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Space Studies Showdown: ISU vs. UND12/07/2008 12:01:00 AM
--> Please note that this comparison from 2008 is no longer currently applicable to the current programs offered by ISU and UND. An updated post comparing programs in 2014 is coming very soon!
I've been getting a lot of questions lately about the similarities and differences between the International Space University (ISU) and University of North Dakota (UND) space studies masters programs. As someone who has been a student in both universities (ISU SSP '05 and UND MS '10), I am in a good position to compare them. Note that although I was accepted into the ISU masters program, I decided to only attend their Summer Session Program (SSP) instead, so my firsthand ISU perspective is from the SSP rather than the masters. Over a year has passed since I blogged about my decision to join the UND Space Studies distance program. At the halfway point, I can report that I am overall quite happy with it so far. Before getting started, I'd like to thank the folks at UND and ISU who were gracious in providing information for this post.
First, what is space studies? While many universities offer degrees in space-related fields such as aeronautical engineering, planetary science, or space law, ISU and UND are the only schools with interdisciplinary space studies curricula*. Space studies spans many space-related fields including physical sciences, life sciences, engineering, applications, policy, law, business, management, and society/history. Space studies students gain broad backgrounds that allow them to understand the linkages among these fields and to become leaders in the space sector.
Let's see how ISU and UND stack up.
As the table illustrates, ISU and UND Space Studies share many common elements. For instance, they both have curricula that encompass an interdisciplinary set of fields related to space activities. Even though UND has more masters graduates than ISU, ISU has a much larger alumni network thanks largely to the SSP. Both schools attract students from all over the world, but ISU has attracted about four times as many nationalities compared to UND. The average student at ISU is younger than UND, which makes sense given the fact that most UND students are established in their careers already and studying part time. An ISU masters degree takes only one year, while the usual minimum time to complete one at UND is two years, with most distance students taking longer. While, both ISU and UND have a similar complement of full time faculty, ISU has a much larger network of adjunct faculty at its disposal (plus even more guest lecturers). In the past, ISU has lagged behind UND with access to hands-on learning and research facilities, but this is rapidly changing.
Twins Separated at Birth?
Note that both programs were founded in 1987. This is not a coincidence. In the early 1980s, UND asked Dr. Buzz Aldrin to help organize a space education program within their Center (now School) for Aerospace Sciences. He helped structure the early concept for the Space Studies Department and recommended that Dr. David Webb, a member of the Presidential Commission on Space, serve as its first Chair. While Dr. Webb was founding the UND Space Studies program, he also served as the first Chairman of ISU's Board of Trustees. He worked very closely with ISU's founders Dr. Peter Diamandis, Todd Hawley, and Bob Richards in molding ISU, SEDS, and Space Generation into the enduring organizations they are today. ISU also enjoyed support from a number of important personalities including Dr. Harrison Schmitt, Dr. Gerard K. O'Neill, and Arthur C. Clarke, who served as ISU's first Chancellor. Thus, the early evolution of UND and ISU in the mid- to late-1980s benefited from the guidance of Apollo astronauts and other space notables and cross-pollination due to Dr. Webb's involvement in both organizations. Their paths then diverged as ISU became a more externally-focused organization in order to survive in the competitive world, and UND Space Studies had the luxury of being more internally-focused due to its relative position of security within an established university.
More UND Details
The UND Department of Space Studies (SpSt) lies within the John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences at the University of North Dakota. The Odegard School is world-renowned as a top center for aerospace learning with over 500 faculty and staff members teaching in the Departments of Aviation, Atmospheric Sciences, Computer Science, Earth Systems Science & Policy, and Space Studies.
At any given time, UND SpSt sustains about 15 campus and over 100 distance students. It is essentially a distance program that also has an on campus option, although the faculty try very hard to attract and retain more campus students by continually improving the academic and research offerings in the program. By 1998 the UND Space Studies Department had become the largest graduate program in the university (and remains so today) thanks to the popularity of its distance program. Both on- and off-campus students enjoy access to state-of-the-art distance learning tools (course websites, lecture videos, chat rooms, etc.) that make the educational experience of distance students as close to the campus experience as possible. Students even have access to the online astronomical observatory to do research. Historically, the department has had some difficulty retaining its faculty, but this is starting to change since it now has more tenured faculty on staff than ever before.
The UND SpSt Department funds its campus students through tuition waivers and graduate research/teaching assistantships. Although these types of aid from the university are intended for campus students, tuition waivers may also be available for distance students if campus students do not claim all of them. That is how I have funded my UND education so far. Although student loans are, of course, always an option, the other common way students finance their UND Space Studies education is via employer benefits (since some employers will pay to send employees for higher education). The figure below shows how the curriculum works with a combination of required and elective courses for the three different UND MS options. You can read some FAQs about the program or browse its course descriptions on the space.edu website.
More ISU Details
My ISU SSP05 experience at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver opened my eyes to many facets of the space industry for which I had little or no previous exposure, including project management, systems engineering, international/intercultural relations, and space policy/law. I chose the Space Policy and Law Department for my area of specialty since, with my heavy science background, I had no previous experience in that area. Among our activities was a UNCOPUOS simulation dealing with space debris and commercial exploitation of space resources issues, in which I represented France and India's points of view. I served as policy and law chapter editor for my team project's report titled Fire Logistics and Management Approach (FLAMA), which dealt with wildfire mitigation using space technologies. I ended up co-presenting my team's work at the 2006 UNCOPUOS S&T Subcommittee meeting in Vienna.
A number of organizations offer competitive scholarships to ISU students (MSS/MSM, SSP). While some of them do cover full tuition, most are partial tuition scholarships. Making up the shortfall can be a burden to some students, especially considering the travel and living expenses associated with moving to another country. ISU caters really well to younger students who are not yet married or have children. While older students do attend the 10-week SSP, often they do not consider the masters programs due to the complexity of moving away for a year with a family. I know these were big factors for me; I'm glad I did the SSP when I did because it would be nearly impossible now that I have a child.
Both ISU masters degrees (space studies and space management) share a curriculum that is similar to the SSP but with more time to study topics in greater detail. The modular structure of this curriculum is shown in the figure below. The MSS and MSM curricula overlap but have separate focuses on either space science/applications or business/management. Similarly at UND, students can choose their electives to have either a technical or non-technical focus (or both). Usually, students complete all modules sequentially over one year, but one is allowed to space them apart as long as they are completed within a 7-year period. UND has a similar 7-year cap on its program. Students completing the SSP are exempt from having to take Module 1 since the SSP covers the same material.
ISU-UND Curriculum Comparison
The table above shows elements of each school's curriculum that are similar or equivalent. UND's first two required courses are Introduction to Space Studies I and II (501 and 502). These two courses cover the gamut of space studies disciplines and are team taught by all department faculty members. 501 assignments are individual, while 502 focuses on two team projects. Combined, 501 and 502 are quite similar to Module 1 of the ISU MSS/MSM curriculum or the SSP. However, UND has arguably more rigorous academic standards when it comes to assignments, exams, etc.
The bulk of both programs span what ISU calls Modules 2 and 3. While ISU requires a specific specialized curriculum for all students (different for the MSS and MSM), UND allows students great flexibility in choosing which courses to take. This means that a UND student could craft a personalized curriculum similar to ISU's MSS, MSM, or somewhere in between. Both cover a wide range of interdisciplinary space studies topics, but UND tends to compartmentalize these a little more than ISU, meaning ISU is more effective from an interdisciplinary viewpoint, but UND offers greater depth of study within the disciplines.
The ISU team project (Module 4) is roughly equivalent to the UND Capstone experience (595), which is only required for distance rather than campus students. Both involve a substantial team effort over a long time period to produce a lengthy interdisciplinary document on a specific space studies topic. The difference is that ISU focuses on producing highly polished final report and executive summary documents meant for external audiences, while UND's reports are mainly intended for the educational experience itself and aren't circulated much outside the department. Both ISU and UND include a 1-week presentation of the work as the culmination of the team project experience. For UND, that week is the sole residence requirement for the distance masters program.
