Veer have produced their annual activity book for creatives.

You can download it here.

Here is a preview:

You can now embed a proof in blogs and wikis using ProofHQs embed code. This embeds a smaller version of the main proof page which users can zoom, pan, view existing comments and move from page to page. Here is an example:

If you want to reply to a comment, create a new comment, or view the full proof page, just click on the new comment or full page buttons.  This will open the full proof page, where you enter your details and continue proofing.  See below…

Every proof now has an embed code. You will find this on the proof detail page here…

..and under the file menu on the proof page here…

We have created some movies to help introduce ProofHQ. Here is one describing some of the reasons why we created ProofHQ.

I wanted to let you know about a major new release of ProofHQ.

• New Proof page design
• Multi-page proofs
• New version tools
• Basecamp integration
• Proof URLs and Embed Codes
• New API
• Single sign-on to the Forum

We have had great feedback from clients over the last two months and have made some big changes and improvements to ProofHQ.

Proof page
The proof page has a great new design and has a much smoother flow. The two key functions (New Comment and New Decision) have been highlighted. The navigation and proofing tools have been grouped together to make them easier to use. We have created a new menu structure so you can find the tools that you need more easily.

Page navigation - ProofHQ lets you create multi-page proofs. Check out the page navigation at the bottom of the proof page. You can also use your mouse wheel to scroll from page to page.

Version management - Also check out the new Versions function. This lets you upload multiple versions of the same proof as you make changes during the life of a project. Your reviewers will get an email telling them that a new version is available and they can quickly switch between all versions in the Versions menu.

Workspaces
Several users have asked for a way to group proofs together by client or project. To help them do this we have created Workspaces. You can set up as many workspaces as you want and label them any way you want. This will help you organise your proofs.

You will find a new Workspaces tab on the main web application and later this week you will see a Workspace menu in the proof page.

Proof URLs and Embed Codes
Lots of people asked us about embedding proofs in other web pages such as blogs and wikis. We have now given each proof a Proof URL and an Embed Code. When users access the proof using either link, they will need to login or subscribe to the proof so that you know who is commenting.

Basecamp integration
ProofHQ is now tightly integrated with Basecamp, the project management application from 37signals.

When you create a new proof in ProofHQ you can link that proof to an existing Basecamp project. On the New Proof page you simply choose the project name, the message category and the project members who you would like to add to the proof. This will create a new message in the Basecamp project and send the message to the project members you have selected. The proof will also be embedded in the message.

To set up Basecamp integration you need to enter your Basecamp URL and login details in the Account tab of ProofHQ. Other users in your ProofHQ account will need to add their Basecamp login details to their Profile in ProofHQ.

API
We have documented and released the ProofHQ API to a small number of trial users. The API lets you login, get a session and create proofs from inside third party applications. If you would like to use the API on a trial basis, please let us know.

Forum - single sign-on
The forum now has single sign-on with ProofHQ. If you are logged in to ProofHQ, just click the ‘Feedback’ link at the top of the page and you will go straight to the forum already logged in.

Lots of other small changes. As always, please let us have any feedback.

From Beau

Sitepoint is offering a free PDF guide to Photoshop. The Photoshop Anthology: 101 Web Design Tips, Tricks & Techniques can be downloaded from here.

Brian Yerkes has written a useful summary of shortcuts and time-savers called 5 Ways to Work Faster in Photoshop.

Don’t forget that you can upload Photoshop files directly into ProofHQ for proofing.  Reviewers don’t need Photoshop on their Macs or PCs.

We love Tom Fishburn’s Brand Camp cartoon series.

Tom has also published the full collection in his Brand Camp Cartoon Book which you can find in his CafePress store.

Tom is helping launch Method Products to the UK as Marketing Director.

Perhaps demonstrating the need for proper review and approval processes, is the UK’s Office of Government Commerce.

This UK government department is responsible for monitoring public sector purchasing in the UK. A laudible aim and one worthy of a new logo.

£14,000 ($30,000) later and a new logo is rolled out.

All well and good. Nice font usage, clean look, efficient…. until you rotate the logo 90 degrees. Ooops!

Someone really did need to get a grip on proofing that one.

If a recession is on its way… and let’s be positive, it is still an “if”… then marketing is likely to get hit as hard as any sector. Here’s why, and a couple of ideas on how to limit the pain.

“Let the good times roll” – it’s a mantra in marketing. We’re the party people, right? We love it when the economy is expanding. More marketing budgets, more work, more people. Busy, busy, busy! Naturally we are completely surprised when the economy wobbles (or worse). “How can they be axing my lovely budgets”, we cry. Who would have thunk it?

We expand quickly when the economy is booming. Like many other service-oriented industries economic growth leads quickly to new business and new business leads to hiring. Service industries scale by adding people. They need to add staff to win their share of the new business out there, to deliver new projects and to service all those lovely clients.

Unfortunately, whilst adding people marketing organizations don’t tend to think about more efficient processes. Times are good, right? Let’s just throw resources (bodies and time) at problems in order to get projects “out of the door”.

When a period of growth comes to an end, the “more people – no process” way of doing things bites us hard. New work begins to dry up, expansion stops, revenue stalls or shrinks and you are far less efficient with all those new people. So what can be done?

This point in the cycle is just when marketing teams should be thinking about increasing productivity and cutting costs. One of the best ways to do that is by automating time-consuming tasks with software. And a classic time-sink for marketing is managing the proofing process. Just think of all the hours wasted chasing reviews and proofs when you could be producing fee-paying work and making more of your time.

And if you are an agency, providing your clients with a proofing portal makes their lives easier and saves them time and money. Just what you need when you are looking for every point of competitive advantage.

So in a recession, investing in some time-saving software like a proofing portal could be the right move.

“Ah!” I hear you say, “but doesn’t software require a big investment?”.

Well folks, it used to. In the bad old days buying a proofing system cost big bucks. On top of the up-front software licenses you had to buy servers, consulting time, maintenance, etc, etc, etc. Lots of investment.

But things have changed. Web based software systems are growing like wildfire. Companies of all sizes are realizing that it doesn’t make sense to buy software any way except as a service.

Reasons include:

• You can try before you buy. Most systems give you a free trial. Usually 30 days
• No upfront costs. You just pay monthly as you use the service
• No hardware to buy. The service is delivered over the web direct to your browser
• Quick launch. Services are designed to be usable so you can be up and running quickly. Sometimes in just a few minutes

So, yes, the downturn will affect marketing. But it is also an opportunity to innovate and create efficiencies for agencies and clients alike.

Party on!