#usually it's 3 hours minimum to choose a palette

[heuheu-art]

From sketch to final!

[aliciagodseyomaha]

Alicia Godsey Omaha | 7 Easy Party Ideas For Kids

Alicia Godsey Omaha – It seems, these days, some parents have a way of getting carried away when it comes to planning a special party for their child. Sometimes, however, simpler is better, especially when it comes to saving a little money and lots of precious time. Furthermore, most children are happy just being with their friends, enjoying birthday cake, and – of course – opening presents!

Alicia Godsey Omaha – A number of ideas can be easily executed with just a little effort and not a lot of money. Consider these simple party ideas next time you’re planning a birthday party for your child.

1. Jungle/Safari Party/Alicia Godsey Omaha – Easily held in the backyard or at a nearby park, a Jungle Party is ideal for children who love animals. Decorations might consist of your child’s favorite stuffed animals or even the inflatable kind. Balloons in jungle colors – like shades of green, brown, and tan – and palm fronds or other greenery also make great decorations. Games might include Pin the Tail on the Tiger (elephant, giraffe, etc.), a safari/scavenger hunt, and even the Barrel of Monkeys game. Craft projects can include making animal masks or a simple lesson on drawing a favorite jungle animal. Food can be simple as well, like animal crackers, trail mix, peanut butter sandwiches, and “jungle” juice.

2. Circus Party / Alicia Godsey Omaha– What kid doesn’t love the circus? Also best when held outside but suitable to a large recreation room or finished basement as well, a circus party is colorful, fun, and ideal for a girl or a boy. As with the safari party, decorations are simple and can include balloons, streamers, animal or circus posters, stuffed animals, paper clown faces and hats, and other similar items. Games might include jumping rope, ring toss, pin the nose on the clown, and learning to juggle. And kids can put on their own clown make-up or have a friend or adult help! Serve circus or carnival type food like hot dogs, popcorn, peanuts, and soft drinks, all inexpensive to buy and easy to prepare.

3. Doll Tea Party / Alicia Godsey Omaha – This one, of course, is most suited to young ladies. A doll tea party generally includes a formal sit-down lunch with food suitable for kid’s taste buds. Set up the dining room table or smaller table with fancy paper plates, fresh flowers, and enough room for the girls and their dolls (have the guests bring doll chairs or “sassy seats” if they have them). Serve small tea sandwiches like white bread with peanut butter or strawberry jelly, cheese and crackers, fruit kabobs, and small desserts. Some little girls might like tea but many don’t. Instead, serve apple or some other kind of fruit juice. Encourage guests to wear their best party dresses and hats. For activities, make paper dolls, decorate photo frames (have smocks to protect their dresses), or decorate cookies that can be enjoyed later for dessert.

4. Superhero Party / Alicia Godsey Omaha- Little boys (and some little girls) love superheroes and organizing a party around their favorite(s) needn’t be too difficult. Start by choosing the hero or heroes and designing a color palette around him. For example, if Spiderman is the hero of choice, make sure all the decorations – like balloons and streamers – are blue and red. Batman? Go with yellow and black. For more decorations, choose iconic items that are peculiar to the character. For example, make skyscrapers out of construction paper for Superman and webs of yarn for Spidey. It’s usually not too hard to find inexpensive superhero plates and cups as well. Food might include “power juice”, “energy bars” (not the real ones!), “vitamins” for super strength (Skittles or M&Ms), and super-sized cupcakes or a superhero cake. Purchase some inexpensive t-shirts at the craft store along with some fabric markers and make shirts with the hero’s insignia on front and do some face painting as well (webs, bats, etc).

5. Spa Party / Alicia Godsey Omaha– This one is popular with late elementary and middle school girls and expense can be kept to a minimum if you plan accordingly. This can be an overnighter or just a few hours long. Decorations needn’t be over the top and can be any color. Tea lights are appropriate and soft music should be playing in the background. On the invitation, guests should be asked to bring a comfortable robe and slippers for the “spa”. It’s best to organize this party in stations so no one is waiting too long for their spa service, and if you can enlist the help of some older girls or adults to man each station, it would be helpful. Ideas for stations include facials/masks, mani- or pedicures, and make-up application. Party favors might include a product from each station as well as other beauty products like a loofah or body lotion. Serve mostly healthy snacks like smoothies and cheese and crackers or veggies and dip but do have some junk food on hand for a little indulgence. If there’s extra time, watch a PG-rated chick flick!

6. Casino Party / Alicia Godsey Omaha – Casino parties aren’t just for adults. Kids love them, too! Organize your basement or other large space into various game “booths” where kids can make the rounds again and again, playing card games (simple poker or blackjack), spinning the roulette wheel (you can make one out of cardboard or buy a cheap one at a toy store), or taking part in other simple games of chance. Decide on a pre-determined amount of chips for each win and let the kids spend their chips on prizes at the end of the party. Decorations can include playing cards, giant dice, balloons, streamers, and fancy casino signs. You can serve snacks and “drinks” (maybe Shirley Temples) at each game table or set up a buffet for all-night snacking. After everyone is done playing, enjoy some dancing and save time for cake and presents!

7. Beach Party / Alicia Godsey Omaha- Whether you live near the water or hundreds of miles from the coast, you can still provide a fun beach atmosphere for your child’s party with a little ingenuity. Obviously, this party is best held outside, where kids can spread out on their towels on a make-believe beach, enjoy a game of Frisbee or beach volleyball, and frolic with their friends in a small pool or other water feature like a water slide (the inexpensive kind you buy at the toy store). Decorate in ocean colors of blue and green and include sea shells and other beach-related items as part of the décor. Kids can go “fishing” for prizes, make sand art, and color their own surf boards (you can buy cardboard ones online or at a party store). Serve fruit smoothies and light beach fare like burgers and hot dogs. Send your guests home with small sand buckets full of beach- or water-related items. More Best Tips Alicia Godsey Omaha

[design435]

Best Graduation gown rental in Singapore

Best Graduation gown rental in Singapore How much will the common graduation robe cost? On average, you'll be able to expect to pay between $14 and $40 for your graduation robe. In some cases, the cap is going to be enclosed during this value. In different instances, can you'll| you may be needed to pay a further fee for this accent and any others that you simply will like for your graduation ceremony? Can you graduate while not a gown? It’s wholly absurd – you can’t graduate while not a robe, associate degreed you've got to pay to wear it for an hour!” At several universities, students have to be compelled to pay not just for their robes but conjointly for a price ticket to travel to their graduation. Do you get to stay in your cap and robe from graduation? Along with being way cheaper to provide, they’ve been touted as “keepsake” things that graduates should purchase — and, eventually, dispose of. Most graduates keep solely the adornment from their hat, agitated the cap and robe as before long because the ceremony ends. Can you wear something beneath a graduation gown? For the foremost half, we tend to suggest projected to neutral colors since they appear smart with something and commit to wearing one thing a bit nicer than sweats. this may mean dress pants, khakis, a collared evening shirt, a dress, or a skirt. we tend to conjointly suggest avoiding carrying any kind of jacket or sports jacket beneath your robe. Are all graduation robes the same? The modern graduation robe employs a distinct gown, gown, hood, tam, mortarboard, cap, and cowl for various people and teams inside the varsity or nonsecular establishment. gown or Gown: The 3 kinds of degrees every have a distinct form of robe. Bachelor’s robes have pointed sleeves, and create the unit is worn closed. How long ought to a graduation robe be? Generally, the graduation robe length falls below your knees and on top of your ankles, which is typically eight to 10 inches from the ground. Shoes don't affect the robe length. additionally, to the graduation robe length, contemplate sleeve fitting. Sleeves ought to live below your elbow and on top of your articulatio plana. Can I get my very own graduation gown? You can purchase your educational regalia in items. If you choose to shop, detain mind that you simply don’t have to be compelled to purchase all of the items at once. you will favor getting a custom gown, on the other hand, rent your mortarboard, hood, and collars for the present. Will I regret not walking at graduation? Yes, you're even as abundant a graduate if you ne'er build the walk however people who pass it up usually ask for forgiveness later. while not the eclat, while not the silly costume, the walk, and speeches, the faculty simply quite merges into life. What will a red graduation robe mean? For graduate hoods and educational regalia colors, red or reminder red area unit accustomed to designate the degree or discipline of law, Communications, Conservation, Divinity, Forestry, Journalism, Music, Public Health, Sacred Theology, and Theology. How does one steam a graduation gown? Run the recent shower water for a minimum of 15-20 minutes. The steam can de-wrinkle the robe. Stretch and tug on the material in between throughout the method to assist ease out the creases. shut the toilet door, so that the steam method for removing wrinkles from your graduation robe takes place faster. Can you wash the graduation gown? Hang the robe in an exceedingly rest room and run the shower because the steam ought to facilitate unharness wrinkles. check that you don’t wash or clean the robe. What color ought my graduation dress be? What area unit graduation colors? one of the foremost in se colors to wear for graduation is white, however, this can be not your sole selection. reminder light-weight blue, ivory, lilac, grey, and even pink area unit pretty and cute. the concept is to stay straightforward, selecting a muted color palette. To visit the best Graduation gown rental in Singapore: https://fleurdsign.com/ Sales@ fleur design. com +65-91698088 Singapore Who wears hoods at graduation? There are unit refined variations to the regalia worn at graduation. The bachelor’s degree recipient wears a noticeable black robe with a bell sleeve and a red adornment on the cap, or mortar board, and no hood. The master’s degree recipient wears a black adornment, a colored hood, and a robe that features a visibly odd sleeve. What do the colors on graduation robes mean? There are unit 3 main kinds of gowns: Bachelor's, Master's, and academic degrees. Bachelor robes area unit black and have short sleeves. Masters' robes are unit black and have long sleeves. academic degree robes area unit red with colored silk and long sleeves. What area unit graduation robes are called? The black robes worn by graduating students and their college area unit are called educational “regalia” – and there’s a distinction between a master’s degree robe and a bachelor’s.

[calderoncalderon44-blog]

Best Identification Administration Software program For 2016.

