When I was in college I took a few traditional art classes, in traditional media via traditional teaching methods and conventional teachers. We didn't even consider computers for art in the 70's. We have greatly progressed, there are artist tools on every PC platform and photo quality printers on the cheap. In fact the design profession has become quite entrenched with Adobe products taking the lead. It has gotten so deep that the full blown software is coveted by beginners, learners and want to be's globally. Go ahead aspire to that! It's OK! But wait!
In the backrooms of the Linuxville chateau, behind the bookcases, down the stairs in the cave of wonders, I've have discovered it is about the tools. As a kid I stressed about Red Ball Jets tennis shoes or Keds with the magic wedge. If I couldn't run optimally, they both were the same. It is obvious that Photoshop and other Adobe creative products are the grail of today's artist. But if you strip away the well explained interface, there are tools common to all graphic programs. The tools themselves are standard equipment. Think about it, the programming required to draw a line or a bezier curve or do layering, is pretty much the same in every program. Most good graphics programs have a standard set of drawing and editing tools , a way of adding custom scripted functions and extra tools.
What's the real diff? I think it is in the output of the digital file to printers. If you are doing RGB, you can get away with a lot because inkjet printers are RGB already. If you are talking offset or printing that requires you to separate color layers as with CMYK printing, that is more involved. Photoshop has built-in tools for CMYK output, GIMP does not. CMYK only makes Photoshop better if you need CMYK. With RGB printing becoming quite the bomb, GIMP is RGB cool.
We are told GIMP has a bit of a learning curve. That's a big curve if you are already into the Photoshop interface and work flows, way smaller if you have no experience. What's the secret? Stop comparing and criticizing and watch some video tutorials. Watch them, you'll say, dag man, I can do that! Believe me, once you learn to use say, a bezier curve, you can use that tool in any program that has it. So, what's holding you back, a $brand-name$?
Showing posts with label Gimp. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Gimp. Show all posts
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Friday, May 21, 2010
We are making progress
Right here in the heart of the city, my local public library is making progress. Aside from the flurry of Windows 7, Microsoft Office version whatever and Photoshop books, there is now a spanking brand new GIMP book. This is the GIMP Bible by Jason van Gumster and Robert Shimonski. I am excited because for years Photoshop has ruled the roost with 50+ books and it cost how much?? GIMP does what most folks would use it for and it is free. That's free for folks who have no need to purchase professional level software just to tweak family photos and dabble. I also saw two new Open Office books. Open Office is also free and I am speaking especially to you students who need word processing but don't really need or can't afford M$ Office. Go figure, a public library with a truck load of software books on software no one can really justify the cost of and very few on freely available software. It is even more tragic because open source software is 100 times better than the freeware of the past. And quite a lot of it is enterprise quality, yet not fluffed with fancy trimmings and embedded security problems.
Even if you love or are work bound to Microsoft Windows, Open Source Software can relieve many mental stress fractures and plug financial black holes in wallets and purses. I always hear from ones who try open source but it doesn't work well in their situation. These are usually business folks who rely on Microsoft products and folks with the name-brand loyalty thing. I also see so many who would greatly benefit, who are clueless. Why clueless? Because Open Source stuff is not on the store shelf. Open Source doesn't have that cute mind sticking advertising thing going on.
I have lots of tutorials by users and videos but, I still do not own a printed GIMP reference book. I have PDF docs and users guides and yet there is something about a printed book that is handy and reassuring. Still I am like most, I lightly use many kinds of software. Of late my realization is that to do graphics I need to get more in-depth experience. And if you profess to know anything of anything, people expect you to be somewhat an expert. Sorry folks I use what I use the way that I use it. I am open to learn new tricks if it's something I can use. But overall, GIMP expert and graphics guru I am not. Let's face it, there are some who like to be seen as authoritative. For me to do or be that I would have to study all kinds of stuff I am not interested in, then make myself available to you. In that case I would definitely write a book.
This brings up another good thing, community information. Linux and Open Source both have a history of posting up-to-date information on the internet. And much of that information is maintained by the whole community of users, not just the authors of the software. This is because uses often find innovative ways of using and redefining intent of a software. They discover bugs, flaws, shortcomings and devise work-around, patches, scripts, customizations, tips, etc, The community from the noobe to the developer/maintainer all put in to support software. This is not true with customer/client based commercial software.
So, getting back to GIMP or any other software application, If you want to use it either dabble with it or set aside some time for structured learning. If you can not find a formal class or hire a tutor, I tell you the online and downloadable video tutorials are the way to go. You might find a surveying Open Source Software class before you find a specific class for Open Office or for GIMP. If you have a local computer group, use that as a focal point to gather like interested people and start a SIG (Special Interest Group). Even if you just have email communication, the fact that you are pursuing together is great encouragement and support. As a friend of mine said to me, "if you want to learn IT, hang with computer geeks." To associate and commune is great for learning stuff. This is even more appropriate for graphics because we need to show and tell.
