#Bulk Beauty Solutions

[3otuz]

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[wonderingsoftly]

Not Too Big

something i've been playing with that i like...wanted to populate the blog with a little quick, fluffy wg fic...just a boyfriend and girlfriend realizing they want him even bigger

no major warnings, just a lot of hugging and squeezing and admiring

---

Theo gorged desperately on the pizzas he bought, chewing loudly and grabbing wildly at the next piece.

He had to get bigger. His mind screamed that it was a matter of keeping his beloved girlfriend, Charlotte, by his side.

There was no indication that she was unhappy, in fact she and him seemed to enjoy every minute together.

But…she was gone on a business trip for the next two weeks. He achingly remembered the way she ran her hand through his short blond hair and placed a kiss on his lips. She promised she would be back before he knew it.

He constantly checked her social media, staring at her pictures of the two of them, then looking at her latest posts--where his thoughts became prickly and relentless.

It was that latest picture.

Her smile was big and cordial as she stood with a big, fat man. Bigger than Theo was, and he far outsized Charlotte.

He was her coworker, and he had met him before, exchanging pleasantries. Theo had never been offended by him or anything, but every picture he saw of Charlotte with the man made him wind up tighter and tighter.

And then he snapped.

Theo was not a small man by any means, quite muscular and bulky himself, and he knew Charlotte liked him that way. He knew she liked big men, which was part of why they started dating in the first place.

They got on like a house on fire, immediately falling in love with each other and sharing hobbies and interests. Charlotte was kind and sweet and fun and endlessly attractive with beautiful, black, wavy hair and near-black eyes, deep and easy to get lost in.

He considered himself incredibly lucky to have landed her, and sometimes that translated into a bit of a need to do whatever he could to make sure she was happy. This wild train of thought was his latest attempt at this.

Though on the other hand, Charlotte was much of the same. She loved watching Theo show off his gains from the gym and would cook delicious meals after a strenuous workout. She praised him often and comforted him when he needed it. She encouraged him to reach his goals. She could rarely be seen without her hands on his skin in some way or another, always trying to be in physical contact with him.

And he…he couldn't bear to lose that.

So he had to get bigger. To his mind, it would be a surefire way to keep Charlotte around. More of him for her to touch and grab.

He ate even more furiously, his stomach starting to protest against his jeans.

He would load and bulk up tonight, cutting the rest tomorrow at the gym. He’d put these calories to work and grow.

Though…a small part of his mind didn't mind if his belly pooched out or if his muscles were padded with a nice layer of fat. It would only make him look bigger, give him more leverage to lift heavier and heavier weights, and in turn make him even bigger.

He imagined Charlotte's eyes looking him all over as she returned to him, his arms and chest pumped and heavy.

Some might call this a dirty bulk, but…bulk was bulk to Theo at this moment in time. He was desperate to fight against his spiral, and the only solution that seemed to stop his brain was preparing calories and energy to change into gains.

He would sleep soundly once the pizza was gone, knowing he’d be big for Charlotte.

***

The day of Charlotte's return arrived, and Theo struggled to button the nice shirt he had bought a few months ago. His stomach firmly fought against the buttons with every closure he managed.

He exhaled long, trying to flatten his torso enough to close up the shirt. With some effort, he managed, but in the mirror it was evidently clear he was one sudden movement away from popping the buttons off.

Perhaps his dirty bulking worked too well.

Even his arms strained in the short sleeves, the lack of stretch emphasizing their size.

He heard the doorknob start to turn and he rushed out to the living room, the shirt’s buttons creaking slightly.

He got into place, eagerly watching as Charlotte walked in, her smile wide and relieved.

“Theo…” she said happily, like music to Theo’s ears.

He rushed to hug her, sighing happily as he felt her arms wrap around and squeeze his torso.

Where she belonged.

“You look good, Theo,” Charlotte murmured, rubbing his back.

Theo's stomach somersaulted at her touch and comment, and he felt vindicated. It had worked. She was happy.

“Thought I might…work hard to bulk up a little extra for when you got back,” he admitted. “It’s surprising how much I could do in two weeks.”

“Aw, for me?” Charlotte giggled, looking up at Theo. Her cheeks were flushed pink and she gave his side a squeeze.

“Always for you.”

They hugged close again, breathing slowly and happily.

All was well again. Or so Theo thought.

“I…wanted to talk to you…a little about this, actually,” Charlotte said reluctantly, patting his stomach and then rubbing his arm.

Theo's heart dropped, immediately thinking of the worst case scenario. Her return had been amazing, what could she mean?

“Nothing bad, really!” Charlotte gasped, sensing Theo's fear. “But I just…I mean, I was thinking about it while I was gone and how you know I like how big you are…”

Theo looked at Charlotte curiously, his fear starting to dissipate a bit. She was blushing dark now, looking at her hands as she wrung them together.

“I kept thinking of you the whole trip…and how I…I’ve been wondering just how big you want to get? And if maybe…I don't know, I’m sorry–”

“Do you like this? The muscle and…the little extra?” Theo asked quietly, gesturing at himself.

“I love the muscle, but Theo…seeing you stretching this shirt��you’ve only worn it once before, and it was almost a little loose.” Charlotte laughed nervously, pushing some hair behind her ear. “If your ‘little extra’ did that…I…”

Her pause sent a shiver through Theo.

She looked at him longingly. “I want so much more.”

Theo looked at Charlotte in shock. A slow smile crept across his lips, pulling her in a tight hug.

“I…got a little jealous seeing you in those pictures with…what's his name, the big guy… Paul?” He sighed.

Charlotte let out a sad little whine. “Oh, I’m so sorry, baby.”

“No, no, it's not your fault, but…I just…wanted to be the big guy you’re always next to. I…let myself get carried away in my thoughts and just wanted to be there in his place, so badly.”

Charlotte laughed, squeezing Theo’s middle.

Theo moaned out a sigh, relishing the way her arms wrapped around him. She could barely reach her arms all the way around him.

His thoughts wandered to future possibilities. What if her arms couldn't reach totally around him at all…? If there was so much of him she’d never get bored…to lay on him at night, comfortable and warm.

“So, so badly, Charlotte…” Theo moaned in a low voice, his thoughts putting him in a warm, longing haze.

She squeezed him again, rubbing her cheek on his chest, the fabric of his shirt pulled tight and smooth over him.

Charlotte pulled away, Theo placing his hands on her hips. She trailed her fingers up the straining buttons, picking at the little bunches of fabric where the shirt closed.

She smiled, tapping the top button with her finger, looking up at Theo.

Her cheeks were flushed and her eyes were tantalizingly dark. Theo felt his own cheeks heat up as all of Charlotte's fingers now rested on the same button.

With a small pop, Charlotte skillfully pushed the button through the hole, and his shirt opened in slight relief.

He silently begged her to keep going.

Charlotte's fingers trailed down to the next button, doing the same. His shirt opened more and more eagerly with every undone button, revealing his soft skin.

She reached the final button, his pooching belly freed from the shirt.

Theo let out a sigh of relief, finally registering just how tight the shirt was.

She hummed appreciatively and ran her hands over his stomach, gently dragging her nails over his skin. She patted his stomach, making him jiggle slightly.

Theo chuckled, placing his hands on hers.

It seemed like he and Charlotte were on the same page.

“Would you…be okay with getting nice and big for me? Maybe…a little less gym time and a little more eating time with me?” She looked up at him with big, wide eyes.

Theo blushed, running his thumb over her cheek. “Something tells me you’ve given this some thought already.”

“Well…I had a lot of alone time at night. Missing you…and maybe sometimes I let my thoughts run away with me…”

“Let’s do it then. I'll make more time to eat whatever delicious stuff you cook up and then we can cuddle.”

“Um…” she started, her gaze falling nervously to his stomach.

Theo tilted his head curiously, wondering her next thought.

“I know I just unbuttoned you, but…I also…want to see you…” she paused, her voice trailing off.

“I want to see you pop the buttons off this shirt,” Charlotte quickly sputtered, her blush now reaching her ears.

Theo looked at her blankly for a moment, processing her request.

He began to belly laugh when it finally registered. He pulled her into another hug, feeling her wrap her arms around his torso under his shirt.

Her arms were cool and soothing and her cold hands sent goosebumps over his body.

“Let's make something to eat then. I'm probably only a few spoonfuls of something away from busting this shirt open, anyway.”

Charlotte responded with a low, pleased laugh, giving Theo another squeeze.

***

Theo looked at himself in the mirror hanging on their closet door, his sides actually outsizing the width of it. He bit his lip, shuffling a little uncomfortably as he placed his hands on his round, hanging belly.

He was big. Almost 450 pounds big. Bigger than he’d ever been. But it was as they had planned over two years ago. It was just…surprising to really observe himself.

He turned to the side, one hand still on the top of his belly and tracing his eyes along the sagging bottom line of his stomach. It hung almost completely over his waistline, making an apron over his hips. His pecs were now sagging breasts, connecting to his back rolls. His eyes came back up to his face, still framed by his short blond hair, but his cheeks round and full–his neck basically disappeared beneath his double chin.

Charlotte kept insisting that he was incredible. She praised his expanding waistline, all the while giving him third and fourth helpings of the decadent dinners she made almost every night.

“My arms too…” he said with a sigh, lifting and wobbling his massive, soft arms. What definition he once had was totally covered by fat. He gently squeezed his left arm with his other hand. Warm and wobbly…he gave it a gentle pat and made it shake.

