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Monday, December 10, 2007

A Brief History of Invitations

Tech is the name of this game, the history of invitations closely parallels the inventions of all matters of the written word. The invention of the quill and of paper only slightly predates the invention of the invitation.

As soon as aristocracy invented free time they decided they needed to entertain themselves. That quickly led to the need for parties. This in turn led to the need to invite guests to them. At the time it was impossible to call or email.

Hand written was probably considered the most polite approach to the invitation through out most of time even after printing was invented and became affordable. Early writing was quickly elevated to an art form and one which was treasured then as it is now. Parchment was carefully decorated with calligraphy and folded into an envelope that was sealed with wax. This was stamped with the family crest of the sender and the intended guest's name was written on the outside.

Delivery in the earliest days of the formal occasion was performed on horse back on mud roads and the perfectly formed invitations required outer envelopes which could handle the abuse. Later the post printing press invitations needed to be protected from smudging so that tissue paper was inserted. The process has improved but the tradition of tissue inserts persists.

Much of our tradition of the invitation comes directly from the history of invitations. It is as much a keepsake in today's hectic society as it was in the day of grand balls and official court functions. Although today's invitation is probably not going to be hand lettered unless the function is a very important one. When that is the case professional artists can be found who will charge a kingly sum for the task. Today computers are often used.

Sunday, December 2, 2007

A Brief History of Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends


Thomas the Tank Engine gained the hearts of many children since the Railway Series of books first came out back in 1945, which isn't surprising considering Thomas the Tank Engine books have sold about eighty million copies all around the globe. As a celebration of the series' 60th anniversary, here is some history about Thomas the Tank Engine.

Back in 1943, little Christopher Awdry, a three years-old son of an Anglican clergyman named Wilbert Awdry, was suffering from scarlet fever. Due to the nature of the disease he was forced to remain in isolation. As a way to keep him entertained, his father started telling him several stories about a group of trains living out adventures and having fun together, and thus, Thomas the Tank engine was born.

As is to be expected with any child, he demanded his father to tell him the stories over again and again, and of course corrected him each and every time an inconsistency took place. To "protect" himself from his son's corrections, Reverend Awdry started writing down the stories onto pieces of paper to remember every detail.

To add to the storytelling, the Reverend made small sketches and drawings of cute small steam locomotives on the paper, along with the train stories. He drew a set of steam locomotives in an engine shed and added a human face to each of them, thus showing a "human" expression for each one.

One night, while his father was telling him one of the stories, little Christopher noticed a sketch of a small train with a sad face on the paper from which the Reverend was reading. Naturally, he asked his dad why that little train was so unhappy, and inquired what his name was. The Reverend then said the first name that came to his mind: Edward. That was when the first tale came to life. Since then, about a hundred small moral Thomas the Tank Engine tales came out.

The Reverend's wife thought that those stories were good enough to be published, so they started looking for an editor. Soon, Mr. Edmund Ward (a retired businessman) showed his interest in those stories, and since then there has been a Thomas the Tank Engine book released almost every year.

Surprisingly, Thomas the Tank Engine himself did not appear in the Railway Series until the second book came out in 1946!

The books came with colorful designs that were attractive to children. With a size appropriate to fit a little kid's hand, the books contained three stories and the stories were written on the left page, while an illustration of a certain part of the narrated events was on the right page. The first illustrator for the first dozen of Thomas the Tank Engine books was a man named C. Reginald Dalby, who established the appearance of all the characters based on the Reverend Awdry's sketches and the aspect of real steam locomotives.

Many of the stories are based on real happenings and people. For instance, one of Reverend's Awdry colleagues was a steam collector and is known to have inspired the character of the Vicar who saves "Trevor the Traction Engine" from the scrap heap. Being the most famous train of all times, Thomas the Tank Engine continues bringing healthy entertainment and marvelous, timeless magic stories to children around the world.

Thomas the Tank Engine gained the hearts of many children since the Railway Series of books first came out back in 1945, which isn't surprising considering Thomas the Tank Engine books have sold about eighty million copies all around the globe. As a celebration of the series' 60th anniversary, here is some history about Thomas the Tank Engine.

Back in 1943, little Christopher Awdry, a three years-old son of an Anglican clergyman named Wilbert Awdry, was suffering from scarlet fever. Due to the nature of the disease he was forced to remain in isolation. As a way to keep him entertained, his father started telling him several stories about a group of trains living out adventures and having fun together, and thus, Thomas the Tank engine was born.

