In this video, I discuss two websites to assist you with color matching.
The websites are:
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Match Colors for Powerful Impact
When working with colors online, in print, or otherwise, it is important that colors match. If colors don't match or clash, the impact of your message can be lessened.
In this video, I discuss two websites to assist you with color matching.
The websites are:
In this video, I discuss two websites to assist you with color matching.
The websites are:
Posted with Blogsy
Saturday, August 11, 2012
One Race All Runners
Imagine that you could take every medalist who ever participated in the Olympic Men's 100M and compare their performance.
In honor of the 2012 Olympics, I am sharing this post from the New York Times website. This is a great example of high quality charts presenting information clearly.
Once Race, Every Medalist Ever
In honor of the 2012 Olympics, I am sharing this post from the New York Times website. This is a great example of high quality charts presenting information clearly.
Once Race, Every Medalist Ever
Thursday, August 2, 2012
Mind Mapping on iPad
Summer is over and school is beginning (for my daughter) next week. Many students in my local community started school earlier this week. After taking taking a break myself for the summer, I am again hopeful that I will have a new post weekly.
To assist me in planning blog posts, I created a mind map. A mind map is a visual diagramming technique. Also known as spider diagrams, mind maps typically center around a single key word, with topics extending out from that word. Subtopics are created from each topic. The term "mind map" was coined by Tony Buzan in the 1970s, and his company provides training and software for mind mapping.
ADVANTAGES
Mind maps are useful because information can be captured in a non-linear fashion. In traditional outlining, topics and subtopics are listed down the page. Inserting an additional topic in the center of the outline requires reformatting or rewriting. However with mind maps, it is easy to draw in a new area of information.
Because mind maps typically consist of words connected by lines, they are inherently visual. In addition to the text and line structure, photos and drawings may also be included. Subtopics in different topic areas can be connected with dotted or different colored lines. All of these elements combine to make mind maps highly visual.
Mind maps can be drawn quickly by hand, or with a little of practice, electronically. Several computer-based software packages exist for mind mapping. The ones featured in this post are for the iPad. These work on the iPhone as well, but the screen is rather small to be functional.
USES
The mind mapping process lends itself well to brainstorming. As you identify topics, you can draw them onto the mind map. Even while adding topics, you can add subtopics. The non-linear structure means that you can start with one topic but quickly move to another topic as ideas come to you.
Mind mapping is effective as tool for individuals and groups. Groups like the mind map format because multiple ideas can be added simultaneously. You could also identify topics and divide into smaller groups to expand each topic.
Because of the visual nature of mind maps, it is a convenient way to memorize information. For me, I find that when I mind map information, it is easier to recall.
iPAD APPS
I currently have four mind map applications installed on my iPad. Each has advantages and a range of features. Depending on the look I want to achieve will determine which app I might use. For example, MindHD lists subtopics in neat blocks, while iMindmapHD looks more artistic and organic. The mind map for this blog post is replicated using these different apps. At the time of this writing there are 72 mind map-related apps in the search results for iPad.
RESOURCES
Two excellent websites to explore mind maps are:
Amazon.com features a variety of books on all aspects of mind mapping. One that I reference frequently is Mapping Inner Space by Nancy Margulies.
To assist me in planning blog posts, I created a mind map. A mind map is a visual diagramming technique. Also known as spider diagrams, mind maps typically center around a single key word, with topics extending out from that word. Subtopics are created from each topic. The term "mind map" was coined by Tony Buzan in the 1970s, and his company provides training and software for mind mapping.
ADVANTAGES
Mind maps are useful because information can be captured in a non-linear fashion. In traditional outlining, topics and subtopics are listed down the page. Inserting an additional topic in the center of the outline requires reformatting or rewriting. However with mind maps, it is easy to draw in a new area of information.
Because mind maps typically consist of words connected by lines, they are inherently visual. In addition to the text and line structure, photos and drawings may also be included. Subtopics in different topic areas can be connected with dotted or different colored lines. All of these elements combine to make mind maps highly visual.
Mind maps can be drawn quickly by hand, or with a little of practice, electronically. Several computer-based software packages exist for mind mapping. The ones featured in this post are for the iPad. These work on the iPhone as well, but the screen is rather small to be functional.
USES
The mind mapping process lends itself well to brainstorming. As you identify topics, you can draw them onto the mind map. Even while adding topics, you can add subtopics. The non-linear structure means that you can start with one topic but quickly move to another topic as ideas come to you.
