Category Archives: Content Paradise

5 Reasons You Should Check Out Our YouTube Channel

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Content Paradise YouTube

If you like our graphic products, then you’ll love our YouTube page! The Smith Micro Productivity & Graphics Software YouTube page was established in May 2008, and has garnered over 2 million views since then. In case you haven’t subscribed or checked it out yet yourself, here’s five simple reasons you should!

1) Explore the History Of Our Channel

Content Paradise

The YouTube url is http://www.youtube.com/contentparadise because the channel was originally made for Content Paradise. One of the earliest videos is actually a 360° spin of our Darwin Toon Monkey. Over the years, it’s evolved to include content featuring art from all of our graphics software. You can relive history by browsing through videos that are over 4 years old!

2) Get Connected With Other Graphic Artists

Get Connected at Content Paradise YouTube

Join the conversation with other artists! We accept video submissions through our gallery, and we then upload them to the playlists on the site. Each graphic software is represented (Anime Studio, Manga Studio, Poser, & MotionArtist) and each playlist is updated as we approve submitted videos.

3) Learn About Our Products and How To Use Them

Smith Micro Software Webinars

Although we have a section on our website for webinars, we also upload them to our YouTube page as well. In addition, you will find various tutorials (some from us, others from users like you) there as well. We’ve collected all webinars and tutorials into playlists, so all you have to do is click play and enjoy them!

4) Stay Informed Through Subscribing

Content Paradise YouTube Browse

We are uploading videos weekly, as well as make announcements. You should consider subscribing to the channel, as you will be the first to be notified of what’s coming up!

5) Learn Who’s Behind the Productivity

Although we haven’t made one in a while, sometimes you’ll see personal videos from the Smith Micro Software Graphics & Productivity team. We love staying connected with the users and ensuring top-of-the-line customer service!

Don’t dally around, check out and subscribe to our YouTube page today!

Diego’s Laundry List of Inspiration

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Made in Manga Studio by Sebastián Píriz

Last month, I interviewed Diego Nargoli, Senior Graphic Designer here at Smith Micro Graphics, on where he gets his inspiration from. Diego was more than accommodating to give his viewpoints. He gave me so much information, that I couldn’t fit it all into one blog post!

Diego had mentioned a list of where he gets his inspiration from. I’ve decided to publish this list as his official “laundry list” of inspiration, and how to improve your own.

How do you stay inspired?

  • Keep your eyes open
  • Love what you do
  • Listen to lots of different music
  • Dress up in costumes sometimes
  • Google images
  • Go to thrift stores
  • Make music
  • Don’t be lazy
  • Play with others
  • Connect with other creative people
  • Collaborate
  • Travel
  • Research
  • Sketch
  • Write
  • Take photos
  • Take risks
  • Experience as much as possible
  • Don’t die

Personally, I found the last one to be the most practical piece of advice.

You can find some of Diego’s latest work with Smith Micro Graphics at Content Paradise, an online bazaar for Poser and Anime Studio.

Through the Rabbit Hole: Finding Your Inspiration

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Inspiration. When you hear the word, a flurry of thoughts and emotion overtake your mind. It’s different for every person, that’s for sure. The cookie-cutter definition is the process of being mentally stimulated. With such a broad description, it’s easy to understand why it’s hard to digest such a complicated word (and concept).

"Remembering those who you're grateful of..."

By Miyasaki Yuzuki

Where can you find inspiration for your work? Regardless of the venue; whether you’re an artist, writer, or simply a dreamer, we’re nothing but empty husks without our creativity. Having a good foundation is a good beginning. Taking the positives and negatives of your upbringing brings strong applicability to your work.


When people can relate to you, they can understand you, and will better appreciate your creations. For example, in a drawing done you can incoporate the ocean, because you grew up there and have a strong affinity for it. Maybe have a strong theme of rebirth, to symbolize your own personal growth.

As an artist, you have to have a strong grasp to the concept of inspiration. When creating a piece, you are opening your soul to the world. But what made you draw it the way you did? Why did you write your character to be like that? Why did you choose that color specifically for that design? These are questions that all artists ask themselves throughout their process.

Diego Nargoli, Senior Graphic Designer here at Smith Micro Software, says that his inspiration stems from his experiences. “I surround myself with creative people as much as possible,” he says, “I don’t believe in limits.”

