The Types Of 3D Printing

3D printing is a pretty fascinating form of manufacturing technology in my opinion; there are many branches of 3D printing such as Stereolithography (SLA), Selective Laser Sintering (SLS), Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS), Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM), Multi-Jet Modeling (MJM), or Ink Jet 3D printing. Each form of additive manufacturing is significant in its own way through its own niches. I'd like to cover some applications of each.

Stereolithography or SLA methods involve ultraviolet beams of light hitting curable resins to result in final parts. These parts play an active role in creating many medical applications. For example, SLA methods are dominant in the 3D printing world for dental applications, hearing aids, and similar implants. SLA 3D printing has been great for creating extremely precise parts.

Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS) stands out in the 3D printing world as "metal 3D printing" for a reason: it is metal 3D printing! Through a layer by layer process of using laser technology to melt powdered metal together, it isn't difficult to manufacture intricate organic metal pieces. DMLS is known for "one-upping" the machining industry. When parts can be manufactured in a matter of hours at detail levels far superior than traditional machining, 3D printing caught the attention of product developers and engineers. Not to mention, DMLS is almost entirely geometrically independent when it comes down to designing parts; good bye machinists and CNC cutting, hello DMLS 3D printing!

Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) is very similar to DMLS, but typically it just revolves around different materials. Layers of material powder will be stacked up on a build table and melted together in accordance to the design, just like DMLS. The part will be able to "float" within a bed of powder, so supports aren't necessary! This technology is great for product developers and designers around the globe, as a wide variety of materials can be made at great detail without the use of supports!

Fused Deposition modeling (FDM) is an interesting form of 3D printing, and one of the most popular. Essentially, a nozzle aided by a computer will draw from a spool of material in wire form. This nozzle is very hot, and will melt the material and stack the melted material layer by layer to create a final product. Think about a hot glue gun as an analogy; material (or the glue) will be pushed through the hot nozzle, and the glue (or material) will be stacked up to make a final product. Stratasys, a 3D printing company, truly outdid themselves when they developed this technology and they are making it more affordable than ever!

Multi-Jet Modeling (MJM) is very similar to FDM technology. Imagine the same exact process, except there are multiple nozzles. Objet, another well respected 3D printing company, did a great job when they came out with "digital material," in which multiple colors and materials can be used in a single print.

Ink Jet 3D Printing is one of my favorite styles, as it allows for full color prints out of sandstone like material. It is very similar to DMLS and SLS methods, as it stacks up layers of material powder and fuses them together. There are two large differences between those two and Ink Jet printing. Ink jet printing does not use a laser to melt pieces together, it uses an adhesive chemical to bond the powder together. At each layer, the ink jet itself will actually color the product in accordance to the design! You can have your face printed! Full character models and great prototypes result from this technology. The only down side to this in my opinion, is that the product pulled from the printer is very weak, and filled with around 40% air. To fix this, technicians will dip the product in a super glue like liquid or epoxy to infiltrate the product... then you have your piece!

Learn more about 3D Printing or read another interesting article about 3D Printing

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The Prints and the Paper: Picasso

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Sensational Custom Flags

Custom flags are just about everywhere. They're so prevalent, you may almost miss them. They are posted in front of parking garages, at the entrance of new housing developments where open houses are being held, outside of supermarkets, car dealerships, grand openings, art galleries and universities. Custom flags are slim and attractive, feather shaped or slim inverted triangles designed to stand out in a non-obtrusive way. They may move in the breeze due to their lightweight and slightly bendy configuration.

Custom flags are ideal for businesses which are short on advertising space and yet need to get their brand name recognized. Sports-type products particularly lend themselves to advertising flags, although the sky is the limit. At any outdoor sporting event, function or crowd pleaser, make a point of looking around to see how many of these cloth flags are posted for their customers' viewing pleasure.

You can use feather or pole-mounted flags at a food court to advertise your yogurt, burgers, or drinks. Custom flags are great at public events, garden party type promotions, any outdoor court or large festive functions.

An advertising banner flag does what a larger custom banner would do in a larger place - it advertises your firm. These feather or teardrop banner flags can't fail to be noticed. They are excellent for smaller locations where traffic is heavy and space is limited. The feather-shaped custom flag looks like a piece from an Indian headdress and contains vital information that will help your firm get public recognition.

A small but efficient flag is large enough to contain the information that you deem most important - your name, URL, and perhaps a keyword or picture of your product. These images are enough to send the message that you want and need to your clients. With the website, the interested customer will easily check their smart phone or iPod for more details. The point is to "flag" down your potential user and let them know that you are here and ready to serve, entertain, or otherwise make their lives better. These small but efficient custom flags do exactly that.

Flags can be for a variety of causes. Not only for advertising, fabric flags can be used as markings leading a client to your home office. There are a million uses for custom flags. They may serve for promotions, personal affairs and even parties and festivals. The name of the person being honored may be placed on the flags with an attractive photographic profile in a black on color design. There are more uses for flags being invented every day.

Custom fabric flags look good in the grass, along the sidewalk, along the bordered edges of a golf course, country club or outside a sports+ center. They complement the entrance to an automobile dealership, a shopping center, or a university. They don't take up a lot of space, but like the flags in front of the United nations, they make a powerful impact and always get noticed.

Instead of shouting "come over here right now!", custom flags whisper "psst!" The custom flag gets attention in modestly. It waves and bends in the wind, never begging but always attracting. Banner flags are patient - they will wait, but they will be noticed.

Barry Brown has been in the Sign, Banner, Decal and Display Business for over 20 years. It isn't what he thought he'd do with his life, but he says he knows too much now to do anything else!

He has been marketing these products online since 1998, and the company he was general manager of in 1998 was the first sign company to be listed on Yahoo!

Barry is a great resource for information regarding Signs, Banners, Decals, and Displays, and is also an outstanding source of information on how to shop online without getting ripped off.

He invites you to visit our website below, and call him if you have any questions regarding safely purchasing products from any site online, or regarding our company and product offerings.

http://www.visigraph.com/

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How Can You Make Money by Learning Photoshop?

