NOVEMBER & DECEMBER 2017 (End of First Quarter - Beginning of Second)

By now you should be very proficient in the use of most of the Adobe Photoshop CC Tools. If you have any questions regarding the Move, Rectangular and Elliptical Marquee, Magnetic Lasso, Magic Wand, Polygonal Lasso, Brush, Eraser, Paint Bucket and Custom Shape Tools, please let me know.

You can start experimenting with the Gradient Tool, the Type Tool, the Eye Dropper Tool and the Crop Tool (I will teach these tools in class).

This month's Essential Vocabulary is the following:

Typography (Leading, Tracking, Kerning, Hierarchy); Serif, Sans Serif, Display Fonts, Opacity; Penelope Dullaghan, Jim Bradshaw, “Kawaii” images; René Magritte, Salvador Dalí, Surrealism. Branding & Identity, logos, advertisements, color (color theory - the color wheel), hue, saturation, value; monochromatic, analogous, complementary and split complementary colors. Please check the following Videos (which I will show in class but will be included in a Quiz in November and a Test in December and in the Midterm in January 2018): Typography and Color (click links). You can also find these videos in here under "My Favorite Links" on the right side. Review the videos I already showed in class on Fundamentals of Design and Layout & Composition. You may also want to check the Branding & Identity video as well as the Power of Images video. All these videos are essential to understand Graphic Design.

For Exercise 9 you are creating a simple illustration; this is why I asked you to check the work of Penelope Dullaghan and Jim Bradshaw. You could also check Muxxi's work or simply enter "simple illustrations" or "Kawaii" in Google Images. Remember the techniques you already learned in class to create something interesting and attractive. 

We will also create an advertisement and a poster this month, and will try to imitate some of René Magritte's and Salvador Dalí's work. We will learn about "Surrealism" and try to look into our unconscious minds for inspiration. The Surrealists sought to channel the unconscious as a means to unlock the power of the imagination. Many surrealist paintings are based on dreams and the artists' imagination. We will learn about Magritte and Dalí and other surrealist artists, and look at some of their work. And you will certainly use your imagination to create a "surreal" piece of digital art. You will complete three or four Surrealist works of digital art.

"Surrealist art often uses dream imagery to show the inner workings of the mind. Have you ever had a dream that your teeth were falling out or that you were flying? Surrealists used images like this in their art to create instinctive meanings the viewer would not need rational thought to understand.

Surrealists also used symbols as a method of telling a story. Symbols are objects that stand for ideas, events, or emotions. For example, a smile can be a symbol of happiness; an image of a heart can be a symbol for love.

Surrealist artists used collage. A collage is a work of art created by using images not normally associated with one another. These disparate associations were meant to make the viewer question previous rules of art and popular culture."

(From: http://study.com/academy/lesson/what-is-surrealism-definition-art-characteristics.html)

If you have any questions, please feel free to ask me. Below you can see two examples of simple illustrations that I created, two examples of my imitation of Magritte's work, one example of my imitation of Dalí's work, and one example of my imitation of Olbinsky's work. Also check the work of other Surrealist artists, like Marcel Caram, Rafal Olbinsky, Frida Kahlo, and others. Check: Google Classroom for the Presentation on Surrealism (shown and discussed in class) and your assignments. GET INSPIRED, GET CREATIVE!

MOVING ALONG... First & Second Quarters

To date you have already learned a lot about the image-editing application, Adobe Photoshop CC. Congratulations! You have done a great job! You have learned the importance of working with layers in Photoshop. With Photoshop you can create original digital artwork, or edit existing images, adding filters, changing colors, adding images or shapes, retouching and enhancing photographs, etc. You can create interesting compositions that can be used in Graphic Design and Web Design. You also learned to use "Blending Options" by going to the "Layer Style" window, double-clicking the right side of your layers. You can use Drop Shadow, Inner Glow, Outer Glow, Bevel/Emboss, Gradient Overlay, Pattern Overlay, Stroke, etc. PRACTICE THIS OVER AND OVER!

What is Photoshop? It is and extremely powerful application (with a wealth of tools and commands) used to enhance and manipulate photos and create original digital art work. It is also used to touch-up photos and create high quality graphics. You can use it for almost any kind of image editing. Many professional photographers and designers use Photoshop. Watch: Video (click link). Find more information online and add it in your notebooks.

