Homemade Canvas Stretcher

A taut canvas is paramount to the finished piece.

Be it the young kid who has not painted for more than a year or the painter who has trained professionally in art school, it is every artist's dream to express her creativity on a beautiful, white canvas. However, most artists would agree that buying a pre-stretched, primed canvas is sometimes beyond what their wallet will allow. This may make building your own canvas stretcher a necessity.

Benefits

Obviously, the first and foremost reason for picking up tools to make a stretcher from pieces of wood is the cost-effectiveness of doing so. No one would waste their time sawing wood and sticking tacks if it did not cost much less than store-bought stretchers. Another good reason for opting for homemade canvas stretchers is keeping the right tautness on the canvas. Often, pre-made stretchers are kept in stock for a long time. As a result, the tightness of the canvas is decreased; and a slack canvas, hanging on stretchers, is every artist's bad dream. And to top it off, there is always the satisfaction of creating something at half (and sometimes more) the price of professionally made stretchers.

Tools Required

The basic tools found in your work shed are enough to put together your own canvas stretcher. A set square, a saw, a drill, hammer, screwdriver, 1-inch chisel, staple gun with 1/4-inch staples, pencil and a tape measure are the basic requirements of the project. You also will need a workbench vise to hold the job down when you cut the wood and nail the pieces. To make the basic framework, you will need four or five planed softwood strips of 2-by-1-inch cross-sections, sized to required proportions, 1/4-by-1/4-inch beading strips made of a good wood, wood screws in a size of 8 x 3/4 inch and 1-inch veneer pins.

Tips

It is important to cut the woods in such a way that the cross-section of the stretcher is a rectangle and uniform in all points. If it varies, then stretching a canvas over the frame would be difficult and consequently, would also make the painting process difficult. For large canvases, it is important to make a central strut to prevent skewing of the frame. The edges of the frame components should be neatly drilled and nailed together so that there are no splinters projecting out at awkward angles. You must remember: the frame has to hold the canvas without damaging it.

Stretching the Canvas

If making the stretcher's frame is cumbersome, stretching the canvas over it is downright difficult. The canvas should not be on the frame while stretching but below; otherwise, it slackens while stapling. At least a 4-inch-wide margin must be left off on the canvas beyond the dimensions of the frame. After stapling one side, apply an optimum amount of tension while doing the same on the other side. Always apply an acrylic primer in order to protect the canvas.

Prune Japanese Red Dragon Maple Trees

Japanese red dragon maple trees are ideal for urban landscaping, as they only grow 12 to 15 feet high. The trees have a natural fan shape that can be refined by pruning when the tree is still young. With their brilliant red fall foliage, Japanese red dragon maple trees are a gorgeous addition to any landscaping project.

Instructions

1. Cut off dead or diseased branches. Although you can prune Japanese red dragon maple trees any time of the year, they are easier to prune in early spring, when leaves don't completely cover the shape of the tree. In the early spring, dead branches without leaves are also easy to notice.

2. Trim the tree into a fan shape so the branches rise up and arch over, one above the other, without touching the branch below. Trim off any of the main branches that don't conform to this general shape.

3. Trim off any side branches that cross each other, or that cross a larger, main branch.

4. Prune off about 3 inches from the tips of the remaining branches. This will encourage the tree to develop side branches and enhance the tree's fullness.

Protest Issues

The American system of government grants citizens the right to protest for change.

The right to protest is a fundamental part of our American society. Literally enshrined into our very constitution, civil protest is a potent means of advocating for chance. If you want to voice your disagreement with issues, you have many means to do so at your disposal. Organization and research will help make sure your thoughts are heard in the halls of power.

Instructions

1. Define the issues you are protesting. Be as specific as possible. A topic, such as the need for more funding for arts education for high school students, is better than a more general subject, such as the need for more education funding.

2. Research the problem. An effective protest relies on arguments based on facts. Before you begin any protest, you should gather as much information as you can. Read books on the topic. Look up Web sites devoted to the issue. Carefully consider all sides of the issues in question. You should understand the argument that you are making and the details of the argument the opposing side asserts. You should be able to fully counter all assertions about your stance.

3. Investigate who is in charge of the issues. Some people and organizations can directly affect how an issue is governed. For example, a coal mining company may have enormous input on the way strip mining is regulated. A senator who is on a specific committee, such as the finance committee, has more say about fiscal regulations governing mortgages than a freshman senator in his/her term in office.

4. Map out a plan for protesting. The plan should include the change you hope to see, who to contact and increase awareness of the issues. Ask for volunteers who can set up a Web site or Web page that outlines you and your organization's views. Include contact names for people to donate to your cause and get in touch with you.

5. Prepare your arguments. When protesting, you should have supporting documentation to back up your assertions. When protesting in the streets at an informal rally, create fliers that outline your stance on the issues. The flier should be easy to read, ideally no more than a page in length and geared toward those unfamiliar with the issues at hand. Underline and embold important points that you think the passerby should note. Prepare a more detailed article for direct release to reporters and other members of the press. The article should contain quotes from sources, present the facts and provide the reporter with contact information for additional sources.

Protest A Patent Application

Submit a protest to the USPTO to challenge a patent application.

The Constitution of the United States gives Congress the right to "promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries." The Congress does this by allowing the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the USPTO, to administer and grant patents to corporate or individual inventors. Under Section 37 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) No. 1.291, the public has the option of challenging patent applications submitted to the USPTO if they believe the invention infringes on another person's already established intellectual property rights.

Instructions

1. Identify to which patent application the protest is directed. A patent protest must identify the patent application of concern by application number or serial number and filing date. If the USPTO cannot determine which patent application the protest refers to, the office discards the protest.

2. Compile a list of all published material forming the basis of the protest. Also called "information which can be relied upon in protest" by the USPTO, this list serves as a comprehensive list of all materials relied upon in the protest. Examples of materials to include on the list include prior art documents, previous patents, affidavits, court litigation materials and declarations.

3. Assemble all documents on the list into one package. Make a copy of each document listed on the information which can be relied upon in protest inventory. Be sure to make a complete copy of each document.

4. Complete forms PTO/SB/08a and PTO/SB/08b. These forms become part of the patent protest and serve as identifiers of the patent application in question and the material basis of the patent protest.

5. Mail the patent application protest to the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Compile forms PTO/SB/08A and PTO/SB/08B, the list of information which can be relied upon in protest and a copy of all that material into one package, the complete patent protest. Address the patent protest package to the Director of the technology center processing the application and mail to:

Commissioner for Patents

P.O. Box 1450

Alexandria, VA 22313-1450

6. Serve the original applicant or attorney of record a copy of the patent application protest. If you choose not to serve the original applicant or attorney of record, include a duplicate patent protest package in your submission to the USPTO.

Paint A Realistic Face With Acrylic Paint

A portrait of a loved one makes a great gift.

Painting portraits is a wonderful hobby and talent that can be used to create works of art. Mastering the art of painting can be difficult, especially when dealing with facial expressions and features. Painting faces on canvas is the best way to preserve your work and hang it on a wall upon completion. Acrylic paint, though it lacks the range of oil paint, is a common medium for portraits because it dries quickly and is easy to blend.

Instructions

1. Choose a live model or a photograph. A photo may be easier for beginners. It is possible to make a photocopy of the photo in the size you want and then place it against the canvas with a sheet of carbon paper under it. To transfer the image to canvas you can trace over the photocopy with a pencil, and the carbon paper will transfer your lines to the canvas.

2. Put your canvas on an easel and have your model sit in front of you, if you are using a model. Put onto your palette colors that are similar to your model's skin tone, clothing and background. Put your brushes into a cup of water to soften the bristles. Fill in your painting with colors that relate to your photograph or model. This will serve as a base for your work.

3. Start shading the face within your portrait to make it look realistic. You can do shading by taking two brushes; use a skin tone shade and another paint color that is slightly darker. While shading in the darker areas use the lighter shade to blend the two colors to create a realistic look. Repeat this process for all aspects of the face.

4. Create hair for your painting by using a fan brush to add depth and a flowing effect. Use a detail brush to create eyebrows, lashes, make up and filling in the eyes. Make sure to use shades that are light and dark to create a realistic look with depth. Use your model or photo as a reference point as you are working.

