Monday 31 January 2011

Working with Portraits in Illustrator.


Applying colour to my black and white illustrations (once scanned in)...





After experimenting with several fonts I always found myself coming back to helvetica- very readable with subtle sophistication in the curvature in links and necks.
I filled in the counters for an edgier, modern look.

 
Combining the modern style type with classical- counter-filled uppercase helvetica with century schoolbook below. 
 

Here, I experimented with different patterns and textures for the background- before successfully grouping the illustrative image away from the background... (a learning curve!)


..Again...I faced the same issues when attempting to apply a purple background to the circle. During these experiments, it was a little confusing, being reasonably new to the Adobe Illustrator software, but I gained vital experience, and worked my way around the problem without too much trouble...


Reversing out my image... I wasn't too found of this style- a bit too dark and with little detail.


A different background pattern this time, a higher density of dots causing the greyscale affect to be much darker- with reversed out white type this was very difficult to read, but it black the image, as a whole, was far too dull.


After a lot of experimentation with design, patterns, background, colours, etc- I have decided upon this design (above) to apply to all of my one hundred illustrative images. A decorative style designed to pose as a wallpapered-wall with a picture frame hanging on it, with the moustache-adorning celebrity in the centre, almost acting as a "shrine" to the moustache (and it's owner!).

The tones will also hopefully apply to both sexes- but particularly the men of whom I aspire to market this product to, young, "trendy", men who love to experiment with fashion and design. 

Sunday 30 January 2011

Visual Langauge: '3' Photographic Series.



After unfortunately not being able to acess my original visual language photographic images (due to scaling them down in size and failing to save original copies- more fool me) I went out this evening to collect more images.

As before, I began to think about the number '3' and sequence...traffic lights seemed like a great solution to this brief...

Saturday 29 January 2011

Moving Image: Workshop Pt. II


Final Cut HD session
mac hardrive>user work folder>new folder>save as 'image sequence project'

applications folder>final cut express HD>easy setup
NTSC SET UP IS THE AMERICAN EQUIVALENT TO THE UK-STANDARD 'PAL'

choose DV-PAL setup (digital video- DV-PAL Anamorphic is in wide screen)
Now, every set up from now will be in this setting by default.

>continue.
final cut express HD>system settings>set...>user work 'image sequence project' folder
>set waveform cache, thumbnail cache and autosave vault to save in 'image sequence project' folder

-ALL ACTIONS WILL APPEAR IN THE BROWSE TAB-
file>save project>user work folder>sequence 1

--check that there are 25 frames per second, and the compressor is DV-PAL--
file>import>folder>(moustache animation)

--there is now your imported folder in the browser bar-- 

CHOOSE A FILE WITH RESIZED IMAGES TO CORRECT PIXEL MEASUREMENTS
>drag and drop images into the track: 

--the length of the bar determines how long the image is played--
>drag images along to the length you want/require.

select all, drag and drop.
press shift + Z to see all images in your timeline

select all images (click on last, drag left)
right click on 1st image>duration> 00:00:00:30 (or select the one that you require) - 00:00:00:05 (5 frames per second)

file export> using quick time conversion>
format>options>settings>H.264>frame rate>current> quality: best> OK>save as> 'sequence 1 animation'

****
file>new sequence

-sequence 2 shall appear in your browser.
drag and drop last sequence with this new sequence- this is called "nesting" sequences- this will, therefore, save as one bar to manipulate.

****
to add text, click on the blank left-side window>click on 'A' button>text>text.

drag the 'sample text' box into your track
double click to manipulare>controls>choose text, font, etc.

AUDIO

audio files: AIFF (mac file format)
WAV- pc standard audio
mp3- may require rendering for use
file> impiort>files>choose your file in browser>drag and drop into audio track
 
My videos

...The first sequence animation...


...experimenting with text, a lyric from the song 'The Mustache Song' by Funky Monkeys- with increased tracking- enhancing the cluttered frame, full to the brim with moustachioed goodness...

...sadly, the music wouldn't work when I played back this track, but I was pleased with the result in the Final Cut HD software. I will definately be experimenting with this programme more in the future, and in particular, next week, potentially to be used in preperation for my module submission of my current collection 100 project...