Remember: It is essential to have your Tools and Layers showing in Photoshop. If you do not see these, please go to Window (on the Menu Bar) > Workspace and click "Reset Essentials."

Layers:

Layers in Photoshop are like individual sheets of clear plastic that are in a stack. When you select a layer in the Layers Palette (or Panel), that layer is "active." Only one layer can be active at a time. The name of the active layer appears in the title bar of the image window. Changes affect only the "active layer" even though you view the whole image in the image window. You may find it useful to hide layers while working in Photoshop. All you have to do is click on the "Visibility Icon" or eye on the left side of the layer. You can also rearrange your layers and change their names. You can also create folders to add groups of layers and organize the Layers Panel better, even add color (to the layers and/or the folders). I want you to start organizing your layers well, so that it becomes easier to find the images and layer contents better. 

PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR LAYERS AND MAKE SURE YOU ARE SELECTING THE RIGHT ONE.

Pixels: 
Pixel is short for “picture element.” A pixel is the smallest element in a bitmap image such as a scan. If you zoom in on an image in Photoshop, you will start to see the individual pixels that make up the image. When working in Photoshop, you are editing pixels, changing their color, shade and brightness.

Bitmaps:

Digital images. An object in a bitmap images consists of a rectangular grid or raster of pixels – like a mosaic. When editing a bitmap image, it is the color values of individual pixels or groups of pixels that are modified.

Filters (on the Menu Bar):

Filters provide a quick and easy way to change the overall appearance of your image.

First tools to learn in Photoshop:

Move Tool - The Move tool is used to move selections, layers and guides.
Magic Wand Tool - To select images that have one-color background more easily (click on the color - go to Select > Inverse or press the Command-Shift-I keys at once to Invert and drag the image to your canvas).
Magnetic Lasso Tool - Used to select images (which you will start learning soon).

Crop Tool - Used to crop/trim images (ask me how to use this tool). 
Brush Tool - To paint brushstrokes or create lines or circles (you can select many
different types of brushes and even create your own.

Paint Bucket Tool - Fills areas with the Foreground Color. 

Rectangular/Elliptical Marquee Tools -  To make rectangular or elliptical selections, to create shapes (squares, rectangles and shapes) and even frames. Also to select a section of an image.

Eraser Tool - Erases pixels. To erase sections (small or large) of an image to improve a selection.

Eye Dropper Tool - Samples colors in an image.  
Text or Type Tool - To insert text (create "type" on an image).
Custom Shape Tool - Makes customizes shapes selected from a custom shape list.

Find other tools here: Photoshop Tools and Photoshop Tools 2 (click links) 

Design Tools video: Video (you may not be able to see this video in school, so please 
check it at home).

You will learn about: Layers, Copyrights (Ethics & Photoshop), Pixels, Megapixels, Multimegapixels, Bitmaps, Resolution, Interpolation, Pixelated, Picture File, Picture/File Formats (JPEG, QuickTime, GIF, PNG, TIFF, BMP or DIB), Compression -lossy and lossless- (and review of terms and Commands learned in September). Abstract art, Calder, Kandinsky, Mondrian, and others. How to use the Magnetic Lasso Tool, the Type Tool and the Custom Shape Tool. How to convert images to Black and White.

Class Assignment: You will also learn how to create a Pattern (Exercise No. 6). Look
for ideas online. YOU MUST CREATE THE PATTERN YOURSELF!

A pattern is a repeated decorative design, as for wallpaper, china, textile fabrics, art
and digital art, etc. Example: a paisley pattern. Get creative! Look online to find
examples and ask me for details if you have any questions. I will take in consideration
the level of difficulty. Thank you!

TEST: Tuesday, November 7, 2017. Please check Google Classroom for more information and review the terms above. Thank you!

Welcome to the Digital Imaging & Graphic Design Class!

This course will introduce you to the general graphic design processes and techniques used by commercial and visual artists, including the principles of design, layout, color theory, composition and typography, using Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator and Adobe InDesign. You will learn to be creative and will produce digital works of art and interesting publications (like flyers, advertisements, magazine covers, book covers, brochures, etc.). A basic understanding of computer applications is expected.

