#its texture its detail to make the bigger picture

[strangeterrain]

its the texture its the Layers its the way there is always Something to hear its the . its the detailing and its the different sounds of sounds . and it all Fits together

[seasonalbeauties]

Warning: Rambly discussion and pictures of inzoi and its AI features!

So this is just a quick experience of the AI system in the Create a Zoi demo: this is just to show what is capable of right now. I personally dont use AI period so I hope they take it out and just let people upload their own textures like in ts3 but with a better UI.

So the demo is limited to creating a zoi and the ai feature is for clothing and accessories. Typing in things like linen, plaid, and stuff resulted in things like towels showing up.

If you put in more detailed things like "small blue flower pattern"

You get this or a picture of an actual plant.

If you search "brad pitt" this is what you get:

So for right now, I'm not seeing the intelligence of this AI however for all that we know the development team made it this way so that art stealing etc is not a thing however it could also just be that this is still in development. Since this game is from Korea they might just have different ideas on what AI should actually be used for and what is ethical and as a person who is primarily living in the US I can't comment on that for them. However, I do believe their upload-a-pattern system is way better than ts3 because you can still do it from in-game and it does not lag. For both options, you can make the texture bigger smaller, and move it around.

This is showing a pattern that i uploaded from @wanderingsimsfinds to see how it could handle uploading png patterns.

I do think that this game should remove its AI options unless they can guarantee that it will remain ethical with its generative sourcing (highly unlikely since it's hard to control this if they want a big enough pool of data to my understanding?). I am heavily biased since I don't like AI however I thought that showing some of the images produced it would show how limited this AI is and just share my overall opinion on it.

The development team was very open in the sense that pretty much any feature has a chance of getting scrapped including AI so I hope that they listen more to the feedback on other things and just have people settle with uploading their own textures since you can share these items with custom textures to Canva their sharing platform.

I am not sure how the AI for the building works since I just have the demo but from the clips of users using it, it's not worth it yet again.

[mostly-imagines]

"He shakes his head, staring up blankly. “Sure, we’re friends.”

“We’re friends and you like me,” you reiterate.

He really wishes you’d stop saying that. “Okay.”

“I like you too. Even though you’re kinda sketchy.”

He doesn’t know what to say to that.

You hum into the silence, looking up at the ceiling. “J…James, Jack, John…”

He smiles, gaze dancing across the egg-whitened popcorn texture of the ceiling. “I’m not going to tell you.”

I love everything about this, Jason basically too flustered to say anything and reader carrying this scene completely on liquid courage. I love how you build up their friendship, seeing Jason happy to be around reader and how they're getting closer with each interaction that they have.

"He feels this warmth in his heart that if he didn’t know any better, he’d call burning. His hands feel numb and he can distinctly feel the beat of his own heart in his chest, thrumming away.

He presses his lips to your forehead with a feather light touch, slow to pull away. He doesn’t make it all the way back to his original position before his movement lulls and his body relaxes again, joining you gladly in unconsciousness."

Morgan, my heartttttttttt🥺. I say this as normally as a mentally stable person can, I need to take a look into your brain. You wrote this scene perfectly and I don't really have much to say. You have this amazing talent for being able to perfectly encapture the feelings of the characters and describe them in a way that makes it the reader's own feelings, their own perspective.

"“Huh?” He throws back a tired glance, “Oh. They're..curtains.”

“Explain.”

He looks at you blankly, “You don’t have any curtains.”

You blink. “Explain.”

“It’s dangerous for people to just be able to look in and see you. So. Curtains.” For a guy who reads Dostoevsky, he’s not much of a wordsmith. Though that could be the concussion."

I really do think that one of Jason's main love languages would likely be acts of service and this plays right into that. He might not always know exactly what to say or how to get his emotions across, but he'll show you he cares and that's exactly what gets across in this scene. You manage to show the reader, instead of telling us, that yes Jason may not be the best at verbalising how much he cares but he'll do what he can to show it.

"He nods his permission at you without delay, and you shift yourself over to sit fully on his lap, straddling him on the sofa. You put your focus into cleaning his wound, but you have to notice how deep he’s breathing and how he’s seemingly trying very hard to avoid eye contact. You’re sure your own breath is uneven and telling, and frankly you’re kind of hoping he has a concussion just so he might not notice it.

An unexpected sting has him flinching and grabbing your hips on instinct, a certain heaviness lingering in the air after contact. His hand tenses and he’s about to remove them from you completely when you manage to catch his gaze, and the few moments of silent eye contact are enough to convince him to stay. He forces his hands to relax against your waist, his fix on your face wavering before fizzling away completely."

From the tension, to the pace, the look, and the silence, all of it works together to achieve such an amazingly written scene. One thing I've always noticed about your works is that its clear how much planning, thought, and skill goes on in the background. How every detail you include and every scene you write forms part of the bigger picture and how when it all comes together, it's like pieces of a puzzle clicking together perfectly, designed that way from the beginning.

"His head leans forward just barely before stopping. He retreats slightly and his body ultimately decides to come closer. He doesn’t stop until his lips, slightly parted, skim across yours.

Your breath catches as he looms nearer, lips touching against yours softly. He tests that pressure out for a moment, before moving to kissing you with more intent. You kiss him back, and though there’s an increasing resolve on both of your parts, though the connection itself remains gentle, reposeful."

The kiss. The Kiss. THE KISS. I literally don't know what to say. Morgan how you manage to outdo yourself consistently, not only showing the multitude of skills that you have, but also how you can bring them together to write a story, is something I really hope you are insanely proud.

This is getting a lot longer than I expected so I'm going to fast forward to the end but let me clarify that even the scenes I haven't quoted here are just as high quality as the rest of your writing. Writing is definitely a skill on it's own, but to know your characters well enough, to know your story well enough to be able to bring it all together like you have is easily the mark of a great writer.

"You engulf the note in your palm, nodding sincerely. His eyes flicker across your face, like he’s thinking about something. He hesitates for a moment, turning towards you, away from you, then towards you again. He holds the back of your head tenderly before pressing a sweet kiss to your forehead.

You look at each other up close for a second with nothing short of starry eyes before he turns away and ducks out the window.

You open up your palm and look down at the paper, at the ten digits scrawled across it.

Huh.

Must be official."

I definitely haven't said this enough but, wow. Just wow to everything. Calling what you have a talent is definitely an understatement. I hate how much worse the likes to reblog ratio has gotten recently because I can say without a doubt that it is the complete opposite to how many of us feel. Thank you for choosing to share your work with us Morgan. I know how disheartening it can be to feel like you are pouring so much work into something only to not have it be appreciated, but know that there are some of us here that do and will continue to support you no matter what. 💕💕Remember to drink water and eat healthy💕💕

-💝

i am not the same person i was before reading this i am not the same writer i was before reading this i dont know who you are yet but i would die for you do you like girls because i like you

[crispsandkerosene]

The Custom CubeMaps for TS2 Post

You may know that the Sims 2 uses cubemaps to add a reflective effect to certain objects/materials. The details of this are explained in Part 2 of Pixelhate’s ‘Exploring the TXMT’ series.

