Due to personal and professional commitments, Web Axe podcasts will now be released once a month.

Want to learn my Illustrator and Photoshop techniques that are commonly used in my design work? Please read the article, Vector Polishing Techniques that I just posted on Web Designer Wall. I have posted 9 Photoshop techniques on how you can add more depth, color, contrast, and texture into the vector art. The 9 techniques included: lens flare effect, dusty effect, rainbow, glowing lights, particles, color dodge, blurred, watercolor, and vintage texture. Some of them are commonly asked, such as the rainbow and particles effects appeared on N.Design [...]

I recently came across this site, FreeRice.com, which I thought it is very nice and creative. It is nice because you can learn vocabulary and help end the world hunger. The idea is very creative. This is how it works: you go to FreeRice.com and play their vocabulary game, for each question answered correctly 10 grains of rice will be donated by the sponsors to help people living in poverty. It is a win-win situation - you get to play the game, FreeRice get the traffics, advertisers get their exposure, and people get the free rice. If you like the idea, please help to spread out the word [...]

Dennis speaks with Jeffrey Frey and discusses accessible podcasting, guidelines on audio/video web accessibility, and Jeff's role at Rice University. Jeff is the Web Services Manager for Enterprise Applications in the Information Technology Department at Rice University. He provides technology solutions for faculty, staff, and students on campus as well as teaches new technology courses at the School of Continuing Studies. He is available for podcasting consulting, is involved in the creation of podcasts for businesses and non-profits, and has owned a technical consulting company and an audio/video recording studio. Download Web Axe Episode 59 (Jeffrey Frey on Accessible Podcasts)

Mike Rohde takes note-taking to a higher level with his fantastic and engaging sketch notes. I first became aware of Mike’s sketchnotes from the first, and surely not last, Seed Conference featuring Jason Fried 37signals, Jim Coudal Coudal Partners and Carlos Segura T26 in Chicago.

In his article Outsourcing accessibility testing is essential, web accessibility and usability professional Peter Abrahams discusses why testing a web site for accessibility by an external third party is a good idea. Although the article is an obvious plug for a particular testing company, the point is quite valid. Testing for web accessibility is a critical step, and a company who specializes in that usually has the best resources to do the most complete job, including testing by people with a variety of disabilities.

Back in 2005, I purchased shared server space from a well-known hosting company. In an attempt to “save” money, I paid for two years up front, and $268 later, I had my first real home on the Web. Two short months after that, I came to the harsh realization that my server package was completely inadequate for my needs. Ouch. Ultimately, a few key details made the difference, and although I learned this stuff the hard (read: the expensive) way, the good news is that you can avoid these same mistakes. You simply need to know where the potential traps are, and that’s precisely what I want to share with you today.

In my article Business Reasons for Web Accessibility (posted under Web Axe's sponsor company, CheckEngine USA) I provide several reasons why an accessible web site is good for business (namely, the bottom line—finances). Points for web accessibility benefiting business include:

• Increases Potential Market Share
• Lighter Code Saves Bandwidth
• No Alternative Formats Needed
• Increases Positive Image
• Avoid Lawsuits