Filter Foundry - Craig Coleman

Honor Veterans Day this Weekend at the Annual Salute and GI Film Festival

UPDATED: 8 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS

Crowdsourcing Creativity for Inspirational Marketers, Tortured Artists & Researchers

Image by <a href="/tegor6">Paul Roget</a>How often do you find yourself seeking inspiration from crowdsourcing? If you haven't heard, crowdsourcing is happening all over the web. It's the act of taking a job traditionally performed by a designated agent and outsourcing it to a 'crowd,' usually an undefined, large group of people in the form of an open call. Using the Internet's vast reach has become the gateway for crowdsourcing. It's easy enough on Twitter to <a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505125_162-31552011/the-best-way-to-crowdsource-ideas/">crowdsource ideas</a>. Get a group of followers to use a common hashtag and seek out ideas for anything you're working on. Need ideas for your new ecommerce site? Crowdsource it! Need designs tips for your website? Crowdsource it. Even Twitter's co-founder Biz Stone is using Twitter to crowdsource ideas. <a href="http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/tech/Twitter-Founder-Wants-You-To-Inspire-His-Movie-171001551.html">NBC Chicago</a> reports that Biz Stone is making a film-photo project with crowdsourcing tactics by seeking creative ideas from his followers. By using the hashtag #inspirebiz, he's gathering these ideas to eventually use in the project. HinTV writes that the project revolves around creating a short film based entirely on user-submitted photos, as part of Canon USA’s <a href="http://www.longliveimagination.com/">Project Imaginat10n</a>. The crowdsourced photo contest will also feature films directed by various celebrities. Crowdsourcing is becoming all the rage for marketers, creative types and researchers to use their communities online to find new product and design ideas. Instead of paying for a limited set of ideas and inspiration from small focus groups, more online connectors are reaching out to users online for the same purpose. The use of crowdsourcing is even making its way into the lucrative <a href="http://www.minted.com/holiday-photo-cards">holiday card</a> market, where users at Minted.com are finding inspiration for new holiday card designs from its interactive inspiration board feature. Mommy blogger Katie writes about how easy it is to use. "Just browse through Minted and when you find a card design you like, click on the little (+) button in the top right corner. It will open a new dialog window that you use to choose which board you'd like to pin the design. You can also <a href="http://www.katiesnestingspot.com/2012/08/minteds-new-inspiration-boards.html">share your board online</a> with Facebook, Google+, and Pinterest." How can you start to use crowdsourcing for your creative projects? Here are some tips. <blockquote> 1) Update all of your social media profiles to be current with your websites and other online projects. Having all your ducks lined up is the first step to getting responses from users. 2) What are you looking for from your crowdsource plan? If you want followers to be creative for a design or photography idea, then ask them for tips, links and images that will spur your project forward. 3) Use social media sites to shoot out your basics of an idea, then ask for help in finding new tips or more. </blockquote> Crowdsourcing is being used by marketers, small businesses and others to lift project creation to higher planes. <a href="http://www.smallbiztechnology.com/archive/2011/09/crowdsourcing-what-it-is-how-to-use-it.html/">SmallBiz Technology</a> recommends that by crowdsourcing with a group of people, you can equally share the project's goals, work and desired outcomes. With crowd-sourced options, a business owner can look at a variety of options, pick the best one and work on sharpening the idea for the particular client or project. In the end, crowdsourcing offers a cheaper research alternative, as well as a faster way to complete projects- use crowdsourcing yourself to move your own creative projects forward!

UPDATED: 9 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

Miracle Mile Art Walk Studio and Gallery Tour!