He emphasizes to never give up on your dreams. It’s all about energy, having no fear, and to force yourself to take risks. “I believe in intention and manifestation; learn to use your incredible imagination. Visualize how you want to live, and create from there.”

At the office here, we’re encouraged to be creative with our work space, which in turn fuels our creativity and productivity.

The true beauty of inspiration is when you can share it with the world. Where do you find YOUR inspiration? Leave a comment below and tell us!

Awesome Upgrades – Supercharge your Computer

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Whether you’re inking in Manga Studio, or rendering in Poser, a good computer will make it all run smooth like butter. If you’re looking to upgrade, consider doing it a step at a time. Here are a couple ideas for the best upgrades for your system.

Video Card

EXTREME


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With 2012, Nvidia has introduced their ‘Kepler’ 28–nanometer technology. The GeForce GTX 680 is Nvidia’s flagship, and is getting great reviews. These cards will tear through all of your games and applications, but will use quite a bit of electricity, so make sure your power supply can handle it.  $500-600

Budget


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For those looking for value, the Nvidia Geforce 550ti is a great choice. Based on the ‘Fermi’ 40-nanometer silicon, these cards give you the greatest power/dollar available today. Though it’s not a GTX 680, it can still run nearly any game or program you throw at it. ~$125

Monitor

EXTREME


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Apple’s Thuderbolt Display is a visual marvel. At 2560-by-1440 resolution, images will appear vibrant and crisp. Though under the pixel count of Apple’s new MacBook Pro with Retina Display, this monitor is our pick for an extreme desktop visual computing experience. Expect to dish out a cool grand though, as this cutting-edge tech, and the Apple logo, doesn’t come cheap. ~$1000

Budget


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If you want a rock-solid monitor, for a great price, look no further than the ASUS VH242H. At 1920-by-1080, you get full HD and a plethora of connections. It is one of the highest-rated monitor available, and rock-solid. ~$175

Processor

EXTREME


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Launched earlier this year, Intel’s Ivy Bridge processors introduce their first 22-nanometer chip technology. The Core i7 and Core i5 are great choices for a blazing fast machine. You’ll definitely want at least 4 gigs of RAM to keep this chip happy.  $200-400

Budget


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Processor underdog AMD has a unique set of value-minded offerings. With AMD’s A4 chip, you not only get a great CPU, but also a powerful graphics processor built right in. Graphic-intensive applications like Poser can run great without the need for a separate video card. $60-100

Though mobile options such as laptops and tablets are becoming increasingly popular, having a desktop computer that you can easily upgrade or add on to can be helpful especially for those who work at home. Avoid the sun this summer! Crank up the AC and enjoy your newly upgraded battle station!

This guide is just for fun and these products are not endorsed by Smith Micro.

Best Sharing Methods and Platforms: Look at My Art!

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So you’re a pro with Poser, or a master of Manga Studio, why then, can it still be so hard to get your work out there? The internet, Web 2.0, and social media have us more connected than ever. No matter your skill level, you can get your work in peoples’ faces by embracing technology. We’ve done it, and though we can be quite opinionated, it’s worked for us! The following are our tips for getting seen.

1. A Place to Call Yours – A personal Web site
Cheap and efficient, a Web site can give you a home online. Having a site tells people that you’re serious about being an artist, and you want to go places. It can also act as a hub for your online universe. Get creative! And be sure to link to your social media pages, tell a bit about yourself and provide contact info.

2. Get Social! – Tweets, likes, and deviations
Free and fun, building a presence on Facebook, Twitter, DeviantArt, and more is one of the best ways to share your work. These platforms have exploded in recent years and are full of potential fans, friends, and employers! With media-friendly features, you can post all of your work within the accounts for maximum viewing pleasure.

3. The Personal Touch – Email, letter, call, fax!
Network. Reach out to people who may be interested in your work. Foster relationships that could mean big things in the future. Create a LinkedIn account too! Sending a hard copy of your work to someone, for instance, can help establish a special connection with them.


