There are many reasons to have a blog: to inform customers about new products and specials, to share information and expertise with a worldwide community, or to express oneself and communicate publicly. WordPress.com is a free and flexible set of web-based blogging tools that can be used to launch a new blog in minutes. The tools can then be used to personalize the blog and update and improve it continually. In WordPress.com 2.5 Essential Training, Maria Langer walks through the entire process of building and maintaining a blog, from setting up an account to using advanced customization techniques. She explains how to create and organize posts, pages, and links, and also offers tips on how to become a better blogger. Exercise files accompany the course.

with: Garrick Chow

Contribute CS3 is the tool of choice for non-web designers who need to make changes and updates to an existing website without fear of accidentally damaging the site. In Contribute CS3 Essential Training , instructor Garrick Chow explains the process of setting up the Contribute CS3 workflow. He also covers how to collaborate with others to create and maintain a site and how to write and update blog entries.

with: Garrick Chow

In Dreamweaver CS3 Essential Training , instructor Garrick Chow delves into the many powerful features of the latest version of this powerful web design application. He covers everything from the simplest basics of using Dreamweaver CS3 to applying it to develop a fully interactive, accessible site. Garrick explains the new interface features, and demonstrates how to create, edit, manage, design, and publish a professional website with Dreamweaver CS3 and complementary applications. Exercise files accompany the training.

with: Christopher Deutsch

Whether you're an intranet developer responsible for tens of thousands of pages, or a freelance Web designer operating on the cutting edge of technology, CSS 2 is an important tool for your toolbox. Designed specifically for those who have a clear understanding of HTML, this hands-on training tutorial will teach you how Cascading Style Sheets can be used to achieve a new level of fine-grain control over Web design. Learn how it's possible to easily apply the same consistent look and feel to any number of pages using external style sheets. Learn how to control the layout of your pages down to the pixel, and then specify exactly how the fonts should be rendered. CSS2 Essential Training will even teach you how to create simple rollover effects that don't require any programming.

with: Phil Heinz

While Flash Professional 8 is well known for its vector animation capabilities, it is also well suited for building powerful custom database applications. In Flash Professional 8 Building Data-Driven Applications Phil Heinz teaches users how to connect to data sources using Web-based scripting languages, such as ASP, PHP, or Perl, or using Web application servers, such as ColdFusion or Java. Phil also shows how to use always-on socket connections to make real-time data-driven applications, such as multiplayer games, chat rooms, and dashboard applications. Using static XML files to simulate data from any data source, he takes viewers through the process of importing and handling data from a database inside Flash Professional 8 to build Rich Internet Applications (RIAs). Exercise files accompany the training videos.

with: Larry Jordan

Taught by award-winning producer/director/editor Larry Jordan, Digital Video Principles translates digital video terminology and breaks down the misconception that only professionals can edit digital video. Definitions are provided for many terms, such as progressive, interlaced, frame rate, data rate, fps, aspect ratio, sample rate, resolution, waveform, and many more. PC and Macintosh users alike, even those with no prior knowledge of editing software, will acquire a firm grasp of DV editing though this tutorial.

Premiere Pro CS3 Beyond the Basics delves deeper into many advanced video-editing concepts such as track mattes. It also covers using Premiere as an audio recording studio, automating audio track mixing , and adding audio effects. Many confusing audio concepts, such as sample rate, bit depth, and VST effects, are clearly explained, for basic concepts and in-depth comprehension. There is an entire chapter devoted to the process of editing a video podcast with Premiere Pro from start to finish. Adobe Certified Instructor Chad Perkins also shares a great deal of knowledge about working with color and color correction. Exercise files accompany the tutorial.

Many types of websites can be built and maintained more easily using a content management system (CMS). A CMS provides a web-based interface for creating and organizing content. The content is stored in a database, then consistently presented according to a set of templates and preferences, which eliminates the need to handcraft each page in HTML. Joomla! is a popular, easy-to-use, open-source CMS built in PHP. It has near-limitless functionality, thanks to its community of extension developers.

In Joomla! 1.5 Essential Training, Joseph LeBlanc uses Joomla! to build a small-business website from scratch with no programming at all, from installation to launch. He demonstrates how to create and organize content; add menus, sidebars, and other features; change the look with templates; install plug-ins and extensions; and much more.

XML, or Extensible Markup Language, was designed to make information sharing and data interpretation easier, but it only works if you know how to work it. In XML Essential Training, veteran engineer and instructor Joe Marini takes you through the basic rules of XML, discusses suggested tools, explains XML syntax, and more. From integrating XML into your site to creating style sheets and Schema Definitions, XML Essential Training covers everything you need to not only get started, but to really get working with XML. Exercise files accompany the training, allowing you to follow along and learn at your own pace.

iWeb '08 boasts major improvements and new features for building slick, professional-looking websites and publishing them online. Instructor and iLife wiz Garrick Chow begins by teaching the basics of planning a site and working with text, images, and multimedia files. He then builds on those basic skills, demonstrating how to create more advanced pages for displaying photo galleries, blogs, and podcasts. Garrick wraps things up with detailed information on publishing iWeb sites to a .Mac account or a third-party web host. Exercise files accompany the tutorials.

In Texturing and Lighting in Discreet 3ds max 6, George Maestri covers everything needed to texture, light, and render realistic scenes in 3ds max. The title steps you through designing materials, mapping textures, and lighting scenes as well as creating shaders, lights, and cameras for both Mental Ray and Max's Scanline renderer. Advanced topics include complex mapping, multi-pass rendering, caustics, and global illumination.

Color correction is one of Final Cut Pro's most valuable features--if you know how to use the right filters the right way. In Final Cut Pro 5 Color Correction, Apple-certified instructor Larry Jordan explains how to do just that. He defines key terminology, then demonstrates everything from high-speed automatic color correction methods to careful manual color adjustment. The training also covers how to customize scopes and how to apply and manipulate filters. Exercise files accompany the tutorials.

Introduction
01. Definitions
02. Scopes Essentials
03. Reading Images Using Scopes
04. Contrast
05. Color Correction in Seven Steps
06. Real-Time Scopes in FCP 5.1.2
07. Manual Color Correction
08. Special Color Correction Techniques
09. Color Effects
10. Color Filters
Conclusion

In AJAX Essential Training, instructor Dori Smith shows experienced web developers how to utilize AJAX to best create dynamic pages. The course covers selecting the best tools for the job (HTML, CSS, JavaScript, XML), understanding all aspects of HTTP from requests to responses, and creating dynamic forms and maps from static HTML and CSS forms and files. Dori also explains in detail how to get and use the Yahoo! UI framework. Exercise files accompany the tutorials.