We will start learning some important terms: digital, art, digital art, design, graphic design, graphic designer, aesthetics, composition, focal point, Web design, branding and logos, and typography. We will also learn the six principles of a visual composition: balance (symmetrical, asymmetrical and radial), proximity, alignment, contrast, white space and repetition, and the importance of keeping it simple! Check again the video and webpage on "Fundamentals of Design," and later the video and webpage on "Layout and Composition" (under Favorite Links) to learn and understand more about these principles.  Establishing hierarchy in composition is very important too, mentioned in the second video, so check it out!

There are mainly three different kinds of balance: symmetrical, asymmetrical and radial. I need you to understand the difference between the three. Make sure to check Google Classroom OFTEN for important information, "notes," and assignments. By now, you should have the Graphic Design PDF presentation in your "notes" folder, the Keyboard Shortcuts document (add: Command-R), and a document of your choice with the vocabulary words you MUST know. Feel free to print any of these documents or to save them in your Google Drive. Thank you!

Check some of the links under "My Favorite Links" on the right side.

Class assignment: Go to Google and check images with symmetrical, asymmetrical and radial balance. Then create a Photoshop exercise with these three kinds of balance (you can use Shapes or other - I will explain in class). You need to have three Photoshop canvases! Try to understand the differences and try to understand the importance of a "balanced" composition in art and design. Check: Composition & Design (click this link) for more information. Try to understand "the rule of thirds" in creating an effective composition.

TEST:  October 4 (on this Blog Entry - Vocabulary mentioned here (and in Google Classroom, Graphic Design PDF and the following: the video and website on "Fundamentals of Design," these commands: Command-Shift-4, Command-J, Command-U, Command-Plus, Command-Minus, Command-Z, Command-C, Command-V, Command-S, Command-N, Command-T and Command-D. You will learn the commands you haven't learned yet in the next two weeks. Also: what is Photoshop?  will also be included. You can find a definition online or ask me please!

I hope you enjoy this class!

FOURTH QUARTER - "FINAL PROJECT"

Your "Final Project" is very important! The project's grade is your Fourth Quarter Grade, so you MUST take it seriously! You can work individually or in groups of two - no more than two please!

This is your Final Project and it is divided in 10 parts. You have SEVEN WEEKS to complete this project (since we have 4 days off for Easter Break) - so organize yourselves well to complete all the required sections (CHECK THE PDF AND THE RUBRIC IN GOOGLE CLASSROOM):

1. LOGO: What kind of company are you creating? In my example I created a sportswear company (you can do this or come up with a different company - BUT CLOTHING PLEASE!). Think of a name for your company (get ideas online) and come up with a LOGO (the simpler the better), that you will create in Photoshop. Once your logo is ready, convert it to a JPEG which at the end you will put it in a Word or Pages Document (like the PDF in Google Classroom) and you will tell me about your company.

2. SLOGAN: Come up with a slogan for your company, a short phrase that you can use to advertise your products. You will add your slogan in your final document (like the PDF in Google Classroom).

3. YOUR COMPANY AND ITS PRODUCTS: Tell me more about your company and your products. Look at the PDF!

4. TAGS & BAGS: You will create tags in Photoshop that you can use for your clothing and shopping bags with your logo (slogan optional). Convert to JPEG's to add to your document later. Look at the PDF!

5. POSTER: You will create a poster (11" x 17" - 100 Resolution) - You MUST add your LOGO somewhere in the poster and it must be professional-looking. Convert to a JPEG. Look at my example in the PDF in Google Classroom!

6. MAGAZINE AD: You will create a whole page Magazine Ad (of course the size depends on the size of the magazine). Research sizes - you can use the same poster but you must adjust the size, since the poster is much longer (which means you can move all the layers used in your poster to another Photoshop document and just adjust it). I used 9” x 11.74” - you can use 9” W x 11 or 12” H. Convert to a JPEG when done. Check the PDF, PLEASE!

7. NEWSPAPER AD: You will create a full-page or a half-page newspaper ad. The Philadelphia Inquirer is 11” x 22” full page size, you can use the poster and add 5” at the bottom to add extra information about your company, sales, etc. or create a half-page 11” x 11”. Convert to a JPEG. Ask for assistance if you need it and check the PDF in Google Classroom.

