So, today I turn twenty. I'd really like to thank everyone for making today so special.

Everybody online has sent me a message telling me either on Facebook, on DA, on AIM, via SMS, and sometimes a combination of everything. It's been a blast getting so much recognition.

Today I went to work like usual, but everyone in the office took me out to lunch, and when I came back, I got a surprise cookie cake. Everyone in the office had chipped in and got me one. It was me riding an elephant, which is an inside joke at ViaMedia for the outlandish car commercials that we've got the pleasure of doing from time to time.

Further, while at work, ~Kip0130 sent me a message saying to check my e-mail. He managed to get me an entirely WICKED SICK birthday font face (this is the sort of thing that makes designers get all hot and bothered). You can get a feel for it here: [link] -- it's awesome!

I also got to go to Red Lobster, thanks to my parents. They took me out and let me get a whole lobster, plus a half pound of crab legs. Who doesn't love succulent crustaceans? The waitress even gave me a huge dessert at no cost. It was an awesome night.

However, even more awesome, I got a phone call from `mattdanna at dA HQ. I missed the first call, but he called back and I answered. And then the entire deviantART office sang me happy birthday. How amazing! (The funny news is that the first time when I missed the call, my deceptive voicemail says "Hello?" as a joke, and they sang to that one! HA!) I definitely wasn't expecting that. It really was a great birthday surprise.

All in all, it's been a pretty incredible day.

Thank you guys for making my 20th a really special day to remember! You're all awesome!


PS: Celebrate dA's eighth with the Scuzzle! [link] Get free things and people will respect you! Win friends, family, and gain influence!

VECTOR GALLERY _{(I copied this from $Ikue because he's a genius!)}
Vector Art is a technique, meaning art created in a vector-based program. Vector art is the use of primitives such as Points, Lines and Curves. The vector programs keeps track of the relationship between these primitives. This allows the images created, to be scaled and rescaled without loosing quality or becoming pixelated. This is in opposition to "raster (or bitmap) graphics" which is an image represented by a collection of pixels. These pixels if scaled above 100%, will degrade and loose quality.

Popular vector programs are: Illustrator, Freehand, Corel Draw, and Flash. Almost everything created with these programs is considered a vector piece. I say "almost" because there are exceptions to every rule. If your vector piece combines raster and vector images then I'm sorry to tell you but it is no longer a vector piece (and subsequently does not belong in the vector gallery). Example: If you finish your vector piece and realize after exporting it to a more web friendly version, you think it is lacking something. So you take it into photoshop and apply a simple texture to the surface of the piece just to give it a little something extra. This is no longer a vector piece, and should be posted to the "Digital art > Mixed media", gallery. Like wise if you take this raster texture image into illustrator and just apply a layer style (multiply, screen etc.) this is still not a vector piece. The common factor in these two equations is the raster texture. Since this texture cannot be scaled above 100% this makes the vector technically useless beyond that raster images original size. That being said don't think you are unable to add texturing to a vector piece. Most of these programs come equipped with detailed pattern swatches, textured brushes, and even the ability to "Live trace" which does as its name implies, traces a raster image and turns it into a vector graphic.

Just to reiterate my point and to ensure there is no confusion here is a list of generally considered Raster Bases programs: Photoshop, Painter, MS Paint, , and a great free alternative Gimp. Basically everything created with these programs is considered a Raster image. I say use a clause simply because a few of these programs are capable of creating images with points, lines, and curves just as a vector program would. Photoshop for instance can create vector based images, however these are typically considered "Vexels" because of the fact that Vexel artists typically incorporate brush strokes into their images (for hair, etc.). Speaking of brushes. Just because you have downloaded and installed a brush set for photoshop or any other of the aforementioned raster programs that have the word "vector" in the title, does not deem your image a vector piece. These brushes come in different sizes and no matter how high a resolution they may come in, they still cannot be scaled above their 100% mark without loosing quality.

To put it simply "Vector is not a "style" like Anime, but a "medium" like charcoal. Asking what vector-art looks like is like asking what an oil painting looks like. It could look like Rembrandt, Picasso, or a fifth grader's fingerpainting."


HELPFUL VECTOR LINKS
What Are Vectors? (In-depth)
How Do You Make Vectors?
Vector Do's and Dont's


DAILY DEVIATIONS
As part of my role here, feel free to send me or $Ikue Daily Deviation suggestions. Please note the following however:
Suggest Vector Work Only Please
No DD's were given within the last 3 months to the same artist
Remember Quality over Quantity
Including a reason for selection and a thumbnail is helpful

Also, if you just want to discuss vectors or talk about events, organizations, and groups related to vectors, feel free to send me a note or drop a line here!


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