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Not Science Fiction - Wall Clings Are Practical, Attention Getting and Effective

What are wall clings? They definitely know how to "cling on"! They typically consist of plasticized vinyl, clear or white, and stick effortlessly to a glass surface, taking advantage of the slight stickiness produced by the excess plasticizers. That's right, no adhesive to apply and clean off later! They are great for spur of the moment informational displays. How many times have you seen big red letters sticking to the glass with messages like, 30% off - Today Only or In Store Clearance or other hot news? Window or Wall clings do the job up right, with a minimum of fuss, bother and expense. Talk about environmentally friendly! No sticky chemicals and sprays.

By nature, wall clings are extremely outgoing! Not shy at all, they are short and sweet and to the point. They may be printed up in large block letters, in many cases, to fit in with the mood of LOOK HERE and RIGHT NOW!

Wall clings are ideal for stores and businesses with a large glass window facing the street. Because many wall clings are on clear material, they don't block your view to outside of the store. Better yet, they don't block the customer's view looking inside the store, which is key for businesses. Most customers prefer to look in before they walk in the door. Wall clings are great for giving the message without impairing your chances that they will ever set foot inside.

Wall clings can be made in color too, in a mural type display. Custom color and Pantone Color Matching is available, helping you get the tones that get the message across. These large static cling stickers are on every corner. Once you realize just how common the static window clings really are, you will begin to notice them in places that you never noticed before. They were always there, but in such a way to bring in the business and advertise some of your best products.

Window clings can be transparent or colorful. They can be white backed with colorful logo or short message. What a spectacular, contrasting presentation that doubles as an advertisement! It's a great way to show the world that your business is here, alive and functioning well.

Static wall and window clings are a little like the vital signs of your business. When you show wall clings every now and then that means the goods are moving and the business cycles are happening. Out with the old and in with the new. So look into the wall clings with the message that helps spring clean the goods you need to move out in order to make room for the new seasonal shipment. Not only will you add a little verve to your front window display, it will raise the consciousness of the passersby who out of curiosity can't resist the temptation of seeing whether your big discount has something for them inside. Window clings are like that - and that's not science fiction.

Wall static clings are great for a temporary special, promotion or offer that will be used for a short time. The static clings stick to the glass immediately. Taking them down is just as easy. Luckily, they are very rapidly produced, which means you can have a personalized order ready in as little as five working days. They can be stuck on the inside and the outside windows. They also work well on a mirror, acrylic backed boards and other shiny, smooth surfaces. Most colored clings are backed with white to prevent them from looking washed out.

Digitally printed on wide rolls of media or screen-printed on sheets, wall decals look great and are a breeze to put into place. Highly visible and attractive, they are hard to not notice. Designed to be seen from the street, even passing autos can easily get the message that you are trying to convey. It's a great option for a temporary promotion, so if you wish, stick with a message that you can use time and time again. In just a moment's notice, the wall clings can be up on the wall and flagging down traffic designed to bring in the traffic to the store when you want and need it the most.

Barry Brown has been in the Sign, Banner, Decal and Display Business for over 20 years. It isn't what he thought he'd do with his life, but he says he knows too much now to do anything else!

He has been marketing these products online since 1998, and the company he was general manager of in 1998 was the first sign company to be listed on Yahoo!

Barry is a great resource for information regarding Signs, Banners, Decals, and Displays, and is also an outstanding source of information on how to shop online without getting ripped off.

He invites you to visit our website below, and call him if you have any questions regarding safely purchasing products from any site online, or regarding our company and product offerings.

http://www.visigraph.com/

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Pencil Art

Art is not just a word to some individuals, sometimes it is a feeling or one just gets happy when they either hear or see art. Art helps people with frustration, anger, happiness, sorrow, and any other type of emotion. There are many different types of art, but the there is one in particular that interests me most. One can say that pencil art may be the most influential art that there is, because there is no color.

When looking at a portrait or picture that only has black and white in it, it helps to see the reality in a drawing but more importantly, one can feel the emotion in a pencil drawing. Rather that having a portrait that is in color. Pencil art drawing is more about feeling and emotion and is more acceptable to those who really love this version of art. Being an artist myself the satisfaction of drawing with a pencil and seeing the outcome of the drawing draws in pure adrenaline for me. It may do this also for people who love to do pencil art. One may say that pencil art drawing may be bland and colorless, but at the end of the day it is deeper than color.

Pencil art drawing is compatible to the world because the simple fact is that the world is a pencil. It is full of different shades, sizes, and depending on who it is talent. Looking outside the box, one can come to the understanding that all pencils are the same. Every one is different and no one draws the same portrait unless it is very popular and the popular pictures are the one's that are in color. This goes to say that even though pencil drawings have no color, they hold the most because of the detail that one is able to see in the portrait itself. Because in some cases color in a portrait is not always a good thing. Keep in mind that art did not start with color, it started as a feeling transferred from the brain to paper. Also that every one has their own different type of emotion. Any and every one is able to create a pencil drawing because no one will have the same one because we are all different.

When one is able to understand pencil art as an emotion and not just a word, then that individual will be able to understand themselves.

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A Concise On The Work Of 3D Artists

3D Artists in simple terms can be termed as the community who bring life to animation. Ever since animation industry became huge, the demand for this category has gone high. The job description for this category can be provided, as those artists responsible for creating and building 3D models. The 3D models are normally developed with the help of 3D drawings, which are modified using 3D CAD software or developed by 3D scanners. They are a distinct part of the animated movies, cartoons, games, ad campaigns, and lot more. The Production houses and studios flourish on their innovation, skill, and creativity. One of the most exceptional features of the job is its flexibility of work, as the 3D Artist can choose their work location. In simple terms he decides if he wants to work from home or an office. Moreover, he has the right to decide his working hours. These animation experts also contribute in the medical field, as they model and create human anatomical structures for various studies. The images or models are used in various diagnoses of diseases. Other than just creating computer-generated models, the artists also work on various other mediums like wood, clay, etc. Most of the animation modeling methods is also used in careers like architecture and structural engineering. This type of animation is applied on graphs and digital drawings. They are also reliable for creating still images for posters, presentations, and brochures.