The cool thing is that you don't have to use Linux to use Open Source Software. Some will run on Windows, Linux and Mac. The point is it is out there and not different than other software doing the same thing. It may have a different look and feel or have more or less features but for sure you won't need a defibrillator to revive your wallet.
Even if you love or are work bound to Microsoft Windows, Open Source Software can relieve many mental stress fractures and plug financial black holes in wallets and purses. I always hear from ones who try open source but it doesn't work well in their situation. These are usually business folks who rely on Microsoft products and folks with the name-brand loyalty thing. I also see so many who would greatly benefit, who are clueless. Why clueless? Because Open Source stuff is not on the store shelf. Open Source doesn't have that cute mind sticking advertising thing going on.
I have lots of tutorials by users and videos but, I still do not own a printed GIMP reference book. I have PDF docs and users guides and yet there is something about a printed book that is handy and reassuring. Still I am like most, I lightly use many kinds of software. Of late my realization is that to do graphics I need to get more in-depth experience. And if you profess to know anything of anything, people expect you to be somewhat an expert. Sorry folks I use what I use the way that I use it. I am open to learn new tricks if it's something I can use. But overall, GIMP expert and graphics guru I am not. Let's face it, there are some who like to be seen as authoritative. For me to do or be that I would have to study all kinds of stuff I am not interested in, then make myself available to you. In that case I would definitely write a book.
This brings up another good thing, community information. Linux and Open Source both have a history of posting up-to-date information on the internet. And much of that information is maintained by the whole community of users, not just the authors of the software. This is because uses often find innovative ways of using and redefining intent of a software. They discover bugs, flaws, shortcomings and devise work-around, patches, scripts, customizations, tips, etc, The community from the noobe to the developer/maintainer all put in to support software. This is not true with customer/client based commercial software.
So, getting back to GIMP or any other software application, If you want to use it either dabble with it or set aside some time for structured learning. If you can not find a formal class or hire a tutor, I tell you the online and downloadable video tutorials are the way to go. You might find a surveying Open Source Software class before you find a specific class for Open Office or for GIMP. If you have a local computer group, use that as a focal point to gather like interested people and start a SIG (Special Interest Group). Even if you just have email communication, the fact that you are pursuing together is great encouragement and support. As a friend of mine said to me, "if you want to learn IT, hang with computer geeks." To associate and commune is great for learning stuff. This is even more appropriate for graphics because we need to show and tell.
The cool thing is that you don't have to use Linux to use Open Source Software. Some will run on Windows, Linux and Mac. The point is it is out there and not different than other software doing the same thing. It may have a different look and feel or have more or less features but for sure you won't need a defibrillator to revive your wallet.
Saturday, September 05, 2009
serious art fun in Linuxville
Hi folks, I am writing from a remote location today, the other end of my desk. Perched atop a printer stand, my spare PC is humming and sporting #!Crunchbang Linux. Here's a screenshot of this desktop at rest.
Like the glass! The white lettering on the top right is called Conky, it's a system monitor display and below has a note area which shows keyboard shortcuts. Man that is genius! A heads up display!
The next is another wallpaper I devised:
Making your own wallpaper is awesome fun. I am finding out just what I can do with Linux graphics applications. I am using Inkscape for vector drawing and GIMP for bit-map drawing. Using both together gives you a wide range of possibilities. If you like dabbling in art and especially if you are light on investment resources, Inkscape and GIMP are available in Linux and MS Windows versions, are free to download and............what's keeping you!?!
If you are serious about art then you must get these to play with, but I will warn you about when play gets serious. When my wife calls to eat dinner, I have artist withdrawal symptoms.
My latest puzzle is trying to figure out how to draw a concave shape. There are lots of tutorials on how to draw a button with a raised look, but not a dished look. It is a matter of how the light strikes the surface and give the illusion of depth. In GIMP it is easy using bump map techniques (emboss and engrave filters). With Inkscape it is different but still possible.
Here's my progress so far of a square dinner plate.
The one on the left is my first attempt, you really can't tell if it's a bump or a dish. The right side is more dished. The shift in light on various areas clues you to what you see. I will use these types of shapes as design elements in a future project. I just wanted to show that the intrigue for some of us is not in the meaning of the subject matter, it's the elements that enable the story to be told. We design the characters, build a composition and present a work. A big part of the story is what you behold in a certain context.
