This Iphone application stirred up quite the hype and attracted a lot of peoples interests. Too bad it turned out to be a fraud. Check it out!

iHologram - iPhone application from David OReilly on Vimeo.

Check out some great photoshop tutorials here. Graphicshaven.net Tutorials

USB Thumb Drive

Do you have a spare thumb drive laying around, even the cheap one with low storage capacity can be turned into a new prized possession.

pcworld.com did most of the work on this, but I thought some of you may find this interesting!

“Once known as simple little gizmos that were basically just modern replacements for floppy disks, USB flash drives have suddenly grown up. You can now replicate your desktop environment, encrypt files on the fly, and even rescue your PC with one of these formerly modest devices. Here are some of the coolest things you can do today with the innocuous-looking thumb drive on your desk, as well as details about some particularly useful new drives.”

• Your Desktop in Your Pocket
• Box: Pocket Gaming Without a PSP
• Safe From Prying Eyes
• Box: Itty-Bitty Linux
• Create a Cleaning Kit for Spyware-Infected PCs
• Box: Trek With Books, Not a Backache
• When Speed Is King, Flash Flies
• Box: Free, Easy File Syncing
• Revive Your Crashed PC
• Box: Tunes on Wheels

Please check out our graphic community at www.graphicshaven.net for your #1 free source for your graphical needs!

If you all thought that the typical Wacom boards were awesome check out the new Wacom CintiQ. It has gone from the touch pad to the new touch screen. Allowing all your work to be be focus right on the screen. Rather than the transfer from the board to what you see on the screen. This will make it easier for people to get really detailed. I have on of the standard Intous, I find it really hard to get detailed in my digital painting. I also haven’t spent a ton of time learning all the tricks to using the Intous.

The major down side to the CintiQ is the price. The smallest one costs $999, so unless graphics design is a career, it would be hard for the average joe to get his hands on one of these. I also think that the price is kind of high considering you can get a touch screen computer for that. I am guessing that they price will drop or you will be able to pick one up on ebay for a lesser price.

There are three sizes that you can get them in.

• 12” WX $1999
• 20″ WX $1999
• 21″ Wx $999

I would love to have one, but the idea of spending that, I would just prefer having one of the normal Wacom Boards and a new computer. But If you have the money I would buy one, but use it like an investment. Just use it as much as possible til you pay it off from the work you make.

If you want to see some pictures or just want to check out some specs on the other boards that Wacom makes here is a link to their website: Wacom

If you want to visit our site at graphicshaven here is a link to our site: Graphics Haven. We always enjoy having new members.

Also if you have any questions about the site or the blog feel free to email me at spin@graphicshaven.net

Thanks for reading up on Wacoms new product the CintiQ,

Spin

This is one of my favorite kinds of art work. It looks very simplistic, but this style of work is very hard to start and mastering this skill is even harder. I personally am struggling with starting. But lets start off by breaking down all the ideas behind vector work.

What is Vector?

The use of shapes and lines to generate a picture. Another thing about vector art is that because you are working with shapes, the image that you are creating can become any size with out becoming pixelated. But you need to use a program to re-size cause trying to resize a compressed file such as a Jpeg will result in pixlation.

Because we have no one on our site that has mastered vector work here is an image that explains vector.

http://img337.imageshack.us/img337/7734/kanyemm4.png

Program for Vector

The most well known program that is used for vector work is Adobe Illustrator CS3. Pretty much anyone who is doing vector from the pros to forum members use Illustrator. You can get away with using Photoshop, but it is much harder. Illustrator is made for this where as Photoshop is made for Photo manipulation.

Reasons for Vector?

Most of the Major corporations have Vector logos. Although some can get very complex to the point of not looking vector, their base is vector. The main reason for this is that they can adjust the logo to any size to fit on all products and promotion.

http://business.transworld.net/files/2008/05/13/logo_burton.jpeg

Burton Snowboards has a great example. This was actually created by my friends parents who own the firm JDK. As some of you may know that a majority of snowboarders will buy Burton because it is Burton, and this logo is now a brand.

Form and Content

Most people over look this idea, this is as basic and one of the hardest things to under stand about vector. This tends to be more important when it comes to logos and such. But still very important. Form is just how the image looks, it needs to be visually pleasing. When someone sees it they should be able to associate it with something, that is where Content comes in to play. Content is what the image represents. The idea is pretty basic but to be able to apply it in your work successfully is challenging.

Wish I could explain more about vector, but because even my knowledge is very limited on the subject. Vector is very complex many different styles with in vector. Tons of concepts that most people would never understand.

If you want to check out our site come check us out at Graphicshaven.net

Also if you have any questions feel free to email me at Spin@graphicshaven.net

Thanks for reading up on Vector,

Spin

This is not of my typical post, but cause it is the weekend why not. Here is some media for you all. Most people are turned off my independent movies, but after going to the 2008 Sundance Film Festival I fell in love with them.

I was one of the lucky few that was able to get in to the Wackness’ premiere. This movie was the crowd favorite at Sundance. I know when I voted I gave it a 4/4! The four hours that I spent in the wait list line was worth it. So if this movie is playing in a theater near you, get off your computer right now and go see this movie. You are lucky that its even playing in a theater near you. I have to wait till the DVD. Please do not pirate this movie, it is one of the only movies that I have seen that deserves the money for every ticket purchase and DVD sales.

Josh Peck being the main character may turn you off to this movie, but no one else could have done a better job. Ben Kingsley does also does and amazing job, as usual. This movie also has one of the greatest sound tracks. So Check it out.