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4. IRL – There’s people out there…!
Join clubs, attend conventions, and make friends with people that share your interests. Even if it means giving your grandma a heart attack when showing her your risqué Catwoman artwork… at least you had good intentions. Let’s say you’re using Poser to make 3D models to tell your digital story, and a friend of yours just happens to know someone at a movie company that needs some 3D models, stat! Keeping involved means increased chances to connect and excel. Fostering relationships are not only important to your health, but your success as well.

We like to think we know how to share, so take our advice and see where it gets you! And remember, our programs feature great tools for sharing your work, like direct exporting to YouTube and Facebook. Get out there and share!

Follow the Rainbow to a St. Patrick’s Day Animated Greeting Card & 50% Off Coupon

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Share this St. Patrick’s Day animation made in Anime Studio with your friends and loved ones!

When you’re done watching, pick your four leaf clover: 50% OFF the Entire Smith Micro Store!

We’re celebrating St. Patrick’s day with a big sale at Smith Micro’s online store. Get 50% off all software titles from now until Sunday, March 18th. Simply use the coupon code: HOWLUCKY4U at checkout.

A Look at “Developer Trade Secrets” Tutorial Video Series for 3D Content Creators

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Today’s Post is Guest Written by Content Paradise Seller & Poser Developer DarkEdgeDesign.

The Developer Trade Secrets video tutorial series is about total education, anyone from the general hobbyist to the professional 3d content creator will walk away with quite a few new and essential tools in their utility belt; providing everyone the ability to make superior 3d art and content.

I cover some of the bare bones basics that everyone should know, such as smart-parenting props, inherit bends, editing pose files and creating injection pose’s; but the majority of these videos also cover a multitude of high end use techniques that that are essential to creating and selling 3d art and content. No matter your skill level or your time behind the desk, there is something here that everyone can learn from.

I show you how to use top notch tools and apps that are available to us today. Some of these include ZBrush, Normal and Displacement maps, Morphing Clothes, Dependent Parameters, Super Conforming figures and props, Poser File Editor, Extended Remote Control (ERC), Binary Morph Editor and Pose Morph Loader to name just a few.

The knowledge you will gain radically increases your quality immediately, providing you not only the tools for specific problem solving techniques; but the insight and knowledge to apply these ideas to anything you wish to create.

The knowledge shared here is the accumulation of 5 years of being a content creator for Poser. I have successfully been selling content through Content Paradise, Runtime DNA and have entered into contractual agreements with Smith Micro for creating specialized content.

So come take a wonderful ride with me through the knowledge machine and start making awesome 3d art and content right now!

BUY NOW!
“A Developer’s Trade Secrets” Featured Tutorial
Retail: $40, sale price is $28 (30% off)
Sale 3/5/2012-4/1/2012.

Spring is Nature’s Way of Saying Let’s Party… With 50% Off at Smith Micro

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Feeling Springy? So Are We!
We’re celebrating the end of winter with a big sale at Smith Micro’s online store.
Get 50% off all software titles from now until March 6th.
SAVE 50% OFF software at our Spring Sale! Enter Coupon Code: SPRINGSALE2011

50% off at Smith Micro

*Sale starts Sunday February 27, 2011 and is good through March 6, 2011.
Coupon not valid with any other sale, upgrade pricing or trial offer.

Start Shopping Now!

Your questions: Our resolutions!

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One tip I’ve heard to making your New Year’s Resolutions stick is to make them easy to quantify. Read: “I will do 15 situps a day and eat only one cupcake a week,” as opposed to “I will have ripped abs and eat a more healthful diet.”

In that spirit, I have planned to answer at least one Question Jar a month on the blog. Here’s this month’s:

Will Manga Studio change the Hand tool to act more like Photoshop’s? So the tool becomes temporary once you let go of the button and goes back to the previous tool instantly. This will allow users to not have to constantly switch back and forth every single time?

Continue reading →

Smith Micro Reflections: 2010

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It’s the last day of 2010. It’s been a heck of a year, if I must say. We started this blog. I tried my hand at fear-based writing; what?!? I said I tried. And then (thank goodness!) there were guest bloggers.

Poser Pro 2010 wowed. Anime Studio learned to obey the laws of physics and StuffIt gave us all sorts of destinations, like SendStuffNow. And Miki 3.0 even made an appearance ;)

Butterfly Hunter by Ian Ambrose

Continue reading →

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