Monday, November 10, 2008

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

3.1.1. Reading & Exercise: Rhythm and Flow

Tutorial Exercise 1-Exercise: Rhythm

On an A4 sized page, create a rhythm with great variation.
Use vertical, horizontal, and diagonal lines, dots, squares, and type.

2.2.2. Exercise: Texture Exercises

Tutorial Exercise 2 - Draw 3-D objects, like cubes, pyramids, or spheres using your Photoshop or Illustrator tools. Think about where your light would be coming from, and shade in the opposite sides with varying intensities of texture to create the illusion of three-dimensional space.

Still working on the others, driving me nuts!

Update

Big delay! Have been stuck, not able to do much because I did not have the required software.. I have since trialled Adobe cs3 design premium, and now bought the student edition but waiting for the serial number. Still not much use having the software when you don't know how to use it so I have been doing tutorial after tutorial. Even simple things like making a sphere, or simple designs has been driving me crazy.

I have managed to get a half decent understanding of dreamweaver so have been working on assignment number 2. Flash, illustrator and fireworks still are in the distance but I will get there..

Thursday, August 21, 2008

Module 2 Graphic Design

Tutorial Exercise 1

Destroying Symetry and Retaining Balance: * Using Adobe Photoshop or Macromedia Fireworks, create a symmetrical design on a 20cm square format using solid black shapes. * Make a copy of it. * Cut the copy into 2cm horizontal strips. * Cut the strips in half vertically. * Rearrange the strips to create a balanced asymmetrical design.

Original Design

Destroyed and Re- Deployed!~

2.2.1. Exercise: Low Contrast and High Contrast Exercise

Find two online example of graphic design solutions that use low contrast and two examples that use high contrast. Here are some suggested starting point Web sites:

http://www.designinteract.com/sow/archive.html
http://www.webbyawards.com/webbys/current.php
http://www.americandesignawards.com/winners-annual.html

High Contrast example - Michel Gondry

High Contrast - Will-i-am

Low Contrast - Viget

Low Contrast - Hugg

Texture Exercises
Tutorial Exercise 1 In Adobe Photoshop, experiment with the wide range of options that come with your filters, brushes, and other tools. See if you can replicate textures you would find in the real world. Try to create a visual texture of a rubbing. That is, the effect you would receive from positioning a piece of paper on a tree trunk or tombstone and rubbing it with pencil or crayon.

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Topic 1

Find three Web sites you find inspiring and write why from this collection:
http://www.commarts.com/webpicks/

http://www.girleffect.org / Although ultimately the website is only accessible to a minority of the global population because of its flash content, the target audience is generally those with money and presumably good Internet connection and software.. Stand-out features

Simplicity in design and colour scheme - Site was very easy to stare at
Impressive - Captured my attention
Flowing

http://www.helpt hehoneybees.com/ A lovely website if I can say that!

Simple yet lively colour scheme
Effective and to the point
Clever visuals to promote companies objectives
Informative and useful to not only adults but children as well
Creative but not over the top

http://onlinelearning.unu.edu/ayuquila/main.html I liked this site because initial opening of the page was quick, there were no delays waiting for downloads or flash content. Good use of white space and simple layout that is easy to navigate if further investigation is deemed. The choice to view video content, rather than have it forced into my face makes it a pleasure. More colour and larger link pathways would catch the eye and maybe attract more traffic.

Web Sites that don't work

http://www.lolldesigns.com/we lcome.php Found this site to over the top! Didnt catch my eye or attention and took too long to open flash - there is alot!

Too much information. There are more drop down menus than worth attempting to focus on, and the text is too small
They promote eco furniture but the site looks a little drab, I'd prefer it more light and airy, colourful and cheerful..

http://w ww .eds hoots.com/ Sorry Ed, I do like the look, its creative and clean and invites consideration, but the loading of each image is too slow. The little red progression download image is gimmicky and gets in the way of the picture. There are much better ways to load photos while viewing others so that the reader can quickly scan through the pics... Navigation could be improved and alternative links or features might also invite intrigue and time.

http://oakley.com/citizensofpowder/ This site makes me queezy! Not only because of the 'old skool' graphics that may be deemed as retro and "in", but to me seem dull and lifeless, but mainly because these big companies try too hard to be "cool"! Just another marketing ploy to plunder the the pockets of innocent sheep that go for over priced and hyped up CHEAPLY made products. I really dont like the poor quality cartoon graphics used to display stock, its a little sneaky I think. The site is not really clear, there is no simplicity of access or understanding of what I am actually supposed to be doing there.. I also really despise those pop up videos on the initial home page, very intrusive and annoying, fastest way to drive my mouse to the X

Colour Exercises
http://www.liquisoft.com/colortheory.html
http://www.colorsontheweb.com/
http://www.paintquality.com/color/

What Color Model does your computer use? RGB (Red, Green, Blue)
Where can you see more colors, in print or on screen? Screen
What are primary colors? Red, yellow, blue
What are the primary colors for print? CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black)
What are the primary colors for on screen? RGB ?
Which is color model is additive? RGB mixing colours with light
Which is color model is subtractive? Cyan, Magenta, yellow, black mixes colour pigments

Hue ~ The most common colours we see, a blend of colours between the primaries
Value ~ Is used to describe the colours strength or intensity with reference to lightness or darkness
Saturation ~ Refers to the dominance of hue in the colour we see. The more dominant hue the more dark saturation, more blends of hues causes more lighter saturation and dominant colour
Tint and shade ~ Tint uses a colour watered down with white, forming lightness.. Shade mixes colour with black, making the colour darker ie, more shady

What is the difference between each of these colour schemes?:

Analogous ~ Uses 3 adjacent colours on the colour wheel to set a mood.
Complimentary ~ Uses just 2 colours directly opposite on the colour wheel.
Split Complimentary ~ Uses 3 colours, two of the three colours are adjacent to one of the colours that is opposite.
Tetrad ~ Uses 4 or more colours.
Triad ~ ~ Any 3 colours that are equal distant from each other on the colour wheel.

Can be used for many things including scrapbooking, generating mood, buying, selling, relaxation, motivation etc... Red, white and black are generally fool proof!

http://www.linezine.com/3.1/features/rbbmtlzli.htm Roger Black ~ Design and content are important, think Lumpy!

Varying the distances between the lines and the thickness of the lines creates the illusion of swelling or warping on the surface of the paper/computer screen. The areas where the lines are light and close together may seem to recede, and the areas where the lines are heavier and further apart may seem to advance. See if you can create such an effect with nothing more than lines.