MacK's Notebook

Hypnotic waves of Mount's Bay in Cornwall

2012-01-22T01:27:00.000-08:00

Mount's Bay in Cornwall has a particularly relaxing beach to wander along. Although the main road is within a few feet of the beach, if you walk by the breaking surf you can barely hear the cars driving past. I made this film when I visited this beach recently. Off to the left, and out of shot, is St Michael's Mount. But I decided to film the surf instead; just because I found it extremely relaxing and somewhat hypnotic. The film was originally over ten minutes long, but the peace was broken a few minutes in by a passing train and a playful dog, so I cut it a bit—the film, not the dog. I am also still messing around with different movie effects, and as such I have added a little bit of a glow and enhanced the colours a tad.

Textures of seaweed and pebbles, and a harbour wall

2012-01-21T02:49:00.000-08:00

These textures would be useful when trying to create a 3D coastal scene.

Simply a peaceful woodland waterfall

2012-01-19T08:42:00.000-08:00

Simply 5 minutes of nothing but the relaxing sights and sounds of a woodland waterfall. With this film I was messing around with different effects; trying to create a more dreamy and ethereal feel to the film. Not perfect, but not a bad effort. Still, it is a nice and peaceful way to take a five minute break, if you are unable to leave your desk and go a-wandering through a forest.

Relaxing desktop wallpaper of a woodland waterfall

2012-01-18T03:44:00.000-08:00

I took this photograph while on a very relaxing woodland walk the other day. I especially like how the river is mirror flat, in the background, and reflecting the life of the forest beyond, before gaining more energy and tumbling over the edge and towards the camera. This is my current computer desktop wallpaper. You are welcome to download this image and put it on your computer, if you feel so inclined.

UK road sign textures

2012-01-10T03:51:00.000-08:00

Free UK road sign textures for texturing 3D models, or for use in other forms of digital art. This selection of road sign textures includes: '1 in 7 downhill gradient warning', '40 mph speed limit', 'Deer warning', 'No motor vehicles', 'Road narrows' and 'Unsuitable for heavy goods vehicles'. I have removed the backgrounds of the photographs to make the textures easier to work with. As with all of the textures on MacK's Notebook, you can use them for free and without restriction; that also means that you can use them for commercial projects. But if you find these textures useful, please either: mention and link to my blog from you blog or website (if you have one), or click one of the social share buttons beneath the post to let others know about the awesomeness that is MacK's Notebook—or you could just say that it's quite a useful site.

1 in 7 downhill gradient warning

40 mph speed limit

Deer warning

No motor vehicles

Road narrows

Unsuitable for heavy goods vehicles

So far, so good, with my plans for 2012

2012-01-08T08:17:00.000-08:00

I make no apologies for the health-freakishly-upbeat, and slightly narcissistic, tone of this post. I have tumbled through life for far too long without a care for my health; thinking, that because I feel fine at the moment, I can carry on bombarding my body with various toxins, and neglecting it with a general lack of any useful exercise; without the slightest care for how this will effect my future. I have recently realised that it is high time I did something about this, and I think that I am now making good headway towards this goal. For someone who is so easily distracted by sparkly things, it is quite an achievement, for me, to stay so steadfast to my plan. So, you will have to forgive me for banging on about it–a bit. So here goes; ringing my own bell, blowing my own trumpet, and generally shouting from the digital rooftops. Well, it is my blog and it will look pretty sparse if I don't write something in it.

My new year resolution of cutting down on my smoking habit has gone better than I had planned. I had originally wanted to knock one cigarette off my daily tally; every few weeks, thereby gradually cutting down on the amount of cigarettes I smoke each day. Well, I adjusted this plan a bit. The first day I decided to only have a smoke every hour, and since I am awake for about 15 hours a day I will, obviously, smoke no more than 15 cigarettes a day. Not bad at all, when I think that I was smoking about 20–possibly an underestimate–cigarettes a day for over 20 years; and with absolutely none of those dreaded nicotine withdrawal symptoms. I was thinking of extending this to only having a cigarette every hour and a half, but on second thoughts I will probably wait a bit, before restricting my smoking habit even further–small steps and all that.

