Design Tip: Grabbing pictures from MS Word

This has been working really well for me. I rarely resort to PDFing and saving as a graphic now when grabbing photos from MS Word:

1. Open Word
2. Right click on the picture – if you see “edit picture” it means they cropped it. Select “edit picture”. Otherwise, continue to step 7.
3. Copy and paste the new picture that pops up into PowerPoint. Right click and select “Save as Picture…”
4. You want to choose the destination directory first. Ideally, you should see a little black arrow next to the Save button. If you don’t, that means it was modified in Word with cropping or grouping, etc., and you’ll get mixed results this way.
5. Click that arrow and choose “Save Original Picture”
6. Voila! That’s it!
7. If you don’t see “edit picture”, select “Format Picture”. Choose the “Size” tab and click “Reset” and “OK”
8. Follow steps 3-6.

You’ll still need to open in Photoshop to convert it to CMYK and anything else, like more cropping.

You've got to move it, move it . . .

It must be Friday! Something else I’m really digging right now that I meant to share was a trick I recently discovered. If you are moving files from your desktop to the network, hold down SHIFT. This will put the file on the server and delete it from you desktop in one fell swoop. Really handy way to avoid desktop clutter if you are doing this over and over again.

Solution for slow computer - 100% CPU - wficat-no-eula.cab

My computer seems to be back to normal now. Just in case, I thought I’d share (you know me ;-)

I ran TrendMicro’s HijackThis and found two running tasks that looked odd:

O11 - Options group: [INTERNATIONAL] International*

O16 - DPF: {238F6F83-B8B4-11CF-8771-00A024541EE3} - http://a516.g.akamai.net/f/516/25175/7d/runaware.download.akamai.com/25175/citri x/wficat-no-eula.cab

When you google “wficat-no-eula.cab” there doesn’t seem to be a name for this problem, but all of the posts describe the same symptoms I was having. Maybe it is something new, or just a poorly written piece of software. If you look closely at the entry above, a “DPF” is something that Internet Explorer downloads to extend its functionality. Sometimes this is good, and sometimes this is very bad. This would explain why Outlook or Internet Explorer seemed to doom my computer. And why temporarily closing Trend Micro seemed to alleviate the problem (because it was fighting it!).

Here are the instructions that got rid of it. A lot of the files it said to delete, I didn’t actually have (probably because of TrendMicro, thank goodness, I’m a believer now). Basically, I only removed the two things listed above by turning off System Restore under My Computer properties, booting in safe mode, running HijackThis, selecting them, clicking ‘fix’, rebooting and turning back on System Restore. Didn’t really need Killbox after all. Sorry, but I don't remember the forum post that I found this at:

Download the Pocket Killbox programme from HERE (http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/files/killbox.php). Extract it but don`t run it yet.

You might want to copy and paste these instructions into a notepad file. Then you can have the file open in safe mode, so you can follow the instructions easier.

Turn off system restore.(XP/ME only) See how here.> http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/tutorial56.html

Boot into safe mode, under your normal user name(NOT THE ADMINISTRATOR ACCOUNT). See how here.> http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/tutorial61.html

In Windows Explorer, turn on "Show all files and folders, including hidden and system". See how here.> http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/tutorial62.html

Go to add remove programmes in your control panel and uninstall anything to do with(if there).

ComcastToolbar

Close control panel.

Open your task manager, by holding down the ctrl and alt keys and pressing the delete key.

Click on the processes tab and end process for(if there).

uninstall.exe

Close task manager.

Run HJT with no other programmes open(except notepad). Click the scan button. Have HJT fix the following, by placing a tick in the little box next to(if there).

