Hierarchical Progression

I had the hardest time with this assignment. I am not sure if my creative juices are flowing at full force right now- perhaps because it is the nearing the end of the semester and I am stressed about all the school work I have to do which brings me to the first thing I learned... find something that calms me so I can bring forth my creativeness. That all being said I am not really that happy with my final product. I had a hard time finding some text that I wanted to turn into a hierarchical progression.

To do my project is fairly straight forward. For my first composition I just added a drop shadow to my text and created the roman numeral three in red to be behind the word three to give it a bit more depth. I also created a rectangle that I then used the twirl tool to create a small twirl in the rectangle. My thought was for it to be reminiscent of a scroll because it is a Biblical quote.

For my next two compositions I created two rectangles and blended them together. I then put the text in the white part of the composition. My thought for the placement of my text was that for faith I put in the bottom corner as though faith was something that we have to have down here on earth. I put my hope text in the top as if we were looking upwards towards heaven and hoping that all would be well.

For my next two compositions I created a heart using the brush tool and put the words love in both hearts. I kept the two compositions simpler since the greatest of the three (faith, hope and love) is love. But changed the color palette to make them slightly different.

Letterform Project

To create my letterform studies I first created a grid with each box measuring 3 by 3 inches. I then decided to use the letters that reflect my family: David, myself (Karen) and our son Elijah. For each letter I chose a different font and exaggerated it's width and height. I then made all the letters outlines so I could rotate and skew them even more. I also changed the coloring of each of the letters and assigned it a primary or secondary color. My inspiration was that it might be something you would see in a young child's room hence my 18-month old son's name being written out in the last six quadrants. I also chose to make the D&K part a little different from Elijah's name because I wanted that to represent that we were the adults. To do that I underlined our letters and made them a version of blue. I also chose a letterform that was more "grown-up". For Eli's letters I chose letterforms that were more fun and childlike. In addition, to make Elijah's name have something that connected each of the letters in his name I used the twirl tool to put a swirl in the top left part of each of his letter. (Top right in the case of the "i")

I also made a tinted black and white version of the original because that is what the assignment originally called for; however the second composition loses all the important parts of the design if the color is absent.

Contrast Studies Project- Monumental/Diminutive

For my contrast studies I chose to do monumental/diminutive compositions. I created these compositions by using the star shape tool to create a lot of stars. For the first composition I made one very large star compared to the small ones. I then gave the larger star a wider stroke then the smaller stars. I used the paint brush to give the stroke a brush stroked looked. I then filled in the stars with a gray tint and then used the Gaussian blur effect to give the stars a smooth look. For the bottom one I made one little star amongst many big ones. I also made the little star's stroke a little thicker then the larger stars.

Midterm Symbol Post

Collage Assignment

To create my collage I used a picture of some flowers that was taken about six years ago in California. I selected the flowers out of the picture using the quick selection tool. I then dragged them into my collage document. I then used the free transform tool to enlarge their size drastically. Next I used the filter gallery to apply the smudge stick effect to the flowers. I also used the blur tool to soften one of the edges of the flower. Next I used the brush tool to write out the word summer using my pen tablet. I then enlarged the word and rotated it to fit into the empty space between the flowers. Next I applied a drop shadow and an inner shadow the text. After that I used the liquefy gallery under the filter menu to give it a watery effect to the lettering.

Nothing makes me think of summer like bright flowers and happy, bright times!

Symmetrical Photo Assignment

To create my symmetrical image I used the bottom image as my base. My first step was to crop the image, next I used the quick selection tool to select the background. I then darkened the background by reducing the light level using the hue/saturation option under image adjustments. Next I inversed my selection and upped the saturation level of the pot. Finally I used the burn tool to burn the middle of the pot area that had lost color due to my camera flash.

The symmetrical photo was my hardest one because the items that I was using for my photos did not have any real symmetry except for the pots. That is why I did a close up of the top of the pot. If I had included the cactus then it would have lost it's symmetry.

Color Balance Photo Assigment

To create this color balance picture I cropped it in close to the cactus and them used the quick selection tool to select the areas not including the cactus or the pot. I then darkened the back my lowering the lighting with the hue/saturation option under photo adjusments. I then inversed my selection so I could lighten the pot and cactus. I again used the hue and saturation option to increase the saturation to make the colors jump out more. I then used the smudge tool to smudge the background and a little bit of the vase so it would create a slight frame around the cactus. I did not record the original number of the photo and that is why I did not post the original photo because it is hard to tell which one I used.