As is to be expected with any child, he demanded his father to tell him the stories over again and again, and of course corrected him each and every time an inconsistency took place. To "protect" himself from his son's corrections, Reverend Awdry started writing down the stories onto pieces of paper to remember every detail.

To add to the storytelling, the Reverend made small sketches and drawings of cute small steam locomotives on the paper, along with the train stories. He drew a set of steam locomotives in an engine shed and added a human face to each of them, thus showing a "human" expression for each one.

One night, while his father was telling him one of the stories, little Christopher noticed a sketch of a small train with a sad face on the paper from which the Reverend was reading. Naturally, he asked his dad why that little train was so unhappy, and inquired what his name was. The Reverend then said the first name that came to his mind: Edward. That was when the first tale came to life. Since then, about a hundred small moral Thomas the Tank Engine tales came out.

The Reverend's wife thought that those stories were good enough to be published, so they started looking for an editor. Soon, Mr. Edmund Ward (a retired businessman) showed his interest in those stories, and since then there has been a Thomas the Tank Engine book released almost every year.

Surprisingly, Thomas the Tank Engine himself did not appear in the Railway Series until the second book came out in 1946!

The books came with colorful designs that were attractive to children. With a size appropriate to fit a little kid's hand, the books contained three stories and the stories were written on the left page, while an illustration of a certain part of the narrated events was on the right page. The first illustrator for the first dozen of Thomas the Tank Engine books was a man named C. Reginald Dalby, who established the appearance of all the characters based on the Reverend Awdry's sketches and the aspect of real steam locomotives.

Many of the stories are based on real happenings and people. For instance, one of Reverend's Awdry colleagues was a steam collector and is known to have inspired the character of the Vicar who saves "Trevor the Traction Engine" from the scrap heap. Being the most famous train of all times, Thomas the Tank Engine continues bringing healthy entertainment and marvelous, timeless magic stories to children around the world.

A Complete Directory for all Your Magic Needs


The magic world is a fraternity of unique artists who continue to create illusions that dazzle the mind. Every Magic trick performed creates a sense of power and almost every trick has been exposed at one time or another. Magicians such as David Blain, David Copperfield and numerous others, Have created fortunes perfecting their craft and forever learning and fine tuning their skills. The average amateur magician enjoys the art of magic for fun and entertainment and to be the center of attention at the family dinner table or at the office.

Magic can be an extremely rewarding and an addictive hobby to perform and to master, But it is a hobby that leaves your audience in awe and leaves them always wanting more. Magic is a universal form of entertainment. It is enjoyed by people of all ages and cultures. People love to be entertained and especially love to be dazzled. Magic is probably the one form of entertainment that the audience is left wondering "how was that done?" and "show me how you did that". Magic is an inexpensive hobby which can bewilder an audience with as little as a basic deck of playing cards or a couple of coins. So, come into the world of magic and become the magician in your world.

A Christian Hindu


He wears that long, white/cream, translucent silk garment that many know as a dhoti. He walks barefoot and visits any temple he can find. Sometimes, in traditional temples, they stop him with a stern, "this is a Hindu temple - for Hindus only" because his skin is white, with a ruddishness that waxes and wanes like the moon. He fobs them off with a "I am a Hindu" in chaste Tamil. They (the so-called sentinels) don't know what to say and let him pass. Inside, he clasps his hands, bows, prays and does what every devout Hindu does.

He looks like a �foreigner'. He is, in the conventional sense. But, isn't everyone? I don't know of a single human being who was borne by mother earth. All were borne by mother human females. Everyone or at least everyone's ancestors, at some point of time, were �foreigners' somewhere. So, that's no big deal!

Is he a Hindu? Yes, but he wasn't born one. What then is a Hindu? One who visits a temple? One who wears a �tilak'? Or one who believes he is a Hindu?

He must be an ISCKON'ite one might think. He isn't. But then, who knows, maybe, he is!

He has an altar at home. He lights incense and he prays there, too. He wears a ring, an astrologer advised him to wear. He enters a house (his new home, that is) after performing a vastu puja on a day chosen by a priest. He arranges his furniture and other home paraphernalia in keeping with the dictates of Vaastu. A picture of Ganesha wallpapers his desktop.

