New Channel Art and Tip Sheets
Added 2019-01-04 11:59:46 +0000 UTCFriends:
It's a new year and it's time to make some changes for the better. I've been unhappy with my thumbnails for a long time. I like the blueprint background and the aesthetic of the technical drawing.
But the background I was using was too bright and often clashed with the photos I wanted to use. Some of my thumbnails were downright ugly.
This one's pretty bad. The green of the picture just doesn't go with the blue and the whole thing looks too bright. But I like the way my thumbs stand out on the YouTube page.
So what to do? Go retro!
I decided to stick with the blueprint aesthetic but make it more realistic. I have a bunch of old blueprints on my office wall and none of them look like my old thumbs. They're way more subdued. So, I changed the background and went for a more faithful and old-looking blueprint style. I'm also going to use drawings instead of pictures for most of my thumbs. They looks better with this style and they communicate the technical, nuts-and-bolts theme of my channel.
Here's the result:
I think this style will still stand out online, but it will also be more professional-looking.
Another change in the New Year is that I want to start doing articles and plans for more of my builds. I like to write, but most build articles are a little dull. I cover things pretty well in my videos and I don't want to drive people to an unnecessary article just to get them to my website or get some money from ads.
So, I came up with the Tip Sheet. It's like a combination of simple plan and build article, all in one page. Like this:
These will be free on my website and of course, Patrons will get early access. I'll embed links to tools and materials right in the text. I won't do these for every video, but I will for most of them, and I'll do some traditional plans, too.
The goal for this year is to make the whole thing more professional-looking. This business is really starting to pick up steam and it's time to up my game.
Now, does anyone know where I can get a decent DSLR camera for a reasonable price? Because that would be HUGE.
Happy Friday!
--Rex
Comments
Now, if you need 1080p at 60fps, ignore dslr and get a dedicated video camera. Cameras that do full blue ray quality video are in the higher price category and have "issues" in the under $2k range. Do you want or need follow focus? Do you know what that is? A Nikon 3300 or 5300 might do for you under $700 used or might not. On the other hand, a Sony hdrcx405 with a 9mp sensor tilt swival display, 1080p/60fps camcorder with 24x optical zoom is $160 brand new. Then you can buy a dlsr ignoring the video capability, and get something like a canon 450d for another $175 or so... Cheaper options available in both categories. So, define budget or goal.
James Boatright
2019-01-06 03:12:48 +0000 UTCIf you're willing to suffer a tiny bit with clumsy menus, the 7 year old design in the canon. T3i gives you the same resolution and video as the t6 and has an articulated viewfinder. It can be had from b&h photo for under $300 well kitted out, used. Full review at <a href="https://www.cnet.com/reviews/canon-eos-rebel-rebel-t3i-review/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://www.cnet.com/reviews/canon-eos-rebel-rebel-t3i-review/</a>
James Boatright
2019-01-06 02:44:00 +0000 UTCSo, what's the budget? 200, 300, 500? Do you need 60fps full HD? Do you need a tilt swival display you can see from in front of the camera? (If your in the workshop you can plug in an hdmi monitor if the camera supports it. ) The t6 has wifi and NFC built in so you can control the camera from your phone... Do you need really long zoom? What's the primary purpose here?
James Boatright
2019-01-06 02:27:31 +0000 UTCWithout knowing budget this is hard. A canon rebel t6 is under $400 fully kitted out. The limitations of this 2 year old design are few... 18 mp sensor is fine, full hd at 30 fps, 720p at 60 fps, so, if you want to push your video quality on YouTube, that's a restriction. As an entry level camera the LCD on the back doesn't tilt, and the autofocus, while quite good, has only 9 sensors, which isnt enough pickyness for serious still photons, but is WAY more than you need for documenting projects, etc. The basic lens is an 18 to 55 f 3.5. If you need a faster lens or longer zoom you add another 250 or 300 used Here's an excellent full review <a href="https://www.shutterbug.com/content/canon-eos-rebel-t6-camera-review" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://www.shutterbug.com/content/canon-eos-rebel-t6-camera-review</a>
James Boatright
2019-01-06 02:22:54 +0000 UTCWell, you certainly have my attention. Can you recommend some models or suggest some features that I should be especially on the lookout for?
Rex Krueger
2019-01-05 13:34:25 +0000 UTCDefine reasonable. Two generation back cameras are cheap, and yet have more resolution than you need.
James Boatright
2019-01-05 00:57:06 +0000 UTC
