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pottery uses for computers

updated mon 30 sep 96

 

Nan Rothwell on mon 26 aug 96

I'm not completely new to the computer, and hardly new to potting (20+years)
but I've never done both at once before. I quit potting about six years ago
and spent my intervening time in academe. Now I'm back to clay, and
wondering how best to use my new computer knowledge. CLAYART is obviously
the best thing going as far as mixing the two. I've only been on the list
for a few weeks and already have learned a lot!

What other clay/computer matches can you recommend. Specifically, I'm
looking for a good way to use a computer for storing glaze recipes and other
technical data about potting. I don't think I've got the mind or temperament
for doing glaze chemistry calculations -- not even by computer. But if
anyone knows of a useful format for recording tests, recipes, etc. (Or any
other computer use you find essential to potting) I'd appreciate hearing
about it.

Thanks,
Nan Rothwell

Nan Dufresne on tue 27 aug 96

>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>....... Specifically, I'm
>looking for a good way to use a computer for storing glaze recipes and other
>technical data about potting. I don't think I've got the mind or temperament
>for doing glaze chemistry calculations -- not even by computer. But if
>anyone knows of a useful format for recording tests, recipes, etc. (Or any
>other computer use you find essential to potting) I'd appreciate hearing
>about it.
>
>Thanks,
>Nan Rothwell
>
>Dear Nan, I've simply created folders for the main subject headings, ie
glazes, techniques, shows, and use mailboxes for the subdivisions.
EXample Glazes [^6, ^04,etc]. From time to time I print them out and put
them in a loose-leaf notebook under their specific headings.
Nan Dufresne, Porterfield, WI

Rick Malmgren on wed 28 aug 96

Nan,

While I am one of the strong advocates for using the computer in lots of
ways, I think loads of time gets wasted trying to do things with a computer
that are best done with a paper and pencil. That said, the areas that I find
it most useful in my life are:

* Money - Quicken and Quickbooks are the best programs for keeping track of
money for the business side of things.

* Notes - Any word processor is the best way for me to keep track of glaze
tests and ideas in the studio. The advantage is that I can instantly search
for any key word and come up with the "super orange" glaze that I tested year
before last, or the shrinkage tests the I did on a white stoneware body last
fall. The advantage of using the simple word processor over a database
program is that I can type anything into it. It doesn't need to be
structured in any particular way and I don't have to spend time learning a
new program. Searching for a key word takes me through my long journal of
notes quickly without having to page through a hand written notebook. This
assumes that you are able to type at least as fast has you can write by hand.
If you can't you are better off to just keep your journal by hand and flip
through the pages.

* Glaze recipe programs - Insight, HyperGlaze and several new programs that
will be coming out soon offer very fast ways of recording glazes. Even if
you have no interest in glaze calculation they are quick ways of entering
recipes, calculating different batch sizes and for finding recipes. Again,
for this you would need to have more than a couple dozen recipes to keep
track of. Less that number, you are better off working with paper and pencil
in a note book.

* Web information - The WWW is quickly becoming a great way to find all sorts
of information, particularly for people who, like you, live in rural areas
and don't have access to huge libraries. There are lots of web sites that
have been reported on ClayArt, but one of the best is CeramicsWeb
(http://apple.sdsu.edu/ceramicsweb/ceramicsweb.html). CeramicsWeb will take
you to almost everything that you would want to know about clay on the Web.

* Drawing and designing tools - I have worked with a number of programs such
as Adobe Illustrator, Canvas and Aldus Freehand. They can be fun to toy with
curves, proportion and placement. Again though, if you can handle a pencil
at all, I think you'll find that sketching is much faster, and gives me more
of the "feel" for the three dimentional form that you will be making.

Good luck,

Rick Malmgren
RMalmgren@aol.com
8308 Jacobs Road
Severn, Maryland 21144 USA

Eric Lindgren on thu 29 aug 96

>Specifically, I'm
>looking for a good way to use a computer for storing glaze recipes and other
>technical data about potting. I don't think I've got the mind or temperament
>for doing glaze chemistry calculations -- not even by computer. But if
>anyone knows of a useful format for recording tests, recipes, etc. (Or any
>other computer use you find essential to potting)

Nan,
With my Mac, I use a spreadsheet (Excel) for writing up my glaze notes -
especially for glaze testing. The spreadsheet easily makes quantity
conversions and does searches. I name the sheets using the current date in
the title. Also the glaze test tiles are numbered using the current year
(ie. 96-42). Because I backup my files periodically, I have a floppy copy
of my glaze notes (in addition to the paper ones littering my studio) which
I keep in the safety deposit box with the other important papers. I may not
be able to always find the paper version, but I'll have a copy on the
computer.

I use the computer for calculations: clay, glaze, materials purchasing, and
the business books. For lists: things to make, clay weights, wedding
registration items, and price lists. Other stuff, too: my resume,
correspondence, desktop publishing of camera-ready art for business
materials (cards, invoices, brochures, invitations), and mailing labels. I
keep a mailbox called Clayart into which I transfer email I'd like to refer
to later.

I've gone beyond 'essential to potting', but streamlining the business
details, means more time/energy for potting when you're doing it for a
living.

