While the numbers may not always seem to agree, the message remains the same: augmented reality is a growth segment. This week's edition of Market Reality starts with two new reports outlining the expected good fortunes for the industry and concludes with an example of a compa ...more
Who doesn't love a good alliteration? These postcards were painted in Paris between 1899 and 1910 and were supposed to imagine what Paris would be like in the year 2000. I think they were all right on the money, don't you? I wish they had captions so that we could tell what ea ...more
Can new paint smell good? How to de-funk your paint. Add a cap full of either vanilla or lemon extract. Remember though that the fumes are still there so be sure you have the room well vented. Make paint smell good. Click through to watch this video on bejane.com
This is a tutorial of how to spray paint pictures of cities.
Here is a rainy day activity brought to you by Bayard books! Watch this how to video to learn how to use dry pasta, glue, paint and a wooden picture frame to create a beautiful piece of art. You kids are sure to love this fun activity. Use the macaroni picture frames to decora ...more
What I'm going to do in this tutorial is, as the title implies, teach you how to make nearly anything look like metal. This can especially come in handy in Steampunk, as most of us don't have the ability to machine brass. We do, however, have access to wood, PVC, and spray pai ...more
A few weeks ago, we saw a simple 128 inch DIY Projector Screen that looked like a pro built it—and it only cost $200. But this one is even cheaper, and looks just as good. It's also simpler because it's painted right onto the wall. In the video below, How To Lou shows us how t ...more
You may or may not have heard the term "greebles" or "kit-bashing" before, but if not, they may sound like nonsense. Particularly 'greebles', which sounds more like the name of a small, gremlin-like creature. However, I assure you that they are very important in prop-making, a ...more
As I said in this earlier post, there's no easy way to explain or define the Steampunk aesthetic. There are a large number of Steampunk tropes or "cues", as I call them, that bring to mind the feeling of Steampunk. These cues combine to push past the "not-Steampunk" threshold ...more
In this tutorial, we learn how to stretch the perfect canvas. First, measure the canvas. After this, center the canvas and make sure there are no wrinkles. Then cut the canvas and staple it to the frame. This will take several minutes, and you will work your way from the insid ...more
Say whatever you want, but Steampunk is primarily a maker culture. Consider that Steampunk has existed since the 1960s and yet more or less languished in obscurity until approximately 2005, which is when it made the leap to costuming. That costuming was what provided the leap ...more
We see Steampunk props all the time and wonder where the maker found all their pieces. In fact, for some people it's almost like a game to examine each prop and see if they can name all of the original parts. However, for a newcomer (or a novice at prop-making), it may be rea ...more
In this video, we learn how to resize an image in MS Paint without losing resolution. First, you will go to the file menu and then open. From here, open up the photo you want to resize. After this, go the 'image' section on the toolbar and then click 'stretch and skew'. From h ...more
In this video, we learn how to get white teeth using PhotoShop. Before you begin, open up PhotoShop and open the picture you want to change. Make sure you zoom in on the teeth so you have a good view and it's easier to paint. First, select the dodge tool, the choose midtones. ...more
The macro mode on a camera can be baffling. What's it for? Well, if you've got something small and pretty to shoot, like a butterfly, macro gives you the best shot possible. It's also good for taking pictures of things that are small and ugly, like scratches in your car paint. ...more
This is prank is a 'bit' complicated to do but if you manage to do it, it will be the best prank ever made for good. I think the best man for this prank should be Bam as his chances not to die during the fall down are the best : - Go to some scene shooting somewhere in the wo ...more
There are seemingly endless photography apps for the iPhone—it is perhaps one of the most popular arenas for application developers. We've covered a few in Giveaway Tuesdays, but nothing comprehensive. We would be remiss to omit the two most popular frontrunners—Hipstamatic ( ...more
If you've ever been inspired to try out 3D modeling after enjoying computer-generated imagery in video games and movies, chances are you've checked out an paid applications like 3ds Max (previously called 3D Studio Max), or even free ones like Blender, then just went "No Way! ...more
Stumped on what frame to use for your favorite piece of artwork or photo? The perfect frame will make your painting, photograph, or piece of artwork stand out on your wall. Here's how to find an ideal match. You Will Need: • A picture or other form of artwork • Measuring ta ...more
Dog trainer Emily Larlham from Dogmantics teaches how to paint your pet's portrait without having a background in art. Colors used in this tutorial include Titanium White, French Ultramarine Blue, Burnt Sienna (a brown), Burnt Umber (a dark brown), Alizeran Crimson (a red), Ca ...more
