Deck Generator, Draft Parser and Hover link generator

Magic: The Gathering is a card game that requires us to present information in some form, sometimes textual, sometimes visual. Readers need to know what we are writing about without the need to look elsewhere and in order to have the information ready on your own page I decided to write several tools that could help authors writing about Magic: The Gathering.

Deck generator

I was trying to figure out how to easily generate decklists for a while and I ended up having one written in Google Sheets but that is not particularly easy to use and takes time to generate the code since it is also linked with database. By accident (posting the output on my Facebook wall) I found out that Paul Leicht created his own decklist generator to use in his articles on PureMTGO, written in JavaScript. He let me scavenge the code and I decided to use it and create a decklist generator that everybody could use.

I created two versions. One that can be used online and one offline version. The difference between the two is that the online version doesn't sort cards and the offline one does. Both generators can be accessed from http://stsungalters.com/deckgen/index.html

The decklist generator can produce a visual deck view and a text view (on the screenshot).

Magic Online's Draft log Parser

When I tried to write an article about of my drafts I took zillions of screenshots from Magic Online and put that up. It took ages though so I thought that something that can show the picks in a visual way would be neat too. I had no idea how to do that so something was suggested to me. If you wish you can use this to show your drafts. To navigate to it go here

Hover links generator

The last thing that I was using on PureMTGO is something that generates links and hovers for cards. It seems to be the Standard for many Magic sites and there is no reason why you wouldn't want to have that on your site too. I used it from time to time on this blog and will use it in all my following posts. What it does is that if you hover over a card name (which is a link) it will show you the card's image. If interested in that you can try it out - Hover Generator.

Big thanks to Paul because without him I wouldn't create any of this. Thanks to Aspallar who was so kind answering my dumb questions about JavaScript. Thanks to April King for writing PDF Decklist generator from which I got the idea how to do the deck gen linked above.

Trueside.cz

I was asked to create a webpage by a company named Trueside. I said yes, hoping that they would pay at least a bit for it (The CEO of the company is my colleague's boyfriend). I wanted to help them start somewhere and eventually get paid but I learned that in this country nothing like that actually works out. I was forced to work during weekends and was also told that is 'just a small thing', 'easy to do' and 'doesn't take long'. One that wonders why they didn't do their webpage on their own, right? I was also accused of not following their instructions even though the ones I received showed to be the wrong ones because someone sent me not updated instructions. This is not how professional work looks like and especially as someone who decided to do this of their own volition I'd expect some respect from their side.

Nevertheless all this led to me creating their website that is currently still in use. I kind like it. If they will ever ask me for help, they won't get it though unless they give apologize or pay for what I did. (if you click on the screenshots below it will take you to their site - trueside.cz.)

MTGGoldfish

Since I play on MODO more regularly than before which was more of 'rarely' I needed a site to check on prices.

I started using MTGGoldfish to see the prices of a larger amount of cards. But with time I started using the site for more things. I added some decklists I wanted to share in a text form (because it clearly shows the prices in tix and one can see price of each card at once). Later I ventured on and read some of the statistics articles and became hooked. I don't usually read Magic articles unless it is something very strange usually not talking about Magic but rather its players, psychology or such. But when seeing numbers and reading some of the analysis I realized that this is something my brain can actually work with and interests me. Even the interpretation of the data is a completely different chapter.

MTG Goldfish has become a site I most of the time have opened in my browser I check the new content. I still do not watch Magic videos but I might actually start doing that. I sometimes watch games on MODO so I don't see a problem why I couldn't watch something that was actually screen captured for the audience.

One of the things that I actually like about MTGGoldfish is the fact that it is mostly plain text and shows all the data well unlike other sites (and exports decklists in plain text!). So if someone decides to make the site more graphically pleasing I hope this clarity will be maintained. (the webmaster is certainly someone who knows what he wants and can formulate what he wants).

While being on the site I accidentally clicked on some link and I ended up on MTGGoldfish Facebook page. I clicked on 'Like' because they deserve it and then noticed that they were looking for a graphics designer. So I decided to sent them an email with something like my portfolio and see if they would contant me.

A bit later I received an email asking me if I could do what they envision. I found out that what they plan to do is have some nice visualization of decks that they can post on FB, Instagram etc.

I decided to do it no matter what they give me (not so much work at work so I was glad to work on anything). During the process of coming up with a layout and design I certainly learned few things (since I really did not expect doing graphs and using zillion of layers...).

I wanted to do the first draft functional and I wanted to have an idea how something like a visual deck view could look like and I wanted to keep the MTGGOldfish orange color present. It turned out functional but not 'awesome' or anything. The second draft was an attempt to make it look better - in terms of visually pleasing. But I struggled a lot with showing the data. I was trying to figure out what kind of graphs could be used and what graphs wouldn't look dull. The second draft wasn't good enough but it lead me to the final draft which finally started looking nice and flashy actually a fourth one). Textures and graphics was added, more icons and figuring out how to make it look coherent (I spent way more time doing stuff in illustrator than I would expect. I spent hours doing something that I don't even know was worth doing that). In the end the simplest solution showed up to be the best and the visual deck view for MTGGoldfish was done.

So I thank MTGGoldfish for letting me do this and hope the players enjoy it.

Draft no. 1

Draft no. 2

Draft no. 3

Final generated version

Intranet design

Few weeks ago I got employed (great news!). I work for FN Motol (Hospital) as a graphics designer. This means that I started creating stuff be it print documents or digital media.

There is intranet that I don't really have access to yet but I was asked to prepare a design for it. I've done something fast in Photoshop which ended up looking more or less ok (because I did not have access to intranet, otherwise I would use the code) and it was redelegated to the IT department. When we all saw the final result they produced later we were shocked because it did not really copy my style. When I had some spare time I decided to log on a machine actually connected to their network and use the code and restyle the page.

