KDesign's Blog

Tweedle dee… No dumb.

karaddesign — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 00:15:35 +0000

I’ve been having one of those slow weeks. Do you guys ever have them? I am just starting up the graphic design department at the company so work is sometimes slow and projects go on hold (oh joy!).. So it happens. So I have absolutely no idea what to do with myself on days … weeks like this. I tend to read more blogs about whats going on right now in the world of graphic design, do more tutorials and read up on articles (cnn.com frequently).

It feels like twiddling my thumbs in a way, but staying current. Its hard to know what to do… What does everyone else do on days like this?

RAW!!!

karaddesign — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 03:13:55 +0000

Ok. Not like the diet in Sex & the City and not like the WWF wrestling that my brothers watch (why is this anyway??). RAW the camera format!
Where have I been? This wasn’t covered in Photo 101 or 102. We totally missed out on this spiffy (if weird) format of digital photography! What I love about photography, is it’s literal meaning. To paint with light. Its a stunning way of describing pictures, especially the traditional medium of film when its developed (bringing back memories of chemical smells… ahh…. I mean.. ew?).

My boss traded up his digital camera for a new one that outputs the photos into RAW format. Okay says I… What is that? So I googled the living tar out of it and have a good understanding (I believe and have more reading to do. I didn’t leave class did I?) of it, I think. Being pushed by Adobe (who else?) and probably a brilliant if not complex idea, RAW is the same concept as latent images on film. Not a photo dork? Latent image is what is on the film before its been processed. It’s there, waiting for us to expose and develop and ‘paint’ with it. So the RAW format is the digital version of this. The data is taken from the camera (please correct me if i mistake ANY information, seriously) and imported into the computer (I’m thinking of the connector cable like the dark room, but speedier) and the data is interpreted by a program (Lightroom or otherwise provided by your camera’s maker {we hope}). It reads the settings you used, f-stops, aperture and all of that fun stuff and ‘develops’ the RAW data.
Ok… I am trying to think of this like film and my computer is the englarger. The settings I can use for adjusting brightness, dark, contrast, tint.. etc. Such a confusing concept! Its a cool idea but GRASPING this idea has taken me all day to understand. Its so weird. And clever at the same time.

OK. So by now you’re wondering what the heck I’m doing wondering about RAW data. I do a lot of image editing for my company that encompasses everything from editing head shots to doctoring product into photos. Its just crazy the amount of things I’ve figured out how to Photoshop in the past 7 months. So naturally I’ll have to be using this new format in my editing – woo.

Does anyone know more about RAW camera data or did I get the description fairly right? I hope so! Because I’m editing a photo tomorrow for work. Bring it on RAW!!!

Bonjour! ¡Hola! Shalom.. Hello. :]

karaddesign — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 00:18:54 +0000

Hello world!

I’m a little late on the blogging wagon, but no time like the present, right? First thing’s first world. I want you to get to know me before I go all techy, dork-like with my graphic design thoughts. So there here are some simple facts:
1. I love to read. Almost anything. I love taking a ‘bite’ out of a good novel that lets my mind race with imagination, ideas… Well. You get the idea right? I’m pretty well read. Least I like to think so.
2. I grew up in Chicago, love pizza, hot dogs, snow and a good bagel with schmer. I live and work in Atlanta, Georgia now and have been here for about oh… 8 years. So weird!
3. I can’t spell to save my life. Or do basic math. So no criticizing. I warned you in advance. Grammar nazi’s beware!
4. I really, really, really like design. I’m still learning though. I graduated college in 08 (it’ll be two years in the spring, weird, huh?) so I’m still learning the ropes. I think it’s an on-going process personally. Through all the tut’s out there, they can help you figure out the tricks and tips of almost anything (i think) that you need to learn. Well… Except being a new designer. I’m learning to design, talking with the printer (my one at work hates me and sucks ink like its life blood) and working in an office with fabulous people (did I mention I really like my job?).

Ok… So I might have spilled into what I want this blog to be about. I’m new at this all and thought since nobody else is blogging about their experience, why not me? I’ll try to keep it positive for you guys. No Monday blogs because those are just NOT fun (Monday’s I mean). So bare with me (and my spelling) as I learn through it and catalog my journey to where I hope to go…. An art director (who said dreams have to be small?).

~Kara D.