5. Let your work dry thoroughly and make corrections as needed. Acrylic paint dries in less than 10 minutes, so you will not have to wait very long at all. Making changes to your piece is easy, simply go over your preexisting work with more paint as needed.

Protect Your Carpet When Installing A Temporary Wall

Carpeting is useful in both improving the aesthetic value of a room as well as providing padding and warmth for the floor. Carpeting is pretty durable under normal circumstances, but it is easy to track dirt and other debris from outside across it. The carpet fibers trap the dirt and can make it difficult to clean. Indoor construction projects are particularly tough on carpeting. Protecting your carpeting while installing a temporary wall is not difficult, but it does require diligence and discipline.

Instructions

1. Lay down plastic sheets across the entire carpeted area, to not only help prevent carpet damage from the construction itself, but to also eliminate dirt and debris being tracked across other areas of the carpeting in the house.

2. Perform all cutting and sanding activities outdoors to prevent debris from falling on the carpeting. This also eliminates dust from the cutting or sanding from drifting through the air and dropping onto the carpeting.

3. Store all construction materials for the temporary wall on a thick furniture pad to help prevent the weight from squishing down the carpeting.

4. Vacuum the carpeting thoroughly as soon as the project is completed to eliminate any dust or debris that the carpeting absorbed during the process.

Determine The Value Of Lithographs

Salvador Dali produced many lithographs; this one was done in 1969 and is entitled "Merville and His Sons Reunited."

A lithograph is a print made by an artist on a press. Some lithographs are produced by machines today with photographic processes, but the original lithograph was made by drawing on a stone and printing from that same stone. Since the particular kind of stone may be hard to come by, some artists use the same process on a special lithographic plate made of metal.

Instructions

1. Know how a lithograph is made. A true lithograph is created from a drawing made directly onto a stone or a treated metal plate. The artist draws on the stone or plate with a grease pencil or crayon, which is then is treated with fat or oil mixed with gum arabic, which will cause the lines drawn on the stone to attract the greasy printer's ink and the areas not drawn on to repel it. Then the stone or plate is treated with a turpentine or solvent that removes the drawing. But a "ghost" image of the drawing has been bonded by the first treatment to the plate or stone. It is dampened with water, and only the blank areas can absorb the water at this point, since the surface has been changed to receive water (the blank area), or to repel it (the drawn area). The stone or plate is inked, and only the area of the stone that has repelled the water takes the ink, leaving the "drawn" image inked. The stone or plate is then put on a printing press, a piece of wet paper is laid on it, padded, and a board laid on top of the paper and the plate or stone with paper on it is put under great pressure while going through the press, so that the damp paper receives the ink left on the stone.

If there is to be more than one color, registration marks on the original image will be closely matched; for a second color, the paper holding the original image will be placed on the stone or plate with the second color and run through the press again.

2. Check out the lithograph for sale with care. It may be something else other than lithograph, even though the seller is calling it a lithograph. The value or price of a lithograph depends on the quality of the art work, the quality of the paper and how successfully the print was made. The reputation of the artist who produced the print sometimes has a bearing on the price and so does the reason the print was made. Many lithographs were produced in order to inform the general public of how things looked before the camera was invented, and many of these series of illustrations are now quite valuable.

Look at the paper the print is on. It should have a watermark, with a name, such as "Arches." If the paper is old, it will have stains or discolorations from exposure to light or water, unless it has been perfectly preserved in an airtight, watertight container, such as a well-sealed frame with mat. These discolorations are not undesirable and show that the print is old. If you want a perfect print, old or new, you do not want any discolorations, but these perfect prints will cost quite a bit more, if they exist.

3. Look at the ink. Feel it, if you can. If the ink is raised, it is not a lithograph, it is an etching. If you are not allowed to touch it, look at it with a magnifying glass. If the ink is flat, it might be a lithograph.

4. Look at the gray areas with a magnifying glass. If there are tiny dots, it is a contemporary reproduction of a print. The small dots are called "Benday dots," which are created with a mechanical photographic process that separates the ink in gray areas so that it will not saturate the paper. If the area is filled in, it is probably a lithograph, as the lithographic process (either with stone or metal plate) creates a rather smooth, all-over gray area that would only have natural irregularities from the surface.

5. Look at the signature line. It should be signed with the name of an artist that can be researched. If the artist cannot be found, there is a probability that the name is made up, which would make the print suspect, as it may be mass-produced. The signature is usually done with a pencil.

Look at the number. This is called an edition number. The first number is the unique number for that particular print, and no other print has that number. The first print off the press is usually the Artist's Proof (AP), so there may be no number, but the letters "AP." The second print off the press is usually 001. The second number after the slash is the number of prints made in that edition in total. If it is a limited edition from the original stone or plate, it is usually 100. If this number is in the thousands, it is not a limited edition. These numbers are usually written in pencil.

There may be a title written in the center of the signature line. The number of the print is on the left, the signature of the artist is on the right, at the bottom of the print.

6. Follow the steps above, and if each item is verified (the paper, the ink, the artist's signature and the edition number), you may feel fairly confident you are looking at a real lithograph. It's value lies, as mentioned, in the quality of the drawing, the quality of the paper, the artist's reputation and the purpose of the illustration.

Protect Art Studio Walls

Whether your studio is a room in your home, a garage or a rented space in an industrial building, you need to protect your walls against paint splattering. Choose from the many options such as plastic sheeting, kraft paper, cellutex or fiberboard, cork board, foamcore board or burlap.

Instructions

1. Apply heavy duty plastic sheeting for the best protection against liquid spills. Cut out glare by covering the sheeting with paper or fabric. Staple the sheeting directly onto the wall or onto thin strips of wood or moulding at the top and bottom of your wall.

2. Use heavy-duty kraft paper with a waxy surface for an inexpensive covering that you can also draw on. Staple it directly onto your walls.

3. Nail cellutex or fiberboard to walls. The cellutex, also called homosote, is painted white for a neutral backdrop on which you can pin up drawings and sketches. You can also paint directly onto canvas stapled onto the cellutex.

4. Cover your walls with large pieces of foamcore board. Pin sketches onto this surface.

5. Attach long lengths of cork to your walls or glue them first onto a backing, then attach. Use thumb tacks to post notes and sketches.

6. Tack up burlap for a covering. You can use pins to secure sketches to burlap.

7. Affix painter's drop cloth to the walls. The more expensive ones repel moisture.

Make Pearl Ex Powders Stay On Polymer Clay Beads

Jacquard Pearl Ex powders are versatile pigments that can be mixed with a variety of materials and applied to many surfaces. Pearl Ex pigment powders create faux finishes that mimic metallic sheens and shimmering pearlescents. Non-toxic, Pearl Ex powder pigments will not fade or tarnish. Mix the pigment powder into varnish, acrylics, wax, oil and most any liquid or viscous product. You can apply the powder to glass, metal, wood, fabric, paper clay and almost anything. You can make Pearl Ex powders stay on polymer clay beads in several ways, depending on whether you are making the beads or simply enhancing them.

Instructions

Handmade Polymer Clay Beads

1. Soften a section of polymer clay. Mix Pearl Ex powder in with the softened clay and continue to knead the clay. The powder clings to the softened clay.

2. Roll the clay into a snake. Cut the snake into sections to make the beads. The width of each section is the thickness of the bead.

3. Insert a needle, small dowel, knitting needle or skewer through the bead to make a hole.

4. Cover a baking sheet with tin foil. Bake the beads on the foil sheet according to the manufacturer's directions. The Pearl Ex powder will stay on the bead as it bakes.

Molding Beads with Pearl Ex Powder

5. Cover the inside surface of a polymer clay bead mold with Pearl Ex powder. Press the softened clay into the mold.

6. Sprinkle Pearl Ex powder on top of the exposed clay in an open bead mold. Press the powder gently into the softened clay.

7. Remove the clay from the mold. The Pearl Ex powder will stay on the soft clay bead. Bake the beads according to the manufacturer's directions.

Decorating Polymer Clay Beads with Pearl-Ex Powder

8. Mix Pearl Ex powder into clear acrylic paint medium. The powder blends with the clear medium, adding color and sheen.

9. Paint the hardened polymer clay bead with the Pearl Ex acrylic mixture using a paint sponge.

10. Allow the finish to dry on the bead.

Promote Your Children'S Book On Youtube

YouTube is a super way to promote your children's book! YouTube is free and can be viewed by anyone with an internet connection. YouTube especially lends itself to promoting a children's book because you can showcase illustrations while telling the story. Follow each step to successfully promote a children's book on YouTube.

