Archived copy for reference only
 

 

Graphic Design / Interactive Design / Fine & Applied Arts / Parkland College

Graphic Design Exercises
Poster: Madama Butterfly (Photoshop/Illustrator)

(Archived from 2019)

Objective

To learn Adobe Creative Suite production techniques by recreating the following poster:

Discussion

Posters are advertising and promotion vehicles. As such, they need to attract attention from a distance and communicate its message clearly in the simplest way possible. Because of its size, posters can take advantage of extreme contrasts in size. Never be afraid of using small type on a poster because once you've grabbed someone's attention, they will not hesitate to get closer to read about the details.

Procedure

prepping the flower art in Photoshop

  1. download starter files
  2. open "magnolia.jpg" in photoshop
  3. rename "background" layer
  4. edit > transform > flip vertically
  5. window > actions: new group "set 1"
  6. create new action "image size 120%" (function key=shift F2)
  7. record action: image > image size: 120% (bicubic smoother)
  8. window > actions: stop recording
  9. play action (6x)
  10. duplicate "layer 0", hide previous layer
  11. image > adjust > posterize (8)
  12. filter > convert for smart filters
  13. filter > filter gallery > brush strokes: sprayed strokes: (length=18, radius=1, horizontal)
  14. save as "magnolia.psd"

prepping the paper art in Photoshop 

  1. open "paper.jpg" in photoshop
  2. rename "background" layer
  3. magic wand tool: select black
  4. select > modify > expand: 10
  5. delete selection
  6. image > adjust > levels: increase contrast, lighten paper
  7. save as "paper.psd"

laying out the poster in Photoshop

  1. file > new: 11x17in, 150ppi, CMYK, bg=white; save as "madama.psd"
  2. fill "background" layer with red
  3. type tool: "Madama Butterfly" (Helvetica Neue 25), adjust tracking, kerning, leading; scale visually
  4. file > place "paper.psd"; scale, rotate (cmd+T)
  5. add layer style: drop shadow
  6. file > place "magnolia.psd" (RMB > rasterize layer)
  7. layer mode=darken, opacity=80%
  8. file > place "lipstick.ai" (RMB > rasterize layer)
  9. file > place "splatter.ai" (RMB > rasterize layer)
  10. scale, rotate, reposition
  11. make lips and splatter red (opt+shift+DELETE)
  12. layer mode=multiply
  13. add layer mask, make some areas semi-transparent
  14. duplicate "splatter.ai" (opacity=20%), blur
  15. save

finishing the layout in InDesign

  1. file > new: tabloid (margins=0)
  2. rename "layer 1" as "art"
  3. file > place "madama.psd"
  4. new layer "type"
  5. file > place "kcpaLogo.ai", "madama.txt"
  6. change font to Palatino 13/15 or 25/24
  7. adjust layout
  8. file > adobe PDF presets (high quality)
  9. open PDF in Acrobat and print (page setup=tabloid)

grading

  1. submit color laser proof (11x17) with your name and the exercise number on it for grading
  2. file your graded proof in your Process Book for individual review

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Last updated: 5/7/21