Once http://mouvementdesante.info have actually enjoyed the time finale (holy cow!) for Game from Seats (GoT, as its own fans contact this) there's a Drogon-sized opening in your center until following year. At its own center, Out there is a fairly straightforward platform activity along with a touch of problems, yet its stark visuals, eerie environment, and excellent amount design transforms this lucky else completely. The memory card's amount is actually added to your difference as Google.com Play credit rating as soon as you approve that this is indeed the desired account. Points stumble in a handful of spots, very most notably when those inevitable supervisor struggles start and throughout the last hour, where the pacing switches 3 gears immediately, yet overall, this is a seriously glossy terror journey - whether you play that in Virtual Reality or otherwise. Entering goes through due to the fact that not nearly enough money is actually can be found in to sustain the funding to keep it going at a reputable amount. Since the video game is installed you may sign and also open up belong your Google.com account. Online supplier games add a degree from authenticity preferred with gamers which prefer to socialize along with each other and also consult with a true croupier inflicting the memory cards. At that point, the group at Supercell is actually modified the whole soldiers and army building procedure, incorporated even more walls, and adde lots of upgrades to have Town Hall 11 gameplay to the next level. Given that Stencyl activities are actually output to aswf (flash) data, this creates this quick and easy to discuss your video games along with others. Devices along with secured bootloaders, the extremely reduced degree program that launches your phone, are actually developed specifically to prevent embeding, so don't assume any compassion coming from these suppliers. At that point for the cherry on top, add Michael Jackson as well as sit back and listen in awe to the popular music Pandora begins pushing right into your earballs. So they operated my phone in Safe Method, as well as lo and behold, the phone began to reboot facing them at the establishment. The observing activities are actually certainly not simply appropriate for little ones, yet are actually additionally terrific for adults to possess some enjoyable! This is actually the outcome of living through the Great Clinical depression as well as that is actually a lowering of one's danger relevant where the yields will definitely be actually pretty limited too. However intelligent degree style and a smart weapon upgrade style always keep the irritation to a minimum required and also ensure this is one of the most effective games of its own type on the apple iphone. The graphics of the video game differentiate that off the remainder in this listing supplying a very uncooked experience along with each amount including a vivid palette and sensational backdrops - forests, castles, towns as well as other odd points. The visuals are stunning, the degree design is clever, and also the bosses are large, gushing bullet-hell in your standard instructions. That can be found in actually helpful for tracking chump changes that can not be observed through RSS, without having to visit the website: on the internet auction offers, stock market worths, weather relevant information as well as more. For any type of real GoT enthusiast, the vast actors from 20-something characters will not be difficult. As far as the electronic cameras are actually concerned, the Motorola Moto G4 Play stuffs a 8-megapixel major electronic camera on the rear and a 5-megapixel front end shooter for selfies. This's the very first corridor, but this time around, the entire degree seems to be to moan and also moan. Profits: Google.com Play Works has a wonderful choice for the bibliophile in your family members, as well as will likely be filled into your Android phone when you obtain that. Staying within the Google environment likewise produces that very easy to discuss your purchases with loved one, and always keep each one of your media in one area. If you've obtained a compatible swelling of buttoned plastic, plus that assists a large variation of Bluetooth controllers for simpler action. In its own subtle, unpretentious means, participate in yanks grownups out of their purposeful sleepwalk to uncover the animating character within. Difficulties are a sizable part of the gameplay, yet the true celebrities from the series are the cast. http://mouvementdesante.info is a cost-free as well as fairly brand-new system that allows you to earn choose-your-own-adventure style games and spew them out in to an html report that you may simply provide the globe. You get to participate in poker with millions of app players worldwide, as well as along with gamers from Facebook. And also while there's way too much backtracking, the brain-smashing confusing is compensating to the person as well as thoughtful - as is the activity all at once, not least for any individual keen to discover every space as well as cranny within a collection from inventive tiny planets. Lego Dimensions Year 2 is pertaining to every platform that currently possesses a variation from the authentic game. Carcassonne is an excellent intro to the board game planet because this possesses a totally distinct play design compared to common board games but the rules are understandable. Supplied is actually released IRF-Supported Analysis to this day, along with subjects such as omega-3 fatty acids, the task from anti-inflammatory nourishment, and also polyphenols in the management from severe ailment. The Last Castoff's body system has actually been customized along with upgraded regeneration therefore most fatalities may not be video game overs and when you 'pass away' the globe goes on without you as you bounce back, usually in erratic and also exciting techniques. I lost track of the number of times I slumped over back in to my seat after shedding approximately a half of hr of progression, positioned to give up and also go participate in yet another activity. You come to select your avatar and also your color before starting the activity, giving you much identification specifically when you wish to play a multiplayer activity. We found out just recently that there is no PS3 or Xbox 360 Black Ops 3 Time Elapsed possibility for players. The high rise protection category is actually heaving on Android, due to the poke as well as push play technicians being actually ideally fit to touchscreen participate in. You'll simply have to spend if you want to obtain the Specialist Edition which costs $75 each month and gives you access to some added features including the 'Team Permit' for collaborative projects, concern support and also the choice to individualize the Unity dash display that appears when your video game lots. You can do this by just swiping out the Google.com Play Outlet on your multi-tasking app switcher.

[monsterbrush]

Could you tell us about how you do your art?

Okay, whoa holy shit, I gotta answer this don’t I? This is gonna get long so I’ll put it under the cut. Sorry, it’s a lot of reading:

So, there are two ways I do my art. First: Traditional sketch w/ digital coloring. You’ve probably seen my uncolored doodle pages, which are just scans of pages from my sketchbook, nothing special. When I color them, I open them up in photoshop and, after putting down a white background underneath everything, I use this handy-dandy lil trick called Multiply:

This allows me to color underneath the drawing layer, which ends up looking like this:

Very simple. Now, onto digital stuff. 

For this, I’m going to use the fanart I made for a Mad Max: Fury Road fanfiction called Unlikely, because it’s a good example of a full blown illustration from start to finish. Brace yourself for a lot of photoshop terminology that I am not going to explain because there’s no time.

Step One: The Thumbnail

This is the initial sketch of what I wanted the piece to look like. It was very small, but once I was satisfied with it, I resized it to fill the entire canvas and lowered the opacity to about 30%. I didn’t spend too much time on this, I got the basics down and that’s it. Thumbnails aren’t supposed to be pretty, they’re supposed to illustrate the bare minimum of what you want to achieve. Every proper illustration I make starts with this step.

Step Two: The Sketch

This is drawn on a separate layer above the thumbnail, and you can juuuust barely see the thumbnail underneath. For both the thumbnail and the sketch I like to use a mid-tone gray because it mimics a 2H pencil which I use for sketching on actual paper. During this step I can take the time to adjust the size of certain elements (I made Slit smaller, for example, and played around with head size and positioning), and make the composition nicer than in my thumbnail. In my sketch I also try to include as many details as I can, to make the line art easier on myself.

Step 3: Line Art

Line art is always tricky, but thanks to my detailed sketch I can get the line art down quickly. Again, I lowered the sketch layer’s opacity down to about 30%. For crisp, sharp lines I use full opacity and a round brush. For this step I use pure black because I want the lines to show up nice and clear, and I kept the size of the brush around 5 px as the smallest, 6 px as the average, and 7-8 px at the largest, to keep the line art consistent. 

Step Four: Flat Colors

Here’s where things are gonna get pretty touch and go, these steps aren’t very well documented and I employ a method I lovingly refer to as “100 Layers McGee”, because I use a buttload of layers. During this step I carefully fill in the basic color for each individual item in the drawing. So: skin gets a layer, clothing gets a layer, bandages get a layer etc. If two items aren’t touching each other, they can be on the same layer, but if they are touching they are put on separate layers. I call this the “Can’t Touch This” method. 

This can add up to a lot of layers. Don’t ask me how I keep track of all those layers, the answer is: I don’t. If I step away from a drawing for more than two days I will forget which layer certain things are on and will spend a little while looking for that thing by turning off each layer one-by-one. Yes, sometimes I don’t find which layer the thing is on until much later. Yes, I am okay with this. This is what works for me. I am willing to suffer if it makes other things easier. 

The reason I do this is because it makes the shading process much easier using this trick:

Step Five: Shading

See this button? I love this button. When I click this button all empty pixels in the selected layer become “locked”,  meaning that I can only color on the parts of the layer that already have color. It is a godsend. This is the same technique I use to color my traditional sketches btw, in addition to the “100 Layers McGee” and “Can’t Touch This” techniques. 

During this step of the process I keep a very close eye on the color panel when selecting my colors, and I use the eyedropper tool on previous drawings of certain characters in order to ensure that I get the correct shade/hue/saturation for specific elements to avoid making things too light or too dark. I will also reference other things like screenshots from the source material, or pictures from a comic page which has a similar color palette or lighting to the illustration I am currently making. I will later adjust the color of the characters according to the lighting I choose for the scene (this scene was lit by firelight, so I made the character’s skin slightly warmer and highlighted it with yellow/orange. I also used a similar color to highlight everything else in the image). 

Now, usually I have other elements like the background/clothing etc. filled in while I’m doing the shading so I know how everything looks next to each other but I don’t have a very good example of how that looks. But anyway, this is what the “skin” layer looks like with the proper shadows and highlights.

Sometimes I use clipping masks as well. I used clipping masks on the background in order to separate the cool shadows and the warm highlights, but that was just me being cautious because I was worried about fucking up something. That step looks something like this:

The coloring and shading steps require a bit of know-how regarding color theory, composition, contrast etc. basically a lot of planning and a lot of thinking. Practice is the key folks. Practice is always the key.

Step Six: Etc…

During this step I take the time to add my tumblr url and any additional credits/captions etc. I try to use fonts that are thematically appropriate. 

For most of my Mad Max fanart I use AgencyFB Regular, the font used for “Mad Max” in the Mad Max: Fury Road titles. This time I used a font called Road Rage Regular because it looked awesome, and for the dialogue I used a font called Act of Rejection Regular, because it looked awesome and fit the mood I wanted to convey. Never underestimate the power of a well chosen font (and keep in mind it should be reasonably legible). 

This is also the step in which I added the speech bubbles as well. Sometimes I might add a paper texture on top of everything with a multiply layer, however using this will slightly darken the overall image so I don’t do it often, but I did do it for this piece, though I had to make the speech bubbles lighter.

Step Seven: Sit Back and Stare at the Finished Product for 3 Hours

So satisfying.

[livingcorner]

Best kitchen flooring 2021: The toughest and most stylish kitchen flooring in wood, laminate tile and more

Kitchen floors have to withstand all sorts, which is why we’ve worked hard to find some of the best kitchen flooring out there. Not only does your flooring need to be easy to clean, but also stain-resistant, stylish and comfortable to walk on. Some need to work with different surfaces or floor constructions, while others need to be compatible with underfloor heating (UFH), too. All need to last for many years, as replacing a floor is never cheap or fun.

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You're reading: Best kitchen flooring 2021: The toughest and most stylish kitchen flooring in wood, laminate tile and more

Thankfully, there’s a huge choice of materials on offer, with advanced printing techniques enabling the look of timber or stone with the affordability of laminate or the durability of porcelain. If you’re keen to keep maintenance to a minimum, easily moppable luxury vinyl tiles (LVTs) are a good fit. Similarly, if you have time to clean regularly and want flooring with more character, a natural material that requires some sealing or waxing may be the best choice for you.

To help you make your decision and find the best kitchen flooring whatever your needs, we’ve picked out a varied choice of fantastic flooring to keep your feet and home happy.

Read on for our guide to buying the best kitchen flooring or scroll further to see our top picks.

Best kitchen flooring: At a glance

Best kitchen flooring on a budget: Topps Tiles Woodeves Grey tiles | Buy now

Best for family kitchens: Karndean Da Vinci CER13 Eisen | Buy now

Best for speedy installation: Aqualock 12mm Laminate Flooring | Buy now

Longest-lasting floor: Beswick Stone Keynes Mix Limestone | Buy now

Best flooring for a classic kitchen: The Natural Wood Floor Company Oak Aged Parquet Oiled | Buy now

How to buy the best kitchen flooring for you

What types of kitchen flooring can you buy?

Natural stone

This includes limestone, travertine, granite and slate, is a popular choice thanks to its unique veining and available colours. Finishes can be tumbled, for a more aged, antique look, honed, for a modern matt surface or polished for a light-reflecting shine. Some stones will be more hardwearing than others.

Limestone, for example, can be etched by acids, such as fizzy drinks and descaler, so it’s a good idea to seal it initially then reseal it regularly to protect the surface. On the plus side, it’s durable, easy to clean and is UFH-compatible. However, if you’re standing for any length of time, it can make your legs ache. It’ll be cold in the winter without UFH, while softer stones may scratch and textured surfaces harbour dirt.

Timber

It’s best to avoid using solid wood in the working areas of a kitchen as the boards can shift and warp with humidity and UFH. Blocks, such as parquet, are more stable but should still be cleaned with a damp, rather than wet, mop. A better option is engineered boards – made with a core of HDF or plywood with a layer of real wood on top. These are more stable structurally and usually UFH-compatible as well.

Other options include naturally bacteria-resistant and eco-friendly cork and bamboo, but like all such woods, they’re easily dented. In most cases, wood can be repaired with gentle sanding and refinishing. Check if your boards come prefinished or if they have to be oiled or waxed on a regular basis.

Vinyl

Vinyl has come a long way since it first appeared in the kitchen and its new-gen hard incarnation, LVT (as opposed to sheet vinyl on a roll), is easy to clean, water-resistant and comfy underfoot. In some cases, it can even be laid straight over an existing floor. Most tiles and planks replicate wood or stone with a digital print and faux grout lines but you can also find coloured and patterned tiles. Choose a good-quality version and it’ll have a thick wear layer so it protects against damage and scratches. Many are UFH-compatible but check with the supplier.

Laying it properly is key to its longevity – the sub-floor will need to be even and you may have to fit underlay first or glue it in place, depending on the system. Be sure to add pads to stool or chair legs to prevent damage over time.

Laminate

If you’re choosing laminate, it pays to invest. While there are several budget options, they may not be especially hardwearing or water-resistant. Good-quality versions, however, come with realistic-looking designs and planks that can survive the odd spill. Laminate is made from a melamine back, an HDF core and a high-resolution image of wood, stone or tiles protected by a transparent wear layer. This makes it resistant to scuffs and scratches, although damage can’t be repaired.

Read more: What Color Should I Paint My Kitchen with White Cabinets? 7 Best Choices to Consider

Laminate can also sometimes feature a textured finish for extra realism. Even at the top end, it’s still a relatively affordable flooring option that won’t stain and won’t need sealing. Check its UFH-compatibility though, as not all of them will suit dry systems, and some require underlay.