While UND has no equivalent of ISU's internship, it does require an individual research project (997) similar to ISU's. UND also has the option of a thesis (593+998), which ISU does not. Until recently, only UND campus students could choose to do a thesis, but now motivated distance students also have that option. The distinction between an individual research project and a thesis at UND is that a thesis creates new knowledge in publishable scholarly research while an individual research project may not. Often the required ISU internship can lead to post-graduation employment opportunities for ISU students, and UND does not have such a dimension in its program.
Reuniting ISU and UND
I would really like to see more collaboration between the two schools since they are the only universities currently offering truly interdisciplinary space studies degrees*. ISU is accredited in Europe (but not the US), and UND is accredited in the US (but not Europe). It seems there is an opportunity for a natural synergy between the two universities to provide the same service to their respective constituencies with some kind of reciprocal agreement whereby credit earned at one school would be transferable to the other. For example, maybe the ISU SSP could count as transfer credit for UND's 501 and 502 courses.
ISU already boasts 23 affiliate campuses in 13 countries, so maybe UND could become another one. Perhaps the two programs could agree upon common curricular elements and work towards a more uniform space studies teaching approach to help develop the field further. An ISU-UND faculty and/or student exchange program could help bring in fresh ideas and faces to each program. Maybe over time, the two programs could borrow elements from the other and become more similar with UND primarily serving US-based students and ISU EU-based students.
My Take
Who wins the showdown? That's up to you. Both programs offer good but different educational experiences. ISU is more international and professional in scope with excellent networking opportunities, but it can present some geographic and financial barriers to some students. UND is more flexible and academically rigorous but has a relatively weak network. If you live in a country other than the US, I think ISU may be your best bet as long as you can find a source of funding. Otherwise, UND's distance program might be more affordable and beneficial. The new ISU Executive MBA is an exciting development offering people an opportunity to earn a space-focused MBA while continuing to work; however, its 9-week residence requirement is still higher than I would prefer. If I had to break it down to simple pro's and con's of ISU and UND, this is what I would say:
ISU Pros:
- very modern, dynamic, and relevant to today's space industry
- focus on international relations and professional development
- vibrant alumni network and social scene
- can be a good fast track to "new space" jobs, especially in Europe
- can be very expensive, especially considering living and travel expenses
- no US course credit available
- sometimes not perceived as "real" university
UND Pros:
- well-developed distance option makes it accessible to part-time students in any part of the world
- US course credit from a "real" university
- greater opportunities for space science and engineering research
- can be very affordable thanks to assistantships, tuition waivers, or employer educational benefits
- less emphasis on networking and international dimensions of space
- historical difficulty attracting and retaining professors and on campus students
- isolation of distance program means one has to be a very motivated self-starter
But don't take my word for it. Here is what three other ISU-UND alumni have to say:
"UND can give you a space job if you are US citizen ... while ISU is focused way more on international cooperation issues and aspects, eventually providing its best students with access to space-related jobs but mostly in Europe. ISU is a much more entertaining, stimulating, and social experience than the daily life of the introvert [in the] tundra of the [North Dakota] Grand Forks area. ... UND will open you [a] few doors; ISU can open many more, although in a fuzzier fashion." -- Fabio Sau (ISU MSS '04, UND MS '06)
"Although ISU has an established Masters program, its perception is more of a networking, opportunity institution [versus a] hard-core academic standing. ... Also, pride in attending between ISU and UND is different: some liken ISU to Hogwarts - a group of space specialists in a unique "clique" of sorts. ... I don't get the same comradery with UND alumni. This is likely due to the distance students and importance on individual performance [at UND]. I also think both ISU and UND have had issues attracting and retaining the right professors. [UND has] had a huge turnaround that affected the academics taught there. Bottom line, I don't believe ISU and UND provide the same product at all. Their methods are worlds away and subjects can be quite different as well." -- Charity Weeden (UND MS '03, ISU SSP '07)
"The [ISU] summer session is definitely not as academically rigorous as the UND program. But, the intercultural and international aspects of the summer session greatly outweigh anything UND has to offer in those areas. The turnover of staff, especially with UND, does seem to be a concern. Almost all of the professors that I took classes from at UND have moved on to other institutions and programs. ... The UND masters and ISU summer session are complementary programs that really do build on each other's strengths." -- Brian Weeden (UND MS '06, ISU SSP '07)
If the perception is that ISU is more about style than substance, then perhaps the opposite holds true for UND. Like most stereotypes, these are rooted in some basic truths. However, if one looks past the first impressions and actually compares the two programs side-by-side, it becomes clear that they share more similarities than differences. This gives me hope that someday the two estranged siblings can come together as a strong force to bolster the stature of space studies as a field of study. UND could take a lesson from ISU by improving its public face and shedding some of its intellectual vibe. ISU, in turn, should work more within existing educational systems to insure its program is academically compatible and respected.
What do you think? Sound off and let me know!
Update: 23 January 2009
Listen to me talk about ISU and UND on The Space Show.
Update: 4 December 2009
Breaking News: UND now accepts 6 units of transfer credit from the ISU Summer Session. Read all about it.
20 comments:
- Robert Peckyno said...
Thanks for putting this together Brian, you have no idea how many times I have heard that question...
There is a history of attempts to get the two institutions working together - from both faculty and students - often less than successful.
Through SpaceGen, however, there has been some great student interaction from both campuses. It was part of our hope with the Moon/Mars Workshop to engender some collaborative research leading to conference and full publications. If the students take it that far (ie. co-authored publications in serious journals), I suspect the institutional inertia might start to give...
One thing I would like to see is a full alumni where are they now from both schools to see who ended up employed in the space sector and at what level.
Anyway, kudos again and good luck up there!
- 07 December, 2008 04:27
Thank you for this, Brian.
I'm currently at ISU and had never heard of UND's program until now. You're collaboration idea makes so much sense, especially since we have to do an internship..why not do it at UND, for the academically inclined. From your description both program do seem comparable, but Strasbourg is such a cute town!
best regards
- 07 December, 2008 08:42
- brian said...
Robert, there used to be a social network called spacealumni.com that tried to bring together alumni from several space education programs such as ISU, UND, NASA coops, etc. It existed from around 2005-2007, but I guess it wasn't utilized enough to warrant a longer life.
Axel, I agree that an ISU internship at UND makes perfect sense for the student wanting to do a collaborative research project with a UND professor. You're probably right that Strasbourg is a nicer town than Grand Forks (caveat: I've never been to either place.).
- 07 December, 2008 09:55
- Joern A. Jernsletten ["Dr. Edge"] said...
Brian (et al.),
When shopping for a space studies master's, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (Daytona Beach) is also an option;
I got my space studies master's there, under Dr. Lance K. Erickson, RS, space ops, human physiology in space, all that good jazz.
It was also a good stepping stone to my geophysics / planetary science doctorate, and on down the road to this point.
- 09 December, 2008 05:59
- brian said...
Yes, I do know about the Embry-Riddle program. Thanks for sharing. In fact, I included it in last year's blog post comparing the different online space degrees. Technically, the Embry-Riddle degree is a Master of Aeronautical Science with a specialty in Space Studies option. You are the only person I know who's done that program, so please share your impressions and how you think it might compare to ISU and UND.
Other programs (non aeronautical or astronautical engineering) that share some "space studies" aspects include:
Master of Engineering with focus in Space Operations at University of Colorado at Colorado Springs
MS in Space Systems Operations Management at Webster University
Space Science at the Royal Military College of Canada
Space Systems Certificate at the Naval Postgraduate School
Air Force Institute of Technology
Space Policy Institute at George Washington University
Institute of Air and Space Law at McGill University
Center for Remote Sensing, Air and Space Law at University of Mississippi
and more space law-related options here
- 09 December, 2008 08:43
I was searching in Google for Space Studies distance Master's programs and came upon American Public University. I have never heard of this one - is anyone familiar with their program? http://www.apu.apus.edu/Catalog/08/graduate/degree/master/space-studies/space-studies.htm
- 09 January, 2009 12:09
- brian said...
Stacy, I don't know anything about that program, but it certainly looks similar to the others mentioned in this blog post. At only $825/course, it might take the ribbon as the cheapest option, although others could potentially be cheaper with scholarships or tuition waivers. If you restrict yourself to only distance space studies programs, I guess they are UND, Embry-Riddle, and American Public University.
- 09 January, 2009 12:17
- katherine said...
