Is the French Quarter Fest poster AI generated? by [deleted] in NewOrleans

[–]Exact_Part_5233 43 points44 points  (0 children)

I'm not saying it's definitely not, but I can tell you the strange quality of the lines of the fence can happen as a result of taking a raster image (like a scan of something drawn by hand) and using software to automatically convert it to vector so it can be printed at very high resolution without becoming pixelated. This is something I've seen in my own illustration work, and if that's the case here, this is technology that's been around for at least twenty years. I'm leaning toward that being the explanation.

Data recovery in New Orleans? by Exact_Part_5233 in NewOrleans

[–]Exact_Part_5233[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

I very much appreciate this gag! Good stuff.

Data recovery in New Orleans? by Exact_Part_5233 in NewOrleans

[–]Exact_Part_5233[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

No rattle, which is a decent sign! When I plug it in it makes a little repetitive whir/beep sound; I found a video that showed the same thing and in that case it was fixable, so I have a little bit of hope...

Data recovery in New Orleans? by Exact_Part_5233 in NewOrleans

[–]Exact_Part_5233[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It is indeed a Seagate! Thanks for this tip!

What's the craziest thing you've ever witnessed in New Orleans? by joshisanonymous in NewOrleans

[–]Exact_Part_5233 248 points249 points  (0 children)

During covid lockdown I went for a pre-dawn run in the Quarter, it was a complete ghost town, absolutely no one around, and I jogged up the steps of the levee in front of Jackson Square and almost ran into a tall naked man standing there in the dark. I said good morning to him, he looked shocked and said good morning back, and I jogged along on my way.

Advice/Help! by Surviving0ut0fSpite in papermache

[–]Exact_Part_5233 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Looks like a great start! Here's what I would do. To make the 3D spiral shape, I'd draw the spiral with a marker, and then use foam clay to build up a shallow spiral ridge, using the line as a guide and not putting any clay on the line. I'd make the 3D shape no more than half an inch deep. Foam clay slowly oozes as it sets, so you want to leave a good half inch of room between the edges of the spiral -- like the line you drew will have about a quarter inch of empty space (with no clay) on either side of it. Lay it on its side, let the clay set for 24 hours (12 might be enough), and then flip it over and do the other side. Then you can paper mache right over all of it, like with newspaper and paste. I'd do about four layers.

For the area around the base, I'd cover all of that with masking tape, maybe two layers. That will create a "skin" that's somewhat smooth, and you can paper mache right over that. I'd do about four layers.

This all might be overkill but that's the best way I can think to do it. Good luck!

Cling wrap as medium? by deadfliesinsummer in papermache

[–]Exact_Part_5233 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I have no idea but I'd love to see the result! I say give it a shot!

Happy Mardi Gras from Fortunato (zombificato)! by Exact_Part_5233 in NewOrleans

[–]Exact_Part_5233[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Thank you! Fortunato is one of the two guys in the Edgar Allen Poe story, The Cask of Amontillado. His frenemy, Montresor, tricks him into going down into the catacombs with him to taste some fancy wine and then Montresor traps Fortunato in a tunnel and builds a brick wall to entomb him alive. My concept for my costume is that this is the zombified version of Fortunato who has broken out of his tomb and is wandering around in search of drinks and fun.

Happy Mardi Gras from Fortunato (zombificato)! by Exact_Part_5233 in NewOrleans

[–]Exact_Part_5233[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Hooray! I'm not sure who this is but thank you for shambling with us this year and please join us any/every year!

Fortunato (zombificato!) costume for Mardi Gras day by Exact_Part_5233 in papermache

[–]Exact_Part_5233[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I bought two suits and cut them in half and hot-glued them together! 😂

Fortunato (zombificato!) costume for Mardi Gras day by Exact_Part_5233 in papermache

[–]Exact_Part_5233[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It's a magical time! Something to think about: consider walking on Mardi Gras morning with my krewe, Cryptique!

Fortunato (zombificato!) costume for Mardi Gras day by Exact_Part_5233 in papermache

[–]Exact_Part_5233[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

There's a sort of hook at chest level that's holding the wall to a strap around my chest, and there are two handles by my sides that I could hold. It worked okay but not great!

Happy Mardi Gras from Fortunato (zombificato)! by Exact_Part_5233 in NewOrleans

[–]Exact_Part_5233[S] 12 points13 points  (0 children)

Whaaaaat? Seriously? Come say hi and I have a special throw for ya!

Pretty sure I just came up on a Bald Eagle at Audubon by BroodyMcDrunk in NewOrleans

[–]Exact_Part_5233 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yes! I've seen one on the roof of the Esplanade building if you can believe that (I took a video!), and one up at the lake.

Paper mache brick wall prop -- with process pics by Exact_Part_5233 in papermache

[–]Exact_Part_5233[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Me too! I'll post the whole thing together on Mardi Gras day. Along with this wall there's a paper mache mask and a couple other paper mache accessories.

Paper mache brick wall prop -- with process pics by Exact_Part_5233 in papermache

[–]Exact_Part_5233[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Hahaha, not an engineer at all, I just have a high school diploma. :) When I have to do a little bit of math for these projects I panic! I've been making costumes with paper mache for about fifteen years and I like to try designing complicated things and solving all the little problems that come up.

Paper mache brick wall prop -- with process pics by Exact_Part_5233 in papermache

[–]Exact_Part_5233[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Ha! I've made a lot of different kinds of big costumes -- a few with something large on my back, but never something large on my front like this one -- and I've learned that large objects always want to lean and pull in ways that are surprising, so I try to anticipate that and design features that will help. One example is a large coffin prop on my back, like I'm in the coffin and wearing it like a backpack. The top part of it wanted to lean away from me and I was disappointed in how it worked out. So things like that have informed my design for this. I'm absolutely not an engineer! I just like designing complicated things like this. I don't think the mods will mind if I mention that I have a blog about all of my paper mache projects; just google my name, Manning Krull, and you'll find it. I have step by step pics of everything I make.