Today during my shift at Techie Youth I was introduced to yet another app for creating digital art, GIMP. GIMP seems to be a more beginner friendly art application, as through just the first few tutorials you’re taught how to use multiple tools and effects. First, I learned about the gold paint effect, then the shattered text effect. After that I was introduced into how to create art for Youtube banners and profile pictures which I explored with Inkscape previously.
Welcome back once again, to a blog post about what I learned today at Techie Youth. Today was my last day learning about the in and outs of Inkscape as I am finally finished with both the 80+ video series along with the 50+ video series. Today didn’t actually teach me anything new but reviewed what I already knew in order to refresh my knowledge on Inkscape. I took this knowledge and went to the Inkscape program on my computer and decided I should design something. I decided on making the logo I made back on August 12th look better, I updated the lines to make them sharper, updated the contrast levels to make it more vibrant and I even used the retro text style tool to add more lettering.
Today during my shift I watched a bit more than half of a 54 video series on uses of Inkscape beyond what I explained in my previous blog posts. I explained in previous shifts that there are tools which I learned how to use in Inkscape such as my personal favorite the freehand drawing tool. I learned about more tools today including the inner shadow effect, the low poly effect and the retro text style effect.
Today was much like yesterday when it came to what I learned, except this time I was able to practice what I learned in Inkscape from the video tutorials I watched today. I made and edited a simple logo for a profile picture, using the tools I learned about such as the free hand drawing tool, which I found to be the most useful.
Today during my shift at Techie Youth, I was busy watching 34 video tutorials on certain parts of Inkscape. Inkscape is a digital art program in which you can start a business selling art by creating it in this application. Today was much like yesterday learning about Painter, I learned the basics of Inkscape, how to adjust settings, set presets, edit images and more. I also learned how to use a lot of tools, such as the free hand drawing tool, the bezier tool, the bitmap tool and more.
Today during my shift, I was tasked with watching videos which explained how and where I can start creating digital art through a program called Painter. Firstly I was taught all the basics, how to set up colors in Painter, how to make presets, how to import images and even how to create a custom palette. Along with that I was taught the basics on how to digitally create art, how to understand layers, how to freehand sketch, etc. I was then introduced to ways I could use both at once, setting preferences in Painter along with practicing art there as well, such as beginner lines.
Today during my shift at Techie Youth I watched multiple videos instructing me on how to use Photoshop to edit images for your business. I also was able to practice the use of Photoshop on my own images through todays instruction. First, I learned about examples of using Photoshop, creating logos, editing them and using your own creativity to make them look how you want. I learned how to cut out anything in any image, along with learning how to use the layers in the application. I was presented with examples of how you can use Photoshop as well, making logos look like solid gold, editing photos to have a galaxy affect and even how to use double exposure.
During my shift today, I was informed on how to sell art online and told about how many different ways there is to make a living online. First you can start by acquiring or already having a community/ following to have people to advertise your product to. Then you can start by going to your social medias and advertising your products, what are you selling? how much are you selling it for? what condition is it in? these are questions you should answer automatically in your listing.
Today during my shift at Techie Youth, I was able to learn how old, seemingly useless items can be made into different things/ have different uses. Let me start with telling you how to source useful electronics. First you can start by looking around your house for items that may not be used anymore, preferably electronic. You may also find items free online like on craigslist. Then using these items you can take key electronic pieces out and put them into other electronics, for example the vibration motor in a wireless console controller can be put into a chair, making a vibrating/massage chair.
During my shift today at Techie Youth, I was tasked with watching a 31 part series on beginner friendly electronics. During this series, I picked up on a couple of useful facts and comparisons throughout the videos. First, some of the comparisons I learned of: AC vs DC, closed vs open circuits, and more. Next I learned about electricity flow + resistance, and the difference between the two.
Today during my shift, I was beginning to learn about robotics and what kind of place they hold in the entrepreneurial world. First, a robotic product is basically anything that comes with a controller, or that was specifically made to interact with a certain electronic. An example of this is electronic signals being sent to control something, like electricity being sent to light and LED or show what’s on a monitor’s screen. You can sell either items that are self explanatory and easy to use or you can sell a kit, a package premade by you that is meant to follow specific instructions.
During my shift today at Techie Youth, I was taught where I could find laser cutters in order to start a business through laser cutting. First, you can start by finding places where you can get items laser cut, some small businesses may have their own laser cutter but there are also business designed specifically for laser cutting, like Ponoko and Sculpteo. Then there are public spaces in which communities get together to use a certain thing, in this case laser cutters. A public space like this is Makerspace NYC in which you can get a membership to use their community laser cutter once per month.
Today during my shift I moved on to a new section, laser cutting and was introduced to how and why you would laser cut for money. With laser cutting, a machine will use its laser to make fine indentation/cuts into an object the way you choose. Think of it as cutting down materials like wood but on a much smaller and precise level. Usually laser cutting is meant for small items that don’t cost much to make but sell for a lot, for example figurines and earrings.
