#Mystery shopping workflow

[marketxcel]

What Is Mystery Shopping: Types, Examples, Advantages & Workflow

Explore the world of mystery shopping with our comprehensive guide. Discover various types, real-world examples, and the advantages of this unique approach. Dive into the mystery shopping workflow to understand how it can enhance customer experience and benefit your business.

[buysellrepairs214]

Computer Battery Replacement Services in Princeton

Let’s face it, we all rely on our laptops these days. They’re like little portable offices, letting us work, chat with friends, or stream shows from anywhere. But what happens when the battery starts giving up the ghost? The thing that keeps us free to roam suddenly becomes a chain, with those dreaded low-battery warnings popping up all the time. Don’t despair, tech troopers! Your trusty laptop can be revived! This article is your guide to navigating the world of computer battery replacement. We’ll show you how to spot the signs of a dying battery, teach you some tricks to keep it healthy for longer, and help you decide if it’s time to call in the computer repair services. With a little knowledge, you can keep your laptop the untethered companion it was meant to be.

Signs of a dying battery

Those carefree coffee shop sessions or park bench writing sprints might be a distant memory if your trusty laptop battery is on its last legs. But how do you know for sure it’s the battery replacement issue and not just a demanding new program hogging all the juice? There are a few indicative signs to watch out for.

Shortened battery life: First, the most obvious culprit: shorter battery life. If you find yourself constantly scrambling for an outlet or enduring those dreaded low-battery notifications way earlier than usual, it’s a strong hint that your battery isn’t holding a charge as effectively as it once did.

Sudden shutdowns: Another red flag is sudden shutdowns. Imagine you’re engrossed in a work project or the final level of a game, and your laptop abruptly shuts down – not because you hit the power button, but because the battery mysteriously gave out. This can be incredibly frustrating, especially if you haven’t saved your progress.

Inconsistent charging:  Then there’s the whole charging drama. Maybe your laptop seems to take forever to reach a full charge, or perhaps it charges inconsistently, dropping percentage points even while plugged in. These charging woes can significantly disrupt your workflow and leave you feeling tethered to an outlet rather than enjoying the freedom of a portable device.

Battery bulging: Finally, keep an eye on the battery itself. If it appears swollen or bulging in any way, that’s a serious safety hazard and a clear sign it’s time to stop using your laptop altogether. Don’t attempt to fix a bulging battery yourself – seek professional help from a qualified computer hardware repair technician immediately. By recognizing these signs, you can address a failing battery before it completely throws your mobile computing life into disarray.

Tricks to keep computer battery healthy for longer

One of the most important things you can do for your laptop is to take care of its battery. After all, a healthy battery translates to uninterrupted productivity and entertainment on the go. Here are some easy tricks you can incorporate into your daily routine to extend your battery’s lifespan and keep those low-battery warnings at bay.

Regulating Battery Temperature

First things first, fight the heat! Extreme temperatures, both hot and cold, can be detrimental to your battery’s health. Avoid leaving your laptop baking in direct sunlight or a scorching car, and don’t subject it to freezing cold environments either. Think about it like your favourite chocolate bar – you wouldn’t leave it melting in the sun, would you? The same principle applies to your battery. Additionally, keeping your laptop’s vents clean and ensuring proper airflow helps prevent overheating, which can damage the battery over time.

Brightness Adjustment

Secondly, become a master of brightness management. Your laptop screen might be beautiful, but that high brightness setting is a real battery guzzler. Adjusting the screen brightness to a comfortable level can significantly improve your battery life. Don’t worry, you can still enjoy stunning visuals without pushing your battery to its limits. There are also handy settings like automatic brightness that can adjust based on your environment, further reducing the strain on your battery.

Battery Charge Optimization

Thirdly, unplug smartly! Contrary to popular belief, keeping your laptop constantly plugged in doesn’t necessarily damage the battery in today’s modern laptops. However, it’s still a good practice to let your battery cycle occasionally. This means using your laptop on battery power for a while and then plugging it in to recharge. Aim for a sweet spot – don’t let your battery completely drain before plugging in, and avoid keeping it constantly at 100% charge.

By following these simple tips, you can show your laptop battery some love and ensure it keeps you powered up for all your digital adventures. Remember, a healthy battery translates to a happier you (and a happier laptop!).

Time to call in the repair pros for battery replacement

You’ve tried all the tricks – adjusting brightness, keeping it cool, and even letting it cycle occasionally – but your laptop battery just won’t cooperate anymore. Low-battery warnings seem to be your constant companion, and even simple tasks seem to drain the life out of it faster than ever. Maybe you’ve noticed the battery itself bulging slightly, sending shivers down your spine. Fear not, it might be time to call in the repair pros for a computer battery replacement service in Lawrence, Trenton. While replacing a laptop battery can be tempting as a DIY project, it’s important to exercise caution. While online tutorials exist, they may not address the specific model of your laptop, and mistakes can lead to permanent damage or even fire hazards. Furthermore, prying open your device might void the warranty and leave you without manufacturer support. If you’re comfortable with electronics and hardware repair and have the right tools, replacing the battery yourself might be an option. However, for most users, the risks outweigh the rewards. These skilled computer repair technicians have the expertise and the tools to safely remove your old, tired battery and breathe new life into your laptop. Plus, many computer repair service shops offer a warranty on their replacements, giving you peace of mind knowing your investment is protected.

Additional tips for long battery life

Beyond the core practices, a few additional strategies can further optimize your battery life. Consider enabling battery-saving modes offered by your operating system. These settings often adjust background processes and features to reduce power consumption. Regularly updating your laptop’s software and applications can also improve battery efficiency, as updates sometimes include optimizations. If you suspect a specific program is draining your battery excessively, identify and close it when not in use. With these extra steps, you can squeeze even more life out of your laptop on a single charge.

Comprehending battery health and adopting preventative measures can substantially prolong the operational lifespan of your laptop. Nonetheless, even the most meticulously maintained batteries will eventually reach their maximum capacity. At this juncture, enlisting the services of a qualified computer battery replacement provider offers a swift and reliable resolution. Equipped with a new battery, your device can restore the unrestricted mobility and productivity that it once offered. Ultimately, a dependable laptop contributes to a more efficient and satisfied user experience.

[tellsdunkins]

Tell Dunkin – Get a Free Donut – Dunkin survey

A key area of focus for Dunkin' has been continuously expanding the breadth and depth of feedback sources they tap into. While many QSR brands tend to rely primarily on post-transaction surveys, Dunkin' has built out a much more expansive and multifaceted feedback infrastructure.

"We don't just want to know how the customer felt about their last visit," says Samantha Williams, Dunkin's VP of Customer Experience. "We want to understand the full context - their expectations, pain points, purchasing behaviors, brand perceptions, and so much more. That's why we've implemented a variety of feedback channels, from in-store intercepts to social media monitoring to mystery shopping audits."

By aggregating all of that rich, multidimensional data, Dunkin' is able to build a truly holistic view of the customer experience. That deep well of insights then powers the brand's advanced analytics capabilities, which leverage sophisticated techniques like predictive modeling, sentiment analysis, and driver/impact assessments.

"The real magic happens when we start to uncover the hidden connections and patterns within the data," explains Williams. "That's where we find the game-changing insights that allow us to make strategic, high-impact decisions."

For example, Dunkin' might discover that customers who express frustration with slow drive-thru times are also 30% less likely to return within the next 90 days. That kind of predictive, cause-and-effect insight allows the brand to prioritize addressing that pain point, because they know it has a direct, measurable impact on long-term loyalty and lifetime value.

But the true power of the Tell Dunkin' program comes in how the brand funnels those insights directly to its network of franchise partners. Dunkin' has developed an intuitive, user-friendly dashboard that gives each restaurant owner a customized view of their location's performance metrics and customer feedback.

"Having that level of granular, location-specific data has been transformative for us as franchise operators," says Sarah Chen, who runs a Dunkin' store in downtown Boston. "We can quickly pinpoint the areas that need the most attention, whether it's refining our menu mix, enhancing our staffing and workflow, or improving the overall ambiance and hospitality."

And to foster a culture of continuous improvement, Dunkin' also facilitates the sharing of best practices and successful initiatives across its franchise network. This allows owners to learn from and replicate strategies that have worked well for their peers in similar markets and contexts.

"The feedback loop is really two-way," explains Williams. "We're not just pushing data and insights down to the franchise level. We're also continuously incorporating the on-the-ground intelligence and ideas that our owners bring to the table. It's a true collaborative partnership that keeps the brand innovating and evolving."

Looking ahead, Dunkin' is doubling down on its investment in the Tell Dunkin' program, with plans to enhance it even further. Key focus areas include increased personalization (leveraging customer data to customize the survey experience), real-time feedback loops (implementing more immediate mechanisms to capture in-the-moment sentiments), predictive modeling (using advanced analytics to forecast future behavior and needs), and omnichannel integration (connecting feedback from all customer touchpoints).

"We're never satisfied with the status quo," affirms Williams. "We know that customer preferences and expectations are constantly evolving, so we have to stay ahead of the curve. The Tell Dunkin' initiative is critical to ensuring we continue delivering the exceptional experiences our customers have come to know and love from the brand."

Ultimately, the Tell Dunkin' program has become a strategic cornerstone for the brand - fueling its ability to maintain industry-leading customer satisfaction and loyalty. By keeping a relentless focus on understanding and meeting the needs of its patrons, Dunkin' has built a thriving, future-proof business model that will continue driving the brand's growth and success for years to come.

[digital-landmark]

Shopify App Development

Significance, Types, and Processes to Build a Shopify App

Welcome to the world of Shopify app development, where innovation meets functionality to transform the landscape of e-commerce. In this article, we embark on a journey to unravel the mysteries behind Shopify app development, exploring its significance, the myriad types of apps available, and the step-by-step process of building these invaluable tools for online businesses. By the end of this guide, you'll not only grasp the fundamentals of Shopify app development but also discover how it can add significant value to your e-commerce ventures.

Understanding the Significance of Shopify App Development

In today's fast-paced digital era, establishing a robust online presence is imperative for businesses of all sizes. Shopify, a leading e-commerce platform, provides entrepreneurs with the tools they need to launch and scale their online stores efficiently. However, what truly sets Shopify apart is its extensive ecosystem of apps, offering endless possibilities for customization and optimization.

Enhancing the User experience

At the heart of every successful e-commerce venture lies a seamless and intuitive user experience. Shopify app development allows merchants to enhance their stores' functionality, providing customers with a smooth and enjoyable shopping journey. Whether it's implementing personalized product recommendations, simplifying the checkout process, or integrating social proof elements, custom Shopify apps empower merchants to create engaging experiences that keep customers coming back for more.

Streamlining Operations

Efficiency is key to running a successful online business. With Shopify app development services, merchants can automate tedious tasks, streamline workflows, and optimize backend processes. From inventory management and order fulfillment to customer support and analytics, there's a Shopify app available to meet virtually every operational need, allowing merchants to focus their time and resources on growing their businesses.

Boosting Sales and Revenue

Ultimately, the goal of any e-commerce venture is to drive sales and maximize revenue. Shopify app development plays a pivotal role in achieving this objective by providing merchants with tools to attract, engage, and convert customers effectively. Whether through implementing targeted marketing campaigns, optimizing product pages for conversions, or offering incentives such as loyalty programs and discounts, custom Shopify apps are instrumental in driving growth and profitability.