My sugar intake has also dropped considerably, as I am only adding it to my coffee; of which I am now only drinking two cups a day; coffee just tastes too awful without sugar. Apart from that, I am not adding sugar to anything else. I was planning to try to get used to drinking tea without sugar but, I have actually stopped drinking normal tea altogether, and am now an avid green tea sponge.

Another healthy thing that I am now enjoying daily is filtered water with freshly squeezed lemon and lime juice. The first time I prepared this drink I looked at the sparkling glass with trepidation; I thought it was going to taste mouth implodingly bitter, or something equally disgusting. I am very happy to report that water with added lemon and lime juice is a fantastically refreshing drink; and also incredibly good for both: the body, and mind. In fact, as I write this, my mouth is starting to water with the thought of having another glass of this wonderful elixir. Highly recommended.

You may have also noticed that my blog has recently exploded with photographs–especially textures, for my occasional forays into 3D modelling–this is because I am now going out for more walks, which was another one of my new year resolutions. If I could just get around to reading my camera's instruction manual, I could stop having to take twenty-odd photographs of the same thing, before I had one decent, and usable, image. Good job I have an expansive memory card; to fit all the out-takes on, as well as the occasional, so called, money shot.

So as I say: so far, so good.

Smoky water computer desktop wallpaper backgrounds

2012-01-08T04:14:00.000-08:00

I have just been giving my computer hard drive a bit of a tidy, and found these smoky water photographs I made ages ago. I think they make pretty cool computer desktop wallpaper backgrounds, if you think so also, and would like your own copy, you are welcome to download and use them as the desktop background on your own computer. Or, you could download, print, and stick them on your wall in the real world. I know, I know; I'm too generous.

Free forest floor and tree bark textures

2012-01-06T00:54:00.000-08:00

Free forest floor and tree bark textures, for texturing the 3D environments of virtual forests or woodland scenes. I took these photographs while walking through woodland in Dartmoor National Park, in the south west of England.

Breeze block, brick and stone wall textures

2012-01-04T09:24:00.000-08:00

Various free wall textures, including: breeze block, brick and stone. Although the textures below are not seamless, with a very small amount of editing you could easily make them so. As with all the textures on MacK's Notebook, you are welcome to download, edit, and use them for any purpose; of course, if you find my textures useful, it would be really cool if you gave my blog a mention on your website, or blog, if you have one. This isn't mandatory in any 'I'll sue you if you don't' kinda way, it's just nice to be nice.

Free concrete textures

2012-01-04T06:12:00.000-08:00

Here are a couple of concrete textures I created recently, which you are welcome to use, for free, for your own digital art projects. I have used these textures to create the floor and walls of a virtual car park model I was working on.

Door textures for 3D models of city street scenes

2012-01-04T02:42:00.000-08:00

These door textures can help bring 3D models of city street scenes to life. The arched door texture was taken from the front of a harbour side warehouse - I have removed the surrounding wall from the image to make it easier to integrate with other textures. The fire exit and electric control room door textures were taken on typical city streets. These images could also be used as reference images for creating 3D models of these types of doors.

Arched warehouse door

Dusty fire exit door

Electric control room door

A prawn on a stick

2012-01-03T05:47:00.000-08:00

The Barbican Prawn

Yesterday I took my camera for a wander around the city of Plymouth, in the south west of England; more specifically the Barbican and the Hoe. This was to take some more photographs, of various random things, to create more textures for my 3D modelling endeavours. I managed to take some good shots, although I had to take about twenty photographs for every one image that was of good enough quality to make a texture with; I am still getting to grips with my new camera.

The rain stayed off … for most of the time. And I had a good long walk. And not too many oddballs out and about either. But then again, I suppose I must have looked like the oddball yesterday; taking pictures of drains and manhole covers, and also various road signs. In fact I was asked by one elderly gentleman if I was taking a photograph of a beautiful old ship that was by the harbour, “No.”, I replied, “The 'No swimming' sign”. He gave me a bit of a strange look and went on his way.

Apart from pointing my camera at, otherwise ignored, signs, and leaning precariously over walls and bridges to get good photographs of the roads below, I also took a few snaps of this unusual construction. Apparently it is an urban art sculpture called: the 'Barbican Prawn'. I don't know about its artist value, but it always brings a smile to my face whenever I see it. Although I prefer my name for it: 'Prawn on a stick'.

