Knowing the Difference of Friendly Clients or Clients as Friends in Tech and Graphic Design Fields

 Business is Time and Time is Money! Friends Require More Time and Money in the End.

       Why is it that some friends give you that awkward feeling with doing a job for or providing a business services and jobs for them. Sometimes nicest people in the world, do this as well.  Others can be quite nasty about it and well it's probably been worse since the years of Facebook compared to years back when people messaged my businesses via IM's or emails , or called us then continues with one service or another via emails , or IM's <maybe back then not everyone had a message service so you had to really make a connection attempts to contact and get services in such a way. > .   But this brings up the not mixing business with pleasure or should that old saying mention friendships not pleasure and in fact that may be the meaning to seeing that most derive pleasure from our friendships as that is part of what a friendship is about.


When people see friends have a business on Facebook as well as business websites  with pricing guides, product and service packages etc. … as well other friends, acquaintances and customers post thanks on jobs etc. … then that friend posts asking about the services or even a specific job to be done, you ask a few questions because that is needed to come up with what they expect, need and want, and you come up with getting to the point where you are going to give them a quote and they tell you well it's really not a big deal or no rush or hurry …  It is at that point normally you have to escape, because they are either not wanting to pay, and I am not saying all people mean it that way, but in sales that is the point with the customer which is as well a friend really should be  considered a window shopper. Again this is great, whether they want your service or not (maybe they had not seen the price list or are seeing if you will offer a deal which often I will whether they realize what I am charging for my time is another issue < especially when it comes to computers and one issue relates back to others they have and those issues need to be resolved in solving the original issues>

 

 How do you decide that friends are asking for more then a friendship?

So  that friend that asked you about your service needs and answer now and they keep up with it throwing more questions at you , as you explain what is needed to complete the task, and they go ahead with it calling you on the phone sending emails and since some services of my businesses are information based so the information is part of the solution they keep asking questions telling you the problems still there. Now if I have to log in to your computer remotely one of the service's I use charges me, so if you are telling me you do not have much money I will try and save you via giving you solutions via tele or emails or other method … yet they still cannot fix it on  their own, so you question them thoroughly going down the list of as is needed in tech support, which is exactly how it works via Microsoft, or even a garbage company seeing you have a template that you need to go over, a literal checklist, and as well scans may need to be done, software installed uninstalled, or if it is a website scripts configured as tech support is always similar in many more ways than one no matter what your you are supporting.

Whether it is creating this graphic or actually searching through files after file to find the Trojans in a computer both take time, tools, money, and education. It honestly takes more time and money for friends then a normal customer.

    When all is either said and done one of two things happens , you get to the price that is on the website and there is that awkward point where you get the feeling they expected it free. Or you have given them quite a bit of the consultation and they all of a sudden l tell you they have another call …  or ask you now well just log in and do it for me … at this point you explain well this is consulting as a service on the site points out ..   Yet again they may just disappear for a  few days until you message them asking what is up did you finish what I told you needs to be done  ? Did it fix it ?  Then they  tell you well someone else did it for me … of course following your instructions second hand.   Especially seeing these are friends, and yet all of a sudden you feel they project that awkwardness upon you as if almost how dare you charge me. Yet you spent quite a few hours and maybe right before they disappear all of a sudden you get some sort of a revelation that they really did not feel they should pay or there is more going on than you are being told such as multiple antivirus software's installed and running… again in many cases due to the person telling you they do not have much cash so something's you have to skip like remote log ins if it will make the rates go up beyond their means and yet  this is even after they ask how do people pay for your service etc.. Which is normally asked at the start of the conversation or email correspondence,  so did they think while you were helping them that this whole process was just a bonus to friendship , did they  really not look at your website, I mean if you spend quite a few hours of the back and forth in regards to their issue just think you spend that kind of time with every person that contacts you ? Do they think Microsoft or someone else is footing the bill? Many times people do not have all updates installed,  outdated operating systems, antivirus that has not been paid for in two years so it is useless, at least some sort of malware fake antivirus or ransom ware installed which if they told you about it or could afford remote log in service then the problem could have been solved right away, but the problem actually was due to all of these issues added together.