Mind mapping is effective as tool for individuals and groups. Groups like the mind map format because multiple ideas can be added simultaneously. You could also identify topics and divide into smaller groups to expand each topic.
Because of the visual nature of mind maps, it is a convenient way to memorize information. For me, I find that when I mind map information, it is easier to recall.
iPAD APPS
I currently have four mind map applications installed on my iPad. Each has advantages and a range of features. Depending on the look I want to achieve will determine which app I might use. For example, MindHD lists subtopics in neat blocks, while iMindmapHD looks more artistic and organic. The mind map for this blog post is replicated using these different apps. At the time of this writing there are 72 mind map-related apps in the search results for iPad.
- iMindmapHD from ThinkBuzan is free to download. The full version is subscription-based with a monthly fee of $2.99 or annual fee of $20.99.
- SimpleMind+ from xpt Software & Consulting is free to download. The free version is limited. The full version can be unlocked for $4.99.
- MindHD from AllTing Soft is $.99.
- iThoughtsHD from CMS is available for $9.99.
RESOURCES
Two excellent websites to explore mind maps are:
Amazon.com features a variety of books on all aspects of mind mapping. One that I reference frequently is Mapping Inner Space by Nancy Margulies.
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Questions On Motivation
Not too long ago I visited South Korea with my wife and daughter. I stayed three weeks and they stayed five. When I finally arrived at home after several hours of flying (11 from Seoul to San Francisco + 10 hours of layover + 8 from San Francisco to Nashville via Detroit), I was exhausted. Because of the 14-hour time difference I slept all day and was up all night, wide awake!
There is not much on TV during the overnight hours except for infomercials. Luckily, my local PBS was having a fundraiser, and that is when public television stations seem to air premium content.
DR. WAYNE DYER
One of the shows I watched featured author and speaker Wayne Dyer. Over the course of two hours he inspired the audience to make changes in their thinking. What really intrigued me, however, was a story he told about visiting Europe.
Dr. Dyer related that he had visited several places in Europe where miracles had occured, as verified by the Catholic Church. When visiting these places, Dr. Dyer gave talks, and said that he was so moved from being in these "special places" that he delivered inspirational words to others he didn't even know were inside his mind!
FRIENDS vs NO FRIENDS
As I was watching the show, I began to think about motivation and reflected on recent experiences with my daughter. If we go for a walk in a park, and Erika is with her friends, she is able to run ahead and expend energy all day long. If we go for a walk and her friends are not present, she acts like she is walking towards her doom and each step is a painful task. I've told her, "the difference between these situations is in your mind."
LANDS OF THE BIBLE
I know several people who have visited the Holy Land areas around Jerusalem in order to walk where Jesus walked and visit the historical landmarks from Biblical times. Many of these people return with a renewed commitment to deeper spiritual study. However, if you are a Christian, as I am, you believe that Jesus is in heaven, NOT living in Israel! So, why is there a need to visit Bethlehem or Jerusalem to have a stronger spiritual connection?
QUESTIONS
I have been thinking about motivation and inspiration. I jotted down a few questions that I hope will guide me as I begin to explore how to be motivated or inspired to accomplish what you desire without having to visit places of inspiration.
There is not much on TV during the overnight hours except for infomercials. Luckily, my local PBS was having a fundraiser, and that is when public television stations seem to air premium content.
DR. WAYNE DYER
One of the shows I watched featured author and speaker Wayne Dyer. Over the course of two hours he inspired the audience to make changes in their thinking. What really intrigued me, however, was a story he told about visiting Europe.
Dr. Dyer related that he had visited several places in Europe where miracles had occured, as verified by the Catholic Church. When visiting these places, Dr. Dyer gave talks, and said that he was so moved from being in these "special places" that he delivered inspirational words to others he didn't even know were inside his mind!
FRIENDS vs NO FRIENDS
As I was watching the show, I began to think about motivation and reflected on recent experiences with my daughter. If we go for a walk in a park, and Erika is with her friends, she is able to run ahead and expend energy all day long. If we go for a walk and her friends are not present, she acts like she is walking towards her doom and each step is a painful task. I've told her, "the difference between these situations is in your mind."
LANDS OF THE BIBLE
I know several people who have visited the Holy Land areas around Jerusalem in order to walk where Jesus walked and visit the historical landmarks from Biblical times. Many of these people return with a renewed commitment to deeper spiritual study. However, if you are a Christian, as I am, you believe that Jesus is in heaven, NOT living in Israel! So, why is there a need to visit Bethlehem or Jerusalem to have a stronger spiritual connection?
