Unit Evaluation
I have learned a lot in this unit! It's seems ages since I started it! I started by learning about the differences between pcs and macs, and all the different types of outputs and inputs in pcs and macs, and how they relate to graphic design, this was especially important as it reminded us of simple IT skills and terminology that would be essential when working with computers, and why macs are used so frequently in the area of design. I also learned about bigger printers, which answered my question to how people create wall murals and bill board ads. I then moved onto learning about the differences in how Photoshop creates images, as opposed to how Illustrator creates images, pixels versus vectors and how they relate and are really important in the area of graphic design, and the pros and cons of each program which, is really quite essential to know if you are going to use each program professionally. I then moved onto researching different file formats, and image types, and how they stack up in terms of memory usage and quality, I felt that this was incredibly helpful and essential to this course, as it educates students on which file formats are best to use and take up the least memory, while still keeping a good level of pixel or vector quality.
I then moved onto researching and playing around with Photomontage, most people use photoshop to create photomontage art, so my experience with photoshop came in handy when learning about this art form. I really enjoy researching things like art in general, and Photomontage wasn't something I was really aware of, so I really enjoyed being able to sink my teeth into some history, and the techniques that were used, I was especially interested in how they created photomontages before computers were even around, and how it links in with early performing arts and drama.
I then moved onto an Illustrator crash course where I practiced the basics with the pen tool, such as straight paths, curved paths and more complex shapes, gradients, and how they all work together to make a logo or text effect work.
After completing the crash course I was then given a choice of some projects I could do using Illustrator, I decided to go with a WPAP art tutorial as my project as that was one of the projects available.
After these were complete I moved onto a Photoshop crash course. The photoshop crash course focused on things such as the selection tools, masking tools, layer styles and layers, and I had to complete individual peices for all these parts of the program. After this I then moved onto creating two pieces using all that I had learned on the crash course.
After the above was completed I then moved onto the next task, which was health and safety, I had a lot of trouble with this task as it kind of seemed pointless and I just felt that I was pointing out already obvious things. But it is there for a good reason, so I did my best to keep it short and concise.
I then moved onto looking at album covers and really analysing what they were made up of and how they were created. This was really essential for the next tasks to come, as I would be designing album covers of my own, this helped me learn the codes and conventions of album covers, and the different kind of outcomes I can create. I had no difficulty recognising the barcodes and copyright text on the covers.
After I was done researching the album covers I had chosen in the following categories; Mixed media, photography, and digital art, I moved onto creating some of my own album covers, in the categories of; mixed media, photoshop and illustrator.
I created sketches of my ideas, and then moved onto re-creating my ideas illustrator for my illustrator ideas, photoshop for my photoshop ideas, and a combination of Illustrator, Photoshop and Indesign for my mixed media ideas. I learned a lot of things while completing these tasks, such as getting more practice using illustrator, my strengths and weakenesses in certain areas, such as my illustrator skills, which need more practice, my lack of planning in some areas, and what I need to improve on with these programs and throughout this course, I spent a lot of time using traditional techniques when it came to the mixed media outcome, but had some difficulty with them as I am only really experienced with line drawing, painting and colouring isn't really my strength.
The techniques and processes used in digital programs such as Photoshop and Illustrator imitate traditional traditional techniques and processes and do them a lot better in my opinion, processes become quicker when created digitally, and it is easier to delete, remove and track back when you make a mistake, however, using digital programs in my opinion is far less therapuetic as programs can crash, take ages to load and sometimes you may forget a certain technique and not be able to figure it out again without the help of a tutorial, whereas with painting and drawing, I find that once I learn something it is then ingrained in my mind for a while, I think this may be because of things like muscle memory, for example, our bodies remember how to replicate a certain brush stroke or process because we have been making complex movements to create an effect, whereas when using digital programs, especially with a mouse, we don't tend to think about or remember mouse clicks and menus as well as when we do something by hand. I generally tend to find it easier to use programs when using a tablet pen as this seems easier to me physically, probably because it is similar to using an actual pen or pencil.
Working traditionally also has the benefit, or flaw of always being somewhat spontaenous as you can't always know how a watercolour painting will turn out as the paints will always mix differently, the quality of a piece also relies on which paper you use, for example, you need absorbent paper for watercolours and other paints as printer paper crinkles as paint dries on it. This is something that you do not have to worry about when using digital programs, although you do have to worry about resolution, especially when using Photoshop (pixels), and sometimes when using colour in a project, the colours may not look the same as they did on screen, depending on how the printer handles colour. Although you always have the security of knowing that a colour will always look the same on screen, no matter how many times you use it, this could be easier for people who struggle with tone and shadow as opposed to hue, brightness and colour, as you have to take into account hue, shadow, tone, brightness and texture and consistency when using traditional methods.