“You can still move around! And really well!” he could hear Charlotte's sweet voice in his head, remembering when he asked about her thoughts on his weight so far after he had found he had outgrown his favorite shirt.

“You're in great shape,” he remembered her voice cooing as she gently rubbed her hands on his stomach, uncovered by the outgrown shirt. That would have been debated by almost anyone else, but from Charlotte's mouth, he treated it like gospel.

Oh, and he loved that feeling. Her cool hands on his always-warm skin. The way her dark eyes sparkled as she admired him, when he accepted the next serving of dinner she would offer him.

And she was right, he was still able to get around. While his walk had become a waddle, he still considered himself pretty strong, helping her around the apartment with the heavy lifting chores--under the couch, moving the tables, things like that. He would only rarely be out of breath, and he was as sweaty as he usually got when he used to regularly exert himself at the gym…

Though, admittedly Charlotte insisted he stay seated and just relax while she took care of him, especially after a big meal. She didn't want her enormous prize of a man to have to worry about what she called ‘little things.’

When he sat, he took up almost all of the couch, Charlotte often squeezing herself next to him and absently jiggling his rolls as they watched a movie or show and snacked. His huge legs spread to make room for his giant belly and he found himself resting his arms on it. He had to admit that he was making a good place to set bowls within reach to munch from.

He let out a short exhale as his legs were starting to tremble from the effort of standing in place and observing himself for so long, his breathing starting to become heavy. He waddled himself around a little, watching ripples shake his huge rolls and belly. It took a moment for the shaking to settle, and Theo took a deep, satisfied breath.

But…besides all that, the clothes were really the only problem, and he was often in the comfy sweats and roomy athletic wear she had bought for him.

He was happy to let her spoil him too. Rough days at work? Delicious food. Tons of snacks with movies. The belly rubs, the increased intimacy…

She had always been loving and sweet, but it seemed like lately she was always running her hands over him and having increasingly lingering hugs. He definitely noticed the times she gave his sides a long, jiggling squeeze, but…man, it felt so good.

She knew all the best places to grab and squish, and she knew how to make him feel like he waa a god. Her hands traveled over every roll and curve he developed, her eyes sparkled every time he stepped on the scale.

She's would lovingly rub his huge belly, gently slapping and wobbling him around. It felt so good, and he would moan happily as she played. And when they went to bed?

Theo smiled smugly at himself, thinking of how excited Charlotte got almost every night when she watched him wobble himself to bed and heavily land himself on the edge. The little pink and purple hickies all over his covered chest were evidence of such.

Everything he had been afraid of losing that one night Charlotte came home was nothing but a distant dream now. Charlotte was totally his and he was all hers.

And you know?

Maybe he actually wasn't that big. Sure, it was the biggest he had ever been, but his girlfriend loved him more than ever.

He grabbed his belly and gave it a shake up-and-down. It bounced and jiggled and he felt himself smile with surprising satisfaction.

And he couldn't deny he liked it too. He wasn't enormously big, but he liked being the biggest guy in the room now. The way everyone acknowledged when he entered, his girlfriend holding tight to his huge arm. Her affectionate belly pats when they talked to their friends. Doorways were smaller, seats struggled to contain him, and he eclipsed Charlotte with his huge body.

And it was fine. He wasn't too big. He could still walk, still go out with Charlotte–it would even be fine if he got a little bigger. She always found a way to help him fit through and into places. He wore his huge, fat body well and Charlotte loved it. What would a few more pounds be?

His sweet girlfriend would be back soon with bigger clothes and they could settle down for another nice meal. He was feeling especially hungry now too. Maybe she picked up a giant meal from his favorite barbecue place? He figured he would call her and put in a request if she had nothing else planned.

He smiled at himself in the mirror, his chubby face grinning back at him. He hefted his belly up again and let it drop, watching it jiggle.

“I’m not too big. I’ve still got room to grow,” he said to himself with a pleased smile.

[finalfrontierpublishing]

Atlas by @distractedkat

So I've used the warp design before for my design for @pleasantboatpress's copy of For Gladness of You, and I wanted to see if i could replicate it again. I do think if I ever re-attempt this design i'd like to use a little purple in there.

Design inspired by queercore's lovely modified long-stitch bindings, which i've bastardized into purely decorative spine designs (i am the jackass of decorative faux long stitch and i'm not even sorry). Blue endbands are also inspired by nim from morningstarbindery on instagram's beautiful copy of Away Childish Things. It's ridiculously gorgeous and i'm always pushed to do better and more beautiful things by my friends in Renegade.

Some stats for you - as per usual:

135,529 words || 426 pages

Cover Titling font: Mandalore Gradient

Body Text: Liberation Serif, 10.5 point

Accents: Alien League II

Can you tell how much I freaking love this fic? I actually received a RIDICULOUSLY STUNNING and beautiful copy of this fic from queercore from the exchange but I had already started typesetting and prepping this amazing story and MORE PHYSICAL COPIES OF THIS FIC SHOULD BE IN EXISTENCE.

This is probably the first long star trek fic I ever read. It is that old, so it holds a lot of special memories in my heart. I used colibri graphite for bookcloth (colibri my beloved, of which i tragically scuffed the back cover, hence no photos). Endpapers are renato crepaldi (can you tell i have some loves), and the spine design is done with lightly waxed linen thread in 4 different shades of blue. I once again forgot to factor in the bulk of the thread at the spine, could possibly have added 0.1cm to the length of the cover boards but what's done is done. had a near catastrophic fuck up with endpapers on casing in because of the bulk of the thread, but luckily remedied fast enough before the PVA dried. the squares are not perfect, particularly on the back cover, but i can live with it.

I couldn't really decide what to do with the cover so as I always I kept it simple with some silver and subtle holographic HTV.

I have also discovered my binds bookshelf is absolutely fucking full and i have a problem. The solution is evidently to buy another bookcase.

next on my list are the author copies for FFWAD - they've been started and i hope to finish two of them in the next 2-3 weeks.

As always, @distractedkat, if you'd like an author copy please don't hesitate to let me know, I love making author copies :)

[typhlonectes]

Crabs have evolved five separate times – why do the same forms keep coming back?

Evolution repeatedly hit upon this solution simply because it works.

Charles Darwin believed evolution created “endless forms most beautiful”. It’s a nice sentiment but it doesn’t explain why evolution keeps making crabs.

Scientists have long wondered whether there are limits to what evolution can do or if Darwin had the right idea. The truth may lie somewhere between the two.

While there doesn’t seem to be a ceiling on the number of species that might evolve, there may be restraints on how many fundamental forms those species can evolve into. The evolution of crab-like creatures may be one of the best examples of this, since they have evolved not just once but at least five times.

Crabs belong to a group of crustaceans called decapods – literally “ten footed”, since they have five pairs of walking legs. Some decapods, like lobsters and shrimp, have a thick, muscular abdomen, which is the bulk of the animal that we eat. With a quick flick of their abdomen lobsters can shoot off backwards and escape predators...

Read more: https://bigthink.com/life/crab-evolution

[docpiplup]

If anyone wants to read new historical fiction related to the Abd al-Aziz chapter of the Al Andalus. Historical Figures book, recently a novel has been published. This novel is Egilona, Reina de Hispania (Egilona, Queen of Hispania), writen by José Soto Chica. The bulk of the story is based on the texts of the Mozarabic Chronicle and Arabic sources such as the Fath al-Andalus codex, the anonymous Ajbar Maimu'a or the works of the historian Al-Maqqari and the caliph Al-Hakam. In fact, all chapters begin with a fragment of these writings.

Synopsis

Egilona, the last queen of Hispania, a powerful woman between two cultures, between two eras, the Gothic and the Arab, fascinates us in this memorable historical novel.

Don Rodrigo, Duke of Bética, returns to his lands after being forced to pay homage to the new king of Hispania, Witiza, the murderer of his brother Favila. Now the smart thing is to lower his head; There will be time for revenge. Near Córdoba, he stops to rest in a noble house and there he sees for the first time Egilona, a fifteen-year-old girl with reddish hair, white skin and amber eyes, who that same night will become his wife.

Nine years later, in 711, near Tarifa, the hosts of the now king Rodrigo prepared to prevent the entry into Hispania of the new conqueror of the world: the Umayyad empire. In command of his army is Tariq ibn Ziyad, a freedman whom his patron Musa ibn Nusayr, vali of Africa in the new order of the caliphate, has sent on a raid. With this old soldier, ugly, cross-eyed and red-haired, hardened in a thousand battles, travels his concubine, Umm Hakim, a fascinating young woman, with doe eyes and magical knowledge, and Abd al-Aziz, one of Musa's sons. In and out, that's the order. But, in the heat of battle, Abd al-Aziz kills Rodrigo and sets his sights on Egilona, the most beautiful and haughty woman he has ever seen.

Woe to his eyes! They have just begun a story in which the sorceress and the queen will cross paths to end an empire, and for which Egilona, queen of Hispania, will be remembered "as the hand, the mind, the powerful spirit that sowed the "seed of a new era."

