Kenja's Newsletter & Updates

Volume 2/ Edition 8

April 16, 2000

Hello again everybody

Welcome to Easter edition of Kenja's Newsletter & Updates. Hope everyone will have a Safe and Happy Easter Holiday.

Time sure flies when you're having fun. I spent the last two weeks catching up with the mountain of work that was left undone from the PC down-time. The new machine seems to be working great... about time, because I don't think I could have survived another day without my PC. *smile*

Before I begin with the newsletter, I would like to thank everyone for sending me e-mail with your remarks and/or compliments on the newsletter and/or the site. My current response time is about 10 days, with the exception of urgent e-mail or ICQ website messages pertaining to problems. Rest assured, all e-mail is being read. If you did not get an answer, it is not because I don't think it worthy, but because I am swamped and/or you suggested that an answer was not needed. *smile*

Site Related News:
"D-day" has finally arrived... the Cyber Greeting Card section is finally fully functioning again. I will be adding new sections over the coming weeks, to include Native American, and Mother's Day.
Kenja's Theme Creations received a new section with African American desktop themes (see listing of new themes below), currently includes 5 desktop themes. Wallpaper for these themes are based on paintings by various African and African American artists. This section will also include Egyptian desktop themes in the near future.

Another new section added is called Adorable Teddies. Here you will find desktop themes with nothing but Teddies, currently also with 5 desktop themes (see new listing below), with many more to come soon.

New Desktop Themes:

I managed to find time to make a few new themes along with the changes and updates that had to be done to the site as well. The following desktop themes were added:

Gift of Life is a new Native American Theme which includes one of my original wallpaper (created from ground up with PSP6 brushes, filters and tubes) for 800x600 screen settings, set of cursors (2 animated), set of original icons, set of Native wave sounds for all Window events, set of original Logo SYS files (start-up, wait and shutdown screens). Hotbar Skin to match this theme can be found in my Native Skinz section.
Majestic Empress is a new African American Theme which includes the wallpaper based on a painting by Karl Bang for 800x600 screen settings, set of cursors (2 animated), set of original icons, set of African & Animal wave sounds for all Window events, set of original Logo SYS files (start-up, wait and shutdown screens).

Just Clownin' is another African American desktop theme with a wallpaper based on 6 paintings by Kenneth Gatewood for 800x600 screen settings, a set of cursors (2 animated), set of original icons, set of Circus and Music wave sounds for all Window events, set of original Logo SYS files (start-up, wait and shutdown screens), and a matching color scheme.

Teddies by the Sea is a new Adorable Teddy desktop theme which includes one of my original wallpaper (created from ground up with PSP6 brushes, filters and tubes) for 800x600 screen settings, set of cursors (2 animated), set of original icons, set of Nautical and Music wave sounds for all Window events, set of original Logo SYS files (start-up, wait and shutdown screens). Hotbar Skin to match this theme can be found in my Teddiez Skinz section.

* NOTE* I use Zip Magic to compress Stationery and/or Desktop Theme files into EXE format. If you ever get a password prompt during installation... ignore it and proceed. They are not password protected! For more installation help visit either the Stationery Help or the Theme Help sections.

If you need Java Scripts, don't forget to visit the Steal My Java Scripts section, where you can choose from 23 of the most popular Scripts, test them on the site and then copy & paste them into your own homepage(s).

Visit the Native American Music Shop for great Native American Music selections.

For great gift items visit Kenja's Gift Shop. Gift categories include Fine Jewellery, Gardening Decor, Crystal, Clocks, Brass, Sculptures and so much more. Now with a time-limited Discount of 40% on all items!

The Gift:

The Gifts for this issue are a Stationery with scrolling background and midi, and a Wallpapers (800x600 screen settings) for non stationery users. Graphics for all gifts were created from ground up with PSP 6.0 tubes, various brushes and filters for effect.

Hope you enjoy the Gifts!

Please make note that the gifts are only for actual subscribers to this newsletter and not for visitors to the archive copies based on the net. Gifts are available for a limited time with each issue, roughly about 7 days and will then be removed... so get 'em while you can!

