span class="p">)</span>
<span class="go">'/var/www/uploads/../foo'</span>
<span class="gp">>>> </span><span class="n">os</span><span class="o">.</span><span class="n">path</span><span class="o">.</span><span class="n">join</span><span class="p">(</span><span class="s">'/var/www/uploads'</span><span class="p">,</span> <span class="s">'/foo'</span><span class="p">)</span>
<span class="go">'/foo'</span>
</pre><pre><span class="go">
</span></pre></div>While in this case the attacker is “just” able to overwrite files anywhere on the filesystem where the user has access (might be able to override your code and inject code that way!) it's not uncommon to read files on the filesystem as well and expose information that way.<br />
So yes, <cite>os.path.join</cite> is totally not safe to use in a web context. Various libraries have ways that help you deal with this problem. Werkzeug for instance has a function called <cite>secure_filename</cite> that will strip any path separators from the file, slashes, even remove non-ASCII characters from the path as character sets and filesystems are immensly tricky. At the very least you should do this:<br />
<br />
<div class="highlight"><pre><span class="kn">import</span> <span class="nn">os</span><span class="o">,</span> <span class="nn">re</span>
<span class="n">_split</span> <span class="o">=</span> <span class="n">re</span><span class="o">.</span><span class="n">compile</span><span class="p">(</span><span class="s">r'[\0</span><span class="si">%s</span><span class="s">]'</span> <span class="o">%</span> <span class="n">re</span><span class="o">.</span><span class="n">escape</span><span class="p">(</span><span class="s">''</span><span class="o">.</span><span class="n">join</span><span class="p">(</span>
<span class="p">[</span><span class="n">os</span><span class="o">.</span><span class="n">path</span><span class="o">.</span><span class="n">sep</span><span class="p">,</span> <span class="n">os</span><span class="o">.</span><span class="n">path</span><span class="o">.</span><span class="n">altsep</span> <span class="ow">or</span> <span class="s">''</span><span class="p">])))</span>
<span class="k">def</span> <span class="nf">secure_filename</span><span class="p">(</span><span class="n">path</span><span class="p">):</span>
<span class="k">return</span> <span class="n">_split</span><span class="o">.</span><span class="n">sub</span><span class="p">(</span><span class="s">''</span><span class="p">,</span> <span class="n">path</span><span class="p">)</span>
</pre><pre><span class="p">
</span></pre></div>This will remove any slashes and null bytes from the filename. Why also remove the Null byte if Python does not have a problem with that? Because Python might not, but your code. A nullbyte in the filename will trigger a <cite>TypeError</cite> which very few people are expecting:<br />
<br />
<div class="highlight"><pre><span class="gp">>>> </span><span class="nb">open</span><span class="p">(</span><span class="s">'</span><span class="se">\0</span><span class="s">'</span><span class="p">)</span>
<span class="gt">Traceback (most recent call last):</span>
File <span class="nb">"<stdin>"</span>, line <span class="m">1</span>, in <span class="n-Identifier"><module></span>
<span class="nc">TypeError</span>: <span class="n-Identifier">file() argument 1 must be encoded string without NULL bytes, not str</span>
</pre><pre><span class="n-Identifier">
</span></pre></div>On Windows you furthermore have to make sure people are not naming their files after device files, but that is outside of the scope of this post. If you are curious, check how Werkzeug does it.<br />
If you actually do want to allow slashes in the filename there are a couple of things you have to consider. On POSIX the whole system is incredible easy: if it starts with a trailing slash or the combination of <tt class="docutils literal">../</tt> it will or might try to reference a file outside of the folder you want the file to be in. That's easy to prevent:<br />
<br />
<div class="highlight"><pre><span class="kn">import</span> <span class="nn">posixpath</span>
<span class="k">def</span> <span class="nf">is_secure_path</span><span class="p">(</span><span class="n">path</span><span class="p">):</span>
<span class="n">path</span> <span class="o">=</span> <span class="n">posixpath</span><span class="o">.</span><span class="n">normpath</span><span class="p">(</span><span class="n">path</span><span class="p">)</span>
<span class="k">return</span> <span class="ow">not</span> <span class="n">path</span><span class="o">.</span><span class="n">startswith</span><span class="p">((</span><span class="s">'/'</span><span class="p">,</span> <span class="s">'../'</span><span class="p">))</span>
</pre><pre><span class="p">
</span></pre></div>On windows the whole situation is more tricky (and I fell into that trap a few days ago as well). First of all you have backslashes you have to consider. Technically you would also have to consider colons on Mac OS, but there are very few people that still aim for Mac OS compatibility. Thus the backslash is the main culprit. Secondly you can't just test for absolute paths by checking if the path starts with a slash. On windows there are multiple different kinds of absolute paths: regular Unix absolute paths and secondly absolute paths that also include a drive letter. Thankfully the path module provides ways to reliably check if the path is absolute.<br />
The following function checks if paths will not manage to escaped a folder on POSIX and Windows:<br />
<br />
<div class="highlight"><pre><span class="kn">import</span> <span class="nn">os</span>
<span class="n">non_slash_sep</span> <span class="o">=</span> <span class="p">[</span><span class="n">sep</span> <span class="k">for</span> <span class="n">sep</span> <span class="ow">in</span> <span class="p">(</span><span class="n">os</span><span class="o">.</span><span class="n">path</span><span class="o">.</span><span class="n">sep</span><span class="p">,</span> <span class="n">os</span><span class="o">.</span><span class="n">path</span><span class="o">.</span><span class="n">altsep</span><span class="p">)</span>
<span class="k">if</span> <span class="n">sep</span> <span class="ow">not</span> <span class="ow">in</span> <span class="p">(</span><span class="bp">None</span><span class="p">,</span> <span class="s">'/'</span><span class="p">)]</span>
<span class="k">def</span> <span class="nf">is_in_folder</span><span class="p">(</span><span class="n">filename</span><span class="p">):</span>
<span class="n">filename</span> <span class="o">=</span> <span class="n">os</span><span class="o">.</span><span class="n">path</span><span class="o">.</span><span class="n">normpath</span><span class="p">(</span><span class="n">filename</span><span class="p">)</span>
<span class="k">for</span> <span class="n">sep</span> <span class="ow">in</span> <span class="n">non_slash_seps</span><span class="p">:</span>
<span class="k">if</span> <span class="n">sep</span> <span class="ow">in</span> <span class="n">filename</span><span class="p">:</span>
<span class="k">return</span> <span class="bp">False</span>
<span class="k">return</span> <span class="n">os</span><span class="o">.</span><span class="n">path</span><span class="o">.</span><span class="n">isabs</span><span class="p">(</span><span class="n">filename</span><span class="p">)</span> <span class="ow">or</span> <span class="n">filename</span><span class="o">.</span><span class="n">startswith</span><span class="p">(</span><span class="s">'../'</span><span class="p">)</span>
</pre><pre><span class="p">
</span></pre></div>The idea is that we consider the filenames to be in posix notation and that the operating system is fine with filenames containing slashes. That is the case for all operating systems you would care about these days. Then if the native operating system path separator is in the string we can assume it's not a valid character for a filename on the web anyways and consider it unsafe. Once that passed we make sure the path is not absolute or does not start with the special <tt class="docutils literal">../</tt> string that indicates going to a higher level on both Windows and POSIX.<br />
Generally speaking though, if you do aim for windows compatibility you have to be extra careful because Windows has its special device files in every folder on the filesystem for DOS compatibility. Writing to those might be problematic and could be abused for denial of service attacks.<br />
</div><div class="section" id="mixing-up-data-with-markup"> <h2>Mixing up Data with Markup</h2>This is a topic that always makes me cringe inside. I know it's very common and many don't see the issue with it but it's the root of a whole bunch of problems and unmaintainable code. Let's say you have some data. That data for all practical purposes will be a string of some arbitrary maximum length and that string will be of a certain format. Let's say it's prosaic text and we want to preserve newlines but collapse all other whitespace to a single space.<br />
A very common pattern.<br />
However that data is usually displayed on a website in the context of HTML, so someone will surely bring up the great idea to escape the input text and convert newlines to <tt class="docutils literal"><br></tt> before feeding the data into the database. Don't do this!<br />
There are a bunch of reasons for this but the most important one is called “context”. Web applications these days are getting more and more complex, mainly due to the concept of APIs. A lot of the functionality of the website that was previously only avaiable in an HTML form is now also available as RESTful interfaces speaking some other format such as JSON.<br />
The context of a rendered text in your web application will most likely be “HTML”. In that context, <tt class="docutils literal"><br></tt> makes a lot of sense. But what if your transport format is JSON and the client on the other side is not (directly) rendering into HTML? This is the case for twitter clients for instance. Yet someone at Twitter decided that the string with the application name that is attached to each tweet should be in HTML. When I wrote my first JavaScript client for that API I was parsing that HTML with jQuery and fetching the application name as a string because I was only interested in that. Annoying. However even worse: someone found out a while later that this particular field could actually be used to emit arbitrary HTML. <a class="reference external" href="http://praetorianprefect.com/archives/2010/06/persistent-xss-on-twitter-com/">A major security disaster</a>.<br />
The other problem is if you have to reverse the stuff again. If you want to be able to edit that text again you would have to unescape it, reproduce the original newlines etc.<br />
So there should be a very, very simple rule (and it's actually really simple): store the data as it comes in. Don't flip a single bit! (The only acceptable conversion before storing stuff in the database might be Unicode normalization)<br />
When you have to display your stored information: provide a function that does that for you. If you fear that this could become a bottleneck: memcache it or have a second column in your database with the rendered information if you absolutely must. But never, ever let the HTML formatted version be the only thing you have in your database. And certainly never expose HTML strings over your API if all you want to do is to transmit text.<br />
Every time I get a notification on my mobile phone from a certain notification service where the message would contain an umlaut the information arrives here completely broken. Turns out that one service assumes that HTML escaped information is to be transmitted, then however the other service only allows a few HTML escaped characters and completely freaks out when you substitute “ä” with “&auml;”. If you ever are in the situation where you have to think about “is this plain text that is HTML escaped or just plain text” you are in deep troubles already.<br />
</div><div class="section" id="spending-too-much-time-with-the-choice-of-framework"> <h2>Spending too much Time with the Choice of Framework</h2>This should probably go to the top. If you have a small application (say less than 10.000 lines of code) the framework probably isn't your problem anyways. And if you have more code than that, it's still not that hard to switch systems when you really have to. In fact even switching out core components like an ORM is possible and achievable if you write a little shim and get rid of that step by step. Better spend your time making the system better. The framework choice used to be a lot harder when the systems were incompatible. But this clearly no longer is the case.<br />
In fact, combine this with the next topic.<br />
</div><div class="section" id="building-monolithic-systems"> <h2>Building Monolithic Systems</h2>We are living in an agile world. Some systems become deprecated before they are even finished :) In such an agile world new technologies are introduced at such a high speed that your favorite platform might not support it yet.<br />
As web developers we have the huge advantage that we have a nice protocol to separate systems: it's called HTTP and the base of all we do. Why not leverage that even further? Write small services that speak HTTP and bridge them together with another application. If that does not scale, put a load balancer between individual components. This has the nice side effect that each part of the system can be implemented in a different system. If Python does not have the library you need or does not have the performance: write a part of the System in Ruby/Java or whatever comes to mind.<br />
But don't forget to still make it easy to deploy that system and put another machine in. If you end up with ten different programming languages with different runtime environments you are quickly making the life of your system administrator hell.<br />
<br />
Stolen from: <a href="http://lucumr.pocoo.org/2010/12/24/common-mistakes-as-web-developer/">http://lucumr.pocoo.org/2010/12/24/common-mistakes-as-web-developer/</a></div>GuyWhoStealshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02565802673814348537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5083005185748233675.post-88333520035746542682011-01-15T07:00:00.000-08:002011-01-15T07:00:41.139-08:00Introduction to ZSH<h2>Introduction</h2>Recently I switched from using bash to zsh as my main shell. I'd heard a lot of good things about it (and how complex it is <a href="http://stevelosh.com/blog/2010/02/my-extravagant-zsh-prompt/">woah</a>) so I decided to try it out for myself, the main reason I decided to try it was because it was already installed on my system (Mac OS X) and it has emacs key bindings. What i found was "the missing shell" in a lot of ways interactive mode is similar to bash, which is great, I can easily fit into it and feel comfortable but it has a lot of things that extend on bash such as completion, globbing and customisation. Next we'll look at some of the most important aspects of zsh that I found in my short experience with it, and some examples which might motivate you into using it yourself. <em>NOTE:</em> I have purposely left out the scripting side of zsh because I haven't had much experience with it yet and I have about the same amount of experience with bash scripting.<br />
<h2>Why use zsh?</h2>As mentioned before, here's some of the most important aspects of zsh for me.<br />
<h3>Expressive</h3>One aspect of zsh that first stood out for me was its extensive globbing capabilities, for example:<br />
<pre><code>ls -d ^*.zsh
</code></pre>This will display all files except (<code>^</code>) files with the <code>.zsh</code> extension.<br />
<pre><code>ls *.zsh~i*
</code></pre>This will list all files with the <code>.zsh</code> extension except files beginning with the letter 'i'.<br />
<pre><code>ls *.(zsh|rb|)
</code></pre>This is grouping and will print files with <code>zsh</code> and <code>rb</code> extensions.<br />
<pre><code>ls **/*zsh
</code></pre>Will output:<br />
<pre><code>configs/aliases.zsh
configs/bindings.zsh
configs/completion.zsh
configs/exports.zsh
configs/prompts.zsh
init.zsh
</code></pre>This globs the directories with the asterisk for zsh files.<br />
To enable these features you'll need <code>setopt extendedglob</code> in your config.<br />
<h3>Completion</h3>Zsh's completion is more advanced than what I was used to with bash, with zsh you can get suggestions in a menu that you can browse with the arrow keys, more intelligent context aware suggestions, and more.<br />
Here's an example of context aware suggestions:<br />
<pre><code>kill <TAB>
</code></pre>With this you'll get a list of running processes.<br />
When you're browsing a directory you also get more information about what the file is, for example:<br />
<pre><code>ls ~/.z <TAB>
</code></pre>And you'll get what you expect, but if you have symlinked files they'll look like this:<br />
<pre><code>.zshrc@
</code></pre>The <code>@</code> symbol denotes a symlink. This is only a small feature but it's nice and you don't need to <code>ls -l</code>.<br />
There is also support for remote completion!<br />
<h3>Prompts</h3>You can have multiline prompts which can have many features attached to it like <a href="http://smasher.org/zsh/zsh-prompt-cd-color.png">battery charge and load</a>. see <a href="http://kriener.org/articles/2009/06/04/zsh-prompt-magic">this</a> blog for a good example. The prompt is at the heart of zsh customisation capabilities, you can pretty much configure it to look anyway you want and there are plenty of examples out there ranging from simple to mad!<br />
<h3>alias -g alias -s</h3>With zsh you can have a file for global (<code>-g</code>) aliases and suffix (<code>-s</code>) aliases, for example:<br />
<pre><code>alias -s pdf=xpdf
</code></pre>So now if you execute a single file ending in <code>pdf</code> is will be re-written to <code>xpdf foo.pdf</code>.<br />
Global aliases are expandable anywhere on the command line, not just the beginning. Global aliases can be <em>dangerous</em> if something gets expanded that shouldn't.<br />
<h3>Easy setup</h3>To get a reasonable config it only takes about 4 lines of code:<br />
<pre><code>autoload -U compinit promptinit
compinit
promptinit
prompt walters
</code></pre>With that you get a tab completion (<code>compinit</code>) and coloured prompt (<code>promptinit</code>). You can see the list of built in prompts with:<br />
<pre><code>prompt -l
</code></pre>You can also add a prompt to your config with:<br />
<pre><code>export PS1="$(print '%{\e[1;34m%}%n%{\e[0m%}'):
$(print '%{\e[0;34m%}%~%{\e[0m%}') →
</code></pre>This can all go into your config file at <code>~/.zshrc.</code> As zsh is fully customisable I prefer to split up my files (see a link to my config at the end of this article). With this you're ready to go with some of the best features of zsh to play with, and as you grow your config will grow with you.<br />
<h3>Emacs</h3>Being able to use one set of keybinding across applications is handy and as an emacs user I was pleased to find out zsh supports emacs keybinding out the box by default (Vim users can set the <code>$EDITOR</code> variable in their config), so normal navigation rules apply!<br />
<h2>Conclusion</h2>I've only scratched the surface here of what you can do with zsh and how it can make your <em>terminal</em> <em>life</em> a little bit easier. You should give zsh a try it's expressive, very powerful and fits nicely into a programmers' toolbox. If you want somewhere to get started you can take a look at my <a href="http://www.github.com/jbw/zsh/">configs</a> or if you're a git user you can clone it with:<br />
<pre><code> git clone git@github.com:jbw/zsh.git
</code></pre>Happy tweaking!<br />
<h2>References</h2><ul><li><a href="http://zsh.sourceforge.net/">Z shell Homepage</a> Here you can find links to a lot resources.</li>
<li><a href="http://zsh.sourceforge.net/Intro/">Z shell Intro</a> A quick-<em>ish</em> read on zsh to give you an overview.</li>
<li><a href="http://zsh.sourceforge.net/Refcard/">Z shell Refcard</a> A cheatsheet sort of document.</li>
<li><a href="http://ft.bewatermyfriend.org/comp/zshtalk.html">Caphuso's Z shell Talk</a> A long talk on zsh magnifying some of its cool features.</li>
</ul><div>Stolen from: <a href="http://jbw.cc/2010/07/20/using-zsh/">http://jbw.cc/2010/07/20/using-zsh/</a></div>GuyWhoStealshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02565802673814348537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5083005185748233675.post-43593598703954822662011-01-10T05:30:00.000-08:002011-01-10T05:31:08.459-08:00C++ Streams & Typedefs: Be CharfulThe C++ typedef keyword is indispensable in many situations, especially for writing portable low-level code. However, in some circumstances it can cause trouble, particularly when it comes to function overloading. Consider the following C++ template class:<br />
<blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: nowrap;"><span class="kw2">template</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: nowrap;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: nowrap;"><span class="sy1"><</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: nowrap;"><span class="kw2">typename</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: nowrap;"> T</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: nowrap;"><span class="sy1">></span></span><br />
<div class="codecolorer-container cpp twitlight" style="overflow: auto; white-space: nowrap;"><div class="cpp codecolorer"><span class="kw4">struct</span> foobar<br />
<span class="br0">{</span><br />
foobar<span class="br0">(</span> <span class="kw4">const</span> T foo <span class="br0">)</span> <span class="sy4">:</span> foo_<span class="br0">(</span> foo <span class="br0">)</span> <span class="br0">{</span><span class="br0">}</span><br />
T foo_<span class="sy4">;</span><br />
<span class="br0">}</span><span class="sy4">;</span></div></div></blockquote>One might want to write a simple stream output operator to format the template class’ member values, e.g. for debugging purposes:<br />
<blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: nowrap;"><span class="kw2">template</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: nowrap;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: nowrap;"><span class="sy1"><</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: nowrap;"><span class="kw2">typename</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: nowrap;"> T</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: nowrap;"><span class="sy1">></span></span><br />
<div class="codecolorer-container cpp twitlight" style="overflow: auto; white-space: nowrap;"><div class="cpp codecolorer">ostream<span class="sy3">&</span> operator<span class="sy1"><<</span><span class="br0">(</span> ostream<span class="sy3">&</span> s, <span class="kw4">const</span> foobar<span class="sy1"><</span>T<span class="sy1">></span><span class="sy3">&</span> fb <span class="br0">)</span><br />
<span class="br0">{</span><br />
<span class="kw1">return</span> s <span class="sy1"><<</span> <span class="st0">"foo: "</span> <span class="sy1"><<</span> fb.<span class="me1">foo_</span><span class="sy4">;</span><br />
<span class="br0">}</span></div></div></blockquote>This seems reasonable. Now, let’s assume that this template is going to be used in a context where T will be one of several fixed-width integer types. These are usually typedefs from a header like stdint.h (for those that don’t mind including a C header) or boost/cstdint.hpp (to be a C++ purist). They are commonly named int64_t, int32_t, int16_t, and int8_t, where the X in intX_t specifies the number of bits used to represent the integer. There are also unsigned variants, but we’ll ignore those for this discussion.<br />
<br />
Let’s now explore what happens when we initialize a foobar<intX_t> instance with its foo_ member set to a small integer and print it to standard output via our custom stream output operator:<br />
<blockquote>cout << foobar<span class="sy1"><</span>int64_t<span class="sy1">></span>( 42 ) << endl;<br />
<int64_t> cout << foobar</int64_t><span class="sy1"><</span>int32_t<span class="sy1">></span>( 42 ) << endl;<br />
<int64_t><int32_t> cout << foobar</int32_t></int64_t><span class="sy1"><</span>int16_t<span class="sy1">></span>( 42 ) << endl;</blockquote>Each of these statements prints “foo: 42″, as expected. Great, everything works! But wait, there was one type that we didn’t test:<br />
<blockquote><div>cout << foobar<span class="sy1"><</span>int8_t<span class="sy1">></span>( 42 ) << endl; </div></blockquote><div> This prints “foo: *” instead of “foo: 42″. This is probably not the expected result of printing the value of an int8_t. After all, it looks and feels just like all of the other intX_t types! What causes it to be printed differently from the other types? Let’s look at how the integer types might be defined for an x86 machine:<br />
<div class="codecolorer-container cpp twitlight" style="overflow: auto; white-space: nowrap;"><div class="cpp codecolorer"><blockquote><span class="kw4">typedef</span> <span class="kw4">long</span> <span class="kw4">int</span> int64_t<span class="sy4">;</span><br />
<span class="kw4">typedef</span> <span class="kw4">int</span> int32_t<span class="sy4">;</span><br />
<span class="kw4">typedef</span> <span class="kw4">short</span> int16_t<span class="sy4">;</span><br />
<span class="kw4">typedef</span> <span class="kw4">char</span> int8_t<span class="sy4">;</span></blockquote></div></div>The problem is that the only way to represent an integer with exactly 8 bits (and no more) is with a char (at least on the x86 architecture). While a char is an integer, it is also a… character. So, this trouble is caused by the fact that the char type is trying to be two things at once. A simple (but incorrect) approach to work around this is to overload1 the stream output operator for the int8_t type, and force it to be printed as a number:<br />
<blockquote>// This is incorrect: <br />
ostream& operator<<( ostream& s, const int8_t i ) <br />
{<br />
return s << static_cast<int><int>( i );<br />
}</int></blockquote><br />
The problem with this approach is that the int8_t typedef does not represent a unique type. The typedef keyword is named poorly; it does not introduce new types. Rather, it creates aliases for existing types. By overloading the stream output operator for the int8_t type, the char type’s operator is being overloaded as well. Since the standard library already defines a stream output operator for the char type, the above definition would violate the One Definition Rule and result in a compiler error. Even if it did compile, the results of redefining the way characters are printed would probably not be desirable.<br />
<br />
An alternative (working) solution to the problem is to overload the output stream operator for the foobar<int8_t> <int8_t> type:<br />
</int8_t><br />
<blockquote>ostream<span class="sy3">&</span> operator<span class="sy1"><<</span><span class="br0">(</span> ostream<span class="sy3">&</span> s, <span class="kw4">const</span> foobar<span class="sy1"><</span>int8_t<span class="sy1">></span><span class="sy3">&</span> fb <span class="br0">)</span><br />
<span class="br0">{</span><br />
<span class="kw1">return</span> s <span class="sy1"><<</span> <span class="st0">"foo: "</span> <span class="sy1"><<</span> <span class="kw2">static_cast</span><span class="sy1"><</span><span class="kw4">int</span><span class="sy1">></span><span class="br0">(</span> fb.<span class="me1">foo_</span> <span class="br0">)</span><span class="sy4">;</span><br />
<span class="br0">}</span></blockquote>This definition does not clash with any existing overloads from the standard library, and it effectively causes the int8_t to be printed as an integer. The downside is that it will cause unexpected behavior when a foobar<char><char> is printed, if the programmer intends char to represent a character. The only way to avoid this would be to define int8_t as a class instead of making it a typedef, and providing a well-behaved stream output operator for that class. The class’ arithmetic operators could be overloaded to make it look almost exactly like a POD integer, and it wouldn’t necessarily take up any extra memory. However, this solution is still not ideal, because classes behave differently than POD types in subtle ways (e.g. POD types are not initialized by default, but classes are).<br />
<br />
If there’s anything to take away from this, it’s that the C++ char type is an odd beast to watch out for. Also, the name of the typedef operator could use some improvement…</char></div><br />
<blockquote>To subscribe to the "Guy WhoSteals" feed, click <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/GuyWhoSteals">here</a>.<br />
You can <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Guy-WhoSteals/153503588017789">add yourself to the GuyWhoSteals fanpage on Facebook</a> or <a href="http://twitter.com/GuyWhoSteals">follow GuyWhoSteals on Twitter</a>.</blockquote>GuyWhoStealshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02565802673814348537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5083005185748233675.post-70404556402760618232011-01-09T04:00:00.000-08:002011-01-09T04:12:41.097-08:00Apple vs GNU+Linux<br><br />
People complaining about lack of Linux support should try to install MacOS on anything apart from Mac hardware. Unless you have a cracked version, it's not even possible (and good luck finding/trusting new ones!) Even with hacked versions, try to find driver support for all your hardware. Linux is worlds ahead when you want to choose your hardware. If you don't feel like shelling out a thousand or more bucks every time a computer dies, using an older computer, or making a special-purpose computer for a friend without taking out a loan, the choice is clear. If you want to be guaranteed the same compatibility you get with Apple's OS, then you can still use Linux, pre-installed in a laptop from Dell, etc. Wow, it just works! Magic! :P<br />
<br />
Linux (especially Ubuntu, lately), has become a definite advantage to people who want to choose their hardware, and it gets better with every release.<br />
<br />
With Apple, unfortunately, you buy more than just hardware and an OS, you've officially bought a style, image, and a glowing apple to make sure everyone knows that the computer is far more important than whatever you happen to be doing on it. Apple's marketing machine makes sure that every Mac user is a walking/talking advertisement for it. That's good for Apple, but that's a lot of pretentious corporate overhead for me. I don't want to buy an image. I don't want endless throngs of consumer drones commenting "Wow, is that the new Apple whatsit? I want one of those!" People don't care what you're doing. It's all about that Mac with the glowy apple logo. You might as well not be there. I'd much rather be using Blender, GIMP, Photoshop, Open Office, and be appreciated for what I'm doing, rather than having endless queries about Apple's latest gadget. I do a lot of cool stuff, so it helps (especially for my business) to have people's focus on the artwork, and not the laptop.<br />
<br />
People will even attribute your success to Apple's hardware. "Well, I could be good too, if I had one!" Of course, disillusionment follows, after having shelling out the money for one; No, no, you can't be good just for buying an overpriced machine with go-faster stripes. It takes a lot of hard work! Endless hours of practice, and honing your skills to be good, even with Apple's glory-glory ware! They will happily take credit for your work. And people merrily give it to them. "Yeah.. huh huh. I use a Mac! Macs are BETTER for graphic design!" Yea? Try graphic design without Adobe's software. You realise Apple doesn't make that, right? Try using iPhoto. Then you see how much better Apple is at graphic design! Better yet, try and find where that crapware stored the file you're working on? Thousands of high-res photos/projects? Notice how iPhoto takes 4 minutes to load? Yep. Better!<br />
<br />
I know a whole company of graphic designers, all on Mac, all very very embarrassed to be walking Apple stereotypes, and just waiting for something else to come along that runs the latest version of Adobe's Creative Suite. Unfortunately, only available for Macs and Windows PCs. (Adobe's fault, not Linux).<br />
<br />
I'm a professional graphic designer (with 12 years of industry experience). I choose Linux, and if Photoshop is a must (it is sometimes), I use WINE. If the latest version of the Creative Suite is a must (Often it is for the printing/publishing industry to deal with), I'll run a VM with Windows XP.<br />
Or maybe I could run OSX in a VM? Oh wait... no, no I can't. Apple's suing machine won't allow an of the VM developers to make that possible. Okay. Well... guess I have NO USE for OSX then... at all! :D<br />
<br />
I do this all from my laptop/Linux workstation, which I paid like $400.00 for, from a guy selling it to buy an iPad. Lol. I guess there IS some benefit to Apple's advertising machine after all! :D I haven't needed a desktop machine, (or a laptop that costs over $600) for anything in over a decade.<br />
<br />
Moreover, I have a full install of Ubuntu 10.10 installation on a USB keychain, so if my hard drive fails, I can boot off the keychain and keep working from my backed up files (using Ubuntu One's free cloud) while I order a new one, without missing a beat. I don't even have to go home from the coffee shop! Magic! :D<br />
<br />
I'm sure when Apple does the same (or strikingly similar) thing, they will call it the best innovation ever, and praise themselves for being ahead of the game in all things. "All others can only follow", and other rabid fanboy rubbish. So when that happens (again), know that the better informed world is laughing at everyone who adopts idiotic mantras like that. To those people, we're happy to tell you your wrong, explain clearly why, then watch you snort, put your nose up in the air and continue to pretend your Mac makes you more sophisticated, efficient, and cool.<br />
<br />
We'll smile, and continue using Linux, and reaping the benefits, making it better and easier to use for the "average person" (like it's not already? Try Ubuntu 10.10), and enjoying some of the best eye-candy interfaces out there, for free (thanks Compiz folks!).<br />
<br />
To end this bloody dissertation (TLDR)<br />
I'd like to extend thanks to the Linux community (including Canonical) for making supremely good software that everyone can use free of charge, and continuing to make Linux better, and easier to use for everyone.<br />
<br />
And remember, kids: It doesn't matter what Apple fanboys "think". You could slap an Apple logo on anything and they'd take out a second mortgage just to have it. If you listen to that kind of opinion, you certainly deserve to be excluded from the joys of Linux. :)<br />
<br />
<blockquote>To subscribe to the "Guy WhoSteals" feed, click <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/GuyWhoSteals">here</a>.<br />
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Granted, I'm being a little snarky — but only a little. Apple's App Store for the iPhone was a big deal because, before Apple, the application landscape for mobile phones was not that rosy. Apple simplified getting applications on the phone without having to deal directly with the carriers — so some credit is due there. They've also raised the bar in terms of what developers are shooting for for mobile devices, so kudos to Apple for that.<br />
But the buzz over the Apple Mac App Store? Meh. Look at the features that Apple touts:<br />
<ul><li>Install any app with ease</li>
<li>Keep your apps up to date</li>
<li>The app you need. When you need it</li>
<li>Buy, download, and even redownload</li>
</ul>Linux folks, sound familiar? We've had all of this, modulo "buy", for a decade at least. The Advanced Package Tool, <em>a.k.a.</em> "APT" for Debian-based systems (that includes Ubuntu), has made all of this possible for years and years. Granted, this has primarily focused on free and open source software, but paid apps are possible too. The Ubuntu folks have had a paid software store since Ubuntu 10.10. (It is, I admit, sparsely populated when it comes to proprietary/paid software.)<br />
But the installation, updating, and such? All very possible with APT — or Yum or Zypper, if you happen to be using an RPM-based distro. (Or APT for RPM, if that's still being maintained.)<br />
Apple brags about having more than 1,000 apps available at launch... Ubuntu users can find 32,000-plus packages in the software repository for Ubuntu 10.10. Now, a bunch of those packages are not end-user applications — this includes things like libraries, system utilities, fonts, and so forth. But you could easily find 5,000 end user apps, many of which are competitive with the proprietary stuff being offered through the Apple Mac App Store. Oh, and <em>free</em>. Free as in cost, and all open source. (Not all Free by definition of the Free Software Foundation, though, but that's another topic entirely.)<br />
Of course, what Apple <em>has</em> done that's unique shows Linux folks what we need to be better at doing: marketing, developer and ISV relations, and standardization. Lest you think I'm only hear to praise Linux or kick Apple, I'm not. Linux has had the raw tools to do this for a decade, but the communities and companies behind Linux have yet to gain enough momentum to pull this off on the desktop. Or the will to chuck tribal differences between desktops, toolkits, etc. and unify on one damn stack to attract the kind of developers that are filling up Apple's App Store. Canonical, bless their hearts, are trying — but it's unclear as of yet whether Canonical has enough pull to rally enough developers and inspire enough ISVs to drive even 100 paid desktop apps to Linux, much less 1,000.<br />
The Linux community should get some credit here, though. What has been hard for the users of arguably the easiest operating system to use, has been easy for Linux users for years. A quick "apt-get update" and my entire system is updated, apps and all. A quick "apt-get install" and I can have everything from the Banshee media player to the latest Chrome release. Typing is not required, of course. Each distribution has GUI tools that make it very easy to install and manage applications.<br />
And, it's important to add — I can do all this without the blessing of any single company. You see, while Apple controls everything that goes into the App store, nobody controls what users add to their APT, Yum, or Zypper repos.<br />
So Linux users have had the tools and freedom, just a severe lack of marketing and developer relations smarts. That includes failing to have a single dominant toolchain (GUI toolkit, etc.) for companies to target. Seems that Nokia (with Qt) <a href="http://mdzlog.alcor.net/2010/10/20/ubuntu-and-qt/">might be on to something here</a>, though. It's pretty clear what the overall Linux community and vendors need to address, just a question if they do and if it's not too little and too late for any mainstream traction.<br />
I do hope others in the tech press will at least, in passing, note that Apple has not invented something new with its App Store — merely taken an old idea and run with it better than the competition. Which, come to think of it, seems to be the company's specialty.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" height="161" src="http://l.yimg.com/a/p/fi/34/88/72.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="240" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">In this Dec. 22, 2010 photo, attorney Daniel Balsam, who hates spam so much that he launched a Website Danhatesspam.com, poses outside in San Francisco. From San Francisco Superior Court small claims court to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, San Francisco-based Balsam has been wielding a one-man crusade against e-mail marketers he alleges run afoul of federal and state anti-spamming laws with dozens of lawsuits filed even before he graduated law school in 2008. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="mod related-media"><span class="img"></span><br />
</div><br />
Daniel Balsam hates spam. Most everybody does, of course. But he has acted on his hate as few have, going far beyond simply hitting the delete button. He sues them.<br />
Eight years ago, Balsam was working as a marketer when he received one too many e-mail pitches to enlarge his breasts.<br />
Enraged, he launched a Web site called Danhatesspam.com, quit a career in marketing to go to law school and is making a decent living suing companies who flood his e-mail inboxes with offers of cheap drugs, free sex and unbelievable vacations.<br />
"I feel like I'm doing a little bit of good cleaning up the Internet," Balsam said.<br />
From San Francisco Superior Court small claims court to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, Balsam, based in San Francisco, has filed many lawsuits, including dozens before he graduated law school in 2008, against e-mail marketers he says violate anti-spamming laws.<br />
His many victories are mere rain drops in the ocean considering that Cisco Systems Inc. estimates that there are 200 billion spam messages circulating a day, accounting for 90 percent of all e-mail.<br />
Still, Balsam settles enough lawsuits and collects enough from judgments to make a living. He has racked up well in excess of $1 million in court judgments and lawsuit settlements with companies accused of sending illegal spam.<br />