He is an American. A Catholic and hold your breath for you're not going to believe this�a priest, too. Yes, a Catholic priest�

Think about it�this is what a thinking person ought to be�one who is able to draw whatever he finds useful, in any way, from any religion�its philosophy, its beliefs, its rituals, its �superstitions', too, if you have such a word in your lexicon!

He drinks his beer, smokes his cigarettes and all in moderation�.and he can talk about different religions of the world, both past and present�he speaks half a dozen international languages with relative fluency�including the ancient Latin�he can discuss about a range of subjects and with impressive erudition�and accept criticism about the religion that gave him priesthood�but not without reason! He is a patriot but will criticize his country and the follies of its leaders with a sardonic smile�

He thinks therefore he is! He agrees, though, that a tree may not think (but then, who can tell for certain), but it still is...

He thinks and explores...therefore, to me, he is a Hindu�

I wonder if I will ever be a Christian Hindu or a Hindu Muslim Christian...I wonder how beautiful the world will be when there are more Hindu Christians, Muslim Christians, Muslim Hindus, Christian Muslims, Jewish Hindus, Zoroastrian Buddhists, Buddhist Hindu Muslims, Buddhist Jain Muslims....

Sunday, November 18, 2007

A Day At the Spa

I�m just hoping that my friend Durjaya Pliske doesn�t find out when or where my next record attempt is going to be. Don�t get me wrong � you can�t find a nicer guy, but whenever Durjaya shows up to one of my events, something unusual happens, and it invariably involves butterflies!

Durjaya is a professor of biology at a university in Florida, but his passion is butterflies. He even used to breed the winged creatures to help pay his way through college. In fact, he is so into butterflies, it almost seems like he attracts them wherever he goes.

The first time Durjaya came with me on an adventure was in Japan. We were both on a spiritual retreat with my meditation teacher, Sri Chinmoy. I decided to take a break and attempt to set a new Guinness record by climbing 16 miles up and down the foothills of Mt. Fuji on a pogo stick! As we traveled on the bullet train from Tokyo to Gotemba, just to make conversation, I asked Durjaya about his butterfly collection. Mistake number one. For two hours, to be polite, I feigned interest in his stories. Mistake number two. Durjaya was convinced he had discovered a dormant lepidopterist.

Jumping up Mt. Fuji was difficult, but nothing compared to the descent. It was drizzling and I was tired and cold and intensely concentrating on not taking a spill onto the slippery blacktop. Pushing to finish before the threatening clouds unleashed their fury, I suddenly spotted, about 40 yards ahead, my professor friend frantically waving his arms in my direction. �Oh my God, what�s going on?� I thought. �There must be an accident of some kind; I hope no one is seriously hurt.� As I rushed over, expending valuable energy, the excited Durjaya pointed to an enormous ugly brown moth stuck to a tree and exploded with glee, �Ashrita, look! Isn�t it marvelous? It is the rare Lepidoptera Satunid. I haven�t seen one of these in years. What a good omen!�

I should have paid more attention to the omens when I invited Durjaya to my recent record endeavor of trying to break the record for standing on a gymnastic ball. Also known as a Swiss ball, these are the colorful 2 to 2� foot rubber balls you find in most gyms nowadays. We were on retreat in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, this past December when I decided to make the attempt at the Sheraton Hotel Spa. Since the attempt was indoors, I figured Durjaya would be unable to communicate with his flying friends.

The spa management set me up in front of a huge picture window overlooking an exquisite tropical garden. As I stood up on the bright yellow Swiss ball, I was astounded by the beauty of the lily pond, the elaborate fountains and the lush vegetation. Balancing on the ball requires tremendous concentration and inner tranquility, and the scenery was a soothing inspiration�.that is, until I noticed the first butterfly! And then another and another followed by the inevitable, �Hey Ashrita, did you see that awesome monarch? What perfection!�

For the most part, I was able to ignore the local butterfly population (and my friend�s comments) and focus on the task underfoot! After 2 hours, the pain became a major source of distraction, but meditating on a photo of Sri Chinmoy, which was propped up against the window, gave me strength. After I surpassed the old record of 3 hours and 16 minutes, I relaxed a bit and felt confident enough to even start chatting with my professor friend. �Hey, Durjaya, I�m thinking of trying to stay on this ball for 4 hours, but I can�t go another minute without knowing the name of that butterfly over there.� He squinted through the glass and replied, � Oh, that�s a yellow tiger swallowtail. Common, yet well-rounded.�

As the minutes flew by, I got more and more caught up in the Indonesian fauna. Suddenly, an enormous butterfly crossed my field of vision, shattering my equanimity. �Durjaya, did you see that thing? Its colors are brilliant and it�s the size of a bird!� To which he smugly replied, �Yup, that�s a swallowtail alright, quite common even in the U.S.� �No�, I insisted, �You missed it. It wasn�t a swallowtail, it was gigantic!� At that moment the airborne wonder flew within inches of the window and I screamed, �Durjaya, look, there it is!� And I immediately proceeded to tumble off the ball!

