Developed in conjunction with the smart people at Allegorithmic, the imageSynth plug-in is a powerful ally to Adobe Photoshop for anyone wanting to create seamless tiling textures. The plug-in is simple to use and rewards experimentation. See how to get started using imageSynth for Photoshop in this two part tutorial. Use imageSynth plugin for Photoshop - Part 1 of 2.
Inserting FasTrim with your laminate floor requires only a few simple tools. To insert FasTrim on your laminate floor that is up against ceramic tiles, first drill holes in the plastic track using a 3/16 masonry bit. Be sure to wear safety glasses to avoid damage from flying parts. Then clean up any debris on the track. Next insert the plastic insert and put in the screws. Put in the last piece of laminate and use a pull bar to bring it up tight. Insert the FasTrim over the plastic track. Pou...
This four part tutorial explains the process of leveraging image Synth to create a seamless, tiling image of bricks in Photoshop. The tips and techniques learned in this series will prove useful for any number of texturing challenges. Learn how to create seamless textures using the imageSynth Photoshop plug-in and this tutorial. Create seamless bricks with imageSynth for Photoshop - Part 1 of 4.
I got hooked on origami sometime after Math Craft admin Cory Poole posted instructions for creating modular origami, but I had to take a break to finish a quilt I've been working on for a while now. It's my first quilt, and very simple in its construction (straight up squares, that's about it), but it got me thinking about the simple geometry and how far you could take the design to reflect complex geometries. Below are a few cool examples I found online.
The concept of Scrabble and Words with Friends is the same—play words, score points, win. But the games require different strategy in terms of letter placement, premium squares, tile point values and word choices. Here's the main differences between the two games.
ZUGZWANG n pl. -S a situation in chess that forces a disadvantageous move 81 points (31 points without the bingo)
Giveaway Tuesdays has officially ended! But don't sweat it, WonderHowTo has another World that's taken its place. Every Tuesday, Phone Snap! invites you to show off your cell phone photography skills.
There's no reason to waste a perfectly good Cheeto just because it dropped on the kitchen floor, right? The "5-second-rule" makes it fair game if you can swipe it up fast enough (this doesn't apply for liquids or foods with floor fuzz stuck to them.) But, is that errant piece of chocolate really safe after it's mixed with the bacteria-laden mud from your shoe?
Terminal is powerful tool that every Mac OS X user should explore. With it, we've shown you how to save iPhone voicemails, extract and back up text messages, and even check for vulnerabilities in your system, all using commands issued from within Terminal.
Perpetualplum demonstrates how to make a repurposed lamp out of old materials. First, you will need a candlestick and light fixture parts like sockets, extender rods, washers and cords. You can also find materials around your house to use as the lamp base like coasters, ashtrays or tiles. Stack the repurposed pieces together until you find a shape that is pleasing. Beads also can add decorative accents to the lamp. Be sure to align the socket with the socket cover. Twist the leads together be...
Gerry Calabrese and VideoJug demonstrate how to make a Bloody Mary cocktail. A step by step guide to creating the Sunday morning classic Bloody Mary. Just the right kick to get you into shape after a night on the tiles. Add vodka, spices, lemon, salt and pepper, tomato juice, and shake. Then garnish. Make a Bloody Mary cocktail.
The end game is a very important aspect of playing Scrabble. If you have just a few letters left on your rack and there are none left in the draw bag, but you're currently losing the game, you still might have a chance to win if you play your cards (er… tiles) right. No matter if you're playing a casual game at home with a friend or competing against diehards in club or tournament games, the scoring process at the end provides the same results.
Yesterday's installment of a Gamer's Guide to Video Game Software featured Unity 3D; today we'll be covering one of the oldest consumer game making engines, RPG Maker.
Wedding themes are no rarity, but a SCRABBLE wedding? I never would have guessed, until I came across "10 Ways to Incorporate Scrabble Into Your Wedding" at CasaSugar. Now, I'm one of the biggest SCRABBLE nerds out there, but I could never see myself getting hitched amongst SCRABBLE tiles and SCRABBLE cakes and SCRABBLE cuff links. I'd also be afraid that none of my guests would actually come if they knew SCRABBLE was the theme. Hell, it's hard enough to get any of my friends to play a simple...
The secret to kicking ass at Scrabble? Playing super down and dirty. Mehal Shah gives us the entire lowdown in the video below. Thanks to WonderHowTo World, Scrabble World, for the find:
I can't tell if this is supposed to be stand-up comedy or serious instructions, but it's still a cool video.
This is the ultimate Scrabbler's wet dream. The Scrabble computer keyboard. Richard "Doc" Nagy, a steampunk artist, has successfully designed a keyboard made with real Scrabble tiles. He's currently in the process of building a batch of them for sale, so keep an eye out for them.
Paul Yperman’s Droid Control Ship has been two years in the making, and required a whopping 30,000 LEGO bricks to build. Says Brothers Brick, "Paul’s build differs in the surface textures of the model. He uses tiles and greebling elements in shades of gray to add realistic-looking details, which really enhances the appearance of this amazing creation."
Matthew Albanese makes painstakingly detailed model scenes ranging from eerie landscapes to outerspace to outright natural disaster. He crafts the models with tile grout, cotton, phosphorous ink, and lights them from within by 6-60 watt light bulbs.
