Hello, Digital Image and Video enthusiasts,

It’s Digital Image Group time again—time for our 19^th meeting ever! This month we are inviting everyone to bring images and videos of work you have been doing recently. Also, if you have special Thanksgiving images you are welcome to bring those too or you can just come watch what everyone else is doing.

Tomorrow evening, Thursday, November 19^th beginning at 6:30 P.M. you are invited to attend our 11^th DIG meeting of 2009 in the Parish Hall on the left side of St. Julian’s Episcopal Church here in Douglasville.

This month, time permitting, I will be demonstrating two great image making tools. Topaz Photoshop Plugins (http://www.topazlabs.com) help to turn pictures into perfect digital illustrations. Also, Dynamic Auto-Painter (http://www.mediachance.com/dap/index.html ) AUTOMATICALLY turns a digital image into a painting, color pencil drawing, felt tip maker drawing, pastel, watercolor, or a painting reminiscent of one of the great Impressionist artists such as Monet, Van Gogh, etc. This is in many ways one or two steps ahead of other similar painting programs because of the automatic rendering features. Plus, it is very inexpensive ($48).

I am attaching several examples I have made without any human intervention other than telling the program when to start and STOP. Everything else has been done automagically.

At this meeting, there will be demonstrations, discussions, slide presentations, videos and time to get to know other digital visual artists and wannabes . . . Bring friends and family members with you if you like.

What: Digital Image Group Meeting

When: 6:30 P.M. till we are done (you don’t have to be on time and you can leave when you need to go). Thursday evening, September 17^th   (that’s tomorrow!) and every third Thursday of the month from here till eternity.

Where: St. Julian’s Episcopal Church Parish Hall, 5400 Stewart’s Mill Road, Douglasville GA 30135

Why: Because people with digital still and video cameras, computers, graphics and image manipulation/editing software need a place to meet, share their knowledge and see what other people are doing in the visual arts. If you desire, you may also show your own images, designs and digital videos to the audience, get some feedback and participate in the discussions. 

Admission is Free. A donation of $1 is accepted but not required. Any money collected goes to pay for the $25 monthly rental of the Parish Hall and for a few office supplies and miscellaneous expenses. You become a member as soon as you come to a meeting.

Part 1 starts at 6:30 and runs until 8 p.m. It will consist of shorter presentations and discussions.

Part 2 is a 20 minute informal social break from 8 p.m. until 8:20 p.m. -- Chat with participants and attendees. Bring your camera, accessories, prints etc. and ask questions, meet new people, make some friends.

Part 3 starts at 8:20 p.m. and remains open-ended: it goes until the last person has presented. Longer presentations and demonstrations are usually presented later in the evening during Part 3. You may leave at any time, once you reach “information overload” status. Everyone who wants to show their work will get the opportunity, so there is no formal ending time—as long as the presenters and audience last. This is your chance to enjoy visual arts in a highly condensed discussion group.

If your schedule won’t allow you to make it to part 1, plan on coming to part 2 or 3 of the evening or any time in-between.

Bring as many of your images to show as you can fit into 10 to 12 minutes, or bring videos up to 12 minutes in length. We give you the floor for your moments of fame. At the 10 minute mark, a chime will sound and you have 2 more minutes to wrap it up. A few presentations may last longer depending upon the need and interest of the presenter and group.

Hope to see you at DIG!

Richard