#improved using layer modes - check

[procrastinova]

May 2021 vs November 2023

[azeterna]

tutorial: making slider-compatible earrings

this uses quite a new feature, the BlendID vertex colour layer, and as far as i know there's no complete tutorial or explanation of how it works out there, so this could probably still be improved. i still use old Blender, but feel free to translate this to other versions.

in simple terms it's a new vertex colour layer that gives each vertex of the head a unique colour, and you can use it on your CC mesh to attach it to a specific head vertex. for small detailed meshes like earrings it does this better than uv_1, which makes them go spiky.

to start, the earrings should be placed on the s4s rig's ear, even though it's way smaller than the smallest preset in-game. if you have several piercings close together, separate them (P) into different meshes because it makes transferring the colours so much easier.

there are some limits to this, each CC vertex can only be attached to one head vertex, so you can't do chains or anything that would need you to blend between two verts. the industrial does work because it's just two clusters of verts with nothing in the middle, and for this tutorial i'll treat it as two separate earrings. finally, don't expect it to perfectly preserve the placement - evenly spaced piercings will end up uneven, and on extreme occult ear presets the earrings will probably still come away from the ear.

selecting the source polys

check that the head mesh (head for mframe, head_2 for fframe) has a BlendID vertex colour layer. if it doesn't, re-export the CC from S4S or import it into a freshly exported blend file.

enable editing the head.

for each piercing, select a poly that contains the vertex you want to attach it to. for me it works best using the outside of the ear. it takes a lot of trial and error to find the best one, so don't expect it to be perfect first time. (you need to do this for both ears, you can't just mirror the mesh after you're done because the colours are different)

duplicate (Shift+D, Esc) and separate (P) the polys into a new mesh.

switch to editing the new separated mesh.

move the source vertex for each earring as close to the middle of it as possible. the whole of each earring should be closer to that vertex than any other, this is why we separated the ones that were close together at the beginning.

move the other vertices well out of the way.

transferring data from the head

if your CC mesh doesn't have a uv_1 map and a BlendID layer, create them and name them.

transfer the BlendID layer from the separated head polys to the CC mesh. use Nearest Corner Of Nearest Face, not Nearest Face Interpolated like you normally would for uv_1 maps.

do the same for the uv_1 map. (this might not be necessary, but it won't hurt.)

in edit mode, select and assign the whole mesh to the head group and delete any other groups. (side note: if you do this for face piercings you'll still need to transfer weights from the face as normal. i'd transfer them from the separated head polys using nearest vertex, so each piercing has uniform weights. you might need to do separate versions for both frames too.)

in vertex paint mode and wireframe view, check that each earring has a uniform red colour. in classic EA style some of them are impossible to tell apart, so use the colour picker (S) to check.

switch to the Col layer and paint the whole mesh (Shift+K) with #007F00.

bet you wish this was over

if you separated the CC into multiple meshes, do the whole thing again on the other mesh.

select all your CC meshes on object mode and join them together again (Ctrl+J).

hide the polys you separated from the head.

the mesh should be ready to import into S4S now! sometimes in my testing it was being weird though, and i had to import it several times or delete the BlendID layer then undo and reimport it. i'll try to update the tutorial if i figure out why.

trying it in game, you can see which parts still need tweaking, the higher stud is especially bad because it isn't that close to any of the head vertices. you can either try a different source vertex for them, or try moving them around. if you're designing an earring set from scratch, it might be easier to choose placements that are close to a vertex on the ears.

[gudgurkan]

Got any tips in shading stuff in black and white digitally?

Hi Anon!

You're in luck! I'm currently wrapping up a book which is shaded digitally, so I've been thinking a lot about this recently.

How I do this is by no means the only way, so take from these tips as much or little as you want! When I add grays and shadows to a line art drawing, I try to think about these things:

Preparing the image

I like to work with a file that has a white background and a layer with only line art on top of it. Between these two layers I add new layers where I use the pen tool and bucket to fill areas with black, then I lower the opacity for that layer to get a value that I want.

This method works well for me, and for simpler pieces I don't need more than 3 layers with different values - light, medium and dark grays.

I work in Clip Studio. Here's a picture of the layers of a recent drawing. Each layer is actually completely black but you can see the opacity percentages by each layer. Lower percentage -> brighter value. This makes it super duper easy to change the value of a layer, no need to repaint it, just change the opacity!

Value composition

For the best result, do a couple of value sketches with a limited set of values and find something that works well for the image. Getting the values right is what will improve the image the most! Here's a quick tutorial on muddycolors. Muddy Colors is a very nice art blog to check out. Looking at grayscale storyboard drawings or value sketches are great ways to pick up on this too.

I try to group values when working with grays. Take this image for example:

The character in the foreground has mainly dark grays, which separates her from the background, which has mostly light grays. Then the windows are white and the roof black.

Value composition is a huge and complex area and I recommend anyone wanting to learn to be more conscious about their values and to do value sketches. Analysing art you think has good values is great too.

Shadows

Not every piece needs shadows, but they can add a lot to an image! I use three kinds of shadows when I work in grayscale.

Inked shadows - these shadows are added during the inking stage and usually show areas where light would have almost no way of getting there, such as under this tent.

Gradient shadows - these shadows usually represent something getting further and further away from a light source or an area that would bounce light. This tree receives a tiny bit of light from a campfire on the ground and moonlight that bounces on the ground and up, fading as we get higher up in the tree. But mainly I add these gradients in ways that look cool and will help the overall composition.

Hard shadows - these shadows appear when a strong light casts shadows and can be used on a shape or to cover something. Here's a werewolf with shadows on its back, which gives it a better sense of mass and is interesting visually!

You can also cover an area in shadow like this, where the tree casts a shadow down on the archer and the cliff.

Texture

I like to add a layer of noise as a finishing touch. In Clip Studio you can create a noise layer with Filter->Render->Perlin noise... Find a balance of scale and amplitude that works for the image, then change the layer mode to "Vivid Light" and lower the opacity of the layer to around 30%. I like how this looks, it's not super visible usually but helps make the drawing feel less artificial and digital.

I hope that helps! Here are some nice links too:

Muddy Colors

Android Arts

Gurney Journey - Read his books!

Happy drawing!

[loverofpiggies]

IT’S POWER, EVERYONE!!!

Check out my etsy shop

If you want to see how I made this piece, check out the extended stuff below!

Okay, the story behind this piece is nuts, but. I’ve known I’ve needed to work on improving my art for a while, so as you can tell from all the newest pieces, I’ve been trying to push myself. It started like this:

This was actually the fourth sketch I made. I knew I wanted Power to be looking down at us (you know, what she does with everyone), and I wanted to have her swinging a blood scythe in one way or another. I set up composition lines, but the more I looked at the sketch, the more frustrated I got. I finally just had to accept my anatomy and my 3d understanding of the body is very much lacking, and If I wanted to improve I had to work on something.

I watched a bunch of tutorial videos, and decided to try out the 3D model in Clip Studio paint. It didn’t take too long to learn how to manipulate the model, and I came up with this:

From here, I decided to do my quick sketch with Power

While I was experimenting with Clip studio’s art stuff, I decided to try playing around with their new “Shade Assist”. I figured it could give me some more ideas to make my shadows feel more ‘real’ or have me look at my art in a different way. Once I finished the lineart, got the color in there, and drew in Meowy, this is what I tried.

