Best Of April 2008

Smashing Magazine:
Every month we take a look around and select some of the most interesting web-development-related web-sites. We read articles, check out tools, analyze the advantages of new resources. Below you’ll find useful references, tutorials, services, tools, techniques and articles we’ve found over the last 30 days - an overview of web-sites you shouldn’t have missed in April 2008.
All images can be clicked and lead to the sites from which the screenshots have been taken.
References, Tutorials, Tips

Wallpaper of the Week
James White’s “La Femme” wallpaper is available in resolutions 1900×1200px, 1680×1050px, 1440×900px and 1280×1024px.

Create a Sleek, High-End Web Design from Scratch
“In this tutorial we’ll put together a high-end web design using a crisp, thin font, gorgeous background images and clever use of space and layout. You can easily use the technique to create your own unique designs.”

Create a Powerful Mental Wave Explosion Effect
“In this tutorial I will show you how to create a crazy explosion, like a mix of Magneto’s ability with Peter Petrelli’s power. We will use images and filters to produce this wave explosion effect. Even though it may look like a difficult tutorial, it’s really not that hard.”

Dropclock Screensaver
DropClock is a screensaver in which every minute is numerically expressed with heavy Helvetica dropping into water in super slow-motion. Win, Mac. Free Alternative for Mac. [via]

Should Redesign? Cast Your Vote Now!
This project aims to help webmaster determine if their websites need a refresh. Users who visit ShouldRedesign.com are presented with a…

Desktop Wallpaper Calendar: May 2008

Smashing Magazine:
Desktop wallpapers can serve as an excellent source of inspiration. However, if you use some specific wallpaper for a long period of time, it becomes harder to draw inspiration out of it. That’s why since April 2008 we supply you with fresh desktop wallpapers. And to make them a little bit more distinctive from the usual crowd, we’ve decided to embed calendars for the upcoming month. So if you need to look up some date, isn’t it better to show off a nice wallpaper with a nice calendar instead of launching some default time application?
This post features 17 18 free desktop wallpapers with calendars, created by designers across the globe for Smashing Magazine and its readers. Both versions with a calendar and without a calendar can be downloaded and used for free.
Please notice:

all images can be clicked and lead to the preview of the wallpaper,
you can feature your work in our magazine by taking part in our desktop wallpaper calendar series. We are regularly looking for creative designers and artists to be featured on Smashing Magazine. Are you one of them?
Desktop Wallpaper Calendar: April 2008 features desktop wallpapers from the last month.

So what wallpapers have we received for May?
The Model
“The model? She’s my cousin, she’s a model here in Mexico City. I was updating some of her pictures (for her site), and suddenly decided to do the may calendar with her.” Designed by Patricia Villanueva from Mexico.

preview (0.3 Mb,…