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:::Hands on GAOMON M106K graphic tablet – very nice Wacom alternative:::
(YouTube Video)
***CURRENT OFFER: 15% ON Amazon DE, FR, UK using the auto voucher (valid until Aug 31)***
Do you want a nice alternative to Wacom Intuos tablets?
Then check GAOMON M106K graphic tablet!
Do you want a nice alternative to Wacom Intuos tablets, then check GAOMON M106K graphic tablet, a low-priced tablet but powerful yet, which I highly recommend. I had the chance to be provided one to test and it really impressed me with its smooth lines and comfortable drawing feeling on its surface.
Suitable for: illustration, painting, design, video editing, photo editing, animation, CAD design, 3D sculpting, compatible with any software.
I tested this tablet with Adobe Photoshop, After Effects, Adobe Illustrator, Autocad, Sketchbook, Krita, Animate (ex Flash), InDesign and it worked fine.
GAOMON M106K has a 10×6 inch active area, includes a reachargeable pen stylus (usb cable included) and it provides 28 (!) programmable buttons to assign whatever shortcuts you like.
Its stylus supports 2048 pressure levels and it has two programmeable buttons on it.
To install, just plug-in the provided USB cable and download their driver from here:
http://www.gaomon.net/download
Their driver window provides with many setting like velocity, pressure styles, mapping, programming the shortcuts buttons etc.
You can also find extra replacement nibs inside the original package.
I own many Wacom products and I can say GAOMON tablet looks very solid, efficient and comfortable to use with very smooth lines.
You can buy this tablet at a low price here:
AMAZON:
http://amzn.to/2o7VNuq
GAOMON WEBSITE:
http://www.gaomon.net/Pen_Tablet/GT/M106K.html
You can follow GAOMON here:
Facebook: http://bit.ly/2chanPw
Youtube: http://bit.ly/2cnAnoX
Twitter: http://bit.ly/2c5LqkK
———————————
As you can see in the video, I tested GAOMON M106K graphic tablet with many drawing software like:
Photoshop, Illustrator, Sketchbook, Krita and everything worked fine!
You can check my official portfolio:
http://www.sounasdesign.com/
+++Instagram: sounas_ilias
+++ Tumblr: http://sounasdesign.tumblr.com/
+++ Facebook Fan Page: https://www.facebook.com/SounasDesign
+++ Dribbble Page: http://dribbble.com/sounas
+++ Twitter: https://twitter.com/sounas
:::The new look of Paper app by 53:::
Paper app by 53
Version 4, back to the roots!
Well what a sweet surprise. Today my Paper app just updated and voila! Version 4 is here! It’s a new solid update with a new look but with sweet old features, which used to made everyone to fall in love with Paper app many years ago.
Let’s admit openly. All these years, Paper had turned from a quick realistic sketchbook to a weird, clumsy, dull, annoying ipad app. The magnificent sketchbook browsing feeling had disappeared and most options were hard to find. Everything was so wrong, that I didn’t bother doodling there anymore, though I always kept it “alive” on my ipad. When Paper first launched it was the most impressive drawing app, an ipad artist could use back in 2012 for doodles and quick drawings. Meanwhile, great apps evolved like Procreate (of course it’s the best software for full art on ipad) and Tayasui Sketches (still my favourite drawing app for sketching/quick art), leaving Paper in a stagnant state.
(Read more…)
:::Media Temple host plans:::
All these years I run sounasdesign.com I am using Media Temple hosting service and I am very satisfied. If you are searching for a nice host company for your domain, then it worths to check Media Temple features:
http://bit.ly/2gfyRYp
:::Ink Doodles, time-lapse video:::
:::Sounas artwork featured on Astute Graphics blog:::
Big news!
Astute Graphics blog is featuring my work today for using their handy plug-ins in Illustrator.
You can read some info here:
bit.ly/sounasTexturino
That’s so great!