Instructions

1. Choose your background setting to film your children's book video. It should be as simple as possible unless you are going to decorate a set to coordinate with the setting of the book. Decide if you want to video your book reading inside or outside.

2. Light the book well so kids or parents watching can see the illustrations. Be sure you're microphone is high quality so your children's book reading can be heard easily.

3. Choose the story from your children's book to be read. It the book is all one story, you may choose to read it all or only a portion, depending on its length. The maximum length is 10 minutes. Leave time to introduce the children's book and tell purchase the book.

4. Practice reading different characters with different voices. Do several trial runs and view the video. Are you portraying the children's book as you would like it to be seen? Do you need to dress in costume?

5. Shoot your YouTube video of the children's book reading. Re-shoot or edit it as necessary until you're happy with the quality.

6. The next step in promoting your children's book on YouTube is to log onto YouTube.com and sign up for a free account. Follow the simple directions to create an account, then click on the "Upload" button on the top right hand corner of the page.

7. On the Video File Upload page, press "Upload Video" and choose your children's book video. Your file can be up to 2 GB in size and up to 10 minutes in length. Your children's book video is now available to the entire YouTube community!

8. If you want to invest a little more for extra promotion of your children's book on YouTube, look at the Promoted Video and other Advertising campaign tips and options.

Famous American Western Paintings

Famous American Western Paintings

Famous American Western Paintings provide us with an insight to an ever-changing time in America's history. Frederic Remington, Albert Bierstadt and Georgia O'Keeffe are a few of the famous painters who depicted the American West through their art work. Famous American western paintings allow us to relive the past through images that have become immortalized.

Georgia O'Keeffe: "Cow's Skull: Red, White, and Blue"

Georgia O'Keeffe's famous painting, "Cow's Skull: Red, White, and Blue," depicts a symbol associated with the western heritage of the United States. The image of a cow's skull represents the struggle for survival fought throughout the West during a time of expansion. "Cow's Skull: Red, White, and Blue" was painted by Georgia O'Keeffe in 1931. The oil painting measures 39 7/8 by 35 7/8 inches. It is part of the Alfred Stieglitz Collection in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.

Albert Bierstadt: "The Last of the Buffalo"

"The Last of the Buffalo" was painted by American Western artist Albert Bierstadt in 1888. The location of the scene in "The Last of the Buffalo" is believed to be the foot of the Wind River Mountains in Sweetwater County, Wyoming. Bierstadt chose as his subject the destruction of the once numerous herds of buffalo, which by this time had been reduced to a few hundred animals still roaming the plains. According to Dare Myers Hartwell, Conservator at the Corcoran Gallery of Art, "The Last of the Buffalo" is a "romantic vision of an earlier era when the buffalo were still plentiful; the Indians roamed freely; and without guns, the two were evenly matched in combat," writes conservator Dare Myers Hartwell. "The Last of the Buffalo" was a gift to the Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., from Mary (Mrs. Albert) Bierstadt. It is an oil on canvas painting that measures 71-1/8 by 118-3/4 inches.

Frederic Remington: "The Stampede"

Frederic Remington's famous American Western painting "The Stampede" depicts a close up of a lone cowboy and horse riding along side a stampeding herd of cattle in a rain storm. This dramatic painting portrays the stormy weather through dark clouds, lightening and an obvious downpour. Frederic Remington painted this oil on canvas painting in 1908. Its overall size is 27 by 40 inches. "The Stampede" hangs in the Gilcrease Institute, Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Print A Screen Image

You can capture and then print anything you have displayed on your comptuter's screen.

You may have a number of reasons for wanting to print an image of what is on your computer's screen. Whatever your reason may be, you can make an image of whatever you have pulled up on your computer's screen with just a few keystrokes. Once you have made the image, you can then place it in the software program of your choice. You can then add additional text next to the image of your computer's screen, or use any options in the program to edit the image.

Instructions

1. Open the program or programs you want to include in the printed screen image.

2. Press the "PRTSC" button on the computer's keyboard to make a copy of the screen image. The key on your computer may be labeled "PRTSCN," and you may have to press the "Function" or "FN" key in combination with the print screen button or an "Insert" button to make a copy of the screen's image.

3. Copy the active window on the screen by pressing the "ALT" key and the "PRTSC" key at the same time. This image will not include they system toolbar or any of the other programs you have running.

4. Open a word processing or image editing program such as Word or Paint. Press the "Ctrl" and "V" keys at the same time to paste the screen capture image into the program.

5. Click the "File" option at the top of the window, then click "Print." Click on the pull-down menu at the top of the window to choose which printer you want to use, then click the "Print" button.

Print A Picture On Canvas

Canvas is a tightly woven fabric that holds ink well.

Printing a picture on canvas, or giclee printing, is a highly technical process that involves specialized printers and pigment inks. To duplicate the process at home, you can use a piece of canvas, your home printer and some transfer paper. The result is similar to professional canvas prints, but costs less.

Instructions

1. Choose a photo; it should be a high-resolution digital photo. The better the quality of the image, the better the quality of the final print. Photos can be black and white, color or even manipulated through a computer photo-processing program.

2. Cut and iron the canvas. After you have decided what size to print your photo, measure the canvas---adding an additional 4 to 5 inches around the entire perimeter. Cut the canvas and iron it flat.

3. Add corner marks for placement. Using a ruler and a pencil, make light marks on the canvas where each corner of the picture will be placed. This helps you align the picture after it is printed.

4. Print the photo onto the transfer paper. Choose transfer paper that is for use with your type of printer, whether inkjet or laser. With your printer set to high-quality print, print your digital photo onto a piece of transfer paper. The print will come out in mirror-image form.

5. Iron the image onto the canvas. Place the transfer paper face down onto the canvas. Line up the corner marks and iron the transfer paper according to the manufacturers' directions.

6. Peel off the transfer paper. After the appropriate time, determined by manufacturer instructions, peel the transfer paper from the canvas to reveal the image. Let the canvas cool completely.

7. Stretch the canvas. Staple the canvas around a wooden frame that has been constructed to fit the picture. Staple the excess canvas on the back of the frame, stretching the canvas as you go to get a taut fit.

Print A Design On A Shirt

Shirt printed with a slogan

You can print a design on a shirt using the screen printing technique, also known as silk screen. Designs can be prepared on paper or with a computer, then transferred to a screen frame coated with light-sensitive photo emulsion. Ink is put into the screen frame, and pulled over the design with a rubber squeegee. Screen printing leaves a bright, durable layer of ink and is perfect for multiple prints.

Instructions

1. Prepare a design to print on a shirt. Open a file in a word processing or graphics program and create a design. You can use words, illustrations and photos combined to create a design. Try different typefaces for the words until you find one you like. Try to arrange the elements of your design in an eye-pleasing way that communicates your message effectively.

2. Prepare your design on paper if you prefer. Scan the design into your computer, and open it in a word processing or graphics program. Scale the design larger or smaller if desired, and add type or other graphic elements.

3. Load your printer with clear vellum (translucent paper) and print your design on it, to create a film positive of your design.

4. Wash a silk screen frame, also known as a screen, with soap or de-greasing agent. Let it dry. In a dark room, coat with photo emulsion and let dry overnight.

5. Place the silkscreen frame face-down over a piece of foam rubber cut to fit inside the frame in a dark room. Place the film positive face-down on the silkscreen frame and tape into place with transparent tape. Put a piece of heavy glass over the film positive. Hang a halide light 15 to 18 inches above the glass. Turn on the light for the exposure time recommended in the photo emulsion instructions.

6. Turn off the halide light and remove the film positive from the silkscreen frame. In a dark area, spray out the silkscreen frame with warm water under medium pressure to develop the image on the screen. Once the image appears, blot both sides of the screen with newsprint. Place the screen in a well-lit or sunny area and let dry.

7. Lay a blank shirt flat and put a piece of newsprint inside the shirt to stop ink from printing through to the other side. Place the silkscreen frame over the shirt, and put a thick line of ink in the end of the screen opposite you. Firmly pull the ink toward you with a squeegee and lift the screen to check your print. Multiple prints may be made.

