Fontacle

Those Who Would Sacrifice Liberty for Poor Logo Design... Deserve Either

2010-05-17T07:58:00.000-07:00

Ron Paul stood on solid ground as a presidential hopeful in 2008. His one against many, damn the torpedoes style during the candidate debates that cycle, gained him the recognition and respect he probably deserved much earlier in his career through his military, government and medical service.

Ron Paul spoke of liberty, limited government and the lowering of government intervention in the affairs of people, foreign or domestic. Getting spending under control and auditing or all together abolishingthe Federal Reserve were also themes which struck a chord with millions of voters. After Iowa, his average placement nationally from each states polling process was 2.5. - an average far ahead of McCain, Juliani and Romney. He was one of only three other legitamate candidates to take part in the All-American Presidential Forums on PBS taking place in Baltimore, moderated by Tavis Smiley. Rudy Giuliani, John McCain, Mitt Romney and Fred Thompson had chosen to skip that debate.

In principle, everything Ron Paul stands for seems admirable, honorable and very genuine in it's source. An unofficial announcement that he is running again in 2012 seems a bit premature but none the less welcome by many nationwide.

I for one could also get on board with his pesuassively, potent message for America... except for one thing.

In view of the momentum his candidacy had caused, Ron Paul founded a political action group called Campaign for Liberty. That's great and everything but I just don't like the groups logo so needless to say, - he won't be getting my vote. The logo itself is not extremely horrible I mean - I don't hate it, - Rothenburg, Germany has it's sorted past just as many locals around the world. The Red, White and Blue theme is appropriate...it's still America if you close your eyes long enough and the spacial relations seem hell bent on filling space. The whole entire is an attempt at recalling America's proud history ( using a face which historically, has nothing to do with America or it's unique lettering).

It is visually aligned - poorly, too much space between the i and the g in 'Campaign'. The finishing y in Liberty at the bottom is weak and disproportionate to any statement of solidarity or strength. It's not just how you start, - it's how you finish.

These are just a few surface problems I saw and initially I thought I could live with, until I had the pleasure of seeing the logo as placed on a stylish, All-American baseball cap.

All that's missing here is the monster truck rally, spent budweiser cans and a dog named Roo-Roo.

but then accesories do make the outfit.

When it comes to image - that all important "first impressions last a lifetime" thingy, there is only one captain of this ship. I'm afraid I will not be voting for Dr. Ron Paul in 2012, not nessesarily due to his staunch defense of freedom and liberty for ALL, but because of a more than apparent lack of graphic-lettering sense.

Adobe Photohop CS5 Extended

2010-05-01T08:56:00.000-07:00

Adobe CS5 Extended is chock full of cool extensions and loaded with great features for manipulating text. Using changable presets you can really generate some awsome designs!
Easy 3D extrusions allows you to create 3D artwork such as logos from a text layer using one of many selection tools. You can even use the layer mask included with the Adobe Repoussé feature in Adobe Photoshop CS5 Extended.

With the Adobe Repoussé feature you have alot of options for manipulating text layers such as twist, rotate, extrude, bevel, and inflate... After changing the layer to your precise preferences, you can then apply material effects such as chrome, mud, and grass to name just a few of the possibilities.

Repoussé. It's one of those things you know about but can't remember why or how...

REPOUSSÉ is the classical technique of embossing or creating a relief by hammering or (from the french) "pushing back" the reverse side of a typically precious metal surface. Repoussé was used in the ancient Egyptian, Mesopotamian, Roman cultures and was brought back to popularity during the Renaissance. Ornamental Disk. From Auvers-sur-Oise Seine-et-Oise France ca.300 BC, this gold on bronze with inlays and decoration is fine example of Repoussé from Celtic antiquity.

Repoussé is an ancient artform examples of which we see every day. Beyond decorative designs, It can be used for such things as brass belt buckles, jewelry, state or nations emblems and seals or just your basic street sign.
...I'm not really sure Repoussé is an accurate nomenclature for the kinds of things you can do in Adobe Easy 3D Extrusions. It's actually somewhat limiting as a description. It sounds good though.

Paper-Source - Do Somthing Creative Everyday!

2010-04-28T17:14:00.000-07:00

Recently, I wrote what I thought would be a blockbuster expose' in regards to the Jarte Word Processor and how I thought I had found an Achilles Heel in an otherwise superb program. I second guessed myself in the morning and removed it completely. Thinking was that with a little fiddlin' and research, I could circumvent and discover where I was going wrong in using Jarte.

At issue was the methodology of those of us who horde information when doing research. It sufficeth to say there is alot of copy and paste going on in the quest for info on any given subject or interest... its-hah-we-do (sounds like plagerism on a Dr. Evil scale) Unfortunately, there are included hyperlinks in so much of the info-stuff gathered - the links are either pertainent or visual distraction.

When copying and pasting into a Jarte document, the linked words remain link color and underlined just as in MS Wordpad. If you were to click on them however, - nothing happens - as in Wordpad - they are not recognized as hyperlinks by the program. That's o.k. because I really don't want or need them. It would be nice if I could use Wordpad or Jarte - it's supercedant like a web-based clean editor and be able to copy and paste into other web-based platforms but wishin is for chumps - High hopin' is for fools! It is only when I try to get rid of the color and underline that the whole thing in Jarte kinda breaks down.

Adobe Font Folio 11.0 - Full

So I contacted Jarte as I could not figure out any way around the whole 'not being able to do stuff in their program' scenario. I should have known better - web-based is web-based etc... but I wanted to at least aleviate myself of obnoxious (often blue and underlined) hyperlink text in my accumulated datastream. I recieved an email directly back from Bob Flora - Owner of Carolina Road Software and author of Jarte.

I love it when an owner is minding the store!

He gave me some tips on some things I am trying to do with his program Jarte.

In regard to formatting/removing hyperlinks or making them consistent with the rest of the document - Bob Flora informed me that the best way to accomplish this was to right click on a section of text which had the desired formatting - the pop-up/drop down menu appears - choose 'Format Brush' and then with a selection of the targeted text to be changed, everything would take care of itself.

It did not.

I would include a somewhat tutorial graphic here but it would just be embarrassing.

I was still left with the underline of the hyperlink and no matter how black the text was, I could'nt get rid of the underline.