The computer as an artist tool allows you to use various techniques to put all the elements together. It can sketch pencil style if that is how you work or work with photos or allow you to model realistic looking objects, cartoonish objects and mimic the look of traditional art media. But when it is all said and done either it is viewed on the computer monitor, movie screen or it is printed on some flat surface. Any resemblance of texture is illusionary or a part of the surface it is printed on, maybe even added by the artist. This is the nature of the media, it is what it is. One day we will probably have a printer ink that will puff up in some way to add texture, I don't know. I have come to believe computer printed art is like silk screen, litho-prints, stamp art, photography or any other flat image to paper transfer method. We have a way to control the color and value and placement of a dot. The software makes it seem like you are using a pencil, pen, brush, bucket of paint, typewriter and eraser. You can draw a micro-dot or a billboard. It can be virtual (on the screen) or printed out. You have to know that the computer itself doesn't do squat until you tell it. Even automatic art requires a programmer.
What a computer does depends on you the artist.
The traditional art establishment still has a hard time with computer art. How do you put a high value on art where the original is a computer file and every printout is almost an exact duplicate. I say almost because it depends on the type of printer, the quality of the inks and the quality of the material it is printed on. Sort of makes the actual file being printed anti-climatic. It also blows the rarity/age factor out the window. You do a painting, it is the only one, to reproduce it is impossible. So you photograph it, scan it and print it in limited editions to hold it's value. In computer art all the prints are exact dupes of the original computer file. Like I said, value is by a different group of factors. If the file gets out on the internet, you loss the means to control both it's value and the revenue due you. So you can see why art folks are having a time dealing with this computer art thing. It pretty much the similar as with music artist. The modern technology has helped music be more available and cut the flow of revenue to the artist. The only way is for artist to have total ownership of their own work and have transparent channels of distribution. Today's channels of distribution are anything but transparent.
I don't know how or if things will change for the better. Artist all have struggles, the drive to create is so strong and the way to make a living while creating is so precarious. It is about where you are located and who you know and how you are seen............and me your humble Linuxville guide, am in the mix. I will probably not move to the big city (Microsoft OS) or that other well known tech town (Mac OS), here in Linuxville we will endeavor to make a name for ourselves (we have a global presence too!).
Like the glass! The white lettering on the top right is called Conky, it's a system monitor display and below has a note area which shows keyboard shortcuts. Man that is genius! A heads up display!
The next is another wallpaper I devised:
Making your own wallpaper is awesome fun. I am finding out just what I can do with Linux graphics applications. I am using Inkscape for vector drawing and GIMP for bit-map drawing. Using both together gives you a wide range of possibilities. If you like dabbling in art and especially if you are light on investment resources, Inkscape and GIMP are available in Linux and MS Windows versions, are free to download and............what's keeping you!?!If you are serious about art then you must get these to play with, but I will warn you about when play gets serious. When my wife calls to eat dinner, I have artist withdrawal symptoms.
My latest puzzle is trying to figure out how to draw a concave shape. There are lots of tutorials on how to draw a button with a raised look, but not a dished look. It is a matter of how the light strikes the surface and give the illusion of depth. In GIMP it is easy using bump map techniques (emboss and engrave filters). With Inkscape it is different but still possible.
Here's my progress so far of a square dinner plate.
The one on the left is my first attempt, you really can't tell if it's a bump or a dish. The right side is more dished. The shift in light on various areas clues you to what you see. I will use these types of shapes as design elements in a future project. I just wanted to show that the intrigue for some of us is not in the meaning of the subject matter, it's the elements that enable the story to be told. We design the characters, build a composition and present a work. A big part of the story is what you behold in a certain context.The computer as an artist tool allows you to use various techniques to put all the elements together. It can sketch pencil style if that is how you work or work with photos or allow you to model realistic looking objects, cartoonish objects and mimic the look of traditional art media. But when it is all said and done either it is viewed on the computer monitor, movie screen or it is printed on some flat surface. Any resemblance of texture is illusionary or a part of the surface it is printed on, maybe even added by the artist. This is the nature of the media, it is what it is. One day we will probably have a printer ink that will puff up in some way to add texture, I don't know. I have come to believe computer printed art is like silk screen, litho-prints, stamp art, photography or any other flat image to paper transfer method. We have a way to control the color and value and placement of a dot. The software makes it seem like you are using a pencil, pen, brush, bucket of paint, typewriter and eraser. You can draw a micro-dot or a billboard. It can be virtual (on the screen) or printed out. You have to know that the computer itself doesn't do squat until you tell it. Even automatic art requires a programmer.
What a computer does depends on you the artist.