Monday 24 January 2011

Collect, Categorise and Communicate.


Pt. 1 Anatomy of a Book.
A book is...a set or collection of written, printed, illustrated, or blank sheets, made of paper, parchment, or other material, usually fastened together to hinge at one side. A book consisting of a number of pages bond together.

Leaves- Individual sheets with a bound book.
Pages- Leaves have a front and back side- each is referred to as a page.
Page Spreads- When bound together, the right (recto) and left (verso) pages are centered on a gutter where they are bound together at a spine.
As a general rule, a PERFECT BOUND book consists of pages, leaves and spreads of equal aspect ratio and size.


IMPOSITION- Precise arrangement of multiple pages on a large sheet of paper or press sheet. They layout and sequence in such that when the print is folded, bounded and guillotened, each element of the document is correctly positioned in the correct page sequence or order.
PAGINATION- Pagination is the process of dividing and numbering documents into pages. Pagination can include other attributes such as columns, margins, headers, and footers. Paginated documents can be viewed on the web or as a hardcopy.

Types of binding include: PERFECT, COIL, PLASTIC, VELO, THESIS & MULTIBINDING.
In an A2/A1 sheet, as we experimented with, you can achieve a maximum of 32 folds in a page. (folding in half seven times)- Think in multiples of 4- as A4 can be folded down into this (same as A2/A1) size FOUR TIMES.

Saturday 22 January 2011

An Introduction to Taxonomy.


Collect, Categorise, Communicate- Pt.1

Taxonomy is the practice, process and science of classification. 
A group, often named or numbered, to which items are assigned based on similarity or defined criteria.

triangulation is the categorisation by three points: e.g. 
-a pen's length
-a pen's width
-a pen's colour

or
-a book's title
-a book's author
-a book's publisher

etc...
-It is important that I start applying triangulation into my own research to categorise my information- when thinking about moustaches consider colour, bushiness, style, etc...-



 We then had a quick morning workshop with our tutor, Amber, discovering other ways in which we could showcase our work.

We wrote down a list in four categories of , and then organised these statments on a timeline (shown on the top image)- then going on to condense this, creating several styles of abstract forms of information graphics. 

I found this a really interesting and creative style which I would certainly like to persue in my research- it's a really interactive piece whilst still retaining as much or little information as you need.

I began to consdier ways in which I could categorise my research and findings, fitting to the 'Collection 100' project briefing title and categorisation by triangulation, etc...
*Alphabetical
*By Colour
*By Style
*By Occupation of Moustache-owner
*By Moustache-owner's age
*By level of Fame
*By Nationality of Moustache-owner
*By Bushiness
*By Creativity
*By Age of Moustache(!) 


These categories are ordered as such...
Alphabetical

Albert Einstein
Adolf Hitler

Basil Fawlty 

Billy Connolly

Borat

Brad Pitt
Brandon Flowers
Bruce Forsyth

Burt Reynolds
Saddam Hussein 
Salvador Dali
Carlton Banks (Fresh Prince of Bel Air)
Carl Weathers
Charles Bronson
Charlie Chaplin
Che Guevara
Carlos Santana
Chuckle Brothers
Cleveland (Family Guy)
Clark Gable
Colonel Sanders
Daniel Plainview
Danny DeVito
David Seaman
David Tomlinson (Mr Banks, Mary Poppins)
Des Lynam
Dick Dastardly
Dick Strawbridge
Dick Van Dyke

Dixon Bainbridge (The Mighty Boosh)

Doctor Watson

Eddie the Eagle

Elgar

Englebert Humperdinck

Eugene Hutz

Frank Zappa

Freddie Mercury

Fredrich Nietzsche

Frida Kahlo 

General Melchett

George Clooney

George Galloway

Gandhi

Go Compare! Man

Gomez Addams

Groucho Marx

Hercule Poirot

 Hook
Hulk Hogan

Hunter from Jumanji

Howard Moon

James Hetfield (Metallica)

Jason Lee (My Name is Earl)

Jason Schwarztman

Jimmy Edwards

Johnny Depp

John Oates

John Waters

Joseph Stalin

Keith Lemon 

Kitchener

Lemmy (Motorhead)

Lionel Richie 

Manuel

Mark Spitz (Olympic Swimmer)

Martin Luther King, Jr.

