In 3D CAD TECH

Lytro's Light Field Camera Makes Moms/Drunks Better Photographers

3 Mins Read

While it can’t prevent your mother from cutting the heads off of subjects, Lytro’s Light Field Camera will allow her—and you—to choose a new focus subject in photos after the fact. “What?!?!” you ask, “What black magic is this?” Lytro’s secret-keeping explanation simply says the camera has the ability to capture incredible amounts of light information, including the direction of the beams, and then uses complex software, post-exposure, to give an interactive photo where you can selectively change the focus, among other features. Taking product shots may have just gotten much easier.

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In CAD

A Simple SolidWorks Design and Engineering Test for New Hires

2 Mins Read

There’s nothing like an impromptu SolidWorks test to get the blood pumpin’. Especially for the job candidate or new hire you spring it on. Strikes the fear of insane modeling practices in them, it does. Plus, it will show you if their completely incompetent or if they just need an extra helping of SolidWorks training up side the head. We have just the test for them here, available for download should you ever need it.

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In 3D CAD TECH

First Impression: Wacom's Bamboo Paper for iPad

3 Mins Read

It came to my attention this morning that Wacom, the purveyor of drawing tablets for your computer, has issued yet another iPad product under their Bamboo brand: Bamboo Paper. It’s pitched as “a natural and realistic writing and sketching application tool” as a “perfect complement to the Bamboo Stylus for iPad.” After playing with it for the day, I agree. It is the perfect compliment for the Bamboo stylus; both leave me wondering why Wacom bothered. What follows is more of a first impression than a full review.

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In RESOURCES

Building Materials! A Free Sustainability Guide for Designers (and Engineers)

2 Mins Read

When you feel like chowing down on some freshly woven steel mesh, a timber panel or simply a charred piece of ceramic, you’ll be happy to know there’s been a lot of research put into those materials you’re ingesting. We know they’re useful for such activities as ‘building stuff’, but how do they react to a group of senior citizens who are against unethical awesome tree harvesting practices? We may never know. What we will know is how those materials react to other environmental conditions and concerns through a brilliant, new Guide to Building Materials. A free guide at that.

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In DESIGN

Housefish Design: Fab Furniture Discount on Fab.com

2 Mins Read

Fab.com is a service that launched a few weeks ago and sets up deals—ala Groupon but with better terms for the vendors—for retail designer goods. This ranges from Andy Warhol silk screens to modern furniture. At present, it is invite only, but that is very easily taken care of. I’m more than happy to provide an invite code to the awesome SolidSmack readers. (just click here) Unbeknownst to me, Scott Bennett, the founder of Housefish, a sustainable furniture company for whom I regularly freelance, set up a deal that launched yesterday. This means three things:

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