If you're a developer in the augmented and mixed reality space, there's a high probability that you're intimately familiar with the 3D application and game engine Unity. In May, at VisionSummit 2017, Microsoft announced that 91% of all HoloLens applications have been made with ...more
As of 2016, there are approximately 1.85 billion Android smartphones worldwide. This growing popularity has led to an increasing number hacks and cyber attacks against the OS. Unfortunately, Android users need more protection than what is offered by Google. The good thing is t ...more
YouTube's massive user base comprises almost one third of all people on the internet, and collectively, users spend well over 100 million hours on the site watching billions of videos each day. Add it all up, and this means that YouTube is viewed by more people than any U.S. c ...more
Jem and the Holograms was one of the hottest cartoon series on TV back in the mid-'80s (though only for a brief time), and was recently given the big screen treatment with the feature film of the same name. While the film bombed at the box office (with good reason), your Hallo ...more
Winter weather always looks so pretty on postcards. A blanket of fluffy white snow, icicles hanging from the trees, little woodland creatures scampering about...it's like a picture straight out of a storybook. But in the real world, after a day or two it usually looks more lik ...more
Emojis have transformed the way we laugh and cry, tell stories, give responses, and express excitement to get a drink after work — without any actual text required. Heck, in an incredibly meta move, the Oxford Dictionary even named the "Face with Tears of Joy" emoji as their w ...more
Wonder Woman has always been a Halloween and cosplay staple. It's a costume that's both dependable and stylish — just like the Amazon who wears it. This year's reprise with Gal Gadot offers a fresh take on the old standby, with more muted colors, a tougher demeanor, and a deci ...more
Pixel Perfect is the "perfect" show to help you with your Photoshop skills. Be amazed and learn as master digital artist Bert Monroy takes a stylus and a digital pad and treats it as Monet and Picasso do with oil and canvas. Learn the tips and tricks you need to whip those dig ...more
Open the picture you wish to place a rainbow within. A good scene has clouds that are receding into the distance and the light angle coming in from the front of the scene. A rainbow effect appears when by the sun is shining from behind you into the mist-filled air where it is ...more
Facebook just released its new "home on Android" last Friday, appropriately called Facebook Home. Taking a cue from Amazon's Kindle, Home serves as an "operating system" that runs over Android. While the HTC First will be the first smartphone to ship with Home out of the box, ...more
If you're going to build yourself a water gun to cool down this summer, or maybe just a useful water pump, you'll need some check valves. However, the most expensive parts of a water pump or DIY super soaker are usually the check valves. So, let's make some from scratch for as ...more
Your smartphone is likely full of COVID-19 news and coronavirus panic. These are scary days, and there doesn't seem to be any end in sight. If you're having trouble coping with the stress and anxiety the virus brings with it, know that your iPhone or Android device can actuall ...more
Cleanliness is next to godliness. My interpretation of that age-old adage means that keeping your house clean is just as un-fun and boring as being a goody two shoes. That's why they call things like laundry and doing dishes "chores," I assume. Yuck. Lucky for you, though, we ...more
Many people find Steampunk problematic for a whole host of reasons, not least of which is the glorification of an era of Western history that featured institutionalized slavery, racism, sexism, elitism, and many more -isms. Today, Steampunks frequently get accused of subtly o ...more
Remember the arcades? Were you saddened when they closed up one by one, leaving no outlet to actually go out and socialize while you played video games? With all the home consoles and internet connectivity, gaming has evolved, but the social factor has been eliminated. Sure we ...more
When I review apps, I'll oftentimes end up downloading at least one or two "bad" apps that either lied about their functionality or were riddled with ads. These apps, while not as harmful as malware, can still be a major headache. This got me thinking about the other bad apps ...more
There's always been a clear divide between flagship and midrange phones. Flagships will run you at least $700, while midrange typically falls between $250 and $550. The main difference is the processor, with midrange phones sporting a 600-series Snapdragon and flagships rockin ...more
As the third-largest smartphone manufacturer in the world, Apple devices are a constant target for hackers everywhere. While iOS has seen fewer common vulnerabilities and exploits (CVEs) in recent years, iPhones still aren't hack-proof. Fortunately, you can strengthen your sec ...more
For many, phones are starting to replace televisions as the primary device for watching videos. Thanks to their portability and easy to use apps, it's often simpler to watch Netflix, Hulu, YouTube, or Prime Instant Video on the smaller screen. But not every phone is suited to ...more
Steampunking Nerf guns by painting them is a pretty common practice among Steampunks, but unfortunately, the really amazing-looking ones involve literally taking the gun apart, painting it, and then screwing it all back together. Well, I'm glad that some people can do that, b ...more