Some of the basic criteria for becoming a 3D Artist include -

Educational Requirements - Animation could be termed as one of those few fields where talent and skill counts more than any formal education. Since the demand for 3D Artists are always high, the present day studios or companies have started to hire professionals with specific degrees relating to computer science, technical designs, and animation. If the artist wants to pursue a career as Medical Illustrator, then he should be a Graduate or Undergraduate in Biology and Computer Science.

Required skills- The skill set of a 3D Artist vary, even though the fundamental requirements remain the same which include an utmost interest for arts. Both technological and creative knowledge add in becoming an expert of this field. Most of the work done by these professionals can be made into a portfolio consisting of photographs and models.

This is just a brief description about the career description and development of 3D artists. The expertise in the animation and 3D modeling world can be achieved with sheer experience.

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Wall Art Is A Symbol of Creativity And Imagination

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Giving Beauty and Expressions to the Rooms With Wall Sayings

Creating a friendly and inspiring environment inside a house is essential, both for the people living in it and guests who pay a visit occasionally. For this purpose, home owners get the house painted using the perfect shades or put up some inspiring paintings on walls. But, the use of wall sayings creates the much needed atmosphere of positivity and warmth in a house. The moment someone enters the home or any of the rooms where they are placed, they feel the pleasure and warmth created with those words.

Words have the power to influence the minds of every individual and they can also heal a troubled soul. This is the reason why wall sayings are being increasingly used in modern homes. Bigger rooms have enough space to accommodate these sayings and larger fonts can be placed in the perfect order. There are no general rules for placement of words on the walls and the selection of fonts in creating them. Some people like to use different fonts for certain words to produce the desired effect. The colors used in the wall words are also chosen according to the shades or the general ambience of a room.

Every room is associated with some or the other activity. All the rooms in a house serve a particular purpose and wall sayings can be chosen to signify it. For example, a kitchen is used for cooking food and sayings associated with the activity can be used on its walls. Bedroom is the place for having a nice and peaceful sleep and the sayings on its walls can be used to set the right mood for it. Some wall letters in those sayings may be placed using bigger or different type of fonts to highlight the importance of certain words. It can also instantly attract the attention of the person reading it towards the significance of those words.

Different materials are selected while making the letters or words according to the aesthetic preferences of different individuals. Metals or wood used for making words for the wall can look good in certain places where they are to be placed. The choice of material for the words can also be influenced with the purpose that the room is used for. Some believe that wood letters can be great for the kitchen, while others think that metals would enhance the beauty of that place.

In the earlier times, only the words carved in wood were used in the rooms of a house. However, today, they can be made of different materials that can go with the choices and preferences of users. There are websites that offer various types of wall sayings made with different types of materials. Buyers can shop for these items without leaving the comfort of their homes and they also have options for choosing them according to their sizes, fonts or rates. The option of choosing words of different languages is also available for the buyers for having a more artistic way of using words on the walls.

Stevens Frank is the author of this article on wall sayings. Find more information, about wall words here

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What Qualities Should a Mixtape Designer Have?

Making your own music can be quite difficult, but if you are passionate about what you do, nothing will seem impossible. However, after you are done with all your songs, and your compilation is ready to hit the streets, you will notice that there is just one problem you have not thought about: who is going to design your cover? This is where a mixtape designer comes into play.

Making Covers on Your Own

If you do not have any money at your disposal, you can be your very own mixtape designer. In order to make at least a decent cover, you will need to learn a few things about computer graphics and software that can help you deliver the best results. If you are on a tight budget, and you cannot afford buying expensive software, you should only use free programs and other free resources, in order to create your own covers. However, sooner than you think, you will find yourself in a conundrum. Even if you follow the tutorials on making covers that are readily available on the Internet, you will discover that it is not easy to design such works on your own. Appealing to a professional mixtape designer becomes a much better solution for your needs.

Why Appeal to Professional Services?

First of all, a professional mixtape designer has spent a lot more time than you doing covers for a living. Just like you are good at making music, they are good at making covers for people like you. Second of all, you will not waste time on trying out various methods to create your covers on your own, because you will just pay these services to come up with covers according to your liking and your preferences. Also, such services are not very expensive, which means that you will strike a great deal if you find a mixtape designer to help you with the cover, while you continue to concentrate on the music.

What to Look For?

Ideally, when you choose a mixtape designer, you should go with someone that has already created such things. While graphic designers come in all shapes and sizes, dealing with a person that knows exactly what you are looking for is for the best. They will also be capable of showing you various samples to choose from, and your own work will be made easier. Another quality that you should seek in a mixtape designer is to find services that do not charge the sun and the moon. Fortunately, there are plenty of such services on the Internet that charge a reasonable fee for making professional looking covers. So, your ideal mixtape designer should work for cheap, as well.

Conclusion

A talented artist may not be as hard to find as you may think. Using the services provided by a mixtape designer will bring you a lot of advantages, as you will save time, money, and your own sanity, in case you have already tried to design your covers on your own.

IMPORTANT: Get your new mixtape cover design at a low price at http://mymixtapecovers.com/

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Stylish Vinyl Decals Can Be Eye Catching Delights!

Kids love them! Adults have fun with them too! Vinyl decals are all about making an impression and making sure yours stands out from the rest! What stands out, you may ask? Well, just about anything you choose. Vinyl decals go on automobile windows, truck windows, skate boards, computer cases, school locker doors, work benches and tables, tractors, trailers, and refrigerators. Just about anything you can name has been seen bearing decals and stickers promoting something or just to identify whose property the item is. Decals can be bright and colorful or simply provide the name of whoever bought them. They can be instructive or provide a warning! They can be large or small. Vinyl decals can be round or square, rectangular or cut into individual letters and numbers. Some are removable while others may stay in place for the millennium!

Plain to fancy vinyl decals are found everywhere!

Mailboxes usually bear an address and perhaps the name of that box's recipient and these will often be in the form of vinyl lettering and/or numbers. These die cut vinyl letters and numbers can be found on sheets that contain the entire alphabet plus numbers 0 through 9. This set of perforated digits can easily be removed and placed on mailboxes, porches, and front doors or windows to identify who lives there very inexpensively. Choose from reflective, metallic, opaque, even holographic styles in a wide choice of colors and styles to individualize your property. They can even be back faced with adhesive or made with face-adhesive so you can choose to apply them inside or outside your doors or windows.

