ONLINE HEAVEN
THIS MONTH S ROUND-UP OF
LEFT: Can you get into
THE BEST OF ONLINE DESIGN
this year s Graduate
Showcase? Jamie
BLUE BALL MACHINE
Wood, Ria Dastidar, and
http://blueballfixed.ytmnd.com
Kjetil Bendiksen were
The subtitle here is  Classic GIF
just three of the students
returned , though we don t remember
to feature in 2006
anything quite like this. It s one of those
single pages that make you think either
the creators are geniuses or they ve
just got way too much time on their
hands. See what you think...
THE CLARABELLAS
www.theclarabellas.com
Not a collective, nor an agency, this site
insists in a slightly Mafia-like way. In
fact it s more an online group of like-
minded illustrator buddies, including
John McFaul, Fette and Michael
Gillette. Not much to see at the time of
writing, but more is promised.
Graduate
NOMAD INK STUDIO: EUROPA 2005
www.europa.nomadink.com
The intriguing tale of what happened
when one Brazilian studio decided to
Showcase 2006
 do Europe, visiting artists from Ireland
to Istanbul. A mix of photos, typography,
CALL FOR ENTRIES Design students and tutors: Computer Arts needs you!
classic art and new design from around
the US of E. Would ve been nice if the
It s time once again for the ensuring a global audience for each of this
images were a little larger, though.
Computer Arts Graduate year s featured entrants.
KEYTOON ANIMATION STUDIO
Showcase, now in its tenth Many previously featured creatives have
www.keytoon.com
year. This annual event gone on to launch their own businesses or
Showreel and portfolio from this
highlights the superb work of final-year have been snapped up by agencies. Pete
Spanish/Californian outfit, including
design students at colleges and universities Harrison, who graduated last year, now runs
work for Disney, Nickelodeon, Tivo and
all over Britain, with the best entries in each Aeiko (www.aeiko.net), has written tutorials
its own experimental stuff. It s mostly
comic characters, with some incredibly category being published in Computer Arts. for magazines and set up a clothing label
realistic still renderings and work with
 The Graduate Showcase is a celebration called Funkrush (www.funkrush.com);
illumination for 3D fans to go  ooh over.
of the diverse and creative work that while Kev Speck (www.kevspeck.com),
students across the UK are producing, said featured in 2004, has gone on to produce
FALLING SAND GAME
http://chir.ag/stuff/sand Computer Arts senior editor Paul Newman. work for Head, the FT and Toni & Guy.
An oddly hypnotic little web gadget in
 And with Computer Arts reaching over  The last six months have been really
which you draw lines to alter the paths
35,000 creatives worldwide, it s also one of busy, said Ewen Stenhouse, featured in the
of falling sand. If that sounds about as
the best forms of exposure available to Animation section of last year s Showcase.
exciting as, well, watching falling sand,
design graduates right now.  I m now represented by the illustration and
give it a go  there s a whole slew of
Submitting your work for the Graduate moving-image agency Jelly, which I partly
other options that will keep you fiddling
about until long past that deadline. Showcase is simple. There are six categories have you to thank for. The Showcase
for you to choose from, and you can enter as brought my work to their attention.
DESIGN TAXI
many as you like: Illustration and 2D; This year s deadline for entries is Tuesday
www.designtaxi.com
Graphic Design; 3D; Web and Interactive 18 April. Work should be submitted as
Because, you see, it s like a taxi taking
Media; Animation; and Video and carefully-labelled high-res image files,
designers to where they want to be. It s
Broadcast Design. video, animations, websites or stills on CD
a mishmash of personal portfolios,
deadlines for design competitions,
In addition to printing the best work in an or DVD. See our website for complete
news, web links and all manner of other
issue of the magazine later this year, we ll details and an entry form.
stuff, and though the design is a mite
also include the best animation and moving INFO www.computerarts.co.uk/
confusing, it s all good stuff.
image submissions on our CD and website, graduateshowcase
18 April 2006
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eBoy goes global
ADVERTISING Pepsi cans in China and taxi designs in London&
LETTER FROM&
ABOVE: Design collective eBoy s trademark pixel-art designs
eBoy s intricate pixel designs are known the
can now be seen as part of Pepsi branding across the world
world over, and now the busy collective can
The UK
add China to its list of countries conquered.
We tried to integrate the logos into the picture, but in
When soft drinks giant Pepsi wanted to publicise its
the end it was better to separate image and layout, and
GLOBAL UPDATE
Twist brand with a special edition bottle and can, it
use the original vector logos.
