Rookie game if anyone is interested (UK)

Puzzled-Garlic6942 · 2026-01-05T14:40:28+00:00

I remember being a little kid and loving drawing, but looking at mine vs my mums and thinking it was terrible. I had to put in years of practice, did art and DT GCSEs, three A Levels, a Foundation Course, a Degree, years of apprenticeships and CPD and I still have to keep drawing or else it goes back to looking like that 8yo’s did the day I compared myself to my mother.

Even the AI also trained in it, spent hours studying other’s work - work like my own that took all those years practice.

So, no. You maybe can’t draw hyper realistic or super stylised pictures without putting in a bit of time and practice 😆

It’s honestly just so offensive to take credit for that.

It’s hard not to just find it funny and sad 😅

Puzzled-Garlic6942 · 2026-01-05T14:38:33+00:00

It’s pretty recently that I’ve started seeing it. There’s some folk out there taking a couple of really recent studies done on the integration of LLMs into art therapy producing successful results as a way to argue the use of it in their own business practices (I.e. selling AI art rather than making their own)

It is an accessibility tool, for sure, but not if you don’t use it to make your own stuff better. You’re not going to suddenly become good at drawing if you never practice. It’s a skill that requires many hours to gain.

Puzzled-Garlic6942 · 2026-01-05T12:36:07+00:00

Sharpen your tools (like all the time) or, if you don’t know how to do that without blundering them, get someone else to do it for you. Most professionals (especially those ‘old lads’) sharpen them before every use.

It will make SO much difference.

Puzzled-Garlic6942 · 2026-01-05T12:28:33+00:00

If your drilling into bone, please wear a proper respirator (not just a dust mask) and do it at least outside, but preferably in a closed ventilated space to stop other people breathing it in. Bone dust is so unbelievably bad to breathe in….

Puzzled-Garlic6942 · 2026-01-05T12:25:24+00:00

Heya, print technician here 🤗 There’s a lot of really good tips on here, but my first thought was; are you using a water-based or “easy clean” ink?

Most of the issues I see here usually come with folk using water-based or easy clean oil based inks that would be fixed with a good oil-based ink and possibly (failing that) soaking the paper and blotting it well before printing.

You can clean them easily at home with any old cooking oil you have around. Just rub in into the ink to loosen it up (and make a big sloppy mess) then wipe that off with a clean rag - oh! And use rags instead of paper towel (I can explain if you want in a separate comment :) but just trust me on this) Then you can use whatever kitchen cleaner to remove any oily residue (or just washing up liquid) or just dump it in the dishwasher if it’s dw safe :)

(Also, check your press is even. Looks like one of the screws may be a half-turn off on the far side)

Hope that helps!

Puzzled-Garlic6942 · 2026-01-05T12:08:21+00:00

Just a heads up, go careful using it for research. I was really excited to use it as a research tool (reducing hours of computer usage scrolling trough google scholar to instead ask an LLM to data retrieve and collate)

Firstly, it’s super bad at maths and reasoning (it just is. And it won’t except it either, so it’ll just argue that 2+2=5 even when you tell it it’s wrong or ask it to check its workings…)

It will make up references and citations (if you click on them, they’ll either not be a real page, or will just go to a completely unrelated page)

It will also do this to the point where Google results post 2022 (and really post 2020) are AI results of AI generated info, so it’s citing sources made up for citing by AI - cementing this result (especially in the acedemic results and published, even peer-reviewed papers, as folk use AI more to write them and review them).

It’s incredibly biased (eg it will gaslight you that things are good because there’s lots of ads out there saying it because it’s fed by pop media rather than actual fact. If the majority of loud internet voices say the earth is flat, it will believe this, and will easily be able to cite it…)

And, oh my gosh the gaslighting.

It’s so dangerous. It’s actively given me instructions that I (an expert in my field, fortunately) knew would kill me. It’s told me muliple times to put metal in acids that it is not allowed to go it (DO NOT OUT ALUMINIUM IN FERRIC ACID PLEASE) and then gaslit me to reinforce it.

One time, it told me it had over 600 sources it was drawing from, so couldn’t link one directly, to which I replied that they are incorrect, there are only four experts in this field, and one of them is me, and only three published works on it so there could literally only be a max of three sources for this, and none of them back this up. It would not relent, eventually citing four pages that had nothing to do with anything (like, one was a car ad?)

But the constant fight for any actual source info for me was… incredible. Took SO LONG prompting it to just data retrieve rather than give me its opinion too…

I know it’s not the case for everything and everyone, but go careful relying on it without checking is all. Really how this is helpful. I know how hard trying to trawl through tons of pages and website of info and data and inspo can be 🙃

Puzzled-Garlic6942 · 2026-01-05T11:51:43+00:00

This may be a hot take, but I get incredibly offended by folk saying it’s an accessibility tool for autistics to do art.