Protective decals save the day!

Decals made of polycarbonate material can be applied to almost any surface that receives a lot of wear and will protect the surface, keeping it safe from abrasion or scratches. Things like computer keyboards, appliances, office equipment, electronics, telephones, face plates, and various types of machinery can all be saved from excessive wear and tear on their surface. Besides protecting surfaces these attractive and useful decals can literally save live and time by warning of dangers or cautioning about some form of changes ahead. Baby on Board vinyl decals stuck on vehicle back bumpers are yet another example of a warning that will, hopefully, cause others to take care and perhaps even slow down! Detour signs can be quickly and easily put together to warn of temporary construction or other delays and offer directions on how to avoid problems. Warnings of high voltage or guard dog on duty may cause others to heed that warning and be more aware. This type of warning can easily be removed once the situation returns to normal, and do it very affordably.

Kids love to stick 'em everywhere!

Buy your child a set of brightly colored self-adhesive vinyl stickers and they will amuse themselves for hours! They can be applied to their bed's headboard, their dresser, bedroom walls and doors, windows, books, and many of their toys. Just be sure to warn them if the stickers are of the permanently variety! School age kids may apply their stickers to the inside of their lockers or even onto their notebooks. A bicycle is a popular place to add some stickers too.

Domed Polyurethane for that 3-D effect!

Some decals appear to have a domed appearance and look thicker than the usual vinyl decals. This is due to the thick coating of Polyurethane which provides a depth to the decal while also protecting it from wear. Highly flexible, these decals are favored by electronic product manufacturers for use on many products and found as raised lettering or embossed logos and brand names. Just about any use you can imagine may well include one or more forms of vinyl decal or sticker.

Barry Brown has been in the Sign, Banner, Decal and Display Business for over 20 years. It isn't what he thought he'd do with his life, but he says he knows too much now to do anything else!

He has been marketing these products online since 1998, and the company he was general manager of in 1998 was the first sign company to be listed on Yahoo!

Barry is a great resource for information regarding Signs, Banners, Decals, and Displays, and is also an outstanding source of information on how to shop online without getting ripped off.

He invites you to visit our website below, and call him if you have any questions regarding safely purchasing products from any site online, or regarding our company and product offerings.

http://www.visigraph.com/

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Evolution Of CAD Drafting In Last Decade

Auto CAD is an eminent tool in the field of CAD Drafting. CAD Drafting derived from Auto CAD. Earlier drafting was done manually while Auto CAD automated Drafting, hence it is known as "CAD Drafting". Auto CAD has given CAD Drafting all together a new perspective. Industries quickly have adapted Auto CAD and have starting using it for various objectives apart from pure CAD Drafting.

The software itself has been evolving constantly by updating itself in a lot of areas. Creating Layouts is a facility that is used by young drafter's these days. Using paper space, working on layouts,layering, setting up plots etc. are some areas where one can get trained and upgraded. Creating Layout in Auto CAD has become much easier today and is good to use. It facilitates features like setting plots and other options in the software.

CAD Drafting has come a long way with Auto CAD software coming in picture. Drafters have started using paper space instead of model space. Model space is still used for creating title blocks, borders etc.There are some drawing types where layout can't be used this is when model space comes into picture.

CAD Drafters of this generation can easily use layouts. This is a technique in CAD Drafting which allows you to use the paper space with ease. Advantages of using CAD Drafting tools in Auto CAD are as under

Main advantage of using Auto CAD software is to ease the task. Gone are the days when drafter's or Engineers took days to draw a simple plan. Using shortcut keys and tools in Auto CAD eases task of detailing and scaling. Today in this article we will discuss about some advantages that creating layouts provides us in Cad Drafting.

Drawings can be drawn in fullscale with different dimension styles. Drafter's basically can draw freely without focusing on scaling the drawing constantly.

We can create details from sections. This means we don't have to basically manage a lot of detailing differently drawn in different scales. The drawings can be presented with different view ports and can re-present different areas of the plan or drawing.

We can work simultaneously in different scales which will automatically create many styles. Drawing scales are easy to manage when you create layouts. You have all control on the layout and can easily arrange the scales in layout. You can create the drawing in scale of 1:100 and then arrange the sheet in layout style.

We can work with one model and then present it multiple times using different areas and representations. Now this feature cannot be used if we use model space to work. Model space is complex and is more or less like manual drawings. When working on different areas and to present different parts of drawings we need to copy and paste each item individually. This is cumbersome. Layout facility in cad drafting facilitates us to create a single drawing and present different scales multiple times.

Apart from this advantage there are ways to view a single drawing with different orientations too. With help of Layout we can show a plan with multiple orientations in single model space easily with layout.

Every view port in CAD Software has layer properties for each view port. We can specify and set layer properties too. We also can toggle properties as and when required.

Conclusion: Auto CAD has laid the foundation stone of digital revolution in the field of CAD Drafting. It is getting better with every passing day.

Tesla Outsourcing is a CAD Specialist firm that provides CAD Services includes Architectural Services, Structural and CAD Drafting at competitive rates across the globe.

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Arabic Calligraphy

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How to Paint 'The Sky' With Oil Paints

Working on seascapes and landscapes is as interesting for professional artists as it is for beginners. However, the most challenging task is to paint the sky so artistically that it looks all natural. There are various painting techniques to get that atmospheric effect. You can easily turn your artwork into a masterpiece once you get access to the right artists supplies.

Have a look at the following steps to paint the sky like a professional:

Make the Base
Using white paint as the base color is the first and foremost step towards making a landscape painting. When you are done with it, start brushing in the base color to paint the sky. In order to do this, you can use either a green or blue color to dominate the sky's tone. Begin painting horizontally, and use less paint to enhance the effects.

Mix the Colors
Even if there are no clouds in the sky, you will still see a lot of mixed colors in it. How about including all those colors in your painting? You can easily give it a magical effect by learning the art of mixing colors. All you need to do is get different shades by experimenting with mixing colors.

