Author Archives: Brian Lawler

About Brian Lawler

Brian Lawler is an Emeritus Professor of Graphic Communication at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo and was a Guest Professor at Hochschule München from September, 2021 to September, 2022. He writes about graphic arts processes and technologies for various industry publications, and on his blog, The Blognosticator.

Rewiring the Linotype machine

Posted on June 14, 2013 by Brian Lawler

I’ve not blogged in quite a while, for which I apologize to my faithful readers. It wasn’t that I didn’t have anything going on. It was that I had writer’s blog. I couldn’t come up with anything to say about … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Imposition and Pagination, Printing and Printing Processes, Typography | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Digital ICE, revisited

Posted on April 6, 2013 by Brian Lawler

I’ve been scanning a lot of old transparencies this week. The majority of those are 35mm Ektachrome, or equivalent, transparencies. Some are Kodachrome transparencies. Some are really dirty. And, for those I am implementing Digital ICE, the technology that was … Continue reading →

Posted in Gadgets, Photography | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Powering a time-lapse camera for an extended period of time

Posted on April 3, 2013 by Brian Lawler

I use a Canon T2i camera and a variety of lenses to make time-lapse movies. From time to time I take thousands of photos, and for that I need a special power supply. The standard battery for the camera is … Continue reading →

Posted in Photography | Tagged , , , , , | 13 Comments

Crippling change in iPhoto causes consternation

Posted on March 18, 2013 by Brian Lawler

This blog merits a Mr. Curmudgeon heading because I am angry at Apple for changing a function in iPhoto for the worse. I have the occasion to make slide shows from time to time using iPhoto. Why? It’s simply because … Continue reading →

Posted in Curmudgeon, Mistakes you can avoid, Software | Tagged , , | 8 Comments

A little kvetching, a little ballooning, and a little GigaPanning

Posted on March 3, 2013 by Brian Lawler

I organize an annual hot-air ballooning event, one that has been running for pretty close to 40 years. The event was founded by my friends Gordon Bennett and Jon Ackerman in 1974. It was conveniently located in the eastern part … Continue reading →

Posted in Panoramic Photography, Photography, Typography | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

I made it to M

Posted on February 22, 2013 by Brian Lawler

You may be aware that in early December I built a Network Attached Storage server, loaded an operating system on it (FreeNAS), and began the process of copying my large collection of CDs and DVDs to the NAS server. In … Continue reading →

Posted in Mistakes you can avoid, New technology, Software | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Machine carving and old style gilding on a deadline

Posted on February 22, 2013 by Brian Lawler

At Cal Poly we recently dedicated the Raymond J. Prince Shakespeare Press Museum Resource Room. It’s a library of printing-related books and magazines, and it’s a study room for our students with desks, computers, a scanner, and comfy chairs. The … Continue reading →

Posted in History, People, Software | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

EyeFi changes everything!

Posted on February 10, 2013 by Brian Lawler

Last year I wrote about using the iPad as an instantaneous proofing device when shooting digital portraits. It turned out to be the most popular blog I have ever written. Months later, I still get many hits a day on … Continue reading →

Posted in Business, New technology, People, Photography | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

My visit to GigaHQ

Posted on February 9, 2013 by Brian Lawler

Last Friday I ventured out into the world and visited the headquarters of GigaPan, the maker of the motorized camera mount that I have been using for a half-year. GigaPan is based in Portland, Oregon. At the GigaPan HQ are … Continue reading →

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The largest machines in the world

Posted on February 7, 2013 by Brian Lawler

Yesyerday morning a group of TAGA participants visited the Longview, Washington, paper-making plant of NORPAC. This is the largest paper-making facility in North America. Inside its massive buildings are three of the largest machines on Earth. These machines are for … Continue reading →

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