Some comments from the author of the novel about the historical figure of Egilona, the historical setting, the conquest and her marriage to Abd al-Aziz, from this interview:

"Events that have usually been told very poorly"

"She was a transitional character who was everything with the Visigoths and is everything again in the new world of the Muslims, but a lot of nonsense has been written about her"

"I have opted for an intermediate solution in the novel"

"After Rodrigo's death it stands as a symbol of resistance, but after the second defeat of the Visigoths in Écija I made Al-Aziz capture it. Let's think about Aztec Mexico: the Spanish were a very small force and they relied on the nobility. The Arabs did the same. This marriage was not the exception, but the norm, and there are the examples of Teodomiro's daughter or Witiza's granddaughters. It was a time when collaboration was needed"

"If I put on my historian's suit and limit myself to what the sources say, I am tied hand and foot. Now, a novelist does have licenses and I imagine that story of hate and love with Al-Aziz" "But I think the result is very coherent: it is a novel by a historian who specializes in the period and which, literary speaking, proposes psychological solutions to the 8th century."

"For me, her forgetfulness is intentional from her own time: for those who resisted in Asturias she was a traitor; for the Arabs, she was responsible for the perfect Muslim warrior falling into the conspiracy. She was guilty for going over to the enemy or subverting the order, and this has greatly influenced nineteenth-century and current Spanish historiography"

"This novel, at the level of people who seek to learn history with fiction, is the story of the Islamic conquest of Hispania based on what we really know, which has changed a lot in the last twenty years"

"It's not about good ones and bad ones, but about people like us who have to survive by accepting that the world has changed or by rebelling against it."

[tgrailwar-zero]

THGW-Zero 1Y Anniversary Side-Story: Searching for One's Purpose

The Saber of the Red Faction was a truly imposing man. His stature was grand, his bulk taking up the entirety of the massive throne he rested on, with perfect posture and an unflinching gaze.

The Rider of the Red Faction had never seen him lift a blade himself, only his proxies, but that in no way meant that he doubted his power. He considered Saber a worthy ally, and while they were ‘equals’, that was where things seemed to become complicated. Not much good came from having multiple ‘kings’ present, and so he had ceded his regality for the sake of being a warrior. He didn’t have much to be proud of in terms of his reign in the first place, so it was a simple solution in many ways.

However, that conflict wasn’t the reason he was standing before the Saber.

Things were tense within the Red Faction. Caster and Saber had found themselves at odds for reasons beyond his personal understanding, and so the team was fractured. Even with that in mind, Rider had still felt a desire to leave.

The ‘Strange Voices’ that had established themselves as his ‘Masters’ had, ostensibly, caused him naught but trouble and then ditched him. In many cases, this was where he couldn’t cede his regality, and felt lucky on their behalf that he wasn’t as stringent as his fellow Roman Emperors. However, despite those facts, he had felt what he could only describe as a ‘pull’. Nothing tangible, or even greatly supernatural, just a sense that simply waiting and participating in the War wouldn’t bring him very far. 

...Even if he did have a feeling that it’d be much less of a headache, in both a literal and metaphorical sense.

But, leaving without cause (or more aptly, desertion) would be massively disrespectful to his allies. So, he had opted to speak with Saber, and ask for permission to at least leave temporarily.

The throne room was massive and ornate. Rider had seen brilliant things in his time, the architecture of his country was something truly beautiful, and yet even he felt dwarfed by Saber’s ornamentation. In many ways, it painted a stark difference between how he and the Saber saw the world- as Rider was summoned as a warrior, a general, a tactician-- and Saber was summoned as a king, a ruler, and a paradigm.

The king sitting on the throne spoke, his deep voice echoing off the wide walls.

“I hold no dominion over you. Truthfully, I have no concerns about the war, my ambitions are greater. This war is but a distraction, after all.” The Saber commented, with a sense of regal arrogance that Rider couldn’t help but envy. “If you wish to go support your Masters, then go. Your support of the Red Faction is always appreciated, but my proxies and I already bolster our forces enough to put the Blue Faction at a standstill at the very least.”

It was an unexpected response, even if it was favorable. Before Constantine could respond, the Saber spoke again.

“Still… you’re a very dedicated man to this cause? To chase after your whims seems unlike you, so what draws you to them? These mysterious Masters?”

That gave him pause. He really wasn’t sure what he felt about them. Frankly, their entire experience together it was pretty apparent that they were itching to get away from him and back to their Avenger. As far as his personal pride went, he didn’t owe them a thing. He was an Emperor of Rome, playing ‘second best’ was nothing but a waste of his time, he was certain that if he brought up that point the emperor before him would absolutely agree.

For all intents and purposes, they had left him. And, as a being of mana, an entity that needed a ‘Master’ to live, he was rotting from the inside out because of it. His body hungered, ached, that growling pit within his ethereal soul desperate for fuel. Perhaps ‘survival’ would have been a good enough reason, but that didn’t seem accurate. If his only reason was his own personal survival, then he’d sooner die, and he didn’t have the pettiness to leave in search of revenge. His ambitions needed to be deeper than that, surely.

He had no reason to dedicate anything to them, they had made their choice, and he had fully expected to cross blades with them the next time they met.

And yet…

“...I’m their Servant.” Constantine replied, after far too much silence. 

“I see.” The wizened king scratched his chin, looking upwards with a thoughtful expression. “They’re strange ones, with a bloodstained past and an unclear destiny. A man of your bearing… a man of our bearing, may find the inclination to snuff out their flame if it begins burning in an unpleasant manner.”

Constantine couldn’t claim to fully understand what the grand king was musing about, but asked a simple question in response.

“Are you a man that believes in destiny, Saber?”

The Saber, in an almost unbecoming manner, shrugged.

“I believe in providence, but to many the difference is negligible. Why do you ask?”

His feet shifting slightly, Constantine closed his eyes in thought. “I was summoned to fight for the Holy Grail War… at least, that is what I was told. And yet, I feel as if I’m tied towards those strange voices that visited me on my search for the keys. Perhaps as an ally, perhaps as an enemy. Either I was summoned to be their sword, or be the blade pointed against them.” Opening his eyes to make direct eye-contact with the Saber, he looked up with determination.

“I’ve never been one to wait to see what providence has in store for me. And so, I’ll march out there and grab that fate for myself.”

As though his answer was amusing, the Saber held back a smile, simply nodding.

“Very well then, Rider. I wish you well, and I’m sure we’ll meet again.”

“Right. Until we meet again, Saber.”

And with that, the Rider of the Red Faction set on his way.

[twstunes]

I am OBSESSED with your colored in manga pages!!! They’re beautiful I can’t stop thinking about them, how do you do your TWST page edits??? I’m really wanting to color the chapters too! It looks so fun!

I downloaded the pages (of chp1) straight from where I read them, and edited over (im using krita! Maybe photoshop would be better??) but I can’t seem to make them look the way I want them to. The line quality is nowhere near yours, yours looks so professional! I hope I’m not stepping on your toes by asking but I feel like I’m missing something 😭 would you mind explaining where/how you download the pages with such high quality? Do you turn them transparent like coloring books or edit overtop of them? I hope this ask isn’t too much!!

XOXOXOXO I hope you’re doing well!! You’re easily one of my fav twst blogs!

kicking my feet and giggling,,,,,, I hope you're doing well too!! you're not stepping on my toes at all, don't worry!

The pages I've been using for color edits are from turtlesoupscans' uploads – they're a scanlation group focused on TWST, and currently have stuff up for the manga (both the main story + anthology comic) as well as translations for the official novel. To my understanding, their scans ARE okay to use for color edits, but not for re-translations or mass-reuploads.

I do all my edits in photoshop using a lot of multiply & lighten layers! The coloring book method u mentioned is so enticing yet so traitorous…in photoshop, the selection + erasing method tends to damage the lineart, and the inverted channel method for removing white backgrounds quickly will keep a 'film' if the background isn't pure #ffffff. (Maybe krita has a more effective solution? 👀)

(Also bc I brought up using photoshop I'm ethically obligated to mention that photopea, an online equivalent to photoshop, exists and is free to use)

I've never used krita before, but from what I'm seeing of its layout/capabilities, the process I use should translate over fairly well–

(Added a black bg to the "fill" portion to make it easier to see)

First come the "fill" layers, which are for covering up halftones & similar shading techniques. This step isn't super necessary (and sometimes involves a lot more editing to replicate halftone gradients/patterns), but I heavily recommend it for scenes that involve a lot of dark colors. Leaving halftones in can cause colors to look darker & grayer than they should, the latter of which you specifically want to avoid when making color edits of darker-skinned characters. (They can also be really good for conveying texture tho, which is why I left the statues' shading alone in this example.)

Next are the color layers, where the bulk of the editing happens. As I mentioned above, I use a ton of multiply layers for this so I can just draw over the image. Darken layers also work, but I've found they tend to affect line density & smoothness. The shading and highlighting here is done using masking layers for individual objects/structures – I think quick group + choosing inherit alpha for the mask layer is the krita equivalent? Layers for darkening the overall lighting (like for nighttime scenes) would also go in this section.

Finally, the lighten layers are solely for the lineart. This is to help "soften" the the lineart, so to speak, making the scene feel a little more 3D/fleshed-out. This step is especially important when dealing with hard shadows, like on the Dark Mirror's frame, Pomefiore's windows, and Ignihyde's central pillar-thing. What I do is put down a bunch of lighten layers, typically at 50% or 75% opacity, and color-pick the darkest part of whatever feature I'm editing the lineart for. Because I'm using a darker color, the surrounding multiply layers will usually go unaffected by the lighten layers – if not, I just gotta zoom in and be careful about it. These layers need to be on top of/closer to the 'front' than the color layers, or else the multiply effect of the color layers will apply to the lighten layers as well.

