Here are a collection of the lab tutorials we have conducted in class since the beginning of term. The LasVegas postcard assignment was the first. It was a great introduction to a lot of the tools one tends to use a lot in Photoshop. I learned all about layers, colour hues and using the guideline was a simple but really effective tool. We learned that the format you save in is very important. Next, we looked at using the magnetic lasso, text, and polygonal lasso
tool. I chose a picture from Buenos Aires, that had a lot of sunshine in
order to match with the sunlight streaming on the face of this
photograph. I used a picture taken from a day trip in Ontario with a
friend last summer. I used the lettering to cover up the rough edges of
the superimposed subject against the back ground. It was sneaky...but
once I am better with the tools I will feather out the edges more and
probably remove the person from the original background more
efficiently. In the following lab we compared the visual quality of gif. files and JPEG. We used different formats and resolutions to experiment with the end result of this Dhalia. Here it is as a gif. file in the lowest quality. We then used the layering technique to isolate a layer of a full colour image.We picked a point of interest in a stock photograph. In this case, the blue helmet (using the polygon lasso tool followed by selecting, and modifying), we used it as highlight of colour in the second duplicate, layer of the image which was transformed to a faded greyscale photo using desaturate.
Postcard Lab: RTA/BDC192 Week 2
Here are some extras I worked on for Tuesday Nights at The Silver Dollar.
I found this clip and it made my week!
This video is a fantastic recreation of some rather ancient hardware at work. The Antikythera Mechanism is a series of gears working together to create one of the first analog, computers in history. It served as an astronomical calculator tracking astrological movements. Given the fact that this device existed several years B.C., it kind of makes you wonder where would have we gone technologically speaking. You know...if it hadn't been for the massive delay experienced by the dark ages. It's sad to realize that we basically went from designing a basic computer around 150 BC to charging brilliant philosophers, writers, artists, and inventors, in the name of religion, by the time we reached 1600's. Anyone who challenged the religious dogma of the time, was effectively erased. Thus, snuffing out the previous academic and technological advancements hinted at by previous civilizations.
Bummer...
This week in Digital Media we looked at motion graphics. We focused on the art of movie credits and introductions to movies. Saul Bass was a significant example presented in class. I started to think through some of the movie intros I watched growing up that had an impact.
The music and animated intro. in this film was the coolest thing ever when I was a kid. The Pink Panther
When I moved to Canada, I discovered TVO network. The introduced me to some dynamite programming(Today's Special, Sesame Street, Polka Dot Door etc.). Among this list was the excellent stop motion classic: PINGU
When I grew up, my love of cartoons and ahem...graphic novels never faded.
COWBOY BEBOP has the perfect matching of music and animation. I loved this series as well TRIGUN here are both opening credits.
However none of these trailers match the place in my heart reserved for Tank Girl. Awesome comic translated into wicked movie itnro followed by great live action film :)
ENJOY :)
As Promised here are some sample of last weeks Poster or C.D. Cover project:
I chose to create a c.d. cover for an
upcoming EP. The disc will feature acoustic Jazz, Funk, Soul, and RnB
music from New Orleans. The songs are recorded during live sessions,
from the Silver Dollar Room. The instrumentation is acoustic and
presents guitar, bass, trumpet, percussion and vocals. The venue
itself, is considered a musical and historical landmark. It was home
to many outstanding performances by various Blues and Rock
performers, such as The Rolling Stones, Oscar Peterson, and Dan
Akroyd.
I wanted the title
of the disc to convey this classic timelessness that still had a bit
of edge.
I used 'Downcome' font in the main title because the stamp
like effect gave it a home-made texture. The colour of the fonts,
serve to highlight certain hues that are naturally occurring in the
photograph. I chose the purple 'Selfish' font to resonate with the
purple hues of the jacket and to suggest the colour at the centre of
the magnolia blossom. The red in the title, 'Magnolia Sessions,'
brings out the red hues in the subject's lips. Prior to using colour
burn and a variety of other effects, the face on the cover appeared
to pale and washed out. I love the photo, it was taken by one of my
favourite photographers Andrija
Dimitrijevic. We shot the photographs in my
basement apartment after creating a makeshift set, using bed sheets
as backdrop. I couldn't reach Andrija in time for the project
deadline, so I had to resort to using the stamp tool and clone out
the watermark. That was the trickiest piece for me. I do, of course,
have permission to use this image.
I was going to use
photoshop to superimpose an image in the background, but decided
against it. The photograph has some really nice negative space
naturally occurring so it was easier to work with it, than not. In
the future I think would like to learn how to effect the shadows on
the model's face and skin texture.
The end result of this project had absolutely nothing to do with my initial concept. I had envisioned very simple, mural art design based poster. The focus of the poster was going to be the silhouette of a female, holding a trumpet in the air under the banner of Fat Tuesday. I had chosen 'Jf Ringmaster' font example. However, the font wasn't loading properly onto my computer. So, I drew...and re-drew the letters individually, with the intention of scanning them myself. I couldn't find an image a female silhouette I liked, and could use freely. So, I drew that too. At the end of the week, I had several pieces of a poster...But I couldn't make the pieces fit together in a cohesive fashion.I had even taken hours to draw what I thought was a completely accurate depiction of a trumpet. Guitar player, Josh, was quick to inform me that my trumpet looked like it had a lasers coming out of it.
Here are some versions of the CD Cover Assignment that didn't make the cut.