This document also explains how to make a custom one... but the result is not functional, at least in my all-EPs, all-SPs game. Fortunately, there’s an easy fix:

‘EnvCubes’ are not regular texture images. They contain six different “blocks”/subtextures, one for each side of the cubemap. Thus creating a custom EnvCube involves extracting and renaming one of Maxis’, and replacing the various subtextures. (Unlike SpecularMasks, these don’t mind the DXT1/3/5 formats. Error messages may appear if you import a texture bigger than the existing ones, though. In that case, commit and close the ressource, save the package, and open the ressource again.)

So TL;DR, I made a bunch!

I also made a test object for ease of visualization. Here, it demonstrates Maxis’ “reflectioncubetemplate-envcube” texture with the material’s “stdMatEnvCubeLockedToCamera” parameter set to zero and one respectively. More on that later.

The materials in the following pictures generally have an“stdMatEnvCubeCoef“ parameter of 0.5, 0.5, 0.5; its base texture is flat black.

My first creations: extra recolours of the texture used by most of the game’s metallic cubemaps. The top ball shows Maxis’ “reflectiongold” envcube as a point of comparison.

The middle row contains “MetallicRed”, “MetallicPurple”, “MetallicBlue” and “MetallicGreen”.

The bottom row contains “RoseGold”, “MetallicBrown” and “Gunmetal”.

I’ve also made variations of Maxis’ “reflectionsparking” cubemap (visible left), often used for glass and plastic. The middle texture is “HighContrastSparkling”; the one on the right is “SparseHighlights”.

The same custom envcube, previewed on the urn sculpture. Probably not their best look, tbh.

Now for something quite cool:

With specific textures and the “stdMatEnvCubeLockedToCamera” parameter set to 1, we can achieve a rimlit and/or holographic effect! Here are “RainbowFresnel”, “HoloFresnel” and “Fresnel”.

The spheres don’t really do this effect justice. So here is a demonstration of their “cool holo fabric” potential, gif included. Hopefully no one beats me to making a holo skirt haha. (+ my two reflectionsparking edits on the sides. )

I’ve also fixed up Pixelhate’s own custom envcube, though their texture turned out not to be ideal.

-

My test object and all the pictured recolours can be downloaded here on SimFileShare.

The tester is found under Deco/Misc for 1$. The actual envcube textures are found in its various recolour files, but are only referenced by the recolours of other objects. This means that if you delete “EnvcubeTester_recHoloFresnel”, “HnMManequinLongDress_RecHoloEnvCubeLocked“ won’t be able to find the texture it’s supposed to use.

And here is a zip containing these envcubes as individual TXTR ressources ready to be imported into SimPe, as well as a package file containing all of them.

Again, Pixelhate’s documentation explains how to actually use these custom envcubes for your own CC. My last package file can be used as a “pseudo texture repository” as described in their guide.

-

And a few last minute tips for creators:

The projected envcube is additively added to the object’s main texture and shading. Its brightness is also dependant on the ambiant lighting, being much duller inside. This means that a dark envcube texture likely won’t have much effect.

Maxis’ cubemap projection is weird. Some of the textures don’t have the orientation you’d expect. I’d recommend extracting the subtextures from “reflectioncubetemplate” and testing out your envcube on my test object if you’re strugging with that.

Making a ‘rimlit’ cubemap only involves creating three textures: ‘back’, ‘front’, and a gradient between those that will be reused by all sides. See my ‘fresnel’ envcubes as a reference.

When using such a ‘rimlit’ envcube, don’t forget to set the “stdMatEnvCubeLockedToCamera” parameter in the material to 1. It won’t look too good otherwise :p

Custom EnvCubes can also be used for clothing and other CaS items with the “SimStandardMaterial”. However, they are a bit pricklier: “##0x1C050000!” has to be added before the texture name in the “stdMatEnvCubeTextureName” parameter. It won’t work if this extra string is not present.

[sibyl-of-space]

It's time for me to go to bed. And that means everybody gets a Procrastination Essay No One Asked For About Sonic Adventure 1 for the SEGA Dreamcast!

This game is one of my super mega ultra all-time favorites. Every single time I revisit it, I am so afraid that my love for it is entirely nostalgia goggles and it will lose its charm this time around, and every single time, I just have the time of my life because the game really is great. It is so fun. It does some very cool things. It is kind of stupid but it takes itself seriously, and that is very endearing and a million times more interesting than a game that's too afraid of being perceived as cringe to be sincere.

I love basically everything about it. I painted Big the Cat on my Dreamcast and even that is not enough to communicate my vast love for this game.

MANY WORDS BELOW CUT. Visuals, audio, gameplay, I love all of it.

Visuals

The game came out in 1998. It looks like a game that came out in 1998. But the world and character designs are fantastic and the world is so detailed. I could genuinely spend hours just moving around on the Egg Carrier overworld map appreciating all the gadgets and gizmos moving around that are purely 100% set dressing. It makes up for what it lacks in polygons with cool textures and fun trinkets everywhere. The animated CGs genuinely look amazing, and you can forgive the rest of it considering the game came out in 1998.

I also love the splash screens you get after finishing each route. They're so good.

(It goes without saying that the game looks its best on a CRT. There are some really cool lighting effects CRTs just capture better.)

Audio

It obviously has an insanely good soundtrack of just nonstop banger after banger. It also has a very 1998 dub and the sound mixing and implementation are some of the worst you'll ever hear. Eggman has like 5 voice lines that are re-used in every scene he's in. But who can complain about that when they're listening to the likes of "Bad Taste Aquarium"? Literally nobody. Who cares. Every single song slaps.

"But Leo half the time the songs start and stop mid-cutscene because of how the game handles loading" who cares. I can forgive just about ANYTHING a game does in terms of audio implementation if it has a song as good as "Bad Taste Aquarium" in its soundtrack.

Narrative

Setting aside the fact that the story is kind of stupid, I really think we need to appreciate the way it tells it. The way this game has you play through the same story from everyone's different perspective, and how the scenes that overlap actually play out differently depending on who you play as, is so big brain. You don't get the full picture of what's happening until you've played as everybody, and there is no "big group of heroes collectively take on the bad guy" until the very very end Super Sonic story... until then, it's just different people having wildly different journeys that overlap here and there and are all part of a single, bigger story.

That's just cool ass storytelling. Everyone loves to bitch about my good friend Big the Cat but the entire point is that this extremely chill guy who loves to fish and just wants to save his friend was caught up in this Adventure, and he was a small but vital part of it, and it affected him differently than it affected everybody else because he had a different reason for being involved. But that goes for everybody! Everyone's story has an arc with a start and a finish, and most of them don't come close to being involved in the whole thing. Even SONIC doesn't see everything (he doesn't have a Hot Shelter level at all). Knuckles's story ends on a really cool note, with him going "I may never know the full story of what happened here, but maybe it's better that way." Or something close to that.

I also just love the concept of benevolent protector water god goes apeshit at people, as well as the concept of a ghost from thousands of years ago trying to right ancient wrongs. Chaos and Tikal are great.

Gameplay

The thing I love about Sonic Adventure is that every single character is really fun to play. This comes at the "cost" of what you might call "balance," in that half of the characters are broken as fuck and you can just disregard the very concept of platforming with most of them. I couldn't really care less about that because I just enjoy how fun it is to play as everyone.

Sonic Adventure 2 understandably put Tails in a mech because outside of it he is too damn broken. Sonic Adventure 1 lets you play as him anyway, and it rules.

The ONLY gripe I have about the gameplay is that Big the Cat does not have the means to harm robots (because he is too nice and chill to do that), but as a result he is unable to collect animals to give the chao. I cannot think of a single character in the Sonic the Hedgehog universe who would be better suited to raise chao than Big the Cat, but Big the Cat is unable to give them animals to power up. This is a tragedy.

