In this sponsored post from HP, Darren “Gizmo” Gladstone teaches us about the folks creating behind-the-scenes at DreamWorks animation, and what’s on the animator’s desktop.

Although movie premieres like DreamWorks Animation’s “Puss in Boots,” are known for the red carpet appearances of actors like Antonio Banderas and Salma Hayek, they’re less known for the teams of animators that spent hours working to bring these 3D movies to life.

However, at least one unsung hero got its moment of glory on the red carpet for the premier of “Puss in Boots:” The Z800 Workstation. And here is its entourage to prove it.

See, DreamWorks Animation can’t make their movies without HP technology. Over the past decade, HP technology has played an integral role in movies like, “Shrek,” “How to Train Your Dragon,” and “Kung Fu Panda 2.” For Puss in Boots, artists used 200 HP Z800 Workstations along with the billion-color HP DreamColor Monitors to create complex cloudscapes, the furry cast and everything in-between.

The average animator’s desk: Read more →

This post is sponsored and written by Visa

Beauty is all around us — it’s in penciled illustrations and the asymmetry of a cherry blossom tree. Like any artist, you find fulfillment in sharing your gifts with those around you. Why shouldn’t you share the places that inspire you, too?

Now you can make your travels into social media art with Visa’s interactive Memory Mapper. This easy-to-use Facebook application lets you create a virtual keepsake of all the places you’ve been to. Set videos and pictures to music (choose from a fun selection), and then add captions that explain why each is important to you. As you enter the address of each place your photos and videos were taken, the Memory Mapper app will geolocate it using Google Maps satellite technology. When you share your Memory Mapper with friends and family through Facebook, Twitter or email, they’ll be able to see your experiences!

And now, creating your own Memory Mapper is even more rewarding.  Through August, each day when you make a Memory Mapper you are automatically entered for a chance to win one of five $100 Visa Gift Cards.  See official rules at: www.facebook.com/visa

Visit http://www.facebook.com/visa to check out Visa’s Memory Mapper and find out more about the sweepstakes.

This post is sponsored and written by Visa. No Purchase Necessary to Enter or Win the Visa 2011 Memory Mapper Sweepstakes.  Limit one (1) entry per person and per Facebook account per day. The Visa Memory Mapper Sweepstakes begins at 12:00:01AM Pacific Time (PT) on 7/18/11 and ends 11:59:59 PM PT on 8/31/11 (the “Promotional Period).  Five (5) prizes will be awarded each day in a daily drawing from among all eligible entries received each day during the Promotional Period.  Open to legal residents of the fifty (50) U.S. and the DC, 18 years and older. Void in Puerto Rico and where prohibited. For Official Rules, go to http://www.visa-memorykeeper.com/?a=sweepsrules.

We were thrilled contribute to the “Atrepreneur Kits” given to RISD grads to help launch their creative careers. As you see, there were quite a few goodies in these kits.

In the kit from Behance was an Action Journal, for keeping track of notes and ideas, and a free trial of ProSite, for creating a fully customizable online portfolio.

What else was in the bag? Square (for accepting CC payments on your phone), YouSendIt discount, an Etsy Fellowship award, and more.

Good luck to all the grads entering the creative world!  Read more about the Atrenprenuer KIts at RISD’s website:  Empowering Enterprise

This post is brought to you by XFINITY from Comcast. Watch all your favorite shows from anywhere with XFINITY TV. The views expressed here are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of Comcast or its partners.

If you’re reading this on-the-go, look up and around you. Chances are, there are at least several others clutching their smart phones, iPad, e-reader, or other mobile device. Unless you’ve been living in isolation since cell phones got “smart,” it’s obvious that our devices now fill a permanent place in our lives, changing aspects of our routines from how we kill time on our commute to how we spend a Friday night. Especially for the growing up digital set, lives and habits revolve around mobile devices.

A recent New York Times investigation chatted with a teen who sends 27,000 texts a month, and has the blistered fingers to prove it. This is to say, many of us wouldn’t leave our devices behind when we go to a different room, let alone leave the house for the day without it. Given that many of us are on-the-go device addicts, we decided to do a bit of investigation on how we consume content away from our homes.

Read more →