I really loved how the ‘evening’ mode of shade assist looked, even after playing around with my own colors, but I liked how it gave her a slightly more ‘yellow’ tone, and how the shadows were actually just lavender and light pink. So I took those colors, and worked on the shadows.

From there, I made the background layer. I used one of the Clip Studio gradient pre-sets, the ‘evening’ one, and painted a texture on top of it to have it match more with the textured painting style I went with. I added blood splatters, and ‘rectangles’ in the background, just to have more things visually going on.

On top of all of that, I added another layer on top of Power herself, with a very slight tone color of the gradient behind her, to make her and the background feel like they’re supposed to be together. And that’s it!!

I’m really happy with this so I wanted to explain my process. Looking around at tutorials on youtube, talking to artist friends who- tbh, are WAY more knowledgeable then me, helped a ton. And using the 3d model helped visualize the body, and different angles, WAY better then anything else I could find.

So uhhh thank you, and enjoy!

[shelandsorcery]

What I've Learned About Teaching Art

I've had the privilege of teaching art in a variety of environments - from still life oil painting at the college level, to combining art with science and history in a museum setting, to guiding highschool students through creating a comics anthology. Through these very different settings, I've found a list of constants that, when I keep them in mind, help me deliver the most enjoyable and effective art education for my students. One of my core beliefs is that art is, at the heart of it all, something a student must teach themself, and that a classroom, workshop, or camp that wants to teach art is actually responsible for creating an environment and offering projects that facilitate that self-driven learning. With that on the table, here is the pantheon of truths that, if I can hold on to all of them, help me create that learning environment:

- Almost no one is inherently unable to draw. Additionally, everyone can improve at drawing. With the wealth of "traditional" media, digital tools, and thousands upon thousands of years of art history with which we can map the possibility space, it seems obvious that if someone wants to make art, then they absolutely can.  If they want to draw, then no teacher should ever, EVER tell a student that they "can't." The teacher's role is usually to take a student who already secretly believes they can't draw and help them see both the breadth of possibilities and the potential within themselves to improve whatever skills they start with. - Drawing is not always about making a beautiful image. The obsession with one kind of "good drawing" creates an artificial limit on who is allowed to draw. Sometimes being an art teacher is about expanding a student's definition of art as opposed to pushing their frustrated and dejected pencil along a path towards a narrow goal. The reality is that even within pop culture we see so many gorgeous kinds of art! Beyond that, aiming superficially as an artist for a particular surface result will almost always create lesser work than creating an understand of underlying processes and theories that helped the "good art" come into existence. - Drawing can teach new ways of seeing. Observing with the intent of drawing can transform how a person perceives the world. So much of teaching art is teaching visual literacy, the literal act of reading meaning within visual input, whether that's a still image, a film, a building or a natural landscape. When you motivate students to read visuals by providing them with new ways to understand creating visuals, you jump start their investment in visual literacy. - Drawing can help us think about things differently. Thinking can shift along with modes of seeing - what is a structural way of thought? What is a compositional way of thought? When you teach art, you must teach a student to look at things holistically and in granular elements - besides just enhancing thought processes moving between the two states, you can get much more discovery in the analytical and planning modes of appreciating and creating artwork. - Drawing from reference is as educational as reading. Learning to examine visual reference closely creates a new kind of literacy - visual literacy. Drawing from reference, especially with guided or motivated questions to be answered, can create an opportunity for modes of analysis that students don't get to otherwise use. Developing visual observation and creating a practice of looking both closely and holistically can create a layered understanding of the subject. Even students resistant to traditional still life drawing processes can find benefit in using drawing to answer self-guided questions. - Learning by making art is a valid mode of learning. Making art can be a mode of learning that both alternates between input and output and creates a sense of ownership/agency in both modes. The hands on creative process is a kind of guess and check system that can be designed carefully to allow students to make a wide variety of types of decisions, and teaches them to create goals and investigate what processes will best allow them to achieve said goals. - Competition with each other or with some imagined ideal will deflate artistic potential. An art classroom cannot have winners and losers based on "quality" of final piece. Art education will benefit more students if it is process oriented. Quality, even in straightforward skills based art education, can still be subjective, and unless it's an aggressive battle Royale for some exclusive prize, the intent of any art programming is not to find the single best but to encourage each student to improve. So don't be a dick about it. - Art is a product of restraints. Material, process, time, subject or conceptual restraints allow for a kind of focused play. Giving students free reign is in itself a huge challenge of self direction, goal setting and prioritization. Making some of those choices for them gives them a chance to focus their own learning. - Materials change the kind of engagement. Diverse materials allow for diverse engagement. Just as subject matter can affect a student's personal investment in a project, the material or method of art making can change their engagement. Changing between drawing and painting, reductive or additive sculpting, stenciling or stamping, will not only change the tactile experience of art making but will affect the modes of thought used to make creative choices. - Venue or audience transform art. Pressure to show, and to whom, can change students self imposed limitations. Defining an audience will change and add pressure to art creation. This can help students hold themselves to a higher standard, but can also frighten or overwhelm them. Audience needs can be a useful limit or influence on the direction of an art project, but audience pressure needs to be modulated to the response of each student. - Art is most interesting when it leaves the comfort zone of its creator. This can only happen in a classroom where students feel safe to take risks. Art, even when the subject matter is utterly anonymous or benign, can be a hugely risky-feeling process. Even the act of making art in a classroom environment can feel frightening; if we want students to fully engage, and to take the artistic risks that allow them to learn, we have to spend class time making the classroom into a safe space for the students. This probably needs to be it's own post so I'll leave it there for now and come back and expand upon it in detail in future. - Subject engagement transforms art. Students with something to say about their subject may push themselves farther. Caring about the subject can be a blessing or a curse for a student - deep subject investment can drive problem solving around how best to present it in the artwork, while deep subject investment can also overwhelm a student with self imposed pressure and even a large dose of imposter syndrome. Therefore it can always be useful to intersperse self selected subject matter with "boring" or at least not emotionally significant subjects, to relieve some of the pressure and allow students to instead respond to the process alone. - Ownership of a process will empower students. Whether they've designed a process, built their own materials or set their own goals, agency gives students investment. One of the most exciting things about art is that students have a lot of potential control and thus ownership - they will always be making choices, and those choices are potentially exciting because they directly affect the outcome. You can increase this sense of ownership or investment in the class by facilitating student-made materials, like sketchbooks or mark-making tools; or by facilitating student-led exercises or challenges or projects. - Demos will guide what others make and must be done carefully. Demoing can empower and at the same time overwhelm or impose limits on the viewers. Demoing must be designed to specific goals of each assignment. Eg: if you want students to use surgical techniques to explore value, or depth, or composition, whole you absolutely have to demo the technique didactically, you need to be careful not to be didactic about the results you want in relationship to the subject of exploration. Showing a wide range of potential approaches can help in classrooms where students can handle large info dumps, but often it's better to demo the technique, get them trying it out without further instruction, and then redirect then to the topic of exploration as stage 2. - Material potential can power a room. Art supplies can be motivating all on their own. Getting excited about them can make it safe for the students to get excited as well. There are many different supplies available to teach art with, and trying different ones can add a lot of excitement to the room even if your topic of instruction is narrow. Getting excited about materials can change the mood of a classroom entirely. - Criticism must engage with the student's goals or it will work against you. Setting goals, and then reflecting on them, is key to art education as so much of art is self directed. If you then ignore that setup and approach critique without listening to your students' internal direction and goals and at minimum acknowledging them, they will not find your critique constructive. This goes for young children all the way to adults - you need to be in dialogue with them. - Open discussion and open ended questions will always help. Once you've found a way to make the classroom a safe space, group discussion powered by open ended questions can open everyone's mind up to broader possibilities. One on one conversation also benefits hugely from open ended questions and encouraging students to reflect and investigate their own process and practice. - Letting students share their learning is important to help the class grow beyond your own limited experiences. Students will often still feel in competition with each other, so instituting non-competitive collaboration and sharing will be important to minimizing classroom tension. This can be demonstrated first with art games and developed into collaborative processes on more serious projects. - You can never clarify the instructions enough. Always repeat yourself, be prepared to repeat demos, have a written list of instructions and delegate helpers. Breaking projects up into stages can help with detailed instructions, but always show an overview first. Art is overwhelming and there is no process so simple everyone is automatically good at it. Accurate following of a process will often help students who are unsure of themselves prove themselves to be competent and your job as the teacher is to make sure they have everything they need to do that. - Techniques are best remembered when students use them to solve specific problems. Show how applicable to different problems a technique is during demos. Be prepared to reteach or to teach new techniques whenever students hit a wall. Encourage them to reflect over the techniques they have at hand to see if there's a new way to use one that could solve their problem. - Art is mostly learned by doing. Material literacy is gained only through material exploration. If you spend too much time talking/demoing before they get to try the materials the enthusiasm can fade. If you have a student who is frightened of doing it wrong, the most important thing is to make a safe space for them to do it wrong, because that's the only way to eventually do it right. These are all best case scenario tips - and while I've tested them all to know they work, it's still hard work to keep everything in play in every classroom. I'm hopeful that having this written list will help me, and maybe by sharing I can help others as well. Art is a privilege to teach, but I believe it is incredibly important for everyone to get to learn it, in a safe environment where the effects of an art practice can be the most beneficial. Are you teaching a creative subject? What are some techniques or core values you bring to your classroom? Read the full article