Tiles

Ceramic, porcelain or terracotta tiles are another popular option. Porcelain is a harder version of ceramic, meaning that it’s low maintenance, hygienic, easy to clean and incredibly durable. It’s also UFH-compatible and is often available in covetable marble or reclaimed timber effects. Porcelain tiles are usually more expensive than ceramic. They’re cold without heating and can be uncomfortable for long periods of standing.

More affordable ceramic and terracotta tiles have many of the same qualities but can crack and chip more than porcelain. This is worse for ceramic tiles, as any chips will reveal the white base – terracotta is, at least, solid-bodied.

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Lino or rubber

Lino – or under its brand name, Marmoleum, is a mix of linseed oil, cork, wood and resin as waterproof sheets or tiles. It’s durable, warm underfoot and hygienic but needs to be sealed once it’s laid. On the plus side, it’s easy to clean and UFH-compatible. On the negative? It can fade over time or develop a yellowish tinge.

Rubber tiles or sheets are equally comfy underfoot, and have the bonus of being water-resistant and robust. It can even be designed with studs for extra grip. On the downside, it can dent over time, and smooth finishes can be slippery. Rubber tiles need a smooth subfloor and you’ll need to check if your version is UFH-compatible.

Concrete and resin

Poured floors are ideal for creating a seamless finish but require more complex, and often costly, installation. Concrete needs sealing once it’s set to be water and stain-resistant, but it’s otherwise easy to clean and UFH-compatible. It’s resistant to chips and cracks. Resin is warm underfoot, waterproof, easy to clean and UFH-compatible but again, will need to be sealed to help protect it from scratches and stains. However, it can be refreshed with sanding and resealed if damaged.

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The best kitchen flooring to buy

1. Aqualock 12mm Laminate Flooring French Grey Oak: The best flooring for speedy installation

Price: £27 per sq m | Buy now from UK Flooring Direct

If you’re fitting your flooring yourself or are simply pressed for time, then these laminate floorboards from Aqualock come with a DIY friendly click-in system that makes them super simple to fit. They’re guaranteed for 35 years and remain water-resistant for up to 48 hours, so you won’t have to worry if you’ve got leaks (at least, not about your flooring).

Another appeal of this flooring is its mixing of different tones of grey; this creates a dynamic look, unlike the flat, repetitive uniformity of other laminate floorboards. This colour mixing makes it easy to match with any kitchen colour palette and there’s also a UV-resistant coating that helps to prevent colour fading. The floor’s scratch resistant textured surface follows the ‘grain’ of the planks meaning that you can drop pretty much anything on this floor and it won’t get damaged, or lose its realistic appearance.

Key specs – Size: 138 x 19.1 x 1.2cm (HWD); Type: laminate; Features: 48 hour water resistance, UV resistance, scratch-resistant, textured surface, 35-year warranty; UFH-compatible: Yes (water only)

Buy now from UK Flooring Direct

2. Karndean Da Vinci CER13 Eisen: The best for family kitchens

Price: From £38 per sq m | Buy now from Flooring Hut

Inspired by weathered steel, Eisen LVT flooring doesn’t just tick the box for style credentials, it’s also perfect for a family kitchen. It’s super low maintenance, requiring a simple sweep and mop to stay spotless, plus it’s waterproof so there’s no need to worry about spills; just wipe and go. Should any part become damaged, individual tiles can be replaced, while its K-Guard+ PU coating creates a non-porous surface that gives germs, dirt or bacteria nowhere to hide.

Meanwhile, the blend of dark tones and subtle patterns ensures that it’ll complement a range of kitchen styles. You can personalise it with borders or light or dark grout strips, or have it laid in a staggered pattern. It’s pricier than some LVT, however, so if you’re covering a large space, you may want to opt for it in just in the working area.

Key specs – Size: 30.5 x 45.7 x 0.3cm (HWD); Type: LVT; Features: 0.7mm wear layer, bevelled edge, lifetime guarantee; UFH-compatible: Yes (if insulated)

Buy now from Flooring Hut

3. Topps Tiles Woodeves Grey tiles: The best kitchen flooring on a budget

Price: £20 per sq m | Buy now from Topps Tiles

Embodying all that’s great about modern ceramic flooring, the Woodeves range of timber-effect tiles comes with a tactile surface and a realistic grain pattern, giving it a premium look far beyond its price tag. This mellow grey colourway is ideal for mixing and matching with encaustic-style tiles or co-ordinating with a simple Shaker kitchen in a deeper tone.

The tiles need very little maintenance once installed, and aside from not using highly alkaline or acidic cleaners, can be kept spotless with a simple sweep and mop.

Key specs – Size: 57 x 19 x 0.9cm (HWD); Type: ceramic; Features: also available in Oak; UFH-compatible: Yes

Buy now from Topps Tiles

Read more: How to Paint Your Kitchen Cabinets

4. The Natural Wood Floor Company Oak Aged Parquet Oiled: The best flooring for a classic kitchen

Price: £63 per sq m | Buy now from the Natural Wood Floor Company

Parquet wood flooring is a great way to introduce subtle pattern, but while solid blocks will be less prone to warping than planks, they’re still not recommended for use with underfloor heating. This engineered parquet floor is UFH-compatible, however, thanks to a ply backing with an oak veneer glued on top – giving the appearance of a solid wood floor but with greater stability.

Tumbled edges and a reclaimed appearance means it’ll look like it’s been part of the fabric of your home for decades, while its pre-oiled finish enhances the natural beauty and knots of the wood, and it can be stuck down to a concrete screed or ply subfloor. This one will take a little maintenance – It’s a good idea to re-oil it regularly in high traffic areas, and the kitchen always qualifies.

Key specs – Size: 40 x 10 x 1.9cm (HWD); Type: engineered wood; Features: tongue and groove profile; UFH-compatible: Yes

Buy now from the Natural Wood Floor Company

5. Beswick Stone Keynes Mix Limestone: The longest-lasting floor

Price: £41 per sq m | Buy now from Beswick Stone

While kitchen floors tend to become worn and fade with age, a hard-wearing stone floor simply improves to last a lifetime, making it the best value for money buy. This Keynes Mix limestone is a great example, featuring tiles in two neutral shades – a warm honey beige and soft grey – for a unique multi-toned floor that blends well with different kitchen styles and colours.

It’s available in 40cm widths and random lengths as well as an opus pattern that comprises four different sizes for an interesting layout. However, it’s worth noting that the tumbled edges can mean thicker grout lines that attract dirt. It’s essential to seal this floor and use a cleaner designed for natural stone products. You might also want to pair it with UFH for comfort, as limestone can be very cool to the touch.

Key specs – Size: [four tile sizes for opus pattern] 60 x 40 x 1.5cm, 40 x 40 x 1.5cm, 40 x 20 x 1.5cm, 19.7 x 19.7 x 1.5cm (all HWD); Type: natural stone; Features: chalky matte finish; UFH-compatible: Yes

Buy now from Beswick Stone

6. CRL Stone Ceralsio Calacatta Gris Polished tiles: The best low-maintenance floor

Price: From £67 per sq m | Buy now from Ceralsio

For those who love the look of marble but not the sealing and care that comes with stone, there are Ceralsio porcelain tiles. Sintered at a temperature of more than 1,200°C, these are hard-wearing, non-porous, scratch and stain-resistant and even UV stable, meaning you can continue your floor onto a patio for an inside-outside living feel.

What really sets these tiles apart, however, is the surface. It’s printed using a ‘Full Digital’ system, which means the pattern is unique and unrepeatable from tile to tile. This sets it apart from other marble look-a-like tiles, which can appear suspiciously similar to each other when viewed en-masse on the kitchen floor. You might need to budget a bit more for this class of flooring, but given its easy cleaning credentials and general imperviousness to everything, it’ll save you plenty of time in return.

Key specs – Size: from 150 x 150 x 0.6cm (HWD); Type: porcelain; Features: natural or polished finish, impact-resistant; UFH-compatible: Yes

Buy now from Ceralsio

7. Kahrs European Naturals Collection, Oak Hampshire at John Lewis: The best flooring for natural character

Price: £67 per sq m | Buy now from John Lewis

Despite a slew of lookalikes, real wood is the only choice for some. Warm, comfy underfoot and with a wear layer that’s sliced from a single piece of oak, these matt lacquered engineered boards have a soft-polished sheen that’s designed to make the most of the grain, knots and cracks, not to mention the lovely light to dark brown colour variations. However, these boards give you more than just a clever construction – each has been specially shaped so it locks into the next, allowing it to be installed quickly with strong, glue-free joints.

This floor will need a bit more maintenance than some floors, requiring oiling once in place and spills wiped-up straight away. It also needs a well-wrung mop rather than a wet-cleaning, along with an annual re-oil. The effect is worth it, though, when you see how good these look.

Key specs – Size: 242 x 18.7 x 1.5cm (HWD); Type: engineered wood; Features: 3.5mm wear layer, 30-year warranty; UFH-compatible: Yes (with moisture barrier)

Buy now from John Lewis

Source: https://livingcorner.com.au Category: Kitchen

source https://livingcorner.com.au/best-kitchen-flooring-2021-the-toughest-and-most-stylish-kitchen-flooring-in-wood-laminate-tile-and-more/

[xseedgames]

2017 End-of-the-Year Q&A Extravaganza Blog! #5

It’s time for our last Q&A blog of the year. It’s been a fun time answering all these questions--you guys had some seriously good ones!--but now it is time for us to chill out and celebrate 2018. Hopefully we can give you guys good reasons to celebrate 2018, too!

For our final Q&A blog, we have answers from:

Ken Berry, Executive Vice President / Team Leader John Wheeler, Assistant Localization Manager Ryan Graff, Localization Lead Liz Rita, QA Tester Nick Colucci, Localization Editor Brittany Avery, Localization Producer Thomas Lipschultz, Localization Producer

Question: Does working on a game affect your enjoyment of it in any way? Do you anticipate playing the full package after it is done or do you play through it beforehand anyway? Have you ever been spoiled on a game through work and if yes how severe was it? - @MizuUnNamed

Brittany: It definitely does. It's like the difference between babysitting a kid over the summer vs. giving birth to that kid and raising them till they leave the house. Even the most frustrating things about a game will somehow become something you love in a weird way, because it’s your kid and it's your responsibility to raise it right. When you're localizing a game, you're choosing every single word, and every single decision you make for that game will shape the experience for the thousands of people who play it. Characters I'd normally hate as a player become characters I love because figuring out their dialogue is a joy, and stuff I never thought about in localization are now very particular to me because I want my kid to go out into the world looking its best.

I will always play the games I work on. Sometimes I play them in Japanese beforehand, but there are days where I edit a file while playing line-by-line just so I can look at a character's expression and match the line written to the face. Then I replay it a few time as the English builds come in, tweaking it bit by bit, because it feels different to see the English on a sheet compared to seeing it in-game. It takes a ton of time, but I'd rather have a final product I can be proud of than to give up because something requires extra work.

Liz: When I started working here the first thing I tested was Corpse Party PC. I played it for like 200 hours and that game is much shorter than that haha. I loved every second of it, and recently got to test it again for the Linux + SteamOS release. Oh boy, that was a treat <3 I also got to work on Cold Steel II and at the time I didn't have the consoles the first released for, so I just watched playthroughs online... bless Cold Steel PC! I don't think I've ever been spoiled on a game through work before.... except maybe for Book of Shadows? But I don't even remember that spoiler so does it really count?

Nick: This is going to vary widely from person to person. For me...admittedly yes, working on a game does impact the enjoyment I’m able to derive from that game as a finished product. I understand, going in, that simply by virtue of working on a game, I will know its plot from beginning to end, see all the character development (including optional stuff that you might not even be able to view in a single playthrough), and in general become a subject matter expert on its world and lore. I’ll have knowledge of all the optional events and the items it’s possible to get – and sometimes, even a few that exist but were never implemented.

Working on a game is usually a months-long endeavor, during which we often end up playing the game in various stages of beta (or even alpha) readiness. We experience bugs we hope you never will; all the times text isn’t displaying correctly, voice or music isn’t playing right, or the battle system is falling over foaming at the mouth. By the time a game is ready to be sold, we’ve spent more time with it than would probably be considered healthy from a consumer perspective.

