Updates
Posted by craig in 3D, Craig's Sketchpad, ICE Rolemaster, Illustration, Personal, Vue on December 29th, 2009
A boring title, I know – but this is just updates so tough! 
I’m working on a Shadow World Players Guide which will have a lot of Vue landscape renders as well as some drawings. As it’s still in progress, I can’t add any images here so I have a couple of other things to show.
A Vue render trying out a technique for ‘hyperterrains’ – the name given to the creation of the unusual shaped terrains which aren’t possible in the traditional terrain creation process.
An old-school Vector in Adobe Illustrator. Some subtle object blends but mostly a line work. Michelle is the woman featured and she has a gallery here.
That’s it for now.
E-on Software’s Vue Pioneer is FREE!
Posted by craig in Craig's Sketchpad, Digital Paintings, Illustration, Personal, Photo Manipulation on October 12th, 2009
I thought I’d let every one know about E-on Software’s Vue product line. Vue is a 3D landscape & animation program available for both PC & Mac and it produces stunning images.
They’ve made Vue Pioneer, the core program, available for FREE so it’s definitely something you’d need to checkout!
Here’s the full image I used in the banner ads for my site; just so you know what to expect. This was created in Vue Complete but only a couple of extra modules would have been needed on top of Vue Pioneer for this image.
As always, click that image for a larger version.
The different Vue Versions
To try and counter any confusion before you go to the E-on Software’s web site, Vue comes in 3 main versions. Starting from the top they are…
- Vue xStream – This is strictly for the pros and it gives them access to all of Vue’s modelling & animation tool directly in their high-end 3D programs (Maya, 3DS Max, Cinema 4D etc).
- Vue Infinite – This is the same as Vue xStream but it’s a standalone version that you can use without the need for a separate high-end 3D program.
- Vue Complete, Vue Pro Studio, Vue Esprit and Vue Pioneer – These are the same program at it’s core – Vue Pioneer – but with different amounts of modules installed on top of that. As the name suggests, Vue Complete has all the modules installed and Vue Pioneer has none.
That’s not to say that Vue Pioneer is no good, Vue Pioneer has many features that gives you access to the powerful 3D landscape modelling. When you’re ready to take the next step, you can purchase just the modules you need if you like – you don’t need to conform to the specific modules that’d take you to Vue Esprit or the Vue Pro Studio versions.
Some of my recent additions (as well as several to come) have used Vue and I’ll be including this banner below any of my posts that have used Vue.
What’s in it for me?
It’s true that I’m altruistic …to a point. 
If you make any purchase on the Cornucopia3D web site for extra modules or 3D content within the first 30 days of visiting the site, my account will be credited 10%. After that, I see nothing.
Vue Pioneer is completely free and you needn’t purchase anything at all, which means I’d get nothing …but if you do, I’d certainly appreciate it. 
Wildlife Print Work update
Posted by craig in CJ Productions, Graphic Design on September 13th, 2009
We’re doing some more brochures for the Wildlife Trust and this is the latest. Adobe InDesign is my DTP (Desk Top Publishing) app of choice.
Having great images to use means that the final brochure can’t really go wrong even if I tried!
Dazzling Props
Posted by craig in Web Design on September 11th, 2009
This is a Wordpress Blog theme edit for Dazzling Props, a Set Design, Stage Painting & Prop Making company dealing with projects as fun as pantomime to serious theatre performances.
The original theme used for the base layout is Gravel. The client wanted something styled like her previous site so all the image content of the theme has been changed to reflect this. I really should have started from scratch though if I’d known how fussy the client was going to be.
The reason for a Wordpress site is it’s easy site management for those not so technically minded to add new content, be it posts, pages or galleries.
…which reminds me, I will sort out a proper gallery for this site soon to include sections for Logos, Web Design and Graphic Design created under the CJ Productions umbrella – but in the meantime, you can check out my drawing specific galleries at my Craig’s Sketchbook site.
Kobold Lair Map
Posted by craig in Craig's Sketchpad, Digital Paintings, Hand Drawn, ICE Rolemaster, Illustration, Personal on September 2nd, 2009
It’s that time of the month again – it’s ICE’s map contest! This time it’s a lair for Kobolds (a lesser goblin type creature).
