Hate to Be That Guy, But...

[jpmcwjr]

I hear you. I have regressed in PS: I can't do stuff I used to do years ago, as I didn't use PS for some years, and then they changed some of the modules, or I forgot how to get to them!

 

[sablebrush52]

I've been using Photoshop in production for over 25 years. It's a great tool that does a lot of stuff very well.

 

[donjgiles]

May I ask Sir, what do you produce?

 

[slowroll]

Although one can't really tell from a couple of smokes, it does happen that even a great pipemaker gets a bum block of briar. No way to tell until it's smoked. Maybe the local fauna used the bush for a latrine.

 

[donjgiles]

I cleaned the pipe really well, it was dirty. I also notice with this and another estate pipe, there appeared to be a wax on it. What are your feelings on waxing a pipe... I don't think I like it.

 

[workman]

Many, if not most, pipes are waxed. Carnauba wax is, I believe, the most common finish on briar pipes.

 

[sablebrush52]

May I ask Sir, what do you produce?

Matte paintings for live action, animation background paintings, illustrations, etc. I also used to shoot the photographic live action plates for my matte paintings, shot reference photos, photographic plates for use in some of the VFX sequences in film I worked on, and for a while I was a stringer.
I teach Photoshop to people in my industry, and many, many years ago, when Adobe's internet presence was nothing more than a bulletin board, I was one of their Photoshop "gurus", who helped users with the program and was also a beta tester.

 

[donjgiles]

..... picks jaw up off the floor.....
Thank you for all your work!
Don

 

[danielplainview]

You’ve answered your own question. It’s a Stanwell. I’m very happy with all my Stanwell’s. Even my Brush Brown Italian made Stanwell is a great burner.

 

[newbroom]

Perhaps I need to learn how to have more patience, or lower my expectations

Not so much lower your expectations, but manage them 'realistically'.

Patience is essential, of course.

The same goes with your enjoyment of a 'new' blend. One or two bowls shouldn't be your 'final exam'.

 

[mso489]

Some lower priced pipes smoke extremely well, and the more experience you have with pipe, the higher the probability is you can identify them, although anyone can pull the short straw on pipes expensive or not. Most pipes smoke pretty well, and many smoke much better.