8.  BILLBOARD AD: I used 14” x 30” - normally Billboards are very large, 14 feet x 48 feet. A good size for this project is the one I used, but feel free to make it a bit smaller. The important thing when you create a Billboard is that it has to be attractive, it must attract the attention of people, and be simple, with essential information and easy to read. Convert to a JPEG when done.

9. SAMPLES OF PRODUCTS: You will create samples of your products. You can find clothing online (sports blouses, pants, shorts, etc. and add your logo to them, and then place them in your Word Document or Pages Document). You can use the Warp or Perspective option under Edit > Transform > Warp or Perspective to change your logo and fit it properly on your clothing line.

10. COVER FOR PROJECT AND FINAL DOCUMENT: You will create a Cover for your Project (check PDF attached) - It must have the Title: FINAL PROJECT, Digital Imaging & Graphic Design, your LOGO, your name or names, May 2017. Add the titles: 1. Logo (add your logo as a JPEG); 2. Slogan (add your slogan); 3. Company & Products... etc. CHECK THE PDF ATTACHED AND THE RUBRIC TO GUIDE YOURSELVES. You will download the document as a PDF in Google Classroom. Ask me for assistance.

EVERYTHING (YOUR PHOTOSHOP DOCUMENTS) MUST BE CONVERTED TO JPEG's! Keep EVERYTHING organized in a Folder with the name Final Project. I will check that you did this - I don't want you to tell me you lost your work. Also, download EVERYTHING in your GOOGLE DRIVE! YOUR DOCUMENT MUST BE CONVERTED TO A PDF WHEN COMPLETED. YOU CAN GO TO FILE > EXPORT TO > PDF. Or ask me for assistance.

THANK YOU!

Mrs. Feld

THIRD QUARTER

It is hard to believe our Third Quarter already started. This quarter will end March 31st. In this quarter we will emphasize the importance of ADVERTISING and why it is important for companies and organizations to work on their BRANDING. You will also learn about RESOLUTION, and the different file formats you can use when creating work in Adobe Photoshop.

What is advertising and why is it important?

Advertising is the activity or profession of producing advertisements for commercial products or services. Advertising is the best way to communicate to customers. It helps inform customers (and potential customers) about available brands in the market and the variety of products and services useful to them.  We can advertise using different techniques and media types, through TV, Website, newspaper, magazine, radio and other ads (advertisements). Through advertising we communicate ideas and transmit messages ("our product is the best," "we have the best price," etc.)

You also learn about "new" products and services through advertising. Companies and other organizations depend on advertising to introduce or remind customers (and potential customers) of their products and services. To try to convince them (and you) to buy their products or pay for their services. It is an important marketing tool!

Many companies would fail (go bankrupt) if they didn't advertise their products. Advertising educates people about the many products and services available out there. The consumer becomes aware of the many choices he/she has.

"Advertising is important for both new and existing businesses, as it helps to communicate important information to customers and is one of the first steps in building strong relationships. It raises awareness for different brands that are available in the market. Therefore, creating an effective advertising plan is essential in attaining objectives and goals."

You use advertisements to advertise. The goal is to grab the viewer's attention and try to convince him/her to buy the company's products, or to attend a certain school or college. Messages must be interesting and simple. The simpler the better! You want the ads to be memorable. Check these links for some examples of effective advertising: ADS1, ADS2, ADS3, ADS4 and ADS5. If these sites are blocked, you can check them out at home, or find other examples of good advertising. 

What is branding and why is it important?

To understand branding, it is important to know what brands are. A brand is the idea or image of a specific product or service that consumers connect with, by identifying the name, logo, slogan, or design of the company who owns the idea or image. Branding is when that idea or image is marketed so that it is recognizable by more and more people, and identified with a certain service or product when there are many other companies offering the same service or product. Advertising professionals work on branding not only to build brand recognition, but also to build good reputations and a set of standards to which the company should strive to maintain or surpass. 

Branding is the process involved in creating a unique name and image for a product in the consumers' mind, mainly through advertising campaigns with a consistent theme. Branding aims to establish a significant and differentiated presence in the market that attracts and retains loyal customers.

Read more: Branding1, Branding2 (click links please!).

HOMEWORK: What are logos? Why are logos important? Check the links and information above, you need to know this for a Quiz (Homework Due: February 24, 2017; Quiz: February 28, 2017).