Toolbox

HypeForType just released Exclusive Faces Volume 02 including one off type creations from the likes of Non-Format, Research Studios, MWM Graphics, Suprb, and Richard Perez. To celebrate this HypeForType are offering 10 free typefaces (one per person, non exclusive only) for the first 10 people to comment on the release. All you have to do is write down the font of your choice in the comments box, and it will be mailed to you free of charge. Here's a preview of Exclusive Faces Volume 02 featuring Otto, Capset, and Vetena.

Context Free is an application that creates geometric shapes using a programming language.

All the images created are vector images that can be exported as SVG. You can open the files in Illustrator or Photoshop and further modify them to include in your designs.

Typical uses would be patterns for backgrounds and geometric shapes for logos.

Here are few examples created with this application:

1. Think about what you want to say, write down the 3 most important words the logo should convey
2. It's all about the idea, pen and paper are your friend
3. Make the logo work in black & white if possible, color and effects can come later
4. Create something unique and memorable
5. Make sure the logo works in big and small, inverted and embossed
6. Keep it as simple as possible, remove every unimportant detail
7. Break any of the above rules only if it makes for a unique and overall better design

Dear designer friends! Everybody knows Brands of the World (BotW), which is the largest collection with more than 160,000 vector logos available as free downloads. BotW is the most visited such site with more than 30 million page loads per month.

While the collection is large it's not complete, therefore I would like to ask for your help to upload your logos or logos that aren't yours but have it available in vector format.

What's in it for you?

On Facebook lot of people are complaining about FB's policy to allow their advertisers use your private images for FB ads. Here is how FB explains the system:

Facebook occasionally pairs advertisements with relevant social actions from a user's friends to create Facebook Ads. Facebook Ads make advertisements more interesting and more tailored to you and your friends. These respect all privacy rules. You may opt out of appearing in your friends' Facebook Ads below.

Facebook was always inventive with their advertising system. They were the first to let people thumb up or down ads and now they want to make their ads be literally part of your online life.

Nobody can blame them for trying to monetize the site, but is this going to far? I personally think it may be confusing for my friends. They may think I'm promoting something on FB and in fact I'm not.

Thankfully you can opt out from it. Here is how:

1. Click on SETTINGS up at the top where you see the Log out link.
2. Select PRIVACY. Then select NEWSFEEDS and WALL.
3. Select the tab that reads FACEBOOK ADS.
4. There is a drop down box, select NO ONE. Then SAVE your changes.

Relevancy is the next frontier of advertising and FB is doing it's part to discover where the boundaries are.

I managed to get the linotype fontexplorer free version working with CS4. Here is how:

1. Download the Fontexplorer Pro version; open the image
2. Choose view package and go to Resources, Plugins
3. Get the CS4 plugins and copy them to your desktop. (.zip files)
4. Now unmount & throw the pro-version away
5. Unpack the zipped files and put the plugins in the program-plugin-folders
6. Restart Linotype and your other to-be-font-managed-programs and you have it all working

XtraLean Software is pleased to announce its fifth annual Father's Day Sale, offering Mac Dads a chance to treat themselves to two fantastic Mac OSX applications that make life on the Web a little easier at half price.

From June 19 to June 21, users can get ShutterBug and/or ImageWell for a 50% discount using the special links below, no fussy coupon codes to enter!

• ShutterBug, $19.95 (reg. $39.95) CAD, is a website creation tool that helps users create and publish custom built websites easily through a WYSIWYG interface. Requires OSX 10.3.9 or higher.
  
  
• ImageWell, $9.95 (reg. $19.95) CAD, is an image editor that lets users quickly and easily edit, crop, and resize with the click of a button. Requires OSX 10.4 or higher.

I've been a long-time user of ImageWell for its ease-of-use and one-click uploading of my edited images to servers (FTP, SFTP, MobileMe, Flickr, SmugMug or ImageShack). The developers are quick to respond to questions and suggestions via the support forums, and the software runs smoothly on any supported Mac. Visa, Mastercard, AmEx and PayPal are accepted, and demos are available.

Starting a few hours ago you can set a unique Facebook URL for your profile. It lets you easily direct friends, family, and coworkers to your profile with a Facebook username that will have this format: http://www.facebook.com/username/

Few things to remember:

• Grab it asap, there are 20 million users fishing for good names
• The URL must be at least 5 characters long and it can include a dot.
• You can not change it once set, so think of something you're ok with in 5 years down the line.

This exercise should be part of your overall strategy to securing your online identity.

Social networks are great time wasters and they usually don't do much good to your professional career. Except for LinkedIn which offers a great way to build up your CV with recommendations and helps finding valuable contacts.

It's a good idea to join groups in the area of your interest on LinkedIn to expand your network of connections. I would like to suggest one for graphic designers I created recently: Graphic Design Professionals Group. I would be honored if you joined.