Re: [balloon-makers] Graphics / MAUE 2002

[Rat6666 <private e-mail address>]

Tom Deering wrote:
> >http://members.home.net/rat6666/65k.gif
> That's a nice graphic, Jon.  What kind of software do you use to
> design an envelope like this?

I used Macromedia Flash for that one, although I probably could have
done a better job with Adobe Illustrator. Photoshop 6 is also much easer
to use now that they include vector tools and further support for
vectors - although I haven't really done much with that on the task of
designing balloon layouts yet (mainly just flyers, web graphics and
random graphic design).

To create it, I simply drew the Natural Shape outline on top of an image
of an Aerostar S-series envelope, and added the rest by hand (digitally
of course, with the line tool - and then curved the lines). I use the
same basic outline for these diagrams, with different numbers of gores
and panels to suit whatever design I need, horizontally cut or not.
Filling in the panels is so much easier with a vector-based program than
pixel-based - You don't need to worry about the pixels at the borders of
the black lines being left one color (usually gray) while the rest of
the panel changes color. It looks sloppy, and we all know how bad it can
look. So, I use Flash 5 for these layouts, which allows me to manipulate
the image without any loss in quality, and then output the final version
as a pixel image for web display, emailing and any other use I need out
of it.

Raster (Pixel) images vs. Vector images, in a nutshell: Pixels are the
little dots you probably can't see that make up your screen. In JPEGs
and GIFs you can see how they make up an image if you zoom in and see
the grid of colored dots. That is pixel-based imagery (formally known as
Raster images). Vector images, however, don't rely on pixels to contain
the color information. Vector images are composed of different equations
and functions that tell the program how to display the image. Lines,
circles, and the colors that fill them in, among other elements, are not
made up of pixels, but of these commands. This way the image remains
nearly infinitely editable without loss in quality (You can change the
fill color of an image element infinitely - you'll never get those
annoying edge discolorations found in pixel images). Of course you can't
recreate photo-realistic images, but vector graphics was never meant to
replicate what is possible with raster images.

In essence, it's easier, quicker, and much, much neater to design
balloon layouts with Vector graphics than with pixel graphics. Think of
it as cutting out squares of colored paper and placing them on top of an
outline of a balloon as opposed to taking crayons permanently to paper.
In the former case, you would be able to move the squares of paper
around, replace them at will with another color or shape, etc. while
with crayon you'd need to somehow get the residue off before changing
colors. A good sharp knife does the trick... Sometimes.

On another note, I haven't yet gotten involved in any considerable depth
into using AutoCad to design envelopes, but I have fooled around a
little. So far I haven't been able to figure out how to calculate volume
of the shapes I've come up with, but the designs look promising. I
either need to learn the deeper workings and hidden features of R14 (and
apply them to envelope design) or find a more powerful CAD program...
Neither of which is going to happen anytime soon, however.

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And on yet another note.... I've been thinking of holding a Mid-Atlantic
Ultralight/Experimental Balloon Festival (MAUE 2002) sometime over the
summer of next year here in New Jersey. We've got a nice flying area
(farms, big yards) and a decent amount of nearby homebuilders. I'm
hoping to at least draw the closer ones to visit for a weekend and do
some good fun flying if weather cooperates. I'd also love to organize a
24-hour balloon project like the Carolinas Balloon Association Safety
Seminar pulled off about two years ago with Brian Boland's help. So, if
enough people are interested in joining up for a weekend of fun
experimental flying here in Hunterdon County, New Jersey, I'd love to do
it next summer. The New Jersey Festival of Ballooning is held over the
last full weekend in July every year, so I'm thinking that the weekend
before that would be a good time to schedule an event of this sort.
(July 19-20-21, 2002)

The probable launch field has enough room for about 10-15 balloons and
crews at once, so size won't be a big deal. It's right off of Route 78
in Clinton, NJ. There are hotels about 25 minutes away, and I'm sure
there are places to camp or smaller establishments nearby.

All those interested, please let me know either on this list or in
private - I'll keep others informed as to the level of interest and/or
any possible or definite proceedings. I'd like to see what the majority
thinks of the potential date of this potential event, and of the amount
of interest in a rapid balloon building session over the weekend. I
think it's still a great idea even having been done already - since only
about 50 or so people actually had the chance to get involved in that
project.

Sewing machines are probably taken care of, but fabric and other
supplies will need to be funded.... And we can always use a trash can
basket!!!

...LOL...
See ya,
Jon Radowski
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