I've been driving in my car, beep beep...beep beep...

Yesterday: 2 hours in car.....45 minute meeting....2 hours in car....1 hour at home throwing food down my neck and finding suitable gold jewellery to wear.....45 mins in car....Stoke Park Gold and Glamour evening......45 mins in the car....1.30am bed.

So, my day yesterday involved a fair amount of driving then.

Although a busy and vehicle filled day was left behind yesterday it was really great, with a meeting to discuss a new banner image for the Limited Ink fashion brand and then a Christmas event at the beautiful Stoke Park. Guests were in fine spirits with some offering to drape over the grand piano and others even getting me involved with their group and including me in the picture! The rest of the weekend will certainly be filled with editing and more late nights, but cosy and comfy in the biggest jumper I own and with a wintery fire blazing. Ah, the first sign of sniffles from the Christmas Spirit bug.

Mad Hats and Mooooo's....

November for me is a month of madness with birthdays literally around every corner. My bank card shivers in my purse & I avoid checking my bank balance between now and pretty much February next year. Its the safest option and avoids an embarrassing and rather dramatic breakdown.

In a slightly 'fashion plus I have nothing else to talk about' post I went to a mad hatters tea party last night and am proud of the efforts made by all, in particular the birthday gal herself who decided (clearly while consuming high percentage alcohol and at a early morning hour) to make a rather imposing hat made from a beer box and other random mag cuttings. It seemed to have a theme per side which included a Tea bar, a Post Box and some kind of mouse hole. Needless to say it didn't actually stay on her head long as it turned out her head is a lot smaller than we all originally thought but it made an excellent centre piece for the table.

Getting back to the work front I have just done 10x £50 vouchers for location portrait shoots which are going to St Marys Primary school in Burghfield. They are going to go into the raffle so if you are there, grab yourself one and get some money off a shoot. I am donating 10% of any pictures sales back to the school which makes me feel a bit gooey inside because its a nice thing to do and the school is the nicest ever! It is so tiny and reminds me of that lady that lived in a shoe with all her kids. No i'm not talking something you saw on JKyle last week but there was an old lady who lived in a shoe. That story. Anyway its a delightful little school and I am proud to be situated in such close proximity.

Foto tip Friday to come: Skin and a collection of CS3 tips!

"A sensual & user friendly experience...."

......It says that on the box......and does it fulfill.......oh yes!!

Having brought a graphics tablet this weekend I have fully adapted already and I am a total convert!  Although yes it takes a little getting used to there are an endless number of programable functions, the pen can be as sensitive as require it and in terms of editing....well it just feels natural!  I am editing pictures better, quicker and more efficiently.  It really is a great start to the week!  Yes I am sad and yes, this excites me!  So what tablet did I get, how much was it and a few FAQs for those digital artists or photographers that may be looking at their options.....

WACOM Intuos 3 A5 Tablet

• Cost: £229.00
  
• Colour: Grey
  
• Size: 345 x 262 x 113mm with an active area of 203 x  152mm.
  
• Pressure sensitivity: 1,024 levels
  
• Connection: USB
  
• Comes with: Pen with loads of nibs (very impressed!)  / board / mouse / cable / Pen Stand / Install CD and if you need it Coral Painter Essential  

First Impression?

Ahhhhhh - I think I am in love.  Its so lovely and shiny.  Would prefer it in black but hey, nothing is perfect!  (Apart from possibly the Mac Book Pro!)

Easy to use?

Initially if you are used to using a mouse it will take a while to get the feel for the pen and the way it reacts with your movements and your computer.  It is very intuitive and sensitive and once you have spent an hour or two navigating around Photo Shop or Illustrator and the rest of your computer and apps you will wander how you lived without it.  It also has programmable function buttons down the side which is great, i find these work well when swapping from app to app.

Did it really speed up editing time?

YES!  I can honestly say in the last few days I have been far more efficent in editing.  The clone tool in PS3 reacts as it should, the pressure sensitivity of the pen offering far better control and manipulation than a mouse or the track pad.  It is quick to jump across tools and alongside all the key shortcuts my Mac works as it should do and work just gets done.  Plus it feels good while I do it.  Editing can be really boring especially if you have batches of things and this just speeds it up, makes you more productive & above all, brings a little fun back!

Own a graphics tablet?  Want to review it or let me know what you think?  Got other tips and tricks for Photoshop or editing photographs that you want to share with readers?  Get in touch - carli@carli-art.co.uk