Smart Idea Search Results

How To: Find surface area of a prism using a specific example

In this video, we learn how to find the surface area of a prism using a specific example. First you will need to find the base and height of your prism. If the base edge is 6 and the height is 8 you will do the equation Area= 1/2 bh. Doing this math out on your calculator, you will get the answer of 12.39. This is what the size of each triangle in the prism is going to be. The area of one pentagon (or the base) is 61.92 inches squared. If you need help with this, you can try drawing the pictu...

How To: Replace the drive board on a Hitachi XBox 360 drive

You thought that modding your XBox 360 was such a good idea didn't you? Well now look what you've done. You've screwed up the process of flashing your Hitachi disc drive at a crucial point and bricked it. Fear not! The ruined board within the drive can be replaced at home. This video will show you how to just that quickly and easily, giving your console new life and keeping your activities away from the prying eyes of Microsoft.

How To: Create animated business cards in Flash CS4

See how to build and animate a business card in Flash. The idea is that, when the user clicks the business card, it flips over and diplays information on the back and, when it is clicked again, it flips back over and displays the front again. This clip covers how to use the Motion Editor to tween using the 3D rotation tools in Flash CS4 as well as scripting the button to react to a click only when in a certain position. See how to create a simple nav bar when working in Adobe Flash CS4. Wheth...

How To: Make homemade Bluegill fish bait

In this tutorial, learn exactly how to make bluegill fish bait at home. This video will display two different recipes for making dough bait. Both of these methods are fairly easy to create and can be made with items in your kitchen. Along with the step by step instruction, you will also be taught why each of these methods works and what their downsides may be. You may feel like you're about to bake a cake with these ingredients but don't worry - that's exactly the idea! Learn how to make this...

How To: Clean laminate floors safely

The basic idea of cleaning laminate floors is to use a dry or damp mop or cleaner for cleaning spills and as little moisture as possible. Laminate floors are resistant products and are made to last, but they also are sensible to moisture and thus it can produce damage. Also very important for defending against stains like tomato sauce and red wine is to be vigilant and clean them immediately. The longer a stain like that sits, the longer it is the probability of being permanent, so the best a...

How To: Manage your stress in five simple ways

Dr. Lin Morel discusses stress in an easy to follow format in this short OneMinuteU presentation from 2008. Her first suggestion is to breathe deeply. She follows that up with paying attention to your body and taking care of it. Then she discusses enlisting friends for support with the stress. Her second to last suggestion is to take time to be still and rest. Her final idea is to create a plan of attack for dealing with stress so that you are prepared when it comes up. These easy steps are g...

How To: Fold an origami pumpkin and design a Jack-O-Lantern

Much easier and cleaner than carving a jack-o-lantern from a real pumpkin, this video shows how to create an origami pumpkin and decorate it as a jack-o-lantern. Each step is clearly showing as it is orally articulated. The pace of the instructions is slow so views will have the ability to watch and do at the same time. When all the folds are completed, an origami pumpkin is the final result. Some ideas are given about how to decorate it so the origami pumpkin can be used as a jack-o-lantern ...

How To: Create an iPod gel process bar in Illustrator CS2

The Apple iPod and iPhone are the hottest electronics on the market, so keeping up with the times means keeping up with designs people like. Apple incorporates all kinds of cool images and icons into their products, so learn how to re-create them so you can modify them or get ideas for your own designs. Watch this Illustrator video tutorial to create a gel progress / loading bar-similar to the progress bar found on an iPhone and iPod -- from start to finish.

How To: Fold an origami box with a lid

This origami video tutorial shows how to make a box with a lid out of two sheets of paper. This fold makes a great gift box for small presents. This is relevant with the upcoming holidays like Christmas, Hanukkah and Valentine's Day all around us. It's also a good idea for adding a personal touch to a birthday present or to hold a first year anniversary gift... (the first year is paper guys).

How To: Perform a nollie on a snowboard

Snowboarding: Hit the Slopes With Style There was a time when simply riding a snowboard made you the extreme guy on the slopes. But now, with more people strapping on a board instead of skis, the stakes have been raised. Fortunately, we've lined up this video tutorial to keep you on the cutting edge. See how to perform a nollie on a snowboard.

How To: Mess with the head of your new roommate with pranks

When a new roommate moves into a house, there's usually a transitional period before everyone feels comfortable with each other. This is always hardest for the new guy, and if you have someone new in your apartment, why not make the move-in experience more memorable by giving them a great impression of their new roommate? This video will give you some ideas for hilarious pranks to mess with your new roommate without resorting to the traditional breaking of their possessions or bones. It's all...

How To: Make a puppet from stuffed toys

Watch this video to learn how to make puppets from stuffed toys. In this video, Barbara Dewey converts Pink Panther, Bugs Bunny and several others into ventriloquist figures. Barbara also gives some tips for caring for your puppets and some ideas for modifying them. Stay tuned for the amazing performance in the last video of this three part video series!

How To: Carve fruit centerpieces

In this great video clip series our expert, Karen Weisman, shows us a few great centerpiece ideas that are easy to make without costing an arm and a leg. All you need are a few melons, some extra fruit and a little bit of time and you will have a delightful centerpiece that accents the rest of the table and the food that is on it. She shows you how to make complex pieces like a peacock and a wishing well but also throws in some simpler ideas like a swan. Take these ideas, run with them and ma...

How To: Fix Blurry Photos in Photoshop

It's very easy to get a slightly blurry photograph due to a moving subject, camera shake, or just an incorrect auto-focus, but you don’t have to let that ruin an otherwise terrific picture. All it takes is a little finesse in Photoshop or another photo editing software. This guide covers sharpening a blurry image using Photoshop specifically.

How To: Create a Times Square billboard in Photoshop

Pixel Perfect is the "perfect" show to help you with your Photoshop skills. Be amazed and learn as master digital artist Bert Monroy takes a stylus and a digital pad and treats it as Monet and Picasso do with oil and canvas. Learn the tips and tricks you need to whip those digital pictures into shape with Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator. In this episode, Ben shows you how to create a Times Square billboard in Photoshop.