CrabFu Blog

Outrageous Acts of Science

2013-04-27T10:45:00.002-07:00

I'm in a cool new Science Channel TV show, Outrageous Acts of Science. I'm on the very first episode "Homemade Heroes", coming in at #12 with my Hamster Walker. My name was pronounced incorrectly, but I can't really blame them for that :) My son and nieces were also filmed, but unfortunately much of the footage were cut. I cannot find a clip of it online yet, so for now you can catch it on TV, the schedule is here.

T-Rex Toy Skeleton Makeover

2013-04-21T22:21:00.002-07:00

Here is an amazing T-Rex skeleton kit from Elenco / Gakken. It comes with the skeleton to assemble, a cool magazine/book, and several molds to make plaster fossil casts. It is really a great kit for kids, but I got this for the big kid (myself), because I was very impressed with the sculpt of this skeleton. I am a bit of a skeleton snob. My wife always laughs at the way Halloween drives me nuts.... I can't stand all of the badly proportioned skeletons! They get a pass if they are stylized, but many are clearly suppose to look real, but falls way short of the real anatomy. So I have a great appreciation when I see a really nice sculpt of any skeleton. This small T-Rex skeleton is really a work of art.

Here is a video showing how to easily apply paint, to make cheap plastic toys look like replicas. This technique can be applied to other toys, but isn't something that you'd do for toys that you play with.... since it's water based paint, the paint on the surface can be scrubbed off with a little force, even after coating it with a protective finishing spray. Oil based paint would be much more durable, but is a mess to deal with. So for a model, or something that you handle lightly, this is a really easy way to improve the toy/model:

Here is the finished model, using dry brush, wiped on/off, with acrylic black paint, and covered with Krylon Matte Finish spray. The base is a simple wood plaque from a craft store, with a hole drilled for the leg support, glued and stained. I'm very pleased with the results, it gave this great model the justice that it deserves. It turned it from a cheap looking toy, to a nice replica:

Elenco / Gakken Jr Scientist Tyrannosaurus Rex kit comes with the unpainted skeleton, magazine, and several molds & plaster for casting fake fossils. This is the small skeleton kit. Elenco also produces a HUGE T-Rex skeleton, which has wipes already and looks amazing, especially for the price. I will be doing something with that as soon as I get more time, stay tuned :)

Skylanders Happy Meal Toys

2013-04-13T23:48:00.001-07:00

Yesterday, Skylanders toys were released for McDonald's Happy Meals. Never in a million years could I have imagined, that something that I made would be big enough to become a Happy Meal toy. It is just too surreal to comprehend. They will be available between now and May 2nd, while supplies last. There are 9 of them in total, get them quick before they are all gone. I suspect Kaos will be a hot item.... he's going on the dash of my car. You can also just purchase the toys without the Happy Meal. I think they are about a buck or so a pop. Yeah, I'm lovin' it.

Awsome animated gifs below by www.mcdhappymealtoys.com

A trip to our local McDonald's

James Gurney Interview

2013-04-13T22:48:00.001-07:00

I've had the intention to cover and post about my favorite artists for a long time now, finally getting off my lazy butt to do it. No better way to kick it off, than with a living legend, James Gurney. James is best known for the Dinotopia series, where he combine an amazing world of fantasy, and the prehistoric natural world, sparking the imagination of millions of kids and adults alike. Gurney’s not only a creative genius, but also a true master of light, composition… .. he’s just a bad ass painter, I don’t know how else to say it. His books are among my favorites, where he shares his secrets sauce. His approach, breaking down of the basics, to advanced painting techniques and theories, are simply invaluable.

On top of it all, he’s got this amazing blog. It’s a constant stream of inspiration and insight. It is one of my favorite blogs, and he updates it regularly! If nothing, subscribe to his youtube and blog, you will thank me.

I was lucky enough to get some Q & A with Mr.Dinotopia himself, and here it is!

IH -There are not many artists that I'd consider to be a living master, you are one of mine. Who is your living master?

