Best of Tuts+ in February

Mar 13th in Web Roundups by Skellie

February was a huge month for Tuts+, with the launch of our single Plus membership, Tuts+ dashboard, the Nettuts+ Plus program. It was also a big month for our content, with plenty of fantastic tutorials published. Here are the best of them!

Author: Skellie

Skellie is Tuts+ Manager. She makes sure all the Tuts+ sites are awesome. You can follow her/the Tuts+ Network on Twitter via @tutsplus.

Vectortuts+

Vector & Illustrator

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  Design a Print-Ready Accordion Fold Document in Adobe InDesign - Vector Plus Tutorial

  We have another great Vector Plus tutorial exclusively available to Plus members today. If you want to take your InDesign skills to the next level, then we have an awesome tutorial for you. Walk through the creation of an Accordion Fold Document InDesign document. This tutorial is targeted at the beginner to intermediate level designer. Delve into the details of numerous settings and learn a professional workflow for exporting documents for print. Learn more about this informative layout tut at the jump!

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  How to Create a Stylized Vector Grasshopper

  In this tutorial, we'll explain how to create a create a grasshopper based on an image. We'll review how to trace the needed parts and alter them in order to make the little guy look good in all his vector glory. Let's get to it!

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  Make 3D Yet Flat Looking Shopping Basket Icons

  Shopping for a new icon? Look no further. Learn how to create a custom shopping basket icon for your next web design project. We'll combine 3D qualities with a flat look. You'll need a firm understanding of Adobe Illustrators tools to complete this tutorial.

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  50 Insanely Good Vector-based Web Designs

  Implementing bright and crisp vector graphics into your web designs can really add some visual kick. This collection of 50 insanely good vector-based web designs showcases the best examples of vector use including landscapes illustrations, abstract collages and character/mascot designs.

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  Interview with Veerle Pieters

  "Veerle" does the name rings the bell? I am sure many of you will reply with affirmation! Yes, you are right, today we bring to you interview with incomparable Veerle Pieters, a web and print designer based in Belgium who runs her prolific studio, Duoh! along with Geert Leyseele. She is also the author of a popular design blog.

  With a initial background in graphic design and print, before she got involved in web design, she has a well rounded education which has made her one of the most versatile designers in the industry. So lets have a chat with this talented designer whose dream is to make the interweb a better place.

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Nettuts+

Web Development

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  5 Ways to Instantly Write Better CSS

  Sure, anyone can write CSS. Even programs are doing it for you now. But is the CSS any good? Here are 5 tips to start improving yours.

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  Creating a “Filterable” Portfolio with jQuery

  If you have worked in your field for a while, there is a pretty good chance that you have a rather extensive portfolio. To make it a little easier to navigate, you will probably be tempted to break them into different categories. In this tutorial, I will show you how to make “filtering by category” a little more interesting with just a little bit of jQuery.

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  How to Build a Login System for a Simple Website

  In today’s video tutorial, we’ll be building a login system with PHP and MYSQL. Many, many features will be covered; including MySqli, Prepared Statements, jQuery, Classes, Sessions, Cookies, etc. I bit off more than I could chew for today’s screencast. So, I’ll be creating a Part 2 in the next couple of weeks in order to improve our system even further.

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  Top 50 Wordpress Tutorials

  As a web developer, you can broaden your potential client base and add value for existing clients by listing ‘Wordpress’ as an area of expertise. Of course, unless you want to bluff your way through jobs, you’d better have the skill to back-up that claim. This collection will help.

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  What You Must Know About the New Safari 4 Beta

  Apple released Safari 4 Beta last Tuesday, for both Mac and Windows users. The updated browser received a UI update, many major improvements under the hood, and plenty of new features to play with. The new browser passes the ACID2 and ACID3 tests with a score of 100, and contains a few next-generation technologies that web developers will love, once we can take advantage of them. Let’s take a look at what’s new.

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Aetuts+

After Effects Tutorials

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  Create a MoGraph Urban Jungle, Day 1 + 2

  In this tutorial Naim Alwan ventures outside of After Effects for a little bit of 3D Matchmoving to create this stunning Urban Jungle effect where vector graphics are perfectly tracked to some city footage. In day 1 you will learn how to do a track using Boujou (although any matchmoving software will work for this) and then import and apply that information in After Effects successfully.

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  Create a “Light-tastic” Logo Reveal Animation, Day 1 + 2

  In this 2 part tutorial AETUTS editor Lloyd Alvarez gets his hands dirty with a little expression math to create some beautifully organic light streaks that are used to reveal the AETUTS logo. In part 1 Lloyd breaks down the science behind creating a simple expression that drives the light streak emitter and shows you how easy it is to create infinite variations with ease. .

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  Create a “Day After Tomorrow” Inspired Instant Freeze Effect

  In honor of Oscar's week we have another movie VFX shot inspired tutorial. A frequently requested theme is the effect of something being frozen very quickly. This tutorial will explain how to achieve this effect as well as a cool camera lens frost over and crack.

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  Create a Rhythmic ‘Beat-shake’ Effect

  In this tutorial you'll learn how to make moving geometric shapes shake and shudder as if they've been moved by the vibrations of a beat. You'll learn how to sync this effect to music and create the building blocks of a stunning and futuristic music video.

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  Create a Dreamy Logo in the Clouds Animation

  Markus is back to show us how to use a particle generator to create 3D clouds and use them as a transitional device to reveal a logo.

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Audiotuts+

Audio Production, Mixing, Mastering

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  How to Use Convolution for Reverb & Effects

  In this tutorial we're going to dive into the crazy world of impulse responses and convolution reverbs. You're going to see how modern software reverbs are no longer just for simulating spaces, they can also be used for anything from speaker simulations and equalizers, to powerful sound design tools.

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  How to Use Transient Designers in Your Mixes

  Not long ago, transient designers were only available as hardware processors. Now, a number of DAWs and plug-ins are dragging the technology into the digital domain. With all these new emulations and interpretations of a classic processor becoming available, it's well worth familiarizing yourself with what could become an essential part of your production process.

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  A Beginner's Introduction to Limiters

  Limiters are possibly the most simple dynamics processors there, with few controls and often simple metering. Saying this, I think it’s possible the humble limiter is often misunderstood, mistaken for a compressor or simply overlooked.

  To try and clear things up I thought it might be useful for me to show some examples of different limiters (some from DAWs and some commercial) in action. When it comes down to it, it’s all about using the correct intensity of treatment for the job. It also helps to have a few different flavors of limiter as some will offer features and functions others do not.

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  How to Manage & Process Sub-bass Frequencies

  Whether you are looking to add or remove sub-bass frequencies from your mix, it's essential you're armed with the right tools and techniques. Everything from a simple EQ to multi-band treatments and enhancers can be used, so there are certainly a few routes to choose from here.

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  Make Stock Loops Sound Unique With Rhythm Treatments in Logic

  Logic Studio provides fantastic value for the hobbyist and professional musician alike. With over 18,000 loops, it also provides a huge variety of samples that can be used to lay the foundations of new songs, beats and scores.

  That said, it is easy, in the world of digital audio, to become a victim of 'preset-itis' - using loops, samples, and software instrument presets that can be heard throughout today's film, television and popular music. With just a few simple tricks up your sleeve, however, you can turn boring, heard-it-a-million-times presets and turn them into something unique.

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