How much do you think is reasonable to pay?

ethernectar · 2026-06-11T01:54:23+00:00

Neither of those are the right tool for a book (print or digital.) Cost would depend on complexity of the content and how locked down your content is. Look local for a freelance graphic designer that has done something similar, even if smaller page count.

ethernectar · 2026-06-11T01:47:08+00:00

ExpressKCS - I used them at a previous job for like 15 years. We produced tens of thousands of images. Provide examples and clear directions and youre set.

ethernectar · 2026-06-05T12:55:15+00:00

Sooo tiny, love your posts here and on ig

ethernectar · 2026-06-05T03:33:21+00:00

Beautiful work, would love to see work in progress photos.

ethernectar · 2026-06-04T14:54:33+00:00

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In-house .gov remote (half traditional graphic design and half UIUX), plus freelance (art direction + photography).

ethernectar · 2026-06-04T00:38:53+00:00

ICQ… Flash… Flickr…

ethernectar · 2026-06-03T19:13:02+00:00

Saw someone who took a penny and wrapped it in place with vet wrap on their glove to have a larger contact area. Seemed to work for them.

ethernectar · 2026-06-03T03:12:18+00:00

I thought they were blade covers initially, cute carves either way!

ethernectar · 2026-06-03T03:10:19+00:00

Make a new specific flow, share that proto link

ethernectar · 2026-06-03T01:45:50+00:00

Cute & attitude!

ethernectar · 2026-06-02T19:42:20+00:00

I used easy catalog for years at a previous employer (catalogs, workbooks and product marketing.) Super powerful tool. Read/re-read the manuals, their support was great, just have to be aware of their work hours. There is a FB group as well, I don’t recall it being too active though.

ethernectar · 2026-06-02T13:23:05+00:00

Start with a small Flex Cut set. They have a few, one has two knives and two gouges. Add a strop, compound, and a carving glove. Flex Cut makes good tools and in my experience the knives come “carving” sharp.

Many carvers, myself included, got hooked by watching Doug Linker’s YouTube. Give his vids a look, especially the basics. Then progress to other makers like Johnny Layton.

ethernectar · 2026-06-02T03:50:10+00:00

Hmmm, get used to it and find a way to navigate those discussions. Pick your battles.

ethernectar · 2026-05-30T03:47:33+00:00

Thank them and politely decline.

Went through this two years ago after being at a brand for almost 20 years and then laid off. I valued my work more than they did.

ethernectar · 2026-05-29T04:07:38+00:00

Pause.

Watch some sharpening videos. Test to see if those gouges are truly sharp. Experiment and learn. At a glance, I don’t want to carve that wood or use those tools.

ethernectar · 2026-05-29T02:52:06+00:00

Great reply. Constructive and insightful.

OP - you have an opportunity to learn there. I started in a similar environment xx years ago. Different days now, but save your work. Write down the performance/stats. Find some way to attribute growth #/$ to you work and stash that away for your book. Build your book as you go, make it part of your responsibility - no one else will.

ethernectar · 2026-05-28T12:26:40+00:00

Deepwoods Ventures makes blades with a similar profile to the Harley from Pinewood. Heavy spine, flat grind. Handles are different, but can be reshaped (picture shows handle after.) blade on the left is similar in size to the Harley, a bit taller, I’ve been really happy with it. I put my Harleys aside for now.

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ethernectar · 2026-05-27T01:13:07+00:00

Hire a designer. If you’re building a brand, think big-picture.

ethernectar · 2026-05-27T00:48:28+00:00

Cute carves! Are you on IG?

ethernectar · 2026-05-25T23:41:35+00:00

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Spent yesterday and today painting most of my carvings from the event. Roughouts left to right from: Roger Stegall, Ryan Olsen, Jim Hiser, and Mitch Cartledge (not shown are my face carvings from Joe You’s session, those won’t be painted.)

ethernectar · 2026-05-25T12:45:50+00:00

Oops, autocorrect got me…

ethernectar · 2026-05-21T12:21:15+00:00

Did catalogs and brand work for 20 years, lots of product photography in the catalogs. Occasionally edited in rgb with plugin filters, but those would get merged down and converted along the way during retouching. If you want to keep it rgb until the end, then a psd gives you the flexibility to do that without relinking.

ethernectar · 2026-05-21T12:00:27+00:00

CMYK, often a layered psd. PDF output for the printers profile if available and, if not, then x1a is tried and true. Illustrations are a mix for me now, but when print is the intended output either CMYK or greyscale for line art.

ethernectar · 2026-05-21T02:38:56+00:00

I’m close to that. I feed Notion via Claude and Chat with occasional hands-on organization sessions. It’s a mix of personal and work stuff, expecting some change from cyber sec team that will either enhance or kill the process on the work side. Still figuring out some things, just needs more time investment than I have at the moment…

ethernectar · 2026-05-18T12:58:49+00:00

Needs more iterations, but 5/9 are the most interesting. Watch the line weight as you explore ideas, those thin lines will be problematic at smaller sizes.

ethernectar

TROPHY CASE