adsense top

Showing posts with label How To. Show all posts
Showing posts with label How To. Show all posts

Friday, 21 February 2014

How to Set up Indoor Photography Lights


If you are creating an indoor studio, whether temporary or permanent, you will need to have a good and consistent setup so that you know what you will be getting when you take the photographs. Read here to get an understanding of what you need to do.


Edit Steps



  1. Have the recommended minimum of 3 three lights. You will get the best effect, if you do. Having said that, if you don’t, make adjustments, such as your lights and the window, and you can use your wall and ceiling as a reflectors for the light you do have. The lights are the

  2. To start with, set the key light behind or beside the camera, to the right (subject’s left). This is assuming that the key light will be off camera. If it is on its own tripod. The main light adds definition and highlight to the subject


  3. Add the fill light. The fill light is a less powerful light that helps fill in some of the shadows without blowing out parts of the photograph. Set it up directly in front of the subject. Make sure that:


    • It is aimed lower than the main light.

    • It is positioned lower than the main light.

    • Use less fill light if you want more shadows.

    • Make sure that it is less powerful than the main light.



  4. Set up the hair light. The hair light (also called backlighting or rim lighting), separates the background from the subject and helps bring it out. If you have a light background or want the subject to blend in with the background, don’t use it.


    • You can set up the rim lighting above or below the subject, depending on how you want the effect.



  5. Once all the lights are set up, start moving them around. Move them closer and further away from the subject to see which result you get.


  6. Experiment with how much power your flash is using. Full power, versus 1/4 power, etc.


  7. As well as changing the distance of the lights, work on the angles. Try them lower and higher.



Edit Video


Edit Things You’ll Need



  • Tripods

  • Off camera light sources

  • Modifiers

    • Reflectors

    • Diffusers

    • Soft box (optional)



  • Triggers for your remote flashes


Edit Related wikiHows



Edit Sources and Citations






Article Tools




Source: How To








Total Post Views : 0


The post How to Set up Indoor Photography Lights appeared first on Satbi.


Thursday, 20 February 2014

How to Freeze Your Credit


If you suspect theft or have lost an item of personal identification, such as driver’s license, Social Security card, or credit card, you are at risk of having your identity stolen. Once a thief has this information, it is easy for him or her to get credit in your name. For this reason, you need to know how to freeze your credit with all three credit reporting agencies. Freezing your credit prevents new credit or new loans from being given out in your name.


Edit Steps


Edit Part One: Placing the Freeze



  1. Contact the three main credit bureaus (links provided below) to begin the process. There are three main credit bureaus which are charged with maintaining a kind of status report on your credit. They are Equifax, TransUnion, and Experian. In order to assure that all possible lines or credit or credit reports are frozen, you’ll need to reach out to all three bureaus — not just one. When contacting the three bureaus, expect to provide your name, address, date of birth, and Social Security number.


  2. Be prepared to pay a fee in some states. In some states but not all, placing a freeze on your credit will cost a nominal fee of $5-$10. If you are victim of identity theft, placing a credit freeze is almost always free[2]


  3. Wait for each credit bureau to send you a PIN. Within 5 days, the credit reporting agency should place the freeze. Within 10 days, they should send you written confirmation of the freeze, along with a personal identification number (PIN) which will allow you to either thaw or remove the freeze entirely.


    • Thawing the credit freeze simply means temporarily lifting the freeze for a specified amount of time. You might use your PIN to thaw the freeze so that a reporting agency can issue a credit report for you to use or examine.

    • Removing the credit freeze means permanently lifting the injunction against issuing a new line of credit or a credit report.



  4. Continue to safeguard your credit and identity after placing the freeze. Continue to be vigilant about your credit and identity, especially if you were a victim of identity theft. Report all lost of stolen items of personal identification to the relevant authorities and try to mend any inaccurate or damaging information that may be affecting your credit score.




Edit Part Two: Understanding What the Freeze Does and Doesn’t Do



  1. Understand that freezing your credit merely prevents access to your credit report. What this means is that new credit or new loans cannot be given out, since lenders need access to credit reports in order to determine the creditworthiness of an applicant. Freezing your credit, then, is like putting a bandaid on a wound: It will prevent future bleeding, but it won’t heal the cut.


  2. Know that freezing your credit has no impact on your existing lines of credit. You can continue to use your old credit cards as usual after placing the freeze; freezing credit applies only to future, not current, lines of credit.[3]


    • Freezing your credit does not mean that you do not need to pay your credit card bills. Just as you are able to use existing credit cards, you are also expected to pay existing credit cards. Placing a freeze on your credit does not exempt you from needing to pay your bills.



  3. Know that placing and/or keeping a credit freeze will affect timely approval of certain financial requests. It almost goes without saying, but having your credit frozen could affect approval of new loans, as well as:


    • Credit, mortgage, and insurance applications, as well as certain government services

    • Rental housing, employment, and investment approval

    • Cell phone and utility bills

    • Your digital signature

    • Various credit card transactions over the internet



  4. Remember to lift a credit freeze before shopping for a new line of credit. If you’re in the market for a new line or credit, you can thaw your frozen credit for a specific creditor, or remove it completely if you’re in the process of shopping around.[4] Remember to do this a few days before you apply in order to be completely sure your application won’t bounce.



Edit Tips



  • If you are able to prove that you are the victim of identity theft, security freeze fees are waived by all 3 credit bureaus.


Edit Warnings



  • If you need to apply for credit, or if you are applying for new employment, you need to temporarily lift the security freeze so you are able to complete both processes.


Edit Things You’ll Need



  • Police report

  • Personal information

  • Computer with Internet access


Edit Related wikiHows



Edit Sources and Citations


Cite error: tags exist, but no tag was found





Article Tools




Source: How To








Total Post Views : 0


The post How to Freeze Your Credit appeared first on Satbi.


