Adobe Illustrator Vector Art: First Gradient Mesh Artwork

Hey, peeps. It's been a few so here's a little update.  While I was resting my arm/wrist, I decided to look through some scrap work.  I found this old gradient mesh test image I did a while back. You can use Google to find out more about gradient mesh. To summarize, with g.mesh, you can get really realistic vector art images by using a grid technique. I started a few years back when I used a trial version of Adobe Illustrator. The idea was quite attractive but time consuming. This is my very first mesh accompanied by the wire mesh.  I wasn't sure how to export the wire outline as an image file.  So, I just took a screen capture of it.

 

Yep..I know it's nothing really special. But it was a start. From what I hear, the Inkscape team is working on a gradient mesh tool of their own. However, I wanted a program that I could use now (the AI trial has run out). I searched for other vector programs and came across one called Serif Draw Plus. I looked into it and decided to give it a try. There's a free starter edition that comes with gradient mesh! Pretty cool. I will probably always be partial to Inkscape having used it for quite some time now. All this has me thinking if I should get back into meshing. I will look into that possibility. Anyway, that's it for now.  Later!

Vector Art and Arm Soreness

Hey, peeps. Just a brief update. It would seem I have a mildly sore forearm. I'll be resting it for a while. Before this, I was retouching old vector art files I haven't bothered with for a while. Hopefully, I'll be able to show those to you soon. I'll try to get back on track as soon as I can.

Canon 60D DSLR Camera

Hey, people! I'll get straight to it. Recently, I bought the Canon 60D. I decided that it was time for an upgrade. This camera is terrific! I'm not doing a review or anything 'cause quite frankly..there's so many out there on the Net. You can do a search and read those.

Now, I know some folks are going to say, "You should of bought the 7D, man! It's way better!" Well, it certainly has more focus points, faster burst rate and two processors. However, I didn't feel it was necessary for my needs. Plus, I like to film when I get the chance. From what I've heard, the Canon 7D has overheating issues. I've done several video test shots and haven't had the temperature warning pop up with the 60D. :)

I'm still using the kit lens from my older camera (18-55mm). I'm still deciding what long range zoom lens I should get. A 70-300mm perhaps? Heh, I dunno. I'll probably end up getting a 18-200mm. We'll see.

Anyway, I have a video right now I'm working on. I'll post it on Youtube later on today. See ya then. Peace!

Inkscape Vector Art Speed Time Lapse Illustration: Drakkar Noir Cologne

Hey! So, the "appetizer" (hold you over) vector art I promised is here. I wanted to do something simple. I decided to vector a cologne I've worn for a while. It was a pretty easy vector to make. I used Inkscape 0.48 to make this. You can download that program here: inkscape vector program

Like I said, it was fairly simple to do. It was the reflection of light on the bottle that took a bit of work to put together. I did my best to make the highlights soft and seamless with the rest of the bottle. I did this by applying Gaussian blur and gradients handles to the highlights. But yeah..this is the video.

The photograph used in this speed vector was taken by me with the Canon 60D. Drakkar is copyright Parfums Guy Laroche (just in case anyone's nit picky or whateva).

So, yeah..I'll talk to you in a couple. Ciao!

Monday, Monday

Hey peeps. It's Monday. Anyway, a while back, I said that I would have a vector piece up. Unfortunately, I'm in a situation where I keep looking at the art piece and I say to myself, "Man, this isn't quite right. This needs to be tweaked", or "I need to add a little more of this...", etc. However, I do have another vector art piece that I'll be releasing hopefully this week but more than likely next week. Call it an "appetizer" of sorts.

As for the main art, let's just say I'll finish it as soon as I can. I think it's best to leave it at that. Just wanted to say that much. I'll check in with ya'll later. I'm out! :)

New Video Coming Soon

Hey guys. Not much going on. I'm getting another video put together. Should be out by next week. I'm gonna see what I can get for dinner. See ya soon. Peace.

Panasonic HDC TM700K 1080P Cape Coral Outdoor Test

Hey! What's goin on? I've finally finished editing my first outdoor test video using the Panasonic TM700. Sorry for the delay as things have been busy. I decided to go to a park to test things out. So, I chose one at random and headed out for the Rotary Park in Cape Coral, FL.

If I remember correctly, this was the Dry Bones Trail. Anyway, I think the video shows it all. The camera settings were on auto. It sure was bright outside that day as you could probably tell. So bright that some areas got blown out/clipped. Guess I'll have to invest in a filter of some sort in the future.

