Imitating A Scanner Darkly

Using Illustrator's pencil tool and shapes of solid color, you can imitate the graphic novel styling of A Scanner Darkly. An animator from the film shows us how.

Director Richard Linklater's A Scanner Darkly impressed audiences this summer with a stunning 2D animation style that mixes heavy blacks lines with shapes of solid color to represent a realistic image. After filming the movie live action, we used proprietary vector software to animate directly over live footage, preserving the likeness and performances of the actors - a process called "Interpolated Rotoscoping." This tutorial will show you how I was able to recreate a similar effect using tools in Adobe llustrator. Using Illustrator's pencil tool and shapes of solid color, you can imitate the graphic novel styling of A Scanner Darkly.

Well, the animation in that movie really does look way cool. Don't think this is a walk in the park though, The process takes around four hours a picture according to the tutorial. The tutorial does say to use Adobe Illustrator but I hear you can also use Adobe Photoshop by using the pen tool but it won't come out as good. It's got something to do with vector graphics versus raster graphics. Well I'm not really that good with Adobe Photoshop or even Adobe Illustrator. But it does look way past cool doesn't it?

Wonder if someone can do this to the nude Alicia Silverstone commercial. I mean, heck Alicia Silverstone naked this way does look interesting.

I'm not really good at this. As you can see below. Heck, Photoshop or Illustrator, I'm still in the dark. No pun intended.

J and S Surf Co.

If you need anything at all for your surfing needs here in the Philippines, the J&S Surf Shop is sure to have them. This is the ultimate store for surfing enthusiasts out there. We carry all the coolest and most rad of surf equipment this side of the equator!

The J&S Surf Co. is run by surfers so you'll be sure to get the most professional advise on what surf gear to get. We carry the best brands around.

So don't forget, J&S Surf Co. the coolest, hippest, most rad surfing shop in the Philippines. So before you hit that beach in Zambales, Siargao, La Union or that private hideaway of yours, be sure to make a stop at J&S Surf Co. and maximize the fun factor when riding that wave.

Yep. I had to do the whole site again. The site is on beta stage now but I guess it looks better than it was the last time. Nothing but the best for the coolest Philippine Surf shop around.

Now, I better learn to surf. Philippine surfing shops are rare and I'm just lucky to be really friends with owners of one. Gotta take advantage, hehehe seems there is something there in those waves over there.

Alicia Silverstone Naked

Sexy Hollywood star Alicia Silverstone bares all in PETA’s first-ever naked veggie testimonial PSA. Watch Alicia’s sexy video, directed by acclaimed director Dave Meyers, whose credits include videos for Britney Spears, OutKast, and Dave Mathews Band...

Well just when I though Alicia Silverstone has fallen into the cracks (no pun intended there) of obscurity, she's suddenly in the forefront. Seems being naked and a vegetarian is newsworthy.

Ironic really that a vegan would use her own flesh, so to speak, to promote being a vegetarian.

I miss her Aerosmith days though...

Here's the clip if you care to watch a nude Alicia Silverstone.

Elderly Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town

"...i changed by not changing at all, small town predicts my fate
perhaps that's what no one wants to see
i just want to scream...hello...
my god its been so long, never dreamed you'd return
but now here you are, and here i am.."

Elderly Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town
Pearl Jam

Everyone who knows me, know I keep talking about this song. By far, this one song is the best song ever in my book. It captures that single moment from familiarity to recognition; face to face with an old flame.

This song, just like the movie Chasing Amy, just centers me. Things happen. People leave. Hearts and thoughts fade away.

Eddie Vedder is a god because of this song. And might I say, Pearl Jam rocks!

J and S Surfing Company

Attention all Surfers in the Philippines! Hey hey guys! Just want to let you know, my good old buddy, Spencer, has opened a brand spanking new Surf Shop in the Philippines. Seems surfing is the latest craze to hit the Philippines. And it is real hard to find a hard core surf shop here, like the J and S Surf Company (that's the name of the surf shop.. hehehe). Anyway, he's carries all the hot brands like Airush, Dakine, BZ, Xcel, etc. etc.

And he's got a website for the surf shop! Just click the link and it'll take you there. He's has a real cool surfing forum for the Philippine surfing enthusiasts at the website. So all you surfers know where to go with all your cool stories, crazy tips and frantic questions.

So go! Click! Surf! And surf!!

Do I surf? Hehehe.. yep I do but instead of a surf board, I use a mouse. Nyuk nyuk. I don't think I'm cut out for surfing. Here in the Philippines, I'd probably be mistaken for a beached whale when I'm lying in the sand by the ocean.

Oh wait, I did lose a hefty amount. Maybe not a whale, probably a dugong.

Oh and contact info? I'll post it once I get it from Spenks. All I know is the address:

J and S Surfing Company
Ground Floor, Solid Building
Pasong Tamo Extension
Makati City, Philippines.

Camera Fun at the Manila Zoo

Three weeks ago, Tiger and I went to Manila Zoo (wish it was Avilon Zoo but it was far and a bit over budget for us) to take some pictures and give her Canon DSLR a whirl...

It was my first time to use a real camera with those fancy lenses and stuff. So anyway, take a gander on some pics I made and I made a lot. I'll probably use some on my next posts. I love that focused on one object and defocused on another thing kind of effect. Don't know what they call it though.

Well, now Coffeespark is taking much of my time so it would be awhile before we go picture shooting again.

Too bad the Giraffe at the Manila Zoo died a couple of months ago (bet the Lions and Tigers were happy then) oh wait, didn't see any Lions, you think?


Ssssilly humansss...

Cue theme from Jaws...

"You talking to me?..."

Coffeespark

Coffeespark serves as a medium for people to air their problems, situations, or feelings. Either for sharing, advice, discussion or just to vent. It could be a family problem, a technical computer problem, a cheating boyfriend, work issues, girlfriend issues, or just maybe about life in general.

Yep, our web project (Tiger and I) is rolling out. We're so excited with this. We hope you guys are too. Our premise for coffeespark is a site that serves as a medium for people to air their problems, situations, or feelings. Either for sharing, advice, discussion or just to vent. It could be a family problem, a technical computer problem, a cheating boyfriend, work issues, girlfriend issues, or just maybe about life in general.
We believe that coffeespark will bring people together. Share their experiences. Support each other. And hopefully, help each other out.

Go try it out. It's all blank right now, hopefully some of you guys can try it out. Just post anything about you. A problem, a situation, an experience you want to share. And let's see how others would react to it.

Coffeespark isn't about what's interesting out there. It's about what's going on with you.

Coffeespark. Interesting people, interesting issues.

coffeespark