Overall

Sonic Adventure is a masterpiece. Every time I play it I'm like "this is the greatest game that has ever been made." The parts of it that are clunky, awkward, kind of dumb, or very dated are still endearing because it tries to do so many things that you really just have to respect it. This is the kind of game that is fantastic whether you sit down and play it straight through from plot point to plot point or you spend three hours throwing that statue around Station Square into oncoming traffic.

Of course it's not polished. It tries to do way too many cool ass things all at once to be polished. It is WAY too ambitious to be polished. That's what makes it so good. It's perfect exactly the way it is and the fact that people will play this incredible game and go "lol, 3D Sonic sucks" is a good reminder that gamers will bitch about anything and you should never care about what gamers have to say when making games.

Big the Cat has glow-in-the-dark eyes. Game of all time.

[rennybu]

Hi there! Maybe this is a weird question, but as an artist and A D&D, I thought you might be a good resource! I'm wanting to commission a portrait of my D&D character for roll20 purposes, but I'm struggling with what refs and such I should gather for the artist. How can I make it as easy as possible for an artist when the character I'm wanting a portrait of isn't human? Would a written description suffice, or are images better? Thank you for whatever advice you have! --sincerely, a Loam enjoyer

DELIGHTFUL QUESTION, not weird at all!!! I hope its okay to publish this in case anyone else was wondering the same :']

Speaking as an artist who's done portrait commissions in the very recent past, a mix of images and written description is a sweet spot. Notes about specific features that the reference images might not show, or might not show accurately, help a lot to avoid retakes and corrections down the line.

Using Loam as an example, I have my own drawings of him I can crop and compile as reference, as well as a human model whose face proportions I like and make sure to include in case the realism is helpful at all to the artist. (The model is. EXTREMELY pale, ginger, and blue-eyed, so it really is just for like, Nose, Mouth, Jaw. FORM!) Then bolster what I've provided with additional reference - for Loam's ears, I have some pictures of cow ears saved for the overall shape and fur texture. AND all his jewelry afgkhfldKLJSHFGLSKD <3 Plus various armors, weathered fabrics, pieces of misc gear that complement and offer more options than what I've presented in my own artwork - to give the artist a range to work within, while still representing what I imagine suits Loam.

Simple notepad or Paint sketches also go a long way in conveying which details/features are most important to include in a given commission!!! Even scribbling over a reference image to be like, "this but PURPLE" is quick and easy. The power of the stick figure/smiley face with annotated doodles is never to be underestimated in communicating a bigger idea!!!!!!

SUMMARY?

Any existing artwork of the character

Any models/actors (or animals, for textures in fur/scales/eyes/teeth, etc etc) with features that are accurate to your image of the character

A simple doodle/sketch of the concept you have in mind

Written notes to consolidate the visuals you've provided and fill in any gaps that might still remain

BONUS? Links to the artist's own work depicting non-human features in a way you enjoyed seeing previously, that made you want to commission them for your character! (this has also helped me in the past with clients wanting lighting/rendering styles, hair, magic effects, etc. similar to pieces I'd done previously)

GO FORTH HAVE FUN!! i hope some of this was a little helpful :'D

[frigid-moon-fall]

Since the post about the PS1 version of the manor went well, why not take a closer look at the bedroom in the remake? We still don't know whose room it really is, but Hugo comes out of it when you first enter the manor, and Leon heads up the stairs when saying he'll be in his room, and he comes from its general direction in a hallucination of Rutee's. With it being simplified so much, it's really anyone's guess whose room it actually is. These are the sacrifices of streamlining.

Anyway, details! Both visible and invisible.

First off, the things that are easy to see from this screenshot alone.

The (currently open) curtain around the bed for added privacy

The books aren't kept especially tidy

There's a piece of paper left on the desk with something on it. You can't examine it.

There's a picture frame on a shelf, turned to face the wall. This is an entirely different asset from the one in the foyer, which just happens to be turned away from the player's view, so it's likely this is on purpose. Whatever the picture is of, it's good to remember that the picture in the foyer is of the whole Katrea/Gilchrist family, and it's displayed openly.

The tissue box on the bedside table lol

And now things that you can't see.

There's a towel hung up in the bathroom somewhere entirely off camera

The bathtub is way bigger than the camera angle implies

The full painting on the wall

Full details of the coats in the armoire (A big strong artist should totally draw Leon or Hugo wearing those)

Full details of all the rugs

(Edit: Full shot of the bathroom!)

And now you might have noticed that all of these are isometrically oriented sprites instead of the usual top-down textures you'd expect from a 3D environment that looks like this. That's just how TOD's remake does things for a lot of areas. I guess it makes the art style easier to keep consistent, but it sounds like a pain to keep the skewing effect looking good across all rooms that use it.

By the way, if anyone wants something similar done for other areas, let me know which and what parts of it you're interested in specifically.

Oh, while we're at it, let's make a useless list of observable features in the most likely candidate for Leon's room from the PS1 version. We really don't need to, but whatever.

A whopping five different sets of drawers that Ori!Stahn is too polite to snoop through

A giant table meant for one

Two potted plants, neither of which would be in the general line of sight of someone sitting in either of the chairs (90 degrees to your left/right doesn't count), sitting on either of the window sills, or laying in bed

One trash can beside the desk, and one trash can beside the bed (They are specified to be trash cans in-game. It is not a chamber pot.)

A clock or radio on the desk. I'd sooner guess clock from the two hands.

A useless little nook that only houses one of the potted plants

A Marian She is not a room fixture, sorry

Oh, you clicked it? Okay. Here's my theory of where Leon sleeps....

On this couch in the dining room because that's the room where he spends all his free time anyway

[formlessdemi]

are you pro ai art?

yeah, AI art is cool

idc if someone teaches a bot to draw using millions of pictures, including artists

I still commission more traditional artist

I still do my own art

but AI art is way more than asking computers to draw shit for you

here's a medium complexity piece

in it you can see they pose a base model, which is 100% human made

then they have to sketch by hand

then they start the AI tuning process, but you can tell it's not as simple as "computer, draw me fox lady"

they have to tune the prompts, negative prompts, and a handful of dials and settings till they get something even close to what they want

then they fix up some things, and add some details: the flow of the dress, the highlights, the flowy lights, moving and fixing the hand position multiple times

there's intention and an artist's hand behind this, I don't think that it's "soulless"

and it can get more complex than this, with AI being a bigger or smaller part of it

-

"but what about the training set, isn't this theft?"

the model this is probably working off of is the most popular one on the discord server I got this from, which was trained using the entirety of e621, a furry porn site

thousands of artists, over a million pieces used to train this bot

genuinely, what is the problem here?

are they harmed by this tool?

these are the questions we should be asking

and right now, it's hard to determine

-

I've used these tools before, for my last pfp

this took me well over an hour to make from a VRChat screenshot, tuning prompts and settings

it's uncanny when blown up. the lines on the neck are weird, the eyes lose their tech lines, but it looked okay when it was just a tiny pfp

but that's my old pfp, my current one was hand drawn by an artist friend of mine, I still pay for human art

and that last one, it's basically used as a filter for my own art, I made the texture for that avatar by hand, and I paid an artist for that base

-

I think that AI is way too demonized, and way too discredited

a lot of the arguments against it are subjective about its value, and often going to be fixed

the 2 big things are copyright and how automation leads to layoffs

you ask my opinion, I don't heavily respect copyright in this situation, and layoffs are unstoppable

we shouldn't be fighting the machine, but the system that makes them have to grind commissions and patreon and corpo jobs to survive

[rewordthis]

Hazy Outlines: an impromptu Saturday art class

Saturday, friends!