His courtroom foes contend that Balsam is one of many sole practitioners unfairly exploiting anti-spam sentiments and laws. They accuse him of filing lawsuits against out-of-state companies that would rather pay a small settlement than expend the resources to fight the legal claims.<br />
"He really seems to be trying to twist things for a buck," said Bennet Kelley, a defense lawyer who has become Balsam's arch nemesis over the years in the rough-and-tumble litigation niche that has sprung up around spam.<br />
Kelley created a website with a similar name, Danhatespam.com, that was critical of Balsam's tactics. Kelley let it expire.<br />
"There is nothing wrong per se with being an anti-spam crusader," said Kelley, who has sued Balsam twice for allegedly violating confidentiality terms in settlement agreements. "But Dan abuses the processes by using small claims court.<br />
"A lot of people will settle with him to avoid the hassle," Kelley said.<br />
Balsam started small in 2002 in small claims court. By 2008, some of his cases were appearing before the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeal and he was graduating from the University of California Hastings College of the Law.<br />
"What started just as kicks turned into a hobby, which turned into a career," Balsam said. "It's what triggered me to go to law school."<br />
Balsam mostly sues companies he accuses of violating California's anti-spam law.<br />
Among other restrictions, the law prohibits companies from sending spam with headers that misleads the recipient into believing the e-mail is noncommercial or comes with offers of "free" products that aren't true.<br />
The law also requires a way for Internet consumers to "opt out" of receiving any more spam from a sender.<br />
Balsam said he has more than 40 small claims victories and several more in higher courts, mostly alleging the receipt of misleading advertising.<br />
In November, he won a $4,000 judgment against Various Inc., an "adult-oriented" social media company that controls AdultFriendFinder.com.<br />
A judge sided with Balsam, who sued after he received four identical e-mails sent to four different accounts with the identical subject line "Hello my name is Rebecca, I love you." It's the fourth time he's beat Various in court.<br />
The company is appealing the latest ruling and a hearing is scheduled for Jan. 5 in San Francisco Superior Court.<br />
Balsam certainly isn't the average Internet consumer.<br />
When San Mateo Superior Court Judge Marie Weiner in March ordered Trancos Inc. to pay Balsam $7,000 for sending spam that recipients couldn't stop, she noted that he has more than 100 e-mail addresses.<br />
Balsam has filed lawsuits and got settlements and judgments from companies small and large.<br />
He has sued the Stockton Asparagus Festival and embroiled himself in contentious litigation with Tagged.com, the country's third largest social networking site. Balsam noted in his lawsuit that Time magazine dubbed it "the world's most annoying Web site."<br />
Tagged.com shot back with a lawsuit of its own, accusing Balsam of threatening to violate terms of an earlier settlement by telling the company he was planning to post terms of the agreement on his website.<br />
Balsam is fighting the lawsuit and a lawyer for Tagged.com didn't return a phone call seeking comment.<br />
Balsam has also been sued by Valueclick Inc. for allegedly breaching settlement agreements by exposing confidential terms, which he denies.<br />
"Balsam, who in his anti-spam zeal frequently views matters in absolutes such that anyone who disagrees with him must be villainous," lawyers for Valueclick Inc. stated in a 2007 lawsuit accusing Balsam of disclosing terms of a settlement.<br />
The lawsuit was later dismissed in San Francisco Superior Court and Balsam declined to discuss the case other than to say it was "resolved."<br />
He said, generally speaking, those who sue him are "retaliating" for lawsuits he filed against them.<br />
"I feel comfortable doing what I'm doing," Balsam said of the lawsuits against him. "And I'm not going away."<br />
<br />
<blockquote>To subscribe to the "Guy WhoSteals" feed, click <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/GuyWhoSteals">here</a>.<br />
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<span class="fullpost"><br />
1.In the blogger,Click on Layout tab ->Edit HTML and put following things Before </head><br />
<b><br />
<link href='http://syntaxhighlighter.googlecode.com/svn/trunk/Styles/SyntaxHighlighter.css' rel='stylesheet' type='text/css'/><br />
<script language='javascript' src='http://syntaxhighlighter.googlecode.com/svn/trunk/Scripts/shCore.js'/><br />
<script language='javascript' src='http://syntaxhighlighter.googlecode.com/svn/trunk/Scripts/shBrushCpp.js'/></b><br />
<br />
2. put following things Before </body><br />
<b><br />
<script language="javascript"><br />
dp.SyntaxHighlighter.BloggerMode();<br />
dp.SyntaxHighlighter.HighlightAll('code');<br />
</script></b><br />
<br />
3. encode (HTML Encode) your source code. for this, you can use <a href="http://www.string-functions.com/htmlencode.aspx" style="color: #003366; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">this</a>.<br />
OR<br />
<br />
Copy your code in notepad and replace all < in &lt; etc.<br />
<br />
4. Put your updated code between:<br />
<pre name="code" class="Cpp"><br />
….My code here…<br />
</pre></span></span><br />
<blockquote>To subscribe to the "Guy WhoSteals" feed, click <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/GuyWhoSteals">here</a>.<br />
Shamelessly stolen from: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;"><a href="http://urenjoy.blogspot.com/2008/10/publish-source-code-in-blogger.html">http://urenjoy.blogspot.com/2008/10/publish-source-code-in-blogger.html</a></span><br />
You can <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Guy-WhoSteals/153503588017789">add yourself to the GuyWhoSteals fanpage on Facebook</a> or <a href="http://twitter.com/GuyWhoSteals">follow GuyWhoSteals on Twitter</a>.</blockquote>GuyWhoStealshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02565802673814348537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5083005185748233675.post-36540634697147872612011-01-08T23:25:00.000-08:002011-01-08T23:25:06.487-08:00When Smart People are Bad Employees<br>“And I always find, yeah, I always find somethin’ wrong<br />
You been puttin’ up with my sh*! just way too long<br />
I’m so gifted at findin’ what I don’t like the most<br />
So I think it’s time for us to have a toast<br />
<br />
Let’s have a toast for the douchebags,<br />
Let’s have a toast for the a**holes,<br />
Let’s have a toast for the scumbags,<br />
Every one of them that I know<br />
Let’s have a toast for the jerkoffs<br />
That’ll never take work off<br />
Baby, I got a plan<br />
Run away fast as you can”<br />
–Kanye West<br />
<br />
In high tech, intelligence is always a critical element in any employee, because what we do is difficult and complex and the competitors are filled with extremely smart people. However, intelligence is not the only important quality. Being effective in a company also means working hard, being reliable, and being an excellent member of the team.<br />
<br />
When I was a CEO, this was one of the most difficult lessons for me to learn. I felt that it was my job to create an environment where brilliant people of all backgrounds, personality types, and work styles would thrive. And I was right. That was my job. Companies where people with diverse backgrounds and work-styles can succeed have significant advantages in recruiting and retaining top talent over those that don’t. Still, you can take it too far. And I did.<br />
<br />
Here are three examples of the smartest people in the company being the worst employees.<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Example 1: The Heretic</span><br />
Any sizable company produces some number of strategies, projects, processes, promotions, and other activities that don’t make sense. No large organization achieves perfection. As a result, a company needs lots of smart, super engaged employees who can identify its particular weaknesses and help it improve them.<br />
<br />
However, sometimes really smart employees develop agendas other than improving the company. Rather than identifying weaknesses, so that he can fix them, he looks for faults to build his case. Specifically, he builds his case that the company is hopeless and run by a bunch of morons. The smarter the employee, the more destructive this type of behavior can be. Simply put, it takes a really smart person to be maximally destructive, because otherwise nobody else will listen to him.<br />
<br />
Why would a smart person try to destroy the company that he works for? There are actually many reasons. Here are few:<br />
<br />
1. He is disempowered—She feels that she cannot access the people in charge and, as a result, complaining is her only vehicle to get the truth out.<br />
<br />
2. He is fundamentally a rebel—She will not be happy unless she is rebelling; this can be a deep personality trait. Sometimes these people actually make better CEOs than employees.<br />
<br />
3. He is immature and naïve—She cannot comprehend that the people running the company do not know every minute detail of the operation and therefore they are complicit in everything that’s broken.<br />
<br />
Often, it’s very difficult to turn these kinds of cases around. Once an employee takes a public stance, the social pressure for him to be consistent is enormous. If he tells 50 of his closest friends that the CEO is the stupidest person on the planet, then reversing that position will cost him a great amount of credibility the next time he complains. Most people are not willing to take the credibility hit.<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Example 2: The Flake</span><br />
Some brilliant people can be totally unreliable. At Opsware, we once hired an unequivocal genius—I’ll call him Roger (not his real name). Roger was an engineer in an area of the product where a typical new hire would take 3 months to become fully productive. Roger came fully up to speed in two days. On his third day, we gave him a project that was scheduled to take one month. Roger completed the project in 3 days with nearly flawless quality. More specifically, he completed the project in 72 hours. 72 non-stop hours: No stops, no sleep, no nothing but coding. In his first quarter on the job, he was the best employee that we had and we immediately promoted him.<br />
<br />
Then Roger changed. He would miss days of work without calling in. Then he would miss weeks of work. When he finally showed up, he apologized profusely, but the behavior didn’t stop. His work product also degraded. He became sloppy and unfocused. I could not understand how such a stellar employee could go so haywire. His manager wanted to fire him, because the team could no longer count on Roger for anything. I resisted. I knew that the genius was still in him and I wanted us to find it. We never did. It turns out that Roger was bi-polar and had two significant drug problems: 1. He did not like taking his bi-polar medication and 2. He was addicted to cocaine. Ultimately, we had to fire Roger, but even now, it pains me to think about what might have been.<br />
<br />
One need not be bi-polar to be a flake, but flakey behavior often has a seriously problematic root cause. Causes range from self-destructive streaks to drug habits to moonlighting for other employers. A company is a team effort and, no matter how high an employee’s potential, you cannot get value from him unless he does his work in a manner in which he can be relied upon.<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Example 3: The Jerk</span><br />
This particular smart-bad-employee type can occur anywhere in the organization, but is most destructive at the executive level. Most executives can be pricks, dicks, a-holes or a variety of other profane adjectives at times. Being dramatically impolite can be used to improve clarity or emphasize an important lesson. That’s not the behavior that I am talking about.<br />
<br />
When used consistently, asinine behavior can be crippling. As a company grows, its biggest challenge always becomes communication. Keeping a huge number of people on the same page executing the same goals is never easy. If a member of your staff is a raging jerk, it may be impossible. Some people are so belligerent in their communication style that people just stop talking when they are in the room. If every time anyone brings up an issue with the marketing organization, the VP of marketing jumps down their throat, then guess what topic will never come up? This behavior can become so bad that nobody brings up any topic when the jerk is in the room. As a result, communication across the executive staff breaks down and the entire company slowly degenerates. Note that this only happens if the jerk in question is unquestionably brilliant. Otherwise, nobody will care when she attacks them. The bite only has impact if it comes from a big dog. If one of your big dogs destroys communication on your staff, you need to send her to the pound.<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">When do you hold the bus?</span><br />
The great football coach John Madden was once asked whether or not he would tolerate a player like Terrell Owens on his team. Owens was both one of the most talented players in the game and one of the biggest jerks. Madden answered: “If you hold the bus for everyone on the team, then you’ll be so late that you’ll miss the game, so you can’t do that. The bus must leave on time. However, sometimes you’ll have a player that’s so good that you hold the bus for him, but only him.”<br />
<br />
Phil Jackson, the basketball coach who has won the most NBA championships, was once asked about his famously flakey superstar Dennis Rodman: “Since Dennis Rodman is allowed to miss practice, does this mean other star players like Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen can miss practice too?” Jackson replied: “Of course not. There is only room for one Dennis Rodman on this team. In fact, you really can only have a very few Dennis Rodmans in society as a whole; otherwise, we would degenerate into anarchy.”<br />
<br />
You may find yourself with an employee who fits one of the above descriptions, but nonetheless makes a massive positive contribution to the company. You may decide that you will personally mitigate the employee’s negative attributes and keep them from polluting the overall company culture. That’s fine, but remember: you can only hold the bus for her.<br />
<br />
<blockquote>To subscribe to the "Guy WhoSteals" feed, click <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/GuyWhoSteals">here</a>.<br />
Shamelessly stolen from: <a href="http://blogs.forbes.com/bruceupbin/2011/01/03/when-smart-people-are-bad-employees/">http://blogs.forbes.com/bruceupbin/2011/01/03/when-smart-people-are-bad-employees/</a><br />
You can <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Guy-WhoSteals/153503588017789">add yourself to the GuyWhoSteals fanpage on Facebook</a> or <a href="http://twitter.com/GuyWhoSteals">follow GuyWhoSteals on Twitter</a>.</blockquote>GuyWhoStealshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02565802673814348537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5083005185748233675.post-91089833056637000152011-01-08T23:22:00.000-08:002011-01-08T23:22:51.916-08:0030 Blogger Widgets and Plugins<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 22px;"><span id="fullpost" style="display: inline;"><b>1. <a href="http://www.bloggerplugins.org/2008/06/top-commentators-widget-for-blogger.html" style="color: #2361a1; text-decoration: none;">Top Commentators Widget by BloggerPlugins</a> - </b>This excellent plugin has two versions. One for blogs having small number of comments and the second variant for blogs receiving lots of comments.<br />
<br />
<b>2. <a href="http://www.bloggerplugins.org/2008/06/blog-tanslation-widget-for-blogger.html" style="color: #2361a1; text-decoration: none;">Translation Widget by BloggerPlugins</a> - </b>This one click install widget add multiple language translation support to your blogger blog.<br />
<br />
<b>3. <a href="http://www.bloggerplugins.org/2007/11/recent-posts-widget-plugin_25.html" style="color: #2361a1; text-decoration: none;">Recent Post Widget by BloggerPlugins</a> - </b>This is highly customizable widget. You can set number of posts to display, post summary and it's length.<br />
<br />
<b>4. <a href="http://www.bloggerplugins.org/2007/11/recent-comments-widget-plugin_25.html" style="color: #2361a1; text-decoration: none;">Recent Comments Widget by BloggerPlugins</a> - </b>A highly customizable widget. You can set the number of comments to display, author name, date and size of comment. You can also use CSS to gel it with your theme.<br />
<br />
<b>5. <a href="http://phy3blog.googlepages.com/Beta-Blogger-Label-Cloud.html" style="color: #2361a1; text-decoration: none;">Label Cloud Plugin by phydeaux3</a> - </b>This is one of the most popular label cloud generation plugin for blogger. You can customize various options after installing this plugin.<br />
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<b>6. <a href="http://purplemoggy.blogspot.com/2007/04/blogger-calendar-archive.html" style="color: #2361a1; text-decoration: none;">Archive Calendar Widget by PurpleMoggy</a> - </b>Very impressive archive calendar widget with customizable options.<br />
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<b>7. <a href="http://phydeaux3.blogspot.com/2007/04/blogger-archive-calender.html" style="color: #2361a1; text-decoration: none;">Archive Calendar Widget by phydeaux3</a> - </b>Another very popular archive calendar widget. Highly customizable for better browsing experience for the readers.<br />
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<b>8. <a href="http://itde.vccs.edu/rss2js/build.php" style="color: #2361a1; text-decoration: none;">Recent Posts Widget by Feed2JS</a> - </b>This excellent plugin makes plugin installation and customization very easy. Just fill in the form and click the button to generate widget code.<br />
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<b>9. <a href="http://blogger-templates.blogspot.com/2007/03/recent-comments.html" style="color: #2361a1; text-decoration: none;">Recent Comments Widgets by Blogger-Templates</a> - </b>Just fill in the options in the form and one click widget code generation. Excellent plugin which is highly customizable.<br />
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<b>10. <a href="http://blogger-templates-designs.blogspot.com/2008/10/how-to-picasa-web-albums-slideshow-with.html" style="color: #2361a1; text-decoration: none;">Picasa Web Albums Slideshow Widget by Blogger Templates Designs</a> - </b>A unique plugin to show photo slideshow from any picasa account. Ideal for personal blogs, photo blogs and web design blogs.<br />
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<b>11. <a href="http://blogger-templates-designs.blogspot.com/2008/10/widgets-add-search-form-in-blogger.html" style="color: #2361a1; text-decoration: none;">Search Form Widget by Blogger Templates Designs</a> - </b>If you want to add site search box in your blog's sidebar, install this plugin.<br />
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<b>12. <a href="http://blogger-templates-designs.blogspot.com/2008/10/widgets-add-google-talk-to-your-blogger.html" style="color: #2361a1; text-decoration: none;">Google Talk Widget by Blogger Templates Designs</a> - </b>This plugin adds the Google Talk client to your blog so that your readers can directly converse with you.<br />
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<b>13. <a href="http://blogger-templates-designs.blogspot.com/2008/10/plugins-recent-comments-widgets-in.html" style="color: #2361a1; text-decoration: none;">Recent Comments Widget by Blogger Templates Designs</a> - </b>Yet another recent comments widget with customizable options and one-click install.<br />
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<b>14. <a href="http://blogger-templates-designs.blogspot.com/2008/10/sudoku-widgets-generates-random-puzzles.html" style="color: #2361a1; text-decoration: none;">Sudoku Game Widget by Blogger Templates Designs</a> - </b>Want to add some interesting puzzle games for your visitors? Then install this plugin to integrate sudoku puzzle game in your blogger blog.<br />
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<b>15. <a href="http://www.madtomatoe.com/google-translate-mini-flags-widget/" style="color: #2361a1; text-decoration: none;">Google Translate Mini-Flags Widget by MadToMatoe</a> - </b>Very useful translation plugin powered by 'Google Translate'. One click install with multiple language translation facility.<br />
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<b>16. <a href="http://www.madtomatoe.com/recent-comments-widget-for-blogger/" style="color: #2361a1; text-decoration: none;">Recent Comments Widgets by MadToMatoe</a> - </b>One more recent comments widget for blogger blogs. Again you can customize the number of recent comments to be displayed.<br />
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<b>17. <a href="http://themelib.com/2008/11/reactions-blogger-widget-a-mini-poll-for-your-blog/" style="color: #2361a1; text-decoration: none;">Reactions Mini-Poll Widget by ThemeLib</a> - </b>Want to host a poll on your blogger blog? Install this plugin and get customizable polls for your readers.<br />
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<b>18. <a href="http://www.techknowl.com/2008/11/alexa-traffic-widget-for-blogger-with.html" style="color: #2361a1; text-decoration: none;">Alexa Traffic Widget by TechKnowl</a> - </b>Display your Alexa stats with this customizable widget.<br />
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<b>19. <a href="http://www.techknowl.com/2008/12/snow-flakes-widget-in-blogger.html" style="color: #2361a1; text-decoration: none;">Snow Flakes Widget by TechKnowl</a> - </b>Add a stunning snowfall effect in your blogger template in the festive season.<br />
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<b>20. <a href="http://www.techknowl.com/2008/12/show-popular-posts-on-blogger.html" style="color: #2361a1; text-decoration: none;">Popular Posts Widget by TechKnowl</a> - </b>A very simple popular posts plugin using Yahoo pipes to filter out popular posts on your blog.<br />
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<b>21. <a href="http://www.techknowl.com/2008/10/flash-mp3-music-player-code-for.html" style="color: #2361a1; text-decoration: none;">Flash MP3 Player Widget by TechKnowl</a> - </b>This cool plugin allows you to embed flash mp3 player in your blogger blog. The player is very light with custom options.<br />
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<b>22. <a href="http://www.outbrain.com/get/ratings" style="color: #2361a1; text-decoration: none;">Rating Widget by Outbrain</a> - </b>If you want to integrate rating system with your blogger posts, then this excellent plugin is the best choice. It has rating system plus related posts integration in same widget.<br />
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<b>23. <a href="http://beautifulbeta.blogspot.com/2007/04/blogtoc-widget-released.html" style="color: #2361a1; text-decoration: none;">Multi-tab TOC Widget by Beautiful Beta</a> - </b>If you want to display multi-tab table of contents section in your blogger blog, then install this widget. Very popular among blogger users.<br />
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<b>24. <a href="http://hoctro.blogspot.com/2007/05/introducing-tabview-widget.html" style="color: #2361a1; text-decoration: none;">Tab View Widget by Hoctro</a> - </b>The coolest plugin showing tabbed posts with animated post excerpts. A must for your blog's sidebar.<br />
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<b>25. <a href="http://freeyasoul.blogspot.com/2006/10/random-rotating-banner-hack.html" style="color: #2361a1; text-decoration: none;">Random/Rotating Banner Widget by FreeYaSoul</a> - </b>Very useful widget for displaying rotating banners in your blog's header. You can customize and can choose any number of headers.<br />
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<b>26. <a href="http://blog.lasvak.com/2008/10/socialbookmarking-blogger-widget/" style="color: #2361a1; text-decoration: none;">Social Bookmarking Widget by Lasvak</a> - </b>This is perhaps the most easily installable bookmarking widget for blogger. Just copy and paste a single line of code in your blogger template and your bookmarking icons are ready.<br />
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<b>27. <a href="http://www.etienneteo.com/2007/07/bloggers-buy-me-beer-paypal-donation.html" style="color: #2361a1; text-decoration: none;">Paypal Donation Widgets by Etienne</a> - </b>Integrate different types of paypal donation widget in your blogger blog with ease.<br />
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<b>28. <a href="http://www.talkr.com/partners/index.html" style="color: #2361a1; text-decoration: none;">Podcating Plugin by Talkr</a> - </b>If you want to integrate podcasts to your blog, register for this service and get free podcasting plugin for your blogger blog.<br />
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<b>29. <a href="http://www.eblogtemplates.com/how-to-create-a-whats-next-post-footer-section/" style="color: #2361a1; text-decoration: none;">What's Next? Section Widget by eblogtemplates</a> - </b>Integrate a Wordpress style 'What's Next' section below blogger posts with this excellent widget.<br />
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<b>30. <a href="http://www.bloggerbuster.com/2008/04/add-customized-twitter-widget-to-your.html" style="color: #2361a1; text-decoration: none;">Twitter Profile Widget by BloggerBuster</a> - </b>Add your twitter profile and twitter updates with this useful plugin developed by Amanda Fazani.<br />
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<b>31. <a href="http://www.sociofluid.com/blogger-widget.php" style="color: #2361a1; text-decoration: none;">Bookmarking Widget by SocioFluid</a> - </b>One of the best social bookmarking plugin for blogger. Big animated icons with one click installation.<br />
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<b>32. <a href="http://www.codingmix.com/2010/07/recent-comments-widget-for-blogger.html" style="color: #2361a1; text-decoration: none;">Advanced Recent Comments Widget by Csabi</a> - </b>This is highly customizable recent comments widget. The number of configurable options provided by this widget makes it one of the best recent comment widgets for blogger platform.</span></span><br />
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<blockquote>To subscribe to the "Guy WhoSteals" feed, click <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/GuyWhoSteals">here</a>.<br />
Shamelessly stolen from: <a href="http://www.mintblogger.com/2009/01/30-blogger-widgets-and-plugins.html">http://www.mintblogger.com/2009/01/30-blogger-widgets-and-plugins.html</a><br />
You can <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Guy-WhoSteals/153503588017789">add yourself to the GuyWhoSteals fanpage on Facebook</a> or <a href="http://twitter.com/GuyWhoSteals">follow GuyWhoSteals on Twitter</a>.</blockquote>GuyWhoStealshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02565802673814348537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5083005185748233675.post-49214576387879582222011-01-08T23:05:00.000-08:002011-01-09T03:01:56.981-08:00Why Wouldn’t You Want Apps?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.google.com/chromeos/static/images/cr48-7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://www.google.com/chromeos/static/images/cr48-7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>I’ve been having fun fooling around with Google’s Cr-48 notebook, the experimental machine which runs its Chrome OS. (The company is doling out thousands of Cr-48 test units, but Chrome OS laptops won’t go on sale until next year.) I even took the Cr-48 on a long-weekend trip and pretty much got everything done that I needed to do. (For instance, I wrote this column on it, using Google Docs.)<br />
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But when I returned home from my trip, I put the Cr-48 away and haven’t returned to it since. I’m sure I’ll revisit it. But for now, given a choice between a Chrome OS laptop and a traditional laptop (my MacBook Air), I’m opting for the latter.<br />
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How come? It’s simple, really: Chrome OS both giveth and taketh away. What it giveth is simplicity and security–since it’s pretty much just a Web browser that’s sprouted stubby little legs that let it function (just barely) as an operating system, there’s very little that can go wrong. It boots and snaps out of suspend mode in a jiffy; it’s almost impossible to lose data, since it’s all stored in the cloud; it should be as close to impervious to viruses and trojans as a computing device can be.<br />
<a href="http://www.google.com/chromeos/static/images/cr48-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://www.google.com/chromeos/static/images/cr48-1.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
But Google accomplished all this by creating an operating system that can’t run local applications. And for now, at least, losing local apps is a gigantic downside. If you’re in love with the notion of a Web-only computer, you may love the Cr-48; if you just want to accomplish stuff, it’s a work in progress at best.<br />
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(Note: Google will presumably address some of Chrome OS’s current limitations, such as the near-impossibility of transferring photos from an SD card, before commercial machines go on sale.)<br />
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In late 2010, there are applications that work far better in Web-based form than they ever could as a desktop program. (Can you imagine Facebook as a piece of Windows software?) There are ones which work well both on the Web and in desktop form, such as e-mail. And there are ones that are useful in at least certain circumstances on the Web, such as office suites.<br />
But there are also applications that just plain work better as desktop software. Photo-editing, for instance–I love the Web-based Picnik, but I’d go bonkers if it were the only image editor I had. (It’s fun for casual editing of one or two pictures, but not so good for blasting through a bunch of photos as fast as possible.)<br />
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I also don’t know of a Web-based presentation service that’s a truly satisfactory PowerPoint replacement, at least for single users. (SlideRocket is far better than PowerPoint in some respects, but it’s really designed and priced for workgroup use.)<br />
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And then there’s any instance in which you can’t get online. Chrome OS has a few features for offline usage–the Google Docs word processor can run without a connection, for instance–but for the most part, it’s meant to be used online. Even the best purely Web-based app can’t compete with desktop software if you just can’t get to it.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.google.com/chromeos/static/images/cr48-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.google.com/chromeos/static/images/cr48-3.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>So as I used the Cr-48, I kept thinking to myself “this is neat–but it would be even neater with a local app or two.” Slate’s Farhad Manjoo makes a similar point in a story called “<a href="http://www.slate.com/id/2278058/">I Want Chromedroid</a>.”<br />
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Google clearly doesn’t agree–here’s a recent blog post titled “<a href="http://googleenterprise.blogspot.com/2010/12/nothing-but-web.html">Nothing but the Web</a>,” a title which is meant as a manifesto, although it’s also a summary of Chrome OS’s limitations. Turning Chrome OS into a more traditional operating system would be tantamount to admitting it was a bad idea; I’m guessing Google would kill it (or merge it into Android) first.<br />
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I don’t want to sound like a Luddite. I use Web-based apps around 85 percent of the time, and that percentage will only grow. It may hit 100 percent. For now, though, the desktop apps I use <del></del><br />
25 to 15 percent of the time are essential to my work. They’re not options, and I don’t see why I should give them up.<br />
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So I’m sticking with traditional computers for now. Yes, they’re imperfect. But you can install Google’s Chrome browser on a Windows PC or Mac, run it in full-screen mode, and then load local apps whenever the urge strikes. Isn’t that much closer to the best of both worlds than using an operating system that offers Chrome and nothing else?<br />
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<blockquote>To subscribe to the "Guy WhoSteals" feed, click <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/GuyWhoSteals">here</a>.<br />
Shamelessly stolen from: <a href="http://technologizer.com/2010/12/24/cr48-apps/">http://technologizer.com/2010/12/24/cr48-apps/</a><br />
You can <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Guy-WhoSteals/153503588017789">add yourself to the GuyWhoSteals fanpage on Facebook</a> or <a href="http://twitter.com/GuyWhoSteals">follow GuyWhoSteals on Twitter</a>.</blockquote>GuyWhoStealshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02565802673814348537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5083005185748233675.post-7320468762171729652011-01-05T08:47:00.000-08:002011-01-05T08:48:38.913-08:00The 10 best Android hacksThe web’s massed fanboy armies will debate the relative merits of iOS and Android until the apocalypse, but there’s no denying Google’s OS wins out when it comes to customisation – and, if you’ve taken the plunge and rooted your device, then a whole load more options will become available.<br />
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<div class="mainArticle" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">It sounds like a complex procedure but, for virtually all Android handsets, it’s surprisingly easy: our own Technical Editor, Darien Graham-Smith, <a href="http://www.pcpro.co.uk/blogs/2010/09/03/de-branding-android/" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #008dc9; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="Darien Graham-Smith roots his HTC Desire">explained how to do it back in September</a>, and instructions for major handsets – such as the <a href="http://www.knowyourcell.com/htc/htc-desire/desire-guides/474135/how_to_root_the_htc_desire.html" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #008dc9; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="How to root the HTC Desire">HTC Desire</a>, <a href="http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=1&sqi=2&ved=0CBYQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.techlivez.com%2F2010%2F07%2Fhow-to-root-samsung-galaxy-s%2F&ei=DX0UTYOyCtSJhQfvhLW2BQ&usg=AFQjCNGIYkiqtS4Mur73bRPORTX-OzUbJA" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #008dc9; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="Samsung Galaxy S root">Samsung Galaxy S</a> and <a href="http://thetechjournal.com/electronics/mobile/steps-to-root-sony-ericsson-xperia-x10-phone.xhtml" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #008dc9; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="Root the Sony Ericsson Xperia X10">Sony Ericsson Xperia X10</a> are easy enough to find, although you’ll be taking your phone and, perhaps, your warranty, into your own hands if you proceed.</span></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Still, that’s not to say that you need a rooted handset to take advantages of some of these tweaks – here are ten of our favourite Android hacks and tricks, rooted or not:</span></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span id="more-30259" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></span></span></div><h2 style="border-bottom-color: rgb(153, 153, 153); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #008dc9; font-style: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: 1.4em; margin-bottom: 1.25em !important; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 1em !important; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Replace your car’s satnav system</span></h2><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">This will only work if you’ve got a phone that can connect over a TV-out cable – that’ll restrict you to a mere handful of handsets, including the Samsung Galaxy S, HTC EVO 4G and Droid Incredible, <a href="http://www.androidguys.com/2010/07/15/crafty-android-fan-replaces-range-rover-nav-droid-incredible-video/" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #008dc9; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="Android owner uses phone in his car">which is used in this video</a> – and a car that’ll display the signal on its screen.</span></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">If you tick those boxes, though, you could be in for a money-saving treat. Why invest in a satnav, after all, when you could use Google’s own software? It’s got undoubted pedigree: we put it through <a href="http://www.pcpro.co.uk/features/359626/free-satnav-a-real-world-road-test" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #008dc9; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="Satnav for free">real-world road tests</a> in the summer against many of its rivals and found it to be the best satnav option.</span></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Satnav’s only the tip of the iceberg. Connect your phone to access your music collection, read your Twitter feed, check the latest headlines or perform any other function on your dashboard. While Android in cars <a href="http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CBoQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.techradar.com%2Fnews%2Fworld-of-tech%2Fcar-tech%2Fhow-android-is-moving-to-the-dashboard-684722&ei=cX0UTdfFLoywhQfbt6S3Dg&usg=AFQjCNFntIp3APfH2EhodtkobpvpKA4MNw" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #008dc9; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="Will Android ever officially move into the car?">has been mooted before</a>, no concrete models have appeared, so this is the next best thing.</span></div><h2 style="border-bottom-color: rgb(153, 153, 153); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #008dc9; font-style: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: 1.4em; margin-bottom: 1.25em !important; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 1em !important; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Run Android on your old iPhone<a href="http://www.pcpro.co.uk/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/iphone.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #008dc9; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="Apple iPhone 3G" class="alignright size-full wp-image-30289" height="379" src="http://www.pcpro.co.uk/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/iphone.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(131, 164, 179); border-bottom-style: solid; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(131, 164, 179); border-left-style: solid; border-right-color: rgb(131, 164, 179); border-right-style: solid; border-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(131, 164, 179); border-top-style: solid; border-width: initial; float: right; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0.8em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" width="250" /></a></span></h2><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">If you’ve still got an iPhone 2G or 3G gathering dust, it can be hard to know what to do with it – after all, you’ve likely replaced that older model with a snazzy new iPhone 4. If you’d like to experience the unrestricted pastures of Android, though – and perhaps try out apps that Steve Jobs has deemed unacceptable, such as the <a href="http://www.phonesreview.co.uk/2010/12/23/apple-kicked-wikileaks-app-but-its-doing-okay-on-android/" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #008dc9; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="Wikileaks cables OK on Android">Wikileaks cables</a> – then follow <a href="http://www.pcworld.com/article/196595/how_to_install_android_on_your_iphone.html" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #008dc9; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="Android on iPhone">these steps</a>, which begin with jailbreaking your phone.</span></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">You’re not restricted to installing Android on an old iPhone, either. Intrepid developers have busily ensured that a whole range of devices can be hacked to run Google’s OS: from the <a href="http://androidcommunity.com/htc-hd2-gets-android-2-2-froyo-and-desires-2-1-sense-roms-video-20100714/" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #008dc9; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="HTC HD2">Windows Mobile-running HTC HD2</a> to <a href="http://gizmodo.com/5122147/android-on-an-eee-pc" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #008dc9; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="Android on an Eee PC">an old netbook</a>.