I am attending ISU SSP this year (09) and look forward to it! I too was originally accepted into the Master, but chose to do the Erasmus Mundus 'SpaceMaster' (Joint European Master in Space Science and Technology) program in Europe - as it is more academic and into the 'hard disciplines' a little more.
Basically it's two years in 2-4 countries culminating in the awarding of 2 master degrees - MSc Space Science and Technology and MSc xxx depending on your elected final year university.
It doesn't cover things such as space law/policy, but rather focuses both on the science and engineering aspects.
Perhaps an alternative to the others in the list?
PS I would love to do some of the rocketry/propulsion based courses in the US, but funding there for non- US citizens is seriously lacking. Europe is a far better option for non- US citizens - this course offers a full scholarship including living costs!
- 11 January, 2009 03:37
- brian said...
Thanks for sharing, Katherine. Two masters degrees in two years sounds really intense!
- 11 January, 2009 17:30
- Kieran Griffith said...
I took the Minor in Space Studies at Embry Riddle as one of the three parts of Aerospace Studies (other two I took were Psychology and Humanities which have proved very useful in finding a space tourism career). I highly recommend that and I highly recommend the professors Lance Erickson and Esther Beltran. If you take this minor and then top it off with a Masters at ISU then you should have everything you need for a career in space exploration and development. I am still waiting for a promised job with a space tourism company so I am thinking of taking the Masters at UND as a backup plan if my promised job doesn't start on time. Do you think taking both a space science master at ISU plus a space studies master at UND would be complementary or repetitive?
- 25 January, 2009 17:29
- brian said...
Thanks for the comment. I think a earning masters at both UND and ISU would be redundant, although both do offer you different networking opportunities. As far as I know, only one person has gotten a masters at both schools (Fabio Sau); see his quote at the bottom of the blog post above. There is currently a UND masters student who previously earned a MSS at ISU, so when he finishes, he'll be the second person to go through both programs. Many people, however, have done the ISU summer program and the UND masters.
- 25 January, 2009 18:21
I stumbled across your blog and thought I'd chime in. I started my MS in Space Studies through American Public University earlier this month, and though I know it's early to weigh in, I've got to say I've got a really good feeling about the program and the professors involved. So far it's been a great experience.
Looking over the list of faculty, though, it seems a number of professors got the MS in Space Studies from UND. So, I'm hopeful that they'll be able to help the program grow and gain recognition while also bringing the things they learned at UND. Though it's my first semester as a space-studies grad student, it's my second semester at the university, and it's been a great experience so far.
My thought at a later date is to perhaps take some courses through UND or perhaps another of the many program options out there that have space-studies components. It never hurts to gain education and perspectives from more than one source, I figure!
- 28 January, 2009 11:57
- Jodi Lock said...
I know that American Military University (regionally accredited) has a space studies Bachelor's and Master's program. It seems to be pretty interdisciplinary. Is there a reason that this program was not included? I'm seriously considering the Bachelor's degree (I'm prior military) and would love to know our opinion. It's pretty inexpensive as far as distance ed goes (250 per credit hour and books are free for Bachelor's). It's a pretty sweet deal and I would hate to give it up, lol. As I said, I would love to know your opinion because you did an outstanding job on reviewing the two schools in this blog.
- 22 March, 2009 11:51
- brian said...
Thanks for your comment. I am aware of the American Military University program, but I didn't include it in the comparison because I know very little about it. I don't know anyone who has gone through that program, but that doesn't mean it's not a good program. I don't have a lot of interaction with the military community. Thanks for bringing this up, as it and the others mentioned in these comments help add more information to the original post.
- 23 March, 2009 07:34
Hi guys,
I graduate with my MS in Space Studies from American Military U last spring. It was an excellent program and I enjoyed it thoroughly. However, one huge drawback – no real networking opportunities. This has proved difficult in finding a job especially because the degree itself is not that well known. Most perspective employers either seem to think I'm an astrophysicist or astronomer of which neither perception is accurate. I also often feel like a 'jack of all trades – master of none' because I've had a few courses in remote sensing, a few in orbital mechanics, a few in rocket propulsion – but not enough in any one field to dub me an expert.
Another difficulty I have found is applying to PhD programs. I would like to transfer over to the field of astrophysics, which although closely related, it is nowhere near enough to make for an easy transition.
I loved studying Space Studies, but now I'm starting to think I should have kept it as just a hobby. Suggestions?
- 23 March, 2009 08:17
- SH said...
I have almost finished my MS Space Studies program at American Public University System (formerly, American Military University & American Public University) and it took me a while but finally got permission to do a MS Capstone Thesis. I gather the Capstone Thesis option is now a regular feature for all new (2009+) graduate students in the MS Space Program. There is a new "Planetary Science" focus as well in addition to the general Space Studies program. I agree with [Holly] that the Space Studies course is very broad, but it is good in a way that I believe gives me better skills than just a concentration in a particular subject. That said, I know realise that a BS and a MS is not sufficient, I am actively for my own career prospect seeking to take additional math courses and physics courses at a local college to become current before applying for another MS program or Ph.D program which will require both current knowledge and higher levels of math.
However, if someone were to have a current BS degree (with at least two years of physics and math) in sequence, they wouldn't have the difficulty that I have faced due to the fact there is a long gap between my BS and MS degrees.
News for all: UND's Ph.D program application is being reviewed this year in the next couple of months, and it is a distance+residency combined program in Space Studies! Dr. Whalen is pushing the academic frontier a lot in this regard.
Note: The basic makeup of the APUS MS Space Studies course is similar to the UND MS Space Studies course, albeit there is no real physical faculty, but I am hoping in the future adjunct faculty would agree to allow qualified student interns and research assistantships with their original institutions (cross-academic programs). I believe the US space industry needs these cross academic programs unlike the USRA specific discipline approach if we are to catch up to the rest of the world faster.
- 14 July, 2009 07:50
Good discussion. for anyone interested, there is a und/isu alumni and current student discussion 'group' at the PlanetSpace.com website.
- 19 January, 2010 09:46
- POO!\!@M JO$@!\! said...
i am currently in pre-fianl year of my BE aerospace engg. degree in india. i am planning to go for MS Space Science in UND. but being a non-US resident, it might be risky to hunt a job after my graduation due to space program security policy of US govt., which poses a threat to my career. but considering that i am really interested in space exploration, this is a wonderfull program i would like to take up. i have been searching and comparing ISU and UND program for 6 months.and i found UND my list topper. so now, the question is will i be accepted in space sector after attending UND as a potential employee?
- 31 October, 2011 04:23
- brian said...
It's difficult to predict what employment opportunities will come out of any educational experience. In general, UND has a less successful track record than ISU in that regard, I think. However, since you have a bachelor's in engineering, that will make you attractive to aerospace firms. By getting a space studies degree, you'll round out your capabilities beyond engineering, which I think makes you a strong competitor for jobs.
- 16 November, 2011 22:48
Hey Brian, great article.
I've gone through the entire process of trying to decide between ISU and UND, but I recently discovered a Masters in Human Space Exploration Sciences at the University of Houston in Texas. The program's URL is :
It's more life science focused as oppose to UND and ISU which are more interdisciplnary. However, the University of Houston is located near NASA Johnson Space Center, and lots of NASA Employees are guest lectures for the Program.
I'm 23 and did my undergrad in Biology, so I dont have much experience in Engineering or astrophysics, but I want to learn all aspects of space exploration. It's a fascinating field, and unfortunately there aren't many graduate programs out there!
- 26 September, 2012 11:11
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Escape Student Sokratis Synitos writes...
"For what started out as a small tour, yesterday's visit to the Peerless Camera Company ended up a truly historical journey!
Small Soldiers - How was it done?
Small Soldiers was, no sorry –IS, in my book anyway - an awesome film, sure I may think that way because I've adorned it in a proverbial cloak of nostalgia, but regardless, I am part of a generation that found itself moved and entertained by the ongoing battle between the Gorgonites, led by the valiant Archer, and the antagonist Chip Hazard's Commando Elite.
Riddick - What's it all about?
I'm not sure if you noticed, but the internet has become quite popular recently. In fact, if you're reading this, chances are you're on the internet right now, and you might not even know it. Surprise!
MARI for your Mac!
Here at Escape, when teaching our compositing professional class – a question that always comes up is, "is Mari available for the Mac?" It gives me great pleasure to announce that it now is!
Men in Suits - A 'must see' for any special effects lover.
This film has grabbed our interest this week, mainly because we can't believe we've not seen it yet. The documentary film 'Men in Suits' hit screens last year and we hear it's a must see for all special effects fans. One reviewer even suggests that he will revoke your 'geek license' if you've not taken the time to soak it in.

