DPI Project 01
23.08.21 - 18.09.21 (Week 1 - Week 4)
Chai Yi Xuan / 0346645 / B'
Creative Media
Digital Photography and Imaging
Project 1 / Collage
LECTURES
Week 1 (Introduction)
For this module, Adobe Photoshop will be the commonly used program to do our exercises and assignment. There are reasons why we are encouraged to learn Adobe Photoshop, and that is to enable us to operate in visual styles, web design, individual expression, and marketing and advertising.
The Importance of Photoshop:
- Express your creativity
- Create graphic designs
- Restoring old/faded images
- Integrate graphics with text artistically
- Make use of brushes
- Changing photo colours
- Rectify mistakes in photographs
10 Tips for Graphic Designers:
- Follow tutorials
- Experiment
- Memorise hotkeys/shortcuts
- "Replicate" others works (To gauge one's ability)
- Participate in competitive environments
- Subscribe to online galleries
- Use Smart Objects
- Scaling artworks and proportions
- Work with action
- Proper file organising
Week 2 (Composition)
Composition plays an important part in design, as it determines the flow of an artwork. A good composition makes the design look appealing to viewers; while a bad composition can disrupt the reading flow and confuse viewers instead.
Basic Composition:
- Focal point
- Scale and hierarchy
- Balance
- White space
Rule of Third:
It is a process of dividing an image into thirds, using two horizontal lines and two vertical lines. Designers utilize this method by placing the subject along one of the intersecting lines to make their composition look more natural. Rule of Third produces a composition that is visually pleasing, while using negative space to their advantage and create conversation with the subject and the background.
Golden Ratio:
It is a mathematical ratio commonly found in nature. Designers use this composition is used to create an organic looks, which is naturally pleasing to the eye. The Golden Ratio is all about appreciating harmony and proportion, which provides a sense of artistry. In design, this composition is normally found in layouts.
Week 3 (Introduction to Photoshop)
To effectively use Adobe Photoshop, one must learn about the ins and outs of it. For this week's lecture, Mr Martin introduced to us to three parts of Photoshop.
Lasso Tool:
This tool allows one to pinpoint and select a specific part of an image. It works like a pencil, except it's for selection. There are three options for the Lasso tool: Lasso, Polygonal Lasso, and Magnetic Lasso. This tool is best used with a graphic tablet, as it requires you to be precise in drawing your selection.
Pen Tool:
A tool to use if you need to start from scratch. The Pen tool works by adding points and dragging the mouse to create a specific shape needed. This tool can create straight lines, u-curves and s-curves. The difference between the Lasso tool and Pen tool is that Pen tool are made to create precise shapes and paths, and not originally made to make selections.
Layers:
Layers are different images stacked on top of each other. Layering is useful as it allows non-destructive editing— which means you can make changes without destroying the original image itself. It allows designers to experiment more without fearing of ruining the final product.
Week 4 (Adjustment Layers & Filters)
Adjustment Layers:
An editing tool that adds colours and tonal changes without changing the pixels of the original image. It is highly useful as it does not alter your original work, and you can add or discard it any time. There are multiple functions in Adjustment Layers.
- Brightness/Contrast
- Levels
- Curves
- Exposure
- Selective Colour
Filters:
A tool that is an essential part of Adobe Photoshop. It allows the user to change colour, blur, or create new image effects. Photoshop offers a variety of filters to accommodate designer's need to create a stunning work.
INSTRUCTIONS
To-Do List:
- Create two collages; one physical and one digital
PART A: Physical Collage
Week 2
We started the project with the physical collage. Mr Martin told us to gather any magazine or newspaper as our material for the collage. During practical session, we used our time to create three different compositions(not glued yet) and photograph it. Then we handed in the compositions through Google Classroom.
I only have some magazines on hand, and even so, there was not much material to cut out. Most of the elements were lacking and some were intersecting with other disruptive elements. In the end, I only have a few to work with.
I did my best to create with what I have. I catergorised the elements according to relevance and decided to go with a social media theme for my collage, as it has the most elements to work with. I then created three different compositions, finding the best way to arrange my elements and deliver my message.
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| Figure 1.1: Composition #1 |
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| Figure 1.2: Composition #2 |
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| Figure 1.3: Composition #3 |
Week 3
We received some feedback from Mr Martin about our physical collage, then prompted us to make some adjustments before handing it up for submission.
Mr Martin reviewed all three of my compositions and gave his feedback. After listening to his feedback, I realise the areas that I can improve on and started making refinements. I cut out one of my elements(the group of people) into smaller, individual ones as Mr Martin suggested. Then, I scatter them to different areas of the base, making the composition look more filled and dynamic. Then, it was just the matter arranging my other elements to complete the final look.
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| Figure 1.4: Finalised design for physical collage |
PART B: Digital Collage
Week 3
We were given a folder of pictures, which would be our materials to use for our digital collage. Mr Martin had given us a tutorial of how to use masking layers and so on in Adobe Photoshop. After a demonstration, we were given some time to create our composition.
I downloaded the pictures and opened them all up in Photoshop. I took some time to view all of them and brainstorm some ideas for the digital collage. Eventually, I made three different compositions, this time each of them have a different theme.
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| Figure 2.1: Composition #1, Nature themed |
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| Figure 2.2: Composition #2, News theme |
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| Figure 2.3: Composition #3, Movie themed |
Week 4
Mr Martin gave us feedback on our digital collage. Most of us have great ideas, only that he suggested us to add more elements to strengthen the idea.
When it was my turn for the feedback, Mr Martin highly suggested that I use either Composition #2 or Composition #3. Both of them had good ideas and the elements are nicely arranged. He left the decision up to me to submit either digital collages for submission. In the end, I chose Composition #3 as I felt that the collage speaks more to me.
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| Figure 2.4: Finalised design for digital collage |
FEEDBACK
6th September, Monday
Mr Martin noted that he understood what I wanted to show in my physical collage, but the execution was not on par. Most of the elements felt separated from each other, telling a different message on each different focus. He suggested that I cut one of my elements(the group of people) into smaller individual ones and play with the composition more.
Week 4
13th September, Monday
Mr Martin preferred the my second and composition for the digital collage. He sees the direction I was going for in my design and mentioned that they are close to ready for submission.
REFLECTIONS
Experience
Observations
I
noticed that everyone has a way of showing their preferences and aesthetic in their designs. This can be seen in Part B of the project, the digital collage. Everyone was given the same elements to use for their collage, however everyone has an idea of their own and no designs were clashed. It shows that each designer has their own way of expressing themselves.
Findings
I
found that compositions are very important in design. While I was doing this project, I had trouble understanding how to make my collages look more visually appealing. After multiple tries and some guidelines, I was able to grasp the concept and managed to produce a better looking collage.
I also realised that design needs a meaning and purpose. Not only does it make the creative process much easier, it also puts meaning in our works. It is better than blindly creating something and then try to fit it in a category that it does not belong.
I should improve my understanding on compositions, to ensure that I can create something visually appealing— and something that speaks to the target audience.
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