ho isn’t busy these days? Time has become more and more precious and we’re all busier than ever. If you’re sat with your head fixated on your LCD screen hour after hour, then it’s time you took a break from the long, hard toil before your brain numbs and your creativity vanishes.

Over the next ten pages, we provide fast techniques for five leading programs. Each of these techniques was provided by experts with the promise of saving you time or enhancing your graphics with only a little effort. None of the following tutorials should take you more than half an hour to finish, and each one has been carefully chosen as something you’ll find relevant. Keep this magazine alongside your PC or Mac until you find yourself with some spare time one evening. Once you’ve done just one of them, you’ll find yourself equipped with a greater understanding of your favourite app’s tools, a new effect for your work or a time-saving technique that you’ll wish you’d learned years ago.

So download the tips and let us know what you think or suggest some more fast techniques by email at ca.mail@futurenet.co.uk, or via our forums at forum.computerarts.co.uk.