Thanks for bearing with my kinda long-winded explanation! I've been learning as I go, so there might be easier/better ways of doing things that I haven't stumbled across yet.

I hope this helps & that you have fun doing color edits!!

[islandwizards]

The Best Free WordPress Plugins You Should Use

If you're running a WordPress website, plugins are essential for adding functionality, improving performance, and optimizing the user experience. At Island Wizards, a company dedicated to providing WordPress headless and Shopify services, we understand the importance of selecting the right plugins for your website. To help you get started, we've compiled a list of the best free WordPress plugins that you should consider for your site.

1. Yoast SEO

Yoast SEO is one of the most popular and comprehensive SEO plugins available. It helps you optimize your content for search engines by providing keyword analysis, readability scores, and detailed SEO suggestions.

Key Features:

Real-time page analysis

XML sitemap generation

On-page optimization for readability and keywords

This plugin ensures that your content is SEO-friendly, which can boost your site's visibility in search engine results pages (SERPs).

2. WPForms

Every website needs a reliable contact form, and WPForms is one of the easiest form builders out there. With its drag-and-drop functionality, you can create beautiful forms in minutes, even if you're not tech-savvy.

Key Features:

Drag-and-drop builder

Mobile responsive

Spam protection

WPForms makes it simple for your visitors to get in touch with you, making it a must-have for businesses like Island Wizards.

3. Elementor

For those looking to design stunning web pages without coding, Elementor is the go-to plugin. This free page builder offers a user-friendly interface that allows you to create custom layouts and designs.

Key Features:

Drag-and-drop editor

100+ templates

Mobile-friendly designs

At Island Wizards, we recommend Elementor for clients who want full control over their website's appearance without relying on custom coding.

4. WooCommerce

If you're running an online store, WooCommerce is the ultimate plugin for e-commerce. It powers more than 30% of all online stores, and it's fully customizable, allowing you to sell anything from physical products to digital downloads.

Key Features:

Built-in payment processing

Inventory management

Customizable product pages

As experts in WordPress and Shopify, we at Island Wizards often integrate WooCommerce for clients looking to build a robust online store.

5. UpdraftPlus

Backing up your website is crucial, and UpdraftPlus simplifies this process. This backup plugin allows you to store your backups in the cloud or download them for safekeeping.

Key Features:

Scheduled backups

Cloud storage integration

Easy restoration

At Island Wizards, we always advise our clients to have a backup strategy, and UpdraftPlus is the perfect solution for that.

6. Smush

Website speed is critical for user experience and SEO, and Smush helps by compressing your images without sacrificing quality. This image optimization plugin reduces file sizes, making your site faster and more efficient.

Key Features:

Lossless image compression

Bulk image optimization

Lazy loading

Faster websites tend to rank higher in search engines, and at Island Wizards, we prioritize performance for all our clients.

7. Wordfence Security

Security is a top priority for any website, and Wordfence provides a comprehensive security plugin to protect your site from malicious attacks.

Key Features:

Firewall and malware scanner

Login security

Real-time threat defense feed

With security being a major concern, we at Island Wizards strongly recommend Wordfence to all our WordPress clients.

Conclusion

Whether you're just starting out with your WordPress site or looking to enhance its functionality, these free plugins are essential tools for success. At Island Wizards, we specialize in WordPress development and can help you integrate these plugins into your site seamlessly. Choosing the right plugins can significantly improve your site's performance, security, and overall user experience, ensuring your website operates at its full potential. Explore more about our service… https://islandwizards.com/blogs/when-you-should-consider-moving-your-store-to-shopify/ https://islandwizards.com/blogs/understanding-the-importance-of-ui-ux-in-website-design/

[popculturebuffet]

Earth Day Special! (4-Episodes. Too Many To List, Comission for Weird Kev 27)

Happy Earth Day everyone! It's a day to reuse, renew and recycle, reflect on the gifts mother earth has given us and hope it dosen't die horribly from big corporations and general studidity bleeding it dry!

It's also a time to celebrate how cartoons tackle envornmentalism, as Kev, my sorta producer and the guy who pays for the bulk of my commissions each month, is an environmentalist, and thus thought it'd be fun to take a look at a few episodes that tackle a green message and see how they do.

Today we'll be looking at the Rocko's Modern Life Classic "Zanzibar" and three more recent examples; OK K.O. Let's Be Heroes "The Power is Yours", Big City Greens "Green Greens" and The Ghost and Molly McGee's carbon zeor heroes. So join me under the cut as we see how yesterday and today's toons try to teach kids what they can do to help the environment.

Zanzibar (Rocko's Modern LIfe)

We start with the oldest episode here, all the way back from 1996.

Zanzibar is a musical episode, a genre I can't belivie I HAVEN'T covered before but love dearly. Sure sometimes it can be done poorly, but when done right it's a thing of beauty and Zanzibar does it right.

A lot of that is in who wrote it: Dan Povmire and Jeff Swampy Marsh of Phineas and Ferb and Milo Murphy's Law Fame. This is where they got their start and you can tell it's them by the beautiful music and self aware tone. In a great joke everyone dancing and singing is explained by the fact they rehearesed every thursday, except Rocko who wasn't aware this was a thing and is deeply confused. The episode knows it's a musical and an environmental episode when the general strategy to writing one was POLUTION BAD. PEOPLE WHO POLUTE ARE GROTESQUE CORPRATE MONSTERS WHO POLUTE BECAUSE IT'S FUN OR SEXY TIM CURRY POLUTION. We all know grotesque corporate monsters pollute because it's cost effective.

Instead, Zanzibar is pretty blunt about where the issues come from: When Rocko arrives to a full dump after the catchy opening tune, Ed's solution is that "There's plenty of room over there".. in a park. Ed represents callous assholes who dump garbage everywhere, but in a realistic sense: some assholes really are that callous about the environment or act like damaging it dosen't matter. Ed even sings a whole song about how birds and fish are "brainnnnlesss pinheads", which is both beautiful to hear and also gloriously obnoxious.

Thankfully our heroes instead listen to Captain Compost Heap, a wonderfullyd eisgned pile of compost that sings the spelling song, the signature piece of this episode and the one that has been grafted to my head since watching. IT's catchy has hell.. and that's by design as it teaches HOW to help the environment in a way kids could feasably try while getting stuck in their head so the lesson sticks. It teaches the steps: recycle trash to reuse it, conserve power, and don't you P-O-L-L-U-T-E the rivers sky and sea or else your gonna get what you deserve. Simple but effective and it even talks about ozone depletion in detail, one of the best examples i've seen of that, only topped by Futurama's Crimes of the Hot later. Gotta remember that one and a big piece of garbage for next year.

OUr heroes DO mak ea change and help the dump reduce... but it also shows there's limits to what we CAN do as CCH points out the biggest polluter, Conglom-O the souless corporation that owns most of the city and city hall... to the point the crowd that's gathered decides to give up and sing about how you can't fight city hall. What's neat though is that Rocko.. dosen't and decides you can at least TRY to hold corporations accountable. Granted Rocko has a big unruly mob on his side but still.

Granted the episode does make the issue of holding them acountable easy as all it hilarously takes is Rocko barging in, adresssing the board, and then his big unruly mob singing a song to convince them "sure why not". IN real life.. they usually won't or may SAY they will but not actually do shit, and if they do do things it'll be in a performative measure. But I get this is a 90's era cartoon aimed at children, if fun for all, and thus can only do so much.

It DOES however work around this with catharsis: ed's in charge of it and thus gets the thankless job of undoing all Conglomo's shit which at least shows how big corprate greedheads really don't have to put any work into actually fixing their act and foster it on someone else. it's just in this case the someone else is a callous asshole incapable of learning a lesson, so it works out. And all Ed leanrs.. is to be pissed Rocko gave him extra work, and thus is smited by the ozone layer for his insolence. A bit broad? Sure but it works well for it's time and even now holds up really well, being a funny, sharply written episode that knows what it is and what it's limitations are and thus just has fun with it.

The Power is Yours (OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes!)

OK KO is already pretty damn insane and it's great for that. It mixes subtle character development episodes, well done story arcs and a fun world with just about every genre of protagnist stuffed in and juiced up on energy drinks with wacky nonsense episodes.

This is one of those as well as one of OK KO's crossover episodes. While OK KO would do a proper big ole crossover with conteperary shows with Crossover Nexus, most of the time Ian instead focused on older properties. It's why the Grimwood Girls made their triumphant comeback here, why the Sonic crossover had a LOT of adventures of sonic the hedgehog homages, and why for it's first crossover... they choose captain planet.

Keep in mind Captain Planet, while aired on CN and grandfathered in as something owned by Time Warner Bros Discovery, originally aired on TBS and long predated the network. Of all the many great shows Cartoon Network had aired, it was a very left of field choice.

But it's one that clearly ian sincerly backed and rightfully so. The Power is Yours shows a love for Captain Planet while also lampooning the hell out of how over the top it is, which Given OK KO is already over the top in it's world, fits perfectly.

Here Lord Boxman, our resident baddy, gets help from evil efficency effort and former Captain Planet Villian Dr. Blight. He finds her sexay, so he gladly endugles her when she claims poluting and destroying the planet will somehow equal profit, a nice take on how most captain planet villians were greedy buisness types.. yet engaged in stuff that vastly outstripped the profit they'd actually get. There's a reason Captain Planet Villian is now short hand.