Exploring the Types of Shopify Apps

One of the most exciting aspects of Shopify app development is the sheer diversity of apps available to merchants. Whether you're looking to enhance marketing efforts, improve customer service, or optimize store operations, there's a Shopify app tailored to meet your specific needs. Let's take a closer look at some of the most popular types of Shopify apps:

1. Public Apps: These are like the friendly neighbors in the bustling Shopify community. Public apps are available to all Shopify merchants through the Shopify App Store. They offer a wide range of functionalities and solutions to address various business needs, from marketing and sales to inventory management and customer support.

2. Private Apps: Picture private apps as exclusive invitations to a VIP party. Unlike public apps, these are tailored specifically for individual merchants and are not available to the general public. Private apps are custom-built to meet the unique requirements of a particular business, offering personalized solutions and integrations.

3. Custom Apps: Think of custom apps as the bespoke suits of the Shopify world. These apps are meticulously crafted to fit the exact specifications and preferences of a merchant. Whether it's adding custom features, integrating with third-party services, or enhancing existing functionalities, custom apps are designed to elevate the Shopify experience to new heights.

4. Draft Apps: Imagine draft apps as works in progress, like rough sketches waiting to be perfected. These apps are still in the development phase and are not yet ready for prime time. Merchants can create draft apps to experiment with new ideas, test functionalities, and refine their concepts before launching them to the public or making them available privately.

The Process of Building Shopify Apps

Now that we've explored the significance of Shopify app development and the different types of apps available, let's dive into the process of building these invaluable tools for your online store:

1. Setup and Configuration:

 Set up your development environment and create a Shopify Partner account.

 Choose your tech stack and generate API keys for OAuth authentication.

2. Backend Development:

Build endpoints for handling webhook notifications and API requests.

Develop logic for OAuth authentication and webhook verification.

3. Frontend Development:

Design and develop the user interface using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.

Integrate Shopify's Polaris design system for a consistent UI experience.

4. Integration with Shopify APIs:

Utilize Shopify's Admin API for accessing and manipulating store data.

Implement GraphQL queries and mutations to interact with Shopify resources.

5. Testing, Deployment, and Submission:

Test your app in a development store or sandbox environment.

Handle app installations and uninstallations gracefully.

Submit your app for review through the Shopify Partner Dashboard and deploy it to production servers.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Shopify app development is a powerful tool for merchants looking to enhance their online stores' functionality, efficiency, and profitability. By understanding the significance of Shopify app development, exploring the diverse types of apps available, and mastering the process of building custom apps, merchants can unlock new opportunities for growth and success in the competitive world of e-commerce. So why wait? Dive into the world of Shopify app development today and take your online business to new heights!

[techgroup21]

Welcome to Tech Group 21: Your One-Stop Shop for Tech Solutions

Feeling overwhelmed by the ever-changing world of technology? At Tech Group 21, we understand! Our mission is to empower you with the knowledge and tools you need to navigate the exciting, and sometimes frustrating, landscape of tech.

Whether you're a seasoned gamer seeking the ultimate Pokémon Mystery Dungeon experience, or a design professional looking to elevate your workflow with hidden Mac hacks, we've got you covered. We offer a wide range of in-depth guides, troubleshooting solutions, and entertainment recommendations – all tailored to help you get the most out of your tech.

Don't let technical difficulties or confusing jargon hold you back. Our team of tech-savvy writers breaks down complex topics into clear, concise steps, making it easy for anyone to understand. So, whether you're customizing your Discord settings, tackling a Windows error message, or simply trying to figure out how to watch The Weather Channel on DirecTV, Tech Group 21 has the answers you need.

Stay tuned for regular updates featuring the latest tech news, reviews, and tutorials. We're excited to help you unlock the full potential of your technology!

[kendricklabsinc]

Advances in Immunoblot Western Blot Technology

If you've ever wondered how scientists play detective with proteins, enter Immunoblot Western Blotting - a technique that helps researchers identify specific proteins in a sample. It's like finding Waldo in a sea of stripes, only way cooler and much more scientifically sound.

Evolution of Immunoblot Technology in Biomedical Research

From its humble beginnings to a pivotal role in modern research, Immunoblot technology has come a long way. It's like the superhero origin story of the science world - once an underdog, now a powerhouse in the fight against protein mysteries.

Overview of Kendrick Labs Inc

Company Background and Mission

Kendrick Labs Inc isn't just your average lab - it's a hub of innovation, committed to advancing scientific discovery. Think of them as the cool nerds of the science world, rocking lab coats and breaking boundaries like it's nobody's business.

Key Products and Services Offered by Kendrick Labs

From cutting-edge technology to top-notch services, Kendrick Labs has got it all. They're like the one-stop shop for all your Immunoblot needs, making protein research feel like a walk in the park.

Key Features and Benefits of Kendrick Labs' Immunoblot Technology

High Sensitivity and Specificity

When it comes to detecting proteins, Kendrick Labs doesn't mess around. Their technology is so sensitive, it can spot a protein molecule in a haystack. Say goodbye to blurry results and hello to crystal-clear insights.

Automation and Workflow Efficiency

Who has time for tedious manual processes? Not Kendrick Labs. With their automation wizardry, researchers can breeze through experiments like never before. It's like having a protein detective assistant that never sleeps.

Customization and Flexibility for Researchers

One size doesn't fit all in the world of protein research, and Kendrick Labs, Inc gets that. They offer customization options that make researchers' hearts sing. It's like having your own protein detective kit tailored just for you.

Applications of Immunoblot Western Blot Technology in Research

Protein Detection and Quantification

Need to find out how much of a certain protein is hanging out in your sample? Immunoblot technology is here to save the day. It's like having x-ray vision for proteins, allowing researchers to see what's going on at a molecular level.

Biomarker Discovery and Validation

Looking for that one-in-a-million protein that could change the game in disease research? Immunoblot technology is your trusty sidekick. It's like having a protein bloodhound sniffing out potential biomarkers with precision and speed.

Drug Development and Pharmacological Studies

When it comes to developing life-saving drugs, every protein clue counts. Immunoblot technology plays a key role in drug research by helping researchers understand how drugs interact with proteins. It's like having a secret weapon in the battle against diseases.

Comparison with Traditional Western Blot Methods

When it comes to comparing Immunoblot technology with traditional methods, it's like pitting a modern superhero against a classic comic book character. Immunoblot technology swoops in with its precision and sensitivity, leaving traditional methods feeling a bit outdated. With Immunoblot, researchers can detect even the faintest traces of proteins with ease, making the process quicker and more reliable.

Advantages of Immunoblot Technology Over Traditional Methods

Immunoblot technology brings a host of advantages to the table. Say goodbye to the days of struggling to detect low-abundance proteins or dealing with nonspecific binding issues. With Immunoblot, researchers can achieve higher sensitivity and specificity, leading to more accurate and reproducible results. Plus, the ability to multiplex and analyze multiple proteins simultaneously is a game-changer in the world of protein analysis.

Technical Considerations and Limitations

While Immunoblot technology is a superhero in its own right, it's not without its kryptonite. Like any technology, there are technical considerations and limitations to keep in mind. Factors such as sample preparation, antibody selection, and data interpretation can impact the success of Immunoblot experiments. Researchers must also be mindful of potential sources of variability and ensure proper controls are in place to mitigate any issues that may arise.

Case Studies Highlighting the Success of Kendrick Labs' Technology

In the world of research, success stories speak louder than words. Kendrick Labs' Immunoblot technology has been the secret weapon behind numerous research breakthroughs, propelling scientists towards new discoveries and insights. Real-world case studies showcase the power of Immunoblot in unraveling complex biological mysteries and opening doors to novel therapeutic interventions.

Real-World Examples of Research Breakthroughs Using Kendrick Labs' Immunoblot Technology

From uncovering biomarkers for early disease detection to elucidating signaling pathways critical for cancer progression, Kendrick Labs' Immunoblot technology has left an indelible mark on the landscape of scientific discovery. These real-world examples serve as a testament to the impact and significance of Immunoblot in advancing our understanding of various biological processes.

Future Developments and Innovations in Immunoblot Western Blot Technology

As technology continues to evolve at lightning speed, the future of Immunoblot technology holds exciting possibilities. With emerging trends and innovations on the horizon, researchers can look forward to even greater advancements in protein analysis and detection methods.

Emerging Trends and Technologies in the Field

From enhanced multiplexing capabilities to improved automation and data analysis tools, the field of Immunoblot technology is poised for a revolution. Researchers can expect to see a shift towards more integrated and user-friendly platforms that streamline experimental workflows and provide deeper insights into protein biology.

Potential Impact on Biomedical Research and Clinical Diagnostics

The potential impact of future developments in Immunoblot technology extends far beyond the laboratory walls. With enhanced sensitivity and specificity, researchers can uncover novel biomarkers for early disease detection and personalized medicine applications. In the realm of clinical diagnostics, Immunoblot technology holds the promise of revolutionizing patient care by enabling faster and more accurate protein analysis for diagnostic purposes.

Original Source: https://kendricklabs.blogspot.com/2024/03/advances-in-immunoblot-western-blot.html

[willpaul229]

The Hidden Gems of Machine Shop Equipment Auctions: Uncovering the Unexpected Finds

Machine shop equipment auctions can be a treasure trove for those in the manufacturing and machining industries, offering a chance to discover hidden gems that may not be readily apparent. These auctions showcase a wide range of tools and machinery, and amidst the familiar items, there are often unexpected finds that can elevate your workshop capabilities.

Let's delve into the hidden gems of machine shop equipment auctions.

One often overlooked category is vintage machinery. While newer models may dominate the auction floor, seasoned craftsmen and collectors recognize the value of older machines. Vintage equipment, with its robust build and durable construction, can sometimes outshine its modern counterparts. Restoring and repurposing these machines can bring a sense of nostalgia and craftsmanship to your workshop, providing a unique touch to your manufacturing process.

Another hidden gem is specialty tooling. In the rush to acquire big-ticket items like lathes and milling machines, many attendees overlook the smaller tools that can significantly enhance precision and efficiency. Specialized cutters, gauges, and fixtures might be scattered among the auction lots, waiting to be discovered by those with a keen eye. These tools, designed for specific tasks, can give your shop a competitive edge and broaden your machining capabilities.

Auctions also offer an opportunity to acquire hard-to-find spare parts. Manufacturers frequently discontinue certain machine models, making replacement parts scarce. Machine shop equipment auctions often feature lots containing spare parts for discontinued or rare machines. Securing these parts can extend the lifespan of your existing machinery and save you from the hassle of retrofitting newer models into your workflow.

Innovation sometimes lurks in the form of abandoned projects. Amidst the rows of machinery, you may find unfinished projects or prototypes that never reached production. These abandoned endeavors can provide a foundation for experimentation and innovation in your workshop. Acquiring such projects at auctions not only adds a touch of mystery but also opens doors to creative exploration, potentially leading to breakthroughs in your manufacturing processes.

The variety of materials available at machine shop equipment auctions is another hidden gem. Beyond the standard metals like steel and aluminum, auctions may feature lots of exotic materials such as titanium, brass, and various alloys. These materials can be expensive when purchased new, but at auctions, they might be available at a fraction of the cost. Stocking up on diverse materials expands your fabrication capabilities and allows for experimentation with different substances in your projects.