Darren Firth says
turned to eBoy via advertising agency Clot.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the world, select
there s loads to keep
 Pepsi wanted a small city scene with references to
London cabs now display eBoy designs courtesy of
your eye on in Blighty
lemon, since this advert was for a cola with lemon
comms company T-Mobile, through Saatchi & Saatchi.
taste, says eBoy (Steffen Sauerteig, Svend Smital, What s going down and coming up in the UK
 It was tricky to show as much as possible and still be
Peter Stemmler and Kai Vermehr).  We wanted to and Ireland in 2006? Well, a lot actually. First
relatively true to the real map, says eBoy.  And we had
stick with the Pepsi blue for the eCity scene, so the on the agenda is Candy (candyculture.net), a
to find a good working size for the buildings and the
night theme came up. There was also some testing new free magazine distributed via the web.
smaller details, such as cars and people.
with a pixel version of the Pepsi logo and can layout. The magazine has featured interviews with
INFO www.eboy.com
the world s leading talent, including Airside,
David Horvath, Gary Baseman and Faile.
Richard Seabrook tells me that issue five
 Obsessive Impulsive  is about to drop this
Imagina 2006 winners
month, along with another live event, Sweet
AWARDS Brits fare well at the annual visual effects love-in
Talk, and an exhibition with Habitat Ireland.
It s also worth keeping an eye out for
The Imagina show has come and gone once again, along with its Build s new limited edition  Symbolism
prestigious awards ceremony, which this year saw three major screen-printed poster, printed with glow-in-
British award winners. More than 530 entries from around the world
 What s going down and
were submitted, including 131 shorts and 59 commercials.
Top prize, the Grand Prix Imagina, went to Aur�lie Fr�chinos, Victor-
coming up in the UK and
ABOVE: Framestore s hyper-detailed advert
Emmanuel Moulin and Thomas Wagner for their CG short Clik Clak, for Guinness,  noitulovE , won the Jury prize&
Ireland? Well, a lot actually
concerning a couple of robots who communicate with knocking sounds
(with hints of the famous Honda  Cog ad). the-dark ink. Find out how they were made at
London-based Framestore CFC walked off with a brace of awards. designbybuild.com/temporary/symbolism.
 noitulovE , the evolution-in-reverse ad made for Guinness, won the In terms of exhibitions, Jon Burgerman has
team the Prix Sp�cial du Jury prize, while its work on CG squirrels for created a commissioned window piece for the
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory bagged the Best Animation prize. Angel Row Gallery, Nottingham, which will be
Aardman Animations won the prize for Best Publicity Film  displayed until 1 April. Also in April, the Pixar
ironically, for an ad that won t air in the UK:  Paintings for Johnnie exhibition will open at the Science Museum.
Walker, directed by Bobby Proctor and Pat Gavin. Other winners The show will go behind the scenes of such
included Blur Studio s Gopher Broke and Robots by Blue Sky Studios. greats as Toy Story and The Incredibles,
ABOVE: & while its work on Charlie and the
INFO www.imagina.mc Chocolate Factory won the team Best Animation demonstrating the science behind some of the
most popular films ever made.
On another note, I have it on good authority
NO INTEL FOR ADOBE  YET
from Clutter (the only designer toy magazine
SOFTWARE It could be a year before Photoshop runs natively on new processors
in the UK) that there s something really huge
coming up in May  a massive exhibition
Adobe has confirmed that it has no of Intel-based Macs for the foreseeable compatibility problems. Since Adobe
plans to release Universal Binary future  and indeed may run even more generally releases new versions every at the Blink Gallery celebrating the 40th
versions of its existing Mac applications slowly than on a PowerPC Mac. 18-24 months, an Intel-capable version
anniversary of Action Man. Up to 40 artists
before their next major updates. This Without specific Intel support, existing of CS2 may not be available until April
are lined up to customise their own figures.
means apps such as Photoshop, After apps on the new Macs must use Apple s 2006. Adobe will not comment on release
INFO www.wearitwithpride.com
Effects, InDesign and Flash will not be Rosetta emulation technology, which dates beyond this guideline.
able to take advantage of the speed boost incurs a speed penalty and can introduce INFO www.adobe.com
April 2006
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NEWS
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HOT SOFTWARE
Microsoft
PLUG-INS
Expression
XPress extended
Quark has released two new XTensions for its
SOFTWARE Latest pre-release
DTP package. QuarkXPress Filter for Spotlight
enhances the Spotlight search feature of Mac versions are now available
OS X by adding the ability to search within
Microsoft has released Community
documents. Meanwhile, you can use Output
Technology Previews (CTPs) of two
Enhancement XT (reviewed on p82) to create
and save multiple custom styles for printing
products from its forthcoming Expression
and output, either individually or as a batch.
range. Expression Interactive Designer,
Both are available free from Quark s website.
formerly codenamed Sparkle, provides a
euro.quark.com
Design for diversity
Flash-like environment for developers
and artists to create interfaces for apps,
DTP
COMPETITION Poster compo helps fight prejudice
removing the need for tech knowledge.
