Messages

1

Bugs? On www.shmax.com? Ha ha, you kill me... / Re: updating collection

March 13, 2009, 10:59:18 PM

I spent a day or so trying to figure out the IE6 bug. It's a bit of a nightmare because once IE7 is installed on a Windows machine you can't go back to 6. I have a program that is supposed to simulate various versions of IE, but the program itself is loaded with bugs. So I've sort of given up on it for the moment so I can finish up the redesign of the "price paid" functionality, but once that's done I'll attack the IE6 problems again. Sorry for the inconvenince!

Max

Actually, you can roll back to IE6 at any time - as long as you haven't installed Service Pack 3 since installing IE7. If you install IE7 and then SP3, it can't be uninstalled. If you install SP3 and then IE7, you keep the ability to roll it back. It's a stupid pain in the rear, I know.

One of these days I'm gonna set up a virtual machine that I can test this stuff with, right as soon as I find some of that "spare time" stuff I haven't seen lately (also, I'll take pictures with some of this "spare time").

2

Bugs? On www.shmax.com? Ha ha, you kill me... / Re: updating collection

March 11, 2009, 11:27:18 AM

Ah, I see. You can change it, but you have to click in the field, then backspace to clear it, then type your new price. I'll see if I can make it a little more friendly...

I'm not getting the field at all, now.

I had tried backspacing, but that wasn't working. Oh well. I'm sure it's to my benefit - if my wife sees a total that is 2/3 of the actual total, well, that can't be a bad thing, right?

My insurance company, on the other hand...

3

Bugs? On www.shmax.com? Ha ha, you kill me... / Re: updating collection

March 10, 2009, 11:37:57 AM

I've noticed that for a good many of the items in my collection that have non-zero default prices, I can't overwrite the "purchase price" - which is a shame, since it's very, very rarely correct, since I'm paying in Canadian dollars ($14.99 for a deluxe, $29.99 for a voyager, ouch).

4

Help Us Build the Database /

July 19, 2008, 12:11:41 PM

Thanks!

5

Help Us Build the Database /

July 19, 2008, 08:46:56 AM

Spotted another bad pic...

http://www.shmax.com/Package_Details/2403/Starscream

Universe 2.0 Legends Starscream has Red Alert's package picture. Takes the Robots in Disguise thing to a whole new level.

6

Help Us Build the Database / Missing subcategories

July 19, 2008, 08:44:13 AM

There's no Robot Heroes subcategory under Universe 2008. I'm sitting here with the first wave of 'em, but the Add Package tool won't work if you can't hit a bottom level category. :S

7

Help Us Build the Database / Re: How do you shoot toys in package?

June 25, 2008, 09:07:59 AM

Question for Uppercase25 and Betsumei, who both seem to have this thing figured out: does this technique need any adaptation for shooting toys in the package? Engledogg tells me that he has trouble with reflection off the plastic blisters and windows. What's the secret?

I don't know how to totally eliminate it (and my single in-box photo can attest to that - looking closely, I can see the frame of my light box, and something that may be my little HP camera on the end of a tripod), but direct light from the camera side of the object is going to be the enemy. That's why I built this: http://strobist.blogspot.com/2006/07/how-to-diy-10-macro-photo-studio.html. The less light hitting the surface from your direction, the less reflection you'll see. I haven't bothered with using the reflectors they mention, but it seems to work okay. I understand professionals use proper light tents that have no features inside to reflect, and a smaller opening for the camera. I just try to drown it out by placing all lights above or to the sides.

My real solution? Collect loose figures.

Cost of my setup (because it amuses me):

Box - the replacement parts for our highchair came in it, I just refused to throw it out until I found a use $0
Tissue paper to diffuse light - pack of 100 sheets at Dollarama $1+GST
Posterboard backdrop - two for a buck at Dollarama $0.50+GST
Scotch tape - found it in a drawer $0
Camera - got it at a company [strike]Christmas[/strike]Winter staff party $0
Tripod - bought it years ago at Zellers ~$30+GST
Lamp - used to look like an umbrella, but the previous owner lost the lampshade so now it's mine $0
Light bulbs (CFL x 4) - can't remember, I just use the lamp and the lights in my kitchen, which had bulbs anyways

8

Help Us Build the Database / Re: Still nothing?

June 24, 2008, 09:47:22 PM

Hey contest guys, surely none of you would be able to sleep soundly at night without a Megatron under your pillow?