Networking opportunities are often underestimated gems at these auctions. Engaging with fellow attendees, manufacturers, and industry experts can provide valuable insights and even lead to collaborations. Discussions about specific equipment, techniques, or challenges can offer a fresh perspective on your operations and open doors to potential partnerships that go beyond the auction floor.

Embracing technology is essential in modern machine shops, and auctions can be a source of cutting-edge advancements. Look out for lots featuring the latest CNC (Computer Numerical Control) machines, 3D printers, and other high-tech equipment. Acquiring state-of-the-art machinery at auctions can significantly boost your shop's efficiency, precision, and overall competitiveness in the market.

In conclusion, machine shop equipment auctions are not just about acquiring the basics for your workshop; they are treasure hunts with hidden gems waiting to be uncovered. Vintage machines, specialty tooling, spare parts, abandoned projects, diverse materials, networking opportunities, and technological advancements are among the unexpected finds that can elevate your workshop to new heights. So, the next time you attend a machine shop equipment auction, keep your eyes open for these hidden gems that could transform your manufacturing capabilities.

[hydralisk98]

Hattusa, Mycenae & Knossos (0xD/?)

Continuation of this article thread:

Essentially I need to better grasp and iterate from the characters I already have and generate + iterate the remainder of the cast. Because while I do have a decent grasp at Kate, Ava & Shoshona, the other characters still are quite the mystery tbh. Key things like the worldly setting and intrigue points shall be iterated forth eventually once the characters are decently figured out.

Soundscape + musical playlist

?

Sensory detailwork

?

Keywords

Tramway + Subway network

Van hexcrawl

Legal system

Mundane urban fantasy

Libraries, archives & video rental shops at the hyper-mall

Generational renewals with the Cycle of Life + Coming-of-Age

Political intrigues

Android rights for synthetics

Morphological freedoms

Data & governance transparency

Systemic change

Historical cycles

Critical yet informed perspective

Spiritual / esoteric empowerment

Robotic Soldiers

Life scripting...

Constructed Linguistics

Libre + Copyleft technologies

Progressives National Convention

Syndicalists Strike

Harmonious Party plotting

Union Party falling flat

Divine beings walking among the living

Extended Zodiac Calendar-based Generators...

Synopsis / Blurb?

Set in a retro-futuristic coastal commune at the north-eastern edge of the Shoshone Civilization, Kate navigates across the tramway network searching within for lively meaning. And as she finds herself stuck amidst political intrigues of historical magnitude, she gathers popular support alongside her synthetic servant in court of law to push forth individual freedoms, government transparency & technological empowerment.

Agents (to be iterated way further...)

Chronokinetic Oracle (Kate) - INTJ

Shapeshifter / "True_Polymorph" Witch (Shoshona) - ENTP

Synthetic-tier android blonde as social service assistance servant (Ava) - ENFP

Far far away future mentor? (Constans?) - INTP

Second person perspective (Nil) - ~

Tasks

Baseline text-based level for NPC simulation into my very own homestead level...

Mosi worldscape primitives demo? (480x288 3D cells?)

Study TES Daggerfall (Unity port) / Pathfinder 2.5E / Talespinner, Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty/Cyberpunk RED & EU4/FreeCiv/Civ5CE++ state machine automaton & adapt my constructed world within their modding systems...

Devise GPlates, GProjector, QGIS model for its custom open geofiction OSM world web page & data...

Generate bulk amounts of NPCs by Monte Carlo randomized spreadsheets (statistically-informed agent generators...)

Simulate NPC social ecosystems & simulationist interactions within Unity Pixel Crushers' Frameworks.

Qodot + Godot FPP Controller dev stuff

2880x1440 layered chunkmap?

Timely USD-like Savefile Bookmarks & historical changes markup…

Retro Usbourne edutaining books study

Mark Rosenfelder study

MultiUserDomain multiplayer "system" & customized TS2+SC4 workflow...

Social Life Sim, Job-System, City-Building+Destruction, Wealth Plots, Factional Mechanisms... for Trial Engine conversion;

GLOSS software-only, SB Common Lisp emphasis, Linux portable runtime, KDE Plasma + Liquidshell Qt GUI...

First person perspective social simulation environments...

Such a mess, will replace soon.

[yourepower]

Welding Shop Wonders: Exploring the World of Essential Welding Supplies

Welcome to the fascinating world of welding supplies, where sparks fly, metal melds, and craftsmanship take center stage. In this comprehensive guide, we'll embark on a journey through the heart of welding shops, exploring the essential supplies that fuel the art of welding. Whether you're a seasoned professional or a beginner eager to dive into this craft, understanding the tools of the trade is crucial for success. Join us as we unravel the wonders of welding supplies and uncover the secrets behind creating masterful welds.

Foundation: Welding Machines

At the core of any welding shop lies the welding machines – the workhorse that transforms raw materials into welded masterpieces. We'll delve into the different types of welding machines, from Stick and MIG to TIG welders, exploring their unique features and applications. Understanding the nuances of each machine is key to selecting the right one for your specific welding needs.

Sparks of Creativity: Welding Electrodes and Filler Metals

No weld is complete without the right combination of electrodes and filler metals. We'll explore the diverse world of welding consumables, discussing how different materials and coatings impact the welding process. From choosing the right electrode for specific metals to mastering the art of selecting filler metals, we'll guide you through the essential elements that contribute to strong, durable welds. III. Protecting the Craft: Safety Gear and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Safety is paramount in the welding world, and proper gear is the first line of defense against potential hazards. We'll take an in-depth look at the essential personal protective equipment every welder should have, including welding helmets, gloves, jackets, and more. Understanding how to prioritize safety in the workshop ensures not only the longevity of your career but also your well-being.

Precision Matters: Welding Clamps and Accessories

In the pursuit of perfection, welding clamps and accessories play a crucial role in holding pieces together and ensuring precise welds. We'll explore the various types of welding clamps and accessories available, discussing their applications and how they contribute to achieving impeccable welds. Discover the tools that add finesse to your craftsmanship and elevate your welding projects to new heights.

Breath of Life: Welding Gas and Tanks

Gas is the unsung hero in the welding process, providing the necessary environment for optimal weld quality. We'll unravel the mysteries of welding gases, exploring common types such as argon, CO2, and acetylene. Additionally, we'll delve into the world of welding gas tank, discussing proper storage, handling, and the importance of maintaining a steady supply for uninterrupted workflow.

Organizing Your Arsenal: Welding Carts and Storage Solutions

An organized workspace is a productive workspace. We'll discuss the importance of welding carts and storage solutions in maintaining an efficient and tidy welding shop. From mobile welding carts that keep your tools within arm's reach to strategic storage for consumables, learn how to optimize your workspace for maximum productivity.

Specialty Tools: Beyond the Basics

While the basics are essential, specialty tools can elevate your welding game to new levels. We'll explore a range of specialty welding tools, from magnetic squares and angle finders to welding positioners and pipe clamps. These tools not only make certain tasks easier but also open up new possibilities for intricate and complex welding projects.

Conclusion:

As we conclude our exploration of the welding shop wonders, it's evident that the world of essential welding supplies is vast and diverse. Each tool, from welding machines to specialty accessories, plays a unique role in shaping the outcome of your projects. Armed with this knowledge, you're better equipped to navigate the welding landscape and embark on a journey of continuous improvement and mastery in this captivating craft. Whether you're a seasoned veteran or a novice welder, the wonders of welding supplies are waiting to be discovered, one weld at a time.

[itssolved10]

CRM for E-commerce: Optimising Customer Experience and Sales

Introduction

Running an online business is like embarking on a thrilling adventure, full of unexpected twists and turns. It's not like managing a physical store, where you can instantly figure out why a customer might storm out in frustration. In the digital realm, things work differently. Understanding why customers abandon their carts or leave disappointing ratings without feedback can be akin to untangling a complex puzzle. But don't worry! The secret to unravelling this mystery lies in leveraging a robust CRM for e-commerce that provides comprehensive data insights.

The Power of CRM for E-commerce

Imagine analysing a customer's journey through your virtual store, gaining insights into their every move. You might discover that they tirelessly browsed multiple pages, struggling to find their desired item. They even reached out via email, only to receive a delayed response, resulting in the item being out of stock by the time they heard back. Frustrating, right? Well, here's where a powerful customer relationship management (CRM) tool comes to the rescue, eliminating guesswork and boosting customer retention.

With a CRM for e-commerce, you can conveniently store a wealth of valuable customer information all in one centralised database. These detailed profiles go beyond just basic data and cover demographics, browsing habits, purchase patterns, and even preferred communication channels. And here's the best part: armed with this knowledge, you can create automated workflows that are triggered by specific actions. Just picture this scenario: when a first-time visitor is about to leave your website, a captivating pop-up magically appears, offering them an irresistible 10% discount. Meanwhile, a returning visitor is warmly greeted with personalised product recommendations that perfectly match their unique tastes. It's like having a dedicated sales team that works tirelessly for you, ensuring your customers receive the best possible experience while boosting your sales along the way!

Gaining a Competitive Edge

CRM for e-commerce is like a secret weapon that can help you dominate the online business scene. By gathering all your customer data in a single place, CRM for e-commerce gives you a competitive edge regarding your business operations. It's like having a crystal-clear vision of everything. Plus, it uncovers those sneaky sales opportunities you never knew existed and gives you the power to handle every customer interaction like a pro. With CRM, you're armed and ready to conquer!

So, what does this mean for your e-commerce business? It means gaining a competitive edge. It means expanding into new markets, fostering unwavering customer loyalty, and optimising your resources for unstoppable growth. With CRM as your trusted ally, you'll capture attention, captivate customers, and create a thriving online empire. If you believe that your business is irrelevant to e-commerce and you are seeking information regarding your business or startup, read our article specifically crafted for entrepreneurs who are working on their startups.

Benefits of CRM for E-Commerce and Retail Business

It's no secret that the world of online shopping has been booming lately. And with this e-commerce revolution, Customer Relationship Management (CRM) technology has been evolving at a rapid pace in the B2C space. The big CRM players have caught on to the power of e-commerce and are now tailoring their solutions specifically for online retail. So, if you're in the e-commerce game, get ready to discover the fantastic benefits of CRM for e-commerce.

1. Get Personal with Customer Segmentation

Ever noticed how your social media feeds get bombarded with ads that seem tailor-made for you? It's not a coincidence! Social media platforms have become masters at analysing our search patterns and delivering ads that we're most likely to click on. As an online retailer, wouldn't you love to have that level of precision in reaching your target audience?

A CRM for e-commerce enables you to segment your customers based on their preferences, behaviours, and purchase history. By understanding their needs and interests, you can deliver personalised experiences, recommend relevant products, and increase customer satisfaction.

2. Never Miss a Beat with Access to Relevant Information

You know that feeling, right? You're happily scrolling through an online store, tossing items into your cart, and then... you suddenly change your mind and abandon ship. It's a common occurrence, way more frequent than you'd imagine. But hey, don't worry! With CRM for e-commerce, you can get some amazing insights into customer behaviour and stay one step ahead. It's like when I'm shopping on AliExpress, and those clever sellers kindly remind me to finish my purchase.

By tracking customer interactions, browsing patterns, and purchase history, CRM allows you to understand the reasons behind cart abandonment and take proactive measures to win back those customers. You can send personalised emails, offer discounts, or provide targeted recommendations to re-engage and convert those potential sales.

3. Save Time and Be More Productive

You know what they say: time is money. And for sales agents, time spent on administrative tasks and problem-solving means less time for actual selling. But fear not! An e-commerce CRM can automate many processes, giving your agents more time to focus on what they do best—selling!