In the great 'north' woods of central Ontario - two highs settling in for
much more glorious summer,
Eric Lindgren
lindgren@muskoka.com


____________________

Eric Lindgren on fri 30 aug 96

>Specifically, I'm
>looking for a good way to use a computer for storing glaze recipes and other
>technical data about potting. I don't think I've got the mind or temperament
>for doing glaze chemistry calculations -- not even by computer. But if
>anyone knows of a useful format for recording tests, recipes, etc. (Or any
>other computer use you find essential to potting)

Nan,
With my Mac, I use a spreadsheet for writing up my glaze notes - especially
for glaze testing. The spreadsheet easily makes quantity conversions. I
name the sheets using the current date in the title. Also the glaze test
tiles are numbered using the current year (ie. 96-42). Because I backup my
files periodically, I have a floppy copy of my glaze notes (in addition to
the paper ones littering my studio) which I keep in the safety deposit box
with the other important papers. I may not be able to always find the paper
version, but I'll have a copy on the computer.

I use the computer for calculations: clay, glaze, materials purchasing, and
the business books. For lists: things to make, clay weights, wedding
registration items, and price lists. Other stuff, too: my resume,
correspondence, desktop publishing of camera-ready art for business
materials (cards, invoices, brochures, invitations), and mailing labels. I
keep a mailbox called Clayart into which I transfer email I'd like to refer
to later.

I've gone beyond 'essential to potting', but streamlining the business
details, means more time/energy for potting when you're doing it for a
living.

From the great 'north' woods of central Ontario - two highs settling in for
much more glorious summer,
Eric Lindgren
lindgren@muskoka.com


____________________

Bob Hanlin on mon 2 sep 96

>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>>Specifically, I'm
>>looking for a good way to use a computer for storing glaze recipes and other
>>technical data about potting. I don't think I've got the mind or temperament
>>for doing glaze chemistry calculations -- not even by computer. But if
>>anyone knows of a useful format for recording tests, recipes, etc. (Or any
>>other computer use you find essential to potting)
>
Check out FORESIGHT by IMC. It's shareware and can be downloaded from their
website http://digitalfire.com/imc.html or htt;://digitalfire.com
I've just recieved my copy and haven't had a great deal of time to evaluate it
but Tony Hansen (IMC) says it ideal for what you're talking about. My early
evaluations agree. Try it, it will only cost you a little time.
BobH in OKC

art_selsor@vino.emcmt.edu on mon 2 sep 96

I have had Insight and Hyperglaze. I prefer hyperglaze. Insight (originally
purchased years ago) was more for DOS and difficult to use on my Mac. I got
Hyperglaze last year and love it. It can leep inventory, list price per
batch of glaze, not to mention the original function of glae analysis.
Marcia Selsor
MSU-Billings
mjbmls@imt.met
http://www.imt.net/~mjbmls

Richard Burkett on tue 3 sep 96

>>Specifically, I'm
>>looking for a good way to use a computer for storing glaze recipes and other
>>technical data about potting. I don't think I've got the mind or temperament
>>for doing glaze chemistry calculations -- not even by computer. But if
>>anyone knows of a useful format for recording tests, recipes, etc. (Or any
>>other computer use you find essential to potting)or doing glaze chemistry calc
>>anyone knows of a useful format for recording tests, recipes, etc. (Or any
>>other computer use you find essential to potting)

You might also take a look at the GlazeBase template for FileMaker Pro (which
runs on both Macintosh and Windows). It's FREE and on the CeramicsWeb. It will
help you keep track of glazes and even calculates the batch size. You'll need
a copy of FileMaker, though.

Richard Burkett
richard.burkett@sdsu.edu

Jeremy/Bonnie Hellman on tue 3 sep 96

Hello all. I use a MAC and recently purchased Hyperglaze which I found easy
to use and understand. In fact, Hyperglaze is what helped me understand
about unity! I found I had to use the Hypercard Player supplied with the
program rather than the full Hypercard program supplied with my program
(which took up too much memory and was too slow), but once I figured this
out (with lots of help-Thanks Richard Burkett) the program worked
beautifully! (Usual commercial disclaimers--I bought my copy of the program
at the full (bargain) price of $50 (I think).)

As a CPA full time, I Also second the use of Quickbooks for accounting. It
can be used by anyone with an IBM clone or MAC computer who understands the
concepts of cash increasing (sale made) or cash decreasing (paying bills).
In other words, you don't have to understand debits, credits or other
arcane accounting concepts like closing a month.

Bonnie, CPA in Pittsburgh by day, potter by night (except during tax season
when tax preparer by night)


>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>I have had Insight and Hyperglaze. I prefer hyperglaze. Insight (originally
>purchased years ago) was more for DOS and difficult to use on my Mac. I got
>Hyperglaze last year and love it. It can leep inventory, list price per
>batch of glaze, not to mention the original function of glae analysis.
>Marcia Selsor
>MSU-Billings
>mjbmls@imt.met
>http://www.imt.net/~mjbmls

Marcia Selsor on tue 3 sep 96

Tom Buck has pointed out that more recent versions of Insight are
designed for the Macs as well. Since I have not had experience with
the newer versions, perhaps someone might care to comment.
Marcia Selsor in Montana
mjbmls@imt.net

Bob Hanlin on wed 4 sep 96

>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>Tom Buck has pointed out that more recent versions of Insight are
>designed for the Macs as well. Since I have not had experience with
>the newer versions, perhaps someone might care to comment.
>Marcia Selsor in Montana
>mjbmls@imt.net
>
>
Hello:
I use the latest version of insight (4.1L)and it does a great job of
calculation and also has a facility to add notes to the recipie. I would
recommend it.
BobH in OKC