Print A Book Proof

Book proofs, or galleys, are used to check the printing of the book before the printer starts producing multiple copies. Many professional book printers will send you a hardcopy proof as part of the printing process, but some send only digital files. (If you want a hardcopy book proof, make sure it’s included in the price when you request an estimate from the printer.) Book proofs are also used as advance review copies to send out to book reviewers, magazines and industry professionals who might review the book. These proofs are usually bound, but they may be missing illustrations or other final materials, and be printed in black and white on lower quality paper.

Instructions

Print a Book Proof

1. Proofread your text before sending it the printer. Although you can make corrections after the book proofs and before the final copies, the printer may charge extra for any changes at this stage, so it’s best to catch all mistakes as early as possible.

2. Research book printers on the web. If all you need are simple unbound pages, you may be able to use a laser printer or a local copy shop, but if you want a perfect bound (paperback) book, it may be less expensive to choose a printer that specializes in book printing and binding.

3. Make sure the book printer offers all the services you need. If you only need a small quantity of book proofs (for example, to send as advance review copies), you may want to choose a printer that specializes in short-run printing.

4. Get a quote for your book or galley proofs from several book printers, based on the number of pages in the book, the paper quality and size, the number of copies and the time needed to complete the job. If you want book proofs printed now and final books printed later, you may or may not want to choose the same printer for both jobs.

5. Compare the quotes and select a printer. Make sure the quote includes all the services you need, such as a hardcopy proof if you want one and shipping if the printer is not local. Some quotes may appear less expensive than others simply because fewer services are included.

6. Follow the printer’s specifications to prepare and submit your book to the printer. Most book printers charge less if you send them an electronic document, such as PDF file.

7. Review the proofs carefully. Check for any last-minute typos, as well as any printing mistakes. Submit any changes to the printer before the final book printing.

Price A Lithograph

You're a budding print artist, and you put your heart and soul into making your lithographs. That's often the easy part--the hard part can be pricing and selling your work. Here are some tips for coming up with a fair price--one that pays you for your effort and materials but isn't so far off the charts that buyers will balk.

Instructions

1. Take stock of your costs. Analyze how much you pay for materials and how long you work on a lithograph. Create an hourly fee for your work--say, $10 per hour. Add the labor amount to the cost of your materials. The total is your base figure, which you can increase depending on other factors.

2. If you're an unknown artist, think about using your base amount plus a small amount more as your asking cost. As your reputation grows, so can your prices. If you already have sold some lithographs, you can factor in those prices and increase the amount accordingly.

3. Do your homework by visiting local galleries and looking at the prices for lithographs. Ask the gallery staff what percentage goes to the gallery and what percentage to the artist. Although you don't want to price your lithographs according to what other print artists charge, this will give you a ballpark figure for what the market will bear.

4. Be consistent with your pricing. If a gallery agrees to sell your lithographs for a certain price, don't undercut that price by selling them for less online or at art fairs. As you become better known and command higher prices, raise them everywhere accordingly.

Preserve Vintage Posters

Frame posters for display and preservation

Whether it's an advertising lithograph poster from the 1890s or a rock band poster from the 1960s, posters are collected by a wide variety of people. The value of vintage posters are just as diverse, some of them having a value that is quite considerable and continue to rise. However, posters were not meant to last forever, let alone be collected, especially advertising posters which were often made on the most inexpensive paper available. Because of their ephemeral nature, antique and vintage posters need to be protected from the light, dust, humidity and other detrimental substances. To protect your vintage posters you will need to either have it specially framed or properly stored away.

Instructions

Preserve Vintage Posters by Having Them Framed

1. Choose UV-filtered glass or plexiglass. This will protect the poster from the majority of damaging ultra-violet light from sunlight and florescent light.

2. Choose acid-free materials for the backing and matting. Regular backing and matting contains acids that will gradually deteriorate the poster.

3. Keep space between glass and poster with either a mat or molding. This will prevent any trapped humidity from adhering the poster and the glass together.

Storing Vintage Posters

4. Place posters in flat, acid-free sleeves if you plan to store them laying down flat.

5. Roll posters and place in acid-free tubes if you lack storage space to lay posters flat.

6. Store in a cool, dark and dry place.

Preserve Live Flowers For Keepsakes

Preserving flowers saves the flowers and extends your memory of the occasion.

The gift of a flower bouquet or arrangement often marks a special occasion worthy of remembering. Preserving the live flowers you received as a keepsake is a simple, beautiful way with which to commemorate the occasion. When done correctly, preserving live flowers is simple to do, and results in a keepsake that will last for years to come.

Instructions

1. Trim all the leaves from the stems of your flowers with a sharp pair of scissors. Cut the stems at an angle, leaving at least 6 inches of stem from the base of the flower.

2. Use rubber bands to secure your flowers for drying.

Bunch up to 10 flowers together. Wrap a rubber band around the stems about 3 inches from the bottom of the stems.

3. Measure and cut a length of dental floss between 12 and 18 inches long. Tie the ends of the dental floss around the rubber band on the flowers to form a large loop.

4. A clothes hanger makes a convenient place to hang drying flowers.

Loop the dental floss over the coat hanger handle. Hang the flowers, upside down, in a dry, dark location such as a closet or pantry. Allow the flowers to hang dry for two weeks.

5. Check flowers to make sure all moisture is removed. The flowers should be crispy and brittle to the touch, similar to an autumn leaf that has fallen from the tree.

6. Remove the flowers from the hanger and cut off the dental floss. You can either leave them rubber-banded together or remove the rubber band. Spray the flowers with aerosol hairspray to help maintain and preserve their shape.

Develop Anime Characters

Develop Anime Characters

A good character can make or break an anime. Characters are the focus of an anime itself. Because anime has no actors, it requires that you draw anime characters that take you in and make you care about the plot. Read on to learn develop a good character.

Instructions

1. Draw a face page for your anime character. This should include an entire page of your characters expressions, ranging from happy to sad to laughing, etc. These expressions can serve as a guide later on.

2. Develop your character's sense of style. In anime, how a character looks can often give you clues about their personality. Characters wearing a lot of makeup are more mature, for instance. Those who dress in T-shirts and shorts or have short hair may be very athletic. Give people clues to what defines your character's personality.

3. Compose a profile. Many artists identify their character's full name, age, blood type, favorite food, birthday and more in a character sheet. This gives your character a bit more grounding, and may help with ideas later. If your anime character's favorite food is ice cream, for example, you may want to draw them enjoying a sundae.

4. Create a back-story. Figure out what events made your character the way they are and who their friends and family are. Perhaps a childhood accident or friendship shaped the way they react to situations today.

5. Decide how the character will grow within the story you create. Truly developed anime characters learn something and evolve within their plot.

Preserve Fresh Flowers From A Funeral For Christmas Ornaments

You can preserve funeral flowers by drying them.

Flowers play a role in life's most significant moments, including births, weddings and funerals. Funeral flowers do more than lend their natural beauty to the funeral proceedings, they honor and celebrate the life of the deceased person and offer sympathy and comfort to his or her loved ones. Sadly, most funeral flowers are discarded once they lose their freshness. It is possible, however, to preserve the flowers from a funeral and keep them as mementos. Once preserved, funeral flowers may be utilized in other ways, such as to create decorative Christmas ornaments that pay tribute to a lost loved one.

Instructions

1. Pull the funeral flowers from the vase or container in which they are arranged. Remove the funeral flowers while they still appear fresh, before they have begun to wilt. Make sure they have not begun to shed their petals.

2. Check each flower for signs of mold, discoloration and rot. Discard any undesirable flowers.

3. Pat the stems of the flowers with a towel to absorb the water or wipe away any residue from the floral foam in which they might have been inserted.

4. Gather the funeral flowers in a bundle. Divide the flowers into two or more bundles if you have many flowers to dry. Keep bundles fairly small to facilitate fast and easy drying.

5. Tie each bundle of flowers with twine. Wrap the twine around their stems and knot it. Allow plenty of extra twine to dangle from the bundles so you can hang them upside down.

6. Find a cool, airy place where your funeral flowers can hang undisturbed while they dry. Use the twine to suspend the bundles of flowers upside down from hooks, nails or beams in the ceiling or from hangers or a rack in a closet.