Leaf textures

2012-01-03T03:20:00.000-08:00

Here are some random leaf textures that you are free to use for any purpose; including commercial projects. Though it would be quite cool, if you do use any of my textures and you have a website or blog for your project in which the texture was used, to put a link back to MacK's Notebook as the textures original point of origin. I have removed the background of each of these images to make the actual leaf part of the texture easier to work with.

Free drain and manhole cover textures

2012-01-03T02:07:00.000-08:00

Free drain and manhole cover textures, to help create photo realistic 3D models of city street scenes.

Broken manhole cover texture

Road drain cover texture

Free traffic, pedestrian and warning sign textures

2012-01-03T01:08:00.000-08:00

Free traffic, pedestrian and warning sign textures for adding to 3D models, to help bring virtual city street scenes to life. You are free to use these textures for your own 3D models and other digital art, including commercial projects. All I ask in return is that you mention and/or create a website or blog link to MacK's Notebook, as the textures original point of origin.

CCTV cameras warning sign texture

Danger of death warning sign texture

Exit left traffic sign texture

No entry traffic sign texture

No parking traffic sign texture

No swimming warning sign texture

One way traffic sign texture

Pay and display sign texture

Pedestrian crossing warning sign texture

Free moss and lichen textures

2011-12-28T11:30:00.000-08:00

Free moss and lichen textures for adding that extra bit of realism to 3D models.

Relaxing on the banks of a woodland stream

2011-12-28T07:36:00.000-08:00

After a wonderful Christmas I thought it might be a good idea to go for a long walk; to stretch the old legs and burn off some of the gargantuan amounts of sugar I have consumed over the past week or so. So off I went, with camera in hand and a pocket full of Cadbury Roses – I know, I know, the idea is to burn the sugar off, not devour more. But they are so nice and they've got to be eaten. Anyway, I had a good long walk, and a bit of mild rock climbing; on one of Dartmoor's Tors.

While getting down with nature, and trying not to break my neck, I also took a wander along the banks of a meandering stream. This was so peaceful I decided to make another one of my 'time-out' films; so when I haven't got the time to travel out onto the Moors, or to my local woods, I can get a bit of nature's peace byway of my computer. No where near as good as the real thing, but not bad; if put to full screen, with the volume just so.

I have just noticed, after checking this post, that there are some weird little sparkly things on the film. Not sure what that's all about; as they are not on the original film. Never mind. Maybe I have caught some fairy type creatures on film ... or maybe it is just a glitch in the YouTube film conversion process. Thought about deleting it and starting again, but since it has taking me over two hours to upload this film to YouTube, and it doesn't effect how relaxing it is to watch, I am going to leave it as is.

A flea under my video microscope

2011-12-27T04:16:00.001-08:00

Having fun with my video microscope. This time my cat helped by supplying me with a rather energetic flea. This was the first time that I have tried to film what was beneath the lens, so it was interesting trying to work out how to keep the flea in focus; as it kept moving around to such an extent that it managed to push the glass holding slide off of itself. I know that fleas are quite strong but that was pretty impressive. This is the films I made of the flea at: x20, x80 and x350 magnification. Right, I'm off to recruit some more unsuspecting bugs for my microscopic movies.

Smoking plans for 2012

2011-12-26T03:26:00.000-08:00

I am not the sort of person that is prone to making new year resolutions; in fact I don't think I have ever made one before. But there are a few things that I would like to achieve in 2012.

First off, I want to cut down on the amount of cigarettes I smoke; not with the aim of giving up smoking completely, because there are certain smokes that I actually enjoy: first thing in the morning with my cup of caffeine laced wakeup juice. When I am wandering around my small garden checking on the progress of my grape vines and other aspiring flora and fauna. With a nice glass of ruby red wine. And I also like to have a smoke last thing at night before heading off to bed.

Although there are these times throughout the day when I like to indulge my vice of choice, I want to stop smoking the ones that are just feeding my nicotine addiction monster; the cigarettes that I don't really enjoy and am simply lighting up because I am addicted to smoking. You could argue that all of the cigarettes that I smoke are feeding my addiction, but, as I say, there are certain times when I enjoy smoking. I am planning to achieve my smoking climb down with the thought that when I started smoking, all those years ago, I didn't start smoking twenty a day; I gradually built up to that amount over a period of years. So, my theory is: that if I gradually cut down, by knocking one cigarette off my daily tally every few weeks, in a reasonably short amount of time I should be down to only a few cigarettes a day. And without going through the horrible nicotine withdrawal stage. That's the theory anyway.

