Confessions of a CAD addict.
Ronald Arney
It all started when I needed a crutch to aid in designing patterns
and forms for use in making stained glass lamps and panels. (As I
said, In my shop, I wear many hats.)
Working on a design for a stained glass panel, I saw it also as a
design for a saw pierced pendant, altering only the scale at which it
was printed out, it became both. And that's how it began.
Looking at a photograph of a particular flower I needed for a stained
glass panel, instead of reaching for tracing or graph paper, I went
out and got a little 32GS hand scanner. I scanned the photo, saved it
as a TIFF file; brought it up in a paint program, fiddled with it a
bit, saved it as a 2 color PCX file; imported it into my CAD program,
did a trace over on another level, erased the import, saved the trace
over to the CAD program's native format; fiddled with it seven ways
from sundown, saved each effort I was happy with to the CAD programs
Library file.
One of those efforts became not only a pattern for a stained glass
panel of a single flower, but also became, by doing little more than
changing the scale, the pattern for:
(With the addition of a few leaves,) A series of little flowers
arranged around a 30x40 Jade cab. (The leaf design was also saved to
the library.)
A pair (after pair, after pair) of earrings.
And on and on I go.
The days when I would toss my sketch pad into my backpack on top a
bottle and loaf and wedge of whatever, and actually go out of the
shop, to commune with mother nature are (pardon the pun) 'virtually'
gone.
The days when I labored with drawing instruments to match the detail
of a design of a larger/smaller size ring to that of a larger/smaller
ring to <g> please a pair of people... Gone.
The days of manually scaling earring designs up/down to please
men/women with longer/shorter necks... Gone.
Some would say this ought to please me. But I left out something. In
my shop, there were once people to share the load. And to him who
said he believes 'anyone who can be replaced by a machine should be
replaced by a machine,' I say: Were it in keeping with the Spirit of
the Season, <g> I could wish your lover a 'vibrator' for Christmas.
Ron
NE333RO
>said he believes 'anyone who can be replaced by a machine should be
>replaced by a machine,' I say: Were it in keeping with the Spirit of
>the Season, <g> I could wish your lover a 'vibrator' for Christmas.
>
>Ron
>
I wrote that. I firmly believe that if my skills are so lacking or I am so
unwilling to further my education, that I can be replaced by a vibrator, I
deserve to be replaced with a vibrator. Hopefully, I can do some things that
can't be duplicated by either a vibrator OR a computer.
Ronald Arney
I hear you. Point of honor well taken, and to the degree that it is
possible I agree with you. I was raised to believe and conduct myself
the same. But let us stipulate that at any given time, we are talking
about any job in any field. Further, that your skills are not lacking
or being called into question, and no further amount of training or
education will avail. In fact, all of you skills, and all of your
training and education are rendered moot (?) and meaningless. The job
in question, for a one time outlay of x#$ no longer requires the
services of a mortal to perform. You may go where you wish and do as
you please, but you will NOT be what you were, Professionally. Your
job has been taken over by a high school drop out with a GED and a
Continuing Ed certificate in Program XXX at minimum wage.
Ron
ne3...@aol.com (NE333RO) wrote:
I wrote that. I firmly believe that if my skills are so lacking or I
am so
> unwilling to further my education, that I can be replaced by a vibrator, I
> deserve to be replaced with a vibrator. Hopefully, I can do some things that
> can't be duplicated by either a vibrator OR a computer.
That point at which comes in at that point where I have to
stipulate: What I am talking about has nothing to do with you or your
qualifications. You are free to go and do as you pleaseIt has to do
with the job any other 'one' individual
crystal visions
Ronald Arney wrote:
> It all started when I needed a crutch to aid in designing patterns
> and forms for use in making stained glass lamps and panels. (As I
> said, In my shop, I wear many hats.)
//snip//
> Some would say this ought to please me. But I left out something. In
> my shop, there were once people to share the load. And to him who
> said he believes 'anyone who can be replaced by a machine should be
> replaced by a machine,' I say: Were it in keeping with the Spirit of
> the Season, <g> I could wish your lover a 'vibrator' for Christmas.
>
> Ron
You paint a very disenchanting picture. It has been my (long)
experience with the technology explosion that good people who are
replaced by technical marvels, in this case CAD, should be put to other
worthwhile...read economically viable...tasks, rather than terminated.
Technology is easy to get. Good workers are hard to find.
Just my two cents.
Mike
Ronald Arney
>
> You paint a very disenchanting picture. It has been my (long)
> experience with the technology explosion that good people who are
> replaced by technical marvels, in this case CAD, should be put to other
> worthwhile...read economically viable...tasks, rather than terminated.
> Technology is easy to get. Good workers are hard to find.
> Just my two cents.
>
> Mike
My art instructor taught me, 'Draw what you can see, not what you
think or know should be there." I am sure your long experience has
taught you true. But so long as you can only say "should be put"
rather than "must be found," it needs to be re-examined. Good workers
are not hard find. Put up a want-add reading, 'Good Job Available,'
and you can take your pick.
Ron