subset: commoncrawl


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Engineer's Guide to the National Electrical Code®
|Item # RES28008
Engineer's Guide to the National Electrical Code® provides a vital grounding in NEC® basics.
The 2008 NEC rules are at the heart of this instructive look at the documents encountered when designing electrical subsystems. Author and Code authority H. Brooke Stauffer, Executive Director of Standards and Safety at the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA), provides new and longtime electrical engineers with the guidance they need to correctly apply the National Electrical Code and other building codes.
Understand how Code compliance impacts your work through key insights on:
- NEC organization and structure
- How the NEC is used for regulatory purposes
- Conductors, circuits, and wiring methods
- Electrical equipment and other systems
- The NEC in relation to other codes and standards
Written by one of the field's premier authors, Engineer's Guide to the National Electrical Code introduces engineers to the all-important requirements they'll apply throughout their careers. (Softbound, 174 pp., 2008)


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We're sorry, this frame is currently sold out.
(2) reviews
Tips To Finding Your Perfect Fit
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Within 365 day of purchase, you may return your order in its original condition. See Return Policy.
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Our bestselling lightweight cotton/nylon trench coat has a StormRepel® durable water-repellent (DWR) finish. Water beads on the surface and rolls off rather than soaking into the fabric. Back vent for easy movement, and adjustable back belt ensure comfort and a great fit.
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Hi All,
we receive a lot of request of "sugar free" chocolate, most of them they refer to "use Agave syrup/crystals", but this is not what we think as "sugar free"!
Unfortunately here, miscommunication or false information make people believe that Agave "sugar" (!!!) is diabetic friendly...
We know that a 85%dark bar with sugar is better than a 55% dark made with agave, but it takes time to explain that to every one!
Now, going to the point:
i'm capable of doing some research of real sugar free (sucrose) -chocolate maybe using stevia or other ingredients (Honey won't work). but i not really sure where to start..
Anyone any idea or suggestion?
Thanks in advance!
Views: 2585
and what about beet sugar? there are some sweeteners beet-based that say to be zero calories
I'd lay bets that it's fibre that's been infused with sucralose. If it's 99.9% "natural" as the website claims, the 0.1% is the chemical sweetening agent, and the rest is filler.
That's what I'm guessing.
Notice that it isn't being marketed in the US, where a product like that, if legit would take off like wildfire??? How come?
Interesting indeed.
haha that's why I'm asking. I believe there's no substitute for sugar, but we made a batch with NutraSweet and people, that are used to consume sweeteners, liked it very much, personally I hated it, it left a horrible bitter aftertaste. But I wanted to know if there was any other beet-based sugar somewhere.
© 2014 Created by Clay Gordon.


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Published on 2014-07-31
Team Z Motorsports makes it easy to drop some unwanted weight off the front of your 1979-2004 Mustang thanks to their K Member Kits. These Mustang tubular k members are available in kit forms that include chrome-moly tubular front control arms and coil-over kits. They are also available in popular motor swap options such as mod motor swaps and LSx engine swap configurations.
Watch this video as the Team Z Motorsports shows us just how easy it is to install a tubular k member in a Fox Body Mustang! Don't forget to click on the link above to shop our complete line of Team Z Motorsports performance products.
Latemodel Restoration SVE Performance 50Resto
Mustang K members from Team Z Motorsports make it easy to drop some unwanted weight off the front of your 1979 to 2004 Mustang. The Team Z Mustang K members are available individually or in kit form that include tubular front control arms and coil over kits. These K members are also available in popular motor swap configurations, such as the LS and mod motor swap versions.
Now let's watch as Team Z shows us just how easy it is to install these K members into a fox body Mustang.
OK. So Dave, I see we have this-- what year is this? Stripped down model?
This is a '90 Project Dirtball.
We're not going to say what it is or who it is or why it is, we just know that it's going to be a fast car.
It's going to be a fast car and saying Project Dirtball, all the [INAUDIBLE] people will know exactly who we're talking about.
OK. So we're going to put the K member in. Now this-- now, what we did here, just to let everybody know, because somebody's going to look this, so we took everything apart because it's easier for the camera guys right there-- the camera guys-- keep everything going in.
So you out there, the people, can see how easy this is. So what's first?
Normally there would be an engine sitting in here, of course. You have to use a cherry picker, support the engine with a cherry picker, and disconnect the motor mounts. You don't have to do is that with this one, of course, because we don't have an engine in it. But normally you would have it on a cherry picker and you would support the engine, come down, take 2 bolts out of the motor mounts, and then drop your old K member and front suspension on it.
Got it.
And you could do that all as a unit. Once the engine is supported, take your motor mounts out, and then you've got eight bolts. If your tires and wheels are up, pop the spindle off the A-arm and drop it all as one unit, and take it out to the scrapyard.
Got it. Now the most important thing is make sure the engine is supported.
We don't need the engine dropping on anybody.
You need a cherry-picker. You need to have the engined supported good. We'll say it one more time.
[LAUGHTER] OK. So what's our next step?
Next step would be to get all the hardware out and together.
And we have this handy little hardware kit that comes with it. There's four 100 millimeter, 14 millimeter by 100 millimeter bolts for the frame rail. These attach, these plates here, to the bottom of the frame rail. Set those out. And we have 4 A-arm bolts. 5/8 straight 8 A-arm bolts. And, of course, we've got the nuts, and we've got the hardware for the back plates on the frame rail also.
Put the 2 A-arm bolts over there. And we've got hardware down on the floor here already.
Got it.
Just for the shot.
And then?
We're ready to rock.
We're ready to rock. Take our 100 millimeters. Come down on it. This is going to be scary. It's so simple. [LAUGHTER[ Put it up. Put your 100 millimeter bolt through. There's usually a nut plate on there that you spin it up in.
Right. But the nut plate is done.
The nut plate's done. Once we set this thing down, we're probably going to have an acid disc.
OK. Now we've got the ones for back here, right?
Right. Here's two bolts here for back there.
Man, he stripped out all the nut plates on this puppy. You got bolts for me.
OK. C'mon Dean, how can you do it without looking?
I know. I'm left-handed.
And that's it. We get some branches and tighten all the hardware up.
Of course you leave everything loose?
Everything loose until you get everything in.
And then tighten it all down.
Tighten it all down. I mean, we can show you how easy it is to do an A-arm.
[INAUDIBLE] slides right in. Bolt in.
This is great.
Now did you send pictures with your instructions? Because some of them wonder.
Well we're going to have video now, so we're not going to need any pictures, because they can absolutely see how it goes.
So they can go online and look at it.
Yep. Well that's the whole premise to make it a lot easier for your average installer to really be able to wrap their head around it by having an install video. But that's how easy it goes in. Literally, I've had customers have their four year old kid help them put a K nut ring.
And then this is your rack mount, so the rack just slides over it?
Slides on that, and you adjust the steering shaft a little bit. Normally, the steering shaft can slide in and out of the column a little bit. We do drop the rack a little bit. You have to pull the shaft out of the column, maybe 3/4 of an inch. Everything will line back up--
And the reason you drop the rack is?
Hand clearance so that you can lower your engine or use a set of drop mounts to lower your engine or put a bigger oil pan, a larger capacity oil pan.
Got it. So you've worked all the bugs out?
We've worked all the bugs out. Like I said, we started building K members five years ago. We got tired of waiting four or five weeks for the competitors to deliver one to us, or the ones that were out there that you could get, the quality just was not where it needed to be. So we actually bought another company that was making K members at the time, and we looked at everybody else's product and decided to just start over.
Really. Like I said, we built headers. We had the most header clearance, the way we bend our bar, where we put our radius. There's just way more room for a set of big tube headers or a turbo system or anything like that.
So does your K member clear everybody's headers?
Pretty much. Actually, there's companies that are manufacturing their headers around our K member now. It's such a common piece. They're Dynatech, AFCO, they build their headers around our K member.
Wow. That's impressive. How much weight does this take off? Once it's all said and done?
Doing this swap, the K member, the A-arms, and the coil-over kit, it's 89 pounds.
That's a lot of weight off the front.
Significant amount of weight off the front, and if you switch to aftermarket brakes, use a set of lightweight race brakes, it's closer to the 100 pounds.
Wow. That's a lot of weight, man. And we all know weight equates to time.
That's right.
That's great. Now, this is-- and it all uses standard Mustang parts. I mean, like the rack, there's nothing crazy about the rack.
Standard space on a rack. You can put a power rack on. Most people switch to a manual rack when they're doing this and they put the skinnies on the front. But, yeah, we actually-- the shape of the A-arm, we kept the back bar straight so if somebody wanted to use a deep backspace wheel with a wide front tire, it wouldn't affect the turning radius or anything like that. So we did that. And this right here, what we've bolted in, is the shorter A-arm, and the geometry stays the same. It doesn't move your wheel forward or backward in the wheel well.
Yeah. I've seen that. I had to fix a guy's car where the wheels were so far forward you to like literally grind out all the holes and push the K member back. And they said it was to make it handle better, but it didn't fit.
No. No. There's a lot of companies out there that are making them that, either they're them overseas in China or they just really don't care. They want to pump cheap parts out and make a quick profit. And people are fooled. I mean ours are maybe $40 or $50 more, but it installs that easy every single time.
So comparatively speaking on the pay scale, where are you guys at? The middle? About?
We're in the middle. Yeah. Definitely. There's K members out there are a lot more expensive than ours. And there are some that are cheaper but you get what you pay for. And time after time, like I said, you will get a fit like that. Nothing has to be ground. Nothing has to be hammered on unless you have some crazy turbo system like that. But it's just a matter of bolting it in, putting your steering on, bolting your spindles up and, like I said, you'll have to bolt the sleeve that's in the steering column, pull it out another 3/4 of an inch to an inch for everything to line up and bolt up.
OK. So what's next? Lunch?
Check out our YouTube channel for even more tech tips, installation videos, how-tos, and more. The best place to go for anything Mustang related!
What struts will work with this coilover conversion kit?
Asked by michael b. from Melbourne | Comment 0 0
Best Answer:
Any front strut that we offer will work with this kit. However we do recommend that you use an adjustable strut to better dial in your suspension.
Answered by Tim R. from Hewitt | Comment 0 0
will this work with bilstein struts
Asked by chris r. from brooklyn | Comment 0 0
Ford Mustang - 1979 (79) - 1980 (80) - 1981 (81) - 1982 (82) - 1983 (83) - 1984 (84) - 1985 (85) - 1986 (86) - 1987 (87) - 1988 (88) - 1989 (89) - 1990 (90) - 1991 (91) - 1992 (92) - 1993 (93)


