[Non-recurring subscriptions are no more.]

As the topic title does say, non-recurring subscriptions are no longer available as of today.It's a pity as they could pull some hessitant people over to pay for a subscription.

Sadly the forum system and/or Paypal cannot handle those. I wrongly assumed they could, but it means those who use/used this option, needed to be manually moved out of the 'Elite members' group when their subscription ran out. And I'm not keeping my head in the admin section all the time so...

I demoted today some from the 'Elite' members group who's subscriptions ran out in 2019/2020...!

 

You are fine if you currently have a non-recurring subscription (which is not out of subscription time), it will still work untill it's time is up. 

--
Rick

 

[Depersonalisation chamber - Environment creation]

Yeah, that first bedroom idea"" was a simple case of 'that's not it dear'. Though in the end there was a sort off bed that returned. 
But doing a drastic change often helps (when I have no idea what I'm doing ) eventhough it's not clear where things will go or end up, I just keep creating, adding and removing and hope at some point things sort themselves out and come together. Sort-off 'live 3D sketching'.

There was even more I forgot to screencapture... 

As for option A.B, or C, it often comes down to balance for me. One of the very few things I learned at the Academy of Arts here in Rotterdam was from an art teacher named Goya. He let us cut all kinds of shapes out of black, grey and white paper then glue them back together. The point of the exercise was that no matter where you picked up the glued together final shape, it had to be in balance, everywhere equally "heavy". I'm trying to keep that in mind with my images. Not always succeeding though.

It's why I didn't like first itteration of 'young Issabella'. Her bare right shoulder/chest was visually too demanding, attracting too much attention eventhough there was nothing there. At least to me, it felt like that put the image out of balance.

[Depersonalisation chamber - Environment creation]

Lots of tweaking here after I got the main shape down.

[Upscale images 2x without quality loss.]

There are tutorials for this outthere but some are diffuse or go, "you use this here", where you have to figure out through another tutorial where this "here" exactly is.

So, in short, without all the noise or annoying talking floating perfectly manicured heads in corners of video's... here's how to upscale images 2x without quality loss in 5 easy simple steps.

 

Step1:
Open up Adobe Bridge and select (not double click) the image file you want to double in size w/o adding any (more) artefacts or distortions (PNG doesn't work btw).
(Note this does not IMPROVE an already bad quality image).

 

Step 2:
Go to 'File' in the top menu and open your selected image with 'Open in Camera Raw...'.

 

Step 3: 
Go into the side bar/menu and click the 3 'dots' (•••) (More image settings) at the bottom and select 'Enhence...' from the pop-up menu.

 

Step 4:
Make sure 'Super Resolution' is selected, then hit the 'Enhence' button.

 

Step 5: 
If you are happy with the result hit the 'More Image Options' button (•••) at the bottom in the corner of the enhenced image and save the image somewhere so you can do with it whatever you like to do now it's twice its original size. 
I suggest not using jpg or any other format that introduces artifacts untill you're ready to upload the file to the web, but hey, you're the boss, boss.

[MNW visual bug fixes]

Wow, what-a-mess.

Text cut-off at the top, text cutt-off at the bottom, navigational/next buttons over text, text unexpectedly wrapped to the next line, overlapping text, linked text not in position, etc.

What I see/create here (on my desktop) is suddenly not what I see here (4F website) and I'm pretty sure I checked these things in the past.

Stuff like this:
And I had no idea Firefox/Chrome display stuff 117.5% larger then Safari browser does. 

Anywho, I hope I fixed all the things that should had not happened there.

 

Please let me know if you see anything else that looks like it should not be or out of its place.

[Corrupted links in update emails]

I'm currently switching between PHP email, which uses the email system from the provider that hosts my website and Sendgrid email to send out bulk mails. Ideally I shouldn't have to switch at all, but something is wrong and Sendgrid corrupts all the links, even if the link text is correct, Sendgrid manages to fork up the underlying HTML into garbage.

