segunda-feira, setembro 06, 2004

COCA-COLA TIMELINE.

It was 1886, and in New York Harbor workers were constructing the Statue of Liberty. Eight hundred miles away another great American symbol was about to be unveiled. Like many people who change history, John Pemberton, an Atlanta pharmacist, was inspired by simple curiosity.

One afternoon, he stirred up a fragrant, caramel-colored liquid and, when it was done, he carried it a few doors down to Jacobs' Pharmacy. Here the mixture was combined with carbonated water. Pemberton's bookkeeper Frank Robinson named the mixture Coca-Cola, and wrote it out in his distinct script. To this day, Coca-Cola is written the same way.

(via J-Walk Blog)


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FRUITY SWEET WRAPPERS SPARK COMPLAINT.

A German catholic college has complained about new Haribo sweet wrappers which it claims portray fruit in sexual positions.

The college wrote a letter to Haribo saying: 'It's irresponsible to expose children to such pornographic representations.'

update: Presurfer readers Manuela and Frogprince pointed out that this whole story is a hoax, although the packaging seems to be real.


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sábado, setembro 04, 2004

NADA

SORTE

Sorte

Considere que se voce acordou hoje mais saudável que doente, voce tem mais sorte do que um milhão de pessoas que não estarão vivas na proxima semana.
Se nunca experimentou o perigo de uma batalha, a solidão de uma prisão, a agonia da tortura, a dor da fome, voce tem mais sorte que 500 milhões de habitantes do mundo.
Se voce pode ir à igreja sem medo de ser bombardeado, preso ou torturado, voce tem mais sorte que 3 milhões de pessoas no mundo.
Se voce tem comida na geladeira, roupa no armário, um teto sobre sua cabeça, um lugar para dormir, considere-se mais rico que 75% dos habitantes do Planeta Terra.
Se voce tiver algum dinheiro em banco, na carteira ou um trocado em alguma parte, considere-se entre os 8% das pessoas com a melhor qualidade de vida no mundo.
Se seus pais estão vivos e ainda juntos, considere-se uma pessoa muito rara.
Se voce consegue ler uma mensagem, recebeu uma dupla benção, pois alguem pensou em voce e voce não está entre os 2 milhões de pessoas que não sabem ler......
Vale a pena tentar...
"Ame como se ninguem nunca o (a) houvesse feito sofrer...

Trabalhe como se não precisasse do dinheiro

Dance como se ninguem estivesse olhando

Cante como se ninguem estivesse ouvindo

Viva como se aqui fosse o paraíso".

quinta-feira, agosto 26, 2004

terça-feira, julho 27, 2004

Surf's up!

Non-Height Field Rendering

Surf's up!

Manuel Gamito in 1998/99. He worked on ray-domain distortion variations on QAEB tracing to render connected non-height field surfaces.

The next thing to do was to animate it. And so he did.

Manuel has since developed a complex and accurate model of shallow-water wave propagation to give this wave model a raison d'etre.

segunda-feira, julho 26, 2004

cmyk

Be aware that it is possible to see colors in RGB that you can't make with CMYK. They are said to be "out of the CMYK color gamut". What happens is that the RGB-to-CMYK translator just gets as close as possible to the appearance of the original and that's as good as it can be. It's something that everyone in the industry puts up with. So it's best to select any colors you use for fonts or other design elements in your layout using CMYK definitions instead of RGB. That way, you will have a better idea of how they will appear in your printed piece. Here's a common example: many programs translate the 100% Blue in RGB into a somewhat purple-looking color in CMYK. We recommend a CMYK value of 100-65-0-0 to get a nice clean blue. Working in the CMYK color space allows you to select the CMYK recipe, or "screen build", that gives you the results you want.

Here are some examples of how various RGB colors convert to CMYK:


rgb colors
(what you see on screen)

cmyk colors
(printing inks will do this)

rgb colors
(what you see on screen)

cmyk colors
(printing inks will do this)
You most likely won't notice this kind of color shift in a color photograph. It is more likely to happen if you pick a very rich, vibrant color for a background or some other element of your layout. It probably won't look bad, it just won't look exactly the same. But it may not be noticeable at all either.

rasta

rasta music

http://66.225.205.4/

domingo, julho 18, 2004

 Ink Thickness

Thicker and thinner

To print a thick layer of ink, lower the mesh count, lower the durometer of the squeegee, round the edge of the squeegee, and use a soft platen. To print a thin layer of ink, use a higher mesh count, harder squeegee, sharper squeegee edge, and harder platen surface.
 