Quark bargains
In more Quark news, the company has
Its companion is Expression Graphic
An organisation such as the audience. The winning entry
introduced a promotion for snapping up the
Designer (aka Acrylic), a CorelDRAW-
European Commission, will be used as an A2 poster and
much-hyped QuarkXPress 7 at a bargain
style vector and bitmap app with an
Employment, Social Affairs and on flyers and adverts promoting
price. If you buy version 6.5 now (or choose to
emphasis on non-destructive filters. A
Equal Opportunities DG may the campaign, while the winner
upgrade from an older package), you ll be able
third package, Expression Web Designer,
to purchase version 7 for just Ł58 when it not normally get your creative receives a EUR2,500 prize to be
is due to follow soon.
ships later this year, via a coupon included in
juices flowing, but its new poster used to further education (such
the boxed product. It s likely the full products will be
design competition might. as buying new equipment or
euro.quark.com
launched to coincide with the release of
Breaking Stereotypes forms a financing an exhibition).
Windows Vista.
high-profile part of the EU s Another EUR2,500 goes to the
3D
INFO www.
ongoing  For Diversity. Against winner s university or college
Cinema 4D for Macs
microsoft.com/
Maxon s 3D modelling software Cinema 4D is Discrimination campaign and and the 30 best designs will
products/
now available for Intel-based Macs, says the
is open to all art and design feature in a travelling exhibition.
company. A Universal Binary version of the expression
students across the EU. The deadline for competition
package that runs on both Mac chips can be
The brief is simple: create a entries is 31 July. RIGHT: Expression
downloaded as a free upgrade for users of
could be due for an
design that promotes diversity INFO http://postercompetition.
R9.5x. According to Apple, an Intel Core Duo
autumn release
as a positive concept to a young stop-discrimination.info
2GHz iMac is capable of rendering over twice
as fast as a G5 iMac at 2.1GHz.
www.maxoncomputer.com
THE MONTH IN BRIEF
TYPOGRAPHY
Fonts for all
Rushes expands, the Aibo disappears, and the iPod gets too loud&
The enormous Monotype Library has just
become available in OpenType format: that s
: Good Month fi Bad Month 9 And finally&
1,496 faces, including 190 new fonts. Unlike
Type 1 or TrueType fonts, OpenType is truly Green grow the Rushes (oh) Mummy, where s Aibo gone? Talk to the hand&
cross-platform compatible and supports many
Veteran London-based production Sony has been restructuring since An American man is suing Apple
more character glyphs than either older
house Rushes is growing, doubling last year s financial rough period, because he claims that listening to
format. The OpenType Library begins at $3,499
its effects capacity and integrating and one of the victims has been an iPod can cause hearing loss. In
for a ten-CPU licence.
talent from fellow house One Post its robot dog, Aibo. The electronic the US, the iPod can output sound
into its offices in Old Compton mutt, that could (in theory) learn its up to 115 decibels, which, the case
PHOTOSHOP
Film star Street. Five new multi-purpose owner s commands and respond claims, can damage hearing after 28
Exposure from Alien Skin is a new set of filters
effects suites are due for completion to its environment, is no more seconds. John Kiel Patterson thus
that claims to recreate the look and feel of film
in April, using a combination of  axed along with other forthcoming alleges iPods are  not sufficiently
with digital photography. Various presets
Autodesk and Discreet software, robotic pets and the Qualia range of adorned with adequate warnings
emulate the characteristics of film stock, such
bringing the total to ten HD-capable high-end products. Despite the Aibo regarding the likelihood of hearing
as Velvia, Kodachrome and Ektachrome, with
suites and upping the capacity costing $2,000, Sony had apparently loss. It s not clear if Mr Patterson
accurate grain modelling. Other effects such
for telecine and 3D animation. sold 150,000 of them since 1999, but has any damage himself, although
as light temperature can also be tweaked and
saved as presets. Exposure is available now for
There s a revamped roof garden for when you re on a budget, there s no we predict some of the financial kind.
$199 and there s a demo on this issue s CD.
impressing weary clients, too! room for such creative fripperies. INFO http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/
www.alienskin.com
INFO www.rushes.co.uk INFO www.sony.net/Products/aibo technology/4673584.stm
20 April 2006
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NEW HARDWARE
CAMCORDERS
Shoot on DVD
Canon s DC40 is a new top-of-the-range
addition to its line of DVD camcorders. The
Push any button to start
DC40 features 4.29-megapixel resolution with
true widescreen shooting, including a 16:9
EXHIBITION A new collection of gaming reminiscences from top designers
LCD and viewfinder. There s a 10x optical zoom
and various photo functions, with the whole
caboodle recording directly to DVD-R or  RW
Readers of a certain age may have fond memories Pac-Man, Pong, and more  either as they existed then,
discs. Street price will be around Ł600.
of playing early home computer games with their or envisioning how they might look now. The results
www.canon.co.uk
crude but ingenious graphics. Now a group of digital range across all media from digital to physical to
artists from around the world has managed to recreate sculpture, with names as Steve Purcell, Ashley Wood
PRINTERS
those memories  with a twist  for a new design and Chip Wass contributing.
