History and Nostalgia Calendar Please

[Specnut727]

The Rotorheads Forum has a great monthly desktop calendar. It would be great if someone could make one, using some of the 'Brilliant Pics' posted on this forum.

Thanks in advance.
Spec.

[Lightning Mate]

I'll have a go at a prototype, since graphics is part of my job.

Which photo would we like for, say January 2010?

LM :)

[Specnut727]

G'day (L) Mate,

Thanks for your interest. Choosing a photo may be the hardest decision of the month.

The sky's the limit, with so many to choose from. After a quick scan back over some posts in 'Dedicated Nome for Brilliant Pics', here are a few suggestions.

The Lightning, Flying Lawyer post 20th Oct 2008 (any connection with your handle ?)

Any from Old Warden Bill16STN 21st Aug 2008 (or others)

For yankee warbird enthusiasts, the Corsair over the Golden Gate, evansb 20th Mar 2009

I find a pic with clear space around the border for your desktop icons is good, as the main subject doesn't get obscured.

Maybe John Eacott who does the Rotorheads one could offer some advice. I haven't noticed a similar calendar on other forums I frequent, but maybe there is one.

All the best,
Spec.

[Lightning Mate]

Hello Specnut.

I've done a prototype and sent it to PPRuNe Pop since the illustration includes the PPRuNe logo.

It is indeed of the Lightning at dusk, but then, what else would I use!

I'll start looking at the other photo suggestions.

This could catch on, although all twelve might take some time.

LM:ok:

[merlinxx]

MH434 with the Reds as a tribute to the late Ray H:ok:

[Lightning Mate]

merlinxx,

May I have a post number please.

LM

[Lightning Mate]

Gentlemen,

Herewith prototype January 2010.

It has been suggested via PM that I include somewhere "Aviation History & Nostalgia".

I am open to all suggestions/criticisms. I am aware that the blue in the site logo is not correct, but it will be when I change from CMYK colour system to RGB>

Such illustrations can be constructed at 16:9 and 4:3.http://i636.photobucket.com/albums/uu82/Lightning_29/Lightningforcalendar.jpg

LM

[Flying Lawyer]

Specnut727 The Lightning, Flying Lawyer post 20th Oct 2008 I assume you meant this one - from some pics posted 19th Oct.
Agree it would make an excellent calendar pic.


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v140/Rotorheads/Flying%20Lawyer/AAD%20Ysterplaat/YsterplaatLightning.jpg


merlinxx MH434 with the Reds as a tribute to the late Ray Hhttp://images.ibsrv.net/ibsrv/res/src:www.pprune.org/get/images/smilies/thumbs.gif The only pic I've seen is the one below taken from this thread: http://www.pprune.org/aviation-history-nostalgia/200715-sqd-ldr-ray-hanna-afc-3.html#post2243571


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v146/FlyingLawyer/ArrowsMH434ps.jpg

It's too small to be a calendar pic and not good enough quality to be enlarged.
Do you know of another?


Lightning Mate
If the Ray Hanna idea appeals, there are some superb pics in the thread linked above.
December will be the 4th anniversary.


FL

[Specnut727]

LM
Definitely on the right track. Only suggestion is to scale the logo and calendar down a little, so the photo subject is a bit more visible. The proportions on the Rotorheads calendar work well I think.

Thanks all for subject suggestions. I like the idea of using tribute pics. Could even be specials in the months of significant anniversaries.

Thanks,
Spec.

[Lightning Mate]

Specnut,

Point Taken. There must also be room for desktop icons, and some people use a lot of them. Standby for a revised pic as per your comment.

merlinxx,

I'll look at that site. The idea of tribute pics is appealing.

Anyone else have any comments please?

LM

[Lightning Mate]

How's this gentlemen?

http://i636.photobucket.com/albums/uu82/Lightning_29/Lightningforcalendar2.jpg



http://i636.photobucket.com/albums/uu82/Lightning_29/RayHannaforcalendar.jpg

[MReyn24050]

Great LM. It looks to me that you have the job.
Mel

[treadigraph]

desktop icons, and some people use a lot of them

You must have seen my desktop by the sound of it LM! It's positively littered with the damn things...

Great job; I can't see the revised image while I am work, but I appreciate your efforts and look forward to being able to use it!

Cheers

Treadders

[John Eacott]

LM,

There are a number of things that I can help with, if you want.

I use PS, and layers, to create the final product.
PPRuNe font was very difficult to find and reproduce: I have the image available, but it will need editing as it currently is Rotorheads specific.
It is quite important to always leave a border for icons that others will have on their desktops: certainly at the bottom, left and top of the screen.
I always create both a widescreen and a standard screen choice: not everyone has widescreen, but a stretched standard image can look horrible on wide, and vice versa.
Hosting and thumbnails are also important.