QUESTIONS
I have been thinking about motivation and inspiration. I jotted down a few questions that I hope will guide me as I begin to explore how to be motivated or inspired to accomplish what you desire without having to visit places of inspiration.
- Why do we need to visit special places to be motivated or inspired?
- Why do athletes or teams need a coach to motivate them?
- How can you motivate yourself to accomplish whatever you want?
Have you visited a special place, and did you come away motivated or inspired? If so, please tell me about it. What motivates or inspires you? Let me know.
Sunday, May 27, 2012
Disappearing act - TouchRetouch photo editing app for iPad/iPhone
From the time I joined the iPhone/iPad family, I have downloaded a variety of apps related to photography. In a future post, I will share some screenshots listing all of the photography-related apps currently on my iPhone and iPad.
TouchRetouch HD
I learned about TouchRetouch from a coworker a couple of months ago. Simply, this app lets draw a circle (lasso) around what you want removed from the photo and TouchRetouch removes it! The app analyzes the areas adjacent to the selected area and replaces what was selected. The level of success will vary, but I have had generally good results.
For advanced or detailed retouches, there is a paintbrush feature which allows you to select an area with a finer level of detail. The clone feature allows you to select a part of the photo that will be copied over the area you want removed. I use both the brush and clone features if the lasso selection feature doesn't retouch as desired.
Before/After
The "before" photo includes part of a man on the left side, a light and sign on the back wall, and ALL of the stones comprising the stone bridge.
In the "after" image, these elements are gone! Initially, I noticed that the man's shadow in the water remained. Using the clone tool, I replaced the shadow with the water next to it.
Get started
Download TouchRetouch today to create improved pictures. There is a free version as well as versions for iPhone and iPad.
(C) 2012 by DouglasGPratt.com
TouchRetouch HD
I learned about TouchRetouch from a coworker a couple of months ago. Simply, this app lets draw a circle (lasso) around what you want removed from the photo and TouchRetouch removes it! The app analyzes the areas adjacent to the selected area and replaces what was selected. The level of success will vary, but I have had generally good results.
For advanced or detailed retouches, there is a paintbrush feature which allows you to select an area with a finer level of detail. The clone feature allows you to select a part of the photo that will be copied over the area you want removed. I use both the brush and clone features if the lasso selection feature doesn't retouch as desired.
Before/After
The "before" photo includes part of a man on the left side, a light and sign on the back wall, and ALL of the stones comprising the stone bridge.
In the "after" image, these elements are gone! Initially, I noticed that the man's shadow in the water remained. Using the clone tool, I replaced the shadow with the water next to it.
Get started
Download TouchRetouch today to create improved pictures. There is a free version as well as versions for iPhone and iPad.
(C) 2012 by DouglasGPratt.com
Thursday, May 10, 2012
One Book to Rule Them All - Part 2
In last week's post, I shared how my challenges in juggling multiple calendars and planners resulted in confusion. After attending a class on organizing life events around your highest priorities, I was able to achieve a work-life balance that I have generally maintained.
However, until recently, I still had two different books to help me stay on top of things. I used a FranklinCovey wire-bound planner for scheduling and tasks. For notes I used a Moleskine notebook.
Planner Options
Just recently I came across a blog post that discussed using a notebook to create a planner. PlannerHack.com walks you through the steps to create a planner. There are also several articles and links that discuss the importance of paper-based planning.
Why Paper Still Matters
Years ago I was given a Palm Pilot for work. It contained my calendar, contacts, and tasks. Unfortunately, the battery died and I was unable to get it replaced. I lost everything! That's why I prefer paper. Even today, as I type this post on my iPad, I still believe in the role of paper. I have a copy of my master's thesis on a 3 1/2 inch floppy disk as a WordStar word processing document. I also have a copy of the same document printed in my library. Which one is instantly readable right now?
DIY
Inspired by the articles on creating my own planner, I now have integrated my planner/calendar with my notebook. The result is that I have spaces for daily events and tasks along side with pages for notes. So far, I am happy to be carrying around one less book and still able to keep track of all the information I need.
It does not take long to draw out the boxes for each week. Keeping track of events, tasks, and goals on one page is nice. Additionally there is room on the planning side of the page for some notes. The right page is blank to allow for notes.
Read the articles at PlannerHack.com to see if creating your own planner is the right solution for you.
However, until recently, I still had two different books to help me stay on top of things. I used a FranklinCovey wire-bound planner for scheduling and tasks. For notes I used a Moleskine notebook.
