Adobe AIR is the little platform that could. It allows you to build efficient and state-of-the-art desktop apps that work on any operation system. Cool!

In the last few years, oodles of AIR apps have came down the pike, helping you do just about everything under the sun. For this post, I’m going to focus on applications intended for web and graphic designers.

I’m gonna split the list up into sections, which are:

• Creating Graphics
• Design-Specific Tools
• Editing Images
• Taking Screenshots
• Productivity Tools
• Image Sharing Tools
• Multimedia Apps

Creating Graphics

1. Splashup Light:

Splashup Light is a casual desktop based image editor. It has tons of features and allows you to do anything you want to photos with simplicity and ease.

2. Color Lovers:

Color Lovers offers a desktop color finder that searches through the proprietary database in order to locate that stubborn color. You can search from over 1 million named colors and 300,000 user created color palettes.

3. Contrast-A:

Contrast-A allows you to check for contrast, experiment with a variety of color combinations and even interact with a 3 dimensional RGB color space.

4. LiveBrush:

LiveBrush is a drawing app that lets you create amazing graphics by combining simple motion controls with a series of brush styles. It’s really cool.

5. Icon Generator:

Icon Generator allows you to create icons of your choosing, even if you can’t draw. Simply select a default icon and make simple changes until it suits your fancy.

6. e2vector:

e2vector is a powerful illustration tool, featuring layers, masks, gradients, intersection and path splicing. It even allows you to import/export SVG files.

7. ColorPicker:

Using ColorPicker allows you to choose a color from a grid or design a color using a series of easy-to-use sliders. This is essential to you designers out there. Why stick to premade colors?

8. ColorBrowser:

ColorBrowser is a simple app that lets you organize your favorite color palettes in whatever fashion you choose. It also lets you import color palettes that you have created elsewhere using handy ASE files.

9. Kuler:

Kuler is an extremely popular application. It lets you generate color themes forr any project and also browse through thousands of themes created by the thriving community. Experiment with endless variations with no hassle. Live the dream.

10. Random Pattern:

A cool app that creates color patterns based on a set of given parameters.

Design-Specific Tools

11. Pixus:

Pixus lets you measure pixels. That’s an oft-forgotten yet essential part of design. It also lets you preview your designs and offers  multi-screen support.

12. FontPicker:

FontPicker is a simple tool that lets you scroll through a list of any font installed on your computer. Then you can pick one. Several methods of scrolling are available. Perfect for you unorganized types out there.

13. PixDif:

PixDif also lets you measure pixels. This handy app doesn’t stop there, however. It also lets you measure the difference between two design elements and tweak the alpha/opacity of said image.

14. Em Calculator:

Finally, there is a calculator to measure em. Em is an important element of design, after all. Easy and useful.

15. HtmlTextEditor:

HtmlTextEditor caters to that most basic need of any web designer, the writing of Html code. It also supoorts CDATA wrapping. Html will also change automatically when you make changes to the rich text.

16. iPixer:

iPxer allows you to create useful interactive flash content using any standard image. This is great for presentations and the like. The sky is the limit here.

17. OBO Site GatherAIR:

OBO Site GatherAIR is a simple website generation too. It allows you to create Html templates. It’s easy to use and also lets you drag and drop SWF files into said template.

18. Boks:

Boks is an app that allows you to work visually with the Blueprint CSS Framework. Drag and drop grid elements, preview in your browser and even compress your CSS code. Pretty much everything you need.

19. PixelWindow:

PixelWindow is another simple app to measure things on your screen using a handy transparent screen ruler.

20. iPlotz:

iPlotz lets you create wireframe pages and also allows you to make interactive mockups of your website and/or software. This is also perfect for presentations.

21. PixelPerfect:

PixelPerfect is another great app for measuring the size of objects on your screen. It also lets you create, resize, move and close any window you like.

22. DesignView:

DesignView is a handly little application for the design and development of Flex applications. It lets you create a quick layout of your site before you start tweaking that feisty MXML code.

23. Merlin:

Another app intended for disorganized font collectors. Merlin can help you get those fonts in order. It helps by alphabetizing all the fonts and arranging them into folders. Just like the namesake wizard.

24. Caliper:

Caliper is a measuring scale for your screen that can be dragged and rotated through 360 degrees.

Editing Images

25. ImageSizer:

ImageSizer allows you batch resize images and put them in a compressed zip file. You can also use it to to batch rotate, optimize and even rename images. Useful for bloggers who are posting image galleries. Say, this would be great for this one actually.

26. ImageDropr:

ImageDropr is a desktop app that batch unloads sets of images to Flickr. Just drag and drop your images into the application, tag or group tag them and start uploading them to the popular photo-sharing website.

