World label Blog: Labels, printables, open source & more! » openclipart http://blog.worldlabel.com Labels, tips, tricks, hacks & more! Mon, 15 Mar 2010 13:30:37 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc en hourly 1 Open Clip Art Library 2.0 Release! http://blog.worldlabel.com/2010/open-clip-art-library-2-0-release.html http://blog.worldlabel.com/2010/open-clip-art-library-2-0-release.html#comments Mon, 08 Mar 2010 15:47:13 +0000 bradphillips http://blog.worldlabel.com/?p=3831

The Open Clip Art Library grew from a project between Jon Phillips (of Fabricatorz) and Bryce Harrington, in early 2004. From humble beginnings, it has evolved into a massive collection of over 24,000 scalable vector images, all created by 1200+ artists from around the world.

The Open Clip Art Library is an increasingly useful and powerful platform, through which, all work uploaded to the site is dedicated to the public through Creative Commons’ “Public Domain Dedicated”. Anyone can download and use the entire SVG library for any purpose, including both free and commercial works!

OCAL now boasts an easily navigable collection, made possible by new thumbnail previews. It has now become much easier to search and download clip art that suits any situation. The new site layout includes an updated theme, from Andy Fitzsimon, that emphasizes user interaction by placing more importance on the portal to upload created work, as well as displaying selections from the ever-growing collection.

Behind the scenes, members of Fabricatorz, including, among others, Bassel Safadi, Michi, Ronaldo Barbachano, and Brad Phillips, have helped push The Open Clip Art Library onto the Aiki Framework. This new PHP + MYSQL platform allows programmers to easily create and work with content management systems from the web.

Please help support the new Open Clip Art site launch by registering (if you haven’t already) and uploading artwork of your own!.

Read the entire Announcement 2.0 here and at the Fabricatorz post.

]]> http://blog.worldlabel.com/2010/open-clip-art-library-2-0-release.html/feed 0 Clip Art of the Month: Web 2.0 http://blog.worldlabel.com/2010/clip-art-of-the-month-web-2-0.html http://blog.worldlabel.com/2010/clip-art-of-the-month-web-2-0.html#comments Mon, 08 Mar 2010 15:28:08 +0000 bradphillips http://blog.worldlabel.com/?p=3766

Web 2.0: an often used and misunderstood term describing the current digital landscape. Clip Art of the Month for March, 2010, takes a look at Web 2.0 design standards and what they mean to the Clip Art Community.

One of the most recognizable aspects of Web 2.0 design is having a bold color scheme. As pages have trended toward a simpler and simpler layout, areas of very distinct color can help promote organization in the layout. Lemming’s simple butterfly wallpaper provides a backdrop that might often be used in a Web 2.0 color scheme.

Gradients are more prominent in modern web pages, as they tend to soften areas of the screen that may have drawn too much attention to themselves before. If used effectively, they can also create the illusion of depth or of a non-linear surface.

Icons, like Andy’s trash can, are also playing a more important role in modern web page design. In the past, icons had a lower value in the context of a page, as they tended to be over-used. Today’s web layouts often employ fewer, more specially designed icons that carry greater meaning.


Among Apple’s many contributions to the Web 2.0 aesthetic, specular highlights, as well as “shiny” surfaces, can also add visual interest, while retaining a simple look and feel. Chrisdesign’s Color glasorb merges an operating system motif with the principles of this aesthetic.

The Open Clip Art Library team is excited to announce a sparkling new release today! The website has been re-launched with a sleek web 2.0 look, along with some exciting new features. A new focus on the art, using thumbnail previews, has made it much easier to find relevant graphics. Everyone is encouraged to make the most of this new release by filing bugs, requesting additional features, editing the site’s wiki, and, as always, creating an account and uploading original clip art!

Clip Art of the month is sponsored by Worldlabel.com, a multifunctional label manufacturer.
]]> http://blog.worldlabel.com/2010/clip-art-of-the-month-web-2-0.html/feed 2 Clip Art of the Month: “Locked” Technology http://blog.worldlabel.com/2010/clip-art-of-the-month-locked-technology.html http://blog.worldlabel.com/2010/clip-art-of-the-month-locked-technology.html#comments Tue, 02 Feb 2010 11:47:29 +0000 bradphillips http://blog.worldlabel.com/?p=3652 p {clear: both} #pic1, #pic2, #pic3 {position: relative; float: left; margin: 0 0 10px 0; padding: 0px;}

Clip Art of the Month for February 2010 will focus on Content regulation.



Whether one stands in favor of Apple’s products or against them, it’s impossible to deny Jobs and Company’s impact on our technological lives. Last week saw the unveiling of what Apple believes will become a “third category” of mobile computing: the iPad. The iPad aims at simplifying the user’s computing experience by merging elements of Apple’s existing laptop and phone releases.