Class is starting, even if there are still some things not running smoothly… I’m determined to do this anyway, so stick with me. Will overcome the obstacles together.

⚠️ (Apologising in advance because heavy text post with no pictures is boring af, but pics wouldn’t load for whatever reasons… Pff, bear with me, please. And if there’s anything you need to ask, please do! I’ll answer as quickly and as best to my ability! 🫠)

Now I’ll be handing out your first ever practical exercise fliers!

Well, technically not, since you’ll excuse me for making you go search for a square or rectangular box in your home... as this is going to be your assignment for the week. 😎

Yeah… you didn’t see that coming, I’m sure. Did I mention that this is a beginner’s exercises class?

I’ll need everyone participating in these classes to have a cube-like box or an object with 90° angles and straight corners and sides for this first exercise. It can be any material you got readily, any size (just… please not a trunk or something… 😑) a box of tissues would suffice. As long as it is square/rectangular with clean corners (not curved) and with no texture.

Well go on! Go bring it— I’m waiting…

You’ll have to place it in an angle and use a source of light coming from its left. You want it on the table while you sit down? You want it right in front of you, on your desk? You can put it on the damn floor for all I care— actually any weird angle will work better because the contrast will be greater… — all I’m asking, is you put it in perspective.

Now, all you’ll have to do is to decide on a spot to sit. But! Before we begin, I’d like to give some guidelines for the way we’ll work. Let’s go:

1. First of all, we will talk about the grip.

When you’ll be holding your pencil, you’ll have to keep it tilted in an angle. Not entirely parallel on the paper, but having the tip to be near-flat on it. For this, you’ll have to find a grip that allows your arm to move freely.

We won’t draw anything the way we write. Writing is a different function we do with our wrists (small clean lines) and drawing a whole other one we do with our entire arms (faint, broad lines).

Find how you are more comfortable holding the pencil without having your fingers brushing on the paper. Most of the times, the standard way is to use the whole grip to hold the pencil; this is the overhand grip but it needs a lot of time to get used to it and it’s better for fairly big areas. Another way is the loose grip. In loose grip, you hold your pencil way back (from the middle of it usually) and have the butt of the pencil resting on your hand like when you normally write. Personally I have a fairly different way of holding my pencil which heavily depends on the area I work in every occasion, but I just keep it from the butt and swing it when I need to do object placement etc. and then switch in a more steady grip as I add details.

Make lines on the paper. Try it out and see how it weights on the paper and your hand and see which grip feels more comfortable for you. Ideally you’d have to spent at least a couple days trying deferent grips in order to find what works for you. Don’t rush with this… it’s ok. The exercise is meant to be short so taking a few days off for this won’t have a negative impact. Quite the contrary, actually. 🤗

When you feel comfortable enough with your grip, make 6 boxes at one of your paper’s sides. Leave the first one blank. 👉 From boxes 2-6 fill the boxes with the pencils you have, starting from the bigger hardness. Aka, box 2: 2H hardness, 3: H hardness and so on. 👉 For the hardnesses you don’t have, use the closest hardness to fill, trying to keep deferent tones. For example; if you miss the 2H you’ll use the H with lighter strokes and then use it in its box adding one or two layers. Make sure there is a distinct deference in shade from box to box and keep the strokes facing the same direction. Think of it as the spectrum spread in shades of grey.

2. Now, it’s time to do the placing.

Observe the object and let’s try to measure it. In order to do that, you’ll use the tip of your pencil.

When you measure, you generally need to find a shape that is obvious to pick up, so you won’t miss your measurement later on if you forget it. 👉 Are there specific proportions by the object itself that you can use to divide it? This is the most preferable way, because you’ll learn to understand shapes. 👉 But, maybe there are shadows that create a clear division on it. This comes in volumes. 🔸 In any way, what you’ll do is to align your pencil over that shape — starting with the tip and at the end of it placing your fingernail to hold its length. After that, you move your pencil on the same axis to see how many times that shape fits into the object. Start either by the Y or X axis and once you find how many times it fits, try to divide your paper and fit the object on it by putting light marks for every division part and keeping it as centered as possible. Then proceed to do the same on the other axis.

👉 While doing this, hold your paper upright in front of you.

👉 Now it’s the time to connect the marks. This is the tracing phase so make as light marks and lines as possible! And as mentioned, draw the lines from your shoulder and elbow— not your wrist. The lines need to be continuous and decisive.

👉 When you finish tracing the object try to see if any side is bigger/smaller than what you see in reality.

After this stage, we’ll do the outline which will not be much darker because you’ll have to correct anything that is off. It can’t be perfect from the beginning, so keep in mind that you may need to measure again. You just need to define the line a bit more than before but it can’t be too bold. Correct the lines and begin to trace the outline. After that you’ll put in the shadows.

When you think that this is as good a transfer and positioning you’ve made as possible, we’ll start the shading process.

For the shading you’ll use as a guide the boxes we made at the beginning…

3. How to shadow.

During this process you will start by the lighter shade which you will apply to the object. 👉 White parts (extreme brightness) will not be covered, so keep in mind to shade around that (there won’t be too many spots anyway) — you can always use the eraser if you go over something however, so fear not. 👉 Your first shade should be done in one direction. 🔺 Do NOT cross-hatch the shadows. They need to be smooth. 👉 Add the second layer of shadows with a small tilt of the tip towards a slightly different direction (clockwise or counter clockwise it doesn’t matter; we only need a change in degrees like the clock hands from 12 to 1 or 12 to 11); that’ll it be enough. 👉 Keep adding layers to your shadows by slightly adjusting the tip of the pencil until you reach the darkest shade (deep black shades will also be very small areas like the light ones).

Good job! You finished your first practical exercise. That wasn’t so bad now, was it?

🔹 This exercise is best done slowly, and by this I mean take your time with getting comfortable with the pencil and making smooth faded lines throughout the week. It shouldn’t take you more than an hour daily and mainly about 15— 20 minutes. The drawing itself should not take more than an hour. There are tutors that insist on practicing everyday and doing lots of practice and exercises… 😮‍💨 but you really don’t. Not yet. First you need to train your eyes and your hands into what drawing actually is and overdoing it in the beginning may lead to learning things incorrectly or feeling burned out.

Anyway…

You have the whole week to make your first attempt at drawing something as closely to the real thing as you can. Try to recreate everything you see. The lines, the planes, the shadows on it, the shadows behind the object (I’m asking for the immediate background of the object so try to put it in front of something that is as plane as possible). 👉 If the object has too many colours/designs etc, cover it with something as plain as possible like a cloth. This’ll make it a little harder to draw, but you don’t want to be confused by anything more than shadows, volumes and shapes just yet.

🔹 You’re allowed to use only ONE paper. If you have a tablet, you can use that, too. This is you learning the basics after all, so feel free to present both your attempts.

🔺Don’t exhaust yourself, though! Like I said, this is a 1hour☝️exercise tops!

