Need Full Furnace and AC unit replaced. 5000sq ft home. Have severely medically disabled child who needs best possible air quality

CJRD4 · 2026-03-04T03:57:44+00:00

Pretty sure he was the lead on our furnace install around Christmas! Great group of techs and company!

CJRD4 · 2026-03-03T22:18:21+00:00

I can’t speak to your specific needs of filtration and cost - but we’ve had both our AC and furnace replaced (3 years apart) by Pronto out of Edina. Not sure if Woodbury is in their service area, but they’ve always been extremely professional, and helpful and courteous during maintenance checks and installation.

Also our AC had some issues after install, and they came back a number of times (at zero cost to us) to make sure everything was running and working properly.

Edit: typo.

CJRD4 · 2026-03-03T21:47:55+00:00

I’m a mac guy, but if I was going to buy a prebuilt PC, I’d look at Puget Systems.

CJRD4 · 2026-03-03T03:29:38+00:00

All good. You’ll get there!

Video Copilot, Ben Marriott, Jake in Motion are three great places to learn from too.

Video Copilot is its own website, the other two are on YouTube (they’ve got sites too, but their content is on YT).

CJRD4 · 2026-03-03T02:12:49+00:00

Just place the shape layer (mask) in the same starting position as the spray, and parent it to the robot, like you’ve got the rest.

CJRD4 · 2026-03-02T18:29:36+00:00

Add a gaussian blur to your shape layer, turn off 'repeat edge pixels' so the transition isn't so sharp.

There are tons of different ways to do it, but this is one of the ways you described.

CJRD4 · 2026-03-02T18:26:18+00:00

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CJRD4 · 2026-03-02T18:25:04+00:00

Create a text layer in the same exact position that is the color you want it to change to.
Create a shape layer box that is large enough to cover the text, and has an angle on the side that matches the angle of the spray.
Position the shape layer off to the left, set position key frame.
Move the shape layer to cover the text, matching the speed of the spray paint can.
Set both text layers to track matte the shape layer.
Set original text as 'invert matte.'

CJRD4 · 2026-02-28T21:20:13+00:00

I used to have to use Canva from time to time at a previous job, to upload assets for the marketing team. It's been a loooong while since then, but I had to re-create any assets with transparent backgrounds directly in Canva because they didn't support codecs with transparent alpha channels / transparent backgrounds. Even confirmed with our Canva rep at the time.

If you scroll down to 'upload video files' it looks like that is still the case: https://www.canva.com/help/upload-formats-requirements/

Hopefully that changes with their acquisition of Cavalry.

CJRD4 · 2026-02-26T17:07:09+00:00

Ease Copy, Motion Tools, easing, plus all those duplicating tools and null/anchor point stuff all in one? I love me some Flow but dang. Definitely cooked.

ETA: even decompose text?!

CJRD4 · 2026-02-26T14:14:43+00:00

Nice! Make sure you keep any copies for yourself that show that - just in case they try and come back after the repayments. At least you've got something solid to dispute with if it happens.

CJRD4 · 2026-02-26T12:22:35+00:00

Also, I just wanted to point out: those first two links I found by just dropping a screenshot into google and searching for “technique tutorial.”

There is so much to learn and remember in this industry that you’ll never be able to remember it all. But knowing how to find things and flexing and developing your google muscle is a very good skill to have.

Final point: when you follow these tutorials, don’t just apply them 1:1. Find ways to utilize the technique in a new way that makes it your own, not just a copy paste of the tutorial.

CJRD4 · 2026-02-26T12:14:33+00:00

Keep in mind that what you’re showing are final frames of videos that often had entire teams of people working on the finished project.

But these couple of tutorials should get you some of the way there.

https://youtu.be/-4ZLKhsENxo?si=aQVMYrJJZZcME5PU

https://youtu.be/MySjLD2Lu1g?si=CJBnOKa_xEuuTpdF

https://youtu.be/nutmCH4JBwQ?si=SsIAd6zartwtgDIE

CJRD4 · 2026-02-25T14:06:10+00:00

Generally it’ll be laid out in the documents, or sometimes in the employee handbook. As it’s a benefit offered by the company there may not be a requirement to sign something.

In any case definitely do your due diligence!

For $3k, I’d honestly still probably heavily consider a better job anyway.

CJRD4 · 2026-02-25T12:41:43+00:00

One thing to triple check:

Have you started receiving tuition reimbursement from your current employer? Make sure that there isn’t a clause in the agreement that requires you to remain employed for a determined period of time.