JG - Wow, thank you for the compliment, which means a lot coming from you. Who is my living master? Well, besides my wife, it’s hard to say. How could I pick one person? Should I choose from the world of landscape painting, figure work, natural history illustration, caricature, animation, comics, or concept art? There are so many great artists that spring to mind. If you read my blog GurneyJourney, you can get a pretty good idea of the people I admire, both living and not living.

IH - Your work has reached and inspired so many. Of everything that you have done, what is the one thing that you are most proud of?

JG - I’ve been lucky, really, and have been helped by people who had faith in me. I got my first book published when I was still in art school (The Artist’s Guide to Sketching), thanks to Watson-Guptill taking a chance on 23-year-old talent. Then sort of by chance I met a publishing mentor (Ian Ballantine) to help launch my idea for a fantasy story (Dinotopia). I have no illusions about that one being successful, because in the wrong hands it could have been overlooked. And since then I’ve sort of fallen into art instruction through the blog and my books Color and Light and Imaginative Realism. I have earned a living through my paintbrush and I have put two kids through college solely with my income as an artist. I don’t know if “proud” is the right word, but I guess I’m relieved to have survived a lot of seismic changes in the art and publishing worlds. My only strategy has been to commit to crazy ideas and make them work.

IH - Outside of art, what are your other interests and passions?

JG - I don’t have too many non-art hobbies lately, but when I get some free time I have enjoyed building and flying radio controlled gliders, making rustic furniture, splitting firewood, constructing stone walls, and kayaking.

IH -Have you ever tried, or considered digital medium? why/why not?

JG - I’ve tried it and considered it, but I haven’t pursued it. Let me say first that I love using certain digital tools: digital video, digital photography, digital graphic design programs and digital audio. I also admire the work of many of my fellow artists who do digital paintings, and I have learned a lot about lighting and surfaces from seeing what people are doing in the 3D field.

But for me, when it comes to making pictures, I like to use physical materials. I can’t help feeling this way. For me the painting needs to have an embodied form, something I can hold in my hands. Otherwise it seems like a ghost or a mirage, something that might fade from sight when I look in the other direction. I love all the tactile sensations of painting with brushes and writing with dip pens. I like the fact that you can take a sketchbook to a mountaintop or into a barn with a goat chewing on it. I also like using the same tools that artists have used for centuries. And I like the commitment that traditional media demands of me. Lay a stroke and leave it, no going back. That’s one reason I’ve been enjoying watercolor so much lately. It’s the art equivalent of wingsuit base jumping. Watercolor painting is making the best of a free fall.

The last reason is pragmatic. I have two separate exhibitions of almost 200 framed Dinotopia paintings that I send around to museums. Lately I’ve been selling just one or two paintings per year, but one day I hope those paintings will provide for my retirement. If they were all digital paintings, neither the museum shows nor the original sales would be possible.

IH -You use and build sculptures for reference for your paintings, hack up models, and rig up lego camera rigs to record video of yourself etc. Obviously you are a tinkerer and maker of things. Of everything that you've hacked together, modified, made, or frankensteined together, what are you most proud of?

JG - My maker pieces are nothing compared to yours. The things I make are either expedients to solve a problem, a cheapskate’s way out of buying the right equipment, or a way of using up the junk in my basement. But I have made a few purely whimsical contraptions, including a aeolian chime powered by a bicycle wheel anemometer and a tabletop circus run by a single 4RPM gear motor.

IH - You've achieved so much so far, what's left? what's the next big goal for you?

JG - I want to develop some of the other fantasy worlds I’ve got in my head, and I’ve got some big

paintings I want to do. I also want to continue with digital publishing and video. That, and to clean up my studio.

IH - You work is amazingly prolific. On average, how much time do you put in your studio daily?

JG - Everyone says that, but I’m not as prolific as people think. My pattern is to goof off and putter around for five years and then do seven years of work in a mad two year stretch. How many hours a day? That’s a bit hard to answer. I don’t punch a clock, and it’s hard to divide productive time from time just goofing off. But I suppose I think and talk about art most of my waking hours. Just ask my wife.