Now the technical stuff:

How this is going to work: ▶️ first of all, take a picture of the object from the same angle you’re going to draw it, so I can evaluate your try and give you tips to work on the next assignment! I’m opting for a tailor-made tutorial because everybody is different. ▶️ Then by the end of the week post the photo and your finished piece (the digital, too; if you do that) with either the specific tag or a mention at me. I want to see what you made!

There are no bad tries here, only things we’re going to learn and mistakes we’re going to fix!

Now, sketch! That’s it. That’s the exercise. Simple, right? :)

[coolmaycroft]

Coomaycrofy's method to tell AI art from human art:

1) six fingers, weird proportions and repetitive textures:

As we all know, Ai art tends to deform hands with extra or missing fingers, fingers that merge or twist in ways no one would depict. Hands are difficult for artists but in the end, they know how they articulate and move, so no one in their right mind would draw merged fingers or shade them in a way you can't discern how many there are.

Body proportions are similar in the sense that some Ai will output limbs that are bigger or smaller compared to the rest of the body. This is a mistake that newbie artists also make but it's rare to see in someone that's gotten good to the point of realistic illustration.

Backgrounds and environments are curious in Ai. looked at from the distance, they'll look convincing enough but one must only take their time watching them to notice the uncanny effect: textures repeat in the same way over and over.

The Ai will take a pattern and repeat it to fill debris, vegetation, markings, etc. However, real artists either can't have a perfect patterning because well, you're working with your hands or don't need to as the environment does not need such intricate detail.

 Gotten from Atarts

2) Uploads are done in a humanely impossible time (pun totally intended)

People that have been doing real art for a long time realize this after a while. It's better to output a few good works a week than to spam the feed daily. Your followers probably have other 10+ guys on their feed, uploading daily will annoy them. People crunching Ai, however seem oblivious to this fact. In a single day they'll output 4 to 10 pictures. So, you either look at a full gallery by the time you open their profile or you've seen them 3 times just by scrolling the feed. No one is that fast, no one that is human.

3) Ai is like CGI, it has a general look or feel.

Ai is trained on existing styles and looks. However, to create these datasets, you can't take all the art and put it on the meat grinder. You need to select what you want the network to imitate. This means that similar styles will be combined into familiar but not distinct styles. People with artistic inclination know what anime backgrounds look like, what professional illustration looks like, what modern sci-fi, retro sci fi looks like.

Afar a while, Ai art gest picked up by algorithms because it looks good but the indistinctive nature of itself exposes people to these general styles. People in turn become more familiar with them and learn to spot them. It's the same as what happened with CGI at the turn of the millennium. 2000's CGI looked convincing in its heyday but looking at it now, you can tell what is composited.

The more we're exposed at Ai art, the better we become at spotting it.

4) Ai artist galleries show a different type of evolution.

Looking at a digital artist's gallery you can see the best works are the newest while the oldest one shows their process of learning to color, shade, anatomy, etc. Not every picture is an artwork, there'll be sketches, memes, collabs, etc. all in different levels of skill:

Ai artist galleries show almost exclusively polished and professional looking artworks. No sketches, no unfinished artwork, no studies. Only pure, pristine art:

[photocut-ai]

Enhance Your Images with AI Technology

No one can deny that images also go to a great extent in showing all the emotions, telling some exciting story, and even in finalizing all deals; be it a professional photographer or simply the social media enthusiast or owning a business, the difference all photos make is what portrays your work. That is where PhotoCut's new release, AI Image Enhancer, comes into play, an advanced tool powered through artificial intelligence to effortlessly change your photos.

Upgrade Your Photos Using AI

Think about this. A capability of zooming any photo for enhancements with just a click and never having to waste long hours editing pictures in a drab, repetitive process of not losing the resolution when printing. That is precisely what the AI Image Enhancer offered by PhotoCut does, as well as more. Its enhancement and upsizing, along with image sharpening, will all work without any loss to the quality of the original.

With PhotoCut, you can now boost the visual effect of your images, regardless of their type: portraits and landscapes, product images, or even vintage-style photos. You can also unblur blurred images with PhotoCut’s help. Let's dive into the features of PhotoCut's AI Image Enhancer and see how each tool can change your image.

Key Features of PhotoCut’s AI Image Enhancer

AI Super Enlargement

This is probably one of the most common issues in working with digital photographs, which is image degradation upon enlargement. It might be for printing a photo or when an image is required to be bigger on an e-commerce website; most often, enlarging images will result in pixelation or fuzzy details. With PhotoCut AI Super Enlargement, this problem is easily addressed by increasing both size and resolution up to 200%.

This advanced AI technology fills in the missing details as it enlarges your image, so that it remains sharp and clear, with vibrant colors and crisp edges. No more worries about losing quality when enlarging photos for larger displays, prints, or websites!

AI Image Sharpener

This is perhaps one of the most frustrating common causes of blurred photos in photographers-whether through camera shake, insufficient lighting, or a rapidly moving subject. AI Image Sharpener instantly corrects and enhances the sharpness of your images. With intelligent algorithms, it scans for the areas that require improvement in terms of soft, fuzzy details and sharpens them to bring forth a crisp result.

Whether you’re working with portrait photos, product images, or scenic landscapes, this feature helps bring out the finest details, making your images more professional and visually engaging.

AI Image Denoiser

The most probable source of noise in images, and usually low light conditions or a high ISO setting on the camera or the use of digital cameras, significantly reduces the quality of the picture. AI Image Denoiser has cleverly tackled this issue by smartly detecting unwanted grain or pixelation while retaining the finer details and the natural texture of the image.

This feature would benefit mainly photos taken under low light or using mobile phones and digital cameras with noise more apparent. The quality of your image will improve, and your photos will end up being smoother and more polished.

AI Portrait Enhancer

Extra care is required to perfect a portrait shot. It can start with adjusting the skin tones or brightening up the face and can be long for that perfect shot. AI Portrait Enhancer employs advanced AI that enhances every detail in portraits to create optimal skin tones, brightens up eyes, smoothes out textures, and more importantly, helps achieve a perfect lighting setup enhancing the natural beauty of a subject.

This tool is ideal for professionals or anyone who wants to boost personal portraits for social media, portfolios, or print. With AI enhancements, you can ensure that every portrait looks its best in terms of clear and flattering details. You can also generate professional headshots with PhotoCut.

AI Night Scene Enhancement

Night photography is a little tricky because it usually produces dark, grainy, or underexposed photos. AI Night Scene Enhancement is designed to get the best out of low-light photos. It can fix dark photos, reduce noise, and boost color and contrast, making nighttime photos more vibrant and clear.

Whether you want to capture cityscapes, portraits under dim lights, or a moonlit landscape, this tool will enhance night-time photos so that they shine, regardless of the lighting condition.

AI Old Photo Repair & Denoise

Old photos, especially if they are stored in physical formats or scanned from albums, often degrade over time. Common issues such as fading, creases, and noise diminish the aesthetic appeal of vintage photos. AI Old Photo Repair & Denoise brings your precious memories back to life by restoring and enhancing old photographs.

That removes the noise and retains the natural look of the portrait, breathing life into the photo as it originally was. It can rectify color shifts, iron out creases, and make details pop so your old photos are restored to their former glory.

Who Can Benefit from PhotoCut’s Image Enhancer?

