Weeks #9, 10 & 11 – Tutorials, Recaps & Project #3 – Poster Design Info

MMA 100 Zoom class Videos!

I hope everyone is staying safe, healthy and doing well. This post covers the next 3 class sessions. Please read it in its entirety.

( Today’s class Video from 4/22 is below in Part 2 of the project section. )

**Here is the Full Video Tutorial (link below) of project #3’s  process and intro to Illustrator as recorded from 4/7/2020 – we did a recap on 4/15 – (the video from 4/15 is also below)

Our class on 4/22 will cover the second part of project #3 – Video to follow!

https://zoom.us/rec/share/x5MrMfbWsWROWpXf5WicQZQqO7n_X6a82ndI8_AMzUymatfBM-Wp9qqUwk22-cVM

**Here is the Full Video Tutorial (link below) of project #3’s  part 2 process in Illustrator as recorded on 4/15/2020 –

The Password for the video is – F8&+#j34

https://zoom.us/rec/play/uJIvJO-rr2g3EtfEtASDBaQvW426K_ms1nNN-_EMmkeyASFVNlKnZucaYOQS3uqLY_pvhXArem5d9o6W?continueMode=true

 

The last time that we met we covered a few things:

  1. Please know, you can always continue to work on your projects from where you are at and keep in contact with me individually as we move forward. For those who have completed project #2 (both parts) Great! If not, please continue to work on Project #2 – Those who are now ready to begin Project #3 – we will cover the Adobe Illustrator demonstrations tonight in our Zoom class (those who cant make it into the Zoom class, please read this post as it contains all of the resources to help you get started.)

2. In case you missed the Wednesday Zoom class before the Recalibration period, you can find a video demonstration recap and video on project #2 on the assignments page here

3. We started a sharable class google drive folder where you can create your own folder (use your first and last name) and place your production files and completed work there to make things easier for sharing and troubleshooting – go here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1TRj5-QsmX_7McI3t1HUPy5bgyez_U_M8?usp=sharing

So here we are – I hope that you all were able to get some rest during the spring break  – Please don’t hesitate to contact me if I can help. I will publish the video demonstration of tonight’s class over the next few days here on this website.

Project #3 -(Part 1 & 2)

Vector Art Portrait Making, Poster Design & ZINE Making Collaboration!

We will bring together the applications of a vector art, portrait making, ZINE lay-out / composition, image manipulation, typography & collaboration.

**Info on getting yourself the Adobe Software –> GO HERE <—

Fictional Museum Exhibit Poster (examples will be shown during the Zoom class – as well as a series of Illustrator vector demonstrations)

Suggestion :: Choose and work from the image and likeness of one or more of these styles/movements of art to create a poster using a SELF-Portrait:

POP ART, SURREALISM, MEXICAN MURALISTS AFRO-FUTURISM, MANGA, POLITICAL ART, FAUVISM, GRAFFITI, AFRICAN MASKS, ANIME, VIDEO GAMES or (Another Style Not Listed Here or create a Hybrid using 2 or more styles)

Process: Research and Practice!

Find and discover a series of images and references to work from. Your research should inspire you and activate you! Create a new project folder titled “Self-Portrait-Poster-Project” – save these images to your project folder. Create your self-portrait in the style of the Art or Design Movement that you chose for a Fictional Museum Exhibition. It should be obvious which style(s) you picked WITHOUT us seeing the titles.

*Your self-portrait IS the artwork – for the poster campaign that you create for the exhibit. You must design the poster in 2 sizes – one landscape and one portrait orientation. I suggest 11 inches x 17 inches (or slightly smaller) Your self-portrait must first be drawn in Illustrator and can be brought into Photoshop later for manipulation, (like adding blended colors, additional imagery or effects.) After you illustrate your self-portrait, you’ll create the actual poster for the ex­hibit.

Specifications: The museum having the exhibit you’ve chosen is: SAM, Seattle Art Museum. (or pick one that you want to work with)

Find out more about the institution at this website: https://www.seattleartmuseum.org/visit/seattle-art-museum

For the project please use the SAM logo as it is: (attached as a download link here) *feel free to re-render the logo on your own if you wish. (This does not mean change it) You may use any of the tools in Illustrator that we’ve learned or explored and also find and experiment with new ways to draw. You can work from a photo in Illustrator as demonstrated in class.

