Best of the Web "" February 2011

As you know, each month, we round up some of the best Photoshop-related content from around the web. This month, there were some excellent Photoshop tutorials and articles to choose from so please take a moment to review our favorites from February 2011.

Photoshop Tutorials

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  Photoshop Tutorial: Create an Abstract Figure From Circles

  Often, beautiful artwork can be based from the simplest of geometric shapes. In this tutorial from Digital Arts, author Mart Biemans demonstrates how to create a stunning composition using basic circles and effects.

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  Milk Monster and Chocolate Splash

  There are a lot of tutorials that demonstrate how to use splashes in your work to create a cool effect. This tutorial from Alfoart however, stands out. It shows how to manipulate a splash to create your own milk monster.

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  How To Paint Mustache (Video)

  Just about ever guy has wondered what they would look like with a mustache. Some have tried, others have lied about trying. This tutorial from Cute Little Factory will demonstrate how to paint a cartoon-style mustache on a character. Really fun!

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  Incredible Horror Photo Manipulation Photoshop Tutorial

  Horror is an incredibly popular genre of art. In this tutorial from Creative Fan, they will demonstrate how to turn a bright, sunny stock photograph into a scary scene straight out of a horror film.

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  Create an Intricate Mythological Statue Photo Manipulation Photoshop Tutorial

  Turning a photograph of a person into a statue is one of those projects that seems easier than it actually is. This tutorial from Creative Fan will demonstrate how to turn a photograph into a mythological statue.

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  Create a Realistic Vintage Ticket Stub in Photoshop

  Making something look vintage, old, or worn in Photoshop can be tough if you don’t know where to start. This tutorial from Design Instruct will demonstrate how to create a vintage and realistic looking ticket stub in Photoshop.

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  Burnstudio: Create An Amazing Personal Website From Scratch Using Photoshop

  Photoshop is the industry-standard app for creating web designs. This tutorial from 1st Web Designer will demonstrate how to create a personal website from scratch using our favorite design application.

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  Look Under The Hood: Photoshop Color Settings

  Understanding Photoshop’s color settings is an important part of creating fantastic designs. This tutorial from 1st Web Designer explains these settings in detail and is an excellent resource for those of you who need to brush up on your knowledge.

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Articles and Inspiration

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  In Defense of Advertising

  Ads may be annoying at times but let’s face it, they aren’t all that bad. In fact, ads are often celebrated for their creativity and the success of the products that they promote. This article from Design Shack defends advertising and explains why we should appreciate it more.

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  Eye-Catching & Clever Print Ads

  Speaking of ads, this showcase of clever print ads from Noupe displays some excellent examples of eye-catching print ads for your inspiration.

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  Simplify and Improve Your Designs with the Bonsai Tree Method

  Sometimes the best design inspiration comes from outside the field of design. This article from Spyre Studios explains how you can improve your designs with the bonsai tree method.

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  Business Design Advice to Keep You Sane and Prosper

  Let’s face it, design can make a person crazy if you let it get the best of you. This article from The Design Cubicle shares some lessons and thoughts on the business of design.

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  Ethics in the Design Field

  Every profession has its own set of ethical guidelines most of its members adhere to. And while the design industry’s code of ethics might not be as crucial as, say, the medical industry, there are still some important ethical considerations every design professional should think about. This article from Web Designer Depot explains some of the most prominent ethical considerations that designers must deal with.

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  How Old-Fashioned Marketing Can Supercharge Your Design Business

  Studying history is often the best way to understand the present and future. While new technologies have developed in recent years, it doesn’t mean that the old way of doing things is complete obsolete. This article from Web Designer Depot explains how you can supercharge your design business with some old-fashioned marketing techniques.

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  Video: How to Run Your Design Business W/Emily Cohen

  Running a design business is more than just about making great designs. It’s also about organization, book keeping, writing proposals, budgets, and much more. This speech given by Emily Cohen at a Creative Mornings event in New York City gives some great advice about how you can run your own business.

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  Digital Artwork Inspired by Geometry

  Great designs are often the result of the combination of simple shapes and effects. This article from Noupe showcases some excellent examples of artwork inspired by geometry.

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