If you want to e mail me a decent hi res image, I'll show you what I mean ;)

This is the current Rotorheads calendar for September. Click on either of the thumbnail images to go to the full size picture:

Wide screen size:

http://www.eacott.com.au/gallery/d/3189-1/Sept+2009+wide+thumb.jpg (http://www.eacott.com.au/gallery/d/3186-1/Sept+2009+wide.jpg)


Standard screen size:

http://www.eacott.com.au/gallery/d/3194-1/Sept+2009+thumb.jpg (http://www.eacott.com.au/gallery/d/3191-1/Sept+2009.jpg)

[Lightning Mate]

Thank you kindly John.

Please bear in mind that we are at "prototype" stage at present solely to solicit views.

As I said in a previous post, I will do each one in 4:1 and 16:9 format for the reason you state.

I think I have solved the PPRuNe logo text problem - at least it looks accurate to me. For this I used Illustrator because I find the shearing facility useful and the fine control of type spacing etc. The first one didn't quite give the correct blue in CYMK, but seems to have done so using RGB.

I also take your point about a border for icons - any finished products will have this built in. Personally I prefer a black border, but some people may prefer white or a light grey shade.

I hope that you don't feel we are stealing your ideas - I have simply responded to someone elses' post.

LM :ok:

[John Eacott]

LM,

I don't put in a border as such, but rather ensure that all writing is spaced far enough in from the edge to allow icons and task bar to be seen clearly. Rotorheads calendar has been going a long time now, and you are more than welcome to any stuff that I have. Creating the calendars is now quite streamlined, but my templates are all PS: you are welcome to them if you want :ok:

[Lightning Mate]

Point Taken John.

I'll soon post two versions and see what people prefer.

LM

[Lightning Mate]

For those who want it as it is, herewith December 2009 in widescreen 16:9 format.

LM

http://i636.photobucket.com/albums/uu82/Lightning_29/Dec09widescreen.jpg

[Lightning Mate]

This is a pic from evansb, suggested by Specnut727.

http://i636.photobucket.com/albums/uu82/Lightning_29/Nov09.jpg

[PFR]

Fantastic Lightning Mate:ok: Thanks for all the hard work......put me down for one....or more than one:) The Late Ray Hanna shot is just pure magic:D We do miss him and Mark:sad:

[Lightning Mate]

PFR thank you.

Just copy and install as desktop.

Didn't know Mark, but met Ray several times in the late sixties....

"Fighter Pilots are all heart, and there are none down in Hell"........

So, for everyone who is interested, wossa pic for October 2009?

LM:)

[PFR]

Cheers LM. I know it's an "old" shot but does anyone have a good copy of Mark displaying MH434 at Shuttleworth - the one low and turning, hood back - can be seen quite clearly leaning forward flying the aeroplane into the turn - I'm sure some will know it well. Not sure when it was taken and what copyright there might be, but it would be great to have in there:ok:

[Flying Lawyer]

PFR

Is this it?

http://www.ofmc.co.uk/images/spitfire.jpg

[Lightning Mate]

October 2009

http://i636.photobucket.com/albums/uu82/Lightning_29/Oct09.jpg

[Genghis the Engineer]

Could I suggest posting them larger, or links to larger files - 1024x768 pixels is probably standard screensize nowadays.

Lovely job however chaps, keep up the good work.

G

[Lightning Mate]

Genghis,

I have tried them all so far, loading straight to desktop, and they all work.

However, they are not all yet at 16:9. We still have plenty of time.

LM

[Genghis the Engineer]

They'll work so long as the desktop is set to "stretch", but you'll lose some quality compared to a bigger image.

As you say, they work, and they are very good - this is just minor artistic criticism on my part.

(The different size thing is done on the Rotorheads calendars.)

G

[PFR]

Thanks Flying Lawyer - that's it:ok: Had it going from left to right in my mind:confused: Something special that image I reckon, both for the a/c and the individual flying it....

[PPRuNe Pop]

My grandson has a very large copy of that pic of Mark, and I can confirm that he is going left to right! Somehow, it looks better that way too - but the sense of speed is greater on a bigger pic I suppose.

[PFR]

I assume you meant this one - from some pics posted 19th Oct.
Agree it would make an excellent calendar pic.





Re Flying Lawyer's excellent photo (Post #8):ok: Can any aficionados tell me the purpose of the chordwise straps seen in the photo - the ones cutting across the roundels. Presume it some form of retrofit mod for strengthing?
Thanks PFR:)

[MReyn24050]

the chordwise straps seen in the photo Are they straps or is it a case of the paint being removed to assist crack detection?

[PFR]

Um..could be - Thanks MReyn24050. Let see if we've any other takes on it...

[Lightning Mate]

Mmmm...

I flew the beast for just over five years and no RAF ones were like that.

Perhaps Mel has a point, although I can assure you all that the Lightning wing was very strong.

I'll have a go at e-mailing Thunder City and see what they say.

LM

[PFR]

Any news Lightning Mate from the "boys" in Jo-Berg on the intriguing strips/straps?
Cheers, PFR

[PFR]

So no clues on these straps then:hmm:

[Lightning Mate]

Got no reply.

[PFR]

Oh well - thanks anyway Lightning Mate:) It seems most likely some local mod - certainly like yourself my Lightning contacts don't recollect anything similar. If you notice it's also got some non standard nav lights...