LVS Online Classes
LVS Online ~ Where Learning is Fun!

Val Makes Learning CorelDRAW Fun!

March 9th, 2009 lvs

CorelDRAW X4 is a wonderful program for professionals and amateurs alike for all sorts of graphics and layout projects.

It can be a scary program if you’ve never used a graphics program before, but Val P. makes learning fun in her introductory CorelDRAW classes. You’ll be creating fun graphics, birthday cards, nametags, newsletters, and much more! If you’ve taken the CorelDRAW X4 Intro Part 1 and Part 2 classes, the CorelDRAW Continued class has now been updated. We’ll take you into the worlds of Visual Basic Scripts and Data Merge in fun and non-threatening ways so that you can get the most out of this great program.

Many students say that even though they’ve been using CorelDRAW for years, Val’s classes have helped them understand aspects of the program they never knew were there. Others say they’ve become much more efficient in their use of the program. Everyone has fun learning!

And speaking of fun, have you taken the FREE Introduction to Windows or Introduction to Vista online courses yet? Do you know a first time computer user struggling to get along with Windows? Check these courses out. Everyone learns something – and the Windows courses don’t have homework! If you’ve got questions, Val is just a message board away.

Start using the drawing and text tools in Introduction to CorelDRAW X4 – Part 1. Learn more about graphics and text as you work with layout tools in CorelDRAW X4 – Part 2.

If you’ve still have X3, we haven’t forgotten you! The Introduction to CorelDRAW X3 class is still running as an instructor-led class.

Make complex projects simple in CorelDRAW – Continuing the Adventure with versions 12 to X4 software.

The one thing everyone agrees on in Val’s courses is that both absolute beginners and experienced users will come away with great useful information and new skills. If you get stuck on something, she’ll be right there to answer your questions and get you unstuck.

Val P. has enjoyed teaching students of all ages for over 25 years. She’s been a member of the LVS team since back when we were all still using Windows 95. You’ll also find her active on the CorelDRAW.com forums and the CDUG Yahoo! group. Stop in and say hi on her CorelDRAW class blog, Windows class blog and follow Val on Twitter! .

LVS is a Corel Training Partner. Enrolled LVS students are eligible to purchase Corel products directly from Corel Education Store at a substantial savings! Enter coupon code CRL10LVS when checking out to get an additional 10% discount on all Corel products!

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Why you don’t need to know how draw to use Adobe Illustrator CS3

March 8th, 2009 lvs

Some people tell Art, the Illustrator instructor at LVS Online Classes, that they don’t know how to draw so they have no need for a drawing program. They then pay someone else to do the drawing for their websites and print layouts. When Art developed his Illustrator Introduction course he wanted this to be his guiding light.

Art’s class motto is: You don’t need to know how to draw ( it helps ) but you can still draw cool things.

There may be times when a job has to be done professionally, just like sometimes your car needs a mechanic. This doesn’t stop you from learning how to fix a flat tire, rotate tires or change the oil.

Learn how to use Adobe Illustrator to make graphics and drawings. The Illustrator Introduction online class will teach you the basics of digital imaging as well as the essentials of Illustrator needed to get you started on creating and editing your own graphics. Beginners are welcome. Wouldn’t you like to save a few bucks by making your own logos and banners for websites? How about making your own flyers that don’t look like you raided someone’s clip art folder?

Arthur Hawes teaches the Intro to Illustrator online course. He states from the beginning that he’s not a classically trained artist, and, if he can do it then so can his students!

Check out Art’s class blog for frequent updates!

Follow Art on Twitter!

Go straight to my class registration page to register today!

Software up to 75% off for students, teachers, and schools at Academic Superstore!

Students, parents, faculty! Journeyed.com has your lowest prices on software, hardware and more!

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Dreamweaver: A Powerful Tool for Web Designers

March 7th, 2009 lvs

Dreamweaver is the most popular web editing platform for web designers. Jam packed with features and with tons of extensions available, Dreamweaver is a powerful tool for web designers and web developers to create interactive web sites. Although it is a professional web editor, Dreamweaver’s interface makes it easy for even the hobby web designer to create a professional quality web site.

The new Introduction to Dreamweaver CS3–CS4 course is offered this March. The lessons in this introduction online Dreamweaver class are designed for both the PC and Mac user. Although this is an introductory course, it is strongly recommended that students have basic HTML and CSS skills before enrolling in the Dreamweaver series.

