Yet another week passed seeing nonsense going on in certain poor company-wide execution. Poor logic, calculation and consideration (no those are not algorithms, at all) executed in the name of efficiency and ideal automation. Simply said, replacing human decision with formulae requires deep understanding and serious simulations *before* execution. Now is the stage when a lot more human intervention is required to fix certain poor logics.
Yes I'm a sharpener mining my my own business shaping the future in my own ways. Forcing some nonsense into me and I'll keep cranking until raging fume comes out because I refuse to play nice to nonsense. The day when I need protection is the day I lost my value as a sharpener, as blades are not meant to be protected, they are to shape.
Ok, enough self proclaimed heroism. This is just a quick sketch using Inkling on my Moleskine, graphically rant about my recent encounter with sick things. The drawing was exported to Photoshop using Sketch Manager and colored in a sloppy way. Enough to calm me down, call it a therapy.
Wacom Hong Kong is going to have a press conference on 28th Sep 2011 to announce Inkling officially. Since I'm a big fan of Inkling and still sort of a Moleskine fanatic while luckily being the stationery buyer of a retail chain, I'm arranging a promotion in October: Buy Inkling and get 20% off for Moleskine Sketchbook (large or small). This simulation of store display was done in 30 minutes while attending a presentation meeting. I'm very happy to be able to get support from both Wacom and Moleskine for such campaign in such a short time. It won't be a big hit, but at least it benefits certain stationery lovers who happen to love both Inkling and Moleskine. Let's see how it will turn out.
Almost a year ago I heard from Midori's (Designphil) Traveler's Notebook creative team mentioning an intention to create a unique store, a destination store for world traveler's to pay homage, a place which you can enjoy just being there, a place which fits the Traveler's Notebook concepts - for all traveler's who have a free spirit.
It was a difficult task, the creative team I know of is very picky. It took them a very long time and serious thoughts to launch the brass range of products, looking for a place dedicated to Traveler's Notebook is even more daunting.
But finally I heard news from Iijima san! They've identified a warehouse in the back alley of Naka-meguro (中目黑) which used to be a paper processing plant many years ago (ideal and perfect fit isn't it?). It was suddenly available despite failed attempts to rent it. I am anxiously looking forward to visit it, which will open in October, sadly I've used up my travel resources this year for Japan, I will have to wait until next year. Now I don't want to expect too much, but I do. Imagine a place which all Traveler's Notebook users would dream to visit, to see what collections they acquired from all over the world, to check out some nice original products including book covers and accessories for customization, to enjoy a cup of coffee with books while journaling….
Back from dreaming, a few days ago I pulled out some of my favorite pens selecting which ones to carry in my pencase: from left to right, Rotring Rapid Pro 0.7mm, Kaweco mechanical pencil 2.0mm, Graf Von Faber Castell fountain pen, Pentel Tradio customized, Midori brass pen, Kaweco Classic Sports fountain pen, green laser pen.
And wow! This is just in. There will be an Traveler's Notebook event coming up in Kyoto, featuring MT tapes made for the event!
I was super glad to find Wacom's detour from all digital to hybrid in the world of penmanship. Today I snatched an Inkling engineering sample from Wacom for a test drive and the result is amazing (with a few disappointments perhaps only pertaining to my preference in certain looks and styles)
Engadget already covered the basics here, they will probably write a full review when they get a sample. I just want to give you a quick preview of my experience here. It will be sold in city'super/LOG-ON stores around early October 2011 for about HK$1,490.
(video above shows a comparison of exported digital vector and my analog sketch, also how pen strokes are replayed in the accompanying software. I wish there were ways to export the animation but there is no such feature from the software.)
The built-in 2GB memory serves as a storage for hundreds of drawings and software for Mac and PC. It works through ultrasonic and infrared technologies with 1024 pressure levels on the pen, which means your pen strokes are recorded with good enough data for smooth vector export. Great for initial sketches of ideas and shapes, good for artistic drawings. However it is not recommended if you need to use rulers or other drawing aids because these tools may block the infrared sensor when used.
My version of the software which came with the engineering sample only has Illustrator and Photoshop exports, but the final one will include export to Sketchbook Pro. Saving to formats like JPG, BMP, TIFF, PNG, SVG and PDF is not a problem at all.