[floweyseviltwin]

helloo. your palettes rule do you maybe have any tips on how you choose your colors :^) no pressure

Ah!!! Thank you!!!

my main tips are to keep values in mind, to not be afraid to saturate the HELL out of your colors, and to use the tools you’re given in digital programs!!!

elaboration & extra tips vvvv

Values- every hue has an inherent value, blue is the darkest, yellow is the lightest, so a saturation or hue change does mean a value change! Whenever i’m working on something more serious, i add a layer with a solid gray on “color“ mode to check my values throughout me making it. (do this as often as you flip your canvas, which you should also be doing fairly often) Values are super iimportant to the composition of your piece, so zoom out really far and see if your piece is still readable off of values!

Saturation- SATURATE YOUR COLORS. every time i color things, i start with a very (halfway to the full saturation or more) saturated color blocked in- often a color i want my character to be tinted- and start from that main color whenever i choose a new one. Though I like to use INCREDIBLY EYE-BLEEDINGLY saturated colors, greys have their place too!!! especially in more soft pieces. I never use fully desaturated greys, whites, or blacks. Again, i keep in mind the inherent value of colors, and use that to keep even my white tones saturated. (often i use a decently saturated cyan or yellow instead of white, and blues, purples, and dark reds instead of black) i also never touch the sides of the color picker when choosing my colors by hand, because it looks nicer.

Tools- this one’s for digital art specifically. Digital programs come with SO MANY useful tools that can improve your pieces so much, it’s silly to overlook them! USE filters, USE curves, USE layer modes!!!!! They’re there for a reason, and they can totally help if you’re too timid to saturate or darken your colors too much.

Other random tip i thought of while writing this that really opened my eyes recently. Try Starting by blocking in your LIGHTEST color, if you change it to be a wildly different hue than your character, then you can use that “white“ hue as reference for the rest of your colors. boom, LIGHTING!!!

^a doodle that came to mind using this. i started wanting the whitest color, their skin, to be this purple hue. so the color of their sweater, normally green, ended up a desaturated Orange because that’s how far it needed to go to appear green!!! Its really good to practice doing colors like this, it gets your artist brain flowin~

i freakin LOVE color theory, i’ve absorbed a lot of my color knowledge from learning from other artists. I reccomend the youtube channel Lighting Mentor for some really good tutorials on color and lighting. That’s one of my favorites, but there is literally a million channels and videos out there for you to learn from! If you type just “color theory“ into the youtube search bar you’ll find so many amazing videos by amazing artists. Don’t shy away from learning more about art!!!!! Embrace it!!!!!!!!!!!!! And GOOD LUCK, HAVE FUN!!!!!!!!!! x^)♡︎♡︎♡︎♡︎

[ueberdemnebelmeer]

i've been thinking about this post

ever since i came across it because it bugs me so much ghjdfgd so many of the extensions listed there are redundant, either because they do each other's job or their functions have been implemented natively in firefox + the less extensions, the better! it's less surface area available for "attack"

i recommend the electronic frontier foundation's cover your tracks tool to check how well you're protected against web trackers (as for fingerprinting, i know brave combats canvas fingerprinting via filter lists - like firefox - and by randomizing a user's fingerprint, but it's a chromium browser. canvas blockers tend to impact usability. for day-to-day use you might just want to reduce data available to fingerprints, because to avoid that altogether i'm afraid you're better off using tor)

i'm going through the list above after the read more; i'm no expert, i've just spent a lot of my free time looking into how to improve my privacy and security habits and this is what my brain retained + don't believe me because i say so + feel free to point out any mistakes of mine.

🟩 keep

ublock origin. filter lists you should consider adding:

check Privacy > AdGuard URL Tracking Protection

add Actually Legitimate URL Shortener Tool (explained how here)

check out the arkenfox project's github page too!

🟨 optional

sponsorblock (1) & unhook (2) for yt. i personally don't use either because (1) i'm good with the good old dragging the current time indicator past sponsorship sections and (2) i'm also good at ignoring page elements i don't care about, but that's me obvs.

facebook container (& not listed above but multi-account containers too; differences between the two: x, x): total cookie protection (enabled by setting firefox's privacy protection to "strict") already partitions third parties, but these extensions could provide a further layer of isolation. container tabs + "Delete cookies and site data when Firefox is closed" + "Manage Exceptions" is excellent cookie management with no other extensions necessary

🟥 don't bother

total cookie protection makes ghostery, privacy badger & privacy possum redundant

you've got ublock origin so adblocker ultimate, ad nauseam & adblocker for youtube are also redundant. if you still see yt ads, remove all custom filters related to youtube on ublock origin and force update your lists

https-only mode has been introduced to all the main browsers so https everywhere is also redundant

trackmenot. it's unverified and indeed i've never seen it recommended in any of the multiple firefox hardening videos and guides i've checked, it's kinda useless unless you're a regular google or bing user. prefer a privacy-focused search engine instead

(e.g. duckduckgo [advanced search tricks here and here] which cleans up bing results and has a lite version too! i've also seen startpage [which cleans up google results] recommended but it's had some controversies. for further info, i recommend checking this)

duckduckgo privacy essentials. i suppose (but i can't be sure) this was installed because when you try to add a search engine in firefox's settings you're redirected to the addons page WHICH IS STUPID OF THEM because you can add them via search bar (i did this with e.g. letterboxd)

don't track me google. for those random google searches you still might need, if you added all the filter lists above to ublock origin you should be fine, and if you aren't you're better off using skip redirect

jury's out on blue blocker because it's unverified. i'm not a twitter user either so i haven't checked it out

[thesims4blogger]

The Sims 4: New Game Patch (September 18th, 2024)

A new, small game update is now out. It’s supposed to fix a few errors regarding the ongoing “Grim Reaper’s Event”, as well as bringing the items from the first ever login event to the base game.