IH - Do you get artist block? if so, how do you break out of it?

JG - Not often (knock wood) because I have trained myself to overcome obstacles by working through

them from every possible angle. All problems yield to effort. The only jams I get into come from skipping necessary groundwork.

IH - What sort of work do you turn down and why?

JG - I accept only the work that I feel I can do a good job with. I also want to feel OK with having each piece forever associated with the rest of the things I’ve done. In the age of the Internet, everything you do chases you around forever, for better or worse. I also turn down perfectly wonderful job offers in order to work on my own projects.

IH - What is your favorite, and least favorite medium, and why?

JG - I keep coming back to oil, watercolor, water-soluble colored pencils and ordinary pencil. I have returned recently to gouache and pen and ink, which were my first media. There are several media that I have never really tried, such as pastel, encaustic, and lithography.

IH - What is something that is surprising about you, that you wouldn't mind sharing with the world?

JG - I ride a unicycle, own a parakeet and make videos.

IH - You put so much into your blog, it's a constant stream of insight and inspiration. Obviously you love sharing and embracing your fans. As a mega fan, let me just say thanks for the invaluable resource, and thanks taking the time to answer my questions!

JG - You’re welcome. I’m grateful to my readers. They keep me doing what I’m doing.

Well there ya go, what can I say? This is how I see the man: Dude rides a unicycle, with a parakeet on his shoulder, general goofing around. Once in a while, he decides to make some art… Which just happens to be masterpieces. He’s written several books, ya know, no big deal. He's a blogger, a maker, a master of too many things, and doesn’t get artist blocks. Not impressed yet? he’s made official US stamps. Yeah, the dude made freakin’ dinosaur stamps! Enough said.

James Gurney Links:

Blog: www.gurneyjourney.blogspot.com/

Dinotopia Website: www.dinotopia.com

James Gurney Website: www.jamesgurney.com/

Youtube channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/gurneyjourney

Books: http://www.amazon.com/James-Gurney/e/B000APEZHY/

All images Copyright James Gurney

Urban Armor Gear for the Note II

2013-03-17T21:57:00.001-07:00

My friends at Urban Armor Gear sent me these awesome cases for my favorite gadget, the Samsung Galaxy Note 2

The design is really cool, and fits perfect. Holes for all ports are well positioned, no problem inserting power, headphone, and s-pen. The side buttons functions smoothly, and easy to use. The case is extremely well protected on all areas. The case comes with a screen protector, but I've never been a fan of screen protectors, so opted to leave it out. The back has ventilation holes where you can insert different color cards. I love the orange touch. Or you can leave it open for even more ventilation.

Overall the design is awesome, I love the look and feel. This is not a cheap case, and it shows. The extra thickness actually helps the grip and feels like a heavy duty tactical equipment in your hand. If you don't mind added bulk and weight, these are amazing cases. They provide over the top protection, and the quality is nothing short of perfection, as you'd expect from UAG.

Urban Armor Gear Note 2 Navigator (White)
Urban Armor Gear Note 2 Scout (Black)

Wired Garage Interview

2013-02-15T08:25:00.000-08:00

Wired visited my garage!

Check out the article here: http://www.wired.com/design/2013/02/steampunk-hamster-wheel-robots/

Since they focused quite a bit on the Hamster Walker, I made this little template and parts list, for anyone looking to reproduce it:

And now something that I found funny. This type of hamster is ironically named "Robo" Dwarf Hamster. Quite suitable for a hamster mech-suit pilot.... named Princess.

Tile art with my son

2013-01-29T08:26:00.001-08:00

I've posted this tile-able image in the past, when it was exhibited in the Autodesk gallery. I finally got around to uploading and posting up this video of sharing it with my kid. To check out the tile yourself, go to:

http://crabfu.com/tilecrabfu/

Artist Tips & Tricks for Note 10.1 & Note 2

2013-01-27T18:42:00.001-08:00

In my recent posts about the Galaxy Note 2 and 10.1 as art tools, I've gotten some viewer feedback, with some amazing tips and tricks. I've decided to put them in one place to share:

1) S-Pen tuning: Yes, you can adjust sensitivity levels with a simple tiny flat head screwdriver.