The traditional art establishment still has a hard time with computer art. How do you put a high value on art where the original is a computer file and every printout is almost an exact duplicate. I say almost because it depends on the type of printer, the quality of the inks and the quality of the material it is printed on. Sort of makes the actual file being printed anti-climatic. It also blows the rarity/age factor out the window. You do a painting, it is the only one, to reproduce it is impossible. So you photograph it, scan it and print it in limited editions to hold it's value. In computer art all the prints are exact dupes of the original computer file. Like I said, value is by a different group of factors. If the file gets out on the internet, you loss the means to control both it's value and the revenue due you. So you can see why art folks are having a time dealing with this computer art thing. It pretty much the similar as with music artist. The modern technology has helped music be more available and cut the flow of revenue to the artist. The only way is for artist to have total ownership of their own work and have transparent channels of distribution. Today's channels of distribution are anything but transparent.
I don't know how or if things will change for the better. Artist all have struggles, the drive to create is so strong and the way to make a living while creating is so precarious. It is about where you are located and who you know and how you are seen............and me your humble Linuxville guide, am in the mix. I will probably not move to the big city (Microsoft OS) or that other well known tech town (Mac OS), here in Linuxville we will endeavor to make a name for ourselves (we have a global presence too!).
Friday, May 01, 2009
where is the open computer?
I repeat because it becomes clearer to me and if you see what I see there might be a full court press. Besides, it's kind of fun to change the game once in a while.
I would like to see a laptop base unit with a full-size keyboard on top (arrow keys and number keypad on the side). The floor brick power supply is handy and the battery pack would be optional. The LCD display, mounted in the traditional clamshell lid is not only detachable but is optional, so you can buy it without a display and use a display mounted on a desk pedestal or on the wall. In other words you can choose wither this machine is a laptop or a desktop machine. On the insides, the system ROM which contains the BIOS, has the boot loader built-in. All operating systems (including MS) are redesigned to use this boot loader (points to the boot file and boots it). The claim to fame for this computer is that it will run any OS. This is in a nutshell, my view of an open computer.
I really think the ATX case has gone away for most PC users replaced by laptops. Businesses like the ATX case because you can't walk out the door with it. The laptop base could be secured to the keyboard tray or to the desktop itself if need be. It takes up less space on the desk and in the IT room usually stacked with worn out ATX cased PC's. Then there is less PC to recycle, or less PC sitting there looking out of date and tired. What about upgrading? How many people really upgrade their computers after the initial purchase? Laptops usually contain all that people want and if they want more they can buy a laptop with more. At the most they might get a memory upgrade, maybe a faster processor, the other components are usually small cards that don't require PCI slots or are USB plug-ins. There might be a few laptops that have upgradeable graphics cards. If adequate graphics hardware is built-in from the onset, it is not an issue. Obviously a PCs for gaming and high-end graphics require more than PCs for office work and web browsing. So, cutting a wide swath across computer users for whom portability is not a big need but would like the same functionality in a smaller and lower powered package, this hybrid design is pretty close to the best of both worlds. And looking at the laptop display and hinge arrangement, it would be a snap to add a short video cable and a detachable hinge. Now mind you, I would only do this for the larger full featured units leaning toward the desktop, let the regular laptops stress portability.
I had 512 MB of memory, now 1024 MB or 1 gig. What did I gain? Elbow room. When in a room full of folks, shoulder to shoulder at a table, all trying to eat, you can not finesse your fork or pass the peas without saying "excuse me". So I am not seeing a huge performance increase, but a little ease here and there. Yeah, the feel is more relaxed, things work just better enough to notice. Of course it helps not to complain or be picky, the dark side of the force, you know.
I have had this HP desktop machine since 2005, but it seems the upgrade thirst has subsided. For a long while computer makers were all racing to update features and upgrade speeds. I think we have reached a plateau to where the speed of the machine doesn't increase the speed of the software any appreciable amount. I am talking about regular computer use. I tried to install a flight simulator game and it still requires more beef than what I have, even after these many years of hardware improvements. If I could roll out my wish list, perhaps a better graphics card, another 1 gig of memory, and a USB hard drive.
I would like to experiment with so-called entertainment systems. That MythTV setup has haunted me since I first saw it. The idea is that the pictures and videos stored on your computer, and internet accessed pictures, radio and video, also broadcast radio and TV through tuner cards can all be accessed, recorded, played back through one machine, it's mind numbing.
Then I would like to get into multiple displays as a design element in interior design. Yeah, the digital picture frame is just the appetizer.
