18 August 2001

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YouCanDraw.com's Insider Communiqué

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In today’s e-zine:

1)
Reminder: new password

2) HUGE upload  - completely new - page, and how to approach it

3) Patching up email

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1) Reminder: the new username/ password - sent out on the 15th of August:

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New Username and Password
@ YouCanDraw.com

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Hi all, Just a quick note. With two computer crashes and a multitude
of security breaches in the last several months, we're installing a new
"shell" around the on-line site . And slated for October we might be adding a
second "shell". (Shells are password protected layers.)


What's that mean to you?

Two layers of protection means there might be one username and two
passwords. Yes I know that's an inconvenience, but it's the only way to
keep things protected right now. But for right now, starting today, you can
start using the new username and password. I'll keep you posted when
(and if), the second shell is installed.


Here's the NEW username and Password

When you link to the online site (http://www.ycdinsiders.digitalchainsaw.com),
you'll get a pop-up screen. Type the following exactly as follows - better yet,
if you cut (ctrl + c), and paste (ctrl + v), each word into it's line, you'll have
more hassle free access:


username: xxxxxxx
password: xxxxxxx

They must be typed in exactly. Also, if you attempt more than once in a
30 second period - and you get turned away, you'll have to wait 1-5 minutes
to retry. (I didn't design it this way, but it's a good deterrent to hackers.)

Print this out and keep in a safe place....Please keep confidential.


Still a few bugs

I'm told by the Digital Chainsaw techs (where the site is stored), they're still
working on some bugs in their program. Please be patient. I apologize ahead
of time for any inconveniences. Please forward me a note regarding any
problems you have accessing the online site.

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Today's newly uploaded monster page


2)
Today's huge upload page types out at 25 - 30 pages (the main page) on
my printer (and it prints small). And that's not even counting the 9 associated
pages -


Draw your first caricatures today!

All nine associated pages are part of some pretty nifty drawing assignments -
you'll be doing your fist caricatures and doing them painlessly while pushing
the "grid" idea to the limits. You'll also see  2 short animations in the middle
and last thirds of the page. The animations are concerned with reviewing the
very useful concept of "sighting", and focus specifically on using the eye as
the "unit of measure".

The gist of the lesson digs into applying and recognizing the vertical
landmarks / guidelines of the frontal view of the face. These along with the
horizontal landmarks you saw in Parts I and II, will allow you to make solid
reckonings while siting your subject's face and permit you to draw very
realistic portraits and caricatures.


Here's the link:

http://ycdinsiders.digitalchainsaw.com/InsidersArtistLoft/ani_difranco_part_3.htm



How to approach such a huge page?

We took a vote here a couple years back on whether people wanted lessons as
multiple short single pages they could print out or as one long page they could
would just have to print once. (ya know, hit "print" and leave the room). Long pages
one 3 to 1 over short. Part III of the In-depth Ani DiFranco lesson is a monstrous
lesson. (It still pops up instantly on CD -ROM version 2.0  (which will be available
in a few months).

Any way, here's what I suggest. If you have a modem connection, link to the
page. Then go get yourself a soda, go eat an apple, go for a 5 minute walk.
When you come back, print out the page. (Then go for a longer walk, have a
larger apple, another soda...:-).


Oops, almost forgot - here's the links to the associated homework assignments:

http://ycdinsiders.digitalchainsaw.com/InsidersArtistLoft/gridded_face_do_franco.htm
http://ycdinsiders.digitalchainsaw.com/InsidersArtistLoft/empty_grid_di_franco.htm
http://ycdinsiders.digitalchainsaw.com/InsidersArtistLoft/ani_sphere_print.htm
http://ycdinsiders.digitalchainsaw.com/InsidersArtistLoft/fish_eye_grid_print.htm
http://ycdinsiders.digitalchainsaw.com/InsidersArtistLoft/ani_shrink_print.htm
http://ycdinsiders.digitalchainsaw.com/InsidersArtistLoft/ani_shrink_print_2.htm
http://ycdinsiders.digitalchainsaw.com/InsidersArtistLoft/ani_stretch_3.htm
http://ycdinsiders.digitalchainsaw.com/InsidersArtistLoft/ani_stretch_grid_print.htm

You might find it easier to print these first and then go back and read through the
main lesson.


How to turn off your browser's  "image loading" feature

Now that you have your printed version, if you have to return to the site (for instance
to print out the pages with the homework assignments, the gridded pages, etc.)
turn off your browsers "Load images" feature. To do this:

- On Internet Explorer click "tools" on the
  tool bar,

- scroll down to "Internet Options"

- click "advance" (the option tab at the far right)

- scroll down to "multimedia" (just after "Java" and above "printing") and un-check
  the "show pictures" square.


- On Netscape, just turn of the "load images" in the options choices.

Now when you come back, the whole thing will load pretty fast (without the
pictures of course) and you can navigate to those sections that are linked
without waiting for the whole thing to re-load.


Coming still this week

We'll be adding a linking and indexing  menu at the top of these huge sections
that'll bounce you all around the page at your whim instead of having to scroll
for everything..


One last note:  email problems

It's amazing, when one thing goes bad, everything goes bad. First we had
the major hard drive crash here at the home office. Then the server company
where the "Insider's Artist Loft" is stored had a "hiccup" during the Florida
Hurricane - and the online site was wiped out. Apparently so were all
the email settings. So if you've recently replied or sent a message on any of the email
accounts that end in "*@youcandraw.com", they're still not getting through.
We are working to get that rectified as well.  And soon :-)



Thanks all. Keep on drawing and have a fantastic week!


Warmly,

Jeffrey O. Kasbohm
Executive Director
http://www.YouCanDraw.com

"Once and for all getting you drawing faces and caricatures"
mailto:comments@youcandraw.com