Transparent Text

This week I added "transparent text" to one of my favorite pictures. Here are step-by-step instructions to create this fun project.

1. Import a picture and select the text tool. Type in whatever you want then adjust to your liking
2. Make sure the text is black. Duplicate it (Ctrl D) and make the copy maroon
3. Duplicate again; change colour to red
4. Duplicate again; change colour to olive
5. Duplicate again; change colour to yellow
6. Duplicate for the last time; change colour to black
7. Select the black text on top, open up Fill & Stroke (Ctrl + Shift + F), change blur to 0.5
8. Go to Path -> Outset x 3 (Honestly, this depends on how big you make your text - just make sure it slightly overlaps the rest)
9. Move the text slightly to the right so you can see the olive one just a bit - To make life easier, just press your right arrow key 3-5 times.
10. Move the text a level lower by clicking on the "Lower Level" icon OR by pressing PgDn once.
11. Don't deselect the black text just yet. Select the yellow text by holding down Shift and clicking on it. Go to Path -> Difference
12. Now that you have that shadow effect, move the text aaaaall the way to the bottom THEN bring it back up one level so it's on top of the picture but below all the other coloured texts.
13. Deselect the shadow-y text and select the olive one. Change the olive colour to white and Select Path -> Outset x 2.
14. Lower its level by pressing PgDn; Select the red text, too; Go to Path -> Difference
15. With the white text (or should I say white border now) still selected, change its opacity to 30.
16. Alright, almost done. Deselect the white text and select the maroon one - Change the maroon colour to a white (Make sure opacity is 100)
17. Select the gradient tool; Your gradient should be linear.
18. Start your gradient at the top of the first letter and drag it down halfway. Pull up the square box half an inch or so. Ta-da!~ You have yourself some mighty fine looking text.

Q of the Day: What were your challenges or difficulties in creating transparent text and how did you overcome them?

A of the Day (Get it? A of the Day??? No? Oh well alright. I'd add in a + but THAT wouldn't make sense): I had problems with the outset. Frankly, I wanted to throw my laptop out the window because my outset didn't work. Thankfully, my wonderful peer fixed it for me, so I was able to finish just in time for grading. If your outset doesn't work, you can do it manually by readjusting the size. That would take time, however, because you have to make sure it isn't too big or too skinny. Outset on my laptop is a pain in the behind, honestly.

Happy Thanksgiving, Beautiful Commoners

ERMAGERD HAS SENPAI NOTICED ME YET

Making a Video Tutorial

Welcome back to another segment of *drum roll* DA BLOGS WITH JACKIE! DA as in Digital Arts, guys - not the ghetto "the". Alright, so I actually created a vid tutorial! Please people, contain your excitement. Jokes, I know you want me to continue sooo here's my blog for this week!

Q: What is a video tutorial?

A: Video tutorials are basically videos with people who record themselves and show the world how something's done. A video tutorial should have basic but detailed information so you can create more things in life. I think good vid tutorial examples are DIY's. 

Q: Why do people create video tutorials?

A: Because they need to pass their high school computer classes. Jokes, that's just me and some other people in my class. Well, people create video tutorials because they either love recording themselves doing something OR they want to teach a variety of people worldwide. Some people actually learn more from video tutorials than reading instructions. I guess video tutorials help you see how something's supposed to look like in the end, unlike written instructions - those confuse the poops out of me sometimes. 

Now you're all wondering, "What happened to Jackie's video?". Weeeell, I don't want to show you all my tutorial, so I'll explain it so you get an idea of what it's like! In my video, I basically covered the topic from last time: creating clip art through insects. I created a majestic mainstream ladybug in the span of 16 minutes. My work was quite organized because I gave a step-by-step run through for the whole thing. Also, my voice was clear enough for viewers to understand the instructions. I think viewers can learn from my tutorial because the topic is really simple and I gave specific instructions PLUS shortcuts to make your life easier. You're welcome, people. 

See you later, guys! 

Creating Clip Art

Alright, here's a new blog post for everyone! This week, we created a ladybug in class. I mean, not a REAL ladybug, but an Inkscape one! Unfortunately, we have to create a video tutorial for this - I'm not too comfortable with the idea, but my grades are at stake! Soooo, let's begin, shall we? 