Do the Portrait First. Then compose the poster. :))

Minimum required copy/text for the poster is:

New Voices Exhibit

April 15th – May 30th 2020

Opening Reception, April 20th 7PM-9PM

https://www.seattleartmuseum.org

*(and the SAM logo of course)

Fonts and colors – are entirely student choice. Students may ADD additional copy, but may not delete from the minimum above.

**The  Final due date is TBA – we shall discuss..

Submission guidelines:

When both parts of the assignment have been completed please save them as a .JPG file and as a PDF then add them to our class google drive shared folder here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1TRj5-QsmX_7McI3t1HUPy5bgyez_U_M8?usp=sharing

*Please make sure to name your files with your name – an Example is this:  R_Seslow_project2.JPG

**Here is the Full Video Tutorial (link below) of this project’s part 1 process and intro to Illustrator as recorded on 4/7/2020

https://zoom.us/rec/share/x5MrMfbWsWROWpXf5WicQZQqO7n_X6a82ndI8_AMzUymatfBM-Wp9qqUwk22-cVM

 

Above – my workspace example of the vertical version of the poster from 4/15’s class video tutorial – Click here to See my final versions in PDF form.

https://zoom.us/rec/play/uJIvJO-rr2g3EtfEtASDBaQvW426K_ms1nNN-_EMmkeyASFVNlKnZucaYOQS3uqLY_pvhXArem5d9o6W?continueMode=true 

The video link above requires a password – here it is – F8&+#j34

 

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Research / Inspiration / Tutorial – Check out these links below:

 

 

Art Movement Resources:

https://www.theartstory.org/section_movements.htm

https://mymodernmet.com/important-art-movements

 

Project #3 – Part 2 – Class Collaboration! 

You can only move on to part two of this project if you complete part #1… which may be hard to do as part 2 may seem like more FUN! Ok, so

Aside from the production of both a horizontal and traditional vertical poster made in illustrator, students will push the boundaries and application / usage of their portrait imagery. What is the creative potential of the image? How can you push it further? We decided to make a collaborative class ZINE that will isolate and showcase the portrait work. (The image above is from a the lay out that we will go over in class, we will revisit this was we build the zine together as a class.) The ZINE will consist of 2 or more submissions by each student. I would love to see everyone submit at least 2 images: 1 traditional vector image created in illustrator, and 1 highly manipulated version of that image by exploring and hacking into some of the applications below. The isolated portraits should be sized at 8.5 X 11 Vertical. This makes it easy for use to plug the images into the ZINE lay out.

What are the potentials of web and mobile applications in our day and age when it comes to creating styles, textures and over all visual aesthetics? We will walk through a series of demonstrations, some examples are below, along with a slew of apps to play with.

(PS, make a folder for yourself if you haven’t – use your name and add your class work there.

 

Here is the new Video Tutorial from Class on 4/22 that covers Part 2 of Project #3

https://zoom.us/rec/share/5pxyApD35mBJQtKR2FHHf5EbE5zeeaa813MYqfdbnhnIblmYw0p2_DA7BSfYesfZ

You will need to enter this Password: 6w^@Hv7^

 

Desktop / Web Browser Art Making Platforms:

Click Drag Click – clickdragclick.com

Imgur – imgur.com

Pixlr (photoshop alternative) – https://pixlr.com/editor/

Glitcher – http://akx.github.io/glitch2/

Image Glitch Tool – https://snorpey.github.io/jpg-glitch/

c64 – http://c64.superdefault.com/

Mosh – https://getmosh.io/

Glitchatron – http://www.errozero.co.uk/glitchatron/#

Giphy – giphy.com

Gfycat.com – gfycat.com

Inkscape – https://inkscape.org/en

Gimp – https://www.gimp.org

OS X – GIFKR

Trianglify Generator

Trianglify Generator 2 

 

Mobile Apps:

Glitche’ – glitche.com

Imaengine – Tons of filters, vector conversions, stills & video

Hyperspektiv – Tons of filters, stills and video

to.be camera – to.be/camera

Giphy Cam – https://giphy.com/apps

Instagram (I say this because you can layer multiple images, videos and transparent images in the IG Stories feature, then “save” your work even with out publishing it – http://Instagram.com

Platoverse App

VHS CAM – http://rarevision.com/vhscam

Assembly Design App – http://assemblyapp.co

ImgPlay – https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/imgplay-gif-maker/id989843523?mt=8

Imaengine – https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/imaengine-vector/id599309610?mt=8

Ultra-Pop

Ultra-Pop -Infinite

GifVid (simple tool to covert GIF to Video, Video to GIF on the phone)

Glitch Wizard

iColorama S rich featured image editor that maintains full resolution of images

Decim8 – Glitch

http://royb0t.net/tagged/iOSartApps

ImgPlay – Awesome GIF maker! Conversion to video, and video to gif.