I really am being a jerk... a knitpicker. This Jarte program is phenomenal in every other regard - unless I find somthing else wrong with it Arlington, Virginia - My Peeps!

Until I do (inevitably), I will concentrate efforts on the AIO (all In One) solution as promised - I "knows my onions" on this and you'll be suprised at the findings! Also, - Coming Soon On My Arlington Examiner Column: "A Glyph in Time".

Would'nt you like to have the kind of confidence in design you are looking for? No matter the project - be it a technical publication, brochure or simple flyer, - you deserve being equipt the best, the latest and most important design element of all!

Adobe Font Folio

Jarte's Achilles Heel? Just a Persian Flaw

2010-04-26T20:07:00.000-07:00

Jarte Lover that I am, I none the less have discovered what I consider to be a tiny flaw in the application. Jarte is designed to be a manyfold improvement over the MS Wordpad program, all the while using it's platform engine to exact those purposes of it's calling. Frankly, - it's a tall order.

In terms of effeciency, MS Wordpad has always been the OS included bees knees. It has been used as a quick note pad or clean editor for everything from emails, blogs, html/web development/content - even official full documents for print.

By comparison Jarte improves on many MS Wordpad functions and then goes on to add features and utilities mere, workload inundated mortals never even think of. There is always a trade off and invariably it is at the fundamental level.

Perhaps I'm nick-picking but for those working with the editing and compiling of multiple documents, a quick 'out' from the increasingly included hyperlinks contained within many documents needs to be just that.

Jarte handles the underlined hyperlink differently and seemingly - not at all in comparison to MS Wordpad. Using Jarte,the highlighted link is just that and not much after.

Click for Larger

In MS Wordpad, You simply highlight the underlined text and then click on the underline icon atop on the text menu bar. A quick change of color ( text color palette) takes care of the rest in smooth, one - two clicking.

On Jarte's end there exists a slight Persian Flaw as this execution cannot be accomplished as easily. In the HTML mode Jarte seems more than capable but for quick and effortless copy/paste/edit mode it leaves somewhat of an an empty
space.

Click for Larger

That which Jarte lacks in easy hyperlink erasure it makes up for with many of it's other great features. In a pinch, you can still use MS Wordpad.

Type as Mood in Clarendon

2010-04-26T14:54:00.000-07:00

It seems we are constantly faced with the particular design challenge of needing to convey a message or feeling in a way which will capture and hold attention. Most designers have a book of tricks, - a list of techniques they have mused upon and wanted to try or those they have already used and found to be effective (old standbys).

When working with type alone or dynamically, one has the boundless progenations of history to draw from in both gaining ideas and devining inspiration. Elements within the design rely upon each other to create cohesiveness or contrast in the overall strategy.

Clarendon, Virginia sits in the heart of Arlington. It is unquestionably one of the most unique locals to walk around and get design ideas. In what can only be described as a goulash or medly, a clash or interesting truce between different periods and their styles. Despite the renovation and intense trends toward planned renewal, Clarendon is a perfect place to walk around and see not just the sights but the - signs.

Neon abound. Hand painted and written. The former home of Arlington's 'Little Saigon' still boasts the honor and many elements remain.

An office building development rises in back of the beginning of Clarendon's Little Saigon beginning atthe 3100 block of Wilson Blvd in Clarendon. The office complex is complete today. As is the melange of periods...

Clarendon Virginia is a Metrorail stop. It's so easy to take a short ride up the escalators and into the center of it's most interesting proclivity. It is also a nightlife hotspot. I recommend taking a stroll for inspiration - take a camera!

Jarte Tabs Are Tops!

2010-04-25T19:20:00.000-07:00

Jarte is the super- powered word processor based upon the MS wordpad engine. It's enhancements over basic word processors are nearly too many to list. But I will attempt to begin doing so here.

One ultimo-cool Jarte feature is the tabs atop the page workspace! I have yet to max it out (though I have'nt actually tried). You can see all the documents you are working on using Jarte at a glance and by full file name. You can switch from document to document simply by hovering the mouse over the document tab you want to view!

The switch is seamless. In this case, I am writing keyword sensitive content for let's say... a closet organization system website. I have the keywords to be used and the document I am writing beside each other at a click so I can quickly access the keywords to be used...

and again this is just one of the amazing and completely free features of Jarte!

The Redesign of the Typeface 'Kis Antigua'

2010-04-21T15:50:00.000-07:00

Blog Entry by Jürgen Siebert - for fontblog.de
Published on 6, April 2009
Translation from German by Matt Taylor copyright 2010.

There is much speculation upon the re-publications of typefaces, Today I would very much like to revisit the font family Kis Antiqua of Hildegard Korger throw, which appeared now with Elsner Flake. For the Redesign Erhard emperor is responsible, to who I owe the following.

The return digitized version of the Antiqua Kis, which by the way decreases/goes back on Tótfalusi Kis Miklós (1650-1702), was developed and provided with new side dressing. Hildegard Korger, Professor Emeritus at the University for Diagram and Book Art, Leipzig (and there the former teacher of Erhard emperor), which was critically influential of this work.

The Kis family now covers six members: Antiqua and italic variations are available in the text design in each case as Regular and Semibold cut, the Regular, Regular Italic and Headline Design.

Between 1986 and 1990 Typoart Kis development appears with new side dressing in the current Headline cut.
The figure assortment of the new Kis is extensive. It contains apart from the standard character set in all six writings:
• Capitals (with associated currency and punctuation marks)
• numerous ligatures (also the long s and its ligatures)
• Verse aluminum, minuscule and majuscule with proportional instance and tabular side dressing,
• Nomenclature gates - Denominations and their fixed breaks (with proportional and tabular side dressing as well as associated currency and punctuation marks)
• Superior and Inferior with the fixed breaks built up from it (with tabular side dressing on horizontal lines as well as associated currency and punctuation marks)
Number sets (wider in form and side embellishment particularly added)
• Operational sign (while stationary the minuscule numbers adapted and with tabular extention leading in by an en).
•The two lean italic ones offer beyond that(Swashes). These are for nalstalgic purposes.

In all three italic samples additionally the gg and gy ligatures are available. moreover, there are unique forms of all six faces to some figures.
e.g. the most important currency symbols apart from the necessary narrow execution offer both em and en units , which is aligned with the euro-symbol substantially broader and better.

A further feature is the French influence on capital letters, which are clearly larger and higher than those for the mixture set.

