A Cats Golden Years

Tuesday

Creating an animation or slideshow

Listen up, I am here to show you how to do an animation,

which can also be used to create a slideshow

Our last post we had two animations and were asked by a fellow reader how it was done. Though it is rather simple, it does take a little planning, especially if one decides to add text. Overall the process requires a little forethought as to what one wishes to achieve.

Now I use Photoshop, which has an animation feature. Adobe’s Elements 10, available for Macintosh and Windows, has a feature for turning pictures into movies, which is not the same as creating a regular animation. I did search Adobe’s Element 10 website for an answer if they have an animation feature, but was unable to discover any mention of it.

I mentioned that you can also create a slideshow of your images and not just an animation, between the two there is little difference, so what I am sharing with you today, applies to both.

In order to achieve a good sequence of multiple images it is important to have the camera on a tripod and the subject matter moving slowly so that you are able to capture a good number of images that are equally spaced out, so not to appear choppy. Now if you are working with only two or three images already available, just make sure that they work in the sequence your planning to put together.

Copy all your images into a folder and I suggest adding a prefix of #01, #02 etc., to each image so you know which one to import first into Photoshop. As you begin to open an image decide what size the animation is going to be, then resize the image and save it for ‘Web and other Devises’. This way you will optimize each image and reduce file size. Do this to all the images you are planning to use.

Concerning the final size of the animation/slideshow, I recommend no larger that 400 pixels and no smaller than 150 pixels for best results within Blogger. I should also point out that once it is uploaded to Blogger, it has to be at ‘Original Size’ or it will not run, but let’s get back to importing the images to Photoshop.

Now that they are all resized, create a new file based on their final size and begin importing them with the first image first and so forth. You will notice that you have created a set of layers, one upon another. Now safe it.

Building upon the first image and layer

All images are imported and in their own layer

Make sure all layers are deselected except for the first image

Select and obtain the animation window from the menu bar

Import the first image. Note you are in frame mode, which is preferred

After having imported all your images it is time to select

the exposure of each image

Select the desired exposure rate

With all still selected set to ‘forever’ otherwise the animation will only run once

Now save for the internet

Make sure to check GIF to it will not work

Time to check how it looks and if it needs any adjustments -

remember it needs to be 'Original Size'

If you are doing a slide show, the only thing you will do is adjust the length each frame is exposed in order to allow one to view the image before proceeding to the next one. Should your slide show contain vertical and horizontal images there are two other steps that needs to be accomplished before importing all your images.

When one combines vertical and horizontal, your end format will be a square and the background will be white unless you decide to go transparent. For a sample of a combination of vertical and horizontal images in a square layout please visit my Art of Aids post.

Now it is time for an afternoon snooze before dinner

(^..^)

♥

Saturday

Finally my turn

Today was simple beautiful. Dad was cleaning the house and washing the tiles, when I decided to go out on the balcony. After seeing it was all clear and that there was more sun puddles to be had on the deck I ventured there. Dad kept an eye on my so I felt safe but I could not help be on special alert. After a gust of wind, causing leaves to be picked from the branches, tumbling down to the awaiting pile covering much of the backyard, it was especially those that had already fallen and were now stirred that caused me to be on alert.

Dad has access to a new camera, a small pocket digital that has been laying around his son’s room and was not being used, so now I get my picture taken a little more.

I have to focus on our fence line making sure there is no one trespassing.

Now back on the balcony the surveillance continues

because one has to keep an eye for intruders.

I even have to look over dad’s shoulder.

Sometimes it gets so busy all I do is turn my head

from one side to the other —

It can make you dizzy.

Time for a break and soak up some weaning autumn sunlight.

Now before you leave us, let me share with you

my next post. It is about dad and what he

has been up to these last months.

Here is a preview.

(^..^)

♥

Wednesday

The Leonardo of Silicon Valley

I am saddened by the loss of a great innovator and modern day Santa Clara's Leonardo da Vinci, Steve Jobs, who passed away this afternoon.

If you are an Apple product user you will know what I mean, because it was his vision that propelled us into the digital era and to experience things differently.

Please observe a moment of silence

1984 Super Bowl Commercial introducing the
Macintosh Computer

(^..^)

♥

Saturday

A long way back

For some weeks now I have been wanting to post, even starting to write one back in May, only not to finish and so fail. With each passing day I became more guilty and tonight Ms K and I, each agreed that enough is enough. Even though I have been very busy and productive, first news about Ms K, then about my long way back.

Ms K napping on the living room couch as the last of the days sunlight

reflects off the neighbors house into the room

We here in Northern California experienced a long winter with a couple of days when temperatures reached the triple digits. There was even a good rain storm end of June, all of which contributed to Ms K sleeping and napping more than twenty hours. There were only a few days in five months in which Ms K actually went into the garden, joining me while I tended to the plants.

Ms K hiding behind the balconies railing, being vigilant about her territory

Ms K is a senior feline, taking it easy in her golden years; no longer stalking our feathered friends or chasing a leaf thumbing on the ground. Her activities are now minimal and so there is little to report, unlike with a younger feline, especially when I see other followers blog daily posts. So at times I have not been sure if I could continue this blog, even though my heart wants to. Ms K has been an important part of my life and she continues to be, so I will continue maintaining this blog.

If you wish to print out this set, make sure to click here

in order to download the full size version

At one of my other blogs where I just posted this quarters calendar bookmarks, I also wrote about ‘Where does the time go.’ As for the third-quarter feline calendar, please except my apologies that it did not occur this quarter, it will be resumed at a later date still to be announced.

I guess when one is occupied creating art, preparing for a lecture or an appointment with the directory of a gallery made three months before, only to discover upon arriving, they decided to close the gallery two days prior; welt least I have a good collection with which to approach another gallery or making it available on-line for purchase.

A small sampling of the art I created these passed three months

These passed months, work began on a series of thirty-six small paintings—on hold at the moment—then preparing for a PowerPoint presentation, which was given to the El Cerrito Art Association,

or designing and building blogs for clients, I had my hands full, burning the candle at both ends. It felt like having been touched by a Muse and riding a high wave that now has been physically draining.

‘Travels of the Imagination’ Close-up of drawing a map

In the midst of all the creativity there came another idea, bringing back my childhood years, when I drew imaginary maps containing buried pirates treasure, only now they are are more grown-up, resembling possible landmarks.

‘Travels of the Imagination’ in progress of being reassembled

When one of these maps are completed I take a deep breath and start cutting the illustration into one inch squares, which are then carefully reassembled in a random order, making sure that each piece connects to the one next to it in some special and meaningful manner.

After having participated in my first art fair this July 4 and yesterday dropping off a painting for my first juried exhibition, my plate is still full. Though low on energy by now, Ms K’s continued presence by my side when I work, is something I treasure, for it is priceless.

Ms K

I had hoped to share another picture of Ms K, sitting comfortable on a chair next to me in the kitchen, it has to wait till next time. Here is another one taken from the balcony where Ms. K likes to be in the late afternoon, soaking up a few of the last sun rays.

(^..^)

♥

Monday

Holocaust Remembrance Day

Saturday, April 30 at sunset, according to the Jewish calendar was the beginning of the observation of 2011 Holocaust Remembrance Day, while officially on Sunday, May 1, it was observed by all others. In light of this somber reflection I wish to share a painting I completed in May 2008 in response to the ‘German Question’ and my thoughts about the Holocaust.

Remembrance, May 2008

MM/C 24 x 24” inches

During the process of this painting it was first known as “The German Question,” upon the completion the painting was named “Remembrance.” Briefly I had considered “Absence of History,” a title my son had suggested and a title I am reserving for another canvas.