Outside of post-launch support/tweaking I’ve done for games like Zwei: The Ilvard Insurrection, I’ve never picked up a game I’ve worked on here after it launched. They’re good games, and I’ve been proud of each project I’ve worked on so far – it’s just that I’m someone with a low tolerance for repetition. You know – the sort who would get sick of even my favorite movies if I watched them every day for a week straight. As cool a game as Trails of Cold Steel might be, I’m in no hurry to sink 80 hours into an RPG that I focused all my attention on for the better part of an entire year.

While it IS perhaps a bit regrettable that I “ruin” my ability to enjoy a game in a normal-player context by working on them, I feel it’s a small price to pay if I can help deliver something that players will really enjoy their time with.

Question: When you brought over Rune Factory 4 to Europe, what difficulties did you encounter? How was the process? - @Marower

Brittany: Hey! This is perfect for me! We really wanted to bring RF4 to Europe, but with the developer now shut down, it wasn't possible. We spent ages looking for a programming team who would be willing to help us that also had Marvelous Japan’s blessing, and then it became my little pet project. I had zero experience with the process, so it was a lot of learning and guidance from my boss, Ken. We were able to update the text a bit to fix typos, but because we would never be as familiar with it as the original team, we wanted to touch the game's code as little as possible since we didn't want to risk breaking the game.

I tried to reproduce this one rare bug that causes the game to crash at the end of arc 2 (this is present in the Japanese, too, so it wasn't introduced in English), but it was impossible. I started the EU version from scratch and went up to that point. There were rumors that soft resetting the game caused the issue since it really wasn't programmed to handle soft resets too much, so I did that as often as I could. Nothing. Oh, man... I wish I could've found the pattern that caused such a weird crash. It's rare, but no one wants a crash in their game.

NA only has one rating, but Europe requires several different ratings, so that's an interesting process. The store pages all require various languages, too, depending on the region. I learned that because you could palette-swap character models to simulate gay marriage that the game had to be 18+ in Russia. 18+! For a Rune Factory game! All of the processes take a bit longer, but it was mostly a lot of communication, paperwork, confirmations and such. All worth it to finally get that game out there!

Question: What process leads to additional content in localized releases? Things like additional voices for Trails of Cold Steel on PC. How do you decide which titles get "a little bit extra"? - @Baust528

Brittany:

Me (messaging programmer on Skype: hey are you up Sara (programmer): Yeah. What's up? Me: lmao wouldn't it be awesome if we could put x in the game Sara (ten minutes later): It's in the game.

That happens a lot. As a more serious answer, since we try to localize games we're personally passionate about, it's easy for us to see what we'd want as a fan, too. So we'll sit around and go, "Wouldn't this feature be nice?", and we'll see if it's doable. If it is, we'll do it.

The extra voice acting in Cold Steel PC came about because we wanted to do it for PS3/Vita, but it wasn't possible. I asked if we could put the games on PC one day, the boss worked out the numbers, and we realized that avenue was perfectly possible. We thought adding new voices would be great, because the English cast was very well received in English. Turbo Mode and ultra widescreen were both Durante, though. Those were awesome.

Generally, if our programmers have an idea they'd like to add to the game, we allow it. They're programmers! They know if it's possible, and if it makes the game better, who are we to say no? That's how the Sky games have gotten so many improvements over the years, too. We're incredibly fortunate to have Sara as a programmer, because she takes each project very personally and still finds ways to improve them years after launch.

Tom: There are a lot of factors that go into things like this, but one that's come up a couple times now has definitely been our inability to license the Japanese voices. We figured, if we can't offer dual voice to players, why not use whatever budget we may have set aside for that to give them something a little extra? It may not be exactly what they want, but it's at least something we can offer them to show that we truly did put our best foot forward with this release

Nick: As weird as it may sound, it starts with just someone asking, “Hey, could we do this?” Sometimes, what we’ll want to do is evident due to what’s perceived as a shortcoming in a game. Trails of Cold Steel had a lot of voice acting, but weirdly left protagonist Rean silent in a number of scenes where all the other characters were voiced. That was the initial impetus for us wanting to get back into the studio for the PC release and record all the voicework we couldn’t for the PS3 release (in which we could only supply voices for lines that were voiced in the Japanese version).

Similarly, when I was planning out the recording for Zwei: The Ilvard Insurrection, I thought, “We’re having people in to record these battle voices and we’re gonna pay them a minimum session fee anyway, so...why not add some story scenes onto that?” So in the end, we managed to include a solid amount of voice acting in there for a game that, in its original version, had very little.

Question: Have you ever considered localizing otome games? It would be nice if you can bring us some handsome boys. （*＾＾*) - @NymphNayade

Brittany: Hmm.

Question: Can you comment on the difficulty in trying to get Japanese developers to support same-sex couples/marriage in games like Story of Season or Rune Factory? - @atelier_michi

Brittany: XSEED's always been very openly supportive of adding that. I don't know what difficulties there would be in Japan, but I try to think of how much progress we've made to be able to openly ask for same-sex couples/marriage in games. It wasn't long ago that the idea was ludicrous. I remember when Ellen DeGeneres came out in the '90s and it affected me very strongly, especially since my parents would actively tell me, “Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve.” So even if it's not in the current SoS games, I'll ask for the feature every time I visit Japan, because I think being open about it is an important factor to making progress on that front. Nothing will happen if you don’t fight for it.

I'd really like a whole variety of relationships in the SoS. Gays, lesbians, bisexuals, pansexuals, or even a unique relationship outside of sexuality like dating a single parent or supporting your partner as they transition. It's that sort of variety that makes life interesting and great, and I think introducing these concepts in a series as darling as SoS normalizes them and helps children to perceive them as innocently as heterosexual relationships and concepts. It's very educational. Normalizing it more would teach people to ask more questions, too, instead of rejecting any type of orientation or relationship that seems foreign to them.

I remember for the first SoS game we published, Hashimoto-san said he had animals die in the game because he wanted children to be introduced to the natural process of life and death. It wasn't meant to be a bad thing, but something we should be comfortable with because that's part of what it means to be alive. Something to that, lol. Anyway, I'd like for just as much heart to be taken to represent more kinds of people in life, too.

Question: A rumor is going around that you guys are avoiding publishing fanservicey games outside of Senran Kagura. This came in wake of you guys seemingly passing on Valkyrie Drive. Is there any validity to this rumor, and if so, why? - @WaywardChili11

Brittany: did people forget we did a game with literal strawberries and a banana as a costume

That's a weird rumor. It’s also dumb. We've done fanservice games in the past, and we'll decide on whether or not to do them on a game-by-game basis. We're not necessarily passing on them because of fanservice, but I also don't think fanservice is core to the XSEED brand, so it shouldn't be a given for us to do fanservice titles just because we’ve done them in the past. Many of us enjoyed Onechanbara and we have some SENRAN KAGURA fans in the office, so we published those because we originally liked them as games that happened to contain fanservice.

We’re also not big on censoring games, so I’d rather pass on a game than work on it after it’s been censored. If I were to localize a title and actually choose to censor it, I’d piss of people who don’t like the fanservice content, I’d piss off the people who want that content, and then I’d be pissed off because if I felt something was so horrible that it needed to be censored, then I probably didn’t want to work on the game.

That doesn’t mean every fanservice game is off the table for me, but I would need to evaluate it to see if the game is for me, as I would any other genre. Like, Lord of Magna is overall a super-cute game, but it also has an out-of-nowhere hot springs scene. I felt that scene detracted from the game because the rest of the game was adorable and innocent. That said, I didn’t remove the scene, and I still loved working the game. It’s a game with fanservice I would still happily play again. 

Meanwhile, SENRAN KAGURA sells on fanservice, but the gameplay is pretty good. I admit that I prefer the older titles for DS/3DS which were more ridiculous titillation with a good story than the more overt modern titles, but again, that just means the series is no longer for me, and that’s fine. We still have SK fans in the office, and they enjoy working on the series. 

Another factor is gaming trends and our overall rep as a company. Fanservice games weren’t always as hot as they are now, and XSEED started off with a variety of genres, with our niche eventually falling to RPGs and such. Every trend has a rise and fall, and if we pick up every fanservice game regardless of quality just because it’s hot now, we’re alienating the audiences that love us for action, RPGs, and so on. We may even alienate retailers or future marketing opportunities for the games we license outside of that genre. We’ll have shot ourselves in the foot if the fanservice trend falls when we made it our bread and butter. I like having a job.

Tom: We certainly don't have any problems with fanservice, as I think we've proven quite thoroughly at this point. But we also don't ever back a game simply BECAUSE of its fanservice. When we release a game, we do so because (1) we like it, and/or (2) we see some really good potential in it. If it happens to have fanservice, great! If not, also great.

On the flipside, we also turn down games for a variety of reasons. Maybe we hated the story. Maybe we hated the gameplay. Maybe we felt it took its themes a bit too far, or that it had a lot of wasted potential that it never quite lived up to. Maybe we put in an offer on it but were outbid, or the developer appended unusual terms to the license that we weren't willing or able to accept. Maybe the developer simply didn't want to work with us for some reason, or we didn't want to work with them. Maybe we didn't have time to work on that title, or maybe we simply felt someone else would be able to do a better job with it. Tl;dr version, there are a LOT of factors that go into licensing decisions!

Our reasons for turning down a game aren't really something we can ever outright tell you guys, due to the NDAs we all signed when we got hired. But suffice it to say, it's never simply because of fanservice. Fanservice may potentially contribute to a larger tapestry of reasons for passing on a title in extreme cases (though they'd have to be pretty extreme!), but rest assured, we'll never say no to a game simply because it shows a lot of skin. Good games are more than skin deep, after all!

Nick: Here’s the Nick take: Most of us here don’t mind fanservice. It’s fun, it’s saucy, and folks can have a good time with it. If you look at our lineup, you can see we don’t shy away from games that have fanservice (Oneechanbara!), and games that push the boundaries, as Senran Kagura sometimes does, certainly aren’t out of the realm of consideration. A boob, a bulge; it’s all fair game here.

But here’s the thing. The games a company releases become part of their oeuvre. We have a reputation for quirky Japanese games because we’ve released enough of them that it’s a noticeable trend. The same would happen if we opened our gates to every fanservice-laden game that came knocking. Speaking personally, I don’t want us to have a reputation as a publisher whose stock in trade is mainly cheesecakey fanservice or smutty games. That kind of pigeonholing doesn’t help us as a company, and at worst, might even preclude some future licensing opportunities.

I think a lot of people get the impression that we turn down fanservice-laden games for some sort of censorious or moral reason, but that’s not especially true. There ARE cases where we might think, “If we licensed this, the ESRB wouldn’t let it through without forcing us to censor enough that the primary audience we were licensing it for in the first place would be upset,” and there are times when a game might simply be in bad taste and we decide we don’t like how it handles sexuality.

Sometimes, iffy material gets through in spite of all that. The SENRAN KAGURA series has done well for us, so we continue to publish those games even though a number of us in the office have concerns about how each new game seems to push the boundaries further and further in terms of what’s allowable (either by the ESRB or by common decency). We keep a close watch on that, and we’ve communicated our feelings to Takaki-san and his team. We strongly dislike having to alter content in this way, so if a game is so stridently sexual that we think we’d probably be forced to do so by the ESRB (as was a going concern with Valkyrie Drive, iirc), that factors into our decision-making process.

More often, the mundane truth is that we’ll turn down a game of this type because our evaluation play-tests show it to not be very fun to play. It’s not uncommon for games in this vein to just focus on piquing prurient interests or trading in tawdry titillation while the actual game underneath feels janky to play, or has no depth once you get past ogling your favorite waifu. That’s something that can’t be conveyed through a screenshot or even game video, which leaves hopeful players confusedly thinking we passed on a game for reasons more related to its content.

There’s a solid balance to be struck between acknowledging and publishing content for a mature audience and turning down projects that don’t jive with us, and I want you guys to know that we DO put a lot of thought into keeping this balance healthy.

Ken: When we first published SENRAN KAGURA Burst in late 2013, it was a much stricter retail environment so we had to approach the title with caution. We needed to see if there was a market for the series in the West, and even if there was the absolute worst thing that could happen would be to start manufacturing only to hear that retailers suddenly don't want them or want to return their units because of a complaint they got. Due to the success of the digital-only release of SENRAN KAGURA Burst we were able to release the next few games in the series physically at retail (so the "no physical no buy" people really need to thank their digital-buying colleagues), but that doesn't mean that we get a free pass to release anything in the future. As each new iteration seems to push the envelope further and further, we need to be careful exactly how far we push - at some point if we push too far and the whole levee breaks, it could have repercussions for games that have already previously been released.