    So it really comes back to the mixing business with pleasure adage. There are only a few ways to stop this before you lose a friend, yet really are they very good friends in the first place you want to ask yourself? Many people do not run businesses, they are employees, they may not be clients to high tech which is everything in computer graphics, web development, computer repair, application wizardry and so on.  No matter if I am designing a logo, building an app, creating code for a site development issue or even being hired to do the design of your next marketing genius campaign the time take to do these things is consuming not to mention the tools and endless education, skill set, theoretical reasoning learned, process identifications and bigger even yet the software purchased to complete the tasks seeing that besides just needing the tools you need years of experience with said tools needed not to only complete their task but many others.

Friends are not mountains to conquer and business is not a friendship in Information Tech and Graphics Design Technology.

     

        So I have written this as a way to present the reality of the situation, friends are great, yet they rarely mix well with business.   I have written this not to tell people how to do business, but to save friendships and help people deal with the new phenomena of Facebook and other social media. When people overstep the bounds of friendships not even getting that people did not build a business with sweat and tears just to serve the personal needs of others under the guise of friendship and personal gains. I often work at discount rates for friends, being a professional in numerous fields my hourly prices vary by the sort of work that I am doing. Computer repair I charge more than I do per hour for graphics design, and 3d graphics design I charge more than plain old 2d graphics. Yet to get more specific, I charge more to do 2d print work advertising design then a few simple site graphics due to the fact that a single one page print ad that would be on glossy paper in magazines. A single print ad I may work anywhere from a few days to weeks, and if it is a campaign project similar to say the release of a new Xbox I may spend months. For a simple website graphic that going on as a simple Facebook header picture I would normally spend a few hours on at most unless the client has money and is a larger company that needs this, yet I still look at the Facebook header as important it is not the same and the costs and time I spend on said item getting it perfect, searching for image stock and buying the best or having it shot for the picture is again a major difference. Often for FB headers people get this idea I can grab a picture off of Google and that it is now free since someone posted it is  completely wrong and illegal and if a client asks me for this … I have to refuse, I am in the end responsible and this could be devastating to my company as well the clients costing hundreds of thousands of dollars. But this is a question or discussion for my Photoshop Hangout blog. Yes I can look at pictures for reference that I see on Google, but I cannot use part of it nor copy it exactly in order to save money. Reference pictures are a business in its own right even.
 

Daily Life and Upgrading from XP Operating Systems ... to Windows 9 and Adobe Creative Cloud

   Hello and welcome again to Freelance IT and Graphics Design of Lansing, Michigan. To start I want to tell you all that even though we are in the Lansing area and located near the campus of Michigan State University, we can do most projects and work off site. Otherwise we do the work from my office and studio. There are a few things where you may either have to drop off the computer for repairs or we have to visit your location and do on site work in a business situation. But utilizing tech and computers in personal and home situations we often require computers to be dropped off, this is in the case of computer repairs such as virus removals, upgrades, software and application installations etc.  But some of these situations can also be done via the net using messaging, screen sharing and remote access. To start remote access and control for a repair a retainer payment is required up front before we even begin and this is $50.00 non refundable plus a per hour fee of $20 regardless of outcome. I am stating this as people tend to forget the costs of doing business in a high tech world. As for business repairs and work we do this a bit different, and we more often then not do these jobs starting with and on site visit. But if you are using Windows XP or earlier we will inform you of updates necessary to bring your systems up to the standards of today's tech and security standards and again that is a $50 dollar fee just for looking at the computer seeing that XP is no longer under support via  Microsoft. We will not be able to fix or repair a Windows XP system due to the fact that it is not being patched for security and most software will continue to run on them that way written before 2013, but there is no way to secure the operating systems, software or applications otherwise making your privacy as well any public and private network access useless in a security point of view. So if you are running computers on any network that uses XP, it is first off dangerous seeing it can be compromised and the only way to stop this is via updating your systems and refraining from any sort of network access. All wireless access points and cables need to be immediately removed or disabled.

