Favorite Quote: Borrow money from pessimists - they don't expect it back
Favorite Movie: One I can watch on my couch
Favorite Book: A closed one (love the covers)
Favorite Bands: Partridge family and the Monkees
Favorite Songs: Come on get happy and Here we come.
Favorite Photoshop Tool: Erase
How did you get your PSC nickname?
Take off of company business name....MinDesign Graphics
What is your real name and age?
Bob (how unique...I know) 54 yrs.
Where are you from and what do you like best about being there?
Originally from the Pocono Mtns in Pennsylvania. Lived in Allentown Pa. for a while and then moved to Connecticut and then Charlotte, North Carolina (must of had a moving bug). I'm in Augusta, Ga. right now but moved with my job here. Not my choice of places to live but it's growing on me. Best thing for me here is the awesome lake and beaches they have.
What do you do to keep the bills paid?
I have my own graphic design company on the side (for now) but work at a print plant as well mainly working with proof to press color match, design, prepress and some I.T. work.
What do you do in your spare time?
spare time usually consists of spending time with the family. Also poppin out some submits here is a great out for me. Also love taking my jeep up to the lake and just crusin around the beaches and chillin out.
How did you find PSC, and what do you like most about the site?
Found the site through a net search. What I like most is probably the people that I have met on here. That's what keeps me coming back. There is good competition and people have always been there to give me advice and to help me improve. Tons of talent on this site.
If you could change one thing at PSC, what would it be and why?
I guess maybe the voting I would prefer anonymous to give the newer ppl more chance. No names causes you tend to look more at the work than who did it and you find more new talent that way. Also more side contests to keep the motivation going.
Is there any other information about you would like to pass on?
we got most of it in a nutshell above.
How many hours per week do you spend on PSC?
crap..it changes from week to week. Good week maybe 5...crazy week maybe 1.
What other sites, not Photoshop related, do you like to surf?
stumble upon takes you to sites you never saw. recommend dowloading it. I just breeze around. I'll start by looking for an image and end up on the other side of the world wondering what I was originally looking for.
What tools do you use to chop?
Mac 1.25 ghz (ebay bargain) with Photoshop CS2 being my main PSC tool although I'm trying to venture a bit into Illustrator but PS is my favorite of all.
What gets your creative juices flowing, how do you create a masterpiece?
Don't know of any masterpieces I've done but I tend to go wherever. This place has definitely helped me to go outside the box. I look at an image, think of the obvious and go far away from it. Sometimes squint my eyes and see something different. Another one I do is just look at the thumbnail image first. Funny how things look different from a far distance.
What inspires you?
I'm addicted to Photoshop so I'm always looking for a reason to use it and this site gives me lots of reasons. I would love to perfect the program but every time I open it or get some hints from the experts here I learn something knew in program that I never knew existed.
Do you have a system? Does a chop have to be done a certain way following steps or are you a messy chopper and just go with the flow?
mostly messy. I bounce around alot but what I like to do is get all the images I need to do the chop then do the boring work and get it out of the way like masking out pieces of what I need. Then placement and then shading and shadows. One thing ya gotta do is layer...layer....layer. Nothing worse than trying to fix a flat image.
What style of chop do you prefer to create?
I tend to go funny but I tend to bounce around just because that's my brain...a basketball.
Filters, brushes and techniques: Which do you use, and not use, and why?
blur. After cutting something out a nice blur on the edges makes it part of the pic. Also love "layer styles". Great addition to PS a while back. Those are the two I will probably grab almost all the time on a chop
When do you know that you have it just right, or is it constant changes up until, or after, you post?
You just know. I've had changes during submits based off suggestions which made the contests even more fun and then other times I've submitted things that weren't finished but I put so much into them I wasn't going to trash them. Very few but I've had them that I was perfectly content with. The way you know is when the excitement of posting something outweighs the thought of "I still have more time"...hahahaha
What is the limit to what you will chop?