Inkling is tailored for paper size no bigger than A4, the further away from the sensor, the more possible distortion may result (as seen from the bottom of the man's long beard comparing the digital export and the paper sketch). Technically speaking a +/- 2.5mm accuracy in the main drawing area vs. +/- 5.0mm near the edge. It is best for you to sketch on smooth flat surface if you aim for accuracy, but that's probably not the reason why you would buy this product I guess.
What works for me is that it saves time and trouble to scan and trace sketches. There is a button on the sensor to add layers, such cool feature helps you to prepare the eventual digital file in a way more useful while you are working on a pen/paper based medium. One example is to do a draft sketch on the first layer, press a button to create a new layer to add detail strokes. Another would be to separate elements in your sketches for later manipulation, e.g. eyes, mouth, hair in different layers. Well, you professionals and artists don't need me to explain this anyway.
One thing to be careful is the usable area of your paper. The sensor doesn't record anything within 2cm from it. In my case, I used a large size Moleskine to draw the bearded man, adding to the 2cm no-draw zone, the sensor uses 2cm of space to clip onto the paper, effectively 4cm from top of the page is useless. That's 19% space wasted on a typical Moleskine page, less obvious in larger paper of course.
I would say Inkling is great for casual recording, let your creativity flow without limit, but you suddenly find your work worth for the next step, you can jump right into expert mode by creating usable vector layers. I guess this simple solution has a huge advantage over other digital pens, they are either too complicated to operate (Logitech), trying to achieve too much (Staedtler), or with a very small memory (of 2MB in Pentel's Airpen case). Each has their own merits of course, but simple is king when it comes to hybrids IMHO.
Now it's time for me to ask for more. Wouldn't it be great if a digital pen doesn't look like a piece of gadget at all? I mean most of them including the Inkling look pretty ugly to me. The case is like a box of cable and battery, that's ugly too. I like how they treat the look of the packaging though, it is definitely a Moleskine. Finally, I wish there were an option to use roller balls.
It's a memory long buried inside my head and all of a sudden sprung back to life. Perhaps because of my kid's going to primary one officially today plus the fact that I happened to find 6 tiny little cute Buddy Lee figures from the back of my work desk today (Synchronicity). I suddenly recall my mom brought me to a jean shop nearby my old home and bought me a pair of grey Lee jeans for school uniform, the image is so clear in my mind now.
There is also the guilt element in such strong memory imprint. That pair of Lee jeans were ruined when I was playing goal keeper at soccer. She sewn it back coz that was expensive. Or was it a Texwood Apple pair of jeans? I don't know, but the feeling is real, love.
Today is the first day of my kid's primary school year. Sharpened his pencils, sharpened his Steadtler ABS color pencils (then it will be done by himself for the rest of his life), taught him how to pack his school bag according to the school time table. Taught him to put heavy books closer to the body in his backpack, taught him to pull out the right stuffs from his backpack with eyes closed. Gave him a Mandarin lesson, …. His mom did all the administration paperworks (gee there are a lot notices given by school!). First of September, having some good feelings, having some bad as well.
Blake Mycoskie: Start Something That Matters I don't know why I couldn't finish this book, maybe it was the tone it was being written. Gotta get back to it someday, or not. (**)
Paco Underhill: Why We Buy: The Science of Shopping--Updated and Revised for the Internet, the Global Consumer, and Beyond Read this book 10 years ago. To read this updated copy is to refresh my memory of how things were done back then and what's changed recently. Although at the beginning it is kind of boring and you may not agree with their research methods, but later in the chapters you will find hidden wisdoms. Just follow the author's logic and see what you can learn from it. (***)
Walter Isaacson: Steve Jobs Love hearing the stories all over again, some of them especially what happened in the past few years are new to me. Most importantly it is a closer portrait of Steve than all other books about him. Isaacson recorded audios during his interview with Steve, check out 60 minutes special and you will hear Steve's own voice. RIP Steve. (****)
Richard Branson: Losing My Virginity Read it like a novel coz you'll find it attractive as a story to follow through. Learn from his character through stories! (****)
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