How to Excel in a Retail Job


A profession in retail is a unique experience. Whether you feel that selling merchandise to customers is your life passion or just a job to make ends meet, it’s important to understand that your position is meaningful, reaches out to many people in your community and leaves a lasting impression. As such, you should always want to excel in it. Excelling as a retail employee includes taking the role seriously, understanding what is expected of you and finding ways to support others in your team.


Edit Steps


Edit Part 1: Personal Integrity





    • If you are habitually late you will be leaving your coworkers in a lurch. You also risk facing disciplinary action or even dismissal, depending on the jurisdiction in which you work.

    • If you can’t make work because you’re ill or indisposed for a good reason, alert your workplace as early as you can. This allows them to make alternative arrangements to cover your shift. Equally, if you want to get ahead in the job, making it known that you’re available to fill in at short notice can be a great way to get noticed, make more money and be seen as highly reliable.



  1. Present yourself well. Retail work is very visual, and it includes not only the stock, but those selling the stock too. Smart grooming and good clothing are an important part of presenting a professional image that inspires confidence in anyone dealing with you. Make an effort, even if your natural preference is scruffy and comfortable. Good presentation can also provide you with a professional “shield” between you and customers, giving you the confidence to behave more professionally.


    • If the store requires a uniform of some sort, keep it well laundered and pressed (find out if the company covers such costs).

    • Have a comb or brush handy for touching up hair during the shift, and perhaps a small mirror and some makeup for touch-ups.



  2. Take care to understand the store policies thoroughly. If you have any questions about what is and is not allowed, ask before doing or failing to do something, or you risk not following the store policies. Many stores give training at the commencement of your job but changes occur over time, so be sure to keep up to date with store policy changes the longer you stay there.


    • For example, you might want to take home used boxes from the store for your volunteer work of doing art with street kids. However, your store might have a policy that employees take nothing from the store; you’d need to know this beforehand, or risk being dismissed.




Edit Part 2: Interacting with Others



  1. Get along with your coworkers. Aim to be friendly, polite, flexible, and sympathetic to the needs of those you work with. Successfully developing a rapport with your coworkers will ensure that they trust you, can easily work with you, and can count on you. Plus, enjoying the company of the people you work with will make any slow day go by a lot faster.


    • What about those times when a coworker wants to chat endlessly? Realize how bad this looks to customers, and how it can cause customers to shy away from asking for your help or service. Ask your coworker to keep the chatting to times when customers are not directly affected; if your coworker seems to keep chatting, it can help to ignore any attempts to engage you in conversation when it’s not convenient.

    • Seasonal events can stress everyone in your team, when there are many shoppers, stock is strewn everywhere and you’re constantly stuck at the cashier’s spot. On such occasions, give each other pep talk, offer a word of praise now and then, and keep an eye out for coworkers who miss breaks and offer to cover for them so that they can take them to refresh.

    • Sometimes coworkers will behave negatively. On such occasions, be aware that workplace conflict is a natural part of working with others and is something to manage, not run from. Try to handle things yourself initially but if it’s too difficult or involves serious issues such as harassment, seek immediate help from your supervisors/superiors.

    • There may be times when one or more members of your team fails to take the role seriously. Realize that everyone has down days or feels fed up with what they’re doing. It’s not usually about you, so don’t take their behavior to heart. Ask them “What’s up?” and be compassionate about their issues.



  2. Work with management, not for them. Get to know your boss (for example, the store manager) and any other authority figures (for example, assistant managers, sales managers, department managers, etc.). Know what each of your superiors expects of you in your position.


    • Aim to be flexible. This includes keeping an open mind if you’re asked by management to stay late during the busy holiday season or to take on an extra responsibility. If you execute this well enough, your efforts will be recognized and you are likely to receive some kind of benefits in the long run, perhaps even a promotion.

    • Ask questions. Whether it’s because you don’t know something or because you’d like to try something innovative but you’re not sure how it’d go down, asking questions shows engagement with the job and interest in it.



  3. Provide a great customer experience. Greet each customer and find out what they’ve come into the store for by asking open-ended questions. Guide them to the product (if available) and assist them with answering any questions they might have. Then, offer to help them find anything else they could be looking for, or if applicable, if they would be interested in a warranty plan (cross-sell!).


    • Smile and stay upbeat even when the customer doesn’t smile back. Customers do notice your smile, they may simply be too busy, self-absorbed in thoughts about what they have to do next or a shrinking violet. Your pleasantness may be enough to thaw the ice for the next person that customer meets!

    • Be aware that disengagement from or lack of enthusiasm for your job is apparent to all––to your coworkers, your boss… and yes, your customers. And customers are super ready to judge that a disengaged retail worker is likely to not want to help them, setting up a defensive situation from the start. Even if this job isn’t your dream ticket to a future career, stay professional; it’s good training for any future job. And you never know when your next customer might be a source of information or work opportunities––or simply interesting!



  4. Be a professional when it comes to the more challenging customers. Clearly not all customers are pleasant and some are downright surly or difficult, especially when waiting in long queues or holding unrealistic expectations about what your store can offer them. In such cases, don’t take their ranting or negativity personally. Realize that some people will be mean-spirited no matter what you do or say and that some people are simply out to make trouble, for whatever reason.


    • Be aware that often the more challenging customer has underlying emotional issues, such as anxiety about overspending, anger about something totally unrelated to the store/sale (and you’re sadly an easy victim), a sense of entitlement, etc. It is not personal (which is probably why it hurts even more, as you feel treated like an automaton). Whatever the cause, stay calm and polite, and if you feel you’re over your head, call for your supervisor.