My local library just got a new Linux book. "Linux In Easy Steps" by Mike McGrath. Some enlightened soul at my public library has blessed us with a book that brings you into Linux without deep techno speak. A little intro, a little history, a lot of practical instruction. If Linux were explained to me this way from the get-go, I'd be a guru today. At $15.00 US, I'd put this book on my desk and the big Ubuntu Bible on the reference shelf for when I get into deep inquiry mode. I'd tip my penguin beak to the library except still no GIMP books. Open source software is as free as the public library itself and yet libraries insist on stocking only or mostly books on popular and pricey software. And you ask why there is a "digital gap"!! An inspiring young person wanting to get into computer graphics sees only Photoshop books. They beg, barrow or steal sacrificing their integrity to aquire Photoshop. They could have been using GIMP honing their skills while saving their coin to buy a legal copy of Photoshop. Their integrity and skills transferable, they can acquire the pro-ware without having been trained to look over their shoulder.
Then if I see one more Photoshop book centered on cameras or photo editing I am stagging a camera demolition in protest. Computers were used in art long before digital cameras became practical, not just for scanning and printing art, but as the very instrument to produce art. I have been a computer aided drafter for over 20 years. In many colleges computer science has pushed the use of digital graphics in many fields including the fine arts. The computer as an artist's tool is not new. Today computers can be used to hand draw and hand paint in many fine art techniques and styles, including 3-d and photo-real effects. And with the progress in printers, computer art should be booming. And concerning art, there is a lot that a camera can not do except photograph something hand drawn.
So here is something every computer group, arts group can do. Take donations, put them in a fund, then purchase open source computer books and donate them to the public library for the enrichment of us all. If anyone ask why, tell'em that Linuxville guide guy sent you.
I would like to see a laptop base unit with a full-size keyboard on top (arrow keys and number keypad on the side). The floor brick power supply is handy and the battery pack would be optional. The LCD display, mounted in the traditional clamshell lid is not only detachable but is optional, so you can buy it without a display and use a display mounted on a desk pedestal or on the wall. In other words you can choose wither this machine is a laptop or a desktop machine. On the insides, the system ROM which contains the BIOS, has the boot loader built-in. All operating systems (including MS) are redesigned to use this boot loader (points to the boot file and boots it). The claim to fame for this computer is that it will run any OS. This is in a nutshell, my view of an open computer.
I really think the ATX case has gone away for most PC users replaced by laptops. Businesses like the ATX case because you can't walk out the door with it. The laptop base could be secured to the keyboard tray or to the desktop itself if need be. It takes up less space on the desk and in the IT room usually stacked with worn out ATX cased PC's. Then there is less PC to recycle, or less PC sitting there looking out of date and tired. What about upgrading? How many people really upgrade their computers after the initial purchase? Laptops usually contain all that people want and if they want more they can buy a laptop with more. At the most they might get a memory upgrade, maybe a faster processor, the other components are usually small cards that don't require PCI slots or are USB plug-ins. There might be a few laptops that have upgradeable graphics cards. If adequate graphics hardware is built-in from the onset, it is not an issue. Obviously a PCs for gaming and high-end graphics require more than PCs for office work and web browsing. So, cutting a wide swath across computer users for whom portability is not a big need but would like the same functionality in a smaller and lower powered package, this hybrid design is pretty close to the best of both worlds. And looking at the laptop display and hinge arrangement, it would be a snap to add a short video cable and a detachable hinge. Now mind you, I would only do this for the larger full featured units leaning toward the desktop, let the regular laptops stress portability.
I had 512 MB of memory, now 1024 MB or 1 gig. What did I gain? Elbow room. When in a room full of folks, shoulder to shoulder at a table, all trying to eat, you can not finesse your fork or pass the peas without saying "excuse me". So I am not seeing a huge performance increase, but a little ease here and there. Yeah, the feel is more relaxed, things work just better enough to notice. Of course it helps not to complain or be picky, the dark side of the force, you know.
I have had this HP desktop machine since 2005, but it seems the upgrade thirst has subsided. For a long while computer makers were all racing to update features and upgrade speeds. I think we have reached a plateau to where the speed of the machine doesn't increase the speed of the software any appreciable amount. I am talking about regular computer use. I tried to install a flight simulator game and it still requires more beef than what I have, even after these many years of hardware improvements. If I could roll out my wish list, perhaps a better graphics card, another 1 gig of memory, and a USB hard drive.
I would like to experiment with so-called entertainment systems. That MythTV setup has haunted me since I first saw it. The idea is that the pictures and videos stored on your computer, and internet accessed pictures, radio and video, also broadcast radio and TV through tuner cards can all be accessed, recorded, played back through one machine, it's mind numbing.
Then I would like to get into multiple displays as a design element in interior design. Yeah, the digital picture frame is just the appetizer.
