Glyndwr University: Vice Chancellor says they are attracting investment and helping create jobs - North Wales Weekly News

Glyndwr University: Vice Chancellor says they are attracting investment and helping create jobs - North Wales Weekly News

North Wales universities drop places in league tables - North Wales Weekly News

North Wales universities drop places in league tables - North Wales Weekly News

Images So Good You'll Think They're Photos

Breaking Bad Images So Good You'll Think They're Photos

These art pieces are, in some forms, what level, & more, I am aspiring to achieve. They really offer an image of where, & what, I am hoping to offer, or at least a percentage of my new skills.

Riccardo Minervino is an Italian CG artist who works for Capcom
This is NOT a photograph!
Although exceptional, aesthetically it is not to my choice of image, however the moustache is a blurred, not quite a s clear as I would want it; gives the game away.

Photography Tips

The Photography Tips that 96 Photographers Wish They Would Have Learned Sooner

Photographer learning the craft as he shoots a sunrise
via Jim Harmer: improvephotography.com

"Two weeks ago (I know, I’m slow…) on the Improve Photography Facebook fan page, I asked our community what photography tips they wish they would have learned sooner.  I was looking for lessons that many photographers procrastinate learning and it ends up keeping them back from progressing as photographers."

I am inquisitive & constantly yearning to better oneself, but with an insatiable appetite to learn & develop have luckily realised that I do have to be awake to the fact that I can tend to overload my brain with 'stuff'; things that I want to know or know more about. Thus, there are some things I would love to learn how to do, or just to be able to do much better; from digital design, to shooting guns & cameras. Fortunately, over time, I learnt to postpone some things for other days; improving my photography skills was 1 of these!

I have constantly taken photographs, the latter few years with only a mobile phone, but now, thanks to a special present from someone who loves my images, I am learning a new camera. Hence this article has grabbed my attention; found via Pinterest!

Taken with a mobile phone

Taken with my Samsung WB250F

1st image shot with my Samsung WB250F

100 texture studies by =tanathe on deviantART

100 texture studies by =tanathe on deviantART

Zynga Poker

Playing Facebook Games

This article reminded me to add my notes on my online playing of games: Two more games execs quit Zynga | GamesIndustry International

I play Zynga Poker & have reviewed the methods & attractions of playing Poker online; holding 2 accounts has helped me review the game by trying various options/actions to see how the rules work, & playing at the same table on different browsers. I was surprised that there were differences in the layout/UI; ie notification that a friend is online/playing was in a totally different area of the page in Chrome than in Firefox. I also noted the emotional/psychological effect, ie desire to win more when you have won, obtain 'gifts' from other players, find items to win 'collections' & 'awards' etc, & the feeling when you have won $$$$millions & then lost it all; virtual dollars of course! This however, is, I am sure, how players start to actually 'buy' chips & gifts with real money, & some will become hooked, racking up huge debts I am sure, unless they have limits built in to curtail this; Zynga are a profit-making company after all. I have also tried a selection of other Facebook online games but the loyalty & desire to play was not generated; some due to the tasks/play being too easy & non-mind using, others as they seemed too slow/cumbersome & inability to move on with the game at a quicker pace; ie Fishing, Vegas Slots, & the addictive Candy Crush & not as (for me anyway) 'Ville ranges. However, other Facebook games do use the brain, & can be played with your friends, such as Criminal Case where a crime scene needs investigated & has various options of play, & wordy games like Words With Friends & Scrabble. Zynga & Facebook have too many to choose from, but days & weeks could be whiled away playing these simple entertainment games online, filling in time or procrastinating & imbuing a desire to be rewarded!

Creative Futures: How industry and personal bias inspired a gender-based game jam | Polygon

How industry and personal bias inspired a gender-based game jam | Polygon

Creative Conscience Awards:UK | Kirsten Hall

Creative Conscience Awards:UK | Kirsten Hall - Glyndwr student wins Silver!

David Kingham Photography | All of my images are now free.

David Kingham Photography | All of my images are now free: although not to be used for commercial purposes, & donations are welcomed, this is a bold move from a photographer, but a few of his images are very inspiring; whether simply the subject, or the shades & tones.

Great Sand Dunes No.24

Immense Storm

Wizard's Hat

Vacancy details | Prospects at Bangor Careers and Employability Service

Vacancy details | Prospects at Bangor Careers and Employability Service

Lighthouses for Logo

An idea to add the silhouette of a lighthouse developed when I was messing about with the name & logo, as this may form a pivotal location/role within the game. The lighthouse is a masculine & strong image, & is linked to the ocean & it appeared in one of my doodles. However, initially I am looking for images to help me create a silhouette only, to form part of the logo; the game will have 'lighthouses' that the player has to find, & use as a tool to attract their catch by decorating & filling with 'gadgets', ie boys-toys rooms, as their 'catch' will be housed here! They can add items by collecting/finding/winning/buying items.

I have some images of lighthouses but as these are taken with my mobile phone, & mainly distant shots & thus not that sharp.

My image taken with a Nokia mobile phone; settings for sepia

My own image taken with a Nokia mobile camera; it appeared like a comet from outer space had landed on the shore, the lighthouse in the background, although far off in the distant horizon, offered a sense of scale.