So this: https: // 4f-creations.com/site/forum/index.php?/gallery/image/146951-new_image.jpg

is turned to this link: http: // url1128.4f-creations.com/ls/click?upn=RkKNOveE79lB1x-2FvTSFMKUng1yUt3gFzh2ypJzvUIBHimPUj8GUXrNvdEVT8YrDuZiPUqJNuhPb4AdcdlEuSbCmNpLJjGQed4IEtfO-2FXf4idRLOaljOw- etc. 

Which obviously doesn't work.

 

My apologies for the inconvenience.
Doing my best to solve this.

[Moved to a new host - moved to a new host]

And I didn't stutter ^there.

I moved the 4F website July 30 to a new host because the previous one was raising prices and gave little for it in return. Also they refused me to help creating a back-up, resulting in my personal latest back-up of the website being over a year old which made me really grumpy.

So I found a new host where I had some initial doubts as they still advertise that they where "the best in 2019", all the way in 2021... But ok, the price was right, "no limits on storage", customer service was fast, knowledgable and friendly, so I went with them and the transition was smooth.

I just forgot to have my testforum-environment moved over as well but ok, no prob, I could rebuild that. Thing is, I can only have one (1) test-forum, anywhere. If 1 is up, say on an Australian server, only halfway installed even, I have to delete that completely, including database etc. before I can install a new one on say, a German server.

So I deleted the old one, uploaded the software and started the installation process. Oops, 'HTTP 429 Too Many Requests', it read within 3 seconds after hitting the install button.
After a lot of back and forth between forum software makers and the Dutch host technicians it appeared that the software was making more AJAX calls then the Dutch server allowed and there was no way to fix that on either of both ends.

Not being able to install a test-environment was not a real big problem, I might succeed in installing one on my own computer. The trouble was that because of these "AJAX-calls" I would never be able to update the 4Forum with maintenance patches, security patches or functionality upgrades. And I could kiss my behind goodbye when it comes to support as the first thing they want to know and see is that I've updated the forum software to the latest build.

I've installed this type of software in the past (since roughly 2006) on a bunch of different hosting companies without any problem, so it was time to move again. Of course this conclusion fell after the 30 day money back guarantee.

Keeping it short, I got my money back which logically meant they had no business with me anymore and they closed the 4F site and my access to it, while I hadn't transferred it to a new host! And that with only a 14 month old back up. 

But ok, as you can see the site is once again back up and moved to a new-new host with all of the data from 2 month's ago. Leaves me with finding out if the forum software is compatible with the current host.

And to that I have no idea.

I tried this morning to install a new test-forum but it appears my previous attempt to install one on the *previous* host is still "alive" in a zombie kind of way. I've asked the previous host if they would be so kind to delete it all and am waiting for a reply on that now. There is no reason why they should indulge upon my request though, so fingers crossed. Without it I have no idea if the current host can handle this forum properly. But I'll tackle that if and when that situation arrises.

==========================================

I didn't move just the site, I moved in RL as well. No big deal you may think but for me it was the first time.

Yes, I never left my parents home. There was no real need to, I had more or less my own floor in their home and the few times I actively sought a new place for myself my crappy health got in the way, landing me each single time into a hospital. 

But my parents are in their 80's now and it got really time to move out. With all the housing trouble (severe lack off available or affordable housing) I was told it would take 10 years before I moved down the waiting list far enough to apply for a rental house. 
I must say I got a little bit lucky in that it was possible to have one of the requirements, leaving an empty home behind, removed from my file so it only took 2.5 year to find me a place for my self.

No doubt about it, it's quite a culture shock.

I suk at cooking too.

My brother was a certified cook and had the genes, me, not so much. But I'm slowly getting better at it, as long as it isn't too complex.

Apartment is almost ready, next Tuesday my dinner table arrives and hopefully a hole in my wooden floor, where the carpenter, for some weird alien reason, laid the floor around a closet and not under it, gets fixed so a new storage cabinet can be placed there.

It just absolutely sux that I still have no proper window shades. Next Tuesday it's 2 month's since they where measured and ordered. informing about them I get 'Corona and lack of personal' excuses.
It means I just can't see the fine nuances in photoshop when I try to work on a project. I'm sitting with my nose on my monitor and still have too much light ruining my sight.

