I learned how to make animated gifs a little over a week ago. I realize, through my Graphic Design education that I should know how to make them; I just never before had the need. That is, until my older sister called requesting that I redo some website graphics for a localization project for a grad school. One of the graphics was an animated .gif. So I poked around online, watched a YouTube video and read a few tutorials and several frustrating hours later (in which, due to lack of sleep, I foolishly ignored the message that was telling me something I needed to know about the way the file would be saved) I managed to make my first gif.

It’s ridiculously fun and slightly addictive. I won’t say that it’s easy but it’s definitely not difficult if you know what you’re doing and have the appropriate software for converting video files. I purchased Wondershare Pro, and—though it has a tendency to hang up if I try to do some other process before the file finishes converting—I’m pretty satisfied with the variety of video formats it allows me to convert video files into.

After saving the video as .mov files, I would import them to iMovie HD for further editing and to add fade in/out effects at the beginning and end of the clips. Then I save it as another .mov file.

I’ve had Adobe CS2 for about 5 years, and I never before had a need to use ImageReady. That program is a like a .gif factory and I never even realized.

One of my favorite TV shows is Leverage, and I’m working on a fandom project where illustrative gifs would be quite appropriate.

Hardison: Where’re you going?
Parker: Let’s see how hard you look.

I’m featured today on the blog Going Au Naturale.

Since doing this natural thing, I’ve become more aware of how the issue affects the black community. There’s a lot of information to wade through, so many natural hair blogs and information, there’s no set rule about what works and what doesn’t and it’s all dependent on hair texture/type.

Here are a few blogs that I enjoy and find helpful:

Black Girl with Long Hair (BGLH) – My favorite because I appreciate the mostly objective way in which the information and interviews are presented. Never too preachy, which is great, and allows the reader (me) to have a balanced view of things I’m reading and particularly the suggestions and advice offered there.

Going Au Naturale – A recent find, but after perusing her entries Mae’s blog quickly shot to the top of my list. And I love how cultured she is. Plus, she’s absolutely adorable in her video blogs. :)

Leave In The Kinks – Love these girls blog because they’re both from have Nigerian heritage. Miss Fizzy is in Ireland now (but you wouldn’t know by her very American accent) and Zara is Nigerian/Malaysian living outside of Boston. So, it’s cool to see and hear about how natural hair is perceived in places besides the U.S.

Nappy Like Yo Pappy – I’d like to say that the title says it all, but really it gives a great indication of the wry humor and realistic yet balanced point of view these girls have of the natural hair experience.

For two weeks in a row I had to work my co-workers shift while they alternated vacations. It was great stress fun. One week I had to do 4 color work from 8am to 4:30pm. The next week I did the evening shift from 12-8pm. Needless to say, my circadian rhythm was seriously out of whack.

This week, however, I’m back on track. Unfortunately, it was the longest week ever, because work has been really slow. There’s also a lot of renovating going around. At the moment, what will be the new office space I’ll share with 4 other typesetters is being constructed, and nice ceramic tile is being laid in the new rooms and hallway.

For some need escapism, I took some quizzes I came across on Slowly Going Bald.

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an excerpt from my travel journal/sketchbook:

May 16, 2007

So we finally reach New York City. After a long journey, the three of us emerge from Penn Station only to encounter tropical storm force winds and pelting rain. It’s noise everywhere, and more than a little intimidating. Though I’ve been to New York the previous year, I’d never had the experience of getting off the train in the midst of rush hour.

[Riding in a taxi to the hostel] I’m so tired right now, and just glad to finally have a break. It’s so foreign being on-the-go so much, after just getting into the monotonous routing I’d established back home.

As I write this I’m relaxing in the lounge of an NYC hostel, loving the free wireless. (I just paused to aide a young Japanese man in connecting to the wireless here . . .so cool. I want to go to Japan one day.) Anyway, If you’d like to see the photos from my trip, check out the link to my flickr account to the right. (I think I may ask the guy if I can take his photo, because I just got the notion, and that’s what travel is all about–spontaneous moments, unique photo opportunities.)

Well, my sisters are bugging me not to spend my entire New York stay on the computer, so I’m off to do find some lunch in the city.

Ciao. ^_^

After about a month of downtime due to issues changing over to a new server, I’ve finally resolved the issue and got my site back on line. It should take about 24 hours to propogate throughout the internet, but you check it out if you’ve been dying to see my artwork. The sites in need of a design update, but the work is relatively current.

Well, I’m off to Destin, FL.