Matthew A. Hawkins is available for creative design in all things media.

PHONE: 604.316.4404 EMAIL: matt@filmads.ca

Category: rant

Taking the Shortcut

Posted on December 11, 2011

Everybody likes a shortcut. If you can get the same end result in less time, why not?!
Sometimes I think I would like to know how much time I’ve wasted not using shortcut keys and the only reason I’ve wondered that is because I’ve seen how fast using shortcut keys has made things for me.
Aside from the basics, I started learning a lot more shortcut keys in my graphic design and video editing programs to help me save a lot of time. So keep reading!!!

Let’s get the basics covered that everyone should know and can be used in pretty much all programs (CTRL is for PC users/CMD is for Apple users):

CTRL/CMD + C = COPY
CTRL/CMD + X = CUT
CTRL/CMD + V = PASTE
CTRL/CMD + A = SELECT ALL
CTRL/CMD + Z = UNDO
CTRL/CMD + S = SAVE
CTRL/CMD + SHIFT + S = SAVE AS
CTRL/CMD + P = PRINT
ALT + F4/CMD + Q = EXIT PROGRAM
CMD + W = CLOSE WINDOW

Word/WordPress/Text Shortcuts:
CTRL/CMD + B = BOLD
CTRL/CMD + U = UNDERLINE
CTRL/CMD + I = ITALICS

Internet Browsers (most use these):

CTRL/CMD + T = NEW TAB
CTRL/CMD + N = NEW WINDOW
CTRL/CMD + D = BOOKMARK
BACKPSACE = GO BACK

If you are using the Adobe Creative Suite there are countless shortcuts you can use. One of the things I love the most with Adobe products is that you can create your own shortcuts.
In Photoshop I have a number of files I use and update often so I created specific shortcuts to help me speed things up quite a bit:

CMD+SHIFT+P = PLACE
SHIFT+CMD+ALT+S = WEB SAVE
ALT+CMD+I = RESIZE IMAGE

*And if you’re really into video editing, there are keyboards you can buy with every shortcut on it.
** If you want to know what shortcuts are in Adobe, you can usually hold the mouse over the tool and it will show you the shortcut key is.

These are only a few shortcut keys, each program can have their own set or created shortcuts and it really saves a lot of time for you once you learn them.
If it takes you 3 seconds to move your mouse to the toolbar and select the tool you need to use or .5 seconds to hit your shortcut keys, that really adds up after a while.

Hope it helps.
Matthew A. Hawkins

Posted in On My Desk, rant Tagged with: , , , , , , , ,

1Day Design – November’s Designs

Posted on November 19, 2011

 

We had an awesome time in November putting together 2 great designs for clients.

The first was a logo. The client gave us some great insights of what they’d like to see in their logo. We came up with the following:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We also worked on the 3rd ad we’ve created for Shuswap Bliss, the first one we’ve created with 1Day Design.

Make sure you sign up for our December 1Day Designs as well!
It’s a great way to get awesome design work done and give back to the community.

Cheers,
Matthew A. Hawkins

Posted in 1Day Design, filmads, Promotional, rant Tagged with: , , , , , , , , ,

Chilliwack Municipal Vote 2011

Posted on November 18, 2011

Earlier this week I promised I would do a little write up for each of the council candidates I will be voting for this November 19th 2011. Well it didn’t work out, so I’m posting it all here and why I think they should be on council. In no particular order, they are:

Jason Lum – I wrote about him already, just check it out here.

Chuck Stam – He’s experienced and a successful, honest business man in town. I think he’s great potential to continue his work on city council.

Ken Popove – I don’t know much about Ken, but what I do know is enough for me to mark his name on my ballot. We buy all our tires from him because he’s a local business and he has some of the best customer service in town. Aside from business he’s also been heavily involved in the community.

Sue Attrill – She has 3 years of experience on council already and she has a wealth of experience in business. She’s been very involved with the community and is passionate about the work she’s done and hopes to continue to do on city council.

Ken Huttema – Ken was very well spoken both on camera and off camera for our interview. Hearing him talk about getting the library built in Sardis and all the work that’s gone into planning the downtown revitalization you could see a spark in his eyes for the work he does on council. He’s a successful business man in agriculture which I think is so important to have represented on council.

For my last choice it’s a toss up between these two. I’ll be reading more tonight to figure out who I’ll choose tomorrow.