    • Debrief whenever a customer has been especially difficult. Whether it’s encouraged by your workplace culture or not, find at least one team member with whom you can talk through difficult experiences. If your workplace doesn’t already have such an opportunity in place, suggest that learning sessions be implemented to help all of you learn how to better deal with difficult situations in a more professional and constructive manner. Nobody is born knowing how to solve all conflict, and such skill-building should be part of your workplace training.




Edit Part 3: Perfecting Your Sales Techniques



  1. Know the store and the products you are selling. Familiarize yourself with the sales floor layout and which merchandise is located where. Research as much as you can about the products the store/your department sells, and what advantages your store or the products you sell offer over similar stores or competing products. This way, when it’s time to sell a product or service to a customer, you’ll be well-informed and can confidently close the sale.


  2. Train often. Almost all retail stores provide some kind of basic training to new associates, typically outlining the proper procedures of your position and how to handle common customer scenarios. You can never learn too much, either, so feel free to ask management what training options you may have available if you need a refresher.


  3. Help maintain the store. Even if your role is not in logistics coordination, you can make sure that shelves are neat, items are in their correct places, there are no messes or potential hazards around, and that employee areas are safe and adequately stocked.


    • Demonstrate to others how important it is to pick up stock on the floor, rearrange messy stock etc., by simply pitching in and fixing it whenever the need is apparent. You don’t need directions from above to keep the store neat.



  4. Have fun. Most importantly, enjoy what you do and learn from the experience. You never know who you’ll meet and what opportunities your job will bring in the future.



Edit Tips



  • Learn how to cope with stress. There might be times when you’re swamped by several customers, all wanting your attention, all frustrated and perhaps rude. Stay calm, be polite, and try your best to help them.

  • Always stay busy, even when there’s downtime. Find tasks to keep you moving and productive during lulls. Not only will this make the time go by faster, but it’ll help the store and earn respect from your manager(s).


Edit Warnings



  • Don’t share your discontent about your retail job on social media. It will likely be quite easy to identify you and the disloyalty shown will count against you. If you dislike your job, start looking for a new one and keep your thoughts to yourself. A good reference is essential to finding employment elsewhere.


Edit Related wikiHows






Article Tools




Source: How To








Total Post Views : 0


The post How to Excel in a Retail Job appeared first on Satbi.


How to Paint a Portrait of a Dog


Painting a dog portrait can be a challenging endeavor for a beginner, but very rewarding when you can capture your dog’s individual personality. This tutorial will guide you through the process of painting any breed of dog.


Edit Steps


Edit Part One: Warm-Up Exercises



  1. Practice drawing straight lines. Take a piece of paper and draw randomly spaced dots around the edges. Practice drawing straight lines between all the dots––this will come in handy when you are finding the proportions and placing the features of the dog’s head.

  2. Practice color mixing. Use a simple computer painting program to print out a sheet of small, randomly-colored squares. Mix small portions of these colors as accurately as you can with your chosen opaque paint.

    • Even if you work digitally, buy some cheap paints and practice mixing. Being able to identify the mixing components of a color is extremely helpful for matching the colors of your subject.

    • If you are doing opaque painting, you need to try coloring on the actual material that you want to paint on. This will allow you to foresee how the material absorbs and paints diffuse which can help you to create different effects.




Edit Part Two: Sketching


For precise help on drawing actual dog features, see further How to draw a dog. The following sections outlines the generalities involved in sketching before painting.



  1. Choose a reference image. Creating a painting that looks three-dimensional is easier if you can accurately judge the forms of your subject. Good lighting is a key factor to doing this well.

    • Choose a reference image that features a single, strong, direct light source that creates a clear separation of light and shadow. You can identify a direct light source by looking for hard-edged cast shadows.

    • A simple, uniform background makes it easier to see the outline of the subject.



  2. Map out the proportions of your subject. Ensure that the proportions of your painted subject are correct by mapping out key features in the reference for comparison.

    • Look for major lines of action (red lines) such as the centerline of the head or the tilt of the eyes. When sketching in other features, compare their placement and orientation to these lines.

    • Note the angles (blue lines) that parts of the head make with each other – these angles remain the same regardless of the size of your painting. Pick out spots that are easy to keep track of, such as the points of the ears, the nostrils, and hard corners where the jaw and collar overlap with the neck.

    • Negative space (yellow area) is the shape created by the area around the subject. In many cases, negative space is far simpler and easier to judge than the shapes inside the subject.



  3. Sketch the under-structure. Begin by drawing the major lines of action.

    • Draw straight lines between the key features, making sure the angles are accurate.

    • Using simple lines makes it easy to adjust proportions before drawing in more complicated forms.

    • Resist drawing small details and focus instead on correctly placing the biggest forms.

    • The sketch should show accurate proportions. Keep adjusting your guidelines until all the forms are the correct size.




Edit Part Three: Underpainting



  1. Identify basic light, medium, and dark value areas in the reference. Understanding how light is hitting your subject is the most important factor in making your painting look three-dimensional. Light value areas are most directly facing the light source. There are two types of medium value areas:

    • Planes of the form that are turning away from the light and about to go into shadow.

    • Light is bouncing off of objects behind the subject and hitting them from the opposite side, but much less strongly than the direct light. This is called “reflected light.”

    • Dark value areas are where the least amount of light is shining on the subject because the planes of the form are tangent to the light sources, so they aren’t getting light from either the front or back. They occur between medium value areas and are called “core shadows.”



  2. Paint in the basic values on your under-structure sketch.

    • Mix 4 neutral (gray) values: light, medium, dark and a background value. Don’t try to perfectly match any values because this under-painting will be completely covered by the final colors. The different value areas are only an organizational tool.

    • Apply the values using the sketch as a guide. Working with only four values makes this step simple and fast.

    • Use a large brush.

    • If you have trouble placing the medium values, try painting only light and dark first before adding medium.