2) Up the max res in Sketchbook Pro / Sketchbook Mobile, on the Android: Need Sketchbook Pro on the PC/Mac, and connect via USB, or use DropSync app

3) Warped lines: Magnetic cases the culprit?

4) Video screen recording: ASC app, no root required. Follow the benzul site for instructions, need to install on the PC. Speed up on PC to make speed paintings.

Related: previously posted about S-Pen mods, for a more comfortable grip.

RakonHeli 130x and Mcpx

2013-01-27T18:41:00.001-08:00

My friends at RakonHeli sent me their complete upgrades for the Blade Mcpx, as well as the Blade 130x for review. Previously I had reviewed their Blade 120 upgrades, which you can read here. The 130x and Mcpx are both great little helis, and the 130x is now my favorite little rc heli, capable to handling everything my dumb thumbs throws at it. These are both very small helis, and are very durable stock, and fly great. The negatives on the 130x, is that the tails are fairly fragile, and the Mcpx's biggest problem is bogging the tail. Both of these problems are solved by the RKH upgrades. Is it overkill though? YES, you don't need this sort of bling on a little hell like this.... but is it cool? YES!

Blade 130x RKH upgrades

Blade Mcpx RKH upgrades

Weight:
My biggest concern is the weight difference. But to be honest, I can not tell the difference in flight between stock and complete RKH upgrades.

Mcpx

Mcpx stock at 45.7g (flying weight with battery)

Mcpx RKH upgrades 46.6g (flying weight with battery)

130x

130x stock at 114.9g (flying weight with battery)

130x RKH upgrades: 117.8g(flying weight with battery)

Design Benefits:

With the 130x, there are a host of issues with the stock tail, which the RKH have held up with no issues. I am very please with everything, and it just looks/feels solid. Since the upgrade, no strip gears, linkage issues etc.

RKH 130x Head

RKH Heads on the 130x, and the Mcpx, keeps the links in place. Since the upgrade, I haven't lost a single link since the upgrade.

RKH 130x swash, hub, grips holds the links in place

RKH Mcpx swash, hub, grips Holds the links in place

With the RKH Mcpx upgrades, you get a choice of booms, including longer/thicker, or even duel motor. I used the thick and longer boom, opting out of the double tail motor.... with my skills, the tail holds great with the longer boom, and I haven't had the need for double motor. The tail now holds well, and feels much more solid. I'm not a 3D pilot though, so some of you out there may find the double tail very attractive.

Longer & thicker RKH Mcpx tail boom
Stock (top) vs RKH (bottom)
Note: the Mcpx thicker tail boom will require the RKH frame with adaptor

RKH Mcpx tail with heat sink.

Note: Available for RKH 130x upgrades, is the DFC setup. I have not tried this yet.... I doubt that at my skill level, that I could take advantage or notice the difference.

Also to note: I've opted out of the RKH skids on both of these helis. This is just a stylistic choice, preferring the stock skids look.

Durability:
These small helis are already very durable, compared to the larger helis. Common issues are loosing a bunch of links on the head, and constant tail gear/links issues on the 130x. So how does the aluminum upgrades hold up? overkill.... I think it'll be almost impossible to break any of these parts. Believe me, I've tried. Not on purpose, but I have had my share of hard crashes. I mostly fly over grass, but have had many full speed plunges from dozens of feet high straight into the grass. If I had crashed that hard on one of my 400 sized blinged out helis, the damage would have been catastrophc. But because of the small size, these things are uber durable, especially aluminumed out.

RKH Mcpx head vs stock head

RKH 130x

Caution:
on the 130x, be careful on the body posts when threading them in. I made a mistake of threading them in too tight, and destroying the plastic frame. After getting a new frame (which cheap, but a real pain to replace), I threaded the posts in just snug.... but did not put thead lock on it. Mistake. I lost one of the posts in flight, never to be found again. So I'd recommend using thread locker, and not over tightening them!

Be careful not to over tighten body posts
and use thead lock!