PhotoCut is so versatile and ideal that its AI photo enhancer works for all users- professionals with a creative eye, an individual entrepreneur, or simply, those who enjoy photography because it is a fun source of enjoyment. Let us explore who can benefit from AI-enhanced photo editors in today's world.

For Photographers

As a photographer, time is money, and your work is much appreciated in terms of quality. PhotoCut's AI upscaler saves photographers a lot of time by automating the enlargement and enhancement process of images. Now you can take time for creative work because the tool itself enhances and improves the resolution and size of your images automatically. Whether it be shoots for professionals or editing client photos, you can rest assured that each image shall turn out as sharp and detailed as possible.

For Cartoon/Anime Creators

For cartoon and anime creators, the resolution and detail of the picture matter to create great visuals for their artwork. In the case of PhotoCut's AI-enhancing tools, your digital creations deserve the high-resolution detailing they need. Whether you make posters, wallpapers, or even character illustrations, the results are sure to shine as crisp, vibrant, and detailed. PhotoCut also helps you convert your photos into cartoon illustrations.

For E-Commerce Shops

For e-commerce store owners, quality product images are what separates making a sale from losing a customer. PhotoCut's AI Image Enhancer helps e-commerce sellers create better product images, appealing to more potential buyers. Whether selling clothing, electronics, or handmade items, PhotoCut enhances product photos that stand out from the crowd and boost conversion rates.

For Real Estate Agents

High-quality photographs are known to make listings in real estate look more attractive and sell faster. PhotoCut's AI-enhanced images improve the quality of property photos by bringing out vibrant colors, sharp details, and clear visuals. Whether it is houses, apartments, or commercial property listings, PhotoCut makes your listings look professional and engaging.

For App/Website Designers

Website and application design usually require high-quality images. Sourcing or creating high-resolution visuals can be a time-consuming process. PhotoCut is an easy way for designers to enhance logos, product images, and web content in no time. Enhancing low-resolution images saves you time while helping you create visually appealing websites and apps.

For Social Media Enthusiasts

First Impressions, fast-paced world of social media. Selfies, travel photos, food pics, you have them, and PhotoCut will help polish them. Using AI tools, you can recover compressed image files, sharpen details, and make your photos appear brighter so that the social media stuff you post gets seen and appreciated. You can transform your photos into sketches and show them off on social media.

For Photo Printing

It is pretty important to understand that image quality matters if you print your photos. PhotoCut enables you to enlarge your images for printing without degrading the quality. Whether you need to print family pictures, landscapes, or art prints, the pictures will look as sharp and clear on paper as they do on your screen.

FAQs

Q1. How does PhotoCut improve the quality of a photo? Ans. PhotoCut enhances photo quality by cropping, unblurring, adjusting colors, improving light and shadow balance, increasing saturation, and removing unwanted objects. The AI technology also applies filters, and overlays, and can even create collages for creative purposes.

Q2. Why do people use image enhancers? Ans. Image enhancers are used to improve the quality of photos, especially for old photos, user-generated content, or portraits. They are also useful for photo editing apps used by photographers, artists, and social media influencers.

Q3. Can I use PhotoCut on my phone? Ans. Yes! PhotoCut is available as a mobile app for both iPhone and Android users, allowing you to enhance your photos on the go.

Q4. What makes PhotoCut the best tool? Ans. Powered by LightX, PhotoCut offers powerful, easy-to-use AI-enhanced features that anyone can use—whether you’re a beginner or an experienced photo editor. Plus, it’s free to use with additional premium options available.

Q5. Is PhotoCut free? Ans. PhotoCut offers free options as well as referral and affiliate programs to maximize the benefits for its users. While some premium features are available, the basic tools are accessible without any cost.

Q6. Will the file size change after enhancement? Ans. Yes, the file size of your enhanced photo may increase. This happens because AI technology adds more pixels and information to improve the image resolution and clarity.

[yaddidaaa]

Take Advantage Of Strands Hint - Read These Tips

Take Advantage of Strands Hint: Read These Tips

Strands hint is a powerful technique used in storytelling, gaming, hairstyling, and even problem-solving. By leveraging subtle clues or threads, you can guide, intrigue, and captivate your audience. Here are some expert tips to help you take full advantage of strands hint in any field.

1. Start with a Clear Objective

To use strands hint effectively, you need to know the outcome you’re working toward.

For Writers: Decide what emotions or insights you want to evoke through your hints.

For Gamers: Plan how your hints will guide players toward their goal without giving away too much.

For Hairstyling: Determine the overall look you want to achieve, from layered cuts to textured finishes.

By defining your endgame, you ensure your hints align with the bigger picture.

2. Be Subtle Yet Effective

The hallmark of strands hint lies in its subtlety. Overly obvious clues defeat the purpose, while too vague hints can confuse. Strive for balance.

Use Minimalism: Offer just enough information to spark curiosity or provide a gentle nudge.

Create a Trail: Drop hints gradually to maintain engagement and encourage discovery.

3. Layer Your Hints for Depth

Strands hint thrives on complexity and layers. Whether you’re working with text, visuals, or ideas, layering helps build intrigue.

In Stories: Scatter small details throughout your narrative that later connect to a larger theme.

In Games: Use layered clues to add challenge and make the solution more satisfying.

In Hairstyles: Blend layers of hair to add volume and texture while maintaining a cohesive style.

4. Leverage Contextual and Visual Cues

Context is king when it comes to strands hint. Clues should fit seamlessly into the environment or situation.

Use Context: Align your hints with the setting or mood to make them feel natural.

Add Visuals: Sometimes, visual hints like symbols, patterns, or color cues can convey more than words.

5. Encourage Interaction and Discovery

Strands hint is most effective when it engages your audience.

In Games or Puzzles: Encourage players to connect dots by interacting with their environment.

In Stories: Let readers piece together the mystery through your subtle hints.

In Styling: Experiment with creative techniques to add texture and intrigue.

6. Refine Through Feedback

Mastering strands hint requires refinement. Feedback can reveal whether your approach is clear or needs adjustments.

Test Your Approach: Share your work with others to see how they interpret your hints.

Iterate: Use feedback to improve and sharpen your technique over time.

7. Balance Creativity and Functionality

Strands hint is as much an art as it is a science. Infuse your creativity while ensuring your hints remain practical and relevant.

With these tips, you can harness the power of strands hint to captivate, engage, and inspire your audience. Whether you’re crafting a story, designing a hairstyle, or solving a puzzle, these strategies will help you make a lasting impact.

For More Read Our Blog on https://yaddidaaa.blogspot.com/2024/11/master-art-of-strands-hint-with-these.html

[david-schmid-photo]

The Role of Contrast in Black and White Photography

Contrast is an essential element in black-and-white photography, providing the foundation for captivating visual narratives. Without the distraction of color, this medium relies on the interplay of light and shadow to evoke emotion and set the mood. 

The dynamic relationship between dark and light shapes depth, texture, and form, guiding the viewer's eye and highlighting the subject's essence. By skillfully manipulating contrast, photographers can transform ordinary scenes into striking compositions, showcasing details and creating a powerful impact. 

In this article, we will explore what contrast is, why it’s important in any black-and-white photograph, and how you can master it through a few black-and-white photography tips.

What Is Contrast?

Contrast refers to the difference in brightness and color in an image, enhancing its visual appeal. Photographers utilize various types of contrast:

Tonal contrast involves stark differences between light and dark areas, highlighting details and textures, especially in monochrome images.

Color contrast employs complementary colors from the color wheel, like red and green, to create striking visuals.