Back Eraser – Great to remove background areas and make layers.

GIF Maker Create GIFs from a sequence of still images from your photo library.

 

Weeks #4, 5 & 6!

Welcome to MMA100 Weeks #4, 5 & 6!

Here is this week’s useful information and class resources:

Last week we began our class by re-capping the previous week’s class discussion about project #1. We printed our post cards in the format displayed below – I demonstrated the process for creating the suggested lay out. We discussed our results by pinning them up on the discussion board.

 *Please e-mail project #1 (postcard)  to me as a .JPEG file. – rseslow@bmcc.cuny.edu – if your file is too large for the bmcc e-mail server, use a free service like – https://wetransfer.com 

Class Exercises: Assignment #2 -(Part 1)

This is a 2 part project. Working with Photoshop. Lets apply additional layers, filters and image manipulating techniques to customize our progress. Class demonstrations with layer styles and creating filters.

Working from the original psd. document / template that you have created in part 1 of this assignment, students will use and apply additional layers to enhance and manipulate their image selections for the Elements & Principles of Design.

Assignment Specifications: Students will generate a series of visual examples and solutions to define, communicate and illustrate the vocabulary of the elements & principles of design. Each term will display a visual image example using the vocabulary below:

Outcome – Students will save two variations of the project as a photoshop psd. file as well as exporting the files as a .jpeg for the web (demonstration in class)

Elements & Principles Vocabulary (HERE – Links to an external page.)

Elements – Color, Line, Mass, Movement, Space, Texture, Type & Value

Principles – Balance, Contrast, Direction, Economy, Emphasis, Proportion, Rhythm & Unity

Size: – 8.5″ X  11″ – The final design will be 2 composite designs of 8 squares composed and arranged by each student. (2 files will be created – one for the elements of design and 1 for the principles of design)

Process:  Part 1 – Student will first create a balanced layout in adobe photoshop. Images will be found from research and investigation via the Internet and class resources. Each term for the elements of design will be illustrated and applied by cutting, formatting and placing the examples into a composite (the example below is simply one example, you will create your own)

Part 1A- Students will generate their own examples of each term using techniques learned in class with photoshop.

R&D – Where will you find visual inspiration and research?

Add your links to the comments section below.

Production: Students will prepare their final works in screen resolution format and  application on the web (RGB).

Lets look at where we find image resources and referencing.

Part 2 of the project will be introduced in class tonight – 3/4/20.

Assessment of the project: How has illustrating the vocabulary with images helped your understanding of each term? Discussion follows.

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Outside of class study –

Lets look at COLOR->

Color Theory – (Image via Arhaus‘  via Justcreative)

The link below was published via – JustCreative.com – This is great guide to understanding color in design with an emphasis on logos, identity and branding.

http://justcreative.com/2018/02/19/color-psychology-in-logo-design-branding-explained/

I highly recommend visiting and learning from JustCreative.com aka – Jacob Cass – Jacob is an amazing graphic designer and conduit of great design resources.

Video Screenings –

Photoshop Tutorial – The top 10 Things photoshop Beginners Want To Know How To Do

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqKHo1Q7OMc

I love and recommend Terry White’s Youtube channel. He is an Adobe software wizard! Subscribe here.

Who is Michael Bierut and Why is he important? Please watch the video outside of class this week and respond in the comments section below)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUxWjZcAfvA

What is GESTALT and why is it important in Design? An introduction.

https://www.canva.com/learn/gestalt-theory/

Week #3

Welcome to MMA100 Week #3!

We’re BACK!

Here is this week’s useful information and class resources:

We will begin tonight class 2/19 by completing our Postcard design project, prepare it for printing, print and critique the completed works as a class. I will give a demonstration on how to prepare your design for print using the example below as a guide.

We will discuss the submissions of your finished projects and how to send them to me via e-mail. We will discuss the maintaining of your data and how to keep it safe and easy to access.

Tutorial – Getting further acquainted with Photoshop –

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Designer Inspiration? Who’s who in the field?

50 Graphic Designers We all Should Know About 

Who is Aaron Draplin?

Resource :: What are some of today’s trends in Graphic Design? Lets take a look at this video below.