Question: Who is best girl and boy? - @MizuUnNamed

Brittany: Can I get Crow Armbrust and Crow Armbrust for $500?

Tom: Narcia and Pietro, of course. But only for each other.

 Liz: Rottytops and Ludus! What did we do to deserve them?

That’s all, folks! It’s been a wild ride, but hopefully we answered your questions well enough. 

[landscapepaintingclass]

Course Syllabus

Landscape Painting

Spring 2020

Weeks 13-17 (March 24-April 24)

Gerlesborgsskolan Stockholm

Instructor: Todd Gordon

Email: toddjgordon@gmail.com

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This intensive workshop will introduce students to several fundamental concepts, methods, techniques, and materials associated with the process of plein-air landscape painting. Emphasis will be placed primarily on perceptual, observational painting done outside, on-site, and, due to the current health emergency, mostly on an individual basis. Instruction, individual and group critiques will be conducted online. This course will be taught in English.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

Students will be encouraged to develop and improve their technical facility through the investigative processes of observational painting. We will, essentially, learn how to see. This workshop will stress the importance of critical and analytical thinking as essential intellectual and verbal complements to expressive visual communication. Students will work toward acquiring the basic, necessary skills and visual vocabulary to begin to approach painting from their individual, unique points-of-view. 

COURSE SCHEDULE

This course will consist of 2 parts: studio/painting sessions and online discussions/critiques. Students will be divided into the same four groups as their corresponding atelier numbers (i.e. Ateliers 5-8). Typically students will work individually for 3 hour painting sessions either during the morning or afternoon, and have 40 minute online discussions/ critiques, by group, about the work in the alternating morning/afternoon sessions (see weekly schedule below). If during individual painting sessions, students need additional instruction, individual or group conference calls with the instructor will be scheduled accordingly. This will be on a first-come basis. Students will create individual blogs using Tumblr and upload their work for review. During the two week break (Weeks 14 & 15), class will not meet but students are expected to work independently on course assignments.

WEEK 13

Monday 23/3 Mentorsmöte/ Konsthistoria

Tuesday 24/3 

(9:00-12:00) - All Students - Introduction to course, explanation of materials list, clothing recommendations, discussion of painting set up, surfaces, palette, color (hue, saturation, value), image presentation

Wednesday 25/3 

(9:00-12:00) - All Groups (Ateliers 5-8) begin morning paintings outside. 

(13:00–16:00) - ZOOM Meetings: 

 Atelier 5 -  13:00-13:40

Atelier 6 -  13:45-14:25

Atelier 7 -  14:30-15:10 

Atelier 8 -  15:15-15:55

Thursday 26/3

(9:00-12:00) - All Groups (Ateliers 5-8) continue working on morning paintings.

(13:00–16:00) - ZOOM Meetings:

Atelier 5 -  13:00-13:40

Atelier 6 -  13:45-14:25

Atelier 7 -  14:30-15:10 

Atelier 8 -  15:15-15:55

Friday 27/3 - NO CLASS

WEEK 14

30/3 - 3/4 -  NO CLASS - Independent Study/ Open House - Work on assigned paintings

WEEK 15

6/4 - 10/4 - NO CLASS - Independent Study/ Easter Break - Work on assigned paintings

WEEK 16

Monday 13/4 ANNANDAG PÅSK

Tuesday 14/4 Mentorsmöte/ KROKI

Wednesday 15/4

(9:00-12:00) - ZOOM Meetings: 

 Atelier 5 -  13:00-13:40

Atelier 6 -  13:45-14:25

Atelier 7 -  14:30-15:10 

Atelier 8 -  15:15-15:55

(13:00–16:00) - All groups work on afternoon paintings.

Thursday 16/4

(9:00-12:00) - ZOOM Meetings: 

 Atelier 5 -  13:00-13:40

Atelier 6 -  13:45-14:25

Atelier 7 -  14:30-15:10 

Atelier 8 -  15:15-15:55

(13:00–16:00) - All groups work on afternoon paintings.

Friday 17/4

(9:00-12:00) -  Work Session

(13:00–16:00) -  Individual Critiques - Sign up as needed

WEEK 17

Monday 20/4 Mentorsmöte/ Konsthistoria

Tuesday 21/4

(9:00-12:00) - Work Session

(13:00–16:00) - ZOOM Meetings:

Atelier 5 -  13:00-13:40

Atelier 6 -  13:45-14:25

Atelier 7 -  14:30-15:10 

Atelier 8 -  15:15-15:55

Wednesday 22/4

(9:00-12:00) - Work Session

(13:00–16:00) - ZOOM Meetings:

Atelier 5 -  13:00-13:40

Atelier 6 -  13:45-14:25

Atelier 7 -  14:30-15:10 

Atelier 8 -  15:15-15:55

Thursday 23/4

(9:00-12:00) - Work Session

(13:00–16:00) - ZOOM Meetings:

Atelier 5 -  13:00-13:40

Atelier 6 -  13:45-14:25

Atelier 7 -  14:30-15:10 

Atelier 8 -  15:15-15:55

Friday 24/4 (9:00-16:00)

FINAL CRITIQUE  - Students from all groups (Ateliers 5-8) will show work from class, including work done on site, assignments, and unfinished paintings. This will be a very intense day and time will be strictly limited for each student. Constructive, verbal participation during the critique is encouraged and expected from each student.

WEATHER

This is an observationally based, landscape painting class so we will be working outside, regardless of the cold weather. DRESS APPROPRIATELY (wear layers, fingerless gloves, warm socks and footwear, etc.) If the forecast calls for rain or snow, look for a spot to set up under a bridge, on porch, etc. If the weather is too uncooperative, work inside looking out of a window.

MATERIALS*

This course would normally emphasize oil paint as the chosen medium. Students, however, will be working away from Gerlesborgsskolan due to the current health situation and may not have access to proper storage, ventilation, or disposal for oil paint, mediums, and solvents. As a result, acrylic or other water-based paint (gouache) may be used during the course.

Recommended colors for both oil and water-based painting:

Cadmium Lemon or Hansa Yellow

Cadmium Yellow Medium

Cadmium Orange

Cadmium Red Medium or Pyrrole Red  

Quinacrodone Magenta or Alizarin Crimson

Ultramarine Blue 

Cerulean Blue 

Yellow Ochre

Titanium White (large tube)

additional colors:

Raw Sienna

Phthalo Blue (green shade)

Do not buy “hue” paints – they are cheaper, but have more white or more binder and less pigment.

“Student Grade” paints also have less pigment and more binder.

Brushes

There are 4 basic shapes of brushes – filbert, round, flat, and bright.  Each shape also varies in size (designated by a number, ie #4 Round, #12 Flat).  Brushes also vary in the material of the bristle, ranging from stiff hog bristle to soft sable to synthetic nylon.  Buy at least 6 long-handled brushes for oil painting. Try a mix of bristle and synthetic in varying sizes (i.e #2, #4, #6, #8, #10, etc.).

Recommended:

2-3 Rounds (at least one #2 synthetic for detail work) 

2-3 Flats

1 Filbert

Also, if you plan on priming your painting surfaces with gesso, you will need a cheap house painting brush (called a “chip” brush in English) that you can purchase from a hardware store.

Surfaces

Students are encouraged to paint on primed canvas, wood or paper. Students can either purchase pre-stretched canvases or prepared wood (rigid) surfaces or prepare their own. Surfaces should vary in size and should be no smaller than 20 x 30cm.

Other Materials

If you want to use oil paint:

Odorless mineral spirits - Gamsol, Turpenoid, Becker

Stand oil

2+ glass jars with lids (recycled food jars work well)

If you are using acrylic paint:

Gel medium (I sometimes use a medium body gel when working with acrylics, but there are many varying mediums depending on the drying time and the type of finish you want - matte, gloss, semi-gloss, etc.)

Plastic spray bottle commonly used for watering plants

For both oil and acrylic painting:

2 palette knives (metal, not plastic)

Palette (Disposable paper palette, freezer paper or glass)

Plastic container to hold water (food container like large yogurt container works well)

Paper towels or cloth rags

Liquid dish or hand soap, brush cleaner

Gesso 

1” blue painter’s tape

2-4 graphite pencils (4B, 9B)

1 white plastic eraser

Small sketchbook

Optional:

Pizza boxes or portfolio case for carrying wet paintings

I also recommend that you use an easel when painting. If you cannot borrow one from school, it might be a good investment to purchase one to have beyond school. For landscape painting, I recommend a standard French plain-air box easel. This easel is useful for both small and larger paintings (up to 82cm high). Here is a link to the brand and model I use:

 http://www.mabef.com/en/products/easels-sketch-boxes/m23. 

You do not need to purchase this very model, I am only providing you with an example. There are several other brands (Julian, Richeson, etc.) that make similar style easels. Find the one that is most cost effective and suitable to your needs and interests.

You may also try pochade boxes. They are usually much lighter than French easels, which is nice for transport but can cause other stability problems on windy days. They are also limiting in terms of the maximum height on which you can work.

Here is a link so you can see the actual easel:

https://www.dickblick.com/products/mabef-pochade-box-and-tripod/

I have one of these pochade boxes. Please note, they require the purchase of a separate tripod as well:

https://www.dickblick.com/products/sienna-pastel-pochade-box/

ASSIGNMENTS

During Weeks 14 and 15 CLASS WILL NOT MEET. Students are expected to continue working independently. Choose TWO of the following painting projects to complete by the Final Critique (24/4/2020).

Paint one large landscape painting, minimum of 70 x 100cm. Work on painting over a minimum of 3-5 sittings. Consider time of day, consistent lighting, weather, etc.

Work on a series. Choose a single landscape view - outside, from a window - and work on a series of paintings using this composition over the course of several days or weeks. Vary the times of day (morning, afternoon, night) when you set up and consider the light in the motif. Each painting should be completed in a single sitting. Make a total of at least 6 paintings.

Paint 6 small premier coup landscapes from direct observation. These paintings should be done quickly and gesturally. React and respond to the perceived environment. Experiment with different size brushes. Paint economically. What’s essential, visually in the landscape to make a successful painting?

Paint 2 landscapes from the same window in your house/apartment or studio. Paint one during the day, and one at night. Work on paintings for multiple sessions. Paintings must be a minimum of 46 x 60cm.

Paint 2 nocturnes outside. Consider lighting sources (wearable headlamp, streetlights, signage, light from windows, etc) when setting up - how to light your surface? how to light your palette? Dress warmly. Paintings must be a minimum of 46 x 60cm.

Make 2 paintings of the landscape from the same window. Paint both pictures entirely from observation. Paint a third painting from memory, using the finished paintings as source material.

Make several drawings (5-10) from differing vantage points of an interesting landscape. Use charcoal, graphite, colored pencil, pastel, marker, ink, etc. or a combination of all of them. Drawings should be done from life. Make a painting using the drawings as source material.

Paint two transcriptions of one of the following Old Master paintings. This should be an interpretation of the painting, not an exact copy. Focus on the compositional structure and the essential elements of the painting. Think in terms of abstract shapes, flat planes of local color, and edges when describing form

Uccello, The Battle of San Romano, 1436-1440

Titian or Giorgione, The Pastoral Concert, 1509

Titian, Bacchus and Ariadne, 1520-1523

Titan, Rape of Europa, 1560-1562

Titian, The Death of Actaeon, 1575

Bruegel, Hunters in the Snow, 1565

Bruegel, The Harvesters, 1565

Poussin, The Adoration of the Golden Calf, 1633-34

Poussin, The Triumph of Pan, 1635

Constable, The Hain Way, 1821

BLOG

I have set up a blog for this class on Tumblr: https://landscapepaintingclass.tumblr.com . Students are required to create their own blogs at the beginning of the course, using whatever platform they choose (Tumblr, WordPress, etc.). After creating their individual blogs, students will email me the links to these respective blogs. I will then post a list of these links on the class blog so all students have access to their classmates’ blogs. Students will use these blogs primarily to post images of their work, both in-progress and completed paintings, throughout the month. As a class we will be able to access these images during our online discussions and critiques. Students can also add comments or share their experiences about their work or the experience of painting the landscape.