When you're using vacuum power, moving water, or compressing air, it's more than likely being done with some sort of pump. I'll be needing a pump for some of my future projects, so in this tutorial, I'll be showing you how to make your own customizable PVC hand pump that will ...more
As you know, it's impossible to be a Steampunk without a pair of goggles. In fact, there are entire communities dedicated to judging other Steampunks based solely on their goggles. A Steampunk without goggles is like Samson without his hair, or a duck without a beak—totally po ...more
Besides obvious features like a touchscreen and biometric sensors, the modern smartphone comes with an array of state-of-the-art hardware in the form of various sensors that help your device sense the environment around it. And if you have a Samsung handset, chances are, you h ...more
As you're surely aware, your phone can be used against you. Thanks to our cameras and microphones, a clever hacker can obtain access to your device and invade your privacy. But spying isn't limited to just these two sensors — gyroscopes, proximity sensors, QR codes, and even a ...more
I know, "Steamdown" conjures images of a hoedown, but "Steampunk prop breakdown" is a bit of a mouthful, I thought. Anyway, I'm going to show you how I made my very first Steampunk prop! It doesn't require any tools at all, just some glue and some parts from the hardware stor ...more
On July 20, 1969, humans set foot on the moon for the first time. But some say our microbes beat us there. With the Space Age came new questions about microscopic invaders from outer space and concern about where we are leaving our microbial footprints. The questions are even ...more
Since its debut, retro thriller Stranger Things and its characters have become ingrained in our popular culture — especially the telekinetic Eleven. For cosplayers, it didn't take long before they grabbed their boxes of frozen Eggo waffles, blonde wigs (or bald caps), and pink ...more
The 68th Annual Golden Globe Awards take place this Sunday, January 16th, 2011 between the hours of 5 and 8 PM PST — that's 8 & 11 PM for those of you on the East Coast (and Somewhere in the Middle for those of you Somewhere in the Middle). Can't make it to the Beverly Hilton ...more
After years of false rumors and abandoned hopes, the day has finally come. Verizon Wireless is finally getting the Apple iPhone! No longer does AT&T monopolize the iPhone market. Three weeks ago, Verizon Wireless and Apple announced the iPhone 4's arrival to the nation's most ...more
The key to a good steampunk paint job is getting the distressted metallic look just right. This tutorial shows you how to add a lot of aesthetic appeal to your next steampunk prop mod, whether it's goggles, binoculars or something entirely different.
This video is about adding motion to photos with the help of Photoshop. The video has clear picture with good audio. In a few minutes the video gave easy step by step instructions about adding motion to a particular object in the photo and it also gave an easy tip to get it ge ...more
Some of you may stick with your iPads, but for those looking for a similar Android version, you finally have a winner. To master your new Motorola XOOM from Verizon Wireless, check out the product support page. There, you'll find interactive walkthroughs for getting started, ...more
Looking for freeware alternatives to Photoshop? If you don't need all the bells and whistles of a huge program like Photoshop, this video shows you where to get free photo editing software with good developer support, like Paint.net, FotoFlexer or the GIMP.
Most of us have probably seen excellently mastered or remastered photos and pictures and you can't help but wonder how someone can make a picture look so good! A computer software called Photoshop allows you to make vivid, realistic and creative images through a vast array of ...more
You can make a great picture effect with just an ordinary shoe box, some paint, a magnifying glass, and a piece of plastic. Try this for a great camera lens trick.
Watch this fine art video tutorial to learn how to glaze oil paint over colored pencils. "What you are seeing is a short time lapse of me layering color with illustration markers (prismacolor) and color pencils. I have discovered that using markers and color pencils is a much ...more
This how-to video shows viewers how to create their own custom paint job at home by yourself. The segment is a continuous video in fast forward. The video explains how to do everything from taking molding off, sanding the old paint, fixing the dents with bondo, to the actual s ...more
This is a 3 part Step by Step video that helps you learn how to paint a Tiger Stripe design Xbox 360 controller. This is a fairly simple task and would be a good first or second controller to attempt. Buy the paint mask you need at http://store.MyCustomXbox.com! Remember, e ...more
These are great, personal gifts that you can hand out to friends this holiday season. Find a picture and a quote you like, then dress them up in a picture frame! All you really need is the frame, some paint, a few old magazines and some paper!
Check out this video tutorial on how to get many of the multiplayer achievements in Unreal Tournament III. Here are the achievements and guidelines: Brain Surgeon Get the "Head Hunter" award in 10 matches. 15 Headshots with the Sniper Rifle. (You may want to activate "Slo Mo ...more