Filter Foundry - Erick Araujo

<div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_2625" style="width: 600px;"><a href="http://www.bobnolin.com"><img alt="Friends Stick Together, by Bob Nolin. Painted with Photoshop CS5. " class="size-full wp-image-2625" height="361" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/wp-content/uploads2010/2011/06/hiatus.jpg" title="hiatus" width="590" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Friends Stick Together, by Bob Nolin. Painted with Photoshop CS5. </p></div> <h5>Digital Image Magazine is on hiatus for an indefinite time. In the meantime, please make use of the more than 180 articles (tutorials, reviews, inspirations, etc.) here for you. </h5> <div class="shr-publisher-2624"></div><div style="clear: both; height: 3px; width: 100%;"></div><div class="shareaholic-like-buttonset" style="float: none; height: 30px;"><a class="shareaholic-fblike"></a><a class="shareaholic-fbsend"></a></div><div style="clear: both; height: 3px; width: 100%;"></div><img alt="" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/?ak_action=api_record_view&id=2624&type=feed" /> <p>Related posts:<ol><li><a href="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/featured/a-collection-of-helpful-websites-for-digital-artists/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link: A Collection of Helpful Websites for Digital Artists">A Collection of Helpful Websites for Digital Artists</a> <small>Here's a hand-picked list of great websites devoted to creating...</small></li> <li><a href="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/featured/resources-online-training-for-digital-painting/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link: Resources: Online Training for Digital Painting">Resources: Online Training for Digital Painting</a> <small>Learn digital art in the comfort of your own home!...</small></li> <li><a href="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/featured/tutorial-how-to-create-your-own-image-hose-nozzles/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link: Tutorial: How to create your own Image Hose nozzles">Tutorial: How to create your own Image Hose nozzles</a> <small>You can do amazing things with the Image Hose loaded...</small></li> </ol></p>

UPDATED: 1 YEAR, 11 MONTHS

Review: Secrets of Corel Painter Experts

<div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_2605" style="width: 600px;"><a href="http://www.andreasrocha.com"><img alt="Beacon, by Andreas Rocha" class="size-full wp-image-2605" height="251" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/wp-content/uploads2010/2011/05/Beacon.jpg" title="Beacon" width="590" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Beacon, by Andreas Rocha</p></div> <p><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/143545720X/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=digiimagmaga-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399349&creativeASIN=143545720X">Secrets of Corel Painter Experts: Tips, Techniques, and Insights for Users of All Abilities</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=digiimagmaga-20&l=as2&o=1&a=143545720X&camp=217145&creative=399349" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> by Daryl Wise and Linda Hellfritsch, is a new title from Course Technology PTR. It is printed in their familiar 7×9″ horizontal format. This makes it a bit hard to read, holding it in your lap, but it works very well lying open on a desk. The spine design allows the book to lie flat quite easily, without damaging the book. This is a dense, 314-page, color-filled book, with lots of great paintings to look at and be inspired by. Inspiration, in fact, is what this book is all about.</p> <p><div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_2607" style="width: 586px;"><img alt="A New York Minute, by Richard Swiatlowski" class="size-full wp-image-2607" height="384" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/wp-content/uploads2010/2011/05/A-NEW-YORK-MINUTE-06.jpg" title="A-NEW-YORK-MINUTE-06" width="576" /><p class="wp-caption-text">A New York Minute, by Richard Swiatlowski</p></div><span id="more-2597"></span></p> <p>The book highlights the work of 17 artists currently using Painter as part of their workflow. The range of styles is quite diverse, which is one of the book’s strengths. The majority of the works here are paintings created from scratch. Only a few artists here use Painter to modify photographs. Mostly what is presented here are what I would call illustrations or fine art paintings. The artists, for the most part, are new, to me at least. It’s nice to see some new blood. The stable of Corel Masters is getting rather tired at this point. </p> <p><div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_2608" style="width: 600px;"><img alt="The Moon, by Song Yang" class="size-full wp-image-2608" height="862" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/wp-content/uploads2010/2011/05/the-moon.jpg" title="the-moon" width="590" /><p class="wp-caption-text">The Moon, by Song Yang</p></div> <p>Each chapter includes information about the artist (software and hardware used, education, clients, and awards), a short interview section, a gallery of work, and a Technique section. This is where you’ll find one or two tutorials by each artist. These vary in level of detail. For instance, Chet Phillips’ tutorial is just that: a low-level, what-settings-to-use sort of tutorial (it’s great, too, by the way); most of the tutorials are more high-level. You’ll gain an understanding of the artist’s approach and workflow. For the most part, these are not follow-along projects. </p> <p>For this sort of book, that’s perfect. As the title indicates, there are some “secrets” here: you’ll pick up quite a few clever tricks and new ideas browsing through each chapter. It’s fascinating to see how many different ways a single program can be used. Of course, nearly all of the artists here use Photoshop and other programs, in addition to Painter. This is the way it is in the world of professional art: no one program does it all. </p> <p>The printing quality is first-rate. There is a DVD attached which pretty much contains nothing more than the same works shown in the printed book. These images look better in the book than in the tiny JPGs on the DVD. Be warned–the back of the book states that the DVD contains video tutorials, desktop wallpaper, and Painter movies. I found only two artists who had additional content. Still, the book itself is very worthwhile. You’ll be happy to have it on hand next time you need some inspiration and new ideas. </p> <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_2609" style="width: 600px;"><img alt="Page from Anomaly graphic novel, by Brian Haberlin" class="size-full wp-image-2609" height="392" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/wp-content/uploads2010/2011/05/page-from-anomaly-graphic-novel.jpg" title="page-from-anomaly-graphic-novel" width="590" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Page from Anomaly graphic novel, by Brian Haberlin</p></div> <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_2610" style="width: 600px;"><img alt="Together, by Pete Revonkorpi" class="size-full wp-image-2610" height="490" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/wp-content/uploads2010/2011/05/Together.jpg" title="Together" width="590" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Together, by Pete Revonkorpi</p></div> <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_2614" style="width: 600px;"><img alt="Anno 1404 - Harbour, by Torsten Wolber" class="size-full wp-image-2614" height="785" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/wp-content/uploads2010/2011/05/Anno1404_Harbour-01.jpg" title="Anno1404_Harbour-01" width="590" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Anno 1404 - Harbour, by Torsten Wolber</p></div> <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_2615" style="width: 537px;"><img alt="William Shakespaw, by Chet Phillips" class="size-full wp-image-2615" height="897" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/wp-content/uploads2010/2011/05/William-Shakespaw.jpg" title="William-Shakespaw" width="527" /><p class="wp-caption-text">William Shakespaw, by Chet Phillips</p></div> <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_2616" style="width: 510px;"><img alt="Tupac, by Mike Thompson" class="size-full wp-image-2616" height="476" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/wp-content/uploads2010/2011/05/Tupac.jpg" title="Tupac" width="500" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Tupac, by Mike Thompson</p></div> <p><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/143545720X/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=digiimagmaga-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399349&creativeASIN=143545720X">Secrets of Corel Painter Experts: Tips, Techniques, and Insights for Users of All Abilities</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=digiimagmaga-20&l=as2&o=1&a=143545720X&camp=217145&creative=399349" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> by Daryl Wise and Linda Hellfritsch.</p> <div class="shr-publisher-2597"></div><div style="clear: both; height: 3px; width: 100%;"></div><div class="shareaholic-like-buttonset" style="float: none; height: 30px;"><a class="shareaholic-fblike"></a><a class="shareaholic-fbsend"></a></div><div style="clear: both; height: 3px; width: 100%;"></div><img alt="" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/?ak_action=api_record_view&id=2597&type=feed" /> <p>Related posts:<ol><li><a href="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/featured/review-advanced-painter-techniques-by-don-seegmiller/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link: Review: Advanced Painter Techniques by Don Seegmiller">Review: Advanced Painter Techniques by Don Seegmiller</a> <small>An in-depth review of a new book from Don Seegmiller,...</small></li> <li><a href="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/featured/bob-nolin/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link: Review: Digital Collage and Painting, by Susan Ruddick Bloom">Review: Digital Collage and Painting, by Susan Ruddick Bloom</a> <small>An indepth review of Digital Collage and Painting, by Susan...</small></li> <li><a href="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/featured/book-review-karen-sperlings-painting-for-photographers/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link: Book Review: Karen Sperling’s Painting for Photographers">Book Review: Karen Sperling’s Painting for Photographers</a> <small>Karen Sperling has a wonderful new book out for anyone...</small></li> </ol></p>

UPDATED: 1 YEAR, 11 MONTHS

Tutorial: A Photomanip Journal, Part 3

<div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_2586" style="width: 600px;"><a href="http://www.bobnolin.com"><img alt="This week, we'll see how to take last week's image (left) and turn it into the image on the right. " class="size-full wp-image-2586" height="377" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/wp-content/uploads2010/2011/05/before-after-header.jpg" title="before-after-header" width="590" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">This week, we'll see how to take last week's image (left) and turn it into the image on the right. </p></div> <p>Before we begin Part 3, let’s do a quick review. In Part 1, we chose a photo of a model and an environment for her to “live” in. We added a third piece (a new floor) to complete the initial photo composition. In Part 2, we used the ornate stained glass window to create its own mask, thus “removing” the panes of glass. Now we can add a new background image, to serve as the view out the window. Today, in Part 3, we will add 17 layers to adjust the coloring and lighting, to change the image from Part 2 into something exciting and colorful.</p> <div class="wp-caption alignleft" id="attachment_2584" style="width: 233px;"><img alt="To help us stay sane, we'll put the layers into groups, since there are 17 total layers. " class="size-full wp-image-2584" height="184" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/wp-content/uploads2010/2011/05/all-groups.jpg" title="all-groups" width="223" /><p class="wp-caption-text">To help us stay sane, we'll put the layers into groups, since there are 17 total layers. </p></div>Before you run screaming out of the room at the very thought of 17 layers, let me assure you it’s not as bad as you might think. Photoshop’s groups act like folders, which help us to organize the layers. Groups can really save your sanity. Here you can see the 17 layers arranged into four groups. The layers are arranged into groups according to the major object being modified. So, for example, the topmost group is the figure group, and it contains the layers which modify our lady in waiting. Here’s what is in the Figures group.</p> <p><span id="more-2583"></span><br /> <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_2587" style="width: 360px;"><img alt="Clicking on the side-pointing arrow opens up the group. Here are the layers which make up the Figures group. " class="size-full wp-image-2587" height="534" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/wp-content/uploads2010/2011/05/figure-group-layers.jpg" title="figure-group-layers" width="350" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Clicking on the side-pointing arrow opens up the group. Here are the layers which make up the Figures group. </p></div> <p>The very top layer is set to blending mode hard light. This is a blank layer, and the blending mode allows us to paint on her hair and brighten it up a lot. We also can shape the hair a bit, and add some queenly length.</p> <p>Notice that the figure itself is on a transparent layer. We can use this transparency to clip (mask) layers above the figure. That’s what those right-angle symbols mean: a clipping mask is turned on. You can have more than one layer clipped by the bottom layer, as here (we have two layers being clipped by the queen figure). This means that we can only paint inside the area taken up by the pixel in the Original image layer (the queen). We can add a rim light (a glowing edge) by painting with an airbrush all around the upper edges of the figure, on a blank layer (see layer “rim light”). Turn on blending mode Linear Dodge (add) to punch up the glow. Don’t worry about painting “outside the lines:” the clipping mask won’t let you. Clipping masks are very helpful, and a big time saver. Once you see how they work, you’ll use them all the time. </p> <p>The layer I lazily left named “Levels 3″ also uses the queen image layer as a clipping mask. Here, I’ve added a levels adjustment layer with a layer mask. The clipping mask restricts the levels adjustment to just the queen, and nothing else. The layers mask allows me to lighten, with the paint brush, the darkening created by the levels adjustment, in selected areas. This is a technique I’ve explained in detail in past tutorials, so I won’t spend any more time on it here.</p> <p>The bottom-most layer in the Figure group is a simple blank layer, with dark, soft-edged shadows painted behind the queen. She overlaps the shadows, because her layer is above the layer with the shadows. Next we have the Floor group. </p> <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_2588" style="width: 360px;"><img alt="Here is the Floor group, opened up. " class="size-full wp-image-2588" height="476" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/wp-content/uploads2010/2011/05/floor-layers-group.jpg" title="floor-layers-group" width="350" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Here is the Floor group, opened up. </p></div> <p>Here again, the floor object is on a transparent layer, so we can use it with clipping masks. This group is fairly straightforward: we just add three adjustment layers with clipping turned on. The adjustments modify the color, saturation, and hue. To turn it on, by the way, go Layer > Add Clipping Mask. </p> <p>Next comes the much more complicated group, the Wall and Windows. </p> <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_2589" style="width: 360px;"><img alt="There's quite a bit going on here in the Walls and Windows group. " class="size-full wp-image-2589" height="556" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/wp-content/uploads2010/2011/05/walls-windows-group.jpg" title="walls-windows-group" width="350" /><p class="wp-caption-text">There's quite a bit going on here in the Walls and Windows group. </p></div> <p>The layer we created last week sits on the bottom of the stack in this group. Notice the layer mask we made, making the panes disappear. In this group, we are going to modify the walls and the windows only, not the view out the window. That we’ll save for last. Just as in the Floor group, we use three adjustment layers. The key here, though, is a blank layer set to Overlay blend mode. Paint on this layer to alter colors, brighten them, etc., without covering over the original pixels. It’s like painting with…stained glass! Kind of appropriate, I guess!</p> <p>Notice that here, too, we’re using the clipping masks. In this case, that means we don’t have to worry about affecting anything that’s transparent in the bottom layer. We can’t get paint on the panes, in other words, because they are made transparent by the layer mask we created in Part Two. </p> <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_2585" style="width: 360px;"><img alt="The bottommost group is the Background group. This is only what is visible outside the window. " class="size-full wp-image-2585" height="423" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/wp-content/uploads2010/2011/05/background-group.jpg" title="background-group" width="350" /><p class="wp-caption-text">The bottommost group is the Background group. This is only what is visible outside the window. </p></div> <p>The fourth and last group contains the layers for the view outside the window. As such, they come last, so that everything else lies on top of the “view.” The only areas that show through are where we’ve created the layer mask in Part Two. The bottom-most layer in this group is an image I chose for the “view out the window.” I’ve also painted on this layer with an intense blue, which shows through nicely in the top windows. I’ve added a vibrance adjustment layer and a blank layer with yellow paint for the clouds. This yellow is supposed to look reflected in the room, on the walls. So as you work, you’ll be shifting up and down through the groups. It’s not a strictly linear process as I have shown here. </p> <p>Photomanipulation, in fact, is a process of play and experimentation. Here we’ve had a look at the final result. But it took hours to come up with these 17 layers. Luckily, groups came to the rescue, and made staying organized a breeze. I hope you found this walkthrough helpful. The final step, for me, is to flatten the image and paint it in Painter and/or Photoshop. Here’s a close-up of the final result of the painting. </p> <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_2594" style="width: 600px;"><img alt="Painting close-up. Painting by Bob Nolin, with thanks to Elandria on Deviant Art for the use of her stock photograph. " class="size-full wp-image-2594" height="1074" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/wp-content/uploads2010/2011/05/painting-cu.jpg" title="painting-cu" width="590" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Painting close-up. Painting by Bob Nolin, with thanks to Elandria on Deviant Art for the use of her stock photograph. </p></div> <div class="shr-publisher-2583"></div><div style="clear: both; height: 3px; width: 100%;"></div><div class="shareaholic-like-buttonset" style="float: none; height: 30px;"><a class="shareaholic-fblike"></a><a class="shareaholic-fbsend"></a></div><div style="clear: both; height: 3px; width: 100%;"></div><img alt="" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/?ak_action=api_record_view&id=2583&type=feed" /> <p>Related posts:<ol><li><a href="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/featured/tutorial-a-photomanip-journal-part-2/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link: Tutorial: A Photomanip Journal, Part 2">Tutorial: A Photomanip Journal, Part 2</a> <small>In Part Two, we learn how to create a complex...</small></li> <li><a href="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/featured/tutorial-a-photomanip-journal-part-one/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link: Tutorial: A Photomanip Journal, Part One">Tutorial: A Photomanip Journal, Part One</a> <small>The thinking process behind creating a photomanip is this week's...</small></li> <li><a href="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/featured/tutorial-preparing-a-beach-photo-for-painting-in-corel-painter/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link: Tutorial: Preparing a Beach Photo for Painting in Corel Painter">Tutorial: Preparing a Beach Photo for Painting in Corel Painter</a> <small>Learn how to use Photoshop to correct exposure problems in...</small></li> </ol></p>

UPDATED: 1 YEAR, 11 MONTHS

Tutorial: A Photomanip Journal, Part 2

<div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_2571" style="width: 600px;"><a href="http://www.bobnolin.com"><img alt="In Part 2, we'll create the mask on the right from the image itself. This will allow us to have a new view out the window. " class="size-full wp-image-2571" height="382" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/wp-content/uploads2010/2011/05/step-one-plus-mask.jpg" title="step-one-plus-mask" width="590" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">In Part 2, we'll create the mask on the right from the image itself. This will allow us to have a new view out the window. </p></div> <p>In Part Two, we’ll remove the window panes, so to speak, to give our lady in waiting a new view. Once the panes are removed, we can insert a new layer underneath, using any landscape or scene we choose.</p> <p>In order to remove the current pixels making up the window in our scene (<a href="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog.featured/tutorial-a-photomanip-journal-part-one/">begun in Part 1 </a>), we need to select all the panes. At first, the Select Color Range tool looks like a good choice, but it leaves too much unselected. Ditto with the Magic Wand and the Quick Selection tools. In this case, the view outside the window is very pale: almost white. Using the Curves adjustment tool (see below) we can push the panes to nearly pure white, and darken the cames (the leading between the panes) at the same time. Once we’ve done that, Select Color Range works like a champ. Note the area (circled in red) where the bright sunlight “blew out” the cames in a few areas. We’ll have to correct that next.</p> <p><span id="more-2570"></span><br /> <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_2574" style="width: 600px;"><img alt="A curve adjustment increases the light areas and darkens the dark areas, which is just what we want. Now the Select Color Range will work much better. " class="size-full wp-image-2574" height="279" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/wp-content/uploads2010/2011/05/curves-adj.jpg" title="curves-adj" width="590" /><p class="wp-caption-text">A curve adjustment increases the light areas and darkens the dark areas, which is just what we want. Now the Select Color Range will work much better. </p></div></p> <p>Here’s the process:</p> <p><img alt="layers" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-2578" height="300" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/wp-content/uploads2010/2011/05/layers1-234x300.jpg" title="layers" width="234" /></p> <p>1. Take the original photo and rename the layer it’s on to Layer 0, or “original photo”. </p> <p>2. Duplicate this layer, and name it “working layer”</p> <p>3. Apply a Curves adjustment to make the window panes nearly white, and the cames (leading) solid black. </p> <p>4. Use Select Color Range to select the white panes. </p> <p>5. Use Quick Mask (tap the q key) to make sure only the panes are selected. Then exit Quick Mask (toggle with q). </p> <p>6. Invert the Selection: go Select > Invert. </p> <p>7. Make the Original photo layer active. Click once on the Add Layer Mask icon at the bottom of the layers palette. This will create a layer mask that has the window panes masked out.</p> <p>8. To fill in the gaps in the cames (circled in red, above), pick a hard-edged brush, and make it the same size as the cames (about 8 pixels, in this case). Choose solid black as the foreground color. Tap once with the brush, hold down the shift key, and then tap again on the other side of the “broken” came. Photoshop draws a perfectly straight hard-edged 8 pixel-wide line, replacing the missing black areas. Next, use the eraser tool to remove little bits of windowpane which are still hanging around. This goes pretty quickly. Once you’re done making the cames perfect and the panes completely empty, you’re ready to add a new background layer for our lady to look at. </p> <p>9. Lastly, delete the “working layer.” Add back in the image of Elandria from Part One. Paste a new image as your bottom layer, for a new view outside. Here’s what we have at this point. </p> <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_2580" style="width: 600px;"><img alt="Try different landscape images till you find one that suits your vision. " class="size-full wp-image-2580" height="586" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/wp-content/uploads2010/2011/05/end-of-step-two.jpg" title="end-of-step-two" width="590" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Try different landscape images till you find one that suits your vision. </p></div> <hr /> <p>Next week, we’ll look at how modify this image to really make it glow, using layer adjustments and painting. Thanks for reading! </p> <div class="shr-publisher-2570"></div><div style="clear: both; height: 3px; width: 100%;"></div><div class="shareaholic-like-buttonset" style="float: none; height: 30px;"><a class="shareaholic-fblike"></a><a class="shareaholic-fbsend"></a></div><div style="clear: both; height: 3px; width: 100%;"></div><img alt="" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/?ak_action=api_record_view&id=2570&type=feed" /> <p>Related posts:<ol><li><a href="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/featured/tutorial-a-photomanip-journal-part-3/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link: Tutorial: A Photomanip Journal, Part 3">Tutorial: A Photomanip Journal, Part 3</a> <small>In our last installment, the photo manipulation is finished. Learn...</small></li> <li><a href="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/featured/tutorial-a-photomanip-journal-part-one/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link: Tutorial: A Photomanip Journal, Part One">Tutorial: A Photomanip Journal, Part One</a> <small>The thinking process behind creating a photomanip is this week's...</small></li> <li><a href="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/featured/tutorial-preparing-a-beach-photo-for-painting-in-corel-painter/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link: Tutorial: Preparing a Beach Photo for Painting in Corel Painter">Tutorial: Preparing a Beach Photo for Painting in Corel Painter</a> <small>Learn how to use Photoshop to correct exposure problems in...</small></li> </ol></p>

UPDATED: 2 YEARS

Tutorial: A Photomanip Journal, Part One

<div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_2551" style="width: 600px;"><a href="http://elandria.deviantart.com/"><img alt="One of the Nature's Lore series by Elandria. Click on photo to see more by Elandria. " class="size-full wp-image-2551" height="1091" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/wp-content/uploads2010/2011/05/natures_lore_38_by_elandria-d3fy9is.jpg" title="natures_lore_38_by_elandria-d3fy9is" width="590" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">One of the Nature's Lore series by Elandria. Click on photo to see more by Elandria. </p></div> <p>Today I came upon the photo above, by Deviant Art stock artist <a href="http://elandria.deviantart.com/">Elandria</a>, and decided I just had to create a photomanipulation with it. For this tutorial, I’m going to emphasize the thought process, more than the actual Photoshopping. I have no idea where I’m going with this photo. So let’s get started!</p> <p> <span id="more-2550"></span></p> <p>First, I’ll separate the image of the woman in the blue dress from the background. The background, in this case, is nearly one color, so I’ll start with the magic wand to select the majority of the background quickly. Make sure “contiguous” is checked on. I used a tolerance setting of 30, which works well, but one of her hand disappears, since it is flesh toned and so is the background (this is why a lime green background–a green screen– is used for this sort of work). Once the selection is made, hit the Q key for Quick Mask. You can make the Quick Mask any color you like; mine is green. </p> <p><div class="wp-caption alignleft" id="attachment_2553" style="width: 260px;"><img alt="In Quick Mask mode, you can see where the Magic Wand got a little too aggressive. Paint over the missing fingers with white to recover them. " class="size-full wp-image-2553" height="302" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/wp-content/uploads2010/2011/05/missing-fingers.jpg" title="missing-fingers" width="250" /><p class="wp-caption-text">In Quick Mask mode, you can see where the Magic Wand got a little too aggressive. Paint over the missing fingers with white to recover them. </p></div> Zoom in and clean up the edge of the mask. Paint with white to recover areas; paint with black to mask out unwanted areas. </p> <p>Once the edge is all cleaned up, tap the Q key again. This returns you to select mode, and you’ll see the “marching ants” defining the selection edge. At this point, we’ve selected the background. Go Select > Inverse to select the figure. Now, let’s find a setting for our figure.</p> <p>For this, I turn to my ever-growing collection of stock photos. I keep these on my hard drive, and add to the collection whenever I see a stock photo (on Deviant Art, Morguefile, sxc.hu, etc.) that catches my eye. The images are organized into a large library of folders (Maps, Globes, Clocks, Rocks, Seascapes, Landscapes, etc.). Keeping organized really helps when it’s time to look for an image, as we’re doing right now. I have several promising folders for this image. Since she’s in Medieval garb, I’ll look in my Castles folder, and maybe the Cathedrals folder. She seems to be looking out a window, at least in my mind, so I look in the Windows folder, and find this image: </p> <p><div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_2559" style="width: 600px;"><a href="http://xNickixstockx.deviantart.com"><img alt="This will become the main setting for the final photomanipulation. The pink area shows where I'll be adding a new floor. Stock used with permission by xNickixstockx on Deviant Art. " class="size-full wp-image-2559" height="885" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/wp-content/uploads2010/2011/05/Castle_Window___Battle_Abbey_by_xNickixstockx-small.jpg" title="Castle_Window___Battle_Abbey_by_xNickixstockx-small" width="590" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">This will become the main setting for the final photomanipulation. The pink area shows where I'll be adding a new floor. Stock used with permission by xNickixstockx on Deviant Art. </p></div> <p>I go back to the selected image of Elandria, and go Cmd+C (or Cntl+C on Windows) to copy. Then I paste it into the window image. I resize the figure a bit using Edit > Transform > Scale. After moving her around a bit, I decide that she needs a higher floor to stand on. I will grab a floor from another image on my hard drive. After adding the floor, I’ll crop the bottom of the window image. First, let’s find a new floor. </p> <div class="wp-caption alignleft" id="attachment_2560" style="width: 260px;"><a href="http://mirandarose-stock.deviantart.com"><img alt="This image, by stock artist MirandaRose-stock on Deviant Art, shows a nice floor under a lit window. It's a good match for our renovation project. " class="size-full wp-image-2560" height="287" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/wp-content/uploads2010/2011/05/new-flooring.jpg" title="new-flooring" width="250" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">This image, by stock artist MirandaRose-stock on Deviant Art, shows a nice floor under a lit window. It's a good match for our renovation project. </p></div> <p>This is a good example of how you need to adapt images to suit your purposes sometimes. This flooring looks good, but it’s not the right polygonal shape (see the pink shape, above). What I’ll do is copy it to another layer, and then flip it horizontally. Then I’ll move the copy until left and right halves make a shape similar to the pink polygon. </p> <p>Next I copy and paste this new flooring into the main image of the castle window (see below). After pasting, it appears in the middle of the image, as you see here. The arrows show where I’ll be moving it. It doesn’t match the original shape exactly. But I kind of like the way it comes forward to a point, so I’ll go with that. For fine tuning, I’ll use the Edit > Transform > Warp tool. </p> <div class="wp-caption alignleft" id="attachment_2562" style="width: 600px;"><img alt="The new floor matches pretty closely, though it comes forward to a point, unlike the pink shape I made earlier. " class="size-full wp-image-2562" height="454" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/wp-content/uploads2010/2011/05/new-floor-right-left.jpg" title="new-floor-right-left" width="590" /><p class="wp-caption-text">The new floor matches pretty closely, though it comes forward to a point, unlike the pink shape I made earlier. </p></div> <p>Here’s the new floor, ready to lower into place. </p> <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_2564" style="width: 600px;"><img alt="I may need to use the Warp transform a bit, but this flooring should pop right into place. Good enough for government work, as they say. " class="size-full wp-image-2564" height="885" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/wp-content/uploads2010/2011/05/new-floor-ready-to-install.jpg" title="new-floor-ready-to-install" width="590" /><p class="wp-caption-text">I may need to use the Warp transform a bit, but this flooring should pop right into place. Good enough for government work, as they say. </p></div> <p>Now I copy the image of Elandria into the setting (below). This concludes Step One. Next week, we’ll give Elandria something to look at out the window! </p> <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_2567" style="width: 600px;"><img alt="Step One, complete. Next we'll change the window view, and some other neat stuff. " class="size-full wp-image-2567" height="762" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/wp-content/uploads2010/2011/05/step-one-complete.jpg" title="step-one-complete" width="590" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Step One, complete. Next we'll change the window view, and some other neat stuff. </p></div> <div class="shr-publisher-2550"></div><div style="clear: both; height: 3px; width: 100%;"></div><div class="shareaholic-like-buttonset" style="float: none; height: 30px;"><a class="shareaholic-fblike"></a><a class="shareaholic-fbsend"></a></div><div style="clear: both; height: 3px; width: 100%;"></div><img alt="" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/?ak_action=api_record_view&id=2550&type=feed" /> <p>Related posts:<ol><li><a href="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/featured/tutorial-a-photomanip-journal-part-3/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link: Tutorial: A Photomanip Journal, Part 3">Tutorial: A Photomanip Journal, Part 3</a> <small>In our last installment, the photo manipulation is finished. Learn...</small></li> <li><a href="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/featured/tutorial-a-photomanip-journal-part-2/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link: Tutorial: A Photomanip Journal, Part 2">Tutorial: A Photomanip Journal, Part 2</a> <small>In Part Two, we learn how to create a complex...</small></li> <li><a href="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/featured/create-fantasy-painting-with-photoshop-and-painter/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link: Tutorial: Create a Fantasy Painting with Photoshop and Corel Painter">Tutorial: Create a Fantasy Painting with Photoshop and Corel Painter</a> <small>Learn how to assemble a fantasy image using stock images,...</small></li> </ol></p>