Como estimar o tempo gasto na impressão




 Como estimar o tempo gasto na impressão Many factors contribute to the costs of a job and directly impact the bottom-line profit figure, including expenses such as blank garments, supplies, labor, rent, utilities, taxes, and many more. The time it takes to produce the job also influences costs. So if you can accurately estimate production time, you'll be better prepared to forecast profitability on the job.
  

quinta-feira, julho 15, 2004

3-D printing process

Printing 3-D T-Shirt Designs

As this sample print demonstrates, the 3-D printingprocess creates uniform, raised image areas with remarkably sharpedges. But getting these effects requires specialty ink, non-standardscreenmaking procedures, and careful execution in the press room.

sexta-feira, junho 11, 2004

Gentle Art of Serigraph

James Rizzi

james rizzi

 

Ted Dutch

art gallery of screen printing artist and ceramics sculptor Ted Dutch of Titirangi, New Zealand, art prints in the image gallery

art gallery of screen printing artist and ceramics sculptor ted dutch of titirangi, new zealand, with art works for sale in the image gallery

 

Sturgis t-shirt designs

Sturgis t-shirt designs
Sturgis Eagle t-shirt designs

" Tribal Eagle"
Artist : John Lean

I need halftone dot pattern exist together with diffusion dither pattern, how to do that?
There will be circumstances you encounter an image or a design you need both diffusion dither dot pattern & halftone dot pattern together on a single piece of film. For example :
You encounter an oil painting design with wood texture and a smooth shadow under. You need diffusion dither dot pattern for the wood texture and halftone dot pattern for the shadow, (halftone can present a shadow well with only 1 gray color but diffusion dither dot pattern needs 2 grays). Is that possible? Yes, it can be done.

STEP 1 : Set the image resolution
It depends on how you want the result on t-shirt looks after printed.

80 - 100 pixel/inch
rough, stipple look, dots clearly seen after printed on t-shirt.
135 - 155 pixel/inch
standard resolution for most designs
175 - 195 pixel/inch
very fine tone, no pixel is visible after printed on t-shirt

 

STEP 2 : Separate wood and shadow to different layers
The wood and shadow have to be in separate layers. It will be great if you have the wood & shadow already in different layers.

wood and shadow layers

If they are merged/flattened, you have to separate them accurately using path tool. Path along the border between the shadow and the wood. After finish path~ing, the path coil the shadow. Save the path and name it "border". Save the file.


STEP 3 : Prepare a selection channel for delete "diffusion dither shadow" use
Still on the wood & shadow file.
Load the "border" path as selections, save the selections as channel, name it "delete shadow". We have to sharpen the selection. Click on "delete shadow", an eye appeared beside means this channel is active and now you can work on it.
Goto Image > Adjust > Level... , darken the shadow to around 179 and lighten the highlight to 181.(see the Input Levels : below this image))

sharpen channel

This level process is to prepare a sharp & clear selection. We are going to use this "delete shadow" channel to delete the diffusion dither shadow and replace with halftone dot shadow later.

Save the file.

STEP 4 : Index the image
Choose the best set of color and start Index separation... Save the indexed name as "wood_shadow_index"

wood_shadow_index
indexed image view : 100%



wood_shadow_index_200%view

indexed image view : 200%


STEP 5 : Delete the diffusion dither pattern shadow
From the file wood & shadow, drag "delete shadow" channel and drop into "wood_shadow_index". Load channel as selection ( hold down Ctrl and click the channel), press delete. You have just deleted diffusion dither pattern shadow.

Convert "wood_shadow_index" into individual color bitmap files.

 

STEP 6 : Replace with halftone shadow
Decide what color you want the shadow to be. Normally is Gray. Let's use Light Brown in this example. Open the Light Brown bitmap file, convert to Grayscale mode,
Image > Mode > Grayscale, Ratio 1:1 ? Say OK
.

Open the original wood & shadow (RGB) with layers. Load the "delete shadow" channel as selections at the Shadow Layer. Drag and drop the selected shadow to the Light Brown file which is now in Grayscale mode.( for the selection to locate precisely during drag and drop, hold down Ctrl+Shift during drag and drop ).

Save the file.

You are now having Diffusion Dither and Halftone pattern within one file.

2 dot patterns

The files can be printed directly from Photoshop or send to service bureau. Check the Output Films, what you see on monitor screen of the color separated files will be what you get on the films. It is very easy to check wether they are output correctly. Always make sure the sqaure pattern dots are all in perfect square (very important), and the halftone dots at its frequency (line/inch) you used to.

Index Color Separation step by step guidance

Index Color Separation step by step guidance :

This is a process of choosing a few colors to represent millions of colors that built up an image/design. It breaks down millions of colors into a few colors that BEST represent an image when they are printed back together on a t-shirt.


Adobe Photoshop is the only software you need. Basically the process in Photoshop 3.0, 3.0.5, 4.0, 5.0, 5.5 is quite similar. I'll guide you along with a demo [motorcycle image], its just as simple as 123.