In the new millennium, computing platforms have trended toward more open source solutions. While it may offer the end user a more simple and streamlined experience, the iPad also seems to assert Apple’s intention to focus on technology as a controlled gateway for proprietary consumption.



Images by Frector, adam_lowe, Minduka, flomar, and Tranberry (all above) demonstrate Apple’s influence on modern design and why it cannot be ignored. The reception of their latest product has been decidedly mixed. How will the introduction of the iPad affect the Open Clip Art Community? What ramifications might this have as open source computing progresses? Time will tell. In the meantime, feel free to share your thoughts and continue supporting Open Clip Art Library by using and contributing vector artwork.

Clip Art of the month is sponsored by Worldlabel.com, a multifunctional label manufacturer.

]]> http://blog.worldlabel.com/2010/clip-art-of-the-month-locked-technology.html/feed 0 Clip Art of the Month: 2009 Recap http://blog.worldlabel.com/2010/clip-art-of-the-month-2009-recap.html http://blog.worldlabel.com/2010/clip-art-of-the-month-2009-recap.html#comments Wed, 06 Jan 2010 03:53:03 +0000 bradphillips http://blog.worldlabel.com/?p=3384 2010 has arrived! What sort of visual trends can be expected in the next year? How will Clip Art evolve into the new decade?

Going back through 2009 submissions will provide a point of reference as we search for these answers.

When used effectively, gradients can add new dimensions to vector-based imagery. The landscape designed by hrum (pictured above) combines multiple gradient layers into an effective piece of art.

Photorealistic techniques became very popular design choices for the Clip Art Community in 2009, and Chrisdesign provided an excellent example with his longsword.

Near the end of the year, placidoaps merged traditional vector graphic lines with tactical uses of gradients to give his rendering of a penguin both character and depth.

The Open Clip Art Library accepts vector art from anyone, anywhere, so help make visual landmarks in 2010 by contributing! Check out other 2009 works by Simanek and klaasvangend to get inspired.

Clip Art of the month is sponsored by Worldlabel.com, a multifunctional label manufacturer.

]]> http://blog.worldlabel.com/2010/clip-art-of-the-month-2009-recap.html/feed 3 Clip Art of the Month: Year’s End Celebration http://blog.worldlabel.com/2009/clip-art-of-the-month-years-end-celebration.html http://blog.worldlabel.com/2009/clip-art-of-the-month-years-end-celebration.html#comments Tue, 01 Dec 2009 21:38:25 +0000 bradphillips http://blog.worldlabel.com/?p=3132 December 2009 Clip Art of the Month belongs to New Year’s Celebrations!

As time runs short in this decade and people begin to look toward 2010, images by our Anonymous contributors and Muga help to remind us to look back and celebrate all we’ve been able to accomplish in the last year.

With glasses raised, many begin counting the remaining days, hours, minutes, and seconds.

Scalable vector graphics have become a vital part of digital and graphic identity design. Newnhamm’s stylistically rendered sparkle, along with freephile’s photo-realistic party balloons, offer insight into the wide range of possibilities found in vector imagery.

The Open Clip Art Library is moving into an exciting 2010 with contributions from you and others all over the world.

Clip Art of the month is sponsored by Worldlabel.com, a multifunctional label manufacturer.

]]> http://blog.worldlabel.com/2009/clip-art-of-the-month-years-end-celebration.html/feed 2 Clip Art of the Week: Minduka’s Notebook http://blog.worldlabel.com/2009/clip-art-of-the-week-mindukas-notebook.html http://blog.worldlabel.com/2009/clip-art-of-the-week-mindukas-notebook.html#comments Wed, 24 Jun 2009 10:32:15 +0000 wlmanager http://blog.worldlabel.com/?p=2173 We are really getting into photo-realistic clip art. Maybe its the world being flooded with iPhones or loads of movies like Terminator 4 and Transformers that show off some new concepts in glassy interfaces. Regardless, Minduka has his eyes set on making some quality clip art.

Minduka Notebook

Also, Minduka made a nice image of a Present. With Open Clip Art Library (OCAL), since I’m an admin, I’m able to help cleanup Minduka’s file. When he uploaded it, he did not set the document boundary correctly. We hope that all types of people will upload content, so please keep uploading. However, every once and a while special people come to the Open Clip Art Library who want help fix these issues. We call these awesome people, Librarians. If you want to be one, please do join our mailing list and we can show you how.

I fixed the following image, uploaded the file again and then created a thumbnail of his work for this blog post and the OCAL website. Fixed!

Minduka Present

Clip Art of the Week is brought to you by Worldlabel.com, a maker of labels for laser and inkjet printing.

