Introducing Aviary

The world is changing. Whereas before you needed to purchase and install big and expensive programs on your computer in order to create stunning images, now you can do it all online for free using Aviary's suite of tools. Aviary is an online collection of applications that enable you to upload and modify your own photographs and images, or create new imagery from scratch. It includes a powerful photo-manipulation tool called Phoenix, a vector drawing application called Raven, an effects suite for creating eye-watering image effects called Peacock, and much more. Getting StartED with Aviary takes you through all of these tools, showing you both how to use each tool individually, and also how to combine the tools across the suite to create some truly stunning artwork. Aviary is an incredible service. I was hooked as soon as I started using it. It wasn’t nessisarilly the applications that impressed me at first; it was the idea that anyone who had a computer could create and edit images. It was a game-changing idea. No longer did you have to buy expensive desktop applications. Oh sure, there are great open source alternatives, but the learning curve of those application is steep. Aviary's applications, which have to run in a user’s browser, are pared down to the base features that a graphic editor needs. This has wonderful side effects: The applications are straight forward, and the tools are easy to use. These simple applications are perfect for users who are just learning digital graphics and they are great tools for teachers. Aviary draws many who want desperately to learn; however, with the staff busy building and maintaining the applications, there is little documentation about the tools. Meowza Katz wrote a book of Phoenix tutorials that was a huge success and helped the growing community of artists. His book addresses only one application; there is demand for documentation of the other applications. Last year, Lyxs approached me about creating unofficial user documentation about Peacock, Aviary's most complex application. We collaborated, and with the help of Copper, we created the Peacock wiki, a comprehensive overview of the application. It was well recived and was added to the Aviary site. The world is changing. Where before you needed to purchase and install big and expensive programs on your computer in order to create stunning images, you can now do it all online for free using Aviary. Aviary is an online collection of applications that enable you to upload and modify your own photographs and images, and create new imagery from scratch. It includes a powerful photo-manipulation tool called Phoenix, a vector-drawing application called Raven, an effects suite for creating eye-watering image effects called Peacock, and much more. Introducing Aviary takes you through all of these tools, showing you how to use each tool individually and also how to combine the tools across the suite to create some truly stunning artwork. Get familiar with the Aviary suite of applications. Follow friendly, detailed instructions for creating and manipulating artwork in each application. Manage your creations online to get the most out of Aviary's features. Takes You Through All Of Aviary's Tools, Showing You How To Use Each Tool Individually And Also How To Combine The Tools Across The Suite To Create Some Truly Stunning Artwork--resource Description Page. Welcome To Aviary -- Creating Images With Phoenix -- Image Manipulation With Phoenix -- Raven-vector Editing -- Creating Images With Peacock -- Creating Textures And Tiles In Peacock -- Selecting And Managing Colors With Toucan -- Screen Capture And Markup With Talon And Falcon -- Application Switching -- Getting To Know Aviary.com. You Will Also Get Familiar With The Aviary Suite Of Applications, Be Able To Follow Friendly, Detailed Instructions For Creating And Manipulating Artwork In Each Application And Be Able To Manage Your Creations Online To Get The Most Out Of Aviary's Features. Mike Peutz. Description Based On Print Version Record. Includes Index.