The stopwatch read 3 hours and 38 minutes, but I was nevertheless fulfilled. I felt the joy of self-transcendence and sighted the glorious Golden Bird Wing butterfly as well. Now I understand how people can get so carried away with these graceful insects. Still, I�ll be quite satisfied if from now on, when it comes to breaking records, the only butterflies I experience are the ones in my stomach before the event!

A Fairy, a Low-Fat Bagel, and a Sack of Hammers

A Fairy, a Low-Fat Bagel, and a Sack of Hammers

One bright, sunny day, the Bad Internet Fairy closed down every company and organization site on the web. No more shopping. No more sites selling endless products and services. No more university, non-profit, or political sites.

All closed.

So all the programmers, designers, and usability engineers went home, shaking their heads.

Too bad! No more web.

And they all slept in the next morning. After all, with the web gone, why go to work? They stayed home, got up late, sipped on their cappuccinos and nibbled on low-fat bagels.

And they missed something.

They missed the fact that even though all those company and organization sites had closed down, the internet was still ablaze with activity.

Tens of millions of people were sending billions of messages to each other. Young people and old people alike. Instant messages were flying. Blogs were being written and updated. Newsletters were being edited and sent out. Discussion lists were being read and replied to. Personal sites were being created and published. Emails were being written to family and friends.

People were reading and writing. Frowning and laughing. Crying and cheering. Agreeing and disagreeing.

People were engaged. Tens of millions of them. They were reading line after line, page after page. What did they enjoy the most? The best writing. The most interesting opinions. The most original thinkers and voices. Yes, everyone was reading like crazy. People love to read when the subject is close to their hearts, when the writer is known to them and trusted, when the writing is exciting and well crafted.

No surprise here, of course. It�s always been that way. Since the first Usenet groups. (Drugs, Sex, and Rock and Roll ... naturally. 1988.) Since the early days of The Well. Since the first Bulletin Boards.

Regular folks, those tens of millions of �prospects� and �customers,� have always loved to read online. They love to write, they love to read, they love to get involved, feel engaged. Just text, just the words. (�Just the words?� What a terrible to thing to say about writing!)

Although these millions of people don�t think about it or analyze it, they all know a simple truth: their experience of the web is about words, the text. Always has been. Always will be.

This is their place, their medium. They were there, online, before any company or organization. They were there before venture capital companies had wet dreams about �upswings� and IPOs. They were there before a thousand experts decided that the web was about technology, design and process. They were there before some of those same experts announced that people don�t like to read online.

Anyway...

After a few days, the Bad Internet Fairy, who wasn�t so bad after all, put all the websites back online, and the designers, programmers and usability engineers heaved a collective sigh of relief and went back to work.

And they did what they always did. They designed, programmed and constructed, using the latest software, adhering to the most recent standards, following the coolest design trends.

And when everything was set, mapped out, constructed ... they had someone find a writer to fill in the blank spaces with words.

Too bad. Dumb as a sack of hammers.

A Few Airbrush Tips

A Few Airbrush Tips

With a large pool of artists implementing the airbrush art movement into their art, many airbrush tips exist for beginner and constant users alike. Most often, beginning airbrush users like to know the proper way to utilize the airbrush for their own needs. Learning how to clean their tools also serve as an important airbrush tip.

For airbrushes to work correctly, it must be kept clean. The methods used in cleaning these products are explained in airbrush tips. With airbrushes that use oil paints, lacquer thinner is the best cleaner. To use this material, have a wide brimmed can (with a cover) and enough thinner so that a brush can dip down and grab the thinner.

The airbrush tip continues to explain that once you are done with a color, you can then pour the rest back into the bottle and spray the remaining out on an old rug or tee shirt. Wipe the cup with a rag and then dip the end of the brush into the thinner and move it around a bit. After that, pour the thinner out of the cup and make another partial cup load. Then, spray the thinner into the can and you�re done.