Thankfully, it wasn't too hot. There was a constant breeze blowing by. You'll be able to hear plenty of air in the video. :D The wind canceller in the camera was on but winds were still quite strong. But hey, it helped cool things off! :) Anyway, this is part 1. Part 2 is coming soon. See ya in a bit. :D

Denny's Slam Burger Review

Hey, wassup? Not a whole lot going on here. Tell you one thing I did though. I usually cook myself something. Some rice and beans or fish. However, I wanted to eat out today. So, I went to Denny's nearby and got one of these Better Burgers. I haven't eaten at Denny's in years. I decided to get the Bacon Slam Burger as a takeout order. That's it's right below (and no..that pic doesn't count as a photographic masterpiece). :D













I get back home and my mouth was watering already. There's a slight dent at the side of the bun but overall, it wasn't severely squashed or anything. I got right to eating. Now this is great stuff! I got my trusty bottle of Louisiana Hot Sauce. The burger is great on it's own but it's just my habit to add a little hot sauce to everything. :)

The beef is very hearty. It was ever so slightly dry IMO..doesn't matter though since the cheese sauce adds moisture to the meat. The bacon strips were..bacony. Hash brown and an egg (scrambled) came as part of the sandwich. I'm telling you, I could barely finish it personally..meaning the burger, seasoned fries and then some pink lemonade. Very filling. One bite of dessert and that was it. I weighed a ton.

So, anyway, that's all I wanted to say. I recommend that burger for sure. I'm going to try other ones out one day. So yeah..hope you have a good day and good dinner! Peace!

Happy New Year 2011 and Weird Flavored Breath Mints!!!

Happy belated New Year! Yea, we made it and all that good stuff. Anyway, I'm still working on that vector art bit I mentioned in a previous post. I'm making a time lapse video out of it. I'll post it on youtube when it's done. It'll be good.

Anyway, I went out yesterday to do some stuff. I usually have a pack of gum or something like that in the dashboard of my car. I was down to one stick so I asked my peeps if they had a spare pack or what not. Someone gave me this pack of 7-11 Breath Mints.












So, I took them thinking, 'Great, that'll save one trip.' So, at one point, I decided to try one out. Man! Those mints tasted weird as heck. :S
I mean, the inside of the mint made my mouth feel cool and tingly like all mints do. But the smooth coating had a taste that was synthetic and just plain odd. I don't know if it was just that particular pack but I'm not trying those again. Remember,[disclaimer]this is only MY OPINION[/end of disclaimer]. If you see them at your 7-11, if you want to chance it, try them out. I'd like to see if I'm the only one who feels this way. :S
Anyway, I'll see you later on. Have a good one.

Outdoor Video and Vector Art

Sup! Hope you're enjoying the holiday season. Some vectors are in the works. Also, I'm gonna put up another video. This one will be outdoors. Not much else going on right now. I'll catch up with you later on. Peace.

Macro Close Up with the Panasonic TM700

I began to peer into what looked like a tunnel..more like a cavern of sorts. A flame lit the end of this cavern I was looking into. The walls around me peachy orange and began to grow damp. Warm fluid oozed from the ceiling of this place and down to the surface. Much of the fluid pooled to the cavern floor forming a puddle that slowly swelled up. I decided to go further in. I reached a comfortable distance. Then flame and cavern turned orange red! I waited to see if anything would become of this. However, the normal color soon returned. I continued to examine this place. I could see the source of the flame and what it rested upon. I dared not get to close so I would get fried. :) I looked at the top of the ceiling and saw clear viscious fluid seeping it's way down. Specks of dark matter were inside this liquid and followed the path this river of fluid took. I brought my attention back to the flame and saw that it became much brighter than before. I noticed that a tunnel had been formed and the flame was ever so slowly going through it. I looked at it a bit more and a strange halo if you will formed around it. This halo flicked as the flame did the same. Eventually, the halo dissipated..the flame remained however. What a lovely sight. Mango and apricots scent filled the air and my olfactory senses approved! All is pleasant. Man, I let my imagination run wild again. :D Watch the video below. I hope you're having a good holiday season so far. I'll see you guys next week. Peace!

Katana Topple: The Beginning

Thanks for viewing my blog. I'm here to just talk/ramble about random stuff here and there. However, the primary thing I'm gonna do is create vector art and show you my works. The images I create are usually images I randomly find on the net but from time to time, I create art from well known photos as well. There will be some which are totally original.

First thing's first though..my name. Basically one night, I wanted to create a cool name but didn't know where to start. So, I started thinking of things I like in general. I ran across an image of a katana (a Japanese sword). So, I decided to go with that. Now, for a second name. What could I add? Katana Pop? ...nah. Katana Dash? Meh. Then I thought to myself, Well what does a katana do? Well, it cuts; it slashes..so, Katana Cuts? Nope. Katanas will knock a person down. From there, I thought of synonyms and came up with "Topple" (since topple means to knock something down). Then I added "you" to it. So far, I had "Katana Topple You". I wasn't satisfied so I replaced "you" part with the slang version of the word ..."ya" (as in I'll see ya later). I merged topple and ya to make "Topplya". So, "Katana Topplya" was the first official name I made. Even though I thought it was catchy, I wanted it to be a bit shorter. I decided to leave it at "Katana Topple". I thought it sounded catchy.

Anyway, that's a little history behind my name. So, as I said before, you'll find some nice vector artwork (among other things) which I hope will "topple you" (in the near future). I look forward to posting and hearing from you all.