January 2009 (#157)

For the last Computer Arts of 2008 or, depending when you pick it up, the first of 2009, we bring you an incredible tips feature. We've been chatting to the world's hottest graphic designers, motion artists and illustrators to bring you a unique and what I hope you'll find incredibly insightful and enjoyable piece. What's so good about it? Well, everything is focused on real-life briefs and projects, and the inspiration and techniques behind them. Design, Animate, Illustrate will give you a unique insight into the working practices of the world's top designers. And where else can you find that?

Elsewhere this issue we've paid a visit to the glorious offices of magneticNorth, interviewing the now legendary Flash designer Brendan Dawes and flown stateside to catch up with our old friends Identikal. Our Technique section this month is more packed than ever, with 30 pages of expert advice from the likes of Fat Punk Studio; Tom Baker; and Sawdust . One other thing I should mention: we're starting our hunt for 2009's top graduates, and from next issue we'll be calling for entries for the 2009 Graduate Showcase. Students and lecturers, it's time to start thinking about what you want to submit. You'll find more details on page 21 of the mag, and comprehensive submission details in issue 158 of Computer Arts, on sale from 14 January in the UK.

Oh, and on the subject of next issue, it's going to be incredible - seriously, you can't afford to miss it. We even got my current favourite illustrator to design the entire cover. Until then…

Rob Carney
Editor

IN THE MAG

Output

Fat Faces
Design's heavyweight fonts and the people behind them

Irena Zablotska
The work of the Ukranian illustration scene forerunner

Studio of the Month
Behind the scenes at Trunk

In Depth

Brendan Dawes interviewed
The interactive prophet talks eureka moments

Design, Animate, Illustrate
Inside the finest minds of the design industry

Identikal profiled
The celebrated design studio moves beyond fonts

Coding creativity
Cracking generative art

Round Table
Is there enough funding?

Technique

Drawing boards
Personalise skate decks with your vector designs

Create self-initiated artwork
Create inspired works in Illustrator and Photoshop

Total animation
From concept to postproduction in Flash

Brief Encounter
How Sawdust created Be's identity

Make backgrounds and text with CSS
Paul Wyatt shows you how with Dreamweaver

Mastering masking
Unleash Illustrator's masking tools

Inspiration Workshop
Handmade Font's DIY lettering

Building your template library
Create strong foundations for your InDesign layouts

Convincing drop shadows
Add realism with a little Photoshop know-how

Need to Know

GPU acceleration
The key kit for making the most of Photoshop CS4's new features

Printing online
Could ordering prints online save you time, money and stress?

Working with agencies
10 strategies for securing the best deal and work