Another airbrush tip includes the use of acrylic paints with your airbrush. These paints can be cleaned out much like the other, with lacquer thinner. However, many have discovered that running warm water is available it�s much easier to use. After pouring the extra paint into the bottle and spraying the remaining paint out, this airbrush tip explains to the user to put the brush into the running water and flush out most of the extra paint.

One can use their finger to put at the end of the brush and put some air with the needle pulled back into the airbrush. This put excess paint into the cup. The airbrush tip continues to explain that one must work the needle valve back and forth until there is no paint left. After that, you should blow a cup of water out of the brush and shake the brush out at various angles. This airbrush tip is extremely important because you do not want a lot of water in your brush when you place more paint into it.

Sunday, November 11, 2007

10 Tips For Using Adobe Photoshop

10 Tips For Using Adobe Photoshop

Like a brush is to a painter an essential skill in the field of graphic design is Photoshop. The software offers increased productivity as well as flexibility. The features include aspects like file browser, vanishing point tool, smart sharpen filter, noise reduction filter, smart objects, as well as camera workflow enhancements. Photoshop offers professional photo editing features, digital imaging, as well as non destructive editing.

There are so many hidden features and insights to software, that it is often impossible to know them all.

1. There is a hidden option using which you can simulate bold and italic formatting styles for fonts that do not have these options. Click the button on the type tool option to bring up the character palette. Then select text and click the arrow in the upper right hand corner of the palette menu where faux bold and italics are present. However you will not be able to warp type when formatting has been applied.

2. One can quickly flip through blend modes while trying out effects by using the keys �shift+ to change to next mode and shift- to go to the previous mode.� When a painting tool is active this shortcut will change the blend mode of the painting tool. However, if anything is highlighted then the shortcut will not work. You will have press esc and then use the shortcut keys again.

3. The photomerge feature can be used to seamlessly combine multiple images to create a panorama. This feature can be accessed from the Automate menu. You can even refine the composition using tools like rotate, zoom, pan, and set vanishing point.

4. When re-sampling images one can use either Bicubic Smoother or Bicubic Sharper. You can use Bicubic smoother for up sampling and Bicubic sharper for down sampling. You can actually specify which interpolation method is to be used by going to general preferences and setting a default.

5. There are two features for printing. You can use contact sheet II or picture package. Use contact sheet when you want all images in the same size and you want to print the name below the image. Use printer package when you want different image sizes on the same page, or multiple copies of the same image, or a text overlay.

6. If you want to remove a glare on the eyeglasses of an image you should use a part of the lens that does not have a glare and use it to layer the lens with a glare. Use tools like rotate and skew and soft-tip eraser to soften the edges. Ensure the glare does not show through from below. Or, do some careful work using the clone tool.

7. The online services enable you to connect to online photo printing and sharing sites.

8. The Web Photo gallery can generate hyperlink pages that can be uploaded to a server.

9. The Picture Package option will help you prepare photos in layout with multiple size prints on one page.

10. You will never forget how you achieved a certain result because the History Log will detail every step taken by you as well as time-tracking, and a legal record. There are three choices wherein, you can create a sessions only record where, it will record only when Photoshop is opened or closed; or a concise record which will record each action including the text that appears in the history palette; or the complete editing history including the text that appears in the actions palette.

Adobe Photoshop is a dream tool for every designer and one can over time master every subtlety of the tool and crop, rotate, resize, create shapes, add layers, change text, and play with colors. It is a hands on software where the more you use it the more you will learn.

Thursday, November 8, 2007

7 Options to Make Money Online

7 Options to Make Money Online

The Internet is full of Scam about making money online. Our own experience shows that you can make money online and you have 7 options that are real. You have to understand your capabilities to make money online.

Making Money online is possible even if you are a simple Internet user or surfer. For instance, Filling surveys online does not pay much, but you still can make money ranging from $5-75 per survey. Trading stocks or foreign exchange requires a capital and some financial background.

Data entry jobs or even reading emails pays as well. Building a Website makes money ranging from $10 to $5000 per month. Going to daily job can pay from $1000 to $20,000 per month.

It all depends on you to make money online. Your skills, how hard you want to work, your education, and your background will set your course to make the money you deserve.