Asymmetrical Photo Assignment

To create my asymmetrical picture I cropped my original photo (which I did not post because I can't tell which one it was!) and used the quick selection tool to select the background. I then lowered the light level under the hue/saturation option under the image adjustments menu. I then inversed my selection and increased the saturation on the ornament. Next I used the smudge tool to smudge around the background and edge of the ornament.

Dominance Photo Assignment

To create my dominance image I used the bottom picture as my base. My first step in created this was straightening the picture a little bit. To do this I used the ruler tool which is found in the sub menu under the eyedropper tool. I drew a line to from one side to the other so that the vase would be straight. Next I selected the rotate canvas arbitrarily. This option is found under the image menu. I then cropped the image and used the quick selection tool to select the background. I then darkened the background using the light tool under hue/saturation option under photo adjustments. I then used the spot healing brush to get rid of the white dot on the vase that was as a result of my camera flash. I then used the burn tool to darken the cactus and the ornament. Finally I applied the cutout filter to the picture.

Repetition Photo Assignment

To create my repetition photos I used the bottom image as my base. Since I did not have multiples of anything to use in a repetition photo I had to create them. My first step in this process was to open my image and rename it and save it again. I then opened the image again and used the quick selection tool to select the cactus. I then dragged that selection over to my saved document twice. This gave me three cactus to line up in a straight line. I then merged my layers so that it would be a single image. Next I used the quick selection tool to select all three cacti. I then inversed my selection and lowered the lighting by using the hue/saturation option under photo adjustments. I then inversed the selection and increased the saturation a bit. Next I used the smudge tool to smudge the background. Next I used the burn tool to burn the cacti to a darker green. I then cropped the image to final cropping. Next I saved my final picture then applied a watercolor filter to create another final image. That is the first one you see.

Scale Change Photo Assigment

To create my scale photo I used the bottom image as my base. First I used the quick selection tool to select the background behind the rocks and ornament. I then inversed it and refined my edges so that there was a little space between the background and the ornament and rocks. I then inversed again and darkened the background using the light level in the hue/saturation option under photo adjustments. I then inversed once more and lighted up my rocks by upping the saturation level. I then used the smudge tool to smudge around the rocks and ornament to give it a whimsical effect.

Orientation Photo Assigment

To create my orientation photos I used the originals on the bottom as my base. I then cropped both pictures and used the quick selection tool to select the area around the edge. I then darkened the background by lowering the light levels using the hue and saturation option in the photo adjustments. I then inversed my selection and increased the saturation on my cactii. I then smudged the background of both pictures and then applied the watercolor filter effect. The reason that I did that was to hide my imperfect selection of the cactii.

Rythem/Movement Photo Assigment

To create my rhythm and movement picture I used the bottom image as my base. I then cropped that image to be a close up of just the ornament. I then used the hue/saturation option under photo adjustments to up my saturation levels so the colors would pop more. I then used the burn tool to try to get the orange-red color to be even more striking. I then used the sponge tool around the white parts of the ornament so as to give it more definition and the white area would be more distinct. I think the close up creates an effect of something moving in a downward slope.

Pattern Photo Assignment

To create my pattern picture I used the picture on the bottom as my original. I rotated it 90 degrees so the rocks would lay horizontal. I then cropped the picture to just the rocks. I then used the quick selection tool to select the background behind the rocks. I then used the hue/saturation option in photo adjustments to reduce the lightness on the background. I then inversed my selection and increased the saturation on my rocks. I then applied the sponge filter to give my rocks a more painted look. I then created a new document with a black background and moved my finalized rock picture three times over to the new document. I then reduced the size of one of them and arranged it so it would be on top of the other two. I then cut my new document again to suit my artistic needs.

Project 3- Graphic Animal

The first step in my process was to research lady bug pictures on the Internet and print them out. I then did some hand drawn sketches of the different pictures that I printed out. Next I tried scanning my images so I could load them into to Adobe Illustrator but I ended up having some technical difficulties with my scanner so I ended up picking one of my drawings and recreating it using Corel Draw.

Ladybugs are perfectly symmetrical with equal spots on both their elytra, which are the hard shell wing covers that are usually red, orange or yellow. Sometimes there is a spot that is spread over both wing covers which is evident in my drawing. They also have symmetrical spots on the area behind their head, this is called the pronotum. I have included four on my drawing.

To ensure that my drawing was symmetrical I drew one side of the wing cover and then copied and rotated horizontally. I then put them together to form the two wing covers of the lady bug. I also created my spots for one side and then copied and pasted then flipped horizontally.

The most challenging part of this assignment was drawing in general. I am no artist when it comes to hand drawing animals so I was a bit intimidated by that because I like to have a awesome final product and I knew that I was going to have trouble drawing. Once I printed out images to review as I drew that made it a lot easier but of course drawing a lady bug is not exactly hard compared to drawing a more in depth creature.