New from HP
exhibition called I Am 8-Bit. I Am 8-Bit 2006 runs from 18 April to 19 May at
HP has announced two new A4 photo printers,
the Deskjet 6980 (with wireless 802.11b/g
The brief was simple: create a piece of art based on Gallery Nineteen Eighty Eight in Hollywood, CA. A
interface) and the 6940. Claimed resolution is
your memories of old video games. More than 100 book of artwork will be published by Chronicle Books.
4,800dpi with a six-colour process and an
artists responded with their visions of Donkey Kong, INFO www.iam8bit.net, www.chroniclebooks.com
optional three-colour ink cartridge. Print
speeds are quoted at 36ppm monochrome and
27ppm colour. The Deskjet 6980 costs Ł118,
DESIGN FOR ALL
with the 6940 at Ł100.
COMPETITION The challenge of designing for the challenged welcome.hp.com/country/uk/en
The Design Business Association s is a graphic design package that enables
3D SCANNERS
Inclusive Design Challenge 2005-6, anyone with normal vision to view how art
High-cost scanning
sponsored by Scope, was created to will look to someone with cataracts,
The Desktop 3D Scanner from NextEngine is
highlight the importance of inclusive design: dyslexia or other visual impairments.
just that: a physical object scanner small
catering for the needs of people with sight, Design consultancy Matter redesigned
enough to use at your desk. It s about the size
mobility, dexterity or other problems. the fire extinguisher, and a creative team
of a cereal box and connects directly to a PC
The competition s diverse shortlist from IBM devised a standardised labelling
via USB 2, with NextEngine claiming accuracy
showed how designers could tackle this system for food products that can take into
down to 0.005 of an inch. Even more interesting
approach in ingenious ways. For instance, account a huge range of varying needs. ABOVE: Consider reveals how an image
is the price: $2,495.
Consider, the winning entry by Wire Design, INFO www.dba.org.uk will look to those with visual impairments
www.nextengine.com
DISPLAYS
That s magic!
GLOBAL EVENTS
Samsung s new SyncMaster 20.1-inch LCD
boasts magic powers  or at least a colour
Our round-up of design events across the world
enhancement technology called MagicTune.
ADIM 9 animation professionals on a range of Three different modes  Intelligent, Full, and
California, USA new technology and techniques.
Demo  can enhance various colour aspects,
29 March-1 April www.cartoon-media.be
such as showing original and improved
The Art Directors Invitational Masterclass
images at once. The SyncMaster 204B has a
is an annual event covering all of Adobe s NAB 2006
resolution of 1,600x1,200 with a 800:1 contrast
products. Russell Brown from Adobe will, Las Vegas, USA
ratio and a claimed response time of 5ms.
as always, be there dispensing his unique 22-27 April
developers and artists to peruse the latest
Street price is around Ł400.
style of teaching, along with other The National Association of Broadcasters
developments, do some networking and
www.samsung.com
luminaries from the design world. A annual show is the must-attend event for
have a good time in the process.
separate Photoshop Tips and Tricks anyone involved in TV, film or other
www.e3expo.com
DIGICAMS
Workshop takes place on 29 March. broadcast media  making it the biggest
New from Canon
www.adimconference.com media show in the world. Check out
THE INDESIGN CONFERENCE
Canon s EOS 30D is the follow-up to its popular
exciting new kit from major names and
Chicago, USA
20D SLR digicam, packing a resolution of 8.2
CARTOON FUTURE 2006 attend conferences.
16-18 May
megapixels with a 2.5-inch screen. Canon says
Vigo, Spain www.nabshow.com
Experts, developers and authors are
the shutter mechanism is more durable than
20-22 April
invited to this event covering everything
before, while the spot meter has been refined
One of several events hosted by the ELECTRONIC ENTERTAINMENT EXPO
InDesign. Layout, tips and tricks, advanced
to just 3.5 per cent of the view area. The EOS
European Association of Animated Film, Los Angeles, USA
technical processes and more will be
Cartoon Future will be focusing on 10-12 May 30D costs Ł1,100 for the body only or Ł1,180
covered, so you re bound to learn
 animation in the new digital media . E3 may be huge, noisy and confusing, but with the Canon EF-S 18-55mm lens.
something you didn t know before.
Expect presentations and discussion from it s still an excellent place for games
www.theindesignconference.com www.canon.co.uk
April 2006
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