| Published credits
include photos for Montana Magazine, Big Sky Postcards, contribution to National
Geographic Discover Magazine. Published art for several online companies including
Software Creations, The Outpost, Signal Butte Software, and this website. I have created images for various businesses for use as
logos, themes, business concept packages, and product-placements. My own line of
merchandise features original art and design.
I've also produced artwork for theater
promotions for Cinemark 17 used in the promotional package for Paramount Picture's
Mission: Impossible 2 starring Tom Cruise of which our team received a 5th place
(nationally) award.
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| First, I only use Wacom graphic tablets. There simply is no substitute for
the best. In this case - a professional tablet and stylus. I use Adobe Photoshop (6.0) for
much of my digital "painting" I have an arsenal of plug-ins and filters of which
there are too many to mention. I'll try to give a proper litany as soon as I can. I use Bryce 3D for much of my basic 3D modeling. Of course, I
never leave a rendered model alone. It gets hand-detailed and touched-up to avoid that
"modeled" look. Painter Classic is invaluable for styles requiring oil, acrylic,
airbrush, and other styles of media. I occasionally use Adobe Illustrator (10) for some
designs that are destined to go directly to merchandise (t-shirts, mugs, mousepads, etc.)
as it gives very crisp output. As you might guess Adobe Photoshop is the flagship software I use. I can't
think of any image that doesn't at least pass through Photoshop.
Recently I've taken to using my Dell
Inspiron 7500 laptop to do much of my work. Fully loaded and optimized it provides a very
respectable platform for digital art. Since I'm generally not doing 3D or
animation-intense work the Pentium III 660mhz processor does a good job.
For merchandise featuring my work I usually run a gamut check for
CYMK compatibility. Too many people create in RGB and forget how heat-transfer,
dye-sublimation, or printing actually work. So, don't be surprised if a mousepad with a
nebulae doesn't glow in the dark quite the way the on-screen image does... it's just not
possible. On screen is always RGB (Red Green Blue) and print is always
CMYK (Cyan Magenta Yellow Black/Register) - obviously there's no light source behind a
printed image.
I promised the wonderful Wendy Diard that I would put a link to Diard Software to show my appreciation for their
really excellent program called "Universe." If you are interested in getting
started in space-oriented digital-art I suggest you start with Diard Software. I don't
often make plugs, but this is one of those programs worth mentioning. I use it often in
the conceptual planning for many of my pieces and some elements always seem to find their
way into the final product. That's saying a lot because I'm very selective about these
things.
Another program to recently land firmly in my
"must-have's" is Auto-FX's Mystical Lighting.
I have been known to spend hours in Photoshop using extensive chops (Channel Ops)
operations, dozens of adjustment layers, multiple off-camera light-sources, and I
don't know how many screened and overlayed layers to get lighting "just-right."
Well... with Mysical Lighting I have to tell you that the photographer in me has just
given two-thumbs-up, and the digital artist in me has just found a whole new realm of
lighting and shading possibilities!
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