From 1997 to 2017, I was a freelance contributor to HOW, a trade publication for graphic designers. Most of my stories focused on software tools for this audience. At first, I contributed to the print magazine, but in later years, my stories appeared almost exclusively online.
The magazine ceased publication in 2019 after its parent company, F+W Media, filed for bankruptcy. The old website is no longer active, but most of my online articles are available via The Wayback Machine.
Below, you will find a selection of my online stories, including direct links to the archived versions.
3 Adobe Bridge Alternatives for Better Image Processing
Published Feb. 19, 2017
A look at three tools for browsing and organizing images: Photo Mechanic, BreezeBrowser Pro, and Full Frame. Read it on The Wayback Machine.
Creative Cloud 2016 Updates: Font Matching, Photoshop Performance & More
Published June 29, 2016
An overview of Adobe’s 2016 Creative Cloud release. Read it on The Wayback Machine.
A Feast of Creativity: Art + Design at 2016 Bay Area Maker Faire
Published June 13, 2016
A report from the 2016 Maker Faire Bay Area. The story included photos, but only the captions can be seen in the archived version. Read it on The Wayback Machine.
Adobe Takes the Cloud to the Max in Its 2015 Software Releases
Published Oct. 22, 2015
An overview of Adobe’s 2015 Creative Cloud release. Read it on The Wayback Machine.
Maker Faire: Plastic Pixels, Light-Emitting Sculptures & More
Published May 21, 2015
A report and photos from the 2015 Maker Faire Bay Area. The story included a slide show, but it’s not visible in the archived version. Read it on The Wayback Machine.
Adobe CC Updates + Photoshop Tutorials
Published Oct. 13, 2014
An overview of Adobe’s 2014 Photoshop release. Read it on The Wayback Machine.
Responsive Images: Practices for Adapting Across Platforms
Published July 23, 2014
This story looked at various approaches for managing images in responsive web design. In a responsive design, the layout automatically adjusts to the screen width, but how can designers ensure that websites deliver images at the appropriate resolutions? Read it on The Wayback Machine.
Cool Technologies + Innovators from Bay Area Maker Faire
Published May 29, 2014
A report and photos from the 2014 event. Read it on The Wayback Machine.
Top Content Management Systems for Designers
Published May 13, 2014
A look at WordPress, Drupal, Joomla, and other content management systems. Read it on The Wayback Machine.
Best Data Visualization Tools & Infographic Software
Published April 15, 2014
A look at tools for creating charts, graphs, and infographics. Read it on The Wayback Machine.
Exploring the Creative Cloud: An Inside Look at Adobe’s New Creative Service
Published Aug. 23, 2013
A big article about Adobe’s introduction of the Creative Cloud and the company’s controversial decision to make its design software available only by subscription. Read it on The Wayback Machine.
The Top Web Design Software for Common Designer Needs
Published June 27, 2013
A roundup of useful web design tools. Read it on The Wayback Machine.
New Tools: Adobe Updates Photoshop for Cloud Users
Published Jan. 22, 2013
A look at new features in Adobe Photoshop. Read it on The Wayback Machine.
Illustrator CS6 Updates Roll Out to Creative Cloud Users
Published Aug. 28, 2012
A look at new features in Adobe Illustrator. Read it on The Wayback Machine.
Creative Cloud News: Adobe Really Wants You to Subscribe
Published Aug. 21, 2012
This was a roundup of software news from Adobe, but the main focus was the company’s efforts to encourage signups for Creative Cloud subscriptions. At the time, users could choose between perpetual licenses and monthly subscriptions. Read it on The Wayback Machine.
Adobe Creative Suite 6: The Scoop on Other CS6 Changes
Published June 5, 2012
A look at new features Adobe Dreamweaver, Illustrator, Flash, and Fireworks. Read it on The Wayback Machine.
Adobe CS6: What You Need to Know About InDesign CS6
Published June 1, 2012
A look at new features in Adobe InDesign. Read it on The Wayback Machine.
Adobe CS6: What You Need to Know About Photoshop CS6
Published May 30, 2012
A look at new features in Adobe Photoshop. Read it on The Wayback Machine.
What’s New With Digital Publishing Tools
Published April 11, 2011
A look at digital publishing features in Adobe InDesign and QuarkXPress. Read it on The Wayback Machine.
5 Web Font Services Reviewed
Published Nov. 22, 2010
Web fonts are common these days, but they were a new thing when I wrote this story back in 2010. Read it on The Wayback Machine
HTML5: What Designers Need to Know
Published Sept. 15, 2010
This was a six-part story that stemmed from Apple’s then-controversial decision to abandon support for Adobe Flash. Many designers used Flash to create interactive animated content on the web, but Apple was touting the graphics and animation features in HTML5 and CSS3, which were little-known at the time. Read it on The Wayback Machine.