To become an expert in mixing colors and coming up with the best blend, try mixing colors on a separate sketchbook first. Slowly and gradually, you will feel like a professional in terms of getting the right colors to paint the sky.

Use the Dry Brushing Technique
Dry brushing is a popular technique to paint clouds and give them a natural look. Apply this technique by cleaning and drying your paint brush thoroughly. When it is completely dried, use the paint you just mixed. Make sure that the paint does not get thinned by adding water. Now, dab this paint on the base coat, which was previously dried and use as many strokes as required.

Use the Layering Technique
Layering is a special technique used by artists when they paint clouds with dry brushing. You can apply this technique after you have applied the dry brushing technique. The layering process is quite simple. Since you have already painted the first layer of the cloud using dry brushing, the next thing to do is to apply the second layer on the first one when it is completely dry.

Use lighter colors in the beginning of the layering technique. But slowly and gradually, you can use darker tones to make the clouds prominent by using artists supplies.

For more info regarding art supplies and paper craft visit website artworxgeelong.com.au

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The Most Common Question a Graphic Designer Gets Asked at a Party

Everyone knows the old story about doctors always getting asked to diagnose aches and pains when they're at parties. Well, we graphic designers have something in common with the Dr. Welby's out there. We have a regularly received question of our own - "What's the best program to use to do our own design work in the office?"

Part of the digital revolution was the advent of easy access to graphic design programs. My husband saw it in the 1990s on a different front as a video producer when Avid digital editing systems started creeping into offices and taking video editing work out of the many edit suites across America. The "DIY" production world started with a bang back then, and it has been raging on ever since.

That's fine. In the end, talent always trumps tools, so as a freelance artist I was never too intimidated by the fact that everyone had access to graphic design programs. I don't blame anyone for trying to get the job done on their own, especially when it's something that really should be doable in the office or home.

It's just that I thought it was always a shame that people were spending so many hundreds of dollars on programs like Adobe Photoshop only to make a picture brighter or crop it when some great alternatives are out there for free....yes FREE!

Here's a tip on a program that has more than sufficient power to get the day-to-day graphic design needs done for the office without the intricacies (and expense) of some of the more high-powered programs on the market today. It's called PAINT.net.

According to Wikipedia:

Paint.NET originated as a computer science senior design project during spring 2004 at Washington State University. Version 1.0 consisted of 36,000 lines of code and was written in fifteen weeks. In contrast, version 3.35 has approximately 162,000 lines of code. The Paint.NET project continued over the summer and into the fall 2004 semester for both the version 1.1 and 2.0 releases.

Some of the more reliable reviews include lifehacker.com:

Paint.NET: When you need to crop, cut, or otherwise edit an image, Windows' built-in Paint isn't quite enough, while a full-fledged Photoshop or GIMP installation is probably too much. Paint.NET is just about perfect for the graphic design needs of a non-graphic-designer. This is an impressive tool for PC users that allows you to build and edit an image in layers with plenty of choices for creating and adjusting colors. And, did I mention that it's free?

Now, if you're not quite sure where to begin with this great program, Google the phrase -how do I use the paint.net program - and you get some pretty helpful tips, including some on YouTube.

If you're still not getting the results you need, you can always contact us at Laurie McDonald Design and we can talk about your project needs. Have fun!

Laurie McDonald Design provides expert graphic design for brochures, advertisements, corporate logos, publications, invitations and more. Have a design challenge? Bring it on! Based in Annapolis, Maryland, Laurie McDonald, freelance artist and designer, has clients throughout the United States.

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DIY Birthday Cards: Birthday Cards Crafted by Kids

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Unique and Personal Is Better

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Marilyn Monroe by Andy Warhol

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Helmet Stickers Are Attractive, Safety And Image Enhancing

When you're looking for durable helmet stickers, look to a professional decal printer! The sticker business is something that professionals with lots of experience know as well as the backs of their hands. When it comes to someone who can make inventive, colorful, informative and happy helmet stickers, look for someone who knows the ropes and has an excellent Better Business Bureau rating to prove it.

What kinds of helmet stickers are available? Many! Unless you use them yourself, the average person wouldn't know that quite a large variety of stickers are out there - ready to be used, ordered or created. Look at the helmets of bikers on the highway and you will be amazed at the variety of decals to be found there.

Most decals are colorful and no larger than two to three inches in diameter. Because the helmet has a limited size, the sticker must be bright, attention-getting and sized to meter. A huge sticker on a helmet would look out-of-place. Because of the size concentration issue, every millimeter is important, and artists who make helmet stickers must be true professionals with a good eye for color, balance and proportion.

Helmet stickers are used by motorcyclists, BMX and Motocross riders, even for standard bicyclists due to the mandatory helmet laws. BMX stickers are kind of a "bad boy" image, with black and white and bold designs designed to psyche out their team mates or rivals.

Motorcycle riders love reflective decals. Since motorcycles are shiny, fast and racy, the helmet decals must have a similar message. Some motorcycle riders like a wild look. Others choose a milder message and let their driving tell it all. There are hundreds of designs out there, and best of all, if you don't find one to your liking, you can have some custom stickers made up to your own specifications.

There are plenty of "Christian bikers" and "Veteran Bikers" out there, too. An American flag shows that the driver is a patriot or even an ex-member of the military. Maybe he or she even fought in the Vietnam War or served in Iraq. The Christian biker theme is also popular. These men and women consider themselves on a mission from God and want to make it clear to passersby that they are one of the good guys.

Motorcyclists may have kind of a scary image with the black shades and the dark leather. Helmet decals tell a lot about the person wearing them. They identify and help break the ice. Maybe the two of you belong to the same group or come from the same county. There is much to know about another person. These stickers tell a lot without having to verbally explain. It helps keep order and it helps others know where you are coming from and how you wish to be treated.

There are other famous helmet labels, like the infamous Hells Angels stickers. These are used to convey fear and respect, like "don't mess with us, we are the bad guys".

Kids in school who love to play contact sports, like football and hockey, love to place cool and appropriate helmet stickers onto their headgear to let the competition know what they are about and how they rank among the other players. They can be fun to wear and use. The school mascot is a great choice when producing decals for a team or its supporters.

