Stop & Post February 2007

**gwpriester** · 01 February 2007, 06:41 PM

I've been working on, what else, a new series of stereograms. This is one of my favorites, though at this size it does not look as detailed as it does at 10" x 8", print size.

No hidden image. Just a lot of depth.

Gary

**Ross Macintosh** · 01 February 2007, 08:11 PM

I've recently been busy doing something a little different with Xara XtremePro...

I have a new gig making 'Styles' for subscription-based distribution via FormFonts. These 'styles' are a new feature of SketchUp version 6 where a user can apply a pre-defined appearance (the 'style') to their 3d SketchUp model. The style bundles together a particular group of settings + the ability to incorporate background & overlayed images. It also features a way to define how the lines are drawn including the potential of totally custom lines based on handdrawn ones. The FormFont subscriber can download my styles from the collection and apply them to their own models for instant effects.

The example image I attach shows a style I made for FormFonts called 'Instant Watercolour'. The kid and the tree are in the model but the sky, linework, vignette effect, and a alpha-transparent png overlay that makes the colours less flat, are all aspects I created using Xara Xtreme Pro.

Anyways, that's how I've been using Xara lately.

It has been a blast.

Regards, Ross

**RTK** · 01 February 2007, 10:18 PM

There are always lots of great things happening in these monthly threads - and it's a treat to have a look at all the posts.

One thing "stood out" (pun intended) for me - Gary's depth image!

I can see it!

All this witchcraft about 3D and "depth" has always been a mystery to me over the years - I have never been able to see any of it. This one I can see the "depth of" without even trying.

Granted, I'm blind as a bat without my glasses, so I'm wondering if it's the lack of contrast in previous images that has been messing me (the blind guy) up?

Does anyone have one of those "crazy 3D pattern ones"...

with a black background (extremely high-contrast) to post?

P.S. Don't waste your time making one that says, "YOU SUCK!" - you can simply PM me with that message...

(And it will not be held against you).

Risto

**Know1** · 02 February 2007, 12:33 AM

This one is a bit different from what I normally make but I want to try out different styles and techniques.
I was going for a complete black and white image like film noir... that obviously didn't happen. Maybe for the next one

**remi** · 02 February 2007, 01:11 AM

Great work, Know1.

**masque** · 03 February 2007, 08:20 AM

Sketch of a car. Just the beginning of what will obviously be a photo realistic racer thingy.

One thing with all this sketching etc I notice is that the ability to rotate the work space on screen, as you would a piece of paper you were drawing on, would be a very, very useful addition to the tool box for XtremeMagicXaraPro II. Is there any word on that yet by the way, the version I'm using is more than 24 hours old now?
Derek

**gwpriester** · 03 February 2007, 11:30 PM

Risto

I have noticed that some images are easier for people to see than others.

Most of my hidden image stereograms use repeating panels that are 15 - 20 percent the overall width of the image. Mary can see the 15% panel images all the time. She can hardly ever see the 20% panel images.

Some people see the hidden image in stereograms as going back while most see the hidden images as coming forward. I finally discovered what the difference is. If you view a hidden image stereogram by crossing your eyes, the image will appear to go back. If you view the image looking straight ahead and focussing in the distance behind the image (parallel viewing) the image will come forward.

The attached image contains floating objects (created in Xara 3D) and a hidden image which is really just a receeding plane. Can you see this one?

Gary

**ankhor** · 03 February 2007, 11:42 PM

just passing some time.

**EnigmaMachine** · 04 February 2007, 07:58 PM

Hi All
I'm working on a rendition of an Lorakeet (type of parakeet from Australia) that I took pictures of at the Lowry Park Zoo in Tampa FL. Presently experimenting with different methods of creating feather details. Toyed with making a feather brush but didn't get a great effect out of that. So now I made an individual feather that I'm cloning and modifying and layering on the birds wing. The texture on the head is just a fractal fill but lacks the detail I'm looking for also. Anybody done any detailed feathers out there?
Chuck Stasek

Also, all your images look great and you are all a terrific motivation.