Watching something on tv is fun too, when most of the scifi and horror shows that I try to watch are happening in the dark. Usually all I see is my own reflection. 

I write that last part in the hope you understand that having no new image updates is *forking* frustrating for me too.

Hopefully the shades arrive soon, this host appears to be compatible with the forum software and then things get back to 'normal'. 

 

I hope you can have a little bit more patience, I must have that too.

 

--
Rick

PS: i'm going to reinstate (if I can figure out how I did that the last time) the news letter. Those 15 bucks a month that it costs are worth it to keep you properly updated by mail. I'll just eat a few burgers less.

 

[Scrapbook May 2021]

Well the walls, ceiling, window-borders are almost done being painted, tomorrow the floor arrives needs to rest for 1-2 days before it can be installed and from there, hopefully my move goes a bit more faster. Still waiting for my bed to arrive though.

In the meantime, when there are periods I'm playing with my thumbs, I've started up some new things.

^Just a sketch for now.

And I've gone through the remaining "AIT" images made a selection and started to texturing and lighting this model I bought to shave of the time it would take me to model it myself.

I've also picked up the 'Mercedes and Michelle' story in the meantime and begun writting the next chapter. Just this morning I noticed I wrote an advanced (in time) chapter late 2019. Time really flies sometimes!

I have no idea when things will turn to "normal" here but hopefully soon. If I had to guess I'm for 2 more weeks looking at my stuff being packed up in boxes though...

[Scrapbook May 2021]

Cleaning up the place before I move to a new apartment I decided to (at least make a start) cleaning up the stuff that's been collecting dust on my HDD's. I stumbled over quite some old stuff pre-2000.

There was a time I was content with images like this:

or this: 

Or how about cookies/bread in space pretending to be a planet...? 

And I'm pretty sure this never saw the light other then my desktop (aaimaai...)

 

[Forum Spring cleaning]

Thought it was time to freshen up the site with a slight new look, where I made things a bit more tidy.

Hope it's to your liking.

[Scrapbook December 2020]

First day that I'm feeling "normal" again. Medication gave me giant headaches on top of the inconvenience of the kidney stuff. So much time lost...

Oh well, we're back in the saddle.

 

Still work in progress but I'm getting close.

Old transport shuttle also getting close:

 

[Scrapbook December 2020]

Gatsh...  Sick, infamous kidney stuff, haven't slept all night from the pain in my sides. Ugh, hope the anti-bots arrive soon.

[Scrapbook December 2020]

[Scrapbook December 2020]

[Scrapbook, September 2020]

[4Forum upgrade]

Just upgraded the 4Forum. If you see anything being "off" or not seeing anything, like black text on a black background for example, could you please let me know if so?

Biggest change for you, is the 'customizer' in the top bar giving you a wee bit more control over this sites appearance then before. 

 <-

 

--
Rick

 

[Scrapbook, September 2020]

'nomad'
'drifter'
'wanderer'
...
???

[Scrapbook, September 2020]

Just a prop.  
Saddle was bought with the help of your donations.

Also fun to get:

And then my OS pauses program after program, including the render running over 2 Mac's for several ours.

Panic? Whazzdat? 

[Scrapbook, August 2020.]

On 8/22/2020 at 1:01 PM, XJ220 said:

Interesting stuff. I can totally see how Sally Forth would have a strong effect on men 

What I like best among these, though, is the stasis pod. That thing looks absolutely wicked!

It's getting a bit crowded in there....

[Scrapbook, August 2020.]

On 8/19/2020 at 9:19 PM, 4Eyes said:

Let's see.
 

Don't give me idea's!  
I feel like 'the Wicked Witch of the West' sometimes. Except I'm not 'melting' but 'drowning' in idea's!

But we'll see. Let see what I got up my sleeve first. 

[Scrapbook, August 2020.]

