Corne van Dooren - (Multimedia) Designer

November 28, 2008

I have some good news and I have some bad news - for some. Lets start with the good news first: Its Mega Mindy time! A new game for Dutch/Belgian tv-show Mega Mindy has been released and it was produced by thePharmacy.

Its a really cool platform game for kids up to 10-12 years old. I have made a lot of the Illustrator-drawings you will find in the game and I was also responsible for the cover of the game. The game is made in the Dutch and French language (both on the same disc). Go check it out!

Then the bad news for some of you, mostly the people who bothered to read my blog. I have decided to launch a new version of this website in 2009 (probably around February - March) and to drop the blog. Why? For several reasons actually. First of all because I am just too busy at work and in my personal life to spend time behind the PC. When I was younger you couldn't drag me away from the machine, nowadays I find it hard to sit behind the screen that much...

Another thing is that I never really have that much to say anyway. I have found out you cannot say just about anything on a blog. I have received various emails in the past of people who wanted me to alter the blog - because I was critical of their company or service. If I have a blog I want to be able to speak my mind - without having to worry about the consequences. I am speaking my mind and people should understand that it is just that.

All and all I think it has been a good run (I started the blog early 2005) and it is time to quit the blog. As I mentioned I am hoping to launch my new website early 2009. I will however quit the blog as of January 1st 2009. To the faithful readers I sincerely apologize, but I just can't do it anymore at this moment in time. Who knows, I may pick it up some day...

Its been a hectic year and most definately one of the hardest years of my life. I have never worked so hard for such a long time. I definately remain positive though and have high expectations of 2009. You haven't seen/read the last of me.

Take care and have a great (Thanksgiving - to my American readers) weekend!

November 23, 2008

Wow, a beautiful site today: snow! When we left home today it was clear weather in 's-Hertogenbosch. But getting back home was quite a different story! I think about 8 or maybe even 10 centimeters of snow had come down.

It created beautiful landscapes, but it was also very dangerous. I was driving at 30 km/hr, just to be safe. For long parts the roads on our way home weren't cleaned and it was pretty dangerous. Over the past weekend 9 people were killed because of the bad weather.

Because of all the snow I did get this Christmassy-feeling. That's just because that always happens in American movies I guess. It never snows with Christmas over here... Very funny how much of an impact movies have. That an entire feeling is basically made up by the movies... It is very early in the year to be snowing anyway.

Anyway, hope you enjoyed your weekend. Take care.

November 18, 2008

I get a lot of emails from people who visit this website concerning Photoshop. How to use it mostly. I just want to say I am not a Photoshop know-it-all. I do have loads of experience with Photoshop though.

Its not like I know everything, I don't think anyone can. Your limit is your own imagination. Imagine what you want to achieve and how to achieve it. Thats the way I work with Photoshop. And what I have always replied in the emails.

Today, a colleague at work came with an interesting weblink I wanted to share with all Photoshop-people. Its 30+ Useful Photoshop Resources. If you want to learn the shortcuts I leave up to you. Personally I don't like them.

Why? Because if you use the menu's you'll discover the true potential of Photoshop. I don't think knowing all the shortcuts makes you a pro. Its what you achieve with Photoshop that makes you a pro. Anyway, use the useful resources as you wish, I thought the link was worth mentioning.

Take care.

November 12, 2008

Its been a weird week so far. I have actually been in touch with two former employers, while I hadn't heard from both of them for quite some time. One of them was quite okay, because I didn't leave there with bad feelings.

The other one was my first employer. I have to say as time has passed it has become easier to be in touch with them. After being sacked there (March 2005) I definately held a grudge.

But as time has passed I feel fortunate to have worked there. And thankful for the time I worked and learned over there. Being sacked wasn't the best thing in the world, obviously, but I think it has worked to my advantage over the past years.

Without questioning the quality of (my) work at the employer, I am way better at multimedia right now. I guess its something that happens through working and time, but after being sacked I had to re-invent myself. And it has worked for me.

I am very happy to be in a creative multimedia environment at the moment. But I wouldn't have gotten there if I wasn't made to think about my future by being sacked. I am not thankful for being sacked, but I am thankful for the lessons I learned from it.

Okay, some nice stuff then. Here's a cool thing, the Akinator. Simply think of someone famous and find out whether the Akinator can figure out who you're thinking about.

As a Photoshop-fanatic I also had to laugh about the new Adobe campaign to promote Photoshop. I've placed the picture below, for a bigger image click here.

November 6, 2008

Well, America has got its new president. It is amazing that an African-American has been chosen in the office. I have to admit though I know nothing of his plans or what he has promised to do for America.

I just go by what I see. And I think McCain has thrown in his own windows. Both candidates called for change. McCain to me looks like any other American president: grey. Obama is not the typical candidate. So if both parties are going to call for change, Obama immediately sticks out. He embodies the word change.

As mentioned before I have no idea of what the candidates really stand for, except for the change thing. Its great that an African-American can become the president. I do have a strange feeling with Obama though. I have a feeling that he will not get four years in the White House. I have a feeling he will be assassinated. I would hate to see that happening, I really would, but with his victory also came this feeling.

For now, I think its amazing that an African-American can become the president. I think America can be proud of itself - for showing dreams can come true over there. Well done America!

Take care.

November 1, 2008

Phew, I am done. A couple of weeks ago my parents gave me all the school musical videos. Yes, the tapes on which me and my brother and sister do school musicals, from the age of 6 to 12.

At our primary school the kids all did a musical once a year. These musicals were put on tape so the parents could buy the video to watch it (and laugh about it) later. My parents had purchased a few, dating from 1987!

The tapes were given to me because I can put video to DVD. And as we all know, DVD lasts longer. So I've been putting about 12,5 hours of primary school musicals to DVD. A hell of a job. Especially if you look at how bad it really was. Only now do I feel what my parents must have felt sitting at the musicals... They had to sit through all those hours...

It was a trip back down Memory Lane I have to say. There were three tapes with me on it. From 1987, 1988 and 1990 (age 8, 9 and 11). And when I was watching I could actually remember doing the show. It was also fun to see all my classmates from way back when. Next year most of them will turn 30 and I haven't seen most of them for about ten years now.

I did see a few familiar faces when I was in Hooge Mierde for the Middle Age event, but apart from that I haven't seen anyone for ten years. I wonder, have they all aged gracefully? Most of them surely have kids and their own family by now. Too bad there hasn't been a reunion, like you always see in American movies and TV-series. I wonder what has become of everyone.

Anyway, I'm glad I've got all tapes to DVD, because it was like my parents must have had it back then: sit through it and smile. I did like it too though. It was nice to see my brother, sister and myself when we were just kids. I'm glad my parents purchased the tapes.

Take care now, have a great weekend and speak soon.

Corne van Dooren, Multimedia Designer