Objective
To
explore creative thinking as it relates to typography. To learn Adobe
Illustrator production techniques by recreating the art below:
Discussion
Often, designers will replace one letter of a word with an object. This object usually will add an amusing, clever and memorable dimension to a logotype or headline. Choosing the right object is important as the wrong object will not add anything to the communication. How the object is rendered is equally important as legibility can not be sacrificed.
In this banner art, the mouse is a photo-realistic vector drawing based on a reference photograph. Mechanical (or man-made objects) are particularly suited for this style of illustration and often the results are "better" than a photograph. In addition, this banner art can be reproduced at any size without loss of integrity.
Procedure
prepping for the exercise
- download
starter files
- launch illustrator
- examine downloaded files
- file > new "mouse.ai"
- practice Adobe's
navigation keyboard shortcuts (space; space+cmd; space+cmd+opt)
drawing
the mouse
- file > place
"mouse.jpg"
- view > show grid
- straighten image so that sides of mouse are straight verticals
- view > hide grid
- change layer to a template (double-click layer, do not dim so that colors can be sampled with eyedropper)
- new layer "mouse"; view > outline
(cmd+Y)
- draw mouse (see sample file "mouseSample.ai"): use ellipse tool to trace circle at top edge of mouse image; add anchor points as needed; pull points to stretch shape to fit
- inspect image for "hot spot" (not highest highlight); copy outer shape and scale down to this area
- repeat copying & scaling of shape for each level of color
- adjust stacking order
- view > preview
(cmd+Y); set fill (stroke = none)
- make custom blends (object > blend > make)
- cord: trace cord at center; copy & paste in front (cmd-F) twice
- apply stroke colors to each path
- adjust stroke weight to each path
- select all 3 strokes: object > blend > make
- repeat with button, highlight
adding the Parkland logo
- new layer "parkland"
- paste logo from "parkland.ai"; adjust size, position, color
- duplicate logo to make a mask, delete box
- select original logo: effects > stylize > drop shadow (opacity=35, blur=1.5, adjust X & Y offsets)
- position mask on top of logo (direct select tool)
- object > clipping mask > make
laying out the banner
- file > new "banner.ai" (15x5 inches)
- rename "layer 1" as "mouse"
- paste art from "mouse.ai", adjust size, position
- new layer "bg"
- draw 2 boxes, fill with 100C+100M and 100C+75M, lock layer
- select mouse: effects > stylize > drop shadow
- repeat with cord
- new layer "design"
- type "DESIGN" (Univers 39, size=?, tracking=?)
- type > create outlines, ungroup, delete "G", adjust positioning
- new layer "type"
- paste type from "banner.txt" (Verdana Bold); add gradient
- duplicate layers as needed, change transparency
- new layer "logo"
- paste logo from "gds.ai"; adjust size, position, color
- print a b&w proof for grading
invent
your own logotype (extra credit)
- in your sketchbook,
do thumbnails sketches of other possible words where one letter can be replaced with an object
- photograph your object using proper lighting (stock images not allowed)
- scan in your
reference photograph, then trace over it in illustrator
- print a b&w proof for critique
- revise the design based on feedback
- print a color proof for grading
grading
- submit proofs with your name on it for grading
- file graded proof in your Process Book for individual review
- publish a JPEG linked from your Process Page (no wider than 800px)