Graphics and Accessories:

Today I want to concentrate on Graphics. When I mention a product (link provided), make sure to visit their sites for their free goodies. Paint Shop Pro is probably one of the most widely used graphic programs... definitely one of the easiest to use. Most Filters offered for Adobe Photoshop will work in PSP (Paint Shop Pro). The following sites offer free enhancements for graphic programs like tubes, textures, brushes, paper, frames and much more.

The Page of Blues offers everything you need to create seascape pictures. Here you will find lots of Nautical accessories like tubes (anything from lighthouses, sea shells, sea creatures, to seaweed), papers, brushes, Blade Pro (Flaming Pear Filter plug-ins for Photoshop and PSP) pre-sets, tiled wallpaper, and a picture gallery for inspiration. *smile*
Make sure to visit one of the largest online magazines for graphics called The Internet Eye. This site is chock full with all kinds of great stuff like Tutorials, free downloads, full reviews and news of new graphic programs and/or plug-ins, picture galleries and much more. They also offer a free newsletter, access to graphics communities and lots of links. You might spend a few hours here, so bring lunch and a drink. *smile*
Paint Shop Pro Tubes offers a comprehensive listing of links to tubes but in alphabetical order. This site was a life saver for me once, when I couldn't find a specific type of tube. *smile* Here you can also find the best selections of links to all kinds of tutorials, ding bats ( non-alphabetical fonts), brushes and gemstones. All links are sorted alphabetically and/or by type and some links also offered in different languages.
If you ever have questions about a certain graphic program, then you can always try to visit the newsgroups (discussion groups that you can access through Outlook Express, provided that your ISP offers news access or through Free Public News Usenet):
- Paint Shop Pro users comp.graphics.apps.paint-shop-pro
- Adobe Photoshop users alt.graphics.photoshop
- Bryce users alt.graphics.bryce
There are many more groups available like Ulead, Poser, and I think there are several more for PSP users as well.
The Original Free Tubes Site has a very large collection of tubes and edges. However, here the files are not yet in their end format of tubes or edges, but in png format... you have to convert them to tubes or edges yourself. Make sure to read their FAQ page first to learn how to convert their formats before you download. Otherwise this may very well turn out to be a very frustrating experience... to say the least. *smile*
Tubes by Jan offers some of the best tubes on the net sorted into 68 categories (hope I counted that right *smile*). Most of these tubes are fairly large, but also very well trimmed (great to use on dark and light backgrounds). Jan's site also offers among other things, tiled and bordered backgrounds, Lake & Snow Applets, Snow Globes, Wallpaper and Brushes.

Assorted Graphic Stuff:

Graphic Tutors

All Graphic programs come with a Help file, but reading those is just not the same as hands on experience. But sometimes you need some help or inspiration and the following Tutorial sites offer the best and easiest to use step-by-step tutorials (most with pictures) I have seen so far.

Mike's Sketchpad has tutorials for mostly Photoshop, but also Illustrator, Quark Express and various other programs to assist you in creating computer graphics and desktop publishing. Tutorials range from Basic to Advanced, and most are with step-by-step picture instructions, which I find easiest to use... we are all such visual "creatures". *smile*
Now here is a site I ran across in the newsgroups... talk about comprehensive, full of great downloads and help for not only graphics but also HTML, called appropriately Bruce's Paint Shop Pro Tutorials and HTML Help. Various tutorials include PSP versions 5 & 6, Graphics & Design Tips, and Basic HTML. Make sure to look at the Miscellaneous Goodies, and the On-Line Web Page Tools. This site is easy to navigate and all tutors are written in easy to understand language and are accompanied by pictures for each step.
GrafX offers some very nice tutorials for PSP and Photoshop users who have Alien Skin (Eye Candy and/or Black Box) Plug-in filters installed. These turtorials are very easy to follow and here too they offer example pictures for each step.