If you have auto updates enabled in Origin’s “Application Settings”, the game will auto-update once you open Origin. If you have auto-updates disabled, you will need to manually update by clicking the game in your library.

To ensure your game is up to date, check the game version found in Documents > EA > The Sims 4 > GameVersion.txt. Your game should now read: PC: 1.109.207.1020 / Mac: 1.109.207.1220; Console: 2.00.

Sul Sul Simmers!

Today’s update is intended to address some issues players encountered when participating in the Reaper’s Rewards Event, as well as a special update regarding reward items from the Happy At Home Event that ran earlier this year.

-The Sims 4 Team

Bug Fixes & Updates

Happy At Home Event / Base Game

We changed how Event rewards are stored with our September 18 update. After this change, we learned that some Simmers are missing rewards they earned through the Happy At Home Event we ran earlier this year.

To make sure everyone gets the rewards they earned, we’re granting players across all platforms the Happy At Home Event rewards with today’s update.

All of the Happy At Home Event rewards will be added to the game permanently with this update for all players, with no action needed from you. Need help finding them in-game? Read our guide on how to find your rewards in Build Mode and Create a Sim.

Build/Buy Mode:

Bullseye Dartboard

Casual Comfort Pillow

Compact Bar

Guerdon Goods Mini Fridge

Guerdon Goods Vending Machine

NanoCan 2.0

Create a Sim

Athleisure Wear

Night Sky Layered Necklace

Practice Makes Perfect Sim Trait

Serenity Hairstyle

We don’t expect this issue to impact the Reaper’s Rewards Event, as those rewards will be linked to your EA account rather than stored only on your device. We don’t plan on adding those rewards to the Base Game at a later date. The addition of the Happy At Home Event rewards with today’s update are a one-time make good to thank you for your patience as we continue to work on, and improve, Events in The Sims 4.

Reaper’s Rewards Event / Base Game

Resolved an issue where the Reaper’s Rewards quests would disappear from the UI.

Addressed situations where players on console could lose event progress when completing quests while offline.

Addressed an issue where the Event Points progression bar would fail to update when completing quests offline.

Resolved an issue where the main menu quest notification was missing elements when displayed in certain languages.

Packs purchased while in-game will no longer appear twice in the Store tab when using custom filters.

Various improvements to the Reaper’s Rewards Event UI.

Happy Simming!

[by-izz]

I saw your Minthara drawings and just wanted to say WOW, you're talented! Do you have any tips for digital drawing, and especially getting facial features so accurate?

Hello there, MischievousSeagull.

Thank you for the ask and for the compliment. I really appreciate it. Minthara is just too gorgeous not to draw her (every day, for the rest of my life).

To answer your question, I must say I am very much an amateur and self-taught as well so my advice my not be what professional artists would always agree with. I personally regret not studying art and doing character and object studies when I was younger because I believed 'drawing from references was cheating' so I never did. Now I know that in order to draw a character and make it look like themselves you will need:

1. Start with high quality references:

I aim for a few different ones from different angles, with good light but not flat light as this washes out facial features. I usually find something I like and then wing the rest of it. I recommend checking out and supporting Baldurs Gate 3 community in game photographers, they are amazing! The bigger the resolution, the better, so you can see the the details clearly and avoid ending guessing 'is this a shadow or a dimple or a smudge?'. Also, studying the references will help you recognise the characters features. And Minthara has a few!

It helps me to keep the reference in grey scale for and even with slightly more contrast to better understand the structure of the face, especially if I am just learning to draw a new character.

2. Make the features match:

There are so many different ways of approaching the form here and I ended up trying out a few ones. I personally need to have some kind of guide for the relative position of eyes, mouth and middle of the face as it can save from making massive errors. But I am becoming more and more impatient and mostly just wing it and spend hours correcting it later.

Doesn't matter how you do it: using the Loomis method, Asaro Head/planes of the head model (I love it, it helps a lot, especially if you are planning to have more detailed shading in your art!), Reilly method or the thirds method, colour blocking shapes method that they teach in art schools (I do that chaotically sometimes) or just mark the positions of features from references or just trace it, this is 50% of success. It doesn't matter how you get there, especially if you are a beginner.

What I have been doing with Minthara is trying different faces, sometimes just the reference, with my chosen body position and choosing the one that looks 'least off' and then sketching it. I remember to mark the features of the face as it's crucial at this stage, whether you stylise your art a lot or just stick to the character proportions: thin lips, deep/almost hooded eyes, the way her buccal pads are shaped, the more pronounced nasal dorsum and the adorable angry look of concern with furrowed brows. And obviously the ears. However, I will make the ears longer and the eyes slightly bigger as it looks better for my style.

The structure is very important because and you gave to trust the process. The ugly phase can be torture and if the drawing has no redeemable features, I will never come back to it. However, the next step can lift it all up.

3. Shape it with darknesss and light:

Choosing the way you render can make a big difference in how the drawing turns out. What helps me at this stage, after I have my base colour established and filled my shapes with it, is to have a layer with shadows (copy the base colour and just change layer properties to multiply and time it dial it down to 50%) and a layer with light (the same but use a different mode like Add or Screen) and that's the base for shading on which I build my colours. But to be fair, I am not great at this and I still refuse to aim for a higher contrast in my drawings. This is something I'd like to improve in this srea. I learned to avoid airbrush and work with blending brushes.

I usually play with these light and dark layers until it looks okayish, then proceed with adding extra light and some details. If I keep forgetting where they light is coming from, I draw a little sun to remind me.

4. Ok, now crisis control:

Sometimes, even if I have the most perfect reference the more I render, the less it looks like the person I intended for it to look like. This is why I keep doing these things throughout the process:

A) Mirroring: canvas>flip horizontal every now and then. Our brains lie to us and if you look at your art long enough,you will not be able to see mistakes. Sometimes, when I want to finish something quickly, I end up not checking for errors (wrong eye position, nonsensical anatomy, etc), and seeing the final version after sometime, it can make me feel like a rubbish artist. Having breaks and coming back to unfinished art is a good way to keeping it a little bit more objective as well.

B) Levels in grey scale: Rendering is hard and with little understanding how colours work it can ruin the best lineart more sketch. It helps to have a grey layer set to Colour on top of your art to check if the dark and light balance is there and if shapes look the way you wanted them to look. My brain likes bright colours and sometimes they don't go well with the rest of the composition, this is where grey scale helps with planning it all.

C) Check what went wrong with the reference: If I mess up badly and nothing is improving my drawing, I will go back to the original reference. Mirroring both helps to look at the structure with fresh eyes but if that fails, I will try to redo the base form or marked features in the reference. If it's hopeless, I'll trace the features until the drawing looks right to me.

I used to draw by looking at reference on a (in)famous okeaki platforms and I learned many things from just going back to the form over and over using guidelines on both the drawing and the reference as one couldn't import a picture in that software like we can do in Procreate. I recommend just studying forms and shapes and simplifying complex structures. I'd be a much better artist if I wasn't feeling like it was cheating back them. Going to various exhibitions and learning that my favourite artists traced their own photos and built the composition around them blew my mind and encouraged me to explore more ways of creating art.

