Watch the step-by-step process as acclaimed digital agency Big Spaceship produces an animated logo. To create the logo, Big Spaceship draws on historical broadcast design styles as well as traditional and digital animation techniques. Handmade paper models are shot with a stop-motion technique using a digital SLR camera. Smoke effects are used to add atmosphere, clouds, and the smoke trail for a paper rocket ship shot with a still camera and moved through the scene with digital effects. It's a perfect blend of spontaneous organic play and digital discipline. The end result is a rich eruption of visual fun--and a great animated logo.

A great logo is often basic, composed only of essential parts, but simple is not always easy. Designer Nigel French distills over a decade of professional design and teaching experience in Designing a Logo Hands-On Workshop. He discusses the principles and techniques of what makes a logo work, and explains type-only designs, type treatments, and logo symbols in depth. He also explores how to work with clients on defining job parameters and selecting a final design, as well as how to prepare the logo for print and web publication. Nigel demonstrates each of these techniques in the course of designing a new logo for a real client, so viewers can either follow along or apply the techniques to their own work. Exercise files accompany the course.

In this final installment of Photoshop CS5 Extended One-on-One, Deke McClelland creates a total of seven 3D type effects from scratch. This project-based course shows how to create and modify 3D type, craft hand-drawn effects, and design complex character extrusions. The course also explains how to color-correct and post-process 3D type in Camera RAW. Exercise files accompany the course.

In Photoshop CS5 for Photographers: Camera Raw 6, Chris Orwig provides in-depth training on Camera Raw 6, the CS5 component that enables photographers to open and manipulate images in non-destructive and now even more efficient ways. This course covers the benefits of the raw processing, which makes it possible to more precisely control an image's appearance—exposure, shadow and highlight detail, color balance, sharpness, and more—including new workflow procedures and technical concepts and issues. Learn the entire Camera Raw workflow, from opening and resizing, toning and cropping, to sharpening and saving. Exercise files are included with the course.

In C# Essential Training, author Joe Marini offers a tour of the foundational programming language at the heart of several Microsoft platforms, including Windows, ASP.NET, Silverlight, SharePoint, and Windows Phone. Joe walks through the basic syntax and structure of the language, introduces object-oriented concepts, and shows how to define custom classes. The course also demonstrates using C# language features, compiling and running code, handling exceptions, reading and writing files, and addressing common compilation issues through debugging. Exercise files accompany the course.

In this course, interaction designer Luke Wroblewski shows how to create web forms that encourage visitors to enter information and covers ways to capture input without the use of forms. The course covers boosting conversion rates and customer satisfaction, organizing the structure of forms, aligning and grouping form elements, assigning the correct input field types, validating input, and handling data entry errors. The last chapter highlights alternatives to static forms, such as using dynamic inline forms, using web services, and leveraging device capabilities, which can be used to gather additional information or replace a traditional form altogether.

Those who want to build a Flash-based web site but don't know Flash or want a quicker solution can consider using Encore CS4. In Creating Flash Web Sites in Encore CS4, Adobe Certified Instructor Chad Perkins shows how this DVD authoring application creates simple and straightforward components that can be repurposed for the web, DVDs, and even Blu-ray discs. Chad explores the general Encore workflow and walks users through the entire process of creating a Flash-based web site from start to finish. He also covers how to get the content out by creating a SWF file, and discusses various output options for Flash video.