My local library just got a new Linux book. "Linux In Easy Steps" by Mike McGrath. Some enlightened soul at my public library has blessed us with a book that brings you into Linux without deep techno speak. A little intro, a little history, a lot of practical instruction. If Linux were explained to me this way from the get-go, I'd be a guru today. At $15.00 US, I'd put this book on my desk and the big Ubuntu Bible on the reference shelf for when I get into deep inquiry mode. I'd tip my penguin beak to the library except still no GIMP books. Open source software is as free as the public library itself and yet libraries insist on stocking only or mostly books on popular and pricey software. And you ask why there is a "digital gap"!! An inspiring young person wanting to get into computer graphics sees only Photoshop books. They beg, barrow or steal sacrificing their integrity to aquire Photoshop. They could have been using GIMP honing their skills while saving their coin to buy a legal copy of Photoshop. Their integrity and skills transferable, they can acquire the pro-ware without having been trained to look over their shoulder.
Then if I see one more Photoshop book centered on cameras or photo editing I am stagging a camera demolition in protest. Computers were used in art long before digital cameras became practical, not just for scanning and printing art, but as the very instrument to produce art. I have been a computer aided drafter for over 20 years. In many colleges computer science has pushed the use of digital graphics in many fields including the fine arts. The computer as an artist's tool is not new. Today computers can be used to hand draw and hand paint in many fine art techniques and styles, including 3-d and photo-real effects. And with the progress in printers, computer art should be booming. And concerning art, there is a lot that a camera can not do except photograph something hand drawn.
So here is something every computer group, arts group can do. Take donations, put them in a fund, then purchase open source computer books and donate them to the public library for the enrichment of us all. If anyone ask why, tell'em that Linuxville guide guy sent you.
Saturday, April 11, 2009
what did you expect from Linux?
Not a very exciting typical day, eh? What did you expect, Mission Impossible music, hard drives smoking' " I disavow any knowledge of what happens to your PC". Believe me, when nothing happens, this is normal, you can use your computer to do stuff other than worry and fix it. And because I have a lot of these normal days in Linuxville, I have to have other interest to fill the time. Like.............
Figuring out the genius of art dabbling. You know one of the problems of our society is that we turn everything into a profession. In the process something is lost to many. In the art world, all the skills and techniques have been turned into a scientific method. Design itself can be taught because it has been formulated into exact principles. Of course one has to discover the truth of these things for themselves, but much laud is given for having been trained, not much if any for fumbling and dabbling with the inner senses. The final result is over trained to where these either get a job or seclude themselves to rediscover their artist sensibilities overshadowed by the years of training.
Come on, I've seen it. Hey you've got talent, why don't you go to school. Artists only need to improve their skills to better do what they are doing already. But to get trained to be a commercial artist is a different thing altogether. You are broadened to where you can do anything, everything. If a job focuses your work that is OK, but if your intent is to not be commercial, you have to rediscover your voice through all this stuff. You must relearn to trust your own vision. How do you show yourself through the added layers of stuff you learned.
I am going through this process. I went to school, took some classes, amassed some skills. In the mean time things changed, computers became useful for art. Now how do I turn my brush/pen into a mouse with the same spontaneity and finesse. How do I trust the monitor/display or the printer's output? And why is my work on this computer thing not valued the same as in other media?
I am going through the art process, it is not easy, there is no click, click, click and it's done. But I will admit, if I don't like the work, I can change it, delete it, sample from it for reuse, and make multiples and reproduce it. The do or die approach of the one time execution of an art work has been ended for ever. An oil painting might be a one hit original, computer output or photos, can be reproduced again and again, each an original because of the string of formatted 1's and 0's (a digital file). What is the value of a copy? The digital file can be copied, where is the means to make it rare, thus of value. Now, do you buy art because it is rare and of a famous artist (and of value because of it) or because you like the work?? Perhaps, there needs to be a different kind of value psychology for this digital art, not based on rarity because you can copy it, but on is it good art. Do you like it!!
There are many kinds of digital art, like art that is so realistic to fantasy art, comics and game art. Digital art could be photographic or obviously mimicking traditional art medias. Then onward to animation film art, cartoons and special effects. Much of ad graphics today is digital, signage, technical illustration and engineering drawing. Then on top of this some digital art never leaves the screen like wallpapers, screensavers, interface art, icons and some is meant to be printed out as pictures, photos or placed on products from quilts to business cards and billboards.
Digital dabbling is casual art. You have time to appreciate and enjoy and try stuff. And because we are often consumed with other things, time to dabble is all that's left. And it does not matter if the software is not "what the professionals use", so why spend $400 just to dabble?? I like to insist people try the GIMP because it is free, but there are other applications that push pixels around the screen. If you get well versed in some unfamiliar software package, does that make your work, not art?. If a guy can pluck his own hair to make a brush and paint a so-called masterpiece, do you think a $75 custom brush will make you a better artist? It is about making the tools, any tools, work for you. The tools that are available and convenient for you to acquire I consider your home court advantage. If all you can see is Photoshop, I hope you can put in the time to make it worth the expense. Besides, it doesn't run natively or well in Linux, thus I'm not so concerned.
