Lunacore’s version shows how to make a crack from scratch. Just find a good image to draw cracks on, or use the image provided. It is really easy and all it involves is a pencil tool, masking, and a change in the blending mode.

My Ink Blog’s version is a bit different. They show you how to play with the lighting effects, different clouds, channels, and how to import an image with cracks and blend it with the texture. This tutorial is more advanced than Lunacore’s, but pretty easy nonetheless. Thanks to these tutorials, I was able to create a poster to my liking.

If you are trying to pick up some Photoshop techniques, then I encourage you to read these tutorials and practice them when you have time.

While doing some research for a movie poster I am designing, I came across the magazine Advanced Photoshop. The concept art I found in this magazine blew my mind. Artist such as Stefan Morrell and Martin Bland are, in my opinion, geniuses. If you don’t know about Advanced Photoshop magazine, it’s a UK magazine filled with interviews from various artist, tons of inspirational art, and tutorials. The magazine is kind of pricey, but totally worth it.

One article I read was titled “The Rules of Fantasy Art.” It is an eight page article filled with tips from Stefan Morrell, Martin Bland, Andreas Rocha, and Sarah Theron on how to get started in matte painting. The article also goes into other aspects like lighting, atomsphere, and composition. I was more interested in the beginning process because sometimes it is difficult to start a good drawing or painting. So your thought process, research, and even motivation do play a big role in how your final piece will turn out.  I would really recommend this article to anyone in the art or design industry because of the same principles applies to designing your next poster or painting your next piece. I don’t have a link to the article but you can check the magazine out at your local bookstore.

As a “movie-buff” I often do research on movies. I came across this site a little while back and thought it would be great to share.  On the Smashing Magazine website, there are two links for other sites; one for “50 Stunning Asian Movie Posters” and the other for “50 Beautiful Movie Posters”. Personally, I think that Smashing Magazine chose some top-notch posters, and these two sites are really good to use as references if you are trying to design a movie poster.

Alex Orrelle is a character animator at Pixar. Before working with Pixar, he went to the Academy of Art College in San Francisco, and from there went on to Manex Visual Effects Studios where he worked on the Matrix sequels. Besides his great portfolio, Alex was also noticed through a short film he directed called Freeware.

In the article, Alex briefly describes how he accomplished getting hired at Pixar, tips of the trade, and gives an inside look into the movie making process. I recommend aspiring Pixar employees as well as other 3D artists to give it a read.

This article was published by AEC Magazine and written by Chris Hobbs, who has used 3D Studio Max for over 10 years. In this article, Hobbs attempts to answer the same question everyone is asking, “Why has Autodesk acquired Alias?” Hobbs basically explains that Autodesk doesn’t plan on putting the programs on the shelf. Which is understandable. The companies that only use 3D Studio Max would continue using it, and the companies that only use Maya would continue using that. Autodesk does this so that companies that only use one of the programs don’t have to learn a new, very complex software and master it in order to make top-notch movies, commercials, and images.

The article continues to describe the differences between 3D Studio Max and Maya, as well as their strengths and weakness. If you are interested in learning a 3D program and are wondering which program to use, it is dependent on what career field you are interested in pursuing. Maya is used more in the film industry, and half of the gaming and TV/Broadcasting companies use 3D Studio Max while the other half uses Maya. 3D Studio Max is used more for both architectural and visualization industries.

This means I might have to learn both. Joy!

Their latest feature, Apple Macbook Wheel, is as thin as the Macbook Air and it doesn’t have a keyboard. You might ask “Is it a touch screen computer like the HP TouchSmart”? The anwser is no. The new Apple Macbook Wheel has a wheel instead of a keyboard, like the wheel you see on the iPod.

I don’t know much about the new laptop except that it’s really thin, costs $2,600, and has a 17” screen. They say in the video that the files are easier to access, which can be good. Especially for people who know little about the Mac. The major concern is probably how to type emails, reports, or documents. On the video, Brian Gilman shows how to access an on-screen keyboard for those occasions. Honestly, in my opinion, they made typing very difficult. But there are some loyal Mac customers out there who will buy this product regardless.

To check out the video click here.

G-Speak is more gestural, using real-world pixels and geometry to view an interface in all sorts of angles. In the video, you see the person demonstrating the use of special embedded gloves (used as the mouse) and 3 to 4 screens of projected images (used as the monitor).  The person also has a special table in front of him, so using his hands, he can move things around from screen to screen and even on and off of that special table. He can move forward and backward through 3D space, cut images from videos

I am definitely going to check out more information on this computer. I encourage everyone to watch the 3 minute video.

I looked around for books and articles on freelancers and their tips for upcoming freelancers, and came across an article on Creative Behavior’s website. This article gives some important advice for new freelancers, or for anyone who wants to become a freelancer. It discusses the basics on how to start your own freelancing business, from the financial aspects to how to create or design your company’s website so that you will be able to gain business.

The one bad thing about being a freelancer is that your income can be like a roller coaster.  Many people like the security of being paid on a regular basis, so that is a factor to consider before deciding to freelance. If you also want to consider becoming a freelance designer, then check out this article.

Once again, I am taking two classes this semester. The exciting thing about it is that one of my classes focuses on computer animation. It has been a while since I’ve last taken a class in the computer animation field. This class focuses on rigging, which is more the programming part of computer animation, in addition to setting up  anything that’s going to be animated.

Which reminds me, I will be working on my Kil-U 187 animation starting sometime this spring. I can’t wait to see those results. Also, there are a couple of 3D modeling and animation projects I have to finish.  So look out for those. I am really going to be focusing on increasing my 3D portfolio this semester.

Now I came across some clients and designers in the past who pretty much understood all of the categories mentioned in this article except for one - cost of developing a website. In this article they talk about a lot of good stuff but I think the money is the root to the other categories. The client has to be willing to spend the money on web services provided by the right designer, buy e-commerce/shopping cart software, and the hosting services whether it is through an online hosting company or through investing in an I.T. specialist, as well as all of the equipment. However, this article doesn’t discuss all of those prices because that is something the client decides for themselves. For designers, if you want to do freelance work and are not sure what to charge, then this article has some guidelines on how much should be charged for your services.