Please note: for easier login access, the classroom blog will be not be password protected. If, however, you would like to make your blog private and inaccessible to anyone outside of class, you will still be required to share your password with me and members of the class.

For inspiration, here are a couple of painting blogs to check out:

https://paintingowu.wordpress.com

This blog is written by Frank Hobbs, Painting Professor at Ohio Wesleyan University. It is a thoroughly  comprehensive site which includes essays about several painters and links to other contemporary painters’ websites. Fantastic resource for painting.

https://stuartshils.tumblr.com

This is an artist’s blog, composed by Stuart Shills, and American painter from Philadelphia.

[besthairstylesbraided]

50 Short Layered Haircuts

Forget long locks, short layered haircuts for women are the coolest style to go for! Whether you choose a sexy bob, a flirty pixie cut, or anything in between (like a pixie bob), short hairstyles are here to stay!

It doesn’t matter if you’re a teen or mature woman, there are plenty of flattering haircuts with layers you can choose from.

1. Short Layered Bob Haircuts

We can’t think of any better way to start our list than with a dazzling hairstyle. Not only is the bob downright spectacular, but so is the choice of coloring. This is the ideal hairstyle for the unconventional woman who can hardly wait to show her true colors.

2. Flirty Short Layers

A short hairstyle that any woman can rock is this voluminous cut. It is particularly recommended for women over the age of 40, but it looks adorable on younger ladies as well. Flirt in the classiest way possible!

3. Mature Layered Short Haircuts

Raquel Welch, a style icon and source of inspiration for women of all ages, proves just how effective a short haircut with plenty of feathered layers can be in offering a flirty and youthful look.

4. Layered Haircut for Straight Hair

You should definitely take advantage and make the most of short layered bob haircuts like this one, especially if your hair is naturally straight. You won’t have to spend hours on end getting ready to go out as your straight locks will fall perfectly in place on their own!

5. Short to Medium Layered Haircuts

What if you want to get a haircut, but you’re not willing to go that short? Well then, a short to medium cut with layers is in order. The layers go from short to long in the front and can make for a chic, shoulder-length hairstyle.

6. Short Layered Haircuts for Thin Hair

Battling the lifelong struggle of having fine hair? We feel you and got your back too! A short and layered cut is just what you need to bring your thin locks back to life. We also recommend adding some highlights, blonde – or in whatever color you like – as this will create the illusion of thicker hair.

7. Playful Short Haircuts

An actress and singer that’s quite close to our hearts, Mandy Moore never ceases to brighten up our day with a cute look. Some years back now, she used to rock this short hairstyle, and she did so flawlessly. It is an overgrown, long and layered and choppy pixie.

8. Fiery Layered Haircuts

Not afraid to go full out glamorous with short layered haircuts? Then bring on the color! Experiment with red hair and highlights for some extra sass. The longer layers of red are intertwined with shorter ones that are highlighted in different shades of red including copper and burgundy.

9. Short Layered Haircuts for Round Faces

A significant factor you need to take into consideration when choosing your new hairstyle is the shape of your face. For ladies with a round face, we recommend going for an inverted bob. Its face-framing layers will help create a slimming effect and will also draw attention to the features.

10. Professional Short Haircuts

Ladies who work for corporations or have jobs with a strict dress code must have a clean-cut and to the point hairstyle. One of the best short layered haircuts to go for in these environments is the slicked down pixie. It’s also a good look for a job interview!

11. Short Layered Haircuts with Bangs

We love so many parts about this particular Dianna Agron look that it’s hard to pick just one. The choppy bangs and equally dicey haircut are jaw-dropping. Couple this with the blonde hair balayage and you get the icing on the cake and the cherry on top.

12. Cute Short Haircuts for Teens

High school life definitely has its ups and downs, but one of the perks is showing off your new look! Impress all your friends with an adorable short haircut with layers and add some graceful side part bangs to it to complete this incredibly easy hairstyle for school.

13. Feathered Short Haircuts

What if you want to feel like the wind is constantly raking through your hair? What you need, then, is a feathered layers haircut. Like the name suggests, this layering technique helps create a feathery effect. It’s just what a gal with fine hair needs!

14. Effortless Short Haircuts with Layers

If your hair is naturally thick and you usually have to get ready for work or school in record time, then this pixie haircut is one of your best choices! The layers are perfectly trimmed so they will fall in place effortlessly and with minimal input from you.

15. Oval Face Layered Haircuts for Short Hair

We’ve already presented a great short layered haircut for ladies with round faces. Now, it’s time to show one for women with an oval face shape. Essentially, this is a classic bob that was cut inwards to frame the structure of the face. The swept-back bangs are also a nice touch too.

16. Bold Super Short Haircuts

It takes heaps of courage to rock this haircut, but we totally encourage our bold and daring readers to try it out or adapt it to fit their tastes! The overall look is extremely eye-catching, so we will be pointing out its various elements.

First, you have the long top and shaved sides pixie cut. Then, there’s the shaved design. And last but not least, admire the brunette sides and platinum blonde to white long top.

17. Short Layered Haircuts for Thick Hair

We simply adore the masterful shaping of this short haircut! It’s actually a pixie haircut, but with longer bangs in front. This short hair with fringe and layers that were strategically trimmed helps add extra volume to the back, front, and all around, in general.

18. Boho Layered Haircuts

This dreamy pixie cut will surely melt the heart of our indie and boho type readers. It delightfully combines short layers with a fringe, and it will perfectly complement women with small faces. The blunt cunt bangs also help enhance the overall sweet and innocent but daring look.

19. Medium Short Layered Haircuts

This is yet another excellent option for women seeking a haircut between medium and short in length. It is a layered haircut for straight medium length hair that was also enhanced by the copper on brunette ombre dye job.

20. Layered Ombre Bobs

Keeping on this note, let’s talk more about coloring ideas for short layered haircuts. This is an angled bob-shaped short hair cut that was further brought to life by a dark brown to blonde ombre coloring. The caramel transition makes it all the more beautiful!

21. Pixie Balayage Hairstyles

For a discrete color gradient, we totally recommend looking into balayage options. This pixie, for instance, is one of the best haircuts to try out if you want a bold look made even the more special thanks to its coloring. The roots are a deep charcoal that goes to blend out into silvery layered tips.

22. Short Layered Haircuts for Wavy Hair

Wavy hair is more than generous when it comes to the number of short layered haircuts you can try out with it. Also, thanks to layered cutting and the versatile length, you can reduce the maintenance time to a bare minimum. As long as the shape is well-defined from the beginning, you shouldn’t have any styling problems at all!

23. Layered Haircuts Short and Stacked

Another way to cut down on maintenance is by using the stacked cutting technique. This works great on short to medium short haircuts as well as long ones.

Stacking is a popular method in the bob haircuts category with its layers that start long and end short near the nape. Enjoy that natural volume boost!

24. Spiky Color Blends

For an even bolder take on short layered haircuts, consider blending more than one color – go for two or more! In this pixie example, you can see how various tones from the blonde and red palettes are stunningly melted together for a dynamic look.

25. Layers and Undercuts

We’ve talked all about undercut designs before, but this example hits the nail right on the head! Not only is the top part full of lively layers, but the sleek undercut follows up to beautifully complete the look!

26. Short Choppy Layered Haircuts

To make the transition from long to short hair all the easier, go for some medium short haircuts first. This shoulder-length cut will make the final short chop easier to achieve. It is also beauty all on its own thanks to the choppy layering and styling and the beautifully done blonde highlights.

27. Short Haircuts with Bangs and Layers

This style of short layered haircuts will look wonderful on anybody, regardless of their face shape! The bangs, as well as the messy styling, make for a huge difference when combined with the layered locks.

Also, while the messiness will be easier to obtain on wavy hair, it works just as well on curly and straight locks too!

28. Layered Afro Ringlets

Women with afro-textured hair can slay a short haircut any time, any day. The fact that their natural hair texture is full of volume makes the maintenance a breeze and we recommend a progressive length for an ultra-cool effect!

29. Braided Hairstyles for Short Layered Hair

Although shorter locks are a bit more limited in terms of styling, there are still plenty of ideas to work and play around with. For example, this small side braid is adorable – you can add more of them or even go for a crown braid – still, this will only be achievable if you have some longer layers!

30. Short Layered Haircuts for Curly Hair

Layers are everything when it comes to adding even more volume to your ringlets. And this stacked bob is one of the coolest short curly hair with lots of layers styles out there! The fact that it also features blonde highlights only helps add more oomph to an already great look!

31. Easygoing Layered Haircuts

And we are back to ladies with straight hair for this one. Just like the example from #4, this is an effortless hairstyle for women with naturally straight locks. Make sure you get the layers right and rake your fingers through your hair for extra volume – without any hair products either!

32. Haircuts with Short Layers on Top

This is a picture-perfect pixie haircut with impeccable layering. Although the bangs are long, the layers are kept short and flow amazingly into one another for this splendid look. The white hair color is also amazing!

33. Brown and Blonde Short Hair

This is another look that genuinely impressed us for more than one reason. We’ll start with the coloring – the brown and blonde balayage looks ravishing! Then, we love how the layers in the haircut extend to the choppy bangs, which is another detail that caught our eye.

34. Short Layered Haircuts African American Women

The feathered bob strikes again in yet another charming version. While it is showcased on superb raven locks, this is one of the short bobs that can be adapted for any color or hair texture.

35. Long Hair with Short Layers

We wanted to touch on the idea of long hair with short layers as well, even though we also have an article specially dedicated to it too.

Even waist-length can come to life and gain volume with some alluring layers. Take this photo as just one example of the many and great long layered haircuts with short bangs out there.

36. Voluminous Pixie Haircuts

Even though they are some of the shortest haircuts out there, pixie cuts are also incredibly versatile. For example, this shot proves that it is easy to add feathered layers and add an abundance of volume – provided the pixie is styled accordingly, that is.

37. Short Layered Haircuts for Young Girls

Layered haircuts are just as useful, pretty, and appropriate for little girls as they are for women. They will make kids look and feel adorable, especially with some short layered haircuts that are also so much easier to maintain.

38. Short Layered Inverted Bob Haircuts

When getting a layered bob, inverted cutting is an essential option to keep in mind as, when combined, the two methods will result in a voluminous, flirty, and chic hairstyle. One that is also so easy to style.

39. Classy Shaved Hairstyles

Whoever said that shaved hairstyles were too far out? In fact, plenty of these kinds of short layered haircuts can be quite classy. Take this photo above, for example, and admire the elegance of side-swept layered locks combined with a shaved side.

40. Very Short Layered Haircuts

If you’re willing to go above and beyond with the shortness of your haircut, choose a blunt or choppy look. Women with small or oval-shaped faces will look radiant with this outgoing hairstyle.

41. Pastel Blend Hairstyles

This is a superb dye job that uses the melting technique to combine three pastel shades. The color melts also help accentuate the various layers in the hair as well as its waviness. This latter can be obtained with a curling iron or wand.

42. Short Layered Spiky Haircuts

This haircut is daring and delicate at the same time, and the way you wear it will set the mood. Keep it natural for a delicate look, or add some quality hair products to make it spiky and daring. We also dig the strawberry blonde/copper hair color.

43. Asymmetrical Short Haircuts

Why not step fully outside conventions and the comfort zone with an asymmetrical haircut? We love how this particular cut has just enough asymmetry to make it wearable on a daily basis and yet it still looks spectacular and out of the ordinary. Note the full side bangs as well!

44. Short Blunt Layered Haircuts

Blunt bangs look phenomenal when paired with short layered locks, especially when the fringe is shorter and verging on micro bangs. This is a dreamy hairstyle for the unconventional woman who is not afraid to experiment with her look.

45. Flippy Layered Hairstyles

Want your hair to look brilliant at any angle, regardless of how you flip or part it? Then this is likely the perfect haircut for you. It’s slightly longer than even the other medium cuts on our list, but the perfect layers deserve all the praise!

46. Super Curly Short Hair

Curly hair is, by far, the most generous texture as far as short layered haircuts are concerned. Corkscrew curls will easily fall into place, no matter how short or long their overall length might be.

47. Short Blonde Layered Haircuts

We showcased plenty of blonde hairstyles in this list, but we wanted to specifically offer this color the spotlight. Short layered haircuts are often associated with the hot season, and we all know that blonde is among those timeless hair colors that always invoke summer colors!