UPDATED: 2 YEARS

Tutorial: The Making of ‘Five Chicks Named Moe’

<div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_2534" style="width: 600px;"><a href="http://www.bobnolin.com"><img alt="Five Chicks Named Moe, by Bob Nolin. Painted with Photoshop CS5 and a Wacom Intuos 4 tablet." class="size-full wp-image-2534" height="274" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/wp-content/uploads2010/2011/05/Five-chicks_final.jpg" title="Five-chicks_final" width="590" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Five Chicks Named Moe, by Bob Nolin. Painted with Photoshop CS5 and a Wacom Intuos 4 tablet.</p></div> <p>The painting above, “Five Chicks Named Moe,” took about three weeks to complete, working on it a few hours a day on average. I would guess that’s about 45 hours of work. I followed a fairly complex working method, and I’d like to share it with you today. This isn’t really a tutorial, but more of a “making of.” I won’t talk much about the actual painting. Instead, I’ll lay out the steps I took. You may find this method has some advantages for your own work.</p> <p>In a nutshell, I take a stock photo (<a href="http://www.fotolia.com/id/6674607">this one</a>, from Fotolia, in this case), create a black and white “underpainting” (a grisaille), and then paint on top of that until the grisaille is completely covered over. This is different from my previous hand-painted Photoshop works, in that I’m using a grayscale layer that becomes part of the final image. Previously, I’d use a line drawing layer for reference, and then delete it at the end. With this new method, I’m attempting to follow the Old Masters’ way of working, with a monochrome underpainting.</p> <p><em>Grisaille</em> (pronounced “griz-eye”) is a French word meaning “gray tones.” The advantage of starting with a monochrome underpainting is it allows the painter to establish the forms and values first, and then develop the color on top of that. More info available <a href="http://grisaille.com/">here</a>.<span id="more-2525"></span></p> <h4>Step One – Topaz Adjust to add detail</h4> <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_2528" style="width: 600px;"><a href="http://www.topazlabs.com/303.html"><img alt="Original stock photo on left. Topaz Adjust (Mild Detail preset) on right. " class="size-full wp-image-2528" height="388" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/wp-content/uploads2010/2011/05/Chick-2-orig-vs-TA.jpg" title="Chick-2-orig-vs-TA" width="590" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Original stock photo on left. Topaz Adjust (Mild Detail preset) on right. </p></div> <p>I use<a href="http://www.topazlabs.com/303.html"> Topaz Adjust</a> whenever I need to add some punch to a photo. After trying out several of the presets that come with Adjust, I went with the Mild Detail setting. The original photo is very high key, with very little variation in tone. It’s all bright. So the first step is to bring out detail that has been washed out by the bright, even lighting. My goal is to achieve a dark, chiaroscuro look, as though the chicks were painted by a Dutch master of the 16th century. As you can see above, Adjust brings out each individual feather, but the Mild setting doesn’t overdo it. </p> <p>Before we go any further, let me show you where we’re going. Here’s what the layer palette is going to look like once we get through the next several steps. The layer with the chicks is in the middle of the stack. The background is below the birds, and the adjustment layers are above them.</p> <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_2536" style="width: 600px;"><img alt="Here's our goal: layers that create the look we're after. " class="size-full wp-image-2536" height="856" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/wp-content/uploads2010/2011/05/layers.jpg" title="layers" width="590" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Here's our goal: layers that create the look we're after. </p></div> <h4>Step Two – Create the dark background</h4> <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_2527" style="width: 600px;"><img alt="A simple dark-to-very-dark gradient makes up the background. It will be painted over to add texture and variety." class="size-full wp-image-2527" height="273" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/wp-content/uploads2010/2011/05/backgrd-grad.jpg" title="backgrd-grad" width="590" /><p class="wp-caption-text">A simple dark-to-very-dark gradient makes up the background. It will be painted over to add texture and variety.</p></div> <p>The bottom-most layer in the stack is the Dark Gradient background. This is just a start, and we’ll paint over it later to make it look hand-painted, and not machine made. </p> <h4>Step Three – Give the chicks a table to stand on</h4> <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_2538" style="width: 600px;"><img alt="There are two wood layers, with the upper one set to Overlay mode. The upper one is blurry, and this helps to eliminate the photographic detail of the wood photo. " class="size-full wp-image-2538" height="272" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/wp-content/uploads2010/2011/05/wood-layers.jpg" title="wood-layers" width="590" /><p class="wp-caption-text">There are two wood layers, with the upper one set to Overlay mode. The upper one is blurry, and this helps to eliminate the photographic detail of the wood photo. </p></div> <p>The wood tabletop is actually a photograph of an old drawing board. I used the Perspective adjustment tool to make the board look like it’s lying down (it was shot head on). Next I copy one layer, and blur it, set the blending mode to Overlay, and turn down the Opacity until the detail is softened but not eliminated altogether. Then I add a layer mask with a soft edge between black and white. This makes the far end of the table get darker. The layer mask allows the dark gradient to show through. </p> <h4>Step Four – Add shadows under the chicks </h4> <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_2537" style="width: 600px;"><img alt="Soft, blurry shadows are cast by the chicks' bodies, while small, hard-edged shadows are cast by their feet. " class="size-full wp-image-2537" height="274" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/wp-content/uploads2010/2011/05/shadows-added.jpg" title="shadows-added" width="590" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Soft, blurry shadows are cast by the chicks' bodies, while small, hard-edged shadows are cast by their feet. </p></div> <p>Add two new, blank layers. The lower of these layers will contain the blurry shadows cast by the bodies of the chicks. The upper layer will show the shadows cast by their feet. Use a large, soft airbrush at low opacity for the lower layer. For the feet, use a much smaller brush, at higher opacity. Paint right on the edges of their feet. Aren’t layers great? </p> <h4>Step Five – Add the adjustment layers </h4> <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_2526" style="width: 600px;"><img alt="The new Exposure Adjustment Layer, along with a layer mask, gives the chicks volume and directional lighting. " class="size-full wp-image-2526" height="272" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/wp-content/uploads2010/2011/05/adj-layers-added.jpg" title="adj-layers-added" width="590" /><p class="wp-caption-text">The new Exposure Adjustment Layer, along with a layer mask, gives the chicks volume and directional lighting. </p></div> <p>Now that the stage is set and the actors are in place, we’re ready to adjust the lighting. This is done with adjustment layers. As you can see in the Layers screenshot shown earlier, there are the usual Curves, Levels, and Hue/Sat adjustment layers. These make subtle adjustments. The star performer here, though, is the new Exposure adjustment level combined with a layer mask. Set the exposure setting so that the chicks are under-exposed (i.e., darkened). You will make them look like they are completely in shadow. Then you’ll reveal the light by painting on the layer mask. It’s like magic! </p> <h4>Step Six – Collapse all the layers and create the grisaille</h4> <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_2535" style="width: 600px;"><img alt="The Black&White adjustment is used to create a grayscale image, or grisaille. " class="size-full wp-image-2535" height="271" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/wp-content/uploads2010/2011/05/grissaile.jpg" title="grissaile" width="590" /><p class="wp-caption-text">The Black&White adjustment is used to create a grayscale image, or grisaille. </p></div> <p>Save your work to this point; flatten the image, and save with a different name. Now we have our painting base. You could just use this as your starting point. If you like to work with the cloning tools in Painter, you could clone this file and begin to paint. But my goal is to try to emulate the Old Masters, so I go Image > Adjustments > Black & White, use the Auto setting, which creates my grayscale underpainting. </p> <h4>Step Seven – Add “glazes” of color </h4> <p><div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_2532" style="width: 600px;"><img alt="Two layers here: the Color layer on top of the Grisaille layer" class="size-full wp-image-2532" height="275" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/wp-content/uploads2010/2011/05/color-layer-added.jpg" title="color-layer-added" width="590" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Two layers here: the Color layer on top of the Grisaille layer</p></div> <p>In traditional painting, thin glazes of color are applied on top of the underpainting. We can do something similar in Photoshop and/or Painter. Insert a new layer above the Grisaille layer, and change the blending mode from Default to Color. (In Painter, choose Colorize.) Now when you paint, you can’t cover over the greyscale; you can only “tint” it with color. This is similar to the hand-tinting of photographs which photographers used to do before the advent of color film. (See <a href="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/featured/tutorial-colorizing-vintage-photos-with-corel-painter/">this article</a> and <a href="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/featured/tutorial-turn-a-civil-war-era-photo-into-a-painting//">this article</a> for two tutorials.) The Color blending mode allows you to paint as though you were laying in transparent washes of watercolor or acrylic, or oil glazes. The values of the grayscale interact with and alter the colors, as you will see. This hand-colored base is now ready for us to paint with opaque colors, in the next step.</p> <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_2529" style="width: 600px;"><img alt="This close-up shows what the Color layer on top of the Grisaille layer looks like. " class="size-full wp-image-2529" height="739" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/wp-content/uploads2010/2011/05/chick2-color-on-gris.jpg" title="chick2-color-on-gris" width="590" /><p class="wp-caption-text">This close-up shows what the Color layer on top of the Grisaille layer looks like. </p></div> <h4>Step Eight – Opaque painting</h4> <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_2530" style="width: 600px;"><a href="http://www.bobnolin.com"><img alt="Many hours and brushstrokes later, here's the final painted chick. " class="size-full wp-image-2530" height="740" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/wp-content/uploads2010/2011/05/chick2-final.jpg" title="chick2-final" width="590" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Many hours and brushstrokes later, here's the final painted chick. </p></div> <p>To begin the next phase, insert a new blank layer as the top layer. Leave the blending mode and opacity as is (Default and 100%). Now here’s where the work really begins! All that has come before is really just preparation for the actual painting. No, I’m not kidding! The first seven steps should take an afternoon, give or take. It’s not very time-consuming; it’s just a lot to explain, a lot of details. </p> <p>While painting, refer to the first file you created (the flattened, full-color one). I use the eye-dropper to sample colors from this base file, and then adjust them as needed. To cover the grisaille lines and tones completely, the paint will need to be quite opaque. However, I use many glazes of low-opacity color, which build up and eventually cover the greyscale image. </p> <p>So that’s basically it. I hope you find this method helpful. At the very least, I’ve laid out one method of painting in the classical mode of the Old Masters. It’s been a fun experiment! I invite your comments and questions below, in the comments box. Thanks for reading!</p> <div class="shr-publisher-2525"></div><div style="clear: both; height: 3px; width: 100%;"></div><div class="shareaholic-like-buttonset" style="float: none; height: 30px;"><a class="shareaholic-fblike"></a><a class="shareaholic-fbsend"></a></div><div style="clear: both; height: 3px; width: 100%;"></div><img alt="" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/?ak_action=api_record_view&id=2525&type=feed" /> <p>Related posts:<ol><li><a href="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/featured/tutorial-the-making-of-viking-chieftain-part-2/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link: Tutorial: The Making of Viking Chieftain, Part 2">Tutorial: The Making of Viking Chieftain, Part 2</a> <small>In Part 2, we complete the corrections to the exposure,...</small></li> <li><a href="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/featured/tutorial-the-making-of-viking-chieftain/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link: Tutorial: The Making of Viking Chieftain">Tutorial: The Making of Viking Chieftain</a> <small>Put away that Dodge and Burn tool! Learn some non-destructive...</small></li> <li><a href="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/featured/tutorial-the-making-of-viking-chieftain-part-3/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link: Tutorial: The Making of Viking Chieftain, Part 3">Tutorial: The Making of Viking Chieftain, Part 3</a> <small>In the third and last installment, we look at how...</small></li> </ol></p>

UPDATED: 2 YEARS

Marketing: Fine Art America Review, Part 2

<div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_2514" style="width: 600px;"><a href="http://www.bobnolin.com"><img alt="The custom header I created for my Fine Art America website. " class="size-full wp-image-2514" height="91" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/wp-content/uploads2010/2011/04/artofbn.jpg" title="artofbn" width="590" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">The custom header I created for my Fine Art America website. </p></div> <p>Back around the end of February, <a href="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/featured/marketing-artist-websites-on-fine-art-america/">I wrote about</a> my experiences getting started with Fine Art America. Two months have gone by, so it’s time for the update I promised in Part One. Certain negative aspects have been corrected, so that’s good news. There remain some things I’d like to see changed, but overall I would highly recommend FAA to artists looking for an online presence, especially if they need a print-on-demand (POD) provider.</p> <p>For $30 a year, FAA gives you unlimited gallery space on their main site, as well as a distinct website that has no FAA branding. Customers can order framed prints through either venue. However, when customers order through your personal website, the customer sees only that you have a professional ecommerce site, allowing them to order prints, framed and unframed, prints on canvas, and greeting cards.</p> <p> From a marketing standpoint, this is more impressive than a customized Zazzle or Redbubble gallery, since it appears to be a stand-alone business site. Even better is the ease with which you can create your professional-looking site using FAA’s tools. Customization on other POD sites is difficult, to say the least, and often requires a solid understanding of Cascading Style Sheets (CSS). FAA, on the other hand, is very easy to use. I created the customized header (above) in Photoshop, which really helps the site look unique. </p> <p>Sean Broihier, the owner of FAA, seems to be very focused on the needs of his artist customers, as well as the buying public who visit FAA. Knowing that customers will want to take a close look at artwork before buying, Broihier created a high-resolution zoom tool. This helps increase buyer confidence. The only other place I’ve seen this sort of thing is on a stock photo site. Other POD sites don’t seem to realize the importance of such a tool. </p> <p>Broihier provides artists with a neat slideshow widget, which you can see over on the right here on my blog. When I add artwork to my gallery, the slideshow automatically picks it up. The slideshow’s movement attract the visitor’s attention, and shows off my work at the same time. I think it’s really useful. </p> <p>FAA also automatically provides buyers with color swatches based on the main colors in a piece of artwork. Again, I can’t think of a similar site that does that. Along with visitor counts, there are visitor comments. These help build buyer confidence. </p> <p><span id="more-2513"></span></p> <p>When you upload artwork, it appears automatically in the huge gallery on FAA, as well as on your own website. No need to do dual maintenance of two sites.</p> <p>The buying experience is very professional. I ordered an unframed and a framed print from FAA, in order to check out the printing and framing quality, as well as delivery time and packaging. My order arrived in about ten days, and was packed very securely in a big box. The framed print looked just great. The colors seemed to be an exact match, and the framing quality was excellent. I used to work in a frame shop, and I’ve framed dozens of my own pieces, so I know what to look for. I couldn’t have done a better job myself. The back was covered nicely with kraft paper, and wired ready to hang. </p> <p>I should step back and mention that the online process for ordering a frame is intelligently designed. You pick a frame color and you’re presented with all frames that match that color. You can then order a mat, and the viewer shows what your work will look like in that frame with that mat. The color of the displayed mat didn’t seem to match the color I picked, always, so that may be a little bug. </p> <p>As an artist, you determine the minimum and maximum print sizes available for ordering. The site lets you know what the biggest size printable is for your given file, so that’s helpful. Other sites don’t address this sort of thing well, if at all.</p> <p>Buyers can choose from a range of papers. If you know that your work will not look good on the default matte archival paper, you can’t stop buyers from ordering it, unfortunately. You can, however, add a note in the piece description, recommending the proper paper. The unframed print I ordered was printed on the matte paper, which is the cheapest available. The dark blacks didn’t look as dark as they should have, due to the paper. The Somerset paper I used in the framed print showed accurate and rich colors, though it was a bit more expensive. </p> <p>Normally, an unframed print comes rolled in a tube. Since I was also ordering a framed print, FAA used a large flat box, and packed the unframed print flat in the box, which was a pleasant surprise. I was quite pleased with my purchasing experience on FAA, and feel confident that my customers will be getting a quality product when they order. FAA also has an unconditional guarantee. </p> <p>Back in <a href="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/featured/marketing-artist-websites-on-fine-art-america/">Part One</a> of this review, I mentioned that you can’t pick your own domain name for your FAA website. What I failed to explain is how easy it is to work around that. If you own your own domain name (such as <a href="http://www.bobnolin.com">www.bobnolin.com</a>, you can tell your domain registrar (the company that you pay each year to maintain your URL) to “point” to your FAA site. If you roll your mouse over the slideshow on the right, you’ll notice, down at the bottom of your browser, that it says “www.bobnolin.com.” When you click on it, it takes you to the FAA site, which is really www.bob-nolin.artistwebsites.com. Here’s how you make that happen: </p> <p><img alt="1&1-control-panel" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-2519" height="504" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/wp-content/uploads2010/2011/04/11-control-panel.jpg" title="1&1-control-panel" width="499" /><br /> <br clear="all" /></p> <p>You select “Forward Your Domain” and then tell it where to forward to. Each registrar has a way to do this, I believe. It is free, too. Also, I tell it what title I want to appear up top in the visitor’s browser (”The Art of Bob Nolin”). Choosing “Frame Redirect” causes the URL to say “www.bobnolin.com”, which keeps the visitor from getting confused by seeing www.bob-nolin.artistwebsites.com. I’ve had some questions about how I did this, so forgive me if I got too techie there!</p> <p>As I mentioned in Part One, the FAA website was not working very well when I was trying to sign up. Sean Broihier assures me this was due to heavy maintenance to the search engine, and that the server should be up all the time now. In two months, I’ve never again experienced a problem. So that’s a relief. Also, FAA employs several full-time customer service people, which was another issue in Part One. </p> <p>I need to wrap up here, but I do want to mention the community on FAA. My works are frequently commented on by other FAA’ers, and they’re all very nice and supportive. There are groups and an online forum, you can create a blog, an email newsletter, and so forth. These things all add to the feeling of a community, and they’re free. The $30 fee is only if you want to use the POD service and/or have your own website. From what I’ve seen so far, this was $30 well-spent. If you have questions I didn’t answer here, please leave a comment below. Also, I’d love to hear about your own experience with FAA.</p> <p>Thanks for reading! </p> <div class="shr-publisher-2513"></div><div style="clear: both; height: 3px; width: 100%;"></div><div class="shareaholic-like-buttonset" style="float: none; height: 30px;"><a class="shareaholic-fblike"></a><a class="shareaholic-fbsend"></a></div><div style="clear: both; height: 3px; width: 100%;"></div><img alt="" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/?ak_action=api_record_view&id=2513&type=feed" /> <p>Related posts:<ol><li><a href="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/featured/marketing-a-review-of-fine-art-america/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link: Marketing: A Review of Fine Art America">Marketing: A Review of Fine Art America</a> <small>Fine Art America is an online art marketplace offering an...</small></li> <li><a href="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/featured/marketing-artist-websites-on-fine-art-america/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link: Marketing: Artist Websites on Fine Art America">Marketing: Artist Websites on Fine Art America</a> <small>A look at Fine Art America's artist website option. Come...</small></li> <li><a href="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/featured/marketing-7-places-to-sell-your-work-online/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link: Marketing: 7 Places to Sell Your Work Online">Marketing: 7 Places to Sell Your Work Online</a> <small>Learn how to get your digital works printed and into...</small></li> </ol></p>

UPDATED: 2 YEARS

Tutorial: Digital Painting with Photoshop

<div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_2504" style="width: 600px;"><a href="http://www.cgarena.com/freestuff/ezine/"><img alt="Learn how to use Photoshop to paint photorealistic wildlife, with this new tutorial on CG Arena. " class="size-full wp-image-2504" height="378" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/wp-content/uploads2010/2011/04/article-shot.jpg" title="article-shot" width="590" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Learn how to use Photoshop to paint photorealistic wildlife, with this new tutorial on CG Arena. </p></div> <p>The computer graphics website CG Arena (<a href="http://www.cgarena.com">www.cgarena.com</a>) publishes a free online magazine every other month. The new issue, just out today, includes <a href="http://www.cgarena.com/freestuff/ezine/">a 7-page tutorial</a> I wrote about painting a highly-realistic bald eagle portrait using Photoshop. This tutorial is about twice the length of the ones I publish here on Digital Image Magazine, so there’s lots of detail and screen captures to explain the process. The tutorial is called “The Making of Sentinel.” You can download the free magazine and read the tutorial, along with lots of other great content, <a href="http://www.cgarena.com/freestuff/ezine/">here</a>. Here’s a close-up look at the finished painting. </p> <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_2508" style="width: 600px;"><a href="http://www.bobnolin.com"><img alt="Sentinel (detail), by Bob Nolin. Digital painting created in Photoshop. Based on photograph by Joshua Sexton. Used with permission. " class="size-full wp-image-2508" height="421" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/wp-content/uploads2010/2011/04/Sentinel-dim-cu.jpg" title="Sentinel-dim-cu" width="590" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Sentinel (detail), by Bob Nolin. Digital painting created in Photoshop. Based on photograph by Joshua Sexton. Used with permission. </p></div> <div class="shr-publisher-2503"></div><div style="clear: both; height: 3px; width: 100%;"></div><div class="shareaholic-like-buttonset" style="float: none; height: 30px;"><a class="shareaholic-fblike"></a><a class="shareaholic-fbsend"></a></div><div style="clear: both; height: 3px; width: 100%;"></div><img alt="" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/?ak_action=api_record_view&id=2503&type=feed" /> <p>Related posts:<ol><li><a href="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/featured/beginning-digital-painting-with-photoshop/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link: Beginning Digital Painting with Photoshop">Beginning Digital Painting with Photoshop</a> <small>Want to learn how to paint with Photoshop? Here's a...</small></li> <li><a href="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/featured/resources-online-training-for-digital-painting/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link: Resources: Online Training for Digital Painting">Resources: Online Training for Digital Painting</a> <small>Learn digital art in the comfort of your own home!...</small></li> <li><a href="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/featured/book-review-digital-painting-in-photoshop/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link: Book Review: Digital Painting in Photoshop">Book Review: Digital Painting in Photoshop</a> <small>A review of Susan Ruddick Bloom's new book, Digital Painting...</small></li> </ol></p>