I have limits. My limits are based off one thing. If there is something I wouldn't talk about it in a group of decent people I shouldn't display it to the public. Religion is an exception to that but I do feel that Religious chops should be done if that's what your feeling. If your looking for votes Religion to me gets the same response in a chop as if your talking about it in public. Everyone has different beliefs and different views and so I won't push mine on you.
Are there any tips and/or tricks that you would like to pass along to less experienced choppers?
GOOD SHADOWS!!! Did I say that loud enough. Shadowing is so important and shading as well. I encourage new ppl or less experienced to just post a help in the "ask the experts" section of the forums. You would not believe the amount of experience on this site and they are very willing to share and help. Also find someone who's technique is what your striving for and look over their work hard. Ask them questions on how they did something too. I have trailed a few on here and they have no secrets to hide. They were very flattered and willing to help me succeed.
What is your favorite type of source image, and why?
maybe objects but most of all just variety. Too many animals or people gets stale. Hate obvious ones that you know there are going to be a ton of different variations to it.
There is often talk about how the source is used and to what extent it should be. What are your views on all sources, outside source use and animations?
Just talked with someone about this. All source done well is the best. Some animations blow my mind but I'm not a big nut on those. Whatever you have to use to make your story is what it's about to me.
What is your preferred resource for outside source images?
I almost always go google.
In your opinion what makes a good chop?
realism! Making me wonder if it's real or not. The people I trail on the site have an extreme talent with that.
Do you have a system to get things started?
look at the image for a bit and then walk away and just sit outside or somewhere quiet and think of what it can be.
Have you ever completed a chop and then decided not to enter it in the contest? If so, why?
yes....just couldn't obtain what I had in my head for whatever reason and didn't like the result. That's why I try to follow the way I mentioned above so that doesn't happen. Get your idea, collect all your sources, rough cut them into your image to see if they will work and then do your chop.
After you finish your chop do you just post it or seek opinions of family and/or fellow choppers first?
always show the family to get last minute approval or suggestions.
If some one finds a fault in your work do you change it or stay with what you posted?
most times I'll change it unless I strongly disagree with what their suggesting.
What qualities do you look for when deciding to vote on a chop?
clean work. no rough edges on the cuts, proper shading/shadowing and non obvious ideas.
Some member prefer not to vote for filtered chops or animations. Is there any particular style/type of chop you won't vote for?
one that clearly looks like it was a lack of effort. You can tell is someone didn't succeed because they didn't try and the others who you can see put alot of into a submit but need to learn more technique. Those are the people I believe need a vote for the effort they did and encouragement.
Time is always a factor, how much time do you spend on a chop and how much time is too much?
hmmmmm. Average time is probably 1-5 hrs. (not all at once on the 5). Too much time is when you went to mud because you didn't know when to quit.
We all love to get votes. Now are you a constant vote checker or do you just let it go and check once a day? (be honest)
once a day? are you kidding? that is part of the fun of the contests. Most of the time I'll check in when I'm taking a break or if there is something that's taking a while at work. Rare occasions of once a day.
What chop of yours did not do as well as you expected?
What do you consider your best chop so far?
"la mail must get through". I set out to keep the truck in the source and that was my goal. Probably best contest I've submitted in. ppl were throwing me great suggestions and helped make the finish very satisfying. It was just fun on that one overall.
What do you consider your worst chop so far?
I know I have quite a few but the one that always haunts me is the untitled one of an old man plunging golf balls out of a toilet on a golf course. Still wonder what I was thinking on that one. I got some company for that one but that one makes me cringe every time I see it.
Who is your favorite chopper out there and why?
I have alot now but when I joined the people that I wanted to chop like were Vlad,Anfa,Deshone
What do you NOT like to see in a chop, and why not?
I know there is a multiple range of talent here but give it your best and you'll grow. One thing I don't like to see in a chop is little effort. At least try big and you'll grow into it.
What is the best chop of all time?
that would be way too hard to say. There are ALOT and growing every day
Do you have any other PSC related comments to add?
Just to thank all the people who have helped me on this site. Your encouragement and knowledge has been extremely appreciated as well as taking time out to offer suggestions and comments to my work.
