TotalTraining D2D report

"MLMUGers sometimes need coaching"

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Training Software Review
by Maria O. Arguello

Product: Total Training Presents
Adobe Creative Suite
from Design To Delivery
Running Time: 8+ Hours
Company: Total Training.com.
Price: $99.99
Experience Level: Graphics Professionals
Minimum Requirements: QuickTime 5.0.2 or above
Warranty: Money-Back Guarantee
Reviewer Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Apples
Date: October, 2004
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Apples

Host Steve Holmes is an award winning designer for Print and the Web. This series shows the workflows through the various pieces of Adobe Creative Suite. This in-depth training really emphasizes the "integrated" aspects of Adobe's suite, which is very similar to the way Apple's iLife "integrates" all its components so elegantly. Holmes takes an entire project from:

hand-drawn design concept,
through layout,
image creation, and
print preparation
to HI-res PDF, and finally
to a dynamic interactive web site.

Along the way he emphasizes valuable short cuts and tips to make you more productive.

The series has 3 training CDs plus an extra CD for Project Files. Use it to follow along with lessons for hands-on step-by-step learning.

Program 1: Design, Creation & Layout has 9 Chapters.
Program 2: Final Artwork, Prep & Output has 7 Chapters.
Program 3: Web Design and Delivery has 9 Chapters.

Altogether, there are more than 8 hours, filled with step by step directions that give great insight into integrating Adobe's collection of creative software. You learn how each individual product in the Adobe Creative Suite (CS) contributes to your project and how they all work together to produce a quality product for the web. The graphics professional can use this training package to get a quick jumpstart with Adobe CS.

This series make it easy to understand your project's workflow and the creative aspects of its design. To me it was so beneficial to see a project unfold from beginning to end and how the magnificent new Adobe Creative Suite works together synergistically.

Pros: The instruction is thorough, engaging, and entertaining.
Cons: Mac OS X users need to activate the TCS Installer

Overall, this training package is very, very good. I give it 4.5 out of 5 Apples.

Maria O. Arguello
Reviewer: Maria O. Arguello

Maria O. Arguello is a native of Nicaragua but became an American citizen in 1964. She received her Bachelor of Science degree from Loyola University of New Orleans and her Master of Science degree from West Chester University in Pennsylvania. Since retiring from the Philadelphia School System as a science teacher and science department head, her newfound time has allowed her to become more involved with her Mac and the User Group Community. Maria is president and vendor liaison of the Main Line Macintosh Users Group (MLMUG), where she has also served as member-at-large and as special events coordinator.

This site has many more reviews, all written by MLMUG members.
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Software, hardware, and game reviews.