</span></div><h2 style="border-bottom-color: rgb(153, 153, 153); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #008dc9; font-style: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: 1.4em; margin-bottom: 1.25em !important; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 1em !important; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Overclock your handset</span></h2><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">You’ll need to have rooted before trying <a href="http://www.overclockers.com/overclock-android-phone/" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #008dc9; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="Overclock your Android phone">this trick</a>, but it’s worth it if your phone struggles when multi-tasking or running intensive applications.</span></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Of course, as with a desktop PC, overclocking a phone comes with risks. The processor inside your handset’s been designed to run at a specific speed and, without any active cooling inside its chassis, running the chip at a faster pace will generate additional heat and use more power.</span></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">The versatility of these apps does mean that it’s possible to combat these symptoms by underclocking your phone’s processor, saving battery power and potentially prolonging the chip’s life in the process.</span></div><h2 style="border-bottom-color: rgb(153, 153, 153); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #008dc9; font-style: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: 1.4em; margin-bottom: 1.25em !important; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 1em !important; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Play classic games</span></h2><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">One potentially dubious benefit of Android’s open approach is that its market is full of software emulators for classic games consoles: a quick scan on AppBrain reveals software like SNesoid, GameBoid and Ataroid – apps that wear their retro allegiances firmly on their sleeves.</span></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><img alt="NES controller" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-30295" height="187" src="http://www.pcpro.co.uk/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/nescontroller.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 141, 201); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(0, 141, 201); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(0, 141, 201); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(0, 141, 201); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; float: left; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 8px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" width="250" /></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">While these tools occupy some particularly murky legal ground, that hasn’t stopped several developers creating apps to download ROMs – the software needed to play classic games. Some have been even more imaginative, with one intrepid Dell Streak owner <a href="http://dailymobile.se/2010/11/04/android-dell-streak-snes-game-controller-mod/" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #008dc9; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="NES controller attached to a Dell Streak.">attaching a NES controller to his device</a>for more realistic retro gaming action.</span></div><h2 style="border-bottom-color: rgb(153, 153, 153); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #008dc9; font-style: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: 1.4em; margin-bottom: 1.25em !important; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 1em !important; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Install Ubuntu</span></h2><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Why settle for just only open-source OS on your device? We suspect that this particular trick won’t work if you own older and less powerful Android devices such as the HTC Hero, but owners of newer, faster handsets might want to take a gander at <a href="http://nexusonehacks.net/nexus-one-hacks/how-to-install-ubuntu-on-your-nexus-oneandroid/" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #008dc9; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="Install Ubuntu on your Nexus One">this guide</a>.</span></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">It’s an impressive trick – just imagine pulling out your Nexus One at a (very, very geeky) party and booting into Ubuntu. As neat as it is, we’re struggling to think of practical uses for this trickery. After all, Ubuntu isn’t designed for touch interfaces and small smartphone screens could be problematic, too.</span></div><h2 style="border-bottom-color: rgb(153, 153, 153); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #008dc9; font-style: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: 1.4em; margin-bottom: 1.25em !important; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 1em !important; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Change your look</span></h2><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><img alt="LauncherPro" class="alignright size-full wp-image-30316" height="400" src="http://www.pcpro.co.uk/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/launcherpro1.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(131, 164, 179); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(131, 164, 179); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(131, 164, 179); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(131, 164, 179); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; float: right; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0.8em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" width="240" /></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Android is the most versatile mobile OS around. Don’t believe us? Take a look at the sheer number of apps, themes and graphics that are available for customising your phone. Numerous apps are designed to replace Android’s stock front-end or manufacturer-provided software, with tools such as <a href="http://www.launcherpro.com/" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #008dc9; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="LauncherPro">LauncherPro</a>, <a href="http://hpp.intuitit.mobi/" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #008dc9; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="Home++">Home++</a> and <a href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/helixlauncher-great-free-home-screen-replacement-android/" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #008dc9; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="HelixLauncher">HelixLauncher</a> just three of many in the Market.</span></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">That’s just the start. Basic modifications like wallpaper changes can be livened up with animated backgrounds, and new icons can be downloaded if you don’t like the standard ones included with your home screen replacement. Tools such as <a href="http://levelupstudio.com/beautifulwidgets" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #008dc9; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="Beautiful Widgets">Beautiful Widgets</a> have their own communities churning out hundreds of stylish skins for its software.</span></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">It’s also worth taking a gander at some of the home screens posted on Reddit’s Android forum: with examples such as <a href="http://imgur.com/BXMd7" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #008dc9; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="One Homescreen">this</a>, <a href="http://i.imgur.com/Y7iZ8.png" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #008dc9; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="Two Homescreen">this</a> and <a href="http://i.imgur.com/BEDfZ.png" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #008dc9; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="Three Homescreen">this</a> regularly making the rounds, it’s no surprise that Google’s OS is doing so well for itself.</span></div><h2 style="border-bottom-color: rgb(153, 153, 153); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #008dc9; font-style: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: 1.4em; margin-bottom: 1.25em !important; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 1em !important; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Install root-only apps</span></h2><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Rooting your phone opens it up to a whole new world of options, not least the chance to install apps that aren’t available in the regular Market. Plenty of these allow extra control over the <a href="http://mobile.jack-frost.co.uk/best_android_root_apps.php" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #008dc9; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="Android root apps">behind-the-scenes operations of your phone:</a> some provide quick booting options, others allow your system to access extra memory, and more permit developers to access and edit the SQL databases used by most standard apps.</span></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Plenty of root apps prove themselves useful in other ways. Screenshot tools will prove invaluable if you’re used to the faff of getting screenshots from a stock Android phone, which involves installing the Android SDK and jumping through several dozen hoops. Backup tools, Wi-Fi tethering and battery-management and conservation utilities are all commonplace, too. Root apps tend to be on the geeky end of the spectrum, but they’re very useful.</span></div><h2 style="border-bottom-color: rgb(153, 153, 153); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #008dc9; font-style: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: 1.4em; margin-bottom: 1.25em !important; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 1em !important; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Control your media centre</span></h2><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><img alt="Gmote" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-30331" height="148" src="http://www.pcpro.co.uk/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/gmotenew.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 141, 201); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(0, 141, 201); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(0, 141, 201); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(0, 141, 201); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; float: left; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 8px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" width="124" /></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Having a smartphone means that your media collection needn’t be limited to your PC. Install an app like <a href="http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CBsQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gmote.org%2F&ei=0IQUTbHfF8q6hAfUz5G3Dg&usg=AFQjCNGSpFz24H6IE3XUhma5vcelboqKiQ" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #008dc9; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="GMote">Gmote</a> alongside its PC server software and you’ll see what we mean: by using Wi-Fi streaming it’ll grant access to your entire media collection.</span></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Its slick interface makes navigating your media collection a doddle and a couple of options mean that you can choose to play files on your PC or on your phone. It’s also possible to switch to a touchpad-style interface that allows you to take control of your PC from your touchscreen.</span></div><h2 style="border-bottom-color: rgb(153, 153, 153); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #008dc9; font-style: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: 1.4em; margin-bottom: 1.25em !important; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 1em !important; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Open your garage door</span></h2><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?s=b7d604d838d6090a65f5b01f6a3f3db5&t=816433" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #008dc9; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="Open your garage door with this Android app.">Yes, seriously</a>. It’s the work of one imaginative Android owner, and it’s brilliant.<strong style="font-weight: 700;"></strong></span></div><h2 style="border-bottom-color: rgb(153, 153, 153); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #008dc9; font-style: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: 1.4em; margin-bottom: 1.25em !important; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 1em !important; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Get the latest Android versions, fast</span></h2><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Every Android user is familiar with the seemingly endless waiting that punctuates every OS update: while Google might announce that the latest version is available, handset owners still have to twiddle their thumbs while their manufacturer and phone network tweak the software and add plenty of crapware before releasing it to paying customers.</span></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">If you’ve rooted your phone, though, then you don’t have to go through any of that hassle; instead, merely wait for an eager developer to release a ROM of the latest Android build and you’re good to go. It certainly beats waiting months for HTC to release the 2.1 update for the Hero.</span></div></div><span style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
</span><br />
<br />
<blockquote>To subscribe to the "Guy WhoSteals" feed, click <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/GuyWhoSteals">here</a>.<br />
Shamelessly stolen from: <a href="http://www.pcpro.co.uk/blogs/2011/01/02/the-10-best-android-hacks/">http://www.pcpro.co.uk/blogs/2011/01/02/the-10-best-android-hacks/</a><br />
You can <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Guy-WhoSteals/153503588017789">add yourself to the GuyWhoSteals fanpage on Facebook</a> or <a href="http://twitter.com/GuyWhoSteals">follow GuyWhoSteals on Twitter</a>.</blockquote>GuyWhoStealshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02565802673814348537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5083005185748233675.post-14814954835839794672011-01-05T08:34:00.000-08:002011-01-05T08:34:50.614-08:0045 Years Later, Does Moore's Law Still Hold True?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Codenamed "Sandy Bridge," Intel's new lineup of microchips promises the biggest-ever leap in processing power." src="http://a57.foxnews.com/static/managed/img/Scitech/604/341/sandybridge.JPG" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 604px;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span class="fn" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #555555; font-size: 11px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: right; vertical-align: baseline;">Intel </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #555555; font-size: 11px;">Codenamed "Sandy Bridge," Intel's new lineup of microchips promises the biggest-ever leap in processing power.</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Intel has packed just shy of a billion transistors into the 216 square millimeters of silicon that compose its latest chip, each one far, far thinner than a sliver of human hair.<br />
But this mind-blowing feat of engineering doesn't really surprise us, right? After all, that's just Moore's Law in action … isn't it?<br />
In 1965, an article in "Electronics" magazine by Gordon Moore, the future founder of chip juggernaut Intel, predicted that computer processing power would double roughly every 18 months. Or maybe he said 12 months. Or was it 24 months? Actually, nowhere in the article did Moore actually spell out that famous declaration, nor does the word "law" even appear in the article at all.<br />
<br />
Yet the idea has proved remarkably resilient over time, entering the public zeitgeist and lodging hold like a tick on dog -- or maybe a stubborn computer virus you just can't eradicate. But does it hold true? Strangely, that seems to depend more than anything on who you ask.<br />
<br />
"Yes, it still matters, and yes we're still tracking it," said Mark Bohr, Intel senior fellow and director of process architecture and integration. The company is certainly one reason Moore's Law has remained in the public's mind: A section on Intel's website details the law, explaining that "his prediction, popularly known as Moore's Law, states that the number of transistors on a chip will double about every two years. Intel has kept that pace for over 40 years, providing more functions on a chip at significantly lower cost per function."<br />
<br />
Bohr told FoxNews.com that doubling the number of chips is far less important these days than making them smaller, which has other tangible benefits for consumers.<br />
<br />
"The true benefit is to reduce the transistor size, because when they're smaller, you improve performance, reduce the power use, and you reduce the cost," he explained.<br />
<br />
While no one questions the innovations Intel, AMD and other companies have brought to computers through their infinitesimally small transistors -- a human red blood cell is about 4,000 nanometers in diameter, 125 times larger than the smallest parts in Intel's new chips -- many industry experts are less certain that Moore's so-called law is really an accurate representation of the industry.<br />
<br />
"Moore’s law isn’t tracking exactly, but the spirit of the law is still alive in that the dies are still shrinking, and CPUs become more and more capable every 12-18 months or so," said Joel Santo Domingo, lead analyst, desktops at PCMag.com. His former boss agrees.<br />
<br />
"I did the math, and while it’s not exactly doubling every two years, it’s pretty close," agreed Michael Miller, the award-winning math geek and former editor in chief of PCMag.com. <br />
<br />
Maybe, as Johnny Depp said in the Pirates of the Caribbean movies, it's really more of guideline?<br />
"Semiconductor chips haven't actually tracked the progress predicted by Moore's law for many years," said Tom Halfhill, the well respected chip analyst with industry bible the Microprocessor Report. <br />
<br />
Halfhill is quick to note that Moore's law isn't truly a scientific law, merely "an astute observation." In fact, since Gordon Moore made his observation in '65, the law has been modified and manipulated to fit the actual progress of semiconductors to such an extent that it can arguably be said to have predicted nothing.<br />
It's also been so frequently misused that Halfhill was forced to define Moron's Law, which states that "the number of ignorant references to Moore's Law doubles every 12 months."<br />
<br />
Halfhill wrote a paper for "The Microprocessor Report," published in December of 2004, which debunked the connection between Moore's Law and reality. In it, he noted that Moore's Law was more like Bode's law, an observation by early astronomers that each planet in our solar system is roughly twice as far from the sun as the planet in the next inner orbit.<br />
<br />
"Modern astronomers don't expect the distances between planets to add up exactly, and they don’t expect other solar systems to conform to the same rules," Halfhill explained. Likewise, engineers don't really require the latest generation of computer chips to exactly meet Moore's Law either.<br />
<br />
In fact, to make it track more closely to actual transistor counts, he proposed Epstein's amendment, named after a fellow editor at "The Microprocessor Report," which adds a leveling factor that accounts for the law of diminishing returns.<br />
<br />
Halfhill is quick to point out that the Law is meaningless -- but the idea that computing keeps relentlessly advancing, that's what's really important. "Whether it's exactly as fast as Moore predicted isn't really relevant. No one's holding him to the numbers," Halfhill told FoxNews.com. What's more important is that innovation continues. And at the end of the day, if the law drives innovation, and we end up with faster PCs, who cares whether Gordon Moore was right 45 years ago?<br />
<br />
"Moore law is almost whatever you want to make it mean. And as long as chips keep getting faster, that's good enough for most people."<br />
<br />
<blockquote>To subscribe to the "Guy WhoSteals" feed, click <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/GuyWhoSteals">here</a>.<br />
Shamelessly stolen from: <a href="http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2011/01/04/years-later-does-moores-law-hold-true/">http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2011/01/04/years-later-does-moores-law-hold-true/</a><br />
You can <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Guy-WhoSteals/153503588017789">add yourself to the GuyWhoSteals fanpage on Facebook</a> or <a href="http://twitter.com/GuyWhoSteals">follow GuyWhoSteals on Twitter</a>.</blockquote>GuyWhoStealshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02565802673814348537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5083005185748233675.post-84529077487110404072011-01-05T08:27:00.000-08:002011-01-05T08:27:39.463-08:00How to Make a Good Sequel<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-family: Calibri, 'trebuchet ms'; font-size: 14px;"></span><br />
<div style="outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">Sequels have become quite commonplace in today's gaming market. Walk into a game store, and everywhere will be the number "2", with "3", "4" and "13" also making occasional appearances. Thinking up a new intellectual property (IP) is hard work, but it's easy to just slap a number and perhaps a snazzy subtitle on the end of your game's name, tweak the graphics and add a new feature or two, right? Actually, no.</div><div style="outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">Have a look at GameRankings. You will notice that the majority of sequels attain a lower average score than their predecessors. Reviewers generally think they are making these reasons perfectly clear: "A lack of innovation in the franchise". But that's not always the case. We tend to judge a sequel by much higher standards than we do a new IP, because if it looks and feels like the previous game in the franchise, in our eyes, it may as well <span style="font-style: italic; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">be</span> the previous game in the franchise. So what, exactly, causes the sometimes-fatal disease known as "Sequelitis"? Let's use some examples and have a look. I'll be using <a href="http://www.gamerankings.com/" style="outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">GameRankings</a>, as it includes a large number of reviews. And just because standards do change over time, and we reviewers can be slightly random at times, I will only be including games where the discrepancy is more than 4%.<br />
<br />
But first, a brief word about the whole "did not evolve" thing. I think it's really just a line reviewers use when they want to reduce a sequel's score, but aren't quite sure why. Take<em style="outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">Assassin's Creed</em> as an example.<br />
<br />
<em style="outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">Assassin's Creed II</em> (PS3): 90.47%<br />
<em style="outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood</em> (PS3): 91.50%<br />
<br />
This doesn't count as breaking the 4% rule, because review scores favour old games, and yet<em style="outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">Brotherhood </em>attained a higher score than its (fantastic) predecessor. <em style="outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">Brotherhood </em>has evolved less than the large majority of games panned for being "too similar" to their predecessors. Actually, <em style="outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">Brotherhood</em> got this comment as well, but it doesn't seem to have affected reviews very much. Anyway, without further ado, the five lessons:<br />
<br />
</div><div style="outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Lesson 1 - Don't Take Six Years to Make Your Sequel</span><br />
<em style="outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">Gran Turismo 4</em>: 89.61%<br />
<em style="outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">Gran Turismo 5</em>: 84.69%<br />
<br />
When you take six years to make a game, it had better be the pinnacle of game design. Every time you delay a game, your customers grow impatient and begin to think "This had BETTER be good". Yes, <em style="outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">GT5</em> was an enjoyable racing game when it arrived, but it wasn't the brilliant, awe-inspiring game that we were expecting. This doesn't only apply to sequels, but people's expectations for the <em style="outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">GT</em> franchise are already extremely high, and six years of development just added to that. As such, this isn't as much of an issue for sequels to mediocre games.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">Lesson 2 - Don't Re-Use the Same Engine Over and Over Again</span><br />
<em style="outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">Fallout 3</em> (X360): 92.79%<br />
<em style="outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">Fallout: New Vegas</em> (X360): 83.64%<br />
<br />
The Gamebryo engine has been in use for four years now, and <span style="font-style: italic; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">New Vegas</span> is exactly why it needs to be retired. When you try to cram a new game into an old engine, it <span style="font-style: italic; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">is</span> going to be a mess. <em style="outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">New Vegas</em> is considered one of the buggiest (good) games of this generation. Fortunately, Bethesda has already learnt its mistake, and <span style="font-style: italic; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim</span> is using a brand new engine. Oh, and while we're on this point, don't let another developer use your engine. Ever.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">Lesson 3 - Try Not to Lose Your Lead Designer</span><br />
<em style="outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">BioShock</em> (X360): 94.95%<br />
<em style="outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">BioShock 2</em> (X360): 87.89%<br />
<br />
AND a more extreme example:<br />
<br />
<em style="outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">Devil May Cry</em>: 92.60%<br />
<em style="outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">Devil May Cry 2</em>: 73.61%<br />
<br />
Don't get me wrong; I enjoyed <em style="outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">BioShock 2</em> very much. It was entertaining and pretty brutal, in a good way. But without the artistic genius of Ken Levine, well, it felt like it was missing something. A heart. A reason why we should care about any of the characters, or the story. I have no idea how he does it, but he does it pretty darn well. I've heard it argued that this is one of those "did not evolve" games, but I don't quite agree with that. A range of new plasmids and tonics, new weapons, a new setting, and the whole Big Daddy gameplay on top of that. Pretty much the same was true for <em style="outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">DMC2</em>. Mikami had little input in the development of <em style="outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">DMC2</em>, and it ended up being decidedly average. This one only really works if the original was a good game, which is not a prerequisite for making a good sequel (as we'll see later)<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">Lesson 4: Don't Get Rid of What People Loved in the Original</span><br />
<em style="outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">Star Wars: The Force Unleashed</em> (X360): 73.88%<br />
<em style="outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II</em> (X360): 64.19%<br />
<br />
<em style="outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">The Force Unleashed </em>wasn't exactly the pinnacle of game design when it launched, but it had one thing going for it: story. Really, everything else sucked, except for, arguably, Force Push and Force Throw. Nobody is denying that <em style="outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">TFU II</em> is a much more polished game and that it's better designed to boot. I'm also sure that nobody would deny <em style="outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">Revenge of the Sith</em> has better special effects than <em style="outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">Empire Strikes Back</em>. And yet, the latter is a better film, and <em style="outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">TFU</em> is a better game. Story is more important to a film than a game, but <em style="outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">Star Wars</em> is <em style="outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">Star Wars</em>, and if the story isn't good, you can't enjoy the rest of it. It was the saving grace of the original and the killing blow to the sequel. Just look at the "good ending". Come ON.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">Lesson 5: Don't "Evolve" Too Much</span><br />
<em style="outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">Command &Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars</em> (PC): 85.45%<br />
<em style="outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">Command &Conquer 4: Tiberian Twilight</em> (PC): 63.97%<br />
<br />
This is perhaps one of the worst sequels ever. When you have a long-running, well-loved and well-received RTS series centred around base building, the last thing you want to do is "evolve" and get rid of it completely. If you change from your predecessor too much, you lose any connection with it, and fans of the old game will not be fans of the new. And with this, I think we can hammer the final nail into the coffin of the "games must evolve" theory.<br />
<br />
But enough negativity and broken dreams. Let's take a look at some genuinely improved sequels, and see if the five criteria apply.</div><div style="outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><br />
<span style="font-weight: bold; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">Prime Example 1</span><br />
<em style="outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">Uncharted: Drake's Fortune</em>: 89.70%<br />
<em style="outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">Uncharted 2: Among Thieves</em>: 96.41%, Several Game of the Year awards.<br />
<br />
This will be the least improved sequel on this list, because <em style="outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">Drake's Fortune</em> was actually a great game in its own right. But Naughty Dog stepped up to the plate and delivered an incredible experience.<br />
1) This took only two years to make; nowhere near six.<br />
2) Two years, and they <span style="font-weight: bold; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">still</span> improved the engine. It was also developed in-house, so Naughty Dog knew how to use it.<br />
3) Amy Hennig was the Director of <em style="outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">Drake's Fortune</em>, and though her job was split up for<em style="outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">Among Thieves</em>, she remained Creative Director.<br />
4) Beautiful environments? Improved. Brilliant characters, dialogue and story? Improved. Actually, this calls for a new lesson.<br />
5) It still felt like the original <em style="outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">Drake's Fortune</em> at heart, just a much more polished version.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">Lesson 6 - Improve Everything.</span><br />
<br />
This might sound like a given, but very few games actually do it. You might think "it's okay, we'll leave this as it is", which will mean that, at best, it will be as good as before, or even worse, "We'll improve this by making this other thing worse", which is exactly how we ended up with Force Unleashed II. If you leave something unimproved, it <span style="font-style: italic; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">will</span> come back to bite you.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">Prime Example 2</span><br />
<em style="outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">Assassin's Creed</em> (PS3): 78.82%<br />
<em style="outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">Assassin's Creed II</em> (PS3): 90.47%<br />
<br />
There was far more room for improvement here, because <em style="outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">Assassin's Creed</em> <span style="font-style: italic; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">wasn't</span> particularly good. The criteria:<br />
<br />
1) Again, two years.<br />
2) Fine, the same engine here, but look at how beautiful <em style="outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">Assassin's Creed</em> was to begin with. These rules aren't necessarily set in stone. And again, two years, and an in-house development engine.<br />
3) I said that this wasn't a requirements for sequels to average games, but they still kept Patrice Desilets. The ideas behind <em style="outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">AC1</em> were good; just not the execution.<br />
4) What <span style="font-style: italic; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">did</span> people love in the original? Viewpoints? Better than ever. Assassinations? Far more frequent, and without the absurd monologues and menial side-missions that accompanied them. Platforming? Still there in huge quantities.<br />
5) Even though it did improve everything, anyone playing <em style="outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">ACII</em> could tell that it was a sequel to<em style="outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">AC</em>, and no fans of <em style="outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">AC</em> would be alienated.<br />
6) Combat was improved. Story and characterisation were massively improved, as was sound. Even the already-solid platforming was improved.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">Prime Example 3</span><br />
<em style="outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">Killzone</em>: 73.92%<br />
<em style="outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">Killzone 2</em>: 90.07%<br />
<br />
As with <em style="outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">Assassin's Creed II</em>, there was plenty of room for improvement, and Guerilla did a fantastic job.<br />
<br />
1) Four and a half years, but it <span style="font-style: italic; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">was</span> a new platform, and the game did actually live up to expectations, and exceed many, because its predecessor was so mediocre.<br />
2) It would probably be a cause for concern if Guerilla used the same engine on two platforms, so it's good that they didn't.<br />
3) Nobody actually seems to know who directed <em style="outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">Killzone</em>, but Mathijs de Jonge did a fantastic job outdoing them.<br />
4) This didn't actually happen, but <em style="outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">Killzone 2</em> was never really marketed to the <em style="outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">Killzone</em>audience.<br />
5) Pretty much the same as 4)<br />
6) Everything certainly was improved, from the graphics, to the sound, to the gunplay.<br />
<br />
<em style="outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">Killzone 2</em>, then, is a special case. You can, in extreme circumstances, just pretend that the original never existed, and go from there. This is an option when you expect the sequel to be FAR better, and when the original wasn't very popular to begin with, so there is no risk of alienation. Your game had also better be pretty awesome, so even the fans of the original will see some new charm here.<br />
<br />
So, there we have the six criteria that seem to fit most games. Again:<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><br style="outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;" />1) Don't spend too much time on development.<br style="outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;" />2) Change your engine every so often, and if you can, use one that you've developed yourself.<br style="outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;" />3) Try to keep the team the same, especially if the original was good.<br style="outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;" />4) Don't get rid of the parts of the original that people loved.<br style="outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;" />5) Don't try to evolve too much and forget what made the original great.<br style="outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;" />6) Improve everything, because one bad aspect can bring the whole game crashing down.</span></div><blockquote>To subscribe to the "Guy WhoSteals" feed, click <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/GuyWhoSteals">here</a>.<br />
Shamelessly stolen from: <a href="http://gamrfeed.vgchartz.com/story/83289/how-to-make-a-good-sequel/">http://gamrfeed.vgchartz.com/story/83289/how-to-make-a-good-sequel/</a><br />
You can <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Guy-WhoSteals/153503588017789">add yourself to the GuyWhoSteals fanpage on Facebook</a> or <a href="http://twitter.com/GuyWhoSteals">follow GuyWhoSteals on Twitter</a>.</blockquote>GuyWhoStealshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02565802673814348537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5083005185748233675.post-58904408622444428542011-01-05T08:25:00.000-08:002011-01-05T08:25:20.012-08:00How This Guy Discovered Four New Planets Without a Telescope<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;"></span><br />
<h1 style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Peter Jalowiczor is a gas worker from South Yorkshire, England. He's also the discoverer of four giant exoplanets, according to the University of California's Lick-Carnegie Planet Search Team. But he's not an astronomer and he doesn't even have a telescope.</span></span></h1><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">He worked for three years on the discovery, analyzing data made public by the university using his two home computers, spending hundreds of hours of his spare time in the task. Jalowiczor, who has two science degrees but no formal astronomy training, used a process called doppler spectroscopy or radial velocity measurement. As he explains it:</div><blockquote style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #eaf2f4; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #51646b; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 5px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 10px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 10px; quotes: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I look for faint changes in stars' behaviors that can only be caused by a planet or planets orbiting about them. Stars are incredibly far away and no telescope yet built can directly see their discs, let alone any planets going around them.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Astronomers therefore have to devise other indirect techniques of detection. If a planet orbits a star it causes a tiny wobble in the star's motion and this wobble reveals itself in the star's light. Special software works out the properties about the planet's orbit and precise measurements of the star taken over many years enable scientists to build up profiles of systems as planets are gradually revealed.</div></blockquote><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">According to the Lick-Carnegie Planet Search Team, the gas worker is the co-discoverer of gas planets HD31253b, HD218566b, HD177830c and HD99492c, which is the closest of the four, 58 light years away. </div><br />
<blockquote>To subscribe to the "Guy WhoSteals" feed, click <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/GuyWhoSteals">here</a>.<br />
Shamelessly stolen from: <a href="http://gizmodo.com/5723473/how-this-guy-discovered-four-new-planets-without-a-telescope">http://gizmodo.com/5723473/how-this-guy-discovered-four-new-planets-without-a-telescope</a><br />
