SO DONE...

Okay, so I feel like I've had Caddyshack close to done but I have not procrastinated during the break. My initial plan was to have Caddyshack printed and built this weekend, but between me not being pleased with all of these low-res images and household duties abound, that kind of fell through.

Today, I take the day off from work to get Caddyshack done and off my plate....HAHAHAHA, yeah right. I slept in until 8:30 (that's sleeping in right?) and then by 9:00 I'm working on the Caddyshack pieces in hopes of printing one final time at the lab. Fast-forward to the UB lab...it's 1:00. I print. Images SUCK. I go onto Istock.com and after 2 hours of heming and hawing over which images best suit my layouts, and changing the font colors about 30 times, I print again. Images don't suck as bad, but still not to my liking. It's 3:30...I go home and tweak some things and go to Kinko's. It's 6:30...Printing again. I get home and realize some things are out of place. DAMMIT. I tweak further and go back to Kinko's (it's 8:30). Sitting at the Kinko's computer and realize I didn't save the right file to my flash drive. Back home. Back to Kinko's (9:10). Print again (Okay, I lost count). Still not overly pleased but at this point it's as good as it's gonna get. For my sanity and the safety of those around me, I'm done...save for printing one final thing tomorrow...this golf green still looks like stucco when printed and I'm giving it one final try.

Oh yeah...totally forgot my DVD label debacle over the last two days as well. I purchased the Avery DVD labels, downloaded the software, printed a label which wasn't exactly to my liking (the letters were too close to the edge). I got to print again and teh Avery program crashes. Now, every time I browse for the jpg and upload to the Avery program, the image is smooshed and un-adjustable. I installed the Avery software again and tried and retried to print this damn thing and it's not working. EXPLETIVE!!

One day I'll look back and laugh at this. All I know is, this bourbon sure tastes good.

Here is a little taste on my progress...

bring your daughter to work day

I was wondering if you guys mind if i bring a guest to class on Thursday. He is my assistant at Coppin and is interested in the program at UB, so i wanted him to see what we do and how our ideas are generated. I try to share with him what ever i learn in all my classes. But i thought an in-person experience can hold him off until he signs up. (. . . Ok, Ok, so i don't have a daughter . . .)

The Visual Dictionary

A dictionary is a reference book containing an alphabetical list of words with information about them, but what about a Visual Dictionary? This site is a collection of visual words in the real world; Photographs of signage, graffiti, advertising, tattoos, you name it, and they are trying to catalogue it. The project started in February 2006, and have over 7500 images of over 4000 words.

They are accepting entries, as the Dictionary should continue growing forever, If you found a nice visual word, sign up and contribute images.

Andrea's Story: A Happy Ending?

Designer: "For school, I've designed things around your business."

(potential) Client: "Oh really? I'd like to see your work."

Designer: "Sure! I'll bring it in next weekend"

...a week later...

Designer: "I've brought a sample. Do you have a moment to view it?"

(potential) Client: "No, how about you send a pdf to my email"

Designer: "Ok."

...later that night...

Designer's thoughts: I'm elated that he's interested in viewing my work! But, what if he steals my idea? Even if I showed samples in person, I'd be hesitant to let him keep it. Even still, I strongly doubt keeping it under lock and key is right either. Should I have him sign something first? This has become a messy situation. Perhaps I should have talked about signing a 'I won't steal your stuff' agreements when we first spoke? ...but who wants a casual conversation to turn into signing below the fine print? Wait! I've got a brilliant idea! I will...

...add "Copyright © Andrea Rainey 2009" in tiny, unobtrusive, but still legible type at the bottom of the page—just as I would do if I created a professional website to showcase my student work. Chances are, this potential client is asking in good faith to see my sample and doesn't mean any harm, and this could be a good opportunity for me. Stilll, gotta look out for number 1. Adding some fine print might give me a legal leg to stand on in case the client does try something shady. At the very least, it communicates the message that I consider my work to be my intellectual property.

Andrea, I don't actually know whether this would give you any legal recourse if you did have problems. It was the first thing that came to mind, though. I will check with my employer's copyright & permissions person and see if she has any additional advice to offer.

saving work in small files

Hey Everyone,

Any tricks to exporting docs to jpg small enough to place on the blog here? I've made some updates to Caddyshack I'd like to put out here, but not successful yet on saving to a jpg that's smaller than 20 jpg.

Thanks, and everyone have Safe and Happy Thanksgiving.
CB

Hot off the presses, get yours today!

Urban Dumpster...

By Robert Gillespie

Book Preview

Story Time! What's your ending??

Designer: "For school, I've designed things around your business"

(potential) Client: "Oh really? I'd like to see your work."

Designer: "Sure! I'll bring it in next weekend"

...a week later...

Designer: "I've brought a sample. Do you have a moment to view it?"

(potential) Client: "No, how about you send a pdf to my email"

Designer: "Ok."

...later that night...

Designer's thoughts: I'm elated that he's interested in viewing my work! But, what if he steals my idea? Even if I showed samples in person, I'd be hesitant to let him keep it. Even still, I strongly doubt keeping it under lock and key is right either. Should I have him sign something first? This has become a messy situation. Perhaps I should have talked about signing a 'I won't steal your stuff' agreements when we first spoke? ...but who wants a casual conversation to turn into signing below the fine print? Wait! I've got a brilliant idea! I will.........

Finish this story with your own happy ending. Or it can end in tragedy to prove your point if you're the shakespeare type. (I'm trying an interactive post today. Have fun!)