When doing this I realized that even small things matter and that my eye still catches so many things that are 'graphically' wrong. Often there can be awesome ideas and graphics but it would be nice if people could use the space in a better way. Especially now when there is so much space on our screens or the magazines/posters etc we see everyday. All those small changes count and can make something look great or at least acceptable and good.

This post is here to remind me that not only creativity is needed for a good design or a good looking page/advert etc. After struggling with a very let's say 'artistic' advert this was actually quite a revelation and it helped me finish it keeping this in mind. My design follows (not sure why the quality of the image is so bad..I actually saved the file in MS Paint because there is nothing better on the computer I could use)

STsung Alters

Today I launched a site showcasing some of my Magic: The Gathering alters, custom playmats and custom tokens. You can view some of my paintings and drawings there too.

Magic Alter

During my last year at school I tried to figure out how to alter Magic: The Gathering cards and in the process learn how to paint. To some extent it worked. Now I accept commissions for Magic Alters. Here is a video how such a thing is done and the final result.

To check out my other work visit my personal blog and the category Magic Alter -> http://stsu.blogspot.cz/

And here's a time lapse of the alteration

Custom Playmat time lapse

I started drawing and painting custom playmats. Here is an example of such a work.

A timelapse of me doing StoneBlade playmat. Processing 14GB of Windows Media Video was a pain, but hopefully it ended up well.

WIP - Transporter Room on Galaxy Class Ship

My sister asked me to do some 3d work for her Star Trek fanfilm. I declined but this is what I did because of that request. I just don't feel like someone who can do this. It's not finished even though I have textures and the 'blueprints' drawn and ready to be imported into 3dsmax.

Graduation

We did it!

Czech Nationals in Flames of War T-Shirt

Here I present you a t-shirt design for a Czech National Tournament in Flames of War (World War II miniature game). Hope people will like it^_^.

Cab 1

I'm continuing to work on the model...

DDR Platform

Working a bit on the platform. It needs some screws and stickers...

DDR cab p2

A wireframe of my cab and platform. Still a lot of work to do.

DDR Cabinet?

Work in progress of DDR cabinet and platform. Not entirely sure if I'll finish it. I need to go downstairs to measure the banner and then figure out what I'll use as textures. Also I need to do the loudspeakers. Gained some experience for next time^^

VJ Performance Draft

Little look back to a class named Computer Interface Design. It was divided into two parts - for one we had to create a audio visual performance and for the second one design an actual device that could be used to operate our show or any imaginary one.

I came across the files for my final show and found a video of the visual performance draft. I spent ages on preparing all this. I've been collecting videos for the show. I've shot a lot of videos for this but in the end did not use majority of them. I used jump backs and videos of me dancing and playing various music games from Dance Dance Revolution to Guitar Hero.

When my dancing videos were done I spent a long time preparing for the real show that took place in a nearby bar. The performance was taken well and my part was liked. But I was never graded. I got fail for the class and I can't do anything with that. But I've put so much effort in this and so much time that I won't be able to forget it. I've been doing what I like and created a lot of material that I might use in the future one. I enjoyed the time and I could see that with an effort and idea in mind one can come to interesting stuff.

So here's about an minute long video that shows how it was supposed to look. After this I've done some testing with alpha filters and some other effects that helped me get the effects I wanted at certain point in time. But they are missing in the preview as this was really the first draft. It brings back a lot of memories and I'm really sad that the footage from the bar ended up on a tape that we couldn't get the data from. Also that's the reason I failed the class.

So enjoy this little preview. It does not show all the work that was involved nor the problems I ecountered during that time. All I have now are just fading memories from that period. But this little video helps refresh them and that's why I treasure it so much.

Lost and Found Exhibition Photos

My BAFA Exhibition Photos at Picasa

Almost there

We - my parents, Zdenek and Tonda - managed to paint and repaint twice the walls and install some lights. I framed my paintings, finished writing the names of the planets, prepared some alters. We covered hole in the 'wall', got rid of annoying rusty stuff and so on. A lot of work was done and still we would need one more day to finish everything. Here are few photos I managed to get of my cell phone. (My cell phone does not want to communicate with me nor my computer so I can't upload more photos. But here are few.)

Exhibition Space

Since Wednesday I try to do something with the space at KC Vltavska. I started by cleaning the place and then slowly I started to paint the worst looking wall. Now after two days the wall is more less white. I tried to get rid of the dust from the ground and from the wooden 'walls' but doing it 3x times and still getting no good result was a waste of time.

During night I was sewing my little sheets of fabric so I could stick my calligraphy on it. I was afraid that many things would go awry but in the end here's the result! (4x to bauhaus, my record today^^)
I though that the calligraphy almost ready and in place was a small victory today...after seeing the photo I can't say that I'm satisfied. Erm. In reality it looks good...
>BR?

With my friend's help we managed to set up the dark fabric that will form a background for my solar system. So on Sunday I'll measure everything and glue the planets onto the fabric. More things to come!

As for the rest...we will see on Sunday. There are few things that won't work out. I need to find an alternative and I need to find a way how to conceal the door and do something with the terrible space....argh. I spent time there to make it look better and it still does not feel ok.

Calligraphy - Shiratori Youko

For the second scroll I decided to write the name Shiratori Youko. Shiratori means Swan in Japanese and Youko is Western Girl. I used this calligraphy for my name seal. New ink^^.

Calligraphy - I'm going my way

Hm haven't done any calligraphy in few years. Probably needs more. My hand needs to realize that I need it to write, haven't used it in a while. ^_^
The ink is old and did not behave the way it should. So I need to get a new one.
EDIT: got a new ink, second version thus.