With CRM, you can streamline repetitive tasks, automate email campaigns, and manage customer inquiries more efficiently. By eliminating manual work and reducing response times, you can provide exceptional customer service, nurture leads, and close deals faster.

4. Rock Your Social Media Interactions

If you're running an online retail business, you know just how crucial social media is. It's not all about sharing cute cat memes; it's a powerful tool for driving traffic and engaging with customers. When customers have questions or issues, they first instinctively turn to social media for answers. That's why your social media presence and response time are so significant.

Did you know that 42% of people who complain on social media expect a response within 60 minutes? Yep, the clock is ticking. But fret not! With the help of CRM for e-commerce, you can seamlessly manage your social media interactions like a pro. These CRM platforms offer social media integrations that make handling customer inquiries a breeze. And if you're looking to take your marketing game to the next level, consider exploring Salesforce Marketing Cloud—it's a game-changer for any e-commerce business seeking a cutting-edge CRM solution.

5. Master Your Payments with Ease

Managing payment data can be quite a hassle when you accept multiple payment channels on your website. But hey, no need to worry! Enter CRM for e-commerce, your ultimate saviour! With the right CRM solution, you can effortlessly handle invoicing, billing, and even those pesky payment failures. And guess what? You can even integrate your CRM with a payment gateway to ensure smooth and seamless transactions. Say goodbye to payment woes and embrace the power of CRM for e-commerce!

And that's not all. Advanced analytics within CRM systems can help you uncover valuable insights, such as your best revenue sources and highest-value customers. Armed with this knowledge, you can tailor your services and boost your bottom line.

6. Stay on Top of Your Orders

Order management is like the backbone of your e-commerce business, you know? It's the key to keeping things running smoothly from the moment a lead comes into the final delivery and even customer feedback. So, you want to stay on top of every step. That's where a solid CRM for e-commerce comes in, my friend. It's like a magic solution that gives you a complete view of everything, from order placement and processing to shipment tracking and even customer feedback for every product you sell. It's pretty awesome, right?

Whether you're a seasoned e-commerce pro or just starting, having a reliable CRM system for order management is crucial. And if you're a startup, CRM for Startups can help you get organised and maximise your business efficiency from day one.

Recommended CRM Solutions for E-commerce

CRM offers some truly awesome benefits for e-commerce and retail businesses. By implementing a custom CRM solution, you can supercharge your customer segmentation, gain access to valuable information, save time, rock your social media game, streamline your payments, and master your order management. So, don't lag behind the competition—leverage the power of CRM and take your e-commerce endeavours to new heights!

If you're on the hunt for the perfect CRM for an ecommerce business, you've come to the right place! We've got a fantastic selection of ten top-notch CRMs that will surely catch your attention. So, let's dive in!

Zoho CRM: Zoho CRM takes the spotlight, my friend! It's the bee's knees, striking that perfect balance between features and price. Zoho CRM has your back, whether you're a small biz or a bigwig. It plays nice with other Zoho tools like Zoho Books and Zoho Inventory, making it a real champ in the efficiency department.

HubSpot: Hey, let me tell you about HubSpot CRM for e-commerce. It's a real winner packed with a bunch of awesome features. Need contact management? Check. Want to track your leads? Check. And guess what? It even has email marketing covered - double-check! But here's the best part: it won't cost you a dime. It's a freemium solution, which means you get a whole bunch of functionalities without breaking the bank. And to top it off, it seamlessly integrates with other HubSpot tools like Marketing Hub and Sales Hub. It's like a perfect match made in CRM for e-commerce and marketing businesses!

Salesforce: It's a powerhouse of CRM, offering an extensive array of features. Sales forecasting, customer support, and integrations galore! Sure, it may come with a higher price tag compared to HubSpot CRM, but it's worth every penny. If you're after top-notch capabilities, this CRM will have you doing cartwheels.

Pipedrive: This CRM for e-commerce is like having your new best buddy for sales. It's incredibly user-friendly and packs a punch with lead scoring, pipeline management, and email integration. It's a sales assistant that never takes a break! Trust me, you won't find a better companion to help you boost your e-commerce sales.

Klaviyo: This CRM is tailor-made for your business. It's all about delivering a personalised customer experience. Picture this: email marketing, customer segmentation, and rescuing abandoned carts. Klaviyo is your secret weapon for building customer loyalty and boosting those sales figures.

Insightly: It is a real multitasker CRM. Need project management and CRM for e-commerce in one tidy package? Look no further. It's your go-to for tracking your sales pipeline, managing projects, and collaborating with your team. It's like having a superhero sidekick that keeps you organised and on top of your game.

Capsule: This CRM is like a breath of fresh air. It's cloud-based, easy on the pocket, and a breeze to use. With features like contact management, lead tracking, and email marketing, it covers all the essentials. It's time to give your business that extra oomph!

Freshsales: Freshsales CRM is here to supercharge your selling game. Track leads like a pro, easily manage your pipeline, and close deals like a champion. Lead scoring, email marketing, and call tracking are just a taste of what this CRM brings to the table. Say hello to better sales figures!

ActiveCampaign: Automate your marketing game with ActiveCampaign CRM, the top-notch marketing automation solution. Experience the power of sending targeted emails, creating automated workflows, and witnessing your marketing ROI skyrocket. It's like having a personal marketing magician at your service, making it the perfect CRM for e-commerce.

Monday.com: Last but not least, say hello to Monday.com CRM. It's a master of all trades, combining project management and CRM like a boss. Keep that sales pipeline on track, manage projects like a pro, and collaborate seamlessly with your team members. It's time to simplify your business life.

With these ten top-notch CRMs by your side, you'll be armed with the knowledge to choose the CRM that best suits your e-commerce business. Take into account factors like pricing, features, and integrations, and get ready to take your business to new heights.

Conclusion

CRM has truly revolutionised the way online brands connect with and nurture their valuable customer relationships.

We can't stress enough how important your customers are to your brand's success. With CRM for e-commerce, you gain invaluable insights that enable you to understand and serve your customers better than ever before.

Among the plethora of impressive e-commerce tools available, we highly recommend Zoho for small businesses. Its affordability and adaptability make it ideal for building an effective E-commerce CRM strategy without straining your budget.

And for any size of business out there, Zoho takes the crown as our favourite e-commerce tool. Its powerful features, combined with its user-friendly interface, make it a winning choice. Plus, the pricing plans are budget-friendly, considering the value they offer.

We sincerely hope that our comprehensive post on the best CRM for Ecommerce tools has provided you with valuable information and insights.

[recentanimenews]

INTERVIEW: Rajorshi Basu on Creating Studio Durga and the State of Anime in India

All images via Studio Durga

  What constitutes “anime” is a topic of much debate. The general public associates the word “anime” with a particular visual style. Purists, on the other hand, believe that only animation made in Japan can be considered anime, regardless of whether the visuals are on the K-On! end of the spectrum or the Panty and Stocking with Garterbelt end of the spectrum. This is, to an extent, understandable. But can such a strict definition continue to hold weight in an era where anime is becoming increasingly global? Can a production from outside Japan that possesses all the traits we have come to associate with anime be called anime?

  The members of Studio Durga — an independent animation studio based in New Delhi, India — certainly seem to think so. They proudly claim to be India’s first anime studio. While India has worked on anime in the past — in the form of co-productions with Japan (such as Ramayana: the Legend of Prince Rama) — what sets Studio Durga apart is the fact that they work without any foreign assistance, be it from Japan or elsewhere. Their debut work Karmachakra — an 80-minute Bengali-language film, the first in a series of films — is an entirely independent film, made by a core team of only seven members for animation production. Karmachakra is pending release, but the first 20 minutes of the film have been uploaded on YouTube as a “pilot episode” — which won awards at the Independent Shorts Awards 2020: the Platinum Award for Best Animation Short, and Honorable Mentions for Best Web Series/TV Pilot and Best Original Score. Karmachakra is a supernatural mystery-drama, aimed at an older audience — something that is rare in India, where animation has long been seen as a medium for younger audiences only. The Indian anime community has reacted very favorably to Karmachakra, with many heralding it as a step forward for animation in India.

    I reached out to Studio Durga founder and CEO Rajorshi Basu, who was kind enough to answer my questions. We had a great discussion, not only about Karmachakra, but about anime and 2D animation in general. Here’s what he had to say:

(The following questions and answers are lightly edited for clarity and content.)

How did you get into anime and manga?

  Rajorshi: The first anime I recall watching was Ninja Robots on Cartoon Network — way back when I was three or four years old and didn’t really know it was called anime. There was Heidi, Girl of the Alps, also on Cartoon Network, a title from the World Masterpiece Theater collection of anime. It was my first exposure to the work of many old masters, including Hayao Miyazaki. Then they started showing anime on the Toonami programming block, with Cardcaptors and Dragon Ball and all that stuff.

  Animax was also a huge factor. I used to check out a lot of stuff on Animax before it finally went away. And then of course streaming services happened. But yeah, it was tough to get your hands on anime and manga back then. I remember that you would just chance upon secondhand manga in shops. That was procurement back in the day. But now it’s a different ballgame; one can just open up Netflix and find all kinds of different shows. Throughout the years there have been a lot of different shows that have influenced me, and all of that comes into the stuff that we are doing. I think this idea of doing an Indian anime was something I’ve had since my early teens to late teens.

So you decided pretty early on that you wanted to make an Indian anime, is that right?

  Rajorshi: Yeah, this idea has been with me for roughly half my life. It's just that I actually knew how to do it after a whole lot of experiences. Especially after visiting Japan in 2013. I went there for a pop culture research program where we were actually given access to facilities that make Japanese entertainment, including animation.

  So did you face any opposition in pursuing this path?

  Rajorshi: We faced nothing but opposition, actually. In 2017 we’d put out a trailer on YouTube and, you know, it was just a sort of demo. It's not there anymore; we took it off. This was way before we brought out the actual trailer that you see right now. It was only after we took it to the quality that we wanted that people started thinking about the possibility of, you know, Indian anime. Especially after 2019, when the two movies (Weathering With You and Dragon Ball Super: Broly) were released in India. The community started considering the possibility that Indian anime can happen. 

  I think there are two main challenges. One challenge (which we’ve kind of got past) was finding the right people for the production because hand-drawn animation is a lost art and it's very tough to find people who pursue that. It was tough finding people, which is also why we are a very small team. We somehow managed, over a number of years, to finish the movie production. 

  The other challenge (one we are facing right now) is distribution. I think that’s because India does not have a proper distributor for anime. Of course, we see some anime on Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Crunchyroll. Disney+ Hotstar, which actually has the biggest reach in India, don't showcase any anime. There is a solid market and demand for anime in India but there's hardly any supply, which is why we thought we’d fill that gap in the market. It depends on what kind of channels you go through when it comes to distribution. I mean, we are in talks with Netflix and Amazon Prime Video, and we want to be in talks with Crunchyroll. But it's very hard to find people, to find the correct approach or routes through which you take this product. I think that's what matters. In terms of distribution, routes matter more than the product itself because if you are talking about Netflix or Amazon Prime, they are going to look at it as an independent movie and they are also going to want to see examples of such production that has made it in the market and things like that.