    • Step back 10 feet/3 meters from the painting to get an overall impression. The painting should begin look like a three-dimensional form with light shining on it.




Edit Part Four: Color



  1. Start applying color using your under-painting as a guide. This is where the painting begins to really look like the dog reference. Using the reference for comparison, mix colors for each value section defined by your under-painting, and lay in the colors within the pre-mapped areas with a large brush.

    • After the biggest areas are painted, layer on additional colors, but keep using the large brush.



  2. Identify large plane boundaries in the reference and sketch them into the painting as a guide. With all the large shapes in place, switch down to a medium brush and start refining the edges of major forms, such as the jaw and large skin creases.

    • It may be useful to sketch guidelines into the painting, as they can easily be covered up with a new layer.

    • Step back 10 feet/3 meters from the painting. The illusion of light should be very strong. You might forget the shadows are only painted.





Edit Part Five: Adding the Details



  1. Add detail to the nose and mouth. As with the rest of the body, the tongue and nose can be broken down into larger planes to plan out the form. Once you have them looking as if light is shining on them, go in with even finer details.

    • To make the snout look wet, look at your reference for the placement of small, bright, hard highlights. These are called “specular reflections”. They occur where the light source is being completely reflected off the surface.



  2. Add detail to the eyes. Note that the “white” of the eye is rarely white under normal lighting conditions because it is recessed into the head and cast into shadow by the skin around it. Capturing these shadows is the key to making the eye appear to be set in the face and not just painted on the surface.

    • Small, bright specular highlights give the eye a glassy sparkle.



  3. Add detail to the ears. The ears are composed of a few large planes that turn up at the edges.

    • Be sure to establish the forms before adding graphic elements like spots, and remember that the spots are affected by the light and shadow of the plane they are on as well.



  4. Continue adding details until you’re satisfied with the results.


Edit Part Six: Finishing the Portrait of a Dog



  1. Smooth everything out. Now that all the forms are in place and sufficiently detailed, you can go back and blend rough patches of color together if you want a smoother, slicker look to the painting. Keep plane boundaries fairly sharp, though, or the painting may start to look blurry and flat. Then step back 10 feet/3 meters from the painting and enjoy the finished product.


Edit Tips



  • Don’t start with details. If you later realize something needs to be changed, you don’t want all that work going to waste.

  • Try to bring all parts of the painting up to the same level of detail together.

  • To enhance the depth of the painting, add more details to the foreground objects, while allowing the objects in the background to maintain a relatively blurry quality.

  • Frequently step back 10 feet/3 meters from your painting to get an overall impression. It’s easier to determine if all the parts are working together if viewed from a distance.


Edit Things You’ll Need



  • Opaque paint (such as acrylic, oil, or gouache) or a digital painting software (such as Adobe Photoshop, Corel Painter, Paint Tool Sai, etc)

  • Brushes

  • Chipboard or canvas


Edit Sources and Citations



Edit Related wikiHows






Article Tools




Source: How To








Total Post Views : 1


The post How to Paint a Portrait of a Dog appeared first on Satbi.


How to Become a Tailor


Tailors typically repair and alter existing clothes, but they may also create new garments from patterns or designs. You will need to know how to sew, join, reinforce, and finish clothing in order to be successful in this field. While the prerequisites to becoming a tailor are not especially demanding, establishing a successful career as a tailor can be difficult. Keep reading for more information.


Edit Steps


Edit Part One: Education



  1. Earn a high school diploma. There are no official educational requirements for becoming a tailor. As a general rule, though, you should at least have a high school diploma or GED, especially if you intend to work as a tailor for a larger fashion company.

    • Check with your high school to see if there are any classes that might prove relevant to the field. At the very least, you should try to take a home economics course. Some high schools may even have more in-depth sewing courses that can teach you about fashion design, hand sewing, and industrial power sewing.[1]

    • Take art electives to help you develop a better aesthetic taste so that you will be more prepared to work with color and style.

    • Make sure that your classes also help you maintain basic math skills so that you will have no problem working with measurements.

    • A business class or two can also help if you plan on becoming a self-employed tailor.

    • Work-study courses can be beneficial, too, since the instructor might be able to help you land work with someone in the fashion industry.



  2. Take college level courses. Even though you do not need to have a college degree, you can benefit from taking college classes about fashion and design.


    • In addition to being beneficial for your own improvement, having college coursework or a college degree might make your employer more likely to consider you for higher level jobs. You may even work your way up the chain and be placed in charge of other tailors as a supervisor.

    • Check with local community colleges and technical schools since they are more likely to have sewing, design, and fashion courses than four-year liberal arts colleges. The classes at a community college or technical school will also be cheaper.

    • Look for schools that offer a variety of courses at the beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels.

    • Study matters related to clothing construction, patterns, textiles or fabrics, finishes, detailing, and fit.

    • Ideally, your classes should provide you with textbook information and plenty of practice sewing exercises.



  3. Consider taking business classes. Many tailors end up being self-employed. While it is not strictly necessary, you might find it beneficial to take a few business and business finance courses at the college level to prepare you for the responsibilities and duties involved in running your own business.

    • Look for business classes at community colleges in your area. Pay close attention to general business classes, business finance classes, entrepreneurship classes, marketing classes, and any other class dealing with small business topics.




Edit Part Two: Experience



  1. Work as an apprentice. One of the best things you can do to prepare yourself for work as a professional tailor is to take an apprenticeship under a tailor who is already established in the business. An apprenticeship will train you in the skills you need to enter the business, and the experience will look good on your resume or CV.


    • You might be able to find an apprenticeship program working with an alteration tailor, custom tailor, or shop tailor. An official alteration tailor apprenticeship will consist of roughly 4000 hours of work, while apprentices to custom tailors and shop tailors will complete roughly 8000 hours.