Free Filters

Everyone knows that graphic programs are great, but there is no such thing as having too many filters, tubes, brushes, papers, textures or whatever to help you create some great pictures. The following sites offer some great free stuff... little of everything I guess. *smile*

Cybia you will find a small but nice collection of brushes, textures and free plug-in filters that will work with Photoshop and PSP. There are also some Actions (similar to filters but these will automate the process of getting effects) for Photoshop users.
Balder Olrik's Filters for Photoshop also offers a nice set of free filters with preview pictures of the effects. Though primarily intended for Photoshop users, most will work in PSP as well.
Simple Filters offers a set of 10 nice filters that need no adjustments, but can create some nice effects. Preview pictures and some basic instructions for installing filters is included. Filters will work in both PSP, Photoshop and Photoshop compatible programs like MS Image Composer etc.
The World Famous Filter Factory Gallery offers hundreds of free filters, various tutroials, reviews and free downloads to other graphic programs and much more. Get prepared for a long stay at this site as well. *smile*
And another great site for free plug-ins, filters, actions and more for Photoshop is Deep Spaceweb. A small hint at this point... you may also download brushes made for Photoshop and use them in PSP, however you will have to change the file extension from .abr to .jbr to make them work in PSP.

Now for the last two sites (I swear this letter is getting longer with each issue... *smile*) you might like to check out the following:

Original Look offers Wallpaper, Themes, Animation, Fonts and ICQ Skins. This site is very easy to navigate and their Skin section includes a tutorial to explain what you need to install and run skins for your ICQ. Wallpaper, themes, screensavers and skins are created mostly by various authors.
For some very nice web page backgrounds and/or stationery backgrounds, check out Designs by Donna. She offers some very nice bordered backgrounds sets, single bordered backgrounds and also tiled backgrounds. Everything here is free... just the way we like it. *smile*

On the Lighter Side of Life -:)

I am once again back to collecting and keeping jokes for the newsletter (nothing like a great working computer). A few days ago I received the following joke in the e-mail:

One For You... One For Me
Two Boy Scouts went on a nature hike in the hills, picking hickory nuts along the way. They soon filled their small pails, and started to fill their pockets and shirts. When they could hold no more nuts, they started down the country road until they came across a cemetery. One of the boys decided that would be a good place to stop and rest, and divide out the nuts.

The two boys sat in the shade of a large oak tree and unloaded their pockets and buckets, dumping all of the nuts in a large pile. In the process, two of them rolled away and rested near the road. The boys then proceeded to divide out the nuts. "One for you, one for me. One for you, one for me."

As they were doing this, a passer-by happened to hear them. He looked into the cemetery but could not see the boys, as they were obscured by the tree. He hesitated a moment, and then ran back to town.

"Father, father," he yelled as he entered his house. "The cemetery! Come quick!"

"What's the matter?" his father asked.

"No time to explain," the boy frantically panted. "Follow me!"

The boy and his father ran up the country road, and stopped when they reached the cemetery. They stopped at the side of the road, and all fell silent for a few moments. Then the father asked his son what was wrong.

"Do you hear that?" he whispered.

Both people listened intently, and heard the Scouts: "One for me, one for you, one for me, one for you."

The boy then blurted out, "The Devil and the Lord are dividing out the souls!"
The father was skeptical but silent. Until a few moments later, as the Scouts completed dividing out the nuts, and one Scout said to the other: "Now as soon as we get those two nuts by the road, we'll have them all."

Author: unknown

Submitted by Dia

The Finishing Touches:

Hope you enjoyed this edition of the newsletter, and found lots of useful information. The next newsletter will be published on or around April 30th, 2000. You may share this newsletter with your friends and family or visit the website for the current & all previous Issues:

Kenja's Newsletter & Updates
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Copyright © 2000-2001 Kenja's Newsletter & Updates ISSN: 1530-700X All Rights Reserved.
Content written & edited by A. Way aka Kenja. The opinions expressed herein are my own. The reproduction and/or unauthorized use of any parts of this Newsletter, it's content and/or graphics is strictly forbidden.