Secondly, I want to cut down on the mountains of sugar I consume every day. I have two heaped teaspoons in every cup of tea and coffee that I drink – and I drink a lot of cups worth. As I am getting older, and as comes with age, I don't feel as indestructible as I used to and am subsequently starting to think more about my health and general well being; both physically and mentally. I recently cut down on the amount of coffee I was drinking – between five and ten cups a day – this was because of a particularly scary episode that happened to me a few months ago after a very bad ten-cup-day, my mind and body went into a bit of a melt down, resulting in frantic muscle spasms and an incredibly terrifying feeling of anxiety. After cutting out coffee and drinking only organic green tea for about two weeks, my caffeine battered body and mind started to recover. But this coffee, and sugar, induced nightmare left me thinking that it was about time that I took stock of my lifestyle.

Lastly, I want to get more exercise; no, I'm not going to throw my money away on a gym membership or start going for a heart pounding, knee smashing run at five each and every morning. I am simply going to make more of an effort to go for a long walk; for a few hours every day. Okay, maybe not every day but as often as I can. This will also give me more opportunities to make use of my camera, and fill up my blog with more and more photographs.

So there it is, my aims for 2012: cut down on my smoking. Leave my jar of sugar alone. And make more use of my camera by making better use of my legs. There will probably be more ambitions that I will add to my list as the year goes on, but, as new year resolutions go, I think this is a pretty good start.

Happy Christmas 2011

2011-12-25T02:02:00.000-08:00

Well, the madness of Christmas has finally come around again. And, regardless of what the weather girl has said, there is no snow. Cold, yes. Rain, yes. And even some ice in places. But absolutely no snow. So here are some photographs I took a few years ago on one of my visits to bonnie, and snowy, Scotland. Happy Christmas, and enjoy.

Loch Ness ... I think.

A Robin by Urquhart Castle, Loch Ness in Scotland

Urquhart Castle along the banks of Loch Ness in Scotland

Free human face reference images for 3d modelling

2011-12-22T07:16:00.000-08:00

Back when I was working on my DIVA software project I hired a human model for the video sequences of the DIVA. Once I had finished filming I took the opportunity to take some photographs of her face and head for reference images, to eventually help me create a 3D character; this was because I wanted to have a fully virtual character for the face of the DIVA, instead of sequences of looped film. As it turned out I have since moved on to other things, and consequently I never got around to trying to make this idea work. Anyway, you are welcome to use these free human head and face reference images for 3d character modelling, even if it is for a commercial project. Though, it would be nice, if you do use these images, to put a link to, or mention, MacK's notebook as the reference images point of origin.

Rait Castle, ghosts and warring clans

2011-12-16T08:13:00.000-08:00

When researching your family history it is incredibly interesting when you find out where your ancestors lived, and fascinating to visit these places and buildings if they still exist. Even more so when you realise that there is an actual Castle still standing where your blood relations, from history, would have walked. For me, Rait Castle is one such place. Although now a ruin, some of the walls and features are still clearly visible.

It is amazing to be able to wander around the ruins of Rait Castle and daydream about the things that went on within and around the crumbling walls; although they are usually not very nice things. One such story involves two warring clans, the Cummings and the Mackintoshes, and has consequently given rise to the reputed ghost story of a young girl who is said to dwell about the ruins.

Many centuries ago the Clan Cummings, who lived in Rait castle at the time, invited the Clan Mackintosh to a feast; with the claimed intention of putting a cooperative end to the feud between the two clans. All was not as it seemed though; the Cummings did indeed want to put an end to the feud, but byway of killing all the Mackintoshes who attended the banquet. Their plan was for each member of their clan to arrange themselves around the banquet table so as to be sat either side of one of the Mackintosh clansman. And when a secret signal was given by the Cummings clan chief, they were to pull out their dirk (dagger) and thrust it mercilessly into the nearest, unsuspecting, Mackintosh clansman. And in one decisive blow putting an end to their clan war once and for all.