UPDATED: 2 YEARS, 1 MONTH

Inspiration: 20 Amazing Photomanipulations

<div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_2474" style="width: 600px;"><a href="http://rekano.deviantart.com"><img alt="Dream of a Photomanipulator, by Rekano" class="size-full wp-image-2474" height="443" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/wp-content/uploads2010/2011/04/Dream_of_a_Photomanipulator_by_Rekano.jpg" title="Dream_of_a_Photomanipulator_by_Rekano" width="590" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Dream of a Photomanipulator, by Rekano</p></div> <p>To celebrate the 175th article on Digital Image Magazine, I’ve decided to celebrate by doing one of my favorite things: a showcase of great work. Besides, I love being able to share the work of fabulous, incredibly imaginative artists with you. </p> <p>All of these images come from deviantArt.com. These are some of the best examples of photomanipulation I’ve come across. Most of the time, the image will be a collage of several photographs. Often, the photocollage is then hand-painted in Photoshop or Painter. Additional elements can be painted in, partially covering over the original photographs. In the deviantArt community, “photomanipulation” is any image that includes photography (as opposed to digital painting, which is done from scratch). Here then is my collection of the best of the best. Enjoy! (Click on the artist’s name or the image to go to their gallery.)</p> <p><span id="more-2463"></span></p> <h4><a href="http://michaelo.deviantart.com">Michael O</a> </h4> <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_2468" style="width: 600px;"><a href="http://michaelo.deviantart.com"><img alt="Apple, by Michael O. This is a great example of how photomanipulation can start with a photo (inset), and turn it into a completely new and amazing work of art. " class="size-full wp-image-2468" height="885" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/wp-content/uploads2010/2011/04/apple_by_michaelo.jpg" title="apple_by_michaelo" width="590" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Apple, by Michael O. This is a great example of how photomanipulation can start with a photo (inset), and turn it into a completely new and amazing work of art. </p></div> <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_2470" style="width: 539px;"><a href="http://michaelo.deviantart.com"><img alt="Another amazing work by Michael O. Click on the image to see more. " class="size-full wp-image-2470" height="1000" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/wp-content/uploads2010/2011/04/crocodile-tears-michaelo.jpg" title="crocodile-tears-michaelo" width="529" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Another amazing work by Michael O. Click on the image to see more. </p></div> <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_2486" style="width: 600px;"><a href="http://michaelo.deviantart.com"><img alt="Trophy Wife, by Michael O" class="size-full wp-image-2486" height="860" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/wp-content/uploads2010/2011/04/trophy-wife-by-michaelo.jpg" title="trophy-wife-by-michaelo" width="590" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Trophy Wife, by Michael O</p></div> <h4><a href="http://cristalart.deviantart.com">Cristalart</a></h4> <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_2469" style="width: 600px;"><a href="http://cristalart.deviantart.com"><img alt="The Bird's Queen, by Cristalart" class="size-full wp-image-2469" height="940" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/wp-content/uploads2010/2011/04/bird__s_queen_by_cristalart.jpg" title="bird__s_queen_by_cristalart" width="590" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">The Bird's Queen, by Cristalart</p></div> <h4><a href="http://autumnsgoddess.deviantart.com">Autumns Goddess</a></h4> <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_2478" style="width: 600px;"><a href="http://autumnsgoddess.deviantart.com"><img alt="Intention, by AutumnsGoddess" class="size-full wp-image-2478" height="843" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/wp-content/uploads2010/2011/04/intention_by_AutumnsGoddess.jpg" title="intention_by_AutumnsGoddess" width="590" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Intention, by AutumnsGoddess</p></div> <h4><a href="http://higherdepths.deviantart.com">Higherdepths</a></h4> <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_2484" style="width: 600px;"><a href="http://higherdepths.deviantart.com"><img alt="Submariner, by Higherdepths" class="size-full wp-image-2484" height="382" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/wp-content/uploads2010/2011/04/Submariner_by_higherdepths.jpg" title="Submariner_by_higherdepths" width="590" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Submariner, by Higherdepths</p></div> <h4><a href="http://schnette.deviantart.com">Schnette</a></h4> <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_2477" style="width: 600px;"><a href="http://schnette.deviantart.com"><img alt="Follow Your Heart, by Schnette" class="size-full wp-image-2477" height="590" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/wp-content/uploads2010/2011/04/follow-your-heart-by-schnette.jpg" title="follow-your-heart-by-schnette" width="590" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Follow Your Heart, by Schnette</p></div> <h4><a href="http://onetaintedangel.deviantart.com">OneTaintedAngel</a></h4> <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_2475" style="width: 600px;"><a href="http://onetaintedangel.deviantart.com"><img alt="Dream of Silk and Silence Part 2, by OneTaintedAngel" class="size-full wp-image-2475" height="590" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/wp-content/uploads2010/2011/04/dream-of-silk-and-silence-pt2-by-onetaintedangel.jpg" title="dream-of-silk-and-silence-pt2-by-onetaintedangel" width="590" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Dream of Silk and Silence Part 2, by OneTaintedAngel</p></div> <h4><a href="http://indigodeep.deviantart.com">Indigodeep</a></h4> <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_2485" style="width: 576px;"><a href="http://indigodeep.deviantart.com"><img alt="The Summoner, by Indigodeep" class="size-full wp-image-2485" height="832" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/wp-content/uploads2010/2011/04/The_Summoner_by_indigodeep.jpg" title="The_Summoner_by_indigodeep" width="566" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">The Summoner, by Indigodeep</p></div> <h4><a href="http://gloom82.deviantart.com">Gloom82</a></h4> <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_2499" style="width: 600px;"><a href="http://gloom82.deviantart.com"><img alt="Society, by Gloom82" class="size-full wp-image-2499" height="885" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/wp-content/uploads2010/2011/04/society_by_gloom82.jpg" title="society_by_gloom82" width="590" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Society, by Gloom82</p></div> <h4><a href="http://billy-pilgrim.deviantart.com">Billy Pilgrim</a></h4> <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_2482" style="width: 600px;"><a href="http://billy-pilgrim.deviantart.com"><img alt="Portrait of a Sad Song, by Billy Pilgrim" class="size-full wp-image-2482" height="590" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/wp-content/uploads2010/2011/04/portrait_of_a_sad_song_by_billy_pilgrim.jpg" title="portrait_of_a_sad_song_by_billy_pilgrim" width="590" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Portrait of a Sad Song, by Billy Pilgrim</p></div> <h4><a href="http://zwir.deviantart.com">ZWIR</a></h4> <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_2481" style="width: 600px;"><a href="http://zwir.deviantart.com"><img alt="Once in Venice, by ZWIR" class="size-full wp-image-2481" height="750" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/wp-content/uploads2010/2011/04/Once_in_Venice_by_ZWIR.jpg" title="Once_in_Venice_by_ZWIR" width="590" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Once in Venice, by ZWIR</p></div> <h4><a href="http://heakmeat.deviantart.com">Heakmeat</a></h4> <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_2480" style="width: 600px;"><a href="http://heakmeat.deviantart.com"><img alt="Nature, by Heakmeat" class="size-full wp-image-2480" height="867" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/wp-content/uploads2010/2011/04/Nature_by_heakmeat.jpg" title="Nature_by_heakmeat" width="590" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Nature, by Heakmeat</p></div> <h4><a href="http://mrnoxx.deviantart.com">MrNoxx</a></h4> <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_2476" style="width: 600px;"><a href="http://mrnoxx.deviantart.com"><img alt="Endangered Species, by MrNoxx" class="size-full wp-image-2476" height="590" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/wp-content/uploads2010/2011/04/endangered_species_by_mrnoxx.jpg" title="endangered_species_by_mrnoxx" width="590" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Endangered Species, by MrNoxx</p></div> <h4><a href="http://taenaron.deviantart.com">Taenaron</a></h4> <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_2473" style="width: 600px;"><a href="http://taenaron.deviantart.com"><img alt="Dream, by Taenaron" class="size-full wp-image-2473" height="369" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/wp-content/uploads2010/2011/04/dream_by_taenaron.jpg" title="dream_by_taenaron" width="590" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Dream, by Taenaron</p></div> <h4><a href="http://ghwamba.deviantart.com">Ghwamba</a></h4> <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_2472" style="width: 600px;"><a href="http://ghwamba.deviantart.com"><img alt="Do You Believe in Magic, by Ghwamba" class="size-full wp-image-2472" height="395" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/wp-content/uploads2010/2011/04/do_you_believe_in_magic__by_ghwamba.jpg" title="do_you_believe_in_magic__by_ghwamba" width="590" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Do You Believe in Magic, by Ghwamba</p></div> <h4><a href="http://betweentheclouds.deviantart.com">BetweenTheClouds</a></h4> <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_2471" style="width: 600px;"><a href="http://betweentheclouds.deviantart.com"><img alt="Depression, by Betweentheclouds" class="size-full wp-image-2471" height="826" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/wp-content/uploads2010/2011/04/depression_by_betweentheclouds.jpg" title="depression_by_betweentheclouds" width="590" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Depression, by Betweentheclouds</p></div> <h4><a href="http://tammara.deviantart.com">Tammara</a></h4> <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_2467" style="width: 600px;"><a href="http://tammara.deviantart.com"><img alt="After the Ball, by Tammara" class="size-full wp-image-2467" height="566" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/wp-content/uploads2010/2011/04/after_the_ball_by_tammara.jpg" title="after_the_ball_by_tammara" width="590" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">After the Ball, by Tammara</p></div> <h4><a href="http://bnolin.deviantart.com">Bob Nolin (me!</a>)</h4> <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_2479" style="width: 600px;"><a href="http://bnolin.deviantart.com"><img alt="Myrddin, by Bob Nolin. Hope you don't blame me for including one of my own!" class="size-full wp-image-2479" height="600" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/wp-content/uploads2010/2011/04/myrddin.jpg" title="myrddin" width="590" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Myrddin, by Bob Nolin. Hope you don't blame me for including one of my own!</p></div> <div class="shr-publisher-2463"></div><div style="clear: both; height: 3px; width: 100%;"></div><div class="shareaholic-like-buttonset" style="float: none; height: 30px;"><a class="shareaholic-fblike"></a><a class="shareaholic-fbsend"></a></div><div style="clear: both; height: 3px; width: 100%;"></div><img alt="" src="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/?ak_action=api_record_view&id=2463&type=feed" /> <p>Related posts:<ol><li><a href="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/featured/inspiration-photomanipulation-masters-part-1/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link: Inspiration: Photomanipulation Masters Part 1">Inspiration: Photomanipulation Masters Part 1</a> <small>A look at the visionary work of Phatpuppy, our first...</small></li> <li><a href="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/featured/inspiration-photomanipulation-masters-part-2/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link: Inspiration: Photomanipulation Masters Part 2">Inspiration: Photomanipulation Masters Part 2</a> <small>In part 2, we'll look at the work and the...</small></li> <li><a href="http://www.digitalimagemagazine.com/blog/featured/inspiration-photomanipulation-masters-part-3/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link: Inspiration: Photomanipulation Masters Part 3">Inspiration: Photomanipulation Masters Part 3</a> <small>Our photomanip master today is Pat Brennan, a.k.a. Moonmomma on...</small></li> </ol></p>

UPDATED: 2 YEARS, 1 MONTH

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3D WORLD - THE MAGAZINE FOR 3D ARTISTS

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Video tutorial: Rig your own Transformer in LightWave

<p><a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/TDW119.t_trans.opener.jpg" rel="lightbox[35093]"><img alt="" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-35098" height="348" src="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/TDW119.t_trans.opener.jpg" title="TDW119.t_trans.opener" width="580" /></a></p> <p class="strap">Transformers week draws to a close with this video training from Dan DeEntremont. Master key animation skills in this Transformer-style tutorial as you rig a robot to animate its transformation from train to humanoid</p> <p>To celebrate <a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/2012/03/07/digital-tutors-releases-new-transforming-robot-tutorials/">Digital-Tutors’ new Transformation training</a>, we thought we’d make an event of it and post online all things Transformery!</p> <p>We’ve already posted up two making-of Transformers articles:<br /> <a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/2012/03/07/the-making-of-transformers/">The making of Transformers</a><br /> <a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/2012/03/08/the-making-of-transformers-2/">The making of Transformers 2</a></p> <p>And you can also read a making-of article on the cult Transformers-style advert for Citroën – <a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/2012/03/13/the-embassy-the-art-of-robotics/">The Embassy: The art of Robotics</a></p> <p>To complete the Transformers roundup, here’s the train-transforming video tutorial from <a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/2009/07/02/3d_world_119_now_on_sale_in_the_uk/">issue 119 of 3D World magazine</a>.</p> <h3>Rig your own Transformer in LightWave</h3> <p>This article demonstrates the workflow for creating a transforming robot, similar to the designs in the live-action Transformers movies.</p> <p>The films’ director, Michael Bay, is well known for taking the level of special and visual effects over the top in his films. These Transformers are not the simple ones everyone has seen in the cartoon show, but a gigantic mass of moving metal that somehow manages to form a human-like (or sometimes animal-like) robot. The transforming train that you’ll rig and animate has about 300 moving parts.</p> <p>There are three videos available to show in detail the techniques described here. The first two videos focus on setting up the upper arms of the robot: you can take the principles you learn and apply them to the remaining parts of the figure. The first video will focus on rigging the upper arms. In this section, you will also be setting up the rig in a way that helps to cut the animation time nearly in half, using the useful Follower modifier. Bones will be used for moving the parts instead of separate layers.</p> <p>In Video 2, we will continue with the animation of the rigged upper arms. Here, I will demonstrate how to bring each piece to its destination position without causing geometry to intersect. I will also demonstrate a number of key techniques to help the movement of the different sections to be more realistic.</p> <div class="wp-caption alignleft" id="attachment_35099" style="width: 590px;"><p class="wp-caption-text">Discover how you can rig this robot to animate its transformation from train to humanoid</p></div> <p>Video 3 has a completely rigged transforming train. This video focuses on animating the transformation from a train to a robot, ending in a cool pose. A proxy version of the train will be used in this video. IK/FK Blending will also be implemented to allow smoothness in the transformation. If you get stuck at any point, the CD includes completed scene files you can study.</p> <p><em>Click Next to begin the train-transforming video tutorial</em></p> <img border="0" height="1" src="http://3dworldmag.com.feedsportal.com/c/33151/f/538495/s/1d821264/mf.gif" width="1" /><div class="mf-viral"><table border="0"><tr><td valign="middle"><a href="http://share.feedsportal.com/viral/sendEmail.cfm?lang=en&title=Video+tutorial%3A+Rig+your+own+Transformer+in+LightWave&link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.3dworldmag.com%2F2012%2F03%2F16%2Fvideo-tutorial-rig-your-own-transformer-in-lightwave%2F%3Futm_source%3Drss%26utm_medium%3Drss%26utm_campaign%3Dvideo-tutorial-rig-your-own-transformer-in-lightwave" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/images/emailthis2.gif" /></a></td><td valign="middle"><a href="http://res.feedsportal.com/viral/bookmark.cfm?title=Video+tutorial%3A+Rig+your+own+Transformer+in+LightWave&link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.3dworldmag.com%2F2012%2F03%2F16%2Fvideo-tutorial-rig-your-own-transformer-in-lightwave%2F%3Futm_source%3Drss%26utm_medium%3Drss%26utm_campaign%3Dvideo-tutorial-rig-your-own-transformer-in-lightwave" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/images/bookmark.gif" /></a></td></tr></table></div><br /><br /><a href="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/129200441230/u/49/f/538495/c/33151/s/1d821264/a2.htm"><img border="0" src="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/129200441230/u/49/f/538495/c/33151/s/1d821264/a2.img" /></a><img border="0" src="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/129200441230/u/49/f/538495/c/33151/s/1d821264/a2t.img" /><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/3dWorldrss/~4/VscwAZ8sOVc" width="1" />

UPDATED: 1 YEAR, 2 MONTHS

Friday Animation Fun: For the Remainder

<p><a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/ftr.jpg" rel="lightbox[35136]"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-35137" height="243" src="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/ftr.jpg" title="ftr" width="580" /></a></p> <p class="strap">Find out how this atmospheric, painterly animated short was created using Maya, Photoshop and After Effects. Watch the film here too</p> <p>For the Remainder depicts the last moments of a house cat who bids farewell to its home before leaving to perish. The short was a graduation project created by Omer Ben David while studying at the <a href="http://www.bezalel.ac.il/en/">Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design</a> in Jerusalem, Israel. Ben David first began working on the plot in November last year. </p> <p>“I was dwelling on a concept of a cat that leaves his house and searches for his final resting place for some time before then,” he says. “I pondered on that notion since hearing the rumour that old cats sometime leave their home to die somewhere else unseen by their beloved ones or enemies. I felt that this essence of a story is very poetic and thus should be treated as a song rather than a narrative.”</p> <h4>First impressions</h4> <p>After developing the main plot, the director carefully considered the importance of the film’s characters and what role each would play. </p> <p>“From the beginning, the story was about a cat and a house,” Ben David explains. “The cat’s owner was also a main character but I wasn’t sure if he would be performing or his presence just suggested. The spider came somewhat in the middle of the storyboarding stage, when I was searching for a death motif to allow the cat to deal with.”</p> <p>“I was greatly inspired by sketches and calligraphy, and some colour blocking when searching for the look of the characters. I figured the house, as a character, should be mostly colour blocked while the cat should be wired so they were in contrast.”</p> <p><a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/ftr1.jpg" rel="lightbox[35136]"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-35138" height="243" src="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/ftr1.jpg" title="ftr1" width="580" /></a></p> <h4>Creating perfect brush strokes</h4> <p>The film’s unique style was inspired by a number of sources. “I was very moved by a series of paintings by <a href="http://lukpazera.blogspot.com/">Lukasz Pazera</a> called <a href="http://postcardsfromthezone.com/">Postcards from the Zone</a> and his brilliant <a href="http://lukpazera.blogspot.com/2011/06/dog-of-zone-animation-sample.html">Dog of Zone</a>, which I figured would be awesome animated,” Ben David says.</p> <p>While researching, the director also watched Andrei Tarkovsky’s film Stalker. “I thought it to be the exact poem-like atmosphere I was searching for both visually and musically. I love the ambiance and slow rhythm,” he says. “I was also greatly inspired by color block paintings such as <a href="http://www.gerhardmozsi.com/">Gerhard Mozsi’s</a>, and the dreamy feel and pace in animated films such as Tekkonkinkreet or Ghost in the Shell which I adore.”</p> <div class="wp-caption alignleft" id="attachment_35159" style="width: 590px;"><a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/remainder_infl.jpg" rel="lightbox[35136]"><img alt="" class="size-full wp-image-35159" height="389" src="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/remainder_infl.jpg" title="remainder_infl" width="580" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">One of the film’s main influences was a series of paintings by Lukasz Pazera called Postcards from the Zone. You can see similarities in tone and style between them and For the Remainder</p></div> <p>Ben David’s extensive research and inspirations helped him to develop the unique painterly style of the film. In order to achieve this in 3D, he turned to the powerful tools of Maya. </p> <p>“This software was vital to production,” he explains. “It was an inherent rendering method that got the look for my characters and objects, combined with the overlapping textures on the sets. Photoshop was of course crucial for painting the textures, but Maya allowed me to rig and control almost everything I needed.”</p> <p>The film’s style, however, also presented some technical challenges. “The whole sketchiness and painterly look was the biggest technical issue,” says Ben David. “I did a lot of research about NPR (non photo realistic) rendering before developing the technique for creating it, and it was pretty much an experiment throughout the entire process. I didn’t have a clear point of reference on a technical level on how to achieve this look, and so I did a lot of testing until I reached a certain point where I knew that the composited render would satisfy me.”</p> <p>Despite extensive research and testing, Ben David managed to complete the film within a fairly short time period. “It took me around nine months to finish the short,” he says. “I did some touch-ups, on and off, for a few months afterwards as I was not completely happy with some renders and I’ve worked some more on mastering the soundtrack with <a href="http://onili.com/">Onili</a>. I’m very pleased with the final result. Both on the aesthetics and the feel of it.”</p> <p></p> <h3>Like this film?</h3> <p><a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/category/showcase/shorts/">Check out the selection of other awesome animations on our shorts page</a></p> <p><em>Make sure you visit next week for more Friday Animation Fun!</em></p> <img border="0" height="1" src="http://3dworldmag.com.feedsportal.com/c/33151/f/538495/s/1d81a18a/mf.gif" width="1" /><div class="mf-viral"><table border="0"><tr><td valign="middle"><a href="http://share.feedsportal.com/viral/sendEmail.cfm?lang=en&title=Friday+Animation+Fun%3A+For+the+Remainder&link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.3dworldmag.com%2F2012%2F03%2F16%2Ffriday-animation-fun-for-the-remainder%2F%3Futm_source%3Drss%26utm_medium%3Drss%26utm_campaign%3Dfriday-animation-fun-for-the-remainder" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/images/emailthis2.gif" /></a></td><td valign="middle"><a href="http://res.feedsportal.com/viral/bookmark.cfm?title=Friday+Animation+Fun%3A+For+the+Remainder&link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.3dworldmag.com%2F2012%2F03%2F16%2Ffriday-animation-fun-for-the-remainder%2F%3Futm_source%3Drss%26utm_medium%3Drss%26utm_campaign%3Dfriday-animation-fun-for-the-remainder" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/images/bookmark.gif" /></a></td></tr></table></div><br /><br /><a href="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/129200396320/u/49/f/538495/c/33151/s/1d81a18a/a2.htm"><img border="0" src="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/129200396320/u/49/f/538495/c/33151/s/1d81a18a/a2.img" /></a><img border="0" src="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/129200396320/u/49/f/538495/c/33151/s/1d81a18a/a2t.img" /><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/3dWorldrss/~4/W9nf4RJbbCw" width="1" />

UPDATED: 1 YEAR, 2 MONTHS

Disney’s John Carter: The VFX of Cinesite

<p><a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/johncarter_desert_cinesite.jpg" rel="lightbox[35145]"><img alt="Disney's John Carter movie still" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-35150" height="242" src="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/johncarter_desert_cinesite.jpg" title="Disney's John Carter movie still - opener" width="580" /></a> <p class="strap">Cinesite has completed 831 VFX shots and converted 87 minutes of film into stereoscopic 3D for Disney’s John Carter, which hit cinemas last week</p> <p>The 3D work in John Carter – Andrew Stanton’s first live-action feature film, based on Edgar Rice Burroughs ‘Mars’ series of novels – was split between three leading London FX houses: Cinesite, Double Negative and The Moving Picture Company. </p> <p>Cinesite, renowned for its photoreal environment work, was responsible for creating and populating the majority of environments for John Carter. The team of 310-strong completed 831 visual effects shots, which included creating and populating the majority of environments for the film. They also converted 87 minutes of the film into stereo 3D.</p> <p>Cinesite’s VFX supervisor Sue Rowe spent several months on set in the UK and Utah. Due to the scale of the project, Rowe divided the work between four other VFX supervisors.</p> <div class="wp-caption alignleft" id="attachment_35151" style="width: 590px;"></p> <p><a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/johncarter_wireframe_helium_cinesite.jpg" rel="lightbox[35145]"><img alt="John Carter VFX shots" class="size-full wp-image-35151" height="242" src="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/johncarter_wireframe_helium_cinesite.jpg" title="johncarter_wireframe_helium_cinesite" width="580" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Helium is shown from different angles throughout the film, and is used as the backdrop for the final battle sequence</p></div> <p>Christian Irles supervised work on Princess Dejah’s city, Helium. The city presented a challenge as it had to match the art department concept stills. While this was easy enough to do in matte painting, it was very time-consuming and render heavy to get actual full 3D renders. Projections were created for the terrain and these were worked up in matte painting to achieve the level of detail required. </p> <div class="wp-caption alignleft" id="attachment_35152" style="width: 590px;"><a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/johncarter_helium_cinesite.jpg" rel="lightbox[35145]"><img alt="John Carter Helium city" class="size-full wp-image-35152" height="242" src="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/johncarter_helium_cinesite.jpg" title="John Carter Helium city" width="580" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Cinesite created a matte painting of the outside of the city of Helium and, using projections, built up the terrain using high-res stills taken on location in Utah</p></div> <p>The shots presented the city as a whole with both Helium Major and Helium Minor visible, resulting in a huge amount of texture maps and shaders. Render time was very high for these shots and all layers, such as crowds, terrain, etc were rendered separately. </p> <p>Helium stats:</p> <ul> <li>346 models in the city structure</li> <li>74 individual props created</li> </ul> <div class="wp-caption alignleft" id="attachment_35153" style="width: 590px;"><a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/Zodanga_cinesite.jpg" rel="lightbox[35145]"><img alt="" class="size-full wp-image-35153" height="242" src="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/Zodanga_cinesite.jpg" title="Zodanga_cinesite" width="580" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">The mobile city of Zodanga crawls like a myriapod across the surface of Mars: giving the city a sense of scale and animating the digital legs was challenging</p></div> <p>Jonathan Neill supervised Cinesite’s work on the mobile city of Zodanga, a mile-long rusty metal tanker that crawls like a myriapod across the surface of Mars. The city was heavily textured using a combination of Photoshop, Mari and Mudbox in tandem with bespoke shaders and lighting development, to give an industrial look and feel.</p> <p>A handful of sets were built which were locations within the city, but these needed considerable extension work to make the depth and scale of the city believable. Cinesite modelled thousands of pieces of geometry for the city buildings, and created hundreds of CG props to dress the sets.</p> <div class="wp-caption alignleft" id="attachment_35154" style="width: 590px;"><a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/johncarter_city_cinesite.jpg" rel="lightbox[35145]"><img alt="John Carter VFX. Interior of city" class="size-full wp-image-35154" height="242" src="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/johncarter_city_cinesite.jpg" title="John Carter VFX. Interior of city" width="580" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Cinesite filled the city with warships and troops, before dressing it with hundreds of CG props</p></div> <p>With 674 legs, the mobile city was technically challenging to animate: Timed animation caches were used to ensure the digital legs moved in a random fashion. “Variations in movement and secondary animation such as cogs and cabling were used to create interest in the leg movement,” says Cinesite.</p> <p>Zodanga City Model stats: </p> <ul> <li>291 structural element models</li> <li>Up to 20,000 objects in a single shot</li> <li>1-2 billion polygons, dependent on camera position and detail required</li> <li>242 CG props created to populate the city</li> </ul> <p>Zodanga City Legs stats:</p> <ul> <li>674 legs </li> <li>44 claws</li> </ul> <div class="wp-caption alignleft" id="attachment_35155" style="width: 590px;"><a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/johncarter_airship_cinesite.jpg" rel="lightbox[35145]"><img alt="John Carter" class="size-full wp-image-35155" height="242" src="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/johncarter_airship_cinesite.jpg" title="johncarter_airship_cinesite" width="580" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">The texturing and detailing of the giant airships had to be spot on since they feature in many close up shots</p></div> <p>Ben Shepherd oversaw the huge aerial battle between Zodanga and Helium. His team created each side’s airships which use solar wings to travel on light, as well as explosions, fire, people and set extensions.</p> <p>The giant airships needed to be finely detailed for close-up shots. A challenge for look development was that they were required to be more like a 19th-Century sailing ship, than the type of spaceship which a modern-day audience might expect. </p> <p>For Sab’s flagship corsair, a partial set was created for the bridge/cockpit and one deck of a single ship. This was scanned and photographed for reference and recreated. The remaining areas were created as full CG models. </p> <p>Dejah’s ship and the flagship Helium ship, the Xavarian, were created in 3D also. Each ship had a full set of wings which were sized and laid out specifically for each ship. These were controlled by pulleys and ratchet-type controls to give a sailing look. Each of the wings was covered in hundreds of individual solar tiles which needed to be able to be controlled in animation. </p> <div class="wp-caption alignleft" id="attachment_35156" style="width: 590px;"><a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/Thern-Sanctuary_Final-Comp.jpg" rel="lightbox[35145]"><img alt="John Carter movie" class="size-full wp-image-35156" height="242" src="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/Thern-Sanctuary_Final-Comp.jpg" title="John Carter movie" width="580" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">The entire Thern effect system was designed and built from scratch using a combination of Maya, Houdini and custom software developed in house</p></div> <p>Simon Stanley-Clamp directed work on the Thern sanctuary, a huge underground cave that forms around Carter and Dejah as self-illuminating blue branches as the characters walk through it. </p> <p>The entire Thern effect system was designed and built from scratch using a combination of Maya, Houdini and custom software developed in house. Based on the principles of nanotechnology, the system provided a semi-automated way to ‘grow’ Thern into any environment and geometry. It took a full year of development time to evolve and bring to the big screen.</p> <div class="wp-caption alignleft" id="attachment_35157" style="width: 590px;"><a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/Thern-Sanctuary_3_Final-comp.jpg" rel="lightbox[35145]"><img alt="" class="size-full wp-image-35157" height="247" src="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/Thern-Sanctuary_3_Final-comp.jpg" title="Thern-Sanctuary_3_Final-comp" width="580" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">These ‘growing Thern’ shots were some of the most complex VFX shots Cinesite undertook, and can be seen to great effect in 3D</p></div> <p>In the sequence, as the tunnel itself ends, the main Thern Sanctuary room is seen to build itself, opening out within the Thern matrix of the pyramid interior. This shot required extensive Thern simulation and growing effects, blending multiple elements together in Nuke to build the shot up.</p> <p><em>John Carter is in cinemas now. We’ve not seen the film yet, and reviews so far seem to be fairly mixed, so if you do go, let us know what you think of it via the comments box below, or on Facebook or Twitter </em></p> <h3>The making of John Carter</h3> <p>This article focuses on Cinesite’s contribution to the film, but the 3D work was split between three leading London FX houses: Cinesite, Double Negative and The Moving Picture Company. </p> <p>Read the making-of John Carter article in issue 155 of 3D World magazine, where Renee Dunlop takes us behind the scenes of all three VFX facilities.</p> <p><strong>Issue 155 of 3D World goes on sale on 27th March</strong></p> <img border="0" height="1" src="http://3dworldmag.com.feedsportal.com/c/33151/f/538495/s/1d801946/mf.gif" width="1" /><div class="mf-viral"><table border="0"><tr><td valign="middle"><a href="http://share.feedsportal.com/viral/sendEmail.cfm?lang=en&title=Disney%E2%80%99s+John+Carter%3A+The+VFX+of+Cinesite&link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.3dworldmag.com%2F2012%2F03%2F16%2Fdisneys-john-carter-the-vfx-of-cinesite%2F%3Futm_source%3Drss%26utm_medium%3Drss%26utm_campaign%3Ddisneys-john-carter-the-vfx-of-cinesite" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/images/emailthis2.gif" /></a></td><td valign="middle"><a href="http://res.feedsportal.com/viral/bookmark.cfm?title=Disney%E2%80%99s+John+Carter%3A+The+VFX+of+Cinesite&link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.3dworldmag.com%2F2012%2F03%2F16%2Fdisneys-john-carter-the-vfx-of-cinesite%2F%3Futm_source%3Drss%26utm_medium%3Drss%26utm_campaign%3Ddisneys-john-carter-the-vfx-of-cinesite" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/images/bookmark.gif" /></a></td></tr></table></div><br /><br /><a href="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/129200459259/u/49/f/538495/c/33151/s/1d801946/a2.htm"><img border="0" src="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/129200459259/u/49/f/538495/c/33151/s/1d801946/a2.img" /></a><img border="0" src="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/129200459259/u/49/f/538495/c/33151/s/1d801946/a2t.img" /><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/3dWorldrss/~4/SAa9hvj4MmU" width="1" />