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The bronzer and blush retails for $75USD. It is held in a wooden magnetic compact that is similar to one of my all time favorite bronzers, the Sublime Radiant Powder (reviewed here). This also comes with a nice silk pouch with the iconic Pucci print. The first half of the powder is a bronzer and the latter half has 3 different blush shades - coral, dark pink, and pale pink.
The quad in Capri retails for $59USD. This has a medium pink, coral, deep burgundy, and frosty white shade.
The meteorites or also known as Pearls d'Azur Illuminating Powder retails for $59USD and it comes in a special package with the Pucci print. There is also a powder brush with blue bristles that retails for $43USD. I was surprised to find the brush to be quite nice and soft on the skin.
The collection also has 2 nail polish ($22USD) shades in Coral Pink and Indigo Blue. Indigo Blue is the more unique shade out of the two due to its metallic and shimmery finish.
Capri eyeshadow quad is actually really nicely pigmented as shown in the swatch. The texture is quite nice and smooth. The Meteorites has no color, only visible shimmers under the light.
There are also 3 new lipglosses ($32USD) in the collection - Sunny Coral, Sensual Brown, and Indigo Blue. The Khol Kajal Eyeliner is a deep blue indigo that is pigmented and glides on the skin easily. It retails for $36USD.
On my hand, you can see the bronzing powder to be bronzy coral and the blush is a nice coral pink. Unfortunately on my cheeks, the bronzing powder all swirled together creates a muddy shade that was not at all flattering. It looked as though I was sunburned, but not in a good way.
One last image in different lighting:
Overall, this is a nice collection but personally I do not think any of the items are must-haves. If you are a huge fan of Emilio Pucci, the bronzer, brush, and meteorites are all nice collectors items. Although the products all have great pigmentation, I feel that the colors are not particularly unique. We've seen the coral and blue theme in practically every single collection this summer.
Bottom Line: If you're on a budget, I think it's safe to skip this collection altogether (which is what I did). The bronzing powder and blush has an incredibly smooth texture but the shade was a muddy mess on me. I recommend trying it out in person before shelling out $75USD. The glosses are nice with Indigo Blue being the most unique out of the 3 if you feel like being adventurous. The meteorites goes on clear with visible shimmers like every other meteorite that was released in the past. If you must get something up from this collection, my picks would be the eyeshadow quad, the Khol Kajal Eyeliner, and any of the 3 collectors items with Emilio Pucci prints on them (for Pucci collectors).
Have you seen this collection yet? What are your top picks?


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Monday, December 22, 2014
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UNITED STATES -- Just in time for what's predicted to be a busy holiday season on the road, gas prices are dropping. According to AAA, prices fell seven cents nationally during the past week to an average of $3.30 per gallon.
Here in New York, we're still above the national average, but prices are falling. The cost for a gallon of regular unleaded is down nearly six cent since last week, averaging around $3.78.
In the Capital Region, we're seeing prices around $3.65, also down about six cents. And people in Pittsfield are seeing prices around $3.45. That's down more than 10 cents from last week.
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Serves 4 |
Prep Time 2 minutes |
Cook Time 10 minutes
1 packet Eden Mu-16 Herb Tea
1 quart Eden Organic Apple Juice
(Add All Eden Ingredients to Shopping Cart)
Place the apple juice and tea bag in a teapot or sauce pan. Cover and bring to a boil. Reduce the flame to low and simmer for 10 minutes. Drink hot, or chilled. The tea bag can be removed and used to make a second pot of tea.
This tea is a stimulant and is not recommended for daily use.
Beverages, Eastern, Fruit, Gluten-Free, Japanese Food, Low Fat, Low Sodium, Macrobiotic, Tea, Vegan, Wheat-Free


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New Arrivals
mouse over photo to zoom click for larger image
Glammy Sweatshirt
Heather grey sweatshirt gets a glamorous makeover with gold and silver studs.
- Relaxed fit.
- 3/4 dolman sleeves Goldtone and silvertone heat-set studs.
- 70% cotton, 20% rayon, 10% nylon. Hand wash. Imported.
- Hits at mid-hip (25.5" from shoulder).
We're so sorry: this item sold out sooner than expected. For an equally stylish substitute, please call our Style Experts at 1.877.948.2525. Or click on Live Help below for immediate assistance.


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Table for Two: The Millionaire Matchmaker Picks the Best Date Restaurants
A little mood lighting or some candles, an intimate setting, good wine these are things that can contribute to a super romantic dinner date. Luckily, we have the expert advice of Patti Stanger, the dating guru from TV's The Millionaire Matchmaker, who focused her picks mostly in California and in large East Coast cities. What say you, Patti?
Want to get romantic with food at home? Check out these romantic recipe tips and finish off your meal with one of these sweet desserts.
Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak, and Stone Crab; Las Vegas, NV
"This is my favorite restaurant in the United States," says Stanger of this offshoot of Miami's famed Joe's Stone Crab. "It's a fun, flirty place with white-glove service. The ambience is great and the food is amazing — stone crabs are in the same league as lobster." Joe's signature Killer King Crab Claws are served with creamy mustard sauce and a mallet for cracking the claws open.


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Tanzanian communities reverse deforestation by growing native trees from seedlings.
Tanzania is reducing poverty with USAID training in agricultural processing.
USAID programs teach Maasai women to read in Swahili.
About Tanzania
U.S. assistance supports Tanzania's national development goal to build public and private capacity to foster a healthier, prosperous and secure nation through accountable, democratic government that responds effectively to the needs of its citizens.
Related Links
Last updated: December 23, 2014


text: 4 Dark beatsClownRaven | 04/12/2007 | See all ClownRaven's reviews (10)Alot can be said about Massive Attack, but that they are optimistic and shining is not one of them. Their music have always been about the shadow side of life and brings forth the creepyness of damp, dark streets, desperation and despair. However, in between all this, you find a woman's voice who gives a small hope of redemption.On "Mezzanine", this has been practiced to the utmost perfection. Of all the "darkbeat" albums I've heard, this is by far the one that keeps coming most often to mind. The atmosphere is brilliant, yet depressing. It gives you a certain feeling of humans living like cockroaches in a post-apocalyptic, industrial area, where they work in factories at day and go clubbing at night. Neon lights and fog are some of the visuals I get. The music in itself isn't necessarily so thrilling, but the combination of it all makes it so. One song might not do it for you, but the entire album will. This is a package. Remember that. You can't buy this album for just one song. It wouldn't do it justice either.


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Get on the list for product trends
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Add this super sensual, yet super functional lace bra to your innerwear rotation! SmartLace™ lies flat and hugs the body for a gorgeous fit. Contour cups provide an elegant shaped bust and a generous push up. Stunning color combinations with a beautiful base color and complementing lace overlay. The delicacy of this bra matches perfectly with your femininity - feel beautiful underneath it all!
I recommend it!!
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Evoke your intimate side! Feel sensational in this sensual, yet comfortable panty. Made of a high-quality DuraFit™ fabric and with delicate embellishments of SmartLace™. Special seam on rear adds a delicate rounding effect to your rear for a hidden touch. No panty lines make this panty practical to wear any day of the week.
Experience the grace of this gorgeous lace! Made of great fabrics DuraFit™ with a SmartLace™ waistband for feminine appeal. This thong panty hugs the body for a comfortable and beautiful fit.
These are so beautiful and so comfortable!!! Get them!!!!!


