scanning

This week we had to learn to use a scanner to help us work out how different resolutions and settings impact on an image. I have had a scanner for ages and have always just used the default settings so I was interested to find out what different things I could do.
This homework seemed easy enough to me. Plug in the scanner, choose a picture, scan it on a few different settings and you're done right? Alas no.
I plugged in the scanner. Nothing happened. No device being read, no icons popping up on my desktop. Nothing. After trying again, and venting of frustration I talked to my sister. It turns out that this scanner has only ever been used on my dad's PC and isn't compatible with my Mac. Thanks canon, really helpful. What ensued was several hours of searching canon help pages to find the driver to download, that would make the scanner work. I followed the instructions to the letter and once more it failed. Frustrated would be an understatement at this point.
Credit goes to my sister who continued the search until she found the blog of a middle aged English guy (http://helpfulstuff.blogspot.com/2008/04/canon-scanner-8000f-mac-os-x-canoscan.html) who told us how to make it work. Blogs are worthwhile after all!

My scanner automatically descreens. The first is the automatic descreened one and the second is the non descreened version.


























The second part of this homework was to scan the image at three different dpi's. From top to bottom it goes 75dpi, 150dpi and 400dpi. My scanner doesn't let you type in what dpi you want and select whatever so I had to choose one of the preset options.























































On an end note, I love this dress. This Proenza Schouler collection was amazing. Such great colour and texture. Wow.

http://www.garancedore.fr/en/

Layers

I'm finally starting to learn how to use photo shop. Its a slow process and half the time I really have no idea what on earth I'm doing or how I made something happen. But still. It's a start!
This week we started to learn about layers. The top left picture is my final picture with all my layers. The top right is just an example of what not to do. You always have to arrange your layers so the thing that you want on top is on the top layer. It is kind of confusing working out what layer you are in when you are working. Mine isn't a fantastic example as most of the images don't actually overlap
The bottom two images have had the settings on different layers changed. I am really not sure how it ended up like this, there is no way I could do it again. Still, photoshop is pretty cool.

Haute Couture should be fun, foolish and almost unwearable - Christian Lacroix

These are a few of my favourite things...

http://detourthroughwonderland.blogspot.com/

This blog by a New Zealand student is described as "Images and inspirations of a girl stranded at the bottom of the world."
It has a huge number of pictures from all different places and of all different things. Fashion shoots, cupcakes, movies, flowers, quotes, street style, apartments, picnics, clothes...
She has great skill in grouping images that are totally unrelated but making them work together perfectly. I can't help but feel a little inspired every time I look at it. I always finish looking at it wanting to sew something, cook, go for a walk, redecorate or do anything creative. It is guaranteed to put you in a good mood and make you crave cake on the worst of days.

http://www.cocosteaparty.com/

This blog is by a UK girl who has some really great insights into lots of aspects of fashion. This blog has weekly "hit and miss" reviews of celebrity outfits, runway reviews, interviews, magazine covers, red carpet reviews, editorials, polls, trend reviews, backstage insights and much much more.
She gives some really interesting opinions on lots of different things and often provides a different perspective to what I have which is always thought provoking. She is quick to update information and keeps you informed about what is going on in all different aspects of fashion.