You can <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Guy-WhoSteals/153503588017789">add yourself to the GuyWhoSteals fanpage on Facebook</a> or <a href="http://twitter.com/GuyWhoSteals">follow GuyWhoSteals on Twitter</a>.</blockquote>GuyWhoStealshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02565802673814348537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5083005185748233675.post-38992198119646349652011-01-02T01:32:00.000-08:002011-01-02T01:32:27.847-08:00The Best Tech Writing of 2010<br>Writing, whether it appeared in print or on a blog, was dissected, critiqued, relinked and shared faster than ever in 2010. Just take a look at the recent arguments on the <a href="http://www.boingboing.net/2010/12/29/gw.html" target="_blank">Lamo/Manning Wikileaks chat logs</a> between Salon's Glenn Greenwald and Wired's Kevin Poulsen that have spilled out from traditional columns to Twitter and back again. A New Yorker article from Malcolm Gladwell kicked off an Internet-wide debate on the efficacy of social activism through social networking, and discussion of the Internet's <a href="http://www.niemanlab.org/2010/11/attention-versus-distraction-what-that-big-ny-times-story-leaves-out" target="_blank">attack</a> on our and ever-dwindling <a href="http://tweetagewasteland.com/2010/07/dude-im-totally-wasted-on-the-internet/" target="_blank">attention</a> <a href="http://www.buzzmachine.com/2010/11/21/who-says-our-way-is-the-right-way/" target="_blank">spans</a> raged all year long. We took a look back at this year's most notable, controversial and challenging tech articles, picked some of our favorites and broke down the rest by privacy, entertainment, life and the Web, Web culture, people, business and gadgets. Fire up Instapaper or your favorite reading app and enjoy! <br />
<br />
<h3>Top 15</h3>Zadie Smith - <a href="http://www.nybooks.com/articles/archives/2010/nov/25/generation-why/" target="_blank">Generation Why</a> - <em>The New York Review of Books </em><blockquote>From the opening scene it's clear that this is a movie about 2.0 people made by 1.0 people (Aaron Sorkin and David Fincher, forty-nine and forty-eight respectively). It's a talkie, for goodness' sake, with as many words per minute as His Girl Friday. A boy, Mark, and his girl, Erica, sit at a little table in a Harvard bar, zinging each other, in that relentless Sorkin style made famous by The West Wing (though at no point does either party say "Walk with me"-for this we should be grateful).</blockquote>Gladwell - <a href="http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2010/10/04/101004fa_fact_gladwell" target="_blank">Why the Revolution Will Not be Tweeted</a> - <em>The New Yorker </em><blockquote>Facebook activism succeeds not by motivating people to make a real sacrifice but by motivating them to do the things that people do when they are not motivated enough to make a real sacrifice. We are a long way from the lunch counters of Greensboro.</blockquote>William Gibson - <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/01/opinion/01gibson.html" target="_blank">Google's Earth</a> - <em>New York Times </em><blockquote>We never imagined that artificial intelligence would be like this. We imagined discrete entities. Genies. We also seldom imagined (in spite of ample evidence) that emergent technologies would leave legislation in the dust, yet they do. In a world characterized by technologically driven change, we necessarily legislate after the fact, perpetually scrambling to catch up, while the core architectures of the future, increasingly, are erected by entities like Google.</blockquote>James Verini - <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/14/magazine/14Hacker-t.html?pagewanted=all" target="_blank">The Great Cyberheist</a> - <em>New York Times </em><blockquote>Gonzalez was debriefed and soon found to be a rare catch. Not only did he have data on millions of card accounts stored on the computer back in his New Jersey apartment, but he also had a knack for patiently explaining his expertise in online card fraud. As one former Secret Service agent told me, Gonzalez was extremely intelligent. "He knew computers. He knew fraud. He was good."</blockquote>Glenn Greenwald - <a href="http://www.salon.com/news/opinion/glenn_greenwald/2010/06/18/wikileaks" target="_blank">The Strange and Consequential Case of Bradley Manning, Adrian Lamo and WikiLeaks</a> - <em>Salon</em> <blockquote>A definitive understanding of what really happened is virtually impossible to acquire, largely because almost everything that is known comes from a single, extremely untrustworthy source: Lamo himself.</blockquote>Jaron Lanier - <a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2010/12/the-hazards-of-nerd-supremacy-the-case-of-wikileaks/68217/" target="_blank">The Hazards of Nerd Supremacy: The Case of WikiLeaks</a> - <em>The Atlantic </em><blockquote>Julian Assange, in defending his actions sees a vindicating contradiction in this difference: How can information be both dangerous and inconsequential, he asks? He sees information as an abstract free-standing thing, so to him, differences in perspective and circumstance mean nothing. This is how nerd supremacists think.</blockquote>Maria Bustillos - <a href="http://www.theawl.com/2010/12/wikileaks-and-the-dangers-of-hubris" target="_blank">Wikileaks and the Dangers of Hubris</a> - <em>The Awl </em><blockquote>A closer look at these matters brings us to the real value of WikiLeaks. Over and above their oft-stated goal of scaring the bejesus out of any would-be misbehaving varmints in power is an even simpler and more valuable message for the public: don't believe anything you read. No seriously, not one single thing. </blockquote>Jeffrey Zeldman - <a href="http://www.zeldman.com/2010/04/21/stop-chasing-followers/" target="_blank">Stop Chasing Followers</a> - <em>zeldman.com </em><blockquote> Following doesn't mean paying attention. You don't want numbers on Twitter, not really. What you want is to follow and be followed by human beings who care about issues you care about. </blockquote>Thompson - <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/20/magazine/20Computer-t.html?_r=1" target="_blank">What is IBM's Watson?</a> - <em>The New York Times </em><blockquote>This, Wolfram says, is the deep challenge of artificial intelligence: a lot of human knowledge isn't represented in words alone, and a computer won't learn that stuff just by encoding English language texts, as Watson does. The only way to program a computer to do this type of mathematical reasoning might be to do precisely what Ferrucci doesn't want to do - sit down and slowly teach it about the world, one fact at a time.</blockquote>Paul Graham - <a href="http://paulgraham.com/addiction.html" target="_blank">The Acceleration of Addictiveness</a> - <em>Paul Graham </em><blockquote>The next 40 years will bring us some wonderful things. I don't mean to imply they're all to be avoided. Alcohol is a dangerous drug, but I'd rather live in a world with wine than one without. Most people can coexist with alcohol; but you have to be careful. More things we like will mean more things we have to be careful about.</blockquote>Matt Richtel - <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/21/technology/21brain.html?_r=2&pagewanted=all" target="_blank">Growing Up Digital, Wired for Distraction</a> - <em>The New York Times </em><blockquote>"Their brains are rewarded not for staying on task but for jumping to the next thing," said Michael Rich, an associate professor at Harvard Medical School and executive director of the Center on Media and Child Health in Boston. And the effects could linger: "The worry is we're raising a generation of kids in front of screens whose brains are going to be wired differently."</blockquote>Robin Sloan - <a href="http://snarkmarket.com/2010/4890" target="_blank">Stock and Flow</a> - <em>Snarkmarket</em> <blockquote>I feel like flow is ascendant these days, for obvious reasons-but we neglect stock at our own peril. I mean that both in terms of the health of an audience and, like, the health of a soul. Flow is a treadmill, and you can't spend all of your time running on the treadmill. Well, you can. But then one day you'll get off and look around and go: Oh man. I've got nothing here.</blockquote>Gary Kasparov - <a href="http://www.nybooks.com/articles/archives/2010/feb/11/the-chess-master-and-the-computer/" target="_blank">Chess Master and Computer</a> - <em>The New York Review of Books </em><blockquote>At one point I realized that I was drifting into trouble in a game against one of the "Kasparov" brand models. If this machine scored a win or even a draw, people would be quick to say that I had thrown the game to get PR for the company, so I had to intensify my efforts. Eventually I found a way to trick the machine with a sacrifice it should have refused. From the human perspective, or at least from my perspective, those were the good old days of man vs. machine chess. </blockquote>Ian Bogost - <a href="http://www.bogost.com/blog/cow_clicker_1.shtml" target="_blank">Cow Clicker: The Making of Obsession</a> - <em>Bogost.com </em><blockquote>Even over the few days I spent developing Cow Clicker, I found myself watching people play, listening to feedback, and imagining changes. I "listened to my players" and made enhancements far beyond what was reasonable for a work of carpentry or a simple parody. It's hard for me to express the compulsion and self-loathing that have accompanied the apparently trivial creation of this little theory-cum-parody game.</blockquote>Beepo the Dolphin - <a href="http://www.theonion.com/articles/do-the-new-tablets-own-up-to-the-hype,16938/?utm_medium=promobar&utm_campaign=recirculation" target="_blank">Do The New Tablets Own Up To The Hype?</a> - <em>The Onion </em><blockquote>Without further ado, let's get to the 800-pound gorilla of the bunch, the iPad. The device's unimaginative name belies its sleek, creative design, which is everything we've come to expect from Apple. It's pretty to look at, and they've worked out a lot of the touch-screen kinks that plagued the iPhone and iPod Touch. It's also much smaller and lighter than a laptop, making it easy to tuck under a fin when you're swimming out the gate, and thanks to Apple's dominance in the smartphone field, there will be thousands of applications for it.</blockquote><br />
<h3>Privacy/Security</h3>Tim Elfrink - <a href="http://www.miaminewtimes.com/content/printVersion/2270696/" target="_blank">Hack Pack</a> - <em>Miami New Times </em><blockquote>He'd betrayed the Secret Service and cost U.S. companies and credit card users big money. TJX alone lost 46.5 million credit card numbers and spent more than $132 million paying back customers, fixing security flaws, and defending itself in lawsuits. Banks, retailers, and payroll companies racked up "hundreds of millions" in expenses, prosecutors said.</blockquote>Nancy Scola - <a href="http://www.prospect.org/cs/articles?article=washingtons_it_guy" target="_blank">Washington's I.T. Guy</a> - <em>The American Prospect </em><blockquote>Given Obama's reputation as a our most tech-savvy president to date, and one whose election was due, in part, to online organizing, Malamud is betting that he can get this administration to see the wisdom in open-source government. His success or failure will speak volumes about whether Washington will reap the benefits of the Internet age -- or whether the current celebration of technology culture will simply fade away. </blockquote><br />
<h3>Entertainment</h3>Nathan Heller - <a href="http://www.slate.com/toolbar.aspx?action=print&id=2259928" target="_blank">Trench Coat, Unlit Cigar</a> - <em>Slate</em> <blockquote>The two feeds are co-written anonymously by former Observer staffers Peter Stevenson and Jim Windolf, and although their semi-private joke has lately started going public-the Village Voice not long ago alluded playfully to Wise and Cranky; New York Magazine's "approval matrix" dubbed the latter "brilliant" and "lowbrow"-the two accounts are still essentially undiscovered. They shouldn't be. Whether one has a table at Elaine's or a stool in the local dive bar (or both), the Kaplan dispatches offer one of the most entertaining and ambitious uses of Twitter yet. </blockquote>Tom Bissell - <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/theobserver/2010/mar/21/tom-bissell-video-game-cocaine-addiction" target="_blank">Video games: the addiction</a> - <em>The Observer </em><blockquote>Video games and cocaine feed on my impulsiveness, reinforce my love of solitude and make me feel good and bad in equal measure. The crucial difference is that I believe in what video games want to give me, while the bequest of cocaine is one I loathe. I do know that video games have enriched my life. Of that I have no doubt. They have also done damage to my life. Of that I have no doubt. I let this happen, of course; I even helped the process along. As for cocaine, it has been a long time since I last did it, but not as long as I would like.</blockquote>Michael Heilemann - <a href="http://binarybonsai.com/2010/09/18/george-lucas-stole-chewbacca-but-its-okay/" target="_blank">George Lucas Stole Chewbacca, But It's Okay</a> - <em>The Binary Bonsai</em><br />
<blockquote>Chewbacca didn't spring to life out of nowhere, fully formed when Lucas saw his dog in the passenger seat of his car. That's the soundbite. A single step. The reality is complex and human. From vague names floating around, the kernel of an idea, changing purposes and roles of characters, major restructuring, the design hopping from person to person, scrapping the existing concept and going down a different path, seeing existing things in a different light and having to conform a range of ideas to complement and enrich one another.</blockquote>Ricardo Gutierrez - <a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2010/07/how-i-learned-to-stop-worrying-and-love-technology/60559/" target="_blank">How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Technology</a> - <em>The Atlantic </em><blockquote>But seriously, the music industry was the first to get hit in the switch to digital, that I can think of. Everyone at the top resisted. They couldn't see their industry going away, not after windfalls a few years prior. Even the studios couldn't imagine that they wouldn't be needed as much, seeing as it took so much money to record an album. Technology changed that.<br />
<br />
</blockquote><h3>Web and Life</h3>Gary Wolf - <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/02/magazine/02self-measurement-t.html?ref=magazine" target="_blank">The Data-Driven Life</a> - <em>New York Times </em><blockquote>Adler's idea that we can - and should - defend ourselves against the imposed generalities of official knowledge is typical of pioneering self-trackers, and it shows how closely the dream of a quantified self resembles therapeutic ideas of self-actualization, even as its methods are startlingly different. </blockquote>Megan Garber - <a href="http://www.niemanlab.org/2010/06/clay-shirkys-cognitive-surplus-is-creating-and-sharing-always-a-more-moral-choice-than-consuming/" target="_blank">Clay Shirky's "Cognitive Surplus": Is creating and sharing always a more moral choice than consuming?</a> - <em>Neiman Journalism Lab </em><blockquote>Is creating cultural products always more generous, more communally valuable, than consuming them? And why, in this context, would TV-watching be any different from that quintessentially introverted practice that is reading a book?</blockquote>Nathan Schneider - <a href="http://www.openlettersmonthly.com/in-defense-of-the-memory-theater/" target="_blank">In Defense of the Memory Theater</a> - <em>Open Letters Monthly </em><blockquote>What concerns me about the literary apocalypse that everybody now expects-the at least partial elimination of paper books in favor of digital alternatives-is not chiefly the books themselves, but the bookshelf. My fear is for the eclectic, personal collections that we bookish people assemble over the course of our lives, as well as for their grander, public step-siblings. I fear for our memory theaters.</blockquote>Alex Balk - <a href="http://www.theawl.com/2010/11/is-the-internet-making-us-all-crazy-or-just-me" target="_blank">Is The Internet Making Us All Crazy Or Just Me?</a> - <em>The Awl </em><blockquote>This is not obviously something completely exclusive to the Internet. We've all had the experience of stepping out of a car and suddenly realizing, "Wait, I just drove all the way home and have no memory of doing it." But there's a very different feeling to this one; it's almost as if my brain is creating my own avatar and putting it in a space which lacks the constraints of time or much physical detail.</blockquote>Alexis Madrigal - <a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2010/09/the-man-who-first-said/63821/" target="_blank">The Man Who First Said 'Cyborg,' 50 Years Later</a> - <em>The Atlantic </em><blockquote>Here's the thing: For most of us, cyborg ends at the human-machine hybrid. The point of the cyborg is to be a cyborg; it's an end unto itself. But for Clynes, the interface between the organism and the technology was just a means, a way of enlarging the human experience. That knotty first definition? It ran under this section headline: "Cyborgs -- Frees Man to Explore." The cyborg was not less human, but more.</blockquote>Steven Pinker - <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/11/opinion/11Pinker.html" target="_blank">Mind Over Mass Media</a> - <em>New York Times </em><blockquote>The new media have caught on for a reason. Knowledge is increasing exponentially; human brainpower and waking hours are not. Fortunately, the Internet and information technologies are helping us manage, search and retrieve our collective intellectual output at different scales, from Twitter and previews to e-books and online encyclopedias. Far from making us stupid, these technologies are the only things that will keep us smart.</blockquote>Tom Meitzer - <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/aug/07/social-networking-friends-lonelytechn" target="_blank">Social networking: Failure to connect</a> - <em>The Guardian </em><blockquote>This love/hate relationship with social networking is widespread. Ablett's experiences echo those of many others who find they simply cannot live without Facebook. To sign off from its pages is to excise yourself from social groups and invitations, to vanish from friends' lives. So we get stuck in a vicious circle, compulsively checking each other's status updates and feeling alienated as a result.</blockquote>Dan Ariely - <a href="http://bigthink.com/ideas/20749" target="_blank">Why online dating is so unsatisfying</a> - <em>BigThink </em><blockquote>You have no time to create a social network. We work long hours, so it's really a system where we don't have time to find people for ourselves. It's taboo to date people at the work place, the social networks are weaker in the physical world. We move all the time and we don't have a yentl or parents to tell us what to do</blockquote>Steve Lohr - <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/22/weekinreview/22lohr.html?ref=weekinreview" target="_blank">Now Playing: Night of the Living Tech</a> - <em>The New York Times </em><blockquote>Attention spans evolve and shorten, as even the most skilled media jugglers can attest. "I love the iPad," admits Mr. Negroponte, "but my ability to read any long-form narrative has more or less disappeared, as I am constantly tempted to check e-mail, look up words or click through." And people, every bit as much as technology, shape the churning media ecology.</blockquote><br />
<h3>Web Culture</h3>Farhad Manjoo - <a href="http://www.slate.com/id/2252140/" target="_blank">YouTube vs. Der Führer</a> - <em>Slate</em> <blockquote> David King, a YouTube product manager, told me that the system can find extremely fuzzy matches. It can spot when a copyrighted video has been transformed in some way by an uploader-for instance, it can finger a basketball game even if you pause, rewind, and then replay a clip from it, and it can identify Eric Cartman if you record a clip of South Park by holding your camera up to your TV. </blockquote>Olia Lialina - <a href="http://contemporary-home-computing.org/prof-dr-style/" target="_blank">Prof. Dr. Style</a> - <em>Contemporary Home Computing </em><blockquote> Primitivity tells us the story of the browser being not only a browser, but also an editor. Every user of the early web was a producer of web content. Web pages were to be opened in the browser to look at them, but also to edit them, using existing pages as templates for new pages. The simple design of HTML made it possible for the first users to create state of the art pages with only four to five principal tags. The result was an extremely fast growing web. There were not many options, this is why we got many pages. </blockquote>Coupland - <a href="http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/a-radical-pessimists-guide-to-the-next-10-years/article1750609/singlepage/#articlecontent" target="_blank">A radical pessimist's guide to the next 10 years</a> - <em>The Globe and Mail </em><blockquote>In the same way you can never go backward to a slower computer, you can never go backward to a lessened state of connectedness</blockquote><br />
<h3>People</h3>Jose Antonio Vargas - <a href="http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2010/09/20/100920fa_fact_vargas?currentPage=all" target="_blank">The Face of Facebook</a> - <em>The New Yorker </em><blockquote>Zuckerberg's ultimate goal is to create, and dominate, a different kind of Internet. Google and other search engines may index the Web, but, he says, "most of the information that we care about is things that are in our heads, right? And that's not out there to be indexed, right?" Zuckerberg was in middle school when Google launched, and he seems to have a deep desire to build something that moves beyond it. "It's like hardwired into us in a deeper way: you really want to know what's going on with the people around you," he said.</blockquote>Maureen Tkacik - <a href="http://www.cjr.org/cover_story/look_at_me.php?page=all">Look at Me!</a> - <em>Columbia Journalism Review</em><blockquote> <div>What I'm talking about is, of course, a lot easier to do with the creative liberties afforded a blog-one's humanity is inescapable when one commits to blogging all day for a living. I don't think it's a coincidence that Andrew Sullivan, one of journalism's preeminent blogging brands, is one of very few journalists to have endured his own sordid sex scandal.</div></blockquote>Robert Wright - <a href="http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/02/02/obamas-modern-predicament/" target="_blank">Internet vs. Obama</a> - <em>The New York Times Opinionator </em><blockquote>It's no exaggeration to say that technology has subverted the original idea of America. The founders explicitly rejected direct democracy - in which citizens vote on every issue - in favor of representative democracy. The idea was that legislators would convene at a safe remove from voters and, thus insulated from the din of narrow interests and widespread but ephemeral passions, do what was in the long-term interest of their constituents and of the nation. Now information technology has stripped away the insulation that physical distance provided back when information couldn't travel faster than a horse.</blockquote>Frederik Balfour and Tim Culpan - <a href="http://www.businessweek.com/print/magazine/content/10_38/b4195058423479.htm" target="_blank">The Man Who Makes Your iPhone</a> - <em>Bloomberg Businessweek </em><blockquote>It actually wasn't until late May, after the ninth Foxconn employee had leaped to his death, that Foxconn went into full crisis management mode, stringing more than 3 million square meters of yellow-mesh netting around its buildings to catch jumpers and setting up a 24-hour counseling center staffed by 100 trained workers.</blockquote>Thomas Goetz - <a href="http://www.wired.com/magazine/2010/06/ff_sergeys_search/all/1" target="_blank">Sergey Brin's Search for a Parkinson's Cure</a> - <em>Wired</em> <blockquote>In Brin's way of thinking, each of our lives is a potential contribution to scientific insight. We all go about our days, making choices, eating things, taking medications, doing things-generating what is inelegantly called data exhaust. A century ago, of course, it would have been impossible to actually capture this information, particularly without a specific hypothesis to guide a researcher in what to look for. Not so today. With contemporary computing power, that data can be tracked and analyzed. "Any experience that we have or drug that we may take, all those things are individual pieces of information," Brin says. "Individually, they're worthless, they're anecdotal. But taken together they can be very powerful."</blockquote><h3>Business/Media</h3>Tony Hsieh - <a href="http://www.inc.com/magazine/20100601/why-i-sold-zappos_Printer_Friendly.html" target="_blank">Why I Sold Zappos</a> - Inc. <blockquote>These ideas about the power of our company culture had yet to be proved. As I talked to Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos, who visited our headquarters in 2005, I realized that to Amazon, we were just a leading shoe company. If we sold, we'd probably be folded into their operations, and our brand and culture would be at risk of disappearing. That was why we told Jeff that we weren't interested in selling at any price. I felt like we were just getting started.</blockquote>Devin Friedman - <a href="http://www.gq.com/news-politics/big-issues/201012/viral-me-silicon-valley-social-networking-devin-friedman?printable=true" target="_blank">The Viral Me</a> - GQ <blockquote>Is that all social media is doing? Playing psychological video games in ways that form habits and drive revenue for Internet companies? Ashvin says no. And he points to Quora as an example of why this isn't the case. Quora actually does make you feel optimistic. It's a thingy that is meant to harness the collective knowledge of all the smart people who use the Internet and get them to answer human questions and provide nuanced human answers.</blockquote>Jeff Simmermon - <a href="http://newteevee.com/2010/10/22/twc-espn-online-all-about-screwing-around-at-work/" target="_blank">We're Launching ESPN3 and Streaming ESPN Online On October 25th</a> - <em>untangled</em> <blockquote>[L]et's call this thing what it is. It's the mother of all value-adds to the biggest audience of all: the screwing-around-at-work network. The entire Internet economy is built on simultaneously enhancing and destroying workplace productivity, and now that's going to a WHOLE new level.</blockquote><h3>Gadgets and Tech</h3>Joanna Stern - <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/15/editorial-rim-seems-to-be-as-lost-as-my-blackberry/" target="_blank">RIM seems to be as lost as my BlackBerry</a> - <em>Engadget </em><br />
<blockquote> Which brings me up to today. With my Curve lost somewhere between my hotel and San Francisco airport, a major industry question suddenly became very personal: a year and a half after buying the 8530, was there really no solid smartphone option in the market from RIM? Obviously, I knew the answers to that question -- I'm a tech editor after all -- but it wasn't until I saw Lazaridis speak a day later that I saw the writing on the wall for me and the company: RIM doesn't have a competitive smartphone now, nor will it have one any time in the near future.</blockquote>Marco Arment - <a href="http://www.marco.org/769340032" target="_blank">Great since day one</a> - <em>Marco.org </em><blockquote>Neither Google nor the current Android device manufacturers embody the part of Apple's culture that allows them to release a great product on day one. They have a different pattern: It's always getting better. We're always supposedly one or two releases from it being really great.</blockquote>Adam Greenfield - <a href="http://speedbird.wordpress.com/2010/04/15/ultramapping/" target="_blank">ultramapping</a> - <em>Speedbird</em> <blockquote>One relatively recent and very simple intervention, made possible by the lamination together of three or four different kinds of technology, has completely changed what a map is, what it means, what we can do with it. It's this: that for the very first time in human history, our maps tell us where we are on them.</blockquote>Matt Jones - <a href="http://berglondon.com/blog/2010/09/13/ipadmags-icon/" target="_blank">On the iPad</a> - <em>Icon</em> <blockquote>Take the best of what you understand of your readership and the decade or so that many magazines have spent on the internet and look to exploit the social technologies of the web, rather than run to present your content as an isolated recapitulation of a mid-1990s CD-ROM. </blockquote>David Pogue - <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/01/technology/personaltech/01pogue.html" target="_blank">Looking at the iPad From Two Angles</a> - <em>The New York Times </em><blockquote>The haters tend to be techies; the fans tend to be regular people. Therefore, no single write-up can serve both readerships adequately. There's but one solution: Write separate reviews for these two audiences.</blockquote>Alexander Chee - <a href="http://www.themorningnews.org/archives/personal_essays/i_reader.php" target="_blank">I, Reader</a> - <em>The Morning News </em><blockquote>A lover's e-reader just doesn't give off the same feeling of secrets and possible belonging in the way a bookshelf can. E-books will never be rare books or limited editions. It just isn't the point of an e-book.</blockquote>Jane Hu - <a href="http://www.theawl.com/2010/08/the-full-duplex-press-my-gmail-phone" target="_blank">The Full Duplex Press: My Gmail Phone</a> - <em>The Awl </em><blockquote>If soon we lose even the string of numbers that separates our abstract phone-identity from our physical selves, the phone will, once again, increase its pervasiveness and omnipresence. More and more, we move ourselves into an apparatus-a communication armor, owned and provided by corporations-that can send and receive messages at all times.</blockquote><blockquote>To subscribe to the "Guy WhoSteals" feed, click <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/GuyWhoSteals">here</a>.<br />
Shamelessly stolen from: <a href="http://www.switched.com/2010/12/30/best-technology-writing-of-2010/">http://www.switched.com/2010/12/30/best-technology-writing-of-2010/</a><br />
You can <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Guy-WhoSteals/153503588017789">add yourself to the GuyWhoSteals fanpage on Facebook</a> or <a href="http://twitter.com/GuyWhoSteals">follow GuyWhoSteals on Twitter</a>.</blockquote>GuyWhoStealshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02565802673814348537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5083005185748233675.post-54332412036941811152011-01-02T01:25:00.000-08:002011-01-02T01:25:02.369-08:0025 Unique uses of WordPress as CMS<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"></span><br />
<div><div id="contentadcontainer"><div id="contentad"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px;">WordPress is often thought of as little more than a blogging platform. But it’s capable of so much more. Through a little customization and the use of plugins, <strong>WordPress can easily be transformed into a full-featured content management system</strong>. Here are more than 25 sites who have done just that (and done it well).</span></div></div></div><hr /><h3 class="title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><a href="http://ugsmag.com/" style="color: #435266; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.03em; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">UGSMAG</a></h3><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">UGSMAG is a Canadian hip hop magazine. The home page is laid out in a grid, with featured articles along the left two columns and news on the right. The color scheme and design choices reflect the young, independent audience they attract. The lack of a category list (other than the top nav, which simply lists “News,” “Features,” and “Interviews”) and archives lend the page to looking more like a traditional news or magazine website than a blog.</div><div class="img" style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;"><a href="http://ugsmag.com/" style="color: #f05681; text-decoration: none;" target="blank"><img alt="Wp-cms-1 in 25 Unique uses of WordPress as CMS" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_noupe/img/wp-cms-prt2/wp-cms-1.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; border-right-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 2px; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px;" /></a></div><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">Subtle changes to individual article pages, such as removing the category labels, the use of a drop cap initial character, and moving the date from it’s usual blog-centric location under the title to the upper-right hand corner of the page all also contribute to the site looking more like a magazine and less like your standard blog.</div><h3 class="title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.theweatherpops.com/" style="color: #435266; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.03em; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">The Weather Pops</a></h3><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">The Weather Pops are a group of weather-related characters available for licensing. The site is simple and straightforward, and an excellent example of how WordPress can be used to build a simple yet powerful website. The pages included on the site offer great examples of how you can incorporate a gallery, contact form, and standard pages into a WP site.</div><div class="img" style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;"><a href="http://www.theweatherpops.com/" style="color: #f05681; text-decoration: none;" target="blank"><img alt="Wp-cms-2 in 25 Unique uses of WordPress as CMS" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_noupe/img/wp-cms-prt2/wp-cms-2.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; border-right-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 2px; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px;" /></a></div><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">The integration of plugins, such as the NextGEN Gallery plugin used on the gallery page, further improves the functionality of the site. Unless you looked at the code of the site, it’s unlikely anyone would have any idea this site was built using WP.</div><h3 class="title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><a href="http://templebartrad.com/" style="color: #435266; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.03em; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Temple Bar TradFest</a></h3><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">The Temple Bar TradFest is an Irish music and culture festival held each year. The home page of this site bears absolutely no resemblance to a blog. The same can be said for internal pages, too. Individual pages within the site have no date or timestamp, no category or other tags, and otherwise look nothing like a traditional blog post.</div><div class="img" style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;"><a href="http://templebartrad.com/" style="color: #f05681; text-decoration: none;" target="blank"><img alt="Wp-cms-3 in 25 Unique uses of WordPress as CMS" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_noupe/img/wp-cms-prt2/wp-cms-3.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; border-right-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 2px; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px;" /></a></div><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">Good use of plugins for the gallery and other pages further improves the functionality of this WP installation. This is another site where your average visitor would have no clue it was built on WP unless they checked the source code.</div><h3 class="title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><a href="http://tabletalk.com/" style="color: #435266; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.03em; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Table Talk</a></h3><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">Table Talk is an online store selling dining furniture, tableware, and similar products. The home page features a product gallery with rotating images and the product pages show products laid out in a grid format. The site was built using the WP e-Commerce plugin for the online store functionality. E-commerce plugins greatly increase WP’s ability to be used as a CMS for virtually any kind of site.</div><div class="img" style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;"><a href="http://tabletalk.com/" style="color: #f05681; text-decoration: none;" target="blank"><img alt="Wp-cms-4 in 25 Unique uses of WordPress as CMS" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_noupe/img/wp-cms-prt2/wp-cms-4.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; border-right-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 2px; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px;" /></a></div><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">Pages within the Table Talk site are set up without comments, date and time stamps, and categories. Categories are used for products, instead.</div><h3 class="title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.tp-hire.co.uk/" style="color: #435266; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.03em; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">TP Hire</a></h3><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">TPs is a teepee rental company serving Sussex and South East England. This site is actually a great example of using WordPress as a CMS. In addition to the standard pages found on most business sites (news, information, about us, etc.), there’s also a really great gallery page that uses the Lightbox formatting for viewing larger images and the option to view images in a slideshow. The layout of the events page is also an excellent example of how pages can be thoroughly customized within WP to suit the needs of the individual site.</div><div class="img" style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;"><a href="http://www.tp-hire.co.uk/" style="color: #f05681; text-decoration: none;" target="blank"><img alt="Wp-cms-5 in 25 Unique uses of WordPress as CMS" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_noupe/img/wp-cms-prt2/wp-cms-5.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; border-right-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 2px; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px;" /></a></div><h3 class="title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><a href="http://bridinel.com/" style="color: #435266; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.03em; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">The Art of Catalin Bridinel</a></h3><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">The Art of Catalin Bridinel is your basic portfolio site. This site is a bit more blog-ish than most of the others here, but still offers up a good example of how to use WordPress for something other than your traditional blog. Paintings are listed in blog posts, with a large image appearing immediately under the title and a brief description under that. Comments are enabled here, unlike on many other CMS sites. The overall design, lack of sidebars, and other stylistic elements make this look more like a traditional portfolio site than a blog.</div><div class="img" style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;"><a href="http://bridinel.com/" style="color: #f05681; text-decoration: none;" target="blank"><img alt="Wp-cms-6 in 25 Unique uses of WordPress as CMS" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_noupe/img/wp-cms-prt2/wp-cms-6.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; border-right-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 2px; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px;" /></a></div><h3 class="title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><a href="http://searchinsidevideo.com/" style="color: #435266; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.03em; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Search Inside Video</a></h3><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">Search Inside Video is a service that provides searchable transcripts for online video content. Their site is one of the more innovative uses of WordPress as a CMS that I’ve seen. The overall site design is very simple, basically consisting of one long page with anchor tags for different content. Not exactly a revolutionary idea. But the implementation of it is very slick. It’s a great example of thinking outside the box in using WP as a CMS.</div><div class="img" style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;"><a href="http://searchinsidevideo.com/" style="color: #f05681; text-decoration: none;" target="blank"><img alt="Wp-cms-7 in 25 Unique uses of WordPress as CMS" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_noupe/img/wp-cms-prt2/wp-cms-7.