Conclusion:
So is it worth it? Well, I can only speak for myself... an average guy with dumb thumbs, capable of only some acrobatics, not 3D. The only inverted that I can pull off, is a head in hover. For me, they tails for both of these are worth getting, and the rest are just bling. These little stock helis just look and feel cheap next to the bigger counterparts. And the RKH parts makes some performance and durability gains, at a minimum weight increase, making them feel as solid as bigger helis. So if you're into looks, or just into having well built machines that probably won't ever break, RKH may be right for you. Of course, debate over if it's worth it, all comes down to what it means to you. The parts do add up quickly, and that is probably the biggest consideration.

Eflite is coming out with a new Mcpx BL soon, which I am very excited for. It is uncertain how much common parts will be between the normal and brushless. My main complaint about the Mcpx, with or without the RKH upgrade, is the lack of power. At my skill level, I constantly bog the motor down. The RKH parts seem to have fixed the tail bogging issue for the most part, but it still lacks power on the main motor. I'm very curious as to how much better the BL version will be.

In short, the RKH parts do not disappoint. It is overkill in the way that the finest machines are. And unlike some of the previous minor issues that the 120 RKH upgrades had, I can not find any fault to these two upgrades. Every thing fits perfectly, smooth and solid. The bling comes in anodized red, and natural silver aluminum, both are gorgeous.

Skylanders Chompy Animated GIF

2013-01-27T15:16:00.000-08:00

Playing around with FlipaClip on the Note 2 and Note 10.1. FlipaClip is a great 2D animation tool. I've tried a bunch of flip book/traditional animation sketching apps on the ipad/android, and this one really shines. I love the ability to scrub through frames, and the support for the Note's S-Pen pressure sensitive stylus. It is very simple though, and in my opinion, all it needs are a few thingsto make it into a serious 2D animation tool for animators. It needs layers, sound support, and ability to more easily move/copy/paste frames. The onion skinning is really great, only wish that it supports more than just one previous frame. I also really wished that it had the ability to export animated Gifs. I had used iMovie and GIF Brewery on the Mac, to make these GIF Chompies. Don't get me wrong though, FlipaClip is amazing, and you can't complain when it's FREE. I would gladly pay handsomely for a Pro version with the above functions! The fact that there is a mobile device and app, that allows you to quickly jot down animation ideas, is priceless. I did this while waiting for my car at the shop, with the Note 10.1 tablet!

Below are the Chompy animated GIF's in 3 different sizes. I've got a soft spot for the Chompies, they were one of the first characters that I designed for Skylanders, and helped define the entire character style of Skylanders. Right click to save and use for your email signatures, postings etc. Enjoy!

Galaxy Note S-Pen Mods

2013-01-01T17:53:00.000-08:00

Quick mods for the S-Pen for the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 and Note 2.

Note 10.1 S-Pen mod, inside of a Micron Pen

Note 2 S-Pen mod, inside of a Pentel Clic eraser

Either one of these work on the other, but I recommend using the plastic tip for the 10.1, as the rubberized tip feels a bit too grippy, and result is a little lost of pressure sensitivity on the low end. The 10.1 S-Pen actually is a bit easier to get to the heavy pressure side, whereas the Note 2's pen requires a heavier hand to get to the extreme pressure levels. Both work great though, and it doesn't take very long to get used to either of the pens.

All Wacom Penabled pen/stylus work with the Note devices. "Penabled"are the ones for the Tablet PC's, not the Cintiq or normal Wacom tablets. However, the Penabled pen's tip are several millimeters off from the actual drawing tip, when used on either the Note 10.1, or the Note 2, so you are better off using the stock S-Pens with the Note devices.

And as a side note, the Note 1's S Pen adaptor does NOT work well for drawing on the Note 2 S-Pen. They DO work, but the pressure levels are different, so that you can only get light lines when using the Note 1 S-Pen on the Note 2 or Note 10.1 screens. This may work ok for writing, or note taking, but for art it is virtually useless. The original Note's S Pen holder also does not fit the Note 2's slightly bigger S-Pen.

