Make Your Own TTF Font Files!

One of my biggest disappointments in with my specific art school was that in my Typography classes, I took a typeface from concept all the way through creation, but stopped right at the end. It was never converted into an actual typeface. This never sat well with me, as I was left with this itching question of WHY?

Why spend the time to create an entire type family if you never convert it to a usable font format?

Recently I have stumbled across a website that put some relief in my OCD and give an opportunity to create a font!  Best of all its FREE, and Pretty easy. 

If you are looking for a quick typeface creator, checkout http://www.myscriptfont.com.
They give you a template to place your text on, or even freehand if you like, 
Then you load it on their site. 

Check it out!

Locating a Source Image - Tineye

On a few occasions, I am given an image that I need to find where it came from. This mostly happens with a client purchasing a stock image that is too small or wanting to use an image they found on Google. I stumbled across a great resource. http://www.tineye.com

 

 I take a quick screen shot of the image I am looking for. Even in cases where it has been altered I have had success finding the image. Then go to TinEye.com and load it up.

Adding a Polished Touch to Your 3D Rendering - Strata

I began to work in the world of 3-D modeling. Of course Since I have not been doing it long I have so much to learn. One of the quick tips I found to make my models look more complete is to add other modeled elements. For example since I work mainly on designing Trade Show booths I find my booths look rather empty, and to model all kinds of addition elements to give it that polished touch would take quite a bit of time. A great resources I use is http://archive3d.net/.
They have so many great items to give your rendering that extra polished touch.
Check it out!

Illustrator Tip. - Creating Dotted Lines in Illustrator

Making dotted lines in illustrator is a little bit of a trick. At first most users would say, "O that's easy!" and then get stumped as they can't find the brush they were thinking of, or the strokes pallet just is not giving them the options they were hoping for to make dots instead of dashes.

But really that is exactly where it is done.

Go to the strokes pallet.

The key is to use:
ROUNDED CAP.
dash set to 0pt
gap set to 8 pt.


Hope this helps.
 a special thanks to Tony Soh

Choosing 3D Rendering Software?

Choosing 3D Rendering Software?

Source:

your3dsource.com

Software	Level	OS	Price	Notes	Details
Maya	Pro.	PC	$3,495.00	Full Blown Production Film Quality	Alias's Maya 3D is extremely powerful.  Its node-based architecture enables complex animation and rendering linkages to be created and it offers a nonlinear modeling history, plus Mental Ray rendering.
Strata 3D	Mid.	MAC/PC	$700.00	Have experience building tradeshow Displays In this, Use it at work. Similar to Photoshop	Strata's Strata 3D has a long history and is available for Mac and PC.  It's a sturdy if slightly archaic 3D program, but it has found favor with many digital illustrators.  It has some good rendering features, including radiosity, which are rare at the price. www.strata3d.com
Bryce 3D	Mid.	MAC/PC	$99.95	For Landscapes and Environment	Corel's Bryce 3D is an interesting 3D program.  It's primarily a landscape rendering application, designed to produce skies, seas, and terrains in a very efficient way.  It can be pressed into service as a more general purpose 3D tool, but lacks any serious modeling tools.
Pixels	Mid.	MAC	$49.00	Great for animation and video games	Pixels is a Mac-only 3D program that offers advanced rendering and animation and robust modeling for a modest cost.  It also features a renderer based on the REYES algorithm-the same one used in Pixar's RenderMan software.
Blender	Mid.	MAC/PC	FREE	Considered one of the best with full 3D production packages.	One of the best free 3D applications available is Blender. This program is a full featured 3D production package featuring the kinds of tools you'd expect to see in a mid to high end application.
Lightwave 3D	Pro.	MAC/PC	$895.00	Great tools	Newtek's Lightwave 3D is a dual application featuring separate modeler/texturing and animation/lighting/rendering apps. Its quirky interface is deceptively powerful, and it offers one of the best quality renderers out there.
Cinema 4D	Pro.	MAC/PC	$2,771.00	Full Blown Production Film Quality	The full suite of plug-ins for Cinema 4D takes it into the high end.  With advanced radiosity rendering, sophisticated character tools, and a GUI based expression system, it's also one of the easiest high-end 3D apps to get to grips with.
Poser Pro	Beg.	MAC/PC	$499.99	Character Development	It's a 3D character renderer and animator that lets you pose and animate ready-made, high quality 3D figures.  It's very powerful, but it's not an all rounder- it does one thing only-but does it very well.