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; border-right-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 2px; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px;" /></a></div><h3 class="title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.p2prescue.org/" style="color: #435266; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.03em; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">P2P Rescue</a></h3><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">P2P Rescue is a non-profit organization working to help Sri Lanka and other Southeast Asian countries. The home page offers up basic information and articles about the organization and their cause. The overall site architecture is very simple, but again, bears little resemblance to a regular WP blog. Use of plugins for allowing donations to be made through PayPal further increases WP’s base functionality. The site also includes an online store powered by WP e-Commerce. Other pages include basic information about the organization and a blog (under the “Voices” section).</div><div class="img" style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;"><a href="http://p2prescue.org/" style="color: #f05681; text-decoration: none;" target="blank"><img alt="Wp-cms-8 in 25 Unique uses of WordPress as CMS" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_noupe/img/wp-cms-prt2/wp-cms-8.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; border-right-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 2px; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px;" /></a></div><h3 class="title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><a href="http://myshli.com/tag/portfolio+selected" style="color: #435266; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.03em; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Myshli</a></h3><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">Myshli is the portfolio of Danil Kryvoruchko. The home page of the site offers a gallery of designs, including a JavaScript slideshow of selected works. Individual pages on the site include galleries for each different type of work they do (web, print, etc.) along with an about page. Pages for individual projects show a variety of screenshots and images. The site also includes a blog with a different theme from the rest of the site (the main site has a black background whereas the blog has a white background).</div><div class="img" style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;"><a href="http://myshli.com/" style="color: #f05681; text-decoration: none;" target="blank"><img alt="Wp-cms-9 in 25 Unique uses of WordPress as CMS" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_noupe/img/wp-cms-prt2/wp-cms-9.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; border-right-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 2px; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px;" /></a></div><h3 class="title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.littlewhitelies.co.uk/" style="color: #435266; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.03em; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Little White Lies</a></h3><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">Little White lies is a website that revolves around movies. The home page is not unlike many other news and magazine websites, offering up links to current content, including interviews and reviews of upcoming and recently released films. Category pages (such as for interviews or reviews) use a different layout than the home page, though it does make them feel a bit more blog-like.</div><div class="img" style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;"><a href="http://www.littlewhitelies.co.uk/" style="color: #f05681; text-decoration: none;" target="blank"><img alt="Wp-cms-10 in 25 Unique uses of WordPress as CMS" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_noupe/img/wp-cms-prt2/wp-cms-10.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; border-right-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 2px; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px;" /></a></div><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">The article pages have stripped out the majority of blog-centric features, but have left in the comments section (many newspapers and magazines have added comment functionality to their articles both in and outside of blogs). The shop section on the blog appears to be the only section not powered by WordPress. Why this is is unclear, as there are some great plugins for e-commerce on WP.</div><h3 class="title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.kmxus.com/" style="color: #435266; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.03em; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">KMX Karts</a></h3><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">KMX Karts are manufacturers of recumbent trikes. The home page bears no resemblance to a blog, with the exception of the presence of a somewhat blog-like footer. The site includes a number of different kinds of page templates. There are pages for the different Kart models, pages for accessories, and pages for general company information. Each type of page, because they have their own unique functions, is slightly different from the other pages. The theme, though, is consistent throughout the site. The e-commerce aspects of the site are powered by the Shopp plugin.</div><div class="img" style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;"><a href="http://www.kmxus.com/" style="color: #f05681; text-decoration: none;" target="blank"><img alt="Wp-cms-11 in 25 Unique uses of WordPress as CMS" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_noupe/img/wp-cms-prt2/wp-cms-11.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; border-right-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 2px; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px;" /></a></div><h3 class="title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><a href="http://icondock.com/" style="color: #435266; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.03em; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">IconDock</a></h3><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">IconDock sells stock icons to designers. This is one of the prettiest sites I’ve seen using WP as a CMS. The home page is simple while still offering up plenty of content and some icons for sale right on the home page. Navigation is easy, with top nav and links placed within the content (such as the “Browse Icon Library” in the main image on the home page). The e-commerce portion of the site is powered by the WP e-Commerce plugin. The product pages offer up plenty of information about individual icon sets as well as different pricing options.</div><div class="img" style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;"><a href="http://icondock.com/" style="color: #f05681; text-decoration: none;" target="blank"><img alt="Wp-cms-12 in 25 Unique uses of WordPress as CMS" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_noupe/img/wp-cms-prt2/wp-cms-12.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; border-right-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 2px; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px;" /></a></div><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">One of the coolest features on this site, though, is the drag-and-drop shopping cart (just drag an icon or set to the box on the left-hand side of the screen to add it to your cart). The box on the side shows your cart’s contents and removing an item is as simple as clicking the “x” in the corner. It’s definitely one of the slicker shopping cart UIs I’ve seen.</div><h3 class="title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.ginger-restaurant.co.za/" style="color: #435266; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.03em; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Ginger Restaurant</a></h3><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">Ginger is a restaurant in South Africa. The overall site design and architecture are very simple while also being very attractive. The home page offers up basic information, including their hours and phone number. Other pages include more information about the restaurant, an online menu, and a gallery of the restaurant and their food. The gallery uses the JavaScript Thickbox functionality for displaying photos. There’s also a slideshow in the header of their offerings.</div><div class="img" style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;"><a href="http://www.ginger-restaurant.co.za/" style="color: #f05681; text-decoration: none;" target="blank"><img alt="Wp-cms-13 in 25 Unique uses of WordPress as CMS" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_noupe/img/wp-cms-prt2/wp-cms-13.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; border-right-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 2px; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px;" /></a></div><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">A couple of features that really set this site apart from similar sites, though, are their addition of links to their Facebook page and a page that lets you tell friends about Ginger. This kind of functionality is rarely seen on local business sites but should be utilized more often.</div><h3 class="title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.fraai-magazine.com/" style="color: #435266; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.03em; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Fraai Magazine</a></h3><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">Fraai Magazine is a free online magazine offering up creative inspiration. The site uses a the FLV Embed plugin to embed the Flash magazine into the site. (FYI: There is also a plugin available for WordPress, <a href="http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/page-flip-image-gallery/" style="color: #f05681; text-decoration: none;">Page Flip Image Gallery</a>, that allows you to create a flip-book style magazine right within WP.)</div><div class="img" style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;"><a href="http://www.fraai-magazine.com/" style="color: #f05681; text-decoration: none;" target="blank"><img alt="Wp-cms-14 in 25 Unique uses of WordPress as CMS" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_noupe/img/wp-cms-prt2/wp-cms-14.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; border-right-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 2px; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px;" /></a></div><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">Other pages on the site include a visual index of articles and a page listing the issues available. The overall site is very simple but it’s an effective implementation of WP and appears to work well for what they’re doing.</div><h3 class="title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><a href="http://autoshows.ford.com/" style="color: #435266; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.03em; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Ford Motor Company—Global Auto Shows</a></h3><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">This is the site of Ford Motor Company’s global auto show coverage. This is another site where you’d never guess it was powered by WordPress if you didn’t look at the source code. The home page offers up a gallery of featured vehicles, links to the different Ford brands, and a list of recent articles. Other pages on the site include a show schedule, information on concept cars (including a gallery) and information on vehicle types. From the looks of it, there’s a lot of custom programming going on on the site, including some custom Flash modules.</div><div class="img" style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;"><a href="http://autoshows.ford.com/" style="color: #f05681; text-decoration: none;" target="blank"><img alt="Wp-cms-15 in 25 Unique uses of WordPress as CMS" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_noupe/img/wp-cms-prt2/wp-cms-15.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; border-right-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 2px; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px;" /></a></div><h3 class="title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.executivewarfare.com/" style="color: #435266; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.03em; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Executive Warfare</a></h3><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">This is the site for Executive Warfare, a book by David F. D’Alessandro with Michele Owens. The basic layout of the site is very simple, as is the site architecture. The home page features some basic information about the book as well as a couple of sample articles. Pages contained on the site include a sample chapter, “10 Rules”, Reviews, an “About the Authors” page, and a video page.</div><div class="img" style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;"><a href="http://www.executivewarfare.com/" style="color: #f05681; text-decoration: none;" target="blank"><img alt="Wp-cms-16 in 25 Unique uses of WordPress as CMS" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_noupe/img/wp-cms-prt2/wp-cms-16.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; border-right-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 2px; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px;" /></a></div><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">The site also has a blog. The page templates are all the same, though the use of images and block quotes gives them each a unique look. Overall, it’s a great site that offers up its content in a way that is both aesthetically pleasing and practical.</div><h3 class="title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><a href="http://cubicleninjas.com/" style="color: #435266; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.03em; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Cubicle Ninjas</a></h3><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">Cubicle Ninjas is a design firm offering up web design and development, graphic design and illustration services. The overall design is bold while still being simple. Their portfolio pages are some of the best I’ve seen, offering up embedded video on some pages in addition to images of individual projects. The Cforms2 plugin (which offers great customization options) is used for their “Request a Quote” page.</div><div class="img" style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;"><a href="http://cubicleninjas.com/" style="color: #f05681; text-decoration: none;" target="blank"><img alt="Wp-cms-17 in 25 Unique uses of WordPress as CMS" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_noupe/img/wp-cms-prt2/wp-cms-17.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; border-right-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 2px; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px;" /></a></div><h3 class="title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><a href="http://camachocigars.com/" style="color: #435266; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.03em; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Camacho Cigars</a></h3><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">This is the site of the Camacho Cigars company. The site architecture is completely un-blog-like. For example, the “Our Story” page contains subpages (“History of Camacho,” “Tobacco in Honduras,” and “Production Tour” linked with icons from the page itself. Other pages on the site include a page detailing their cigars, a “Where to Buy” page, a “Press Room” and a contact page. This is another site that does well by linking their social network profiles right from their home page.</div><div class="img" style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;"><a href="http://camachocigars.com/" style="color: #f05681; text-decoration: none;" target="blank"><img alt="Wp-cms-18 in 25 Unique uses of WordPress as CMS" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_noupe/img/wp-cms-prt2/wp-cms-18.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; border-right-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 2px; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px;" /></a></div><h3 class="title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.alpha-multimedia.com/" style="color: #435266; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.03em; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Alpha Multimedia Solutions, Inc.</a></h3><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">This is the online portfolio of Alpha Multimedia Solutions. The site’s design is simple and elegant, as is the architecture and navigation. The offer up case studies for their different clients and the pages for these use a slightly different template than their other pages. The use of slideshows for each project in the header also add to the overall look of the site very nicely.</div><div class="img" style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;"><a href="http://www.alpha-multimedia.com/" style="color: #f05681; text-decoration: none;" target="blank"><img alt="Wp-cms-19 in 25 Unique uses of WordPress as CMS" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_noupe/img/wp-cms-prt2/wp-cms-19.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; border-right-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 2px; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px;" /></a></div><h3 class="title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.gaijininternational.com/" style="color: #435266; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.03em; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Gaijin Film & Sound</a></h3><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">Gaijin Film & Sound is a film, sound and new media production and consultancy company. Their home page offers up basic information about the company, including contact information in the sidebar, a list of services, and an abbreviated list of clients.</div><div class="img" style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;"><a href="http://www.gaijininternational.com/" style="color: #f05681; text-decoration: none;" target="blank"><img alt="Wp-cms-20 in 25 Unique uses of WordPress as CMS" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_noupe/img/wp-cms-prt2/wp-cms-20.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; border-right-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 2px; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px;" /></a></div><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">The top nav on the site is very effective and includes links to “About,” “Portfolio,” “Production,” and other pages. Their portfolio page is one of the nicest on the site, offering up links to videos within a very aesthetically pleasing layout.</div><h3 class="title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.friskdesign.com/" style="color: #435266; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.03em; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Frisk Design</a></h3><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">Frisk Design is a web design company. Their site makes great use of pages within WP for offering up information about the company, their services, portfolio, and contact. A blog is also included, though it’s not the focus of the site. The portfolio has a very elegant layout that offers up information about each site without having to click through to individual project pages.</div><div class="img" style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;"><a href="http://www.friskdesign.com/" style="color: #f05681; text-decoration: none;" target="blank"><img alt="Wp-cms-21 in 25 Unique uses of WordPress as CMS" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_noupe/img/wp-cms-prt2/wp-cms-21.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; border-right-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 2px; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px;" /></a></div><h3 class="title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><a href="http://feedbackaudio.ca/" style="color: #435266; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.03em; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Feedback Audio</a></h3><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">Feedback Audio provides music production, film audio production, and live sound production services. The home page of the site offers up a great overview of the company, their services, and ongoing projects. It’s an elegant design that offers some great visual pop. The individual page templates are simple and the lack of a sidebar keeps this from looking anything like a blog.</div><div class="img" style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;"><a href="http://feedbackaudio.ca/" style="color: #f05681; text-decoration: none;" target="blank"><img alt="Wp-cms-22 in 25 Unique uses of WordPress as CMS" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_noupe/img/wp-cms-prt2/wp-cms-22.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; border-right-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 2px; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px;" /></a></div><h3 class="title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.eye.fi/" style="color: #435266; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.03em; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Eye-Fi</a></h3><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">Eye-Fi is a company that provides SD cards for digital cameras with built-in wifi for transferring photos to your computer. The site has an excellent layout that is at once visually interesting and easy to navigate. There’s no blog on the site, only pages that offer up information about the products, including where to buy and how they work. Overall, it’s an excellent example of a WP-powered site.</div><div class="img" style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;"><a href="http://www.eye.fi/" style="color: #f05681; text-decoration: none;" target="blank"><img alt="Wp-cms-23 in 25 Unique uses of WordPress as CMS" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_noupe/img/wp-cms-prt2/wp-cms-23.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; border-right-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 2px; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px;" /></a></div><h3 class="title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><a href="http://earth911.com/" style="color: #435266; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.03em; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Earth911.com</a></h3><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">Earth911.com is an environmental information site. The top navigation is one of the best I’ve seen, offering intelligent drop down menus that are only there when you want them to be. The overall site design is exceptional, simple while still be visually pleasing. Individual category pages are also beautifully designed, offering up basic information at the top along with articles related to the topic below. Overall, the site is one of the better designed portals I’ve seen powered by WP.</div><div class="img" style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;"><a href="http://earth911.com/" style="color: #f05681; text-decoration: none;" target="blank"><img alt="Wp-cms-24 in 25 Unique uses of WordPress as CMS" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_noupe/img/wp-cms-prt2/wp-cms-24.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; border-right-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 2px; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px;" /></a></div><h3 class="title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.iamoriginone.com/" style="color: #435266; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.03em; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">OriginOne</a></h3><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">OriginOne is a clothing company that celebrates human oneness and connectedness. The site design is edgy and complex while still being very user-friendly and easy to navigate. The online store is powered by the Shopp plugin for WP. There’s no blog present on the site. Individual pages are kept simple, with the content as king. The shop itself is beautifully laid out and works well for a shop without a ton of products.</div><div class="img" style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;"><a href="http://www.iamoriginone.com/" style="color: #f05681; text-decoration: none;" target="blank"><img alt="Wp-cms-26 in 25 Unique uses of WordPress as CMS" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_noupe/img/wp-cms-prt2/wp-cms-26.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; border-right-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 2px; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px;" /></a></div><br />
<blockquote>To subscribe to the "Guy WhoSteals" feed, click <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/GuyWhoSteals">here</a>.<br />
Shamelessly stolen from: <a href="http://www.noupe.com/wordpress/25-unique-uses-of-wordpress-as-cms.html">http://www.noupe.com/wordpress/25-unique-uses-of-wordpress-as-cms.html</a><br />
You can <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Guy-WhoSteals/153503588017789">add yourself to the GuyWhoSteals fanpage on Facebook</a> or <a href="http://twitter.com/GuyWhoSteals">follow GuyWhoSteals on Twitter</a>.</blockquote>GuyWhoStealshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02565802673814348537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5083005185748233675.post-25750223555166748592011-01-02T01:15:00.000-08:002011-01-02T01:16:17.562-08:001000+ FREE High Resolution GIMP Brushes<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"></span><br />
<div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">Last week we published our first GIMP post “<a href="http://guywhosteals.blogspot.com/2011/01/30-exceptional-gimp-tutorials-and.html" style="color: #f05681; text-decoration: none;">30+ Exceptional GIMP Tutorials and Resources</a>” and saw a great appreciation from our readers. So this week, i would like to share with you <strong>1000+ high-Resolution GIMP brushes</strong> that will be perfect for any project you may happen to be working on. Also you will find some useful tutorial to teach you how to create your first GIMP brush-set and how to convert Photoshop brushes into GIMP brushes and more.</div><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">Please note that <strong>Photoshop Brushes</strong> are now Fully Compatible with Gimp 2.4 and up. So you can now use any PS brush in your GIMP software. For another huge collection of Photoshop brushes, you might find some really <a href="http://guywhosteals.blogspot.com/2011/01/1000-free-high-resolution-photoshop.html" style="color: #f05681; text-decoration: none;">stunning brushes over here</a>.</div><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;"><strong>Important</strong>: Licenses of every brush set varies, so be sure to check that information before using them.</div><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;"><span id="more-4045"></span></div><h3 class="title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">1. Grunge Brush set</h3><h3 class="sub-title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">1.1 <a href="http://akisu-sama.deviantart.com/art/GIMP-Grunge-Brush-Pack-2-13556205" style="color: #435266; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.03em; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">GIMP Grunge Brush Pack 2</a></h3><div class="img-post"><img alt="Gimp-brushes14 in 1000+ FREE High Resolution GIMP Brushes" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_noupe/img/gimp-brushes14.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; border-right-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 2px; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px;" /></div><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">10 grunge GIMP brushes.</div><div class="download">Download Brush Set <a href="http://www.deviantart.com/download/13556205/brushes.zip" style="color: #f05681; text-decoration: none;">here</a></div><h3 class="sub-title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">1.2 <a href="http://lifebtb.deviantart.com/art/GIMP-Scratchies-34170077" style="color: #435266; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.03em; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">GIMP Scratchies</a></h3><div class="img-post"><img alt="Gimp-brushes16 in 1000+ FREE High Resolution GIMP Brushes" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_noupe/img/gimp-brushes16.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; border-right-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 2px; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px;" /></div><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">Containing all six brushes in this set for the GIMP</div><div class="download">Download Brush Set <a href="http://www.deviantart.com/download/34170077/gimp_scratchies_by_lifebtb.zip" style="color: #f05681; text-decoration: none;">here</a></div><h3 class="sub-title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">1.3 <a href="http://sarah-dipity.deviantart.com/art/Grunge-brush-set-3-32819779" style="color: #435266; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.03em; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Grunge brush set 3</a></h3><div class="img-post"><img alt="Gimp-brushes26 in 1000+ FREE High Resolution GIMP Brushes" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_noupe/img/gimp-brushes26.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; border-right-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 2px; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px;" /></div><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">Includes an imagepack and brushes for Gimp.</div><div class="download">Download Brush Set <a href="http://www.deviantart.com/download/32819779/damnicons_grunge_brushes3.zip" style="color: #f05681; text-decoration: none;">here</a></div><h3 class="sub-title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">1.4 <a href="http://sarah-dipity.deviantart.com/art/More-grunge-brushes-32566954" style="color: #435266; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.03em; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">More grunge brushes</a></h3><div class="img-post"><img alt="Gimp-brushes28 in 1000+ FREE High Resolution GIMP Brushes" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_noupe/img/gimp-brushes28.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; border-right-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 2px; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px;" /></div><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">13 grunge brushes; includes .gbrs for Gimp and an imagepack.</div><div class="download">Download Brush Set <a href="http://www.deviantart.com/download/32566954/zip15.zip" style="color: #f05681; text-decoration: none;">here</a></div><h3 class="title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">2. Floral and Plant Brushes</h3><h3 class="sub-title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">2.1 <a href="http://hawksmont.deviantart.com/art/GIMP-Floral-I-56478361" style="color: #435266; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.03em; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Floral I</a></h3><div class="img-post"><img alt="Gimp-brushes5 in 1000+ FREE High Resolution GIMP Brushes" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_noupe/img/gimp-brushes5.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; border-right-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 2px; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px;" /></div><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">There are 9 big brushes – at lest 1300 px each, so you can use them also in printed stuff.</div><div class="download">Download Brush Set <a href="http://www.deviantart.com/download/56478361/GIMP__Floral_I_by_hawksmont.zip" style="color: #f05681; text-decoration: none;">here</a></div><h3 class="sub-title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">2.2 <a href="http://hawksmont.com/blog/gimp-brushes-floral-part-2/" style="color: #435266; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.03em; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Floral Part 2</a></h3><div class="img-post"><img alt="Gimp-brushes13 in 1000+ FREE High Resolution GIMP Brushes" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_noupe/img/gimp-brushes13.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; border-right-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 2px; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px;" /></div><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">There are 6 big brushes of flower brushes.</div><div class="download">Download Brush Set <a href="http://hawksmont.com/temp/brushes/floral2_gimp_brushes_by_hawksmont.zip" style="color: #f05681; text-decoration: none;">here</a></div><h3 class="sub-title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">2.3 <a href="http://surfing-ant.deviantart.com/art/Floral-Brushes-41676635" style="color: #435266; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.03em; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Floral Brushes</a></h3><div class="img-post"><img alt="Gimp-brushes25 in 1000+ FREE High Resolution GIMP Brushes" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_noupe/img/gimp-brushes25.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; border-right-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 2px; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px;" /></div><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">10 greyscale floral .gbr brushes for GIMP. They are about 400x400px and have blended edges.</div><div class="download">Download Brush Set <a href="http://www.deviantart.com/download/41676635/Surfing_antFabFloral.zip" style="color: #f05681; text-decoration: none;">here</a></div><h3 class="sub-title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">2.4 <a href="http://hawksmont.com/blog/gimp-brushes-pine-mega-pack/" style="color: #435266; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.03em; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Pine – MEGA PACK</a></h3><div class="img-post"><img alt="Gimp-brushes9 in 1000+ FREE High Resolution GIMP Brushes" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_noupe/img/gimp-brushes9.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; border-right-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 2px; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px;" /></div><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">There are 16 full branches and 33 smaller parts, so you can design you own branches yourself.</div><div class="download">Download Brush Set <a href="http://hawksmont.com/temp/brushes/pine_gimp_brushes_mega_pack_by_hawksmont.zip" style="color: #f05681; text-decoration: none;">here</a></div><h3 class="sub-title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">2.5 <a href="http://project-gimpbc.deviantart.com/art/GIMP-Vector-Foliage-Plants-69681357" style="color: #435266; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.03em; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Vector Foliage-Plants</a></h3><div class="img-post"><img alt="Gimp-brushes24 in 1000+ FREE High Resolution GIMP Brushes" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_noupe/img/gimp-brushes24.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; border-right-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 2px; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px;" /></div><div class="download">Download Brush Set <a href="http://www.deviantart.com/download/69681357/GIMP_Vector_Foliage_Plants_by_Project_GimpBC.zip" style="color: #f05681; text-decoration: none;">here</a></div><h3 class="title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">3. Nature GIMP Brushes</h3><h3 class="sub-title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">3.1 <a href="http://scully7491.deviantart.com/art/Cloudy-Brushes-version-Gimp-36179432" style="color: #435266; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.03em; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Cloudy Brushes</a></h3><div class="img-post"><img alt="Gimp-brushes2 in 1000+ FREE High Resolution GIMP Brushes" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_noupe/img/gimp-brushes2.png" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; border-right-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 2px; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px;" /></div><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">Realistic cloudy brushes for your skyscaping needs.</div><div class="download">Download Brush Set <a href="http://www.deviantart.com/download/36179432/Cloudy_Brushes_version_Gimp_by_Scully7491.zip" style="color: #f05681; text-decoration: none;">here</a></div><h3 class="sub-title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">3.2 <a href="http://hawksmont.com/blog/gimp-brushes-moon/" style="color: #435266; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.03em; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">GIMP Brushes: Moon</a></h3><div class="img-post"><img alt="Gimp-brushes6 in 1000+ FREE High Resolution GIMP Brushes" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_noupe/img/gimp-brushes6.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; border-right-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 2px; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px;" /></div><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">There are 9 big brushes in this set.</div><div class="download">Download Brush Set <a href="http://hawksmont.com/temp/brushes/moon_gimp_brushes_by_hawksmont.zip" style="color: #f05681; text-decoration: none;">here</a></div><h3 class="sub-title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">3.2 <a href="http://aggr3ssi0n.deviantart.com/art/Lightning-Brushes-43409022" style="color: #435266; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.03em; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Lightning Brushes</a></h3><div class="img-post"><img alt="Gimp-brushes30 in 1000+ FREE High Resolution GIMP Brushes" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_noupe/img/gimp-brushes30.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; border-right-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 2px; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px;" /></div><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">A nice set of lightning brushes.</div><div class="download">Download Brush Set <a href="http://www.deviantart.com/download/43409022/Lightning_Brushes_by_Aggr3ssi0n.zip" style="color: #f05681; text-decoration: none;">here</a></div><h3 class="title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">4. Glitter, Splatter and Snowflakes</h3><h3 class="sub-title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">4.1 <a href="http://project-gimpbc.deviantart.com/art/GIMP-Glitter-Brushes-63531487" style="color: #435266; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.03em; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">GIMP Glitter Brushes</a></h3><div class="img-post"><img alt="Gimp-brushes3 in 1000+ FREE High Resolution GIMP Brushes" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_noupe/img/gimp-brushes3.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; border-right-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 2px; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px;" /></div><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">Realistic cloudy brushes for your skyscaping needs.</div><div class="download">Download Brush Set <a href="http://www.deviantart.com/download/63531487/GIMP_Glitter_Brushes_by_Project_GimpBC.zip" style="color: #f05681; text-decoration: none;">here</a></div><h3 class="sub-title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">4.2 <a href="http://getfirefox.deviantart.com/art/Splatter-Brushes-45042105" style="color: #435266; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.03em; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Splatter Brushes</a></h3><div class="img-post"><img alt="Gimp-brushes1 in 1000+ FREE High Resolution GIMP Brushes" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_noupe/img/gimp-brushes1.png" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; border-right-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 2px; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px;" /></div><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">These brushes were originally created for Photoshop then converted to GIMP brushes.</div><div class="download">Download Brush Set <a href="http://www.deviantart.com/download/45042105/Splatter_Brushes_by_getfirefox.zip" style="color: #f05681; text-decoration: none;">here</a></div><h3 class="sub-title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">4.3 <a href="http://hawksmont.com/blog/gimp-brushes-snowflakes/" style="color: #435266; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.03em; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Snowflakes</a></h3><div class="img-post"><img alt="Gimp-brushes7 in 1000+ FREE High Resolution GIMP Brushes" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_noupe/img/gimp-brushes7.