High-contrast images feature pronounced differences between highlights and shadows, ideal for urban photography.

Low-contrast images have subtle tonal differences, offering a soft, calming effect.

Additionally, high-key and low-key styles represent variations of low contrast, emphasizing bright or dark tones, respectively.

The Impact of Contrast in Photography

You can employ contrast in a variety of ways, but it's always a potent tool for making striking black-and-white photos.

Your photograph's tone and mood are determined by the contrast you use. When shooting with high contrast, you can get an intense or dynamic mood, and when shooting with low contrast, you can achieve a more subdued, moody effect.

Another way to make your subject stand out is to use contrast, which is just a difference in color or brightness between your subject and the background. Try experimenting with different levels of contrast until you find the look you desire in your portrait shots.

Using this method, you can draw attention to specific textures and elements in your image. You can experiment with different types of contrast to highlight different parts of your shot; there's no need to use the same one every time.

Last but not least, composition relies on contrast. The use of contrasts between light and dark, as well as between bright areas and shadows, can help to establish a sense of equilibrium in your images. Once you master contrast, you'll be able to make more organized pictures with distinct subjects.

How to Master Contrast in Black-and-White Images

The process of becoming an expert black-and-white photographer starts well before the editing phase. The initial step is the technique you use to take the picture. To bring out the most striking contrasts in your black-and-white photos, try using these techniques.

1. Appropriate Use of Light and Shadow

Light and shadow are important in color photography too, but they make an even bigger difference in black-and-white. 

The golden hours are a photographer's dream, especially when you time your shot to capture the changing light and shadows that occur between sunrise and sunset. To bring out the subject's textures and curves, place it so that the light is shining on it from the side. This will cause the shadows to fall dramatically and give the impression of depth. 

Also, black-and-white photography brings out the best in backlighting, which is when the light source is behind the subject and creates dramatic silhouettes.

2. Good Composition

A black mountain silhouette against a brilliant sunset or a pale flower blossoming in a murky forest are examples of contrasting light and dark elements that are used in juxtaposition. Patterns with abrupt discontinuities can also serve as focus points; for instance, a row of black chairs with a single brightly colored chair can make quite an impression. 

Whether they are man-made or found in nature, leading lines serve to lead the eye and draw attention to contrast – this is true in both black-and-white film and photography. An outstanding example of how leading lines can incorporate dynamic visual components is a meandering route that cuts across a field of tall grass.

3. Correct Photo Framing

Many artists wonder, "What color frame would be best for a black and white photo?" when they are thinking about physically displaying their work. 

The answer is straightforward: plain, unobtrusive frames work well with high-contrast photographs. White frames provide a minimalist, contemporary aesthetic that doesn't detract from the photo, while black frames can accentuate the subject matter.

Become a Pro at Black-and-White Photography

In conclusion, understanding the role of contrast in black-and-white photography is vital for creating striking images that resonate with viewers. 

Whether you’re using a digital camera to capture a breathtaking landscape photography shot or seeking to emphasize the interplay of light and shadow in a scene with a blue sky, mastering contrast can elevate your work. 

The absence of color invites you to focus on the essence of your subject, revealing textures and emotions that might otherwise go unnoticed. By harnessing the power of contrast, photographers can transform their vision into captivating portraits and street photography that tell a story beyond mere aesthetics.

If you want to see some examples of how contrast impacts black-and-white photographs, check out my portfolio!

[munnascake]

Sweet Celebrations: Unforgettable Birthday Cakes in Dubai

Classic Birthday Cakes – Timeless Choices

Introduction to classics: While there are plenty of creative options, classic birthday cakes never go out of style. They are familiar, comforting, and universally loved.

Vanilla and Chocolate Cakes

Vanilla and chocolate cakes remain two of the most requested flavors at birthday parties.

Why they’re popular: Their simplicity allows for versatile decorations and pairings with different fillings like buttercream, whipped cream, or ganache.

Decorating ideas: Minimalist with fresh fruits or sprinkles, or more elaborate with fondant and personalized messages.

Red Velvet Cake

Known for its distinctive red color and rich cream cheese frosting, red velvet has become a go-to flavor for many celebrants.

Why it’s special: The perfect balance of sweetness and tanginess makes it an elegant option for both kids and adults.

Black Forest Cake

A decadent combination of chocolate cake, cherries, and whipped cream, this cake is a crowd-pleaser at birthday parties.

Popular for: Its rich flavor and unique layers that combine fruity, creamy, and chocolatey elements.

Creative and Themed Birthday Cakes – Going Beyond the Basics

Introduction to creativity: Nowadays, birthday cakes aren’t just about flavor—they’ve become works of art. Themed and custom-designed cakes are on the rise, catering to specific interests and styles by online cake delivery in Dubai.

Character-Themed Cakes

Popular among children, cakes designed around beloved characters from cartoons, movies, or video games are in high demand.

Examples: Superhero cakes (Spiderman, Batman), Disney princess cakes (Elsa from Frozen), and video game-themed cakes (Minecraft, Fortnite).

Creative designs: These cakes often feature intricate fondant work and 3D elements to bring characters to life.

Minimalist and Elegant Cakes

For adults, simplicity can make a bigger impact. Minimalist cakes with subtle decorations such as gold leaf, fresh flowers, or watercolor effects are in style.

Why they’re popular: Elegant yet understated, these cakes focus on refined design, perfect for milestone birthdays or formal gatherings.

Novelty and 3D Cakes

Cakes that look like other objects (e.g., handbags, cars, or even realistic food items) are a fun and creative choice.

Design process: These cakes require advanced techniques like sculpting, airbrushing, and detailed fondant work.

Occasions: Best for those who want something unique and memorable.

Photo Cakes

Edible photo prints are a great way to personalize a cake. You can add a favorite picture of the celebrant or create a collage of memories.

Perfect for: Celebrating milestone ages like 18, 30, or 50 with nostalgic touches.

Flavor Innovations – Beyond Vanilla and Chocolate

Introduction to flavor experimentation: Birthday cakes aren’t limited to traditional flavors anymore. Dubai’s innovative cake scene offers an array of exciting tastes.

Lotus Biscoff Cake

What makes it special: The rich, caramelized flavor of Biscoff biscuits combined with creamy frosting is irresistible.

Why it’s trendy: Lotus Biscoff has become a major flavor trend, especially in the Middle East, making it a favorite for birthdays with birthday cake delivery in Dubai.

Pistachio and Rose Cake

Unique combination: The delicate, fragrant taste of rose pairs beautifully with the earthy flavor of pistachio, creating a sophisticated dessert.

Best for: Adults who enjoy Middle Eastern flavors and a more exotic twist on traditional cakes.

Nutella and Ferrero Rocher Cake

Indulgent flavors: The combination of Nutella, chocolate hazelnut, and Ferrero Rocher candies creates a luxurious, rich cake that’s perfect for chocolate lovers.

Why it’s popular: This flavor offers the perfect mix of creamy and crunchy textures, making it a hit at any birthday celebration.

Mango and Passionfruit Cake

Tropical twist: Bright, fruity flavors like mango and passionfruit are refreshing alternatives to heavier cakes, especially during summer.

Who it’s for: Those who want a light, tropical dessert with a burst of flavor.

Customizing Your Birthday Cake – Personalization Ideas

Introduction to customization: Whether it’s the design or the flavor, custom cakes add a personal touch to any celebration.

