Handy websites you'll want to bookmark

A while ago I posted an article which discussed four puppetry websites you’ll want to keep bookmarked. Now I’m presenting a list of websites which offer useful converters and generators that will help you make your puppets, sets and costumes. There’s everything from measurement converters to online printable rulers, and even some sites that are just plain handy for other reasons. The most interesting ones are at the bottom…

• Online Conversion
  This website has a whole range of converters - from calculating angles to international clothing sizes - where you put in the number you have and it spits out the number you want in a different measurement. Can’t calculate the difference between metric and Imperial? Let this site do it for you. I generally only use this site for clothing though… it’s helpful for working out the different sizes from country to country if I’m buying a piece of clothing online. Oh, and it’s large numbers converter is handy.
• The World Clock
  This site is a time/date converter. Handy if you’re trying to chat with someone online and they’re in a different time zone, or if you’re planning a trip, or whatever. They also have a time difference calculator, so you can work out how many hours ahead/behind you are from someone else.
• This to That
  Ever wondered what glue to use for what material? This site calculates it for you. Just choose the two materials you’re trying to glue together, and it spits out a suggestion or three.
• Digital Dutch Unit Converter
  Like the Online Conversion site above, Digital Dutch provides a bunch of calculators for working out measurements. This has fewer calculators available, but I find the site is easier to navigate.
• XE Currency Converter
  This uses up-to-date currency rates to give you conversions of money. It also has a handy historical list: put in a time and currency and it spits out a list of currency values (ie. on the 27th June 2010, I want to know what the Australian dollar was worth: it will give a list of all currencies and their comparitive values).
• Unit Conversion
  Yet another all-purpose conversion site. This one has the most types of calculators, including sound calculators (ie. decibels, etc), heat, and so on. I found this one useful for its seconds-days calculator, since most sites don’t include such conversions.
• Easy Calculation
  And another all-purpose one. This one I’ve used because it also had a convenient calculator for bandwidth. Those who have their own websites, or are looking to purchase web hosting, will find this useful because it helps put bandwidth into terms that are easier understood for those who are less technologically competent. 
• Satellite Signals
  Surprisingly this one is not as unrelated as it sounds. Satellite Signals provides a handy map/location calculator for finding latitude and longitude. Don’t know where in the world you are? This will help. You don’t even have to have a specific address either, you can type in a town, country, or area code.
• Scale Conversion Calculator
  This site is extremely handy for anyone who wants to make scale drawings or models for their puppetry work. This tells you not only what the scale ratio is, but also gives you the ability to see what the real-world measurement (in both inches and centimetres) is. You can scale up, or scale down, so you can put in the real-world measurement of say, a chair, and tell it to scale down - and you’ll get a ratio/size that you can use for your models or drawings.
• Yellowpipe Internet Services Color Converter
  Useful for working out what your chosen colour is in RGB (used by many printers) and hex (website design). This means if you find a colour you like on the net you can convert it into something more useable in the real-world, or vice versa.
• IRuler
  Sometimes I’ll be working on my computer and can’t be bothered going to find a ruler to figure out a measurement. Sometimes I’d like to know the width of something I see on my computer screen. Wouldn’t it be handy to have a ruler on your computer? Well, this is it. The site presents you with an actual true-to-size ruler, based on your computer’s screen size. Handy!
• One Mile Scroll
  Not so much useful, but interesting. One Mile Scroll is a website that allows you to scroll for one whole mile, with markers at certain points telling you how tall something is. It’s just for fun really…
• HTML for the conceptually challenged
  Don’t understand anything about making your own websites? Try this ‘dummies’ page which explains some of the basics.
• Color Wizard
  This little generator helps you pick a colour scheme. It’s aimed at website design, but I find it handy for picking hues, complementary colours, or whatever. Put in one colour to start, or randomise it, or pick from the colour wheel.
• Information is Beautiful - Colours in Culture
  Information is Beautiful is a website that uses statistics to create visual reports of something. In this case, colours as used across cultures and various moods. A fascinating look at how we use colour.
• Vendian Paper Rulers
  Does what it says: a range of paper rulers to print out, using different measurements, scales, etc.
• Support Details
  Ever have a problem with your computer and needed to submit info about it to support staff? This site does it for you. No need to remember what version of Windows you’re using, or what screen size you’ve got. Just go to the website, and it will list it for you (no need to input anything either, it does it automatically). You can then print the page or email it to someone.
• The Scale of the Universe
  This little webtoy is like the One Mile Scroll, only this time it’s more interesting visually, and helps you understand just how small we really are.
• The Universal Packing List
  For any touring company, this site is a must. You enter a few details about where you’re going, for how long, etc and it spits out a packing list that you can use so you don’t forget the essentials. You can also download it as a program for your computer.
• Tin Eye
  It’s useful for seeing if your photos are being plagiarised on the net. Just upload a photo and it will check for you.
• Online Gallery Playset
  This downloadable model is designed to help you see your art as if it was in a gallery. Print the model, then cut it out and put it together. You’ll have a little model gallery, with places to ‘hang’ your art, plus model people. Handy if you want scale people for your model sets, etc.