I was going to enter the old-school hand drawn map that I uploaded here – old-school map but after I added a little bit of texture to it, I just had to carry on!
Here is the opening spread describing the tactics the kobold’s would use to defend their lair and a larger map view is below that.
And here’s a close up of the textures so you can see it at it’s actual size
This is the cover illustration used for the PDF depicting the nasty trap the Kobold’s have in store for unsuspecting adventurers!
Click those images for a larger version!
NEW – Craig’s Sketchpad Gallery
Posted by craig in Craig's Sketchpad, Digital Paintings, Hand Drawn, ICE Rolemaster, Illustration, Personal, Photo Manipulation on August 14th, 2009
Finally, I’ve added an image gallery of some of my work at my Craig’s Sketchpad blog! That blog is specifically for the ‘illustrational’ part of my work but there are occasional overlaps with this blog as well.
Check it out – Craig’s Sketchpad Gallery
…and ironically, this post has no pictures. 
I’ll also be adding a gallery here which will include more of the ‘design’ projects covering both web and print work but I’ll let you know when that happens.
The Majestic Griffin
Posted by craig in ICE Rolemaster, Photo Manipulation on August 1st, 2009
This is an entry into a chimera creature contest from ICE (Iron Crown Enterprises) – the first entry of many.
I thought I’d start with something recognisable and I think the Griffin is perhaps the most well known of all the composite creatures. There’s a close-up and a whole image as well.
As usual, you can click on them to see the larger versions.
I’ve shown the source images in the main image so you can see the separate elements. All were edited in Photoshop CS3 (yes, I’ve still not bought the upgrade and as time progresses, I’ll probably wait for the CS5 version now).
Graphic Basics – supplemental episode on Layers
Posted by craig in Photoshop Training on July 28th, 2009
I’ve just added a quick impromptu video tutorial on some of the features available in Photoshop for Layers, Layer Styles, Layer Masks, Clipping Masks, Layer Groups and Smart Objects.
Here’s the episode
Unfortunately, as this wasn’t scripted I realise I’ve missed out one of the biggest feature of Smart Objects and that’s the fact it can have non-destructive adjustments on it like Filters. You can edit the settings of an applied filter whenever you want by double clicking the filter in the layers panel in contrast to adding a filter to a normal layer and you only have Undo to save you. Multiple filters can be applied and subsequently edited at a later date with ease. Any sizing or rotating you do to the Smart Layer doesn’t effect the final quality as it would do if you’d reduced a normal layer in size, accepted it and then tried to enlarge it again.
Suffice it to say that there’ll be more detailed info in later tutorials specific to all the topics covered here.
Download versions
For easier downloading there’s a few different versions available (besides watching it directly in the browser here).
Right Click to ‘Save Target As…‘ in order to download them.
Enjoy.
Crypt Map Contest – The Arunmar Jungle
Posted by craig in ICE Rolemaster on May 16th, 2009
This is my final entry in ICE’s (Iron Crown Enterprises) Crypt Map Contest. Pictured is the cover and some interior spreads. This is the final Crypt Map PDF, click to download it. Information on the contest can be found in the ICE’s web site – ICE web site.
My final entry into the Temple Map Contest had a runners up prize and I’ve taken a different tack with this entry, I’ve made it a lot smaller in scale which meant it didn’t hit the 2GB max file size for 1 file and working on it was a whole lot quicker!
Click to see larger versions.
Have a look at my Sketchpad for more images and the process I went through.
Why am I seeing this banner?
I’ve included this banner on all blog posts that have used a Vue product. Primarily Vue Complete.
Graphic Basics intro
Posted by craig in Graphic Basics on March 29th, 2009
Even though it’s currently on hold (due to ill health), I thought I’d share the Graphic Basics’ intro here anyway as I was pleased with it.
Graphic Basics is going to be a Photoshop training video podcast initially and once it’s established, Adobe’s other programs – Illustrator and InDesign – will be featured
I look forward to sharing the coming episodes with you!
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About Me
My name's Craig John and I'm a Graphic Designer in Wales. I've been in the business for over 15 years now. This is where you'll be subjected to my inane ramblings as well as one or two bits of info from my other projects. CJ Productions, Criag's Sketchpad and from my newest project, Graphic Basics, a Video Training Podcast.
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