60 Seconds

Exploring Design & Technology since 1988

1893 : A Manual of Typography, by Thomas MacKellar

By Fred Showker
04/24/2018
1 Min read
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If you’re looking for something really special in the realm of Typography, look no further than the Project Gutenberg EBook of The American Printer: A Manual of Typography, by Thomas MacKellar … an extraordinary glimpse into the history of type! It’s part of the Gutenberb Project, and available in several different formats.
      The preface says : Besides the matter relating to practical typography, the volume contains a sketch of the discovery of printing, and notices of type-founding, stereotyping, electrotyping, and lithography. The implements employed in typography are described and their uses explained; and complete schemes for imposition are laid down.
christmas, thanksgiving and the holidays Project Gutenberg: The American Printer

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Come home to us, Barbara Kruger

By Fred Showker
03/28/2018
1 Min read
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In Kat Stoeffel’s recent article for ‘The Cut” we discover the Barbara Kruger, one of today’s most creative and talented opinion artists. She’s a mix of graphic design, editorial illustration and art, all mixed in with a little political savvy and a little grit mixed in.

Take a look and be as impressed as I was. Kat Stoeffel writes : (more…)

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What’s fake is real, what’s real is fake

By Fred Showker
03/27/2018
4 Min read
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Have we reached the point where real is not real? Is there really is an ‘alternative’ news? Can you tell who the real Obama is? You ain’t seen nothin’ yet!

I’ve been following AI and emerging technologies and how they can help the graphic design, marketing and advertising industries. Imagine using the viewer’s big data, purchased from the big data brokers, and superimposing their faces and voices into a TV commercial for insurance. Imagine seeing YOUR face, in a terrible auto accident or performing shocking acts in an adult movie? Or, you can have Donald Trump deliver your sales pitch in a radio ad. Yes, it’s a little scary, but there’s an app for that.

As this story unfolds we see an almost unfathomable future. I’m not going to write ten thousand words on this because so many people are richly pontificating on it already. Below, I’ll provide some of my links collected … you may be amazed, and just a little bit scared.

And, thanks for reading …

Fred Showker

Editor/Publisher : 60-Seconds.com,  — Published online since 1988 — +FredShowker on Google+ or most social medias #showker or #fredshowker  and our Facebook Discussion Group

Continues . . .

(more…)

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Unbelievable yet “true” pictures?

By Fred Showker
03/26/2018
1 Min read
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Fred ShowkerI usually hate it when I run across one of those links that promises ‘the most unbelievable photos’ or ‘photos taken at the right moment’ — I always want to look, but know they are probably stalker predator clickbait sites where no one should go!

Quora.com, a site I really enjoy caters to people’s questions, and then other members answer the questions.  I frequently answer people’s questions as well. I think you’ll really enjoy this one . . . (more…)

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Just when you were beginning to feel safe …

By Fred Showker
03/12/2018
2 Min read
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Does your internet browser seem to suddenly slow down with no apparent reason? At certain times of the day, does it take forever to bring up Google? After that web site, did your browser seem to get stuck or unresponsive? Does your computer seem jump forward then stall with long wait states, refusing to load pages? Do you think this slow, slow, slow internet is your ISP’s fault? You may be a victim of browser coin mining, and it could be that site you just visited or it could be your next door neighbor. (more…)

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Federal Judge Says Embedding a Tweet Can Be Copyright Infringement

By Fred Showker
02/20/2018
3 Min read
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Court rulings on use of images

My article “I’ve been stung by the Copyright bee. Believe me, that bee sting hurts!” back in June ’17, is a good example of Daniel Nazer’s new article at EFI.com. This is a sober reminder that if you display images, or link to them without the owner’s permission you may be in for a law suit. I can once again caution you that this is going to get a lot worse before it breaks — any time the ambulance chasers catch a whiff of big money, they’ll be circling like a bunch of hungry sharks! (more…)

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Why have captions? Who writes them?

By Fred Showker
02/17/2018
4 Min read
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After reviewing the Alex White book on publishing, I had a reader ask questions all about captions in presenting information on the web or social media.

 > I would like help on textbook captions  
 > 1) Who does the captioning of photos,
 > charts, maps, tables, side bars, 
 > marginal notes, etc?  
 > Is it the author or the editor?

All of the above…
Generally the author will write the captions based on art or photos supplied with the article or essay. However the editor will have a turn at wordsmithing and refining the text supplied by the author. (Did you ever meet an editor who didn’t have something to say about everything in the piece??) Then, the designer takes a stab at it, and in many cases will voice an opinion too. (I’ve never met a caption I couldn’t edit!) (more…)

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Ethics in Digital Photography

By Fred Showker
02/13/2018
5 Min read
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Designer responsibilityDo you modify images you plan to publish as real, or actual?

Yesterday’s post about Steven Heller’s new typography book reminded me of another book, and the issues surrounding digital ethics.  I dug up the 2004 post in 60-seconds to discover it’s even more true today!

This is required reading for anyone who uses Photoshop, or a camera to create digital images.  (more…)

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60 Seconds Exploring Design & Technology since 1988
Fred Showker explores design, graphics, computing, social media, marketing, and the online world with an eye to entertaining, amazing information that will possibly make you think!

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