UPDATED: 1 YEAR, 2 MONTHS

Weta Digital on the making of The Adventures of Tintin

<p><a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/TDW152.f_tintin.tin17_998034v28.jpg" rel="lightbox[35108]"><img alt="" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-35134" height="247" src="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/TDW152.f_tintin.tin17_998034v28.jpg" title="TDW152.f_tintin.tin17_998034v28" width="580" /></a> <p class="strap">Weta Digital embarked on a new quest with The Adventures of Tintin, complete with crashing waves, pirate battles and an extremely stylish wardrobe. Renee Dunlop takes us behind the scenes</p> <p>As the Blu-ray of The Adventures of Tintin goes on sale, we thought we’d share this article from <a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/2012/01/07/3d-world-152-create-fire-water-and-more/">issue 152 of 3D World magazine</a>. </p> <p>If you haven’t watched the film already, we suggest you do – The Adventures of Tintin looks like a mix of live-action and CG, which adds up to something unique on screen. It’s possible that The Adventures of Tintin missed out at the Oscars this year because of this very thing, which is a real shame as we think the film has some of the best CG we’ve ever seen. </p> <h3>Weta’s Adventures of Tintin</h3> <p>Weta Digital is delving into a new world – that of the journalist. Enter Tintin, a popular post-World War One comic strip hero who travels about with his dog, Snowy, cracking cases with a little help from his friends. Created in 1929 by the artist and writer best known as Hergé, the stellar artists of Weta, led by director Steven Spielberg and producer Peter Jackson, have brought the story to 3D animated life on the big screen. </p> <p>It took some of Weta’s best to tackle the wide array of arduous effects required to complete the film. Keith Miller, one of five VFX supervisors, was among those appointed to the task. He was in charge of roughly 340 shots.</p> <div class="wp-caption alignleft" id="attachment_35113" style="width: 590px;"><a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/TDW152.f_tintin.opener_ships1.jpg" rel="lightbox[35108]"><img alt="" class="size-full wp-image-35113" height="326" src="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/TDW152.f_tintin.opener_ships1.jpg" title="TDW152.f_tintin.opener_ships1" width="580" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">An epic sea battle required Weta Digital’s team to simulate stormy ocean waves</p></div> <p>For Miller, the big challenge was the pirate battle. “It’s such a dynamic sequence,” he says. “There are nearly 60 pirates running about, two ships that are sailing in 60-metre seas complete with lightning storms, rain, hurricane winds, fire, explosions – you name it, it’s all there.” The most difficult challenge was the water, with 60-metre waves interacting with the ships that needed to compositionally match the representations provided by the pre-viz team.</p> <p>Miller’s team approached the work from a few different angles. “First, we updated our FFT [fast Fourier transform] library, a system of generating waves using measurements collected in oceanic research,” says Miller. They also completely rewrote their library using a more up-to-date spectrum that provided the ability to incorporate the ideas of the depth of the ocean and the fetch, or the distance that wind stays at a constant velocity. “We added those new variables into the system and we were able to generate much more realistic wave scenarios for the high wind systems,” he adds. </p> <p>Weta’s FX team did quite a bit of work approximating the surface velocity from the newly generated ocean surfaces and applied those to Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) particle simulations, much of which was used for the white water simulation, breaking waves that rode on top of the ocean surface. These were pushed through Weta’s in-house 3D effects solution, Synapse, a node-based system that’s a container for solvers. In some cases, Naiad data was also incorporated into Synapse for the initial bounded simulation elements.</p> <div class="wp-caption alignleft" id="attachment_35116" style="width: 590px;"><a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/TDW152.f_tintin.pirate1.jpg" rel="lightbox[35108]"><img alt="" class="size-full wp-image-35116" height="245" src="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/TDW152.f_tintin.pirate1.jpg" title="TDW152.f_tintin.pirate1" width="580" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">The battle sequence combines water, fire, wind and lightning, and featured as many as 60 pirates in combat</p></div> <p>In addition to reworking the FFT system, senior water TD Chris Horvath updated Weta’s shading model for raytraced water, using an improved model for participating media for underwater light extinction and scattering. He also made improvements to the procedural texture foam system. </p> <h4>Creating the hands</h4> <p>While Miller and his team battled with the pirate ships, Weta’s digital creature supervisor Simon Clutterbuck focused on some of the smallest of details through his modelling department. “We build the animation puppets, the deformation rigs, we do all the cloth and hair simulations, muscle dynamics, flesh dynamics – anything that has to do with the monster or character,” he says. “We interact with all the departments in the studio to produce stuff for them to use, like the puppets or the baked light, and we work closely with shots and animation.” </p> <p>The creature department work includes providing all the puppets for the animators. “Our animation puppet isn’t the thing that gets cached and ends up in the shot,” says Clutterbuck. “The animation puppets are kind of an interactive, almost real-time version of the character. They don’t have to see amazing hand deformations to pose the hand correctly, so they’re just posing [and] animating this thing that’s much lower resolution.” Clutterbuck’s Creature Department provides the animators with approximations of clothes and low-res hands and bodies that allow for faster animation. “Then the animation data is cached off of that puppet and plugged into a high-resolution creature rig, which gets cached and given to lighting,” he says. “This way there’s no requirement for interactivity in our actual deformation models.” </p> <div class="wp-caption alignleft" id="attachment_35111" style="width: 590px;"><a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/TDW152.f_tintin.new_013025261.jpg" rel="lightbox[35108]"><img alt="" class="size-full wp-image-35111" height="326" src="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/TDW152.f_tintin.new_013025261.jpg" title="TDW152.f_tintin.new_013025261" width="580" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">A single complex rig was used as the basis for all characters’ hands</p></div> <p>It’s hardly all low-res work, though. “There’s a big focus on faces and hands in the show, so a good deal of time was focused on building a detailed hand rig,” says Clutterbuck. “We had all these incredibly close shots of Tintin’s hands. It’s a treasure hunt, so there are all these clues that lead to the treasure, and there are lots of shots where he’s inspecting things. The shots are incredibly long, so you’ll have minutes focused on their face or hands. The stability of the cloth solve, the fidelity of the hands [and] the deformation all had to be very high. It was pretty unforgiving.”</p> <p>Weta Digital’s workflow uses a generic model called Gen Man as a baseline for building humanoid characters. This starting point is used for reference, scanning and motion capturing, tailoring clothes, and even cross-referencing MRI data. Clutterbuck explains: “We produced a whole bunch of life casts in all different poses that were used to build support moulds, 36 in all, that went into the MRI machine, so the character could put his hand into a similar pose and hold it there. Then we could derive the meshes of his joints from the MRIs.” The result was a series of high-resolution joint meshes of his actual skeleton in the selected poses. </p> <div class="wp-caption alignleft" id="attachment_35110" style="width: 590px;"><a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/TDW152.f_tintin.new_00402825.jpg" rel="lightbox[35108]"><img alt="The story requires characters to grip and manipulate objects" class="size-full wp-image-35110" height="326" src="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/TDW152.f_tintin.new_00402825.jpg" title="TDW152.f_tintin.new_00402825" width="580" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">The story is a treasure hunt, so there are lots of shots where the characters have to pick things up and be able to manipulate them</p></div> <p>“The metacarpals in the wrist do all these crazy rolling motions – it’s really complex,” Clutterbuck says. “We couldn’t build that complexity into the animation puppets because it would have been prohibitive to animate with, but we also needed the correct degrees of freedom in the wrist and joints to give us the right deformations of the hand.” It took nearly five months to get the hands working the way they wanted.</p> <p>“The hand rig looks pretty amazing,” says Clutterbuck. “The hand model propagates out into the show, procedurally warped into new shapes, so we built one hand rig and it was fitted to all the characters’ hands. We have a process that was developed on Avatar to transfer the rig and deformation data onto other models.” </p> <p>Weta Digital’s model supervisor Marco Revelant was responsible for all the assets created in the model department and was involved with grooming and developing the fur system from the user side for the dog, Snowy. However, it was the clothing that both Clutterbuck and Revelant found the most challenging. The multiple layers and the way the different fabrics fell and moved presented a daunting task. </p> <h4>Folding the clothes</h4> <p>Weta Digital set up a Tintin-specific costume department that helped define the design of the clothing, offering insight into how the fabric would drape and move over a character. “The problem is,” says Revelant, “when you do digital clothing and give it to a modeller, the modeller will try to put in features like wrinkles and folds, but won’t necessarily take into account the quantity of fabric.”</p> <div class="wp-caption alignleft" id="attachment_35114" style="width: 590px;"><a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/TDW152.f_tintin.other1_04800542SS_dist.jpg" rel="lightbox[35108]"><img alt="" class="size-full wp-image-35114" height="326" src="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/TDW152.f_tintin.other1_04800542SS_dist.jpg" title="TDW152.f_tintin.other1_04800542SS_dist" width="580" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Care was taken with getting clothing folds to animate correctly</p></div> <p>To manage this issue, the Creature Department worked closely with modelling, providing tools that helped drape the character as they were modelling so that they could see how the fabric was behaving, rather than waiting until the Creature Department ran their simulations. Weta used NCloth in Maya, but spent a huge amount of time up-front shooting parameters and getting the topology in the models and construction correct, especially in cross-sections such as sleeves. </p> <div class="wp-caption alignleft" id="attachment_35124" style="width: 590px;"><a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/TDW152.f_tintin.tin8_020003215SS.jpg" rel="lightbox[35108]"><img alt="" class="size-full wp-image-35124" height="326" src="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/TDW152.f_tintin.tin8_020003215SS.jpg" title="TDW152.f_tintin.tin8_020003215SS" width="580" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">There are eight principal characters, and several have multiple costumes. In all, there were 551 individual costumes to build for the film</p></div> <p>Several characters had multiple layers of clothing, requiring layers of geometry to simulate friction. There were eight principal characters, and several – including Tintin, Captain Haddock and Sakharine – have multiple costumes. In all, there were 551 individual costumes to build for the film. “Take the Captain,” Clutterbuck says. “He had a big woollen jacket, a woollen jumper, trousers, and socks and shoes.” Again, proper reference was key. Weta filmed a man running on a treadmill wearing a tailored suit they provided, and gathered reference on how cloth breaks across the seams, collecting data on details such as the effects of double versus single stitching. </p> <p>Weta first tried just solving the visible clothing, but found that it didn’t quite look correct. “We ended up going for full coupled solutions where everything was solved,” says Clutterbuck. “Tintin might enter with his trench coat on, then take it off and toss it onto the back of a chair, and continue the scene wearing the rest of his costume,” says Clutterbuck. “We had to handle this level of complexity where we had all these variations of costume elements and they had to solve coupled. We hadn’t really done anything that complicated before in terms of clothes.” </p> <p>Coupling affects even supporting characters such as Silk, who dresses in a formal jacket, a waistcoat and a shirt. “We didn’t solve the shirt, then put the waistcoat on, then the jacket,” says Clutterbuck. “We solved everything at the same time, so the solutions were all fully coupled. All the costume elements are plugged into one solver. Since they’re all plugged in, they all interact.”</p> <p>Weta defers everything to its render wall. The costumes were assembled as a master file that contained a costume description. During the baked simulation step that file would assemble the costume, plug it into all the solvers, bring it in, attach it to the character, then do the simulation. The result was a final sim and a series of files generated to show what Weta calls pre-files, which are pre-simulation. The individual costume assets are iterated in parallel as an ensemble of costume elements. </p> <div class="wp-caption alignleft" id="attachment_35130" style="width: 590px;"><a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/TDW152.f_tintin.tin14_03802770SS.jpg" rel="lightbox[35108]"><img alt="" class="size-full wp-image-35130" height="326" src="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/TDW152.f_tintin.tin14_03802770SS.jpg" title="TDW152.f_tintin.tin14_03802770SS" width="580" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text"> “There’s a big focus on faces and hands in the show, so a good deal of time was focused on building a detailed hand rig,” says Clutterbuck</p></div> <p>The costumes took several minutes a frame to simulate, but there was no interactivity requirement because that’s all happening on the render wall and animation was working with real-time puppet versions. “So we have these two parts of every character, with the puppet which goes to animation and the creature deformation model that’s the thing the animation curves get plugged into that simulates on the wall,” says Clutterbuck. </p> <p>Weta’s flexible pipeline paid off, according to Miller. “I know a lot of facilities tend to lock down their technology, branch it off and continue developing it outside of current shows, but that’s very different from how Weta works,” he says. “It’s got pros and cons for sure, but it’s one of those things that helps us to stay at the leading edge of technology. We’re constantly throwing in new technology and updating and developing new aspects, and trying to get it pushed into production all the way through the course of the show.” </p> <h4>Setting the scene </h4> <p>The entire Tintin project was done in-house at Weta Digital, including the artwork for the environment and character studies. The translation of the environments from 2D to 3D was left to Weta’s modelling department under modelling supervisor Marco Revelant’s guidance. An internal art department was assembled to research information about the time when the film takes place. </p> <div class="wp-caption alignleft" id="attachment_35133" style="width: 590px;"><a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/TDW152.f_tintin.tin16_08900835.jpg" rel="lightbox[35108]"><img alt="" class="size-full wp-image-35133" height="326" src="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/TDW152.f_tintin.tin16_08900835.jpg" title="TDW152.f_tintin.tin16_08900835" width="580" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">“Every element that was drawn in the book, we tried to find the respective real element from that period that could have been the inspiration for the Hergé drawing," explains Revelant. "Everything was checked against real period data.” </p></div> <p>“One important thing is [creator] Hergé was very careful in depicting a kind of reality that was around the 1940s,” explains Revelant. “Every element that was drawn in the book, we tried to find the respective real element from that period that could have been the inspiration for the Hergé drawing. Everything was checked against real period data.” </p> <h4>Creating the hair </h4> <p>Weta was working on Rise of the Planet of the Apes and Tintin at the same time. While the requirements for hair on Tintin weren’t anything near what they were for Apes, some of the aspects translated over. Tintin required wind effects, wet hair and a lot of development to get the hair to work coupled with the clothes. </p> <div class="wp-caption alignleft" id="attachment_35125" style="width: 590px;"><a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/TDW152.f_tintin.tin9_030016v405.jpg" rel="lightbox[35108]"><img alt="" class="size-full wp-image-35125" height="246" src="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/TDW152.f_tintin.tin9_030016v405.jpg" title="TDW152.f_tintin.tin9_030016v405" width="580" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Character hair in The Adventures of Tintin has to interact with objects and the environment</p></div> <p>With the hat on, the Captain has a groom, styled so his hair doesn’t stick through the hat. When the hat is off, the hair is groomed appropriately. Sometimes the Captain put his hat on or took it off, so transitional shots with appropriate grooms were needed. The Captain’s hair ended up having a very dense particle set on the hair and collision objects with the hat, and his hair would spring up a bit during the transition. </p> <p><a href="http://www.myfavouritemagazines.co.uk/design/3dworld-magazine-back-issues/3d-world-feb-12/">Buy issue 152 of 3D World magazine to read the full article</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Adventures-Tintin-Two-Disc-Blu-ray-Digital/dp/B0034G4P4Y/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1331150699&sr=8-3">Buy the Blu-ray of The Adventures of Tintin via Amazon</a></p> <img border="0" height="1" src="http://3dworldmag.com.feedsportal.com/c/33151/f/538495/s/1d77d052/mf.gif" width="1" /><div class="mf-viral"><table border="0"><tr><td valign="middle"><a href="http://share.feedsportal.com/viral/sendEmail.cfm?lang=en&title=Weta+Digital+on+the+making+of+The+Adventures+of+Tintin&link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.3dworldmag.com%2F2012%2F03%2F15%2Fweta-digital-on-the-making-of-the-adventures-of-tintin%2F%3Futm_source%3Drss%26utm_medium%3Drss%26utm_campaign%3Dweta-digital-on-the-making-of-the-adventures-of-tintin" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/images/emailthis2.gif" /></a></td><td valign="middle"><a href="http://res.feedsportal.com/viral/bookmark.cfm?title=Weta+Digital+on+the+making+of+The+Adventures+of+Tintin&link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.3dworldmag.com%2F2012%2F03%2F15%2Fweta-digital-on-the-making-of-the-adventures-of-tintin%2F%3Futm_source%3Drss%26utm_medium%3Drss%26utm_campaign%3Dweta-digital-on-the-making-of-the-adventures-of-tintin" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/images/bookmark.gif" /></a></td></tr></table></div><br /><br /><a href="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/129200327135/u/49/f/538495/c/33151/s/1d77d052/a2.htm"><img border="0" src="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/129200327135/u/49/f/538495/c/33151/s/1d77d052/a2.img" /></a><img border="0" src="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/129200327135/u/49/f/538495/c/33151/s/1d77d052/a2t.img" /><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/3dWorldrss/~4/D4s7vJZZjr8" width="1" />

UPDATED: 1 YEAR, 2 MONTHS

New animation short: The Accuracy of Time

<p><a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/19.jpg" rel="lightbox[35032]"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-35091" height="326" src="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/19.jpg" title="19" width="580" /></a></p> <p class="strap">Find out how this ultra photorealistic film was pieced together using 3ds Max and V-Ray. Watch the animated short here too</p> <p><span id="more-35032"></span></p> <p>The Accuracy of Time is a depiction of part of the process of building a watch, more specifically the ceramic crown. Created by art director Javi Martinez, the short was made as a case study for his upcoming <a href="http://lightrendergroup.com/">CGI training roadshow TAOT2012</a>.</p> <p>The idea was to replicate a real advertisement and the entire production process behind it. The film will be used as part of the roadshow training to highlight some of specific challenges currently facing digital artists.</p> <p>The project was created using a 3ds Max and V-Ray pipeline. “The decision to use this software was simply to make a technical demonstration of the many capabilities offered by the two working together,” explains Martinez. </p> <h4>3ds Max and V-Ray: an ideal combo</h4> <p>“3ds Max allowed us to develop the short very easily using the new MASSFX to perform physical dynamics and the ceramic particles and at the same time offered great performance in the modelling and animation of objects and cameras. The reason we chose V-Ray was the quality of representation of light, versatility, simplicity to recreate materials and the optimisation of production times.”</p> <p><a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/14.jpg" rel="lightbox[35032]"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-35092" height="326" src="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/14.jpg" title="14" width="580" /></a></p> <h4>More-than-reasonable render times</h4> <p>Rather amazingly, The Accuracy of Time was created using only one workstation! It just goes to show what can be achieved if you’ve got the right amount of dedication: “The short includes the processing of raw materials [to create the watch], the material injection to obtain the piece itself, then it passes through the baking stage and ends with the exposure of the product with elegance and quality,” says Martinez. “But the whole film was in fact a very simple macro CG production playing with a basic geometric model, a virtual light and virtual camera. Given that the piece was produced using a single workstation, the render times were very manageable, ranging from five to 35 minutes per frame.”</p> <h4>Playing with the look</h4> <p>It wasn’t all plain sailing, however. Due to the style and close-up nature of the short, Martinez had to work out solutions in order to achieve the correct look. “The animation treatment and lens blurs were resolved by ZD channels and working on it in post,” Martinex explains. “The animation of the camera lens can easily change the meaning of a sequence so experimenting with this technique was very attractive to me.”</p> <p>Overall, the short took Martinez approximately just under a year to complete from start to finish. “The 10-month production time was an amazing experience,” Martinez says. “But it led to a lot of sacrifice and [it was a] joy to finally get my work out to reach the community of artists in an industry which is so difficult and exquisite.”</p> <h4>Watch the new animation short:</h4> </p> <p></p> <h4>Watch The Accuracy of Time making of video:</h4> <p> <p> </p> <h4>Want more animated shorts of the same calibre?</h4> <p>If you liked this film, check out a selection of other awesome animations on our <a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/category/showcase/shorts/">Shorts page</a></p> <img border="0" height="1" src="http://3dworldmag.com.feedsportal.com/c/33151/f/538495/s/1d6f8c5d/mf.gif" width="1" /><div class="mf-viral"><table border="0"><tr><td valign="middle"><a href="http://share.feedsportal.com/viral/sendEmail.cfm?lang=en&title=New+animation+short%3A+The+Accuracy+of+Time&link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.3dworldmag.com%2F2012%2F03%2F14%2Fnew-animation-short-the-accuracy-of-time%2F%3Futm_source%3Drss%26utm_medium%3Drss%26utm_campaign%3Dnew-animation-short-the-accuracy-of-time" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/images/emailthis2.gif" /></a></td><td valign="middle"><a href="http://res.feedsportal.com/viral/bookmark.cfm?title=New+animation+short%3A+The+Accuracy+of+Time&link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.3dworldmag.com%2F2012%2F03%2F14%2Fnew-animation-short-the-accuracy-of-time%2F%3Futm_source%3Drss%26utm_medium%3Drss%26utm_campaign%3Dnew-animation-short-the-accuracy-of-time" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/images/bookmark.gif" /></a></td></tr></table></div><br /><br /><a href="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/129200299806/u/49/f/538495/c/33151/s/1d6f8c5d/a2.htm"><img border="0" src="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/129200299806/u/49/f/538495/c/33151/s/1d6f8c5d/a2.img" /></a><img border="0" src="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/129200299806/u/49/f/538495/c/33151/s/1d6f8c5d/a2t.img" /><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/3dWorldrss/~4/HB_RZPTmu4k" width="1" />

