RC Pop Art

How to: Save Time While Building a Website [10 Tips]

noreply@blogger.com (RC Pop Art) — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 04:22:00 +0000

As a freelance web developer, time is money. This article will show you how to use many different tricks to increase your productivity. Please make your own suggestions for other time savers in the comments.

read more | digg story

Top 35 most amazing HDR images you will ever see

noreply@blogger.com (RC Pop Art) — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 16:39:00 +0000

Applied carefully, High Dynamic Range-technique (HDR) can create incredibly beautiful pictures which blur our sense of the difference between reality and illusion. In graphics HDR imaging is a set of techniques that allow a far greater dynamic range of exposures than normal digital imaging techniques.

read more | digg story

New Trend Illustrations in Web design

noreply@blogger.com (RC Pop Art) — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 00:25:00 +0000

A list of sites that use illustrated elements in their design. I hope you all enjoy my selection! Cheers.

read more | digg story

Top 10 Graphic Design Office Essentials

noreply@blogger.com (RC Pop Art) — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 04:13:00 +0000

RC PoP Art Home Office
Uploaded by RC PoP Art

It's actually pretty nice to be able to get up, get a cup of coffee and then do some conference calls in my underwear, while the rest of the world has to travel to and from work. I've compiled a few images of my place on Flickr. It's a pretty sweet pad if I do say so myself, however someday in the not too distant future, we will be moving on to other places.

I'm going to forego the obvious. A computer and a phone are absolutely a given. If you don't have either of those things, you are either too old or too young to be running a business.

1.}Big ass desk - In the world of imagery and design, square footage and free space are a requirement. Clutter tends to distract as well.

2.}Fax/copy/printer - You'd be surprised at how many people are STILL using fax machines to do business. A copier is helpful as well for invoices, bills, etc. and a printer is great even if you don't have a business, just to get those directions from Google Maps to the strip club. Make sure you're always stocked up on plenty of paper, too.

3.}Scanner - The bigger, the better. being able to scan in photos, magazine images, drawings and other imagery is extremely useful. Especially for illustrators and artists.

4.}Comfortable Chair - You're going to spend over half your waking day in it. You might as well get one that keeps you relaxed and comfortable and doesn't wear out after only a year or so. Treat yourself to a good chair and you will spend more time working and less time squirming or rubbing your aching shoulders.

5.}Art Books - Often inspiration needs a good shove to get the juices flowing. Art, graphic design and illustration books are extremely useful for reference and ideas. Just don't rip off anyone else's work in the process of being "inspired" by them.

6.}Post it notes - These are really helpful when you get a phone call from a client about a quick fix thing that they need you to do in the next few days or possibly a phone number to jott down. Just stick that sucker on your monitor and you don't have to worry about forgetting. For some reason it's a lot easier than using your iPhone or a calender to-do-list application on your computer. Maybe not as organized, but if you take care of it quickly, that crumpling sound it makes when you've finished the task and thrown it in the garbage sure makes a satisfying sound.

7.}Full Spectrum Light - One that can stand the rigors of being twisted around and left on for days at a time, while you work all through the night and early morning meeting that deadline. If it can serve you coffee and give you back massages, all the better.

8.}External Hard drive - Actually, you should probably have a very large hard drive that you keep at home and a portable hard drive to carry with you when you take your laptop out of the office. Use your home drive for backup storage and your portable for your current work and files. Graphic designers and artists often have enormously big files to maintain and save for possible future reference and use. (look on the bright side, atleast you're not doing a lot of video editing...I hope).

9.}Digital Camera - It's hard to work in the visual communications business without a nice digital camera. SLR's would be the way to go if you can afford it, but a small digital camera with atleast 7 mega pixels should get the job done for a lot of tasks (for example photographing textures and backgrounds to be used later with photoshop). Unless of course you're actually going to print a poster or something from the image, in which case, you should leave it up to the professionals or buy stock photography.

10.}Wacom Tablet - I can't stress enough the difference a drawing tablet will have on your productivity, creativity and end result of your work. If you are still working without one, get off your ass right now, grab your car keys and pick one up. You will thank yourself for it later and won't know how you got along without one all this time.

I'm sure there are more things that can really help, but these are my top. If you've got some that you think are essential to this profession or similar forms of self employment, please leave a comment and let us know what YOU use.

Top Transparent Screens

noreply@blogger.com (RC Pop Art) — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 17:03:00 +0000

Impress all your friends with your phat, trippy, genius new desktop image. What is it? Why it's an image of your desktop of course! What a cool idea! Mine is the one at the top. The only rule is that you can't fake it. It has to really be a photograph of your desktop with the image being displayed in the screen.

Here's a link to the Tutorial I used:
Transparent Screen Tutorial

Good Luck!

When you've finished yours, you can post it on Flickr with the Transparent Screens Group!
Now you belong! Yes you do!

