Space Assignment
(adopted from Mrs. Robinson)
Goal
Practice graphic design industry techniques and learn how to create your own compelling illustrations in Photoshop using the rule of thirds. We will be creating stars, patterns, 3D planets, rings around planets, asteroids and galaxies.
Why We Do This Assignment: The space assignment is our third assignment. It teaches us how to create and understand the following graphic design industry basics and illustration techniques:
Instructions
Creating a dynamic composition is the major goal of every designer, photographer, film maker, artist, & architect. The next 4 video links that I have below will discuss composition and how to engage the viewer.
Practice graphic design industry techniques and learn how to create your own compelling illustrations in Photoshop using the rule of thirds. We will be creating stars, patterns, 3D planets, rings around planets, asteroids and galaxies.
Why We Do This Assignment: The space assignment is our third assignment. It teaches us how to create and understand the following graphic design industry basics and illustration techniques:
- Composition - An arrangement of elements on the page that can create visual impact - We will have the opportunity to learn how to create a dynamic composition
Depth - Creating foreground, middle ground and background - Texture & Pattern - Meaning the way a surface feels or is perceived to feel and look. Texture & pattern can be added to attract or repel interest to an element, depending on the pleasantness of the texture.
- Repetition - Repetition with variation is interesting, without variation repetition can become monotonous. A repetition of three becomes a pattern.
- Rule of thirds in relation to composition
- Change of scale, (Dominance) - We will create dramatically contrasting sizes
- Type Design, Layout, and Paths for type
- Transforming and Distortion of objects i.e. rings around a planet that are distorted for depth
- 3D texture wrapped onto planet
- Type on a path and then distorting for depth, (around the rings)
- Masking
- Creative Problem Solving Techniques: Pushing ideas around and coming up with multiple solutions to a problem by duplicating a project and then applying filters, or changing scale, moving elements around on the page, etc. to create an even better idea
- Antialiasing, (blurring,) the edges of hard objects to create an integration of the elements
- Non destructive edits
- Creating an Illustration Library of images and objects to use later
- Understanding different file formats and what they are used for
Instructions
Creating a dynamic composition is the major goal of every designer, photographer, film maker, artist, & architect. The next 4 video links that I have below will discuss composition and how to engage the viewer.
- I include a video of all the Star Trek intros to show how to create a dynamic composition; you will see that in every action shot, (skip the credits,) the action or object is either going in or out of the cross hair on the golden ratio or one of the thirds of the scene explained in the first and second video.Also, observe how up close shots are more compelling than distance shots.
- Notice that detail and texture are really important.
- Ask yourself: How do they create a sense of depth in every shot? Depth is creating a foreground, middle ground and background.
- Also, it is a good idea to explore more videos on the the Fibonacci Sequence/The golden ratio/PHI, (those three all means the same thing.) Math, Art, Science, and Music are one and Phi is used not only in art and nature, but also in engineering, and computer programming data structures, and sorting algorithms and audio compression among other things! I include a link way below that is just for fun on how it relates to music which is pretty interesting if you like music! With most videos, I watch them on a faster speed, so watch at what ever speed you learn best at.
Now we will put into action what we have learned about the rule of thirds, the golden ratio and also use and the elements and principles of design as we layout the elements on the page. See poster at bottom of page for the list of the elements and principles of design. We are going to focus on space, (space as it relates to the layout of objects on a page,) texture, variety, composition and dominance. Follow the tutorials below in Photoshop.
Some students are wondering how to create a planet if you can't get the 3D mode to work in photoshop. It is actually really easy. Here is a tutorial video to show you how:
NEVADA STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION CAREER TECHNICAL STANDARDS FOR GRAPHIC DESIGN that we will be addressing in this assignment:
PERFORMANCE STANDARD 2.1 : IDENTIFY AND APPLY THE ELEMENTS OF DESIGN
- 2.1.1 Identify the applications of color, line, shape, texture, size, and value in samples of graphic work
- 2.1.2 Analyze the use of color, line, shape, texture, size, and value in samples of graphic work
- 2.1.3 Incorporate color, line, shape, texture, size, and value in student-generated graphic work
- 2.1.5 Demonstrate the elements of design through digital sketching
- 2.2.1 Analyze the principles of balance, contrast, alignment, rhythm, repetition, movement, harmony, emphasis, and unity in samples of graphic works.
- 2.2.3 Demonstrate the principles of design through various drawing techniques.
- PERFORMANCE STANDARD 2.3 : IDENTIFY AND APPLY THE PRINCIPLES OF TYPOGRAPHY
- 2.3.1 Identify the anatomical components and qualities of type (i.e., x-height, ascenders, descenders, counters, etc.)
- 2.3.2 Apply and adjust formatting to type
- 2.3.3 Construct graphic works utilizing and manipulating type