7. Allow the funeral flowers to dry for two to three weeks. Take the bundles down when the flowers are thoroughly dry. Untie the bundles.

Converting Dried Flowers into Ornaments

8. Cluster together groups of three to five dried funeral flowers. Cut their stems to a length of three inches with scissors. Wind decorative ribbon in shades of red and green around their stems and knot it. Tie the two ends of the excess ribbon together so it forms a loop. Use the ribbon loops to hang the small bouquets of dried funeral flowers on the Christmas tree.

9. Group together several stems of dried funeral flowers. Leave their stems long. Wrap decorative ribbon in red or green around their stems and tie it in a large blow. Place the bouquets of dried flowers on the fireplace mantel, on tabletops or in other places for a splash of color and sentiment during the holiday.

10. Trim the stems of assorted dried funeral flowers to a length of two inches. Insert the dried flowers into a floral foam wreath form to create a Christmas wreath. Cover the foam completely with dried flowers so it is not visible. Hang the wreath on a door or wall.

11. Insert the stems of assorted dried funeral flowers into a floral foam swag form to create a Christmas swag. Cut some dried flower stems to a length of two inches and insert them in the front and center of the swag form. Push longer stems into the sides of the swag form to create an arching look. Hang the dried flower swag on a door, over a doorway, above a window or on a wall.

Preserve Fresh Flowers From A Funeral

Flowers have long been used at funerals. For some they are comforting, a sign of respect for the deceased, a show of admiration, or even a display of celebration. Some choose to maintain a memory of the deceased by preserving the flowers from the funeral or grave site. While many people will simply take a single flower to press between the family bible, others want to take it a step further by preserving flowers in a way that will allow them to be displayed.

Instructions

Preserving Flowers With Borax

1. Choose a box large enough to hold the flowers you will be drying. Remember that the flowers will dry in the shape that they are placed in the box.

2. Strain the borax to remove all lumps. Mix 1 part silica gel to 4 parts borax. Pour some of the mixture into the box, covering the bottom of the box at least 1-inch deep.

3. Cut the stems from the flowers if you want. Lay the flowers on the layer of borax/gel mixture. Pour in more of the mixture until all of the flowers are thoroughly covered. Flowers can be placed on top of each other, with layers of the borax/gel mixture in between.

4. Gently shake the box so that the borax/gel mixture fills all of the air pockets around the flowers. Add more of the mixture if needed to make sure all of the flowers are thoroughly covered.

5. Seal the box with tape and store in a dry place. Do not store outdoors.

6. Check your flowers after two weeks. Carefully remove one blossom to see if it is dry. If not, return to the carton and reseal. It can take another two weeks, for a total of four weeks, for your flowers to dry completely.

7. Carefully and gently remove the flowers from the powder when they are dry. Gently blow off any powder on the blossoms. If necessary, use a very soft brush to gently remove any remaining borax/gel mixture.

Preserving Flowers by Air Drying

8. Choose the flowers you will be drying. If necessary, cut the stems so the flowers can be placed in your desired arrangement.

9. Gather the flowers into a bouquet. Cut a length of twine that will allow you to wrap it several times around the stems, tie a knot and leave you an additional length of approximately 12 inches.

10. Wrap the twine several times around the stems and tie a knot. Using the remaining length of twine, hang the flowers upside down from a hanger.

11. Hang the flowers in a place where they can dry, undisturbed for two to three weeks. The area should be dark, as sunlight can fade the flower colors as they dry. The flowers should also be hung in a place where they will remain untouched during this time, as it is easy for the petals to become loose or fall off.

12. Place the dried flowers on a paper towel. Spray the flowers with hairspray, holding the can approximately 10 inches away. Allow the hairspray to dry thoroughly before placing your dried arrangement in a container of choice.

Preserve Flowers With Glycerine

Preserve Flowers With Glycerine

There are several ways to preserve your favorite flowers, one of which is submersing the stems in a solution of glycerine. Flowers preserved this way are supple and very long-lasting.

Instructions

1. Buy liquid glycerine made especially for preserving flowers and foliage at a crafts store or on the Internet.

2. Cut mature flowers from your garden. Tender new growth will not absorb the glycerine.

3. Harvest the flowers in the morning hours, after the dew has evaporated off the petals and foliage.

4. Wipe away any dust or dirt from the surfaces and remove any imperfect leaves, petals or stems.

5. Crush the stems 2 inches up from the cut end using a hammer or the handle end of your clippers.

6. Heat the liquid glycerine to 130 to 140 degrees F in a microwave oven or in a double boiler. Leave the preservative in the original wide-mouth bottle.

7. Insert the cut stems into the container of glycerine. Allow them to remain in the solution for up to three weeks.

8. Submerge small flowers such as pansies and violets in a heatproof container of warm glycerine.

9. Watch the flowers carefully for changes in coloring and darkening of the veins. Remove from the preserver when the petals are supple and there is no sign of brittleness.

Preserve Flowers In Acrylic

Air dried flowers shrink as the moisture evaporates.

Preserving flowers in acrylic retains the color and shape of the blossom. The acrylic stiffens the petals and provides a protective coating that keeps the petals from fading in the light. To preserve a flower in acrylic, you must first prepare the blooms by air drying them. You can also dry the flowers in sand or silica gel, which is much faster than air drying.

Instructions

1. Hold the flowers in small bunches of no more than three flowers. Wrap the end of the fishing line around the end of the stems of the bunch and tie a secure knot. Cut a length of fishing line that is 1 foot long.

2. Wrap the loose end of the fishing line around a nail in a cool, dark place. Leave the flowers hanging to dry for one to three weeks, depending on the size of the flowers. Keep the flowers out of the sun to prevent the colors from fading. The flowers are completely dry if they rustle when you touch them.

3. Take the flowers off the nail and cut off the fishing line. Place the flowers on a flat surface so they don't touch. Spray them with a coat of the acrylic craft spray so the entire surface is covered. Let them dry according to the directions on the can.

4. Turn the flowers over and spray the other side. Let them dry.

Preserve Flowers By Dipping

Preserve flowers by dipping them in paraffin wax.

Preserving flowers allows you to enjoy their beauty for much longer than their initial life span. Once flowers are cut, they die relatively quickly. Paraffin wax is an easy way to preserve your flowers, whether for display purposes or as keepsakes.

Instructions

1. Line a large baking sheet with waxed paper. This will be used to place the dipped flowers on.

2. Melt two cups of paraffin wax in a double boiler over medium heat, stirring constantly. If you don't have a double boiler, place about ½ cup of water into a large saucepan, then put a smaller saucepan in the larger one. Put the paraffin wax in the smaller saucepan to melt.

3. Remove the double boiler or pan from the heat. Dip the flowers into the wax one at a time and twirl them around by the stem until the entire blossom is covered with a moderate coating of wax. You can also dip the leaves and stems if you wish.

4. Shake off the excess wax from the flower immediately after dipping. Lay the flower on the waxed paper.

5. Put the baking sheet into the refrigerator for several hours until the wax hardens.

Preserve Flowers At Home

Preserve flowers from a special occasion.

Flowers often hold special memories of events or moments in your life that you want to remember always. A good way of doing this is preserving a few of the flowers to keep in a scrapbook or memory box. Preserving flowers is not difficult to do; there are several different methods. Air drying and pressing are the most popular methods and require few supplies. They do, however, take time to complete.

Instructions

Air Drying Method

1. Strip the leaves from the stems of the flowers and discard them.

2. Tie several flowers together at the bottom of the stems in a small bundle with string or thin twine. Leave a long tail of string to allow you to tie the bundle to something.

3. Hang flowers upside-down from a hook or hanger and place in a dark, dry area, such as a pantry or closet.

4. Check flowers after one week for moisture. It will take two weeks on average for flowers to dry completely.

5. Display flowers in any way you choose once they are completely dry.

Pressing Method

6. Place flowers inside several sheets of newspaper so that they are not touching.

7. Place the newspaper and flowers inside a thick book such as a large phone book or encyclopedia or place a heavy flat object on top of the newspapers and leave in place.

8. Wait two to four weeks before removing the flower. It is best to wait at least a month to ensure that the flower is completely dried.