UPDATED: 1 YEAR, 2 MONTHS

The Embassy: The art of robotics

<p><a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/TDW94.t_trade.ad_seq3.jpg" rel="lightbox[35067]"><img alt="" class="alignright size-full wp-image-35088" height="348" src="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/TDW94.t_trade.ad_seq3.jpg" title="TDW94.t_trade.ad_seq3" width="580" /></a></p> <p class="strap">Do you remember the original Transformers-style Citroën C4 spot? Five years ago it became a worldwide cult hit and we asked The Embassy’s CG team to reveal some of the ad’s technical secrets. Catch up as Transformers week continues…</p> <p>To celebrate <a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/2012/03/07/digital-tutors-releases-new-transforming-robot-tutorials/">Digital-Tutors’ new Transformation training</a>, we thought we’d make an event of it and post online all things Transformery!</p> <p>We’ve already posted up two making of Transformers articles:<br /> <a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/2012/03/07/the-making-of-transformers/">The making of Transformers</a><br /> <a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/2012/03/08/the-making-of-transformers-2/">The making of Transformers 2</a></p> <p>We plan to post up a <strong>train-transforming walkthrough tutorial</strong> this week too, so remember to check back.</p> <h3>Here’s the Embassy’s making of the Citroën ‘Runner’ spot</h3> <h4>ABOUT THE ORIGINAL AD</h4> <p>Created for the launch of Citroën’s C4 range, The Embassy Visual Effects’s original 2004 ad, ‘Alive with Technology’, opens with a hand-held camera shot of a car that transforms into a robot, performs an?impromptu series of dance moves and then reverts back to vehicular form.</p> <div class="wp-caption alignright" id="attachment_35068" style="width: 590px;"><a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/TDW94.t_trade.orig_ad.jpg" rel="lightbox[35067]"><img alt="" class="size-full wp-image-35068" height="320" src="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/TDW94.t_trade.orig_ad.jpg" title="TDW94.t_trade.orig_ad" width="580" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">The Embassy Visual Effects’s original 2004 ad, ‘Alive with Technology’, opens with a hand-held camera shot of a car that transforms into a robot, performs an?impromptu series of dance moves and then reverts back to vehicular form</p></div> <p>As well as making other VFX teams green with envy, the spot proved to have unexpected longevity. A full two years on, it was regularly appearing on TV, picking up fresh awards, and inspiring numerous spoofs and tributes, including a memorable parody replacing the C4 with a rather less glamorous Citroën 2CV and a viral for Danish bacon. The Mill even got a shot at producing a follow-up, before The Embassy itself jumped back on board for a third in the series.</p> <p>“It’s hard to say what it was about that original ad that hit people,” says studio president Winston Helgason. “Technically we did a good job, but something else struck a chord with them. While the ad has that geek factor, it’s just really fun to watch.”</p> <p>Television audiences got their first taste of vehicular dancefloor magic back in 2004. A?relative newcomer to the field of CG, Vancouver-based VFX studio The Embassy Visual Effects had already turned heads with its viral short film <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1zGLx6H3f4&feature=related">Tetra Vaal</a> and some impressively photoreal ads for the likes of Nike.</p> <p>But it was the Citroën ‘Alive with Technology’ ad that really put the studio on the map – and a spring in the step of CG?based car ads. Fusing perfectly believable virtual visuals, directorial flair, and some seriously cool dance moves, The Embassy created what is now regarded as a?genuine classic.</p> <h3>Watch the Citroën ‘Alive with Technology’ spot</h3> <p></p> <p>Now the studio is back on board for the third spot in what is becoming an increasingly long-running campaign, and has been working hard to push the concept of a car that transforms into a robot to even greater heights.</p> <p>In contrast to the original spot, for which director Neill Blomkamp utilised a virtual camera and 3D environment constructed from photographs, the new ad’s director, Trevor Cawood, chose to undertake a live shoot in South Africa – a location chosen principally for its favourable lighting conditions. A new transforming CG vehicle was then integrated into the plates with the help of elements rebuilt in?3D to aid the creation of shadows and reflections.</p> <p>“The brief was pretty open,” says The Embassy president Winston Helgason. “The idea was to have the robot running, but other than that, it was simply ‘make it look cool’. The client did come back and ask if we could find something else for the robot to do, though, so we came up with the rail slide [which the bot performs along the restraining barrier by the side of the road].”</p> <p>Here, the studio’s 3D and compositing staff reveal just how their cybernetic star was rigged and animated to perform such a stunt. They also explore some of the shading and lighting techniques used to generate the photorealistic renders of the modified car necessary to composite it seamlessly into the background plate.</p> <p>Helgason reveals that the studio’s preferred tool for this kind of work is LightWave 3D’s own renderer, its raytracing proving particularly well suited to hard surface lighting. Dropping HDRI set data into the program and adding additional lights, the studio is able to get a scene fully lit in a matter of minutes. But ultimately, he says that the real secret of photorealism in the Citroën ads is simply attention to detail.</p> <p>“The most important thing is to understand how lighting really works, and then learn to match the way it reacts to metallic surfaces,” he says. “That, and then adding loads of extra model detail is what makes the results so effective.”</p> <h3>Watch the Citroën ‘Runner’ spot</h3> <p></p> <p><em>Click Next to read about how ILM had to rip apart the original robot design</em></p> <img border="0" height="1" src="http://3dworldmag.com.feedsportal.com/c/33151/f/538495/s/1d689117/mf.gif" width="1" /><div class="mf-viral"><table border="0"><tr><td valign="middle"><a href="http://share.feedsportal.com/viral/sendEmail.cfm?lang=en&title=The+Embassy%3A+The+art+of+robotics&link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.3dworldmag.com%2F2012%2F03%2F13%2Fthe-embassy-the-art-of-robotics%2F%3Futm_source%3Drss%26utm_medium%3Drss%26utm_campaign%3Dthe-embassy-the-art-of-robotics" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/images/emailthis2.gif" /></a></td><td valign="middle"><a href="http://res.feedsportal.com/viral/bookmark.cfm?title=The+Embassy%3A+The+art+of+robotics&link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.3dworldmag.com%2F2012%2F03%2F13%2Fthe-embassy-the-art-of-robotics%2F%3Futm_source%3Drss%26utm_medium%3Drss%26utm_campaign%3Dthe-embassy-the-art-of-robotics" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/images/bookmark.gif" /></a></td></tr></table></div><br /><br /><a href="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/129200298402/u/49/f/538495/c/33151/s/1d689117/a2.htm"><img border="0" src="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/129200298402/u/49/f/538495/c/33151/s/1d689117/a2.img" /></a><img border="0" src="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/129200298402/u/49/f/538495/c/33151/s/1d689117/a2t.img" /><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/3dWorldrss/~4/z_DGLpUWdbI" width="1" />

UPDATED: 1 YEAR, 2 MONTHS

Software review: iClone5 Pro

<p><a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/r_iclone5.hero_.jpg" rel="lightbox[35061]"><img alt="iClone's new toon shader" class="alignright size-full wp-image-35062" height="326" src="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/r_iclone5.hero_.jpg" title="iClone's new toon shader" width="580" /></a> <p class="strap">Real-time 3D animation tool, iClone, has everything you need to set up your directorial ?debut. But is it too limited, asks Paul Champion?</p> <p>PRICE?: $200.? Upgrade from $120. ??Other editions: Standard, $80??<br /> PLATFORM?: Windows??<br /> MAIN FEATURES: <ul> <li>Real-time animation?</li> <li>In-screen motion editing and puppeteering?</li> <li>Advanced timeline editing with transition curve?</li> <li>Animate in real-time with motion-capture device??</li> </ul> <p>DEVELOPER: <a href="http://www.reallusion.com">Reallusion</a></p> <p>Converting your finished story idea into a pre-viz or polished animation often presents some daunting challenges, and selecting the right software applications to use can be a key factor in the time (and cost) spent completing it. </p> <p>iClone5 Pro offers a happy medium between high-end applications that have seemingly endless options to tweak, and frustratingly feeble, user-unfriendly low-end software. The latest version of iClone has new animation tools, is still a breeze to use and remains competitively priced.?</p> <div class="wp-caption alignright" id="attachment_35063" style="width: 590px;"><a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/r_iclone5.assets.jpg" rel="lightbox[35061]"><img alt="iClone5" class="size-full wp-image-35063" height="463" src="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/r_iclone5.assets.jpg" title="iClone5" width="580" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Now you can create your own version of Pixar’s The Incredibles, in a park and on a merry-go-round!</p></div> <p>If you’re unfamiliar with iClone, it’s primarily a template-based hassle-free solution for real-time animation with plenty of bells and whistles. In terms of workflow, you’re limited to working with the rudimentary content supplied with the application, unless you’re prepared to buy additional assets via Reallusion’s Content Marketplace (which always seems to have some sort of deal on offer). </p> <p>Getting your own assets into iClone5 Pro is quick and easy, but it requires Reallusion’s 3DXchange4, which converts files from applications such as ZBrush, Photoshop, Blender, Poser, Daz Studio, Vue and Maya, and costs $80 for the Standard version. You’ll need 3DXchange4 Pro ($120) to use assets in FBX, 3DS, OBJ and SKP formats. ?</p> <p>Pre-viz users or anyone presenting a concept pitch to clients should find that the content provided is more than adequate for demonstration, where the actual look of assets is less relevant. End users, who will no doubt grow tired of the limited content provided, will be disappointed that they have to shell out for 3DXchange to import more material.?<br /> With the assets in place, it’s time to animate, and there are many new tools to help you with this.??</p> <div class="wp-caption alignright" id="attachment_35064" style="width: 590px;"><a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/r_iclone5.market.jpg" rel="lightbox[35061]"><img alt="iClone5" class="size-full wp-image-35064" height="402" src="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/r_iclone5.market.jpg" title="iClone5" width="580" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Whether it’s sexy girls, gym kits or vampires you’re after, the marketplace has plenty of assets for you to buy</p></div> <h4>New features</h4> <p>?<br /> Direct Puppet lets you record your actor’s animation in real time, and if necessary lock body parts to locations. MixMoves enables seamless blending between motions. Body Motion Puppeteering enables the user to control the animation speed and direction. ?</p> <p>Simple floor contact is taken care of with Human IK Motion Editing for Actors, and allows props (which can now be animated in real time) to be held onto realistically. The Timeline has been updated so that animation curves can be varied in playback by adding curve adjustments such as Ease In and Ease Out. For physics animation there are Rigid and Soft Body options for simulation, and other uses such as game prototyping.?</p> <div class="wp-caption alignright" id="attachment_35065" style="width: 590px;"><a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/r_iclone5.effects.jpg" rel="lightbox[35061]"><img alt="iClone5" class="size-full wp-image-35065" height="464" src="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/r_iclone5.effects.jpg" title="iClone5" width="580" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Effects can help to enhance your movies, but they are limited to a maximum of five within a project</p></div> <p>The premium new animation tool being touted for use with iClone5 Pro is the Mocap Device plug-in. With this you can act out your animations in real-time – the recorded mocap data is then applied to actors. </p> <p>At $140, this is a lot cheaper than buying your own professional mocap studio, although it requires you to have an Xbox 360 with Kinect. It’s also only compatible with the Pro edition. </p> <p>The plug-in is a significant add-on that falls outside the remit of this review. Judging by forum responses, however, it’s a successful product and great for anyone who wants to physically generate their own movement.</p> <p>?Other notable tools and settings, with which Reallusion is catching up with market competitors rather than introducing groundbreaking innovations, include Ambient Occlusion, which improves the quality of visual output with barely any impact on render times; post-FX tools for colour and blur, which are easy to apply; and cartoon rendering, which can be achieved with just a few clicks and some minor texture corrections. ?</p> <div class="wp-caption alignright" id="attachment_35066" style="width: 590px;"><a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/r_iclone5.rigid_.jpg" rel="lightbox[35061]"><img alt="iClone5" class="size-full wp-image-35066" height="371" src="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/r_iclone5.rigid_.jpg" title="iClone5" width="580" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Rigid body simulations can pep up high-speed chases. In iClone5 Pro they are easy to deploy</p></div> <p>There’s still plenty of room for improvement in the renderer. The options are minimal and simplistic – which is part of the general charm of iClone, but it doesn’t always do justice to the end result. Multiple cameras and Picture-In-Picture features offer greater control between shots. Much-requested duplication settings enable you to instance objects with ease, and adjustable pivots, snapping and aligning tools are now possible for objects.?</p> <p>More resource-hungry improvements include higher poly counts for actors, with notable increases to head meshes, which enable more natural deformations. In practice this works far better than before, and since faces are areas that most viewers’ eyes are naturally drawn to, it’s a clearly visible improvement. However, it can still be difficult and time-consuming to tweak. </p> <div class="wp-caption alignright" id="attachment_35062" style="width: 590px;"><a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/r_iclone5.hero_.jpg" rel="lightbox[35061]"><img alt="iClone's new toon shader" class="size-full wp-image-35062" height="326" src="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/r_iclone5.hero_.jpg" title="iClone's new toon shader" width="580" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">The new Toon Shader is found in the Atmosphere section of the Stage tab, and can be adjusted for your project needs</p></div> <p>Cartoon character facial controls have been advanced to include exaggeration. Height Map Terrains now allow bigger landscapes, but they are limited to just five. Smart iProps have been updated for game-like interaction.</p> <p>?During testing, these new tools all worked admirably, yet iClone crashed a number of times for no apparent reason. When pushed to reasonable extremes for any shot – such as 20 actors set up with different parameters and animations applied – iClone responded well. But other times it would crash with, for example, a fairly empty scene during terrain set-up. Ordinarily, this would only be a minor annoyance, but since there’s no autosave option in the program, it becomes more ?of a frustration. </p> <p>?Hardware-wise, iClone doesn’t require an overly demanding system. Rather misleadingly, it’s listed as being 32-bit and 64-bit Windows compatible, but it’s not actually a native 64-bit release, so it won’t take advantage of any extra memory installed over 32-bit limitations. It’s rumoured that a 64-bit update will be released, although this was unconfirmed as we went to press.?</p> <p>Overall, iClone5 Pro remains an easy-to-use application, and it can be a real time-saver for pre-viz work and presentations. The learning curve isn’t too steep, and setting up shots is intuitive. For existing iClone users, it should be a no-brainer to upgrade because content from previous versions is compatible, the upgrade price is good, and the new tools (and mocap plug-in, if you choose to buy it) will enhance its usability. New users will need to assess whether they have the funds for additional content and a copy of 3DXchange. </p> <h3>VERDICT</h3> <h4>PROS</h4> <ul> <li>Simple for novices without previous animation experience?</li> <li>Easily modifiable preset models?</li> <li>Ready-made animation categories?</li> <li>Intuitive editing?</li> <li>Options for advanced animators</li> </ul> <h4>??CONS</h4> <ul> <li>Facial profiles are difficult to tweak?</li> <li>Additional content incurs extra costs</li> <li>Rendering options still limited?</li> <li>Not a true 64-bit application??</li> </ul> <p><strong>A speedy solution for pre-viz but hampered by limited content options, basic render settings, and lack of true 64-bit support</strong></p> <h4>About the author</h4> <p>?Paul Champion is the demonstrator for undergraduate and postgraduate 3D and VFX courses at the National Centre for Computer Animation, Bournemouth</p> <h3><a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/2012/02/06/win-a-copy-of-reallusions-iclone5-pro/">Win a copy of Reallusion’s iClone5 Pro</a></h3> <p>Enter our <a href="http://http://www.3dworldmag.com/2012/02/06/win-a-copy-of-reallusions-iclone5-pro/">iClone5 Pro prize draw</a> for your chance to win one of four packages featuring Reallusion’s real-time animation suite, <strong>worth $1,352 in total</strong></p> <img border="0" height="1" src="http://3dworldmag.com.feedsportal.com/c/33151/f/538495/s/1d5d1225/mf.gif" width="1" /><div class="mf-viral"><table border="0"><tr><td valign="middle"><a href="http://share.feedsportal.com/viral/sendEmail.cfm?lang=en&title=Software+review%3A+iClone5+Pro&link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.3dworldmag.com%2F2012%2F03%2F12%2Fsoftware-review-iclone5-pro%2F%3Futm_source%3Drss%26utm_medium%3Drss%26utm_campaign%3Dsoftware-review-iclone5-pro" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/images/emailthis2.gif" /></a></td><td valign="middle"><a href="http://res.feedsportal.com/viral/bookmark.cfm?title=Software+review%3A+iClone5+Pro&link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.3dworldmag.com%2F2012%2F03%2F12%2Fsoftware-review-iclone5-pro%2F%3Futm_source%3Drss%26utm_medium%3Drss%26utm_campaign%3Dsoftware-review-iclone5-pro" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/images/bookmark.gif" /></a></td></tr></table></div><br /><br /><a href="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/129168239143/u/49/f/538495/c/33151/s/1d5d1225/a2.htm"><img border="0" src="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/129168239143/u/49/f/538495/c/33151/s/1d5d1225/a2.img" /></a><img border="0" src="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/129168239143/u/49/f/538495/c/33151/s/1d5d1225/a2t.img" /><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/3dWorldrss/~4/FfSl8XDXlLw" width="1" />

UPDATED: 1 YEAR, 2 MONTHS

Bioware’s Mass Effect 3: Take Earth Back trailer

<p><a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/Mass_effect_3_trailer.jpg" rel="lightbox[35052]"><img alt="Mass Effect 3 trailer" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-35053" height="325" src="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/Mass_effect_3_trailer.jpg" title="Mass Effect 3 trailer" width="580" /></a> <p class="strap">Remember the phenomenal CG trailer that Bioware released a few weeks ago? Don’t worry if you missed it: as Mass Effect 3 goes on sale in the UK, we take a look at Bioware’s cinematic for the final installment of the massively popular RPG</p> <p>We’re so lucky that big budget games can’t be released without an accompanying cinematic teaser to go alongside the standard gameplay trailer, as the animations produced are truly stunning. </p> <p>Bioware’s Mass Effect 3 trailer is a fine example – the teaser features children, aliens and devastating lasers. The cinematic action really gets your adrenaline pumping. </p> <p>One YouTube user commented that if the video keeps going like it does, [the character you play] Shepard has only got about 30-35 minutes to take back Earth, tops, before it’s completely annihilated!</p> <h3>Watch Bioware’s Mass Effect 3 trailer online</h3> <p></p> <h3>Want to learn how Bioware created the cinematic?</h3> <p>So do we, that’s why we’ve asked Bioware to contribute a ‘making of’ article for 3D World magazine. So look out for that in the next issue!</p> <h3>Want more like this?</h4> <p><a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/2012/03/09/platige-images-witcher-2-trailer-and-making-of-video/">Watch Platige Image’s Witcher 2 trailer and making of video</a></p> <img border="0" height="1" src="http://3dworldmag.com.feedsportal.com/c/33151/f/538495/s/1d4c5888/mf.gif" width="1" /><div class="mf-viral"><table border="0"><tr><td valign="middle"><a href="http://share.feedsportal.com/viral/sendEmail.cfm?lang=en&title=Bioware%E2%80%99s+Mass+Effect+3%3A+Take+Earth+Back+trailer&link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.3dworldmag.com%2F2012%2F03%2F09%2Fbiowares-mass-effect-3-take-earth-back-trailer%2F%3Futm_source%3Drss%26utm_medium%3Drss%26utm_campaign%3Dbiowares-mass-effect-3-take-earth-back-trailer" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/images/emailthis2.gif" /></a></td><td valign="middle"><a href="http://res.feedsportal.com/viral/bookmark.cfm?title=Bioware%E2%80%99s+Mass+Effect+3%3A+Take+Earth+Back+trailer&link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.3dworldmag.com%2F2012%2F03%2F09%2Fbiowares-mass-effect-3-take-earth-back-trailer%2F%3Futm_source%3Drss%26utm_medium%3Drss%26utm_campaign%3Dbiowares-mass-effect-3-take-earth-back-trailer" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/images/bookmark.gif" /></a></td></tr></table></div><br /><br /><a href="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/127698767040/u/49/f/538495/c/33151/s/1d4c5888/a2.htm"><img border="0" src="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/127698767040/u/49/f/538495/c/33151/s/1d4c5888/a2.img" /></a><img border="0" src="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/127698767040/u/49/f/538495/c/33151/s/1d4c5888/a2t.img" /><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/3dWorldrss/~4/NvLT8p93M8g" width="1" />

UPDATED: 1 YEAR, 2 MONTHS

Friday Animation Fun: Synaesthesia

<p><a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/Scene-2.jpg" rel="lightbox[35045]"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-35047" height="244" src="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/Scene-2.jpg" title="Scene-2" width="580" /></a></p> <p class="strap">Find out how this new short about a fascinating sensory condition was created using a combination of Maya, After Effects and Photoshop. Watch the film here too</p> <p>Synaesthesia tells the life experience of a synaesthete; a person with a condition where two or more of the five senses that are normally experienced separately are involuntarily and automatically joined together. Synaesthetes can experience sounds, tastes, smells, shapes, or touches in almost any combination. Synaesthesia features a character as a small boy, an adult worker and a retired man, who can see and feel shapes and depicts his different reactions to the phenomenon.</p> <p>The short was a final year project created by four students – Tien Hee, Kasumi Saito, Leo Chida and Nikko Hull – of <a href="http://www.massey.ac.nz">Massey University</a>, New Zealand. The quartet had to think of an idea to suit the brief of the school, which had a self-driven component as well as a pre-defined part. “This was basically to pick a topic and find a need or something that needs changing etc,” says Hull. “We chose Synaesthesia.”</p> <h4>Things shaped up nicely</h4> <p>In order to tackle such a complicated condition, the team spent a lot of time researching Synaesthesia and how it was going to affect their characters and set designs. “We decided during the research stage what we were going to do,” says Chida. “Each character was associated with a shape as were the environments. These were contrasting, for example, the first scene the kid was a circle, round and innocent and the environment was a triangle, sharp, scary and alert.”</p> <p>The team also used many sources of inspiration to achieve the look and style they were after. “For the environments, I looked at lots of animations, <a href="http://www.studio4c.co.jp/english/">Studio 4°C</a>, <a href="http://vimeo.com/user2825043">Team Cerf</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0831888/">Tekkonkintreet</a> etc and mixed them all together to get the end result,” says Saito. “It was hard to simplify the forms to get it right. We ended up mixing all of these with our own ideas to get the style we came up with.”</p> <p><a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/Scene-1.jpg" rel="lightbox[35045]"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-35046" height="247" src="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/Scene-1.jpg" title="Scene-1" width="580" /></a></p> <h4>Added Layers</h4> <p>With set and character designs completed, the team began creating the film’s assets in Maya and UV layout tool, <a href="http://www.uvlayout.com/">Headus</a>. “This software is pretty awesome, I was really happy with how Headus sped things up,” says Chida. They also adopted a rendering technique which helped with production times.</p> <p>“The process was quite simple, which also helped in a way,” says Hull. “Each layer was kind of easy, it was just a matter of putting it all together in After Effects. We found the technique demonstrated (kind of) on <a href="http://www.deviantart.com/">Deviant Art</a>, I can’t remember the specific artist, but then we tried to figure it out in Maya and it worked quite well. But we didn’t choose that because of its ease, we chose it because of the style.”</p> <p>The scenes were separated to make the whole process more manageable. “The old man walking down the hall is a good example,” says Hull. “We had the walls, which were all on different render layers. The background and walls were a single layer and frame. Then anything which was moving, so the phone and the character, were on their own layers and were the only sequences. There also had to be a sequence for the shadows so they could cast on the walls. Then we had diffuse, shadows, highlight, AO and particle layers. This all went into After Effects with some lights and colour correction.”</p> <p>After two semesters worth of work, the student team completed the film and are pleased with the final result considering their prior experience in animation. “Up until the end, you have no idea what it’s going to turn out like,” says Chida. “But it was so rewarding finding out that all the effort wasn’t wasted and the film actually looked OK. I mean, some was wasted but we’re learning so it’s all good. Our degree consisted of lots of general design and even fine art so we’ve only really had about a year of animation training (in total). With this in mind, I’m pretty happy with how it turned out.”</p> <p></p> <p>Like this film? <a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/category/showcase/shorts/">Check out the selection of other awesome animations in our shorts section</a></p> <p><em>Make sure you visit next week for more Friday Animation Fun!</em></p> <img border="0" height="1" src="http://3dworldmag.com.feedsportal.com/c/33151/f/538495/s/1d4bec67/mf.gif" width="1" /><div class="mf-viral"><table border="0"><tr><td valign="middle"><a href="http://share.feedsportal.com/viral/sendEmail.cfm?lang=en&title=Friday+Animation+Fun%3A+Synaesthesia&link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.3dworldmag.com%2F2012%2F03%2F09%2Ffriday-animation-fun-synaesthesia%2F%3Futm_source%3Drss%26utm_medium%3Drss%26utm_campaign%3Dfriday-animation-fun-synaesthesia" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/images/emailthis2.gif" /></a></td><td valign="middle"><a href="http://res.feedsportal.com/viral/bookmark.cfm?title=Friday+Animation+Fun%3A+Synaesthesia&link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.3dworldmag.com%2F2012%2F03%2F09%2Ffriday-animation-fun-synaesthesia%2F%3Futm_source%3Drss%26utm_medium%3Drss%26utm_campaign%3Dfriday-animation-fun-synaesthesia" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/images/bookmark.gif" /></a></td></tr></table></div><br /><br /><a href="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/127698680485/u/49/f/538495/c/33151/s/1d4bec67/a2.htm"><img border="0" src="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/127698680485/u/49/f/538495/c/33151/s/1d4bec67/a2.img" /></a><img border="0" src="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/127698680485/u/49/f/538495/c/33151/s/1d4bec67/a2t.img" /><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/3dWorldrss/~4/_jN_z2Gm7AM" width="1" />

UPDATED: 1 YEAR, 2 MONTHS

Platige Image’s Witcher 2 trailer and making of video

<p><a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/witcher2_09032012.jpg" rel="lightbox[35048]"><img alt="Witcher 2" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-35049" height="317" src="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/witcher2_09032012.jpg" title="Witcher 2" width="580" /></a> <p class="strap">Watch the jaw-dropping animation in the trailer for The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings. Then catch Platige Image’s ‘making of’ video too… </p> <p>In January, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and CD Projekt RED released the epic and impactful CG intro trailer for The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings, produced by the award-winning animation studio, Platige Image. </p> <p>We were simply blown away when we watched this four-minute cinematic online at the start of the year. Directed by Tomek Bagi?ski and produced by Platige Image, this trailer is packed with stunning animation and effects. Watch it below.</p> <p>Now Platige Image has produced a behind-the-scenes look at the production of the trailer, from the early renders and mocap sessions to the final clip. You can also watch this three-minute video below.</p> <h4>Behind the scenes of Witcher 2</h4> <p>“The idea of the script came from CD Projekt couple years ago, right after the premiere of ‘The Witcher’. It was so called ‘soft’ version and we used it as basis for the work. In spite of vast changes we made, the project went on hold for almost two years until it was brought back to life in Xbox 360 version.”</p> <p>“As it turned out these two years gave both parties necessary perspective. Once we started working on the script again we were able to create new, better and richer version very fast.”</p> <p>“What was left from the original is the ship and main characters. All the rest has been changed. For example in the first version a hornet’s nest was used in the attack. The ship was turned into chaos – all crew started running around. They looked like a group of crazy or electrocuted people. Well… we got rid of this ‘dance’ but left the chaos and add a lot of steroids. It helped,” says director Tomek Bagi?ski.</p> <p>“It was one of the most demanding projects in Platige Image history. The script set up very high standards. As for such a short movie there were a lot of main, detailed characters, difficult face close-ups, very dynamic action full of special effects: cloth and particles simulation and hard slowmotion shots.”</p> <p>“The ship also became one of the main characters. First our graphic artists created a fantastic scenery and most of all great, very detailed sailing ship. Then the particles simulation team went rough with it. They created a vast interaction system covering the whole construction with milions of ice crystals and they smashed the whole thing,” adds CG Supervisor Maciek Jackiewicz.</p> <p>The team of 40 graphic designers and animators was involved in the project for couple moths.</p> <p>The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings is due on on Xbox 360 on 17 April. The Windows version is shipping now.</p> <h3>Watch the Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings trailer:</h3> <p></p> <h3> Watch the making-of video for the cinematic:</h3> <p></p> <p><a href="http://www.cgsociety.org/index.php/CGSFeatures/CGSFeatureSpecial/the_witcher_2_cinematic">Read a longer interview with CG supervisor Maciej Jackiewicz on CGSociety</a></p> <h4>If you liked this, look out for our ‘making of’ Mass Effect 3 cinematic, due in the next issue of 3D World</h4> <img border="0" height="1" src="http://3dworldmag.com.feedsportal.com/c/33151/f/538495/s/1d4b9af0/mf.gif" width="1" /><div class="mf-viral"><table border="0"><tr><td valign="middle"><a href="http://share.feedsportal.com/viral/sendEmail.cfm?lang=en&title=Platige+Image%E2%80%99s+Witcher+2+trailer+and+making+of+video&link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.3dworldmag.com%2F2012%2F03%2F09%2Fplatige-images-witcher-2-trailer-and-making-of-video%2F%3Futm_source%3Drss%26utm_medium%3Drss%26utm_campaign%3Dplatige-images-witcher-2-trailer-and-making-of-video" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/images/emailthis2.gif" /></a></td><td valign="middle"><a href="http://res.feedsportal.com/viral/bookmark.cfm?title=Platige+Image%E2%80%99s+Witcher+2+trailer+and+making+of+video&link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.3dworldmag.com%2F2012%2F03%2F09%2Fplatige-images-witcher-2-trailer-and-making-of-video%2F%3Futm_source%3Drss%26utm_medium%3Drss%26utm_campaign%3Dplatige-images-witcher-2-trailer-and-making-of-video" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/images/bookmark.gif" /></a></td></tr></table></div><br /><br /><a href="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/127698762514/u/49/f/538495/c/33151/s/1d4b9af0/a2.htm"><img border="0" src="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/127698762514/u/49/f/538495/c/33151/s/1d4b9af0/a2.img" /></a><img border="0" src="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/127698762514/u/49/f/538495/c/33151/s/1d4b9af0/a2t.img" /><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/3dWorldrss/~4/b7YwnVrsgeA" width="1" />