UPDATED: 9 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS

Creating a Digital Photography Workflow That Protects Your Work

Whether you take photographs professionally or you simply take pictures as a hobby, editing digital photographs can become tedious and time consuming. In order to help you manage the task better and finish editing your photos quicker, consider developing a digital workflow plan. This article will provide you with a step-by-step guide to edit and store your photographs, allowing you to move through the process easier and quicker. <h2> Steps To An Efficient Digital Workflow</h2> <ul><li> Begin by copying, renaming and backing up your photographs. Creating a backup is a critical first step in your <a href="http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Photography-Tips/Digital-Workflow.aspx">digital workflow</a>. Consider getting a software program that will do <a href="http://www.dataprotection.com/">online backup</a> for you. Rename the images so that they are easy to find, and easy to identify in the future. This is especially important when working with clients, so that you can quickly and easily pull up an image that they wish to see.</li></ul> <ul><li> Save the raw copy before beginning the editing process. This way, if you make any mistakes while editing your photographs, you have the original image still at your disposal. Also, it allows you to edit the image in different ways to see which works best, and show your client comparisons.</li></ul> <ul><li> Adjust the white balance, exposure and noise reduction of the images. These editing steps will make your photograph crisp and clean, and more lifelike. White balance will make the appropriate temperature and tint edits. Exposure will help with any highlight or shadow recovery. Noise reduction can be done either during the initial photo taking process or with an outside software program.</li></ul> <ul><li> Make any necessary lens corrections. This includes distortion and chromatic aberrations. Lens corrections and touch-ups can add an extra touch of to your photograph that will make it appear more professional.</li></ul> <ul><li> Frame the photograph and edit the details. Decide whether it works best as a landscape or a portrait, and adjust the contrast as necessary to bring out the important details of the shot. During this step, you should straighten the photograph if it is needed, and crop it as necessary. Cropping is an important part of the editing process, as it brings out the subject in the best possible way.</li></ul> <ul> <li> Resize the photograph as necessary, and consider any output sharpening edits. You will want to resize the image to the proper proportions, depending on the size of print the client is looking for. Output sharpening is an important step when working with clients, as it allows you to customize a particular image exactly the way your customer wants it to be customized. </li> <li> Back up your edited photographs. Once you have completed the editing process, it is important to once again back up the images. It is important to back up your photographs early and often, to avoid any mishaps that could potentially lead to losing the photographs completely. Research different backup methods and decide which is best for you and your situation.</li> </ul> Each <a href="http://photography.nationalgeographic.com/photography/">photographer</a> has his own needs when it comes to editing, depending on whether he is editing for personal use for a client. Utilize these tips and decide which would work best for you, but don't forget the important photo backup step. After all your hard work and effort, you certainly don't want to lose these precious memories.

UPDATED: 10 MONTHS

TARFEST MUSIC & ART FESTIVAL CELEBRATES 10th ANNIVERSARY

Filter Foundry supports KCRW (89.9) and LAUNCH LA and other industry brands to present LA's 10th Annual free, Music & Art festival,TARFEST, which returns to the historic La Brea Tar Pits on Saturday, September 22nd, with an impressive lineup of musical performances, live art exhibits, Biergarten, Wine Bar and local gourmet food for the whole family to enjoy. TARFEST will take place from 2:00 PM til 9:00 PM on Sat., September 22nd with performances by red-hot indie-rock bands<a href="https://www.facebook.com/blondfire"> Blondfire</a>, <a href="http://www.facebook.com/helena.lalita.9">Helena</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/softswells">Soft Swells</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/somanywizards">So Many Wizards</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/theSteelwells">The Steelwells</a> and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/makepeacebrothers">The Makepeace Brothers</a> with live paintings by revered artists <a href="http://www.imscared.com/">Greg “Craola” Simkins</a>, <a href="http://kmndz.com/">Johnny “KMNDZ” Rodriguez</a> and <a href="http://www.vansaro.com/">Van Saro</a>. A featured sculpture by <a href="http://www.bertilpetersson.com/">Bertil Petersson</a>, produced through a unique partnership with USA Projects, will make its debut along with sculptures by Tom Winter, <a href="http://mattiabiagi.com/MattiaBiagi.com/MATTIA_BIAGI.html">Mattia Biaggi</a> and <a href="http://www.daveoits.com/">David O. Johnson</a>. The festivities will also include a Lagunitas Biergarten, a wine bar sponsored by Whole Foods and gourmet food trucks as well as fun social awareness and activities provided by Keep A Breast Foundation, Keep A Breast Non Toxic Revolution, The Pablove Foundation and Hoop It Up Worldwide. In anticipation of the annual event, TARFEST will hold an opening reception on Thursday, September 20th from 6:00 PM - 10:00 PM (Address: 5900 Wilshire Blvd., Variety Building, East Annex, Los Angeles, CA 90036) for TARFEST 10 Year Anniversary Art Exhibition 2003-2012. The retrospective exhibition will be curated by Holly Harrison the Curatorial Administrator for Contemporary Art at LACMA and will feature art from 36 of the 225 artists from the past nine years of TARFEST Juried Exhibitions. Previous Jurors include Nancy Myers, Edward Robinson, Rita Gonzalez, Howard Fox and Michele Urton of LACMA and local arts administrators, writers and gallerists including Peter Mays, Molly Barnes, Laurie Frank, Kathy Gallegos, Peter Frank and Holly Myers among others. TARFEST sponsors include Warner Bros. Records, Olympia Medical Center, The Beverly Center, Los Angeles’ Councilmember Tom LaBonge, CD 4, Lagunitas Brewery, JAK Prints, Whole Foods, the Miracle Mile Chamber of Commerce, Merry Karnowsky Gallery and LA Art Machine, among many others.

