Blog 4, Creating A Logo With AutoCAD

February 25, 2013 by Andrew Larson

ZettaByte Logo

Lately, I have been in the process of creating a solo-band called ZettaByte, and I decided the best way to start would be by creating a logo. This was a new challenge for me; since I don't consider myself to be extremely artistic, I have never tried to create graphic artwork before. Having hardly used software for graphic artwork, I decided to start with software that I was familiar with...AutoCAD.

ZettaByte Logo In AutoCA

AutoCAD is a CAD (Computer Aided Design or Computer Aided Drafting) software application that is used for 2D and 3D design and drafting. I am currently pursuing a degree in AutoCAD, so I am very familiar with its tools. After deciding the basic look I wanted, the process was fairly easy and straightforward. I made some lines, placed some offsets, added a few fillets and chamfers, and voila!

Though I could have changed the line thicknesses and colors in AutoCAD, it was much easier just to save the file in a format that Inkscape (a vector graphics editor application) could open and thus edit it further there. With Inkscape, these changes were much easier to make. After modifying the logo, I used Inkscape to export it to a PNG file, 5000X3000px. All done!

ZettaByte Logo In Inkscap

Now that I have the raw logo image, I am able to just place it on top of any background and choose the theme for it that I desire.

Sunrise lighting up a unique array of clouds.

Blog 3, Trip to Wyoming

January 05, 2013 by Andrew Larson

This past Thanksgiving I went on a trip out to Wyoming, which gave me the wonderful opportunity to experiment and play with my new Canon Rebel T4i. Since all I had ever used beforehand was a point and shoot camera, I was interested to see how easy it would be to transition to a new EOS camera.

It was quite easy, though I wish I had used the camera a bit more before the trip so I could have been familiar with all the features it offers. Even using the standard Program setting, I was surprised at how well the camera could handle the different light/dark scenarios With my previous camera I would have had

to use the Manual setting constantly. Also in these scenes, I could maintain a pretty low ISO and still have a fast shutter speed, where with my other camera I would constantly have to sacrifice one for the other.

As for the trip, I was able to take some neat scenic pictures, especially of Mount Rushmore and some sand flats in Moab, Utah. In Custer State Park I was able to get quite a few pictures of wildlife, mostly of buffalo and antelope. Although there were prairie dogs everywhere, I didn't have a telephoto lens so I never had a chance to take a steady photo of these shy, yet noisy, rodents. (Laugh!)

Blog 2, Good to Be Back!

December 30, 2012 by Andrew Larson

Hey, Everyone!

It has been quite a while since I have posted anything on my blog, in fact this is only my second post so far here on Callizera!

Anyways, recently I have upgraded to a newer, more powerful camera, the Canon EOS Rebel T4i. Though my previous camera (Canon Powershot G12) had amazing features and was very versatile for a compact digital camera, I wanted to get something a bit more powerful.

Recently I went on a trip with my family out to the Midwest and was able to take many pictures with my new Canon, so I am hoping to include some of those pictures in my next blog...soon.

Blog 1, Along Alki Beach

July 26, 2012 by Andrew Larson

A couple of weeks ago I took a trip out to Seattle, where I was able to walk along Alki Beach. Alki Beach overlooks the city of Seattle and is a popular location for travelers and locals, as well as photographers who want to capture the beautiful beach, bright Seattle skyscrapers, and glistening Puget Sound.