Profit with Easy and Creative Home Improvement Window Project

Owning your own home is an investment these days, not only in buying it, but in the value of it as well. Property values have just gone ballistic over the past few years. Prices have doubled and tripled. A home improvement window project could not only improve the looks of a room, but could also add value to the home as well. Many people might view a home improvement project as a big job, such as a remodel, but actually it can be something as simple as new window treatments. This article will give you some ideas for an easy home improvement window project that could add profit to your home’s value, as well as being simple to do.If you have a room that you want to make some changes in, and maybe aren’t quite sure what to do, you might consider a home improvement window project. If you want to change the looks of the room, but don’t really want to spend a lot of money, then this idea is for you. You can do something as simple as re-staining the window trim or painting it. There are many options today in the stain and paint department. Just redecorating the window trim can make your home improvement window project simple and change the appearance enough to give it a new look.You may want to put up new curtains for your home improvement window project. This can be very easy depending on what you decide to do. If you are going for a new drapery effect, there are many different rods to choose from now with different trims. This home improvement window project might require a trip to a variety department store or a specialty shop that mainly sells window treatments. There are many different drapery types as well as fabrics to choose from, so this could be a lot of fun. Don’t make your home improvement window project hard. You could make it a family affair, and let everyone have some sort of say. This way, you will not only have quality family time, but they will appreciate the final results even more.You can simply add window blinds for your home improvement window project. There are many colors to choose from and this can make a big difference in the room. If the room is a dark room already, you may want blinds that filter in the light, or if the room is naturally well lit, you may want room darkening shades so the sun isn’t blazing in. This could also keep the room cooler in the summer time. If you have a cedar or log home, then you may want bamboo shades for your home improvement window project, as it will give it a more wood look. No matter what you choose to do, keep your home improvement window project simple, especially if it’s your first home improvement project. This way, you will look forward to the next project that will add profit to your home.

What Is Vector Art?

Often, when our customers submit art for printing, we find that they have no idea what a Vector file is. Most individuals that are not professional graphic designers do not have a clue what Vector art is (and why should they) and most companies do not have graphic designers on staff. There are even some people working as graphic designers, who do not know what a vector file is. (OK, now that is sad.)Hopefully we can eliminate some of the confusion and answer the question… What is Vector Art. We will describe, as best we can, what vector art is, and how you can recognize it.Vector art is one of the two forms of art used by computers, the other form being bitmap art (raster). Bitmap art is identified with file names ending in .gif, .bmp, .jpeg, .jpg, .png, and .pcx. Vector art files are typically saved as .eps, .ai, or .cdr files. Vector art is mathematical algorithms created using software programs, such as Adobe Illustrator, Freehand, Corel Draw, Quark and a few others. These programs use mathematic equations and geometric primitives (points, lines, and shapes) to create art that is clean, camera ready, and can be scaled infinitely, without losing any quality or clarity. The same art may be used for a business card, to a poster, to a billboard.A bitmap file (raster), is a dot matrix data structure it uses pixels (small dots or squares of color) to create an overall image. Rather it is called Raster images or bitmap files they are the same thing.A bitmap is technically characterized by the width and height of the image in pixels and by the number of bits per pixel (a color depth, which determines the number of colors it can represent).The Raster art file has rough, pixilated edges. The art becomes distorted when the picture is enlarged. Every time you edit the file it loses some of it’s clarity.Raster Graphics, such as photographs, and graphics files created in Adobe Photoshop, Paint Shop Pro, and other Raster programs, can be used for some screen printing applications or digital printing. In most cases, especially with art such as logos and numerous colors printers need Vector art to achieve the quality print that you want and expect.Common Questions:
1. Can I convert a.BMP,.GIF or.JPG to vector?
Unfortunately no. A bitmap file is created differently and just like putting another cover on a book, you still have the same pages inside.2. I converted a Photoshop file to.EPS, why can’t I use this as vector art?
Vector art images use lines to create images, photographs can’t normally be turned into a vector image. A bitmap or raster file uses dots, they are not created in the same manner. In a vector file everything is a separate item. If you have an apple with a worm in it you can change the apple to green at anytime and the worm can become a tiger if you so choose without altering or affecting the other object. Vector art must have been created as a vector file. You cannot take a raster file created in Photoshop (for example) and save it with an.eps,.ai., or.cdr extension and have it magically become a vector file. Once a bitmap always a bitmap unless recreated or traced.How do you tell if a file is a vector art file?
You can usually identify vector art by process of elimination. If it has the wrong extension, it is definitely not vector. I encourage customers if they are not sure enlarge the image to 400 or 800% and if the edges are extremely rough and pixilated it is probably NOT a vector image. If you still can’t tell send it to your printer and they can let you know. A.pdf file may be vector or raster. It depends on how it was originally created.I’m going to get a little technical here, hopefully not too much! The difference between these types of art files lies in how an image is stored within the art files themselves. Bitmap files consist of a series of numbers and colors that represent coordinates within the image area’s grid. To store a bitmap image, the computer creates a gridwork of the image area. (Pixels are the tiny dots. Remember dot matrix printers.) That’s all there is to a bitmap file. A series of numbers representing pixels and their colors.Vector files are nothing like a bitmap file. A vector file contains the information for creating lines. It contains a starting point and an ending point for each line. With those coordinates, it also stores a vector equation for each coordinate. A vector equation indicates both direction and velocity. Using these coordinates and vectors, the computer can draw a line from point A to point B with any proper curve automatically created. Vector files sound really technical and complex in their creation.Vector images have a number of advantages over bitmap images, including:
If you try to enlarge a bitmap image, your computer can only enlarge the size of the squares making up the image area. You still have squares; that is why bitmap images get jagged as you enlarge them. Vector images remain smooth because your computer merely re-computes the coordinates of the points and adjusts the vector equation constants, never sacrificing quality.Each set of lines in a vector image represent separate and distinct objects. Every object can be re-edited at any time. For example, let’s say you created a vector art file with a circle in the background. You could open the vector file at any time and change the circle to a square, oval, apple, etc. Each object is a separate item within a vector file.Keep in mind that if a professional graphic designer created your art/logo for you, they should have saved your artwork as vector art file, even if they did not send that file to you. Some designers do not provide their clients with vector art, because most clients will not be able to open the file. If you had a professional logo designed for you, but all you have is a.JPEG, or a similar file, contact your artist, and ask them for the vector art file. Bear in mind, unless you have specific software to open the file you cannot open it; but you can send it on to the printer and they should be able to open it.Note of caution, in the last few years I’ve seen professional graphic designers create logos in Photoshop. A Photoshop file is bitmap (raster) and will not usually work if you need a logo for printing or promotional items. This IS NOT a vector file. So check carefully with your designer before you have them begin designing your logo or art for you.