UPDATED: 10 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

Stash & Filter Foundry Host Design Conference in NYC - Nov. 5-6

UPDATED: 10 MONTHS, 2 WEEKS

Lezley Saar Exhibition Opens at MK Gallery in LA

UPDATED: 10 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS

Total Recall (2012): Finally a Fresh Sci-Fi Vision

<h3>Thanks to <a href="http://www.futuredude.com/author/jeff">Jeffrey Morris</a> for this great article. Jeffrey is a very successfull writer / designer and owner of FutureDude.com. He currently has a great Kickstarter project for a new sci-fi graphic novel in the works. <a href="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1657688528/mars-daedalus-two-a-new-realistic-sci-fi-graphic-n">Click here to check it out and show your support</a> Kate Beckinsale hides behind her evil robots in the "Total Recall" reboot. </h3> <div class="post_img postimg_single"> <a href="http://www.futuredude.com/total-recall-2012-finally-a-fresh-sci-fi-vision/" title="Total Recall (2012): Finally a Fresh Sci-Fi Vision"> <img src="http://www.futuredude.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/total-recall-2012-reboot-kate-beckinsale-as-lori-600x250.jpg" /> </a> I really dig the design aesthetic of the upcoming Total Recall. Having seen so many sci-fi films over the years, I’m always looking for elements that are fresh and revolutionary. Unlike many popular, futuristic movies of the past decade of so, Total Recall at least looks like it’s trying something new. </div> <div class="imagewithinfo"> <h3>Inspiring Car Designs by Harald Belker.<a href="/hbelker/12904/total-recall-2012-vehicle-design/">(Concept Designer. See more on his PAD</a>)</h3> <img class="imagewithinfo" src="http://filterfoundry-media.s3.amazonaws.com/blog_images/tr1.jpg" width="620" /> <img height="325" src="http://filterfoundry-media.s3.amazonaws.com/blog_images/tr2.jpg" width="620" /> The idea of multiple suspended levels of buildings is really cool. I also like that the ‘floating’ modular structures of Euromerica have a classic bureaucratic, almost Greek, feel. It’s clear from the ground level of New Shanghai that Asia dominates the world. It’s a treat to see Western characters living in an Eastern environment. Overpopulation and urban sprawl appear to be out of control. The result is a beautiful mess. </div> <div class="imagewithinfo"> <h3>Colin Farrell reprises Arnold’s dual role as Doug Quiad and Hauser.</h3> <img class="imagewithinfo" src="http://www.futuredude.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/total-recall-2012-reboot-movie-poster-colin-farrell.jpg" width="620" /> Mars (which was never an element of the original Philip K. Dick story) has been jettisoned for a war-torn Earth that’s been split into two factions: Euromerica and New Shanghai. It’s a world replete with awesome flying cars (the best since Blade Runner) and menacing robots. Love it! </div> <div class="imagewithinfo"> <h3>The design thought behind all of the various cityscapes is superb.</h3> <img class="imagewithinfo" src="http://www.futuredude.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/total-recall-2012-reboot-flying-cars-highway-system.jpg" width="620" /> I get the sense that the filmmakers are going for a hodgepodge sensibility that’s really working. It’s clear, when we look at our actual world, that there’s no one plan for how cities and cultures build communities. Much like the retro-fitted aesthetic of Blade Runner, Total Recall seems to reflect this ‘anything goes’ approach while allowing overarching dynamics — corporate, totalitarian governmental, and Asian influences — to drive the visual side of the story. </div> <div class="imagewithinfo"> <h3>How many ways are there to design a humanoid robot? Not many, but this ain’t bad.</h3> <img class="imagewithinfo" src="http://www.futuredude.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/total-recall-2012-reboot-robot.jpg" width="620" /> I remain optimistic about this one. Hopefully, the story and acting will be as smart and intriguing as the images that are popping up before Total Recall’s release. The film hits theaters August 3rd. </div>