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; border-right-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 2px; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px;" /></div><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">There are 20 snowflakes in this pack. They were created in CorelDraw 11 and then converted with GIMP 2.2.</div><div class="download">Download Brush Set <a href="http://hawksmont.com/temp/brushes/snowflakes_gimp_brushes_by_hawksmont.zip" style="color: #f05681; text-decoration: none;">here</a></div><h3 class="title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">5. Water and Bubbles Brush sets</h3><h3 class="sub-title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">4.4 <a href="http://project-gimpbc.deviantart.com/art/GIMP-Water-Brushes-62663732" style="color: #435266; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.03em; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">GIMP Water Brushes</a></h3><div class="img-post"><img alt="Gimp-brushes15 in 1000+ FREE High Resolution GIMP Brushes" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_noupe/img/gimp-brushes15.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; border-right-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 2px; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px;" /></div><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">This set contains 36 brushes created in Photoshop 7.0 and converted with GIMP 2.2.6</div><div class="download">Download Brush Set <a href="http://www.deviantart.com/download/62663732/GIMP_Water_Brushes_by_Project_GimpBC.zip" style="color: #f05681; text-decoration: none;">here</a></div><h3 class="sub-title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">4.5 <a href="http://hawksmont.com/blog/gimp-brushes-pine-mega-pack/" style="color: #435266; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.03em; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Bubbles</a></h3><div class="img-post"><img alt="Gimp-brushes10 in 1000+ FREE High Resolution GIMP Brushes" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_noupe/img/gimp-brushes10.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; border-right-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 2px; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px;" /></div><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">This set contains 9 brushes created in Photoshop 7.0 and converted with GIMP 2.2.</div><div class="download">Download Brush Set <a href="http://hawksmont.com/temp/brushes/bubble_gimp_brushes_by_hawksmont.zip" style="color: #f05681; text-decoration: none;">here</a></div><h3 class="title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">5. Miscilnea GIMP Brushes</h3><h3 class="sub-title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">5.1 <a href="http://sarah-dipity.deviantart.com/art/More-Mask-Brushes-33205116" style="color: #435266; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.03em; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Mask Brushes</a></h3><div class="img-post"><img alt="Gimp-brushes4 in 1000+ FREE High Resolution GIMP Brushes" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_noupe/img/gimp-brushes4.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; border-right-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 2px; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px;" /></div><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">5 mask brushes. GBRs for Gimp and an imagepack.</div><div class="download">Download Brush Set <a href="http://www.deviantart.com/download/33205116/damnicons_masks2.zip" style="color: #f05681; text-decoration: none;">here</a></div><h3 class="sub-title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">5.2 <a href="http://hawksmont.com/blog/gimp-brushes-butterflies-part-i/" style="color: #435266; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.03em; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Butterflies Part I</a></h3><div class="img-post"><img alt="Gimp-brushes8 in 1000+ FREE High Resolution GIMP Brushes" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_noupe/img/gimp-brushes8.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; border-right-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 2px; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px;" /></div><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">There are 9 brushes in this pack. They were created in CorelDraw 11 and then converted with GIMP 2.2.</div><div class="download">Download Brush Set <a href="http://hawksmont.com/temp/brushes/butterfly1_gimp_brushes_by_hawksmont.zip" style="color: #f05681; text-decoration: none;">here</a></div><h3 class="sub-title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">5.3 <a href="http://racertj5.deviantart.com/art/1100-Gimp-Brushes-63986091" style="color: #435266; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.03em; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">1100 Gimp Brushes</a></h3><div class="img-post"><img alt="Gimp-brushes17 in 1000+ FREE High Resolution GIMP Brushes" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_noupe/img/gimp-brushes17.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; border-right-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 2px; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px;" /></div><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">This set contains 1100 brushes for GIMP</div><div class="download">Download Brush Set <a href="http://www.deviantart.com/download/63986091/1100_Gimp_Brushes_by_racertj5.zip" style="color: #f05681; text-decoration: none;">here</a></div><h3 class="sub-title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">5.4 <a href="http://hawksmont.com/blog/gimp-brushes-doodles-part-2/" style="color: #435266; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.03em; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Doodles Part 2</a></h3><div class="img-post"><img alt="Gimp-brushes11 in 1000+ FREE High Resolution GIMP Brushes" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_noupe/img/gimp-brushes11.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; border-right-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 2px; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px;" /></div><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">This set contains 41 ! brushes created for GIMP</div><div class="download">Download Brush Set <a href="http://hawksmont.com/temp/brushes/doodles2_gimp_brushes_by_hawksmont.zip" style="color: #f05681; text-decoration: none;">here</a></div><h3 class="sub-title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">5.5 <a href="http://project-gimpbc.deviantart.com/art/Blood-Brushes-by-KeRen-R-32864474" style="color: #435266; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.03em; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Blood Brushes</a></h3><div class="img-post"><img alt="Gimp-brushes12 in 1000+ FREE High Resolution GIMP Brushes" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_noupe/img/gimp-brushes12.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; border-right-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 2px; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px;" /></div><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">Looking for splattery blood brushes, here you go.</div><div class="download">Download Brush Set <a href="http://www.deviantart.com/download/32864474/Blood_Brushes_by_KeReN_R.zip" style="color: #f05681; text-decoration: none;">here</a></div><h3 class="sub-title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">5.6 <a href="http://project-gimpbc.deviantart.com/art/GIMP-Inner-Universe-Brushes-62834150" style="color: #435266; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.03em; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Inner Universe Brushes</a></h3><div class="img-post"><img alt="Gimp-brushes18 in 1000+ FREE High Resolution GIMP Brushes" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_noupe/img/gimp-brushes18.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; border-right-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 2px; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px;" /></div><div class="download">Download Brush Set <a href="http://www.deviantart.com/download/62834150/GIMP_Inner_Universe_Brushes_by_Project_GimpBC.zip" style="color: #f05681; text-decoration: none;">here</a></div><h3 class="sub-title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">5.7 <a href="http://project-gimpbc.deviantart.com/art/GIMP-Odysee-Brushes-62762572" style="color: #435266; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.03em; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">GIMP Odysee Brushes</a></h3><div class="img-post"><img alt="Gimp-brushes19 in 1000+ FREE High Resolution GIMP Brushes" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_noupe/img/gimp-brushes19.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; border-right-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 2px; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px;" /></div><div class="download">Download Brush Set <a href="http://www.deviantart.com/download/62762572/GIMP_Odysee_Brushes_by_Project_GimpBC.zip" style="color: #f05681; text-decoration: none;">here</a></div><h3 class="sub-title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">5.8 <a href="http://project-gimpbc.deviantart.com/art/GIMP-Galactic-Brushes-62762347" style="color: #435266; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.03em; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">GIMP Galactic Brushes</a></h3><div class="img-post"><img alt="Gimp-brushes20 in 1000+ FREE High Resolution GIMP Brushes" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_noupe/img/gimp-brushes20.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; border-right-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 2px; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px;" /></div><div class="download">Download Brush Set <a href="http://www.deviantart.com/download/62762347/GIMP_Galactic_Brushes_by_Project_GimpBC.zip" style="color: #f05681; text-decoration: none;">here</a></div><h3 class="sub-title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">5.9 <a href="http://project-gimpbc.deviantart.com/art/GIMP-Rise-Brushes-62762104" style="color: #435266; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.03em; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">GIMP Rise Brushes</a></h3><div class="img-post"><img alt="Gimp-brushes21 in 1000+ FREE High Resolution GIMP Brushes" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_noupe/img/gimp-brushes21.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; border-right-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 2px; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px;" /></div><div class="download">Download Brush Set <a href="http://www.deviantart.com/download/62762104/GIMP_Rise_Brushes_by_Project_GimpBC.zip" style="color: #f05681; text-decoration: none;">here</a></div><h3 class="sub-title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">5.10 <a href="http://project-gimpbc.deviantart.com/art/GIMP-Edge-Brushes-62761935" style="color: #435266; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.03em; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">GIMP Edge Brushes</a></h3><div class="img-post"><img alt="Gimp-brushes23 in 1000+ FREE High Resolution GIMP Brushes" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_noupe/img/gimp-brushes23.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; border-right-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 2px; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px;" /></div><div class="download">Download Brush Set <a href="http://www.deviantart.com/download/62761935/GIMP_Edge_Brushes_by_Project_GimpBC.zip" style="color: #f05681; text-decoration: none;">here</a></div><h3 class="sub-title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">5.11 <a href="http://sarah-dipity.deviantart.com/art/15-Vector-Brushes-32629329" style="color: #435266; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.03em; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">15 Vector Brushes</a></h3><div class="img-post"><img alt="Gimp-brushes27 in 1000+ FREE High Resolution GIMP Brushes" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_noupe/img/gimp-brushes27.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; border-right-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 2px; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px;" /></div><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">15 vector .gbr brushes for GIMP.</div><div class="download">Download Brush Set <a href="http://www.deviantart.com/download/32629329/damnicons_vector.zip" style="color: #f05681; text-decoration: none;">here</a></div><h3 class="title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">GIMP Brush Tutorials</h3><h3 class="sub-title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">1. <a href="http://www.gimptalk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=517" style="color: #435266; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.03em; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Creating Spikey Brushes</a></h3><div class="img-post"><img alt="Gimp-brushes22 in 1000+ FREE High Resolution GIMP Brushes" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_noupe/img/gimp-brushes22.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; border-right-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 2px; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px;" /></div><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">Learn how to create spike-looking brushes.</div><h3 class="sub-title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">2. <a href="http://iceytina.deviantart.com/art/Make-a-GBR-Brush-27696862" style="color: #435266; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.03em; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Make a .GBR Brush</a></h3><div class="img-post"><img alt="Gimp-brushes29 in 1000+ FREE High Resolution GIMP Brushes" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_noupe/img/gimp-brushes29.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; border-right-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 2px; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px;" /></div><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">Learn how to create .GBR brushes from pre-existing files</div><br />
<blockquote>To subscribe to the "Guy WhoSteals" feed, click <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/GuyWhoSteals">here</a>.<br />
Shamelessly stolen from: <a href="http://www.noupe.com/gimp/1000-free-high-resolution-gimp-brushes.html">http://www.noupe.com/gimp/1000-free-high-resolution-gimp-brushes.html</a><br />
You can <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Guy-WhoSteals/153503588017789">add yourself to the GuyWhoSteals fanpage on Facebook</a> or <a href="http://twitter.com/GuyWhoSteals">follow GuyWhoSteals on Twitter</a>.</blockquote>GuyWhoStealshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02565802673814348537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5083005185748233675.post-38017997418243993232011-01-02T01:14:00.000-08:002011-01-02T01:14:18.904-08:001000+ Free High Resolution Photoshop Brush Sets<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"></span><br />
<div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">Hundreds of thousands of incredible Adobe Photoshop brush sets are all over the web. Due to this phenomenally vast amount of Photoshop brushes available, you can now add patches of dirt, rust, floral effect, swirls, mold, oil stains in your artworks and photos to give them an aged, damaged, dreamy or any look you want.</div><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">Without further ado, we present <strong>1000+ high-Resolution Adobe Photoshop brush sets</strong>that will be perfect for any project you may happen to be working on.</div><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;"><strong>Important</strong>: Licenses of every brush set varies, so be sure to check that information before using them.</div><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;"><span id="more-3104"></span></div><h3 class="title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">1. Grunge Photoshop Brushes</h3><h3 class="sub-title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">1.1 <a href="http://www.room122.com/photoshop/sidewalk-series-vol-2-oil-stains-a-free-high-res-brush-set/" style="color: #435266; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.03em; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Sidewalk Series Vol. 2 Oil Stains</a></h3><div class="img-post"><img alt="Brush1 in 1000+ Free High Resolution Photoshop Brush Sets" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_noupe/img/brush1.png" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; border-right-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 2px; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px;" /></div><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">10 high resolution grungy concrete stains inspired by all the cracks, stains, and spots on the sidewalk and in the street.</div><div class="download">Download Brush Set <a href="http://www.room122.com/photoshop/sidewalk-series-vol-2-oil-stains-a-free-high-res-brush-set/" style="color: #f05681; text-decoration: none;">here</a></div><h3 class="sub-title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">1.2 <a href="http://www.room122.com/photoshop/brush-set-cracks/" style="color: #435266; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.03em; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Sidewalk Series Vol. 1 Cracks</a></h3><div class="img-post"><img alt="Brush3 in 1000+ Free High Resolution Photoshop Brush Sets" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_noupe/img/brush3.png" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; border-right-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 2px; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px;" /></div><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">6 Excellent high resolution sidewalk cracks to give you a nice grungy texture.</div><div class="download">Download Brush Set <a href="http://www.room122.com/photoshop/brush-set-cracks/" style="color: #f05681; text-decoration: none;">here</a></div><h3 class="sub-title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">1.3 <a href="http://hawksmont.com/blog/free-photoshop-brushes-cracks-part-iii/" style="color: #435266; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.03em; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Cracks Part III</a></h3><div class="img-post"><img alt="Brush5 in 1000+ Free High Resolution Photoshop Brush Sets" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_noupe/img/brush5.png" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; border-right-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 2px; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px;" /></div><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">15 brushes made with Photoshop 7.0. Those cracks look like soil cracks, but it’s just the paint on the door</div><div class="download">Download Brush Set <a href="http://hawksmont.com/temp/brushes/crack3_brushes_by_hawksmont.zip" style="color: #f05681; text-decoration: none;">here</a></div><h3 class="sub-title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">1.4 <a href="http://gojol23.deviantart.com/art/Urban-Decay-Photoshop-Brushes-100711549" style="color: #435266; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.03em; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Urban Decay Photoshop Brushes</a></h3><div class="img-post"><img alt="Brush9 in 1000+ Free High Resolution Photoshop Brush Sets" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_noupe/img/brush9.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; border-right-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 2px; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px;" /></div><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">Here’s a large collection of 61 grungy, dirty and decayed photoshop brushes.</div><div class="download">Download Brush Set <a href="http://www.deviantart.com/download/100711549/Urban_Decay_Photoshop_Brushes_by_gojol23.abr" style="color: #f05681; text-decoration: none;">here</a></div><h3 class="sub-title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">1.5 <a href="http://env1ro.deviantart.com/art/QuadGrunged-98071015" style="color: #435266; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.03em; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">QuadGrunged</a></h3><div class="img-post"><img alt="Brush18 in 1000+ Free High Resolution Photoshop Brush Sets" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_noupe/img/brush18.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; border-right-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 2px; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px;" /></div><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">QuadGrunged pack contains 10 grungy abstract brushes compatible with PS 7 and up.</div><div class="download">Download Brush Set <a href="http://www.deviantart.com/download/98071015/QuadGrunged_by_env1ro.rar" style="color: #f05681; text-decoration: none;">here</a></div><h3 class="sub-title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">1.6 <a href="http://anodyne-stock.deviantart.com/art/Cracked-Brush-Set-4992490" style="color: #435266; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.03em; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Cracked Brush Set</a></h3><div class="img-post"><img alt="Brush25 in 1000+ Free High Resolution Photoshop Brush Sets" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_noupe/img/brush25.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; border-right-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 2px; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px;" /></div><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">Cracked brush set contains 19 grungy brushes compatible with PS 7 .</div><div class="download">Download Brush Set <a href="http://www.deviantart.com/download/4992490/anodyne_stock_cracks.zip" style="color: #f05681; text-decoration: none;">here</a></div><h3 class="sub-title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">1.7 <a href="http://scully7491.deviantart.com/art/Typographic-Grunge-Brushes-30565921" style="color: #435266; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.03em; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Typographic Grunge Brushes</a></h3><div class="img-post"><img alt="Brush30 in 1000+ Free High Resolution Photoshop Brush Sets" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_noupe/img/brush30.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; border-right-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 2px; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px;" /></div><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">Typographic Grunge Brushes set contains 25 brushes made from stock photos. Compatible with Photoshop 7 and up.</div><div class="download">Download Brush Set <a href="http://www.deviantart.com/download/30565921/Typographic_Grunge_Brushes_by_Scully7491.zip" style="color: #f05681; text-decoration: none;">here</a></div><h3 class="sub-title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">1.8 <a href="http://www.bittbox.com/freebies/free-high-res-photoshop-brushes-grungy-wings/" style="color: #435266; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.03em; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Free Grungy Wings</a></h3><div class="img-post"><img alt="Brush35 in 1000+ Free High Resolution Photoshop Brush Sets" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_noupe/img/brush35.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; border-right-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 2px; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px;" /></div><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">10 Photoshop brushes that are ginormous (2500px).</div><div class="download">Download Brush Set <a href="http://www.bittbox.com/freebies/free-high-res-photoshop-brushes-grungy-wings/" style="color: #f05681; text-decoration: none;">here</a></div><h3 class="title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">2. Floral Photoshop Brushes</h3><h3 class="sub-title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">2.1 <a href="http://www.room122.com/photoshop/hand-drawn-floral-pattern-brushes/" style="color: #435266; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.03em; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Hand Drawn Floral Pattern Brushes</a></h3><div class="img-post"><img alt="Brush2 in 1000+ Free High Resolution Photoshop Brush Sets" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_noupe/img/brush2.png" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; border-right-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 2px; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px;" /></div><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">This is a set of 8 high resolution Photoshop brushes of hand drawn floral designs that was made with a quill pen and india ink.</div><div class="download">Download Brush Set <a href="http://www.room122.com/photoshop/hand-drawn-floral-pattern-brushes/" style="color: #f05681; text-decoration: none;">here</a></div><h3 class="sub-title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">2.2 <a href="http://graphic-identity.blogspot.com/2007/11/fantasy-floral-photoshop-brushes.html" style="color: #435266; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.03em; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Fantasy Floral Photoshop Brushes</a></h3><div class="img-post"><img alt="Brush6 in 1000+ Free High Resolution Photoshop Brush Sets" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_noupe/img/brush6.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; border-right-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 2px; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px;" /></div><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">These 4 sets of Fantasy Floral vectors were compiled in single ABR file. These floral or foliage vectors created using Illustrator.</div><div class="download">Download Brush Set <a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?anzmzxmyxsr" style="color: #f05681; text-decoration: none;">here</a></div><h3 class="sub-title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">2.3 <a href="http://hawksmont.com/blog/free-photoshop-brushes-flowers-part-i/" style="color: #435266; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.03em; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Flowers Part I</a></h3><div class="img-post"><img alt="Brush7 in 1000+ Free High Resolution Photoshop Brush Sets" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_noupe/img/brush7.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; border-right-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 2px; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px;" /></div><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">There are 28 flowers in this set so you can call it half-mega-pack. They were made with Photoshop 7.0 and they’ve got some reasonable resolutions.</div><div class="download">Download Brush Set <a href="http://hawksmont.com/temp/brushes/flowers1_brushes_by_hawksmont.zip" style="color: #f05681; text-decoration: none;">here</a></div><h3 class="sub-title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">2.4 <a href="http://shiranui.deviantart.com/art/Autumn-Glory-100431092" style="color: #435266; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.03em; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Autumn Glory</a></h3><div class="img-post"><img alt="Brush16 in 1000+ Free High Resolution Photoshop Brush Sets" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_noupe/img/brush16.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; border-right-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 2px; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px;" /></div><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">An automn brush set inspired by an autumn walk through mountains of brown, red and yellow fallen leaves. Made in Photoshop 7.0</div><div class="download">Download Brush Set <a href="http://www.deviantart.com/download/100431092/Autumn_Glory_by_Shiranui.abr" style="color: #f05681; text-decoration: none;">here</a></div><h3 class="sub-title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">2.5 <a href="http://archnophobia.deviantart.com/art/Flower-Ornaments-Brushes-99843005" style="color: #435266; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.03em; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Flower Ornaments Brushes</a></h3><div class="img-post"><img alt="Brush32 in 1000+ Free High Resolution Photoshop Brush Sets" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_noupe/img/brush32.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; border-right-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 2px; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px;" /></div><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">These are 9 flower ornnament brushes</div><div class="download">Download Brush Set <a href="http://www.deviantart.com/download/99843005/Flower_Ornaments_Brushes_by_archnophobia.abr" style="color: #f05681; text-decoration: none;">here</a></div><h3 class="sub-title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">2.6 <a href="http://www.bittbox.com/freebies/free-hi-res-photoshop-brushes-floral/" style="color: #435266; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.03em; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Free Hi-Res Photoshop Brushes – Floral</a></h3><div class="img-post"><img alt="Brush34 in 1000+ Free High Resolution Photoshop Brush Sets" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_noupe/img/brush34.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; border-right-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 2px; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px;" /></div><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">These are 100% original and REALLY BIG brushes, available in CS1 and CS3 formats, as well as a full set of PNG’s.</div><h3 class="title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">3. Glow Photoshop Brushes</h3><h3 class="sub-title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">3.2 <a href="http://rubina119.deviantart.com/art/Attack-Brushes-100486587" style="color: #435266; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.03em; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Attack Brushes</a></h3><div class="img-post"><img alt="Brush15 in 1000+ Free High Resolution Photoshop Brush Sets" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_noupe/img/brush15.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; border-right-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 2px; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px;" /></div><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">8 brushes in this pack.</div><div class="download">Download Brush Set <a href="http://www.deviantart.com/download/100486587/Attack_Brushes_by_rubina119.zip" style="color: #f05681; text-decoration: none;">here</a></div><h3 class="sub-title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">3.3 <a href="http://edelihu.deviantart.com/art/Unreal-Brushes-v-3-98177249" style="color: #435266; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.03em; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Unreal Brushes</a></h3><div class="img-post"><img alt="Brush17 in 1000+ Free High Resolution Photoshop Brush Sets" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_noupe/img/brush17.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; border-right-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 2px; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px;" /></div><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">Unreal Brushes v.3 9 in High Quality.</div><div class="download">Download Brush Set <a href="http://www.deviantart.com/download/98177249/Unreal_Brushes_v_3_by_Edelihu.abr" style="color: #f05681; text-decoration: none;">here</a></div><h3 class="title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">4. Miscilnea Photoshop Brushes</h3><h3 class="sub-title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">4.1 <a href="http://h0shii.deviantart.com/art/Akatsuki-Cloud-Burshes-64648219" style="color: #435266; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.03em; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Akatsuki Cloud Burshes</a></h3><div class="img-post"><img alt="Brush8 in 1000+ Free High Resolution Photoshop Brush Sets" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_noupe/img/brush8.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; border-right-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 2px; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px;" /></div><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">7 cloud brushes in this set. An imagepack has been included.</div><div class="download">Download Brush Set <a href="http://www.deviantart.com/download/64648219/Akatsuki_Cloud_Burshes_by_H0shii.zip" style="color: #f05681; text-decoration: none;">here</a></div><h3 class="sub-title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">4.2 <a href="http://mandana2000.deviantart.com/art/smoke-brushes-vol-II-99741443" style="color: #435266; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.03em; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Smoke brushes</a></h3><div class="img-post"><img alt="Brush10 in 1000+ Free High Resolution Photoshop Brush Sets" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_noupe/img/brush10.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; border-right-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 2px; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px;" /></div><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">3 smokes per vol. but all of them are more than 1300 px. For the best result, use them in higher size.</div><div class="download">Download Brush Set <a href="http://www.deviantart.com/download/99741443/smoke_brushes_vol_II_by_mandana2000.zip" style="color: #f05681; text-decoration: none;">here</a></div><h3 class="sub-title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">4.3 <a href="http://for-certain.deviantart.com/art/V-E-C-T-O-R-S-C-A-T-T-E-R-100258863" style="color: #435266; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.03em; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">V E C T O R – S C A T T E R</a></h3><div class="img-post"><img alt="Brush11 in 1000+ Free High Resolution Photoshop Brush Sets" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_noupe/img/brush11.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; border-right-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 2px; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px;" /></div><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">Set contains 66 brushes. Each shape has 3 presets. 1. plain shape, 2. scatter, 3. opacity shift scatter</div><div class="download">Download Brush Set <a href="http://www.deviantart.com/download/100258863/__V_E_C_T_O_R___S_C_A_T_T_E_R_by_For_Certain.abr" style="color: #f05681; text-decoration: none;">here</a></div><h3 class="sub-title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">4.4 <a href="http://kaji-303.deviantart.com/art/Frost-Brush-Set-98376364" style="color: #435266; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.03em; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Frost Brush Set</a></h3><div class="img-post"><img alt="Brush14 in 1000+ Free High Resolution Photoshop Brush Sets" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_noupe/img/brush14.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; border-right-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 2px; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px;" /></div><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">Set contains 8 brushes, made in Photoshop CS3.</div><div class="download">Download Brush Set <a href="http://www.deviantart.com/download/98376364/Frost_Brush_Set_by_Kaji_303.abr" style="color: #f05681; text-decoration: none;">here</a></div><h3 class="sub-title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">4.5 <a href="http://redheadstock.deviantart.com/art/School-Dayz-Sketches-Brushes-100100554" style="color: #435266; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.03em; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">School Dayz Sketches Brushes</a></h3><div class="img-post"><img alt="Brush22 in 1000+ Free High Resolution Photoshop Brush Sets" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_noupe/img/brush22.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; border-right-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 2px; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px;" /></div><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">A set of 27 Photoshop brushes made up of sketches of school themed items. These were all drawn by hand! They are high resolution, with the average size being about 1800 pixels.</div><div class="download">Download Brush Set <a href="http://www.deviantart.com/download/100100554/School_Dayz_Sketches_Brushes_by_redheadstock.zip" style="color: #f05681; text-decoration: none;">here</a></div><h3 class="sub-title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">4.6 <a href="http://chokingonstatic.deviantart.com/art/stencil-word-brushes-63267904" style="color: #435266; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.03em; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Stencil Word brushes</a></h3><div class="img-post"><img alt="Brush23 in 1000+ Free High Resolution Photoshop Brush Sets" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_noupe/img/brush23.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; border-right-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 2px; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px;" /></div><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">Set includes 20 stencil word brushes, created in Photoshop version 7.0</div><div class="download">Download Brush Set <a href="http://www.deviantart.com/download/63267904/stencil_word_brushes_by_chokingonstatic.abr" style="color: #f05681; text-decoration: none;">here</a></div><h3 class="sub-title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">4.7 <a href="http://chokingonstatic.deviantart.com/art/fingerprint-brushes-64618345" style="color: #435266; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.03em; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Fingerprint brushes</a></h3><div class="img-post"><img alt="Brush24 in 1000+ Free High Resolution Photoshop Brush Sets" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_noupe/img/brush24.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; border-right-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 2px; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px;" /></div><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">Set includes 10 stencil word brushes, created in Photoshop version 7.0</div><div class="download">Download Brush Set <a href="http://www.deviantart.com/download/64618345/fingerprint_brushes_by_chokingonstatic.abr" style="color: #f05681; text-decoration: none;">here</a></div><h3 class="sub-title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">4.8 <a href="http://nadinepau-stock.deviantart.com/art/Dirigibles-63300078" style="color: #435266; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.03em; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Dirigibles</a></h3><div class="img-post"><img alt="Brush24 in 1000+ Free High Resolution Photoshop Brush Sets" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_noupe/img/brush24.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; border-right-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 2px; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px;" /></div><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">12 bruses – made in PSCS2, size 450 – 1144 px</div><div class="download">Download Brush Set <a href="http://www.deviantart.com/download/63300078/Dirigibles_by_NadinePau_stock.abr" style="color: #f05681; text-decoration: none;">here</a></div><h3 class="sub-title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">4.9 <a href="http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2008/09/12/health-and-beauty-photoshop-brushes-set/" style="color: #435266; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.03em; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Health And Beauty</a></h3><div class="img-post"><img alt="Brush41 in 1000+ Free High Resolution Photoshop Brush Sets" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_noupe/img/brush41.