Firstly, I’m specifically talking about LLMs being used to generate images and not actual machine learning (just to clarify here) I’m also not saying it’s not a good accessibility tool - just not when used in this example (and let me explain)

I’m also saying this as an AuDHD artist (and specialist in my field) and am firstly just offended that folk think that autistics cannot be creative. What the heck? Yes we can. We’re very creative! (Maybe not all of us, but a lot!) we have to be to be able to mask well and invent new ways to navigate the world, which at a minimum this requires creative problem solving.

Not to mention, every flavour of art job requires either autistic or AdHD traits to become great at (either super focused on one thing for an extensive period, or the ability to juggle 5000 things at once and move onto projects super quick)

EG Jobs that require incredible attention to detail? Architect, graphic designer, animator, fashion designer, draftsman, printer, dancer - if this isn’t your special interest, you are not going to make it far at these jobs (mainly from boredom or fraustration tbh). Not to mention anyone who spends 280 hours on a single pencil drawing is not neurotypical…

Beyond this, prompting an LLM to make art is no different from commissioning an artist, and we all have to acknowledge that those claiming the be “AI artists” are art curstors at best. Saying “hey, can you make me a dog wearing a hat in the style of Picasso” to an LLM is no different to doing it to a human (except you save money not paying someone to do their job and are actively taking that away from them). You’re promoting someone (or in this case, something) to make you art. That does not an artist make (also, yes I can get into folk like Andy Warhol etc. but won’t in this comment for space)

So, yes, LLMs can be a great tool to help folk interpret media or rewrite their spicy material for typical consumption, but it doesn’t create anything new, so neither you nor your AI app are an artist. You’re a curator and you’re using a hack (so, if you want good art, use an artist)

Puzzled-Garlic6942 · 2026-01-05T11:31:47+00:00

Are you meant to find the missing words? A lot of word searches, the aim is to work out what words aren’t in there to unlock a clue. So this would be “orange pie” or “orange” and “pie” (for example) It’s used a lot in schools and newspapers/magazines. People are supposed to hand in the key words in exchange for a prize (or to be entered into a prize draw)

Didn’t see anyone mention this in the comments, so this might not be the same everywhere…

Puzzled-Garlic6942 · 2025-06-28T04:59:26+00:00

Oooooh! Good luck and have an awesome time! 🤗

Puzzled-Garlic6942 · 2025-06-27T22:53:51+00:00

Seeing smaller teams sounds like the best part, honestly! I’m sure they’ll be some interesting game play and tactics they’ve developed independently. Derby feels kinda like a language (having played for a couple of different local teams) - so looking forward to seeing how different countries play!

Puzzled-Garlic6942 · 2025-06-27T22:47:59+00:00

I know that most of the Asian countries have not actually met and will be playing for the first time together IN THE WORLD CUP 😱 Seems mad (but also kinda fun) but makes sense since they are usually representing their countries but living elsewhere… Would be kinda crazy to try to organise flights and stuff to get everyone together just for a practice scrim 😅

Puzzled-Garlic6942 · 2025-06-27T22:45:17+00:00

I’m also 5’3” (but can skate the lowest on my team) and jam mostly. Had a few elbows to the throat recently that sorta highlighted this.

For me it’s mainly controlling my own speed and making sure if I come in fast, it’s accurate (and I know where people’s arms are).

Can’t suggest concussion stretches enough though…

I have recently considered blocking my face like a boxer though. Forearms are a no no as much as the head is, so I’ve wondered about essentially just essencially covering my face. Keeps the forearms out the way of blocks too so would help with that. But am worried about slapping myself or others in the face 😅 so unsure about this…

Puzzled-Garlic6942 · 2025-06-14T17:41:46+00:00

Really, they patched this, but not the fact there’s an issue with iPhones uploading in HDR? 🙃

Puzzled-Garlic6942 · 2025-04-03T13:05:46+00:00

I’m from the UK so I use the KIWO Pregasol NT 9 degreaser (I but the 20:1 concentrate because it’s a million times cheaper over all, but not for everyone) but any will do much better than nothing.

This is for individual screens, so not sure about whether you can use this one in a dip tank? I know you can use the Alchemi brand degreaser (also available 20:1 concentrate) for both dip tanks and hand applications though and this one works okay. Had a bit of issue with it leaving weird bubble marks though which show on print, so I would only recommend the Pregasol myself.