UPDATED: 1 YEAR, 2 MONTHS

JUST CREATIVE DESIGN

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Recent Web & Branding Work (Jul-Dec)

<p class="intro">Back in July I posted some of my <a href="http://justcreative.com/2012/07/27/recent-web-design-work/" title="Recent Web Work">recent work</a> for <a href="http://justcreative.com/2012/07/29/comedians-in-cars-getting-coffee/" title="Jerry Seinfeld">Jerry Seinfeld</a>, <a href="http://justcreative.com/2012/07/11/sweetn-low-website/" title="Sweet N Low">Sweet’N Low</a>, <a href="http://justcreative.com/2012/06/01/energy-kitchen/" title="Energy Kitchen">Energy Kitchen</a> and now six months later, I have a few more web & branding projects to share with you. Thanks for looking!</p> <h2>Ruff Club</h2> <p><a href="http://ruffclub.com" title="Ruff Club NYC">Ruff Club</a> is a dog-friendly social club and contemporary pet care hub based in East Village, New York City. I had the pleasure of branding this new business from the ground up, creating their logo, overall look & feel and web site design.</p> <p>The positioning of the brand shies away from the “boutique hotel experience” and instead, true to the East Village, offers a laid-back environment where dogs and humans are treated with dignity and respect but never pampered or infantilized.</p> <p>Ruff Club is built on the idea that people can channel the love and humility their dogs provide, into new relationships and collective community engagement.</p> <p>Ruff Club will be opening their doors very soon. I’ll share more photos once they become available.</p> <div class="wp-caption alignnone"><img alt="Ruff Club Logo" class=" " height="457" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/RUFF-Club-Logo-640x457.jpg" title="Ruff Club Logo" width="640" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Ruff Club Logo</p></div> <div> <div class="mceTemp"></div> <div class="wp-caption alignnone"><img alt="Ruff Club Logo Reversed" class=" " height="457" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/RUFF-Club-Logo-Dark-640x457.jpg" title="Ruff Club Logo Reversed" width="640" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Ruff Club Logo Reversed</p></div> </div> <div> <div class="wp-caption alignnone" id="attachment_11470"><a href="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Ruff-Club-Website-Home-Page.jpg"><img alt="Ruff Club Website Home Page" class="size-large wp-image-11470" height="421" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Ruff-Club-Website-Home-Page-640x421.jpg" title="Ruff Club Website Home Page" width="640" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Ruff Club Website Home Page</p></div> </div> <div> <div class="wp-caption alignnone" id="attachment_11471"><a href="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Ruff-Club-Website-SubPage.jpg"><img alt="Ruff Club Website FAQ Page" class="size-large wp-image-11471" height="655" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Ruff-Club-Website-SubPage-640x655.jpg" title="Ruff Club Website FAQ Page" width="640" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Ruff Club Website FAQ Page</p></div> </div> <div> <div class="wp-caption alignnone" id="attachment_11465"><img alt="Ruff Club Letterhead (Logo Stamped On) & Business Card" class="size-large wp-image-11465" height="477" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Ruff-Club-Stationery-640x477.jpg" title="Ruff-Club-Stationery" width="640" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Ruff Club Letterhead (The logo & text are stamped on) & Business Card</p></div> </div> <div> <div class="wp-caption alignnone" id="attachment_11438"><img alt="Ruff Club Pre Launch at the NYC Halloween Dog Parade " class="size-large wp-image-11438" height="480" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Ruff-Club-Launch-640x480.jpg" title="Ruff Club Pre Launch at the NYC Halloween Dog Parade " width="640" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Ruff Club pre launch at the NYC Halloween Dog Parade.</p></div> </div> <div class="wp-caption alignnone" id="attachment_11439"><img alt="Ruff Club Store" class="size-large wp-image-11439" height="480" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Ruff-Club-Store-640x480.jpg" title="Ruff-Club-Store" width="640" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Outside of the Ruff Club store front, providing support for pets effected by Hurricane Sandy.</p></div> <h2>Coffee Shop Restaurant, NYC</h2> <p>When Ammirati (the agency I work at) was asked to rebrand & refresh the iconic <a href="http://thecoffeeshopnyc.com" title="The Coffee Shop NYC">Coffee Shop</a> restaurant in Union Square, our stomachs growled at the opportunity. We designed a sexy new website that visually reflected their 23 opening hours, both for the desktop and mobile.</p> <p>Each of the 23 squares on their home page represents 1 hour of the day and a photo taken within that hour is randomly displayed each time the page is loaded. The website is scalable ensuring that screen sizes are used to their maximum potential. Viewing the menu and ordering online is just one click away too.</p> <p>My role in this project was coming up with the 23 hour grid concept and the overall UX / UI design for the desktop and mobile versions of the site.</p> <div class="wp-caption alignnone" id="attachment_11391"><img alt="Coffee Shop Website" class="size-large wp-image-11391" height="468" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Coffee-Shop-Website-640x468.jpg" title="Coffee-Shop-Website" width="640" /><p class="wp-caption-text">The Coffee Shop Website</p></div> <div class="wp-caption alignnone" id="attachment_11295"><a href="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Coffee-Shop-Final.jpg"><img alt="Coffee Shop Union Square, NYC" class="size-large wp-image-11295 " height="445" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Coffee-Shop-Final-640x445.jpg" title="Coffee Shop" width="640" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">The home page for the 'Coffee Shop' Union Square, NYC</p></div> <div class="wp-caption alignnone" id="attachment_11296"><a href="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Coffee-Shop-Menu.jpg"><img alt="Website Menu Page for 'Coffee Shop' Union Square, NYC" class="size-large wp-image-11296" height="445" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Coffee-Shop-Menu-640x445.jpg" title="Coffee-Shop-Menu" width="640" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">The menu page for 'Coffee Shop' Union Square, NYC </p></div> <div class="wp-caption alignnone" id="attachment_11321"><a href="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/CoffeeShop-Mobile.jpg"><img alt="Coffee Shop NYC Mobile Website" class="size-large wp-image-11321" height="354" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/CoffeeShop-Mobile-640x354.jpg" title="CoffeeShop-Mobile" width="640" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Coffee Shop NYC Mobile Website</p></div> <h2>Au Natural <em>In The Raw</em> Facebook App</h2> <p>The Au Natural <em>In The Raw </em>app allows users to upload their own food photo, censor it, and then share their successful creation. Friends can then click on the shared photo and “reveal” the sweet creation via an interactive slider. Users can then share their own photo, view the Au Natural gallery and gain access to secret <em>In The Raw</em> recipes.</p> <p>My role in this project was the interaction design for both the mobile & desktop versions of the Facebook application; including the overall architecture of the app, the user experience & user interface design. Designed & developed at Ammirati.</p> <p>The mobile version can be seen here (must be viewed on a Mobile device):<br /> <a href="https://www.hotintherawaction.com/mobile/" target="_blank">https://www.hotintherawaction.com/mobile/</a></p> <p>The desktop version can be seen here:<br /> <a href="https://www.hotintherawaction.com/" target="_blank">https://www.hotintherawaction.com/</a></p> <div class="wp-caption alignnone" id="attachment_11312"><a href="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/ITR-Mobile.jpg"><img alt="In The Raw Mobile" class="size-large wp-image-11312" height="457" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/ITR-Mobile-640x457.jpg" title="ITR Mobile" width="640" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">In The Raw Mobile Facebook App</p></div> <p><a href="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/02-Au-Natural-Facebook.jpg"><img alt="Au Natural Food Porn Gallery Facebook Cover Photo" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-11204" height="560" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/02-Au-Natural-Facebook-640x560.jpg" title="02-Au-Natural-Facebook" width="640" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/03-Au-Natural-Home.jpg"><img alt="Au Natural App Home Page" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-11205" height="962" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/03-Au-Natural-Home-640x962.jpg" title="03-Au-Natural-Home" width="640" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/04-Au-Natural-Censor.jpg"><img alt="Au Natural: Censor Your Food Photo" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-11206" height="856" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/04-Au-Natural-Censor-640x856.jpg" title="04-Au-Natural-Censor" width="640" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/05-Au-Natural-Success.jpg"><img alt="Au Natural Sweet Success - Food Photo Censored" class="size-large wp-image-11207" height="1059" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/05-Au-Natural-Success-640x1059.jpg" title="05-Au-Natural-Success" width="640" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/06-Au-Natural-Slide.jpg"><img alt="Au Natural Food Photo Slider Reveal" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-11208" height="1447" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/06-Au-Natural-Slide-640x1447.jpg" title="06-Au-Natural-Slide" width="640" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/09-Au-Natural-Recipe.jpg"><img alt="Au Natural Food Recipe Page" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-11210" height="1253" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/09-Au-Natural-Recipe-640x1253.jpg" title="09-Au-Natural-Recipe" width="640" /></a></p> <div> <a href="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Au-Natural-Mobile.jpg"><img alt="Au Natural In The Raw Mobile App" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-11211" height="410" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Au-Natural-Mobile-640x410.jpg" title="Au-Natural-Mobile" width="640" /></a></div> <h2>Vero Water</h2> <p><a href="http://verowater.com" title="Vero Water">Vero Water</a> is the industry leader for the finest still and sparkling water and is based in Miami, USA. I created this logo / brand identity / bottle design back in 2009 however they’ve just had a photo shoot and thought I would share some of the new shots.</p> <div><img alt="Vero Logo" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-11091" height="457" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Vero-Logo-640x457.jpg" title="Vero-Logo" width="640" /></div> <div></div> <div></div> <div><img alt="VERO Water Bottles" height="372" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/vero-water-bottles.jpeg" title="VERO Water Bottles" width="600" /></div> <div></div> <div><img alt="VERO Water Bottling System" height="400" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/vero-water-bottling-system.jpeg" title="VERO Water Bottling System" width="600" /></div> <div></div> <div><img alt="VERO Miami" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-11093" height="408" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/vero-miami.jpeg" title="vero-miami" width="612" /></div> <div></div> <div><img alt="VERO Restaurant" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-11094" height="342" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/vero-restaurant-640x342.jpg" title="vero-restaurant" width="640" /></div> <div></div> <h2>Appex</h2> <p>Another client, <a href="http://appex.no" title="Appex">Appex</a>, that I designed the brand identity for in 2009 has been expanding very fast. Here are some snaps showing their identity in use, from yo-yos, to soccer jerseys, to 8-foot high signage. Great to see it all come alive!</p> <div class="wp-caption alignnone" id="attachment_11329"><img alt="Appex Front Desk with Yo-Yos and Balloons" class="size-full wp-image-11329" height="427" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Appex-Front-Desk.jpg" title="Appex-Front-Desk" width="640" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Appex Front Desk with Yo-Yos and Balloons</p></div> <div class="wp-caption alignnone" id="attachment_11330"><img alt="Appex Lobby" class="size-large wp-image-11330" height="427" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Appex-Lobby-640x427.jpg" title="Appex Lobby" width="640" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Appex Lobby</p></div> <div class="wp-caption alignnone" id="attachment_11328"><img alt="Appex Welcome Chair" class="size-full wp-image-11328" height="800" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Appex-Chair.jpg" title="Appex-Chair" width="600" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Appex Welcome Chair</p></div> <div class="wp-caption alignnone" id="attachment_11332"><img alt="Installing The Appex Signage" class="size-large wp-image-11332" height="427" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Appex-Signage-Installation-640x427.jpg" title="Appex-Signage-Installation" width="640" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Installing The Appex Signage</p></div> <div class="wp-caption alignnone" id="attachment_11333"><img alt="Appex Signage" class="size-large wp-image-11333" height="427" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Appex-Signage-640x427.jpg" title="Appex-Signage" width="640" /><p class="wp-caption-text">8 Foot Appex Signage</p></div> <div class="wp-caption alignnone" id="attachment_11331"><img alt="Appex Newspaper Ad" class="size-large wp-image-11331" height="480" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Appex-Newspaper-Ad-640x480.jpg" title="Appex-Newspaper-Ad" width="640" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Appex Newspaper Ad</p></div> <div class="wp-caption alignnone" id="attachment_11334"><img alt="Appex Football Team" class="size-large wp-image-11334" height="338" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Appex-Soccer-Team-640x338.jpg" title="Appex-Soccer-Team" width="640" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Appex Football Team</p></div> <p>Thoughts and comments are always welcome. Thanks again for looking!</p> <p>As a heads up, the Just Creative blog may be a bit quiet over the December holiday break as I will be traveling. Happy Holidays all!</p> <hr /><br /> © This article is copyright of <a href="http://justcreative.com">JUST™ Creative</a> and should not be found elsewhere.<br /><br /> <div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=VDJFQ0wBdDQ:pG9baofuqzo:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?i=VDJFQ0wBdDQ:pG9baofuqzo:gIN9vFwOqvQ" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=VDJFQ0wBdDQ:pG9baofuqzo:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?i=VDJFQ0wBdDQ:pG9baofuqzo:V_sGLiPBpWU" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=VDJFQ0wBdDQ:pG9baofuqzo:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=VDJFQ0wBdDQ:pG9baofuqzo:qj6IDK7rITs"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?d=qj6IDK7rITs" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=VDJFQ0wBdDQ:pG9baofuqzo:7Q72WNTAKBA"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?d=7Q72WNTAKBA" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=VDJFQ0wBdDQ:pG9baofuqzo:D7DqB2pKExk"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?i=VDJFQ0wBdDQ:pG9baofuqzo:D7DqB2pKExk" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=VDJFQ0wBdDQ:pG9baofuqzo:I9og5sOYxJI"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?d=I9og5sOYxJI" /></a> </div>

UPDATED: 5 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

4 Lessons to Learn from Charles and Ray Eames

<p><em>*This is a guest article contributed by Aniya Wells.</em></p> <p class="intro"><strong>Charles and Ray Eames</strong> were the design power couple of the 20th century. Their Eames Lounge chair for Herman Miller, shown below, is one of the most lusted-after furniture designs in the world, and is only the best known example of their vast output.</p> <div class="wp-caption alignnone" id="attachment_11415"><img alt="Eames Lounge Chair" class="size-large wp-image-11415" height="357" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/eames-lounge-chair-640x357.jpg" title="eames-lounge-chair" width="640" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Eames Lounge Chair</p></div> <p>For over 35 years, Charles and Ray lived as husband and wife, but also as partners in a design practice that put forth such remarkably varied fruits as the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eames_House" title="Eames House">Eames Case Study House</a>, the film <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Powers_of_Ten" title="Powers of Ten">Powers of Ten</a>, and the exhibition Mathematica, still on view today at the Boston Museum of Science.</p> <p>Though slogan writing was not one of their advertised areas of expertise, Charles had a particular knack for the pithy, memorable quotation. I have drawn on some of them, published in the book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/100-Quotes-By-Charles-Eames/dp/B003CMTHQQ" title="100 Quotes from Charles & Ray Eames">100 Quotes by Charles Eames</a>, in order to suggest a handful of lessons we can learn from the Eames Office:</p> <div class="wp-caption alignnone" id="attachment_11413"><img alt="Charles Ray Eames" class="size-full wp-image-11413" height="443" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/charles-ray-eames.jpg" title="charles-ray-eames" width="600" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Ray & Charles Eames</p></div> <h3>1. “The role of the designer is that of a very good, thoughtful host anticipating the needs of his guests.”</h3> <p>This quote from Charles Eames succinctly sums up the couple’s philosophical approach to design, and it explains the charm, detail, and accessibility that characterize so much of their work. The word “guest” is tossed around so much these days as a euphemism for “customer” that it’s easy to lose track of the original meaning of the word.</p> <p>The Eameses, as global travelers and enthusiastic amateur anthropologists (indeed, they saw this as part of their role as designers) learned firsthand the value of hospitality, and the role of a designer in smoothing the way for people to live and work. This means not only making things more functional, though that’s of primary importance. It also means making them more pleasing. As Charles often admonished designers:</p> <div class="superquote"> “Take your pleasures seriously.” </div> <h3>2. The more you do, the more you can do.</h3> <p>Perhaps the greatest secret to the success of the Eameses was that they refused to specialize. By taking commissions and launching new projects of their own for architecture, film, furniture, toys, games, museum exhibits, textiles, magazines, and more, they developed a comprehensive, even universal approach to their work. “We work because it’s a chain reaction, each subject leads to the next,” Charles said. A varied career has a way of cross-fertilizing from one domain to another.</p> <div class="wp-caption alignnone" id="attachment_11414"><img alt="The Eames House" class="size-full wp-image-11414" height="480" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/eames-house.jpg" title="eames-house" width="640" /><p class="wp-caption-text">The Eames House. Photo by Thomahalk1.</p></div> <h3>3. “Innovate as a last resort. More horrors are done in the name of innovation than any other.”</h3> <p>Great designers are voracious scavengers. In this age of sampling, mashups, and copyleft activism, we can look back and see that Charles and Ray were far ahead of their time in their collage-like approach to creativity. They disapproved of the cult of originality in their time, and saw that often the best solutions come from the ground up.</p> <div class="superquote"> “Eventually, everything connects – people, ideas, objects. The quality of the connections is the key to quality per se.” </div> <p>This should extend to your interactions with fellow designers. Being competitive is natural, but try to create a space for idea incubation, exchange, and riffing. After all, “Ideas are cheap. Always be passionate about ideas and communicating those ideas and discoveries to others in the things you make.”</p> <h3>4. A partnership is more than the sum of its parts.</h3> <p>While most of us are not married to our professional colleagues (and if we are, we know it certainly presents complications absent from our romantic daydreams), nevertheless this is true of even purely creative relationships. Think about how you can create this type of nonzero economy in your own interactions. When working with a client, don’t impose your own vision from outside, but consider what unique qualities you can draw out from them.</p> <div class="wp-caption alignnone" id="attachment_11425"><img alt="La Chaise" class="size-full wp-image-11425" height="480" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/la-chaise.jpg" title="La Chaise" width="640" /><p class="wp-caption-text">La Chaise Lounge Chair</p></div> <p>With all their diverse accomplishments, the greatest example the Eameses left us is their dynamic, symbiotic life together. As Charles put it, “Any time one or more things are consciously put together in a way that they can accomplish something better than they could have accomplished individually, this is an act of design.”</p> <p>For more Eames, this <a href="http://fuckyeahrayandcharleseames.tumblr.com/archive" title="Ray Charles Eames">Tumblr has a nice visual overview</a>. <strong>Do you have a favorite Eames piece?</strong></p> <p>–</p> <p><em>*Aniya Wells is a freelance blogger who primarily writes for <a href="http://www.onlinedegreeprograms.com/" title="Online Degree Programs">www.onlinedegreeprograms.com</a>. She also enjoys investigating trends in other niches, notably technology, traditional higher education, health, and small business. Aniya welcomes reader questions and comments.</em></p> <hr /><br /> © This article is copyright of <a href="http://justcreative.com">JUST™ Creative</a> and should not be found elsewhere.<br /><br /> <div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=fMLskbSeW1Y:q3UwEFRP93c:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?i=fMLskbSeW1Y:q3UwEFRP93c:gIN9vFwOqvQ" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=fMLskbSeW1Y:q3UwEFRP93c:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?i=fMLskbSeW1Y:q3UwEFRP93c:V_sGLiPBpWU" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=fMLskbSeW1Y:q3UwEFRP93c:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=fMLskbSeW1Y:q3UwEFRP93c:qj6IDK7rITs"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?d=qj6IDK7rITs" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=fMLskbSeW1Y:q3UwEFRP93c:7Q72WNTAKBA"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?d=7Q72WNTAKBA" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=fMLskbSeW1Y:q3UwEFRP93c:D7DqB2pKExk"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?i=fMLskbSeW1Y:q3UwEFRP93c:D7DqB2pKExk" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=fMLskbSeW1Y:q3UwEFRP93c:I9og5sOYxJI"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?d=I9og5sOYxJI" /></a> </div>

UPDATED: 5 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS

My Fav Tweets From This Week (Nov 2-9)

<p class="intro">Here are a few interesting links that I tweeted this week. <a href="http://twitter.com/justcreative" title="Just Creative on Twitter">Feel free to follow @justcreative for more</a>.</p> <p><img alt="Twitter Bird" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-11182" height="400" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/twitter-bird.gif" title="twitter-bird" width="640" /></p> <ul> <li>Pretty solid advice and tips from <a dir="ltr" href="https://twitter.com/teehanlax">@teehanlax</a>: 10 Years of Teehan + Lax <a dir="ltr" href="http://t.co/9BvpYvZl" target="_blank" title="http://bit.ly/Py3RRP">http://bit.ly/Py3RRP</a></li> <li>Did you know you can save paths within JPGS? Here’s how. <a dir="ltr" href="http://t.co/B1Vv7jwl" target="_blank" title="http://bit.ly/PGKs19">http://bit.ly/PGKs19</a></li> <li>Instagram gets profiles, here’s mine – <a dir="ltr" href="http://t.co/fISJZ03O" target="_blank" title="http://bit.ly/RJOy6L">http://bit.ly/RJOy6L</a></li> <li>A neat little stunt releasing the new Sony Xperia phone – <a dir="ltr" href="http://t.co/bKSThrni" target="_blank" title="http://bit.ly/WBR2Kq">http://bit.ly/WBR2Kq</a></li> <li>Appex, a client I designed the brand identity for has recently installed a rather massive sign on their building. <a dir="ltr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/appex/7985402043/in/photostream" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/RFh8q4 </a></li> <li>Hurricane Sandy is “likely the most digitally captured event in history”. 1.3 million photos were tagged with <a dir="ltr" href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Sandy&src=hash"><s>#</s>Sandy</a>. <a dir="ltr" href="http://t.co/4yUr5UAi" target="_blank" title="http://on.mash.to/Wr8Wzj">http://on.mash.to/Wr8Wzj</a></li> <li>Although Hurricane Sandy was bad, I certainly wouldn’t wanna come across a fire tornado! Damn! <a dir="ltr" href="http://t.co/2E98BpWk" target="_blank" title="http://bit.ly/YyRmaQ">http://bit.ly/YyRmaQ</a></li> <li>ikonic 150 vector icon set by <a dir="ltr" href="https://twitter.com/rakeshdesign">@rakeshdesign</a> looks pretty neat <a dir="ltr" href="http://t.co/ovJlzJ2m" target="_blank" title="http://bit.ly/VXHq6N">http://bit.ly/VXHq6N </a> Free 25 too!</li> <li>A sneak preview of the new <a dir="ltr" href="https://twitter.com/RuffClubNYC">@ruffclubnyc</a> website that I created the brand identity / website for. <a dir="ltr" href="http://t.co/JF8WYrQX" target="_blank" title="http://bit.ly/XP6q3L">http://bit.ly/XP6q3L</a></li> <li><a dir="ltr" href="https://twitter.com/NRL">@NRL</a> Rugby League launches new brand logo <a dir="ltr" href="http://t.co/4t5k2RZk" target="_blank" title="http://bit.ly/Rfz74f">http://bit.ly/Rfz74f </a></li> <li>A Year In Full Colour stop motion video – <a href="http://youtu.be/7Q9XvlMITrQ" title="YouTube">http://youtu.be/7Q9XvlMITrQ</a></li> </ul> <p>Stay tuned for more.</p> <hr /><br /> © This article is copyright of <a href="http://justcreative.com">JUST™ Creative</a> and should not be found elsewhere.<br /><br /> <div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=0Oqch38j_uE:L8rCxgMpnyw:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?i=0Oqch38j_uE:L8rCxgMpnyw:gIN9vFwOqvQ" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=0Oqch38j_uE:L8rCxgMpnyw:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?i=0Oqch38j_uE:L8rCxgMpnyw:V_sGLiPBpWU" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=0Oqch38j_uE:L8rCxgMpnyw:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=0Oqch38j_uE:L8rCxgMpnyw:qj6IDK7rITs"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?d=qj6IDK7rITs" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=0Oqch38j_uE:L8rCxgMpnyw:7Q72WNTAKBA"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?d=7Q72WNTAKBA" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=0Oqch38j_uE:L8rCxgMpnyw:D7DqB2pKExk"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?i=0Oqch38j_uE:L8rCxgMpnyw:D7DqB2pKExk" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=0Oqch38j_uE:L8rCxgMpnyw:I9og5sOYxJI"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?d=I9og5sOYxJI" /></a> </div>