Commonly associated with cleaning and disinfecting items around the home, bleach can also be used as a water sterilization method in an emergency situation when you do not have access to clean, running water. Simply add 6 drops of bleach to a gallon of water and wait for 30 minutes before drinking.
For pretty much any commercial cleaning product you can think of, you can probably make your own DIY, non-toxic version for a small fraction of the retail price. As an example, you can whip up your own all-purpose surface cleaning solution by simply mixing together one part water and one part white vinegar in a spray bottle.
Giving a lot of gifts this year? Make your holiday presents even more unique for your recipient by adding a fun, personalized gift tag.
It's almost time for the new Xbox 360 dashboard to invade gamers everywhere. Microsoft expects to update the Xbox Live user interface sometime next month, which is said to be the most significant update to the dashboard since the NXE update three years ago. This new Metro-based update is meant to bring a unified and distinctive look across all of Microsoft's consumer products and services, including Windows Phone 7, Windows 8 and Zune.
If you have a Chromecast or Android TV, you can mirror your phone's display to the big screen. It's helpful for showing off something you found interesting without having to pass your phone around the living room, but the actual process of casting your screen is a bit clunky. Thankfully, there's a better way.
WhatsApp for iOS has updated with three new features. The changes follow a trend of Apple and Facebook updates recently, including Facebook's new options for sharing content on June 1st, and Apple's updates announced at WWDC.
The release of Windows 10 marked a big visual overhaul for the world's most popular desktop operating system, but Microsoft isn't done tweaking the interface just yet.
Some people are what is labeled a power user. I am one of these people. No matter how fast I get my system, or how quick of programs I have, it is never good enough. There is always at least one program that I could swap out for a more advanced, text-based counterpart that increases performance just a bit. Luckily, you don't have to use text-based programs without graphical user interfaces to get blazing fast speeds on Linux. There are tons of open source alternatives to the mainstream progra...
Cheating. It happens everywhere. From scientists faking human ears on mice, to Hollywood thirty-somethings cheating on their quadragenarian wives, to chess players accusing supercomputers of fraud. There's no game or profession out there that doesn't have a cheater or two, but the bigger nuisance is probably those people who accuse others of cheating.
Redoing your bathroom is usually a job for the experts. In this seven part video series, you will learn create a turn a drab bathroom into an oasis. Watch and learn how to build a shower, fit a shower tray, equip for waste & drainage, upgrade your existing shower screen, install bathroom extractor fans, drill holes in tiles and add shelves & soap dishes. Learn how to pick the perfect accessories for your new bathroom. Remodel your bathroom in 7 steps - Part 1 of 7.
As much as I love Scrabble, the iPhone and Android versions of the game are just not as much fun or as fast paced as Words with Friends. I play both, but I'm most active on Zynga's version of the mobile word game because it's quicker to make moves, doesn't take as long to update, and gives more immediate competition, due to the fact that it's not as intimidating as Scrabble is to a lot of my friends. It's laid back... which means I have a bunch of games going, and I like that.
This is my fourth (and final) installment on SCRABBLE adverts. I'm sure there's a lot I haven't found, but that's for another day. But this post features all of the remaining SCRABBLE advertisements (prints and posters) that haven't already been listed in my previous posts:
Thanks to the advent of smartphones and mobile apps, Scrabble has spread like wildfire across the globe, whether it be Scrabble or one of its many popular word game spinoffs, such as Words with Friends, WordWise and Kalimat.
You're currently playing a heated game of Scrabble or Words with Friends. The game is close, too close for comfort. But you're not sweating because you're confident. You play a huge word that puts you in the lead, but then when your letter tiles are drawn...
Bob Schmidt from Home Remodel Workshop demonstrates how to frame a wall 16 inches on center. His tutorial is especially helpful, so pay attention to his tips, tricks, and specific techniques.
Sometimes it comes time to tear down the old and build up the new -- especially in kitchens! People seem to be especially enamored of redoing kitchens to follow design trends, family resizing, or simple updating to keep the house current, livable, and sellable. One way to achieve a different look in the kitchen is by changing the countertop.
Last week's challenge brought up a good question (thanks Lisa) regarding the functionality of the Official Scrabble Players Dictionary, 4th Edition, both online and in print form. The word TACTICAL was the answer to the first puzzle in that challenge, but when you search for the word directly in the print version, it can't be found. Likewise, when you search the online dictionary on Hasbro's site, you won't find it either. Go ahead, try it. You won't find it looking for TACTICAL specifically.
Let's face it, not every logophile is addicted to Scrabble. Without the use of a timer, Scrabble can be a pretty slow game. Even in clubs and tournaments where the standard time limit is 25 minutes per person for a two-player game. Now, take away time restrictions and add two other players and you've got a game that could take up to 2 hours! It all really depends on who the competition is.
Watch this video from This Old House to learn how to fix a wobbly toilet. Steps:
Since the beginning of last year, every six months or so the fine folks at Wolfire Games have gathered indie developers together to release a combo gaming pack called Humble Indie Bundle. Not only are the included games good, but the way one buys them is what makes Humble Indie Bundle one of the coolest products in games. Even better, Humble Indie Bundle #3 just came out last Tuesday and is available here for two weeks only.
So, when Christopher brought up Nikola Tesla in his very first post on Fear of Lightning, it got me interested in learning more about the man behind alternating current. There is plenty of info out there on the Internet, widely available for free, but sometimes it's just nice to have a book in your hands... or on your computer or mobile device.