48. V-Shaped Layered Short Haircuts

Get even more creative with your haircut by thinking of specific designs. A V-shape, for instance, is ideal if you’re planning on cutting your hair super short. The top part will be voluminous owing to the well-thought-out shape. Just admire this choppy layered hair back view with an almost V-shape.

49. Pastel Rainbow Layered Hairstyles

Carry the rainbow with you wherever you go! This is yet another great way to wear pastel hair if the previous examples weren’t funky enough for you. Add a bit of every color in the rainbow in your layered hairstyle and use the choppy layers to accentuate the hues. It will make for a funky fresh look.

50. Short Shag Hairstyles

We will end our list on a fabulously messy note with an idea of short shag hairstyles. Continue following us on HairMotive, and you’ll see just how much we adore messy hairstyles. After all, this short haircut is just one of the many great shag haircuts out there!

Conclusion

In conclusion, there is an abundance of short layered haircuts out there, and they are so versatile and oh so stylish. They come in all shapes and sizes and are perfect for all personalities.

While you can opt for a sleek and classy cut that grazes your chin, you can just as well go wild with the boldest super short haircut you can think of!

50 Short Layered Haircuts

[shimmerjjang]

The Makeup You Need to Beat the Summer Heat

One of the most common questions I get from my blog readers is about what makeup products I use during the summer season. I use a lot of K-Beauty brands, in which, I have to be honest, not always suitable for our scorching hot Philippine weather. So to combat the heat and make sure my makeup lasts despite the heat. humidity, and saltwater (yes I wear makeup on the beach), I equip myself with the right products and learn how to properly apply them to keep my skin glowing all day long.

The key is to keep everything minimal. No need for layers of foundation! Just let your natural skin shine through. ;) But you know, looking beautifully snatched for a beach outing needs a little work too, not to mention the right beauty products. Read on for some tips and must-haves to stay pretty and glowing, from sunrise to sunset!

Base and Face

If there is one thing you should never, ever skip during the summertime, that would be sunscreen. I mean come on! That’s aready a given! Not only will this help prevent sunburn and your looking like a lobster or slice of sashimi, it will keep your skin from drying out and aging faster. Sunscreen can be applied as a lotion base before makeup, or as a spray to finish off your look. Although SPF 15 is the bare minimum for most sunscreens and makeup, it is best to choose a higher SPF if you are more prone to sunburn. Always remember to reapply sunscreen every 2 hours, or even earlier if you go swimming.

You can skip on foundation this time and just go for a tinted moisturizer if you’d like an IG-ready even complexion. I would also recommend waterproof CC cushions for this one as they are quite lightweight on the skin too!

Eyes

Kilay is life! I mean, if you’re someone like me who literally have 3 pieces of brow hair, to go out without doing my brows would be a mortal sin. During summer, I make sure I invest in waterproof eyebrow products. I prefer eyebrow gels and tints because they last really long. The ones from CLIO and K-Palette are always my all-time faves!

Apart from brows, I’m also a sucker for eyeliners. I go for liquid eyeliners during summer as my lids would get oilier than usual. Although it may require a steady hand to apply, it is definitely worth the effort. I have a ton of favorite eyeliners but I guess if I have to pick my top 3, that would be from the brands (1) CLIO, (2) Blingsome and (3) Kat Von D. If eyeliners aren’t your thing, you can still beautify your eyes with the right waterproof mascara.

Cheeks

Usually, I’d sette for cheek tints. But I was told to try out a water-resistant blush, such as the Swimmables Water Resistant blush by Cargo or the 12-hour Amazonian Clay blush by Sephora because these things last really long. Have you guys tried any of these? Let me know so I’ll know which one to get!

Lips

Just like any other part of the face, your lips also need sun protection. Never forget to sweep on some lip balm with a little SPF to help keep your lips from drying out or chapping. Tinted lip balms with SPF such as those in Happy Skin’s active line are great all-in-one products for busy and active sun and surf lovers.

Lip tints and stains offer greater staying power than many lipsticks. These gels are less prone to smudging once applied and stay on throughout eating and other activities. But of course, lipstick enthusiasts can take their pick from a spectrum of waterproof lipsticks, carried by major brands such as Maybelline and Sephora. Although light lip colors are favored during the summer months, nude lipstick shades are the easiest way to take your look from day to night.

The best makeup one can have in the summer is that of a healthy body. Proper nutrition, adequate sun protection, daily superior hydration go a long way in keeping your face and skin fresh and free from sun damage. With these, and these beach-ready makeup products, you cannot possibly go wrong!

[tomthedev-blog]

Learning about Web Design without Photoshop

My design context.

I’ve always been very very keen on drawing and designing when I was a kid and it’s something I’m looking to dive into again as an aspiring front-end developer.

When I started learning web development I often ended up spending way too much tome on tiny design details and still today if I have my laptop and 1 hour of uninterrupted free time (when does that ever happen?) I’ll generally start a design / logo / banner to use on a site or just for the fun of creating.

At the moment I’m into duo-tone images. Those generally consist of a landscape / skyline picture (the more contrasty the better) where white tones are replaced by a color and dark ones by another. It creates beautiful effect that are easy on the eye and not visually competing with your content.  

The Photoshop disappointment.

So the ‘design’ side of things quickly became something important for me. I often come across front-end projects (I won’t give any name) where the layout, design choices, UI elements and color palette are just so bad that it drags the whole page down. Even something greatly-coded ; if not adequately designed will just remain…. some… thing greatly coded.

Developers are not entirely to be blamed for here. Most design tools are difficult to learn and if you ever tried to tame Adobe Photoshop you’re probably familiar with the following “front-end-dev-trying-to-design” routine:

Installing Photoshop

Opening Photoshop

Trying to create a new document

…

Being discouraged

Uninstalling Photoshop

Promising never to use it again  

Does that sound familiar? I bet it does...  

Photoshop, you old b...

The reason behind that is that Photoshop was never meant to be a web-design tools and only the last couple of updates and a handful of plugins have transformed the almost 30-year old software into something suited for web-design.

Sketch.

Now, don’t get me wrong, if you want to be a web designer as opposed to a developer, you should probably invest 400% of your time into becoming a star at Photoshop because it’s still the reference out there. But that doesn’t mean it’s the only one…

Here comes Sketch! Sketch was created by a company called Bohemian and is a vector-based graphics design software that's 100% web-development oriented. You can start creating a web or app interface in 2/3 minutes without having to go through endless formatting settings and editing.

It comes fully packed with templates and “artboards”, those are predefined working spaces that simulates the size of a device / computer screen so you can quickly build you desktop and mobile UI side by side.

The system of layers is (unlike) PS very easy to tame and at any given time, you will only see the options/tools that are relevant to the shape/layer currently selected so confusion is reduced to a minimum.

For example, here’s a Nike landing page I was able to design in about 10/15 minutes. It's not the best layout but Sketch allows you to quickly elaborate web layouts.

Sketch is really easy to use and has the following advantages over PS:

Photoshop is a photo editing tool that's been modified to suit the needs of web-designers. Sketch was designed with web-design in mind. The first tool inserts a shape, specifically a rectangle. This is usually the first thing one does in designing a UI. So, the relevant tools are front and center and the irrelevant ones have disappeared. This makes Sketch way easier to learn, and actually possible without a guide or tutorial.  

It's faster -- have you ever opened a PSD on Photoshop and lived to regret it?   

It's extremely light, no RAM-hold-up!  

It renders fonts better than Photoshop. Photoshop has an internal text rendering engine that lets fonts look different than they do in a real browser or phone. In fact I use fonts a lot when designing banners and this is critical to me.  

Learning curve on Sketch is amazing, you will become an expert at it in a week.  

Another aspect is the monthly pricing scheme. I personally prefer paying upfront to use the software for as long as I want rather than paying every month and ending up paying a lot in the end (over a period of 2 years, PS would cost about $600, yes that’s a 6 followed by 2 zeros…). Sketch sells at $99 period.

 Plugins.

Sketch has lots of advanced plugins that will make your work easier. For example:

 - SketchDistributor distributes selected objects vertically or horizontally with a specified spacing.

- AutoLayout lets you resize content responsively on the fly.

- Content Generator. That one is a true geme! It generates content (images, text, lists, etc.) that will automatically populate the content areas you have created. Watch it works it magic!

 Sources, references & interesting links:

- Sketch official site - Quora - Why is Sketch becoming so popular compared to Photoshop for interface design? - Sketch or Photoshop: Choosing the Right Tool for Web Designer [Infographics] - MonsterPost - Interview with Christopher Downer the Guy Who Designs Sketchapp Inside Sketсhapp - Sketch: A Beginner’s Guide on Medium

 Anecdote.

1 2 3

function getRidOfTheBloating(photoshop) { ............. }

I was cruising in UpWork the last couple of days and I came across an ad where the client provided a link to the assets they wanted to use for their landing page (keep that in mind, 1 single landing page). I was curious and wanted to give it a try so I clicked and ended up downloading a 514MB-heavy .psd file, all just for a landing page with 3 sections, a couple of buttons and background images…

Keeping in mind that those images will have to stay within 400/500KB for best loading speed and site performance, you can imagine what’s ahead of you as a developer when you’re being handled this type of assets.

 If you enjoyed reading this post, feel free to share it and let me know what you think in the comments section down below.

:)

[supercoolvideo-blog]

GIF Maker from Video with ease

Are you looking for GIF maker which is able to make GIF images from videos? Here is the best GIF Maker from video – Dimo Video Converter Ultimate. GIF, short for Graphic Interchange Format, refers to a bitmap image format created in 1987. It is a very popular format for sharing animated files on forums, social networks and websites, or to be used as a avatar on a website like Myspace. It is only twenty or thirty frames, completely devoid of sound, repeating in an endless loop. Yet there is something intoxicating about an animated .GIF, like staring into the eyes of a hypnotist. Creating your own animated .GIF from a movie can be a lot of fun. This article will show you how to make GIF animations from video for creating your own unique avatar to attract attention and distributing among your friends.

To make a GIF from video, you need a GIF maker program to help you that has been designed suitably for this purpose. GIF basically being an image format is not supported by most video converters. However, don't let this stop you. Luckily, converting video files to GIF is simple and easy by using Dimo Video Converter Ultimate for Mac. It supports macOS 10.12 Sierra, 10.11 El Capitan, 10.10 Yosemite, 10.9 Mavericks, 10.8 Mountain Lion and 10.7 Lion on iMac, Mac Pro, MacBook, MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, etc. The interface of the application is beautifully laid out with all options easy to find and use. It a wide variety of music and video formats that include AVI, WMV, VOB, ASF, MP4, FLV, GIF, among many others. Converting between these formats is an easy and simple process. A few clicks is all that it takes to convert any video format to animated GIF in less than 30 seconds to be viewable across browsers and platforms. The software also provides the users with several customizations options that can be used to modify the GIF generated liking triming video length, cropping black bar, adjusting bitrate, framerate, etc to compress videos. The powerful tools combined with the intuitive interface makes Dimo Video Converter Ultimate for Mac the best application for converting videos to GIF images. By the way, this gif creator can be compatible with both macOS and Windows OS. For Windows PC users, please turn to Dimo Video Converter Ultimate. Free Download Dimo Video Converter Ultimate for Mac/Win:

Other Download:

Cnet Download: http://download.cnet.com/Dimo-Vi ... 194_4-77376153.html

Soft32 Download: http://dimo-video-converter-ultimate-for-mac.soft32.com/

Guides to convert video into animated GIFs on Mac (OS Sierra included) Step 1: Load your video or movie First of all you need to import your favorite video you desire to output GIF images onto this gif maker for Mac by clicking "Add File". You can even download online videos from BBC, YouTube, Facebook, Vimeo, etc for converting.

Step 2: Reduce the video Click the "Edit" icon of the video item bar and a video editing window will show up. Click the "Play" button to preview your video. At the position you need to trim, click "Add trim marker" button. You can drag the markers to adjust segment duration as you need. Repeat this process to add more segments. At last, press "OK" to confirm. Tip 1: If you think the video containting the embrassing background, then you could click "Adjust" > "Crop" to locate your specific portion of your video in output .gif file. Tip 2: Click "Effect", you can apply some color effects like de-interace etc; And "Watermark" to input text you like to show; Step 3: Select GIF as output format After the video editing done, back to "Converter" window to choose "GIF" file format from "Format" > "Video" > "GIF" Tip: If your GIF is too big, you could hit the setting gear icon to optimize the frame rate because your computer may not be able to run everything smoothly at a higher frame rate. Most videos are shot at either 30 or 60 fps, but GIFs are meant to be quicker, smaller, and a little jerky looking. The basic principle here is that, the smaller the framerate, the faster the GIF will take to play and load. 5 -15 FPS is usually perfect.