At LVS Online, we have tailored our Dreamweaver three course series to meet the needs of the hobby web designer and the aspiring professional web designer. At the end of the Dreamweaver course series, students will have all the skills necessary to pass the Adobe Certified Associate exam in Dreamweaver.

Bean Fairbanks has been using Dreamweaver for 7 years as a professional web designer/developer. She incorporates best practices in web design as she guides students in mastering the tools of Dreamweaver.

Software up to 75% off for students, teachers, and schools at Academic Superstore!

Students, parents, faculty! Journeyed.com has your lowest prices on software, hardware and more!

Visit Bean’s class blog for frequent Dreamweaver updates.

Follow Bean on Twitter!

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What Exactly IS CoffeeCup Software?

March 5th, 2009 lvs

Did you know that the name comes from the company’s origins as an Internet café?

Did you know that CoffeeCup Software is an American Website software development company now based in Atlanta, Georgia?

CoffeeCup Software was started in a coffeehouse called The Raven & The Sparrow in the mid-1990s in Corpus Christi, Texas. It was the only location in town that offered free Internet access to the public at that time.et access to the public at that time.

The Website for the coffeehouse was www.coffeecup.com. Soon, requests started pouring in from other business owners who wanted help designing their own sites. These sites were originally designed using Notepad, but as you can imagine, this got a bit tedious after awhile. A regular customer who was a programmer offered to help improve the process, and soon the first version of the HTML Editor was born.

Since the coffeehouse already had the www.coffeecup.com domain name, the fledgling software company was named CoffeeCup Software, and the first program was named CoffeeCup HTML Editor. Eventually, CoffeeCup began charging $20 for the program, and in 1996, they decided to put away the espresso machines and devote full-time attention to developing software.

Below is the list of CoffeeCup Software – you may be using some of these products now, or have heard of them.

HTML Editor Shopping Cart Creator Direct FTP Visual Site Designer Website Access Manager Website Font Web Video Player Firestarter Web Form Builder Flash Photo Gallery Web JukeBox LockBox Flash Menu Builder Flash Website Search Google SiteMapper

Live Chat Ad Producer RSS News Flash Web Video Recorder Web Calendar Flash Blogger Password Wizard PixConverter MP3 Ripper & Burner Website Color Schemer Image Mapper StyleSheet Maker WebCam GIF Animator

All of the CoffeeCup Software is available as a free download so you can play with the programs before you buy them if you choose!

And, as an added bonus, CoffeeCup offers a core group of programs free to schools. CoffeeCup Software’s K–12 Donation Program allows public schools to request the Educational Software Package (ESP) Free for classroom use to elementary and secondary public schools, and public libraries.

CoffeeCup Software has won many awards, including the Shareware Industry Award six years running from 1999 to 2004 for the CoffeeCup HTML Editor.

Donna Sellinger is the CoffeCup Software instructor at LVS Online Classes. Donna started using the HTML Editor back when CoffeeCup was just starting out (and so was she). Donna says,

“We kind of grew up together. Back then, this was their only product. And, even now, it’s still the flagship of their line. The best part of getting any (or all) of their software, is that whatever you purchase allows you to get free upgrades – FOR LIFE! Try getting that from any other company. There are only one or two others that I’ve ever dealt with that do that. This one is the largest!

Since then, they’ve branched out and made remarkable improvements to this software and added a whole bunch of other software to compliment the editor and make designing websites a whole lot easier.

Below is the syllabus for Donna’s new CoffeCup Software online class:

Lesson 1 HTML Editor 2008 Lesson 2 Image Mapper Google Site Mapper Lesson 3 Web Form Builder RSS News Feed

Lesson 4 Stylesheet Maker Flash Password Wizard Lesson 5 Firestarter Photo Gallery Lesson 6 Web Calendar Shopping Cart Creator

Whether you’re new to web design or have been designing for awhile, there’s something in the CoffeeCup Software line of products that you’ll love and use all the time. Now’s as good a time as any to start learning about it. Tell all your friends and meet in the class to learn together and have a lot of fun!

Visit Donna’s CoffeCup Software class blog for regular updates!

Follow Donna on Twitter!

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Corel KPT Collection – 24 must-have plug-in filters

March 4th, 2009 lvs

Corel has combined all the classic effects along with the new effects into one complete collection -The KPT Collection. Corel bundled KPT 5, KPT 6, and KPT 7 into one complete collection of 24 amazing plugin filters!

