Technologically Equipped?

Computers have had an increasingly important role in the world of litigation. From maintaining communication between a client and lawyer to creating a full presentation made for courtroom trials. Not only is having a full understanding of the data important and having the talent recreate it visually, but maintaining the hardware and software of the tool being used is also very important.

When creating presentations with high definition video or graphically intensive visuals, the software to birth and manipulate these presentations needs powerful computers. Staying up to date with hardware is nearly impossible to do without shelling out loads of money to buy a new computer every month. There are however ways to keep a computer running fast and in top shape without putting a hole in the companies wallet for a new computer every month.

For desktop computers one of the easiest things to upgrade are the system's memory sticks or "RAM". Replacing that is as easy as replacing batteries in a flashlight. However you have to make sure you're buying the right memory for your computer. Each computer only accepts specific types, and its best to ask at the store which will work with your machine. For beefy visuals another important piece of computer hardware is the graphics card. Replacing that is also fairly simple but can cost more than buying memory. Its best to make sure you're buying the right that is compatible with your computer.

Running the latest version of Windows (if you're a PC user) or the latest version of Mac OS (if you're a Mac user) and making sure it has the most recent software updates help keep things current and protect your computer from old bugs. Utilizing one of the many free online antivirus software is a big help with keeping out malware and intruders from taking over what is yours. A 3rd party web browser such as Google Chrome is great for safe web browsing and will allow for a better internet experience. In the legal field its always of great importance to keep confidential files and information out of harm's way, even just from software crashes. Backing up data and essential files is a necessary safety precaution and also a good way to keep older large files safe and out of the way to make room for new ones.

Performing these simple upgrades in addition to some daily routine maintenance will help keep your equipment in top shape. Whether it's for creating visually intensive presentations or maintaining valuable confidential data you will be well prepared for the digital world of legal presentations.

Lighting In the Virtual World

When it comes to realism, lighting in a still image or animated scene can make or break a persons viewing experience. When comparing a computer generated imagine to a photograph the first thing that comes to mind is whether or not it looks as real as the picture. The more real it looks, the more satisfaction is had by the viewer.

Lighting is probably the last thing thought about when it comes to computer graphics, whether you're the animator or the viewer, even though its the key factor in realism. Its a tricky and time consuming process in the 3D world but when the right results are achieved, it's very gratifying.

When setting up a well lit scene multiple factors need to be considered. The time of day and the mood the scene is going to convey are just a couple. If it's during daylight hours the color of the lights should be warmer such as yellow and orange. If its a night time scene then colors should have a more cool blue tone to them.

Normally two or three lights per scene also helps achieve realism. Since real world lighting for the most part always has more than one light source its always best to do the same in the virtual world. Additional things that should be considered are the rays of light, whether its from the sun, and indoor light fixture or spotlight. The type of light is very important.

To achieve a type of mood shadows usually play the most important role. The darker the scene and the more prominent the shadows are, the more negative the mood is. The brighter the scene and the less shadows there are, the happier or more positive the mood is. Another thing to keep in mind when considering shadows is its edge. The softer the edge the more realistic it is. Harder edges are usually used for more non-realistic imagery.

These are just a few of many of the important things to be thought about when it comes to lighting a virtual scene. Any virtual object and or scene can appear real if it's lit properly. Like anything the more time and thought put into it, the better the results. In the end, the greatest compliment a 3D artist can receive, is the viewer not realizing that imagery is computer generated.