I hope this answers your questions and I hope to see your work in the near future and the planned animatics! I'm learning Procreate Dreams and hoping to create a few short animations, once I get the hang of it.

This was a bit long but it was a really good question and one that I often ask myself in the process. Thanks for asking! I almost ended up doing a tutorial on Minthara's features but that'd be overdoing it, haha!

Cheers to creativity!

Izzy

[andmaybegayer]

Should I be using pipewire over pulseaudio and if so why?

If you're on Wayland you should definitely at least check out Pipewire, because Pipewire and Wayland both follow a similar philosophy and are kind of being developed side by side. Pipewire with portals is one of the ways to do screen captures and screenshots on Wayland.

If you're running Flatpaks then Pipewire's integration with Flatpak Portals and xdg-desktop-portals more generally will simplify media handling for Flatpaks and generally make running Flatpak media applications more reliable and seamless.

If you use Bluetooth audio, Pipewire has simpler first class support for a wider array of Bluetooth codecs (high bitrate SBC/AptX/LDAC/AAC) and generally simplifies the process of setting up Bluetooth devices exactly the way you want over Pulse.

If you currently fight with running Jack sometimes (or worse, simultaneously running Jack and Pulseaudio) then you should definitely check out Pipewire, because Pipewire implements both Pulse and Jack compatibility layers that are way easier to look after and which can run simultaneously without any fuss.

If you're doing music production with Pulse, Pipewire's pro audio mode might give you some small quality of life improvements by reducing latency and improving inter-program audio links.

If you're doing a lot of live video stuff, especially video involving desktop capture on Wayland, Pipewire can simplify shuttling video around because in addition to handling audio, it handles arbitrary media streams, but you might have this worked out however you're already doing it.

If you are just running a standard X11 desktop and have no problems using Pulseaudio right now, you probably won't notice any change if you switch to Pipewire, especially if you aren't running Flatpaks or Bluetooth. Since Pipewire currently implements a lot of stuff through a Pulseaudio compatible interface, your normal actions with pactl and pavucontrol will continue working transparently or with minimal changes if you do switch.

Installing Pipewire is relatively easy if you don't have any custom pulse configuration. You just have to remove Pulse and install the pipewire, pipewire-alsa and pipewire-pulse packages.

[cicerooilsmother]

How u art so good

BLUSHES,, THAMK YOU ANON !!!! ! !! ><

art is a skill and it really comes down to developing that skill with practice and intentional study :3 uhmm, idk where to start really because there is a lot to touch upon in improving art!! but here are things that to me, boost your work by a lot once you get a hang of them!

gesture drawing - this isn’t just drawing from life, but it’s learning how to add to it! it’s learning how to exaggerate proportion and movement in order for a piece to feel more lively

values - for me, the way someone knows how to control the values is the BIGGEST indicator of a skilled artist! a lot of artist mistake this problem as an issue of their color choices; a good way to check your values is to have a white layer in the “color” blending mode to see if it is still visible and readable

composition - doing master studies of classical paintings and dissecting their compositions is a good place to start because these artists are confined in the limitations of realism, so they create memorable, striking, mind-blowing pieces by telling a story with the elements they place

design - i don’t know how to describe this, but this playlist of videos by Sinix will!

You can also shoot me a dm if you want constructive criticism! As always, use reference and don’t forget that it will take time :] at the end of the day, you are in charge of how “”good”” you want your art to be. what truly matters is that the work you make makes you happy and is true to what you want to express. art is at its best earnest :3

good luck anon!

[charliejoyce921]

Exploring Toyota RAV4 Sport Mode

The Toyota RAV4 is known for its reliability, fuel efficiency, and versatility, making it one of the most popular compact SUVs on the market.

For those who enjoy a more dynamic driving experience, the RAV4 offers a "Sport Mode" feature that enhances the vehicle’s performance, offering a sportier, more engaging ride.

Whether you’re driving on winding roads or navigating through city streets, Sport Mode provides a noticeable improvement in acceleration, throttle response, and handling.

What Does Sport Mode Do?

When activated, Sport Mode changes several key parameters of the RAV4’s driving system to prioritize performance over fuel economy. The most significant changes include:

Improved Throttle Response: Sport Mode sharpens the throttle response, making the vehicle feel more responsive to acceleration. This is ideal for drivers who want a more exhilarating, quick-revving engine performance.

Transmission Adjustments: The transmission stays in lower gears for a longer duration, ensuring that the engine runs at higher RPMs (revolutions per minute). This results in quicker acceleration and more power during overtaking or when driving uphill.

Enhanced Steering Feel: The steering system becomes more responsive and precise in Sport Mode. This allows for sharper cornering and a more engaging driving experience, which is particularly noticeable during spirited drives or on winding roads.

Active AWD Systems: For RAV4 models equipped with all-wheel drive, Sport Mode adjusts the power distribution between the front and rear wheels for better grip, providing added confidence in dynamic driving conditions.

When to Use Sport Mode

While Sport Mode can make driving more exciting, it’s not always necessary. It’s perfect for:

Highway Merging: If you need to accelerate quickly on the highway to merge with traffic, Sport Mode provides that extra burst of power.

Mountain Driving: When climbing or descending steep hills, Sport Mode allows for more controlled power delivery and engine braking.

Spirited Driving: If you want a more engaging and fun driving experience, Sport Mode brings out the sporty nature of the RAV4.

However, for everyday commuting, city driving, or long-distance trips where fuel efficiency is a priority, it’s better to stick to the normal driving modes for optimal economy.

Conclusion

Toyota’s RAV4 Sport Mode adds a layer of excitement to an already versatile vehicle. By tweaking the engine and transmission settings, as well as enhancing steering precision, Sport Mode elevates the driving experience, providing more responsiveness and power.

While it may not be necessary for every trip, when the situation calls for it, Sport Mode gives drivers a sense of control and confidence. Whether you’re navigating tight turns or accelerating onto the freeway, Sport Mode ensures a more dynamic and enjoyable ride.

FAQs

1. Does Sport Mode affect fuel efficiency in the Toyota RAV4? Yes, using Sport Mode generally results in reduced fuel efficiency. This is because the engine runs at higher RPMs, and the throttle response is more aggressive, leading to greater fuel consumption. It's best used in situations where performance is prioritized over economy.

2. Can I use Sport Mode in all driving conditions? While Sport Mode is great for dynamic driving, it’s not ideal for all conditions. In inclement weather, heavy traffic, or when focusing on fuel efficiency, it's better to use the standard or Eco mode for optimal performance and safety.

3. Is Sport Mode available on all Toyota RAV4 models? Sport Mode is available on most RAV4 models, including the hybrid and gas-powered versions. However, specific features may vary depending on the trim level, so it’s a good idea to check your model’s specifications for confirmation.

[tracyrosehillsboro]

Supporting Executive Functioning Skills in Special Needs Students with Mentors including Tracy Rose (Washington HS)

Executive functioning skills are essential for students to manage tasks, regulate emotions, and maintain focus in academic settings. For special needs students, these skills are often more challenging to develop and require targeted interventions. These skills include planning, organizing, prioritizing, working memory, impulse control, and flexibility. When students struggle with executive functioning, they may face difficulties with task completion, following directions, and adapting to changes in routine. For educators working with special needs students, it is crucial to implement teaching strategies that directly support the development of these skills.