So even though there a similarities between digital and traditional processes, there are also major and minor differences, in conclusion, I firmly believe that different people will handle digital and traditional processes differently, and it is really all down to personal preferrence in the end.
I then moved onto researching and playing around with Photomontage, most people use photoshop to create photomontage art, so my experience with photoshop came in handy when learning about this art form. I really enjoy researching things like art in general, and Photomontage wasn't something I was really aware of, so I really enjoyed being able to sink my teeth into some history, and the techniques that were used, I was especially interested in how they created photomontages before computers were even around, and how it links in with early performing arts and drama.
I then moved onto an Illustrator crash course where I practiced the basics with the pen tool, such as straight paths, curved paths and more complex shapes, gradients, and how they all work together to make a logo or text effect work.
After completing the crash course I was then given a choice of some projects I could do using Illustrator, I decided to go with a WPAP art tutorial as my project as that was one of the projects available.
After these were complete I moved onto a Photoshop crash course. The photoshop crash course focused on things such as the selection tools, masking tools, layer styles and layers, and I had to complete individual peices for all these parts of the program. After this I then moved onto creating two pieces using all that I had learned on the crash course.
After the above was completed I then moved onto the next task, which was health and safety, I had a lot of trouble with this task as it kind of seemed pointless and I just felt that I was pointing out already obvious things. But it is there for a good reason, so I did my best to keep it short and concise.
I then moved onto looking at album covers and really analysing what they were made up of and how they were created. This was really essential for the next tasks to come, as I would be designing album covers of my own, this helped me learn the codes and conventions of album covers, and the different kind of outcomes I can create. I had no difficulty recognising the barcodes and copyright text on the covers.
After I was done researching the album covers I had chosen in the following categories; Mixed media, photography, and digital art, I moved onto creating some of my own album covers, in the categories of; mixed media, photoshop and illustrator.
I created sketches of my ideas, and then moved onto re-creating my ideas illustrator for my illustrator ideas, photoshop for my photoshop ideas, and a combination of Illustrator, Photoshop and Indesign for my mixed media ideas. I learned a lot of things while completing these tasks, such as getting more practice using illustrator, my strengths and weakenesses in certain areas, such as my illustrator skills, which need more practice, my lack of planning in some areas, and what I need to improve on with these programs and throughout this course, I spent a lot of time using traditional techniques when it came to the mixed media outcome, but had some difficulty with them as I am only really experienced with line drawing, painting and colouring isn't really my strength.
The techniques and processes used in digital programs such as Photoshop and Illustrator imitate traditional traditional techniques and processes and do them a lot better in my opinion, processes become quicker when created digitally, and it is easier to delete, remove and track back when you make a mistake, however, using digital programs in my opinion is far less therapuetic as programs can crash, take ages to load and sometimes you may forget a certain technique and not be able to figure it out again without the help of a tutorial, whereas with painting and drawing, I find that once I learn something it is then ingrained in my mind for a while, I think this may be because of things like muscle memory, for example, our bodies remember how to replicate a certain brush stroke or process because we have been making complex movements to create an effect, whereas when using digital programs, especially with a mouse, we don't tend to think about or remember mouse clicks and menus as well as when we do something by hand. I generally tend to find it easier to use programs when using a tablet pen as this seems easier to me physically, probably because it is similar to using an actual pen or pencil.
Working traditionally also has the benefit, or flaw of always being somewhat spontaenous as you can't always know how a watercolour painting will turn out as the paints will always mix differently, the quality of a piece also relies on which paper you use, for example, you need absorbent paper for watercolours and other paints as printer paper crinkles as paint dries on it. This is something that you do not have to worry about when using digital programs, although you do have to worry about resolution, especially when using Photoshop (pixels), and sometimes when using colour in a project, the colours may not look the same as they did on screen, depending on how the printer handles colour. Although you always have the security of knowing that a colour will always look the same on screen, no matter how many times you use it, this could be easier for people who struggle with tone and shadow as opposed to hue, brightness and colour, as you have to take into account hue, shadow, tone, brightness and texture and consistency when using traditional methods.
So even though there a similarities between digital and traditional processes, there are also major and minor differences, in conclusion, I firmly believe that different people will handle digital and traditional processes differently, and it is really all down to personal preferrence in the end.