Mitchell Nosko – I had a great interview with Mitchell for the Valley Votes website. He has a very interesting perspective on Chilliwack as he gets to deal with a lot of tourists through his flight business at the airport. I can’t say I’ve liked everything I’ve read about him saying at meetings and such, but from our 1 on 1 conversation, I was really impressed with his platform and honest opinions.

Ron Browne – Ron has an abundance of experience in the medical and administrative fields. He is soft spoken but very intelligent. This is what I gathered from our first 10 minutes together for our interview. He has a balanced approach to work on city council and a real heart to serve the citizens of Chilliwack. I appreciated his soft voice and his passion to help shape our community.

There you have it.

If you want to see the video interviews I did, check out Valley Votes here.

I’m going out to vote this November 19th. Are you?

Matthew A. Hawkins

Posted in On My Desk, rant Tagged with: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Chilliwack City Council Votes #1

Posted on November 15, 2011

Leading up to the Chilliwack Municipal Election this Saturday, November 19th, I’ll be sharing who I’m voting for City Council and why. It’s not going to terribly in depth or overview of political standpoints or negative towards any of the candidates. This is just going to be my straight up personal opinion as to why I think these 6 people should be on City Council. Take or leave it, but this is who I’ll be choosing on my ballot come Saturday.

As I mentioned before, I got to sit down with almost all of the council candidates and talk with them both on camera and off camera. There were a few that really spoke well and a few that I wish I could have spoken with. Here’s my thoughts of what I’ve learned so far:

Jason Lum

Out of all the candidates I got to sit down with during our interviews, Jason was the one person I resonated best with.
I believe Chilliwack needs some one with the youth, vigor and passion that Jason has. He is passionate about Chilliwack, about it’s people and service and about it’s business. Being involved with the Chilliwack Chamber and Chilliwack Economic Partners Corp. Jason has had his hand on the heart beat of what drives this community. I want someone on council that understands local business and can step up to the plate for improving our local economy.

I also really liked Jason for something simple. You can just talk with the guy. With this being a vote for local government, I want to know I can talk with anyone on council. From the mayor to any of the council members, I want to know, if the need were to arise, I could phone, email, stop by, bug them on the street or whatever and that they would listen. I enjoyed my time talking with Jason and his level headed approach on a number of topics, from budget to downtown Chilliwack, he’s honest and straightforward.

Lastly, I’m voting for Jason because I think he is very honest and transparent. He gives you a straight answer and speaks well. I like that in any level of government.

If you live in Chilliwack, I hope to see you out this Saturday, voting for our municipality!

Matthew A. Hawkins

Posted in On My Desk, Promotional, rant Tagged with: , , , , , , , ,

A Lobby DisPlay

Posted on October 17, 2011

At the end of August I got started in an 8 week prep for the performance of Witness for the Prosecution. A play written by Agatha Christie and put on by the Chilliwack Player’s Guild in the Chilliwack Cultural Centre.

This is my first time doing a live performance as an actor, I’ve spoken in front of large crowds a number of times, but this is different. In Witness I get to play 3, yes THREE, characters.
The first is a plain clothed policeman that doesn’t have a line but escorts the prisoner off stage after giving a nod to the inspector… chilling I KNOW!

The second character is the one I had to spend time on, even though I only have 8 or 9 lines. I play Thomas Clegg, a forensic laboratory assistant, and I happen to be on the witness stand for the first time and struggle with a terrible stutter. In all of our rehearsals the cast and crew thought my character was hilarious, the live performances have proven differently. I’m of the opinion that people think I actually stutter and that they can’t help but feel pity and pride that the Player’s Guild reached out to someone like me and gave me a little part to tryout. The community help program is at work, they must think!

My last character is the foreman of the jury. I have two big lines, the first “WE ARE” and the last… well I yell out the verdict of the prisoner and I can’t just give that away! I’m on stage for no more than 30 seconds with this one!

Aside from the acting I also got asked to make a lobby display and take ‘fun’ headshots of everyone on the cast and crew (you can see an example below). It’s been a lot of fun, I’ve met some great people, discovered a part of me that’s been missing for a while and just enjoyed the experience as a whole. I will most definitely try it again!
Cheers,
Matthew A. Hawkins

Posted in Lessons Learned, Promotional, rant Tagged with: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,