New Online Florida Health Insurance Option Moves Closer

Last 2008, due to the rising cost of FL health insurance, lawmakers approved a Florida Health Choices program to give small businesses more options to help them cover employees with a health plan. This program is expected to create an online health insurance marketplace where people can instantly shop for different Florida health insurance plans. After three years of lengthy delays, it appears that the program will finally come to fruition thanks, in part, to a boost from Gov. Rick Scott.When Will This Online Florida Health Insurance Exchange Be Ready?Gov. Scott has already signed two bills, HB 1473 and HB 1125, which will help with the implementation of the program. According to Chief Executive Officer Rose Naff, the Florida Health Choices program might be ready this summer, but a specific start date still isn’t known.HB 1473 will provide public-records exemptions, which Naff says is important to protect consumers’ confidential information. HB 1125 is necessary to give large employers a chance to participate in the program by eliminating the restriction that Florida Health Choices can only be used by small businesses with 50 or fewer employees. Naff added that large employers will still need to get approval from the Florida Health Choices board of directors to participate because he says, “Our target is still going to be businesses at 50 and smaller.”Online Florida Health Insurance Market Generates Pro And Con OpinionsThere is still a lot of apprehension and skepticism about the new program. U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio says the basic idea of having this online market for FL health insurance is to make shopping for various types of Florida health coverage easier to navigate than the traditional system has been.Businesses that sign up for the program are expected to have a broader range of choice under the online marketplace than was previously available. Initially, coverage options will only be provided by established insurance companies. In the long run, the program is also expected to allow hospitals and clinics to sell specific types of services through the online marketplace.Laura Goodhue, the executive director of Florida CHAIN, is apprehensive about Florida Health Choices. Goodhue says, “We see it as a hodgepodge of inadequate, not-even health coverage.” She added that implementing Florida Health Choices when the state health insurance exchange is coming in 2014 doesn’t make much sense. The state-based insurance exchange of 2014 will have stricter coverage requirements based on the federal mandate than Florida Health Choices has, so employees may be better served by the 2014 exchange.What Can Consumers Do To Find Affordable FL Health Insurance Plans Now?Neither of these options are yet available, but Florida has many residents in desperate need of Florida health insurance. One of the things that may hinder many people from getting much-needed coverage is simply not knowing how to find the most affordable coverage options. With hundreds of choices from different insurance companies, it’s hard to compare plans until you understand that there are different categories of plans.The different categories include co-pay plans that have a $25 or $35 out-of-pocket cost to see a doctor or fill a prescription and deductible plans that only pay claims for recommended preventive care until you have spent a pre-determined amount on health care each year. Other options include Health Savings Account Plans and Medigap Insurance.Each form of FL health insurance has certain advantages and disadvantages, but if low premiums are your priority, explore the high-deductible plans that allow you to open a Health Savings Account (HSA). When you choose certain high-deductible plans, you can open a tax-free savings or investment account and to boost your savings in case you need to pay for health care before the plan’s deductible is met.Another way to keep your premiums low is just by taking good care of your health. Not only does that typically mean low premiums, but you also won’t be plagued by coverage exclusions for a pre-existing condition, much less have to appeal when your application is declined.