The Lost Type Co-op

February 22, 2012 in Service Bureau by Stephanie Janisch | No comments

Finding a good, usable typeface is hard work. I always feel bad using an unlicensed font or one I downloaded for free. Someone worked really hard on that typeface; they should be recognized and compensated for it. Also, I hate it when you find a font you like but can’t embed it (we see this all the time at the SB). On the flip side, I am also pretty stingy, so paying top dollar for a typeface I’ll use maybe once or twice isn’t really an option.

Enter The Lost Type Co-op. Created by designers Tyler Galpin and Riley Cran.

From The Lost Type Co-op website:

“…originally [created] in a whirlwind 24 hour adventure to distribute a single typeface, Lost Type has blossomed into a full fledged foundry, distributing fonts from designers all over the world, with its unique model. Users have the opportunity to pay whatever they like for a font, you can even type in ‘$0′ for a free download. 100% of funds from these sales go directly to the designers of the fonts, respectively.”

So download some sweet fonts. Chip in what you can. Everyone wins.


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Clap Camera

February 16, 2012 in Service Bureau by Stephanie Janisch | No comments

I love the instant gratification of using the camera on my iPhone. But usually I spend way too much time agonizing over composition, color, lighting, and any other minor detail.

Enter the CLAP camera. It isn’t much different from other digital toy cameras, but the concept and design has me smitten. And with no viewfinder or digital back, the images are more likely to be organic rather than composed.

From the Clap website:

“What distinguishes CLAP the most is its convenience. You can export image data and charge battery by just taking off its cap and connecting its built-in USB terminal to your computer. Haven’t you experienced looking for a cable? This camera got rid of such messy gears. This convenience helps you maintain your motivation to take photos…Although a lot of digital cameras exist, this camera cannot be missed. First of all, its colorful package attracts you. Then its convenience of charging the battery, easy operation and its reasonable price will exceed your expectations. This is a must-have camera even for those who already have a lot of cameras.”

Also, I love that their video is in Japanese.

As an added perk (they can’t seem to get enough of the chargeable battery):

“Plus! You can use it as a USB memory. It’s economically efficient for its chargeable battery! Various color variations! And its compact body. This is the camera that is made for “daily life.”

At $48 USD, I am hoping you use this as more than a cute memory stick. It is available from the website (all in Japanese) or from Amazon.co.jp.

The company that sells this also has this cat-shaped camera.

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Happy Valentines Day!

February 14, 2012 in Uncategorized by Kate Roger | No comments

Love, the Bureau

Crit Week is Here!

December 2, 2011 in SAIC, Service Bureau by Stephanie Janisch | No comments

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So you want to be an Astronaut?

November 17, 2011 in Uncategorized by Kate Roger | No comments

Now’s your chance! NASA is hiring! Hiring Astronauts! To go into space!

Its not something you can expect to hear very often, if ever again. NASA is hiring 9-15 astronauts to help out on the International Space Station.

Getting this job is no walk in the park. After reading the job requirements, I don’t think I know anyone even remotely qualified (sorry guys). Besides needing a degree in Engineering, Math, Physical Science, or Biological Science, you also have to have either… logged 1,000 hours piloting a jet plane, have a doctorate in any of the above mentioned fields, or have 3 years under your belt as an astronaut, or something very similar to already being an astronaut. And that’s not to mention the physical tests and training required. Oh, and you can’t be shorter than 5’2″ or taller than 6’3″.

It would take a life time to prepare for this once in a lifetime opportunity. And now for those few people who stuck with it, it might just pay off.

If you’re one of those people, you probably already know where to apply, and have probably already started on it (the posting just went up yesterday). But for anyone else who’s curious, here’s the link to the application…

http://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/302967000

All applications must be turned in by January 27th, 2012.

If there was ever a moment in a person’s life where they wish they maybe hadn’t given up on that childhood dream…oh well, back to loitering around the Planetarium.

Good luck to all the applicants!

-k

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If you love it, ink it (for a little while)…

November 16, 2011 in Uncategorized by Stephanie Janisch | No comments

Forget the endless internal debate about your next tattoo. Let soap and water save you money and future shame.  Tatt.ly, “a temporary tattoo store for design-minded kids and kids-at-heart,” offers you the chance to get an interesting and provocative temporary tattoo with out sacrificing your dignity.

I particularly love the sets they put together.

For the photographers:

For the printers (ahem!):

If you are really determined to make bad decisions/terrify your parents:

Save your skin, people, buy fake!

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☞Copy Paste Character☜

November 15, 2011 in Uncategorized by Stephanie Janisch | No comments

File this one under “things that make your life easier”.

The name, Copy Paste Character, pretty much sums it up, but in the words of makers Konst & Teknik & Martin:

“[Copy Paste Character is] A web and iPhone application for copying the ‘hidden’ characters that comes with the computer’s typefaces, to be pasted into emails, tweets, text documents, forums and whatever else you might need to spice up with an extra ♔, ฿ or, ❒.”

They even have an iPhone app ($0.99).

So far, my favorites are:

⸚ ⟿ ☠ ⊗ ⍤♨

The 11880 is BACK!

November 11, 2011 in Service Bureau, Services by Stephanie Janisch | No comments

That’s right loyal readers, the 11880 has been restored to health.  Bring on the (really) wide format printing.*

If you were wondering, the cleaning assembly was replaced. This is what it looked like before:

*Up to 64″ wide on select substrates

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Heidi Norton interviews Barbara Kasten on Bad at Sports

November 8, 2011 in Uncategorized by Kate Roger | No comments

Heidi Norton, Untitled, 2010

Heidi Norton, SAIC faculty member and longtime friend of the Bureau, has a guest post up on Bad at Sports! For the blog she chose to interview Barbara Kasten, a Chicago native whose photographs can be found in galleries and museum collections all over the world. For Heidi, Barbara Kasten was an inspiration during her years as a photography student, and her enthusiasm about this interview is palpable. Here is a quote from Heidi’s intro to the interview,

As a photography student of the mid/late 90′s, Barbara Kasten was of great significance to me. I lost track of her during the first decade of the millennium, as the contemporaries of the Becher’s school (Gursky, Ruff, Struth) dominated the art market with their dry, representational Deadpan Photography. Now, as an educator 11 years later, I relish in Kasten’s renaissance. Abstraction is transcendental to me, but above all, I see Kasten as a pioneer of contemporary relevance.

So click HERE and check it out! And while you might have missed Heidi’s show at the North Eastern Illinois University Fine Art Center, keep an eye out for another solo show of hers slated for February 2012 at Johalla Projects. We will try to keep you posted as well

Happy Reading,

-k

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Online Stencil Generator!

November 3, 2011 in Uncategorized, bureau awesomness by Kate Roger | No comments

It is what it says it is, and it does a pretty good job. Make a protest poster you can be proud of! Make some t shirts for your band that look like you know someone who knows how to draw! The Online Stencil Generator can make a working stencil out of any image in your database or on the web. The program also gives you a little freedom to edit, with 17 different versions of the image in stencil form, from mostly white to mostly black, and the ability to make a stencil out of either the positive or the negative of the image. Unfortunately the Stencil Generator generates jpegs, not vector art. But you’re two steps away from having a file ready for cutting on the laser cutter or our vinyl cutter!

Happy Making

-k

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