:::Society6 Store: Free Worldwide Shipping on Everything + 20% Off:::
If you ever wanted to get a cute tote bag or a nice soft pillow for your living room with my illustrations, then go now to my Society6 store and buy everything you like with free worldwide shipping + 20% off:
Click this link to reclaim your discount:
https://society6.com/sounas?promo=JWTWCG7QZFFK
Promotion expires April 9, 2017 at Midnight Pacific Time. *
:::Breakfast vector graphics available to buy:::
A set of vector graphics for breakfast compositions/projects in a single .ai adobe illustrator file.
Two illustrations are included, as seen in the images above to help you for your projects.
You can easily use any element in Photoshop as well. Open Illustrator and copy/paste as smart object in Photoshop without resolution concerns.
You can buy full set here for 9$:
https://sellfy.com/p/rCoW
:::Brexit illustration featured on Envato blog:::
My last year Brexit illustration is being featured today on Envato blog post named “Politics Through the Eyes of 12 Artists”.
The post features various artists from around the world, who had created recently political illustrations.
https://design.tutsplus.com/articles/art-and-politics–cms-28315
You can also read a short description for my Brexit illustration”Free from chains”:
“This is a political illustration I created for the Brexit event, which I highly applaud and support. The illustration is based on a famous Prometheus legend, the titan who was captured by Zeus and the eagle who ate his liver.
In my version, the eagle represents the high German state (politicians), which destroys European nations due to its aggressive financial behavior. Through Brexit, Great Britain (depicted as Athena), snaps her slavery chains to claim her freedom against her suppressor, the EU/German bureaucracy.”
:::Stay Productive illustrations:::
:::Safety Last tribute sketch:::
This is a tribute sketch I made using Tayasui Sketches on ipad.
It shows the iconic scene of Harold Lloyd hanging from a building.
I love these old silent films and I am thinking of creating a series of illustrations about them
.
:::USA states with business field illustrations:::
Some latest screenshots from a work in progress, USA states with business fields.
Nice vector illustrations with textures and a vivid colour palette.
:::Sounas featured on EnvatoTuts+:::
I have been recently featured on EnvatoTuts+ in the international artist series posts along with some nice fellow Greek designers.
You can read more here:
https://design.tutsplus.com/articles/international-artist-feature-greece–cms-28312
:::Polar Bears illustrations:::
You can enjoy some nice plar bear illustrations I created for a recent infographic.
Check here:
http://www.sounasdesign.com/portfolio/facts-about-polar-bears-infographic/
:::Time Travel Posters featured on Independent:::
Featured on Independent today, a series of TimeTravel posters I designed in collaboration with NeoMam (gif animation added by NeoMam – project for Expedia)
https://www.indy100.com/article/time-travel-posters-expedia-wonder-ice-age-vintage-7531241
:::Cinema Couple print:::
A new print is available on Society6.com to decorate your walls.
You can check all available items including clocks, prints, mugs, case and many more:
https://society6.com/product/cinema-couple_print#s6-6273908p4a1v45
:::Candies on Procreate::::
Lately, I am testing Procreate brushes more and more here’s a quick sketch I made.
:::Euro 2016 Great Final Match: Portugal vs France:::
An illustration I created for the final match of UEFA Euro 2016 Football Cup, Porugal vs France. Let’s enjoy the game!
You can see full infographic here:
http://bit.ly/euro2016sounas

:::Euro 2016 infographic:::
Euro 2016 for football lovers has begun. You can see my latest infographic with all teams here:
https://www.behance.net/gallery/38329601/France-Euro-2016-infographic
Euro 2016 is here and I decided to make a very short infographic about the group matches. Based on my all-time favourite football game Subbuteo, I designed the teams as Subbuteo players for a nice twist. I can still remember these sweet 80s memories of playing Subbuteo, one of the best tabletop football game.
For more info, please check here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subbuteo
Below, you can find more info on the Groups Matches and Scores, which will updated after each match day. Moreover you can find the Round 16 phase, where you can estimate the next rounds matches until the glorious Final.