This is my favorite movie!

Congratulations Nasti

For earning a spot in Spins Spot Light

Nasti won our 1st Graphicshaven.net Tournament

Lots of people always are asking what is better a stock image or a render? Well I personally prefer a stock image. But this post will go through the basics about renders and stocks, also the advantages and disadvantages to using either. This will allow the reader to decide what they might want to try or use. I would suggest playing with both after reading this and see what one works best for you.

Lets start off by defining both Stock Image and Render

Stock Image: A basic photo, something that has a little or no editing done on it. Some may have colorization or have been made black and white.

Example:

Image Uploaded by Deadglory

Render: A image that has been cut out from it original picture, then saved in a format that allows a transparent space to remain around the image, allowing you to place on any background you want. These are also known as Cuts.

Example:

Uploaded and Cut by bbyao06

Now I may be bias here but I am a fan of the Stock Images, but a lot of people prefer renders. At the end of the day it is all personal preference. Now lets take a look at what are some of the good and bad side to both renders and stocks.

Stock Image

Pros

• Typically a stock already has what is called Depth. As you can see in the example of a stock image the man is very clear. where as down the ally it starts to get blurry. Depth creates a focal point. When you look at this image you are most likely going to look right at the Man rather than the down the Tunnel.
• A stock image also allows you to manipulate the parts of the image to create a design. It give you the opportunity to really get some good smudging.
• This is going to sound more artsy than anything. But when looking a stock there is a lot more going on. The image has what I describe as meaning.

Con

• Stocks can sometimes really hold you down to working in a specific area. You don’t have the freedom to make a custom background typically.
• Stock are also generally harder to work with. You can’t adjust the main focal point half way through your work, with out creating a new section to have to work on.

Render/Cut

Pros

• With a render you have the ability to add a background. Whether that is a stock image or a custom background that you make.
• Also allows you the freedom to move it around on a layer to create a better composition, without changing the entire piece that you are working on.
• Give the artist and opportunity to play around with blending and layer styles, to allow different looks.

Cons

• Harder to develop a strong focal point. Artificial lighting and depth has to be added to the image
• Also a lot of people struggle with blending. Either blending the render in too much are not enough. This is a major problem with renders, it take a while to understand concepts that allow you to do this properly.

Here are a few sigs that where made using Stocks

Made by Spin

Made by CP3forMVP

Here are some sigs that where made using Renders.

Made by Macken

Made by bbyao06

So those are just a few reasons that people may like or may like or dislike using renders or stocks. Like I said before I personally Like using stocks more that Renders, but I have been known to take my chances with reners.

If you are wanting to join the graphics haven community here is a link to Graphicshaven.net

Also if you have any questions feel free to email me at spin@graphicshaven.net

I am going to hunt down some more stocks. Hope you see you around, and Thanks for reading up on Renders and Stock images. Hope it helps.

Spin

Hello,

My name is Spin, I will be blogging on behalf of the Graphics Haven. I am not one for introductions, but I would like to start off by saying that Graphics Haven is not only a graphics forum, but a community of vast knowledge and many different graphic styles. Unlike most of the larger graphic forums, Graphics Haven has one of the largest spectrum’s of graphic making ability. We are not ashamed of our lower level members. We are willing to help everyone with their graphic abilities, and if anything we are proud to see our members excel with their graphics.

I cannot describe all aspects of the site so why not post some images that our members have made. This will give you an idea of the styles and level of abilities that I talk about. For size sake I will be posting Signatures, which is the majority of graphics that we see on the site.

Some of Our Members Work

Macken’s Mario Signature

Motooxguy47 Spartan Signature

CP3forMVP’s Reggie Bush Signature

bbyao06’s Roselyn Sanchez Signature

Grizzle’s BMW Signature

Cartman’s Sig of the Week Entry

DRP Signature

About the Site

There are many more members and many more signatures. Many of the active members will post one a day, sometimes more. People will post their work in a section of the forums called Critique. This section is for members to get feedback on their works. Recently there was a section added called “Ranking,” This Section is for members to be classified/ranked on their levels of work.

These are what our Members are Classified/Ranked.

• Novice- Work lacks essential components such as depth, lighting, composition.
• Moderate- Effort to add these components is visible, and is done moderately well.
• Intermediate- Sig looks good overall, and shows good composition, depth, lighting, etc.
• Semi-Pro- Exceptional use of the necessary components to a sig. The signature looks very good overall.
• Professional- The signature is pretty much perfect in every way

There are many other things that the forum has to offer such as our extensive resource section. Where our members post resources that can be used for graphics. A few examples are Stock Packs, Fonts, Brushes, etc. For members that have lots of resources or put lots of time organizing them, there is an option to sell resources from our User Shops. Not for actual money of course, but for Graphics Haven Tokens.

Tutorials can also be found on the site for people who are looking to learn about the simple aspects of graphics making or someone who just would like to extend there knowledge. The tutorial section is broken up into sections based on ability.

Now for hardcore graphics fans we offer a premium member ship. These premium members get access to our premium sections. Where more resources can be found. Also for the contribution you earn your self a Golden name.

Well that is the news on Graphics Haven. If you are wanting to join here is the link to the site Graphics Haven. We always enjoy having new members.

If you have any questions feel free to email me at spin@graphicshaven.net

As for me I am going to do some work in Photoshop, Hope you see you around, and Thanks for reading up on Graphics Haven,

Spin