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June 19, 2005

Hold The Cat

There is a little someone who is just big enough to hold our smallest cat.

Posted by clappstar at 12:00 AM

June 18, 2005

Great Grandparents

These are my great grandparents - my mom's mom's mom and dad. He was the guy taking pictures at all the family events and trips. I am in the process of organizing and scanning his collection of family photos.

Posted by clappstar at 11:39 PM | Comments (3)

Preparing Digital Images For Video

These are some things to remember when preparing digital images for digital video.

Complex images may produce a flicker effect when used for video. By using Photoshop Gaussian blur set to 0.4 - 0.8, the flicker can be mitigated. Output black levels for video should be adjusted using Photoshop Levels, with output level set at 16 - 235. Readable font should be at least 24pt. Sans-serif font works best, and I have read recommendations for chunky fonts like arial black.

Final Cut HD and iMovie HD screen sizes by default are 720 by 480 pixels. However, the typical television doesn't show the edges of this well. In fact, to be safe keep any action within a centered space of 684 x 432 (action safe) and text titles should stay within 576 x 384 (title safe).

Video has a ton of quirks.

Posted by clappstar at 03:55 PM

June 17, 2005

Beach Profile

When you visit Discovery Park in Seattle's Magnolia neighborhood, make sure to trek down to the beach. The park is never very busy and has great vegetation and spectacular views from the bluffs. But the beach is typically empty. This was a beautiful Sunday morning around noon and there were only a few other families at the beach. Amazing how open and remote a park in the center of the big city can feel. Also, if you have kids or senior citizens, you can ask at the park ranger station for passes to park down by the water.

Posted by clappstar at 11:45 PM | Comments (1)

June 11, 2005

Little Wolf Boy

Blaise likes to play with the stationary animals at the zoo.

Posted by clappstar at 09:16 AM | Comments (5)

June 06, 2005

New Bike

She is a pro on the new bike. She learned with a giggle how to stop this weekend.

Posted by clappstar at 03:10 PM | Comments (2)

June 05, 2005

Happy 3rd Birthday

After mama made a yummy birthday breakfast of waffles and strawberries for Estella, we went to the zoo. We were the first ones in the gate and Estella got to feed the birds and ride the ponies. She was not quite the first in line for the ponies, but the kids in front of her let her be first when they heard it was her birthday. She took a long nap after our couple hours at the zoo.

Three years ago she was a newborn baby on a ventilator at Children's Hospital. Now she is a big girl. She sings herself "Happy Dirday" and greeted her young birthday guests with outstretched arms and "thank you for my birthday present."

Happy birthday Estella. Happy (Giving)Birthday Robyn. And to Blaise, good job with the army man crawl that you figured out today.

Posted by clappstar at 11:14 PM | Comments (1)

Happy Birthday Estella

Lex, our 7 year old neighbor wrote the sweetest little birthday card to Estella.

Posted by clappstar at 04:59 PM | Comments (3)

Backyard Bee

This little guy is protecting a nest in the backyard inside an empty birdfeeder. I think it will be interesting to watch this develop.

Posted by clappstar at 04:48 PM | Comments (2)