Monday, September 16, 2013

QR Codes

     QR is the short term for "Quick Reaction." These codes can be quickly scanned by almost any smartphone. Most phones, however, will require an additional app to be downloaded. There are TONS of free QR readers out there, though. If you don't know what I mean here are some examples of QR codes:
 

 
 

[YOU CAN SCAN THESE TO VISIT DIFFERENT WEBSITES THESE LINK TOO]
These can be multiple colors and come in a variety of sizes and complexities. Many products, advertisements, and even store fronts will have QR codes these days. They are a fast and easy way to send people to their website, to help them buy items, etc. These codes don't have to go just to a homepage. They can go to more complex links that have multiple searches in them or tabs:  

These sites send you to various sites, that have special searches and send you straight to the part of the site that the dealer wanted you to go to.







This Quick Reaction to the recognizable QR code makes it easy for popular singers to send fans to their website, or large market app companies can send you to compatible websites.
RobbieWilliams.com






Webstagram.com

 Many of these QR readers, like RedLaser or ScanLife, will also scan standard bar codes on products you wish to buy. These apps will allow you to check prices in your area for the product
that you scanned. This helps when
prices are not labelled on the store
shelves as well, making these apps
an important tool on your phone
for budgeting.

Big Huge Labs

      This morning I tried another website, similar to Photofunia.com, called BigHugelabs.com However this site had some different activities. I've chosen three projects I've done to show you.

1.) Pop Art Poster. This fun design is loosely based on the concept of Andy Warhol's famous Marlyn Monroe painting. These are fun to create of your friends, make an interesting profile pictures, or as a fun screen saver. This specific image is Gerard Way. This doesn't require a super high quality image, however it requires good lighting, so dim lighting or shadowy images are not recommended.
All rights to the original image are reserved to its owner.

     These can always turn out to be fun and interesting. As you can see, this image is pretty plain and there isn't a noisy background. I personally feel that is a better choice for this project. This works best with an obvious focus point, because most small and weird shapes in the background will drown out the center.

2.) Jigsaw Puzzle. This not only looks pretty cool as an image itself, but can purchased and sent to you, via Big Huge Labs. This makes a great present for a young cousin or even a teenage friend, with a picture of the two of you, their favorite band, their favorite book, etc. Here I've chosen the new 2014 Chevrolet Corvette. While I won't be buying this puzzle, I think I may know a cute present for my brother...
All rights to this original image belong to Chevrolet
and the rightful owner of this image

          This project is obviously a cute and fun game, as I said before, however this doesn't represent everything that can be done on Big Huge Labs. Certain other activities are silly and pointless. For example, the Color Palette Generator, Mat frame, On Black, which are pointless tools, that do nothing, but add a 'museum style mat frame' or make the background of an image black. 






3.) Movie Poster. Here you can create a custom movie poster out of your favorite image and add directors, writers, release dates, cast, title, sub-title, tagline, etc. This is all fun except for the obvious picture that these titles go on top of. This only allows you to important one simple image, and unless it's a high quality image, it can look a bit pixellated. Here you can see a basic image filling the whole project. What you need first, is
All rights reserved to their owners
an image editor to allow you to make the photo look cool, and more edited and eye-grabbing than a normal digital image you might typically find. Here I've taken an image I edited with Photofunia.com, to give it a more interesting element than the flat image it was before. This is another example of what I would call a silly tool provided by Big Huge Labs. Personally I prefer Photofunia.com however I wouldn't completely avoid this site, because while many things on the site are pointless and a waste of time, some make a fun project or even gift.