In the extensive assortment of the accent characters in each of the six designs, importance was attached on it, the accents are pronounced and clearly versal so to flow with Capital and lowercase differently i.e. in each case in the size and sometimes also in the form. ( nearly regardless of instance of usage)

The kerning of the Kis font family is a bit on the tight side. One example is in the Regular text being cut after the end of the sentence, comma and in the instance of further punctuation marks, a reduced word distance follows. Also before all Versals the word distance is smaller, particularly before T, V and W, as would normally go beyond that before some numbers.

The six writings of the Kis Antiqua are offered for for Apple Macintosh as well as PC TrueType format with extended Latin indication outlines for opentype pro. Besides code-PAGE-referred allocations, they are available in the format opentype and TrueType in west and central European.
Adobe Font Folio 11.0 - Full

AIO (All In One)

2010-04-21T06:50:00.001-07:00

Images and text are two different communications. The expression "a picture is worth a thousand words" and In like kind "the movie was nothing like the book". Images and text are both information. They are recieved into our brain as representations or tidbits of information and are succinctly compiled and processed as such - seemlessly. - It's why we don't walk into walls. (generally).

Font Folio 1
Somewhere between the drawings on the Cave of the Trois-Frères and the inscriptions on the Trajan Column there lies partial evidence of an early inclination towards higher pattern recognition connate to an ability to reason.

A company called Adobe, as commercially prolific and intrinsic to government and national defense as it is today, basically began as an electronic font development company.PostScript - a way of describing how things will appear in print was Adobe's main technology and in tandem with Apple Computer's use of it was catalyzing of the desktop publishing revolution. Adobe Type Manager, the PageMaker aquisition

and the Adobe Marketshare flagship Photoshop are examples of the suite approach taken by Adobe in developing a comprehensive all-In-One solution now known as InDesign CS
'Creative Suite'. Font Folio 11
Adobe's success is due almost entirely to VISION - the realization of visual dynamic/neccesity in acquiring and communicating information.

An upstart company called Quark began more ostensively as a purely page layout/design software company.

The approach taken by Quark was perhaps a bit more utilitarian. It was an interesting and measured response to Aldus PageMaker and the Apple/Postscript driven DPR although perhaps even more an answer to the PC revolution in general. QuarkXPress for a long time enjoyed the lion's share of kudos and cash from typesetting and printing professionals due mostly to it's empowerment through simplicity of working in boxes.

From earliest times (the illuminated manuscript for example) Books and documents were layed out on a 'box within box' type system. Our paper sizes and even web pages use this today. Quark maintained the classical structure and thinking then advanced from there following up consistently with sharp new versions which still place the art of typography in very high esteem. QuarkXpress is no stranger to images and graphics. It utilizes the acclaimed Pantone Color Matching System to give ultimate controls to the user.

The inviting of third parties to develop cool new features which enhance the main QuarkXpress schema was a major move -in both marketing, artistic and historical terms. It is the theme now running throughout openscource and ...

GIMP. GIMP stands for 'GNU Image Manipulation Program' It is just as the name implies - a mainly image manipulation program. It began as a college project at the University of California, Berkley. Like all Gimp uses layers,vector/graphic lines and the ability to import (and through freely available third-party plugins) export to the major file formats in use today across the digital/internet spectrum.
Font Folio 11
Gimp is a free openscource response to photoshop with an intent to be more versitile just as Quarkxpress was a response to PageMaker with gearings going towards the latest image and graphic rendering and manipulation The program is capable of using Opentype fonts for display.

As we see today, there were many different musings on the part of major software technology companies as they looked towards the future of the digital revolution, which when combined with marketing pressures and strategies have brought us to a place and point in the state of the art where output and imput environment - is EVERYTHING!!!
Font Folio 11
The Operating System plays no small role in this. Enters and all the while, a little company called the Microsoft Corporation.

Talk about utilitarian!

None the less despite Microsoft's early success as IBM minion and their subsequent, clever marketing/maneuvering gyrations and bumpy navigations from that point, Microsoft managed to focus on being the best, most efficient and user friendly computer operating system on the planet.
Font Folio 11
Through a synthesis or sometimes seemingly a 'reverse osmosis' of buying/aquiring and genuine innovation, Microsoft sought to provide only the most pertainent capabilities to the average pc user. A full fledged program (at that time)called Paint was as basic as one could get and yet was a commensurate reply to Apple offerings at the time.
Font Folio 11
In the spirit of QuarkXpress's XTensions and the applied freeware/GNU response of GIMP to photoshop, Microsoft funded a project based upon their .NET programming backdrop called Paint.NET.
Font Folio 11
Paint.NET began began also as a college Student project at Washington State University. As GIMP was a freeware attempt at equalling Photoshop capabilities, Paint.NET was an attempt at accentuating the capabilities of Microsoft's rudimentary Paint program using the .net platform.

Like Jarte improves word processing over WordPad, people like Paint.NET because it
succeeds in the area of image and graphic rendering and manipulation over and above MSPaint -(as it was intended to). It is a powerful vehicle for web graphics and is full of cool plugin image/graphic manipulation endowments as well as importing and saving options (such as PSD -PhotoShop Document) as well as it's own version of saving as layers(PDN). Like GIMP Paint.NET has a strong user community but despite it's third party development capabilities it currently falls short of any full featured document or quality print capabilities (comparatively).

Paint.NET is based on Raster (bitmap) graphics with inclusion of object-oriented features where as GIMP is Vector Graphics driven and althogh postumously, - fully object oriented. There are a number of effects/plugins included in Paint.net which when used appropriately relieve the fundamental disadvantages of the bitmap conundrum.

Next Article: AIO - 'Depth of a Salesman'.
Font Folio 11

Informationes' de Pantose

2010-04-12T18:28:00.000-07:00

Many years ago I had the privilege of seeing Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Ernest , at Arena Stage's, Fichandler Stage, the famous theater-in-the-round in Arlington,Virginia. The play was mesmerizing and always stayed in mind as it was a unique title for a production - comedy or no.

Mentioned in previous articles there are a number of differences between free TrueType fonts and the fonts ones you pay for. Despite the number of differences the main one come down to an important number. - It's called a Panose number. and this is no comedy.