As a result the ice caps melt flooding the plaza, smog encroaches.. but only our lead KO gives a fuck. Rad is of course oblivoius and self intrested and Enid dosne't care a lot this early in the series.

Thankfully KO get shelp from Kwame, leader of the planateers played by returning acting icon Lavar Burton, who does a wonderful job. He gives each of the cast a ring.. including A Real Magical Skeleton and his buddy brandon, who have to share the wind ring.

Captain Planet is able to turn the tide and the animators.. just have fun with the series cartoony nature, having Captian Planet do the goddamn certified Jojo pose, complete with araki style art shift, above, suck up all the polution like a ballon and generally get to do looney tunes stuff.

As is standard procedure if I remmeber right, Captain Planet gets struck down and as is standard procedure fo rour heroes, Rad and Enid bicker and it takes KO using the power of HEART to get them to care about the environment which powers up CP enough to save the day.

The plot's simple.. btu what makes it work is how tounge in cheek it is: this is captain planet taken to it's most rediculous extreme and it works. The only thing missing is ted turner murdering people to really fit. And the ending.. improves on the source with Captain Planet pointing out what they've done.. really dosen't GUARANTEE the world is okay. We have to take systemic, group action to really make a change and not let the planet fall into a firey hell pit and while doing what you can is good, if exagerated for parody's sake here, climate change is something that's not easily fixed nor going away. It's a lesson we all need to learn and one well taught, mixnig the over the top parody and moralizing.. with a real message that lands because it's so seprated from what came before without feeling jarring. Captain Planet calmly telling a small child that it's not that easy.. works. The power is this episodes and the onlyt hing it was missing was a ted turner rampage.

Green Greens (Big City Greens)

Green Greens follows our favorite family as they try to clean up their own environment.. and also showcases how while Recycling IS a good thing, sometimes doing so can be a trial.

The ep kicks off with Bill finding out his garden is rotting. Naturally like 80% of his problems, it's cricke'ts fault, who has created a trash hole in the garden not getting that their crops are you know.. how they pay for food and stuff. As usual it dosen't sink in, not helped by the revelation Gramma has been aiding and abetting this nightmare. Tilly didn't know because "We knew you would snitch sweety" and I assume Gloria, their live in 20 something the family basically adopted in all but paper, didn't either.

Bill plans to clean all this up but runs into a problem thanks to said gloria; A flourcesnt bulb is among the trash and if not disposed properly it can leak into the enviroment, something I honestly forgot and is good to know. Wanting to both prove a point and not kill their yard worse than his son already has, Bill agrees to Gloria's suggestion to take it to an e-waste center. Gloria will drive and Tilly will tag along because she's a pure ray of sunshine while Cricket and Gramma will clean up the consequences of their actions.. which admitely isn't the biggest punishment as Cricket mocks bill about how he gets to play in the trash... though Gloria calling hi ma little racoon is adorable. She's a good big sister.

Gloria DOES have her limits though as our heroes end up in a traffic jam, and Gloria has big plans for tonight

Okay she just dosen't want to spend her saturday in traffic when her surrogate dad and sister can just take the train so their left on their own. What follows is an epic quest, as our heroes have trouble finding the chartruse line.. a gag I really like as Bill wonders if tha'ts even a color. They find help with an activist who is suprised anyone is actually doing something as fortold in the prophecy and guides them to their destination: beyond the bridge of woe to the e-waste center, it's frought with peril. Bill has an understandable question

And there's no real answer but I get their point: sometimes city planning makes it hard to .. you know actually recycle. not everywhere collects recycling. I know my town dosen't. And while Big City DOES, it's e-waste center is on the other side of town, in the shady and smog filled industrial district. It's not making it easy to do the right thing and it shoudn't be this hard to properly dispose of a lightbulb.

Our heroes treck through urban mordor.. and fine their on the wrong side. Bill does the understandable thing and goes laughing mad, scaring away some toughs and planning to just chuck it. TIllyt alks him down pointing out sometimes doing the right thing is hard.. but you should still do it.. even if it means crossing an industrial waste. And the thing is getting the bulb there for the one day a week, if that, it can be recycled... dosen't really fill them with any satisfaction.

What does that and gives them closure with their quest.. is the b plot> Cricket and Gramma are naturally hot mess. They do clean out the trash hole.. but now have a full trash can and a GARBAGE MOUNTAIN to deal with. Cricket does what I usually doa nd jsut stuffs it all in.. and it predictably backfires, spilling out all over.

They go with plan b: just stuff it in the neighbors dumpster.. and said neighbor says i'ts not very chill so they back off.. but does provide a solution. Recycling! The episode shows how recyling trash.. helps reduce it to a managable level, helping break down the issue of "well it makes it harder to have to sort the trash. it does.. at first.. but doing so helps reduce their trash. It honestly makes me want to try recycling simply because it seems like it'd help my room not be the wasteland it is.

It also delivers the episodes aseop: doing your part for the envorment is hard and often thankless.. but just doing your little bit with worth it. Just doing that much has already restored the soil around the crops.. and that's enough to make bill and tilly feel like their journey was worth it. And Gloria. she helped too. Probably.

Carbon Zero Heroes (The Ghost and Molly McGee)

Our final stop for this special, as we look in on the recently departed the Ghost and Molly McGee. Fun fact this is the first episode from season 2 i've seen.

This episode is also my first exposure to Ollie. He's our protaganist Mollie's boyfriend and thus to the shippers

That's somehow not an exageration either: See in season one Molly was heavily shipped with her closest friend Libby and her nemises turned friend Andrea, the former because they have adorable chemistry and compliment each other and the latter for both some of those reasons and because Disney shippers really love enemies to lovers. Given I ship both Sashanne and Lumity, I sympathize. So introducing a canon love intrest whose not either of them was always going to be a struggle. I'm a shipper myself, I get it. Sometimes it's hard. I mean i've been trying to ship this dog for several days

But i'm still not sure exactly who. It's a hard buisness and sometims you can go years without finding a character to pair with a character. Especially when ti's a cartoon british dog who already has a LOT of shit to put up with and thus needs someone SOMEWHAT stable. and also like 30's ish. What i'm saying is shipping wendy is harder than I expected and I get canon sometimes sucks.

I won't however bash Ollie for that as he was already being created byt he time season 1 aired, and thus the staff really didn't have time to pivot with the tides. At worst he's kinda bland as in at least this episode he's really just.. molly but a dude. That's it. Their adorable.. but unlike Libby or Andrea he dosen't really play off of her in an intresting way. his voice actor, who also has the voice of an angel in the musical number for this episode, feels he boosts her up, which fits.. but I still get that it's just not as intresting as Molly helping Libby with her shyness and Libby consequently help;ing Molly take about 10% off or Andrea's cool demeanor and slow reform contrasting Molly just going for it. It's not that Olly is TERRIBLE, he's just nojt AS good as the ships the fans had built up by the time he popped into the world.

So where were we.. ah yes. Someone help me ship this dog. She does pilates, can deadlift a grown dog man, and is the loving mother of one. She'as also easily startled but given her neighbor once slapped his ass in front of her as part of a game with his daughter and got shoved down the stairs for the same reasons while treating it as if it wasn't a big deal, you can see why maybe I want her to be happy

And oh yes the episode. Okay so our episode is kicked off by a lecture on how if we dont' fix climate change

And leaves the children all scared. Scratch, our ghost and Mollys ghost BFF, figures it's humanity's problem as he's dead. He dosen't have to deal with this and he certainly doesn't have a human body he forgot about. Nope not him.

Molly, being a go getter naturally dosen't take this lying down and wants to do something while Libby.. feels we're all fucked and there's ntohing we can do and has prepared a bunker. I was not expecting this to have a LIbby subplot about her survivial bunker for the inevitable fall of mankind, but here we are and it is glorious.

Ollie however agrees with Molly that they can do something so in classic kids tv fashoin tehy start recycling, pick up garbage, do all the carbon zero footprint stuff all to a catchy well done song.. and costume changes. I did say they were adorable, I prefer molibby but they aren't bad.

The episode also does something few kids shows have done, and something I like: While Big City Greens talked about taking small steps, Rocko foreshadowed what a bit task it was and OK KO showed whatever steps you tak earen't enough alone, TGAMM shows just HOW MUCH it'd take to actually leave a zero footprint. Our heroes bike everywhere, can't watch anything, can't have pizza, eat turnips they grew but can't cook them because gas (even though fire is an option. Whose for fire?), keep bugs off said turnips, miss a birthday party and are generally utterly miserable.. and it only improves the earth by .00000000003%. The hard truth is doing NO harm to the envronment in a world set up that way... is simply impossible without radical life changes two 13 year olds simply aren't capable of. They can't buy a farm or have the money to grow crops and can't bike up hills reliably. As a wise 10 year old once said

It's a hard truth.. but one kids NEED to hear. You can't do everything yourself, the world is hard to change and you shouldn't kill yoruself doing so. It dosent mean having a trash hole or nothing matters it just means saving the earth isn't something you can do by yourself.

While our heroes were hitting rock bottom we get that bunker subplot, which is the best part of the episode. Granted I already liked libby a lot as a character but given her sometimes depressed nature, it fits perfectly that she simply decided instead of trying to change thigns to prepare to the end, and seeing the normally shy libby show off her zombie bunker is great. She even gladly invites Scratch. What's a bunker without friends. This plot is here for two reasons. the first is it's hilarious and provides a nice contrast from how.. rough the a plot can get as while there are some funny bits it's rough watching two well meaning 13 year olds nearly drive themselves nuts trying to fix climate change.