Updates and Upgrades from Adobe to Windows 9

    Now I may sound redundant in this speech I give often, but the use of XP is no longer and option for any business computer that has any sort of network access. Use of XP operating systems via a business is beyond irresponsible and,  as well clients and customers deserve the peace of mind in knowing that any communications or business you do with them is protected with modern security measures no longer available in the XP or earlier windows operating systems. All of the operating systems we use in our business whether it is graphics design, development, or just day to day business contact is done via Windows 7 Pro, Windows 8 Pro or a viable updated Linux based operating system, with no if's, and or buts about it. If your computer is so old that you cannot update your operating system then you should get a new or used system that is less then 5 years old. Moore's law states that computer systems will double every other year and this includes the processors, the memory (RAM), as well even the pixels in digital input devices such as still and video cameras. This was realized and made apparent by Gordon Moore the co-founder of Intel Corporation, and at times has been even a shorter period then 2 years.  Even storage capacities have doubled in as little as 3 years on average. Seeing that a new computer now days can be so much faster, have so much more storage and as well have dropped in overall price, then it makes sense that and upgrade ever 5 years is really letting the tech crunch get ahead of you. Just be glad you are not having to learn and keep up with each and every little update. With Graphics design there are plethora of software's we use and can be evident in the advertising medias, web design, video game worlds and the movies and film special effects (VFX) fields that show you this daily. Just staying up to date with the adobe creative suite applications uses and abilities will need both computer and operating systems updates and upgrades every other year. The Adobe Creative Suite is now know as the Adobe Creative Cloud 2014 and this will continue to require upgrades and updates for the best possible design and creative abilities. Let alone keeping up with new upcoming programming languages and scripting tools from Java and Ruby on Rails to HTML5 and CSS3. As I write this I have seen on the PC Advisers UK website, that the Windows 9 release date is scheduled for a Reveal on September 30th 2014. Windows 9 may or may not be quite a bit like Windows 8, only time will tell.

Graphics Designer and Freelance Artist lends hand to Freelance IT Lansing

  Just so people can understand and since I do not have a lot of time on a Friday night to explain why there are graphics and a graphics site mixed in with Freelance IT Lansing posts and with the website is also a link to Kenton Sweckard's Graphic Design Portfolio. Seeing that often with website development and design there is also logo design, application user interface graphics (UI's)  then you want a new custom downloading.gif for a website, this leads to new icons or graphic and animation based tutorials, videos that need processional intros , embedding your logos in your videos  , having and animated avatar made for a website guide etc etc ... So when it comes to design / development goes hand in hand. With the adobe creative cloud you can import and export from one application to the next when creating media and graphic content for a website or application...  So here are a few concept images and would be examples of character concept cards

 

For example looking at these two images and the monster does not do himself justice, though sure he is pretty scary looking. In this manner it just does not look really scary, and also looks sort of just plain out of place. Now sure this is in concept stage even though he has been retopologized. As a freelance Graphic designer if you overlook the simple little things then you will be overlooked by the companies for example involved in video game character graphic design will fail to see the value in hiring you because you did not go that extra mile in your work.

       So that being told take a look at the two Pterodactyls above and they look a lot better then just the plain grey back ground from zbrush. Again these are more concept cards for example of a 3d print out or a character concept card to introduce the producers to your characters or the game development to the concept ideas of the video games players or a virtual tour guide ,,, in a website animation with a parallax scrolling effect to mimic and alternate land or virtual universe. See the parallax effects are a very interesting subject when it comes to graphics but that is another blog post and day.

So here in the image we add some shapes, some textures and patterns as well cut the 3d render out and paste it into the concept character card, which looks 10 times better then the plain flat image of the tri head dinosaur at the top of this web page. Just the extra few minutes in photoshop and now at the least the other staff members will have to look at the gaudy candy colored card that is setting at the meeting table appearing more like a 12 year old girls birthday cake then a flat lifeless still shot, of yet another dinosaur from 10 angles.Yes the Pteradactyl blends into the image in some of the renders but it still appears better than good old 3 heads above.

Be sure to check out our Graphic Designers Portfolio

Freelance IT via Clouds and Virtual Based IT Departments

Freelance IT - is an information and technology company that is dedicated to clients needs from web based applications, networking, development, company IT architecture, information and data networking and solutions from start up to new technology integration. We work with both new and established companies and brands to insure that they have the best solutions to carry the company into the future at a reasonable and scalable price and architectural structuring. You may need solutions from web based project management solutions that are virtualized as well carried out in the cloud thus saving money on end costs as well as providing on, and off site IT abilities in multiple platforms both proprietary and open source white label development with size, cost, security and scalability in mind. Our teams can provide management, administration, training  and security both on and off site including virtual training and conferencing.