  Obviously, there's a huge demand but there needs to be a distributor that recognizes the demand and what it means when something like our product (or anyone who is doing an animated film that is not for kids) gets licensed. Distribution is the final roadblock we are facing right now because when it comes to quality and production values, all of the people that we have talked to have appreciated our work. But when it comes to actually slating on an acquisition session, there's always some kind of discrepancy there. There's no one to handle animated movies when it comes to India, unless you’re talking about the kids’ market. That's a totally different topic.

  You raise an important point about 2D animation being something of a lost art. In particular, the whole Japanese anime workflow is totally different from what most people are used to doing. So, how did you learn it, and how did you find people with this skill?

  Rajorshi: So the current core team is a team of four people, including myself. I personally handle everything other than the actual drawing, because although I’ve studied design and art and all of those things, music and film production is what I have primarily been trained in and what I have experience in (the former of which I'd been recognized with a scholarship for from Berklee College of Music). Compositing — the final “look” of anime — is something that I learnt entirely on my own through observation and software/workflow research. So I know the process of anime production. There is hardly anyone who makes animation through this process in India. So I would say it is something very unique to our studio. 

  The people that I have, they were actually making the transition to college back when I hired them. They had considerable skill when it came to illustration and making animation, but it was this project that got everybody up to a certain level. The core team that I started with are still working together — basically the four of us, but we extend sometimes to 10 people. And if you’re talking about the total number of people involved in this project, it’s over 30. But finding the core team took a long time. I’d actually thought of starting a business with this around four or five years back, and since then it’s been about finding people to execute and help out in the process. 

  When it comes to hand-drawn animation, there is talent out there. There just needs to be a product that makes use of those talents. I wanted to create a forum where talented artists could join in and showcase their capabilities. It’s not that 2D animation is completely not there, it’s just that it’s not focused on by people as a career option because there are no outlets for it that are monetizable. I think that’s more of the problem. When you look at some talented students from NIDs [National Institutes of Design, India], you will find that they are very much capable of doing everything that we do. It’s just that there’s no forum or platform to create a product like this which makes use of both the anime production process as well as the hand-drawn aspect of it. 

So if you look at, say, Chinese animation studios, the way they started off was by doing subcontract work for Japanese anime studios. They slowly built up their own base, their own talent pool, and then started to make originals of their own. So, why did you decide to start off with an original rather than go through this process?

  Rajorshi: Chinese animation actually has a much richer history. They’ve been doing their own intellectual properties for longer than they’ve been outsourcing. But with India that is actually not the case. When it comes to 2D animation we’ve had collaborations with Japan in the past, whether it’s Ramayana or Batu Gaiden. But our main aim was to do something that was completely Indian-produced. I think that’s the main draw, so that we could call it India’s first anime. 

    Let’s talk a bit about outsourcing outside our realm of animation: when it comes to 3D animation and VFX. India is actually a world player in the market when it comes to 3D assets and VFX being outsourced to us. But when it comes to intellectual properties, there’s pockets of brilliance that surface from time to time, especially in the non-3D space, because the 3D space is a framework in itself, a framework that I personally have also been very connected with in the past, in all the projects that I’ve freelanced for (when it comes to music, editing, and the post-production side of things). When it comes to hand-drawn animation, I would say that there are these pockets of independent production which do not find the correct outlet or distribution platform. But they’re there; they’ve been there for a very long time. They’re not necessarily practicing the anime art style like we’re doing, but they’re doing hand-drawn animation nonetheless. And the quality and execution is something that’s worth showing to the world, it’s just that there’s no proper distribution channel as I was saying. Why anime? That’s because there’s huge demand for this particular art style. Since there was already a demand for it, as well as respect in the community for something that is a product made by India for India, that is where we came in and thought “this is a niche we want to fill.” 

  And look, most of the artists who worked on this project have already worked on commissions for foreign clients all of their lives. We don’t look at outsourcing as a route that we necessarily have to do first before we make our own intellectual property. Because we do that anyway: when it comes to making small animations for brands, or working for clients that are primarily non-Indian. The whole idea about this project is that it’s by India and for India. I wouldn’t go so far as to call it a statement, but it is a specific niche that’s appealing to a lot of people, thankfully.

So let’s talk a bit more about Karmachakra itself. When I saw the trailer on YouTube, the art style stood out to me, and it reminded me of a couple of things. One was the works of Mamoru Hosoda, with his distinctive style of flat shading. The other was Shin Sekai Yori, which has sticker-like 2-dimensional character designs but with mood lighting and effects and appropriate color palettes to create an atmosphere. Were any of these your inspirations, or were there other influences?

    Rajorshi: I mean, Mamoru Hosoda is an inspiration for any animation filmmaker. My personal inspiration, in terms of direction and in terms of storytelling, is Satoshi Kon. You know, works like Perfect Blue, Millennium Actress, Paranoia Agent: all these films and shows that are very loved, conceptually and thematically. My second influence would be the directorial signature of Tetsuro Araki (Death Note, Attack on Titan); I think that directorial signature is very alluring. In terms of how to tell a story through many characters, I’d say Durarara is an influence. I mainly chose to go with urban fantasy, inspired by the unique approach that light novels like Boogiepop or Nisio Isin's works take. Other than that, I think my all-time favorite director is Shinichiro Watanabe (Cowboy Bebop). 

  Some more important key influences that left a huge mark on my imagination of what the medium can be are:

Wolf's Rain, Black Lagoon, the Steins;Gate franchise, Terror in Resonance, Michiko and Hatchin, Barakamon, Mushi-Shi, Great Pretender

Spirit-world action-comedies like The Devil is a Part-Timer, Blood Lad, Hoozuki’s Coolheadedness, and Noragami

Mind Game from director Masaaki Yuasa

Any project involving character designer Yoshitoshi Abe, like Texhnolyze, Serial Experiments Lain, etc

There's also the noitaminA block stuff; short, offbeat 11-episode per cour series with a broader audience in mind. Brings to mind the makers of the noitaminA logo animation, Studio Rikka and their charming sci-fi works such as Time of Eve and the like.

  In terms of manga:

The superlative, mind-game ridden works of Shinobu Kaitani

The out-of-this-world panelling in works by Keiichi Koike

The poignant interpersonal/social drama from folks like Shuzo Oshimi and Inio Asano

The artful, satirical guro manga from people like Shintaro Kago

The sprawling, epic series from the legendary Naoki Urasawa, such as Monster and the like

Brilliant food/drink manga such as Bartender and Sommeliere by Araki Joh, or even Oishinbo.

  These are just names I can think of right now, but there’s actually plenty of influences for all of us here at Studio Durga.

  Let’s talk about the OP. From Episode 0 of Karmachakra, what strikes me as its most "anime" element is its OP. From the song itself, with its “anime theme song” vibes, to the color palette reminiscent of the Psycho-Pass OP, to the character-focused cuts reminiscent of the Baccano and Durarara OPs, to the text on screen reminiscent of the Cowboy Bebop OP: this OP screams "anime." OPs usually are a studio's way of enticing viewers to watch an anime, so clearly, a lot of effort went into this OP. And it's a really attractive and alluring OP. What went into the making of this OP? How did you storyboard it, and how did you compose the opening song? How much more effort was it to animate, comparatively?

    Rajorshi: The OP song was composed, arranged, produced, and played by me more than six years ago. At the time, I was inspired to make a melody and instrumentation that sounds “classic anime.” It was a personal project back then, and I had no idea I was going to be using it for an anime production of my own in the future. So when it was time, my mom helped with the lyrics and I asked Tanisha (the singer who I've collaborated with on the ED as well) to sing out the lyrics composed for the song. It was a blast to make. Unlike the ED, which I composed much more recently, the OP arrangement is more busy than minimal, which was my style back then and which probably works better for the usual high-energy anime OP.

  Unlike background scoring, which is set to edited bits of animation, the animation for the OP was set to the music instead. We were using a scratch track and timing every cut to whichever hit we wanted it to fall on. The choreography and transitions took more time than standard animation, as the entire thing was meant to seamlessly flow with non-stop fluid animation. The effort varies in anime production from shot to shot, but in the case of the OP, it was about tying together an entire string of money-shots. Apart from the animation, we had a lot of fun with the compositing as well. Doing MVs is the most enjoyable activity for us.

Let’s talk about the world of Karmachakra. What inspired it? Personal, lived experience or literature and other media?

  Rajorshi: Karmachakra is a series of movies. The second and third are what we’re working on right now. The second is more of the action-thriller kind, and the third/finale is along the lines of philosophical sci-fi. But the first one is more of a mystery-drama. I’m a huge mystery buff; that’s a sort of personal favorite genre of mine. So thematically I think the first movie of Karmachakra is mostly a mystery-drama with certain supernatural elements and certain cultural elements to those supernatural elements. So there’s many different layers. I usually like to do something that is layered, something that is character-driven but layered not only in the histories of the characters but in the lore that ties it all together with a supernatural theme, and also the third layer that puts them in a cultural context. These are basically the three levels that we’re working on when it comes to Karmachakra. 

    When it comes to cultural influences, there’s me being a Bengali and hence making this in Bengali. That is something I had in mind from the beginning. Having connections to the Bengali film industry, getting some of the best names from there to do voice acting on this: that was definitely part of the plan. 

  For the script, I’ve had many, many different influences. My background is quite varied. Since I was a kid I’ve always been a music buff. I was very much into classic/prog rock and concept albums from the '70s and '80s, apart from my production and performance background in jazz, jazz fusion, RnB, soul, and funk. So storytelling is a huge part of music for me, whether it’s through film scoring or whether it’s through a concept album where you tell stories through music itself. Other than that, I graduated in English literature, which is a huge part of the general approach I take to things when it comes to layering and writing for film. For this production, between film, literary works, musical works, and anime, there’s a LOT of influences. I wanted to take all those influences and make something that was cohesive enough for someone who was watching, but at the same time wasn’t predictable or cookie-cutter like.

Are there any talented Indian animators you’d like to spotlight?

  Rajorshi: I would like to talk about Ghost Animation. They’ve been working on little animated clips for Bollywood movies for a very long time, but recently they made a short film, Wade, set during a flood that happened in Bengal. They put it up on Kickstarter, promoted it, and successfully got it funded. I think it won an award at Annecy or something. And it’s all hand-drawn.

  Apart from that, there’s a couple of guys who’ve been in the Indian anime community and illustrator community for a very long time. Their names are Krishna and Balram Bannerjee, but they’re informally called the Xong Bros. They’re primarily comic artists, so they don’t do a lot of animation, but they also work on animation for indie games made by foreign studios: they make some trailers and the like for them.

  There was also this short film that was commissioned by Royal Stag Short Films, called Death of a Father. Entirely hand-drawn. Not the anime artstyle, but entirely hand-drawn.

  Lastly, there’s Jazyl Homavazir. A long-time animator, illustrator, and coach in the Indian comics/animation scene in the art style of manga. Both him and the Xongs are dear friends of ours who support and appreciate our initiative.

Do you have any parting thoughts for our readers?

  Rajorshi: I would say don’t make any compromises. If you know you’re capable of doing something, whether it is independently or whether you have backing or whatever it is, don’t make any compromises and do something that is only an approximation of what you actually want to do. If you have a vision, just go ahead and do it, and then see what happens. You might succeed, or you might fail, but that will be a learning experience. Just because something is tangentially related to whatever vision you might have, don’t settle for less.  

  Are you excited for Karmachakra? Let us know in the comments!

    Do you love writing? Do you love anime? If you have an idea for a features story, pitch it to Crunchyroll Features!

