3D

3D Modelling can be a very tasking and brain hurting thing to do. I decided one day I would give it a go, not to make money from it or a career, but purely as a hobby. To make models of something, interior, exterior, or even gadgets such as tv's, phones etc would be good.

I have had SketchUP and IndigoRender for a while now as I know sketchup is an easy tool to use. I simply did some text in it, changed the material of it to a red plasticy look on Indigo and rendered it. Here it is, my gf's name.

I decided that SketchUP wouldn't get me far with this, as it is easy, but when it comes to certain shapes, etc it's a lot more hassle than other software. I don't have the money to splash out on such programmes as Maya, 3DS Max, Cinema 4D etc, so I am now going to try and learn Blender. See how that goes.. i'll update as i go along.

Tilt Shift Photography

Well, I was roaming around on the web earlier today and saw TiltShift photography and decided to read up a bit about it. It is simply turning one of your photographs into a model looking photo. Obviously, people that do this alot, are incredible with their outcomes.

For instance, check this one out: http://www.flickr.com/photos/andrewpanshin/5745618515/in/pool-59319377@N00/

Now, here is a photo I took a year ago, in Spain and I thought I would give it a go. Personally, it was the wrong photo to try this with, but as a first decided to go along with it anyway.

Second attempt:

wichRadio Entry

I entered a logo competition to simply get better at my logo design. Win or not I didn't mind. I didn't win, the design that won was actually quite similar to mine, but that's the way it goes.

The logo didn't have to be a specific colour, but had to work in Black and White as well as it was also for b/w letter heads etc.

Get a simple CMS..

And let it be called, GetSimple. GetSimple is an XML based lite Content Management System. To go along with it's best-in-class user interface, we have loaded it with features that every website needs, but with nothing it doesn't. GetSimple is truly the simplest way to manage a small-business website.

1. XML Based
   We don't use mySQL to store our information, but instead depend the simplicity of XML. By utilizing XML, we are able stay away from introducing an extra layer of slowness and complexity associated with connecting to a mySQL database. Because GetSimple was built specifically for the small-site market, we feel this is the absolutely best option for data storage.
2. You can "Undo" Almost Everything
   This feature was based off an eye-opening AListApart article explaining how warning messages never work as planned. Because of this, we've included "undo" into almost every action you can take on the site, giving you peace-of-mind for when you make those inevitable stupid mistakes.
3. Easy to Learn UI
   The top priority when designing our user-interface was to make it the best in it's class. We had the luxury of trying and testing all the competing management systems before designing ours, so we took the best out of each one - then refined it.
4. Simple Installation
   The total time in setting up a website took a total of 5 minutes, from starting the FTP to finishing the setup procedure.
5. Simple Theme Customization
   We have how to documents that show you how to create a custom theme. Our goal was not to bloat our software with hundreds of little-used theme functions, but to offer more than enough to allow for a fully customized theme.
6. Designed For the Small-Site Market
   This is one of the reasons GetSimple uses XML rather than a robust database such as mySQL. For most small businesses, their only real need is to be able to easily update their site without the need of a ton of extraneous rarely used features. GetSimple's goal is to manage small websites efficiently and effectively.
   
   
   I have been with GetSimple for some time now, messing in bits and bobs, doing mainly personal projects using the CMS. I have recently decided that the CMS is growing stronger day by day, with more modules to suit clients needs. I decided I am going to be using GS more often now for websites that are 10-20 pages and do not require any special MySQL. I am also currently learning to code my own modules, which will help in the future if a client needs a little extension. I rate GS very highly and would recommend it to anyone, from basic knowledge of web design / development and are just starting out, to even professional standard freelance developers or even companies. 
   Alongside this I will also be learning to theme wordpress, purely for my own personal needs, and then for other clients who need a fully integrated blog system on their website, which GS does not yet comply with. 

Visit: GetSimple Website
Join: Support Forums

Vector Art

Well, lately i have been trying a bit of vector art. I started off with just black and white ones.
My first ever one was a vector of Lily Allen.

Pleased with the outcome I decided to go a bit further, but stayed with black and white still.

This one turned out a lot better in my opinion.This really got be going and next I wanted to add colour. So I did. The next are for friends that asked for one, i decided to try out colour for them as it looks better when the final piece is done. My style is to only really do the head and neck, but a couple where easier block colours for other parts of the body so i finished it off.

Sasquatch Festival Poster

Well, at college i was given a project brief to create, 1 A3 poster for a band at the Sasquatch festival.

"Tasks and Working Methods: You will need to show that you understand the potential of digital design in contemporary practice (by investigating the work of others and commenting on it) and develop skills using your own traditionally produced (drawings, paintings, photographs, printmaking) originals and Photoshop. All these things need to be presented as evidence."

And here it is..

Night Snow Shots

Well, snow came down even heavier one way home from work today. Decided to let it slow down a little and get out with my camera and tripod to get a few night shots of the snow.