]]> http://blog.worldlabel.com/2009/clip-art-of-the-week-mindukas-notebook.html/feed 0 Clip Art of the Week: Jeronimo’s Dice and Other Photo-Realistic Art http://blog.worldlabel.com/2009/clip-art-of-the-week-jeronimos-dice-and-other-photo-realistic-art.html http://blog.worldlabel.com/2009/clip-art-of-the-week-jeronimos-dice-and-other-photo-realistic-art.html#comments Fri, 05 Jun 2009 18:52:50 +0000 wlmanager http://blog.worldlabel.com/?p=2185 Jeronimo's Dice

Jeronimo is cranking out high quality photo-realistic clip art which is highly usable from everything from T-Shirts, labels, postcards, and compositions. Since the clip art is freely usable, you can use it on your own business card design or website.

Globe

Jeronimo just uploaded the above Globe, seemingly inspired by the recent praise for his uploads. There are many globes as well at Open Clip Art Library.

Audio Casette

And, my personal favorite work of Jeronimo’s is his Audio Tape, which some of you kind readers might not even remember at all!

As with each Clip Art of the Week, I am most eager to encourage you to contribute to the Open Clip Art Library. Right now, behind the scenes, several people are working on the next version of the website which includes thumbnails, an advanced (but clean) user interface, and an easier process for contributing. If you’d like to help out, please join the discussion!

]]> http://blog.worldlabel.com/2009/clip-art-of-the-week-jeronimos-dice-and-other-photo-realistic-art.html/feed 0 Clip Art of the Week: Hrum’s Red Flower and More http://blog.worldlabel.com/2009/clip-art-of-the-week-hrums-red-flower-and-more.html http://blog.worldlabel.com/2009/clip-art-of-the-week-hrums-red-flower-and-more.html#comments Thu, 14 May 2009 20:57:15 +0000 wlmanager http://blog.worldlabel.com/?p=2193 The last post focused on Anonymous Clip Art submissions, for this Clip Art of the Week, let’s feature the new work of Open Clip Art Library contributor, Hrum, particularly Red Flower which highlights the current theme at Open Clip Art Library — spring!

red flower

Other great selections are the vector traced and tweaked, bottle below, and the celtic ornament which is useful for generating cards and letterhead. Also, if you visit Hrum’s artist page you can find more ornaments and borders which anyone may use freely for making cards, or a border for a letter.

hrum bottle

celtic ornament

And more recently, Hrum is creating photorealistic images like this trashcan.

hrum trash

Regardless, there is much more that Hrum is submitting. Please head over, register at Open Clip Art Library, and leave some reviews on the work that Hrum and others are doing at Open Clip Art Library!

]]> http://blog.worldlabel.com/2009/clip-art-of-the-week-hrums-red-flower-and-more.html/feed 0 Clip Art of the Week: Anonymous Clip Arts http://blog.worldlabel.com/2009/clip-art-of-the-week-anonymous-clip-arts.html http://blog.worldlabel.com/2009/clip-art-of-the-week-anonymous-clip-arts.html#comments Fri, 24 Apr 2009 08:01:15 +0000 wlmanager http://blog.worldlabel.com/?p=2203 One of the solutions to our constant need for developers, is that instead of importing our old collection of clip art algorithmically, on Open Clip Art Library, librarians such as Johnny Automatic, Chovynz, Darth Gimp and others have been helping to clean, manually upload, and tag files for the refreshed Open Clip Art Library.

For this week, I want to feature their work on uploading public domain clip arts from the old system such as these AIGA standard images like this heliport:

heliport

aiga

aiga

If your clip art is uploaded as the anonymous user on Open Clip Art Library, please do contact the Anonymous author to get the clipart added to your account on the new Open Clip Art Library engine. For this week, please do applaud all those who are helping upload old cliparts to the anonymous account to help move us towards our goal of 12,000 clip art uploads this month!

UPDATE: As pointed out, praise Papapishu who has contributed so much to these efforts!

]]> http://blog.worldlabel.com/2009/clip-art-of-the-week-anonymous-clip-arts.html/feed 0 Clip Art of the Week: Sunflower by Mokush http://blog.worldlabel.com/2009/clip-art-of-the-week-sunflower-by-mokush.html http://blog.worldlabel.com/2009/clip-art-of-the-week-sunflower-by-mokush.html#comments Fri, 10 Apr 2009 04:18:48 +0000 wlmanager http://blog.worldlabel.com/?p=2235 mokush sunflower

When we released Open Clip Art Library 0.19 last week, the amazing importance of getting back on track with monthly releases cannot be undervalued. As such, we hit a goal of 10,000 pieces of clip art uploaded to our new system. For April we are shooting to get 12,000 total pieces. Right now on April 10, we have 10,540 pieces!

And, for the month of April we challenged the community to upload images related to spring. Mokush hit this one on the head with the lovely sunflower. Please use it freely in your compositions, on labels, on stationary and anywhere you see fit.

Please help us as well grow the project to 12,000 pieces, all which will be included in the upcoming 0.20 Open Clip Art Library packaged release, news written about, and publicized at the upcoming Libre Graphics Meeting in Montreal.

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