My own image taken with a Nokia mobile phone. The lone wandering man on the deserted beach shore, dwarfed by the strength of the proud standing-tall lighthouse, all marries under a dreary blowing sky, set in 'sepia'.

A favourite of mine, taken with a Nokia mobile phone, & un-edited as yet.

Frocked de la Vallière
Ste's Lighthouse; my image taken with HTC mobile phone

This may not be a real lighthouse, but gives the outline shape with some detail too.

For images for inspiration, & also to view first-hand, I need to take some trips to view some lighthouses to take photographs with my camera. I can also use for textures.

Maya Tutorials, Maya 3D Training, Home of the SimplyMaya Community

Maya Tutorials, Maya 3D Training, Home of the SimplyMaya Community

Wacom Tablet

Tablet - new Cintiq; digitally draw straight onto the screen!

Wacom new tablet

Although I really struggle with such a small tablet & laptop screen, & have been researching into what else is available, with the price tags of these, I can deduce that I will struggle on for a while...unless I can make time to submit an entry to this competition:

Are you a creative pioneer with a unique style and vision?

Then participate in our “Pioneers of Now” talent audition on behance.net.

Create your personal “Pioneer of Now” visual from your portrait or submit any past project from your portfolio : you can use a photo, a silhouette, an illustration, a 3D mould – whatever you like. Then you need to evolve your self-portrait with your personal style. If you’re an illustrator, why not illustrate your feelings on top of your portrait? If you’re an expert in photo editing, then you could enhance your portrait with a photo collage. Or if you produce 3D work, show us what 3D can do. Feel free to unleash your creativity with (almost) no limits – but please make sure that the notion of a self-portrait remains visible in your work. If you need inspiration, just have a look at our “Pioneers of Now” illustrations and creation.

PRIZES

• 1stCintiq 24HD
• 2ndCintiq 22HD
• 3rdCintiq 13HD

Competition runs from 24th June to 31st July 2013

Google Searches For Mermaid Games

Womens Games, Adult Games For Women - WomanSavers

Denhall Fisheries

To help me create the mermaid tail, to be used for my characters & the logo, I visited a friend's carp fishery & lovely new cafe: Denhall Fisheries. The weather was dull, & I am still learning how to use my camera, & also should have taken my mini-tripod, but I got some pics & had a tour - what a beautiful & interesting place! The photo's will be edited in Photoshop, & used for my Mermaid Game; my own shots!

Unedited pics:

Blog with Textile Design

I found a very useful website by Kevin R Sheffield; a man who has worked within fashion design & technical design in the USA & is now sharing his knowledge. I first saw his page on tools in Illustrator for fashion design, & have found more advice on creating textiles Textile Design | apparelpixel.com, which may prove a help in my textures, & also apparel design for my characters, but I am sure I can learn other techniques to improve my skill level for other design & also stretch or ignite my creativity.

Textures & Maya

I had a tutorial at University, & one of the things we covered was the role of Texture Artist as a potential career option for me.

I had a lesson in Maya, & we created a rust texture from an image from a boat I had taken at sea. I took notes, & learnt a lot of new techniques on Maya, & reminded myself on others I have already covered, but with not using the software, have easily forgotten.

My image of metal from a trip to sea on a fishing vessel!

The image was edited in Photoshop:

1. Cropped a copy of the rusted metal from the image to form our piece of rust
2. Then using the Wrap tool, created a square that encapsulated 4 copies of the image
3. To eliminate the light & dark edges of the image (top & bottom where the light hit) that were showing, giving it a rather unrealistic look, it was cloned; copying areas to cover other areas until a square image of rust appeared with no divides; looked like one image.
4. Opened in Maya
5. Created a sphere
6. Altered the light & shine/highlight
7. Amended the colour & rendered a sphere of rust texture

This image was a tutorial/test image, thus, not as perfectly clean as could be due to time constraints.

The image then edited in Maya & wrapped to a circle, with coloured highlights.

Using new camera today...

I had a trip to a carp fishing lake today, & practiced with new camera. I didn't have a tripod, which could have ensured a cleaner shot, & it was dull but the zoom managed to get some colour-highlighted shots from quite a way away!

Illustrator Tools overview for Designers | apparelpixel.com

Illustrator Tools overview for Designers | apparelpixel.com A handy tool of images of tools! Although, I have spotted a spelling error....

How can postgraduate study boost your career? | Guardian Careers | guardian.co.uk

How can postgraduate study boost your career? | Guardian Careers | guardian.co.uk An article very apt at present; although I am concentrating on finalising my BA, I have the option of applying to do a Masters in the background of my mind. This has been something I have pondered, & taken some action on, over a number of years; I actually started a Fashion Design Enterprise MA in London in 2008, but opportunities arose for my business that I had put on hold - an extremely difficult decision to make at the time, but after careful analysis & planning I opted for my business. Since then I have looked at various Masters, including Glyndwr for this & the previous academic year.