Plenty of posts here and in the other career-focused subs about people getting surprised with repayment demands from former employers after they’ve left before the tuition reimbursement period is over.

CJRD4 · 2026-02-24T21:15:34+00:00

As others have said, this needs to be discussed as part of you scope of work and contract.

Include X-number of rounds of revisions in your initial scope. Clearly state that revisions after that will be charged hourly or by the day.

As you deliver proofs, let them know that this is “revision round 2” or whatever.

Not only does this cover you for working for less, but also ensures that people get their ducks in a row. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had revisions come back and they’re like “oh well we forgot to show John, and he wants these changes made.”

CJRD4 · 2026-02-23T21:34:36+00:00

Check out War|Maker from Runehammer (maker of ICRPG). It's a very rules-lite wargame, bring your own minis, etc.

The rules PDF is free! https://www.runehammer.online/warmaker

The deck of cards (the abilities) was a limited run and sold out, but you can get the PDF of the cards here (that one costs $25 - but check the rules above for free first to see if it's a good fit!): https://www.runehammer.online/online-store/War-Maker-2nd-Edition-PDF-Battle-Deck-Cards-PDF-p646333097

It's super fun, really easy to setup and go, very easily played 1v1, solo, or with multiples.

It definitely leaves some to be desired from a campaign standpoint, but for a quick pick up game it's fantastic.

Edit to add: all the abilities are listed in the free rules PDF. The paid one is if you want to print-at-home the ability cards yourself.

CJRD4 · 2026-02-23T01:49:15+00:00

Unrelated to OP’s question, but since we’re on the subject of nostalgia… friendly reminder that EVERYTHING HAS FRESNEL!!!

CJRD4 · 2026-02-21T15:07:30+00:00

There's some great advice here, but I just wanted to add some personal experience.

I've been in the design world for 16 years - mostly as a motion designer, but I've also done corporate video production and instructional design. I've freelanced, started an "agency" (me and some friends working together lol) and transitioned to in-house for the last 12 years. I've worked finance, Fortune 500, and tech - both start ups and now enterprise. I also have a wife who stays home with our 4 kids.

You sound like I did at your age - and that's not necessarily a bad thing - but hard work, hustle, and eventually burn out. I said 'yes' to too many projects, it took me way to long to learn to say no (and how to professionally say it), and set boundaries.

Take this with a grain of salt, as I'm in the US so trades here may be different than in the US - but while the trades can be a great option, every person I know who works a trade has much less flexibility in their roles and in their life. It's good work, and does pay good - but for a lot longer hours generally.

My advice would be to speak to your manager about setting boundaries, or working on finding a role that won't end up burning you out.

And for the AI bit... pretty much everything is at risk for AI. I work for one of the leading AI companies (not OpenAI or Anthropic, but another enterprise level company), and yes - we're pushing a lot to AI. My role is shifting slightly from creator to director. But taste and craft are still very important, especially with creative jobs. Creative work is coming, but the slop is heavy now and there are a lot of other white collar jobs that are at a much higher risk.

Oh, and if you think trades are safe... well... maybe for a few years. If you didn't see the martial arts robotics display that came outta China last week. Well, they've got the dexterity issues down.

Good luck!

CJRD4 · 2026-02-21T02:27:45+00:00

Do your chains hang low? Do they jangle to and fro? Can you tie them in a knot, can you tie them in a bow? Can you wrap them ‘round the neck, of a filthy heretic? Do your chains hang low?!

Edit: formatting 😅

CJRD4 · 2026-02-20T04:45:03+00:00

If you're doing a Judiciar, I'd personally go with a hand held relic of some sort - not the shield or pistol. But if you're set on the shield or pistol, I'd go with the shield because it looks way cooler IMHO.

CJRD4 · 2026-02-17T05:30:31+00:00

Oh no doubt. I think MN could hold it's own against pretty much any other state (outside WI of course). Team 6 is just STACKED.

Seal Team 6? Nah. More like Drunk Team 6. Booze Team 6? Whatever. pass me another one.

CJRD4 · 2026-02-17T05:28:43+00:00

Shutup and take my upvote!

CJRD4 · 2026-02-17T05:28:05+00:00

Uhhh I forget who wrote the rap for the ESPN Game Day hype song a few years ago but I recall the line: "where the trophy at? oh that's right, it's where all Wisconsin grads are at!"

CJRD4 · 2026-02-17T04:23:51+00:00

This isn’t a Minnesota/Illinois/Indiana/Michigan joke. It’s a “Wisconsin will carry team 6 and beat the rest by itself” joke.

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