In this blog, we will explore practical teaching strategies for helping special needs students enhance their executive functioning abilities, including breaking tasks into manageable steps, using visual aids, incorporating technology, and promoting self-regulation. These strategies not only help students succeed academically but also prepare them for independence in everyday life.

Breaking Tasks into Manageable Steps

One effective strategy for supporting executive functioning, as highlighted by educators such as Tracy Rose (Washington HS), is breaking tasks into smaller, manageable steps. Special needs students often struggle with complex tasks because they feel overwhelmed. By simplifying instructions and providing clear, step-by-step guidance, educators can help students focus on one part of the task at a time. This method reduces anxiety and confusion, making it easier for students to follow through and complete assignments successfully.

Additionally, providing students with written or visual checklists can be a useful tool. This allows them to track their progress, offering a sense of accomplishment as they check off completed steps. It also serves as a reminder of what needs to be done next, helping them stay organized and on task. By implementing this approach, teachers can foster a more manageable learning environment that supports students’ executive functioning skills.

Using Visual Aids for Organization

Visual aids are another valuable tool in supporting special needs students' executive functioning skills. Visuals, such as charts, calendars, and graphic organizers, can help students organize their thoughts, manage their time, and prioritize tasks. Tutors like Tracy Rose (Washington HS) note that for students who struggle with working memory, these aids provide an external reference point that reduces the cognitive load and helps them stay focused on the task at hand.

For example, using a daily visual schedule allows students to see the structure of their day and understand what to expect, which minimizes uncertainty and promotes time management. Visual timers can also help students manage transitions and stay aware of time limits. By incorporating visual support into the classroom, teachers can create a more structured environment that accommodates the needs of special needs students.

Incorporating Technology Tools

Technology offers a wealth of resources for improving executive functioning skills in special needs students. Many apps and software programs are designed to assist with organization, time management, and task completion. Tools like task management apps can help students break down assignments, set reminders, and track progress, giving them greater control over their workload.

Mentors including Tracy Rose (Washington HS) point out that  digital tools such as interactive calendars, virtual planners, and audio reminders can support students in staying organized and on track. For students with attention deficits, apps that offer focus modes can limit distractions and improve concentration. By incorporating these technology tools into the classroom, educators can offer additional layers of support that cater to individual learning styles and enhance executive functioning.

Teaching Self-Regulation and Impulse Control

Self-regulation and impulse control are critical components of executive functioning, especially for special needs students who may struggle with managing emotions and behavior. Teaching these skills requires explicit instruction, practice, and reinforcement. One effective approach, as mentioned by educators like Tracy Rose (Washington HS), is using self-monitoring techniques, where students learn to recognize and reflect on their behavior. This can be done through the use of behavior charts or journals, where students track their progress and receive feedback.

Additionally, mindfulness practices can help students develop better self-regulation skills. Techniques such as deep breathing, guided imagery, or sensory breaks can be introduced to help students manage stress and regain focus. By teaching self-regulation strategies, educators empower students to develop the tools they need to control their impulses and navigate high-stress situations more effectively.

Encouraging Flexibility and Adaptability

Flexibility is another key executive functioning skill that special needs students often struggle with. The ability to adapt to changes, switch between tasks, and handle unexpected challenges is critical for academic and social success. Tutors such as Tracy Rose (Washington HS) suggest that teachers can encourage flexibility by gradually introducing changes into the routine and helping students understand that adjustments are a normal part of life. This might involve small modifications in classroom activities or transitions between subjects, allowing students to practice adapting in a controlled environment.

Additionally, role-playing scenarios can be an effective way to teach adaptability. By simulating real-life situations where flexibility is needed, students can learn how to respond to changes in a safe and supportive environment. Providing positive reinforcement when students demonstrate flexibility helps to encourage and strengthen this critical executive functioning skill.

Creating a Structured, Predictable Environment

Creating a structured and predictable classroom environment is crucial for supporting executive functioning in special needs students. A consistent routine helps students know what to expect, reducing anxiety and helping them manage their time more effectively. Daily schedules, clear expectations, and consistent rules contribute to an organized environment where students can thrive.

However, while structure is important, there should also be room for flexibility to allow for individual learning styles and preferences. Teachers can offer structured choices, allowing students to feel a sense of control while staying within a predictable framework. This balance of structure and adaptability provides an environment where students with special needs can develop their executive functioning skills without feeling overwhelmed or restricted.

Supporting executive functioning skills in special needs students is an essential part of their academic and personal development. By breaking tasks into manageable steps, utilizing visual aids, incorporating technology, teaching self-regulation, encouraging flexibility, and creating a structured environment, educators can provide the tools necessary for students to improve their executive functioning. Through targeted interventions and a supportive learning environment, educators can empower special needs students to overcome challenges and reach their full potential.

[webnseo1]

Retail Website Design Trends to Watch in 2025: How to Stay Ahead of the Curve

The world of retail website design is constantly evolving to meet changing user expectations, technological advancements, and market dynamics. To stay ahead in 2025, retailers need to prioritize design trends that blend user experience, personalization, and efficient shopping. Here are key trends set to shape retail website design in the coming year:

AI-Driven Personalization and Adaptive Content Personalization is set to become more dynamic and user-driven in 2025. Websites will increasingly leverage AI to provide unique shopping experiences for each visitor, adapting content, product recommendations, and even visuals based on browsing behavior, purchase history, and real-time data. Interactive elements like quizzes or "style assistants" will help tailor experiences instantly, creating a highly relevant, engaging shopping journey.

Augmented Reality (AR) and 3D Product Visualization AR and 3D technologies will become integral to product pages, especially in categories like fashion, home decor, and beauty. Websites will allow customers to “try on” products or visualize items in their spaces. For instance, furniture retailers might enable users to place 3D models of items in their homes using AR, while fashion sites let shoppers see how a dress looks in different environments or lighting conditions, reducing return rates and enhancing satisfaction.

Intuitive Navigation with Advanced Search and Smart Filters Websites in 2025 will feature smarter, more intuitive search functions that adapt to natural language, offering predictive suggestions and enabling voice search. Additionally, multi-layered filters will allow users to refine results with more detail, from sustainability criteria to specific material preferences, making product discovery quicker and more satisfying.

Sustainable Design Elements and Transparency As consumers become more conscious of sustainability, websites are expected to display eco-friendly credentials prominently. Retail sites will include filters for ethically sourced products, carbon footprint data, and transparency about production processes. Design elements will reflect eco-consciousness through natural colors, simple layouts, and clear messaging, aligning visually and functionally with sustainability goals.

Minimalist and Content-First Aesthetic Websites will shift towards minimalist designs that put content and products at the forefront. Clean, white-space-heavy layouts, bold typography, and simplified navigation will make it easy for users to focus on products without distraction. High-quality images and video content will play a central role, helping convey product details and brand storytelling in a visually pleasing and user-friendly way.

Micro-Animations and Interactive UI Subtle animations, like hover effects, scroll-triggered animations, and button micro-interactions, will bring products and content to life, guiding users through the site and highlighting important elements without overwhelming them. These micro-animations improve engagement, make the site feel more dynamic, and offer delightful moments that enhance user experience.

Dark Mode and High-Contrast Accessibility As accessibility gains traction, more sites will offer dark mode options, as well as high-contrast features for visually impaired users. Dark mode is not only easier on the eyes in low-light conditions but can also make a retail site look sleek and modern. By providing adjustable contrast, retailers will ensure an inclusive shopping experience that meets diverse accessibility needs.

