Lesson #12

This was our second lesson for Photoshop. We learnt how to make an object that we add into an image realistic and how to add textures to an image. It looked really easy but when I tried, it was not easy at all. Our classwork was to place some animals into a background and we had to adjust the opacity, learn to scale, flip and rotate the animals so that they look realistic.

This is my attempt.

We learnt the use of the magnetic lasso tool, which definitely reduced our burden of using the normal lasso tool and having to follow the lines closely so as not to chop off part of the image or have extra things in our image. It was way easier compared to the normal lasso tool.

With that, we learnt to add textures to our images.

I put these two images together and: 

Tried again.

sorry angelababy.

We had another attempt at using the magnetic lasso tool, and we also learnt to play with the colours of our background image.

Placed some friends in the tank for the goldfish and changed the colour of the water to green.

It was overall really satisfying to be able to Photoshop something although it could have been done better. It was fun to use too!

We were then told to go home and do up 3 creative images using the techniques we have learnt and here are some I did:

I had fun doing up these images. Photoshop is much better to use then Illustrator even though we can only undo something once.

Lesson #11

This lesson, we met Photoshop. I wasn't exactly looking forward to using Photoshop after the horror we experienced with Illustrator as we were working on our logo and mascot CA. However, it was a little more fun then expected! And I guess Photoshop (to me) is more useful as I could just edit photos for fun after mastering the basic skills, rather then illustrator which I can only use to draw.

We were introduced to the basic tools: hue & saturation, brightness & contrast, levels, curves and sharpen. It seemed a little complicated at first, but I think we got the hang of it pretty quickly.

This is an example of the basic image editing from lesson slides. It is an example of using the hue and saturation curve for editing.

Then we had to do our own editing with our own photos with friends.

This is my attempt with the hue and saturation curve.

We then learnt about the lasso tool, crop, clone, eraser etc.

An example from lesson slides, in which I think the clone tool was used. We were told that in skin care advertisements, the clone tool is used to erase their pimples or flaws on their faces.

This is my attempt to remove the sunglasses on Valerie's head.

We were then taught the lasso tool, which was the main thing in cropping a certain part of a picture out and pasting it on another cleanly. It was a little hard to use as I kept going off the outline of the object I'm supposed to crop.

My attempt on using the lasso tool to crop the mask out and pasting it on the lion.

Lesson #7

Another Illustrator lesson again. This time our classwork was more complicated then the lion mascot. It involved tracing cartoons on Illustrator.

We had to use different layers for different part of the bodies. It was a challenging task as there were many details and the facial expressions were especially hard to trace. It was good practise for our CA though, as we have to use Illustrator to trace our logos and mascot, which would probably have quite a number of details too.

We learnt text layout as well, in which we had to trace the Captain America logo and add text to it. I tried other text layouts too, like the hexagonal one. We also explored the brush tools on Illustrator and had fun trying it out. The brush strokes actually looked really nice.

We then learnt about typography design, where we chose a font and redesigned it by using the select tool on illustrator. We could do so by dragging part of the letters (the anchor points) however we wanted.

Through learning text layout and typography design, we can come up with creative ways to design our logo for CA. We can make it a combination mark logo, where it looks original with our own typography design and text layouts.

Lesson #6

We continued with Illustrator and learnt to draw mascots. We learnt to use basic illustration tools like the selection tool, direct selection tool and pen tools. We worked with shapes, rulers, guides and more. We attempted this by using different layers for different parts of the bodies of the lion mascot. It was initially really difficult to use Illustrator to draw the mascot, I didn't think I would do a good job of it. But as we progressed, I realised that I slowly got the hang of it and was actually having fun with it!

Note to myself is that there are certain parts of the lion that can be drawn using the shapes, instead of using the pen tool throughout. It is possible but harder to do. Using the shapes makes it easier.

We added colours to our mascot as well! I finally learnt how computer drawings are made through this software. I felt really proud of myself and there was a great sense of achievement looking at my completed drawing!

Left: Google image, right: my own drawing!

After this lesson, I was more confident and familiar in using Illustrator. Though it could be frustrating, the end product is really satisfying to look at, I guess I could say that it is the "fruit of my labour"!

Lesson #5

In Lesson 5, we learnt about the different types of logo and mascots that people have designed. This is to aid us in our CA, which is to create a logo and mascot for our own t-shirt brand.

A logo is not a brand, but a design symbolizing one's organization, for example:

cr: http://blogs.biz.colostate.edu/ugrad/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2013/08/starbucks-coffee-logo.gif

Logo for Starbucks.

We learnt about the 3 basic types of logos mainly iconic, logotype/ watermark and combination mark.

These are examples of iconic logos. They are instantaneously recognizable (e.g: Apple) and memorable. Iconic logos are also clear when reproduced in small sizes and can be illustrative in nature or concrete/ abstract.