So instead we get another tween whose happily set up a zombie survivial bunker and counters Scratch's "those don't exist" with "People dont think ghosts are real either". Touche. She also has a blanket with spikes and a bed with spikes. Lots of spikes, canned goods and posters to prepare for the zombei apocalypse or any old apocalypse.

The other reason besides being objectively hilarious is it shows the other extreme: giving up, accepting the world will go to shit and errupt in fire and being prepared to live in a horrifying post apocalypse. And that itself.. isn't healthy. I mean having a bunker shockingly is as having somewhere safe and secure planned in case shit goes down, especially when your best friend has recently dealt with super ghosts, isn't that unresonable especially in these times. I can see why Libby's mom lets her keep it. They MIGHT need it.

The problem is just.. giving up: accepting the world will end instead of at least trying.

It's worth it to just.. try to make the world more sustainable. We can't probably entirely FIX climate change, but we can at least try. It's the lesson throughout all these episodes: climate change dosen't have an easy answer, but you can't give up.

So Molly and Ollie do.. but scratch encourages them.... ti's mostly to save ice cream as he realizes apocalypse food sucks, but it ends up being a good metaphor: that alone we can't save ice cream, but together we can. That community action.. is really what's needed> it might not fix EVERYTHING.. but we can at least try.

So Molly goes to town hall... which isn't as over the top as it might sound because she's tight with the mayor and has done a lot of community improvment. Of course their going to listen to her and her boyfriend and her future girlfirend and her army of racoons. She's earned it.

So Molly simply pitches a green intivaitve for the town which mayor patton oswalt naturally agrees to because he's a good dude and again, Molly has done a LOT for this town. He tried to make her mayor once. Simply doing their part, picking up trash, upping recycling, and setting up windmills... it'll only help them get carbon neutral by a decade from now.. but it's something, and shows you can acomplsih something by just trying. Also Scratch has become jabba the hutt from a lot of ice cream.

So that ends this retrospective and I gotta say.. not a bad episode in the bunch. All teach their lesson well without being patronizing or ignoring how hard going green CAN be. It was a great crop so this earth day, save a tree, try to recycle.. just do what you can. Do all you can do and it'll make the world just a little better.. and maybe tell a billionare to fuck off. I'm writing this in advance but Elon Musk will probably have done something that day. So thanks for reading and happy earth day.

[oisinshields]

The Art and Science of Packaging boxes for beauty products: A Comprehensive Guide

When it comes to beauty products, packaging plays a crucial role. Not only does it protect the product, but it also serves as a powerful marketing tool. In this article, we'll delve into the significance of packaging in the beauty industry, explore various types of packaging, and highlight current trends and challenges. By the end, you'll understand why packaging is more than just a container for your beauty products.

The Importance of Packaging in the Beauty Industry

First impressions are everything, especially in the beauty industry. Packaging boxes for beauty products is often the first thing a customer notices, significantly influencing their purchasing decision. The packaging of a beauty product is like a book cover; it needs to catch the eye and make an excellent first impression. Attractive packaging can attract customers, while poor packaging can turn them away before trying the product. Packaging is a critical element of a brand's identity. It communicates the brand's values, style, and quality. Consistent, well-designed packaging helps build brand recognition and loyalty. Beyond aesthetics, packaging must protect the product from damage and contamination. Proper packaging ensures the product remains fresh and compelling until it reaches the consumer.

Types of Beauty Product Packaging

Beauty product packaging can be categorized into 3 fundamental types: number one, secondary, and tertiary packaging. Primary packaging boxes for beauty products is the on the spot field that holds the product. For instance, the bottle protecting your preferred basis or the tube of your cross-to mascara. Secondary packaging consists of additional layers that defend and promote the primary package. This is probably the field holding a fragrance bottle or the card sleeve around lipstick. Tertiary packaging is used for bulk dealing with and shipping. It guarantees the secure delivery of merchandise from the manufacturer to the retailer.

Materials Used in Beauty Product Packaging

Various materials are used in beauty product packaging, each with its benefits and drawbacks. Glass is a popular choice for luxury products. It's durable, non-reactive, and has a premium look. However, it's also heavier and more fragile than other materials. Plastic is versatile and widely used in beauty product packaging. It's lightweight, durable, and can be molded into various shapes. The downside is its environmental impact. Metal packaging, often used for lip balms and compact powders, offers durability and a sleek appearance. It's also recyclable, making it a more eco-friendly option. Paper and cardboard are commonly used for secondary packaging. They are lightweight, recyclable, and can be printed with high-quality designs.

Sustainable Packaging Solutions

With increasing environmental concerns, sustainable packaging is increasingly important. Materials such as bamboo biodegradable plastic and recycled paper are gaining popularity in beauty packaging. Waste can be significantly reduced by encouraging consumers to recycle or recycle packaging. Many companies are now designing packaging with this in mind. Biodegradable packaging degrades naturally, reducing environmental impact. This is a good choice for environmentally conscious products.

Design Elements in Beauty Product Packaging

Effective packaging design goes beyond just choosing materials. It involves several elements that together create a compelling product. Colors can evoke emotions and convey messages. For example, green often represents natural and eco-friendly products, while gold and black can signify luxury. The choice of fonts and the way textual content is arranged can effect the readability and attraction of the packaging. It ought to align with the logo's character and target market. Images and photos can beautify the attraction of packaging. High-quality visuals can communicate the product's benefits and attract potential customers.

Innovative Trends in Beauty Packaging

The beauty industry is constantly evolving, and so is packaging. Here are some innovative trends making waves. Technology is being integrated into packaging to enhance user experience, such as QR codes that provide product information or augmented reality experiences. Simplicity is vital in modern packaging. Minimalist designs that focus on essential details and clean aesthetics are trending. Personalized packaging, such as monogrammed containers or custom labels, can make products feel unique and special to the consumer.

Regulations and Standards in Beauty Packaging

Beauty brands must adhere to regulations and standards to ensure safety and compliance. Labels must include ingredients, usage instructions, and other relevant information. This ensures transparency and helps consumers make informed choices. Packaging must protect the product from contamination and ensure it is safe. This includes tamper-evident seals and child-resistant packaging. Compliance with environmental regulations is essential, especially for brands focusing on sustainability. This includes proper disposal instructions and using eco-friendly materials.

The Role of Packaging in Marketing and Sales

Packaging is not just about protection; it plays a vital role in marketing and sales. Attractive packaging can stand out on crowded shelves and catch the eye of potential customers. A memorable unboxing experience can enhance customer satisfaction and encourage repeat purchases. Thoughtful packaging boxes for beauty products design can create a sense of excitement and anticipation. Packaging that looks good on camera can be a powerful tool in influencer marketing. Eye-catching designs are more likely to be shared on social media.

Cost Considerations in Beauty Packaging

Balancing quality and cost is a significant consideration for beauty brands. Brands need to allocate a packaging budget that considers production and material costs. Finding cost-effective solutions without compromising quality is critical. This might involve bulk purchasing or using more affordable materials. While price is essential, it's crucial not to compromise on quality. Poor packaging can damage the product and the brand's reputation.

Challenges in Beauty Product Packaging

Despite its importance, packaging boxes for beauty products comes with several challenges. Finding sustainable packaging solutions that are also cost-effective and practical can be complex. Ensuring that products remain fresh and compelling over time is a critical concern. Packaging must prevent contamination and degradation. Counterfeiting is a significant issue in the beauty industry. Packaging must include security features to protect the brand and consumer.

Case Studies of Successful Beauty Packaging

Examining successful packaging can provide valuable insights. A high-end skincare brand uses glass bottles and minimalist designs to convey luxury and elegance. An eco-conscious brand uses recycled cardboard and soy-based inks to highlight its commitment to sustainability. A famous mass-market brand uses bright colors and fun designs to appeal to a younger audience, making their products stand out on shelves.

The Future of Beauty Packaging

The future of beauty packaging looks promising, with several exciting developments on the horizon. Technological advances will continue to drive innovation in packaging, from intelligent packaging to new sustainable materials. Demand for sustainable and eco-friendly packaging will grow as consumers become more environmentally conscious. Experts predict a shift towards more personalized and interactive packaging, enhancing the consumer experience.

Tips for Choosing the Right Packaging for Your Beauty Brand

Selecting the proper packaging is crucial for any beauty brand. Know who your customers are and what they value. This will guide your packaging decisions. Your packaging should reflect your brand's values and identity. Consistency is critical to building brand recognition. Before finalizing your packaging, test it with your target audience and gather feedback. This can help you make necessary adjustments and ensure it resonates with consumers.

Conclusion

Packaging is crucial for beauty merchandise, affecting the whole thing from branding to customer purchasing selections. By expertise the specific styles of packaging, materials and products and being knowledgeable approximately developments and policies, brands can create profitable packaging and attractive Remember that quality packaging protects your merchandise, complements your emblem and draws customers.