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

7 Ways Designers Can Get Their Foot in the Door

<p><em>This is a collaborative guest article between Jamie Wayne* and I.</em></p> <p class="intro">Whether you’re a graphic <a href="http://justcreative.com/category/design-for-students/" title="Design For Students">design student</a> or a young professional, getting your foot in the door is not as simple as it sounds. Taking the first step requires initiative, patience and some wisdom too.</p> <p>Thankfully, there’s always a way to make it in and this article will provide seven different ways for you to get your foot in the door.</p> <div><img alt="Foot In The Door" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-11123" height="426" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/foot-door-640x426.jpg" title="Foot In The Door" width="640" /></div> <h2>1. Network at Conferences & Events</h2> <p><a href="http://jamiewayne.com/2012/02/04/xcviii-why-you-should-start-networking-now-instead-of-later/" target="_blank" title="Why you should start networking now instead of later">Networking</a> at <a href="http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2012/10/25/upcoming-web-design-development-conferences-2012-2013/" target="_blank" title="Design Conferences 2013">design conferences </a>and professional events can be a good way to get meet new people and build a professional stronghold. From conversing with other graphic designers to developers, copywriters, and business owners, exposure from these events can lead to great opportunities. With this said, walking into an event blindfolded may set you up for trouble as first impressions are everything. It’s imperative to keep a few things in mind when making your first impression – be admirable and memorable.</p> <p><strong>Be Admirable</strong></p> <ul> <li>Plan ahead for networking opportunities by <a href="http://www.howdesign.com/design-career/job-search-tips/present-your-portfolio/" title="Portfolio Polish">polishing up your portfolio</a> & <a href="http://www.yourbusinesscardsucks.com/" target="_blank" title="Your Card Sucks">business cards</a>.</li> <li>Be presentable for the occasion. Is it casual or formal?</li> <li>Ask questions and be interested (or act it) in every discussion.</li> <li>Don’t try to oversell your skills or services. Tell don’t sell.</li> </ul> <p><strong>Be Memorable</strong></p> <p>Small talk & <a href="http://justcreative.com/2008/10/02/design-elevator-speeches/" title="Elevator Speeches">elevator pitches</a> are common within these arenas, so listen well, show courtesy and thank those you talk to for their time. Don’t be afraid to smile and lighten up the mood a bit. Offer your business card as you close the conversation and you’ll most likely get the other person’s card in return. Keep the card in case you want to follow up with this person in the near future.</p> <h2>2. Follow Up, Use LinkedIn & Other Social Sites</h2> <p><a href="http://mashable.com/2012/05/23/linkedin-beginners/" target="_blank" title="LinkedIn Beginners">LinkedIn</a> is a great tool for building networks <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8MDihYKZTU" title="How to get clients on LinkedIn">and getting clients</a>, however it’s also a very handy tool to follow up with those you have briefly conversed with. A quick search of their name should yield a number of results. Before you contact them, think of the best way to contact them? Would they prefer an email rather than a LinkedIn connection?</p> <h2>3. Seek a Mentor</h2> <p>Having a mentor is a great way to learn the ropes. You will learn things such as <a href="http://justcreative.com/2009/02/26/how-much-to-charge-for-design-work/" target="_blank">how much to charge for design</a>, <a href="http://justcreative.com/2010/06/24/design-agency-vs-freelance-life/" target="_blank" title="Design agency vs freelancing">the pros and cons of freelancing</a>, <a href="http://justcreative.com/2007/12/27/how-to-boost-your-creativity/" target="_blank" title="Creativity">how to improve your creative process</a>, <a href="http://justcreative.com/2011/11/29/designer-office-set-up/" target="_blank" title="Designer Tools">recommended tools</a>, how to present your work, and much more.</p> <p>It’s important to understand the relationship between a mentor and mentee. Like a relationship between a couple, the mentor/mentee is also a two-way commitment that requires trust and honesty. Help them and they will help you. Ask for advice, seek out new opportunities & if you have to get the coffee, do it with a smile.</p> <div><img alt="Mentor" height="424" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/mentor-640x424.jpg" title="Mentor" width="640" /></div> <h5><strong>How do you find a mentor?</strong></h5> <p><strong></strong> It all depends on the scenario however there are a <a href="http://www.howdesign.com/design-career/mentoring/" title="Find a design mentor">few methods of finding a mentor</a>;</p> <p><strong>In Person</strong></p> <p>Once you’ve connected with someone and got to know them and have established some trust, it wouldn’t hurt to ask if they have the time to show you more of the ropes. Let that person know you’re interested in learning from them and see what they have to say. Be flexible with them, as it’s them doing you a favor.</p> <p><strong>Online</strong></p> <p><strong></strong>If you’re breaking the ice online, take extra care in crafting your approach, as it can be very difficult to convey personality through written communication. Always let them know you appreciate their time. If the person doesn’t have the time available, then it wouldn’t hurt to ask a few questions. At the very least, seldom communication may lead to a slowly growing relationship. Get them on your radar, and keep them there without being a pest.</p> <h2>4. Take Up Pro-Bono Work</h2> <p>Taking up <a href="http://www.davidairey.com/pro-bono-design/" target="_blank" title="Pro Bono Design">pro-bono work</a> will not only help a special cause, but it will build up your portfolio which will help you land more projects & strengthen your credibility in the long term.</p> <div><img alt="Pro Bono Work" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-11122" height="496" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/charity-640x496.jpg" title="Charity" width="640" /></div> <p>Before taking on pro bono work consider the following; Is there enough time to make the commitment? Are you financially capable of accepting a pro-bono project? What kinds of organisations would you do pro-bono work for? Make sure you are suited to take on pro-bono work before endorsing a false commitment.</p> <h2>5. Get Your Work or Portfolio Reviewed</h2> <p>Sharing your portfolio with seasoned professionals and asking for a review can help you gain new insights on the execution of your creative ideas. <a href="http://blog.teamtreehouse.com/the-art-of-the-design-critique" target="_blank" title="Constructive Criticism">Constructive criticism</a> is encouraged and you should always aim to take away new ideas and possibilities. Follow the motto; <a href="http://www.nwicreative.org/learn/get-your-portfolio-up-to-snuff/" target="_blank" title="Get your portfolio up to snuff">seek criticism, not praise</a>.</p> <p>Sharing your work will also allow other designers to observe your style, thought process, and results. This will allow others to lend you advice, which may lead into a steady stream of communication.</p> <h2>6. Start a Blog & Guest Author</h2> <p>Don’t overlook the benefits of <a href="http://justcreative.com/2011/04/27/building-a-personal-brand/" target="_blank" title="Starting A Blog">starting a blog</a>. In conjunction with social media sites, a blog can help establish your online presence, as well as be the frontier of your voice and portfolio.</p> <p>While some authors write on their own blog, others will contribute their articles elsewhere as a guest author. Guest authoring is a great way to share your voice with audiences elsewhere and connect with others on an international scale.</p> <div><img alt="Im Possible" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-11124" height="423" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/im-possible-640x423.jpg" title="Possible" width="640" /></div> <p>While each one of these ways can help you gain more exposure, utilizing several, if not all, will maximize your chances significantly.</p> <h2>7. Take Action</h2> <p>As a last piece of advice, I want to recite a few words, courtesy of my mentor, <a href="http://www.chasetalon.com/" target="_blank" title="Chase Talon Design">Chase Talon</a>, that inspired me to push myself through the doors.</p> <blockquote><p><em>“There is one thing and one thing alone that leads to success. That is action. Make a decision on what you want and begin moving forward with an unwavering, unrelenting, incessant vigor to see your goal to it’s end. Never letting fear guide you. It’s an illusion. All fear, and negativity are, is a test to prove how bad you want something.”</em></p></blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.whosay.com/BillMaher/videos/5963" title="Wish It. Want It. Do It.">Wish it, want it, do it</a>.</p> <p><strong>Have you got any other tips on how designers can get their foot in the door?</strong></p> <p>–</p> <p><em>*<a href="http://www.jamiewayne.com/about/" target="_blank" title="Jamie Wayne | Valparaiso Northwest Indiana Graphic Designer">Jamie Wayne</a> is a graphic designer for <a href="http://www.adforcecreative.com/" target="_blank" title="Ad Force Creative">Ad Force Creative</a> in Northwest Indiana, a webmaster & graphic designer for the Center for Innovation through Visualization & Simulation at Purdue University Calumet, and a member & writer of the Northwest Indiana Creative Professionals. Photos from <a href="http://bigstock.com" title="Big Stock">BigStock</a>.</em></p> <hr /><br /> © This article is copyright of <a href="http://justcreative.com">JUST™ Creative</a> and should not be found elsewhere.<br /><br /> <div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=D2AsBRt0gGs:ZL4lCnAFyN4:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?i=D2AsBRt0gGs:ZL4lCnAFyN4:gIN9vFwOqvQ" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=D2AsBRt0gGs:ZL4lCnAFyN4:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?i=D2AsBRt0gGs:ZL4lCnAFyN4:V_sGLiPBpWU" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=D2AsBRt0gGs:ZL4lCnAFyN4:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=D2AsBRt0gGs:ZL4lCnAFyN4:qj6IDK7rITs"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?d=qj6IDK7rITs" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=D2AsBRt0gGs:ZL4lCnAFyN4:7Q72WNTAKBA"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?d=7Q72WNTAKBA" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=D2AsBRt0gGs:ZL4lCnAFyN4:D7DqB2pKExk"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?i=D2AsBRt0gGs:ZL4lCnAFyN4:D7DqB2pKExk" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=D2AsBRt0gGs:ZL4lCnAFyN4:I9og5sOYxJI"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?d=I9og5sOYxJI" /></a> </div>

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

Iceland Adventure Photos

<p class="intro">I recently came back from 1.5 weeks traveling around Iceland, an extremely beautiful country. You can <a href="http://on.fb.me/W95OVX" title="Iceland Photos">view a few snaps on Facebook</a> and read more about the trip below.</p> <p>I went with a company called <a href="https://www.striking.ly/founderexcursionsiceland#0" title="Founders Excursions">Founders Excursions</a> who organized a trip of 14 like-minded entrepreneurs from Iceland and USA, to travel through Iceland doing <a href="http://siadv.is/?page_id=933" title="Adventure Tours">adventurous activities</a> while networking at the same time.</p> <div><a href="http://on.fb.me/W95OVX" title="Iceland Photos"><img alt="Iceland" class="alignnone wp-image-11035" height="424" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Iceland-Photos-39-of-51-640x424.jpg" title="Iceland" width="640" /></a></div> <h3>Highlights of the Trip</h3> <ul> <li><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=jiRegEs83A0" title="Canyoining Iceland">Canyoning</a> (climbing and swimming up waterfalls, then floating back down)</li> <li>Super jeeping (4×4 driving through the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Landmannalaugar"><em>Landmannalaugar</em></a> mountains)</li> <li>Enjoying bonfires, beers and Icelandic BBQ</li> <li>Having tea & coffee at the US Embassy</li> <li>Driving through the back country & around the glaciers / volcanoes</li> <li>Viewing the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aurora_%28astronomy%29"><em>Northern Lights</em></a></li> <li>Speed boating & exploring <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vestmannaeyjar"><em>Vestmannaeyjar Islands</em></a></li> <li>Swimming at the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Lagoon_%28geothermal_spa%29"><em>Blue Lagoon</em></a> (Geothermal spa), one of National Geographic’s Seven Wonders of the World</li> <li>Taking in the glorious<em> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J%C3%B6kuls%C3%A1rl%C3%B3n">Jökulsárlón</a> </em>(Glacier Lagoon – where the lake’s glaciers go out to sea)</li> <li>Bathing in the natural geo thermal springs while the mountains surrounded us</li> <li>Participating in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lifting_stone"><em>steintökin</em></a> (strong man competition). Needless to say, I am no Viking!</li> <li>Having my shoes stolen on the first day at a public pool (Yup!)</li> <li>Enjoying the “Bæjarins beztu pylsur” (best-in-town Icelandic hotdogs). Can’t say much about the <em>Harðfiskur</em> (wind dried fish). Also loved the <em>Skyr</em> (drinkable yogurt).</li> <li>Overall, just enjoying the beautiful, peaceful Icelandic scenery.</li> </ul> <p>If interested in a similar experience get in contact with our awesome guide, Siggi from <a href="http://siadv.is/">South Iceland Adventure</a> or <a href="http://www.mattwilson.tv/" title="Matt Wilson">Matt Wilson</a> from Founders Excursions. I’d highly recommend it!</p> <hr /><br /> © This article is copyright of <a href="http://justcreative.com">JUST™ Creative</a> and should not be found elsewhere.<br /><br /> <div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=rQlhH0ax2BY:4LLyquN_hs8:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?i=rQlhH0ax2BY:4LLyquN_hs8:gIN9vFwOqvQ" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=rQlhH0ax2BY:4LLyquN_hs8:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?i=rQlhH0ax2BY:4LLyquN_hs8:V_sGLiPBpWU" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=rQlhH0ax2BY:4LLyquN_hs8:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=rQlhH0ax2BY:4LLyquN_hs8:qj6IDK7rITs"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?d=qj6IDK7rITs" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=rQlhH0ax2BY:4LLyquN_hs8:7Q72WNTAKBA"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?d=7Q72WNTAKBA" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=rQlhH0ax2BY:4LLyquN_hs8:D7DqB2pKExk"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?i=rQlhH0ax2BY:4LLyquN_hs8:D7DqB2pKExk" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=rQlhH0ax2BY:4LLyquN_hs8:I9og5sOYxJI"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?d=I9og5sOYxJI" /></a> </div>

UPDATED: 7 MONTHS

Boost Your Computer’s Speed with a Quick SSD Upgrade

<p class="intro">I was recently approached by Samsung to take part in their <a href="http://www.facebook.com/SamsungSSD" title="SSD Drivers">SSD Drivers program</a> which would allow me (and a few others) to test out their latest <a href="http://www.samsung.com/us/computer/solid-state-drives" title="SSD">SSD</a> (Solid State Drive) and review it here for you guys. After reading up on SSD drives and their <a href="http://www.samsung.com/us/article/top-ten-benefits-of-ssd" title="Benefits of SSD">benefits</a>, I decided to join the program and the results so far have been awesome.</p> <div class="wp-caption alignnone" id="attachment_11011"><img alt="Samsung SSD Drivers" class="size-large wp-image-11011" height="236" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/samsung-ssd-drivers-640x236.jpg" title="samsung-ssd-drivers" width="640" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Samsung SSD Drivers (Yours truly on the far right)</p></div> <h3>What is a SSD?</h3> <p>A solid-state drive is a data storage device that uses solid-state memory to store data. SSDs have the same purpose as traditional mechanical hard drives, but there is one major difference – they’re electronic devices and don’t have any mechanical parts. Unlike HDDs, SSDs don’t store data on spinning platters, but use flash memory instead.</p> <div class="superquote"> In short, this means that a SSD will make your computer considerably faster in a more reliable, silent and energy efficient manner. </div> <h3>Easy Installation</h3> <p>Samsung originally sent me a complimentary <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005T3GQ0G/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B005T3GQ0G&linkCode=as2&tag=justcrea-20" title="Samsung SSD 256GB">256GB SSD</a> however I decided that I <del>wanted</del> needed a 512GB so I sent the 256GB back to them and instead bought my own <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005T3GPXO/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B005T3GPXO&linkCode=as2&tag=justcrea-20" title="Samsung SSD 512GB">512GB SSD</a> to review.</p> <p><img alt="Samsung SSD 512GB" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-11015" height="380" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/samsung-ssd-512gb1.jpg" title="Samsung SSD 512GB" width="640" /></p> <p>After receiving the SSD, I watched a video from Samsung on <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mihb8YQzDxw" title="How to install SSD for Mac">how to install it on a Mac</a> and after a quick stop at the hardware store for a new screwdriver, I was good to go. I copied 480GB of data from my previous HDD to the new SSD, which took about 7 hours overnight. After that was done, the physical installation / swapping of the drives took just 10 minutes.</p> <h3>Benefits of SSD vs HDD</h3> <p>There are a number of benefits of using a <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJMGAdpCLVg" title="SSD vs HDD">SSD vs a HDD</a>, and I personally noticed a huge difference in the speed of my daily routines. Before I get into the differences, let me outline my current <a href="http://justcreative.com/2011/11/29/designer-office-set-up/" title="Hardware">hardware</a> & <a href="http://justcreative.com/2011/12/22/recommended-software-for-designers/" title="Software I use as Designer">software</a> I use as a designer.</p> <p>I use a Macbook Pro 17″ (3.06 GHZ Intel Core 2 Duo, 4 GB DDR Ram) attached to a 27″ display and at nearly all times I have these programs open; Photoshop, Illustrator, Acrobat Pro, InDesign, Mail, Tweetdeck, Chrome, Firefox, as well as Font Explorer, Spotify, TextMate, Bonjour, TextExplorer and Dropbox.</p> <h3>Increased Speed & Productivity</h3> <p>Within the first hour of using the new SSD I could visibly notice the speed difference in nearly every task performed. The most notable differences are listed below.</p> <ul> <li>Faster boot time (Even faster when I cleaned my computer with <a href="http://www.macupdate.com/app/mac/11582/onyx" title="Onyx">Onyx</a>)</li> <li>All programs open much faster, especially the Creative Suite. The most notable speed difference is on startup as I have my programs set to auto start.</li> <li>Search is much faster, especially when combined with my productivity bud, <a href="http://www.alfredapp.com/" title="Alfred App">Alfred</a>.</li> <li>Moving between programs is much more responsive, eg. when changing from Photoshop, to Illustrator, to InDesign.</li> <li>Opening files and using Finder is way faster, as well as using program menus.</li> <li>The battery life seemed to last a bit longer too, only about 15-30 minutes but still noticeable.</li> <li>The only downfall I could think of would be the price (the 500GB was $608 after tax). The 256GB or 128GB gets you more bang for your buck, but you do get less space.</li> </ul> <p>Anyway, I’d definitely consider getting an SSD for a much faster & more reliable computer experience.</p> <p><strong>What has your experience been like with SSDs?</strong></p> <hr /><br /> © This article is copyright of <a href="http://justcreative.com">JUST™ Creative</a> and should not be found elsewhere.<br /><br /> <div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=8yuPa8WLv6w:O9ytCVh77vI:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?i=8yuPa8WLv6w:O9ytCVh77vI:gIN9vFwOqvQ" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=8yuPa8WLv6w:O9ytCVh77vI:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?i=8yuPa8WLv6w:O9ytCVh77vI:V_sGLiPBpWU" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=8yuPa8WLv6w:O9ytCVh77vI:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=8yuPa8WLv6w:O9ytCVh77vI:qj6IDK7rITs"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?d=qj6IDK7rITs" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=8yuPa8WLv6w:O9ytCVh77vI:7Q72WNTAKBA"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?d=7Q72WNTAKBA" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=8yuPa8WLv6w:O9ytCVh77vI:D7DqB2pKExk"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?i=8yuPa8WLv6w:O9ytCVh77vI:D7DqB2pKExk" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=8yuPa8WLv6w:O9ytCVh77vI:I9og5sOYxJI"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?d=I9og5sOYxJI" /></a> </div>

UPDATED: 7 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

The Art & Secrets of Personal Branding

<p><em>I originally wrote this article for the book, <a href="http://logonest.com" title="LogoNest Vol 2">Logo Nest Volume 2</a>. It has been republished here with permission. Photos are the end of the article.</em><hr class="thin" /></p> <p class="intro"><strong>Personal branding</strong> is by no means a new or light topic, but with the rise of social technologies, personal branding is as accessible as ever, meaning you have so much more opportunity, but also so much more competition.</p> <p>For you to stand out amongst the noise, you must become a valued brand. That brand is ‘You’. Take a closer look at the (st)art of personal branding and see how you can use it to start building your own personal brand. Brand You™.</p> <h2><strong>1. Set Goals, Plan & Define Your Brand</strong></h2> <div><img alt="Step One. Set Goals, Plan & Define Your Brand" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-10949" height="400" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/step1.gif" title="Step One. Set Goals, Plan & Define Your Brand" width="640" /></div> <p>Before creating your brand, you must <strong>set specific goals and plan accordingly</strong>. You should take a look at where you are at now and where you want to be in the future.</p> <p>Are you trying to become an authority in your niche? Why? Are you planning to get a new job position or become a stay-at-home freelancer? Are you trying to find more clients and / or increase your prices?</p> <p>Figuring out <em>why and where</em> you want to be in the future will help you decide <em>how</em> to do it.</p> <div class="superquote"> Ultimately, your goal should be to make your planned self-impression equal to how other people perceive you. </div> <p>Re-read that. If you can do this, then you will become a master of your domain.</p> <p>As an example of a ‘successful’ personal brand, <a href="http://www.problogger.net/" title="Darren Rowse">Darren Rowse</a> is the leader in the ‘how to make money blogging’ niche (among others) and although his site is not self-named, his personal brand has grown based how he communicates through his own brand, websites & social channels.</p> <p>After you have figured out your goals, chosen your niche and set out a plan, you need to start creating your brand.</p> <h2><strong>2. Know, Understand & Believe In Your Brand</strong></h2> <div><img alt="Step Two Understand & Believe In Your Brand" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-10950" height="400" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/step2.gif" title="Step Two Understand & Believe In Your Brand" width="640" /></div> <p>Your personal brand needs to have a look and feel, as well as a way to communicate, but this goes much further than having a logo & social media accounts. You need to maintain a consistent ‘corporate image’ in all mediums and at all times. See the <a href="http://justcreative.com/2010/04/06/branding-identity-logo-design-explained/" title="Branding Explained">differences between branding & visual identity</a> here.</p> <p>The fundamental idea and core concept behind having this ‘corporate image’ is that everything you do, everything you own and everything you produce, should reflect the values and aims of your personal brand as a whole.</p> <div class="superquote"> It is the consistency of this core idea that makes your brand. It shows others what <em>you</em> stand for, what <em>you</em> believe in and why <em>you</em> exist. </div> <p>As an example, let’s look at the well-known IT company, Apple. Although they are not a personal brand, the branding concept remains the same; they have a consistent ‘corporate image’.</p> <p>Apple projects a humanistic corporate culture and a strong corporate ethic, one, which is characterised by volunteerism, support of good causes & involvement in the community. These values of the business are evident throughout everything they do, from their innovative products and advertising, right through to their customer service. Apple is an emotionally humanist brand that really connects with people – when people buy or use their products or services; they feel part of the brand, like a tribe even. It is this emotional connection that creates their brand – not purely their products and a bite sized logo.</p> <p>If you can apply these same core principles to your own brand then it will be easier for others to see & know what you’re all about.</p> <address>“Remember, it’s not how good you are, it’s how good you want to be.”<br /> <em>-PAUL ARDEN</em></address> <h2><strong>3. Create & Maintain Your Brand</strong></h2> <div><img alt="Step Three - Create and Maintain Your Brand" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-10951" height="400" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/step3.gif" title="step3" width="640" /></div> <p>After you have set your goals, outlined your target market & defined how you wish to be perceived, then you can start to form the foundation of your brand. Below are the essential building blocks that will help you do this.</p> <h4><strong>A Unique Visual Identity</strong></h4> <p>One of the easiest ways to differentiate your self from the competition is by having a unique <a href="http://justcreative.com/2012/09/11/branding-tips/" title="10 Must Know Tips for Creating Winning Visual Brand Identities">visual identity</a>. This visual identity should be consistent and reflective of your initial goals, yet flexible enough to work across all areas of your communication. Ensure, at minimum, that you have a business card, letterhead, an up-to-date CV, website and a variety of online social profiles.</p> <h4><strong>Your Own Website, Domain Name & Email Address</strong></h4> <p>Do you know what comes up when people type your name into Google? Hopefully your name and website, but if not, a quick way to climb to the top of search engines is by having your own domain such as JohnSmith.com.</p> <p>On your website, you should have information about you, links to your other websites, your social profiles, as well as a blog and if applicable, a portfolio.</p> <p>You should also set up a personally branded email address such as john@johnsmith.com as this looks much more professional than a free email service such as <a href="mailto:johnsmith@gmail.com">johnsmith@ymail.com</a>.</p> <h4><strong>Social Networks. (Engage & Communicate!)</strong></h4> <p>It’s one thing to have Facebook or Twitter, but actually using it right for your personal brand is another thing. You should remember that everything you do, say and share is reflective of ‘Brand You’, both personally and professionally.</p> <p>Ask yourself, what value are you providing to your friends and followers? Are you engaging and communicating with people, not just sharing what you had for breakfast? Have you filled out your online profiles to their fullest extent? Are you linking to your websites within each profile? What about your <a href="http://justcreative.com/2008/08/10/how-to-get-more-email/" title="How to get more email">email signature</a>?</p> <p>There are many ways to help promote you and your brand, but the simplest way is by making it easy for people to find and communicate with you. When they do, be sure to engage & provide value.</p> <h4><strong>Brand Maintenance, Security & Monitoring</strong></h4> <p>Your brand is your business and your reputation. Why wouldn’t you monitor what people are saying about you?</p> <p>Use <a href="http://www.google.com/alerts">Google Alerts</a>, Twitter Search and the many other tools available to you so you know when you are mentioned somewhere on the web. This allows you to put out fires early, as well as network and thank people who are helping or linking to you.</p> <h3><strong>The Secret To Personal Branding…</strong></h3> <div><img alt="Secret to Personal Branding" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-10972" height="400" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/secret-personal-branding.gif" title="Secret to Personal Branding" width="640" /></div> <p>Remember, planning is the foundation of your personal brand and the execution builds the structure of that brand, but ultimately, it comes down to what people say about you, not what you say about yourself, thus the ultimate goal is to make your planned self-impression equal to how other people perceive you.</p> <p>That is the secret to personal branding.</p> <h3><strong>More branding & logo articles:</strong></h3> <ul> <li><a href="http://justcreative.com/2010/04/06/branding-identity-logo-design-explained/" rel="bookmark" title="Branding Explained">Branding, Identity & Logo Design Explained</a></li> <li><a href="http://justcreative.com/2008/04/18/a-comparative-study-of-logo-design-between-the-70s-and-90s/" rel="bookmark" title="Logos 70s 90s">A Comparative Study of Logo Design between the 70s and 90s.</a></li> <li><a href="http://justcreative.com/2012/09/11/branding-tips/" rel="bookmark" title="Branding Tips">10 Must Know Tips for Creating Winning Visual Brand Identities</a></li> <li><a href="http://justcreative.com/2011/08/02/12-ways-your-logo-impacts-social-media-marketing/" rel="bookmark" title="Social Media Logos">12 Ways Your Logo Impacts Social Media Marketing</a></li> <li><a href="http://justcreative.com/2010/11/09/a-look-at-consumer-emotional-attachment-to-brands-and-logos/" rel="bookmark" title="Logos and Emotions">Consumer Emotional Attachment to Brands and Logos</a></li> </ul> <div><img alt="Cover of Logo Nest Vol 2" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-10108" height="425" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/00-cover.jpg" title="Cover of Logo Nest Vol 2" width="640" /></div> <div><img alt="Contents" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-10106" height="425" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/02-contents.jpg" title="02-contents" width="640" /></div> <div><img alt="Art of Personal Branding" class="alignnone size-full" height="425" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/01-art-personal-branding.jpg" title="01-art-personal-branding" width="640" /></div> <div><img alt="Art of Personal Branding by Jacob Cass" class="alignnone size-full" height="689" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/art-of-personal-branding-jacob-cass.jpg" title="art-of-personal-branding-jacob-cass" width="640" /></div> <hr /><br /> © This article is copyright of <a href="http://justcreative.com">JUST™ Creative</a> and should not be found elsewhere.<br /><br /> <div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=5GOKdtLthXg:ls_PddWu8B0:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?i=5GOKdtLthXg:ls_PddWu8B0:gIN9vFwOqvQ" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=5GOKdtLthXg:ls_PddWu8B0:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?i=5GOKdtLthXg:ls_PddWu8B0:V_sGLiPBpWU" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=5GOKdtLthXg:ls_PddWu8B0:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=5GOKdtLthXg:ls_PddWu8B0:qj6IDK7rITs"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?d=qj6IDK7rITs" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=5GOKdtLthXg:ls_PddWu8B0:7Q72WNTAKBA"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?d=7Q72WNTAKBA" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=5GOKdtLthXg:ls_PddWu8B0:D7DqB2pKExk"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?i=5GOKdtLthXg:ls_PddWu8B0:D7DqB2pKExk" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=5GOKdtLthXg:ls_PddWu8B0:I9og5sOYxJI"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?d=I9og5sOYxJI" /></a> </div>

