Augmented Reality is pretty neat-o.

I must say, I've only recently got on the A.R. (as the hipsters are calling it) bandwagon. Recently seeing a commercial for Hallmark utilizing this unique and fresh approach to print media, it got me to wanting to find out what this is all about.

I did a few sample tests, or augmented adventures as I like to refer to them, and I was immediately taken with it! My mind jumped to the possibilities with this kind of technology: more movie studios getting on board, bands doing a mini performance on your desk, previewing the newest styles. The options are quite vast and intriguing to me.

Now I'm trying to think of how to make it useful and relevant in the print packaging world...

Just thought I'd share.

Be well.

Curious little CS5

So InDesign CS5 decides to make boxes more difficult than they already are. When trying to make just a blank box with a 1pt stroke a certain dimension, it was not lining up to the specified crop marks in the art.

Frustrating.

After moving and re-doing the box a number of times, my boss informs me of this little glitch, and give an alternative way to fix it. Apparently, InDy measures the box from the outside of the stroke instead of the middle, so when you increase the point size stroke of the box, you also change the dimensions of the box.

The fix? Draw a box with no stroke, just fill and specify the dimensions you'd like. Then set fill to none and stroke to your desired color. Et viola! You now have a box in the correct size you wanted 5 minutes ago.

What a headache that was.

Be well.