[katieqnmr]

Camera for St Cats 😵‍💫😁

As I’ve said before, I was really nervous about doing camera for the first time ever (basically) I had made Orla promise me a beautiful camera team, and now I had to do the work. The thing is, I was scared that even doing all the preparation I possibly could wouldn’t ensure that I would feel ready to film…

But I had to get over the fear and once I instead began to be excited about what the project would look like I was able to delve into researching what I wanted the camera to tell about the characters I’d written. I almost think camera and writing is a god-level combo, it’s perhaps too much power(?) but I would be lying if I said I didn’t enjoy having so much input into the characters I had spent so much time with the previous months. Also orla kept me in check ;)…

In part of my preparation for camera, I browsed a ton of film stills on shotdeck, which I had to get a free trial for. Shotdeck is really great. The stills are super high-quality and feel like they pulled from a range of films. I still think they’re lacking a few but for what I needed, it did a great job. Even though I love drawing, I’m not a huge fan of storyboards, because I feel like I just get lost in all the details and take so long to do them that they don’t serve as a useful reference point anymore. I can’t seem to be able to hand in half completed work, and stick figures would never satisfy the desire I have for detail.

So? The solution is to find as many screenshots as can explain what I was thinking. My first port of call was Normal People, because Orla had found some shots of it when we were discussing the moods of each scene, and I was just taken immediately. It had the exact kind of realism but beauty that I wanted to capture. I loved the use of lens lengths too. It felt really personal but didn’t stray into documentary territory.

Confession: I still haven’t watched Normal People (neither has Orla!) but I don’t think I had to to understand the shots. The fact that I didn’t know what each scene was saying, yet I could feel so much and get so much character depth means that they did a really good job.

I used stills from other films as well, especially scene 3 I was always referring back to this 4 shot from Waves, (DOP Drew Daniels). ^ but Normal People formed the bulk of my inspiration for this exercise specifically. There were also plenty of scenes where I came up with shots with no inspiration, except for the medley of whatever stuff is in my brain (hard to find a source for that). I was able to visualise exactly what I wanted without having to storyboard it, and it also gave me a really good idea for the lighting of each scene. I could adapt each to be personal to what I wanted. There were no shots that were exactly mirrored in Saint Catherine‘s, because I obviously wanted to use my own creativity. There is one shot (6.1) that is very inspired by normal people, but we changed the focus to be on her other eye in Saint Cat’s.

Seeing the shots already existing made me feel less nervous, and I think as a beginner allowed me to begin to be confident in what I was going to create. I also found this incredibly specific shot from a music video that had the softness of light that I wanted from Scene 7.

I also really enjoyed the chats I had about lighting with Alex who is clearly the most passionate and talented gaffer I’ve had the pleasure of working with haha - he had such good ideas about how we could achieve each shot. When I had questions about where we would light from or what kind of light we would use, he had an answer. Alex is just incredibly knowledgeable and adaptable, and I felt like I was in very safe hands.

As the shoot went by, I felt like I was able to really imbue the film with my own creativity and perspective. I feel so happy that I was given the freedom to explore what I wanted to. The shoot itself was so calm and days just flew by…we were finishing early or on time every day, and everything felt like it was going a very easy pace! The Saint Cat’s shoot is definitely the one I felt most at home and most inspired by. :) I loved doing the cinematography for Saint Cats, and I wish I had found the confidence to do it earlier.

[pinkykats-place]

BakuDeku ft. Weight Gain

AO3 Fanfic Recommendations

Disclaimers!

None of the stories linked below are mine.

Some contain mature content. Read tags.

Amazing art by @fihella (permission given).

Note: If you read any of these stories and like them please let the author know with a kudos and/or comment!

Midoriya Gains Weight

New Pants by Bringobaggins

Summary: Izuku knew he was gaining weight. It became all to clear when the new jeans he had just purchased were a bit of a struggle to get on. Good thing Kacchan loves his thickening form.

One Shot | No Quirks | College AU

Rated - Mature

Series: The adventures of a Bad Boy and his little Chubby Bunny by Quirkyasfok

Summary: And so yea, Deku had gained a bit of weight lately. Not much, really. Just a bit more chub in his cheeks, a bit softer around the middle. Nothing to noticeable or worth mentioning.

Unless you were the stupid media that is.

Two Parts | One Shots | Pro Hero AU

SFW

Scars in the Mirror by artistiqally

Summary: It was nearing nightfall when Izuku stood in front of the mirror with one of Katsuki's old shirts on. With the sleeves rolled up, revealing his scarred biceps, it only reminded him of the difference between his husband's gorgeous broad shoulders and his own.

"Kacchan, are my scars...um, weird to you?"

---

Izuku's self-conscious of his scars and gaining weight. Katsuki helps him realize he's beautiful, no matter what.

{One Shot}

SFW

sweetheart by SpicyJam

Summary: "What are you doing?"

"Nothing you need to worry about, nerd." Katsuki's eyes dart over, and a mean grin splits his lips to show the canines. "Or should I call you 'sweetheart'?"

Izuku jumps up with a shriek, and his mouth would have fallen off of his face if it could have. "S-suh…" He flubs the entire word as his body goes through a meltdown as the cutesy petname echoes through his brain, and Katsuki guffaws at him.

"It's on the shirt, dumbass."

Then, Katsuki points his finger at the collar. Izuku has to squint hard to see the faint stitching, holding the hem away from his neck.

And it's true. There, in pretty purple script, is a cursive 'sweetheart' written in all lower case.

Izuku wants to drown in the mall fountain.

"Kill me."

"Nah. It's funny, sweetheart."

Izuku buries his face against his palms and screams into them.

---

Izuku goes to the mall for some new clothes and ends up going home with Katsuki?

{One Shot}

Rated - Explicit

Healing Process

Summary: When an injury leaves Deku out of commission, Bakugou steps in to help the healing process. Between all of his friends feeding him up and Bakugou pushing him Midoriya ends up putting on some pounds.

One Shot | Pro Hero AU

Rated - Mature

Bakugo Gains Weight

Kacchan’s Recovery by katsubakudeku

Summary: When Bakugou suffers some severe injuries while taking down a villain, Deku is ready to spoil him.

And spoil him, he does.

One Shot | Pro Hero AU

Not Rated - Alluded Smut

All That You’re Asking For by stuffingstilinski

Summary: Since he’s been home recovering, Katsuki’s put on quite a bit of weight. Thing is, he doesn’t realize just how much, or how crazy it’s driving his boyfriend.

One Shot | Pro Hero AU

Not Rated - Alluded Smut

Bigger Is Best by MuscleChubBoi

Summary: When they'd started out at UA, Deku had been a scrawny little shit. Now as adults, the asshole is a total brick house. And he's gotten stronger than Katsuki too. Way stronger. It's absolutely un-fucking-acceptable.

In a jealous (and somewhat aroused) rage over Izuku's progress, Katsuki decides that he needs to catch up and surpass that shitty nerd by any means necessary. The solution? Bulk excessively. Work out for all he's worth. He gets stronger very quickly. Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately) all that excessive eating and not watching his calories close enough while he trains has caused him to gain a lot more than just extra muscle.

But maybe he likes it... Midoriya certainly does.

Complete | 5 Chapters | Pro Hero AU

Rated - Explicit

Kacchan Bod by bigGUNs

Summary: “I like it, but I like Kacchan’s body mostly because it belongs to Kacchan.” “Sap.”

One Shot | Pro Hero AU

SFW

[pratibharefractoryminerals]

Cosmetic-Grade Talc in India: Your Go-To Guide

Cosmetic-Grade Talc is a versatile and essential ingredient in various cosmetic products that enhance our beauty and well-being. In India, the use of this mineral is prevalent in the cosmetics industry, and it plays a vital role in formulating high-quality personal care products. Talc is often referred to as the "invisible foundation" in cosmetics. It provides the base upon which other pigments and ingredients are applied. One reliable Supplier of Talc powder for Cosmetic Grade in India is Pratibha Refractory Minerals. This allows for better color dispersion and even coverage. In foundations and face powders, talc serves as a bulking agent, helping to create the desired texture and consistency. Its ability to absorb moisture makes it an ideal choice for these products, as it keeps the skin looking fresh and oil-free.

What is Cosmetic-Grade Talc?

Cosmetic-Grade Talc, often referred to as talcum powder, is a natural mineral primarily composed of magnesium, silicon, and oxygen. It is renowned for its softness, smoothness, and excellent absorptive properties. These qualities make it an ideal ingredient for cosmetics, where it is used in a variety of products, such as powders, foundations, blushes, and even skincare items.

The Importance of Cosmetic-Grade Talc in India

Cosmetic-Grade Talc holds a significant place in the Indian cosmetics industry. It is valued for its ability to absorb excess moisture, reduce friction, and provide a silky texture to cosmetic products. These characteristics are particularly important in a country with a tropical climate like India, where skin care and comfort are of paramount importance.

Pratibha Refractory Minerals: A Trusted Source

This esteemed company specializes in the extraction, processing, and supply of high-quality talc for cosmetic and industrial purposes. They are known for their commitment to quality, safety, and ethical practices.

The Extraction and Processing of Cosmetic-Grade Talc

Cosmetic-Grade Talc is derived from natural talc deposits found in various parts of India. The mineral is extracted, and the raw material is carefully processed to ensure it meets the stringent quality standards required for cosmetic use. Pratibha Refractory Minerals employs state-of-the-art techniques to obtain the finest talc powder.

Diverse Applications of Cosmetic-Grade Talc

Cosmetic-Grade Talc has a wide range of applications in the cosmetics industry. It is a staple ingredient in face powders, eyeshadows, blushes, and more. Its versatility makes it an indispensable component in creating products that offer a luxurious feel and performance.