Here are some options to help you start making money online. Starting with the simple ones first that makes little money and ascending to the one that requires most dedication:

1- Filling Surveys Online (Simple, No Capital required)

2- Data Entry Online (Simple, No Capital required)

3- Trade Stocks online (Easy to Do, Require some capital to start and lots of luck)

4- Trade Foreign Exchange online (Specialised, Requires capital to start and knowledge to win)

5- Build a Website online (Easy if you have the will, requires $10-25 a month and authoring time)

6- Find a Job that suits your skills. Find this online, but you report to it daily!

7- Start your own business from home.

3 Steps to Optimize Your Article - Key to Create More Traffic!

3 Steps to Optimize Your Article - Key to Create More Traffic!

In one of my previous article I wrote on �How to Write an Article�. In that article I mentioned some key points to write a good content article that will keep your readers reading. Now having understood on that, I would like to talk about how you can optimize your article to increase traffic to your site as well as increase potential readers when they search for an article.

Writers need to understand that a good content article must go hand in hand with a search engine friendly article. The following pointers are some keys to optimize your article which is important if you want your article to be search engine friendly.

3 Steps to optimize your article:

1. Firstly, you need to choose on a relevant topic to write on. You want your article to relate to your website. For example, if your website is about �dogs� then you can write an article which talks about �dog training� or even �dog nutrition�. This way, it shows your understanding on that topic which eventually makes the reader want to know more about other related topics. The reader will then click on your link which is available in the resource box. � This is what you want the reader to do, click on your website link! Traffic is generated this way. This one important part you need to do to optimize your article � Relate your article to your website!

2. The next thing that you need to know is the importance of keywords. Very often writers overlooked on the need to research for good keywords. Search engines has a unique way of searching through its database, it is base on textual information and will only show results based on the density of keywords in your website or article.

When writing an article, always remember to identify your keywords. You need to include the keywords in your title, description or summary and spread it through out your article. To optimize your article even further, try creating your own keyword anchor text links in the resource box that back link to the page that you want to show up in the results. As a gauge, make sure that the density of your keyword is about 3% - 5% of your article.

3. After you finish writing your article, search for the best 10 article directories to submit. If you want to be on the safe side selected 20 article directories to submit. Try to submit your article to directories that are popular as you want your article to be view by as many viewers as possible. Besides that you need to submit your article consistently to all your short listed article directories to ensure a gradual result in the next few weeks.

These are the 3 steps that you would like to take to optimize your article to the fullest. Your job is still not done yet! After your submission, do a reflection on your submitted article. Check the popularity of your article, read the comments of the reader and improve on it if necessary. To add to that, do a search and see if you are able to find your articles, if you can�t, work on your keywords! Be patient and do your article submission consistently and you will see your results soon.

Saturday, October 27, 2007

3D Effect In Photoshop

3D Effect In Photoshop

You can use your Adobe Photoshop in creating 3D images. Since 2Ds are obsolete and 3Ds are in, you might want to start enhancing your skill in computer graphics.

You can start making a cube. Your aim is to create an image of cube that is viewed in such a way that the three sides, left, right and top, are shown. Then, learn how to put different effects on it, like shadow, to make it more realistic.

Adobe Photoshop is an ideal program for making two dimensional (2D) images. But it does not limit you to this type of image. You can also create your three dimensional image, or the so-called 3D image, by using the 3D Transform. This will allow you to create simple 3 dimensional shapes or wrap an image in a 3D shape.

To access 3D transform, go to Filter, select Render and choose 3-D Transform. The editing box will appear. This is where you can find the primitive tools. These tools are used to edit the three kinds of primitives, which includes sphere, cube and cylinder. Also, these tools will allow you to create basic images and editing tools, such as Select and Direct Select. The Select tool enables you to move objects, while the Direct Select tool lets you to make adjustments by dragging the anchor points.

If you want to preview your work, use viewing options like pan camera. There is also the trackball that is used to move the 3D render around from different angles.

For the 3D shapes, create first the new layer. Fill it with color. On the 3D shapes layer, create some drop shadows or darker shades of color fills. And because 3D transform only distorts the pixels, you might need these fills to see the effect.

If you want to create 3D effects on your text, use the different transform functions. You can use the shortcut key Alt + E/F and then hold down Ctrl as you drag any of the handles to any desired direction.