    • The tailor you apprentice under will start you with simple tasks related to sewing, mending, and altering garments. As you demonstrate skill and understanding, you will be given more complex tasks.



  2. Opt for informal training, if necessary. Since actual apprenticeships can be difficult to come by, you can also obtain a little training simply by working with a tailor or in an alterations department doing tasks that are not directly related to the work of the tailor.

    • If you cannot land an official apprenticeship, try to get hired part-time in an alterations department at a clothing store or other similar workplace. Even if you do nothing but answer phones, tidy up, and schedule appointments, you will at least gain knowledge about the atmosphere you can expect to work in as well as any essential terminology or concepts.



  3. Practice retail work. A tailor will need to work with the public, so practicing your salesmanship and customer service will be beneficial to you in the long-run. Moreover, having retail work experience could actually look good on your resume or CV if you decide to apply for a job with a professional tailor or alterations department.

    • You need to develop communication and interpersonal skills so that customers will feel comfortable with you as you take measurements and discuss the best ways to improve their garments.

    • While all retail work will give you some experience working with the public, some jobs are better than others. Part-time jobs in department stores, clothing stores, shoe stores, stores specializing in accessories are preferable to fast food or sit-down restaurant work. Store jobs, especially those just mentioned, will get you accustomed to the fashion retail setting instead of any generic retail setting. On the other hand, jobs at pet stores, convenient stores, and grocery stores have nothing to do with the industry and therefore are not as ideal.



  4. Refine your skills on your own. Official, professional training helps, but if you want to become an excellent tailor, you will need to practice on your own time, as well. If you plan on being self-employed, self-training might even be enough to get you started.


    • You can browse around at a book store for manuals that can teach you new sewing techniques or more information about fabric types, fashion design, and other topics related to the field.

    • You can also look for video demonstrations online to learn about different sewing techniques if you need more precise, step-by-step examples to follow.



  5. Train with the tools of the trade. No matter how you choose to get your training and work experience in before you start your career as a tailor, you should make sure that you have plenty experience with the actual tools used in that line of work.[2]


    • You must be proficient in using a standard cloth measuring tape as well as other measuring instruments. Measuring tape is usually used for body measurements, but a short ruler is usually used for buttonhole spacing and hem lengths. French curve rulers help tailors work with angled seam lines.

    • You also need to work with professional level sewing machines and sergers. Learning when use different settings on these machines, different needle types, and different thread types should also be done.

    • Use a range of cutting tools, including sewing scissors, trimming shears, and rotary cutters. Know when to use each one and for what purpose.




Edit Part Three: Finding Work



  1. Determine whether to work for yourself or for someone else. There are pros and cons for both options, of course, so you will need to review those before making your decision. Prepare for both paths to give your career more versatility, but focus your efforts on the path you desire.

    • Working for someone else limits the amount of responsibility and worry you need to have over the management or marketing of the business. The downside, however, is that you have less freedom over the work you take and will not reap the full earnings of your work.

    • If you are self-employed as a tailor, you will need to spend time on marketing and administrative tasks. You can set your own hours and conditions, though, and you can also keep more of your earnings.

    • It is estimated that 44 percent of tailors are self-employed while 26 percent are employed in retail trade. The remaining 30 percent work for other services and industries.[3]



  2. Find work with a professional tailor. Professional tailors are often hired by department stores, bridal boutiques, and other clothing stores and manufacturers who need someone to make alterations on clothes.

    • If you do plan to work for someone else, look for job openings with textile and apparel manufacturers, department stores, and dry-cleaners. Any store or manufacturer that works in the fashion industry might be a possibility. You can also check with existing tailor shops to see if they need any additional help.



  3. Start your own business. Starting your own business as a tailor can be a difficult task, but doing so can give you more control over the work you accept, and you can begin right away without needing to be screened or interviewed by potential employers.

    • Review the legal and financial requirements for starting up your own business. Make sure that your business is registered and that you can secure financing.



  4. Develop a portfolio. Your portfolio should include photographs and samples of tailoring-related work you have done, including any work you have done in alterations or design. This portfolio can be a valuable asset when applying for jobs or finding clients.


    • A portfolio should include sample photographs of clothing you have altered and clothing you have designed. You can also include any design sketches you have, as well.

    • Try to include samples in a range of clothing styles, from casual to formal, and from men’s to women’s. Doing so will make you appear more versatile, making your talents more appealing.



  5. Join a professional organization. Professional organizations that consist of tailors and those in the clothing industry can provide you with support and additional educational resources. This can benefit you no matter which career path you take, but it is especially helpful if you decide to go into business for yourself.

    • Professional organizations worth checking out include the Custom Tailors and Designers Association, the American Sewing Guild, and the Embroidery Trade Association.

    • Professional organizations can make it easier for members to take continuing education courses. They might also provide tailors with the opportunity to join professional listings, and many organizations also provide marketing resources and networking opportunities.



  6. Attract clients. Unless you work for a department store that only allows you to do work for its clients, knowing how to attract your own clients is an important piece of knowledge to have if you want your career to thrive.

    • Make use of traditional advertisements, like newspaper ads, and digital advertisements, like social media accounts and business websites. Additionally, you should never underestimate the power of “word of mouth” advertisements. Happy clients will tell others, thereby spreading the word about your business.



  7. Know what to expect. If you have the passion and talent necessary for the job, working as a tailor can be very rewarding. This field has relatively poor job growth, however, and you should not expect to become too rich doing it.

    • As of May 2010, the median hourly wage for tailors was $12.77, while the median annual income usually comes to about $25,850.

    • In 2010, there were an estimated 57,500 tailoring jobs in the United States.