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; border-right-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 2px; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px;" /></div><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">A free set of 67 Photoshop brushes ranging in resolution from 69 to 2463 pixels. The set is compatible with Adobe Photoshop 7.0, CS, CS2 and CS3</div><div class="download">Download Brush Set <a href="http://88.198.60.17/images/health-beauty-photoshop-brushes/health_beauty_woman_PSbrushes.abr" style="color: #f05681; text-decoration: none;">here</a></div><h3 class="sub-title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">4.10 <a href="http://www.abduzeedo.com/1000-great-ps-free-brushes-paulw" style="color: #435266; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.03em; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">1000 great PS free brushes</a></h3><div class="img-post"><img alt="Brush43 in 1000+ Free High Resolution Photoshop Brush Sets" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_noupe/img/brush43.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; border-right-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 2px; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px;" /></div><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">Abduzeedo has a huge collection of <a href="http://paulw.deviantart.com/" style="color: #f05681; text-decoration: none;">PaulW’s</a> brush set collection. Click on every picture to go to his download page. You can watch the same collection on his journal when you click<a href="http://paulw.deviantart.com/journal/" style="color: #f05681; text-decoration: none;">here</a></div><div class="download">Download Brush Set <a href="http://www.abduzeedo.com/1000-great-ps-free-brushes-paulw" style="color: #f05681; text-decoration: none;">here</a></div><h3 class="title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">5. Hair Photoshop Brushes</h3><h3 class="sub-title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">5.1 <a href="http://lpdragonfly.deviantart.com/art/hair-brushes-II-99673734" style="color: #435266; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.03em; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Hair brushes</a></h3><div class="img-post"><img alt="Brush12 in 1000+ Free High Resolution Photoshop Brush Sets" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_noupe/img/brush12.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; border-right-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 2px; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px;" /></div><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">Hair brush set made in Photoshop CS2.</div><div class="download">Download Brush Set <a href="http://www.deviantart.com/download/99673734/hair_brushes_II_by_lpdragonfly.abr" style="color: #f05681; text-decoration: none;">here</a></div><h3 class="sub-title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">5.2 <a href="http://designingdivas.deviantart.com/art/Hair-Brushes-III-24932893" style="color: #435266; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.03em; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Hair Brushes III</a></h3><div class="img-post"><img alt="Brush29 in 1000+ Free High Resolution Photoshop Brush Sets" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_noupe/img/brush29.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; border-right-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 2px; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px;" /></div><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">5 Hair brush set thats looks amazing.</div><div class="download">Download Brush Set <a href="http://www.deviantart.com/download/24932893/JS_scully7491_hairbrushesIII.zip" style="color: #f05681; text-decoration: none;">here</a></div><h3 class="title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">6. Watercolor Photoshop Brushes</h3><h3 class="sub-title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">6.1 <a href="http://jocosity.deviantart.com/art/20-watercolor-Brushes-98604120" style="color: #435266; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.03em; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">20 Watercolor Brushes</a></h3><div class="img-post"><img alt="Brush13 in 1000+ Free High Resolution Photoshop Brush Sets" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_noupe/img/brush13.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; border-right-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 2px; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px;" /></div><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">20 Watercolor Brushes for Photoshop</div><div class="download">Download Brush Set <a href="http://www.deviantart.com/download/98604120/20_watercolor_Brushes_by_jocosity.zip" style="color: #f05681; text-decoration: none;">here</a></div><h3 class="sub-title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">6.2 <a href="http://env1ro.deviantart.com/art/WaterColor-Reloaded-98294189" style="color: #435266; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.03em; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">WaterColor Reloaded</a></h3><div class="img-post"><img alt="Brush20 in 1000+ Free High Resolution Photoshop Brush Sets" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_noupe/img/brush20.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; border-right-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 2px; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px;" /></div><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">This HUGE pack contains 83 (resolution about 700 – 1200px) brushes compatible with PS 7 and up!</div><div class="download">Download Brush Set <a href="http://www.deviantart.com/download/98294189/WaterColor_Reloaded_by_env1ro.rar" style="color: #f05681; text-decoration: none;">here</a></div><h3 class="sub-title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">6.3 <a href="http://www.bittbox.com/freebies/free-hi-res-watercolor-photoshop-brushes-set-ii/" style="color: #435266; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.03em; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Free Hi-Res Watercolor</a></h3><div class="img-post"><img alt="Brush36 in 1000+ Free High Resolution Photoshop Brush Sets" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_noupe/img/brush36.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; border-right-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 2px; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px;" /></div><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">Amazing brushes that were originally painted on a high quality paper to give us this high-res watercolor brush set.</div><h3 class="title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">7. Swirl and Curvy Photoshop Brushes</h3><h3 class="sub-title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">7.1 <a href="http://coby17.deviantart.com/art/More-Swirls-Brushes-99467693" style="color: #435266; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.03em; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">More Swirls Brushes</a></h3><div class="img-post"><img alt="Brush19 in 1000+ Free High Resolution Photoshop Brush Sets" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_noupe/img/brush19.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; border-right-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 2px; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px;" /></div><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">Swirls Brushes for Photoshop</div><div class="download">Download Brush Set <a href="http://www.deviantart.com/download/99467693/More_Swirls_Brushes_by_Coby17.abr" style="color: #f05681; text-decoration: none;">here</a></div><h3 class="sub-title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">7.2 <a href="http://coby17.deviantart.com/art/Swirls-II-Brushes-PS-98444410" style="color: #435266; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.03em; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Swirls II Brushes PS</a></h3><div class="img-post"><img alt="Brush21 in 1000+ Free High Resolution Photoshop Brush Sets" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_noupe/img/brush21.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; border-right-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 2px; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px;" /></div><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">Swirls Brushes for Photoshop</div><div class="download">Download Brush Set <a href="http://www.deviantart.com/download/98444410/Swirls_II_Brushes_PS_by_Coby17.abr" style="color: #f05681; text-decoration: none;">here</a></div><h3 class="sub-title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">7.3 <a href="http://coby17.deviantart.com/art/Swirls-III-Brushes-99037921" style="color: #435266; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.03em; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Swirls III Brushes</a></h3><div class="img-post"><img alt="Brush31 in 1000+ Free High Resolution Photoshop Brush Sets" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_noupe/img/brush31.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; border-right-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 2px; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px;" /></div><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">Swirls Brushes for Photoshop</div><div class="download">Download Brush Set <a href="http://www.deviantart.com/download/99037921/Swirls_III_Brushes_by_Coby17.abr" style="color: #f05681; text-decoration: none;">here</a></div><h3 class="sub-title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">7.4 <a href="http://saerina.deviantart.com/art/Curly-Brushes-Img-79127698" style="color: #435266; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.03em; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Curly Brushes + Img</a></h3><div class="img-post"><img alt="Brush38 in 1000+ Free High Resolution Photoshop Brush Sets" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_noupe/img/brush38.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; border-right-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 2px; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px;" /></div><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">A set of 5 Photoshop brushes, handmade in Adobe Illustrator.</div><div class="download">Download Brush Set <a href="http://www.deviantart.com/download/79127698/Curly_Brushes___Img_by_Saerina.rar" style="color: #f05681; text-decoration: none;">here</a></div><h3 class="title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">8. Wood Photoshop Brushes</h3><h3 class="sub-title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">8.1 <a href="http://xbstock.deviantart.com/art/xbgrunge-03-35520285" style="color: #435266; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.03em; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">xbgrunge 03</a></h3><div class="img-post"><img alt="Brush26 in 1000+ Free High Resolution Photoshop Brush Sets" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_noupe/img/brush26.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; border-right-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 2px; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px;" /></div><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">A small collection of 9 Photoshop brushes. Can be used to add texture of dirtand rust.</div><div class="download">Download Brush Set <a href="http://www.deviantart.com/download/35520285/xbgrunge_03.rar" style="color: #f05681; text-decoration: none;">here</a></div><h3 class="title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">9. Fractal Photoshop Brushes</h3><h3 class="sub-title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">9.1 <a href="http://patio13.deviantart.com/art/Fractal-Brushes-Pack-2-66822517" style="color: #435266; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.03em; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Fractal Brushes Pack 2</a></h3><div class="img-post"><img alt="Brush27 in 1000+ Free High Resolution Photoshop Brush Sets" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_noupe/img/brush27.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; border-right-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 2px; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px;" /></div><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">A small collection of 8 Fractal Photoshop brushes.</div><div class="download">Download Brush Set <a href="http://www.deviantart.com/download/66822517/Fractal_Brushes_Pack_2_by_PaTio13.rar" style="color: #f05681; text-decoration: none;">here</a></div><h3 class="sub-title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">9.2 <a href="http://getbrushes.com/fractal-photoshop-brushes/fractal-lite-photoshop-brushes.php" style="color: #435266; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.03em; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Fractal Lite</a></h3><div class="img-post"><img alt="Brush28 in 1000+ Free High Resolution Photoshop Brush Sets" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_noupe/img/brush28.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; border-right-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 2px; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px;" /></div><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">A big collection of 40 Fractal Photoshop brushes that work nicely when making medium to smaller sized work, from banners to avatars and personal cards.</div><div class="download">Download Brush Set <a href="http://www.photoshop-freebies.com/upload/getbrushes_fractals.zip" style="color: #f05681; text-decoration: none;">here</a></div><h3 class="title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">10. Splatter Photoshop Brushes</h3><h3 class="sub-title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">10.1 <a href="http://procemo.nl/blog/spetter-splash-splatter-photoshop-brushes/" style="color: #435266; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.03em; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Spetter, splash & splatter</a></h3><div class="img-post"><img alt="Brush30 in 1000+ Free High Resolution Photoshop Brush Sets" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_noupe/img/brush30.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; border-right-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 2px; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px;" /></div><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">45 Photoshop brushes made in Photoshop CS3.</div><div class="download">Download Brush Set <a href="http://procemo.nl/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/procemo_splatter.zip" style="color: #f05681; text-decoration: none;">here</a></div><h3 class="sub-title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">10.2 <a href="http://myphotoshopbrushes.com/brushes/id/208" style="color: #435266; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.03em; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">14 Hi Res Splatter Brushes</a></h3><div class="img-post"><img alt="Brush37 in 1000+ Free High Resolution Photoshop Brush Sets" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_noupe/img/brush37.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; border-right-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 2px; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px;" /></div><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">Pack of 14 huge splatter Photoshop CS3 brushes, each one about 2500px. Made from hi res scans of ink splatters, vectorized in Illustrator and converted to the .abr file.</div><div class="download">Download Brush Set <a href="http://myphotoshopbrushes.com/brushes/download/208" style="color: #f05681; text-decoration: none;">here</a></div><h3 class="sub-title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">10.3 <a href="http://motion-suggests.deviantart.com/art/Dot-Splatter-vol4-98398234" style="color: #435266; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.03em; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">New Dot Splatter Brushes</a></h3><div class="img-post"><img alt="Brush39 in 1000+ Free High Resolution Photoshop Brush Sets" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_noupe/img/brush39.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; border-right-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 2px; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px;" /></div><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">Pack of 11 splatter Photoshopbrushes.</div><div class="download">Download Brush Set <a href="http://www.deviantart.com/download/98398234/Dot_Splatter_vol4_by_motion_suggests.abr" style="color: #f05681; text-decoration: none;">here</a></div><br />
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Shamelessly stolen from: <a href="http://www.noupe.com/photoshop/1000-free-high-resolution-photoshop-brush-sets.html">http://www.noupe.com/photoshop/1000-free-high-resolution-photoshop-brush-sets.html</a><br />
You can <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Guy-WhoSteals/153503588017789">add yourself to the GuyWhoSteals fanpage on Facebook</a> or <a href="http://twitter.com/GuyWhoSteals">follow GuyWhoSteals on Twitter</a>.</blockquote>GuyWhoStealshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02565802673814348537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5083005185748233675.post-20104095294611646792011-01-02T01:08:00.000-08:002011-01-02T01:08:23.834-08:0030+ Exceptional GIMP Tutorials and Resources<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"></span><br />
<div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">GIMP is a freely distributed GNU Image Manipulation Program. Available for such tasks as photo retouching, image composition and image authoring. It’s always fun to experiment different techniques and learn how to work with various aspects of <strong>GIMP </strong>to spice up boring pictures and make them into works of arts and masterpieces.</div><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">So, if you’re interested in learning some new skills, whether you’re a beginner, intermediate or advanced user, these <strong>GIMP </strong>tutorials are for you.</div><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">Below you will find an incredible amount some of the best <strong>GIMP tutorials </strong>hand picked to enhance or highlight whatever action is going on in the photo.</div><div class="download"><a href="http://www.gimp.org/downloads/" style="color: #f05681; text-decoration: none;">Download GIMP</a></div><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;"><span id="more-3456"></span></div><h3 class="title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">1. Different Gimp Tutorials</h3><h3 class="sub-title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">1. <a href="http://ajitgraphics.blogspot.com/2008/09/neon-lights-tutorial-gimp.html" style="color: #435266; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.03em; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Neon Lights Tutorial</a></h3><div class="img-post"><img alt="Gimp-tut1 in 30+ Exceptional GIMP Tutorials and Resources" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_noupe/img/gimp-tut1.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; border-right-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 2px; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px;" /></div><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">This tutorial illustrates how to implement a nice animated menu using Mootoolsand some lines of CSS and HTML code ready to reuse in your project. Tip: to get more of a glow, you can duplicate some of the blurred line layers.</div><h3 class="sub-title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">2. <a href="http://droz928.deviantart.com/art/Recoloring-Eyes-for-Gimp-52017002" style="color: #435266; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.03em; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Recoloring Eyes</a></h3><div class="img-post"><img alt="Gimp-tut2 in 30+ Exceptional GIMP Tutorials and Resources" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_noupe/img/gimp-tut2.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; border-right-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 2px; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px;" /></div><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">This tutorial will teach you a quick and simple way to recolor eyes. You can color anything using this tutorial.</div><h3 class="sub-title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">3. <a href="http://pheona.deviantart.com/art/Lineart-tutorial-for-GIMP-27643748" style="color: #435266; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.03em; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Lineart Tutorial</a></h3><div class="img-post"><img alt="Gimp-tut6 in 30+ Exceptional GIMP Tutorials and Resources" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_noupe/img/gimp-tut6.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; border-right-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 2px; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px;" /></div><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">This is specially for anime/cartoon style lineart.</div><h3 class="sub-title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">4. <a href="http://pikaadvance.deviantart.com/art/Gimp-Tutorial-Easy-Sig-69655671" style="color: #435266; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.03em; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Easy Sig</a></h3><div class="img-post"><img alt="Gimp-tut7 in 30+ Exceptional GIMP Tutorials and Resources" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_noupe/img/gimp-tut7.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; border-right-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 2px; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px;" /></div><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">A fairly easy tutorial to follow to make a sig. You must know the bare basics of GIMP and brushes/filters is all.</div><h3 class="sub-title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">5. <a href="http://www.gimpusers.com/tutorials/colored-light-swirl.html" style="color: #435266; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.03em; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">A colored swirl of light</a></h3><div class="img-post"><img alt="Gimp-tut9 in 30+ Exceptional GIMP Tutorials and Resources" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_noupe/img/gimp-tut9.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; border-right-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 2px; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px;" /></div><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">Here is a great effect, usable for all kind of graphics such as flyers, splash-screens, wallpapers etc. Here you will learn how to create a colored light swirl.</div><h3 class="sub-title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">6. <a href="http://www.gimpusers.com/tutorials/oilpainting-from-photo.html" style="color: #435266; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.03em; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Create a nice oilpainting from a photo</a></h3><div class="img-post"><img alt="Gimp-tut10 in 30+ Exceptional GIMP Tutorials and Resources" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_noupe/img/gimp-tut10.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; border-right-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 2px; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px;" /></div><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">Learn how to create a fantastic looking oilpainting from a photo.</div><h3 class="sub-title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">7. <a href="http://www.gimpusers.com/tutorials/making-a-pencil-drawing-from-a-photo.html" style="color: #435266; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.03em; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Making a pencil drawing from a photo</a></h3><div class="img-post"><img alt="Gimp-tut11 in 30+ Exceptional GIMP Tutorials and Resources" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_noupe/img/gimp-tut11.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; border-right-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 2px; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px;" /></div><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">In this tutorial you will learn how to convert almost any image into a good-looking pencil drawing, and yon even won’t need edge detection filters. All you need are a few different layer modes.</div><h3 class="sub-title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">8. <a href="http://ajitgraphics.blogspot.com/2008/09/gimp-sin-city-tutorial.html" style="color: #435266; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.03em; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Gimp Sin City Tutorial</a></h3><div class="img-post"><img alt="Gimp-tut12 in 30+ Exceptional GIMP Tutorials and Resources" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_noupe/img/gimp-tut12.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; border-right-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 2px; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px;" /></div><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">This tutorial has been converted from the original Photoshop tutorial into Gimp. Learn how to create this dramatic effect in Gimp.</div><h3 class="sub-title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">9. <a href="http://ajitgraphics.blogspot.com/2008/09/blog-post.html" style="color: #435266; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.03em; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Flame Abstract Tutorial</a></h3><div class="img-post"><img alt="Gimp-tut13 in 30+ Exceptional GIMP Tutorials and Resources" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_noupe/img/gimp-tut13.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; border-right-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 2px; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px;" /></div><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">In this tutorial we will learn how to use the flame filter to make a simple abstract background.</div><h3 class="sub-title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">10. <a href="http://gimpology.com/submission/view/how_to_create_lightsaber_effects" style="color: #435266; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.03em; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">How to create Lightsaber effects</a></h3><div class="img-post"><img alt="Gimp-tut17 in 30+ Exceptional GIMP Tutorials and Resources" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_noupe/img/gimp-tut17.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; border-right-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 2px; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px;" /></div><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">Who doesn’t want to create lightsaber effects. In this tutorial you will learn how.</div><h3 class="sub-title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">11. <a href="http://gimpology.com/submission/view/authentic_vintage_effect" style="color: #435266; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.03em; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Authentic Vintage Effect</a></h3><div class="img-post"><img alt="Gimp-tut19 in 30+ Exceptional GIMP Tutorials and Resources" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_noupe/img/gimp-tut19.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; border-right-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 2px; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px;" /></div><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">Learn how to create beautiful effect for giving your photos an old vintage feel.</div><h3 class="sub-title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">12. <a href="http://www.shadow-logic.net/2008/08/13/grunge-brush-tutorial/" style="color: #435266; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.03em; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Grunge brush pack + tutorial</a></h3><div class="img-post"><img alt="Gimp-tut23 in 30+ Exceptional GIMP Tutorials and Resources" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_noupe/img/gimp-tut23.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; border-right-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 2px; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px;" /></div><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">A whole Gimp grunge back along with a tutorial on how to create your own brush set.</div><h3 class="sub-title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">13. <a href="http://www.shadow-logic.net/2008/03/26/resizing-fade-effect/" style="color: #435266; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.03em; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Resizing fade effect</a></h3><div class="img-post"><img alt="Gimp-tut24 in 30+ Exceptional GIMP Tutorials and Resources" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_noupe/img/gimp-tut24.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; border-right-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 2px; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px;" /></div><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">This tutorial is about that fade effect, at first glance it’s just a blur effect. This effect works best with pictures of definite figures, such as logos, people, and solid objects.</div><h3 class="sub-title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">14. <a href="http://www.gimptalk.com/tutorial/how-to-make-a-pile-of-worms-in-gimp-32972-1.html" style="color: #435266; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.03em; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">How to make a pile of worms in Gimp</a></h3><div class="img-post"><img alt="Gimp-tut25 in 30+ Exceptional GIMP Tutorials and Resources" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_noupe/img/gimp-tut25.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; border-right-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 2px; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px;" /></div><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">This is how to make something that looks like the image above.</div><h3 class="sub-title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">15. <a href="http://www.gimptalk.com/tutorial/abstract-art-(-good-for-background-)-33124-1.html" style="color: #435266; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.03em; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Abstract Art</a></h3><div class="img-post"><img alt="Gimp-tut27 in 30+ Exceptional GIMP Tutorials and Resources" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_noupe/img/gimp-tut27.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; border-right-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 2px; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px;" /></div><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">Learn how to create an abstract background easily with Gimp.</div><h3 class="title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">2. GIMP Basics</h3><h3 class="sub-title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">16. <a href="http://cab-rod.deviantart.com/art/GIMP-tutorial-Basics-21668913" style="color: #435266; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.03em; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">GIMP tutorial Basics</a></h3><div class="img-post"><img alt="Gimp-tut3 in 30+ Exceptional GIMP Tutorials and Resources" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_noupe/img/gimp-tut3.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; border-right-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 2px; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px;" /></div><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">This tutorial will teach you some basic tips for working with Gimp: shadowing, coloring, lighting, using the brush and pencil tools.</div><h3 class="sub-title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">17. <a href="http://skittleboo.deviantart.com/art/GIMP-Tutorial-Layers-Inking-57237921" style="color: #435266; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.03em; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Layers + Inking</a></h3><div class="img-post"><img alt="Gimp-tut5 in 30+ Exceptional GIMP Tutorials and Resources" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_noupe/img/gimp-tut5.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; border-right-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 2px; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px;" /></div><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">This is a tutorial about using Ink and layers in Gimp.</div><h3 class="sub-title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">18. <a href="http://gimpology.com/submission/view/using_the_scissor_tool" style="color: #435266; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.03em; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Using the Scissor Tool</a></h3><div class="img-post"><img alt="Gimp-tut18 in 30+ Exceptional GIMP Tutorials and Resources" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_noupe/img/gimp-tut18.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; border-right-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 2px; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px;" /></div><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">The scissor tool (selects shapes from images) can be a confusing tool at first, but once you get the hang of it, it’s great for extracting objects from your photos.</div><h3 class="sub-title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">19. <a href="http://www.simmerspaintshop.com/forums/gimp-tutorials/512-using-manipulating-layers-gimp.html" style="color: #435266; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.03em; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Using and Manipulating Layers with Gimp</a></h3><div class="img-post"><img alt="Gimp-tut21 in 30+ Exceptional GIMP Tutorials and Resources" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_noupe/img/gimp-tut21.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; border-right-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 2px; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px;" /></div><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">This tutorial will show you how to use and manipulate layers in Gimp. Using layers is essential for making skins, and learning to use them to your advantage will help you produce good results.</div><h3 class="title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">3. Photo Manipulation</h3><h3 class="sub-title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">20. <a href="http://crazymurdock1.deviantart.com/art/Vintage-look-in-Gimp-61841683" style="color: #435266; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.03em; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Vintage Look</a></h3><div class="img-post"><img alt="Gimp-tut4 in 30+ Exceptional GIMP Tutorials and Resources" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_noupe/img/gimp-tut4.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; border-right-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 2px; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px;" /></div><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">A tutorial for creating a vintage look in Gimp.</div><h3 class="sub-title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">21. <a href="http://damoose08.deviantart.com/art/GIMP-Photomanip-Tutorial-74156874" style="color: #435266; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.03em; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">GIMP Photomanip Tutorial</a></h3><div class="img-post"><img alt="Gimp-tut8 in 30+ Exceptional GIMP Tutorials and Resources" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_noupe/img/gimp-tut8.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; border-right-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 2px; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px;" /></div><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">A basic tutorial for photomanipulation. You will learn how to tone the brightness, add swirls, grungy effect to the photo.</div><h3 class="sub-title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">22. <a href="http://gimpology.com/submission/view/make_your_photo_look_like_a_hollywood_movie" style="color: #435266; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.03em; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">GIMP Photo-manip Tutorial</a></h3><div class="img-post"><img alt="Gimp-tut15 in 30+ Exceptional GIMP Tutorials and Resources" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_noupe/img/gimp-tut15.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; border-right-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 2px; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px;" /></div><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">Learn how to make your photographs look like they came straight out of Hollywood by following a couple of simple steps!</div><h3 class="sub-title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">23. <a href="http://gimps.de/en/tutorials/gimp/picture-photo-image/skin-care/index.htm" style="color: #435266; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.03em; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">How to do skin care with Gimp</a></h3><div class="img-post"><img alt="Gimp-tut20 in 30+ Exceptional GIMP Tutorials and Resources" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_noupe/img/gimp-tut20.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; border-right-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 2px; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px;" /></div><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">Gimp can help you to remove wrinkle, acne scars, red rash, blemish, pimple and other annoying skin problem on face in a photo portrait.This is a guide, manual and help for how to retouch skin with Gimp.</div><h3 class="sub-title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">24. <a href="http://www.gimpguru.org/Tutorials/SelectiveColorization/" style="color: #435266; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.03em; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Selective Colorization</a></h3><div class="img-post"><img alt="Gimp-tut26 in 30+ Exceptional GIMP Tutorials and Resources" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_noupe/img/gimp-tut26.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; border-right-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 2px; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px;" /></div><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">How to convert a color photograph to a B&W one with color restored to selective areas.</div><h3 class="title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">4. Gimp Text Effects</h3><h3 class="sub-title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">125. <a href="http://gimpology.com/submission/view/transparent_glass_lettering" style="color: #435266; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.03em; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Transparent Glass Lettering</a></h3><div class="img-post"><img alt="Gimp-tut16 in 30+ Exceptional GIMP Tutorials and Resources" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_noupe/img/gimp-tut16.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; border-right-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 2px; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px;" /></div><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">Learn how to make a stunning glass text effect. Adapted from a Photoshop tutorial</div><h3 class="sub-title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">26. <a href="http://www.gimpusers.com/tutorials/smelting-text-bloody-text.html" style="color: #435266; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.03em; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Smelting text / Creating blood text</a></h3><div class="img-post"><img alt="Gimp-tut14 in 30+ Exceptional GIMP Tutorials and Resources" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_noupe/img/gimp-tut14.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; border-right-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 2px; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px;" /></div><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">How you can liquify / smelt text or other graphical objects by creating a blood text.</div><h3 class="sub-title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">27. <a href="http://www.unrealmedia.co.uk/168/cool-glow-effect/" style="color: #435266; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.03em; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Cool Glow Effect</a></h3><div class="img-post"><img alt="Gimp-tut22 in 30+ Exceptional GIMP Tutorials and Resources" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_noupe/img/gimp-tut22.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; border-right-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 2px; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px;" /></div><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">How you can a nice glow effect for any text yoiu want.</div><h3 class="sub-title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">28. <a href="http://www.fused-graphics.com/Glossyweblogo.shtml" style="color: #435266; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.03em; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Glossy Web Logo</a></h3><div class="img-post"><img alt="Gimp-tut29 in 30+ Exceptional GIMP Tutorials and Resources" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_noupe/img/gimp-tut29.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; border-right-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 2px; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px;" /></div><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">In this tutorial we will learn how to create a cool glossy website logo.</div><h3 class="sub-title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">29. <a href="http://gimp-tutorials.net/gimp-text-effect-tutorial" style="color: #435266; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.03em; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Colourful glowing text effect</a></h3><div class="img-post"><img alt="Gimp-tut31 in 30+ Exceptional GIMP Tutorials and Resources" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_noupe/img/gimp-tut31.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; border-right-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 2px; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px;" /></div><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">In this tutorial we will learn how to create a colourful text effect using the gradient blend and blur effects.</div><h3 class="sub-title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(67, 82, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; clear: both; color: #435266; font-size: 2.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">30 <a href="http://fence-post.deviantart.com/art/Fit-Text-to-Uneven-Surfaces-35954250" style="color: #435266; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.03em; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Fitting Text to Uneven Surfaces</a></h3><div class="img-post"><img alt="Gimp-tut32 in 30+ Exceptional GIMP Tutorials and Resources" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_noupe/img/gimp-tut32.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; border-right-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(181, 202, 208); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 2px; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px;" /></div><div style="color: #4a586c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.72em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">In this tutorial we will learn how to FittText to Uneven Surfaces with GIMP’s Displace Tool.</div><blockquote>To subscribe to the "Guy WhoSteals" feed, click <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/GuyWhoSteals">here</a>.<br />