Before you add filters or layers effect, you might want to rasterize your text layer. To do this, right click on the layer in the layers palette. Then, choose Rasterize Layer. You will notice that your text will be converted into a normal layer so that you can freely edit it. Create a backup copy because you cannot edit the text after rasterization.

Experiment on images. There are a lot of ways in which you can create 3D shapes, objects and text.

3D Digital Art

3D Digital Art

3D digital art has certainly come a long way from its obscure beginnings. Nowadays, you find it everywhere � in print, web and television advertisements, in movies, etc. But what exactly is digital art?

The technology of 3D digital art

3D Digital art is a very young field, and more research and formal training is needed before schools can offer it as a viable study. So far, 3D digital art software has managed to create impressive 3D images, but more functionality needs to be incorporated. Software developers are continuously working to delve into the vast potential of 3D digital media.

Many digital 3D artists are involved improving the application of 3D digital software�s light and shadow effects on objects. Most 3D artists also create straight from their imagination �surreal� or impossible objects. Their output is often times seen in movies and on the Internet.

3D digital imaging is a long process. When you create one 3D digital face, it can literally take months � even with the help of software such as Corel Bryce 3D, Adobe Photoshop, Curious Labs Poser, Jasc PSP and other painting programs. The technique of �modeling� is particularly hard to master. It takes months and sometimes years for the best digital artists to achieve �broadcast quality� looks.

Spline control is another particularly complicated area of 3D digital imaging. Before going into such advanced techniques, digital art students must be well versed in the fundamentals of LightWave 3D, as well as basic modeling skills. They should be very good at selecting and modifying points and polygons, determining framing and motion paths, basic surfacing and image mapping.

Digital Art provides detailed information on Digital Art, Digital Fine Art, Digital Art Schools, 3D Digital Art and more. Digital Art is affiliated with Digital Prints.

"Becoming the Best"

"Becoming the Best"

"First think as an entertainer, then as a magician" Any one can learn and do a magic "trick", but to take a trick and turn it into an amazing performance is one of the keys to performing great magic. May I suggest that most people DO NOT like to feel as though they have been "tricked" or "fooled", instead they like to know that they have taken part in good entertainment. Have you asked yourself why you want to do "magic Tricks"? Is it for the fame and fortune orbecause you have a passion to entertain?

"First think as an entertainer, then as a magician"

As Simon Lovell states "Magicians worry about 'How do I do it?' Instead of 'Why' do I do it? There in lies one of the biggest problems -- there has to be a reason. Magic intrinsically is an illogical thing, but you can do it at least in a logical way. You ask, what's more important to me -- an audience remembering me or the tricks I perform? I would rather them remember me than the tricks I perform. It's essential to create uniqueness about yourself - separate yourself from the masses"-Simon Lovell - Master sleight of hand artist & lecturer

While at a cookout this past summer I was talking with the host and he wished for me to entertain the guests, excluding himself; as he told me "I am not fond of 'magic', I do not enjoy it". Like this gentleman, there are those who honestly do not enjoy watching magic, but not liking magic is not a bad thing. In a case like this DO NOT SAY "BUT, YOU HAVE NEVER SEEN ME PERFORM" (Unless of course in that same sentence you have the ability to make a 2 ton elephant appear in his swimming pool and cause a parade of camels to march through the picnic area. If you do possess this power, I will caution, that he may call upon a local minister to perform an exorcism).

In this scenario for instance I asked VERY un-aggressively "Have you ever seen a live close-up magician?" To this he said, "Yes" (In a sarcastic, oh my --magic is for kids type of tone). His comment did not offend me as I have heard this before, I responded to him with "So you have not seen an impressive sleight of hand artist?" To this he said "No, they seemed OK for the kid's."

"First think as an entertainer, then as a magician"

After some time walking around performing for his colleagues, I approached him and asked if he would consider giving me his honest opinion of something I have been working on and if he would think that it would be up to par to perform for his friends? He said, "Sure, go ahead." Fast forward a few hours: by the evening's end he was requesting that I perform for "this individual and that one over there, oh and they would love the one you just did with me." Like this individual, most people have seen the "pick any card trick" and "make six piles", etc. Remember, become an entertainer, not just a magician.

KID'S PARTIES

At my kid shows I entertain the adults as much as the children, part of my guarantee! is that ALL THEIR GUESTS WILL BE TRULY ENTERTAINED OR THEY PAY ME NOTHING! I have NEVER had any one take me up on this offer...EVER (Humbly Stated).