UPDATED: 8 MONTHS

10 Must Know Tips for Creating Winning Visual Brand Identities

<p class="intro">On Friday I attended the <a href="http://www.underconsideration.com/brandnewconference" title="Brand New Conference">2012 Brand New Conference</a>, a one day event focusing on the practice of corporate and brand identity. The event went smoothly <a href="http://justcreative.com/2010/11/06/2010-brand-new-conference-summary-quotes/" title="Brand New Conference 2010">again</a> (hat tip to Armin Vit for organizing) and the speakers shared some great tips and stories on a large variety of topics.</p> <p>The most notable talk of the day for me, was by <a href="http://twitter.com/manchipp" title="Simon Manchipp">Simon Manchipp</a>, the CD & co-founder of <a href="http://www.someoneinlondon.com/">Someone</a>. Simon’s talk was built around ten things to consider when creating a new visual brand identity.</p> <p>Below are some of the notes I took from his talk. There are some loose ends, but there are still a number of key takeaways so enjoy.</p> <p><img alt="Tips to consider when branding" height="612" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/branding.jpg" title="Tips to consider when branding" width="612" /></p> <h1>10 things to consider when creating a new visual brand identity</h1> <h3>1. Make it coherent, not consistent.</h3> <p><strong>A new logo is born useless.</strong> The media demands an approach that is instantly useful. Make your new logo useful. <strong>Create landscapes that can change and adapt.</strong> Information can and should fuel the design and pattern.A brand should be adaptive & coherent, not just consistent.</p> <h3>2. Do more than a logo.</h3> <p>The logo is dying so ask yourself <strong>how can you brand without badging?</strong></p> <h3>3. Brand without badging</h3> <p>A rubber stamped logo is not a brand. Remember…</p> <div class="superquote"> “A new logo should be a symbol of change, not a change of symbol.” </div> <h3>4. The big idea is not the big idea.</h3> <p>The big idea is not the big idea, but rather hundreds of ideas that form the brand. These ideas should be multi-channelled & multi-faceted.</p> <h3>5. Own moments</h3> <p>Find ownable moments that can be a spring point for the brand. eg. a color, season, taste, feature, etc.</p> <h3>6. Remove the fear</h3> <p>Branding is all fear & risk is attached to everything, but smart clients are those without the fear.</p> <div class="superquote"> We are hired for our principles, so stick to them. </div> <h3>7. Weird works</h3> <p>Weird shit creates monopolies. Trust the risky weirdo called creativity.</p> <h3>8. Make it people-centric</h3> <p><strong>We are not in design business but in the people business.</strong> Educated clients believe in coherent brand worlds. Winning companies are placing design at the heart of their business.</p> <h3>9. Create assets not costs</h3> <p>Design is often seen as a cost in the boardroom but it needs to be seen as an asset. The reason behind it being seen as a cost is that everyone considers themselves as a designer.</p> <p>“No one trusts creativity because of the dolphin duvet.” (aka everyone is a designer, I chose this dolphin duvet cover for my home). The goal is to show that design is an asset.</p> <h3>10. Chase the opportunity.</h3> <p>Chase the opportunity, not the money. If you are doing interesting work and having fun, enough money will come.</p> <p><strong>Have you got any other branding tips to share?</strong></p> <hr /><br /> © This article is copyright of <a href="http://justcreative.com">JUST™ Creative</a> and should not be found elsewhere.<br /><br /> <div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=iDBstlGPQaM:bSX6oaXQznU:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?i=iDBstlGPQaM:bSX6oaXQznU:gIN9vFwOqvQ" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=iDBstlGPQaM:bSX6oaXQznU:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?i=iDBstlGPQaM:bSX6oaXQznU:V_sGLiPBpWU" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=iDBstlGPQaM:bSX6oaXQznU:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=iDBstlGPQaM:bSX6oaXQznU:qj6IDK7rITs"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?d=qj6IDK7rITs" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=iDBstlGPQaM:bSX6oaXQznU:7Q72WNTAKBA"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?d=7Q72WNTAKBA" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=iDBstlGPQaM:bSX6oaXQznU:D7DqB2pKExk"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?i=iDBstlGPQaM:bSX6oaXQznU:D7DqB2pKExk" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=iDBstlGPQaM:bSX6oaXQznU:I9og5sOYxJI"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?d=I9og5sOYxJI" /></a> </div>

UPDATED: 8 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

Future of Web Design 2012 + More Conferences

<p class="intro">I’ve been a media partner for <a href="http://www.futureinsights.com/">Future Insights</a> conferences for a <a href="http://justcreative.com/2011/11/07/future-of-web-design-conference-day-1-review/" title="FOWD 2011">few</a> <a href="http://justcreative.com/2011/11/15/future-of-web-design-conference-day-2-review/" title="FOWD 2012 Day 2">years</a> now and have been to a fair few of their events which are always <em>insightful</em>. This post is just letting you know that there is a web conference in <a href="http://futureofwebdesign.com/new-york-2012/" title="FOWD New York 2012">NYC</a> coming up in October and you can get 10% off. Details are below along with a few other conferences to be aware of.</p> <div><a href="http://futureofwebdesign.com/new-york-2012/" title="Future of Web Design 2012 NYC"><img alt="Future of Web Design NYC 2012" class="border" height="520" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/fowd-nyc.jpg" title="Future of Web Design NYC 2012" width="640" /></a></div> <p><strong>What:</strong> <a href="http://futureofwebdesign.com/new-york-2012/" target="_blank">Future of Web Design</a><strong><br /> When:</strong> Conference days: October 22 & 23. Workshop day: October 24<strong><br /> Where:</strong> <a href="http://www.newworldstages.com/">New World Stages</a> & Lighthouse International Conference Centre<strong><br /> Info:</strong></p> <div> <ul> <li>3 days, 30+ sessions, 4 full-day workshops</li> <li>Top-notch <a href="http://futureofwebdesign.com/new-york-2012/speakers" target="_blank">speakers</a>, including: Chris Coyier, Zoe Gillenwater, Darcy Clarke, Meagan Fisher, Dan Rose, Karen McGrane, Edward Boatman, Lis Hubert, and many more.</li> <li>Talks on CSS3, JQuery Performance, Typography, Icon and symbol design, frontend development, HTML5, responsive web design, UX, wireframing, and more</li> <li>Check out the <a href="http://futureofwebdesign.com/new-york-2012/schedule" target="_blank">full schedule</a> for more details.</li> </ul> <p><strong>10% off for Just Creative readers</strong><em><br /> Just Creative</em> readers are able to grab 10% off 2-Day Conference Passes or Workshop + 2-Day Conference Passes. Simply enter <em>JustCreative</em> on the registration page. Do remember to check out the handy <em><a href="http://futureofwebdesign.com/new-york-2012/downloads/FOWD-NYC-ConvinceYourBoss.pdf" target="_blank">Convince your Boss PDF</a></em> for help getting your approval.</p> <h3>More Conferences</h3> <p><strong><a href="http://uxweek.com/2012/">UX Week</a><br /> When:</strong> August 21-24, 2012<br /> <strong>Where:</strong> San Francisco, CA, USA</p> <p><strong><a href="http://www.aneventapart.com/2012/chicago/">An Event Apart Chicago</a></strong><br /> <strong>When:</strong> August 27-29, 2012<br /> <strong>Where:</strong> Chicago, IL, USA</p> <p><strong><a href="http://www.uxaustralia.com.au/">UX Australia</a><br /> When:</strong> August 28-31, 2012<br /> <strong>Where:</strong> Brisbane, Austalia at Sofitel Brisbane Central<br /> UX Australia also presents <a href="http://www.uxaustralia.com.au/agileux-2012/">Agile UX</a> and <a href="http://www.uxaustralia.com.au/servicedesign-2012/">Service Design 2012</a>.</p> <p><strong><a href="http://2012.dconstruct.org/">dConstruct</a><br /> When:</strong> September 7, 2012<br /> <strong>Where:</strong> Brighton, UK at the Brighton Dome</p> <p><strong><a href="http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2012/05/25/first-smashing-conference-coming-community-event-web-designers/">Smashing Magazine Conference</a></strong><br /> <strong>When:</strong> September 17-19, 2012<br /> <strong>Where:</strong> Freiburg, Germany</p> <p>Please feel free to share more web conferences if you know of them.</p> </div> <hr /><br /> © This article is copyright of <a href="http://justcreative.com">JUST™ Creative</a> and should not be found elsewhere.<br /><br /> <div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=QNGiDVr0duo:mIJJbvcPbM0:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?i=QNGiDVr0duo:mIJJbvcPbM0:gIN9vFwOqvQ" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=QNGiDVr0duo:mIJJbvcPbM0:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?i=QNGiDVr0duo:mIJJbvcPbM0:V_sGLiPBpWU" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=QNGiDVr0duo:mIJJbvcPbM0:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=QNGiDVr0duo:mIJJbvcPbM0:qj6IDK7rITs"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?d=qj6IDK7rITs" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=QNGiDVr0duo:mIJJbvcPbM0:7Q72WNTAKBA"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?d=7Q72WNTAKBA" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=QNGiDVr0duo:mIJJbvcPbM0:D7DqB2pKExk"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?i=QNGiDVr0duo:mIJJbvcPbM0:D7DqB2pKExk" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=QNGiDVr0duo:mIJJbvcPbM0:I9og5sOYxJI"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?d=I9og5sOYxJI" /></a> </div>

UPDATED: 9 MONTHS

Logo Lounge Vol. 7 Arrives

<p class="intro">Last September, I wrote about how <a href="http://justcreative.com/2011/09/08/6-logos-selected-for-logo-lounge-vol-7/" title="Logo Lounge 7">six of my logos and a case study</a> were to be featured in the next edition of the <a href="http://logolounge.com" title="Logo Lounge">Logo Lounge</a> series, that being Logo Lounge 7. Well, I’ve just recently received the hard cover book in the mail and thought I’d share a few snaps.</p> <p>You can read the <a href="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/DSC008921.jpg" target="_blank" title="Menu Cover Depot">case study of the logo</a> I created for Menu Cover Depot here in image format (not in text format unfortunately).</p> <p>You can <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/1592537278//ref=cm_sw_su_dp?tag=logolounge-20" target="_blank" title="Logo Lounge 7">purchase this book on Amazon</a> for $29.50.</p> <div class="wp-caption alignnone" id="attachment_10733"><img alt="Logo Lounge Book 7 Side View" class="size-full wp-image-10733" height="425" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/DSC00884.jpg" title="Logo Lounge Book 7 " width="640" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Logo Lounge Book 7 Side View</p></div> <div class="wp-caption alignnone" id="attachment_10734"><img alt="Logo Lounge Book 7 Front Cover" class="size-full wp-image-10734" height="425" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/DSC00885.jpg" title="Logo Lounge Book 7 Front Cover" width="640" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Logo Lounge Book 7 Front Cover</p></div> <div class="wp-caption alignnone" id="attachment_10735"><img alt="Levi's Case Study" class="size-full wp-image-10735" height="425" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/DSC00886.jpg" title="DSC00886" width="640" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Levi's Case Study</p></div> <div class="wp-caption alignnone" id="attachment_10737"><a href="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/DSC008921.jpg"><img alt="Menu Cover Depot Case Study" class="size-full wp-image-10737 " height="425" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/DSC00892.jpg" title="Menu Cover Depot Case Study" width="640" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Case study of my Menu Cover Depot logo.</p></div> <div class="wp-caption alignnone" id="attachment_10738"><img alt="Eton Financial" class="size-full wp-image-10738" height="425" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/DSC00894.jpg" title="DSC00894" width="640" /><p class="wp-caption-text">My featured work: Eton Financial Logo</p></div> <div class="wp-caption alignnone" id="attachment_10739"><img alt="My featured work: Radar Logo" class="size-full wp-image-10739" height="425" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/DSC00895.jpg" title="My featured work: Radar Logo" width="640" /><p class="wp-caption-text">My featured work: Radar Logo</p></div> <div class="wp-caption alignnone" id="attachment_10740"><img alt="My featured work: Onyx Logo" class="size-full wp-image-10740" height="425" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/DSC00899.jpg" title="My featured work: Onyx Logo" width="640" /><p class="wp-caption-text">My featured work: Onyx Logo</p></div> <div class="wp-caption alignnone" id="attachment_10741"><img alt="My featured work: Yoga Tripper Logo" class="size-full wp-image-10741" height="425" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/DSC00900.jpg" title="My featured work: Yoga Tripper Logo" width="640" /><p class="wp-caption-text">My featured work: Yoga Tripper Logo</p></div> <div class="wp-caption alignnone" id="attachment_10742"><img alt="My featured work: Japan Tribute Logo" class="size-full wp-image-10742" height="425" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/DSC00902.jpg" title="My featured work: Japan Tribute Logo" width="640" /><p class="wp-caption-text">My featured work: Japan Tribute Logo</p></div> <div class="wp-caption alignnone" id="attachment_10744"><img alt="Logo Lounge 7 Back Cover" class="size-full wp-image-10744" height="425" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/DSC00906.jpg" title="Logo Lounge 7 Back Cover" width="640" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Logo Lounge 7 Back Cover</p></div> <p>This makes a total of 29 logos of mine that have been published in Logo Lounge’s books, as outlined below. Quite humbling!</p> <ul> <li><a href="http://justcreative.com/2011/05/10/logo-lounge-vol-6-book-review/" title="Logo Lounge 6">Logo Lounge Vol. 6</a> (6 logos)</li> <li><a href="http://justcreative.com/2009/08/17/logo-lounge-volume-5-book-review/">LogoLounge Vol. 5</a> (2 logos)</li> <li><a href="http://justcreative.com/2010/09/26/logo-lounges-master-library-book-3/">LogoLounge Master Library – Shapes & Symbols</a> (9 logos)</li> <li>LogoLounge Master Library – Typography and Enclosures (6 logos)</li> </ul> <p>If you’re interested in having your work considered for their next book, you can <a href="https://www.logolounge.com/join.asp">become a member</a> of Logo Lounge ($99) & start uploading your work. I am not affiliated with Logo Lounge… JUST sharing the love. Good luck & thanks for looking.</p> <hr /><br /> © This article is copyright of <a href="http://justcreative.com">JUST™ Creative</a> and should not be found elsewhere.<br /><br /> <div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=ZlZuXtDmp18:LiPcB0gvlZU:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?i=ZlZuXtDmp18:LiPcB0gvlZU:gIN9vFwOqvQ" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=ZlZuXtDmp18:LiPcB0gvlZU:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?i=ZlZuXtDmp18:LiPcB0gvlZU:V_sGLiPBpWU" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=ZlZuXtDmp18:LiPcB0gvlZU:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=ZlZuXtDmp18:LiPcB0gvlZU:qj6IDK7rITs"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?d=qj6IDK7rITs" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=ZlZuXtDmp18:LiPcB0gvlZU:7Q72WNTAKBA"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?d=7Q72WNTAKBA" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=ZlZuXtDmp18:LiPcB0gvlZU:D7DqB2pKExk"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?i=ZlZuXtDmp18:LiPcB0gvlZU:D7DqB2pKExk" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=ZlZuXtDmp18:LiPcB0gvlZU:I9og5sOYxJI"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?d=I9og5sOYxJI" /></a> </div>

UPDATED: 9 MONTHS, 2 WEEKS

TRINITY3D

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Archer Cartoon to Premiere!

UPDATED: 3 YEARS, 8 MONTHS

Autograss Now Available

UPDATED: 3 YEARS, 8 MONTHS

Updates and New Products

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Today's the last day!

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Less than a week left for VRay RT Introductory Pricing!

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VRay for Maya is Now Available!

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COMMUNICATION ARTS

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News - 12/13/2012

UPDATED: 5 MONTHS

Webpick of the Day - Lark

UPDATED: 5 MONTHS

FRÏS Vodka package redesign

<div><a href="http://www.commarts.com/exhibit/fr-iuml-vodka-package.html"><img border="0" hspace="0" src="http://image.commarts.com/images1/1/3/2/5/523144_71_0_NzA4NTgyNTQtMTQ4ODUyMTM0Mg.jpg" vspace="0" /></a></div><p>The Brand Union recently developed a new identity with standout appeal that delivers on the unique positioning, “Freeze Time. Seize Pure Moments.” The creative team worked two- and three-dimensionally to create a bottle that represents the essence of ice: The crystalline shape communicates icy purity and the dark color provides greater contrast to the memorable silhouette. The logo was developed in line with the structure and the end result is a beautifully frozen identity that corresponds with the “FRÏS the Moment” tagline. It’s an elegantly frosted, contemporary design that’s successfully led to a strong reaction from young male consumers.<br />Credits: <a href="http://www.thebrandunion.com">www.thebrandunion.com </a> | <a href="http://frisvodka.com">frisvodka.com </a><br /><br /><div><a href="http://www.commarts.com/exhibit/fr-iuml-vodka-package.html"><img border="0" src="http://image.commarts.com/images1/1/3/2/5/523146_71_0_LTE2MTYxODUyMTIxMzAzMzE0Njgz.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div><a href="http://www.commarts.com/exhibit/fr-iuml-vodka-package.html"><img border="0" src="http://image.commarts.com/images1/1/3/2/5/523145_71_0_LTExOTI2OTc3MDktMTYxNTgzNzQ4OA.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div><a href="http://www.commarts.com/exhibit/fr-iuml-vodka-package.html"><img border="0" src="http://image.commarts.com/images1/1/3/2/5/523143_71_0_NDk0MzQ1NzU3LTE3NDU0MjczNTg.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.commarts.com/~ff/commarts/index?a=YNtA2VN8Tv8:c5joTwjbLh8:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/commarts/index?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.commarts.com/~ff/commarts/index?a=YNtA2VN8Tv8:c5joTwjbLh8:qj6IDK7rITs"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/commarts/index?d=qj6IDK7rITs" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.commarts.com/~ff/commarts/index?a=YNtA2VN8Tv8:c5joTwjbLh8:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/commarts/index?i=YNtA2VN8Tv8:c5joTwjbLh8:gIN9vFwOqvQ" /></a> </div><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/commarts/index/~4/YNtA2VN8Tv8" width="1" />

UPDATED: 5 MONTHS

Cooperative! Part 3

UPDATED: 5 MONTHS

Coming Soon: 2013 Typography Annual!

UPDATED: 5 MONTHS

News - 12/12/2012

UPDATED: 5 MONTHS

VW "Smiles" spot

<div><a href="http://www.commarts.com/exhibit/smiles-spot.html"><img border="0" hspace="0" src="http://image.commarts.com/images1/6/2/2/5/522609_71_0_Mzc1Mjc5NzM1LTE2OTI1NjU1Mjg.jpg" vspace="0" /></a></div><p>Deutsch Inc. recently launched the new “Why VW” social media campaign for Volkswagen of America to capture and share its stories in a whole new way. The campaign officially kicked off with the airing of <a href="http://www.epochfilms.com/directors/usa/everynone/volkswagen-smiles-30" target="_blank">this commercial</a>, a showcase of beautifully simple human moments of joy. In the heartwarming spot people of all ages and nationalities embody the spirit, fun and positivity that have defined the brand and its vehicles for decades.<br />Credits: <a href="http://www.deutschinc.com">www.deutschinc.com </a> | <a href="http://why.vw.com">why.vw.com </a><br /><br /><div><a href="http://www.commarts.com/exhibit/smiles-spot.html"><img border="0" src="http://image.commarts.com/images1/6/2/2/5/522608_71_0_Mzc1Mjc5MzA0LTY5NzgyMzcxMw.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div><a href="http://www.commarts.com/exhibit/smiles-spot.html"><img border="0" src="http://image.commarts.com/images1/6/2/2/5/522607_71_0_Mzc1Mjc5MzA0MTU5MTY1OTYzOQ.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div><a href="http://www.commarts.com/exhibit/smiles-spot.html"><img border="0" src="http://image.commarts.com/images1/6/2/2/5/522606_71_0_Mzc1Mjc5MzA0MTAwNjAwMjc4NA.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.commarts.com/~ff/commarts/index?a=OwMv5kArrnM:Y2wDlLGA26Q:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/commarts/index?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.commarts.com/~ff/commarts/index?a=OwMv5kArrnM:Y2wDlLGA26Q:qj6IDK7rITs"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/commarts/index?d=qj6IDK7rITs" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.commarts.com/~ff/commarts/index?a=OwMv5kArrnM:Y2wDlLGA26Q:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/commarts/index?i=OwMv5kArrnM:Y2wDlLGA26Q:gIN9vFwOqvQ" /></a> </div><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/commarts/index/~4/OwMv5kArrnM" width="1" />

UPDATED: 5 MONTHS

Webpick of the Day - BOHAN Advertising

UPDATED: 5 MONTHS

News - 12/11/2012

UPDATED: 5 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

Handlebar identity

<div><a href="http://www.commarts.com/exhibit/handlebar-identity.html"><img border="0" hspace="0" src="http://image.commarts.com/images1/6/2/2/5/522604_71_0_NDI3MTQyMjU3Njk1Njk0OTIx.jpg" vspace="0" /></a></div><p>In summer 2012, this bicycle-themed bar opened in Toronto’s famously eccentric Kensington Market. Using a philosophy of adaptation and alteration and an eclectic mix of old and new, local creative agency Open created an identity and an an experience that resonates. The logo uses a simple sans serif font with added custom elements; it’s a playful language of authentic Victorian imagery overlaid with a half-tone pattern to create a modern feel. <br /><br /> Communication pieces reinforce Handlebar’s spirit by referring to the history of bicycle culture of Toronto. From bathroom signage and a direct marketing card (placed in the spokes of bicycles in Toronto’s downtown core) to a special draft lager (The Handlebrew) and the bar’s signature shot (The Tandem, which comes on its very own coaster built for two) it’s an experience uniquely Toronto.<br />Credits: <a href="http://www.openacreativecompany.com">www.openacreativecompany.com </a> | <a href="http://www.thehandlebar.ca">www.thehandlebar.ca </a><br /><br /><div><a href="http://www.commarts.com/exhibit/handlebar-identity.html"><img border="0" src="http://image.commarts.com/images1/6/2/2/5/522602_71_0_NDI3MTQyMjU3Mzg4OTUwMDU4.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div><a href="http://www.commarts.com/exhibit/handlebar-identity.html"><img border="0" src="http://image.commarts.com/images1/6/2/2/5/522601_71_0_LTM1NzI5MzU5NDgyNTQwODc1Nw.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div><a href="http://www.commarts.com/exhibit/handlebar-identity.html"><img border="0" src="http://image.commarts.com/images1/6/2/2/5/522603_71_0_NDI3MTQyMjU3LTE3MDc0NDYzMg.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.commarts.com/~ff/commarts/index?a=B_nhRIfhFT0:GKE6QTeiPlo:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/commarts/index?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.commarts.com/~ff/commarts/index?a=B_nhRIfhFT0:GKE6QTeiPlo:qj6IDK7rITs"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/commarts/index?d=qj6IDK7rITs" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.commarts.com/~ff/commarts/index?a=B_nhRIfhFT0:GKE6QTeiPlo:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/commarts/index?i=B_nhRIfhFT0:GKE6QTeiPlo:gIN9vFwOqvQ" /></a> </div><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/commarts/index/~4/B_nhRIfhFT0" width="1" />

UPDATED: 5 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

THE GNOMON WORKSHOP

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Designing High Tech Characters with Joe Peterson

UPDATED: 5 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

Rick Baker

UPDATED: 5 MONTHS, 2 WEEKS

Anatomy Workshop Vol. 5 – Structure and Anatomy of the Human Torso

UPDATED: 5 MONTHS, 4 WEEKS

Anatomy Workshop Vol. 4 – Anatomy of the Human Head

UPDATED: 5 MONTHS, 4 WEEKS

Anatomy Workshop Vol. 3 – Skeletal Structure, Mechanics and Proportion

UPDATED: 5 MONTHS, 4 WEEKS

V-Ray Fundamentals: Materials, Lights and Linear Workflow

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS

Hyper-real Insect Design with Eric Keller

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

Gnomon Launches 55 New Online Courses

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

Autodesk User Group Meeting

UPDATED: 7 MONTHS

Fundamentals of Perspective 3 Three-Point Principles and Concepts

UPDATED: 7 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

DIGITAL ARTS

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Interview: Founder of #includedesign campaign to save Britain from a creative education crisis

UPDATED: 5 MONTHS

Taschen opens shop in The Simpsons to make Springfield hip

UPDATED: 5 MONTHS

Flickr iOS app redesigned

UPDATED: 5 MONTHS

WordPress 3.5 gets a media management makeover

UPDATED: 5 MONTHS

Parasol Island's boys' choir singing Mad World get a million hits in two weeks

UPDATED: 5 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

Adobe releases Photoshop & Illustrator updates, tools for teams to Creative Cloud subscribers & a Dropbox-style app

UPDATED: 5 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

Pictoplasma Berlin 2013 artists revealed

UPDATED: 5 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

UK design industry tells Michael Gove to put design into the EBacc

UPDATED: 5 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

BBEdit 10.5 adds Retina display support & better navigation

UPDATED: 5 MONTHS, 2 WEEKS

BBEdit 10.5 adds Retina display support, navigation improvements, and more

UPDATED: 5 MONTHS, 2 WEEKS

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