A Panose Number is a ten digit number, with each digit containing a value between 0 and 15. - hexadecimal numbers (0-9, A-F). These hexadecimal numbers are enclosed into the operating system table as the (Rich Font Description) which is a language assigned as part of a True Type font. The main purpose of it's invention was to speed up printers - minimizing the number of fonts required to be held in memory.

Very many applications point to Panose numbers to substitute fonts needing repair or altogether missing from your documents. If a font builder does not reset the numbers when building a new font, those numbers are set to 0000000000, (Nil) - In other words - the font contains no Panose information and cannot be used in replacing missing fonts or those in need of repair. If that is the case with a particular font, the default to step in on the dance is usually Arial, Courier,Times New Roman. or one the administrator has specified.

One may shimmey their hands together creating friction while gazing at the wonderful lines of a particular font or for that matter an entire website full of wonderous offerings - all the while we envision their useage in a planned composition or project.

But I got to say the Ney/No my Brothers and Sisters!

As you know (in windows XP for example) when we click the 'AB' Icon at the top of the installed fonts management window, we can see how all fonts compare in terms of similarity.
That information is crucial in determining which font will do the trick. It's also very valuable when deciding which fonts to get rid of (spring cleaning for the fontoholics).

If you have a long list of fonts which remain stacked up at the bottom below those with their pedigree info, you will doubtlessly become less interactive with them and eventually weighted down by their lack of communication with you.

Many fonts may be gems from the past However they are mainly intrisic to your creative future in terms of their direct utility.

The Pantose information System classifies typefaces based upon their visual differentia, It was a longtime in crafting and over the years has come to serve an important role across the digital spectrum. Whether seeking out a free TrueType, font or even one you want to pay for, make sure it comes with it's nitty-gritty. Your life and creative flow will be a whole lot easier!

Why Not Jarte?

2010-04-10T11:34:00.000-07:00

Why Not Jarte?
I recently decided to test Jarte for a test drive. Jarte is a light yet powerful word processor built on the stable Microsoft wordpad engine. It is designed to be as simple and straight forward as wordpad while simultaneously giving the user enhanced Word capabilities.

These include:

Tabbed document windows for easy access to your open documents
Larger buttons for the most commonly used functions
Instant dictionary and thesaurus word lookup (integrates with free WordWeb)
Spell check and text search tools that do not park themselves on top of the text you are trying to edit
Single click bookmarking that make bookmarks both useful and usable
Instant access to the documents and folders you designate as your favorites
Instant access to the fonts you designate as your favorites
Use of the mouse scroll wheel button to copy and paste text.

The interface is cool! I liked the skin and icons instantly!

Perhaps Jarte's most prominent features are it's customizable quickbar and shortcut keys. In addition to it's Split View mode and Word Count in the status bar, the Jarte word processor sets the user up for the best chance of smooth workflow and increased productivity. - It's a Productivity MACHINE!

As I was checking out some of it's other cool features, fontaphile that I am, I stumbled onto yet another cool feature at the bottom of the text drop down menu.

Fonts Online - FREE FONTS!!!
It is a link to a good font website called MyFonts.com. MyFonts is a time tested resource for free and purchasable fonts and font families. You can customize the sample by adding your own text and most fonts families have at least on member offered for free so I kinda went shopping.

I was hit instantly by 3 fonts in particular.
Vertrina sang to me like a siren.

Mimix Kid caught my attention but I was'nt really sold on it's overall usability...

until I saw that it had the endorsement of this smart ass little kid -

and that's good enough for me!

The most likely suspect for downloading was this beautiful, all purpose gem called Mentone.

Exquisite! Here is the info on it:

Mentone is a new general purpose typeface, an attempt at extending the line of the great sans-serifs of the previous century, Frutiger - Stone Sans - Myriad.
The font has round corners and subtle chamfers, which are all but invisible at text sizes, but add an upbeat, irreverent expression at display sizes.
The typeface is named after the beautiful bayside suburb of Melbourne, Australia, where the designer lives. More…
This new version (2.01) was spaced and kerned by Igino Marini of iKern.
The semibold cuts are now free!
Mentone Light
Mentone Light Italic
Mentone Regular
Mentone Italic
Mentone Semi Bold
Mentone Semi Bold Italic
Mentone Bold
Mentone Bold Italic
GLYPH COVERAGE
Basic Latin/English, West European Diacritics, Euro, Ligatures, Central Europe, Baltic, Turkish, Dingbats and Symbols.
Unfortunately No Panose Information Available (as is the case with most free fonts - eh!)

I downloaded Mentone Light and If I want to, I can take the whole kit and kaboodle with me into another program on another computer because Jarte has Install to USB Drive!

Infinitely cool!

Check out Jarte from Carolina Road Software

First Moon Base Built By Honda Corp Aliens Astounded!

2009-06-18T15:07:00.000-07:00

I don't believe in 'Aliens' but...

If a technologically, advanced race of them came down to Earth in some spontaneously, waaaay over the top, intergalactic curtain call, I doubt humankind would be judged by this IGHT - (Intergalactic Good Housekeeping Team) based upon the softline ergonomics of our moonbase kitchen nooks - or for that matter, by anything other than our percerverance as a species in traversing the great communication divides always

The Honda logo/emblem is a smart vision of the past, present and future. The logo is thick and steady at the base/bottom. It's heart (or middle) is sturdy and showing more sophisticated signs in it's geometric and gradient attack upon the top - the future!

As far as the company name appears, it's every bit as smart and as sleek only in a more collusive way.

Egyptian faces or 'slab' serif types always get slighted and I for one feel they are entirely under rated and used. If you notice, - the Honda emblem is in contrast to the Honda name design spelled out. Yes! - those are slab serifs but they are also eloquently bracketed. The design effect is to achieve overall balance between the two.

The slabs themselves are elements of time-tested stability, the minds eye is beckoned to both an Egyptian meets Roman, cross-temporal sharing of the gaurd and big, sturdy 'Hoss' from a ranch called 'Ponderosa'.

Is this a case of a company living up to it's graphic corporate identity? It is a little known fact that Honda revamped their emblem around 1989-90 to coincide with what was perhaps their most furtile and prolific time as an automobile manufacturer.

It is at least possible that a company like Honda would be a part of building the first moon base. If so, would you feel safe living on the moon?

I for one would. - eat my shorts Doctor Evil!

2009-06-14T18:30:00.000-07:00

Serif Page Plus X3 allows you to import PDF files,edit them and republish them as a PDF!