Overall I do like my final image. I wish that I could draw better legs but I am pleased with the lady bugs head because at least it looks like she has little bug eyes!

Project One- Expressive Type and Design

My first step in doing this assignment was to look up the definitions of the words stodgy, crush, ornate and sludge. Even though I already knew what they meant I wanted to see what the dictionary said in the hopes the inspiration would come my way.

ORNATE:

Ornate was the easiest to do. I used the font vivaldi italic to start off with. I then used the create outlines option which is under the type menu. Next I used the twirl tool in Adobe Illustrator. I began by adding lots of twirls to each of the letters. After that I used the arc tool to create a few lines that crossed behind the word. I then used the twirl tool on those lines to add a little twirl to each end.

I believe that this one was successful in portraying the word ornate. It was showy and had lots of extras.

STODGY:

Stodgy was harder and I am still not sure that I was successful on it. I used the font Castellar to create this one. I then made some changes to the tracking, kerning, leading, vertical scale and horizontal scale which are all things that can be changed from the Character Panel which is under the Type Window on Illustrator. I set the leading to 60 pt., changed the kerning to optical, set the tracking to -100, changed the vertical scale to 200% and finally changed the horizontal scale to 50%.

With these changes the font was now skinnier and taller then the original font. To give it a little bit more old-fashioned look I used the stamp effect which can be found under the sketch sub menu which is under the effects menu. I set the light/dark balance to 23 and the smoothness to 9.

CRUSH:

Crush was created by using the Poplar std black font and setting the tracking to -100. I then created outlines with the text. This gave me the ability to scrunch up each letter individually. Next I created a rectangle and filled it with black. I arranged it behind the word crush which I turned white so it would show up on the black box. I then used the glass effect, which is under the distort sub menu under the effects menu, on the black box to give it a more textured look. I set the distortion to 8, the smoothness to 3 and gave it a frosted texture.

I think that this one is successful. The letters looked crushed which obviously speaks to the meaning of the word crush.

SLUDGE:

Sludge was created with the font Matisse ITC. My first step was to create outlines and warp the letters a bit to give it a less refined look. I next applied the ocean ripple effect, which is in the distort sub menu under the effects menu. I set the ripple size to 11 and the ripple magnitude to 9.

I definitely think this looks muddy or like sediment.

SLUDGE COMPOSITION:

I created my sludge composition by positioning my text in the upper left corner. I then created a black rectangle box which warped and with the warp tool. I then reshaped it to be really small and skinny and changed the opacity to 50%. I then kept copying the rectangle over and over until I would get a few and then select all those and copy again. Once I had enough to fill my screen I selected individual points to warp the bottom of the rectangles even further. Next I used the wrinkle tool to create a mixed, muddy look of all the little rectangles so they would not look so uniform.

My goal with this composition was to make a muddy mess behind the word sludge. I think I was successful.

CIOS 108 Orientation Quiz

What is something that is going well in your life?
I am getting married on July 25 so I am really excited about that. However planning a wedding is not always fun.
What are your specific goals for this class?
My specific goal for this class is to learn as much as I possibly can. I have always been interested in design and would like to start a business for web and graphic design but know I have a lot to learn before that can be successful.
What was your first experience with design, computers and imaging technology like?
My first experience with design, computers and imaging technology was a long time ago. I remember using a desktop publishing program to create little newspapers for my family when I was a kid. Of course that did not involve my own design but I remember thinking that I would love to create and design stuff.
Do you usually work on a Mac or a PC and why?
I usually work on a PC as that is what I always have had for a computer however I have used Mac’s before.
What is your experience level with Photoshop or image editing programs available?
I have some limited experience with Photoshop, Illustrator and Fireworks.
What is something you liked about your day today?
I liked having a delicious coffee drink with delicious whip cream on top. I had not had one in awhile so I enjoyed it immensely.
How do you plan to use what you learn in this class?
I am trying to start a web design business and would love to have a better grasp on graphic techniques to make websites that I build more visually stunning.
What would make this class go well for you?
Just learning as much as I can would make it worth my while.
How do plan to make this class go very well for you?
I plan on investing the time to make sure that I am actually learning in this class rather than just doing the bare minimum to get a decent grade. I really would like to come away from this class with improved knowledge so that I have a better chance of succeeding at my business.
What do you do for creativity?
This past semester I took a web design class so a lot of my creative juices were spent while taking that class.
Who are John and Thomas Knoll?
They are the creators of Adobe Photoshop. John Knoll has also worked on many movies as a visual effects supervisor for movies such as Star Trek Generations and Star Trek First Contact.
Do you own or have access to color image scanner?
Yes I do.