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This week’s show is all about listening to internet radio stations. There are two main types: live and procedurally generated.
Ways to find live stations
iTunes/Apple TV Radio
Windows Media Player
Making generated stations to listen to
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This week we discuss IRC, internet relay chat. You might be thinking to yourself, “People still use IRC?” Like a number of established technologies, IRC is still in regular use today. Sites like Ustream.tv use IRC for their chatrooms, they just hide it behind a flashy interface.
Things to consider
Do I need my own chatroom?
Do I need my own server? (Probably not)
Clients
Windows
OS X
Web
Servers
IRCd
Which features/platform is supported by which IRCd?
What are some popular IRCds?
Services
What are some popular IRC services?
Scripts
What are some typical chat scripts?
Trout slap
Popups
Bots
Where can I find scripts for my client?
Linkinus scripts can be found on conceited software’s site
Colloquy supports several scripting languages but their extras page is broken as of this writing
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This week we tackle mailing lists. We ask questions like, “Is a mailing list a good idea for me?” “What do you hope to accomplish with it?” It’s best to have goals in mind, be they promotional, to entertain, or whatever. Think of who are the types of people you want to reach. Are they customers? People who like your art?
Proper etiquette
ALWAYS let the user opt into your list, never add them without their permission.
ALWAYS let the user opt out and unsubscribe is they no longer wish to receive notifications from you.
ALWAYS use blind carbon copy when sending out your lists. Nobody needs to find out who everybody else on the list is.
DON’T over do it. Not everybody wants a daily email blast from you.
DO make your lists personal and engaging. Nobody wants to read boring boilerplate. Give them a reason to stay subscribed and keep reading.
DO offer incentives like early notification of sales, discount codes, previews, and things users won’t see if they’re not subscribed.
DO let your users know what they stand to gain by signing up for your list, what special things you’re offering to subscribers, etc.
Things to remember
Some email systems cap the number of mass emails you can send out at a time, meaning you may need to send out batches for each individual issue of your news letter.
It’s very easy for users to label you spam and get you into trouble if you send the wrong thing to the wrong person. Make sure you’re only sending to people who asked to hear from you and have an easy unsubscribe link to find.
Not everybody is going to enable images in their inbox so be aware of the formatting when you send your email out that it has to be understandable with images disabled.
Services to use
WordPress plugins
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Today we talk about different types of scanners. The most common size is 8.5″ x 11″ though if you’re going to be scanning larger work you’re better off using a tabloid-sized (11″ x 17″) scanner. I share my thoughts on all-in-one machines as well as some tips on drivers/software like the Twain Sane Interface, VueScan, and Image Capture on OS X.
Best scanners to go for these days
8.5″ x 11″
Tabloid
Brother 3 in 1 (I have the MFC-6490CW model)
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Today we’re discussing digital art tablets. The brands covered include Wacom, (Bamboo, Intuos, Cintiq) Monoprice/Yiynova/etc., and Aiptek.
Things to consider:
Some artists still use and swear by a good mouse.
Sometimes even with the fanciest tablet there are types of strokes best done with a mouse.
The tablet is a tool. It improves your work flow but won’t by default make you a better artist.
Understand levels of pressure sensitivity. The Intuos is typically where the “pro” number of levels start on a Wacom device but plenty of pros use Graphire and Bamboo tablets.
If you are going for an Intuos or higher, get a larger model than the smallest.
Buy second hand, refurbished, and online. There’s no reason to pay more especially when you can get “like new” condition.
Tablets also come bundled with “lite” and “essential” versions of software.
The texture of a tablet is different than paper. There are ways around this but you’ll rarely get the same bite without taping paper to your tablet and wearing out your nib.
Try various nib tips.
Tablets with no built in screen require getting used to in terms of hand-eye coordination.
Here’s a nice video on deciding what tablet is right for you:
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This week is all about digital painting. We discuss the techniques of underpainting (a good intro to which can be found here) and overpainting. Remember in realistic rendering that there is no single “flesh” tone but really a palette of colors that make up what we see.
For an interesting case study of different techniques and rendering in different software, we look at two different ways to paint SpongeBob. One in Artrage the other in Photoshop.
Here are some general digital painting tutorials:
“Making of” pieces:
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Today we’re discussing low-cost and free alternatives to the standard art applications of Photoshop, Illustrator, Painter, Flash, etc. We cover “Lite”, “Elements,” “Essentials,” and educational versions of fuller software like Photoshop Elements, Painter Essentials, and Painter Lite
Less-expensive Alternatives
Free Alternatives
Apps
Web Apps
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Today’s episode is all about perspective. One point, (tunnel or cone) two point, (corner) three point, (corner and a top or bottom) curvilinear, (4 or 5 point) etc. We discuss elements like the horizon (eye) line and vanishing points.
Tips
Perspective works from any viewpoint – worm’s eye, bird’s eye, upside down.
To find the midpoint on a plane draw an X and use the point where the lines meet – use this to subdivide areas.
Vertical and horizontal help define the area effected by perspective and break up all the grids
Tools
Photoshop perspective path from Freddie E. Williams II
Manga Studio Perspective Rulers
Books
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Today we’re talking about painting. It’s important to remember to have fun while you’re working. That’s why people go into art, isn’t it? To enjoy their work and to feel fulfilled by it. Whenever I get frustrated I just try to remember Bob Ross telling a story about the bear he imagines living in a cave on the mountain he’s painting, or making one of his famous “happy little trees.”
We discuss types of paint like acrylic, oil, watercolor, gouache, and tempera; types of brushes like round, flat, fan, big, and small; other tools you might use like the palette knife, brush washing cup, canvas or panel coated in gesso, etc. We also mention proper safety when using chemicals requiring good ventilation, sometimes gloves, and proper disposal. (Don’t just dump thinners down the sink. It’s bad for your pipes. Also don’t leave soaked rags and paper towels sitting in the trash, they’re a fire hazard.)
We talk about under drawings, glazing, working wet on wet, sealing paintings when they’re finished, and wrapping paints with saran wrap to save it for later.
James Gurney of Dinotopia has some great blogs on everything from setting up a good taboret to artist palettes through the ages. You should also check out his youtube channel.
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Wee! Making art! Today we discuss drawing with the proper mindset, allowing yourself to fail, and I share some wisdom from Chuck Jones’s uncle on being a mighty fast pig.
We talk about approaches to drawing including Line of Action, Drawing Mass, Gesture Drawing, and Contour Line
Tips for correcting mistakes:
Flip the drawing upside down
Flip it left to right if you’re drawing digitally or look at it from the back if working traditionally
Step back and look from a physical distance
Look at things in relation to each other – arms to leg lengths, etc.
Think of mass, shape, volume, light and shadow instead of seeing the subject as the thing/person it is
We also discuss how it’s not a crime to use reference, (As long as you’re not being a slave to it or tracing) it’s being a professional. I’ve linked this nice DeviantArt gallery and PoseSpace before but they deserve mention again.