PDF is our friend. It is of course the genius extension of the PostScript Page Description Language.

Postscript describes/defines how text, lines, images (graphics) are supposed to appear on a page.

It gained prominance as an EOE (Equal Opportunity Explainer) of what's supposed to happen on a computer rendered page - kind of a dual Sherpa meets interpreter for your design exploration and intent. It functions regardless of local explored or language spoken.

Like the great and legendary comicbook artist Jack Kirby, PostScript rendering language starts in one corner and works out from there! It renders the visual commands using a precise measurement map in terms of points (of points and picas fame) - (usually) and that's good news for our understanding it!. It is however, also flexible enough to interpret/represent other measurement types and allow options we nary need with printing as our objective.

So along comes the PDF and specifically PDF X-1a which adds some print healthy restrictions. We're flyin' along as designers for print primarily, - the PDF adds a way to 'embed' the fonts we choose and use in our design in such a way that our intent is read as we intend it to be - regardless of the computer, operating system and likewise - human eyes recieving it!

Major breakthrough! But as cool as it is - sometimes a little too cutesy for basic print. We have abilities to freeze our work in option rich ways we don't even know about - but ours is a print neccesity. - Do we really need all the fru-fru options? That's where PDF X-1A comes in (specifically PDF X-1a 1.4). It simplifies things so there are no (or far fewer) mistakes in the printing phase!

As you design your pages with Serif Page Plus X3, The graphics on your hard drive are being replaced in the design/layout phase by lower resolution versions. This helps things move along much faster as you design!

PDF X-1A inclusion inside Serif Page Plus X3, eliminates the question of whether the graphics you are sending to the printer are the higher of the resolutions in existence between those used to design in Serif Page Plus X3 and that of the original on your harddrive/network server. The linking or 'standing in' of lower resolution files created by the smooth and intuitive Serif Page Plus X3 interface, are not at issue once you set the PDF X-1a preferences contained within the Serif Page Plus X3 program.

Say goodbye to prepress nightmares and hello to high productivity and effortlessly,smooth workflow!

The Perfect Storm - Windows,Serif and Fontcraft

2009-06-11T14:37:00.000-07:00

I (yours truely and dotingly) am old enough to know better however still too young to care. I began this column/blog out of a sheer fondness for the arts (in general) - Typography - specifically. I feel truely lucky.

I feel at this time that I will name 3 resources which can and will do the job entirely well and then spend the rest of the time getting down to nitty-gritty typography for the sheer love of it.

Serif Software/Fontcraft Scriptorium and Microsoft

I believe these to be the 'Perfect Storm' - allowing anyone - regardless their neccesity or interest, to create the most powerful pages and publications bar none - for the price and for the ease of doing so.

If we were all heirs to the throne we would probably not blink in using Quark Xpress or for that matter, proclaiming it as the official PRS of the kingdom.

ITC and Linotype have certainly made their contributions within the constantly accelrating maelstrom of digital/internet technologies.

It's just that I can't see (or in good concience - pretend to) any better or more empowering vehicles than Microsoft - operating systems, - software and ISP AIO.

Fontcraft Scriptorium - AIO professional, fantasmic art and font resource!

Serif Software - AIO publishing /production powerhouse.

So to move on to some of the many reasons for these selections, I wish to start with Serif Software.

Serif's latest 'Image Cutout Studio' is being touted across the web by users as the most exact and effective to come down the pike in a long time.

"Image Cutout" or - the ability to remove a background in an image has always been with us. The progression of available tool selections to accomplish this, sped from basic vector point 'Free-Form Selection' and 'Scissors' tools, to Magic Wands and 'Masking Brushes' as image resolution grew with processing speed. Setting the tolerances of a magic wand or brush paintflow/opacity in masking, allowed the artist control over individual pixcel valuation to their individual taste and eye.

It's not so much the benefit of having an Image Cutout tool to your avail, -but it's availability at a click inside a professional caliber desktop publishing program that holds such promise and attraction - and for such ultra low ka-ching!

If we're talking about workflow, - pure gold! - but when combined with the ability to customise toolbars and keyboard shortcuts (both latest improvements in the Serif Page Plus X line),-It's priceless!

Serif 's intent is clearly to provide superior workflow, individual control and artistic flexibility - not only in the many rich options offered, but in affording you the ability to build your own publishing/production suite as your business needs or artistic growth require. - They both undoubtably will!

"Reverse Video" Technology

2009-06-09T18:43:00.000-07:00

I've never been one to drink alcohol before an eye doctor appointment but for some reason - today I was. I won't bore you with the somewhat sporatic details but it sufficeth to say there there was at least one awkward moment which keeps insisting it's "thug-life" nature into my memory - and frankly... How Rude!

I was standing there before God,Country and a quasi-well meaning optometrist (yeah - I guess in that order) - when the latter of the three informed me with a most somber look upon his face that he suspected I was suffering from 'Double Vision'!

"Oh No! I thought to myself

not again?!?!

Inscensed, I began calling into question his very wall ornamenting credentials from both Yale and Harvard Universities.

"I demand a second opinion" I wrinched and stomped.

It was then that the kind Doctor stood over to my left and said:

"You have double vision".

The good news is that we all do! Don't worry - rumor has it that lions do to (and they're the King/Queen of the jungle!). They see things in black and white. In fact, zebras benefit tremendously from this!

Zebras tend to horde together wherever they go - at the watering hole and in travel across the African expanse. Whenever they stop for any reason, they stand 'head to tail' to each other in large groups. This is an amazingly potent defense mechanism against the lion, who basically - don't mean em no good.

It's the same ol' strategy played out over too many millenia perhaps to quantify, - lions lay in wait for a nice big thick herd of black and white striped dinner, and at precicely what they feel is their most opportune/adventageous time, - they come trouncing. As the zebra scurry, the maelstrom of their stripe patterns is irresistable to the lion while simultaneously confusing the hades out of them visually. It is a one, two punch - perhaps nature's most formidable defence - (if only I could apply it to my chess game).

Black and White are the two most contrasting colors in the human visual spectrum. they can be used to great, attention getting effect!

We used to call "reverse video" (inverting black and white values) is now so easily done that it's seldom usage in lieu of less visually effective 3-D, shadow effected, miscreations is somewhat suprising.

