I’m back in graphics mode! I just love what I can do for myself when it comes to making or finding the right image. It took a while to learn the basics, but I consider it time well invested. I learned how to manipulate images, create textures, and how to find out of copyright images so that I could build things for myself in the virtual world of Second Life® way back in 2006. The image above is a marketing image I created for a labyrinth I built in Second Life and then ported into another virtual world. I’ve sold it, given it away, and used it myself many on various platforms.
The image below is of a building and items I put together for Tucson’s Birthday in Second Life and am reusing the items I made myself in the virtual world I am now using for exhibits, meetings and relaxation. The graphics for the city birthday celebration were imported with permission by the nonprofit that organizes the annual neighborly, neighborhood event. The birthday gift was made by someone else as were the crates, but I made the espresso maker and the cake.
I just love this image. This is my avatar, Ana, from Second Life on a building platform up in the “sky” above the “Tucson’s Birthday” area. In virtual worlds you can build using prims, the basic building blocks of most virtual worlds, while punked out and sporting some formal wear. I love it!
Here are some graphics made for import into virtual worlds. First, an ivy covered frame I built from scratch.
I texture I created when playing, but that I have used for walls and floors in virtual worlds that I call, chocolate circuitry.
I couldn’t find a concrete flooring I liked, so I created a concrete-esque repeating tile texture for an contemporary design I built in a virtual world.
I don’t just design graphics for virtual worlds. I made this “award” that people can pick up for themselves for my site, Casita Gaia using iconic brushes in Gimp (Gnu image manipulation program.)
I coordinated the award with the site banner.
Cool, no?
Then there are the logos I’ve created for myself for different purposes. I used Art Text® to create these.
I’m also very good at finding public domain images for use on websites. This is a clipped version of the image I used on my Late Boomer site in the late 90s and early 2000s – I found it in the National Archives digital image collections.
National archives are amazing. I found this poster in them. Totally legal to use! At some point I will clean it up and restore the image.
Here is another public domain image I am using in my Arizona Centennial virtual exhibit.
Some public domain images are so fun I have to download them as I know that some day I will find the perfect use for them. No?
So much information can be conveyed in a single image. I love having this skill that adds “oomph” to my projects and writings.
update: 10 february 2012