My desktop is now littered by artwork from Wallace Wood for reference and inspiration. 
When I decided to upgrade an old image of mine I had trouble figuring out the setting/background. While working on the spacesuit, I realized it was going into a direction I remember from old comics by Wallace Wood. 'Sally Forth' in her skin-tight, near painted-on, silver spacesuit for example. 
Interesting enough this artists illustrations are in large part responsible for how I got interested in sharply dressed women. Even tough at the time I had no idea it would evolve into where we are now. 

I've been trying to recreate some '50's, '60's like sci-fi machines (during the heatwave with 30C in my workroom), like you can see on magazines "pulp" covers from around those area's, to place in the background of the image.

It's always nice if those big bulky, round machines with levers and big round buttons have some sort of function, besides just being there to fill up the room.
So why not have them around to support some sort of experimental stasis- chamber?

Of course anyone who wanders into an infested research center/vessel, needs to be able to properly defend themselves.


Digging around in 'scifi "pulp"' I stumbled over this. Wow, what a great piece and evokes so many memories. :)  Wouldn't mind having that on my wall.


Talking about old Sci-Fi shows, while I finished the pressurized injection "gun(?)",  I was looking at the render and some other, old, memories showed up as it looked a bit, if you use your imagination a bit wildly, like a certain iconic spaceship.
 
Which got me thinking, I know I shouldn't but I can't help it, the beginning of a new story started to develop in my head. Something like 'Lara's 6' or something, something, I dunno. Like I wrote I can't help it, wish I could put a lit on that part of my brain but new ideas keep surfacing there. Maybe best if I finish what I'm working on first before taking another detour. :) 

 

 

[Scrapbook, August 2020.]

ahhPFFFFFFFFFff!!

 

 

 

 

 (Ahem...)

↓ Just something I've been trying to update for a while. Full silver body spacesuit & rebreather with a stronk '40-'50 scifi spacebabes cover illustration feel. Struggling with the background though, and tentacles. Always those tentacles....

 

↓ This nasty thing (semi-automatic injector for remote controlled mechanical arms), will go somewhere else.

↓ Maybe an update to the 'MNW Core infomercial' page (not sure) but it got flying cars now... Need to replace some buildings for scifi ones, looks a bit too modern (flying cars or not).

[Sick as a dawg]

I'm currently coughing my heart inside out for the 6th day, combined with sneezing, running nose on/off fever and some more. According to my doc its not COVID-19, just a stupid cold,  but on the heavy side.

To do something, but hang here like a zombie, I thought today to upload some images in the latex club section. Long story short. I managed to delete that entire section.

Oh I got backups but those things are about everything, you can't pick and choose to only restore certain parts. I can manually put most things back though. Just not now as my energy is already gone for the day.

Lesson learned when sick, stay the F* away from things with delete buttons.

[Moving to a new host (soon™)]

Well, maybe I've spoken too soon. More disk space is no problem, sending bulk mail is. Thanks to the #@%xxx!# spammers, hosting providers aren't happy with providing options for sending bulk mail. 

And I made things worse by changing to Sendgrid. I've just managed to get an extension on what this forum can send  for the next 29 days, after that... 

[Moving to a new host (soon™)]

I've had it up to here with my current host. They are nice, helpful people but expensive for only 15GB of storage.

Because they don't allow me to send bulk mail, updates to members of this 4Forum who have signed up to receive these (1x, maybe 2x), a month news letter, I'm forced to use 3d party email providers. The previous one (Sparkpost) suddenly, against previous made promises, lowered the free of charge mails able to be send, to 500/month. If I wanted to send more I had to pay 30.- a month. Not going to happen. Also they where no-longer supported by the forum software engineers because of the trouble they had dealing with this company in the past.

So I tried another one (Sendgrid). The forum supported this one but I, had a lot of trouble installing it (which in the process even took this site down for half a day) and now installed, only now, I figured out I didn't read properly and I can only send 100 mails/day. 

So that's it. I'm going to look around for another host which allows me to send directly bulk mail. And maybe one with a bit more disk space. 

If and when it happens it should go smoothly with all the backups that I have, but I'm a bit skeptical. This is one of these things where a lot can go wrong. Anyway, if you read this you know there might be some unexpected downtime in the near future.