UPDATED: 12 MONTHS

Turning Your Graphic Design Hobby Into A Career

Do you enjoy using your creativity to come up with unique designs? If so, you might want to consider turning your hobby into a successful career. This can be accomplished by enrolling in one of dozens of amazing graduate programs for graphic <a href="/blog/2012/04/27/featured-artist-alessandro-baldasseroni/">design</a>. Under the instruction of talented and knowledgeable professors, you will learn how to create an impressive portfolio and land amazing clients. If you are considering a career in graphic design, you may currently be at a loss for how to get started. It's a large field and choosing a direction can be tough. The following <a href="http://www.claytowne.com/claytowne_designer_career_advice.html">suggestions</a> may prove helpful as you seek out top-notch <a href="http://www.academyart.edu/ep/graduate-art-school.html">MFA programs</a> and begin to build a professional portfolio: <h3>Time Management</h3> Juggling multiple projects with short deadlines is one of the greatest difficulties for professional <a href="http://www.onwardsearch.com/Graphic-Designer-Jobs/careers/Graphic-Design-Portfolio/">graphic</a> designers. As such, it's definitely important to work on time management as a student. You'll have plenty of opportunities to hone these skills, as professors will be sure to assign you several challenging projects. On top of homework, you may also need to juggle work, extracurricular activities and a social life. Take a little time to come up with a system that works best for you. You will thank yourself for it later when clients are praising your ability to meet deadlines. <h3>Internships</h3> Graduate classes will equip you with plenty of useful skills and knowledge, but you won't really be able to test your feet in the business until you snag an internship. A number of nonprofit organizations are eager to utilize the skills of interns in exchange for valuable experience and networking opportunities. The right internship will provide you with plenty of new material for your professional portfolio, as well as amazing recommendations for your resume. In today's competitive market, many employers consider the internship an absolute must-have for job seekers. Do yourself a favor and start applying for internships early on in your college career. <h3>Invest In A Good Computer</h3> In some design schools, textbooks and easels have gone the way of the dodo. Don't waste your money on tools that you will never use. It is far more important to equip yourself with an excellent <a href="http://www.apple.com/">computer</a>. You will also need to invest in a few essential programs, including Dreamweaver, InDesign and Photoshop. Not only will these programs be essential for many of your classes, they will also be important tools as you begin to take on clients of your own. <h3>Create A Personal Website</h3> As a graphic designer in an age of technology, you are going to need to be able to design websites. You will also need to promote yourself to new clients or potential employers. Kill two birds with one stone by creating a professional website that displays your talent. An online portfolio is considered a prerequisite for a whole host of jobs and you can easily put yourself ahead of the competition by creating an impressive website. Website building is a valuable skill that will serve you well as you begin to seek work in the competitive field of graphic design. <h3>Social Networking</h3> Social media is not just something to pass the time when you're bored. It is also an essential for finding work as a graphic designer. If you don't already have a Facebook page or a LinkedIn account, get on it. A number of graphic designers have also managed to land jobs by displaying their work on Pinterest. As you build your social media platform, be sure to keep everything professional. It may help to create separate pages for your professional life and your personal life.