Helmet stickers are used on the job, too. Miners and electricians often use these stickers to identify their ranking and trade syndication of which they are members. Those who work in a dimly lit environment might want to use reflective helmet sticker as a safety feature to help prevent accidents. These stickers - like any other - are informative and safety enhancing. Just like military men size each other up by the number of medals and ribbons they wear, professional hard hat personnel take a look at their co-workers' hardhat stickers to have a better idea with whom they are keeping company.

Barry Brown has been in the Sign, Banner, Decal and Display Business for over 20 years. It isn't what he thought he'd do with his life, but he says he knows too much now to do anything else!

He has been marketing these products online since 1998, and the company he was general manager of in 1998 was the first sign company to be listed on Yahoo!

Barry is a great resource for information regarding Signs, Banners, Decals, and Displays, and is also an outstanding source of information on how to shop online without getting ripped off.

He invites you to visit our website below, and call him if you have any questions regarding safely purchasing products from any site online, or regarding our company and product offerings.

http://www.visigraph.com/

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As Good As The Original

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Photoshop - A New Revolution in The World of Image Creation

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How to Create Video for a Technical Illustrator Sample Portfolio?

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Clipping an Image With the Fastest Technique

Whenever clipping path is used, its primary function is to cut the object and isolate it. The most common way is to remove the background and replace it with some other. But often, the change does not really enhance the beauty of the picture. Hence alternates are used or simply the technique is changed. It can be really time consuming. When clients need urgent work and pile the editor with many clipping image jobs, it is understandable that he will chose the fastest way to finish the job and satisfy the client. A better background may be not conceived as the best solution. Hence the image needs rebuilding.

Once the editor determines the clipping path then he has applied it to all the other pictures provided they all are in the same subject category. Some of the items it is used for include apparels, footwear, pharmacy products or handbags. With the same model it is applied on other products. Once the clipping path is done either by way of cut out or extracting the main object (product, item, bottle etc) then it is time to build the image. A simple airbrush removes the jagged tones preparing a smooth texture. After the product image is clipped it is then embellished with text, other graphic art to make it more attractive. These reworked power images are used for advertising in the print and web media.

The tool that works the fastest is the pen tool in Photoshop. It has an ability to take on the work swiftly. An experienced editor uses it, as there are less chances of error even when he is in a hurry to use it for bulk images. If the image is in bitmap format, the clipping path applied produces a vector object and both are blended. The fastest way again would be to use the EPS file system. It is uniform and is open ended for further correction. The editor can continuously do the clipping image, format it and convert in eps or pdf and send it to the client. If it is an architectural sketch then it can easily be embedded on a drawing vector file.

Clipping an image is considered the best way to enhance the beauty of the product that is being displayed for the consumers. The technique may be clinical but it is the creativity of the designer or the editor that works like magic. When there is an acute need to promote business or services or any items, displaying them with pictures attract the consumers. Hence clipping path has vast possibilities to keep consumers returning for more.

The whole procedure might sound a little complex but there are many Asian offshore companies that are competent to provide the clipping path services in the quickest turnaround time. They work online and also have a large team of editors to handle global clients on a daily basis. Get in touch today if you seriously feel the need to enhance the quality of the products you sell and see the positive results.

Atiqur Sumon
Chief Executive, DTP & SEO Expert at Outsource Experts Ltd.
Clipping Images | Clipping Path Services

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Cast Metal Plaques Give The Ideal First Impression

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Embroidery Digitizing And Vector Conversion

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Metal Plaques Provide Instant Status

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If You Are Such a Great Designer - Redesign the Pope's Wardrobe and Pope-Mobile

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Marketing a Technical Illustrator Services Online

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A Freelance Technical Illustrator Perception About Digital Technology Updates

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Creative Allies: Our Goal Is To Change The Way Merchandise Is Designed and Sold

Music merchandising has always been a very important part of the overall branding strategy for musicians - both independent and major label artists. With the instability in record sells, musicians are depending on merchandise even more to engage their fans and drive in additional revenue.

Creative Allies is a merchandising company that has a network of over 25,000 plus professional designers who have worked with some of the biggest brands in music and entertainment.

The Asheville, NC based company has recently released a new platform called BandArt, which allows bands and brands to host design contest via their Facebook pages and leverage their network of talented designers. Here is an interview I had a few weeks ago with Creative Allies' CEO Sean O'Connell, about their new product launch and their goal to change the way merchandise is designed and sold.

What is Creative Allies?

We are a community of 25,000 plus experienced graphic designers and we are pretty well-known for producing high quality graphics and merchandise for rock stars. We have worked with The Shins, M.I.A., Black Keys and LMFAO.

With the launch of BandArt App for Facebook, bands will be able to host their own design contests to engage their fan base and generate great artwork. BandArt allows bands and brands to easily set-up, market and manage a design contest via a custom Facebook application, social sharing tools and a dashboard.

What prompted you guys to create BandArt?

Really, it was out of demand. We have had thousands of bands contact us to get access to our network. For a while we had this platinum service - where we were primarily working with major artists, movie companies, record labels and music festivals. So, we really wanted to perfect what we do so we could create a self-serve platform which is what BandArt is. It's not just running the design contests, our goal is to change the way merchandise is sold.

Merchandise for any band is expensive. When you use BandArt and pick a winner - you own that winning design. You can sell it on your website and on tour. You can do whatever you want with that, you don't owe anyone anything else. Also, you can choose additional designs from your contest and you can decide to sell them. When you sell them, you are selling them through a Creative Allies storefront where you have no inventory cost and we offer really cool products. Over time we are gonna provide a lot of distribution opportunities to bands as well. Also, because your fans get to vote instead of merchandise being forced on them - you can also use real data to decide what you want to sell!

How have the changes in music industry affected the merchandising business?

The bands are relying on merchandise even more than before. You see a lot of bands doing bundling where they would throw in a limited edition t-shirt with the purchase of their album. A lot of bands are starting to sell directly to their fans now, where in the past a lot of the sells were made online or through a 3rd party - which was mainly the stuff that was left over from the tour.