Planner Options
Just recently I came across a blog post that discussed using a notebook to create a planner. PlannerHack.com walks you through the steps to create a planner. There are also several articles and links that discuss the importance of paper-based planning.
Why Paper Still Matters
Years ago I was given a Palm Pilot for work. It contained my calendar, contacts, and tasks. Unfortunately, the battery died and I was unable to get it replaced. I lost everything! That's why I prefer paper. Even today, as I type this post on my iPad, I still believe in the role of paper. I have a copy of my master's thesis on a 3 1/2 inch floppy disk as a WordStar word processing document. I also have a copy of the same document printed in my library. Which one is instantly readable right now?
DIY
Inspired by the articles on creating my own planner, I now have integrated my planner/calendar with my notebook. The result is that I have spaces for daily events and tasks along side with pages for notes. So far, I am happy to be carrying around one less book and still able to keep track of all the information I need.
It does not take long to draw out the boxes for each week. Keeping track of events, tasks, and goals on one page is nice. Additionally there is room on the planning side of the page for some notes. The right page is blank to allow for notes.
Read the articles at PlannerHack.com to see if creating your own planner is the right solution for you.
Subscribe
To receive an e-mail when a new post is published (about once a week) please subscribe using the link at the top right of this page.Thursday, May 3, 2012
One Book To Rule Them All - Part 1
One Ring To Rule Them All
In both the book and movie versions of Lord of the Rings, there are 19 rings (7 for the dwarf lords, 3 for the elves, and 9 for men) that are controlled by "one ring to rule them all." The battle of the story centers around the current owner of the ring, Frodo, who must destroy the ring in order to keep it from the dark lord Sauron. Several years ago, my organization and planning skills felt like I was wearing all of those rings.
Juggling the Rings
I had a daily task sheet that I maintained at work, a computer-based work calendar (Outlook), a separate calendar for personal events, and my cell phone for contacts. Unless I was sitting at my computer, I was unable to know when I had meetings or appointments.
Focus
It was during this time that I had the opportunity to attend a FranklinCovey class titled "Focus - Achieving Your Highest Priorities." The course materials featured an integrated planner that include space for event, notes, contacts, and tasks. After using this for a brief period of time, I began using a wire-bound planner and supplementing it with a separate notebook for notes.
My Current Notebook
My current journal, which I started on 6/4/2011, contains notes from meetings, summaries from books I have read, stories and anecdotes that I can use for later presentations or talks. The photo above is of my notes from My Story Can Beat Up Your Story.
If you do not keep a notebook now for your ideas, notes, and reminders, I encourage you to start. You will benefit from having a record to review. Moleskine journals are excellent for writing and drawing and come in a variety of sizes and configurations.
In my next post I'll share a recent discovery that inspired me to change how I use my notebook.
Subscribe
To receive an e-mail when a new post is published (about once a week) please subscribe using the link at the top right of this page.
In both the book and movie versions of Lord of the Rings, there are 19 rings (7 for the dwarf lords, 3 for the elves, and 9 for men) that are controlled by "one ring to rule them all." The battle of the story centers around the current owner of the ring, Frodo, who must destroy the ring in order to keep it from the dark lord Sauron. Several years ago, my organization and planning skills felt like I was wearing all of those rings.
Juggling the Rings
I had a daily task sheet that I maintained at work, a computer-based work calendar (Outlook), a separate calendar for personal events, and my cell phone for contacts. Unless I was sitting at my computer, I was unable to know when I had meetings or appointments.
Focus
It was during this time that I had the opportunity to attend a FranklinCovey class titled "Focus - Achieving Your Highest Priorities." The course materials featured an integrated planner that include space for event, notes, contacts, and tasks. After using this for a brief period of time, I began using a wire-bound planner and supplementing it with a separate notebook for notes.
My Current Notebook
My current journal, which I started on 6/4/2011, contains notes from meetings, summaries from books I have read, stories and anecdotes that I can use for later presentations or talks. The photo above is of my notes from My Story Can Beat Up Your Story.
If you do not keep a notebook now for your ideas, notes, and reminders, I encourage you to start. You will benefit from having a record to review. Moleskine journals are excellent for writing and drawing and come in a variety of sizes and configurations.
In my next post I'll share a recent discovery that inspired me to change how I use my notebook.
Subscribe
To receive an e-mail when a new post is published (about once a week) please subscribe using the link at the top right of this page.
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