MakeUseOf.com: “Cool Websites and Tools [December 26th]” plus 2 more

Cool Websites and Tools [December 26th]
5 Sites And Tips on How to Go Green and Save Money
How To Create A Logo Using Custom Shapes In Photoshop

Posted: 26 Dec 2009 07:31 PM PST

Check out some of the latest MakeUseOf discoveries. All listed websites are FREE (or come with a decent free account option). No trials or buy-to-use craplets. For more cool websites and web app reviews subscribe to MakeUseOf Directory.

(1) SendShots – If you run out of new ways to greet your loved ones, then you should bookmark SendShots. This is a simple web service that allows you to quickly record and send private video to whoever you like through your email. Read more: SendShots: Send Private Video Messages To Friends

(2) DistanceFromTo – is a slick Google Maps mashup for finding the distance between two points on a map. You can calculate the distance by typing in any two cities or dragging the markers located on the map. The distance (displayed in both kilometers and miles) changes as you drag the markers. Read more: DistanceFromTo: Tool for finding the distance between two points

(3) FreeNameTags – Name tags help in identifying and recognizing people in functions, parties and events. FreeNameTags is a nice site which makes the task of creating free printable name tags quick and easy. Read more: FreeNameTags: Download Free Printable Name Tags

(4) MeeCSS – Web designers often publish their sites in web galleries to showcase their portfolio. MeeCSS is a handy service that helps designers submit their website to more than 100 CSS galleries. With MeeCSS, web designers can gain publicity and visibility to other designers and potential clients. Read more: MeeCSS: Easily Submit Website To CSS Galleries

(5) MashCeleb – Who doesn't love popular celebrity gossip and news? MashCeleb is a sleek new website that offers easy-to-read celebrity news. News items are categorized by celebrity so it is easy to skim through. Each celebrity profile also includes a trend chart that measures how popular a celebrity's news is. Read more: MashCeleb: Read Popular Celebrity Gossip & News

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These are just half of the websites that we discovered in the last couple of days. If you want us to send you daily round-ups of all cool websites we come across, leave your email here. Or follow us via RSS feed.

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5 Sites And Tips on How to Go Green and Save Money

Posted: 26 Dec 2009 02:31 PM PST

Earlier this month, the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen failed miserably. Although the attendees attempt to remain positive, it cannot be denied that the key goal was not achieved. Over one week politicians fought over money and responsibilities in dozens of heated discussions. In the end, however, the nations did not sign a treaty to replace the Kyoto protocol, which runs out as soon as 2012.

This is a disaster, not only for the world climate, but for our entire environment. Nothing less than the planet earth is at stake. Frankly, why should we invest in the development of science and new technology, in the building of peace in foreign countries, or in the education of our children, if this planet has no future in the first place? Why not let all hell break loose?

Because there still is a chance and you better put up a fight. Even if politicians cannot yield more than a worthless agreement, every single one of us has the power to make a change. Besides, going green is not just about saving energy and preserving the environment. In fact, it’s also about saving money! Less energy wasted on heating, electricity, gas, or shopping means more money in your pocket.

Whatever your motivation, going green(er) is for a good cause. So give it a chance and see whether any of the tips and resources below give you some $$$ ideas, and eventually also leave you with a rewarding good feeling when you go green and save money.

Recycle

Obviously, recycling is a key step in going green. You can recycle almost anything, starting with packaging over food, clothes, newspapers, up to electronics. Nowadays you can easily recycle plastic, aluminum, glass, and paper by sorting these things into respective waste bins. In some areas supermarkets take back empty batteries. Finally, many communities collect old furniture and electronics in order to recycle or re-use them.

How can you save or make money through recycling?

MyBoneYard Recycle

This is one of many sites that will take back your electronics. With MyBoneYard Recycle’s pre-paid shipping labels you can get rid of electronics clutter. These sites typically repair, recycle, or re-use items, and give you credits for it.

go green and save money

Azim has reviewed MyBoneYard for the MakeUseOf directory.

Earth911

This page assists you in finding a recycling center near your US location. It’s a safe and environmental friendly way to dispose of anything from motor oil, metal, plastic, or batteries.

go green and save money

The site also features a great article on the UN Climate Conference 2009: Why Care About Copenhagen?

Re-Use

A temporary solution to recycling, is re-using. Not everything that is old and used must be thrown away and replaced with something new and expensive. You can refurbish many items yourself or re-use them in different ways. Look around for ideas and be creative. Here is a very small selection.

Freecycle

Things you no longer want or need may be very precious to someone else. So don’t simply trash them. Save yourself the hassle and find someone who will happily pick up the item from you. Likewise, you may find something you need offered for free.

go green and save money

Furoshiki

This is the Japanese form of wrapping gifts. Rather than using paper that is tossed away after unwrapping, Japanese people traditionally wrap their gifts in a re-usable fabric. You can wrap anything from books to bottles or chocolate in a re-usable fabric.

Browse Care2 (re-use an old coat), Crafting A Green World, and Green Options for more ideas.

Magazine Table

Here is a green idea on how to re-use old magazines and craft a table from them. It works like a charm.

go green and save

Re-Nest has plenty more green ideas and How Tos. For example 13 Ways To Repurpose Old Clothes, 10 Repairs You Can Do Yourself, or DIY Vinyl Wall Art.

Save Energy

You can save energy in a thousand different ways.