27. XeIMG Image Editor:

XeIMG is an image editor that specializes in effects and filters.  These include blur, sharpen, negative, embossing, black and white and a host of others. Like a minimal easy to use Photoshop.

28. Shrink-o-Matic:

Shrink-o-Matic is a simple application that lets you shrink or resize batch images. It supports Jpeg, Gif and PNG images.

29. JustResizeIt:

Resize is a simple image resizer. Do it one-by-one or batch resize. It doesn’t have a lot of features but it works smoothly and simply.

30. CleVR Stitcher:

CleVR Stitcher is a simple panoramic photo stitcher. Drag and drop those images and the app instantly creates a panorama. Aesthetically pleasing.

31. TiltShift Generator:

If you love re-touching photos, you’ll fall in love with this application. It allows you to create the famous TiltShift(See below) effect with a single click. Eliminates tons of hassle.

Taking Screenshots

32. WebKut:

WebKut is a simple and free desktop applications that allows you to capture screenshots from the web. Cut, copy, drag, erase and a host of other options.

33. Snippage:

Snippage allows you to create snippets from any website and place them right on your desktop.

34. WebSnapshot:

With WebSnapshot you can take thumbnail, browser size or full page snapshots of any website. These snapshots are then automatically saved into a specified folder. Great for scrapbookers.

35. PhotoTable:

PhotoTable is a unique tool to capture images from the web. Simply drag an image from any website to the PhotoTable icon and it will get saved. The ease of use is through the roof.

Productivity Tools

36. AgileAgenda:

AgileAgenda is a GTD tool that plans your schedule for you. Enter some basic facts and let the application work it’s magic.Voila! Instant schedule.

37. Adobe Shortcut App for Creative Suite:

Create and manage all your shortcuts with ease. must have app for Graphic designers.

38. Live Presentations:

Live Presentations allows you to create and save presentations locally and share them online.

39. Ora Time and Expense:

Ora Time is a simple timesheet app. Track the time sheets, generate invoices and tinker with expense reports. You can also use it to generate customizable reports and invoices for your clients. This is what you would call a money saver.

40. Doomi:

Doomi is a simple “to-do” application. It will let you create tasks, set reminders and a host of other useful things.

41. Mindomo:

Mindomo is a mind mapping application that lets you organize new ideas, manage your tasks and goals. This all comes up as a visual field tree. Extremely useful.

42. FEAT:

Freelancer’s Estimation Assistance Tool lets you calculate hourly rates and project estimates. Freelancers unite!

43. Klok:

Klok is a personal time tracking application, like a timesheet at a factory job. Press a button when you start working and press another when you stop. It’s that easy. Great for invoices.

44. Fireworks Auto Backup Utility:

Firefox is a great little browser but it is prone to crashes.  If you hate to lose your work with incidents like that, this app will work like a charm for you. It creates backups of all relevant PNG files instantly.

45. Ephemeris:

Ephemeris is an app for photographers that calculates accurate times of sunset and sunrise. Use it to get that perfect shot.

46. BroadChoice Workspace:

BroadChoice workspace is an AIR based team collaboration app. You can send messages to your team members, share notes and tasks and create separate spaces for separate projects. The perfect intra-office application.

47. ConceptShare Desktop Companion:

ConceptShare lets you upload files, manage works paces and get updates from said work spaces.

Image Sharing Tools

48. zFlick:

A simple yet great app to view and save images from Flickr to your desktop. Simply drag any image from Flickr and drop it onto your desktop to save it. Great!

49. FlickrFlipper:

Another great app to search for photos from Flickr. You can also single out specific users.

50. TinyUploads:

TinyUploads lets you resize and upload images online within seconds. This is great for message boards that doesn’t allow long URLs to be posted. Twitter, too.

51. Flickr Desktop Search:

Flickr Desktop Search is a simple yet effective desktop search tool for Flickr. It does what it says.

52. Snoto:

Snoto lets you browse your recent photos from Flickr, or images uploaded by any other user. You can even view them as a slideshow. Slideshows are what make Flickr great, after all.

53. Destroy Flickr:

Completely hassle-free management of your Flickr account. It doesn’t actually destroy the site, rather it allows you to use it effortlessly.

Multimedia Apps

54. RichFLV:

RichFLV lets you play and edit those crafty FLV files. You can also use the app to convert FLV files to SWF files. It also lets you convert the audio to MP3. Extremely functional.

55. Fractal4D:

Fractal4D is a great app that lets you draw these neat fractal swirls. They can either be saved as simple PNG files or exported as vectors to use in Adobe Illustrator. What else do you need? Fractal swirls!

