RSS Feed

RSS stands for Really Simple Syndication. An RSS feed allows you to subscribe to a website as long as the site has a RSS file without having to put in your email for updates. It contains full or a summarized text, plus some meta data such as author and publish date. These feeds are beneficial to the publisher as well, allowing them to syndicate their content automatically. RSS feeds can be read with software called an RSS Readers, which can be desktop-based, web-based, or mobile-based. The RSS reader checks the user's subscribed feeds regularly for new work, downloads any updates that it finds, and provides a user interface to monitor and read the feeds. RSS formats are specified using XML, a generic specification for the creation of data formats.

Inspiring Words from A Friend

I was talking to my God-sister last night about a few things going on in my life. Last year was a little rough, and this year I'm planning on doing things a bit different and re-grouping. So far I can say that I've been Blessed in many ways, I am so thankful. I was just letting her know that I don't want to make choices without weighing the consequences (good or bad).

So this morning she called to share with me what God said to her:

"Its easier to make excuses for why you've done the very things that you know aren't pleasing rather than to honor My word (God's Word), even when the temptations are irresistible. Will you continually take advantage of my GRACE because you know I will forgive you. When you sin your actions become tools of the enemy and he uses them to blackmail and manipulate your growth and your praise just like Adam and Eve." So I guess in essence, God has given you a promise and the enemy is looking for a way to prevent you from getting it and zap your praise in the process. The enemy heard you say that this year you would take a stand. And coincidentally he has now given you justifiable reasons to be at peace in whatever happens.
Lay aside your wants, and honor God's Word and He will honor your obedience to Him.
-The Best God-sister EVER

I just thought I would share this with you this morning.

(UpDaTeD) Design and Business Ethics

AIGA (American Institute of Graphic Arts) - is the professional association for design.

Their mission is "to advance designing as a professional craft, strategic tool and vital cultural force." (aiga.org 2010) AIGA is the oldest professional membership organization for design, with local chapters in major cities aross the U.S. AIGA is considered a nonprofit 501 (c)(3) educational institution.

For the past few years AIGA has published a series of brochures outlining the ethical and professional issues between designers and their clients. There is now a 3rd Edition sponsored by Arctic Paper. "Produced by industry leaders from across the U.S. took the needed time to offer clear and concise information, as well as pratical and specific directions for approaching design issues." (aiga.org 2010)

The updated version of this brochure is avalible now as a PDF Download at Design Business and Ethics

SEMPO (Search Engine Marketing Professional Organization)

While I was researching SEO (Search Engine Optimization) I found out that there is a organization called Search Engine Marketing Professional Organization (SEMPO).

Search Engine Marketing Professional Organization (SEMPO) Mission: SEMPO is a global non-profit organization serving the search engine marketing industry and marketing professionals engaged in it.

Our purpose is to provide a foundation for industry growth through building stronger relationships, fostering awareness, providing education, promoting the industry, generating research, and creating a better understanding of search and its role in marketing.

Once you become a member there is a learning center, that helps you perfect your skills as a Search Engine Optimizer. Though this organization and website you can become certified as a SEO.

Top 3 Free SEO (Search Engine Optimization) Tools

Useful to Web Developers & Marketing Professionals

1. Search Status http://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/321

- This tool is a Firefox extension, it will tell you the pagerank/alexa/compete ranking for the current site you are on. Which is helpful, this extension also allows you to right-click and bring up a menu that will let you search for backlinks, indexed pages and keyword density on Yahoo, Google, and MSN.

2. SEO for Firefox http://seobook.com

-This is also a Firefox extension, it allows you to see information within search results about the various pages that are being displayed. This also allows you to do research on competitors and give you reasons on why they may be ranking better than a site you are optimizing.

3. Webmaster Central http://www.google.com/webmasters

-This is a Google provided service that will allow you to see some really good statistics about a site. You have to sign-up for a Google account and verify that you have access to the domain, but once that is completed there is a huge amount of information available. You can see the most popular search results that your site showed up for, and all kinds of other information.

I hope this will help in designing a website with great Search Engine Optimization.

What Makes A Good Website...

What makes a Good Website?

A good website should be visually organized,by using a good contrast of sizes and appropriate use of white space. Navigation within a website should be user friendly, and easy to find.

There should be a artistic balance and color scheme. A good combination or ratio of text to images. The use of more neutrals and color enhancements, with a great layout.

In creating a website, also take into consideration the load speed of your information and images. If the user has to sit and wait for a long period, he/she will move on to another site. Be sure to keep the website updated with current information, and that all the information is appropriate, unique, credible, and factual.

Differences Between 3D & 2D Art

In 2D art, its basically, what you see is what you get; you are directly designing the final image as you work in Photoshop, Illustrator, or any other program. In 3D, the work flow is very different, you start designing or building each element that make up the final artwork or animation, but the final image itself doesn't come together until the end of the process. Working in 3D takes a longer process of planning. If not you may end up wasting too much time working on parts that contribute very little to the final image.

Another big difference between 2D and 3D is the tools; the tools in 3D are more abstract and advanced than the ones in 2D programs. For example, in Photoshop there are tools that can be used, to coorespond directly to the finished image (a brush, pen tool, clone tool...etc...) so there is a logical relationship between the tools and artwork. In 3D the tools can seem weird and don't always make sense or relate to the finished image in any way.

This is what so many 2D artists struggle with when they first start designing in 3D, I know this was a problem for me at first. However it was something I had to get use to. In 3D you must think ahead and imagine how what you are working on will work in the finished image, this skill is learned with practice.

The other problem I faced as a 2D artist working in 3D for the first time, was how to transfer from a flat world of two-dimensions to the infinite three-dimensional world. Thankfully most 3D work is done on flat planes, too, even when working in a full 3D enviroment.