Digital Day - Working with a Wacom Tablet

If you were in a creative profession before you got bitten with the cake decorating bug, you probably already know about or own a wacom in one form or another.  The wacom is a device that you attach to your desktop which allows you to draw and "paint" as easily as with a pen or art bush on paper.  A wacom  laptop tablet is a functional laptop. You draw directly on the screen and you have at your fingertips an amazing array of colors and textures.  The wacom tablet is portable like any laptop, so you can draw your amazing cake design before or at your client meeting and then file or email the sketch; write notes (just like you would with pen and paper) and also download a number of multimedia software--so you can carry your digital/video portfolio with you.  The downside is that it's heavier and more expensive than an iPad but if you already have access to one--you can definitely use it to enhance your cake decorating business.

Digital Days on the Blog! - #1 HTML

So you want to share your passion for cake decorating with the world by setting up your own cake, cookie or cupcake website, or you want to brag about your eating adventures on a blog? A little knowledge of HTML will go a long way to helping our voice stand out among the crowd.

Many free website ready-made templates are rather confining but you can tweak the header and format a little with a basic knowledge of HTML Code . Banners can be found free online (watch out for those pesky pop-ups) or you can make your own banner with a program like Adobe Photoshop. No, you don't have to be a computer whiz to use Adobe Photoshop. I can use it and I am far from being an expert. You can download a free trial and make your banner and other graphic designs - such as "grab buttons"-for your website or blog during the Adobe Photoshop trial period.

If you want a more custom designed website, you can purchase one of the many professional templates online for under $100.00 and with basic knowledge of HTML, create your website and upload onto a server like GoDaddy dot com. No time? Hire a college student to do it for you. Try Pratt, School of Visual Arts, or New York Institute of Technology, or maybe your neighbor's kid down the block. The student can create a custom professional looking website for you for pennies on the dollar, and with basic knowledge of HTML, you can update your website yourself.

Don't know how to decorate but want to blog about it?  If you can't create your own cakes, cupcakes and cookies to display on your foodie blog, you can download totally free license, royalty free photos as a banner, reference, or inspiration, at Morgue File. To use the photos you only need to tweak them a little before you post them online.

Digital Days on the Blog!

Starting this Monday, April 4th, be sure to check out my Digital Day post! Digital Days posted twice a month will give news, tips, and hints on how technology can be used in cake, cupcake, and cookie businesses.