Power Strips
Organize as many electronic devices as possible on power strips that can be turned off. And then do turn them off every night before you go to bed. There are also smart powerstrips that will cut “phantom” energy use of appliances that are actually turned off. You’ll be surprised by how much energy this will save you. There are of course some devices that should be allowed to eat energy all the time, for example your phone.
Standby
Turn off that TV. Really turn it off! Do not put it into standby.
Light
Switch it off when you leave the room, but ONLY if you are going to leave it for more than 15 minutes. Frequent switching on and off will kill the lifetime of your bulb. But intervals of 15 minutes will save you energy worth more than the lifetime it costs you.
Energy Efficiency
If you need to buy new devices, buy only ones that use energy efficiently.
Walk, Cycle, use public transport
If possible, do not take the car. Jump on the bus, use your bike or use your pretty feet and take the stairs. Give those escalators and lifts a well-deserved break!

Re-Nest has an article on 14 Ways to Keep Warm Without Turning the Heat On or Up.

go green and save

Save Water

Bathroom
You can shorten your showers, don’t let the water run while you brush your teeth, stop the toilet flush.
Dishes
If you wash dishes by hand, soak them in a pool of hot soapy water, then scrub them off with soap, and finally rinse them under fresh, cold water. Don’t let the water run the whole time.
Car Wash
Take a bucket full of water, some soap, a sponge, and give yourself a workout.

go green and save

green We can only stimulate ideas here, by no means is this article comprehensive.

In case you are not yet saturated with information, check out TreeHuggers list of articles and guides on How to Go Green.

Planet Green has an excellent article on 50 Ways to Never Waste Food Again.

Got questions? It’s likely that someone already asked them and NewScientist answered them. Hence, they released an article on Dumb eco-questions you were afraid to ask. There are no dumb questions, though.

MakeUseOf has previously reported about green matters. Ann shared 10+ Websites To Keep You Updated On Green News. Varun introduced Edison, a tool to Save Energy and Go Green on Windows. Saikat described How to Save Power with SetPower. If you want to find out what your ecological footprint is, what that means in the first place and how to reduce it, check out my article on Use The Internet To Save The World.

What do you do to live green and save money?

Image credits: azrainman, aussiegall, snapr, agthabrown

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How To Create A Logo Using Custom Shapes In Photoshop

Posted: 26 Dec 2009 09:31 AM PST

create a logo First off, a warning. This how-to article is about graphic design written by a non-designer, for non-designers. I only claim to be someone who appreciates the art and work that real graphic designers do. But I also know that just like you don't have to be a professional photographer to make great photos, you don't have to be a trained graphic designer to explore the art and techniques of graphic design. So now that you've been warned, feel free to read on.

This how-to focuses on using custom shapes in Photoshop to explore possible ways to create a shaped-based logo. You will not be successful at creating your own logo without lots of patience. You might create a likable design on your first try, but more than likely it will a take a few hours to several weeks trying out different shapes, colors, fonts, and sizes to get your desired results. If this sounds like a hassle, then you need to pay a graphic designer. If you like a creative challenge, then read on.

To get started, let's just play around. Open a version of Photoshop. Create a file large enough (5 by 5 inches, for example) to layout your design.

Now select the rectangle or oval shape tool in the tool's palette. Select a foreground color that you want to start with. Remember, be willing to experiment. Just because you choose black as your starting point doesn't mean you should stop there. In fact, you should go on to try 10 more colors.

With the regular or oval shape tool selected as your base, hold down the shift key and draw a perfect square or circle with the mouse and cursor. Draw it large enough so that you're comfortable working within it.

Now here's where the fun begins. Select the shapes tool again, but this time, click and hold on the tool button and select Custom Shape Tool.

create a logo

Select the Custom Shape Palette in the menu bar of Photoshop. Choose a custom shape that you want to experiment with. Don't spend time fretting over what shape you should use. If you have never done this before, your first goal is to experiment with possibilities. So choose a shape, and then using the mouse and the cursor, draw the shape over the square. When you do this, the colors of the custom shape and the square might be the same. After you click the return key to apply the shape, keep its layer selected and then change the color of the custom shape to white.

create a logo

After the color is set, select the move tool in the Tool Palette. Be sure your custom shape layer is still selected. Now resize the shape to create a new shape mixing the square and the custom tool.

Here’s an example combining an umbrella shape and stretching it a little until it takes on a slightly different shape combined with the black square.

create a logo for free

Now select the move tool again; option-click on the background square or oval shape, and drag it to make a copy. Change the color and try some new shapes. Don't limit yourself. You can spend a few hours just experimenting, and that's exactly what it takes to come up with a possible good design.

Keep experimenting. Have fun and don’t censor yourself. Mix background shapes with fonts, as in the example on the right, which is a combination of a circle and the font, Jazz LET (letter S).

create a logo for free

Photoshop may contain a shape or two that will fit your needs, but more than likely, if you want your logo to be unique, you’ll need to create an entire new shape. Head over to Ladyoak or do a search for free custom shapes for Photoshop to download more custom shape styles to combine.

You will also have to consider the font style of the business name for your logo. That’s a subject for another article or book, but just as you experiment with shapes and colors, do the same with experimenting with font styles and the various character tools found in the Character Palette of Photoshop.

When you’re ready to design your logo, visit YouTheDesigner to get ideas and inspiration for designing your logo. If you're interested in learning more on the subject of graphic design, I strongly recommend a classic primer, The Non-Designer’s Design Book, by Robin Williams.

create a logo for free