The main argument I have heard against the GIMP was that it didn't have a CMS (color management system) or color separation tools needed by the large commercial printing systems. These tools I believe can be added or are provided by other software. These days and especially for art work the typical RGB color system used on all desktop monitors and printers can do wonderful work. Printers will do photo size 4" x 6" all the way to 52" wide using inkjet technology. If course there are technophobes who fuss with quality to the nth, but if precision and perfection is your obsession, will the cost of the final output satisfy the client who just wants something they like? I say, do a check print, tweak it, print it again, if it is OK, you win.
The Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt that has been applied to user's minds to keep them from looking at Linux is continuously being eroded away. I experience new things often that I would not have attempted in MS XP for the risk or things I couldn't afford to do. I remains that I will not insist on Linux as the all-solution, but if you try it at my suggestion and like it, I am greatly gratified. You have made the first steps into a larger world. Welcome to Linuxville!!
Figuring out the genius of art dabbling. You know one of the problems of our society is that we turn everything into a profession. In the process something is lost to many. In the art world, all the skills and techniques have been turned into a scientific method. Design itself can be taught because it has been formulated into exact principles. Of course one has to discover the truth of these things for themselves, but much laud is given for having been trained, not much if any for fumbling and dabbling with the inner senses. The final result is over trained to where these either get a job or seclude themselves to rediscover their artist sensibilities overshadowed by the years of training.
Come on, I've seen it. Hey you've got talent, why don't you go to school. Artists only need to improve their skills to better do what they are doing already. But to get trained to be a commercial artist is a different thing altogether. You are broadened to where you can do anything, everything. If a job focuses your work that is OK, but if your intent is to not be commercial, you have to rediscover your voice through all this stuff. You must relearn to trust your own vision. How do you show yourself through the added layers of stuff you learned.
I am going through this process. I went to school, took some classes, amassed some skills. In the mean time things changed, computers became useful for art. Now how do I turn my brush/pen into a mouse with the same spontaneity and finesse. How do I trust the monitor/display or the printer's output? And why is my work on this computer thing not valued the same as in other media?
I am going through the art process, it is not easy, there is no click, click, click and it's done. But I will admit, if I don't like the work, I can change it, delete it, sample from it for reuse, and make multiples and reproduce it. The do or die approach of the one time execution of an art work has been ended for ever. An oil painting might be a one hit original, computer output or photos, can be reproduced again and again, each an original because of the string of formatted 1's and 0's (a digital file). What is the value of a copy? The digital file can be copied, where is the means to make it rare, thus of value. Now, do you buy art because it is rare and of a famous artist (and of value because of it) or because you like the work?? Perhaps, there needs to be a different kind of value psychology for this digital art, not based on rarity because you can copy it, but on is it good art. Do you like it!!
There are many kinds of digital art, like art that is so realistic to fantasy art, comics and game art. Digital art could be photographic or obviously mimicking traditional art medias. Then onward to animation film art, cartoons and special effects. Much of ad graphics today is digital, signage, technical illustration and engineering drawing. Then on top of this some digital art never leaves the screen like wallpapers, screensavers, interface art, icons and some is meant to be printed out as pictures, photos or placed on products from quilts to business cards and billboards.
Digital dabbling is casual art. You have time to appreciate and enjoy and try stuff. And because we are often consumed with other things, time to dabble is all that's left. And it does not matter if the software is not "what the professionals use", so why spend $400 just to dabble?? I like to insist people try the GIMP because it is free, but there are other applications that push pixels around the screen. If you get well versed in some unfamiliar software package, does that make your work, not art?. If a guy can pluck his own hair to make a brush and paint a so-called masterpiece, do you think a $75 custom brush will make you a better artist? It is about making the tools, any tools, work for you. The tools that are available and convenient for you to acquire I consider your home court advantage. If all you can see is Photoshop, I hope you can put in the time to make it worth the expense. Besides, it doesn't run natively or well in Linux, thus I'm not so concerned.
The main argument I have heard against the GIMP was that it didn't have a CMS (color management system) or color separation tools needed by the large commercial printing systems. These tools I believe can be added or are provided by other software. These days and especially for art work the typical RGB color system used on all desktop monitors and printers can do wonderful work. Printers will do photo size 4" x 6" all the way to 52" wide using inkjet technology. If course there are technophobes who fuss with quality to the nth, but if precision and perfection is your obsession, will the cost of the final output satisfy the client who just wants something they like? I say, do a check print, tweak it, print it again, if it is OK, you win.
The Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt that has been applied to user's minds to keep them from looking at Linux is continuously being eroded away. I experience new things often that I would not have attempted in MS XP for the risk or things I couldn't afford to do. I remains that I will not insist on Linux as the all-solution, but if you try it at my suggestion and like it, I am greatly gratified. You have made the first steps into a larger world. Welcome to Linuxville!!
Friday, October 12, 2007
Arno's Art presents more Linux propaganda!!
Well, what are you waiting for a golden invitation? You want a coupon? You want me to come over and force you to look at it? Nah, even when things are had for free, you can't force people to get into it. But a little enticement here and there doesn't hurt. My oldest daughter needs a laptop and ask me to check out the HP's since I have an account. She also needs some MS windows stuff for business purposes. It is sad but I must give her what she wants. I think the investment in hardware and software is too big for my budget. I myself don't have a need for MS products being a home user. I am not under the illusion that MS stuff is the defacto standard. As long as I can read/write MS document standard file types I can get around having to purchase MS products. Alright, what do I have against MS stuff? Cost issues, ownership/license issues, security issues, and then there is the stuff most users don't care about, big corporation market manipulation and domination, political clout, and the spreading of Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt (FUD) about anything not MS. What about Apple? Come on, they are exclusive and high priced. If you want them, you can get them.
I bought an HP desktop, a Pavilion a1030e to be exact. Has a 80gig HD, 512 ram, 64-bit CPU, a CD burner and loaded with XP, MS Works (not Office compatible), the usual MS minimal tools. I could do all of my computing task in a limited way. But needed a serious upgrade if I wanted to get some real work done. Good thing for MS Windows compatible open source software that I could download and install for free. I have enhanced and upgraded my computer for little or no cost and not increased MS coffers. And I have not bought any other professional grade software simply because it was the "standard". I have known many who just had to have Photoshop, MS Office, and others. Imagine buying Photoshop just to have it so you perhaps could work on some family photos or doodle a little. No wonder there are so many pirated copies out there.
What do you get with Linux that makes it so attractive? You have to sit a while, the list is extensive, but I'll just tell you a little. With my small but powerful Wolvix installation (about 460MB), I got the complete Open Office.org suite, 2 email programs, calender, several graphics programs including the Gimp (like Photoshop) and Blender 3D, multimedia stuff, games, utilities, tools, etc, etc, etc. I didn't need to buy anything extra. All the file formats that MS Windows stuff can dish out Linux programs can read/write with the exception of propriety ones. So, for average and personal computing needs you can have it all without straining the wallet or spending all sorts of time downloading freeware. But can you run and play MS Windows stuff in Linux? I guess, but why? You can do it with a program called Wine or Crossover office and you could install MS Windows as a virtual machine in VMware or VirtualBox. But, then Linux is very adequate to replace MS Windows completely. Now you can argue with me about polish and quality and familiarity and what not, but you have to admit, it's pretty darn good for free. If you feel guilty about using free stuff, you can always donate cash to support it. All would be appreciated, I'm sure.
That's all for now folks, I have given you a piece of my mind.
I bought an HP desktop, a Pavilion a1030e to be exact. Has a 80gig HD, 512 ram, 64-bit CPU, a CD burner and loaded with XP, MS Works (not Office compatible), the usual MS minimal tools. I could do all of my computing task in a limited way. But needed a serious upgrade if I wanted to get some real work done. Good thing for MS Windows compatible open source software that I could download and install for free. I have enhanced and upgraded my computer for little or no cost and not increased MS coffers. And I have not bought any other professional grade software simply because it was the "standard". I have known many who just had to have Photoshop, MS Office, and others. Imagine buying Photoshop just to have it so you perhaps could work on some family photos or doodle a little. No wonder there are so many pirated copies out there.
What do you get with Linux that makes it so attractive? You have to sit a while, the list is extensive, but I'll just tell you a little. With my small but powerful Wolvix installation (about 460MB), I got the complete Open Office.org suite, 2 email programs, calender, several graphics programs including the Gimp (like Photoshop) and Blender 3D, multimedia stuff, games, utilities, tools, etc, etc, etc. I didn't need to buy anything extra. All the file formats that MS Windows stuff can dish out Linux programs can read/write with the exception of propriety ones. So, for average and personal computing needs you can have it all without straining the wallet or spending all sorts of time downloading freeware. But can you run and play MS Windows stuff in Linux? I guess, but why? You can do it with a program called Wine or Crossover office and you could install MS Windows as a virtual machine in VMware or VirtualBox. But, then Linux is very adequate to replace MS Windows completely. Now you can argue with me about polish and quality and familiarity and what not, but you have to admit, it's pretty darn good for free. If you feel guilty about using free stuff, you can always donate cash to support it. All would be appreciated, I'm sure.
That's all for now folks, I have given you a piece of my mind.
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