10 Amazing Bets That You Never Lose

I love videos like this!  Though this is a bit fast paced.

Don't Panic! They're only Vogons

Left click to view full size image.  Right Click to save 600x600 pixel image.

I just love The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy!  I was just listening to the audio books last week.  Its a wonderful series of books that are funny, alive and a roller coaster ride of a story.  Now I know this is a bit early, but on May 25th, it's International Towel Day!  To help commemorate Douglas Adams and his books, make sure you grab your towel and wave it proudly! 

Seamless Texture - After Image

Right Click to save original 600x600 pixel image.

Remember those optical illusions as a kid?  The ones where you stared at an image for 20 second, looked at the wall and saw the negative image projected in your vision.  Those were a blast for me.  I would poor over as many as I could and look at them all.  I probably killed a few brain cells in the process, but hey it was fun! 

I've created a seamless texture of a B&W image for your enjoyment.  No real hidden image, but still fun to look at... for a few seconds at least.

This Seamless Tileable Texture (Wallpaper) is made by Patrick Hoesly and is released under a Creative Commons Attribution License. 

If you like this image, please leave a comment.  Thanks!

  

How did you make it?

This texture was made using software specially designed to aid in seamless texture creation.  Some of the tools I use are Photoshop, Illustrator, Filter Forge, Genetica,  Image Synth, Alien Skin, Topaz Labs, Allegorithmic and even good old fashion hand drawing/editing.

What is a Seamless Texture / Pattern?

A seamless texture is an special image, where one side of a image exactly matches the opposite side, so that the edges blend into each other when repeated.   Seamless textures are used for desktop wallpaper, webpage backgrounds, video games, Photoshop fills and in 3D rendering programs.

More optical after effects can be found HERE

Reddit Hiking and Backpacking

If you enjoy hiking, like I do, or just some weekend walking then you should check out Reddit's Hiking Sub.  Lots of wonderful photos and advice on places to hike and gear to take with you.   It's also a friendly place where you can ask a questions regarding hiking and gear. 

If you are into more serious hiking, take a look at the Backpacking forum.

Navigating without a map

New blog for you to check out.  It's still new, but there is a collection of inspirational thoughts regarding life and health.
http://thenourishedsoul.ca/

Sketchup to Photoshop: Illustration tutorial looking at Ambient Occlusion

Photorealistic Architectural Rendering - Compositing Photoshop

Sketchup night rendering tutorial using Photoshop

Cool Kickstarter project to use Trekking Poles as tripod stands for your digital camera or phone.

Polepod: The missing 10% that transforms the hiking, ski, or tent poles you already have into a functional tripod

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1312251870/polepod-uses-the-poles-you-already-have-to-make-a?ref=live

ScanCard Systems

The Card system is a staple of my todo system... however they went away for about 5 years.  And now they ARE BACK!  Read a full review of the system I wrote several years back.

Check out a great review over at DIY
Buy them here.
or buy them and a nice leather organizer here.

Interior Computer Rendering - Photo Realistic

Interior Computer Rendering - Photo Realistic, a photo by Patrick Hoesly on Flickr.

- Interior computer rendering with an Painted Style process applied to the image. The next image shows an artistic style applied to this rendering.
- An interesting thing is you can see how I struggled with this very model about a year ago using Twilight Rendering Engine. www.flickr.com/photos/zooboing/5159677375/in/set-72157625... Twilight was (and still is) a very powerful rendering software, however I could never seem to get images that were nicely lighted... like I can now! KAPOW!

- Modeled with Sketchup and rendered with Shaderlight.
- Post work with Photoshop and Topaz Labs.
- Image is Copyrighted.

About Patrick Hoesly:
I’m a graphic illustrator, specializing in architectural illustrations and graphic design. I work with Game Designers, Architects, Interior Designers, and Landscape Architects, to help them visualize and sell their projects…. Basically, I get paid to play!!! Cool, Huh?
See more of my work at, www.ZooBoing.com

Shaderlight V2.4 Released

ARTVPS, makers of Shaderlight, has just released the next point version of their flagship rendering software.  Version 2.4 is expected to reduce memory requirements and improve rendering speeds.

"Users of Shaderlight can now render faster and more efficiently, thanks to the release of version 2.4 of the leading interactive and intuitive rendering plug-in to SketchUp.

Available to download from today, this latest update to Shaderlight delivers dramatically improved export and rendering performance to users when rendering complex components such as trees from 3D Warehouse or using Replace Me functionality.  In tests, Shaderlight 2.4 has reduced memory usage up to 90%."

  ZooBoing Illustrations will do a test of the new software and will report its findings here.  Stay tuned!

My Work is Available on TurboSquid!!!

I have provided larger copies of select textures on TurboSquid for those who want a larger version of the textures.  If you need a much higher resolution than I've uploaded, please contact me directly patrick at ZooBoing.com and I'll create one for you!

• Some of my textures are free, others are for sale… at reasonable market prices. (sorry, I also have to eat).
• Note: Some of my Flickr pages link directly to the larger textures, however due to volume and my limited schedule, others are linked to here... which contains a link to my main TurboSquid page.  http://www.turbosquid.com/Search/Artists/ZooBoing (then use the search feature).

Star Wars Alphabet!!!

Star Wars Alphabet... Just Damn Cool!!!

Real Time, Digital Water Pool

I ran across an animated, digital pool Website.  It lets the user pick up a ball and move it around a digital pool of water... with all the effects, splashes, and waves.  Really Cool Stuff!!!

http://madebyevan.com/webgl-water/

Backpacking tent care

Good backpacking tent care advice by REI.

http://www.rei.com/expertadvice/articles/caring+tent.html

Help Fund RISK! a funny funny podcast!

http://www.indiegogo.com/Keep-RISK-Running

Netflix freezing on iPad... and the Fix!

Netflix kept freezing up / locking up on my iPad every time I used it. This started yesterday and did it for every freaking show... but only on my iPad... not on the computer, iPhone or Wii. So what gives? Networking glitch with the iPad. All I had to do was reset my network connection and all is well.

Here is a great description of the fix!

Magic iPhone

Magic iPhone, a photo by petrus01 on Flickr.

Your smart phone, some tiny money, and a magic trick!