Clipboard on Steriods
November 12, 2008
OK, this is simple, cool, and best of all free. It’s a Macintosh utility that expands your clipboard into cubbyholes. Each time you copy to the clipboard, you fill a new cubby without overwriting your last clipboard copy.
Using a menu bar item, or keyboard shortcut, you simply select the content you need and paste it wherever you want. Simple and elegant.
It’s called Jumpcut. Download it from the author’s Sourceforge page.
A software pick that pops out!
July 17, 2008
I have no clue as to all the things you can do with FinderPop for the Macintosh. But if you just use it to sort your way through a messy desktop or to switch between applications, you should get it. Best of all, it’s free. Donations will be accepted by the publisher.
Free Font Utility from Linotype
June 26, 2008
OK, it may not be terribly original to build a font manager that looks almost identical to ITunes (including a built-in font store), but the venerable type founder, Linotype was shrewd to do so. There’s got to be a boatload of overlap between graphic designers and ITunes customers. I cut my teeth growing up with Linotype equipment, and the company’s entry into digital typography is long overdue.
I’m imagining that the market for font management software isn’t exactly vast. Hence there hasn’t much new to consider, certainly not from Adobe. Yet the need to organize your fonts remains as important as ever. So a FREE font manager that really works is a great addition to the Mac arsenal. (PC version out soon!)
Linotype is betting on the convenience factor here: click and buy. After all, Adobe isn’t the only game in town. I bet someone in San Jose got chewed out for not thinking of this first.
BTW, the ability to switch your fonts on and off as needed, helps your computer run faster. Thanks to Copies&Ink Graphics Manager, Dave McPherson for pointing out this find!
Free download from Linotype Corp.
iWork 08 Pages: Pretty Slick
April 23, 2008
OK, it’s not QuarkXPress or InDesign, but if you need a good basic layout program, I give Apple’s Pages a thumbs up. If it was only the MS Word import capability and the seamless export to PDF, it would be worth the $89 cost. But, there’s a lot more under the hood in this slick word processor/page layout hybrid.
Add in Keynote (a presentation program that imo is better than PowerPoint) and Numbers, a slick looking spreadsheet program and you’re good to go. It’s about 1/4th the cost of Microsoft’s Entourage Suite. BTW, the word is that the new 2008 version of Entourage is a dud. In any event, even if you can’t image life without Word on your PC, I’d encourage you to download the free 30 day trial.
For a pro environment, I’d never give up a “real” layout program, but if you are an occasional publisher, and you prefer a more visual approach to layout, (Pages includes some pretty nice templates) I think you’ll be happy with Apple’s latest version of Pages.
Look that laptop thief in the eye!
April 4, 2008
Well, in the vernacular one would say “this really sucks!” And indeed it does: both my son and his college roommate suffered the theft of their laptop computers when a thief forced a window and broke into their student housing apartment in Los Angeles. The LAPD was great about it, taking a full report, even dusting for fingerprints. But still, the chance of recovery is almost nil.
My son’s computer held no mission critical or sensitive information. For that we are thankful. But still, it was a fairly new MacBook. His roomate’s was only a few weeks old. Arrgh! Here’s the advice I should have given them, though whether they would have followed it is another issue:
1. When you’re gone, lock your laptops to a solid object using a cable.
2. Prep your machine to increase the chance of recovery. You can set up your machine to require a login password. You may even be able to set a password at the firmware level, which would help preventing someone from booting your machine from an external disk, or from a newly intalled hard drive. See this Apple article about setting it up on a Macintosh computer. Make a careful note of your new firmware password; your machine will need major surgery if you forget it.
And here’s a clever idea from Macworld magazine: change the login window wallpaper to have your name & zip code on it. If the machine is taken to a repair center, sold or recovered, the user will be able to see who it belongs to when the login screen come up. Here’s how:
1. Goto Library>Desktop Pictures & make a duplicate of Aqua Blue.jpg
2. Now open the original in Photoshop or an equivalent and insert some text at the top and/or bottom that will say who owns the computer E.G. “This computer belong to Joe Bloggs. 91730″
3. Save it and change the wallpaper in Preferences to Aqua Blue copy.jpg or some other if you don’t want the message displayed once you have logged in.
