The last time I was in school, technology was much less advanced than it is today. CD Roms were a luxury if they even existed yet, Windows 95 and the Pentium processors were still on the horizon to make personal computing accessible to the masses and the computer graphics programs that were around were limited to creating old school Nintendo style graphics. When I got a job shortly after, I worked for a technology impoverished company and the world passed it by in a rush of faster, better computers and up-to-date software until the current bosses finally got iPads then iPhones and decided to get with the technological program.

And that meant my job had a technological makeover too only I had to teach myself how to do it all. I honestly can say that I did manage it to be functional and getting faster all the time. I'm still picking up bits here and there as I get asked to do ever more and different things. I doubt I'll be able to make the transition to creating full digital images for some time as my struggle to make a simple speech bubble about an hour ago indicates to me but I do have a greater understanding how image software works. And I have a much better monitor these days. Gotta love flat panel widescreens.

So what does that mean for my artwork if I'm still clinging to my traditional ways? It means that I'm using what digital skills I have to greatly improve the files I upload here after they've been scanned. I know a lot more about how to properly adjust colors to get them to better match the original images. And I know how to use a tablet to at least clean up smearing, dirt and other artifacts of scanning or the creation process.

I'm still trying to get around the feeling that it feels like I'm somehow cheating and the results are not traditional because of the digital adjustments. When it does really start to nag at me, I remind that part of myself that movies rely on all kinds of editors, engineers, production designers, costumers, directors of photography, and lighting directors to make them look their best. And just about every musician uses sound engineers and recordists to improve the sound of their music for the best in listening enjoyment. So for anyone who has read this far and already seen my work elsewhere, with only a couple of exceptions, you're seeing completely new files that are vast improvements over the old. And if you're just tuning in, then you're getting the best quality scans I've produced to date.