 

Step 1 :
Open a design you wish to index.
Action : File> Open > (browse into the directory where the file locate) select the file, click Open.

Make sure the design is in RGB mode.
(Photoshop 5.0)Action : image > mode > RGB color
(Photoshop 3.0)Action : mode > RGB color

Set the image resolution (pixel/inch) depends on how you want the result on t-shirt looks after printed.
Action : image > image size, set to the actual print size on t-shirt, set the pixel/inch value as below guide line ~

80 - 100 pixel/inch
rough, stipple look, dots clearly seen after printed on t-shirt.
135 - 155 pixel/inch
standard resolution for most designs
175 - 195 pixel/inch
very fine tone, no pixel is visible after printed on t-shirt

 

Step 2 :
Choosing the best set of color to represent the entire design is the most crucial factor in color separation.

Analyze the design, look for primary colors in the designs (Red, Yellow, Blue are good example). These are colors that CANNOT be reproduces by mixing any other colors together. Leave secondary colors behind, these are colors that can be reproduced by mixture of primary colors.

motorcycle image :

motorcycle RGB

        

These are the Primary Colors for this design, Not any of these color can be reproduced by mixing any 2 among themselves


Pick the secondary colors only if you still have extra places after choosing all the primary colors.

Now you have the primary color concept clear. Okay, here is a more precise one : "Always pick the MIDTONE primary colors". Never pick dark primary colors. Dark primary colors are consider secondary colors because they can be reproduced by mixing themselves with black or darker primary colors.

midtone BLUE
black/darker purple
dark BLUE
 
+
 
=="/FONT">="/DIV">="/FONT">
 
(real primary)
(primary)
(unreal primary)

Keep in mind that any color which can be reproduced by mixture of any 2 other colors is NOT a REAL primary color.

You are now well equip to pick the best set of color for any design. Of course with a few trial and true instead of error.

(Photoshop 5.0)Action : image > mode > Indexed Color...
- uncheck "Preview"
- check "Preserve Exact Colors" (if the design have a lot of solid colors)
- Amount : 100% (best quality setting)
- Dither : Diffusion
- click the triangle at "Palette :" from the pull down menu choose "Custom..."

Photoshop index color table

 

(Photoshop 3.0)Action : mode > Indexed Color...
- choose "Custom", check "Diffusion Dither"

 

Step 3 :
Now you are entering the most important part of the entire Index Color Separation process : Choosing the BEST set of colors to represent the design/image.

Color Table pop-up, make sure all the small color boxes are in complete white. If not, select all the boxes (click the most upper left box & drag to the most lower right box), Color Picker pop-up, pick the complete white color (R=255, G=255, B=255), click OK, click OK again.

color table_blank

Click the first box, base on what you have learn, pick your first index color from the design with the Eye Dropper tool, you can move around searching for the best choice, after confirm, click on the spot, click OK.

Continue building the color palette until the last color which is usually the black.

color table_ color set pick

Click OK at the Color Table, click OK again at the Indexed Color pop-up to see the result. (You only click OK once at the Color Table for Photoshop 3.0)

Zoom to 100%(Photoshop 5.0) or 1:1 (Photoshop 3.0) or bigger to study the color picked. The image/design looks cracked below this size.

looks cracked motorcycle
image looks cracked below size

8 color index saparation
8 color indexed at 80 dpi, size 100% or 1:1

- The more colors allowed the better an image looks
- The higher the dpi, the smoother an image looks

Move around, analyze the image part by part, keep UNDO (command-Z/Ctrl-Z for PC) and REDO (command-Z/Ctrl-Z for PC) between RGB and Indexed Color mode to study the changes and you will see whether you chose the correct colors and which color you should rechoose or which color you should drop (if you chosen the wrong one). This is the most direct and effective way to improve your separation.

Nobody will satisfy with the first try.

Tips : Don't ever think that the Index Color separation process looks too complicated and making decision to purchase a color separation software to solve this. This is a wrong perception. Separation software is a system. You need a good color concept to backup a system. You still have to decide which color to pick in the end, automated color picking still not that intelligent... yet, to pick the correct set of color.

Once you are satisfied with your final set of colors, save the color palette (CLUT-Color Look Up Table). Image > Mode > Color Table..., click "Save" at the Color Table, enter a name for the palette, click "Save".

At the Color Table, click OK. Save the indexed mode file with a new file name in Bitmap format. File > Save as... > enter new "Filename:" > select BMP format> click OK

BMP Options menu pop-up, choose the file format and click OK. Now you have an Index separated design saved.

 

Step 4 :
Save the separation into individual color file ready for film output.