3D Rendering Software

1. Which applications animators use to render 3D images?
   
   Maya, Strata 3D, Bryce 3D, Pixels Pro, Blender, Lightwave 3D, Cinema 4D, Poser Pro, Houdini, Softimage XSI.
   
   
2. How do 3D applications apply to still graphics as well as animation? 
   
   3D applications use still graphics at sources to composite and develop complex 3D imagery.
   
   
3. Uses of 3D animations—do they enhance Web sites? Inform an audience? Sell a product? Entertain?
   
   3D animations are used in a wide variety of forms. Many think that 3D animation only is really used in the entertainment industry in video games and movies. The truth is that 3D animations are use everywhere in our society. From simple small apps and functions on a cell phone, to complex technical animations for demonstrations and instructional purposes 3D animation has become a part of everyday life.
    
4. Why animators choose to render 3D animations rather than 2D animations?
   
   3D animation creates and the ability to reveal more dimension and detail in an image. Moving an image from a flat surface to revealing more volume allows the viewer to see and understand more data and detail than compared to what a 2D image introduces. For example in a 3D environment the viewer has a better sense of scale, proximity, and in many instances can view the impossible like in wire frame or cutaways.
   
   
5. Which individuals and industries are using 3D graphics—either still images or animations? What are the characteristics of those 3D graphics currently in use by these individuals/industries?
   
   The entertainment industry is all about using advanced technology to push the industry further into reality. With 3D graphics and animation both the film industry and gaming industry have exploded with realistic detail. Video games are no longer just for the kids, but remain a high point in the day for many adults. I have even heard of elderly people in their 80’s getting in on the action. One couple I heard about uses a Wii system to play golf every night after dinner. They are too old to go out to the course, but love the game. They tee off every night at 7pm are able to play on courses around the world.
   
   Beyond entertainment, the medical field is able to explain and show so much more to students and patients about what is happening in the body with both 3d graphics and animation.
   
   Actually, as technology has greatly advanced and software is more available we see it popping up all over. From cell phones to flight simulators 3D graphics and animation are becoming away of life.
   
   

Sources:

"Google Images." Google. Web. 15 June 2011. .

Mac 3D : PiXELS3D for OSX. Web. 14 June 2011. .

"MAXON SHOP - Home Page - North and South America." Www.maxonshop.com. Web. 14 June 2011. .

"Maya - 3D Animation, Visual Effects & Compositing Software - Autodesk." Autodesk - 3D Design & Engineering Software for Architecture, Manufacturing, and Entertainment. Web. 14 June 2011. .

"Which 3D Animation Software Should I Use?" Animated Gifs | Build A Website | Animation Schools | Animation Software. Web. 14 June 2011. .

Marketing Campaign Sample For ACOHS

ACOHS promotional marketing campaign for the 9th Street Dental Center, created to reinforce the current second grade Sealant program.

The Campaign Includes Samples of the Following:
   Design Brief, Letterhead & Envelope, Direct Mailer, Website, SWAG, Black & White Newspaper Ad.

Client: Ashland County Oral Health Services (ACOHS)

Job Description: Design several pieces that reinforce the direct mailer for ACOHS. The campaign will target children and encourage them to establish good dental habits. The offers will encourages
parents to make a dental home for their child/family with regular check-ups and appointments.
 
Objective: The campaign is directed to children, but will have incentives for parents as well.

Target: The tone of the pieces needs to be fun and child like.

Intended Results: The design is to motivate children to establish healthy dental habits, and parents to
see the value of a dental home.

Content: The content needs to be appealing to children. A type of chart to track brushing and
flossing habits, A coupon offer. Some instruction. Contact information.

YES Campaign for CWC

DESIGN APPLICATION:
 YES Campaign
 Outdoor Advertising
 Adobe Illustrator
 2011 - Internship Project

Project included creating a grid for the design space and applying branding elements for large outdoor advertising. The design space suggested was 4x4 design panels. I chose to go slightly larger and make the graphic more dynamic. The final size of the piece is roughly 35’x16.5’. The piece was produced on a large format plotter on 50/50 adhesive paper with outdoor ink.