After attending Creative Futures Week at Glyndwr, & being present at the Post Graduate session with Steve Keegan, I made contact & an appointment. Unfortunately due to family commitments, I had to cancel my meeting but have since swapped emails with Steve & once I finish my BA work, can then concentrate on the option of doing a Masters.

This is a major decision, especially the financial aspect, but my research; reading articles, emailing my contacts who work in the gaming industry, who recommend that an MA can make you stand out from the crowd, in addition to friends who have a Masters in Business or Marketing & Management who said it hasn't benefited them as yet.

This article highlighted that a Masters can make you stand out from the crowd, but also that having a job & a company to sponsor you is highly beneficial....

Learning | Non-Destructive Dodge, Burn, and Saturation | Photoshop.com

Learning | Non-Destructive Dodge, Burn, and Saturation | Photoshop.com

I am currently editing images & want to enhance my Photoshop knowledge & skill level, & am trying to watch some tutorials; this is something I find a tad hard - to sit & concentrate solely on a video & not do any of my work, but I feel this can only benefit!

Job Info: UI Artist

I have added some more contacts to my LinkedIn professional online networking profile, including people I have found via games groups I am a member of, one of which lead me to further information on the role of UI artist:  UI / 2D Artist (UK) – Games Dev (PC & Mobile) - Excellent Salary and Benefits DoE UK | Games Jobs - Amiqus Recruitment Specialists for the Games Industry.

...highlights just how much I have to learn & accomplish, to be ready & marketable as a potential employee to the gaming industry, & that, without taking my degree work into the equation!

UI Jobs Market Research

LinkedIn Post for a UI Artist based in Oregon, USA, posted in VideoGame Professionals Group.

I am continuously researching into employment in the gaming industry for my new career, looking into the roles of GUI, & texture, artist & what the work entails, ie design skills, software required, a-day-in-the-life, salaries, job availability & locations; where in the world are the employers who are looking for these skills, actually based: international or national?? Will I be wooed to stay local or seduced to fly across oceans?

One of my LinkedIn newsletters shouted out a posting for a UI artist; Foundation 9 Entertainment Senior UI Artist | SmartRecruiters, based in Oregon. This quote from the ad described the role, albeit at a more senior level, it eloquently creates an attractive painting for this design job role:

The UI Artist creates beautiful and intuitive graphical user interfaces.  

• Create functional interfaces from simple to complex gameplay features such as HUD systems, front end menu’s and in game pop-up
• Works closely with the design and technology teams to conceptualize, prototype and implement interface functionality, look and feel.

...& although this ad is asking for a level of skill & experience I do not yet possess, I can glean a lot of relevant information to marry to my expectations of this role & assist in tailoring my skills-development & portfolio/s of work. Resulting in a more specific & marketable portfolio illustrating my design abilities & creativity to the right market. I have a lot of work ahead of me to learn & build but I deem it vital to understand the employment market & trends.

SENIOR UI ARTIST

 Eugene, Oregon, United States

COMPANY DESCRIPTION

You may not know us, but you certainly know our clients: Microsoft, Sony, Activision, Square and many others. At Pipeworks, we create innovative, best-selling, transplatform live games for top-tier publishers and properties. We have been creating hits since 1999, and we are seeking exceptionally talented and entrepreneurial game creators as we lead into the future of digital entertainment. Our studio is creative and collaborative, our projects are exciting and challenging, and our people are rockstars without the ego. We are located in the beautiful Pacific Northwest in downtown Eugene, Oregon – the home of the University of Oregon and a great place to work, live, and play. We offer great employee benefits including medical, dental, vision, life, disability, 401(k), paid time off and discounted gym memberships.

JOB DESCRIPTION

The UI Artist creates beautiful and intuitive graphical user interfaces. 

• Create functional interfaces from simple to complex gameplay features such as HUD systems, front end menu’s and in game pop-up
• Works closely with the design and technology teams to conceptualize, prototype and implement interface functionality, look and feel.
• Provide artwork to support team wide project communication and vision

QUALIFICATIONS

• 5 or more years of experience in a similar roleGraphic design experience and/or education
  • Strong layout skills & visualization
  • Able to take multiple inputs of information and construct a clear and concise design
• Strong typography experience and knowledge with an understanding of the importance it plays in user experience
• Expert skills with Photoshop, Illustrator, Unity and NGUI or related software
• 2 or more titles shipped as UI Artist
• Knowledge and expertise in developing user interfaces and a strong sense of UI flow.
• Traditional 2D art skills
• Strong understanding of color theory
• Takes direction and criticism well
• Ability to create wireframes in pre production for UI
• Learn in-house tools and third party tools
• Adapt artistic style as needed by the project
• Meet deadlines designated for team projects
• Strong organizational skills
• Communicate effectively within a large group/multiple project environment
• Demonstrated ability to work with a high degree of self-direction and motivation 

PLUSES

• 3D software experience (3dsMax or Maya)
• Flash experience a plus
• Web design experience a plus
• Knowledge in scripting languages such as HTML, Python, Javascript a plus
• Strong Unity Experience/Understanding
• Ability to navigate scene and create clean UI structure.
• UI Third-party plugin experience. (EZ GUI, NGUI, Scaleform, etc.)

POSTED BY

Sarah Garcia