56. SWF Shot:

SWF Shot allows you to create high-resolution snapshots of your SWF, PNG and JPG content.

57. UVLayer:

UVLayer allows you to organize and play your digital media including photos, videos and games. Your all-in-one media player.

58. Adobe Media Player:

A great media player that lets you play downloaded or streamed media. Highly customizable and no hassle playing.

59. LightBoxer:

LightBoxer gives you a constantly changing showcase of various images as your screensaver.

60. Webcam To GIF:

This is exactly what it sounds like. Convert webcam movies into GIF format.

jQuery has been taking web design by storm these past few years. And it’s easy to see why. It’s a fast and concise Javascript library that simplifies HTML document traversing, event handling, animating, and Ajax interactions for rapid web development. jQuery has changed the way designers use Javascript the world over.

Aside from all of that, jQuery is known for it’s abundant plugin collection. Not a day goes by without some new useful plugins to turn your idea of web design upside down. Whether you want to create a nice image gallery, or to slide things right to left, jQuery can do it. It can also replace the tooltip of element. Tooltip is a great way to show extra information regarding the element you hover your trusty mouse over.

Here are 30 jQuery plugins you can use to make your tooltips more user friendly:

Simpletip

Easy Tooltip

Person Tooltip

Digg Style Sharing Tooltip

Tip Tip

wTooltip

Hernan’s Tooltip Plugin

HTML Tooltips

ThumbHover

bQuery

Simple Tooltip

HoverTips

BetterTip

Bassistance Tooltip

MB Tooltip

ClueTip

webDev Tooltip

Orbital

Horizontal Tooltip

Build a Better Tooltip with jQuery Awesomeness

BluFusion Tooltip

qTip

Flowplayer Tooltip

ProtoTip2

Jgrowl

Ezpz Tooltip

Coda Tooltip

Tipsy

Pop

vTip

And that’s it! As always, if you know of any more send us an email or drop it in the comment box. Happy designing!

Cold Hard Flash is on the case to entertain all of you flashheads out there. This blog aggregates all of the best in news and tips. The kind folks over at the site also showcase hot videos, animations and programs to show you what is possible with everyone’s favorite web development tool.  If you are in the market for Flash-related advice, you could do no better than this handy, dandy website. Check it out here. Tell em we sent ya.

The king is dead! Long live the king! As 2009 fades into nostalgic glory, and 2010 begins it’s slow crawl towards infamy, web designers can’t help but wonder what the year will hold for their favorite profession/hobby/whatever. Here is a list of five web design trends to look out for in 2010. None of this stuff is going to reinvent the wheel. Mostly’ it’s an analysis of several things that people caught on to during 2009 that look to be making a giant leap towards the e-mainstream.

1. Oversized logos and headers

It’s easy to see why this trend is going to blow up big in 2010. It’s eye-catching. It catches people’s interests. Heck, it could potentially prevent someone from clicking away for a few seconds. Isn’t that the point? Plus that de-emphasize clicking and place a strong emphasis on scrolling down. This simple transition helps ease anxieties of users used to years of poor and malfunctioning links.

2. Sketched and hand-drawn design

Hand-drawn and sketched design is by no means new, but it hasn’t exactly caught on in a big way yet. Why is that? Most web-designers are afraid to dip their toes into the genre for fear they can’t draw. The thing is, it doesn’t really matter. Even poorly drawn letters can imbue any site with a personalized sense of charm. That’s what 2010 is going to be all about, putting your personal stamp on your website. This will be one such tool for doing just that.

3. Slab typefaces

Slab typefaces are relatively new in the Internet world. However, they’ve been around for hundreds of years in the “real world.” Think, the typeface used on wild west wanted posters. Why are they catching on now? The aforementioned trend towards larger logos and typefaces lends itself nicely for the mighty slab to take it’s place among the web-elite. Like a double bacon burger with extra cheese, slab typeface doesn’t do anything daintily.

4. One page layouts

As opposed to the mighty slab, one page layouts challenge you to edit away what’s unnecessary. In 2010, this trend will move away from quirky navigation and become more minimal in its approach. These websites are more like clickable business cards. They will be more of a one-stop-shop for how to locate you and your work on various other sites– your blog and your social media hangouts. They could also eventually overtake the conventional resume.

5. Change of perspective

The desktop perspective has been around so long now that it’s time for a chance. Put a cork in it. It’s done. Ok, well not done. But there will be more choices in 2010 for sure. One such choice is a change in perspective. This could be side-shot aerial, foregrounds and backgrounds mixed(shown above) and any other number of experimental perspectives. We’ll see what designers think of as the year plays out

That is it for now. What do you think? Have any of your own ideas where web design is going in 2010? Let us know.