    • The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics only anticipates a 1 percent growth in employment opportunities for tailors from 2010 to 2020.[4]

    • Aspects affecting the lack of demand for tailors include the fact that most clothes are now produced cheaply in other countries, as well as the fact that the demand for more expensive custom clothing continues to decline.




Edit Sources and Citations


Cite error: tags exist, but no tag was found





Article Tools




Source: How To








Total Post Views : 0


The post How to Become a Tailor appeared first on Satbi.


How to Grow Sundews


Sundews, also known as Drosera, are a species of carnivorous plant. These plants are often considered to be the easiest indoor carnivorous plants to grow mainly because the way they catch an insect (by secreting a sticky substance from their leaf tentacles) makes feeding easy. You can get the seeds for sundews from big plant nurseries or online. If you would like to grow them, it’s a simple process.


Edit Steps


Edit Part One: Purchasing Sundew Plants



  1. Research the sundew plant. If you do some research on this plant, you’ll get an idea of what it is and whether you can grow it in your area. There are approximately 194 sundew species worldwide. They grow in all different shapes and sizes – from round ones to long ones. Sundews tend to live for 50 years, if kept in good condition. In some cases, they can be used for medicinal purposes. Some of the more common sundew species you might want to grow are:

    • Drosera capensis : The easiest sundew to grow.


    • Pygmy sundews : Usually found in Australia, this one has hairs to ward off the heat.


    • Tuberous sundews : Very good at surviving hot weather.


    • Petiolaris complex : Usually grown in warm or wet areas.




  2. Know how the sundews catch their food. If an insect lands on one of the leaf’s sticky tentacles, they may get stuck and the Sundew would wrap its tentacle up and digest the content.


  3. Obtain your plants. Sundew plants are rarely found in generalist nurseries. Try really big nurseries or order them online. When purchased, the plant usually only comes in seed form or as a very small plant.


    • Ask the helper in the shop for any tips or information on your plant’s specific growing requirements. Remember that their characteristics differ, depending on which sundew plant you’re buying.





Edit Part Two: Planting the Seeds



  1. Add any type of soil to a 4 inch/10cm pot. Moist or dry soil should be 70% peat / 30% sand or perlite (although take into account specific needs as revealed by your research). You will need a 4 inch pot or larger because a sundew’s roots are unusually long and providing adequate space will enable the plant to reach its maximum height. This plant usually grows better in moist conditions, but not too moist. The roots tend to be weak, though, and are nearly useless for absorbing nutrients from the soil.

  2. Dig a hole wide enough to hold one seed and about 1″/2.5cm or less deep and place a seed, then cover it with the left over dirt. Make sure if you plant many in the same container to space them out.


    • Water the plant with a little mineral free water (about one or half an inch/2.5 to 1.5cm).

    • Check the plant every single day – the Drosera are very sensitive plants!



  3. Wait for the sundew to grow taller and wider with more stems. This growth period will take approximately one month, maybe longer.



Edit Part Three: Taking Care of the Plant



  1. Keep the sundew at a temperature of 45-90ºF/7-32C or sub-tropical conditions. The more light shone on the plant, the better. Place the plant near your window so it gets enough sunlight. High humidity is not needed, so anything up to 50%RH would be fine.


    • The sundew should be placed in a well lit place. It should receive direct sunlight for at least half the day. Be aware, too, that the roots or the sticky substance may dry up.




  2. Feed the plant once every two weeks. If your plant is situated indoors, you’ll need to hand feed it. Feed it some dead insects or live insects, such as an ant. Feed the plant only fresh bugs and feed it only one bug at a time.


    • The sundew is not able to digest meat, so do not feed it any.

    • Do not feed the plant an insect that is bigger than the plant’s tentacle, or it could escape (and you’ll have to catch it) or it will simply be too large for the plant to digest.

    • Don’t overfeed the plant if it is living in a high humidity environment. Doing so might promote mold growth, killing your plant.

    • If you place the plant outside, it will most likely feed itself, hence feeding is not required.



  3. During summer or late spring, five-petaled flowers will start to bloom. You may notice the sundew is not doing much at this stage due to the energy expended in making the flower. When the flower has developed, you can place the plant outside so a bee or other insect can transfer the pollen from plant to plant. The flowers are usually red, pink or white.


    • Seeds might develop and these are known to come out better if you cross-pollinate by rubbing the pollen from one plant against another flower’s stigma.



  4. Water the plant. A sundew’s roots are often weakly developed and most water is taken in through the leaves. Therefore, spray the plant with an inch or two of mineral-free or distilled water once every week. Remember not to spray too much or drown the plant. Too much moisture or water will rot the roots.


    • Do not use any other type of water (such as tap water), as there may be excess minerals which build up and may kill the plant. If you do over-water the plant, invert the pot and plant while pressing down on the soil to squeeze out the extra water.



  5. If you have chosen to grow the plant in a terrarium (the plant can grow better in one), remember that you have to feed it. Since the terrarium is enclosed, few insects will be able to get in there and you’ll be the sole provider of food.


    • You can control the light intensity inside of a terrarium. This is another reason a terrarium might be a good choice for your sundew.



  6. If you put the sundew outside, remember to check it every day to see if the plant has been attacked. Check for diseases at this time, too. Put the sundew in a well-lit location where the plant can receive direct sunlight for part of the day, yet also have a bit of shade.


Edit Things you need



  • 4 inch/10cm pot

  • Mineral-free water

  • Sundew seeds

  • Freshly killed (or live) insects


Edit Video


Edit Tips



  • Remember that sundews can be divided and transferred to another place by leaf cuttings or root cuttings.

  • Sundews take a long time to digest food, so it’s better not to try to observe the whole process. Just trust that it will happen. After all, the plant knows what to do and how to digest most insects.