Quick Checkout and Payment Flexibility Cart abandonment is a persistent issue, and in 2025, checkout will be streamlined for a seamless, single-page experience. Integrated payment methods, such as digital wallets, buy-now-pay-later options, and crypto payments, will become standard, allowing users to check out in seconds without leaving the product page. Visual cues for security and trust will also be prominent, helping reassure users and encouraging conversions.

Shoppable Social Feeds and User-Generated Content (UGC) Social media-inspired sections, like shoppable Instagram feeds and UGC galleries, will give websites a familiar feel and increase engagement. Incorporating real customer photos and reviews on product pages will provide social proof and foster a sense of community, particularly among Gen Z shoppers who value authentic brand interactions.

Hyper-Fast Loading Speeds and Lazy Loading Techniques Page speed remains crucial for retention and search rankings, and in 2025, sites will employ advanced lazy loading techniques and next-gen image formats like WebP for ultra-fast load times. Retailers will prioritize performance optimization, ensuring every click, image, and video loads instantly, keeping users engaged and encouraging purchases.

Voice-Activated and Gesture-Control Navigation As voice and gesture technology improve, retail websites may incorporate voice commands for navigation, allowing users to search, add items to cart, and check out hands-free. Gesture controls, especially on mobile, can create an intuitive, app-like experience where users can swipe, tap, and pinch to navigate seamlessly through categories.

AI Chatbots and Virtual Shopping Assistants AI chatbots will evolve beyond answering FAQs, providing tailored recommendations, guiding users through sizing, or even styling entire outfits based on the user's inputs. Voice-enabled virtual shopping assistants will offer an in-store experience by helping users find the exact products they need and personalizing recommendations in real-time.

In Summary: Retail website design in 2025 will focus on providing a personalized, intuitive, and frictionless shopping experience. Through AI-powered personalization, AR product visualizations, accessibility features, and sustainable design, retailers will meet the demands of a more discerning, tech-savvy, and socially conscious customer base. The future of retail is about creating websites that feel like interactive, personalized stores—offering every user the convenience, delight, and relevance that will keep them coming back.

[korshubudemycoursesblog]

Ultimate Guide to Google Tag Manager

Google Tag Manager (GTM) has revolutionized how marketers and developers manage website tags. This article provides a complete guide to the Ultimate Google Tag Manager setup and its powerful functionalities. If you want to maximize your site’s performance, streamline tracking, and leverage data-driven insights, GTM is essential.

What is Google Tag Manager?

Google Tag Manager is a free tool by Google that allows you to manage and deploy marketing tags (snippets of code or tracking pixels) on your website or app without modifying the code. GTM makes tracking easier and provides a centralized solution for handling tags.

Why Use Google Tag Manager?

Using GTM simplifies tag deployment and helps keep your website organized and secure. Here are some top reasons to implement GTM:

Centralized Tag Management: Manage all tracking codes in one place.

Improved Page Load Speed: GTM ensures faster page load times, as tags are deployed asynchronously.

Enhanced Analytics: GTM enables easier Google Analytics integration and setup.

Version Control and Debugging: GTM has built-in debugging tools, which help in identifying issues before tags go live.

Key Terminology in Google Tag Manager

Understanding GTM's core terminology is crucial for successful tag implementation. Here are a few terms you'll come across often:

Tags: Snippets of code added to track specific metrics.

Triggers: Define when and where tags should fire.

Variables: Store information needed by tags and triggers.

Data Layer: A JavaScript object that sends information from your site to GTM.

Setting Up Your First Google Tag Manager Account

Create a Google Tag Manager Account: Sign up using a Google account and input basic information about your site.

Install the GTM Code on Your Site: After creating an account, GTM provides a JavaScript snippet to add to your website’s header.

Configure Your First Tag: Choose tags such as Google Analytics for basic tracking.

Set Triggers for Your Tags: Define when tags will activate, such as on page load or button click.

Test and Publish: Use GTM’s preview mode to check your tags before going live.

Top Tags to Implement in Google Tag Manager

Below are some commonly used tags to get the most out of GTM:

Google Analytics 4 Tag: Essential for tracking user behavior on your site.

Conversion Tracking Tags: Track conversions for Google Ads and social media ads.

Remarketing Tags: Show ads to people who have previously visited your website.

Heatmap Tags: Use tools like Hotjar or Crazy Egg to visualize user behavior.

Best Practices for Using Google Tag Manager

1. Use Naming Conventions

Consistent naming is crucial for a well-organized GTM account. For instance, use a naming structure like [Event]_[Location]_[Action], making it easy to identify tags at a glance.

2. Minimize the Number of Tags

While GTM allows limitless tags, having too many can slow your site. Prioritize essential tags, such as conversion tracking and Google Analytics.

3. Regularly Update Triggers and Variables

Regularly review and update triggers and variables to ensure that tags fire accurately. Using GTM’s built-in preview mode allows you to test tags before publishing changes.

4. Monitor with Debugging Tools

GTM’s preview mode helps you spot errors and ensure tags are functioning correctly. Google Tag Assistant, a Chrome extension, also verifies that your GTM implementation is working smoothly.

Creating Custom Events in Google Tag Manager

Custom events allow you to track actions unique to your site, such as form submissions or video plays. Here’s a step-by-step guide to setting up custom events:

Define the Action You Want to Track: Decide what user action will trigger the event.

Set Up a Trigger for the Event: Choose a custom event trigger type, such as "button click."

Configure Your Tag: Create a tag that uses the trigger and select which data you want to collect.

Preview and Debug: Use GTM’s preview mode to test your custom event.

Google Tag Manager and Google Analytics 4 Integration

Combining GTM with Google Analytics 4 (GA4) enhances your tracking capabilities. GTM simplifies GA4 tag management and helps automate data collection for:

Page Views

Scroll Depth

Form Submissions

Video Interactions

To integrate Google Analytics 4 with GTM:

Set Up a GA4 Property in your Analytics account.

Create a GA4 Configuration Tag in GTM and link it to your site.

Add Triggers for events you want to track, such as scrolls or outbound clicks.

Advanced Tracking Techniques with Google Tag Manager

1. Enhanced E-commerce Tracking

Enhanced E-commerce Tracking provides granular insights into user purchase behavior. To implement it, create custom tags and triggers that capture product impressions, add-to-cart actions, and transactions.

2. Scroll Tracking

Scroll Tracking measures how far users scroll down your pages, revealing which content engages users the most. GTM enables scroll-depth tracking, helping you understand page engagement.

3. Cross-Domain Tracking

If your business spans multiple domains, set up cross-domain tracking to retain user session information across all your sites.

4. Video Tracking

Track video play, pause, and completion events using GTM’s video tracking settings. This is particularly useful for content-heavy websites with multimedia.

Common Google Tag Manager Errors and How to Fix Them

Tag Not Firing: Check if your triggers are set up correctly and test them in preview mode.

Variables Not Working: Ensure your variables are properly configured and test with debugging tools.

Data Layer Issues: If you encounter issues with data not appearing in GTM, verify your Data Layer setup.

Top SEO-Related Tags to Use in GTM

SEO Performance Tag: Track organic search traffic metrics directly.

Schema Markup Tag: Add schema code to GTM to enhance your site's appearance in search results.

Content Performance Tag: Track user engagement and optimize your content based on popular pages.