Flickr Transparent Screens Group

21 Incredibly Creative Flash Websites

noreply@blogger.com (RC Pop Art) — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 17:45:00 +0000

Bad Flash may be annoying, but Great Flash can take your breath away!

read more | digg story

Inspiration from Dark Illustrations

noreply@blogger.com (RC Pop Art) — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 05:49:00 +0000

A list of awe inspiring illustrations that play with the relation between light and dark.

read more | digg story

Top 21 Free Vector Resources for Designers

noreply@blogger.com (RC Pop Art) — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 17:20:00 +0000

Below are my top 21 free vector resources for Designers.

1. BittBox (http://www.bittbox.com)

2. Vecteezy (http://www.vecteezy.com/)

3. Go Medias Arsenal (http://www.gomedia.us)

4. Blog.Spoon Graphics (http://www.blog.spoongraphics.co.uk/)

5. Outline Maps (http://www.eduplace.com)

6. Free Vectors (http://www.freevectors.net/)

7. CreateSk8 (http://createsk8.com/)

8. Vector Portal (http://www.vectorportal.com/)

9. Open Clipart Library (http://www.openclipart.org/)

10. Vector Vault (http://www.vectorvault.com)

11. Briar Press (http://www.briarpress.org/cuts)

12. Magurno (http://www.magurno.com/)

13. Aiga (http://www.aiga.org/content.cfm/symbol-signs)

14. Free Vectors (http://www.freevectors.com/vector_graphic/31)

15. Vectors Workshop (http://www.vectorsworkshop.com)

16. All the flags of the World (http://www.all-the-flags-of-the-world.c.la/)

17. Hydro 74 (http://hydro74.wordpress.com/category/free/)

18. N. Design Studio (http://www.ndesign-studio.com/resources/vector-cliparts/)

19. DaPino Colada (http://www.dapino-colada.nl/)

20. Tutorial Blog (http://tutorialblog.org/free-vector-downloads/)

21. Arcade Art (http://www.localarcade.com/arcade_art/)

Textures and Brushes: Ultimate Grunge Roundup

noreply@blogger.com (RC Pop Art) — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 23:15:00 +0000

Grunge style is rough, rugged, torn, worn, and tattered. To most, these adjectives would describe something less than appealing, but in the hands of a talented web designer, elements possessing these qualities can be used to turn a web site into a work of art. So, if you are just getting started in grunge design or if you are already a pro, you should find the grunge freebies in this article to be very useful.

Textures

Vintage Grunge - 2
5 textures
Vintage Grunge Textures
5 textures
High Res Grungy Paper Textures
4 textures
Hardcore Vintage Grunge
6 textures
50 Grunge Icon Textures
50 textures

read more | digg story

Awesome photo manipulation inspiration

noreply@blogger.com (RC Pop Art) — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 02:10:00 +0000

Blending different elements to form a single convincing image requires a very diverse skill set. Composition, color theory, the need for a solid concept and the technical know how to blend the elements together often come in to play in one piece.

Memorial Day in Hartland, Michigan

noreply@blogger.com (RC Pop Art) — Thu, 29 May 2008 19:28:00 +0000

For those of you that don't know, I grew up in an embarrassingly small town called Hartland, Michigan. Being a young kid there was great. We played Rambo and rode our BMX bikes all over town, made jumps and a million forts and treehouses all over Parshallville (the even smaller village where my parents house was located). One of the "highlights" every year in Hartland was, and still is, the Memorial Day parade where all the "country folk" (not the term I use, but probably less offensive) come out to show their patriotic pride; something small town America has never had a shortage of. Something else they never seem to have a shortage of, apparently, is huge tires, gasoline, and over abundant arrogance. Still this past Memorial Day, I revisited this place and parade after years of being away and saw it somewhat differently through the lens of my camera and the eyes of my foreign born partner. It was both sad and triumphant at the same time. The eternally proud spirit of mankind shining on, no matter how dismal and ineffective it's community might be in the broad scope of the world, is still something to celebrate. That, and making a monster truck out of a Rolls Royce is a noble effort no matter how many people are starving or dying somewhere else in the world.

CLICK HERE:

Memorial Day Pics

read more | digg story

15 Amazing Wallpapers

noreply@blogger.com (RC Pop Art) — Wed, 28 May 2008 02:36:00 +0000

Nice Compilation of some of the greatest wallpapers you can find on the Internet to decorate your desktop. I've listed 15 here. For more, click the "read more" link.

read more | digg story

Ron Mueck: Hyper-Realist Sculptor

noreply@blogger.com (RC Pop Art) — Sun, 18 May 2008 22:40:00 +0000

Ron Mueck is an Australian hyper-realist sculptor working in the UK. His incredible sculptures of creepy, grotesque, mottled skin and uncannily gigantic proportional figures have adorned the Millennium Dome as well as Charles Saatchi’s living room for a number of years now. It would be fair to say, Mueck is one of the leading contemporary artists of today.

read more | digg story

The Best 80 Photoshop Text Effects on the Web

noreply@blogger.com (RC Pop Art) — Thu, 15 May 2008 00:06:00 +0000

Interactive Step-by-Step Online / Downloadable Video Tutorials Teach You Photoshop in just Two Hours from Now.

