Project 1 • Iconography with Type

Project Description:
Integrate and manipulate type, using Illustrator, as an artistic and/or illustrative component in an iconographic artwork, using tools such as live trace, for web output.

Technical Requirements:
Computer Program: Adobe Illustrator
Output: Review on Displays set for Web Output
Digital Color Settings: Use Worksheet for Web • File Settings for Illustrator

Sizes:
A. fits into 900 pixels x 900 pixels
• does not have to be square
• make the large size first then resize
B. fits into 250 pixels x 250 pixels
Title of file: StudentNameIconTitle.ai

Critical:
• use of text and drawn form (or forms)
• positive and negative space (form)
• use of line and color
• manipulation of text (typography) (with points)
• readability at a small and large scale
• emotive and/or informative
• appropriate use of metaphor (symbol)
• appropriate use of style for market

See the post- The Power and Danger of Iconography and Copyright Issues

Resources:
• Infographics > theispot.com
• Chris Philpot > www.chrisphilpot.com
• Scott Roberts > theispot.com
• 123Klan

Font Sources:

Blambot

daFont

What the Font?

Student Examples:
Jessica Harrett > Kitchen Icon Giclee Prints
Joe Sadony > Welcome Chair Icon
Caitlyn McSorley > Holistic Design
Candace Trew Camling > B is for Bembo
Kyle Morris > Casio Casanova
Kyle Morris > New Beat Happening

Professional Examples:
Chris Philpot > Healthcare costs
Barbara Kruger > Mary Boone Gallery Installation

Project 2 • Illusion of Space

Project Description:
Create the illusion of space, using Illustrator, by manipulating color space and perspective, then prepare and proof the image for high quality printed output.

Technical Requirements:
Computer Program: Adobe Illustrator
Digital Color Management: Use Worksheet for Printing on Laser Printer
Calibrate your display to a specific Printer: Digital Color Settings Blog
Title of file: StudentNameSpaceIllusionTitle.ai
Output: fits in 10” x16” printable area color laser print
on 11” x 17” nice paper
Write your name clearly in black pen in lower right hand corner of your final print out

Critical:
An abstract or representational image utilizing forms or subject of your choice that must include the following:
• Color hue - warms come forward and cools recede
• Color Saturation - saturated comes forward and nuetrals recede
• Contrast - high comes forward and low recedes
• Size - Large come forward and small recedes
• Line Weight - thick comes forward and thin recedes
• Perspective - Use one or two point perspective
• Shadow - Drop shadow for one point perspective and cast shadow for two point perspec tive
• Opacity - (Optional)

Issues:
• space and light
• sense of volume
• illustion of depth
• use of scale
• use of color
• sense of atmosphere

Demo:
Color Space Layered File (download)

Student Examples:
Jeep Landscape > Grace Scott
Retired Freeway > Anthony Neal

Professional Examples:
PostApocful > Zac Gorman
Blue Landscape > Vectortuts Tutorials
Wise World Innovation Summit for Education >  wise-qatar.org
Maxfield Parrish > Old White Birch

Project 3 • Digitally Captured and Adjusted Original Image

Project Description:
Prepare and proof, using Photoshop, scanned or photographed traditional media images with correct resolution and sharpness to match the original, for web output.

Technical Requirements:
Computer Program: Adobe Photoshop
Digital Color Management: Use Worksheet for Web
Title of file: StudentNameTitle.jpg
Output: Review on Displays Set for Web Output
Size: fits in 600 x 600 pixels

Critical:
An colored traditional image scanned or photographed
• photomerge (instructions)
• match original hue/sat with adjustment layers
• match original values with curve adjustment layers
• transform image so that it is squared and cropped
• sharpened for web output at 600 x 600 pixels
• save for web and devices
• discuss digital delivery systems (including full image size and image detail) (PPI)
• discuss print profiles and print and sizes (DPI)

Issues:
• cropping
• transforming with distort and warp for true square
• adjustment layers - curves
• adjustment layers - hue/sat
• selecting with feather to adjust sections
• whites = whites / blacks = blacks (use color picker and info window)
• despeckling to remove dust
• clone stamp to remove dust and blemishes
• sharpening for texture correctness
(unsharp mask at about 100/1.8/0 then Edit > Fade Unsharp Mask about 75%)

Professional Examples:
Image Group 1: Artwork by Scott VanDerVelde "Summer Figure Study Mendcino" > Giclee Print made by Visualpump, Fine Art Giclee Printed at Color Incorporated on Sommerset Paper

The first two lines of artwork are 2 of 4 print proofs, with color and texture (sharpness) variations.