I just learned that there are several “Lo Jack” style products available for computers. On machines that have built in cameras, the software can actually snap photos of the thief and send them to the authorities once he/she logs into the internet! In addition the software will send ip address information to help track down the physical location of your machine. This software might be a good investment on certain high risk desktop machines too!
Here is one such program for Macs and another for both Windows and Mac.
Finally a wikipedia article that outlines the enormity of computer theft. We should all take it seriously.
What’s my postage?
March 28, 2008
Online Postage Calculator from the US Postal Service
LATE UPDATE: Click here for information on the new NCOA regulations and special offers from Copies&Ink
A question heard frequently at Copies&Ink is: What’s the postage tab for my upcoming mailing? Here’s the easiest way we’ve found to calculate postage for your business mailing, and also compare the costs for various types of mailing services offered by the USPS.
To be completely accurate, you’ll need to know how many of the destinations in your mailing list will be sorted into 3 digit, 5 digit, carrier route, etc. Of course, this is nearly impossible without software to analyze your list directly. (That’s a service we offer at Copies&Ink.) But for a rough estimate, it’s usually safe enough to guess that your mailing will mostly fall into the “3 digit” category unless it’s going to just a few cities in a focussed area. If you mailing for a certified non profit, you can apply for a special permit to mail at greatly reduced rates. Check out the latest rates at the official USPS online calculator site.
Postage is often one of the largest costs in your direct mail campaign, so it pays to understand the “rules of the road.” When in doubt you can contact your regional USPS business center. We find that for the most part, you’ll find helpful and knowledgeable assistance just for the asking. In our Santa Ana, CA region their phone number is 714-662-6483.
Finally, don’t forget that a well designed mail piece will keep postage at a minimum, while at the same time optimizing response. So the sage advice is: don’t cut corners in the planning stages. When in doubt, consult with a mailing expert, and for larger mailings consider working with a mailing professional, like Copies&Ink!
A font you’re bound to adore!
January 25, 2008
Sample “personal” font from Fontifier.com
Blog reader Lyn Adelstein recently wrote to us: “Maybe this will interest your readers - make a font of your own handwriting for about $10. I’ve done this with several clients who think it’s very useful.” We have to agree!
What a perfect way to add a personal touch to your communication, be it print, direct mail or online. Your own handwriting captured in a TrueType font, compatible with almost any computer system. To create a font you visit the Fontifier website, print out an alphabet template, fill it out letter by letter, and submit a scanned version using the company’s website interface. You’ll get a chance to preview the final product before buying. Here are some unusual applications from the developer’s website:
• Add a personal touch to journals and scrapbooks.
• Create fonts as a record of a child’s handwriting through different ages.
• Add a personal touch to letters and emails.
• Create fonts as a fun and educational activity for children.
• Try out unusual alphabet designs and calligraphy.
• Create fonts of runes and other secret writing systems.
• Create a font of special symbols; eg yachting symbols.
Copies&Ink would be happy to support your personal font in any print project we produce for you. Check it out! and thanks, Lynn for the tip.
Free photo or image editor
January 3, 2008
Imagewell from XtraLean Software
Here’s a freebie that you shouldn’t pass up if you own a Mac, or even if you’re just thinking about getting one 
It’s a streamlined tool designed to crop, watermark, resize, rotate and automatically send images to a list of locations you can define in advance. It’s a small app, so it starts up and runs fast. It’s been updated for the Leopard operating system.
OK, it doesn’t support CMYK production, but it’s a perfect fit for a quickly modifying photos for online or personal use. It will automatically send images to your FTP server or Flicker account. Pretty cool. No Windows version as of yet. Here’s the download.