Open the Index separated (bitmap) file, goto Image > Mode > Color Table, the color table pop-up...

Assume that you are now going to convert BLUE color into an individual file for film output.

Leave the BLUE color box, select & drag all the other colors, set them to complete white (R=255, G=255, B=255), click OK, click OK again.

color table left blue

Click the BLUE color box, set the color to complete Black (R=0, G=0, B=0), click OK.

blue convert to black

Click OK again at the Color Table window.

bitmap Blue

Goto Image > Mode > Gray scale > Discard color information? OK
Goto Image > Mode > Bitmap > don't change the resolution, leave it as the value set during STEP 1, check Diffusion Dither, OK.

Save the file as bitmap and name it BLUE.

Continue this "convert to Black" process for each individual color until you have all the colors saved individually in Bitmap. (This process consume less than 5 minutes)

 

Step 5 :
Output the Bitmap files
Diffusion dither pattern files need NOT specify Frequency or Angle during output. Simply print out directly from Photoshop or pass to your Service Bureau. (normally they will output from QuarkExpress)

Atlantis Refrain

domingo, maio 30, 2004

How to disappear

How to disappear

"Can you teach me how to be invisible", a young man asked his Master.
"I have a special incantation for you that will do that", his Master answered "but you must practice this teaching day after day."
"I am ready", said the young man.
"When you wake up in the morning simply start saying - I refuse to compete in this capitalistic society"

quarta-feira, maio 19, 2004

Control Systems

Control Systems:
The Guilt System – Your hidden, unresolved guilt makes you vulnerable. How to undo it.
The Distraction System – How society turns focused people into distracted automatons.
The Consumer-anxiety System – How our economy depends on consumer anxiety.
The Disapproval System – How advertisers and propagandists exploit our fear of disapproval.
The Inner Dictator – How to think bad things, and be unreasonably happy.
The Metaphysical System – How unsuspected metaphysical assumptions control us, and how to subvert this control.
The Propaganda System – How semantic propaganda works – and how to defend yourself against it.
Empire of Emotion – How our emotions control us. Do advertisers exploit this control? Time to stop playing the emotions game?

domingo, abril 25, 2004

Virus Cleaner Free Download

avast! Virus Cleaner Free Download

You can download the free avast! Virus Cleaner tool from this page.
The latest version is 1.0.185, built on 22.4.2004.

quinta-feira, abril 22, 2004

domingo, abril 18, 2004

Weird Animal of the Day

Weird Animal of the Day 



The Pipa Pipa Frog!
* These amphibians are shaped like squarish pancakes with the head flat on top. The nose is pointed with small black lidless eyes that look like tiny beads.

Diet
* Wild: any small aquatic animal, dead or alive

Behavior
* Highly aquatic, adults rarely venture onto land
* Obtain food by sweeping through mud with star-shaped fingertips;
must sweep food into the mouth with feet because they have
no tongue or teeth

segunda-feira, abril 12, 2004

The Joy of Concrete

Concrete casts new light in dull rooms
11 March 2004

Light transmitting concrete is set to go on sale later this year.

The days of dull, grey concrete could be about to end. A Hungarian architect has combined the world’s most popular building material with optical fiber from Schott to create a new type of concrete that transmits light.

Letting the light in
Letting the light in

A wall made of “LitraCon” allegedly has the strength of traditional concrete but thanks to an embedded array of glass fibers can display a view of the outside world, such as the silhouette of a tree, for example.

“Thousands of optical glass fibers form a matrix and run parallel to each other between the two main surfaces of every block,” explained its inventor Áron Losonczi. “Shadows on the lighter side will appear with sharp outlines on the darker one. Even the colours remain the same. This special effect creates the general impression that the thickness and weight of a concrete wall will disappear.”

Light-transmitting concrete
Light-transmitting concrete

The hope is that the new material will transform the interior appearance of concrete buildings by making them feel light and airy rather than dark and heavy.

Losonczi, a 27 year old architect from Csongrád recently came up with the idea while he was studying at the Royal University College of Fine Arts in Stockholm, Sweden. After demonstrating the material at design exhibitions all over Europe he has now formed a company to commercialize the concept.

His new company, also called LitraCon, is now optimizing its manufacturing methods and hopes to start selling prefabricated blocks of the material later this year.

Commerical possibilities
Commerical possibilities

“In theory, a wall structure built out of the light-transmitting concrete can be a couple of meters thick as the fibers work without any loss in light up to 20 m,” explained Losonczi. “Load-bearing structures can also be built from the blocks as glass fibers do not have a negative effect on the well-known high compressive strength of concrete. The blocks can be produced in various sizes with embedded heat isolation too.”

Author
Oliver Graydon is editor of
Optics.org and Opto & Laser Europe magazine.