9. Display the flower in a scrapbook or frame.

Preserve Children'S Artwork

Preserve Children's Artwork

Preserving your children's artwork is a natural part of being a parent. Children's artwork serves as a physical reminder of their childhood and can often trigger long forgotten memories. You can follow these tips to preserve your children's artwork for years.

Instructions

1. Enlist your child to help you decide which pieces of art you should preserve and which pieces you should not. Children are likely to tell you what they consider to be their best work.

2. Invest in a three-ring binder. Place your children's artwork in plastic sleeves and keep them in the binder. Label the artwork by date and keep older art in front of the binder so that you will be able to easily flip through the art and see your child's artistic progression.

3. Get a scrapbook and acid-free materials like markers and papers to use with it. Mount pieces of your children's artwork into the scrapbook. Make sure to label them.

4. Videotape your children while they are creating art. Encourage conversation. Ask questions about their projects. Inquire about how they go about creating their work and what it means to them.

5. Take advantage of technology to preserve your children's artwork. Take digital photos, scan materials and archive your children's artwork electronically to free up household space.

6. Use your children's artwork in unique ways. Make homemade calendars and posters using children's artwork.

7. Store bigger pieces of art in acid-free, lignin-free and non-PVC containers.

Preserve An Autographed Guitar

Preserve an Autographed Guitar

Autographed guitars can be cherished keepsakes or hot items to sell to collectors, especially when the signature is that of someone quite famous. However, it may be easier to get the signature than to preserve it. Depending on what ink is used or what type of guitar you have signed, attempts to preserve the signature can result in destroying the signature, the guitar or (worse) both.

Follow the right methods to keep your autographed guitar looking pristine while still preserving the signature.

Instructions

Acrylic Method

1. If you haven't yet had the guitar autographed, make sure to have the autograph signed with an acrylic pen. Acrylic ink won't fade or bleed when sprayed with the protective clear coat.

2. Spray a fine mist of acrylic clear coat over the autographed area. One coat of the protective spray will work fine.

3. Allow the clear coat to dry before playing or moving the guitar.

Sharpie/Permanent Marker Method

4. If the guitar has already been signed with a permanent marker or sharpie, use a clear nitrocellulose lacquer to preserve the signature. However, you will want to test this method before spraying the lacquer on the actual signature. Make a very small mark on the guitar with the same type of marker or Sharpie that was used to sign the guitar. If you have another guitar made of the same material, make a very small mark on that.

5. Spray a fine mist of the clear nitrocellulose lacquer over the mark and allow it to set.

6. If the mark does not bleed and the finish of the guitar is not affected, spray the clear nitrocellulose lacquer over the signature. Allow it to set. One coat should do.

Storage Method

7. Store the guitar in a guitar case in which the surface of the autograph will not rub up against anything.

8. Keep the guitar out of direct sunlight if put out for display.

9. If you have children or pets, keep the guitar in a home storage center where it will be out of direct sunlight and will not be moved around.

Prepare Raw Oysters

Prepare Raw Oysters

If you enjoy oysters, try buying them fresh from your local grocery store or market. Learning shuck them requires skill, time and patience, but you'll be rewarded with a fresh taste of the sea. Crackers, lemon wedges and hot sauce often accompany raw oysters, usually listed on restaurant menus as oysters on the half shell. Besides being a delicacy, oysters provide many health benefits, such as helping to maintain a strong immune system, providing tyrosine to the brain to regulate the nervous system and improving vision.

Instructions

1. Clean the oyster shells with a kitchen brush. Remove any dirt or debris that could come into contact with the raw oyster. Use a kitchen knife to remove any hard incrustations or deposits on the shell. Removing incrustations makes the overall appearance of the oyster shell more appealing when you serve the oysters.

2. Place the oysters in the freezer for one hour. This will make them easier to open.

3. Remove the oysters from the freezer. Allow them to rest for 5 minutes at room temperature.

4. Hold an oyster firmly in your hand over a bowl .Insert the flat knife between the top and bottom of the oyster's shell. Use a towel to protect your hand when opening the oyster.

5. Twist the knife to begin prying open the oyster halves. Carefully work the knife around to the hinge muscle. Cut through this muscle with the knife. Allow the bowl to catch any excess liquid that comes from the oyster.

6. Hold the bottom part of the shell downward. Slide your knife between the oyster and the top shell.

7. Remove the top shell from the oyster. Move the knife under the oyster and loosen it from its bottom shell. Leave the oyster on the bottom shell to serve it.

8. Immediately serve the fresh oysters. Try serving the oysters with Tabasco sauce, crackers and lemon wedges.

Prepare Painting Surfaces For Acrylic Paint

Some surfaces will be easier to paint with acrylics if prepared first.

Acrylic paints are popular because they are fast-drying, water-based and have a variety of thicknesses or "viscosity." They are enjoyed and employed by both beginning and expert painters and can be used on many different surfaces. Many types of paper or canvasses designed for artists' use are already prepared for accepting the application of acrylic paint. However, if you're using raw canvas or a surface other than pre-prepared paper or canvas, you may need to prepare and test the surface before applying paint.

Instructions

Preparing Surfaces

1. Raw canvas may need an application of medium or gesso before painting.

Prepare raw canvas surfaces with Liquitex gloss medium and varnish, matte medium, matte gel medium or acrylic gesso. Use the medium if you want the canvas color to show through or use the gesso to create a flexible, non-yellowing white background for your painting. Apply gesso to the canvas after it is stretched to ensure a tight surface; one layer is usually enough, but you can apply additional layers to create a smoother surface. Apply the medium with a paintbrush, or apply the gesso with a brush, painting knife, trowel or airbrush depending on the texture of painting surface desired.

2. Paper can be prepared with medium or gesso.

Prepare paper with the same steps as you would for canvas; again, use the medium if you want the paper color to show, or gesso if you want a whiter surface. Tape the paper firmly to your easel, board or other hard surface before applying medium or gesso to prevent warping and allow it to dry completely before painting with acrylics.

3. Slick surfaces may require sanding before painting.

Prepare metal or glass if it is very shiny with 400-grit sandpaper. Cleanse the surface thoroughly so it is free of dust, dirt or grit before applying paint.

4. Sand only the area you want to paint.

Prepare slick Plexiglas or plastic by sanding the surface; if you want to preserve the transparency of the surface, sand only the areas you are going to paint.

5. Colors will be most accurate after preparing with gesso.

Prepare wood by sanding it for smoothness, cleansing the surface so it's free of dirt, dust and sawdust, and applying two to three coats of gesso.

Unusual Surfaces and Testing Surfaces

6. Test unusual surfaces to make sure they are compatible with or will hold the acrylic paint.

7. Apply some paint to the surface and let it dry for at least 72 hours. Wait longer if your weather is humid.

8. Use a sharp knife to score or dent the painted surface in a crosshatch pattern.

9. Place masking tape over the painted/scored surface and rub it firmly, making sure it sticks evenly over the painted surface.

10. Remove the tape slowly; if there is paint on the tape, then the surface does not have good adhesion. Solve this by using a different surface preparation or selecting a different surface to work on.

Prepare Images For Screen Printing

One of the great things about printing, and screen printing in particular, is the large number of sources you can draw images from. You can use computer-generated images or photographs or draw almost anything from your imagination. There are also a few different methods that you can use to transfer these images to the appropriate media.

Instructions

1. Start with a large sheet of thin, transparent plastic about the size of the screen you want to use. You can make one image almost the full size of the screen, one small image or several images on the same screen which you can print together or individually.

2. Convert computer images to a black and white format and print them directly on transparencies. Only black should be printed, since other colors may not burn onto the screen successfully. If you want to create a grey area, use small black marks like crosshatching (or print your design with grey ink when you're finished).

3. Photocopy books or photographs onto transparencies.

4. Draw original designs on transparencies with opaque ink pens. These are special pens designed to prepare images for screen printing, with an especially dark and permanent quality of black ink. Use a variety of opaque ink pens to draw lines and fill in areas of different sizes.

5. Trace simple images with opaque ink pens after placing a transparency over the image you want to copy.

6. Touch up computer printouts and copies with opaque ink pens if the black areas are not dark or even.

7. Tape small images on transparency together with clear tape to make a large piece. The tape shouldn't show up on the screen.

Polish And Port Engine Heads

Performance engines benefit from port-matching to smooth intake and exhaust flow.

