Showin' Some Love for Linda Rathgeber

I was going to post this morning about the terrific design that Linda Rathgeber did for Community MX a few months ago, but somehow got caught up in all things Linda. So instead of talking about how much I love the design, let's talk about Linda.

If you don't know Linda, then you really don't know Fireworks. She has been active in the Fireworks community since the first version of the program was released, and probably knows more about the creative uses of Fireworks than anybody on the planet. Linda has also helped thousands and thousands of people, myself included, at the Fireworks forums over the years.

Her Playing with Fire book that she wrote for Fireworks 4 is still one of the best books ever for creative techniques using Fireworks that's available. Sadly, it is out of print. (Why no publisher agreed to update this book for future versions of Fireworks is an enduring mystery.)

So, here's a shout out to Linda. I just love what you did with the Traverse City Jumpstart design. I've been using this design as a basis for a project I'm working on, and every time I look at the original PNG file I'm just blown away by how well balanced the design is and the way that she uses colors to evoke a mood while calling attention to the important elements on the page. And to do that and provide a file that is a model for how design prototypes ought to be made, well, it knocks my socks off, metaphorically speaking.

If you want to be inspired and learn how to make the most of Fireworks you can do no wrong in picking up anything that Linda has produced. She's got a full listing of the projects she's involved with at her Playing With Fire home page. Stop by, check out the free tutorials, pick up an eBook or see one of the design packages that she's produced for Project Seven or Community MX.

Linda has that rare combination of artistic talent and the ability to teach. You'll never go wrong in spending some time, or even a little coin, with something from Linda.