Monopoly Man 

Morgan Freeman

Ned Flanders

Nick Cave

Nigel Mansell

Oliver Jeffers

Prince

Pringles Man

Professor Robert Winston

Richard Griffiths

Richard Herring

Ringo Starr 

Robert Mugabe

Rollie Fingers

Ron Burgundy

Rufus Hound

Ryan Gosling

Sam Elliott

Scatman John

Sean Connery

Sir Trevor McDonald

Stevie Wonder

Super Mario

Tom Selleck

Tom Tucker (Family Guy Channel 5 news)

Village People- The Bike
Vincent Price
Wario
William Shakespeare
Willie Thorne
Wilfred Brimley
Yosemite Sam (Looney Toons)
Zach Condon (Beirut)
**** 
By Colour (black-brown-ginger-blond-grey-white-spectral colours) 
BLACK
Adolf Hitler
Albert Einstein
Basil Fawlty 

Borat
Burt Reynolds
Carlos Santana
Carlton Banks (Fresh Prince of Bel Air)#
Carl Weathers
Charles Bronson 
Charlie Chaplin
Che Guevara
Cleveland (Family Guy)
Clark Gable
Daniel Plainview
David Tomlinson (Mr Banks, Mary Poppins)
 Dick Dastardly
Frank Zappa 
Freddie Mercury
Frida Kahlo
Gandhi
Go Compare! Man
Gomez Addams
Groucho Marx
Hercule Poirot
Hook
Jason Schwartzman
John Oates
John Waters
Lionel Richie
Mauel 
Nick Cave 
Nigel Mansell
Prince
Proffesor Robert Winston 
Robert Mugabe
Rollie Fingers
Saddam Hussien
Salvador Dali
Scatman John 
Stevie Wonder
Tom Selleck 
Village People-The Biker
Vincent Price
Wario
Willie Thorne
Zach Condon (Bierut)

BROWN
Brad Pitt 
Brandon Flowers
Chuckle Brothers
Chuck Norris
Danny DeVito
David Seaman 
Dick Strawbridge
Doctor Watson
Elgar
Englebert Humperdinck
Eugene Hutz
General Melchett
Howard Moon
Jason Lee (My Name Is Earl)
James Hetfield (Metallica)
Johnny Depp 
Kitchener 
Lemmy (Motorhead)
Mark Spitz (Olympic Swimmer)
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Ned Flanders
Oliver Jeffers
Pringles Man
Richard Herring
Ringo Starr
Ron Burgundy
Super Mario
Tom Tucker (Family Guy Channel 5 News)
William Shakespeare

GINGER
Eddie the Eagle
Keith Lemon
Yosemite Sam (Looney Toons)

BLOND
Hulk Hogan
Hunter from Jumanji
Rufus Hound
Ryan Gosling

GREY 
Dixon Bainbridge
Fredrich Nietzsche
Geogre Clooney
George Galloway
Jimmy Edwards
Joseph Stalin
Morgan Freeman
Richard Griffiths
Sean Connery
Sir Trevor McDonald
Wilfred Brimley

WHITE
Bruce Forsyth
Colonel Sanders
Des Lynam 
Dick Van Dyke
Monopoly Man 
Sam Elliott