So... why did I spend all this energy and effort to make these pens more comfortable to hold? Because they are my favorite digital art devices at the moment, see my Digital Art Tools review.... plus I think unicorns poop rainbows everytime I sketch with them.

Digital Art Tools Review (Pressure Sensitive + Draw on Screen)

2012-12-29T09:00:00.000-08:00

I finally got some time over vacation to make this video, showing my current digital art tools, with pressure sensitivity, and ability to draw on the screen:

Unfortunately, being able to draw directly on screen + pressure sensitivity, comes at a much higher price than just one of the two functions. Here are the rough prices, googled late 2012.
Wacom Cintiq 12" - 24": ~$1000 - $3700 for monitor/tablet, without computer
Samsung Series 7 Slate: ~$1000 - $1300
Apple iPad3 with Jot Touch - previously reviewed: ~$500 + $100
Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 tablet: ~$500
Samsung Galaxy Note 2 phablet: ~$300 on contract, ~$670 without contract

Sketchbook, the best digital art app ever, and cheap!
PC/Mac - Sketchbook Pro 6: $60
iOS/Android - Sketchbook Pro (tablet paid version): $3
iOS/Android - Sketchbook Mobile (phone paid version): $1

Sketchbook on Samsung Galaxy Note 2

Sketchbook on Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1

and a few previously posted rougher sketches

Polygon video and interview

2012-11-07T22:22:00.001-08:00

With the launch of Skylanders Giants, I've been busy with lots of interviews. Polygon decided that they want a story about me, and came to film me at work, as well as at home. I don't think I've ever been so flattered.... Ever. The video is beautifully shot and edited, and the article is full of my work and play.

http://www.polygon.com/2012/11/7/3593084/inside-the-skylanders-toy-workshop

Q&A with NBC News

2012-10-23T14:09:00.001-07:00

Sometimes I get Skylanders interviewers asking a little about my Steam/Robot hobby, but this one got into the details, of the connection between the two for me! Interview with NBC News

GeekDad's Toys for Bob Interviews

2012-10-19T16:30:00.003-07:00

Here are some great videos, and a really nice write up review on GeekDad. It's really great to show off the studio and who we are at Toys for Bob. Thanks to Andy for covering us from a personal level:

http://www.wired.com/geekdad/2012/10/skylanders-giants-review/
Skylanders Giants is much better than it might have been. Toys for Bob has returned with innovations, new characters and fresh gameplay. Being able to use your old characters, the toned-down approach to in-game advertising,and the light-up figures make this a great family game.
That much you may glean elsewhere, but what I want to highlight here is that this is a game and toy range from a set of artisans rather than a corporate committee. The care and attention of these individuals makes me happier for my children to spend time playing — not least because this has resulted in a whole range of imaginative play both in the game and in the real world.

Robert talking about the magic of tech, or is it the tech of magic?

Me talking about characters and toys:

Paul and animation:

Jeff looking at the camera:

Dan's talk about sound:

Paul talking about the game

Revision 3 interview

2012-10-16T12:20:00.000-07:00

Here is my interview with Max on Rev3 Games, talking about how I have the best job in the world!

Skylanders Characters and Prototype Process

2012-10-12T09:54:00.003-07:00

Nintendo World Report just posted up this video of my little overview of the Skylanders characters design and prototype process:

Galaxy Note 10.1 sketches

2012-09-22T21:51:00.001-07:00

Been sketching with Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1

I'll do a review soon, I've had it for a few weeks now, and it's been a really great tablet / digital sketchbook.