The bottom left image is one of many digitally captured photographs using the RAW camera setting.

The bottom middle image is cropped and starting to get come color adjustment layers added to capture original contrast through the curves adjustment and original color through the hue sat adjustment.

The bottom right is the final image adjusted to match the original.

Image Group 2: Artwork by Matt Burg > Giclee Print made by Visualpump, Fine Art Giclee Printed at Color Incorporated on Sommerset Paper

Left side images are proofs adjusting for color.
Right side image is the final print.


Click on image to enlarge

Project 4 • Photoshop Compositing

Project Description:
Manipulate multiple images, using Photoshop compositing techniques, to create a digital collage, then prepare and proof the image for high quality printed output.

Technical Requirements:
Computer Program: Adobe Photoshop
Digital Color Management: Use Worksheet for Printing on Laser
Title of file: StudentNameTitle.psd
Output: fits in 10” x16” printable area color laser print
on 11” x 17” nice paper
Write your name clearly in black pen in lower right hand corner of your final print out

Critical:
Combine two or more images into a single composition to create a scene and or collage
• images are scanned, photographed or found
• images must be for print resolution (150 ppi or better at 100%)
• utilize layers to manipulate the images independantly

Issues:
• seemless integration of surfaces, edges and lighting
• narrative, using metaphorical or literal interpretaion of a theme
• emotive response and or informational (i.e. infographics)

Resources:
• cgtextures.com > textures to apply to surfaces
• worth1000.com > examples of digital collage
• kendallweblab.com > stock imagery
• theispot.com > digital collage

Student Examples: 
Tom Post > Forward March of Progress > Chair Paintings, Digitally composited with layers of gears live traced and live traced photographs of historical factories 
Arturo Araujo > artdoesit.blogspot.com  > Maximilist Illustration >
Megan Messina  > BirdDog
Zac Mattman > White Fly Studio Promotional Banner (composite of sketches)

Professional Examples:
Michael Waraksa > michaelwaraksa.com
Dollar Zipped > John Weber > johnweberimages.com
Bird Backpack > Bethany Culp > arrow.mind-melt.com
Sarah Howell > theispot.com
Commode Furniture Rendering > Susan Bonner, example from Kendall Archives
download the layered furniture design example file

Project 5 • Photoshop Filters and Effects

Project Description:
Manipulate images using Photoshop filters and/or other effects (such as texture overlay and layer effects) to reinforce a visual concept, then prepare and proof the image for high quality printed output.

Technical Requirements:
Computer Program: Adobe Photoshop
Digital Color Management: Use Worksheet for Printing on Laser
Title of file: StudentNameTitle.psd
Output: fits in 10” x16” printable area color laser print
on 11” x 17” nice paper
Write your name clearly in black pen in lower right hand corner of your final print out

Critical:
• Use of Layer styles such as drop shadow, outer glow and stroke
• Use of a combination of filters such as Artistic/cut out and film grain

Issues:
• create a magical feeling by using filters and effects for a purpose
• create a traditional looking image using filters and effects
• consideration of atmospheric perspective, utilizing blur and sharpen filters
• create shallow space with a paper edge look using embossing and drop shadow
• use lighting effects to create a sense of 3d space

• more advanced: define your work withing a certain market and genre
(see the Genre Handout)

Student Examples:
Michelle Lindale > Portraiture - Viola and Violin
Michelle Lindale > Kendall Promotional Poster
Grace Scott > Birds in Time
Zac Gorman > Grunt Co Poster
Nate Blackburn > Jenuin Longboard Ad
Tom Ryan Stout > One Way (Large Format Giclee Print) 

Professional Examples:
Jason Cook > Flatliner > jasoncook.co.uk
Jason Mecier > Ford - The Edge is Never Dull > www.theispot.com