Drum roll please...................

The winner for our very first banner contest (in case you haven't already noticed) is Miyu. Congratulations for a great design Miyu!

I want to thank everyone who took the time to make a banner, and (equally important) to vote. On a personal level, I really think that any one of the entries could have been a winner, and that you all did some truly excellent work.

Miyu's banner will remain at the top of this page until around June 1st. In May we will run this contest again, and select a winner for the next three month period.

Now for the next step...

I am thinking that a monthly challenge series based on a specific feature in Photoshop would be a great way for people to explore new techniques, and have some fun at the same time. With this in mind, I am suggesting the following three topics, and would like to get your feedback.

1. Art History... Not the kind that requires research in the library stacks, but rather the possibilities that can be created using the Art history Brush feature in our favorite program.

2. Duotones... Although it was orignally made for creating images that specify certain inks for printing, the duotone feature also has some amazing possibilites for creating art that conveys a unique mood.

3. Finding Edges... The find edge filter in Photoshop can isolate the edges in any image you apply it to. The results can become a starting point for a myraid of effects that you may use to create anything from an image that looks like a sketch to the basis for a full on painting.

Please pick a theme, and post what you would like to explore. If you can think of something that might be more fun, let's hear that too.

Thanks
Alpha