ThePillowGrabber

Becoming engaged to my special person, who lives on the other side of the ocean, changed my priorities. My life has been a roller-coaster and I can't predict what, when or how many things will happen, but I'm fighting for them.

I honestly want to be more creative in the very near future. I hope you'll be patient with me.

I've still been taking photographs - though not cosplay related (that will restart soon) - and I've edited many of them, but the lack of a pen tablet takes its toll. Especially because it keeps me from exploring the world of digital painting and improving my skills. I really miss art.

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So, with that said, and especially for those who don't know me:

Hi, everyone! You can call me Ambar. 

It's a fine pleasure to meet you all, new and otherwise.
Feel free to talk to me anytime!

Wishing the year has been a wonderful one for you so far, and that a lot of adventures lie in store for you.

So I'm gonna do my best not to be MIA anymore, this year.

A lot has happened, like I've been inspired again to create stuff! All thanks to someone who I've had the blessing to have again in my life.

I "only" need to buy a new cable for the HDD that I use to save my art (I've had this on my list for years), and I need to get myself a Bamboo, because the newest line is just so pretty. Well, that too, but mainly because I sold my Intuos 3 some weeks ago. lol there were more pressing needs for which I needed the money. Anyhow, even editing photographs is so much harder without a pen tablet…! It's killing me not to have one, so I hope I get this new job I'm getting tested for. I'll be able to fulfill some other goals as well, like paying my tuition. OTL

On that front, by the way: I'm currently taking an Asian Studies degree in university! My languages are Japanese and Mandarin, which are really hard to focus on at the same time due to the similarities, though that has its advantages, too.

What about you? Are you a working student as well?

I wish you guys luck on your adventures!


_{P.S.: Once I've got my life together, I'll be getting myself a subscription and become a beta-tester again, plus I'll be making a brand new journal skin and gallery folder icons. Also, besides photography, I'll be primarily focused on my Chocolates collection (you know, those cute little chibi-like things x). So keep an eye open before the Summer!}

YES IT'S NOT MINE DUDES.

But I've been working on the translation of this comic.

X-DOWN is the work of the famous dev rann-poisoncage, as her own vision of the story of Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll.

And I must say it has a great artwork, plus it's fun and interesting. It will feature 5 chapters, being the first 4 already done. I think the pre-order's been closed already, sorry about that, but I only got permission to tell you about my "job" today. Either ways, if I'm not mistaken, you can get the book later again.

She's really nice and has an awesome gallery so go see her page now:




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COLOUR Modes - Basics
Copyrights + useful features

After the latest journal from janaschi over a doubt on LAB, I realized more than many people need help about colour modes since they don't even know what that is and what it's for. Therefore, I found myself in need to write this basic "tutorial" on this theme. Hope it helps.

_{I'll be adding more colour modes to this same journal in the future.}

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You can choose colour modes in Photoshop by clicking Image > Mode.
RGB and CMYK are the most standard colour modes, but it all depends on what you look for.

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RGB - Red Green Blue. It represents all the primary LIGHT colours. It's a mode used for screen images, since it shows the colours bright and vivid. It's a good mode for when you just want to have a digital picture, displayed in digital ways. If you only need your picture for the internet, for a wallpaper or just to be stored on your computer, you can choose this mode.


CMYK - Cyan Magenta Yellow K (Black. It uses the letter K instead of B since B is for Blue). It represents all the primary INK colours. It's a mode used for printing images, since it shows the actual look of the colours when they are printed on paper (i.e. not so bright). It's a good mode for when you want to print an image, since the colours used for the printing are ink, using the 3 primary colours + black.


Grayscale - as it says, it's a colour mode that ranges from black to white, including all gray tones in between. It's a mode used for all b/w pictures that have no other colour, since it takes all colour information. It's a good mode for when you scan a line-art or want a b/w picture that on screen looks blueish or yellowish, since it takes that away in order to have only pure gray, black and white tones. It is also recommended for pages that contain only text (with no colour). Additionally, the picture is lighter/consumes less space on your computer, because it was free from unnecessary information.

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You can convert an image to any colour mode on Photoshop, any time you have a different destination for it. However, it is recommended that you originally create or scan the picture to the right colour mode (which depends on what you need the image for), or to a colour mode that allows you to have a good quality image in several ways.

LAB mode is an example, since it allows a good colour viewing both on screen and on paper. This will be the next featured colour mode.

FIRST OF ALL, YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT COPYRIGHTS.

(C) --  IS NOT, NOR EVER WAS, THE SAME AS  --  ©


That's something many of you didn't know and mistake.
See more info about copyrights at Dianae's journal linked down.


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Now I want to share awesome and useful stuff with you guys.


Firefox Users. This is a real goodie:
Greasemonkey Scripts for Use on dA by Solitude12.


Journals. Great words and info. You won't regret:

ART THEFT - SOLUTIONS + MISCELLANEOUS by Dianae. This is a Must. Protect your art.

Dear Art thieves, please read by Wen-M. Read it even if you're not one of them.
Introducing the DAcademy by Endling. Learn from other artists. STARTED!

The truth about TUTORIALS by elsevilla. They are not instant skills.
How to get out from Art mental Blocks, easy steps by elsevilla. Name says all.
Tools Wont make the artist, or......... by elsevilla. Art is within you, not in the tools.
Believe in Skill not in Talent, believe in you by elsevilla. Everyone has a chance.

How to Shoot Stock by mjranum-stock. For photographers and</a> other artists too.


_{[Click the underlined. If you're that worried of being hacked go to the artists' pages]}