Name and Age Topper

Add a personalized cake topper featuring the celebrant’s name or age. These can be made from edible sugar sheets or acrylic.

Benefits: It adds an elegant, personalized touch without overwhelming the design.

Edible Decorations

Decorate with edible flowers, chocolate sculptures, or themed fondant pieces.

Perfect for: Adding an extra layer of sophistication or creativity to the cake, matching it to the birthday party’s theme.

Multi-Tiered Cakes

For grand celebrations, multi-tiered cakes make a statement. Each tier can have a different flavor or design to cater to all tastes.

Why it works: It’s both visually impressive and practical, especially for larger parties.

Surprise Inside Cakes

Cakes with hidden surprises inside, such as colorful sprinkles, candies, or even messages, create an element of fun and excitement.

Best for: Kids’ parties or playful adult celebrations.

Where to Find the Best Birthday Cakes

Introduction to Dubai’s cake scene: Dubai is home to world-class bakeries and cake shops that offer stunning, delicious cakes for every occasion.

Mister Baker

A long-established favorite for custom cakes, with options ranging from simple designs to elaborate 3D creations.

Why it stands out: Known for both excellent flavor and creative designs, perfect for any birthday theme.

Sugaholic Bakeshop

Famous for its fun, innovative birthday cakes with a wide range of customization options.

Best for: People looking for personalized, creative designs that go beyond traditional cakes.

The House of Cakes

Specializing in bespoke cakes for grand celebrations. Whether it’s a wedding-style cake or a whimsical 3D creation, they can bring any vision to life.

Why it’s popular: Their attention to detail and ability to cater to specific themes makes them a top choice for unforgettable birthday cakes.

In Conclusion:

Summing up the magic of birthday cakes: From classic flavors to extravagant designs, birthday cakes are an essential part of any celebration. Dubai’s vibrant cake scene offers endless possibilities to make every birthday cake special, whether you’re looking for a traditional option or something more unique and customized.

Visit-

Best Birthday Cake shops in Dubai

Encouraging exploration: Whether you opt for a classic vanilla cake or an artistic 3D creation, there’s a cake out there for everyone. Take time to explore the city’s best cake shops, and remember—the right cake can turn an ordinary birthday into an extraordinary celebration.

[2024ardn632isobelchilberto]

Week 3 - Artist Analysis (made.by.bastian)

Image Sources: https://www.instagram.com/made.by.bastian/

For our SDL, we were tasked to find a photographer and analyse three of their recent images. Analysing their composition such as colour, layout, layers, overlays and grading and then the concept of the image or what they are trying to communicate.

I choose this artist due to their work being very seamless but zainy and playful, earliest and provocative. The colours were bight and saturated, the work almost editorial and camp.

Image 1:

I chose this image due to its upward movement and flow. I like the way the image has an hourglass layout with the insects flowing up and away from the face. The intersection of the insect and the woman's mouth uses shadows to give the feeling the two images are one. A textured overlay adds an interesting detail that prevents the image from looking super flat. I also like the contrast of the cool blue and warm colours, as they brighten the image and add visual interest. The layering of insects makes the picture feel alive and busy, but the use of negative space keeps this balanced.

In terms of what the artist is communicating, I feel like the image is whimsical and imaginative but also slightly creepy and morbid in that there are butterflies coming out of her mouth, but her eyes are closed.

Image 2:

This image is a good example of combining three images to make one. It's very symmetrical, with the straw in the middle and the other core elements. The brightness of the lips leads the eye first to it and then down to the darkness of the volcanoes. He uses a texture overlay to tie all the images together, which I think is an excellent idea so they feel on an even plane/as one. He has used shadows on the lips and straw so they feel like one image. As well as taking the texture of the volcano over the top of the straw to tie them together as well as blending it into the volcano's flames. The colour of the straw and the lips are bright and almost plastic, while the volcano uses organic 'natural' colours.

The story told in the image is interesting I feel it could represent how we leech off the planet, "sucking" all the resources out of it. The slightly grungy atmosphere is accentuated by a dark background and smoke creeping up to the figure. Like the repercussions of the way we treat the earth.

Image 3:

The image feels refreshing and bright. Which matches the glass of a refreshing liquid with a fresh lemon as well as the person diving in for a refreshing swim. The colour grading is warm, and it feels like the sun is present, even though it is not explicitly shown in the photo. It reminds the viewer of summer and sitting by the pool without a pool being there. The way he has manipulated the dappling effect of the glass's texture onto the figure is really smart (even if it is, in reality, the same photo). As it gives a sense of polish and a sense of reality between the combined images. The figure follows the body of the bigger person to guide the eye across the composition. And the shadow of the glass lines up with the person over the hand.

The grading feels nostalgic with a grain that resembles 50s product packaging and advertisement posters. Tying into this, the colours remind me of Americana and American advertising of the 50s. Which are bright, contrasting and red, white and blue. This gives us the feeling that this image is selling something, an idealistic image.

[melissas-blogs]

80.lv Article - Stylize Anything

Stylized art is a type of 3D artwork that lies at the opposite end of the spectrum from realism. Like 2D cartoons, it exaggerates colours, proportions, and expressions. However, without a clear reference, it is challenging to replicate such a style. This is what I'm here to demonstrate. There's no perfect way to do it, as stylization is all about adding your own touch, but here is how I approach it so you can too.

For this article, I’ll be using the "Snake" as my guide to show my process. I start, as usual, by analyzing its key shapes. These shapes can then be expressed through shape language, often used in cartoons, to bring more emotion to the character. It is important to note the key features of the character such as hairstyle or body shape. This is to ensure its silhouette is distinctive enough to recognize the character even without additional details.

By understanding the basics of shape language, you can turn anything into an expressive cartoon simply by choosing the emotion and goal you wish to convey. Shape language doesn’t need to be applied to every part of the model; it can be expressed purely through the pose or size. Analyze your reference image, identify the main features that draw your eye, and begin exaggerating these features according to the main principles of shape language. Below are some examples of the same type of snake.

While the concept is an important aspect of creating a stylized look, it is also crucial to add details effectively. When sculpting in a stylized manner, remember that less is more and bigger is better. For example, instead of sculpting every scale like on a real snake, focus only on the core areas of the body, such as the cheeks, jaw, around the eyes, and neck. These are prime spots for adding scales. One of the most powerful tools for this is the scrape tool. In studying many stylized 3D models, edges are often not fully sharp. Instead, they are frequently flattened down by a scrape tool or something similar. This technique gives the model a “painterly” look, resembling brush strokes on the model. It also helps soften the overall appearance, as stylized art is often very soft and resembles clay.

Finally, we approach texturing, which truly ties everything together, giving the model the best look and feel of stylization. For this, I'll be using Substance Painter to describe my process.

Starting off, I remove all effects except for "color" and "rough" as the selected options. Then, I turn "rough" up to the max so it’s no longer shiny, giving it the first stage of stylization. Next, you want to bake the high-poly details onto your low-poly model like most models. This allows us to add ambient occlusion and curvature to the model, giving it more definition around the edges to really make the sculpt stand out.

Finally, we add a gradient to the texture from bottom to top, acting as our shadow using colours like blues or purples. This gives it a much softer look and adds more colour to the texture as a whole. The rest is simply using flat colours with max "rough" and painting in details around the mesh. Avoid going into too much detail and focus only on the big picture.