For 35 years, music merchandising was primarily selling on tour and whatever you sold to your fans was what you had left over. Now the process works where bands are looking for unique products and they are spending more time and effort because they know they can really make money off of it. At the end of the day we have every record label coming to us because it engages your fan base, it helps you to get your product designed by great designers, it helps you finds new fans and its very viral.

How much does your service cost?

The way it works anyone can use our product. If they want to run a design contest on their Facebook page it's free. What they offer a prize is really up to them. If they want to offer backstage passes it's up to them, but it's pretty obvious there is more incentive for a cash prize. If a band offers a cash prize we pay 100% of the money to the winning designer. If a band wants us to market their contest to our 25,000 plus designers, we charge a flat $80 fee. We require a minimum of a $200 cash prize for our designers.

What is the most important piece of merchandise for bands to have?

T-shirts are still the most popular type of merchandise however if you have offer limited edition products like iPhone cases that will work great as well.

Kelland L. Drumgoole
CEO of http://www.sosoactive.com/

Seasoned music industry veteran focusing on evangelizing music innovation and disruptive technologies within the digital music space.

http://www.twitter.com/sosoactive

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The Grass Is Never Greener When You Use Custom Lawn Signs

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How Color Evokes Emotion - It's Getting Easier to Be Green

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Types of Illustrations

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How to Identify a Good Book Cover Design

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Truck Decals: Upbeat, Stylish, or Maybe a Status Symbol

Imagine how plain a commercial or private truck looks without truck decals! The big shiny monster truck would look a little like a Christmas tree without any ornaments.

Truck stickers can be attractive. Modern day graphics are nothing to sneeze at, and in fact, most images look more like a photograph than a drawing. The truck graphics you've been seeing in the past ten to 15 years are the result of computer-aided design and printing technology, which has become a precise artistic representation of your company logo, advertising, and much more. Some truck decals can be absolutely humorous. Imagine a truck decal saying something like "Not Sponsored By Mommy and Daddy." "Or Driver is Married - Carries No Cash!" Truck decals may also show what union, syndicate, or brotherhood the driver belongs to.

Truck decals continue to get sharper and more sophisticated as time goes by. As amazing as it may seem, technology continues to drive the price down while! This is one of the realities of technology. As technology improves, production costs go down. What a great combination for modern consumers, business owners, truck driving clubs and organizations to make the most of. Now is the prime time to think of a great design to capitalize on and get some great truck stickers made up for you and your mates. Company vehicles also look spruced up and professional when they are dressed up with classy truck graphics with a clever message or design. Trucks that have decals versus those that don't have decals? No Comparison!

Truck graphics may be reflective, colorful and/or shiny. These graphics are usually custom sticker designs used for advertising, truck driver union memberships, clubs, company logos, or other tradesman-type information. Besides being informative, truck stickers are decorative and creative. Those who love their truck are usually the first who go get custom truck decals made up.

Truck decals may tell a lot about the person behind the wheel. Right off the bat it's apparent who has a good sense of humor, who is connected, or who belongs to whatever truck drivers association.

Truck graphics are versatile enough to be put on the doors of your 4×4, pickup or big rig. There are a variety of options and designs available, which look great on any hard riding rig with a masculine or feminine personality. Even slightly risqué designs look good on trucks. If cartoons or cutie-type truck stickers are more your style, there are plenty of those to choose from, too. Something in the middle like a cowboy, samurai or other champion - fighter character gives the message that you are a man's man. It's funny how truck stickers can become a part of your image.

If you love your vehicle like you probably do, the car's make and model is a popular choice for truck decals. Be it Toyota, Chevrolet, Ford or any other, many proud drivers post their truck's logo on the back window for extra special pride and recognition. Some drivers like to go a step farther and mention their model name. Music fans have been known to place decals of deceased legendary rocker Michael Jackson and others as a special tribute to his talent and contribution.

Truck decals are usually made of vinyl and can be lightly washed. Of course, they are meant to be durable and weather resistant - they are exposed to the elements and need to be protected. Truck stickers aren't flimsy, but they also should be cleaned with a mild detergent and soft rag to keep them looking colorful, upbeat and fresh for your's and other's long-term enjoyment.

Barry Brown has been in the Sign, Banner, Decal and Display Business for over 20 years. It isn't what he thought he'd do with his life, but he says he knows too much now to do anything else!

He has been marketing these products online since 1998, and the company he was general manager of in 1998 was the first sign company to be listed on Yahoo!

Barry is a great resource for information regarding Signs, Banners, Decals, and Displays, and is also an outstanding source of information on how to shop online without getting ripped off.

He invites you to visit our website below, and call him if you have any questions regarding safely purchasing products from any site online, or regarding our company and product offerings.

http://www.visigraph.com/

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Albrecht Durer: The Master of Allegory

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ShareFaith Vs Graceway Media

Do you want to improve your church's media program, but don't really know where to start? Are you looking at subscribing to a church media website, but aren't really sure which one is best for your church? Well recently I made a post mentioning some very brief differences between CreationSwap, ShareFaith, and Graceway Media. I decided that I would do some research and bring you an in-depth analysis between all three. While this post is titled ShareFaith vs. Graceway Media, I wanted to feature CreationSwap's benefits as well. It is not something that you would necessarily join, while the other two require a membership fee, which is why we're focusing on them. This will be a completely unbiased approach considering I have only recently been exposed to all three. I have developed no loyalties to any particular one of them, however I have used material from each one. We will take a look at elements such as: cost, design quality, customization, and features. My goal is to save you the time of having to do the research, yet still being able to make an intelligent decision about what is right for your church.

We will begin with CreationSwap. I will analyze each one separately, and then will compare them in the end. This is their stated purpose: "Search royalty-free stock photos, church bulletins, sermon art, logos and more shared freely or sold by Christian artists worldwide. Also, visit our Network to connect with artists, view portfolios or post jobs free."

Cost

The biggest question on everyone's mind is: How much is this going to cost me? CreationSwap is the only one of these three media companies that offers free downloads. They also include many designs that you must purchase if you desire to use them. All of the print material including postcards, bulletins, banners, and invitations require payment of some form. Cost differs based upon the item you are purchasing. They offer a free "membership," though everything is available whether you sign-up or not.