Similar to yesterday’s shift, I learned more about programs which you can use to design models for 3D printing. Let’s start with Autodesk, it’s a free program, making it beginner friendly already as beginners to 3D modeling may not want to pay for a program right away. Autodesk starts you with essentially a block of clay which you can shape in any way you want through commands.
Now on to AutoCad, this is the more advanced option as it does cost money, but it has a free trial. The reason AutoCad is considered the more advanced program is it has now become the standard for modern 3D designing.
Today during my shift, I started the 3D printing section of the Crafts and I was informed about a website and an application for designing models for 3D printing. The first site is Tinker Cad, and it’s free! It’s also the much easier to use for beginners out of the two choices as it can also be used directly from the web browser. Now let’s talk about Blender, it’s definitely for those who have spent some time doing 3D models, but that doesn’t mean someone can’t learn from the program. It’s also a popular program for video game models, showing how advanced it is compared to Tinker Cad.
Today, I was introduced to 3D printing and how it could have a huge marketplace when it comes to entrepreneurial business. First let me start off with why 3D printing can be profitable. 3D printing usually is made up of expendable material, hard plastic, but you can also buy more expensive material for your 3D printer, though the plastic is much more profitable especially if it is a small item with one color. Next, there are markets out on the web in which many items that are in high demand that aren’t being sold due to no stock, with a 3D printer it is possible to create such items and sell them while everyone else doesn’t have the item or is waiting for a new shipment.
During my shift today, I started to learn multiple ways in which a young entrepreneur could possibly secure funding for their business. First is by getting possible funding by starting a business about something that is in high demand yet not commonly sold. Doing this will almost guarantee a way to get a profit as many people will be buying your product.
Today during my shift at Techie Youth, I learned that while beginning the entire process of becoming an entrepreneur, failure is ok and in some cases expected. When starting out as an entrepreneur, most people will think quick failure can only be bad, I’m here to tell them different. A quick failure can actually open many opportunities for a young entrepreneur, by allowing them to move from a quick failing idea onto the next idea on their list. It can also save time money and effort during an early failure, seeing as if it would’ve been a good idea it wouldn’t have failed so early.
During my shift today at techie youth I learned the first steps in what it took to become an entrepreneur, allow me to share with you what I’ve learned. Starting from the beginning, if you want to be an entrepreneur you must keep an open mind, along with knowing what you’re good or bad at. You should start by looking up other people who do or sell something similar to what you would like to. After that, you have to be realistic, how many people can you sell to? How many do you need to make a profit.
Today during my shift, I was informed on how to make sure I protect myself from scams online along with scams in the workplace. Let me start with the online portion, first, I learned that if an offer seems too good to be true, it most likely is. Let me give an example, say you find a used car online selling for much less than normal, there’s got to be something wrong with it, unless the seller doesn’t enjoy money, but who wouldn’t? Let me expand on the workplace scams now, having your boss make you work overtime with no pay, is a scam, you can say NO, which most people choose not to do.
Today, during my shift, I was learning once again how important it is to make yourself presentable, this time online. First, the presentation, today I learned how I can be prepared for online video chats like zoom job interviews or meetings. It’s important to rid your area of distractions, go into a quiet place with good lighting in order to minimize possibility of said distraction,( the lighting is to look presentable.) It’s also important while working online to not be distracted with your phone or eating in your workspace.
As I was making my way through the videos and articles today, I was being informed on how crucial it is to make yourself presentable in order to secure a future job. First, I learned that more often than not, when looking for an employee, employers will choose a well kept applicant over someone who looks like they don’t care about themselves. An example I can give of this is during an interview, if an employer has to choose between someone who slouches in their chair, dressed unprofessionally, distracted, and not prepared or someone who has questions prepared, has great posture, and overall looks professional, who would they choose? I believe the choice is obvious.
During my shift today at Techie Youth, I was able to learn how exactly almost anything and everything you do online can help or hurt your career. Let’s start with the past and how it can help your chances at a job or make employers not want to make you a member of their team. First, if an employer does a search of your name online they can find out all sorts of stuff about you, like your social media. If you have posts of you doing non professional activities like smoking, drinking, gambling, that makes an employer not want to hire you. Basically, what I’m trying to say is make sure to always keep your online presence professional.
While going through the multiple videos and articles I’ve watched and read today, I was informed on different ways to handle myself before I decide to try and start a business. Firstly, your health is the most important part of your life, if you’re not healthy you can’t produce work at your highest level, so it’s important for you to take care of both your mind and your body at all times. Next, bad habits such as drinking or doing drugs are doing nothing but hurting you in the long term.
During my shift today at Techie Youth I was getting first introduced to how to make money online. Through watching a couple of YouTube videos, I was able to learn that making money doesn’t mean you need to stick to one thing, especially if you don’t enjoy the current job you’re at. If you want to first start making money and enjoying yourself, you need to find something you’re passionate about, not a hobby but something that you’re truly good at and love to do. For example, I love producing and making music, I can find ways online like Fiverr to make money and through social networking can grow my name.