O2 - BHO: (no name) - {64582371-8B2A-A1C6-CE40-0A8E8EB54F78} - C:\WINDOWS\system32\yzwyatl.dll

O2 - BHO: (no name) - {CFE9E8A8-38C0-4EF8-AEC2-5035EFE81030} - (no file)

O2 - BHO: (no name) - {E3215F20-3212-11D6-9F8B-00D0B743919D} - (no file)

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: C:\WINDOWS\system32\rundll32.exe C:\WINDOWS\system32\bhcfvfb.dll,gmzxdjg

O11 - Options group: [INTERNATIONAL] International*

O16 - DPF: {238F6F83-B8B4-11CF-8771-00A024541EE3} - http://a516.g.akamai.net/f/516/25175/7d/runaware.download.akamai.com/25175/citri x/wficat-no-eula.cab

Click on the fix checked button.

Close HJT.

Locate and delete the following bold files and/or directories(if there).

C:\Program Files\ComcastToolbar

Run the killbox.exe file. When it loads type the full path to the file you would like to delete in the field and check the delete file on reboot button. press the Delete File button (looks like a red circle with a white X). It will prompt you to reboot, select no until you have finished inputting the files you want to delete, only then allow it to reboot and hopefully your files will now be deleted. If your computer doesn`t automatically restart, restart it manually.

These are the filepaths you need to enter into killbox.

C:\WINDOWS\system32\bhcfvfb.dll

C:\WINDOWS\system32\yzwyatl.dll

Once your system has rebooted, turn system restore back on and rehide your protected OS files.

Please rename HijackThis.exe to HijackThis1991.exe and post a fresh HJT log.

The reason I want you to rename HijackThis.exe, is because some malware can hide from HijackThis.exe.

Final Shirt Design

Well, here is the final version of the tshirt design. I really liked the My Little Pony style illustrations I discovered on DeviantArt while doing research for this project, and I that is probably the largest influence on the final design.

Riding into the Future on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

Riding into the Future on Flickr - Photo Sharing!


This is a first draft of a t-shirt design I am doing for a local Brownie troop. Apparently, it grossly violates their branding guidelines. Go figure. I am now think about doing a vector illustration somewhat in the style of the Bella Sara cards, with lots of girly "flair". Should be fun!  

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Fun with Typography

I bet you thought .. was a just a backslash, but I recently discovered that Windows Character Map actually calls it a "Reverse Solidus".

Wikipedia thinks there is a difference between a slash and a solidus, however (see below), and I agree. The slash is really best called a "virgule"

This symbol goes back to the days of ancient Rome. In the early modern period, in the Fraktur script, which was widespread through Europe in the Middle Ages, one slash (/) represented a comma, while two slashes (//) represented a dash. The two
slashes eventually evolved into a sign similar to the equals sign (=), then being further simplified to a single dash (–).

The solidus and virgule are distinct typographic symbols with decidedly different uses. The solidus is significantly more horizontal than the virgule. The character found on standard keyboards is the virgule and while most people lump the two characters together (and when there is no alternative it is acceptable to use the virgule in place of the solidus), they are different. The solidus is used in the display of ratios and fractions as in constructing a fraction using superscript and subscript as in “¹²³⁄₄₅₆”; the virgule is used for essentially any other textual purpose.

So if you are doing fractions, U+2044 is a fraction slash ⁄ and U+2215 is a division slash (slightly longer) ∕. These work much better for building custom fractions in Quark (using superscript / subscript) than using the basic forward slash / (aka “virgule”)

These characters work much better for building custom fractions in software programs such as Quark (using the superscript / subscript combination) rather than just using the basic forward slash / (aka "virgule"). If you have ever tried making fractions with the standard slash as I have, then you must know how frustrating this can be. Now, you can use the right character, the solidus!

Bet you never knew typography could be so fun!

Happy virgules!

International Talk Like a Pirate Day

Here is my shirt design for the International Talk Like a Pirate Day contest on Zazzle. I was really happy how it turned out.


make custom gifts at Zazzle

Chop wood, carry water

Here's a new illustration that I came up with for a worth1000 contest.

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Justin Gerard

Jusin Gerard has some really nice pieces in his gallery. You can find more stuff at portlandstudios.com, as well, which is also a really refreshing flash based website.