Design Quality

The second biggest question you probably want to know besides cost is: How good are their materials? Because of the nature of the website, quality is hit or miss. Designers are able to create their own stuff and upload it for your use. You may find some really great designs, and then again you may not see much you like at all. I would check this site at least once a week to browse what new designs have come along and see if anything can be useful to you.

Customization

After you've picked a design, you probably want to know how easy it is to customize it for you church? If you are Photoshop savvy, some of the downloads come with PSD files that allow editing. Others only supply JPG image files making them impossible to edit text and customize for your church unless you have some advanced photo editing skills.

Features

• Free downloads

• Printing Network

• Community Discussion and Blog Posts

• Critiques on Design Concepts

• Ability to Sell Your Artwork

One of the most valuable tools for a designer, besides the downloads themselves, is the critiques offered to designs. Even if you don't post your own designs to receive feedback, you can take a look at what some designers have created and what others are saying about it. this offers valuable insight to improve your designs for maximum effectiveness.

ShareFaith's "About" statement is a little too long to post here, but the essence of it is found toward the beginning: "In order to provide the best solutions in church digital media, our goal is to partner with churches and ministries, providing technology solutions and communication tools that will enable them to communicate the gospel more effectively." For more about them, visit their About page.

Cost

Their regular price is stated at $149/yr, per their join page, however, right now they have a special going on offering 15% if you join within a certain time. Meaning that as of the time of this writing, the price to join is $126.65/yr. They offer no free material on a normal basis, but they do offer a 10-day free trial. The limitations of that free trial are listed on their website. You can download an unlimited numbers of files during your trial, but only one sermon media loop, and websites are restricted to members only.

Design Quality

As a designer, my personal opinion of ShareFaith is that their design work is average or a little above average. Some of it looks good, while others seem too busy. A missionary friend of mine designed a poster based off of one of ShareFaith's backgrounds and then asked me to spice it up a little bit. I ended up throwing the whole thing out and starting from scratch by buying a stock image and creating it all in Photoshop.

Customization

This is a big plus for ShareFaith. Open any one of their Powerpoint files and you will see how many different variations of blank slide backgrounds they have available for you to use, as well as some different in service announcement files. You can download the Powerpoint itself, or a ZIP file to get the raw JPGs and edit them yourself.

Features

• Sermon Powerpoints

• Videos and Media Clips

• Website Templates

• Bulletins

• Tips & Ideas

• Blogs

• And more...

ShareFaith is the one place where you will find everything that you could possibly need for your church. They even offer a comparison chart their website that includes Graceway Media. However, the one thing this chart does not talk about is Design Quality, which is Graceway Media's biggest plus.

Graceway's stated history is "Graceway Media began in 2006 as PowerPoint Sermons, providing sermon titles and designs. The goal was to assist pastors with the presentation of their sermon, giving them quality designs and a selection to choose from. Since then, our passion for helping churches preach, teach and present the Gospel has led us to move beyond sermons and include designs for worship, specific ministries, special events, holidays and more to help the church with all aspects of design needs."

Cost

The cost for a Graceway Media membership is $249/yr for Stills or Motion graphics separately and a shocking $399/yr for their Total Media package. They do offer a free trial membership that gives you access to 24 of their design styles. Besides that, Graceway Media is by far the most expensive of the group.

Design Quality

Here is where Graceway Media shines. One glimpse at their designs will have you drooling for more. Each design includes a large sermon title, a Powerpoint slide with sermon title in the corner, and a blank Powerpoint slide. The motion graphics are HD quality that don't possess that cheap look some of the free media loop places have. My initial thought of the price was steep, but after seeing their graphics I could almost rationalize purchasing a membership for such great quality.

Customization

Graceway also offers the best customization system. They offer you the blank slide (as was already mentioned), PSD files for those who can change the graphics themselves, and a Retitling service for those who cannot change the slides themselves. But, as would be expected when looking at the price tag, they charge a small amount for this service. They do not state their credit price out in the open, but offer 10 free credits upon joining that they boast is a $50 value, meaning that you would be paying $5/slide.

Features

• HD Stills

• HD Motion Graphics

• Personalization

• Banners

• Blog

Graceway is a little low of the features, limiting their work to Sermon graphics and worship video loops.

So Who Wins?

As whole, to me, Graceway Media feels like a more personal ministry. They have a picture of there whole team posted on their website that puts faces to the ministry. Since signing up for their free trial, I have been contacted twice asking how I was liking it and if I was interested in signing up for membership. But I honestly can't speak for ShareFaith since I do not personally have an account, though my church does. Well let's start tallying up the points and see who wins.

Cost

CreationSwap is free, for the most part, and so you should be visiting this website on a normal basis looking for what you can use. If you find something you like that costs some money, feel free to pay for it if you like, but you'll be paying individually for each item. Between the two membership sites, ShareFaith wins the Cost award.

Design Quality

Graceway Media takes home this award. I've looked at a lot of church media resource websites and GraceWay Media beats them all. Nothing is sharper or better designed that the material at Graceway.

Customization

This is a tie between ShareFaith and Graceway. ShareFaith offers plenty of materials for customizing your own materials, but that's it. Graceway offers a more sophisticated Retitling service, but it's going to cost you each time you want it done. For this reason, they each receive one point.

Features

ShareFaith easily takes the gold for features. Their own chart, listed above, makes that evident. ShareFaith is the total church media package that has everything you will ever need.

Conclusions

ShareFaith wins over Graceway Media 3 to 2, unless you include the friendliness of Graceway into the mix, then it's a tie 3 to 3. The cold hard truth is that ShareFaith is cheaper and many churches need cheaper. They also offer more features, so for the church that's on a budget, ShareFaith is the only choice that's even feasible. However, if your church can afford to spend a little extra, you will get far better design quality from Graceway Media. Oh, and don't forget that regardless of who you are, you should be visiting CreationSwap for the latest freebies.

Traver Freeman

Check out my website, Media Missions, for the latest church media design tips at http://www.mmnextstep.com/

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