GTM for eCommerce Sites

For eCommerce, GTM offers enhanced tracking features:

Product Impressions: Track products users view on your site.

Add to Cart: Monitor how often users add products to their cart.

Checkout Tracking: Measure each step users take during the checkout process.

Purchase Tracking: Monitor completed transactions.

Google Tag Manager vs. Google Analytics

While both GTM and Google Analytics focus on data, they serve different purposes:

Google Analytics: Collects and reports data.

Google Tag Manager: Deploys tags for tracking on your website, providing control over what data is collected and how it is shared.

Benefits of GTM in SEO

Google Tag Manager supports SEO efforts by providing insights and improving site speed. Here’s how:

Reduced Page Load Time: GTM asynchronously loads tags, preventing page load lag.

SEO Analytics Integration: Integrate SEO tracking tools directly with GTM, enhancing data collection.

User Experience Tracking: Analyze UX metrics such as bounce rate, session duration, and engagement rate.

Top GTM Mistakes to Avoid

Not Testing Tags: Always use preview mode to test tags before publishing.

Incorrect Triggers: Double-check triggers to ensure tags fire correctly.

Excessive Tags: Too many tags can slow down your site and hinder user experience.

Neglecting Data Layer Setup: Proper data layer configuration is essential for capturing custom event data.

Conclusion: Mastering Google Tag Manager

By understanding and implementing the Ultimate Google Tag Manager, you can enhance your marketing campaigns, gather insightful data, and improve site performance. GTM’s flexibility and power make it an invaluable tool for digital marketers, enabling you to monitor user behavior and adjust strategies based on data.

Use Google Tag Manager alongside Google Analytics, SEO tags, and conversion tracking to maximize your online presence. With GTM, you can create a robust, data-driven approach that positions your website for long-term success.

[gameinfoxtbr]

Girl War Update and News

If you are a fan of Girl War Update, then you will surely understand the importance of knowing all the Girl Wars News as well as the latest releases. Developers at Y2Games aim to improve your gaming experience and thus are constantly launching new features, events, and quality-of-life mechanics. This post aims to compile and explain all the most recent Girl Wars Update and News, so you’ll always stay up to date.

GameInfoX

🌟 Girl Wars Update and News New Features & Characters 🎮

As can be seen in this case, every update launched by Y2Games contains new content to attract and interest consumers. The latest Girl Wars update brought several key features and improvements: The latest Girl Wars update brought several key features and improvements: 1. New Heroines Unveiled 🌸 Quite a few new heroines have been introduced to the game and with them – the show has broadened the cast of heroines even further. For each predator, there is an array of skills and powers and for each heroine, there are new features involved in both the battle system and the narrative. As a result, the players have a wider variety of choices for forming heavy-hitting line-ups. 2. Seasonal Events and Rewards 🎁 The update also adds appealing seasonal events in which the players are to accomplish missions: they can receive unique bonuses such as costumes, diamonds, and other resources. Such occurrences give players a little breather from the main plot and give out nice rewards! Visit my Girl Wars game guide for more details on how to ensure that you make better rewards in these events. 3. Gameplay Enhancements ⚔️ Y2Games also has been making a few changes to the combat system to provide new layers to the battle system. : They’ve refined the AI in auto-battle mode in the recent patch to ensure the heroines are smarter as they act in the battles. This enhancement helps to perform battles without the need to control each of them with the hand.

GameInfoX

🛠️ Quality-of-Life Improvements 💡

With player feedback in mind, the latest update also includes several quality-of-life improvements: With player feedback in mind, the latest update also includes several quality-of-life improvements: 1. Improved User Interface (UI) The new interface has made navigation in the game easier as compared to the previous version. The layout of the interface has been improved it is now much easier for the players to navigate through their heroines, the battle statistics, and the possibility of getting to the store. ✨ 2. Inventory Management No more stacks of clothes and shoes accumulating in one's closet! The latest update was released with the novelties in sorting and filter operations, managing the items, and the upgrade of materials and equipment. 📦 If you are looking for heroines to use these new items, check the Girl War Tier List in this article.

GameInfoX

🔔 Patch Notes Summary 📋

For players who want the details, here’s a quick summary of the patch notes from the latest Girl Wars update: For players who want the details, here’s a quick summary of the patch notes from the Latest Girl Wars update: - New SSR Heroines: Three SSR heroines have been included in the list of heroes that can be summoned. - PvP Mode Revamp: The current version features optimizations to the game’s PvP multiplayer where the chances of both players have been made more equal. - Guild Wars: They have included new Guild Wars events through which the guilds can participate to get special rewards. - Bug Fixes: Some of the minor bugs that have been fixed include animation errors and connectivity problems amongst others. Read more about the Girl War Developer and his desire to make the game better and better with every update.

GameInfoX

📅 Upcoming Updates: What to Expect 🔮

teased exciting features coming in future updates: teased exciting features coming in future updates: - New Storyline Chapters: With time more chapters to the main storyline will be produced that will take fans deeper into the Girl War universe. The Forces of Darkness and NMA are back and they have brought news enemies and hidden secrets with them! 📜 - Cross-Server Events: Currently there are whispers that cross-server events are in development at Y2Games to give players a chance to fight opponents from different parts of the world in great mass-RL battles. 🌐 - Heroine Customization: As for your heroines, you should expect more opportunities to customize them, and acquire unique costumes and special visual enhancements. To make sure you do not miss the new opportunities in Girl War latest updates and news, follow the further publications on this website!

GameInfoX

🎮 How to Stay Updated with Girl Wars News 📱

In case you don’t want to miss any of the updates related to Girl Wars, you can follow this site in different methods. Here are some tips to stay informed: Here are some tips to stay informed: - In-Game Announcements: There are a lot of updates that happen in the game and new events, activities, and special offers are always promoted through the notification center so make sure you check what’s on the notification center often. - Social Media: To receive updates and more, follow Girl Wars on social media to get bonus information, patch updates, and engage with the players. - Official Website: The Girl Wars official website has always the latest information about the game, the latest news, and the patches in case they are made.

🧩 FAQs: Girl Wars Updates and News 💬

Q1: How frequently does Girl Wars come up with new updates A1: Y2Games usually launches updates every couple of weeks which come with new content, characters, and games Q2: How can I fulfill this participation in some activities in season events? A2: It is communicated in-game, and players can check from the events menu Greetings both, I hope you will enjoy our answers to the questions SevenDays('~Seven Days~’) is an interactive story game for girls, which is available for download on Wanelo. To get rewards that you won’t be able to find anywhere else, make sure that you complete all the challenges that have been set. Q3: Where are the newest game codes available? A3: Girl Wars game codes may be distributed with the new game updates or with the update connected to some specific event, so it is possible to try to find the latest codes on the official website of the game or social networks. Q4: How could one be up-to-date on Girl Wars news? A4: There are several ways how you can do this: through liking its Facebook account, watching for game pop-ups, or visiting Girl Wars' official website to get updated with the latest one. Q5. Any new heroines will they be included in future updates? A5: Yes! New heroines are periodically introduced into Y2Games, and they all possess different abilities and different histories. Of course, I invite you to check later the firsthand fresh additions to the list of new characters! With these changes and enhancements, Girl Wars remains fresh and provides the players with a new experience. If you are a professional poker player or someone who enjoys playing poker for fun and amusement an exciting twist is always around the corner. Word count: 863 Read the full article