This did, as all good stories should, not go as planned. The daughter of the Cummings clan chief had a bit of a thing going on with one of the Mackintoshes clansman. And not wanting her lover to be slain in such a terrible way, she set off to warn him. She did this by going to a rock boulder – called the whispering stone or the stone of the maiden - that lay in the Highlands nearby, and told the stone what she knew. Of course she was not really talking to the cold rock, but rather to her lover who was listening intently from the other side.

Forewarned, the Mackintosh clan promptly arrived at Rait Castle and enjoyed the shallow hospitality of their hosts. But before the Cummings had a chance to carry out their bloody plan, the Mackintosh chief gave his own secret signal, thereby unleashing his vengeful warriors upon their scheming adversaries. As the melee ensued, the Cummings chief's daughter, fearing her fathers wrath, ran from the scene. Unable to make it to the Castle door she rushed upstairs, with the intention of making her escape though a window on the floor above. The Cummings chief angrily pursued his wayward daughter. The girl reached a window and started to climbed out but, as she prepared to jump to the ground outside, her father pull out his sword and swung it furiously, cutting clean through her wrists. As her lifeless and bloodied hands fell with a dull thud to the room's wooden floor, the young girl fell from the window to her bone shattering death on the hard Castle grounds outside.

Over the years there have been many people who have claimed to see the vaporous ghost of a young girl solemnly walking around the ruins. I have visited the ruins of Rait Castle many times, but have never been witness to any ghostly or paranormal events. Although, a Raven did take an immense dislike to my ex-wife – obviously my wife at the time – by constantly swooping down and buzzing her ... I've always liked Ravens. Rait Castle is a magical and very thought provoking place, which is why I always stop by and contemplate the ruins whenever I am lucky enough to visit Scotland.

The Torridon Hotel, Highland hospitality at its best.

2011-12-15T06:55:00.000-08:00

On one of my many visits to Scotland I wanted to see the western side of the Scottish Highlands, so, as a base of operations for my travels I stayed at the Torridon Hotel on the banks of Loch Torridon. This is a wonderful hotel in a spectacular setting, and one of the most peaceful hotel stays I have ever had. The staff at the hotel treat you as if you are the only guest currently in residence, even though at the time of my stay the hotel was almost full, and you are treated to a level of real luxury that is truly incredible and which effortlessly relieves you of any stress that you may have had before checking in.

The film below was filmed from the window of my hotel room; the noise on the film is actually from the camera, as, apart from the beautiful bird song and the occasional Highland cow, it was actually completely quiet. While making this film and as I looked out over the mirror flat Torridon Loch at the glorious mountains beyond, I was filled with a sense of otherworldly peace; a feeling of complete serenity that, I think, is extremely hard to come by these days.

Something I found spectacularly jaw-dropping was the night sky. As I currently live in a city, where the city lights hinder ones view of cosmic wonder, I was left awestruck when, one night, I went for a midnight stroll around the grounds of the Torridon Hotel. The night sky was ablaze with stars, a crystal clear vista that was well worth the ache I was left with in my neck from starring up at the night sky for so long.

Like a drug, when my visit was at an end I was left wanting more. I have absolutely no hesitation in recommending the Torridon Hotel to anyone who wants to experience the peaceful beauty of Scotland and scottish hospitality at its very best.

Sunset over Loch Torridon in the Scottish Highlands

2011-12-14T07:12:00.000-08:00

When the Sun goes down on a beautiful day in the Highlands of Scotland the night begins with magical sights like these. These images were taken while driving along the mountain roads surrounding Loch Torridon on the west coast of Scotland. They make wonderful computer background wallpapers.

Relax next to my virtual woodland stream

2011-12-14T04:45:00.000-08:00

Back when I first started to use Blender (3D modelling and animation software) I was messing around with a water simulation; I was trying to create a realistic looking waterfall flowing into a stream. To make my animation more effective I went out into my local woods to film a river (first video), with the idea of using the audio from the film to add to my waterfall and stream animation.

Unfortunately my animation looks terrible (second video), but I found my 'real' film to be quite relaxing to watch; when I don't have the time to visit the woods to sit by the river in reality, I can play it back on my computer to get a few minutes of natures peace, in an otherwise hectic day.