January 2012 Software Closet
Click the links below to download each individual item.
Bug Fixes
None this month!
Helpful Utilities
AndreaMosaic
AndreaMosaic is a free application for Mac or Windows that creates a mosaic from a folder of photos you supply, to recreate a single image you also supply. Use it to create a mosaic from a landscape or a portrait, using any collection of photos for the tiles. (Mac users will also enjoy watching this Windows program running inside its “Wine” wrapper — a way to run a single Windows app on Mac OS X.) Get it at www.andreaplanet.com/andreamosaic/
NetSpot 1.2.3
NetSpot (free) is a handy utility for your Mac that helps map the signal quality of your Wi-Fi network. The app helps you draw a map of your home or office, then tracks Wi-Fi network strength as you move from room to room or area to area. It can show where your network signal is strongest and weakest, and show where interference is most noticeable. You need to move your Mac through the area you're mapping, so NetSpot works best with a laptop, but it's great for deciding the places to put your computers for best wireless network performance.
Time Out 1.6.3
Dejal Systems' Time Out (free) reminds you to take breaks while working at the computer. It can schedule both normal breaks (10 minutes every hour, for example) and brief micro breaks, and allows configuration of both the break length and the break interval. Time Out can also run scripts, open applications, and play audio files at each break.
InDesign Goodies
Calendar Wizard for InDesign
Anyone who has had to create a calendar in InDesign — or an ongoing series of them — knows how time consuming they can be. One solution is Scott Selberg's free Calendar Wizard script for InDesign, which features a robust interface that lets you choose how many months to display, choose date ranges, a day to start on, and calendar orientation. In addition, there are several holiday lists to auto-populate your calendars and several custom layers choices such as those for day of the year, background picture, and phases of the moon. The beauty of the script package lies in the additional script that re-fits the calendar to a frame (even when the frame is re-sized) and the use of paragraph styles for easily updating calendar text. Get it at http://calendarwizard.sourceforge.net
EditMarks BlackLining Lite
Last October, we mentioned Kerntiff's EditMarks Blacklining plug-in that tracks changes to text in InDesign layouts. They now have a free Lite version, which while limited to only one level of revisions, is still useful for most projects. Get it at www.kerntiff.co.uk/products-4-indesign/editmarks-blacklining-lite
Export Separate Book Chapters from InDesign
When you use the Book feature in InDesign, choosing Export to PDF creates a single PDF of the entire book document. The free "PDF Individuals" script from Peter Kahrel allows you to export each chapter file as an individual page. This comes in handy when you only need to view or share individual chapters of a book. The script gives you further control by allowing you to export each page in a document as a PDF, and the option to export each individual section of a document as its own PDF. Get it at www.kahrel.plus.com
Photoshop Goodies
Twitter Profile Page GUI
Smashing Magazine shares a set of Photoshop files that match the latest Twitter user interface. Designed by Jon Darke of Every Interaction, the PSD files provide all layers in vectors, in two versions: one for personal accounts and also the new Twitter Enhanced profile page with a 835x90 header image for brands and advertisers. Get it at http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2011/12/22/freebie-new-twitter-profile-page-gui-psd/
QuarkXPress Goodies
None this month!
Free Fonts
Dancing Script
Gothic Extras
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