Usually as the guests are arriving (at a kid's party) I will do 15-20 minutes of walk around magic (FREE, the client loves this as there is NO dead space and you have even more opportunity to connect with the adults and children before "show" time. The parents in attendance like to know who is entertaining their children. When I perform close-up magic for the parents, they receive a better glimpse into who I am and they are not just at a "child's party" anymore).

"First think as an entertainer, then as a magician"

Some times while doing this type of walk around I will have maybe one or two of the laid back, cool, brew drinking guys and their buddies saying (as I approach) "No, go show the tricks to the kids, I do not want to see any of that stuff it is for children." I may come back with "Oh, you know I have been working on a few things for this show, for the kid's and all," (I will usually look around as if I am sharing an intimate secrete with them) and suggest, "would you mind/ be so kind to allow me to show you something that I may want to perform for the children, you be the judge. Let me know if you think the children will enjoy this or not."

At this point I present "Hunters Monte`" (Rudy T. Hunter-Canada),Blizzard Deck (Dean Dill-California) or maybe some mentalism/ card sleights of Dai Vernon (The Professor). The response to these is ALWAYS phenomenal!!! Why? I first think as an entertainer, then as a magician". These guys will always ask to see more and then to show more of this amazing magic to their friends. I also find that they and get better involved when it comes to the "kid's" part of the show!

WHY PERFORM MAGIC TRICKS

You may go into a magic shop and purchase the newest, neatest, trick on the market. After you get it home, the package ripped open, you can hardly contain the excitement, you read the directions, go through the routine a couple of times and then run out of your room showing your parents, husband, wife and/ or children. Showing off your "skills" you now possess with your T.T., Professors Nightmare, and a stripper deck.

Your friends encourage you and say ..."wow"... that is neat, your parents tell you that "You are the best magician they have ever seen"and because you have a few weeks of "practice" and have bought 15 of the "coolest" tricks sold today you believe you are "ready" to perform as a professional. You make up business cards with your name stating that you do birthday parties, etc. Now you are going to be making money.

PLEASE! STOP ! STOP ! STOP ! STOP ! STOP ! STOP ! STOP ! STOP !

First, have you taken the time to consider why you want to do "magic Tricks"? Is it for the fame and fortune? If I asked if you know who David Blain and David Cooperfield are, more than likely you would not hesitate to say "they are famous and wealthy magicians." Right you would be. But if I were to ask you if you knew the name of Puck, Scott Alexander or Dennis Haney to name a few?

Your reply may be "who is Puck, Scott Alexander or Dennis Haney? Why haven't I heard of them?" I say to you "They are amazing magicians." You reply,"if they are so amazing, I would have at least seen them on TV." The answer to your last statement is simple -- they have been working, and practicing, taking advice, practicing, learning, creating and practicing.

Scott Alexander has been a top pro for many years and one of the busiest professionals in the world. His credits include Denny & Lee, Malone's Bar in Boca, cruise ships all over the world, Caesar Magical Empire, and now he's starring in his own show at Fitzgerald's in Las Vegas. His style is simple -- comedy that goes right to the center of the audiences brain.

Puck headlines in the new "Magic and Mischief" theatre in Orlando, FL http://www.magicandmischieftheatre.com/ one of the most sought after entertainers in the nation.

Dennis Haney is one of the most famous of all three named here. He owns two magic shops/ studios "Where the pros shop" (Baltimore, MD & Las Vegas, NV); Mr. Hanney is among the who's who in the world of magic (worldwide). www.dennymagic.com

If you try and follow fame and fortune more than likely you will be as Client Eastwood so calmly said in one of his movies "You are a legend in your own mind." Don't pursue fame and fortune, let it find you. Keep on practicing, reading and listening to those in the trenches, learn from their mistakes and their victories. Did David Copperfield "just appear" on the scene? (bad play on words, I know but hey...it is a free article what do you expect), no, he was practicing over and over again. Practice does not make perfect, as one individual told me some time ago, "perfect practice, makes perfect."

"First think as an entertainer, then as a magician"

Practice, practice and then practice some more. Once you have practiced several times, multiplied by 10 then go into your nearest magic shop, or to a local full time magician and show them what you have been working on, you have two ears and one mouth, use the first two and not the last one, listen to what they have to say. Go back and practice, oh, by the way have I stated to you that you must practice? (I say this with a curious grin).

"First think as an entertainer, then as a magician"