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Assignment #2 Discussion – The Elements of Art & Principles of Design

The Elements & Principles of Design are the governing vocabulary that define, illustrate and communicate how Graphic Design functions all around us. These terms are of great value and importance as they 

The Elements of Design:

Color – typically known as hue. This word represents a specific color or light wavelength found in the color spectrum, ranging circularly from red to yellow, green, blue and back to red.

Line – is a line just a series of points? Or is it the best way to get from point “A” to point “B”? As a geometric conception, a line is a point in motion, with only one dimension – length. Line has both a position and a direction in space. The variables of line are: size, shape, position, direction, number, interval and density. Points create lines, lines create shapes or planes and volume.

Mass – Here, mass is interchangeable with volume. A mass is a solid body or a grouping of visual elements (line, color, texture, etc.) that compose a solid form. Volume is a three-dimensional form comprising length, width, and depth. Three-dimensional forms contain points (vertices), lines (edges), and planes (surfaces). A mass is the two-dimensional appearance of a three-dimensional form.

Movement – Also known as motion. This element portrays the act or process of changing place or direction, orientation, and/or position through the visual illustration of starting or stopping points, blurring of action, etc. This is not animation, although animation is an end product of movement, as well as other elements of design.

Space – A two-or three-dimensional element defined by other elements of design.

Texture – A technique used in two-dimensional design to replicate three-dimensional surfaces through various drawing and media techniques. On three-dimensional surfaces, it is experienced by touch or by visual experience.

Type – Also known as typography, and it is considered an element in graphic design. Although it consists of elements of design, it is – in itself – often an element in the form of visual communication.

Value – Another word for the lightness or darkness of an area. Brightness measured in relationship to a graded scale from white to black.

The Principles of Design:

The principles of design are applicable to all design disciplines including – but not exclusive to – architecture, art, graphics, fashion, industrial design, poetry, writing, and web design.

The principles of design are tools used to format the elements of design.

Balance – The elements of design converge to create a design or arrangement of parts that appear to be a whole with equilibrium.

Contrast – The “automatic principle.” Whenever an element is placed within a format, contrast is created in the various elements. Can be emphasized with contrast in size, shape, color,

Direction – Utilizing movement to create the visual illusion of displacement.

Economy – A principle operating on the “slim.” Especially important when dealing with clients, where their product or service is more important than the elaboration of design elements. Can also be considered “precise,” or “simplistic.” Or, it can be considered great design.

Emphasis – Also known as dominance. This condition exists when an element or elements within a visual format contain a hierarchy of visual importance.

Proportion – A two- or three-dimensional element defined by other elements of design.

Rhythm – A recurrence or repetition of one or more elements within a visual format, creating harmony.

Unity – Oneness, Harmony, The condition of completeness with the use of all visual elements within a format.

Week #2 – Information / Resources

Welcome to MMA100 Week #2!

Here is this week’s useful information and class resources:

Did you miss Week #1’s Post? Go Here

We began talking about our first assignment / project here in MMA 100 last week via discussion and will start our second class by reviewing the project specs. We will discuss the critique process and presenting our work in process.

We will spend our class time working on the Postcard project. We will get familiar with our work stations, get started with adobe photoshop, electronic imaging, scanning / photo documenting images and artwork, creating and working with various file types and bringing our ideas into photoshop to produce the finished design.

*This Week’s Exercise – Cutting out Images in Photoshop / Making Graphic Assets: Cutting out images in various fragments is a task that all graphic designers will face on a regular basis. Learning various methods for cutting out images is a necessity. We will explore, experiment and share a few methods on how. 

Students will select and practice from images taken from a public domain, OER or creative commons sources on the Internet or they may use images that they have on their devices. Again, We have a huge selection of OER Resources on our class resources page here too

(This exercise/technique will be applied to the post card project).

Video Screening: Cutting out images in Photoshop (examples)

These tutorials above will help get you started with our class exercise, but ultimately, you will need to master the pen tool in both photoshop and illustrator for the cleanest vector cut outs. The video below is a great tutorial.

Are you looking for a photoshop psd. file template example to create along with, format and submit your postcard? (Photoshop newbies can edit and change the layers as you need to) Those with experience should make the template themselves –   Click HERE

(Is there a specific tutorial that you learned from recently or over time? Share the URL link with a description of your experience in the comments section below)

What are some of today’s trends in Graphic Design? Lets take a look at this video below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dcc1VyGvaYk

Vocabulary to explore for next week – The Elements & Principles of Design