It’d be another thing to add to the store, which has been an epic fail so far. We couldn’t sell the fonts (nor do I think anyone would pay), but donations are an option.

I’ve done some research regarding Adobe’s latest suite release, and there isn’t really any clear answer, even if you read the EULA policies and browse various forums. So I called Adobe today to get the scoop from the head-honcho.

If you are a college student, you are allowed to use the Educational and/or Student-Licensed versions of Adobe CS4 for commercial use after graduation, no strings attached! Matt, the Adobe representative I talked to, explained that they only prohibit commercial use while you are enrolled. Once you graduate, using the same software is completely legal; if you were to upgrade in the future (CS5+), however, you’d have to purchase the commercial license (which is a no-brainer). Another rumor I had heard was that Dreamweaver and Flash were subject to different licensing agreements, having been formerly owned by Macromedia™. That is completely false. Adobe owns and manages the rights to Dw and Flash, so when you buy CS4 you own every program regardless of prior affiliations.

Being students at LATech, we may purchase Student-Licensed CS4 Design Premium from the bookstore for $299 (83% discount!); you won’t find a legal copy anywhere else for less. Faculty and staff qualify as well, but only for educational purposes.

My suggestion to UG2 members: go buy CS4 from the bookstore, even if your computer doesn’t meet the software requirements. Because once you graduate, you’ll piss your pants trying to pay $1799. Even if you join AIGA, their discount is only 10-15%.

Complete list of Student-Licensed Software:

• Adobe Creative Suite 4 Design Premium $299
• Adobe Creative Suite 4 Design Standard $199
• Adobe Creative Suite 4 Web Premium $249
• Adobe Creative Suite 4 Web Standard $199
• Adobe Creative Suite 4 Production Premium $299
• Adobe Creative Suite 4 Master Collection $499
• Adobe Photoshop CS4 Extended $169
• Adobe Director 11 $99
• Adobe Dreamweaver CS4 $99
• Adobe Flash CS4 Professional $119
• Adobe Acrobat 9 Pro $55
• Adobe Acrobat 9 Pro Extended $115
• Adobe Photoshop Lightroom $79

I’m not sure how much of this list is available at the bookstore, but we could bug them if they haven’t ordered one that you want.

Also, for those who have G4 processors or lower and are worrisome about the G5+ processor requirement, I will be installing CS4 over the holidays on my iBookG4 and will report any problems here.

Lois at FFF discovered this awesome photo(shoot) for Photoshop CS4. More photos.

Original FFF article.

Check out Satan’s Software via Form Fifty Five’s website.

And more of Bold Face’s design related mp3s (Kerning A V, Pantone of the Opera, Comic Sans Dance, etc). All pretty random, but worth a listen.

While working in the communication design field, you’ll probably find yourself working in an office, or a cubicle, or maybe just a large room shared by other creatives. Whatever the case, you’re within roller-chair distance from another creative person. And, sometimes, creatives get bored or burnt out on projects. So their creativity explodes in another way: office pranks.

Maybe you’ll adjust their roller-chair into an awkward seating position; or maybe you just move it to the break room.

One office prank I’ve planned and been subjected to is the couple mil’ folders prank.

1. Hide all the open programs to reveal only the desktop.
2. Shift + Command + N.
3. Fire at will.

To protect yourself from this sort of prank, install Deskshade. It allows you to lock your computer while you’re away, with built-in auto-lock after a specific time period (say, 15 minutes). Another feature is Cover Desktop, which hides your desktop files for a cleaner viewspace.

Also, for the Intel-based computers with built-in cameras, check out iAlertU, software that will sound an alarm and take a snapshot of a thief or prankster.