Technology

2003 October 20

Why Do Printers Use Cyan and Magenta Instead of Blue and Red?

Topics

Cyan, magenta, yellow, and black printer ink cartridges

There are two basic ways of creating colors: by mixing light and by mixing paint. When we see light, we’re receiving a particular wavelength directly. A red stoplight, for instance, is sending off red wavelengths and nothing else. Light is “additive,” meaning you can add wavelengths together to get new colors. Red + blue = magenta. Not purple, because the more light you add, the brighter the color. Mix enough light of different wavelengths, and you get pure white light.

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2004 October 25

Digitizing Photos

Topics

Picture of Aidan playing soccer that is used as an example throughout this discussion

I thought I’d share the results of my quest for perfection in the transfer process. As always, I spend many hours upfront in the hopes of establishing a process that won’t have me wasting many days down the road. It’s taken a lot of trial and error, but I think I have that process now. If you’re about to start, maybe this will save you some time and agony.

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2012 December 24

Generational Tech

Topics

Baby Aidan on the computer

One of Aidan’s most-loved pastimes is pounding on the computer keys! He’s an Internet baby, no doubt about it.

For the first millenia of modern humanity, major new inventions were pretty rare. But recent generations have seen numerous technological milestones. For no good reason, I thought I’d jot down what strike me as the most important inventions each recent generation was the first to grow up with.

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