I once worked with a guy named -oh let's call em' 'Mac', - who use to swear by a thing he called "The Bandit" "Use the Bandit" he would say..."bandit that title" etc... What he was refering to, was the inverting of a set thickness or strip of the cover page or really, anywhere else he wanted to grab attention. The strip bleeds to edge or perhaps is just a large box teasing the margins. That was the very early 90's and I have yet to see the 'bandit' rivaled in grabbing the readers attention.

Mac would come in late in the morning, b.s. for a good hour while he made and drank 2-3 cups of coffee all before finally getting his bearings, sitting down at the 'compugraphic machine' and lighting his 1st cigar. He made/billed $40 an hr for his services and despite his driving everyone crazy with his cigar smoke, His setups for government proposals were they which brought home the bacon.

He once plainly remarked to me "ya see this? (pointing to the bandited title at the top of the page) - this is as visually communicative as it gets...and it's why I make the big bucks!

He was a professional from the "Felix the Cat" school of type compositing. He had a big bag of tricks but knew which of them worked most effectively!

The Art of Brenda Gordon

2009-06-08T12:15:00.000-07:00

It's not often you meet someone with an intellect and personality you find entralling and then over time, discover there is so much more...

I've known Brenda for about 10 years. As privaledged as I have been in getting to know the ultra-cool person, I was also privaledged enough to have a job developing and printing images she had taken of her work. In getting to know her on an that entirely different level - I could only give pause (a little bumper between admiration and the inclination of worship), I studied her work and realized that it spoke to me in so many different ways!

I stopped by Meadowlark Gardens in Vienna,Virginia. If you've never been there you really should. It's always been a must see gem in Fairfax County but if you visit there, you will find the most incredible attraction of all - One of Brenda Gordon's exquisite murals gracing the entrance!

I thought that I could do no better with my column here on examiner.com, than to let any one curious or crazy enough to read my musings, know about this local artistic treasure - whom I have been so fortunate to call friend.

I had some questions for Brenda which I thought may be of interest to her many
fans as well as those newly discovering her work. (I was also very curious) I must admit to being a little suprised by the slightly non-glamourous,realism provided in her answers. It's one of the reasons I find her so interesting as a person!

The 'interview' went as follows:

MT : What is your earliest memory/awareness of having an interest in the arts? What single moment or event can you cite as having lead to the inspiration of your interest in art? (was it at an early age?)

BG: When I was 2 my appendix ruptured. I spent many days in the hospital. A young boy in the room with me had both his legs broken in a car accident.
My parents brought me some coloring books and crayons to keep me entertained. Every time the Doctor came in to check on the boy he would start screaming and I would color faster and faster. That is my earliest recollection some of that information was told to me by my Mother. I suppose the coloring relieved my stress when the boy screamed. It kept me occupied and all was well.

Later just about beginning High School my father would ask me from time to time "What do you want to do with your life?"
I didn't know, meanwhile I had been drawing the entire time. One day I woke up and said, "I know..I want to be an artist" From that day I worked toward fulfilling my goal.

MT: I've gone and visited some of your artwork available in public display. Your inimatable talent for using color and lighting in creating both dramatic mood and intense message is well known. What is it about a subject or study that attracts you into seeing it potentially as powerful as you will render it on canvas?

BG: Art is about creating a feeling - capturing a moment in time which often exists in the blink of an eye. I'm trying to render what happened when my viewer blinked. To me,long shadows and intense lighting appeals to our my mind's eye. I try to grab that fleeting moment - and create a mood that will speak to the fraction of a second you may have missed. - You never want to miss it - I won't let you.

MT: (laughter) - I know - I know...but still, - you add an incredible amount of detail to subject work which is not inherently there to begin with. Your artwork is a bit risky and avant gaurde in that respect. It takes a chance on the viewer's eye and ability to appreciate the subtleties. You give your viewers alot of credit - are they worthy of it?

BG: Yes! - Absolutely. They are...

MT :(interrupting): - have you ever had to "dumb down" your work to a clients taste?

BG: Not at all... most of my clients go by first impression of a painting - they seem to see it instantly. Although I can't tell you how many times people will call me and say "Wow! - I didn't notice this or I didn't see that and - did you put this in on purpose? " - My paintings grow on the viewer, the more they look the more they see and appreciate. I find personal satisfaction in that - a relationship ... sharing.

MT: How do you see your interpretations years from now? - do you feel you are continually growing and learning as an artist?

BG: Y'know - I look at some of my paintings and all I can think of is how I could've made them better - all I can think about is how I would change it to make it more interesting for the viewer. Other paintings I am still satisfied with, art is constantly a growing process - the more you practice hopefully, - the better you get.

MT: Which single work are you most proud of and why? (including any of your public displays and those on your website).

BG: I have to say The Hershey Park mural at the Chocolate Towne Cafe - 2500 Square feet and 22 feet high completed in 31 days. (it's HUGE! - MT ) When I saw the site in person for the first time I was terrified - " Holly Mackerel ! - what have I gotten myself into? "

All planning and correspondence were elevation drawings, the site was under construction, so when I got there and looked around I almost ( expletive)...(expletive)...(again - expletive!).

That night I called my Dad to get a pep talk, I cried, I was scared to death!

The next day I was on a cherry picker. 31 days later the mural was finished. It came out great. I overcame my fears and produced an award winning mural.

More Power to You Brenda! and more power to US! - That award winning mural is now an American icon! - a giant-sized treasure seen by people the world over!

We really are extremely fortunate to have such a uniquely perceptive and prolifically, visionary artist living right here in the Washington DC/Metro area! A person, a puzzle inside the discerning paradox of our own artistic perceptions, a hero constantly capturing the split moments between truth and dream. Asking us if they are indeed one.

Don't take my word for it however, - check out Brenda Gordon for yourself by visiting her website HERE!

I'd like to thank Brenda for her time and consideration. I hope you get a chance to discover the rich, wonderment that is Brenda Gordon Art!!!

A Letter to Words

2009-06-01T15:38:00.000-07:00

Remember learning the alphabet? That process we all went through in learning how to read and write? It's a distant, happy memory for alot of us - of making letters appear by connecting various lines and curves together in relationship with ourselves making the connection. Although some of us (or probably just me) were content with having it end there, the thrill of achievment in individual letter rendering was soon replaced by the next level of challenge - constructing words with the letters we had mastered.

