Tutorials, Links etc

Misc, Tips

Markup workshop for instructors
Communication and Participation
Critique & Analysis
Time Management
Image resources
Grades

NEW!

tutorial on using guides Photoshop 4 minutes http://screencast.com/t/Y2QyYTM3MjUt

Creating compositions in Photoshop using raster/vector tools

Jaggies in Photoshop? http://screencast.com/t/OTNhODEyY

Grouping and posting thumbs http://screencast.com/t/YThjNzM4

Superunit assignment - easy steps Jing 4.5 minute

Using the clone stamp/healing brush Eliminate copy/paste syndrome

Downloading and installing Photoshop brushes

Drawing on your design

Here are two short (4.5 minute) Jing tutorials for assignment 3 on colorizing, duping, saving as a .psd, flattening, placing the color wheel for presentation...

These two JINGs go together:

How to colorize compositions in Photoshop
 http://screencast.com/t/AJF5d4nNxpjE 

How to flatten and compose with small labeled/marked color wheel
 http://screencast.com/t/qiGwYMJq 

And misc...

A page on color, examples, wheels...
 http://jeffprentice.net/teachf/colorresources.html 

 

Click the image above to see an example of original image turned into a field of texture.

Video tutorial here a 4.5 minute Jing tutorial I put together that uses a photo to create an organic tactile texture in Photoshop
Be sure to click on the 'full size' button when viewing

 

Depth tutorial 4.5 min - above image and photos used (click to view)
I used several photographs, desaturated, ajusted levels, copied, pasted, transformed to create a composition dealing with depth and volume.

 

Create a series of centered circles in Photoshop

General layout and posting format

VIDEO Scanning/Formatting for Posting. 7 min

Combining 4 designs onto one canvas for one post
Text version: Stacking multiple images on one canvas in Photoshop

 

Photographing work: 4 steps

How do you trace a Photo in Photoshop? How do you place this drawing in your design?
How to build a webpage layout in photoshop

Color Theory and Design

Basicshapesswf.html Creating and manipulating basic shapes in Photoshop, streaming video

Drawing and Perspective

Drawing in 2 point perspective 10 min
The sighting technique and still life. 20 min
Basic forms in 3 point perspective. 20 min
Drawing shadows, cube and cylinder. 6 min

Note for the video tutorials:Audio and video controllers are located below the screen. This isn't streaming, it's a progressive load, and there may be delays in loading depending on your connection. If the video hiccups, wait until you see the green line get a little longer before you play, or take a short break and come back - and it will be fully loaded.

Misc

On the topic of the subjective nature of perception, or how cultural context impacts our perceptions, here's a neat article by one of Albers' students that deals with that topic.

http://www.rit.edu/

3 Strategies for compositions

Cluster smaller shapes - this can add an element of emphasis to an area

Asymmetry - delete some shapes from one area, add to another, to add more movement and dynamic thrust to the composition

Reference the frame - you can have shapes go off/beyond the edge, referencing a world beyond the picture plane

Perception http://www.edge.org

http://www.powstock.com/ Free stock photos

Tips on downloading and installing fonts
Pacific beach: critiquing designs
template screenshots - premade templates for u to use in projects from various programs
Why posting requirements?
What is a screenshot?
Compositional balance and weight short video
presentation notes tips on labeling, with examples, PDF
For more tutorials go to digitaltutors.com or Lynda.com

Adobe products

layersmagazine.com/
adobe.com/designcenter/tutorials/

 

Pixelated, jagged edges Jagged, pixelated edges on shapes and text: For those of you with shapes that have those jagged edges. The shapes you see on the link above are all created 72 dpi. The first shape is created using the vector shape tool. No jaggies. The second shape is created by creating a selection with anti-alias checked and then filling it. No jaggies.. The third - I created a shape with the selection tool, but didn't check the anti-alias box. Jaggies. Also - if you save at too low a gif quality you will get jagged edges.

Question: why we are we studying this?

Student: One thing I still don't understand is why we are learning this if we plan to be digital graphic artists?

My Answer: All of the foundation courses can be viewed as grammar - we learned the ABCs and basic spelling in school in order to get to the point where we could express ourselves better in writing, and the same thing is true with drawing, perspective, 2d design - once we learn the rules of form, contrast, proportion (etc) and composition using a variety of media we can make more sophisticated work (improved grades and portfolio contents) in courses later on in the program that use software instead of graphite. J

Image of the Day/Week Project

Often emailed to online students, but can be used onground as well. Broadens understanding of the art and design world, creates a bigger context for designs created in class.

Presentation

72 dpi, no wider than 800 pixels - and if you need to post more than one image then stack them - a post can be as 'tall' as you like - the key thing is to scroll one way only -

labels - small, about 10- 12 pixel sans serif gray font for name and assignment in the lower right corner

and of course, the work - clean and uncluttered, thoughtful design, and reflecting time, and most importantly, reflecting an understanding of the material being covered

The relationship between MUSIC and DESIGN elements

A drawing is very similar to a musical composition - I often envision a graphic equalizer when looking at work.

Next time you look at your drawing imagine the sliders of an equalizer- does it need more 'bass'? add more darks...does it need more mid-tones? Weave the values through the composition. Does it need more treble? look at the proportion and use of your whites.

A composition or song is held together by the "backbeat" - which can be a number of things, such as repeated lines and shapes. The rhythmic breakup of background shapes or negative space often can be considered the bass and drums of the visual composition. For example, by subdividing the negative space and adding background elements you provide the equivalent of a high hat, a percussive visual element that provides direction for the eye to follow through the composition. Texture does the same thing. And just as many people don't listen for the high hat when listening to a song, so the background might not be the first thing viewers notice when looking at a design.

Scale - Does a lead guitar play all through the song? Usually not. So in the drawing the object to be emphasized can be partially hidden, overlapped, or made smaller (or larger) to emphasize its role in the viewer experience.

The relationship between line quality and tone - a thin contour line is like an acoustic guitar lead, a fat dark line like a backup guitar playing its lo E string with a grungy effects fuzz.

There are a lot of other similarities and comparisons - see if you can use them in the next drawing.

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Jing overview of course setup

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