SARS-CoV-2 vs. technology

The Covid–19 pandemic has hit most European countries, some of them very, very hard. While the Chinese provinces and cities that were the first to succumb to this unforgiving virus are now slowly getting back on their feet, the hot spots are now Italy and Spain, with Germany, France, and countries like Denmark, Belgium, the Netherlands and others following. Only a week ago I saw some British tourists at a beer drinking party in Spain laughing it off. Now Britain is about to become the third hardest hit country.

Benefits and disadvantages of cloud backup and the alternatives

While backup strategists will tell you that a good strategy requires you to have a backup off-site, there is an alternative for freelancers and small office owners. It involves storing your backup in a different room, on location, in a safe enclosure. This is a feasible strategy for freelance photographers, filmmakers and audio producers.

How important are pencil sharpeners in the digital age?

How many of us still draw by hand? Graphic designers nor architects work with pencil and paper these days, but fine art artists still do. The tools of the trade include high-quality pencils, sharpeners, brushes, palette knives and more. And, if we’re to believe the many Youtube channels on the subject, artists lie awake at […]

Painting with Liquitex Soft Body Acrylic paint on Hahnemühle Leonardo paper

My second and probably last review of physical art medium covers Liquitex Soft Body painting on Hahnemühle’s hot-pressed Leonardo watercolour paper. Liquitex Soft Body can be used as a pouring medium but can also behave as a watercolour medium by adding Flow-Aid to it, while Leonardo is a lush 600gsm watercolour medium that you can literally soak. Leonardo is hot pressed and has a very smooth, satin finish.

Painting with Liquitex Acrylic Gouache on Hahnemühle Anniversary Edition Aquarelle

Producing visuals doesn’t always have to be digital. A lot of art and indeed, some graphics design, is still done the old-fashioned way – with paint on either canvas or paper. We tend to forget that modern art materials can just be as innovative as digital apps, tablets and computing platforms. And if you’re good enough to have your work on display in Tate Modern or other prestigious galleries, you’re bound to earn a lot more than what you can ever make from creating digital art.

Adobe will charge your credit card even if you cancelled their trial

It seems Adobe interprets the term “free trial” differently than most people and charges your credit card for the subscription fee even if you cancel the trial after a day or two, deactivate their software and remove it from all your devices.

The EU Copyright Directive and its impact

The EU Parliament has given its blessing to the new Copyright Directive which aims to strengthen the position of EU-based creators – filmmakers, actors, musicians, journalists and writers – when negotiating with publishers and producers. It should lead to a fairer system of exploitation of their works and performances, but a lot of people, including academics who have reported on this issue, seem to believe the Directive will actually lead to less available content, legal confusion that can be taken advantage of, and more censorship within Europe.

Microphone cables, why they matter

Which is better, a microphone cable that costs €15 for 10m or one that costs five times as much? And if it’s the latter, then the next question is: will you actually hear a difference?

How to create a mood with lighting

You can create a mood for a movie with background music, by creatively framing, but first and foremost by using lighting. A scene lit with a greenish tinted light comes across very differently from that same scene lit with a reddish tinted filter.

The importance of framing your shots

Camera framing is important. Framing can be used as a powerful means to an end in creating trustworthy or fake news. Not seldom is there a discrepancy between what you think is worth framing for maximum effect and what really counts.