Edit Warnings



  • Only water a sundew with mineral free water. Mineral build up often kills the plant. If you must you tap water, let it sit for 24-48 hours to allow the chlorine to evaporate.

  • During winter, you may notice the leaf die back due to winter dormancy. Pick the dead leaves off carefully. Do not overstimulate the sundew during this period with too much sunlight or water. Just ensure that the soil is dark brown. During spring, you can start to increase the amount of sunlight.


    • Leaf die-back usually ends as soon as the days start to get longer and spring approaches.



  • If your sundew is white and very weak-looking or if it isn’t that sticky, do not add fertilizer. The results of over-fertilization are the same as adding tap water, only worse. Chemicals and minerals build up, putting your plant at risk. Since fertilizer is not a factor in health of sundews, you should look to too much water, too little water, too little food, not enough sunlight or too much sunlight when you notice the plant is weak or weakening. Ask an expert gardener to try and identify the problem(s).


    • Only add soil if you’re an expert gardener.




Edit Sources & Citations






Article Tools




Source: How To








Total Post Views : 0


The post How to Grow Sundews appeared first on Satbi.


How to Become an Editor


Editors are responsible for overseeing the quality of publications, whether in print or online. Editors read manuscripts for conformance to the publication style, for grammar and for factual accuracy. They may select works for publication, assist in the publication design and deal with other matters related to the publication. If this kind of work interests you, here are steps to take to become an editor.


Edit Steps


Edit Part One: Putting in the Necessary Work



  1. Read voraciously. In order to hone your craft, you’ll need to develop an eye for good grammar, punctuation and syntax, as well as a sense of how text flows. Reading good quality content will help you sharpen these skills to a razor’s edge.

    • Read newspapers for structure. Newspapers do an excellent job of structuring information from most important to least important. Read newspapers to get a sense of the lede, or main idea of the story, which usually occurs at the beginning of each article.

    • Read fiction for creativity and empathy. Works of fiction tend examine the role of human relationships in shaping meaning and creating happiness (or taking it away). In addition to making you more socially attuned, it can even temporarily boost your empathy.[1] These skills are important for the worldly editor.

    • Read nonfiction for historical context and informational insight. Nonfiction explores the stories of real events and people, which are often stranger than fiction. A good editor will use nonfiction to place stories in historical context and derive useful information from them.



  2. Write every day. You may think that as an editor, you won’t be doing much writing. Disabuse yourself of that idea. Although they aren’t always acknowledged as writers in their own right, editors spend time as much time toying with phrases and molding language to fit their will. Write something every day, whether it’s the casual reminiscing of diaries or the formal analysis of an essay, and stick with it. Don’t make excuses for why you can’t write. Make excuses for why you write as much as you do.


  3. Study vocabulary (even if you know you won’t use it). Vocabulary is an essential part learning how to be well-read and sharp-penned. Editors who constantly play with new words and discover new meanings in words see the world in a more nuanced way. Being a more nuanced thinker is what will set you apart as an editor.


    • Carry a dictionary around with you wherever you go. Maybe your “dictionary” is an app on your phone. Maybe it’s a pocket Merriam-Webster. Whatever it is, use it. Whenever you come across a word you don’t know, look it up and write it down on a list. Browse the list periodically to learn — not just memorize — the meaning of the word.

    • Practice the art of the mot juste. Mot juste is a fancy French phrase, coined by Flaubert, that roughly translates to “the perfect word for the occasion.” Knowing lots of vocabulary, and seeing it in action, will help you choose the mot juste. The best editors and writers seem to pull le mot juste out of their black hats with a beguiling ease.



  4. Feed your natural curiosity. Writers, readers, and editors alike (as an editor, you are all three by default) seem to share an innate curiosity about the world. This curiosity propels them to learn about the world, package up that data in interesting, timely pieces, and present it to others in the hope that their curiosity might be piqued as well.


    • If you get an opportunity to, explore the world. Traveling is an excellent way to learn about different places and different cultures. Put yourself out there and meet people. Have interesting conversations by asking pointed questions. Put yourself in uncomfortable situations. Above all, be a fresh air fiend. Oh yeah — write about everything.



  5. Hone your thinking. In order to be an editor, you need three main mental attributes: creativity, or the ability to think of different permutations on the fly; persistence, or the ability to spend long hours staring at the same sentence; and analytical judgment, or the ability to make quick decisions about something’s significance, place in context, or truthfulness.

    • Surround yourself by people who are smarter than you. If you’re constantly the big fish in the little pond, you’re eventually going to run out of mental stimulation. You’ll get bored. You’ll get the big-head. Surrounding yourself with people who are smarter than you will force you to re-evaluate and think through ideas from the ground up. You might even absorb some smarts by osmosis.

    • Make mistakes. Mistakes are your friend, not your enemy, as long as you learn from them. Don’t be afraid to try out a sentence that ultimately doesn’t work. Take that logical leap that you know is a little too stretched for comfort. Then re-evaluate, and think about where you went wrong. Vow to never make the same mistake twice. This is quite literally how you get better at what you do.




Edit Part Two: Getting Qualified and Looking for a Job



  1. Decide what kind of editor you want to become. Identifying which industry you want to work in and the kind of editing you want to do will help you determine the kind of training you’ll need. There’s a ton of leeway when it comes to deciding what kind of editor you may want to become. Figuring out which kind you’re really drawn to is the fun part!

    • You should enjoy the field in which you wish to edit, such as loving literature to be a book editor or sports to edit a sports magazine. You should also develop your knowledge in that field.

    • Knowing the types of editing can also help you determine what kind of training you need. To become a content editor, you’ll need to improve your writing skills in order to revise the content submitted by others. To become a copyeditor, you’ll need to improve your grammar skills to proofread for grammar and punctuation errors.