  By: Manas B. Sharma

[reylofanfictionanthology]

After the Blazing Fire Dies: the 2019 Reylo Fanfiction Anthology Gift Fic Master Post Part Two

The After the Blazing Fire Dies Collection on AO3 | Gift Fic Masterpost Part One | Treats Masterpost

Home by Anonymous for methusalahoneysuckle

What does it mean to forgive a parent? What does it take to let go of a rage that feels so righteous? Or, How finding love for Ben Solo meant confronting his past, and finally learning to let go.

eight nights into forever by Anonymous for MissCoppelia

Rey has never had a family, has never known what it truly feels like to have a home. Then she meets Ben Solo, ten years her elder and entirely too handsome, he seems to be as taken with her as she is with him. A year into their romance he invites her to spend Hanukkah with his family in the United States and Rey, for the first time in her life, is faced with family... ...and a steamy night spent in Ben's childhood bedroom.

An avalanche of hopes and dreams. by Anonymous for MizuPhoenix

Rey sets off to find an ancient artifact, that might help the Resistance obtain victory and peace. But when Rey gets lost in a blizzard, and finds that Kylo Ren is once again right on her tracks, she rushes off into a cave. They end up caught inside, and need to find a way not to kill each other long enough to survive their current situation. Will they be able to pull it off?

Asleep now, and silent by Anonymous for monsterleadmehome

Rey Nolan takes Intro to Automotive Repair course at Coruscant Community College from Han Solo, intending to learn how to fix cars, and gains a pair of surrogate parents instead. Only trouble is, Han and Leia's son, Ben, is as hot as he is infuriating. And he makes her feel so uncomfortable, makes her want things she cant entirely put into words. But he always seems so cold to her, so rude. It's clear as day what he thinks of her, and it isn't favorable, so her crush simmers in silence. When the Organa-Solos invite Rey up for a winter getaway to their family's cabin, she doesn't realize Ben is coming, too. What's worse than having to spend six hours in a car with your crush, who hates you? Getting snowed in with him, that's what.

Signed, Future Kylo by Anonymous for Nervoustouch

It was just supposed to be some low-key spying, but once Rey realized that she could leave things for Kylo through the Force bond, how could she let the opportunity to let out her inner prankster go? What she didn’t expect, though, was that he would confront her about it.

Smiles and Shoulders by Anonymous for NewerConstellations

"Rey had just turned to head back to her desk, water bottle in hand, when she saw Ben Solo walk in. Just who she wanted to run into after an unpleasant morning of being poked and prodded by her gynecologist. Ben Solo was part of the First Order team that had come along when Resistance Games recently merged with First Order Entertainment. He was made project manager of the combined Quality Assurance team, Rey’s department, which meant he helped document and assign the bugs that made up each QA tester’s workflow. He was grouchy, and he usually sent important bugs last minute or just horribly documented, making everything harder for the team, especially during sprints. Over the three months they’ve been working together, she’d called Ben out on his terrible practices repeatedly, and each time he’d just challenge her to get the work done or steal his job. Which is why it surprised her now when she saw Ben give her a quick once over and his cheeks turned red..."

The Ways We Choose to Survive by Anonymous for Noppoh

"What's happening to me?" Part of his heart sinks. Part of it sparks something closer to alive. "You're a vampire now," he says. "I'm sorry."

Give and Take by Anonymous for OccasionallyCreative

Kylo Ren, Ben-- he knew not what his name ought to be now, at the end of everything safe and known--felt the familiar, tell-tale sting of newly conjured tears as he stared into his dysmorphic reflection shining up at him from a set of golden dice. His father’s dice. He shuddered a gasp, ignoring how his tears now trickled from the corners of his eyes, dripping into the crevasses of his face.

Degrees and Galaxies by Anonymous for okaypianist

Ben could think of numerous other things he would rather be doing than spending an afternoon working on a paper. That all changes when he bumps into Rey. Maybe spending the day at the coffee shop isn't the worst way to spend his time.

we decided not to kill the wolves (we wanted to be wolves) by Anonymous for PalenDrome

A pack of wolves lives in the woods to the north of Raddus and as winter looms, they have their eyes set on Leia Organa’s stronghold. Rey may be new to Raddus, but she’s not about to do nothing while it may be in danger. And besides, Poe must be exaggerating about wolves the size of bears. She’s not afraid of monsters.

Why? by Anonymous for Pawprinter

A glance across a battlefield.

(won't you) whisper soft and slow by Anonymous for perperuna

ben solo (phd) is a physics professor at university of chandrila. rey jakkuson is an archivist specializing in historical documents from the 20th century who works at the university's library. they have no reason to run into each other ever-- except that rey is the head archivist for a project with letters from the vietnam war, including letters between anakin skywalker and padmé amidala.

Wrong by Anonymous for persimonne

Despite negotiating with the Resistance so that he can marry Rey the second she sets foot on-board his ship, Kylo is reluctant to have sex with her. It may have something to do with the writhing protuberance between his legs, but that's just a guess.

you pierce my soul by Anonymous for pillar_of_salt

It was not common knowledge, held only in the closest confidence by his most intimate associates, that Ben Organa-Solo’s heart had been captured by a Royal Navy captain as thoroughly as she captured and conveyed enemy vessels. However, despite his age and desire to be wed, he allowed himself to be persuaded against the match, for his dearly beloved mother was uncertain as to the young lady’s youth and her son’s proclivities for shouting matches and dueling.

Handcuffed in the Honeymoon Suite by Anonymous for platalet

Ben and Rey are caught breaking into the office of a notorious crime boss on Canto Bight. The boss decides to teach them a lesson in an unorthodox way.

A Smuggler and a Jedi by Anonymous for politicalmamaduck

Can you truly run away from destiny? Ben Solo thought he could after quitting the Jedi academy to get into the smuggling business with his father. However, when a lucrative job offer takes them deep into the territory of the Chiss in wild space, Ben must admit that his connection to the Force is not something he can keep running away from. When Ben comes face-to-face with Rey, a mysterious woman who had been appearing in his dreams, he must make a difficult choice.

The Moments that Belong to Us by Anonymous for PoliticalPadmé

the regency fic no one asked for.

Little Things by Anonymous for punkeraa

Ben is a freelance graphic designer who works out of his basement and prefers to not get involved with anyone. Rey is an amateur general contractor helping her friends flip the house across the street. When Rey tries to do something nice for her new neighbour, she's treated to a lecture and then several days of being avoided.

The Dark Earth Spins Beneath Us by Anonymous for radioactivesaltghoul

Ben's defection from the First Order is supposed to make everything different. And it has, for the most part--better. Except Rey can't seem to catch a moment alone with him, and Ben doesn't seem to be making any efforts to be alone with her. The ghost of Crait still hangs over them, but Rey knows this impasse can't last forever.

I Notice You As You're Noticing Me by Anonymous for rakefire

"JOIN YOUR FRIENDS HERE AT ‘ALL THAT JAZZ’ ON FEB 15TH FOR OUR 2ND ANNUAL SINGLES AWARENESS NIGHT Ladies get ½ priced drinks Gents get ½ priced fries JOIN US AND BE ALONE TOGETHER" Rey and Ben feel a bit lonely on singles awareness day. What could go wrong?

caught in a decaying orbit by Anonymous for redbells

Rey was the conquering hero. Kylo Ren was in a cell and the Resistance was victorious, but it left her wanting.

Mission Possible by Anonymous for reinasolo

Ben Solo, CIA Agent and all around "bad ass" gets an assignment that really should have been a breeze, but a scavenger, a general, a commander, and a trooper ensure it will be anything but easy.

Teaching Miss Niima by Anonymous for Reneemm

Kylo Ren was free. He gave his lectures, graded assignments, and generally kept to himself. He wanted peace and quiet. As much peace and quiet teaching could offer him, at least.He got what he wanted.Then she appeared.Rey Niima was everything he ever desired in a woman, all save for one tiny, insignificant detail. He was her Professor. Moral and ethical quandaries aside, he wanted her.

New Year's Eve with a Girl named Rey by Anonymous for reylocalligraphy

It's New Year's Eve in the bustling city of New York and Kyle plans to spend it alone at work. That is, until he meets a girl named Rey.

lashes by Anonymous for ReyloTrashCompactor

He told her that she should leave it, that she didn’t need to come here. Maybe he was right, but it hadn’t seemed so at the time. No. No, at the time, it had been of the most vital importance that she come here. That she see what had happened here, learn the truth of it for herself, shape it with her own mind and hand and actions. “I know what doing penance looks like,” he’d said in the aftermath. “This won’t help.”

Banana Nut Muffins by Anonymous for Rhizaria

Ben's radio show is all over the place and Rey can't help but call in to comment.

Death Becomes Her by Anonymous for Rhonda3Green

He watches the trickling liquid as it slides down the space between her breasts, fast then slow, along the dip of her belly. It hovers above the fullness of her mons, the single drop refracting the light and green of the canopy above, and all he can think about is how much he wants to capture it on his tongue. To lick the hot salt of her skin, and lose himself in that bright, earthy scent as he breathes her in. He is Death. And she is his.

This Dance of Light, This Sacred Blessing by Anonymous for rissanox

Snapshots in a modern AU.

a flicker in the dark by Anonymous for roamingbadger

Their bond was still there. He could feel it like a flicker of flame at the end of flayed string, still trying to hold on. The burn kept his skin warm. He refused to let it die out.

Game On! (aka Deflowering Doctor Jackass) by Anonymous for SaintHeretical

When Rey is stranded at her bookshop in the middle of an upstate NY snowstorm with a local professor she knows only as "Doctor Jackass", she decides the best way to pass the time is to play a game. And that, of course, leads to other activities.

slip, slip, knit by Anonymous for sciosophia

Honestly, this was not one of her greatest ideas but Rey will make it work.

Serendipity by Anonymous for second_chances

When she had decided to start shepherding the Adept, Rey had made a vow to herself to help them all—even those imprisoned by their own internal darkness. Camouflaged with the cuff, Kylo would never know that Hux’s war dog was closing in on him until it was too late. That was one death she didn’t want weighing down on her conscience. She’d had the opportunity twice to kill him, but she was still convinced his life was not hers to take. The Force still had a plan for Ben Solo, that she was certain, and securing his safety was just as important and making sure the little girl she sought made it off world and survived as well.

The Mistake of the Mailman by Anonymous for shewhospeakswiththunder

Rey's on-campus university address is 'Box 324 Mulberry St, The Bryant Center.' Ben Solo's address is '324 Mulberry St.' And she keeps getting this poor guy's mail.

all flowers in time bend towards the sun by Anonymous for SithishJedi

After months without contact, the force bond opens but something is wrong.

your love could be too much by Anonymous for six4au

Rey, the successful host of the award-winning confessional podcast The Best Policy sits down with a new guest, world famous actor Ben Solo. Except these two are already well acquainted. They broke each other's hearts seven years ago.

The Golden Age by Anonymous for sokki09

Hollywood, 1953. After the press catches wind of yet another crashed car and yet another drunken night on the town, actor Ben Solo has to face facts: his bad-boy image is in need of a serious fix. Pairing him off with a wholesome, up-and-coming actress girlfriend seems like it might just do the trick. They can walk red carpets together, sell the whole relationship thing. And he can get his career back on track. Which is what he wants. Isn't it? Rey Jackson is nothing that he expects, and everything he finds himself wanting. But she's on her way up, a star in the making, and he's... self-destructive, on a good day. Weary of the business, and tired of being who he is. What they have is fake; there's no illusions that it's more than what it is. But what else is the magic of cinema for, if not to allow yourself the chance to dream? OR: here, have a a Golden Age of Hollywood Reylo fake dating AU!

and the snow started falling by Anonymous for SpaceAusten

Oh, that secret that you know / that you don't know how to tell... Trapped by shame and snow, Kylo Ren faces his ghosts.