New fun ultra goodness with Google Bookmarks

I am really digging my updated Google toolbar. I use Ma.gnolia quite a lot for bookmarking, since I can move from computer to computer and still get to my bookmarks. However, I have been frustrated with the accessibility - even with the nifty plugins available for Firefox, I find myself having to log on and manually find or edit them. Also, I found myself not wanting to clutter my page with second-tier bookmarks that I wanted just for temporary or private use that did not fit any particular category. Then I realized the distinction between "social" bookmarking and the more traditional approach. This is where Google Bookmarks comes in. Since I already had a Google account, importing all of my bookmarks from my laptop, my PC, and my work computer via the toolbar was a snap. Plus, the toolbar organizes the bookmarks in a way very similar to the traditional browser method, with drop down menus and folders. This is a very functional solution, and helps prevent losing your bookmarks due to computer reinstalls or upgrading browsers, etc. The Manage Bookmarks feature works pretty well, although with several hundred bookmarks (I know I have a problem) I found it a little tedious and had to prune my collection to stay useful.
I now find that I can focus on using Ma.gnolia for more what it was designed to do, which is sharing bookmarks in a social context and allowing you to browse bookmarks made by other users on similar content through tagging.
Also, although not quite as cool as the add-in for the Flock browser, you can easily post to Blogger from the toolbar as well. (Which is what I am doing right now!)

Ol Grizzled - Chinese Dragon for 700 Dragons Group

Flickr Photo Download: 469. Ol' Grizzled

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Another Dragon

FIre Dragon on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

Here is another quick painting of a dragon done with Corel Painter. You can never have too many paintings of dragons :-)

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The Age of Distraction

As someone living with ADHD, I have become accustomed to dealing with distraction. Recently I was thinking about my fascination with computers and the internet, and how addicting social networking sites like Myspace, Flickr, Blogspot, and LinkedIn have become for me, not to mention RSS feeds delivered a la Google Reader. And let's not forget my love for Ma.gnolia and social bookmarking, either ^_^

I started to consider how the information age has really just turned into the age of distraction. You may have already seen surveys showing how we paradoxically seem to be getting dumber as the access to information increases. In my search for further distraction, I discovered a few interesting articles on this phenomenon:

Big Babies (or the Age of Distraction)

"...it seemed to me, blurred between work and distraction: both exist to keep our minds off the central existential problem facing intelligent life on this planet..."

The Age of Distraction

"...using technologies like RSS and cellphones, we have trained ourselves to be constantly aware and on the lookout for distractions."

Is my obsession a feature or a bug?

Love the comments here:
A: How many people with ADD does it take to change a light-bulb?
B: I don't know? How many?
A: Want to go to the movies

The Onion once had a headline..."Ritalin Cures Next Picasso"

i try to think of ADD as 'hyper threading' as even though i have ADD, i can still hang onto threads and fall back to them. i think its about losing interest in something, picking up on another more mind captivating thing, regaining interest and continuing one with the previous thing.

Only in a society where people are expected to sit on their asses for 8 hours a day from kindergarden till retirement would people even think of calling it a disease.

N.A.D.D.

"Ocassionally, you'll attempt to impart your fractured wisdom only to throw your hands up four minutes later when it's clear, 'Jesus, they just don't get it.'"

My great grandfather

Google Image Result for http://www.beaumontpd.com/images/brammer.jpg

Clarence Adam Brammer

Detective

September 19,  1923

Killed after a gun accidentally misfired.

It is funny what you run across while surfing the internet . . .

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The Bees Knees ^_^

Flickr: Photos from Cyrus khamak

Go and check out Cyrus's closeups of insects, especially the one of the fly. It's definitely my favorite.