The first and most important step in performance-engine building, beyond simple parts replacement, is to port and polish the heads. Although a full port job is something best left to shops that specialize in performance-head design, a simple port-matching and cleanup is well within the capabilities of the do-it-yourselfer, and can yield substantial increases in torque and horsepower. The perfect time to perform this task is while the head is off and disassembled for an engine rebuild.

Instructions

1. Bolt the intake manifold and exhaust header to the head. Spray ink into the intake manifold so that it will mark the overlapping area on the head. Be careful not to spray too heavily, which could cause runs.

2. Turn the head over and spray ink into the exhaust valve pockets to mark any overlapping sections of the header flange.

3. Remove the header and intake manifold. Be careful not to smudge the ink on the intake mounting surface.

4. Install a sanding drum in the die grinder and grind away any overlapping areas in the exhaust header ports. Gently smooth and round the transition into the ports. Be careful not to grind through the walls of the tubing.

5. Install a stone in the grinder and grind away the marked overlapping area in the intake ports of the head. Don't grind too deep; leave the last bit of material for the sanding drum.

6. Install a sanding drum in the grinder and finish matching the intake ports. Keep a straight angle into the port; do not allow any hollows to form.

7. Turn the head so that the combustion chambers face up. Install a round stone in the grinder and smooth the valve pockets without changing their basic shape. Grind down parting lines and casting flash, and make a smooth transition from the port passage to the valve seat. Be careful not to touch the valve seat or valve guide with the stone. Do not try to make a mirror finish; just eliminate the most obvious roughness.

8. Clean the ports, valve seats and guides with the brush, detergent and hot water. Allow to dry, and oil to prevent rusting.

Album Artwork In Itunes Without An Itunes Account

Some people have an iTunes library to play music they have downloaded, but do not have an iTunes account. Account holders automatically get album covers or artwork with each song purchase. Non-account holders have to take a few more steps to get the album art on the tracks.

Instructions

1. Find the image you want online, and save it to a folder on your desktop.

2. Open iTunes and select the song or songs you want to use the art work for.

3. Right-click on the song. Click "Get Info", and go to the "Artwork" tab.

4. Click and drag the album artwork from the folder to the "Artwork" tab.

5. To edit album artwork for an entire album, click on the "Album" column on the top of the music library. Click the first song on the album, then hold "Shift" and click the last song in the album to highlight the entire group. Right-click "Get Info," the "Yes' when iTunes asks if you want to apply this action to multiple items.

Prepare A Movie Star Event

Rolling out the red carpet is an expensive endeavor.

Preparing a movie star event can be somewhat stressful without the proper auxiliary help and adequate resources at your disposal. The key component to the success of this event is planning for it approximately three months in advance. Half the battle is getting movie stars to attend, which usually depends on what the event is honoring. You're more likely to garner RSVPs if the gala is for a charitable cause or lifetime achievement award honoring a certain actor. Because of the many egos involved at an event of this nature, it is vital to remain calm under pressure and try as best you can to accommodate the diverse requests of the celebrities in attendance.

Instructions

1. Decide on the basic theme with your party planner. Although your party planner will be in charge of the majority of the details, you should have a number of bartenders, caterers and chefs' names in mind to facilitate event planning. Some of the more peripheral details, like invitations and securing a red carpet from a party planning company, are better left to your own discretion.

While there does not necessarily have to be a theme in the sense of 1980s or Old Hollywood, your decision-making also includes the type of cuisine and decorations featured at the event, as well as the best venue to hold the party. Your party planner will also assist in the procurement of music, lighting and entertainment, using her resources and contacts.

2. Coordinate the appropriate time for your PR person to send out a general release. This should be at least two months in advance so that you can anticipate everyone's schedule. Ideally, you should announce the event to the general public once all the formal invitations have been sent out to the desired party-goers.

3. Field any press questions through the event publicist. Bear in mind that there will be a litany of questions once you have announced the event to the public, so try to have some of the answers already rehearsed and written down.

4. Hire a sufficient amount of security for the event. Depending on the caliber of movie stars in attendance, you can gauge fairly well how much personnel you will need in this department. Most stars will prefer to arrange their own transportation, but it is important to have effective traffic control set up for those pulling up in front of the venue as opposed to those planning to park in the back. Barricades are an ideal method for crowd control, as well as keeping undesired paparazzi at bay.

Prepare A Color Image For Printing Using Photoshop

Adobe Photoshop is an extremely versatile graphics program that can help you prepare your color images for print. Making sure that your images are in the correct format and size is an imperative step in producing professional documents. In this article, we will discuss the options available and best optimize your images before you send them to the printer. Items such as color format, resizing and file format will be addressed, as well as typically errors and avoid them.

Instructions

1. Start by opening Photoshop. Click on the 'File' option located on the toolbar to access the drop-down menu. From this menu, click on the 'Open' option. This will bring up a file window, from which you can choose the image you want to work with. You can also access this option by pressing 'Alt + F' and then 'Ctrl + O'.

2. Once you have the image open, you will need to begin by converting it to the correct color format. Since most images on your computer will be in RGB format, you will need to convert it to CMYK. Red/green/blue is the format used by computers to display images with three colors. The print process uses a four-color process that utilizes cyan/magenta/yellow/black to create colors. Click on 'Image', located on the tool bar to access the drop-down menu, and position your mouse over the 'Mode' option to bring up the sub-menu. Click on the 'CMYK' option to convert your image from RGB to CMYK. You can also access this by pressing 'Alt + I', 'M' and then using the down arrow to highlight 'CMYK' and press 'Enter'.

3. Click on the 'Image' option from the tool bar and choose the 'Image Size' option. This will bring up the 'Image Size' detail box, from which you can verify that the resolution is set to at least 300dpi. If not, you can adjust it to the correct resolution for your project. Click on 'OK' to save the change. This can also be accomplished by pressing 'Alt + I' and then 'I' to bring up the Image Size detail box.

4. Make adjustments to your image. You can use the 'Crop' tool to cut out unnecessary parts of your image and focus on the subject to attain the desired perspective. You can also use the available tools to adjust the print size of your document, touch up image areas or clean up scratches.

5. Save your image. Do this by clicking on 'File' from the tool bar, then clicking on the 'Save As' option to bring up the detail box. Use your keyboard by pressing 'Alt + F', then 'A' to access the 'Save As' detail box. Typically, print projects are saved as .eps, .tif or .pdf documents, but you should check with your printer for the exact format they prefer. With the correct format highlighted, click on 'Save' to save your image.

6. At this point, your image is ready for print and can be placed into any project.

Prepare A Canvas To Paint With Acrylics

Prepare a Canvas to Paint With Acrylics

Although some people like to paint straight onto a rough canvas, a smooth surface is the more popular approach, and allows for finer details. Preparing a canvas for an acrylic painting project takes about 45 minutes to 1 hour. It's always a good idea to prepare a few canvases at a time so they'll always be ready when inspiration strikes.

Instructions

1. Place the rough canvas on easel or a flat surface. An easel is preferable as there is less chance for dirt and debris getting on it and changing the final look of the surface.

2. Smear a thin layer of acrylic Gesso, a base coat available at any craft or art supply store, onto the canvas using your fingertip or a wide blunt cut paintbrush. Be sure to cover the entire canvas surface once and let dry.

3. Repeat Step 2 a couple more times until the canvas is as smooth as you want it to be. Let it dry thoroughly.

4. Sand the dry canvas surface lightly with a fine grade sandpaper until it becomes very smooth. Use your fingertips to test for smoothness.

5. Brush away any Gesso dust on the canvas surface using a soft dry cloth.

6. Spray water lightly on back of canvas to tighten up the cloth a little before painting.

7. Let the canvas dry thoroughly and then paint with acrylic paints.

Examples Of Children'S Face Painting

Cat Face Paint

Whether your child wants to dress up as a certain character for Halloween or wants a facial souvenir from the carnival, face painting has many applications. The best way to ensure a memorable face painting experience is to have a sense of what you want to accomplish before you begin the face painting. Even for simple cheek decorations at a carnival, talk to your child about what design she wants so the end result pleases child and parent alike.

