Workshop for the three main Adobe software programs
The purpose of this workshop was to introduce me to the major programs in order for me to be able to utilise them effectively to improve my outcomes. I am however already familiar with all of the software we were to work with: Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign. Nonetheless, I was still eager to learn new techniques and improve my skills which I did as I learnt new/different ways of doing things. The one thing that stood out to me the most during the briefing of the software was that being an expert in using all the Adobe software does not make one a good designer. Being a good designer comes from one's concepts and ideas.
The outcome of the day was to create an A3 poster based on the theme of 'Memory' which had to feature three elements: a graphic headline, photographic images and a section of body copy. I was given creative control in terms of how I wanted to interpret this brief. After brainstorming for a while i decided that I wanted my poster to be an advertisement for a company which specialises in helping people to relive their memories.
The inspiration for this concept is derived from the film, Total Recall which is about a man who finds out the life he lives isn't real after he visits a company called 'Rekall' which provides its clients with implanted memories of a life they'd desire to have lived.
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| Total Recall (2012) Wikipedia |
Illustrator
Initially I wanted to create a logo for a company similar to that of 'Rekall', I however decided that I didn't want my work to simply be a copy, I wanted to create something so I made my graphic headline a phrase instead which would be an integral part of my advert. Whilst having a play on Illustrator with the pen tools, creating lines etc I wanted my headline to be simple yet have a personal style to it. I think i achieved this through the gradient effect in the type. In order for to create a finished piece I need to incorporate the graphic headline with photographic images and a section of body copy.
Photoshop
For my required photographic images, I decided to acquire my images from the internet solely for the purpose of creating a mock before using my own images to create a final version. The images I chose include: a baby's first step, a holiday destination, a concert and a couple's wedding day. This collection of images are grouped to represent significant images in the average persons life. Using the 'How to use photoshop guide' I learned how to create vector masks which is the professional/ more efficient method of removing any unwanted features of an image as opposed to using the magic wand/lasso tool. I then experimented with editing the images using brightness/contrast, levels, curves and colour filters. I chose to use a greyscale- black and white filter in order to stay consistent with the theme of memories by using black and white to depict the past. Additionally, I experimented with merging the collaged images with the use transparency, opacity and fill to visualise the concept of fading memories. Overall, I think I was successful in using this particular software to enhance my concepts. The main issue I faced during this exercise was time management as I had only a set amount of time to edit. In order to improve these images I need to revisit them and spend more time editing and refining them to the highest level possible.
InDesign
InDesign serves the purpose of pulling different parts of design together; the photographic images in photoshop and the typography from illustrator. I found working on InDesign quite straightforward and enjoyed it as it is quite versatile. In InDesign I focused on the layout of my poster by adding different features to it, such as putting the photographic image in a circular frame and adding the body copy underneath the image in the middle. I experimented with the body copy by playing with the leading, tracking, kerning etc. I decided to keep the body copy quite simple.
This is a mock up of what I would like my final poster to look like. If I had the opportunity to create a real poster based on my brief I would create my own memories using found images as well as my own. I would also put it into context more as at the moment my poster looks like a wedding company advert which isn't the outcome I aspired to achieve.
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