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Morning 5
5 ways to eat Twinkies
|This undated image provided by Hostess Brands LLC shows a box of Twinkies. Twinkies will be back on shelves by July 15, 2013, after its predecessor company went bankrupt after an acrimonious fight with unions last year. The brands have since been purchased y Metropoulos & Co. and Apollo Global Management. (AP Photo/Hostess Brands)
Twinkies and other Hostess treats will return to stores on July 15. Here are five ways to enjoy he treat that never dies:
1) Twinkie sushi — Three twinkies, dried fruit and fruit rollups make up this dish.
Read more of this story and more!
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WASHINGTON - The controversial Bi-County Parkway could come under review from Congress.
Rep. Rob Bishop, chairman of the House Subcommittee on Public Lands and Environmental Regulation, wants to review the project.
The parkway covers 10 miles between Prince William and Loudoun counties and cuts through Manassas National Battlefield Park.
The call by Bishop, R-Utah, for a review is sparking responses from local lawmakers.
"This is Manassas National Battlefield, so I think they have a legitimate perogative to come and ask questions about this project," said Fairfax Del. Tim Hugo.
"[It's] the right thing to do, and we appreciate Congressman Bishop taking the time to take a look at this," he said.
The National Park Service wants to shut down Va. 234 and slow traffic on U.S. 29 in exchange for some land for the proposed highway. The Virginia Department of Transportation said the parkway is needed to handle increased north and southbound traffic.
Related Stories:
- Bi-County Parkway, Battlefield bypass moving forward
- 13 leaders say 'slow down' to Bi-County Parkway plans
- NPS wades into debate over Bi-County Parkway
WTOP's Hank Silverberg contributed to this report. Follow @hsilverbergwtop and @WTOP on Twitter.
© 2013 WTOP. All Rights Reserved.


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Avery® Framed View Binder with 1" One Touch EZD™ Ring 68054, BlackProduct Number: 68054
Why choose between clever design and good looks? This Framed View Binder has both. The professional-looking frame with a patented mounting sheet holds a title page firmly in place. Free templates from avery.com let you add company logos, photos, graphics and text so you can create an attractive title page that turns heads. Inside the binder, Gap Free™ rings hold paper securely, while the One Touch EZD™ design makes sheets easy to access and remove. Through and through, this binder was made for professionals.
Product Description:
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Avery® Framed View Binder with 1-1/2" One Touch EZD™ Ring 68059, Navy Blue
Store up to 400 sheets and customize your binder cover with a title page that stays in place


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Wilson Auto Group understands that every driver has a different lifestyle and budget. That's why we pride ourselves on offering one of the most extensive lineups of used Hyundai or Kia, in the Flowood, Pearl MS and Brandon MS area. Come visit us at 4202 Lakeland Dr Flowood, Mississippi and see for yourself.
The reason so many Hyundai, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram and Kia enthusiasts in Flowood, Pearl MS and Brandon MS choose to get their used car, SUV, crossover, or truck at Wilson Auto Group is the level of integrity we offer, in terms of service, auto financing and products (including Hyundai and Kia parts. Visit our used car showroom in Jackson, Mississippi today and find your new favorite used car.


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This program can be applied toward the:
Connect withPublic Administration
Public Admin. Spring 2015
Certificate Brochure
Download the pdf
Learn about the real-world impact of workplace changes. Hear what leaders in both business and academia have to say and help propel yourself or your company into the future. Learn more>>


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Excerpt from: Fame, Fortune and Ambition, Chapter 1
"I am not against success, let me remind you again, I am not saying, don't be successful. I have nothing against it; it is perfectly good. What I am saying is don't be motivated by it, otherwise, you will miss painting, you will miss poetry, you will miss the song that you are singing right now; and when success comes, you have only empty hands because nobody can be fulfilled by success. Success cannot nourish you; it has no nutrients in it – success is just hot air." Osho


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9 Smoothies That Will Turn Your Mood Around
Nature has a cure for almost anything that ails you! Having a hard time getting out of bed? There's a healthy, natural smoothie for that. Solve this and other problems with delicious, meal on-the-go smoothies — it's one treatment you'll actually enjoy.
By Andrea Fowler
Feeling Down
Bye-bye blues super-smoothie
When youre blah, a little nutrition can do wonders. This cleverly named smoothie is full of antioxidant-rich blueberries, vitamin-loaded spirulia, and good fatty acids from chia seeds to help with mood and (bonus!) heart health.
Get the recipe at Pure Ella.
Courtesy of Pure Ella


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8:20 p.m. Dan Deevy, The Cinema Source
What's coming to the box office this weekend
7:50 p.m. Greg McBride, Bankrate.com
Americans aren't cutting back spending after payroll tax hike
7:20 p.m. Robert Barnes, Washington Post Reporter
Gay marriage takes center stage before the Supreme Court
5:20 p.m. Amy Palmer, Politico
Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg gets into politics
3:50 p.m. Andrew Cohen, CBS News Legal Analyst
Another affirmative action case heads to the Supreme Court
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text:
<ac:macro ac:name="unmigrated-inline-wiki-markup"><ac:plain-text-body><![CDATA[
To do: <ac:macro ac:name="unmigrated-inline-wiki-markup"><ac:plain-text-body><![CDATA[
Zend_image is a component used for handling images.
Marcin Lulek a.k.a. Ergo2 has written an image component on which this proposal and initial codebase is based. His component does however miss an object oriented interface, and therefore it has been decided to fully refactor it. As for there is already a suitable codebase (preview of its functionality can be found here ; http://webreactor.eu/image/ ), offers of components written by others are unnecessary (appreciated though).
Zend Framework: Zend_Image Component Proposal
Proposed Component Name
Developer Notes
Dolf Schimmel (Freeaqingme)
David Caunt
Zend Liaison
1.0 - 1 Oct 2008: Initial Draft.
1.1 - 16 Oct 2008: Finished proposal
1.1 - 10 Jan 2009: Ready for community review
1.2 - 28 Jul 2009: Moved to ready for recommendation (wiki revision: 15)
Table of Contents
1. Overview
2. References
To do:
<ac:macro ac:name="unmigrated-inline-wiki-markup"><ac:plain-text-body><![CDATA[
Zend_image is a component used for handling images.
Marcin Lulek a.k.a. Ergo2 has written an image component on which this proposal and initial codebase is based. His component does however miss an object oriented interface, and therefore it has been decided to fully refactor it. As for there is already a suitable codebase (preview of its functionality can be found here ; http://webreactor.eu/image/ ), offers of components written by others are unnecessary (appreciated though).
Zend_image is a component used for handling images.
Marcin Lulek a.k.a. Ergo2 has written an image component on which this proposal and initial codebase is based. His component does however miss an object oriented interface, and therefore it has been decided to fully refactor it. As for there is already a suitable codebase (preview of its functionality can be found here ; http://webreactor.eu/image/ ), offers of components written by others are unnecessary (appreciated though).
3. Component Requirements, Constraints, and Acceptance Criteria
- This component will be able to resize images.
- This component will be able to rotate images.
- This component will be able to print a watermarks on images.
- This component will be able to draw; eclipses, arcs, lines and polygons
- This component will be able to convert images (I.E. from jpeg to bmp).
- This component will be able to apply several filters, as well as adjust contrast etc.
4. Dependencies on Other Framework Components
- GD or ImageMagick
- Zend_Exception
5. Theory of Operation
An instance of Zend_Image will have one image resource by default. The path of this image can be specified when constructing it. It can however also be loaded from a file or string, or be created by Zend_Image itself. Once a resource has been loaded, the actions on the image can be performed, like cropping, resizing, rotating, etc.
By default Zend_Image will support two adapters, namely Zend_Image_Adapter_Gd and Zend_Image_Adapter_ImageMagick.
6. Milestones / Tasks
- Milestone 1: Proposal finished (DONE)
- Milestone 2: Development of prototype started
- Milestone 3: Proposal approved
- Milestone 4: Working prototype checked into the incubator.
- Milestone 5: Unit tests exist, work, and are checked into SVN.
- Milestone 6: Documentation exists.
7. Class Index
- Zend_Image
- Zend_Image_Color
- Zend_Image_Point
- Zend_Image_Chain
- Zend_Image_Adapter_Abstract
- Zend_Image_Adapter_Gd
- Zend_Image_Adapter_ImageMagick
- Zend_Image_Action_DrawLine
- Zend_Image_Action_DrawEllipse
- Zend_Image_Action_DrawCircle
- Zend_Image_Action_DrawArch
- Zend_Image_Action_DrawText
- Zend_Image_Action_DrawPolygon
- Zend_Image_Action_ApplyFilter
- Zend_Image_Action_AdjustAlpha
- Zend_Image_Action_Resize
- Zend_Image_Action_Blend
- Zend_Image_Action_Rotate
- Zend_Image_Action_Brightness
- Zend_Image_Action_Contrast
- Zend_Image_Action_Colorize
- Zend_Image_Adapter_Gd_Action_DrawLine
- Zend_Image_Adapter_Gd_Action_DrawEllipse
- Zend_Image_Adapter_Gd_Action_DrawCircle
- Zend_Image_Adapter_Gd_Action_DrawArch
- Zend_Image_Adapter_Gd_Action_DrawText
- Zend_Image_Adapter_Gd_Action_DrawPolygon
- Zend_Image_Adapter_Gd_Action_ApplyFilter
- Zend_Image_Adapter_Gd_Action_AdjustAlpha
- Zend_Image_Adapter_Gd_Action_Resize
- Zend_Image_Adapter_Gd_Action_Blend
- Zend_Image_Adapter_Gd_Action_Rotate
- Zend_Image_Adapter_Gd_Action_Brightness
- Zend_Image_Adapter_Gd_Action_ActionInterface_Contrast
- Zend_Image_Adapter_Gd_Action_Colorize
- Zend_Image_Adapter_ImageMagick_Action_DrawLine
- Zend_Image_Adapter_ImageMagick_Action_DrawEllipse
- Zend_Image_Adapter_ImageMagick_Action_DrawCircle
- Zend_Image_Adapter_ImageMagick_Action_DrawArch
- Zend_Image_Adapter_ImageMagick_Action_DrawText
- Zend_Image_Adapter_ImageMagick_Action_DrawPolygon
- Zend_Image_Adapter_ImageMagick_Action_ApplyFilter
- Zend_Image_Adapter_ImageMagick_Action_AdjustAlpha
- Zend_Image_Adapter_ImageMagick_Action_Resize
- Zend_Image_Adapter_ImageMagick_Action_Blend
- Zend_Image_Adapter_ImageMagick_Action_Rotate
- Zend_Image_Adapter_ImageMagick_Action_Brightness
- Zend_Image_Adapter_ImageMagick_Action_Contrast
- Zend_Image_Adapter_ImageMagick_Action_Colorize
8. Use Cases
$options = array('thickness' => 5,
'filled' => true,
'startX' => 10,
'startY' => 15,
'endX' => 50,
'endY' => 125);
$image = new Zend_Image('/path/to/image.png');
$line = new Zend_Image_Action_DrawLine();
->to(new Zend_Image_Point(50,125))
$image = new Zend_Image('/path/to/image.png'); // Autodetect adapter to use
$chain = new Zend_Image_Chain();
$line = new Zend_Image_Action_DrawLine();
$image = new Zend_Image('/path/to/image.png',Zend_Image::GD);
// Create new image;
$image = new Zend_Image();
$image->create(50,20); // X, Y size;
file_put_contents('/path/to/image.png',$image->get()); //
$image->save('/path/to/image.png'); // Both lines do the same
$options = array('thickness' => 5,
'filled' => true,
'startX' => 10,
'startY' => 15,
'endX' => 50,
'endY' => 125);
$image = new Zend_Image('/path/to/image.png'); // Autodetect adapter to use
9. Class Skeletons
Some code (meant to get an impression of the API, not to get an impression of our coding skills) can be found here: http://framework.zend.com/svn/framework/standard/branches/user/freak/ZendImage/
Oct 03, 2008