Stolen from: <a href="http://www.noupe.com/gimp/30-exceptional-gimp-tutorials-and-resources.html">http://www.noupe.com/gimp/30-exceptional-gimp-tutorials-and-resources.html</a><br />
You can <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Guy-WhoSteals/153503588017789">add yourself to the GuyWhoSteals fanpage on Facebook</a> or <a href="http://twitter.com/GuyWhoSteals">follow GuyWhoSteals on Twitter</a>.</blockquote>GuyWhoStealshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02565802673814348537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5083005185748233675.post-45830082264271687652011-01-02T00:32:00.000-08:002011-01-02T00:40:38.266-08:00How to: Use Python to Solve Optimization ProblemsSome Python programmers may be interested in learning how to use Python, and various supporting packages, to solve mathematics problems frequently encountered by social scientists. Depending on the level of interest, I will make more of these tutorials to tackle other problems.<br />
Optimization problems are a class frequently encountered by social scientists, and therefore this is where I will begin. Optimization techniques can answer questions such as, “if we spend x on schools, y on hospitals and z on infrastructure in a attempt gain confidence from some population P, what is the optimal amount to spend in each to gain maximum confidence?” In a step-by-step fashion, this tutorial will explain how to use Python and SymPy to solve these types of problems.<br />
<span id="more-274"></span><br />
<ol><li>If you have not already, you will need to download and install the <a href="http://www.python.org/download/">Python IDLE</a> and <a href="http://code.google.com/p/sympy/downloads/list">SymPy</a> compatible with your operating system. Each of these <a href="http://code.google.com/p/sympy/wiki/DownloadInstallation?tm=2">software packages</a> has their own installation instructions, review them carefully before installing. Also, if you are totally new to Python, I recommend the <a href="http://diveintopython.org/">Dive Into Python</a> tutorial. Once you have the software up and running we are ready to begin! </li>
<li>Problem: Find the critical points for the function below, then classify these critical points as either <a href="http://mathworld.wolfram.com/LocalMaximum.html">local maximum</a>, <a href="http://mathworld.wolfram.com/LocalMinimum.html">local minimum</a>, <a href="http://mathworld.wolfram.com/SaddlePoint.html">saddle point</a>, or neither.<br />
<center><br />
<img align="middle" alt="f(x,y)=x^{4}+x^{2}-6xy+3y^{2}" border="0" src="http://www.texify.com/img/%5CLARGE%5C%21f%28x%2Cy%29%3Dx%5E%7B4%7D%2Bx%5E%7B2%7D-6xy%2B3y%5E%7B2%7D.gif" /></center><br />
First, we must find the first-order conditions of this function by setting up the <a href="http://mathworld.wolfram.com/Gradient.html">gradient</a>. To do this using Python, we must first import SymPy into the IDLE and then add the appropriate variables to memory. </li>
<li>Open the Python IDLE and type the following commands (all Python commands will be in block-quotes):<br />
<blockquote>>>> import sympy as S<br />
>>> x,y=S.symbols(‘xy’) </blockquote>The first line loads the entire SymPy package into the variable S, while the second line adds the variables x and y into memory using SymPy’s symbolic format so they can be manipulated. </li>
<li>The gradient of this function will be the partial derivatives of both variables, x and y.<br />
<center><img align="middle" alt="bigtriangledown f = frac{partial f}{partial x}, frac{partial f}{partial y}" border="0" src="http://www.texify.com/img/%5CLARGE%5C%21%5Cbigtriangledown%20f%20%3D%20%5Cfrac%7B%5Cpartial%20f%7D%7B%5Cpartial%20x%7D%2C%20%5Cfrac%7B%5Cpartial%20f%7D%7B%5Cpartial%20y%7D.gif" /></center><br />
To solve this with Python, we will first store the function as a variable, then use SymPy’s diff function to perform partial differentiation on f. </li>
<li>We store the function in a variable to prevent ourselves from having to repeatedly enter the function into IDLE.<br />
<blockquote>>>> f=x**4+x**2-6*x*y+3*y**2<br />
>>> f<br />
-6*x*y + x**2 + 3*y**2 + x**4</blockquote>You will notice two things; first, the ** is Python’s is exponent operator, that is, if you are calculating 4<sup>2</sup> you would type 4**2 into the interpreter; second, SymPy has rearranged the function. This rearranging occurs because SymPy automatically reorders variables from most negative to most positive rank. Now we perform the partial differentiation.<br />
<blockquote>>>> a=S.diff(f,x)<br />
>>> S.pprint(a)<br />
-6*y + 2*x + 4*x<sup>3</sup><br />
>>> b=S.diff(f,y)<br />
>>> S.pprint(b)<br />
-6*x + 6*y</blockquote>SymPy’s S.diff command will differentiate a function with respect to all or some of its variables. In our example, S.diff(f,x) is differentiating f with respect to x and likewise S.diff(f,y) is differentiating f with respect to y. To find the full derivative; however, simply execute S.diff(f,[x,y]). Another very useful command in SymPy is S.pprint or “pretty print”. This command will take SymPy’s symbolic representation of a function and output it in a more readable manner. To see the difference, inspect our new variables a or b without using S.pprint. With the gradient now stored in memory, we can use these variables to solve the system of equations and find the critical points. </li>
<li>To do this, we can use SymPy’s built-in equations solver.<br />
<blockquote>>>> S.solve_system([a,b],[x,y])<br />
[(-1, -1), (0, 0), (1, 1)]</blockquote>Our critical points are (-1,-1), (0,0) and (1,1). We now use the <a href="http://www.sjsu.edu/faculty/watkins/2ndOrdergen.htm">second-order conditions</a> to find if they are local maximum/minimum, saddle points or neither. To do so, we must find the <a href="http://mathworld.wolfram.com/Hessian.html">Hessian matrix</a> of f and find out the “<a href="http://mathworld.wolfram.com/PositiveDefiniteMatrix.html">definiteness</a>” of this matrix for all of our critical points. </li>
<li> SymPy has commands that will easily allow us to calculate the Hessian, as well as the principal minors of those matrices, which will tell us the definiteness.<br />
<blockquote>>>> H=S.hessian(f,[x,y])</blockquote>The translation from Python matrix form to HTML is ugly, so for clarity, we find the Hessian of f is equal to the equation below.<br />
<br />
<center><img align="middle" alt="D^{2}f(x,y)=left| begin{array}{lr} 12x^{2}+2&-6 \ -6&6end{array} right|" border="0" src="http://www.texify.com/img/%5CLARGE%5C%21D%5E%7B2%7Df%28x%2Cy%29%3D%5Cleft%7C%20%5Cbegin%7Barray%7D%7Blr%7D%0912x%5E%7B2%7D%2B2%26-6%20%5C%5C%09-6%266%5Cend%7Barray%7D%20%5Cright%7C.gif" /></center><br />
Given that the Hessian has only one element containing a variable (12x<sup>2</sup>+2), we will only have to plug in the x-values of our critical points to be able to classify them; however, in order to find the definiteness of these matrices we will have to store three matrices in memory for SymPy to operate on. </li>
<li>To do so, we use SymPy’s internal matrix package, S.Matrix, to store these matrices.<br />
<blockquote>>>> M1=S.Matrix([14,-6],[-6,6])<br />
>>> M2=S.Matrix([2,-6],[-6,6])</blockquote>Note, since 2+12*(+/-1)<sup>2</sup> are equivalent, M1 represents both critical points (-1,-1) and (1,1) and M2 represents (0,0). Our final step is to find the principal minors of these matrices to determine their definiteness. </li>
<li> SymPy has a built in function that will return all N principal minors of an NxN matrix, so we need only to check the sign of the results of this command to get our answers.<br />
<blockquote>>>> S.Matrix.berkowitz_minors(M1)<br />
(14, 48)<br />
>>> S.Matrix.berkowitz_minors(M2)<br />
(2, -24)</blockquote>M1 is positive definite because all principal minors are &ge 0, therefore (-1,-1) and (1,1) are both local minimum. Conversely, because the principal minors of M2 flip sign from positive to negative it is <a href="http://mathworld.wolfram.com/IndefiniteMatrix.html">indefinite</a>, therefore (0,0) is a saddle-point. </li>
</ol><blockquote>To subscribe to the "Guy WhoSteals" feed, click <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/GuyWhoSteals">here</a>.<br />
Stolen from: <a href="http://www.drewconway.com/zia/?p=274">http://www.drewconway.com/zia/?p=274</a><br />
You can <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Guy-WhoSteals/153503588017789">add yourself to the GuyWhoSteals fanpage on Facebook</a> or <a href="http://twitter.com/GuyWhoSteals">follow GuyWhoSteals on Twitter</a>.</blockquote>GuyWhoStealshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02565802673814348537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5083005185748233675.post-70843901143812817302011-01-02T00:07:00.000-08:002011-01-02T00:08:13.102-08:00How not to teach programmingThrough the wonders of DZone I came across a blog post called <a href="http://guywhosteals.blogspot.com/2011/01/dont-teach-like-you-code.html">Don't teach like you code</a>. The target audience seems to be professional coders who are teaching beginners. It’s always interesting to read articles like this and part of that is to understand the perceptions that people have about teaching when they are not full-time teachers themselves. And this article does make some good points about how not to teach. Unfortunately the examples of how people, one presumes the author included, actually code are not what I want new programmers to learn. In fact this post was quite unsettling to me as someone who made his living writing code for 14-15 years and who still writes some when necessary.<br />
<br />
The article has a line that reads “”<em>But, good coding isn't like teaching at all. It promotes habits that are entirely counterproductive to the art of teaching.”</em> Really? I’m skeptical. He goes on to say “”<em>Part way through writing a method, you might decide you need to track things in an array. After a few minutes, you'll decide a hashtable works better</em>.” Oh please in the name of all that is good in the world don’t let that be common among professional developers. Yes, that happens sometimes but it should be awfully rare. You should have thought things through in some detail before you started coding. If you are making big data structures in the middle of coding you clearly (in my opinion at least) were not ready to start coding at all.<br />
On the other hand in teaching I would expect this to be more common. Specifically the lecture that worked well with one audience may not work as well with another. A good teacher sees this, adapts and tries to explain things a little differently.<br />
<br />
And then there is this gem “<em>Second, coding lets you cheat on the details. We compile our code not because we think we're done, but because we want to find out what we may have missed</em>. ” No! If you run the compiler and get errors and warnings you should be surprised. Or at very least disappointed. Now maybe the author is using crummy tools. I am spoiled by Visual Studio which notices a lot of syntax and other errors as you are typing. And <span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">IntelliSense </span>goes a long long way toward helping avoid spelling errors. This makes it easier to avoid missing things. But don’t people read though and self-edit before compiling any more? Some days I think we were all better off when programmers had only one or two chances to compile their code a day. Coding is about details. Cheating on details is a path to destruction.<br />
<br />
The last line of the article is priceless. “<em>How do you teach people well? It starts by knowing that what may make you a great programmer will not make you a great teacher</em>.” Probably true. But you also have to understand what makes a great programmer. I think a lot of programmers have a much higher opinion of their coding ability than is warranted. I never saw myself as a great programmer BTW. In fact I know what a great programmer is and how they work. I’m pretty sure I don’t have it. But I know enough about it to teach it. Like a great football coach who has never thrown a touchdown pass or gotten a sack or kicked a field goal but who can help others do all those things better a good teacher is someone who helps others learn from the mistakes of others.<br />
<br />
A great programmer may not make a good teacher because they may not understand how they do what they do in a way that they can translate for a beginner. But someone who speaks the language of software and can translate the concepts and ideas for beginners may make for a great teacher even if only an average (or even fair) programmer themselves. We still have to focus on what makes for a great programmer not what makes a lazy programmer though.GuyWhoStealshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02565802673814348537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5083005185748233675.post-47937127997370731222011-01-02T00:05:00.000-08:002011-01-02T00:07:26.930-08:00Don't teach like you codeAs programmers, how do we go about teaching people <span style="font-style: italic;">well</span>?<br />
<br />
After all, coding has many of the same traits as teaching. Underneath the fancy patterns and elegant frameworks, code is just a set of concrete instructions to do something. Even if one, seemingly obvious, detail is left out, you'll know soon enough. Code has an order too. You can't implement a concept before it's been defined yet, just like you couldn't teach someone how to multiply before they understand how to add.<br />
<br />
But, <span style="font-style: italic;">good coding isn't like teaching at all</span>. It promotes habits that are entirely counterproductive to the art of teaching. A really good programmer just might make for an awful teacher.<br />
<br />
First, rarely do we code linearly. You don't start from the top and just work your way down to the end of the story. Along the way, a clear concept in your head turns into a half-truth. Part way through writing a method, you might decide you need to track things in an array. After a few minutes, you'll decide a hashtable works better. If coding against a platform is at all like talking to a student, you'd sound rather unsure of yourself.<br />
<br />
Second, coding lets you cheat on the details. We compile our code not because we think we're done, but because we want to find out what we may have missed. You can usually bucket most compiler errors in the "I was just being lazy" category. A missed instantiation here, a data-type mismatch or non-returned value there. I'm a habitual compiler. A compiler is a lazy programmer's best friend. Ditto for unit tests, code-hinting and auto-completion.<br />
<br />
All these niceties are great for programming. They give us softly padded walls to bounce our code off of. They let us focus on the hard stuff first and not worry too much about perfection in our code-speak. A good programming platform is simultaneously wiping our chin, correcting our grammar, and telling us what we really mean while we spew out semi-coherent lines of instruction. And, the faster and more efficient we are at coding, the more we rely on the platform to steer us in the right direction.<br />
<br />
Teaching a newbie is entirely different. Every missed detail is a lost detail. You can't start your sentences expecting your student to finish them — at least not early on. And unlike a compiler, who invariably will forget your missteps once you correct them, people don't have as much luck separating the wrong details from the right. You may compile your code a dozen times before you finally get it right, but imagine correcting yourself twelve times before your teaching lesson finally makes sense.<br />
<br />
You, my friend, make a terrible teacher.<br />
<br />
How do you teach people well? It starts by knowing that what may make you a great programmer will not make you a great teacher.<br />
<br />
<blockquote>To subscribe to the "Guy WhoSteals" feed, click <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/GuyWhoSteals">here</a>.<br />
Stolen from: <a href="http://blog.wearemammoth.com/2010/12/dont-teach-like-you-code.html">http://blog.wearemammoth.com/2010/12/dont-teach-like-you-code.html</a><br />
You can <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Guy-WhoSteals/153503588017789">add yourself to the GuyWhoSteals fanpage on Facebook</a> or <a href="http://twitter.com/GuyWhoSteals">follow GuyWhoSteals on Twitter</a>.</blockquote>GuyWhoStealshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02565802673814348537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5083005185748233675.post-3187688843034845812011-01-01T23:52:00.000-08:002011-01-01T23:52:14.121-08:00Git and Social Coding: How to Merge Without FearGit is great for social coding and community contributions to open source projects: contributors can try out the code easily, and there can be hordes of people all forking and experimenting with it but without endangering existing users. This article presents some examples with the Git command line that might help build your confidence with this process: how to fetch, pull and merge, and how to back out of mistakes. If you are interested in the social coding process itself, and how to contribute to Spring projects, check out another <a href="http://blog.springsource.com/2010/12/21/social-coding-in-spring-projects/">blog on this site by Keith Donald</a>.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://github.com/grails">Grails</a> has been on Github for a while and had a great experience with community contributions, so some other projects from SpringSource are starting to migrate over there as well. Some of the migrating projects are new (e.g. <a href="https://github.com/SpringSource/spring-amqp">Spring AMQP</a>) and some are already established and have migrated from SVN (e.g. <a href="https://github.com/SpringSource/spring-batch">Spring Batch</a>). There are also some Spring projects on a SpringSource hosted Gitorious instance, for example <a href="http://git.springsource.org/spring-integration">Spring Integration</a>. The social coding process is slightly different on Github and Gitorious, but the underlying Git manipulations are the same, and that is what we present here. Hopefully, after reading this article and maybe working through the examples, you will be inspired to try the new model and to make contributions to Spring projects. Git is fun and has some great features for this kind of development.<br />
<br />
If you have never used Git this is probably not the place to start learning. If you are migrating from SVN to Git and are not as confident when things go wrong as you feel you need to be, or if you want to rid your history of those irritating "<code>Merged branch 'master'...</code>" log messages and keep it nice and linear, this is the place to be. If you are signed up on a social coding site and want to get crunching your changes into your favourite open source project, this article will help you feel more confident about it but you should still read the documentation from your coding host about forking and merging. Hopefully then it will all make sense. <br />
<br />
This article takes you through a few simple but common scenarios with Git and multiple users. We start with two users sharing a single repository, and show some pitfalls they can encounter and some tricks for rescuing themselves. Then we move on to a social coding example where there are still two users, but now there are also two remote repositories. This is quite common in open source projects and has a some benefits from a change management perspective, as we will see.<br />
<br />
<h2>Origins</h2>We are going to start by setting up a simple repository to use for some examples. Here are some Git command line operations you can do yourself from any UN*X shell, and then a sketch of the Git index to show how the commits and branches are laid out:<br />
<pre>$ mkdir test; cd test; touch foo.txt bar.txt
$ git init .
$ git add .
$ git status
To be added
$ git commit -m "Initial"
[master (root-commit) 5f1191e] initial
2 files changed, 2 insertions(+), 0 deletions(-)
create mode 100644 bar.txt
create mode 100644 foo.txt
$ git checkout -b feature
$ echo bar > bar.txt
$ git commit -am "change bar"
$ git checkout master
$ echo foo > foo.txt
$ git commit -am "change foo
</pre><pre></pre><pre></pre><br />
<div style="background: #eeeeee; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px;"><pre>A - B (master)
\
C (feature)
</pre></div><br />
A simple layout, but complex enough to be interesting. There are 3 commits (we ommitted the commit messages in the diagram), and two independent branches. The branches were deliberately engineered to have no conflicts – they contain changes to different files. If you are working through the command line examples and want to see the index tree as well, use a Git UI tool (I used <code>gitk --all</code> which is available on all platforms I believe).<br />
The last thing to do is prepare this repository for cloning:<br />
<pre>$ git checkout HEAD~1
</pre>We deliberately used a reference <code>HEAD~1</code> instead of a branch name so that the origin is left with a detached HEAD. If you are used to a remote repository workflow, this will make sense because we are faking a remote repository locally, and remote repositories are usually "bare" (there is no checked out branch). The <code>HEAD~1</code> reference means "go back a step, but don't assign the new HEAD to any branch", and this makes it possible to push changes to the repository from clones later.<br />
<br />
<h2>Bob Makes a Clone and Tracks the Branch</h2>Bob is our first user of the repository. Here is his terminal and the index layout in his local repository:<br />
<pre>$ git clone test bob
$ cd bob
$ git checkout --track origin/feature
</pre><pre></pre><pre></pre><br />
<div style="background: #eeeeee; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px;"><pre>A - B (master,origin/master)
\
C (feature,origin/feature)
</pre></div><br />
Bob knows that the feature branch was experimental, but has now been tested so he wants to move it onto the master for inclusion in the next release. But if he merges from here, he gets a non-linear mess (despite the fact that there are no conflicts):<br />
<pre>$ git merge master
Merge made by recursive.
foo.txt | 2 +-
1 files changed, 1 insertions(+), 1 deletions(-)
</pre><pre></pre><pre></pre><br />
<div style="background: #eeeeee; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px;"><pre>A - B (master,origin/master) - D (feature) "Merge branch 'master' into feature"
\ /
C (origin/feature) ------
</pre></div><br />
Bob hates this. The history is non-linear so it's much harder to see where all the changes came from, and it also leaves him with the dreaded auto-generated commit message "Merge branch 'master'…". (It doesn't matter if he merges feature onto master or master onto feature, the result is the same structure with the same ancestors and the same child commits, but with a slightly different auto-generated message.) A push is legal from here but he ends up with the ugly history visible to everyone and also the less than useful auto-generated comments.<br />
Bob doesn't panic! He can still revert to the original index because he hasn't pushed anything yet:<br />
<pre>$ git reset --hard origin/feature
</pre><pre></pre><pre></pre><br />
<div style="background: #eeeeee; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px;"><pre>A - B (master,origin/master)
\
C (feature,origin/feature)
</pre></div><br />
From there he can sit back and wait for someone else to solve the problem. Along comes Jane…<br />
(Note that not everyone shares this view of Bob's, that unnecessary non-linear history and auto-generated commit logs with no new changes are a bad thing. Some people actually find it "re-assuring" that there are signs of parallel development. They generally don't use rebase and prefer the simple pull and merge approach to collaboration with Git.)<br />
<br />
<h2>Jane Clones Another Copy and Does a Local Rebase</h2>Jane is also a developer with write access to the test repository. She is bolder than Bob and decides that what is needed is a rebase to keep the history linear:<br />
<pre>$ git clone test jane
$ cd jane
$ git checkout --track origin/feature
$ git rebase master
</pre><pre></pre><pre></pre><br />
<div style="background: #eeeeee; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px;"><pre>A - B (master,origin/master) - D (feature)
\
C (origin/feature)
</pre></div><br />
(Note that Jane could have achieved the same result by starting down the same route as Bob – a merge of master, followed by a rebase has the same endpoint because rebase is smart enough to realize that it can save some duplication and not show intermediate states that contain no new changes.)<br />
Now everything looks OK(ish), but git will not allow a push back to origin because the feature has diverged:<br />
<pre>$ git push
To file:///path/to/test
! [rejected] feature -> feature (non-fast-forward)
error: failed to push some refs to 'file:///path/to/test'
To prevent you from losing history, non-fast-forward updates were rejected
Merge the remote changes before pushing again. See the 'Note about
fast-forwards' section of 'git push --help' for details.
</pre>If Jane takes the hint and merges from here and she really will regret it. The result of the rebase is only really OK*ish* – it has duplicate commits (<code>C</code> and <code>D</code> with the same log message and the same changes when you quint at them), so the merge will not be pretty. Git is only going to do what she told it, and the merge is legal, but the effect will be<br />
* a non-linear history<br />
* an auto-generated commit message<br />
* duplicate commit messages (one on each ancestor branch)<br />
Here's the result:<br />
<pre>$ git merge origin/feature
Merge made by recursive.
</pre><pre></pre><pre></pre><br />
<div style="background: #eeeeee; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px;"><pre>A - B (master,origin/master) - D "change bar" - E (feature) "Merge branch 'master' into feature"
\ /
C (origin/feature) "change bar" ----------
</pre></div><br />
She only made two changes to the source code but the result is 5 commits in the index. That sucks. To revert she can use the same trick as before, except that now there is no named branch at the commit she wants to reset to (D). Either she can add one, or use a UI tool <code>gitk</code> is good at this), or use a relative reference:<br />
<pre>$ git reset --hard HEAD~1
</pre><pre></pre><pre></pre><br />
<div style="background: #eeeeee; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px;"><pre>A - B (master,origin/master) - D (feature)
\
C (origin/feature)
</pre></div><br />
The unfriendly thing to do, and the one that all the Git manuals warn you about, is to force a push. Jane gives it a try:<br />
<pre>$ git push --force
</pre><pre></pre><pre></pre><br />
<div style="background: #eeeeee; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px;"><pre>A - B (master,origin/master) - D (feature,origin/feature)
</pre></div><br />
Now that's more like it! Two changes and three commits (one on either side of the changes), and a nice linear history with no unpleasant commit messages. So why is it such a bad thing to do? Let's look at our hapless friend Bob again.<br />
<br />
<h2>Bob is Now Potentially in a Mess</h2>He will be fine if he hasn't modified the "feature" branch:<br />
<pre>$ git checkout master
$ git pull
remote: Counting objects: 5, done.
remote: Compressing objects: 100% (2/2), done.
remote: Total 3 (delta 0), reused 0 (delta 0)
Unpacking objects: 100% (3/3), done.
From file:///path/to/test
+ 4b223e2...4db65c2 feature -> origin/feature (forced update)
Already up-to-date.
</pre><pre></pre><pre></pre><br />
<div style="background: #eeeeee; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px;"><pre>A - B (master,origin/master) - D (origin/feature)
\
C (feature)
</pre></div><br />
It looks a little ugly here, but Git has held everything together. Bob can see that Jane (or someone) has forced an update to the remote branch he was tracking, so his local branch has diverged through no fault of his. He might be a little peeved about that, but in this case it is harmless because he hasn't made any changes to his local branch so he can just reset his branch:<br />
<pre>$ git checkout feature
Switched to branch 'feature'
Your branch and 'origin/feature' have diverged,
and have 1 and 2 different commit(s) each, respectively.
$ git reset --hard origin/feature
</pre><pre></pre><pre></pre><br />
<div style="background: #eeeeee; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px;"><pre>A - B (master,origin/master) - D (feature,origin/feature)
</pre></div><br />
Everyone is happy! So a forced push is OK in some circumstances. In particular, it can be acceptable for someone working on a fork of a "main" project, as often arises with social coding (like at Github). Let's look at that use case in more detail.<br />
<br />
<h2>Forks and Social Coding</h2>One of the intended useful features of Git is that it can be used as a distributed repository – you don't have to take the single-origin approach common with SVN and older systems. The distributed feature is used heavily, but not extensively, when you fork from a public open-source project and then ask the project's owner to merge in some of your changes to the main repository.<br />
So let's suppose that there is a cool open-source project called <code>main</code>, owned by Mary, and Bob goes and forks it from the project home page. He gets a new repository with a precise copy of the Git index of the <code>main</code> repository, and he can call it whatever he likes (he chooses <code>bob-main</code> to help us keep it straight). The Git part of this is trivial – effectively he is just cloning <code>main</code>, moving the origin reference to the new location in his own space on the server, and then pushing the changes back up. The social coding application handles all this behind the scenes and helpfully suggests to Bob that he clone his new remote fork.<br />
So now we have a <code>main</code> repository (which is the origin for Mary, but not for Bob), and a <code>bob-main</code> repository which are identical. Let's make it start with just one commit to keep it simple (so take the origin creation recipe from the first example and stop after the first commit):<br />
<br />
<div style="background: #eeeeee; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px;"><pre>A (master)
</pre></div><br />
Mary's local copy starts identical Bob's, and they both look like this:<br />
<br />
<div style="background: #eeeeee; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px;"><pre>A (master,origin/master)
</pre></div><br />
But their origin references are different. For Mary:<br />
<pre>$ git remote -v
origin git@host:/mary/main (fetch)
origin git@host:/mary/main (push)
</pre>and for Bob:<br />
<pre>$ git remote -v
origin git@host:/bob/bob-main (fetch)
origin git@host:/bob/bob-main (push)
</pre>Typically Mary will not have permission to push to Bob's repository nor vice versa.<br />
<h3><br />
</h3><h3>Bob Adds a Feature</h3>Bob has a great idea for the main project so he creates his feature branch and starts coding, ending up here:<br />
<pre>$ git checkout -b feature
$ echo foo >> foo.txt
$ git commit -am "change foo"
</pre><pre></pre><pre></pre><br />
<div style="background: #eeeeee; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px;"><pre>A(master,origin/master) - C (feature)
</pre></div><br />
He is pleased with this, so he pushes it back to his own origin<br />
<pre>$ git push origin feature
</pre><pre></pre><pre></pre><br />
<div style="background: #eeeeee; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px;"><pre>A(master,origin/master) - C (feature,origin/feature)
</pre></div><br />
Notice how Bob keeps all his changes on a branch. This isn't compulsory, but as we'll see later, it makes it a lot easier to keep track of differences with the <code>main</code> repository (even though so far Bob has no explicit connection to there). The user documentation at Github actually doesn't recommend this approach, but you might find it helpful.<br />
<h3><br />
</h3><h3>Mary Makes Some Changes</h3>Mary is the project owner, and she can push to her master branch any time she likes. So she does this:<br />
<pre>$ echo bar >> bar.txt
$ git commit -am "change bar"
$ git push
</pre><pre></pre><pre></pre><br />
<div style="background: #eeeeee; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px;"><pre>A - B (master,origin/master)
</pre></div><h3><br />
</h3><h3>Bob Sends a Pull Request</h3>Now Bob asks Mary to merge his changes. Mary follows the friendly instructions on the social coding site and pulls down Bob's changes to take a look<br />
<pre>$ git checkout -b bob master
$ git pull https://host/bob/bob-main feature
</pre><pre></pre><pre></pre><br />
<div style="background: #eeeeee; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px;"><pre>A - B (master,origin/master) - D (bob) "Merge branch 'feature' of '...bob-main' into bob"
\ /
C ----------------------
</pre></div><br />
Mary sees immediately that Bob has diverged from her master. What should she do?<br />
<h3><br />
</h3><h3>Alternative 1: No Forced Push</h3>In this case it might be quite straightforward if there are no conflicts. She decides to spend some time cleaning up the history, just in case it is easy. This is the same process that Bob used in the previous, single origin example.<br />
<pre>$ git reset --hard HEAD~1
$ git rebase master
</pre><pre></pre><pre></pre><br />
<div style="background: #eeeeee; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px;"><pre>A - B (master,origin/master) - C (bob)
</pre></div><br />
No problems there, and the history is linear again. Mary just needs to wrap up the change with her main project:<br />
<pre>$ git checkout master
$ git merge bob
$ git push
$ git branch -D bob
</pre><pre></pre><pre></pre><br />
<div style="background: #eeeeee; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px;"><pre>A - B - C (master,origin/master)
</pre></div><br />
She deleted the local branch <code>bob</code> at the end there because it is no longer marking anything significant, and it isn't tracking a remote branch so she doesn't have to deal with that reference as well.<br />
<h3><br />
</h3><h3>Alternative 2: Forced Push in Fork</h3>If the rebase failed above, or Mary simply takes the view that if it is Bob that wants his change to be merged then the onus is on him to make the history linear, she can ask him to rebase onto her master. She sends him a message via the nifty social coding site, and then resets her local copy:<br />
<pre>$ git checkout master
$ git branch -D bob
$ git prune
</pre><pre></pre><br />
<div style="background: #eeeeee; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px;"><pre>A - B (master,origin/master)
</pre></div><br />
Now Bob gets to work. He is still on his feature branch, so <br />
<pre>$ git remote add main https://host/mary/main
$ git fetch main
</pre><pre></pre><br />
<div style="background: #eeeeee; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px;"><pre>A (master,origin/master) - B (main/master)
\
C (feature,origin/feature)
</pre></div><br />
So now he has a read-only reference to the main repository and an alias for it so he can bring himself up to data quickly with Mary's work. (The alias is optional, but it will help him to stay up to date and see at a glance where his master is relative to Mary's.) First he brings his master in line with the main one<br />
<pre>$ git checkout master
$ git merge main/master
$ git push
</pre><pre></pre><pre></pre><br />
<div style="background: #eeeeee; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px;"><pre>A - B (master,origin/master,main/master)
\
C (feature,origin/feature)
</pre></div><br />
It is here that we see the benefit of working on a feature branch: it is always trivial to merge the master with the main repository if it is kept free of local changes (master is never ahead of main/master). Now he tries the rebase that Mary asked for:<br />
<pre>$ git checkout feature
$ git rebase master
</pre><pre></pre><pre></pre><br />
<div style="background: #eeeeee; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px;"><pre>A - B (master,origin/master,main/master) - D (feature)
\
C (origin/feature)</pre></div><br />
Bob sees that the history is as he wants it, so he pushes it up to his remote repository:<br />
<pre>$ git push --force
</pre><pre></pre><pre></pre><br />
<div style="background: #eeeeee; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px;"><pre>A - B (master,origin/master,main/master) - D (feature,origin/feature)
</pre></div><br />
Bob has played the same trick here that Jane did in the previous example – he forced a push of a local branch to maintain a linear history.<br />
Bob and Mary are consenting adults and the only reason the feature branch exists in Bob's repository is to anchor the pull request, so it is unlikely that anyone else is tracking that branch. If someone was tracking that branch they might be inconvenienced, even severely inconvenienced if they tagged a public release on that branch. It's a risk that Bob decides to take – it's no risk at all in fact in this example because Bob is the only person with write access to his repository and he's pretty confident that no-one is using his branch for making releases.<br />
<br />
<h2>Conclusion</h2>The process of merging the contribution is not simple unless the changes are trivial, but Git does take a lot of the pain out of it, and it's easy enough once you get the hang of it. The key point in the example is that Git is being used in a particular style, and there are some constraints and conventions that make it easier: Bob and Mary's repositories are read-only to each other, and Bob is actually the only person with write permission to his fork so he doesn't mind at all that Mary wants him to force a push there. This is by far not the only feature of Git that makes it interesting for open-source developers, but it goes a long way to explain why some of us are moving to sites like <a href="https://github.com/">Github</a>.<br />
<br />
<blockquote>Also read this article on <a href="http://www.blogger.com/guywhosteals.blogspot.com/2011/01/25-tips-for-intermediate-git-users.html">Tips for intermediate Git users</a>.<br />
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