Predictions: As I love making predictions, though I never take money bets, here are my thoughts for this football event. It is obvious, France will be “supported” more than normal, especially after the political problems, so the french people can stop protesting on the streets. So it very possible France will reach the final.
Other than that, I see Italy and Switzerland to have possibilities to proceed too far; in fact, Italy having a lot of possibilities to reach and win the Grand Final in my opinion. While most people see Germany as the best team right now, I will take the risk to predict they will not reach the finals. In general, there are many other nice teams with potential like Poland & Belgium.
Enjoy!
:::Summer Vacation balcony:::
:::Safari Animals:::


Some vector berries made in Adobe Illustrator.
:::Pets illustration:::
:::Slow Time infographic graphics:::
:::Star Wars : BB8 robot:::
Check more Star Wars graphics here:
:::Star Wars graphics:::
:::Old Key West houses:::
Detail from an infographic for Disney.
:::Subway scene/commuter stress:::
Here’s a vector illustration from an upcoming infographic about Commuter Stress.
:::Texturino character:::
Astute Graphics just released the powerful Texturino plug-in for Adobe Illustrator.
It is very useful, especially if you like to have a textured style within Illustrator,
without copying/pasting objects to Photoshop.
You have to check it here:http://astutegraphics.com/software/texturino/
So nice!!!
:::Last-minute guests:::
Vector illustration in Adobe Illustrator
:::Bathroom:::
Vector illustration in Adobe Illustrator
:::Testing Autodesk Sketchbook:::
I have recently bought Sketchbook and I gave a try to see what I can do.
Then I mported my original illustration to Photoshop for extra touching.
See final piece here: http://www.sounasdesign.com/portfolio/sexy-summer-girls-ii/
:::Doodles over photo:::
@ashton_amo Beautiful cake! Tell your mom Happy Birthday from us! #DisneySide https://t.co/yZIOCeSUVg
— Walt Disney World (@WaltDisneyWorld) March 8, 2015



:::Storyboard concept sketches:::
Here is a series of concept sketches I made for a friend of mine for her class presentation in Marketing Studies. I helped her to get a better feeling of her tv commercial concept in simple images. Her team got the best grades and I am really glad I helped :)
:::Micro-Knit ipad stylus by The Friendly Swede:::
During summer I was lucky enough to test some great styli for ipad by the Friendly Swede, a swedish company.
They have a great range of size and tips but there is one which I really loved and I highly recommend for every serious ipad artist. It’s their Micro-Knit stylus, which feels so great that every stroke is so smotth, there’s no friction and makes drawing/painting on ipad a great pleasure. Above you can watch a YouTube video and see the stylus in action. Otherwise check the video here!
Micro-Knit styli come in two sizes: Normal and XXL (extremely long but they are perfect balanced in the hand like a traditional brush). The best part is their price. The Friendly Swede styli are very cheap, yet they have great quality and never look cheap. In addition, every pack includes 3 styli and that’s great!
I use a lot of ipad styli for all my ipad artwork you see,
but Micro-Knit is my favourite one. I rarely use my Wacom now because of it.
They also have regular thin tipped styli, which I also like using them for ipad navigation.
So, have a look at their range:
Micro Tips: http://amzn.to/1d4qLx7
Thin Tips: http://amzn.to/1isvPes
UK Amazon Store: http://amzn.to/1ahCp41
Website: http://www.thefriendlyswede.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheFriendlySwede
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/TheFriendlySwedes
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Friendly_Swede/
:::Blondie girl – photoshop sketch :::
I have recently bought the Kyle’s Dry Media for Photoshop, it provides great brushes and I immediately made a sketch to check.
I highly recommend Kyle’s Brushes from Creative Market, they are fantastic and will give Photoshop a new meaning in the illustration industry.
To be honest, I always wonder why Photoshop doesn’t provide an ultimate collection of natural media brushes like Painter.
Anyway!
You can buy Kyle’s Brushes here:
https://creativemarket.com/kyletwebster/50858-Kyles-Dry-Media-for-Photoshop
:::World Cup 2014 – Germany final winner:::
World Cup 2014 is over. The Grand Final was between Germany & Argentina in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and Germany is the new World Champions by winning 1-0. They had the best team for sure and they scored 18 goals in overall.