  Many companies and business today would like to have the advantages of a full service IT department that works with web presence, company inter webs, training as well maintaining application servers, social media marketing, security implementation and policies, graphics and design, e-commerce, system administration etc ... Problem being is that besides the cost of the personnel that this can involve and equipment needed on site or multiple sites the company is soon needing more room and bigger faster servers as they scale to keep up with the companies growth in business and employees. Maybe your company does not need multiple IT personnel at all times on a salary yet they need multiple IT dept employees at different times to set up the application servers, the eCommerce servers, as well many other computers and networks on start up of expansion yet these are quite the costs to retain this staff at all times when they are basically needed at start up and then after the internal employees are trained and the technology is adapted to the companies staff and needs the additional positions are causing excessive financial costs and obligations when much of the initial start up and or integration is put into place and these positions now are taking away from you enterprise rather then automating and assisting your growth. We want to help your company work smarter not harder, and the expenditure of funds on positions and time when not always needed can prevent your company from growing when, where and how its needs are best met can mean the difference between and industry leading innovator and the next layoffs and cutbacks in your industry.

Ubiquitous Computing or Distributed Computing or Alien Technology

 Today is another great day for web design, photographic and graphic image ideas as well as internet and computer based technology.  Why do I say this ? What is so great today in the graphics and tech based design and web development fields ? Well basically everything is great and out of this world literally seeing that even the space station has some form of net access and more then likely uses some of the apps and software that we are using here on earth. Even better after reading more info and research this week I have came upon other items, ideas and revelations about the net and graphical information age. From the new Planet of the Apes movie, where the special effects and animation abilities have came to a point that is beyond our dreams and abilities of the past. Then on to and even deeper concept and idea that will appear under our noses and all round us yet it has no solid name yet and people have no clue that the next big boom that will, can and shall dwarf the inception of the internet.  So this no name new big deal that will make the web obsolete or at the very least the internet will become old news and the new star of Wall street is going to be called Ubiquitous computing according to MIT.

graphic art aliens from dreams concept art zbrush Quick Waking Sketch Kenton Sweckard 2014

   

Besides the reality of how great the graphics are getting in movies and film. 3d scanning software and scanning IO devices are affordable as well even 3d printers are now easily affordable, so what is stopping us from reaching Star Trek levels  which could result in  a replicator lunch in comparison to the movies and television sci fi that was thought of as a fairy tale back in the early 70's. We will have now this new thing that you cannot see cannot really touch and as of yet has no real name but as I stated at MIT its called Ubiquitous computing yet has other names such as distributed computing from other vendors, companies and learning institutions and media. So what is it and whats it for ?

Ubiquitous computing: is a concept in software engineering and computer science where computing is made to appear everywhere and anywhere.The other names they have started tossing at it is of course artificial intelligence and then also you get others talking about Augmented reality also and these all relate in one way or another. In all I have to say this really sounds like Alien Technology, but then again we will get to that next time. Just do not get lost in Simulated reality and everything is going to be fine just trust the force or your in home food replicator and let Captain Kirk help us find the way home.

10 Reasons to Never Expect Free Design or Development Work

  I can honestly come up with about 50 reasons that you should never expect a developer or designer should work without pay. But honestly I have heard about all of it from hey it is exposure and I am like advertising for you, to the good old it only will take a few minutes of your time. Now if you have paid me before and I did the work and it really is that easy then I may help, but do not expect this at any point as I have to eat and live as well. Also you may be interrupting a paid customers work, you could be interrupting my family time etc....  But even during work hours I get very annoyed when someone wants work done for the good old excuses of it will only take a minute. That may be so but I only have so many minutes a day and remember as a developer and designer I have to do all of my work for myself. I am pretty sure you charge your boss for the hours you work, as I rarely in all my years, have found someone that shorts the bosses time card rather then pad it. So here goes the ten reasons from off the top of my head...  These are true for all graphic design, web developers, web designers, coders, scripters, freelance graphic designers, freelance artists, animators, application developers, photoshoppers, adobe pros, Java Professionals, PHP developers and every other tech related field of study ...