UPDATED: 1 YEAR

The Evolution of Batman

<img src="http://filterfoundry-media.s3.amazonaws.com/blog_images/batman/01DarkKnightRises/1156500_Dark_Knight_Rises_1.jpg" width="620" /> Image courtesy of :<a href="http://www.screendaily.com/">http://www.screendaily.com/</a> The Dark Knight Rises hits theaters today. We thought it would be cool to offer a quick rewind of how the film and its characters evolved over the years with their imaginative costumes and make-up, starting in 1989 with Tim Burton's vision untill today with Christopher Nolan's realistic execution. Lets us know which film and "Batman" you liked the most and why.The Dark Knight Rises (2012) Christian Bale as Batman <img src="http://filterfoundry-media.s3.amazonaws.com/blog_images/batman/01DarkKnightRises/The-Dark-Knight-Rises-008.jpg" /> Image courtesy of : <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/">http://www.guardian.co.uk/</a> Anne Hathaway as Selina Kyle <img src="http://filterfoundry-media.s3.amazonaws.com/blog_images/batman/01DarkKnightRises/dark_knight_rises_catwoman_promo.jpg" /> Image courtesy of : <a href="http://www.lostinthemultiplex.com/">http://www.lostinthemultiplex.com/</a> Tom Hardy as Bane <img src="http://filterfoundry-media.s3.amazonaws.com/blog_images/batman/01DarkKnightRises/the-dark-knight-rises-bane1.jpg" /> Image courtesy of : <a href="http://confitdent.com">http://confitdent.com</a> The Dark Knight (2008) Christian Bale as Batman <img src="http://filterfoundry-media.s3.amazonaws.com/blog_images/batman/02DarkKnight/the-dark-knight-original.jpg" width="620" /> Image courtesy of : <a href="http://newsroom.icpl.org">http://newsroom.icpl.org</a> Heath Ledger as The Joker <img src="http://filterfoundry-media.s3.amazonaws.com/blog_images/batman/02DarkKnight/the-joker-jpg_153733.jpg" width="620" /> Image courtesy of : <a href="http://uk.movies.yahoo.com/">http://uk.movies.yahoo.com/</a> Aaron Eckhart as Two-Face <img src="http://filterfoundry-media.s3.amazonaws.com/blog_images/batman/05BatmanForever/Two_Face_6711.jpg" width="620" /> Image courtesy of : <a href="http://batman.wikia.com">http://batman.wikia.com</a> Batman Begins (2005) Christian Bale as Batman <img src="http://filterfoundry-media.s3.amazonaws.com/blog_images/batman/03BatmanBegins/batman25.jpg" width="620" /> Image courtesy of : <a href="http://rozemmaiden.blogspot.com">http://rozemmaiden.blogspot.com</a> Batman & Robin (1997) George Clooney, Chris O'Donnell, and Alicia Silverstone as Batman, Robin, and Batgirl <img src="http://filterfoundry-media.s3.amazonaws.com/blog_images/batman/04Batman%26Robin/batman-and-robin-screen-2.jpg" width="620" /> Image courtesy of : <a href="http://my.opera.com">http://my.opera.com</a> Arnold Schwarzenegger as Mr. Freeze <img src="http://filterfoundry-media.s3.amazonaws.com/blog_images/batman/04Batman%26Robin/Mr-Freeze.jpg" width="620" /> Image courtesy of : <a href="http://batman.wikia.com">http://batman.wikia.com</a> Uma Thurman as Poison Ivy <img src="http://filterfoundry-media.s3.amazonaws.com/blog_images/batman/04Batman%26Robin/Poison-ivy-uma.jpg" width="620" /> Image courtesy of : <a href="http://cdn.theatlantic.com/">http://cdn.theatlantic.com/</a> Batman Forever (1995) Val Kilmer and Chris O'Donnell as Batman & Robin <img src="http://filterfoundry-media.s3.amazonaws.com/blog_images/batman/05BatmanForever/8900090_orig.jpg" width="620" /> Image courtesy of : <a href="http://thecomicscode.weebly.com">http://thecomicscode.weebly.com</a> Jim Carrey as The Riddler <img src="http://filterfoundry-media.s3.amazonaws.com/blog_images/batman/05BatmanForever/riddler.jpg" /> Image courtesy of : <a href="http://my.spill.com">http://my.spill.com</a> Batman Returns (1992) Michael Keaton as Batman <img src="http://filterfoundry-media.s3.amazonaws.com/blog_images/batman/06BatmanReturns/batmankeaton3.jpg" /> Image courtesy of : <a href="http://batman.wikia.com">http://batman.wikia.com</a> Michelle Pfeiffer as Catwoman <img src="http://filterfoundry-media.s3.amazonaws.com/blog_images/batman/06BatmanReturns/Michelle-Pfeiffer-Catwoman-Batman-Returns.jpg" width="620" /> Image courtesy of : <a href="http://screenrant.com">http://screenrant.com</a> Danny DeVito as The Penguin <img src="http://filterfoundry-media.s3.amazonaws.com/blog_images/batman/06BatmanReturns/Penguin.jpg" /> Image courtesy of : <a href="http://villains.wikia.com">http://villains.wikia.com</a> Batman (1989) Michael Keaton as Batman <img src="http://filterfoundry-media.s3.amazonaws.com/blog_images/batman/07Batman/Batman-movie-ps01.jpg" /> Image courtesy of : <a href="http://www.starpulse.com">http://www.starpulse.com</a> Jack Nicholson as The Joker <img src="http://filterfoundry-media.s3.amazonaws.com/blog_images/batman/07Batman/joker1.jpg" width="620" /> Image courtesy of : <a href="http://jeffreyflorence.files.wordpress.com">http://jeffreyflorence.files.wordpress.com</a>

UPDATED: 1 YEAR

City: Heartland	Personal Site:
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