Hey, if you'll buy it, I'll photograph it. But seriously, I've never spent more than $20 on a G1 figure, and I can't afford to change that now.

9

Help Us Build the Database /

June 24, 2008, 06:03:11 PM

Very nice, indeed! Is there any reason you're not submitting more photos?
For everyone else, here's a link for downloading GIMP (Windows installer):

http://gimp-win.sourceforge.net/stable.html

Yes... my daughter has played the insomniac card these last few days, and I haven't been able to take more. I've uploaded every picture I have that you need. But hey, she's in bed early tonight

10

Help Us Build the Database /

June 24, 2008, 09:27:17 AM

My rig is similar. I actually used a LifeHacker tutorial, but the gist is that I took a cardboard box and cut out three sides of it (left, right, and top in the final configuration), and put tissue paper in them. The tissue paper softens the light shining on the subject. I've got a piece of white posterboard that goes along the bottom and curves up the back, so there's no seam. It works rather nice, but I don't own enough lamps/any good lamps (all photos so far are taken with the light fixtures on the ceiling turned on, and a single naked CFL in a lamp on the table next to the box). To get the background ultrawhite, I use the Curves tool in the GIMP to force those light greys into white. Seems to work so far without much problems.

11

Help Us Build the Database / Re: Edit/update

June 23, 2008, 05:45:00 PM

For now, once a record has been "approved", only moderators can do further updates. This will change one of these days, but it will require some serious coding--it's something I've been trying to get around to for about 6 months, but you know how it goes. If you have a lot of these kinds of updates you want to do (bios and whatnot), I might be able to set you up with a limited moderator account, and you can go to it--PM me if you want to discuss it. Otherwise, just post your info here in the forum and I'll take care of it (be sure to post a link to which item your info goes with). As for replacing existing photos, why don't we wait until the contest is over before we get into that? Otherwise I'll have Engledogg and Defensis Prime bugging me to delete the entire database. =) The focus of this contest is to try to fill in gaps in the database. For the next contest I plan to rewrite the photo system such that anyone can add additional photos to any record without blowing away existing photos (and photos judged as being better than the existing photo will be tagged as the new main photo), and then you can really go to town. As for Ultra Magnus, I happen to have tons of photos of him, so I put up an alternaste form photo that shows him with his trailer. Better?

Much nicer. Being that he's my oldest toy (released the same year I was, as it happens), I'm a bit of a fan of ol' Ultramag.

12

Help Us Build the Database / Edit/update

June 23, 2008, 11:21:54 AM

I'm a bit new here, but I've spotted a few figures that have something up, but it's incomplete (Warpath the movie scout doesn't have his bio listed, for example) or the picture is of an incomplete specimen (G1 Ultra Magnus is missing all accessories, including the fists, for example). I'd love to update them (Warpath's packaging is on my desk, and G1 Ultra Magnus is sitting at home waiting for baby to sleep long enough for me to snap some photos) but I can't see the button on figures that already have data included. Is this normal (i.e., new users can't update existing content) or should I be submitting a feature request for such a button?

Thanks!  

13

General Transformers Discussion /

June 22, 2008, 10:04:57 PM

*sniff sniff* I miss my shelfs!!

Shelves would be nice. You mean, you have a place to put shelves? I've got no-where to put 'em, and a baby that'd tear any 'bots limb from limb given half a chance (and I've got the bin full of limbs to prove it!)

14

General Transformers Discussion / Re: so are we injoying animated or what?

June 22, 2008, 06:53:58 PM

I don't know, maybe I need to look into it again. To me the show was just a commercial to get you to buy the toys, which I bought anyway. I was also turned off by the stock animation sequences, the over-acting, and the predictability. But who knows? Maybe they're better now.

I dunno, I rather liked Beast Wars, and Animated seems to be the best series yet. If it's not your thing, that's cool, but it's easy enough to check it out, what with the Youtube and all.

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General Transformers Discussion / Re: so are we injoying animated or what?

June 22, 2008, 06:14:46 PM

They've been added, by the way. I really dig some of them, even though I've never seen the show. Come to think of it, I really haven't seen any of the shows since the first one back in the 80's. Hey, what are you guys doing with those torches and pitchforks? Get back! Get back, I say!!!

So, the question begs, why haven't you watched any of it since the 80's?