I have created something we use here at work, something that can be conisdered to look like this.

Zend_Image

Zend_Image_Adapter

Zend_Image_Exception extends Zend_Exception

Zend_Image_Adapter_Abstract

Zend_Image_Adapter_Exception extends Zend_Exception

Zend_Image_Adapter_Gd2 extends Zend_Image_Adapter_Abstract

Zend_Image_Adapter_Imagemagic extends Zend_Image_Adapter_Abstract

Where the Zend_Image_Adapter_Abstract has these functions

abstract open($filePath)

abstract save($destination = null, $newFilename = null, $quality = 90)

abstract display($quality = 90)

abstract resize($width = null, $height = null)

abstract rotate($angle)

abstract crop($width, $height = null, $xPos = 0, $yPos = null)

abstract watermark($watermarkImage, $positionX = 0, $positionY = 0, $watermarkImageOpacity = 30, $repeat = false)

abstract _refreshInfo - used to get width and height

public preDisplay

public cropResize($width, $height = null, $xPos = 0, $yPos = null)

public getWidth

public getHeight

public getImageType - returns int, one of the php IMAGETYPE constants

public getFileBasename

public getFileSize

public getFileMimeTypee

public getHandler

public setWatermarkPosition

public getWatermarkPosition

public setCropPosition

public getCropPosition

public setWatermarkWidth

public getWatermarkWidth

public setWatermarkHeight

public getWatermarkHeight

public setKeepProportion

protected refreshInfo - gets pathinfo and filesize

I can send you these files and you can use them as a guide, if you like. We have finished the Gd2 adapter, so there code to review, and more to be written in the Imagemagic adapter.

plz let me know

Oct 06, 2008

+1 for Helgi

I think the work you made so far could be an excellent base for such a Zend_Image component. I'd be really interested in contributing making it become an official ZF component.

Dolf, Helgi, please don't hesitate to get in touch!

Oct 13, 2008

there is work undertaken for zend image by me - ie. there is a prototype that works with gd2 and has cosidrable functionality.

Helgi Hrafn Halldórsson - your proposal wont get past evaluation , there were 3 proposals so far and all were rejected they were all similar to what you did.

http://webreactor.eu/image/ - here are some results from the prototype ive sent to Dolf Schimmel, it still lacks the object oriented interface - we discussed that and it will appear in the proposal probably soon, we have an idea how it should look like.

Oct 28, 2008

LOL, how many people have written something like this since Zend Framework doesn't have it? I myself wrote a component similar to Heigi's a couple years ago. In fact, the method signatures look so similar our code is probably nearly identical! Although this was before IMagick was updated, so it used ImageMagick's own MagickWand for PHP extension.

Jan 10, 2009

Class skeletons or a repository link?

Two minor naming-related things:

1. ImageMagick, not Imagemagick

2. It seems everyone is solving the abstract/interface namespace problem differently. The current naming conventions specify that interfaces should be named like Zend_Image_Object_Line_Interface, not Zend_Image_ObjectInterface_Line. Since there has been no conclusion yet about what the 2.0 naming convention will look like, I would stick with the existing convention for now.

Jul 28, 2009

Tnx for the reply!

What class skeletons are concerned, there are so many classes, that it makes no sense to type them all out here in advance. I will however post a link to a repository soon here.

1. All occurences with 'Imagemagick' were replaced by 'ImageMagick'.

2. I never realized / thought that there's a convention for this (= stupid of me). I don't feel like sticking to this convention however, because then you'd get like a lot of files all in their own directory, instead of having a few dirs with a lot of files. What do you think about that? (I realize that conventions are there with a reason, and if you all want me to, I will stick to this one <ac:emoticon ac:name="wink" /> ).

Edit (Jul.28 2009): Zend_Image will be compliant with the coding standards that are in effect when the component is promoted to trunk (if it ever gets accepted).

Jan 11, 2009

this looks good, and i am very keen to see this component in incubator.

Questions:

1. What is the difference between Zend_Image_Line and Zend_Image_Object_Line class?

2. Is there an error in use case3 line3? it looks strange (missing pointer and function)

3. How is the adapter specified in UC4?

4. Could the Zend_Image wrapper around the adapter maybe implement plugin loader or something and offer a __call intercept for options? That way it would be possible to add drawing and/or other functionality by the user that would otherwise be written around the API.

Jan 11, 2009

1. Zend_Image_Line was a typo/mistake, should have been Zend_Image_Object_Line, which has now been replaced by Zend_Image_Action_DrawLine.

2. Yup, there's a huge error there...solved.

3. It is autodetected, by checking what functions are available.

4. Will do!

Jan 10, 2009

I'm very excited about seeing the code in a future repository.

I have a few suggestions though:

How about adding a Zend_Image_Layer or Zend_Image_Object_Layer. This would be able to hold an arbitrary amount of Zend_Image_Object_*'s.

To add to that, I'm not sure how you are going to implement the different Zend_Image_Object_* classes, but with the previous suggestion in mind, it would be nice if the actual rendering of the different objects in an image with a specific adapter, would only occur if render()/save() type methods are called.

