Illustration and Visual Narrative / Project 1

June 15, 2023

Illustration and Visual Narrative / Project 1

03/04/2023 - 17/05/2023 / Week 1 - Week 7
Iman binti Kamarudin / 0364014
Illustration and Visual Narrative / Bachelors of Design (Hons) in Creative Media
Project 1: Vormator Exercise & Illustrated Typography

LECTURE

Week 1:

During this class, we mainly went over the main resources and expectations for the module. Using the website Bevier, we practiced using the pen tool within Adobe Illustrator. I managed to finish tracing with 27 nodes leftover. We then looked at the project structure and were assigned our first exercise which is coming up with a character only using the Vormator elements. Our homework was to trace over the elements as submit the wireframe within the MS Teams.

Figure 1.1 - The Bezier Game

(to insert image into canvas)

file > place > drag and drop
layers > double click on layer > template > adjust opacity
new layer > trace over elements (pen tool)

Week 2:

During this week's class, we went over the curvature tool and the direct selection tool in Adobe Illustrator. We then had to trace over the vormator elements and I also began my character exploration. Initially I wanted to come up with an octopus character hoarding some sort of treasure or barrel, however I used the basis of this character to design a nine-tailed fox character. After some feedback, I have to go back to the drawing board and go about the task with a different, more creative approach.

shape builder > alt key > select (shape removed)
> drag across shape (join shapes)

select shapes > windows > pathfinder > unify
using curvature tool
direct selection tool > select unwanted anchor points > delete

Week 3:

Class during Week 3 was conducted online through Microsoft Teams. We went over colour and how to go about re-colouring our characters. We went over gradients, layer modes and how to create shadows and highlights. This was really helpful for me since I was unsure about how to create more depth in my character and show the texture of a specific material such as metal.

Figure 1.1 - Character re-colour

Figure 1.2 - Character re-colour using gradients

Week 4:

We submitted our first exercise - the vormator character. During class, we went over on how to create vector type through using 'trace image' and how to adjust paths using the pencil tool, width tool and smoothing pencil.

(to trace over template)

select type

right click > create outline

stroke > show options

check 'dashed line' > change pts in dash and gap

(to fix path)

pencil tool > redraw over line

(to smooth)

smoothing pencil > draw over area to smooth

(to adjust line width)

width tool > select line and adjust

Week 5:

During this class, we learnt about creating 3D art and objects in Adobe Illustrator.

object > path > offset path

(to seperate and slice object)

create box over half the circle

select all objects

pathfinder > divide > ungroup > delete bottom half

(to rotate)

'R' > alt > click pivot point (bottom of circle)

90* > copy

(to make 3D)

group objects > windows > 3D & materials

inflate > adjust settings

INSTRUCTIONS

Task 1: Vormator Character

Fig 1.1 - Vormator Elements

Fig 1.2 - Traced Vormator Elements

Fig 1.3 - Wireframe of Vormator Elements

Figure 1.4 - First Character Attempt

Figure 1.5 - Second Character Attempt

Figure 1.6 - Final Vormator Character

Figure 1.7 - Final Vormator Outline

Task 2: Illustrated Typography

The words I chose were 'Constellation' and 'Blowfish' and I began sketching out my idea. Initially, I wanted to combine both of my words and illustrate them together as a whole piece but after some feedback I went back and sketched out separate ideas for each word.

Figure 1.1 - First Rough Sketch Illustrated Typograpy

Figure 1.2 - Constellation 2nd Rough Sketch Illustrated Typography

Figure 1.3 - Blowfish 2nd Rough Sketch Illustrated Typography

After I sketched out my new ideas, I began to digitise them on my own in Adobe Illustrator. However, I got some new feedback and ideas during class and scrapped the progress I made.

Figure 1.4 - Initial Digitising Process

I received feedback once I showed my 2nd pass at my rough sketches. I arranged the constellations as if it was in a zodiac chart and it definitely made it look more interesting than if I just left it alone.

I was also advised that while my sketch for the word 'Blowfish' was alright, it didn't really portray or express the blowfish itself. Mr. Hafiz explained that I should focus on the actual characteristics of blowfish and express that in the illustrated typography.

Figure 1.5 - Constellation Revised Sketch

Figure 1.6 - Blowfish Revised Sketch

Once I finished drawing my final sketches, I began to digitise them in Adobe Illustrator. For the word 'Constellation', I kept my initial digitisation of the letters and arranged them the way I had sketched out in my final.