Step 4: Start to convert video to GIF Once you're satisfied, click "Start" to save your video to GIF. Now your .gif file is ready to be used for uploading to Instagram, Imgur, Minus, Dropbox, or any other file hosting service you prefer, or social media posts, etc. Alternative Solution 1: Convert Video to GIF with 8K Player 8K Player is an easy to use multimedia player for beginners to GIF creation by "ONE-KEY" with up to 30 seconds. The program offers GIF previews and a fast speed to convert videos to animated GIFs. It is fully compatible with multiple file types, including MP4, AVI, 3GP, VOB, MKV, MPG, etc. Other features like video recording or adding bookmark are supported too. Step 1: Download and install 8K Player on your computer, then start it; Step 2: Drag and drop the video you want to get GIF to this media player or click "Open File" from the more icon menu; Step 3: Click "Output GIF" to locate the video and drag the pin to appoint start time; Step 4: Hit "GIF" to output your video GIF images and it will automatically open and save in your computer. Alternative Solution 2: Convert Video to GIF with Online Converter You can access many a free online GIF converters like Zamzar.com to convert video to GIF quickly. Zamzar is an effective free online file converter that converts almost any video file including FLV, MOV, AVI to GIF. You can even finish the process without downloading any software. Step 1. Uploading your video file to the GIF converter software online The Zamzar.com homepage displays the file converter with four options - file conversion, video download, sending and managing files. Choose the "Convert Files" tab to open it. Browse through your PC or external storage drive to upload the video file of your choice. You can alternatively drag-and-drop the file on the converter (Windows only). Step 2. Setting the target file format to GIF Since you want to convert a video to GIF, you must select GIF as the target format. Zamzar.com allows the conversion between several file formats from simple .doc to .docx for word document to more complex formats like HTML, MP4, WMA, RAR, MPEG, eBook formats, to files on iPhones, to YouTube and lots more. Here you need to take care of the fact that you can convert only a single file type in a single conversion round. The maximum number of files you can convert in a single conversion cycle is limited to 5. So if you are converting video file to GIF, you can select 5 video files at a time and convert them all to GIF animation. Step 3. Inserting your email ID The Zamzar server needs an address to send the link to download your converted files. For this purpose, you need to have a valid email id and type it in. The video to GIF converter does not offer a direct download of files in the target format and instead sends you a link. The link sent to your email id expires quickly. Be sure to click upon it within 24 hours to receive converted files. Step 4. Download GIF animation file to computer As soon as you click on the convert option, the tool starts working its way through your uploaded files and converts them in the specified GIF format. Then you'll get a message upon complete conversion and need only check back your inbox. In your email message, click on the download link to download the GIF animation to your computer. Another GIF online converter to create GIF animations for totally free recommended is Gifninja. Gifninja.com is a free online GIF converter site. Not only is the software really simple to understand, but the conversion takes only the minimum time possible, depending on your video file size. There are no unnecessary delays and no difficult instructions that can confuse a person. One just needs to simply upload the video file that they need to get converted and press convert. This way, soon enough, they will be supplied with the download URL of the created GIF animation. This is why using Gifninja to make a GIF from video is something that anyone can attempt to do. Note: There are two things you need to know before you can convert your video to GIF. Firstly, your video files have to be smaller than 20 MB in size. Secondly, you can not trim the GIF animation if it's too long. In such cases, you'll need a general video converter to compress the video, or trim the source video file to reduce both the initial video size and GIF animation length before making a GIF animation. The above-mentioned Dimo Video Converter Ultimate for Mac will supports to help you compress, trim and even crop your video to make a GIF from a video. About GIF and Video GIF, an acronym standing for Graphic Interchange Format features an animated or avatar like presentation that pops up and keeps playing in the multimedia as a standalone feature or multiple presentation. GIF features a broken down or series of media frames or short snippets that have been compressed to present a single or multiple frames. GIF in its compressed nature and not fully fledged makes it easier to upload or download the format. GIF supports 8 bits for every pixel and below, ensuring that one image can reference about 256 different colors in a palette. The colors are selected from the RGB 24-bit color space. In addition, GIF supports animations where each frame is accorded a 256 color palette. GIF's video feature GIF contains the dynamic picture video feature meaning that its video frames can be played without the need of plug-in, for instance watching movies through GIF files. Difference between video and GIF The GIF file might have some video features, but there are a number of areas where video and GIF differ. Firstly, video comes with its own sound while GIF animations do not. Also, GIF files are much smaller while videos are usually much larger in terms of size. At the same time, a number of video formats have a higher resolution as well as a picture of a higher quality with GIF limited to about 256 colors only. Video is habitually used for personal or family content, including movies, with GIF mostly limited to web pages only. Free Download or Purchase Dimo Video Converter Ultimate for Mac/Win:

Need the lifetime version to work on 2-4 Macs so that your friends and family can instantly broaden their entertainment options? Please refer to the family license here.

Kindly Note: The price of Dimo Video Converter Ultimate for Mac is divided into 1 Year Subscription, Lifetime/Family/Business License: $43.95/Year; $45.95/lifetime license; $95.95/family license(2-4 Macs); $189.95/business pack(5-8 Macs). Get your needed one at purchase page. Contact us or leave a message at Facebook if you have any issues. Related Articles:

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Source: How to Make a GIF Animation from a Video

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Essential Health Tips - Infant & Toddler

Infant and Toddler Heath-Essential Tips for Getting Right

Feeding your newborn should be a moment of bonding and relaxation. Here are some clues to keep the process calm and enjoyable both and your newborn.

Primary Tips

There is no deadline to breastfeed. If you find that your 15-month-old still loves to breastfeed and you do too, then stick with it. When most toddlers reach six months, their desire to breastfeed may lessen since they’ll be getting nutrients from solid foods.

Stick with Breast-milk Formula:

Breast milk or formula is sufficient in keeping your new baby hydrated. For the case of infants, you’ll only give them water when she’s sick and losing fluids through diarrhea or vomiting. Breastmilk is the best food for toddler – with rare exceptions. If it doesn’t work, use infant formula instead. Healthy babies don’t need juice or water. In this case, consult with a pediatrician first.

Fruits or vegetables should be the only first solid foods. In the past, parents were glad to start rice cereal or other single cereal. Only vegetable and fruits are the best healthy alternative solid food for infants. Keep it soft with a single ingredient.

General Guidelines

Feed Your Baby on Demand: most of the babies need eight to 12 feedings a day – one feeding for every two-three hour. Examine any early signs of hunger, like stirring and stretching, lip movements, and sucking motions. Crying and fussing are later cues. The early you begin the feeding, the safer you’ll be, it’ll you the cost of smoothing a frantic baby.

Consider Vitamin D Supplements: breastmilk alone might not have sufficient vitamin D, needed for the babies absorb calcium and phosphorus. Inquire from your doctor about vitamin D supplements for the baby.

Give Enough protein: an adequate amount of protein in your baby child’s diet is essential for health. Not only is protein a vital building block of growth & development for a growing child, but it also helps to repair and build body tissues. Research indicates that toddlers aged 1 to 3 years require 14kg of protein per day.

Provide More Iron: for a growing child, iron is important forming hemoglobin, the component in red blood cells that carries oxygen throughout the body. Blood increases with your toddler’s growth, so young children sufficient iron intake.

Iron can be found in plant-animal food products such as:

Red meat

Poultry

Seafood

Legumes

Dark green vegetable (like broccoli)

Vitamin C, an important nutrient found from citrus fruits helps in the absorption of iron from mon-meat sources.

Use less salt: many ready-made meals are formulated for children and often contain too much salt. When preparing home-cooked meals for your little one, use only the minimum amount of salt required by the recipe. This prevents the child from getting used the to too much salt and allows him to the nature flavors of the ingredients.

Consider Some Type of Fats: not all fats are bad, in fact, adults as well as growing children need it as much as other nutrients! Fats contain essential fatty acid and certain micronutrients that are crucial for brain development and functionality.

When preparing meals for your child, choose foods that are low in saturated fat, trans acids and cholesterol. Avoid low-fat or fat-free foods, as these are formulated for adults. Instead, choose vegetable sources of fat and oily fish, as they are rich in Omega-3 and Omega-6 fats.

Omega-3 can be found in eggs and oily fish and deep-sea fish such as salmon, anchovies, sardines (not in can), and tuna.

Good sources of Omega-6 include:

Soya oil

Canola oil

Pumpkin seeds

Green, leafy vegetables

Walnuts

Limit Sugar: the simplest of carbohydrates, sugars are commonly found in fruits, desserts and sweetened beverages. Sugars provide energy but are low nutrients, so keep your child’s sugar intake to a minimum. Avoid fizzy drinks. Let your child drink more water instead.

Limit sugary and encourage more on fruit and nuts, note taken from energy bars and other sugary drinks. While fruits do contain some sugar, they are excellent sources of vitamins.

Complex carbohydrates are starches and fibers. Give your child more complex carbohydrates such as rice and noodles, or oats and cereals made from whole wheat.

Periodic Supplements for Baby

0 to 4 months: for newborns, milk is the only necessary food from the breast. Cow’s milk does not cover 100% of nutritional intake breast milk meets all nutritional needs of infants. For moms who are unable or unwilling to breastfeed, infant formula is an alternative. In all cases, it is important to follow the advice of the medical profession involved in monitoring your baby. For the frequency and quantity of feeds, please consult your health care professional. Never forget that everybody is different. This is a good time to try your baby in Baby Sleep Suits to see if he/she reacts in discomfort or not.

4 to 6 months: from 4 months, you may involve dietary diversification; this is a key step for the development of both your baby and his or her gustatory education. Diversification is one way to prevent certain diseases occurring in adulthood such as obesity. That is why jars of baby food have no added sugar and no added salt. During this period, the main is the milk, but the baby’s digestive system develops sufficiently to absorb other nutrients. Around five months a baby can swallow semi-solid food because the movements of his tongue become more coordinated.

The Weaning Process: when the child reaches four and six months, he/she begins to show its desire to eat differently. In general, he/she may sit with your help and keep food in his mouth. Sometimes he chews everything’s is within reach, drools when he sees something to eat and shows signs of hunger even after feeding.

Once you decide to wean, attach one hour meal during which your baby will get your attention. Some babies are hungrier in the evening; others are hungrier in the morning. At first, you present very small amounts with a spoon. Do not rush the introduction of a new food and try to do it all in one day. It is a process that is spread out over time.

6 to 8 months: from 6 months, a baby starts chewing, even if he or she no teeth. Gradually, you can submit new flavors and new textures to help educate your baby’s palette.

8 to 12 months: from 8 months, your baby is sitting up and experiencing early teething. The baby can now swallow very small pieces of blended food.

12 to 15 months: Around the age of 12 months your baby begins to stand on his own feet and begins to take his first steps. Your child also learns to use a spoon and feed himself/herself.

From 15 Months and Onwards: from this age, tastes change and some flavors begin to be liked and others begin to be disliked. This is when you child will start to enjoy snacking, so placing a carrot stick or apple slice in your child’s hand will teach them to love vegetable when they are older.

Always Trust your Instincts – and Your Baby’s

You might be concerned that your baby isn’t eating enough, but newborns usually know just how much they need. You don’t need to focus on how much, how regularly, or how often your newborn eats. Rather, look for:

Contentment between feedings

Steady weight gain

By the sixth day after birth, at least seven wet diapers and four or more bowel movements a day

You should address the doctor it your baby isn’t gaining weight, is wetting fewer than six diapers a day or pays little interest in feedings.

Eat as a family

In very culture, eating together is an important social ritual, creating bonds and family and familiarity with everyone who shares the meal. Make meals a special time for the whole family! Be a role model to your child. By joining you at the table, your child can observe and absorb healthy eating habits and proper etiquette. Sticking to set meal times is a healthy habit, both nutritionally and socially.

Baby feeding is an ideal opportunity that provides for bonding with your baby, and also cultivate a healthy tradition of happy eating with her mom!