All At Once by Anonymous for SpaceWaffleHouseTM

The First Order has taken over the planet Neftali in the Soccoro system. Every year, the town of Cordel Cove hosts a winter carnival that culminates in a masquerade ball. The presence of one Supreme Leader has been requested.The Resistance has come to Neftali to strike a deal with a shady organization, using the carnival as a distraction. They send Rey to the masquerade to keep an eye on things. After one too many drinks, the masked man all in black catches her eye and asks for a dance. But what will happen when the masks come off?

I Choose You by Anonymous for spookykingdomstarlight

In the throne room, Rey proposes a counter offer.

Heart of Clay by Anonymous for starlightreader

Rey discovers a very interesting recipe in one of the tomes she's stolen from Luke. While she experiments, Kylo Ren disappears mysteriously.

pianissimo by Anonymous for TheStolenQuill

Rey is a wonderful pianist who just was hired as a court musician. She's nervous enough with her new position, but then she gets entangled with the royal family, especially one Prince Ben.

Magic Rises by Anonymous for thewayofthetrashcompactor

Rey finds lost things. It’s what she does, and what she’s always been able to do. Magical artifacts, prized jewellery, a blue ribbon giant pumpkin, you name it, she can find it. When Leia Organa of House Organa-Solo asks her to find Luke Skywalker, Rey’s sure that Kylo Ren moving in next door isn’t a coincidence. She’s going to have to use all the magic in her arsenal to figure out what’s going on.

Plan B by Anonymous for Tiara_of_Sapphires

Tiara_of_Sapphires asked for "Senator!Rey and Jedi!Ben AU where Rey gets kidnapped for ransom," with some banter and awkward, socially stunted Ben Solo, as well as some good hand-holding and/or forehead kissing action. Hopefully this is lighthearted enough to at least give everyone a bit of a smile. That said, it is unbeta'd, so if it doesn't, that's no one's fault but mine.

Blue Moon Lovers by Anonymous for tigbit

Rey lives a simple life, working at her coffee shop--Resistance. Then her life takes a turn when she meets her neighbor, Leia Organa, and she discovers a past life that is connected to her own. Not to mention that the enigmatic Ben Solo twists her mind and emotions in different directions. Rey will come to learn that sometimes the mistakes of the past can affect the present, and that some are destined to be soulmates.

Somewhere in the Dark by Anonymous for tm2taughtmefamlaw

The world is not as it once was, and bands of survivors struggle to live in the aftermath of a zombie apocalypse. Rey has found a life with Leia’s band of scavengers. Despite the gloomy landscape, it’s a far less tragic and far more boring life than The Walking Dead led her to believe. She’d choose a waning stockpile of toilet paper over Ben Solo any day.

hit me with your best shot for tmwillson3

"So Rey decides to torture him in her own, unique way. She won’t let him ignore her." In which Rey and Ben are rival Quidditch players recruited to play for England in the World Cup.

(I close my eyes and fly out of my mind) Into the Fire by Anonymous for TourmalineGreen

“Alright, SHUT IT!” Rey hollered. “This was important to Leia. We will ALL be participating. Trust requires interaction, right? That’s what we tell our clients, and it’s what we believe, so get over yourselves! You can retreat to your echo chambers next weekend. This week, we are working hand-in-hand with First Order. If it kills us.” OR Scenes from the careers of two people who hope to change the world, one neighborhood at a time. What stands between them again? Oh, right - nothing but pride (and possibly prejudice). Thank heavens someone sees what’s going on.

Crisis Girlfriend by Anonymous for walkingsaladshooter

Ben was in love with Rey for over a year when he asked her to go with him to his ex’s wedding as his ‘girlfriend’.

Be careful what you wish for by Anonymous for Zabeta

Rey has spent her life wanting to get off Jakku, and see the universe. She thought she would eventually earn enough to barter or buy her way off-planet. But the universe has other plans.

[hearthandseyes]

Pixelmator Photo for iPad

This will take awhile to get to the point so if you’re interested, buckle in for a winding, drawn out reason about why I’m not switching to Pixelmator Photo as much as I want to.

I’m an avid Lightroom CC user. I have never used Photoshop, not because I don’t want to but because I’m too stupid.

In the past I was an Aperture user and it never clicked. The catalogue was too confusing to me. Again, stupid. When it was discontinued I switched to Lightroom and have done well with it since. Adobe later released Lightroom Mobile (now the cross-platform Lightroom CC) during the time I had adopted a heavy iPhone/iPad travel workflow and I grew up with the program. Lightroom was straightforward and essentially offers the simple tools that I used in the darkroom- dodging and burning, with digital exposure and color edits.  Plus a little more.

I have had a strange fascination with Pixelmator for years.  Many times since 2012 I’ve tried to use Pixelmator which is a layers based graphics editor. The price was right and they were an Apple only product that worked to make the most of the Apple hardware. They even released a mobile app with some of the core features.  But again it’s a layers based editor and if I couldn’t figure out Photoshop this wasn’t going to help me. I looked often for tutorials to learn the software but they weren’t available like they are for Adobe products.

When Pixelmator Pro for the Mac was being released last year I was fully ready to make an attempt at using it and abandoning Lightroom. 

Why would I leave Adobe? I don’t like that I’m boxed into one system. I pay 20 dollars a month for the photography Creative Cloud account with 2 TB of data. I have to be very careful with that catalogue as I go because 2TB isn’t a lot for a full and active catalogue over years, even with mindful archiving.  And I’m managing two different photography catalogues- Lightroom and Apple Photos.  Finally, the way you import photographs into Lightroom on the iPad or iPhone is plain silly, but that’s really on Apple and we’re not going to get into file management on iOS because that’s a dead horse for now (until some future iOS iteration).

But the big reason was: “minimalism”. 

Over 2018 I started doing a deep dive into my life again. A significant breakup, several moves, and a job change made me evaluate everything. I adopted minimalism around 2009 when I started paring down my belongings and moved into a small loft apartment. When I moved to Rhode Island in 2011 I sold almost everything I owned then put an add on Craigslist to come get the rest for free and people swooped in en masse. I kept things lightweight as possible but things creep back in. My digital files were a mess. Papers kept following me around the country. When I lived on the Rez it was like Little House On The Prairie and I bought enough supplies and things to fix anything and felt I needed a lot of comforts. “Things” piled up. Tools, paint, gardening tools, furniture, home gym equipment, entertainment. By late 2016 I was maintaining 3 addresses over 3 states with homes and ‘stuff’ in all of them, a lot of it duplicated. Then I had to pack up all of the places and put them into storage and nothing makes you realize how crazy your life is than rampant disorganization, poor sleep, and putting your hands on every single thing you own. I literally started having recurring dreams about boxes of papers.

While I was traveling I couldn’t manage my physical things but I could manage my finances and digital assets. I was shocked by how many apps and pieces of software I owned or had a subscription to. I made the spreadsheet that showed monthly recurring charges and a lot showed up and were pared down. And this drew my eye to the Adobe subscription. It has jumped up from 9.99 a month to 19.99. 240 dollars a year every year. I can afford it and I use it aggressively but did I need it at that price?

iOS has become my main platform for doing everything. The iPhone alone can do most things you need and when you need the luxury of a bigger screen go to an iPad. When I watch or read reviews of any iPad people talk about how it can’t replace a computer and it makes me nuts. What does anyone do on a computer besides browse the web, shop, message your friends, watch YouTube and Netflix, and check email, and write (in that order)? iOS is fine for 99.99 percent of people except working graphics and video professionals, engineers, architects, and  medical professionals (because medical software is the worst on earth and just can’t function on anything except a 12 year old Windows PC). I find working on an iPad is far more efficient than working on a Mac both digitally and physically. The ergonomics of touch with a Smart Keyboard are just better than keyboard and mouse (there is a reason the keyboard is so short- it’s so you can reach the screen easily). I edit photos with a pencil. I manipulate windows and screens like Minority Report. When I want to read something my ‘computer’ turns into a book/magazine/comic book/magical future tablet. I believe that my next Mac upgrade will likely be the last traditional computer I ever buy.

That aside over when I evaluated my tools, a lot of software like Word and Ulysesss, Byword, Simplenote, Evernote and OneNote, were abandoned for free, excellent software that came with my devices. Notes and Pages took over drafting, writing, and note collection. iCloud Drive replaced Dropbox, Music replaced Spotify. It kept everything neat, my data and privacy were secure and organized in one place, and I took the time to master the software. Where I had limped along on Excel for decades, I buckled down and did the full Lynda.com Numbers course and for the first time spreadsheets stopped being mysterious things nerds used to optimize their lives and instead became easily accessible tools that helped me solved real problems. A lot of this was also pushed by many of the privacy concerns arising in digital ecosystems (Facebook, Google, apps sending data out that users are unaware of, etc.).

But besides managing my day to day life and writing what do I use my tech for?

 Photography.

 Could I get rid of all of these photo editing apps? I adore shooting and editing on my iPhone and I seriously considered selling all of my cameras and becoming an iPhone only photographer. But different working opportunities continue to present themselves and so I kept using ‘real’ cameras and instead focused on addressing the software. Snapseed left. It’s a terrific app but I can do everything in Snapseed with Lightroom, but better. And I don’t trust Google anyway. All of the other silly one off apps disappeared too. They were niche cases and often all I needed was to dig into Lightroom to figure out how to replace them. But could I replace Lightroom with free Apple software?

Aperture was discontinued by Apple in 2015 (and it was definitely not free). The people who fully embraced it loved it, probably in the way people love Final Cut Pro. It was a different beast than their consumer product iPhoto which most people were familiar with and used without issue, mostly for collecting their images but also for doing basic editing.  Apple replaced iPhoto with Photos (minimalism) with the emphasis on the iCloud Photos library and cataloguing. But on MacOS they were sneaking some Aperture features in on later releases like curves. It seemed like they were beefing up the Photos app for greater things and these features seemed to be mirrored onto the iOS versions of the app. With the release of the iPad Pro and the Apple Pencil it seemed like any week Apple would release some brushes but they didn’t. Instead you were stuck with very basic global edits (and of course stupid filters) and didn’t even have access to the MacOS features like HSL.

But you could open photos in other apps. Like Pixelmator for iOS. And... it didn’t work. It was a garbage dream and ultimately nothing was able to replace the features I used all the time in Lightroom CC, specifically: editing metadata, the gradient and radial filters, and dehaze. Add to that geometric perspective correction and the fact that on the Mac Lightroom CC was adding in Photoshop/Lightroom Classic features like panoramic merge and more.

When Pixelmator announced they were releasing a photography (vs graphic design) focused app, and that it was for the iPad I was thrilled. I signed up for email updates and trolled the web periodically for information. When it arrived (at the phenomenal price of 4.99) I had already preordered it. I downloaded it and got to work straight away. I love that it uses either Photos or Files for the catalogue (easier to manage and takes out a step used in Lightroom). And that’s it for the good. It uses Machine Learning. They want you to know that. They’ve pushed the hardware in the iPad. I believe it. But their big focus is on automagic edits and cropping, filter presets, and global edits. Honestly I can get that from Photos.app.