These are examples of logotypes/ watermarks. They have uniquely styled type of font treatment and have certain ways of interpreting them. For example: script fonts imply a sense of formality (Disney) and refinement, thick fonts proclaim strength and power (DELL) while slanted fonts impart a sense of motion or movement (Ray Ban).

Combination mark logos are concise text that can complement an icon or symbol, providing supplemental clarity. They can be either integrated or stand alone.

We learnt about the 5 principles of effective logo design: simple, memorable, timeless, versatile and appropriate.

We also learnt about mascots. 

A mascot is a representative figure, a symbol and a communication tool for somebody/ organization/ campaign/ product. A mascot personifies their values, communicates effectively and helps them stand out from the crowd. 

An example would be the 2008 Beijing Olympics mascots:

We were also taught about the qualities of a good mascot:

1. Connection to company profession and values.

2. Background story.

3. Appeal.

4. Style for target audience.

5. Props and accessories.

I have to keep these qualities for good logo and mascot design in order to do well for the CA! It would really help alot.

We continued with Illustrator, this time practising using our pen tool on different shapes. We traced the Apple, Nike and MacDonalds logo. 

Another try done at home:

Slowly getting the hang of Illustrator!

Lesson #3

For the third lesson, we learnt about the history of symbols and typography history. Symbols are a universal mean to convey messages with or without spoken or written words. They are classified as pictograms, ideograms and rebus.

Pictograms are graphic images that conveys its meaning through a pictorial resemblance to a physical object. They are common "visual language" that represents a mutual understanding among cultures, race and society. Chinese words are composed entirely of pictograms!

Ideograms are characters or symbols representing a complete idea or concept.

cr: http://jillrobbins.com/gwu/256/10/rebus.gif

Rebus is a pictorial image that represents a spoken sound.

cr: http://99designs.com/designer-blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/00.jpg

Logotype is a symbol comprised entirely of typography.

cr: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZpvk3nQVvNNE4emncJRe3OivnVgcRg1VPxRM6hIfGZ5Y3PM8oG23siOz7PtwIFOtFy5QlwwMOWTUcrGtLmz8hoOPZd2pfd1MpSacjEQ9FZBPvx83E3DyjaaiKvR4A-hQ1R3C6VM0VTMU/s1600/trademarksoftheworld.jpg

A trademark is a word, name, symbol or device which is used in trade with goods to indicate the source of the goods and to distinguish them from the goods of others. They are recognizable signs, designs or expressions which identifies products or services of a particular source from those of others.

 Corporate identity is the overall image of a corporation or firms or business in the minds of diverse publics, such as customers and investors and employees.

We also learnt about typography history mainly movable type, roman type, Lithography and San Serif type. We then moved on and started on illustrator. Introduced to softwares like this for the very first time, it was very difficult and I of course had much trouble with it, especially without a mouse.

Our very first Illustrator exercise which required us to trace the shapes using the pen tool. I will have to do better on Illustrator since we are going to have to use it alot for our CA.

Lesson #2

We had our second visual comms lesson.

Mr Seow taught us about using negative space for our logo design for our CA. I feel that using negative space is really cool as another picture can be formed if we're creative enough! For example:

Image cr: http://www.graphic-design.com/design-bookshelf/negative_space/negative_space_h.png

We also learnt about using our pencils as "measuring sticks" to measure the proportion of what we will be drawing! There is also a "draw with pencil and thumb" method and using our pencils to find angles. I think its a really useful way of drawing in proportion to whatever we will be drawing as it is accurate but I can't really get how I go about using it and I will have to improve.

We practised this exercise first on drawing a dog.

This is the bigger picture of the dog I drew.

I find that using the pencil as a measuring stick is a little difficult to learn how to use and I got a little distressed but it was great nonetheless. (Although the turnout wasn't that good -note the dog above)

We then had to pair up and had to do a sketch of our classmate using the pencil as measuring stick and we had to sketch them proportionately! I paired with Jia-chi and this is my sketch of her:

Didn't really do a good job I'm sorry

We then learnt about textures which are "surface" designs which support the illusion of real substances or present invented composites. Then we had to do up 3 textures, one representing ourselves, another from our surroundings and the third futuristic or modern texture.

Texture that represents me

 This is the texture that represents me. I drew laughing faces with small eyes because I like to laugh and I'm asian (STEREOTYPE).

Texture in my surroundings

 This is the texture of my surroundings. Its supposed to be the apple logo but it doesnt look like it. Everyone's using Macbooks thus I drew this.

Futuristic/ modern texture

This is a futuristic texture. I drew samsung as I believe samsung everyone will use samsung in the future.

The next activity was to draw in proportion what we saw at the designated places we had to go. I stayed at the bridge and drew what I saw, trying my best to use the pencil as a measuring stick.

This is the bridge.

And this is my drawing of the bridge. I tried my best.