Press Contact: Frank Colin, IDIG, Inc.
voice: 415.721.0638
fax: 415.721.0658
email: frankc@idignet.com

For Immediate Release

Two New Titles In "Photoshop Inside & Out" Video Learning Series Released

"Illustrating with Photoshop [Parts One & Two]" Includes Bleeding Edge Techniques for Digital Photorealism

(San Rafael, CA) January 13, 1999 - IDIG, Inc. (Interactive Digital Intelligence Group) today announced release of the third and fourth videos in its "Photoshop Inside & Out" learning series, "Illustrating with Photoshop [Parts One & Two]". Hosted by Bert Monroy, one of the world's leading photorealist painters and world-reknowed Photoshop artist, the videos explore techniques to alter (or even recreate) reality and solve many real-world illustration challenges. Photo realistic imagery can be achieved with a deeper understanding of the powers already present in the program, and Monroy's extensive experience as a Photoshop user (one of the first!) and fine artist make the process entertaining and enlightening. Running time is approximately two hours each. Availability is immediate, with a retail price of US$59.95, each, or both for US$99.95. All tapes are available in both NTSC (North American standard television) and PAL (European) formats, and are closed captioned. Orders may be placed online through the Photoshop Inside & Out web site, www.photoshopio.com, or by calling 1.415.460.6889.

Host Bert Monroy is a noted master Photoshop expert and instructor, and co-author (with David Biedny) of several bestselling books on Photoshop, including the very first book ever written on Photoshop, "The Official Adobe Photoshop Handbook" (Bantam), "Adobe Photoshop: A Visual Guide" (Addison-Wesley), and with Biedny and Nathan Moody, one of the most advanced books currently on the market, the critically-acclaimed "Photoshop Channel Chops" (New Riders Publishing). Monroy, who created digital matte paintings for the Oscar(tm) award-winning "Forrest Gump", and other films, while working at Industrial Light and Magic, has also been published in digital art publications around the globe, taught digital illustration extensively in Japan (for organizations such as Seybold and Softbank), and has been involved in creating animation and visual elements for many of the Seybold and MacWorld Expo keynote presentations by Apple Interim CEO Steve Jobs.

The emphasis of all of the tapes in the "Photoshop Inside & Out" series is on helping users solve real-world imaging problems, while learning the techniques required for creative imaging problem-solving. Instead of the standard approach of command memorization, the tapes concentrate on building critical and analytical techniques while working in Photoshop: the overall goal is to teach Photoshop users to learn how to "think" Photoshop, preparing them for any imaging challenge they might encounter. In addition, Monroy's extensive production and teaching credentials give him a degree of knowledge and professional credibility which significantly enhances the value of the "Photoshop Inside & Out" video learning series, for everyone from beginners to seasoned professionals.

"Illustrating with Photoshop [Parts One & Two]" includes detailed discussions of Using Photoshop with Illustrator, Alpha Channels & Special Effects, Creative Text Effects, Perspective Matching, Using Paths, Simulating Realistic Lighting, Basic Retouching Techniques, Basic Compositing, Exotic Texture Effects, Depth Effects in Photoshop, Photorealism Techniques, Displacement Mapping, Technical Illustration Tips, The Power of Patterns, Simulating Transparent Objects, Advanced Compositing, Advanced 3D Simulation, and Complex Shadow Interactions.

About "Photoshop Inside & Out"

The "Photoshop Inside & Out" video learning series will include an entire catalog of tapes, covering a wide range of topics related to Photoshop productivity that will be released during 1999. The series will feature a variety of renowned Photoshop Masters, including David Biedny, Bert Monroy and their power-user friends and associates. The "Photoshop Inside & Out" series will consist of topic-specific tapes covering a wide range of Photoshop techniques and subjects, including: Alpha Channels & Masking, Layers & Compositing, Optimum Image Scanning, Image Restoration & Retouching, Calculations & Interchannel Processing, CMYK and Prepress, Photoshop for the Web, and Special Effects with Photoshop, among others.

About IDIG

IDIG is a privately held company, founded in 1995 by David Biedny to pursue his interest in creating cutting-edge media in any and all formats, including print, CD-ROM, the Internet, film and video. In the summer of 1997, IDIG created an astounding 35 digital effects shots in 35 days for the motion picture Spawn. IDIG has also been involved in interface design for a variety of mainstream and professional software products, and has consulted on a wide variety of technology-related endeavors, including serving as a technical advisor for the FTC (Federal Trade Commission) on issues related to federal policies and corporate acquisitions in the high-tech marketplace.

David Biedny is a longtime educator for some of the leading educational institutions in the U.S. (including the MFA program of the School of Visual Arts in Manhattan, San Francisco State University Multimedia Studies Program, Stanford University and the Kodak Center for Creative Imaging, among others), and as a result, Biedny has a deep level of academic teaching experience not normally associated with video-based instructors. Currently a Contributing Editor for MacWorld and New Media magazines, Biedny has written hundreds of articles, columns and reviews for a wide range of technology publications. As a Digital Effects artist at Industrial Light & Magic, he created digital special effects for movies including Terminator 2, The Rocketeer and Hook.

All "Photoshop Inside & Out" video tapes are $59.95, come in NTSC or PAL format, are closed captioned and will be released over the next few months.

Orders may be placed online through the Photoshop Inside & Out web site, www.photoshopio.com, by calling 1.415.460.6889 or by fax at 1.415.721.0658. For more information, email sales@photoshopio.com, or call 1.415.460.6889.

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