You can see the finished infographic of World Cup 2014 here:
http://www.sounasdesign.com/portfolio/world-cup-2014-infographic/
:::Plagiarism of Sounas Artwork:::
Recently, a fan of my artwork sent me a post of a new game named “Monsters Ate My Birthday Cake” and I was shocked! Most of the graphics used on the Game Map are pure copies of my Happy World named Teratakia, which I designed for the awarded game “MonsterUp Adventures” of the swiss company, Karios Games. Normally, I would have no problem for the designer to be inspired by my artwork but this is really insane, as he has copied the graphics exactly. Even the world is the same: islands on the sea. The mountains, the hills, small details, the sea waves, even the Skull at the right side of the island. This is not inspiration, this is my whole world copied by a lazy, unoriginal designer.
Please note, I designed this game in 2012 and “Monsters ate my birthday cake” is released in 2014.
You can see details here:
Dribbble (2012):
https://dribbble.com/sounas/projects/49223-MonsterUp-2
Behance (2012):
https://www.behance.net/gallery/4457267/MonsterUp-Adventures-Game-Graphics
Portfolio:
http://www.sounasdesign.com/portfolio/monsterup-adventures/
You can download the MonsterUp game here:
http://www.kariosgames.com/monsterup-adventures/
I’m really flattered new designers and illustrators get inspiration from my artwork but it’s unacceptable to raise money from Kickstarter and sell my ideas as theirs to Cartoon Network!
This is outrageous.
Update:
Inspiration is a different thing than plagiarism. Look at this developer, who have the courage to mention he was inspired by my video Space Alone to create its great game ” Incoboto Mini”:
http://www.fluttermind.com/news/incoboto-post-mortem-or-how-to-make-your-development-difficult-by-being-stupid
He didn’t rip-off my world. “Monsters Ate my Birtday Cake” has ripped-off my Game map and that’s unacceptable. Their lazy, young designer seems to have no design ethos.
So, I demand the Game Map to be removed and a new one with different assets to be designed.
Please, have a look at the detailed graphics below and judge yourself (click on the image to zoom in):
Designing a World Cup themed illustration in Illustrator (texturing in Photoshop) – video #15
Here’s a speed video of how I made a World Cup themed illustration in Adobe Illustrator and then I added some extra touches using textured brushes in Photoshop. Enjoy!
Photoshop Animation test
Testing the Animation Timeline panel in Photoshop. There are some nice features for making frame-by-frame animation. Initially, I recorded a stop-motion video of a spinning Apple using ipad and iMotion HD app. Next I imported the video into Photoshop, and then I created a new Blank Video Layer. This is where I drew a doodle of a character bouncing frame-by-frame using the Timeline panel. Photoshop has Onion Skinning, basic Navigation Frames tools and some other features to make a basic animation. The Blank Video Layer allows to draw a frame each time like a usual animation software.
Hopscotch characters at school
Jocelyn Leavitt from Hopscotch app has just sent me some nice images of children drawing my printed characters at school. This is a great feeling to see my characters inspire kids not only use the Hopscotch fantastic app but also use their skills on drawing!
You can check my characters here .
For official Hopscotch app, visit their website here: https://www.gethopscotch.com/
Monster Doodle in Adobe Illustrator (Cintiq) – video #14
Here’s a speed video of how I made a design in Adobe Illustrator using the Blob Brush tool on a Wacom Cintiq. Enjoy!
Note, I designed a sketch first on ipad to use as a guideline, but during the illustration process I have a lot of creative freedom to change things as I like :)
Final artwork: http://www.sounasdesign.com/portfolio/monster-doodle

Featured on Robotenvy!
I was recently featured on RobotEnvy site as a Robot Artist of the week. Nice!
http://robotenvy.wordpress.com/2013/11/25/robot-artist-of-the-week-ilias-sounas/