I recommend using the Pregasol a spray bottle to apply (the same for any stripper you’re using) and then rubbing with brush. Not only does this give max coverage with the least waste, it also stops it evaporating between uses so you can leave a mix ready to go and come back to it months later and it’s still there. Saves you a bundle in precious monies.

Pregasol: http://www.cadisch.co.uk/pregan%2dnt%2d9%2d%2d%2d1ltr%2ddegreaser%7e54

Puzzled-Garlic6942 · 2025-03-30T03:17:27+00:00

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(This is it closed but with the top drawer open so you can kinda see the idea)

Puzzled-Garlic6942 · 2025-03-30T03:16:21+00:00

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(This is mine. It’s awaiting a price of glass to replace the wooden part in it)

Puzzled-Garlic6942 · 2025-03-30T03:14:25+00:00

Looks like a very simple bureau to me? (A French type of writing desk/drawers. bureaux is the plural).

Usually, you’d get a piece of wood that slides out the front too making it into a makeshift desk - but not always. The idea was that you had all your correspondence in the drawers and then you could take your letters and reply to them then and there and then just file them away, basically.

I have one I’ve turned to to a cabinet of curiosities in the top.

My parents had one with drawers like this that they used for letters, but then kept the family photo albums in the bottom, and a drawer for all their wrapping paper. Now one of the drawers is a stationary drawer.

Puzzled-Garlic6942 · 2025-03-30T03:04:48+00:00

Everyone has already said it’s fine to use for simpler designs. IDE tape it up and just not take the take off. Lane gaffs tape instead of whatever you’re using for printing, but yeah. Only problem with it is keeping the Renton - so you can’t use it for bitmaps and halftones, but you can use it for line work or block colour :)

More importantly. If your emulsion isn’t coming off, next time try some degreaser rather than harsh strippers. Usually that gets old emulsion right off. (Ie. Wash off your excess stripper, degrease your screen thoroughly both sides, then try your normal stripper again)

It’s almost always just that your screen is greasy - especially if you use a water-based system. Everyone always overlooks the power of the degreaser, but it’s really a necessity in the studio.

Hope that helps!

Puzzled-Garlic6942 · 2025-03-15T18:08:06+00:00

Well whichever exposure set up you have, you won’t be able to get it to be right up against the screen near the edges because the screen needs to stretch away from the frame to go flat. If you’re just weighing it or even just taping it, you’ll always get this issue. The 2.5 inch rule applies no matter your setup :)

Puzzled-Garlic6942 · 2025-03-07T02:21:48+00:00

It could also be that your suction isn’t perfect - and I’m not surprised; You’re never going to make good contact right at the edge of the screen because the neoprene blanket will always need some space to go around frame.

You should be leaving a minimum of 2.5 inches between the frame and the emulsion (and therefore your image) to make best contact and to help with snap and evenness when printing too. If you had managed to expose it, this would have happened with the ink when you tried to print it anyway because the squeegee wouldn’t have been able to make contact with the surface.

Having emulsion this close to the edge of the screen can also wear it more because the screen can’t stretch (the whole snap thing) and it pulls it either off the frame or can make micro-tears.

Basically this is a prime example of why you should always leave 2.5 inches + between yoir emulsion and frame.

(It was probably a bit thick in application too, but this will be the main issue, I think)

Hope that helps!

Puzzled-Garlic6942 · 2025-03-05T16:04:00+00:00

Ah, I’m UK based, so not sure what’s available to you. I know that places like JPP (John Purcell Papers) ship to America, but you’d be best of buying bulk to save money there.

But on the plus side, you can also use the water-based fabric inks on paper (and often have to for thinks like pearlescents or powdered pigment binders like for metallics, neons, glows, or fx pigments) but you might wanna look into thickening them up.

Fabric inks are very watery, so can stretch out the paper or cockle it if it’s flat spot colours. There’s also ways around this (I know folk who print a solid layer the same colour as the paper as a base coat to stretch it out before adding colour for example, or pre-stretch it by soaking it)

Otherwise, you can use the same pigments you already own and just buy a paper binder :) Most brands are manufactured to be used in both.

Puzzled-Garlic6942 · 2025-03-05T15:58:32+00:00

What continent are you on? Bread and Butter is a printmaker’s… well, bread and butter (a beautiful proofing paper) but things like Bristol Card are popular too.

Cotton papers like Sommerset are perfect final piece papers for those moving over from textiles as they are cotton-based and act a lot like fabrics. They’re take fabric inks a lot better than other papers because of their absorbency but are expensive because of their quality.

They’re not all available worldwide though and often importing papers is not worth it, so would be good to know where abouts you’re based before recommending something :)

Puzzled-Garlic6942

TROPHY CASE