This way, you would be able to store 'blueprints' (for lack of a better word) of the image in a storage mechanism (in some kind of language like xml) and alter its contents afterwards. You could even use them as templates this way. With the Layer suggestion in mind, you would also be able to alter the 'z-index' of layers later on and call operations on a collection of objects in one go.

Consider something like the following:

<ac:macro ac:name="code"><ac:default-parameter>php</ac:default-parameter><ac:plain-text-body><![CDATA[
$image = new Zend_Image();
// add a layer (second argument is z-index)
$layer1 = $image->add( Zend_Image::LAYER, 3, 'non unique name of the layer' );
// OR perhaps this way (first argument is z-index)
$layer1 = $image->addLayer( 3, 'non unique name of the layer' );
// add some objects
$layer1->add( Zend_Image::LINE, ... );
$layer1->add( Zend_Image::POLYGON, ... );
// resize all the objects in the layer at once to a relative size
$layer1->resize( '50', '20', Zend_Image::UNIT_PERCENTAGE, Zend_Image::ADJUST_RELATIVE )
// move all the objects the in layer at once to an absolute position
$layer1->move( '50', '20', Zend_Image::UNIT_PIXEL, Zend_Image::ADJUST_ABSOLUTE )
// new layer
$layer2 = $image->add( Zend_Image::LAYER, 6, 'non unique name of the layer' );
// set z-index to 1
$layer2->setZIndex( 1 );
// get the 'blueprint' of the image in XML with something like getRaw()
$rawImage = $image->getRaw( Zend_Image::FORMAT_XML );
// or perhaps even save the image 'raw'
$image->save( 'path/to/rawimagedata.xml', Zend_Image::FORMAT_XML );
// save image 'blueprint' in DB
$stmt = $db->prepare( 'INSERT INTO raw_image SET content = :rawImage' );
$stmt->execute( array( ':rawImage' => $rawImage ) );

I think there are still some flaws in this approach (like, what do you do with image data that is bitmap data already), but hopefully you catch my drift.

Jan 11, 2009

There is a possiblity for the chaining of actions, also, one will be able to apply watermarks with this component. Because of these two things, I am not really convinced what you describe may come in handy, can you understand?

Jan 11, 2009

Hi,

I think that these component is really useful and should be in Zend Framework. Now my opinion, it will be great to have some possibility how to write simple plugins for this. I think that Zend_Image_Chain is good basic stone but much better will be something like these

<ac:macro ac:name="code"><ac:plain-text-body><![CDATA[
Zend_Image_Plugin_Interface // interface
My_Zend_Image_Plugin_Galery implements Zend_Image_Plugin_Interface/Abstract {
public function setParams($params)Unknown macro: { .... // can be in Zend_Image_Plugin_Abstract abstract probably }
public function proceed(array $options)Unknown macro: { .... // some code using Zend_Image_Chain maybe ?? }

now if you implement method __call wisely will be possible write something like these

<ac:macro ac:name="code"><ac:plain-text-body><![CDATA[
$image = new Zend_Image('/path/to/image.png',Zend_Image::GD);
$image->gallery(); // $image->pluginGallery(); or something like these

The main advantage is that will be very simple share these plugins because it will be in one file.

Jan 13, 2009

Is it possible to use the same method signatures like the already available Zend_Pdf drawing functions?

Zend_Pdf offers also methods for colors (Zend_Pdf_Color_GrayScale/Rgb/Cmyk/Html), transparency, fonts (Zend_Pdf_Font and Zend_Pdf_Resource_Font), line drawing styles and fill styles.

Jul 28, 2009

After having a small discussion with David Caunt we decided that we would indeed implement similar methods. Not all though, for the simple reason an image is something different than a pdf file/page.

Jan 17, 2009

UC-02 says:

...

$image = new Zend_Image('/path/to/image.png'); // Autodetect adapter to use

How will the autodetection work? I.e. will it be 'IM -> GD -> exception', or 'GD -> IM -> exception' by default? There should be a static method to specify the default order, Zend_Image::setDefaultAdapterOrder(array $order), which could be called from the bootstrap. In any sense an exception should be thrown if no adapter have been found at the end of the chain.

As for what should be the default order, I don't have any useful input. ImageMagick seems to be packed with features and useful for existing images, while GD seems to be easier for drawing. Someone who knows should say more about this. The choice (and the reason for it) should be documented in the manual.

Metanote:

Is this proposal really ready for review? I miss a more textual description of the design, and the choices for it, and I also miss class skeletons (yes, browsing the linked page is too cumbersome). I'm not trying to be picky here, but this proposal doesn't say much <ac:emoticon ac:name="smile" />

Jan 21, 2009

In my opinion the automatic order should not be changable.

This leads just to irritations.

When someone really has both extensions installed and wants to use this one he should set an option. Something like:

<ac:macro ac:name="code"><ac:plain-text-body><![CDATA[
$image = new Zend_Image(array('image' => '/path/to/image.img', 'adapter' => 'gd'));

This way you can simply configure what you want within a external configuration file or by using Zend_Config.

Having Options is in most parts a better approach then having static function calls.

Sep 11, 2009

So, it was our intention of not providing any means for this due to complexity (we thought). But somehow we came to a point where we just implemented it <ac:emoticon ac:name="laugh" /> (no, it was not complex at all).

If you prefer to use ImageMagick over the GD adapter, you can do:

<ac:macro ac:name="code"><ac:plain-text-body><![CDATA[$image = new Zend_Image::factory(array('adapters' => array('ImageMagick')));
// or:
$image = Zend_Image::factory();]]></ac:plain-text-body></ac:macro>

Alternatively you can force Zend_Image to use one particular adapter. So that only ImageMagick will be used, even when GD is not available:

<ac:macro ac:name="code"><ac:plain-text-body><![CDATA[$image = new Zend_Image::factory(array('adapters' => array('ImageMagick'), 'adapters_force' => true));
// or:
Zend_Image::setAdapter('ImageMagick', true);
$image = Zend_Image::factory();

When forcing a certain adapter, or when there's none available (read: usable on the system) a Zend_Image_Exception will be thrown.

Feb 06, 2009

It'd be great to see this added to the framework. I'm sure countless developers here have written similar components, therefore this would be very helpful to many. Gets my vote.

Jul 23, 2009

Is this proposal still being worked on? If not it's something I might be interested in developing.

Jul 23, 2009

For the past few months it wasn't being worked on. I however started working on it again as of today, and the proposal will be ready for recommendation soon.

If you're willing to contribute, feel free to contact me.

Jul 27, 2009

I would love to help. I started working on my own this weekend.

Verk_Image

This is really a work in progress! <ac:emoticon ac:name="smile" />

Though i still think you should put actions in folders insted. Say filters go in Zend_Image_Filter_<ac:link><ri:page ri:content-title="filtername" /></ac:link> and the adapter filter would go in Zend_Image_Adapter_<ac:link><ri:page ri:content-title="adapter" /></ac:link>Filter<ac:link><ri:page ri:content-title="filter" /></ac:link>

Same goes for Draw and such. It would make the thing more consistent, at least i think

Jul 28, 2009

That is what the original plan was (see the history of this page). However, this would overcomplicate (is that English?) stuff like magic methods. Therefore we decided to turn it all into actions. By the end of the day applyFilter is an action <ac:emoticon ac:name="wink" />

Aug 15, 2009

I am really interested in this component (it's nothing new to say that I've been working on something similar too) and would be glad to contribute to it in case you guys need a helping hand.

There's a library for batch image processing that I have written and it could be put to good use here.

Oct 08, 2009

I saw that your adapter Zend_Image_Adapter_ImageMagick is an adapter for the Imagick php extension.

I think it would be clearer if this will be named Zend_Image_Adapter_Imagick and the adapter Zend_Image_Adapter_ImageMagick could use ImageMagick directly (by exec).

Oct 08, 2009
<ac:macro ac:name="note"><ac:parameter ac:name="title">Zend Acceptance</ac:parameter><ac:rich-text-body>

This proposal is accepted for immediate development in the standard incubator. We request that the following actions are taken during development:

Rename "Arch" to "Arc"

Rename classes to follow current coding standards (interfaces end in <component>Interface, abstract classes in <component>Abstract)

Please keep in communication with the developers who are currently working on charting and graphing capabilities to ensure the API you create is usable by them.

Aug 19, 2010

For this proposal, feel free to use the functions in this library which handles things like resizing (with different resize modes - eg. crop, proportional, etc), reading, writing, format conversion, compression:
http://github.com/balupton/balphp/blob/master/trunk/lib/core/functions/_image.funcs.php

They have proven to be very stable over the years

Mar 21, 2011

Is this component still being actively worked on?


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