The Corel KPT Collection allows you create remarkable image effects and transformations in a fraction of the time. It dramatically extends the boundaries of image editing and electrifies your creativity and productivity. This collection is a “must-have” plug-in for Corel’s Paint Shop Pro or Adobe Photoshop.

Arguably the most creative collection of plug-in filters available, Corel KPT Collection fits right into your workflow. From realistic to artistic to surprising, it offers a new – and extremely fast – range of image transformations and effects, so you can create impressive effects that would ordinarily be impossible or too time-consuming to create from scratch.

KPT Collection brings together 24 must-have plug-in filters in a single, powerful software package.

KPT Fluid
Treat your entire image as a fluid to create and animate a variety of distortions, including controlling the thickness of the liquid and the size and speed of the brush stroke.

KPT FraxFlame II
Create stunning fractals such as crystal clouds, with an improved rendering engine and increased navigational control.

KPT Gel
Use realistic 3D paint tools to synthesize photo-realistic materials, and apply lighting, reflection, refraction and transparency.

KPT Goo
Smear, smudge, twirl, pinch or “finger-paint” an image to produce stunning liquid distortion effects or short animations.

KPT Ink Dropper
Add drops of liquid to a surface to create everything from water spots to smoky swirls.

KPT Lightning
Customize and create realistic lightning effects by controlling every aspect of the bolt and path, including its color, the number of forks, and attractor and generator points.

KPT Materializer
Create dynamic surface textures using bump maps and advanced controls, or “bend” an image over the contours of a surface texture.

KPT Scatter
Import a particle or grid of particles and scatter them over your original image to create complex patterns and textures. Control how the particles fall – in a grid, in spirals or at random – customize their density, size and opacity, and change the hue, luminance and saturation of their color.

KPT ShapeShifter
Create limitless shapes and objects with refracting glass edges, 3D light sources on beveled metallic surfaces, curved and lit Web buttons, UI gadgets and text.

KPT Pyramid Paint
Uses the Lab color mode to reduce and separate the colors in an image to resemble a painting. Users can adjust individual color components, saturation, hue, contrast, and lightness.

Click on image to see the original source image.

KPT Gradient Lab
Design complex color blends and gradients by mixing shapes and colors in multiple layers with advanced blending and precise positioning.

KPT Channel Surfing
Splits an image into RGB and HLS color channels and lets you apply effects–blur, sharpen, contract, and value shift–to one or all channels.

KPT Hyper Tiling
Transform images into intricate tiling effects. Choose from 5 styles and customize the effect with transparency, advanced blending, and precise positioning in 4D space.

Plus!

KPT LensFlare KPT Blurrr KPT Equalizer KPT FiberOptix KPT Frax4D KPT FraxPlorer

KPT Noize KPT Projector KPT RadWarp KPT Reaction KPT Turbulence

Use it as a creative and time-saving way of achieving a design, to explore the infinite design possibilities of each filter or as a means of inspiration. With Corel KPT Collection , there are no limits!

Peter Mayer, the KPT Collection instructor at LVS Online classes would like you to join him in a fun filled 6 weeks of exploring the KPT filters!

The KPT online course is a smashing hit with the students – Dianne says:

“I have had KPT for a long time, but was only using a few of the filters because I had no clue what the rest actually did. This class has made me take another look at KPT. The instructor, Peter Mayer, is friendly and informative, and gave me some excellent hints that I wouldn’t have discovered on my own. I think even long time users of KPT could learn something new from this class. It was also fun!”

Read more of what the KPT students have to say about Peter and the KPT Collection online class!

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Painter 11 released!

February 25th, 2009 lvs

Digital painting software Corel Painter 11 is the ultimate digital art studio for anyone ready to expand their definition of creativity. Working with the most advanced digital painting and natural media tools available, you can create the art you’ve always envisioned.

LVS Online Classes is Corel Training Partner. Enrolled LVS students are eligible to purchase some products directly from the Corel Education Store at a substantial savings!

Enter coupon code CRL10LVS when checking out to get a 10% discount on all Corel products.

Corel is also offering FREE SHIPPING for orders over $99 – use coupon code: COREL99

And, if you need some Painter training, LVS offers instructor-led online Painter classes.

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