Gee Golly Woshadonna! - Does it ever end? - I mean...

... the answer is NO and

it's all our fault! Somewhere along the line it has to be. We just could'nt leave well enough alone could we? NOOOO! - we had to use our newfound powers! Now, - not only did we know what words sounded like and meant (many of them), but we knew what they looked like and even how to make them appear on paper!

AVARICE! - Complete and total AVARICE!!! - "Whoopee! - Look what I can do!"

Yeah - it was pretty cool! - and even cooler was our ability to to recognize words as patterns but ah haaa! That was mostly due to a conformity by consensus of learned letter forms.

Without standards of shape and form, instantaneous recognition of whole words soley by their shape would not be possible (or extremely difficult - just look at a Grateful Dead Poster). We were taught to write our letters within predetermined/acceptable parameters but what made the predetermined parameters "acceptable"?

If you can read this - Thank a Teacher...(and your Lucky Stars)!

Early on in the development of written language, the conceptual good fortune of having letters represent individual, phonetic sounds lent itself not only to the construction of known words, but the pronunciation and even translation of those unfamiliar inter-dynamically! - But it all goes back to letter construction.

Of all the typestyles available, most were accepted due to the way they looked when assembled into words. Improvements were constantly being made with many being modifications of those typefaces already in use however modified or supposedly made better so as to lend themselves more fluidly to word recognition.

But there is a vice versa effect - in fact there are several which are subjects for future entry.

Friend or Font?

2009-05-28T17:41:00.000-07:00

Remember the Adam Ant song 'Friend or Foe"? - Great Song! It was around the time of that song and I think it was Ronald Reagan who was credited with uttering the following quote
(pearl of wisdom) :

"Surround yourself with good people, delegate authority and don't interfere!".

Regardless of the quote's historical or political context (or ramifications), if you think about it, It's really true! You should surround yourself with good people, delegate authority and don't interfere -

UNLESS ...

...you're General Custer at the Battle of Little Big Horn - you're surrounded by good people, they just happen to be Indians.

- you should just play dead and let your horses run interference.

Most graphic/type artists settle down into using only a handful of fonts (or less). Often they have developed an entire style based on their familiarity with and use of certain fonts. This can be independent of any page rendering system. Over time and experience they have come to know the nature and allowances of a specific typeface - backwards and forwards - and so have surrounded themselves with good fonts, delegated authority to them and interfere only when neccessary.

Getting to know a font is much like getting to know a person. The context may be only professional at first but over time, you have them over for a tennis match and a beer (not neccessarily in that order)

Using Icons as Bullets

2009-05-27T12:17:00.000-07:00

In 1996, a good friend of mine helped clarify the way I thought about websites.

"A website is just an answering machine". He Said

The more I thought about it, the more I realized he was right. At that point in time websites were till somewhat anti-climactic in there visual delivery and every bit as stoic in their capabilities and yet, - many of those old jalopies still exist on the www.

Having the entire internet as a source of design inspiration is very cool. I often find myself visiting random websites/pages just to see how they were layed out and which editor/environment was used in their creation. The vintage is also indicated by the design elements used.

I find Google and Gmail to be perfect examples of highly effecient web design. Everything is streamlined, the most important information is broken into concise sectors - ultra-utilitarian and with rudimentary complement of graphics (which help speed things up). Everything you need however, is right there and easily found.

I was starring at my gmail page and realized that I have been taking all of this for granted! I also decided to point out a major feature of Google design: simple icon usage!

(above) icons are used as bullets.Point titles are bolded.

As usual, a very good example of design got me thinking. It opened the floodgates and all those thoughts from the inspiration came raging into the space of my mind like a crack-addicted chimpanzee hell bent on destruction...

...I can use this. (more often)

There are so many useful tips right in front of us! Most Page layout programs and website builders offer us templates where we just plug in or add whatever graphics we want. Customizable stylesheets and formatting is better than it ever has been before - there are at least 2000 ways to skin a cat now digitally (not that we have a need to at this moment - it might prove crucial later though).

...and it's only getting better!

How Type Saved Civilization! (the Irish are still extremely cool though)

2009-05-24T17:48:00.000-07:00

That the history of type is no less than history itself cannot be argued with any due sensibility. All we know from history was recorded using it's device and the device as constantly innovated by our predessecors, speaks volumes on it's own behalf.

History is filled to overflow with victor's tale of conquest - violence echoes the intrigue of human exchange.

Type as a story teller is not only non-exempt from those wilds and throws we call history, - it is frought with them. It might in fact be a mistake to denegrate it's very nature of being one and the same. Mysteries abound - Yet those cultures and civilizations we know most about today, had the most to say by way of written language. We cannot only lay open the mysteries of the past by studying what was written about it but how it was written.

Is'nt that friggin' cool?

I am a human without neccessarily being a human-ist. I know and even kinda like some who are and some who are the same in sentiment as I am. Reason: - I guess I just don't trust you guys... apologies.(feel free to do somthing lavishly extravagant to restore my faith in you.

But You don't have to be a humanist to harbour a deep appreciation of the Renaissance/humanist movement in our inescapably humanist history. If it's glass is filled to overflow, you can at least drink it down to half full/half empty.

Drink in the largely Italian renaissance movement - I charge ye!- It's a fruity bouquet,a little more bright than sweet,lighter and more vibrant it's mood - a cornucopia of rediscovery!

...probably began with an hombre' called Marco Polo and his ultra-venturesome travels across the semi-known world. To China using the 'Silk Road' he would have legendary encounters, - the stuff that dreams and nightmares are made of and would later write about them in a book called Le livre des merveilles.

It is more than possible, that Marco Polo did not know what dragon or giant he had awakenened. Those stories and accounts were slowly divulged over generations in Italia and indeed Europe, written in any number of hands and spoken of in square,granite-columned halls and increasingly vernacular circles. It was a stone thrown and all of Europe would be a pond full of ripples.

The education was one of a gradual nature. The world beyond the alps would come crashing in over some centuries, laying waste to any preconcieved ideals concerning the superiority of a nationalistic identity.

The Chinese were written of as being the first to invent and implement block printing. The first actual printing press was devised and in use long before descriptions of it would inspire Europeans. But seeing the genius and economic benefactors of this conceptual wonder from a distant land, would initiate a progression - a ripple in the pond which would affectionately be known as the printing press.