Q: Name and explain 3 NEW commands that you use in creating Clip Art.
A: Aww, I can't mention good 'ole Fill & Stroke anymore. It's alright, guys! I have other cool commands to use! Okay well, they may be lame, but they're super helpful!

1. Holding down Ctrl in general: Holding down Ctrl for anything is actually pretty neat. For example, you can hold it down while you're moving a shape so it moves in a straight line, or you could create a shape and it would hold it's form while you resize it. Awesome, isn't it?!
2. Shift: Don't want to open up Fill & Stroke? Well, there's an easier way to change your shape's fill and stroke colour - simply choose a colour as your filling, hold down shift, choose another color, and BOOM! You got yourself a mighty fine looking shape with different shades of fill and stroke colours. Also, if you have trouble selecting different objects at the same time, just hold down shift!
3. Bezier: The Bezier tool may look weird and ratchet, but I swear, it isn't! It would really help creating the legs. I mean, you can't have a legless ladybug, right?

Stubby the Coolest Ladybug 

Creating this ladybug was pretty cool because I had different instructions this time. Instead of listening to Ms.Buenaflor and following her instructions, I had to create the insect using a video tutorial as a guide. It was a bit challenging at some point, but that sort of challenge motivated me to finish my work faster.

Q: Which of the 3 learners are you: auditory, reading, or visual?
A: I seriously think I'm a halfsie-learner - probably half auditory, half visual. I learn a lot from Ms. Buenaflor giving instructions because she explains further and I can use the information given to create new projects. But if I watch a video, I can create something at my own pace. I'm a bit impatient when it comes to certain classes because I always want to move on to the next lesson and learn more until we finish the book or quarter goals. So, I guess if I had Ms. giving out specific info and a video tutorial playing on my laptop, I'd finish my work quickly without any problems.

This activity would certainly develop my critical thinking skills because it'll help me create a video tutorial in which viewers can clearly understand my instructions and follow along with ease. Hope you enjoy!

See you soon, everyone!

The Postage Stamp

Creating artwork 101 with Jackie
I'm back once again with another DA blog for ya'll, so enjoy! Jokes, you don't need to enjoy my lame DA blogs - Just trying to pass a class people ~

This week, I created a. . . *drum roll* POSTAGE STAMP! Unfortunately, I created three, so it took some time creating the end products. But it was pretty easy to make, and I personally enjoyed creating a Frozen one (Frozen is the best)

Alright, let's get this show on the road, fellas. I used 3 commands to create my postage stamps:
1. Path - Path is like your best friend on Inkscape, I'm not joking, guys. You always need to remember that you'll need to use difference, union, and other various sub-commands. Very, VERY important if you want your work to look pretty and to get a good grade - Ms.Buenaflor, please, I tried my best.

2. Align and Distribute - "Align and Distribute" is pretty cool, too. It makes your work super organized; it also makes you feel all satisfied and warm in the inside.

3. Fill and Stroke - They're back at it, boys! Fill and Stroke basically give your work colour, give your work life. With Fill and Stroke, you can blur your project, add some legit gradients to it, and even mix the colours to create another colour! Wonderful, isn't it?

Creating this postage stamp was really cool because I learned something new, and I felt really creative. I personally believe that you could create a special Inkscape stamp for that certain someone, or you could create it for fun! If you have any questions, dear reader, you can comment below OR - I strongly suggest - ask Ms.Buenaflor and my other DA classmates. I myself have a question in mind: There are 3 ways to create a postage stamp, but why do people choose to create the stamp manually? Why do they choose to select EVERY circle and delete it by using difference? That's 2 questions, but you catch my drift.

This can seriously help you develop your critical thinking skills, which is really important if you want to be successful in life - if you want to start going places. This activity helps you exercise your brain and even sharpens your Inkscape knowledge. You'd be a pro by the end of the project! Jokes, not yet, young grasshopper - we all have a long way to go.

I'm really tired, so I'm going to hit the hay. Good night, everyone!