Full Face Designs

If you have access to a talented face painter, consider a full face design for your child. This approach is especially effective if you want to create various characters or costumes. Full face designs sometimes replicate an animal's face. For instance, to transform your child into a tiger, paint white, black and orange stripes all over the face. Then use black face paint to make the tiger's nose and white paint for the tiger's mouth. Other animal designs that work especially well with full face paint include peacocks, mandrills or clown fish. In general, any animal that has a brightly colored face with recognizable patterns will work well on your child's face.

During Halloween time, use full face designs for witches, ghosts, monsters, superheroes and more. For common monsters, purchase a simple face painting kit specific to the monster. Sold in most drug stores, these face painting kits include application instructions.

Some children may not want their faces to look like any specific character or animal. Full face patterns are popular alternatives to identifiable character-based designs. Geometric shapes, multi-colored lines and even replicas of nature scenes all work well as face painting designs.

Decorative Face Painting

Since full face designs require kids to sit still for long periods of time, many children prefer simple cheek flourishes. A butterfly or heart on the cheek provides the face with a basic decorative lift. Other good cheek decorations include sports team logos, superhero symbols or small items like balloons. Cheek designs are popular at fairs, carnivals and other locations where professional face painters offer their services.

Characters Achieved with Partial Face Painting

If your child wants to have his face painted like an animal or character but does not want to sit through a lengthy face painting session, focus on a given animal or character's most basic traits. To create a dog, paint your child's nose and mouth only. Or use a dog nose mask and only paint around your child's eyes. For princess face paint, focus on dramatic eye designs and add some rosy cheeks. While a full face design may look great, the basic facial features of various characters and animals are often sufficient when used creatively.

Make sure to take proper precautions if you apply make-up near the eyes or mouth. If your child is antsy and doesn't want to close his eyes, use an eye mask instead of face paint and focus the paint on the nose and/or mouth.

Prepare An Image To Print As A Tshirt Transfer

Preparing an image for printing on a T-shirt requires a number of steps.

Printing an image on a T-shirt requires certain preparations, many of which depend on the color of T-shirt to be printed. When editing an image to print on a T-shirt, other factors are also important, including file type and image size. Additionally, certain aspects of an image may need to be changed on dark fabrics.

Instructions

1. Import your chosen image into the graphics editing program of your choice. Make basic edits to the contrast, colors and white balance until your image appears correct.

2. Clean your image of any visual noise or static, which will help your image appear crisper when printed. Most graphic programs include noise reduction filters, as well as cloning tools, that can reproduce surrounding colors and hide unsightly marks.

3. Edit the colors of your image according to the color of the shirt to which the image will be applied. In many cases, areas that have colors similar to the T-shirt fabric can be deleted, since the empty space will create a smoother area of color.

4. Brighten the highlights if designing for a dark T-shirt. Dark fabrics often show through lighter colors, making them appear bright. Additionally, images for dark fabrics should be created with a transparent background.

5. Reverse the image according to the guidelines of the chosen T-shirt transfer paper.

Simple Folk Art Paint Projects

Simple Folk Art Paint Projects

Folk art has been around for ages, but with the boom of the art market in the latter half of the twentieth century, this popular means of expression has developed a network of galleries, practicing artists and avid collectors. Sometimes defined as the visual output of untrained artists, traditional folk art has had an influence on many successful modern artists. Following are some insights into simple folk art painting projects that can be completed in your home.

Still Life

Still life is an old painting tradition that can also be a worthy introduction to a folk art style of painting. Still life paintings can vary greatly in complexity, beginning with painting one solitary object or involving a complex composition of many objects found around the house. Start with one object and render that object in whatever manner seems most appropriate. You can use a time-honored subject, such as a vase of flowers, or something modern and offbeat like a yellow plastic flashlight. Composition is important and sometimes complex, but simplicity of form is also possible, depending on your subject matter.

Self-portrait

The self portrait is important to folk art, for it gives us great insight into how folk art can be created from something you see every time you look in a mirror. A good place to begin is by sitting down in front of the mirror and sketching the shape and form of your own face. Don't be intimidated by realistic art, just concentrate on recreating what you see on a piece of paper, slab of wood or even a canvas. Faces are everywhere and come with a standard set of features, and yet few artistic endeavors have yielded such complex, fascinating and varied results. The many self-portraits made by untrained artists radiate charm and originality, despite sometimes lacking accurate draftsmanship or skin color.

Folk Art Scenes

Recreating scenes from everyday life is one activity that has made folk art so popular. Drawing a portrait, a self-portrait, a still life or just a small corner of your home is a great activity for any artist, including folk artists, but the real test comes when you try to create the interaction of place and people that makes your own personal experience stand out. What is so fascinating about folk art is that even everyday people can make a simple event, such as attending church or watching a baseball game, come alive on a piece of paper or sheet of plywood.

Port & Polish Sbc Heads

The relationship between cylinder head airflow and horsepower is very nearly linear. You can replace the intake manifold, exhaust and camshafts, but ultimately, airflow through head determines engine power. Only replacing or re-working the cylinder head will allow your engine to reach its ultimate potential.

Instructions

1. Lay an old intake manifold gasket over your head's intake manifold mounting surface, then spray the assembly with a very light coat of white spray paint. When you remove the gasket you'll find a white ring around the port, which indicates the size of the ridge between the head intake port and manifold runners. Remove the area covered with white paint, and smooth the ridge to about an inch into your intake port. This gasket-matching procedure is fairly simple, and is the only one that you can perform with the head still on the car. If you're gasket-matching without removing the head, stuff a rag into your intake port with a dowel rod to keep metal shavings out of the cylinders. Just don't forget to remove it.

2. Repeat the gasket-matching procedure on the exhaust ports, but leave a 1/8-inch of white-painted material around the port. This step effectively forms an expansion chamber in the exhaust manifold, which creates a slight vacuum to pull expanding gases out of the cylinder.

3. Smooth the bowl area, which is the pocket behind the valve head. The bowl area contains an approximately 1/16-inch-wide ridge where the valve seat mates to the head. This ridge is a huge disruption to airflow, especially at low valve lifts where the airflow must stick close to the bowl wall to go into the cylinder. Run a cylindrical carbide cutter bit or grinding stone around the inside of the bowl area to blend the valve seat into the head. Do not polish this area completely smooth; the slight roughness in the bowl area will create a small amount of turbulence to keep fuel atomized as it enters the cylinder.

4. Remove between 3/16 an 1/8-inch material from the apex of the short-side turn, where the port starts to bend down toward the valve. Then, smooth the removed area about an inch and a half into the floor of port toward the intake port entrance. Smooth the short-side turn into the bowl area in a likewise manner, and repeat on the exhaust side.

Basic Picture Framing Methods

There are several ways to frame a picture, ranging in simplicity and cost. When deciding how best to frame a picture, consider your budget, deadline for framing the picture and what will look best with the picture you have chosen to frame.

Ready-Made Frames

Most big-box department stores, craft stores and art stores will sell ready-made frames in a variety of standard dimensions. Some of these frames will be made from basic plastic or wood, while others will be more elaborate in detail. When choosing a ready-made frame, decide what type of frame would look best with the picture. Consider the predominant colors in the picture and the subject matter of the picture. Frames that are heavily decorated will usually look best with simple, straight-forward pictures, such as portraits with flat backgrounds. Avoid purchasing a frame that will compete with the picture for attention. If the picture itself is busy, with patterns and bright colors, then a simple frame may be best.

Many ready-made frames will come with mats included inside that may be used with the picture to be framed. If you wish to use the mat, you will need to buy a frame larger than the dimensions of the picture in order to leave room for the mat.

Custom-Made Frames

Most art stores and portrait studios will provide a framing service that creates custom-made frames for pictures. The fees for creating these frames are usually quite high; even an inexpensive frame may cost between $50 and $100. These frames usually come with mats that set the picture away from the frame.

Custom-made frames are an excellent choice if your budget allows for it, because they give the pictures a look of professionalism and are guaranteed to match the appearance of the picture being framed.

Home Made

Home-made picture frames can range in complexity and may be made by children or adults. For an easy frame-making project, children can glue together pre-cut strips of lattice into a square or rectangle shape. Once dry, the frame may be painted and decorated with ornamentation.

More complicated frames may be made by purchasing straight cuts of wood from a lumbar yard. The wood is cut to size and sanded. Miter joints for the corners are cut, and the wood is glued together. Small nails may be hammered in around the edges to reinforce the bond; the wood is then stained or painted.