Top 10 Reasons to Never Expect 

Free Design and Development Work

1. Because you do not work free either. So why should anyone else? 
2. Because learning all these programs and languages took years and someone had to pay for it.
3. Because this internet connection is not free, nor is my phone.
4. Because when I do not have a client I need to be working on finding more.
5. Because ads and exposure cost designers and developers money.
6. Because my computers, and workstations I use cost almost as much as your car !
7.  Because the software I use cost more then your car!
8. Because keeping abreast of the newest tech and apps as well updates takes all my free time!
9. Because I cannot eat your comments or live in your praise!
10. Because to do my best work I need that financial motivation, you wanting freebies kills it!

    Bonus answers here !


 I use programs and apps as well cutting edge technology that in order to get the best of work costs money. Artists, Designers and Developers need to be respected and as well you pay for what you get. Often people will play the game of I could have done it myself, yet they are asking me to do it for them and when I am finished they cannot even implement the technology correctly. Two hours of searching Google for the answer to a question or idea is time we could have spent enjoying life and yet people play this all the time being cheap or not having the money to make money. Sure we reuse code, scripts, images, models and many other parts of previous jobs yet they may be saved in the cloud and again you come back to overhead which is not cheap. People often tell us I will give you a good review, but so will the paying customers. Often after people get what they want the reviews are never given and it turns into a big waste of time for the developer / designer. Sure someone in a 3rd world country may do it cheaper, no offense to them but at this point in time why are they not concentrating on work in there own country ? So seeing that many countries are having economic problems as well maybe you should be buying American where you have more protection over the job getting done rather then outsourcing and then wanting and American or UK Citizen to finish the work that the others did not.





 

  Well today's post is rather simple one on restoring a Pintrest account, people do these types of things by mistake all the time. Its rather simple to restore a Pintrest account, but sometimes the tech of today confuses the masses due to the constant roll out of new and increasingly busy information technology. So without further wait here we go

first click on your user name even if the account is deactivated you should be able to do this. and then click on settings as shown in this drop down.

So now at the bottom of the settings menu page it says deactivate here. If your account has been deactivated then instead of the deactivate button yours should say activate instead or reactivate. So click on reactivate and you should now again be able to use your Pintrest account without further issues.  As I stated this would be a short and easy one today, but hey being able to pin as a designer and artist helps to find both reference photos and work you may have done in the past.

How to Email to Cell Phone Text and SMS!

   Today's post is a little tech trick that many people still do not realize is possible and as well can save money if you do not have unlimited text, but you have a laptop or are near it during text conversations. To start IT is about information technology, for example using computers, cell phones, smart phones and networks for advance of business or even everyday convenience. So for example some one keeps sending you texts and you would like to respond from a laptop. The task of using email to send a text is rather quite easy and most cell carriers allow and provide a way to do so, which again is why this is considered IT, the freelance part here is that I am teaching you about this.

How to send a Email to a Phone Text (SMS).

  To start this part of the IT lesson you will need to know your friends cell phone carrier, and the good part is that when they reply now it will return to your computer or other tech device to the email account that you sent it from. For example you friend has AT&T as there cell carrier and they have been texting to you and you are in computer lab or in the office and cannot keep sending text from your phone. So what do you do ?   First log onto your email account, it does not matter if it is Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail or Outlook or your very own smtp server from your web site. So to send them a message back to there AT&T smart phone you would simply type in the send to box of your email app the area code and phone number of your friends phone for example 5175555555@txt.att.net be sure to add the subject of the text, and then type in what you want to say in the body text area. Next hit the send button.  Now some cells may limit the length of the messages you receive and definitely the reply from a phone would contain the standard space and characters of a reply that sms or text messages normally do. 

How to email to a phone carriers text or sms service!

Listed below is a list of available email to text (sms) Messaging including the service company and the format for emailing your text messages. These are just the most popular of the services in no particular order. There are even scripts to mass text via info collected from blogs and websites and customer contact info. If the number is not a cell then the messages will not be delivered just as if it is and old phone that does not receive or have text service

1. AT&T~ number@txt.att.net
2. Verizon ~ number@vtext.com 
3. Sprint ~ number@messaging.sprintpcs.com or number@pm.sprint.com
4. Metro PCS ~ number@mymetropcs.com
5. Virgin Mobile ~ number@vmobl.com
6. Qwest ~ number@qwestmp.com
7. T-Mobile ~ number@tmomail.net
8. Boost Mobile ~ number@myboostmobile.com
9. Tracfone ~ number@mmst5.tracfone.com 
10. Nextel ~ number@messaging.nextel.com
11. Alltel ~ number@message.alltel.com
12. Ptel ~ number@ptel.com
13. Suncom ~ number@tms.suncom.com
14. Cricket ~ number@sms.mycricket.com
15. U.S. Cellular ~ number@email.uscc.net

 Using text to phone services other then email accounts.