    • Some specialty areas, such as legal, technical or medical publishing, may require learning a specialized style guide. Other areas require learning supplemental skills; to work as a design editor, you need to develop layout and graphic design skills.



  2. Consider whether you’d like to go to school in order to eventually become an editor. Many, many people go to college and end up getting a degree in English, but not too many people go to school specifically to become an editor. Although you should absolutely pursue your dream of becoming an editor if you have one, know that many people who graduate with degrees in English regret not having chosen a degree with a more solid economic pathway to freedom.[2]

    • Formal college training is decidedly helpful but not always necessary in becoming an editor. A degree in English, journalism, or communications is helpful in getting an in-house editorial position, and there are degree and certificate programs in writing and editing. However, if you write and edit well, you may be trained on the job.

    • To become a freelance editor, it’s more important to demonstrate the ability to edit than to have a degree, although it may be necessary to get a degree if you seek in-house experience before freelancing.



  3. Gain initial experience through volunteering or internships. If you’re still in college, look for internships that provide you with hands-on experience. If you’re out of college, volunteer your services to charitable and other non-profit organizations or to friends or colleagues, or trade your services with someone whose products or services you need.


    • Some employers use interns as gofers instead of giving them actual editing-related work to do. If in doubt, check with others who have interned there before accepting an internship.



  4. Consider starting off as a ghostwriter or fact-checker. With editing, as with many of other professions, there’s usually a chain of command that you need to slowly work your way up in order to be given the reins. Although it’s not necessary to start off as a fact-checker or ghostwriter, it’s definitely easier to get your foot in the door; once you have your foot in the door and impress people with your timely writing, sharp intellect, and willingness to work, it’s much easier to move up from the inside than it is from the outside looking in.

    • Ghostwriters often learn to work with individual writers and establish long-term relationships with them. The downside is that you won’t necessarily get the credit that you deserve (which is bigger than you might think), but the upside is that you’ll establish a relationship with a writer who knows a lot of other writers and editors. Nurture these connections if possible.

    • Fact-checker jobs are often entry-level, right beside internships. Although normally tedious and having little to do with actual writing, many find the job to be a great way of building journalism chops and networking while angling for a better position. At some publications, such as the New Yorker, fact-checker positions can be prestigious, while at Der Spiegel, they can be numerous.



  5. Market yourself to as broad a range of prospective employers as your specialization allows. Be versatile. Think of yourself as a trusty Swiss-army knife, capable of doing many things at once in many different situations. The more skills and abilities you have under your belt as an editor, the better your employment opportunities will be.

    • For example, you can market your editing skills to aspiring authors as well as to book publishers and book packagers or market your design editing skills to advertising agencies as well as graphic design firms.




Edit Part Three: Making Waves as an Editor



  1. Network with other writers and editors. Other editors can tell you the process they took to get where they’re at and refer work to you when they have too much work or are given a project they can’t handle. Since the work of editors is often overlooked and underutilized, networking is also a great way to stay connected to top jobs and openings.


    • One way to network is by joining a professional editors’ organization. Many have directories of editors already established in the field you may wish to become an editor in.

    • Another way to network is to attend writers’ conferences and conventions associated with the areas you wish to find work in.

    • You can also network through professional social networking Web sites, such as LinkedIn, where you can join groups devoted to writing and editing.

    • Keep in touch with other writers and editors. Send them sincere congratulations when you see something they’re written or edited that you like. Never burn bridges if you happen to leave a job.



  2. Take the jobs or assignments that no one else will take. This advice is applicable to a broad range of jobs, but it especially applies here. If you gain the reputation of being someone who’s willing to tackle tough, unpleasant, or otherwise undesirable assignments, you’ll begin to make yourself indispensable. You’ll probably have no shortage of assignments if you’re in the right kind of job, and you’ll be viewed with the same adoration that a woodworker reserves for his favorite chisel.

  3. Pay attention to getting details exactly right. Unlike sales positions, where the white lie is actually encouraged, or some managerial roles, where the big picture is more important than the details, editors have to get the small things right. Whether it’s being consistent with punctuation in your copy, making sure typos don’t go unnoticed, or simply getting the facts straight, the small things matter more to editors than they do to other professionals, arguably. Editors stake their reputation on the small stuff. They’re definitely worth sweating.


  4. Start to define an issue that you care about. After all the generalization and odd jobs that will probably define your early going as an editor, you’ll begin to learn about the types of books, issues, or categories of work that you enjoy the most. After going broad and superficial early in your career, it helps to be known as the guy or gal when it comes to your specialization.

    • Editors can’t get the Pulitzer prize, but if they could, it would probably go to those who chose to specialize in a particular field. What’s yours? Do you care about human trafficking? Political unrest? Educational innovation in America? Define your own interests so that others have an easier time defining you.



  5. Share your love of the written word. Never stop caring about the best way to present, share, and communicate language so that it encourages other people to do the same. As an editor, your solemn task is to make language easier to understand while communicating as much information as possible.

    • Find someone who you can mentor. They’ll appreciate the guidance and work you give them. On a practical level, they’ll sing your praises to other people, helping bolster your reputation.

    • Appear in the media as a pundit. Be the trusted guy or gal that a news site goes to when they need an interview or a talking head. You’ll have to forge a lot of deep connections to make this happen, but it’s not impossible.

    • Continue to learn new things every day, and delight in them. You finally learned the correct way of conjugating an abstruse word you’ve been getting wrong all the time. Share your learnings with others. Instead of being known as the person who’s too afraid to admit that they made a mistake, be the perfect who lives to discover new things. That’s what’s at the heart of being an editor.




Edit Related wikiHows



Edit Sources and Citations



Cite error: tags exist, but no tag was found





Article Tools




Source: How To








Total Post Views : 0


The post How to Become an Editor appeared first on Satbi.