Benefits of Using Cosmetic-Grade Talc

The use of Cosmetic-Grade Talc in cosmetics is associated with several benefits. It imparts a smooth and silky texture, absorbs excess oils, and enhances the overall performance of products. It is also compatible with various skin types, making it a versatile choice for formulators.

Talc in Cosmetics: A Versatile Ingredient

Talc, a mineral known for its versatility, is a key ingredient in cosmetic products. The primary reason for its widespread use is its ability to absorb excess moisture and reduce friction. This makes it a vital component in products like loose powders, pressed powders, and various makeup formulations. Its finely milled, soft texture provides a luxurious feel, ensuring a smooth and even application, which is essential for achieving a flawless look. Talc's versatility extends to a variety of skin types, making it a popular choice for cosmetic formulations. If you have any further questions or inquiries about Cosmetic-Grade Talc or would like to explore our range of high-quality talc products, feel free to get in touch with us. Pratibha Refractory Minerals is here to assist you in meeting your cosmetic and industrial needs. Contact us today to discover the best solutions and products tailored to your requirements.

[shimmerjjang]

Shopping Finds: 4 Exquisite Shapewear Pieces You'll Love

Shapewear and comfort are two things that don't usually get associated with each other. Since we're all used to the tight, uncomfortable fit of shapewear, many of us tend to give it a skip. But here's where style and practicality meet - at Waistdear. I'll be sharing the four best shapewear pieces on this site. Each of them is perfect to boost your shape while putting comfort first.

Boyshort Shapewear: Where Comfort Meets Chic

Waistdear's Boyshort Shapewear is all about being simple and effective. With no seams and coverage from the waist to the thighs, this classic piece is a must for your everyday wardrobe. They ensure that you do not lose comfort while you give your body a unique curve. Thus, they ensure shaping doesn't mean giving up comfort. It makes these boyshorts perfect for daily wear.

Get it here

One-piece Shapewear Briefs: Confidence in a Single Piece

Do you want full control over the midsection and coverage for the thighs? Waistdear's One-piece Shapewear Briefs are the answer. No seams mean no worries about visible lines, and the stretchy fabric moves with you. This all-in-one shapewear piece shows our commitment to practicality and comfort. So, check out these amazing wholesale body shapers and increase your wardrobe collection.

Get it here

Faja Body Shaper: Confidence with Precision

This Faja Body Shaper goes beyond regular shaping. By targeting specific areas, it sculpts the waist and highlights natural curves. Perfect for those who want a more defined look without compromising comfort. This amazing pieces shows their commitment to effective solutions. It caters to the needs of all those who love fashion and want to look good.

Get it here

Open Crotch Body Shaper: Easy Shaping

Innovative and practical, Open Crotch Body Shaper mixes shaping with everyday convenience. Its open crotch feature makes it great for daily wear. You will get midsection control and thigh shaping without giving up comfort. Such a thoughtful product reflects Waist Dear's dedication to understanding consumer needs. It is a shapewear that should fit into your lifestyle.

Get it here

Give Yourself Confidence in Every Shape With Shapewear!

This isn't an online store; it's a place for those shaping their confidence journey. The platform celebrates personal beauty and offers a range of diverse needs. With a focus on quality, style, and comfort, Waist Dear is a trustworthy companion. You can also take a look at their hot sale custom waist trainer for confident curves.

How to Get a Personalized Shaping Experience?

Those thinking about wholesale body shapers can have options for bulk orders. You do not have to sacrifice personal preferences. For a more personalized experience, it offers waist trainers and other products. You should know that all products let you tailor your shapewear to your unique needs.

Go Beyond the Ordinary With Your Style

The shapewear or body shapers  go beyond the basics. Each product is not only an item of clothing. It makes an excellent company in your styling journey. Let's embrace and celebrate your unique beauty with Waistdear.

Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by Waistdear

[crystalelemental]

Unit Teambuilding - Sygna Suit Hau

Apparently it was the Tapu.  I legitimately didn't think it would be.   In retrospect, I feel stupid for not believing it.  Oh well.  At least they picked cool characters to get them, right?  ...right?

General Overview I'm just kidding, I can't be mad at you, Hau.  You earned this one, buddy.

Hau comes in with Tapu Koko, as an Electric Tech.  Whose focus is Electric Terrain and extension.  Just...going right after SST Red with that, eh? I respect the hustle.  The instant thing I need to put on the table is that Hau is not as good as SST Red.  No one is.  But what Hau does offer is team support, where he's not the only person in the world that matters.  So I like him a lot better. Interestingly, Hau also gets Fairy Zone as a skill to call, provides +1 special moves up next when anyone sets a field effect, and has a buddy move that is AoE and hits all foes for -2 speed, then boosts team speed by 2.  Given the number of Cakewalk/Inertia units in the game, this is big money.  The activation condition for his buddy move is just any field effect being active, and he sets Electric on enty, meaning in three actions he caps speed for the team, and bottoms out speed for the foe.  This is fantastic.

Hau's limitations mostly come through in the lack of recharge.  There is no MPR for Fairy Wish, and the only recharge for Electric Terrain is a 3/5 grid skill.  Granted, it resets Terrain every single sync, and with extension, this is...forever.  Which means Hau actually maintains for any lower tier Electric-type as well for Gauntlet purposes.  So that’s...exciting.  Still, taking every other sync to keep it running is going to be interesting.

Move Level and EX? EX isn't necessary unless you plan to deal damage with him.   Interestingly, his base kit gives him everything he needs to succeed as a partner at 1/5.  3/5 is only if he's aiming to be the sync nuke, and 5/5 really just offers overkill levels of power for your allies.  I wouldn't say it's worth it.

Team 1: SS Hau, Eevee Kris, W!Jasmine Friends. It is with absolute glee that I announce...we did it.  Eevee Kris has ascended.  SS Hau, at 1/5, provides nonstop infinite terrain, thanks to Kris resetting it every sync.  Winter Jasmine provides SEUN and bulk for the team. We are, in a word, perfected.  You have no idea how stoked I am for this.  Trying to use Kris with SST Red was just constantly being rendered redundant by the absurdity of Buddy Volt Tackle, but now?  Now we're in business.

Team 2: SS Hau, Gordie/Lodge Serena, Hop/Sonia/BP Morty Outside of Electric and Fairy pairs, Gordie and Serena are the top winners of SS Hau.  Electric Terrain as an opener means Hau gets right to Buddy move, which can maximize the effects of both Cakewalk and Inertia in just three turns.  By the first sync, Gordie and Serena are at max capacity.  They also have solid self-setup, so while you can offload your offensive needs to Hop or Sonia, Gordie can cap offenses with just an MPR, and Serena only needs a little help to cap. So you could go bulk with BP Morty.  Which, this being the second bulk team, I feel I should mention 3/5 Hau can buff evasion for the team.  Just putting it out there.

Team 3: SS Hau, Sophocles/Clemont, Hop/MU Torchic This is more the emphasis of Cakewalk sync nukers with Electric as their type. Sophocles and Clemont come to mind, mostly because they're the two I most often wish had better options with Gauntlet.  They just...really need offensive support.

Team 4: SS Hau, Diantha/SS Wally/P!Serena, SC Jasmine/Lodge Dawn SS Hau offers Fairy Zone and a -1 cooldown on trainer move when that Zone is active.  This is a beautiful thing for Diantha and SS Wally, who are all about that fast-ramping life.  SS Wally is a little redundant, but for CS purposes, it checks out.  I'm using SC Jasmine as support, because of special defense debuffs.  I admit there's not a great solution to these, as Diantha needs special attack drops that don't really exist outside of her 4/5 grid.  But also she's a DPS in this case, the sync is just for mega evolution, so it should be fine.  Lodge Dawn exists if you want to let Diantha try self-setup.  It's not great, but Team Sharp Entry saves a turn.

But there's another to talk about!  Palentine's Serena!  Inertia on sync, and Hunter's Instinct on DPS!  Hau supplements both.  He's actually a fantastic partner to P!Serena, who loves just about everything he does.

Team 5: SS Hau, SS Kris, Archie Hey kids, you like stacks of Moves Up Next?!  Kris gets at least one per trainer move, possibly two with Limited Special Boost.  Hau gets one for each field effect, including the intro activations, so he’s getting at least four by just hitting Fairy Zone twice.  And now you have a wonderful decision.  Archie’s Origin Pulse blasts Water apart.  Or Electroweb blasts sides apart and Archie’s Thunder obliterates center on Electric. 

Final Thoughts I actually really like Hau...’s kit.  I think he's got a solid kit that does pretty well for the sets he's supporting.  I don't think it's like...insane.  There are definitely limitations.  But considering how many Electric types run Cakewalk or Inertia and have an awful time setting them up (Sophocles, Clemont, Elesa, Marnie), I think he's really good at supplementing those effects.  Even N, who doesn't need them for sync purposes but is just so slow, really appreciates it.  And on Fairy, it's the same situation.  He's able to supplement P!Serena beautifully, gives Diantha much better gauge control while providing Zone, and even supplements options like SS Wally and Bede well.

Hauever!  I do think he’s another one of those options that’s like...too strong to support everyone.  Lower tier Electric types love the infinite Terrain, but 3/5 Hau with sync is generally stronger.  Still, this is a much needed improvement for the archetype over SST Red.  I appreciate that more than he will ever know.