read more | digg story

16 Incredibly Detailed, Useful (and free) Dingbat Fonts

noreply@blogger.com (RC Pop Art) — Mon, 12 May 2008 04:54:00 +0000

You might not have a use for ALL these Dingbats, but you will definitely be glad you have these at your disposal sometime in the future.

read more | digg story

Running the Numbers - An American Self Portrait

noreply@blogger.com (RC Pop Art) — Thu, 08 May 2008 01:25:00 +0000

This photographic series from Chris Jordan looks at contemporary American culture through the austere lens of statistics. Each image portrays a specific quantity of something: fifteen million sheets of office paper (five minutes of paper use); 106,000 aluminum cans (thirty seconds of can consumption) and so on. Chris' hope is that images representing these quantities might have a different effect than the raw numbers alone, such as we find daily in articles and books. Statistics can feel abstract and anesthetizing, making it difficult to connect with and make meaning of 3.6 million SUV sales in one year, for example, or 2.3 million Americans in prison, or 410,000 paper cups used every fifteen minutes. This project visually examines these vast and bizarre measures of our society, in large intricately detailed prints assembled from thousands of smaller photographs. The underlying desire is to emphasize the role of the individual in a society that is increasingly enormous, incomprehensible, and overwhelming.

Cans Seurat, 2007
60x92"

Depicts 106,000 aluminum cans, the number used in the US every thirty seconds.

Energizer, 2007
60x99"

Depicts 170,000 disposable Energizer batteries, equal to fifteen minutes of Energizer battery production.

Skull With Cigarette, 2007 [based on a painting by Van Gogh]
72x98"

Depicts 200,000 packs of cigarettes, equal to the number of Americans who die from cigarette smoking every six months.

For more go to:

http://www.chrisjordan.com

The Monster Engine.

noreply@blogger.com (RC Pop Art) — Mon, 05 May 2008 03:07:00 +0000

Dave Devries is the creator of Monster Engine. The Monster Engine is a book, a demonstration/lecture and a gallery exhibition. The premise for all three came from one single question: What would a child's drawing look like if it were painted realistically?

Something to do

noreply@blogger.com (RC Pop Art) — Fri, 02 May 2008 19:15:00 +0000

Hey everybody, it's Friday!

63 Impressive Website Background-Images

noreply@blogger.com (RC Pop Art) — Thu, 01 May 2008 03:15:00 +0000

In this post you will see how web designers had carefully created background images to influence how the websites is visually distinct but considerate of their goals in engaging and facilitating the design elements and content.

read more | digg story

Little People Art

noreply@blogger.com (RC Pop Art) — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 02:37:00 +0000

If your heart doesn't swoon a little when you catch sight of the photos here, then you best check your pulse, because you can't be alive. This is one of the most inventive and charming blogs I've seen all year and don't be put off when I mention this is an art project - there are no sheep's heads in formaldehyde here.Instead Slinkachu has placed tiny, yet detailed figurines of people in public places across London and photographed how these Lilliputian inhabitants of the capital cope with what's around them. There are miniature tourists on Westminster Bridge, a miniscule commuter taking the tube complete with his tiny newspaper, plus scenes of crime and death. This innovative concept makes the blog readers re-evaluate the world around them and how they view their surroundings. What's more, if you live in London, you could well start trying to spot where these figurines are, and that's a game which could take forever.Treasure this before the idea is copied left, right and center.

read more | digg story

MWM X Moleskine Artist Series.

noreply@blogger.com (RC Pop Art) — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 19:13:00 +0000

EngraveYourBook.com is a new company that does laser-engraved Moleskine Notebooks. This MWM vector mandala that I designed is now available for sale at the site. EYB offers many customizable options... you can choose what is engraved on the spine of the book and there are 14 different size Moleskine Notebooks to choose from. I am really excited about this Artist Series. Other artists: Dan Funderburgh, a.mar.illo, Hello Karpa, and more. Moleskine is legit.

read more | digg story

Top 21 Websites for Freelance Designers

noreply@blogger.com (RC Pop Art) — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 23:40:00 +0000

Digital Revolutions has compiled a list of the top 21 websites for freelance designers. Listed in no particular order, these sites will be of use no matter what you are designing.

read more | digg story

Skelewags - Urban Art

noreply@blogger.com (RC Pop Art) — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 17:32:00 +0000

This cartoon concept by "Chewie" is great - mixing real world environments with cartoon characters. The style with skull like cartoon figures are not that special, but the overall style is.

| digg story

Paper Models are "In".

noreply@blogger.com (RC Pop Art) — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 02:44:00 +0000

There is an underlying web world about papercraft modeling. It is not visible. It is hard to find. And, in many cases, the web sites are in a language that most of us can’t read. But, believe me, it is huge.

read more | digg story

10 Trends that will define logo design in 2008

noreply@blogger.com (RC Pop Art) — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 03:35:00 +0000

Web 2.0 logos? Organic 3D logos? Apparently "waves" are going to become seriously popular. Seriously? Transparencies, Minimal Fonts, and Rainbows!