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465. Liz - 700 Dragons

465. Liz on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

Orange Iguana on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

I thought the scales on this lizard were really fascinating, and I just had to try and paint them. I didn't anticipate the amount of time it would take, however! I ended up creating a custom image hose in Corel Painter to get all of the dainty bits - I would rather spend time painting every scale on a better composed picture, I think. All in all, I like how it turned out and I learned a lot about using the pattern pen and image hose. I plan on doing a few more of these to really get a feel for the way the eyes, nose and ears work with scales. I want to add some crocodile teeth too, of course. Who wouldn't? ^_^

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Dragon illustration tutorials and resources

Bilateral Symmetry on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

A couple of interesting links here about drawing dragons that I have come across.

1. drawsketch.about.com/library/bldragons.htm
   
2. Drawing and Painting Dragons on ImagineFX
   
3. neondragonart.com/dp/tutorials/dragon.htm
   
4. Also, take a look at McFarlane Toys' Dragon Series One, Series Two and Series Three - Quest for the Lost King, as well as the subsequent Series Four, Series Five and upcoming Series Six - The Fall of the Dragon Kingdom. They have some great photos of their merchandise in a variety of lighting and settings.
5. There are also a lot of great photos of reptiles for reference right here on Flickr.com. I have marked some of my favorites here.

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Old Smokey - 700 Dragons

455. Old Smokey on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

I almost gave up on Corel Painter until I came across Robert Chang's custom brushes. He has several good tips for getting the best performance out of Painter and reducing the lag time. I also have grown to really like his brush set - the pencil is fantastic. Using his pencil brush and blenders feels very natural, and it is much easier to obtain the results I am looking for. Check out his amazing artwork and there is even a little bit of music composition on there to boot!

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Aida Wedo

22.Aido Wedo, the Rainbow Serpent on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

I finally finished my third entry for the 700 Dragons series. I had the most trouble getting the face right - I am still not happy with it but no sense in kicking a dead horse. Really enjoying using Corel Painter X, learning to master the palette knife and the blender brushes has been great fun. This was an interesting character to work on too, learned a little bit about pagan religion along the way.

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Snake Women in Religion and Mythology

Doing more research on Aida Wedo  I discovered a lot more interesting info on the combination of women and snakes in religion and mythology:

In the story in Genesis 3:1-5,Eve is tempted by a creature referred to as "He" and described simplyas a serpent. Its only unusual features in the story are that it couldspeak and presumably didn't yet crawl (it was made to crawl on itsbelly only after being cursed by God).

Frequently in art the serpent isrepresented as female. In a fresco by Michelangelo, for example, theserpent is shown with the upper body of a woman and snake-like lowerparts.

female serpent
detail of the Fall and Expulsion of Adam and Eve, 1510
Michelangelo. Fresco, Sistine Chapel, Vatican, Rome

Google Image Result for http://witcombe.sbc.edu/eve-women/images/michelangelotemptation.jpg

The ancient Greeks feared similar creatures, notably Lamia,a demoness with the head and torso of a woman and the lower body of asnake. In one version of the legend, Lamia was one of Zeus' mortallovers. Filled with anger and jealousy, Zeus' wife, the goddess Hera,made Lamia insane so she would eat all her children. Once Lamiarealized what she had done, she became so angry that she turned into animmortal monster, sucking the blood from young children out of jealousyfor their mothers.

Google Image Result for http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/vampire-lamia.jpg

Two figurines of the Snake Goddess were found here at Knossos. Both depict her withbare bosom, open bodice pulled together at the top and bottom pushing herbreasts together in a globular cluster, prominent nipples protruding from thetwo masses of flesh. In the smaller of the figurines, the goddess has a snake ineach of her upheld hands, and in the larger one, the snakes are coiled about heroutstretched arms. Her face is wide-eyed, severe.Minoan society was noted for its perpetual peace,and one wonders about this society which was older than the Mycenaean andretained its reliance on female goddesses instead of male.

Google Image Result for http://greek-myth.com/images/Photos_Pale_Horse/Photos_Crete/SnakeWoman.jpg

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