There are no brushes, no focal dodging and burning, no radial or gradient filters. It’s 2019, the iPad has this amazing Pencil, and neither Apple nor Pixelmator are taking advantage of it. If I cannot dodge or burn specific areas of a photograph, I am doing worse than I was in the chemical darkroom in 1997.

Photos.app needs to also beef up for me to use Pixelmator, specifically adding brushes and filters and one or the other needs to add the ability to batch edit photos.

In addition they need to add an iPhone app because I often edit only on my phone.  

 We’ll see what Pixelmator adds in the future.  I’m sure I’ll still be paying attention for some reason. 

Originally, about 6 months ago, this article was going to be about how I was going to switch from the yearly subscription of Adobe to Pixelmator but every time I tried to move my workflow over with serious photography I stuck with Lightroom CC because the tools are so strong.  Without those tools I’m not going to use another photo editor. And I know there are others like Affinity Photo. For some reason I’m not interested.  I just had this weird obsession with Pixelmator.

So that leaves me with what this article is about. I started deleting the original version of Pixelmator off of my iOS devices and Mac because I just don’t use it. Pixelmator became the thing to remove. It became an exercise of giving up the goat and not worrying so much about digital minimalism as using a tool that works and I that lets me be an artist.  When I’m working professionally I can’t imagine not using Lightroom. And I use Lightroom CC which is considered ‘light’ anyway (but that’s foolish and something I should address later if people want me to). They’ve also recently added the features I wanted like stitching panoramas so for me it’s feature complete. It’s just the duplication of catalogues, online space, and the monthly fee that drive me crazy.

I’ve been making attempts of various strength since 2012 to use versions of Pixelmator and I’m not sure why it has seemed so important to me. I don’t need to use an app that makes global edits to a photo when I need to brighten eyes or increase the contrast in select areas of landscapes. I just need to use Lightroom.

[hi-im-dazey]

When someone tells me that this or that tool or technique is cheating, I ask them if they know how old it was or who invented it, if they do not know I launch into a detailed explanation of the Artist/Inventor who created the technique or tool and then tell them all about the fabulous pieces they used it to create that now hangs in a Museum they should someday visit if they can ever afford to. BTW the movie Tim’s Vermeer pisses me off, because they spend the entire thing “debunking” common, non mysterious tools that artists have used ALL THE TIME and for CENTURIES, but you know, why bother talking to an actual working artist or art historian when you can reverse engineer things we sell as children’s toys at museum gift shops to help kids understand that creation is accessible to all, (literally two of the “ideas” he comes up with for how Vermeer worked I bought plastic versions of with my allowance at a Museum in San Francisco when I was 9)

He seems mad that art is a practice, not a bolt of divine. And he takes it out on Vermeer. How dare you streamline your process and make your workflow easier with technology!

[foxmx153]

Daz3d Realistic Renders

Daz3d Realistic Renders Free

Daz Render Settings

Up your Render Game with Octane Render and the FREE Octane Render Kit from Daz

The Octane Render engine is a Render engine plugin for Daz Studio that gives you amazing results fast! While Iray and 3Delight are great render engines, sometimes they can take a really long time to render and finish your 3D scene. If you only have a small scene, are working with a tight turnaround time, or have yet to build your ideal super-fast (and kind of pricey) system, then you need a lighter and faster render engine that takes less time and works with diverse systems.

The Octane Render Engine for Daz Studio is a free Daz Studio plugin offered by OTOY, a cloud graphics and image technology company, that gives you sensational results in a fraction of the time. Octane Render is the world’s first unbiased spectrally correct GPU render engine. Even though that might sound complicated, it’s pretty easy to use, and Octane Render makes high quality renders at an amazing speed.

To get you started making astounding high-quality images in a fraction of the time, Daz Studio is offering the FREE Octane Render Kit, a pre-built set of Materials for your favorite characters, HDRI Environments, Mesh Lights and Light Presets, and anything else you need to finish your scene and render in Octane.

This Daz3d faster render tip is about Scene Optimiser, a set of tools that provide you with the possibility to lower the required memory for your scene. This will enable faster renders and viewport manimulation. In some scenes proper optimizations can lead to a tremendous time saving Example of Scene.

You just joined some friends in what was supposed to be a tourist journey in Egypt. However, the visit turned sour quite quickly and you got thrown into an epic adventure full of ancient mysteries.

You can download the modified maps on my gumroad page Download Materialize via this link http://boundingboxsoftware.com/materialize/down.

The Daz3d Render Settings Tabs. https://foxmx153.tumblr.com/post/657170015853936640/plex-internet. Obviously the first thing is opening the Render settings tab.

The Octane Render Kit from Daz (FREE!)

The Octane Render Kit from Daz, FREE in the Daz Shop, gives you everything you need to convert materials in Studio before you render in Octane. Docker nordvpn gateway. Before the Octane Render Kit, users had to manually adjust and custom build materials, lights, shaders and render settings.

The Octane Render Kit makes this process a breeze, created specifically for the Daz Studio workflow: instead of all that manual work, the Octane Render Kit gives you one-click, ready-to-render solutions custom built from the Daz Studio Content Library!

This Kit comes with full material sets for Genesis 8 Male and Female in four different skin tones and two glossiness levels. You also get a variety pack of Shader presets including 49 base shaders like metals, water, glass, paints, and more. And last, and most importantly for amazing renders, the ORK ships with complete lighting solutions: you get custom mesh lights, 8 preset environments, and 5 HDRI settings, plus 8 ready-to-load scenes to work with.

You also get a series of Octane Render Kit video walkthrough tutorials, to get you familiar with Octane Render and help you achieve amazing render results!

Render with Octane Today!

The Octane Render engine for Daz Studio is totally free, and with the Octane Render Kit (also totally free!) you’ll be on your way to making astounding 3D images with a brand new render engine that’s super fast and works with your system. Surfshark for free.

Get the Octane Render Kit for FREE and start building your 3D masterpiece today!

Ready for flawless rendering? With the Genesis 8.1 platform, you can create characters with a range of realistic emotions! Let’s dive into what’s new so you can get your creative juices flowing and prepare for your newest 3D artwork.

Have a Look at What’s New

Each part of the face adds to genuine emotional expression, and 8.1 makes realistic 3D facial expressions a breeze.

To access all the features Genesis 8.1 has to offer, be sure to update the Daz Studio Default Resources package to 4.15+. Also, keep in mind that your previous Genesis characters are compatible with 8.1, but 8.1 characters aren’t compatible on earlier platforms.

Improved Facial Expressions

With this update to Genesis 8, facial animations are broken down into individual muscle movements. It uses morphs based on FACS (Facial Action Coding System), which is what professionals use for animations and facial recognition research.

This update makes every one of your character’s expressions more realistic, but what’s even more important is that it makes it easy for you to accomplish lifelike facial and mouth movements with improved in-view controls.

Shader and UV Improvements

Daz3d Realistic Renders Free

Say goodbye to waxy skin! You’ll find a new PBR (Physically Based Rendering) skin shader, which improves subsurface scattering to create authentic skin colors and textures. This platform ensures that the details between sculpts and textures better match to create a lifelike look, and the UVs now have better pixel density and seams.

There’s even added support to leverage MicroSkin tiling micro normal maps thanks to our partners at Texturing.xyz.

This means that when you render your art, you’ll feel confident your model’s skin will look exactly how you want it. (And we’ve got another article for you if you want to render faster than ever before!)

More Depth and Realism to Eyes

View your 3D world with new eyes, and give new eyes to your characters while you’re at it. Choose from new options for eyelashes, shader settings for eyes and eye areas, and a detailed sculpt for the iris with matching texture. Plus, optimized UVs make it easier to add depth to the eyes.

Improved Detail to Mouth Areas

Genesis 8.1 brings better detail, sculpts, and textures to mouth areas, including the mouth, teeth, and gums. Optimized UVs allow for this greater level of detail, so you can achieve the right emotive look effortlessly.

Other Improvements

Even with these great improvements available, there are even more that you’ve got to try out.

You can add vellus hairs (also known as peach fuzz to us common folk) to the face and body, as well as body and facial hair to males.

Male anatomical elements will now work on female bodies, and vice versa with female anatomical elements on male bodies. These additions make it easy for you to make characters that are just like real people from all walks of life and of all gender expressions.

The enhanced Facial Rig and Power Pose Panel for the face are available.

Upgrade to Genesis 8.1 Today

Get ready to take your 3D art to new heights and realms when you use 8.1! Not only do you have a vast library of assets to choose from, but now you can make the most lifelike faces and expressions possible. We can’t wait to see what you create in Daz Studio!

Daz Render Settings

Want to know what an animation professional thinks of Daz? Check out Corey Belina’s interview!

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Visual Exercise 3-Workflow and Creative Camera Techniques

Victoria Street

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEqre4dlru8&feature=youtu.be

Research

Built in 1829-34 to improve access to city centre

Located in the Old Town leading to the Grassmarket 

Neo classist buildings inspired by Ancient Greek Architecture 

Left hand side of the street where the terrace/balcony is used to have a series of arches underneath it before they were turned into shops

Most famous shop was Robert Cressers brushes at number 40 which opened in 1873 and closed in 2004 

Dark Past? Major Weir who was dubbed at ‘The Wizard of the West Bow’ famously lived there before the street was built but was executed in 1640 for witchcraft, parts of his house still stand in the new Quaker Meeting house on the terrace. 

(Victoria Street circa. 1950)

Notes and Observations

Sounds

Cars and Sirens

Crossings beeping

People talking

Buses

Construction

Bagpipes 

Smells 

Food, Hog roast, coffee

Smoke from cigarettes and chimneys 

Sights

Colourful Buildings 

People

Tourists

Shops

Construction 

Xmas lights 

People in their Flats 

Crane 

Railing 

Sun in the afternoon 

Joke shop

Pubs 

Shisha shop

Quakers meeting place 

Freemasons 

Chimneys 

Cobblestone

Mood/Atmosphere

Tourists take pictures because of the colourful buildings on a curve

Sun hits the balcony spot around half one  

Busy spells but fairly quiet due to corona 

Warm and friendly vibe because of the colours

Fantasy and dreamlike due to the way the street curves up and the bright colours

Jk Rowling based Diagon Ally on Victoria Street 

Cobbled streets and ‘secret’ alleyways give It an old timey mood

Reflective Piece

Victoria Street holds history in its cobblestones, walked over by many. The ally ways whisper secrets through the wind and the darkness offers shelter from the brightness of the buildings. The colours are that of a children’s crayon drawing, reminding me of childhood, outlines of oddly shaped buildings of blue, red, pink and orange. The smells of sickly sweet pastries and a hearty hog roast make my mouth water this is soon retracted by the clouds of cigarette smoke blown into my face by passers by. Tourists stop to take pictures and revel at the street of colour, the shops containing everything from whacky costumes, whisky and witchery.  Construction work and bagpipes whine on in the background reminding me I am in Scotland and not a fantasy land I am reading through the pages of a mystery book.

Shot List and Storyboard Drawings

Coming through railings at the top 

Looking up at the Railings

Bottom of street looking up-taken from the cafe

Chimney with crane moving 

Construction working walking through 

Clock tower wide shot 

Tourist taking pictures 

Barbed Wire and Chimneys 

Picture from Set