As if in nearly complete parallel, the whole of Italy and residually that of Europe,would begin seeking out their own identity. They would seek to illuminate the former greatness of Rome in all of it's power and glory, - therby laying claim to a history as old and as rich, - as humanistically edifying as that of China itself. It is only fitting that they would look and reach into the annals of artistry to find such legitamacy.

Upon studied review of Polo's disertations, and with a sublime confidence (albiet proportionately unfounded) in the willy-nilly ascertion that the world was actually round, Christopher Columbus would be cajulted into trying an uncharted oceanic voyage to the source of a European awakening. He would find another culture, perhaps equally as interesting in all artistic and cultural respects. He would find...

The New World!

Serif PagePlus X3

2009-05-21T12:47:00.000-07:00

If You're like me, you seek out the Pure and utilitarian.You believe there's alot to be said for the unassuming,frugally concieved yet ultimately, empowering stuff in this world.

The level of our artistry never finds it's ascendency in the specific toolboxes we use. A software application find's it's utility in intent. It gives us a tool by which we achieve our artistry.

For that reason, I am attracted to a small list of bang (value) for the buck resources which have those very definite attributes and features which empower the artist for not-alota-mulah.So many of the wonderful rendering capabilities we enjoy today have by now become standards that we cannot do without. Clearly, - without giants leading the way
(Quark XPress_ and Adobe Pagemaker/Creative Suite_etc...), We might have been left in a deep,dark and unfamiliar forest or so one would think.

The unknown darkness can be exciting! It can also get kind of old -A ram's horn pronouncment of greatness becomes as easily, an enticing but eerie whisper from the darkness and murky mire of Proprietary posturings... midnight promises.

Traveling quite merrily along with us all the while, has been Serif Software and their unequalled line of "Software With Imagination"! The software is designed with imagination with your imagination in mind.

Serif's PagePlus X3 gives you all the features and flexibility of the the giant publishing programs while making it affordable for the pro and average user alike!

Serif offers solutions fine crafted to the specific and unique needs of the artisan. If you want or need to build a suite of abilities, Serif accomodates in a most effecient way with their powerful line of products. With PagePlus X3 - You will have customiseable toolbars and keyboard shortcuts,the ability to import and enhance EPS PostScript® graphics,Import PDF Files with in a couple of clicks,it has a new Word 2007 text import filter, overall easy and intuitive environment layout

With Serif Software, you can build as you go -intuitively adding incredible creativity as you need to! once you do, you have the empowerment to transfer text, drawings and images between Serif programs!

I like Serif PagePlus and DrawPlus software
because of it's intent. They have built affordable software solutions which are immediately useful while keeping pace with the latest available (licensed) industry standards to create a very cool, very fun and eloquent workflow which is now powerful enough for the pros!

2009-05-05T12:18:00.000-07:00

Font Editing/Rendering Software with a WOW!!!

This Software allows you to have the flexibility neccessary to create powerfully personalized fonts sets with easy to use features! Begin from scratch or use preset points. FontLab FontLabLtd aquired Fontographer

Fontlab font editors

Post Script 1 to OpenType Migration

2009-05-04T17:26:00.000-07:00

While seemingly yesterday, Microsoft brought in Adobe to help co - develop a cross-platform type standard which would allow cross outline and encoding support resulting in the "OpenType" format. There were and still are problems with matching up the conventional names and supports of each standard.

Everything is pretty much format/support standard nowadays. You may have your work cut out for you however if you have been working in a purely adequate Mac based graphics environment, and the higher-ups from atop their mountain in P&A were sold at pricepoint on a PC based printer.

Everything is "Beans-n-Gravy" until you go to print if past formatting cannot be found or rendered correctly in the new output environment.

Adobe provided a good read for those faced with the undaunting task of "sinking" their (Postscript based) imput graphics capability with the .OT (Open Type) standards for output. A downloadable, Face to Face format transposition table here in the HOPEFULLY, helpfull following order (From Adobe Forums):
Type 1 PostScript FontName
Type 1 Mac Menu Name
Type 1 Win/PC Menu Name
Type 1 PC File Name
Prefix Type 1 Mac Outline File Name
Matching OpenType format font
Matching OpenType format
Mac Menu Name
Matching OpenType format Win/PC Menu Name

Then there is also the output solution like the HP Multiple Product Adobe PostScript Printer Driver which supports a quasi extensive list of HP products. This is mainly for those graphics departments which use higher quality, inhouse/end-process printers for proofing before,during and after flight.

A much simpler solution available from FontLab is called TransType.

This Universal font format converter for Mac and Windows. Versions SE 2.5.1 and Pro 3.0.2., allows you to convert practically any font into any other format on Mac and PC.What might the advantages of using TransType Pro be?

In my experience, any product that a manufacturer purports to be 'universal' is either too ambitious/too soon in supports, too proprietory or it quietly and efficiently delivers a suprisingly, useful result. The latter fits FontLab's TransType.

Universal is the prefacing key word for this fontlab product and it speaks to ease of use as well as support. For Mac: Mac OS 9.2 with CarbonLib 1.6+ or Mac OS X (10.3 or higher is recommended), Intel-based Mac OS X(* visit FontLab site for details)

For Windows: Microsoft Windows OS (95/98/ME/NT/2000/XP).

Perhaps most important are the encoding conversions which read and convert Unicode, ANSI, ASCII, among many others (international etc...16 for Microsoft,23 for Mac) It is a simple converter environment and interface which already the most standard features and preferences checked and yet is fully customizable!

FontLab has designed a solid, options and features-rich beast of a font conversion tool that is mainly for converting from the major pre-OpenType (TT,GX) to OpenType /PS standard.

The interface is well designed, a familiar layout of font manager and conversion tool which thankfully makes no grandios assumptions. A typical scenario (after lightning quick install) would be to open the program,choose a system font for conversion and then save it to the same or any other folder you create. FontLab TransType has batch and font family save features which once preferences are set, allow for codepage and script exactitude as well as maximized glyph/outline transference.

The Experience is Just Beginning.

2007-06-25T20:08:00.000-07:00

The Type artist has a myriad of powerful tools in which to practice, if not perfect their craft and passion! Todays market provides a much larger venue, an even more "hip" and artistically enlightened crowd before which the type artisist can absolutely WOW the onlookers!