Wired Interviews Toys for Bob

2012-09-19T13:28:00.001-07:00

http://www.wired.com/gamelife/2012/09/skylanders-giants/

Maker Camp on YouTube

2012-08-23T20:03:00.001-07:00

Here is our little segment from Maker Camp today:

Had a couple of glitches, but everything turned out ok. I really rushed out a super rough demo of drawing. I'm a really loose and lazy artist, but even this was a bit too loose for my taste.... But got it out quickly an idea of a character, which was the point of the demo :)

MAKE also posted a 3D color print of Jet Vac compared to production toy:

http://blog.makezine.com/2012/08/23/skylanders-monsters-swoop-into-maker-camp/

And lastly, to see the speed drawing of original skylanders, check it out here: http://crabfuartworks.blogspot.com/2011/10/skylanders-speed-drawing.html

Maker Camp on Google+

2012-08-18T14:24:00.000-07:00

I'm going to be a guest on the last week of Maker Camp on Theoretical Thursday. To join, just follow MAKE on Google+ and tune in Thursday, Aug 23 at noon

Blake Maloof will be talking about game design for video games, as well as board games. Board games are an easy way to get started in game design, without needing special tools and skills. I'll help contribute a little by showing how artists and designers typically work together, but this will primarily be about game design. It should be really fun, I'm learning a lot about the magic of fun in games from Blake, it's fascinating to learn the theories behind what makes a great game. Also check out the rest of the week, lots of fun hangouts!

LA Mobile Arts Festival

2012-08-18T13:42:00.000-07:00

I was honored to have a piece (Golf Tank) in the LA Mobile Arts Festival, starting today. Check out the show if you are in the area, looks to be a great show with a diverse range of mobile art!

2012 LA Mobile Arts Festival, Santa Monica Art Studios, Aug 18-24and PDF of the program here

Jot Touch Review and Mod

2012-08-08T23:45:00.001-07:00

Here is my review of the Adonit Jot touch:

Jot Touch with cap and USB charger:

Top: stock tip. Bottom: modified bent tip

New modified tip allows for extreme angles:

Sketch examples using Jot Touch with a New iPad (iPad 3)

Procreate:

ArtRage:

My Procreate pencil settings, for Jot Touch:

Pros:

-Great design and build quality

-Great pressure sensitive solution for the iPad

-Works well with ArtRage and Procreate

-Easy Bluetooth pairing

-Long battery life

-2 function buttons, great for future app support

-Great see through tip disc, for detailed line work

-Comes with cool USB charger with magnet attachment

-Comes with extra tip and disc.

Cons:

-Only works well with Procreate and ArtRage, as of early Aug '12. Some other supported apps have various issues. This should be all resolved with future app updates.

-Nothing really works for the iPhone :(

-iPad 1 is not supported.

-Pressure sensitivity is low, feels like tablet PC's. Not the pressure levels like the newer Wacom tablets and Cintiq.

-~~Tilt angle is not enough, often miss lines when too angled.~~ Solved by modifying the tip!

-At $100, it is a bit steep. Understandably so, but not for everyone.

For more info or to buy Jot Touch

Questions for the Bobs

2012-08-02T23:08:00.000-07:00

Advice for Young Makers (MAKE Magazine)

2012-06-17T17:24:00.002-07:00

Mark Frauenfelder of Boing Boing asked me if I had some advice for young makers, for a special summer edition of MAKE Magazine. He asked for a short little blurb, but I ended up giving him more than what he had asked for, covering some of the basics of what I do for fun and for work. I often get emails regarding how to draw, hack, modify, make, and where and how to start. So this is a good central place for sharing my basic principles of making stuff. Special thanks to Gareth Branwyn of MAKE Magazine, for allowing me to post this free here for all to read. Here is the article, along with some Skylanders art:

There are a TON of cool projects in this issue, I think this may be my favorite MAKE issue ever. There are tons of cool and cleaver projects to make with kids, I am planning on doing a few of these with my son this summer. Take a look at the table of contents below:

http://makeprojects.com/Wiki/schoolsout

Get the magazine here:

http://www.makershed.com/Make_School_s_Out_Summer_Fun_Guide_p/9781449332259.htm

Digital copy:

http://www.makershed.com/Make_School_s_Out_Summer_Fun_Guide_PDF_p/emsosip.htm

Also at Maker Faire, I was interviewed by Gareth and Mark, for the Maker Faire live stream. I talked a bit more about how being a DIY maker really helped in my part of making of Skylanders. I'll post the video in the future if I manage to track it down, stay tuned :)