    This is a small list and then again what if you do not have a email account you would like to use for example in a public place or internet cafe that you do not want to log into your email from. Well there are additional methods and services just for this. I will not list them all but I will give you and example and also you can always search Google or Bing with a term such as "email to sms" Emailing text messages", "Email my text message", "How do I email a text message to a cell phone" or another query such as these provided. But as and example here is a site that allows you to do so without even logging into your email service or app. Just use a site such as Text Em  http://www.textem.net and you can choose whether or not to include your email, or return contact.

 Text, Emails, SMS and Instant Messages are not 100% Secure.

 I should mention that security of text or sms when sending via email or text from one phone to another is not 100% secure. IT security is what just one of the subjects that our company specializes in and is forever evolving in this brave new world. We are not insinuating that you would have to worry about a simple "running 5 minutes late for dinner mom"  type text but people use cell phone text messages for business all the time and for all intensive purposes business and company espionage is a real matter in today's world. Seeing this is a reality and that your boss would not want for example "vital company information to be compromised", then use this information wisely. Of course there are different ways to hide who you are and to encrypt the information being sent. If you would like consultation in this matter we do provide consultation and services on such matters at affordable and as well minimal rates to enhance both business and personal security of IT based matters. Just as a sample situation even a application such as snap chat is not fool proof (full proof) and can be circumvented. Say a partner sends you a message with a picture of themselves in a precarious manner via Snapchat, and you are a geek then you may be able to screenshot (a screenshot is a capture of the screen on your phone, mobile or computer device.) a version of the message or image that was sent via text or sms.  This is yet again a another way that you could be caught permanently with your junk being displayed to the world .... whatever that junk may be. So be smart and think first before texting something that may make sense at 2 am in the morning when normally many peoples judgement is clouded by lack of sleep. I will explain this in more depth in a future article, so please help us out via following and commenting on this blog, following and liking our Facebook Page for Freelance IT, and also if you need security, tech services and even graphics for your next project or website then visit one of our websites to contact us for your next project listed here.

Contact Freelance IT :

Freelance Graphics Work ~ http://ksweckard.wix.com/portfolio
Freelance IT ~ http://ksweckard.wix.com/freelance-it-lansing


Read more about this from the following websites as well via the cell and mobile carriers sites themselves. 

20 Something Finance " How to Send Text Messages (SMS) Via Email for Free"
Popular Mechanics " How to Email Text Messages to Any Phone"

   Welcome to Freelance IT of Lansing, Michigan. We can provide full service computer consultation and tech repair. If you need help with your business or home IT and computer services we are here to help you with day to day technical help and services. We can perform services from network set up and implementation to administration and security services. This can and may include troubleshooting, securing of networks and network devices, security testing, compatibility and service performance, virus removal, malware removal, system security, software installations, operating system installations, operating system upgrades, website development and design, operating system optimization and trouble shooting for Windows and Linux, graphics and other media design as well much more. We provide on site, on call services as well remotes and drop off services for all your computer and technical based needs. If the computer system that you depend on is having any variety of issues we can quickly identify the issues and provide working solutions to get you back up and running connected to the grid at affordable rates. Quick and easy to understand computer and tech  fixes to allow you to continue with your business and social life headache free. With  20 years of experience with computer systems and networks from server administration to dedicated to keep you and the information security needed in today's high tech world running at full speed.

   The most often problem in the high tech world of today surrounding the internet and world wide web can be a daunting task. Besides the fact that keeping you, the devices and computer systems that you need for day to day life is more then most people have the time or energy to keep up with. We can assist you with this task in the greater Lansing Michigan area, including, east Lansing, Okemos, Haslett, Williamston, and other outlying areas of Ingham, Eaton and Clinton counties. We are just phone call or email away from getting you back on track and running with your computer tech need and problem solving.