SPECTRAL COLOURS
Billy Connolly
****

By Style

Natural- Billy Connolly, Brad Pitt, Brandon Flowers, Carlton Banks, Clark Gable, Che Guevara, Danny DeVito, David Seaman, Eddie the Eagle, Frida Kahlo, Gandhi, George Galloway, Howard Moon, James Hetfield, Johnny Depp, Lemmy (Motorhead), Morgan Freeman, Ryan Gosling.
Mexican- Elgar.
Dali- Salvador Dali.
English- David Tomlinson, Dick Dastardly.
Imperial- Jimmy Edwards.
Freestyle- Go Compare! Man, Wario.
Fu Manchu- /
Pancho Villa- Jason Schwartzman, Yosemite Sam (Looney Toons).
Handlebar- Charles Bronson, Eugene Hutz, General Melchett, Hook, Hercule Poirot, Kitchener,  Monopoly Man, Oliver Jeffers, Pringles Man, Rollie Fingers, William Shakespeare, Zach Condon.
Horseshoe- Dixon Bainbridge, Frank Zappa, Hunter from Jumanji, Hulk Hogan, Nick Cave, Rufus Hound, Sam Elliott.
Pencil Moustache- Bruce Forsyth, Gomez Addams, John Waters, Sir Trevor McDonald, Village People-The Biker (Glenn Hughes), Vincent Price.
Chevron- Albert Einstein, Basil Fawlty, Burt Reynolds, Carlos Santana, Chuckle Brothers, Carl Weathers, Cleveland (Family Guy), Chuck Norris, Daniel Plainview, Des Lynam, Dick Van Dyke, Colonel Sanders, Doctor Watson, Englebert Humperdinck, Freddie Mercury, Jason Lee, Manuel, Martin Luther King, Jr., Groucho Marx, George Clooney, John Oates, Joseph Stalin, Keith Lemon, Lionel Richie, Marx Spitz, Ned Flanders, Nigel Mansell, Prince, Professor Robert Winston, Richard Griffiths, Ringo Starr, Ron Burgundy, Saddam Hussein, Sctaman John, Sean Connery, Stevie Wonder, Super Mario, Tom Selleck, Tom Tucker, Willie Thorne.
Toothbrush- Adolf Hitler, Charlie Chaplin, Richard Herring, Robert Mugabe.
Walrus- Dick Strawbridge, Fredrich Nietzsche, Wilfred Brimley.  

****
By Occupation

Actor
Brad Pitt 
Burt Reynolds
Carl Weathers
Charlie Chaplin
Chuck Norris
Clark Gable
Danny DeVito
David Tomlinson
Dick Van Dyke
George Clooney 
Groucho Marx
Jason Lee
Jason Schwartzman
Johnny Depp
 Morgan Freeman
Richard Griffiths
Ryan Gosling
Sam Elliott
Sean Connery
Tom Selleck
Vincent Price
Wilfred Brimley

Cartoon 
Dick Dastardly
Ned Flanders
Super Mario
Tom Tucker
Wario
Yosemite Sam

Comedian
Billy Connolly
Keith Lemon 
Richard Herring
Rufus Hound

Creative and Academic Minds
Albert Einstein
Fredrich Nietzsche
Frida Kahlo
John Waters
Oliver Jeffers
Professor Robert Winston
Salvador Dali
William Shakespeare

Musician
Brandon Flowers 
Carlos Santana
Elgar
Englebert Humperdinck
Eugene Hutz
Frank Zappa
Freddie Mercury
James Hetfield
John Oates
Lemmy (Motorhead)
Lionel Richie
Nick Cave
Prince
Ringo Starr
Scatman John
Stevie Wonder
Village People-The Biker
Zach Condon

Other
Charles Bronson
Colonel Sanders
Jimmy Edwards 
Monopoly Man
Pringles Man

Politician/Political Figure 
Adolf Hitler
Che Guevara 
George Galloway
Gandhi
Joseph Stalin
Kitchener
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Robert Mugabe
Saddam Hussein

Sports personality 
David Seaman 
Des Lynam
Eddie the Eagle
Hulk Hogan
Mark Spitz
Nigel Mansell
Rollie Fingers
Willie Thorne

Television Personality/Ficticious Character
Basil Fawlty 
Borat
Bruce Forsyth
Carlton Banks (Fresh Prince of Bel Air)
Chuckle Brothers
Cleveland (Family Guy)
Daniel Plainview
Dick Strawbridge
Dixon Bainbridge
Doctor Watson
General Melchett
Go Compare! Man
Gomez Addams
Hercule Poirot
Hook
Howard Moon
Hunter from Jumanji
Manuel
Ron Burgundy 
Sir Trevor McDonald

*****

By Owner's Age

20-29
Brandon Flower
Zach Condon

30-39
Eugene Hutz 
Jason Schwartzman
Keith Lemon
Oliver Jeffers
Rufus Hound
Ryan Gosling

40-49
Brad Pitt 
David Seaman
Eddie the Eagle 
George Clooney
James Hetfield
Jason Lee
Johnny Depp
Manuel
Richard Herring


50-59
Charles Bronson 
Dick Strawbridge
George Galloway
Hulk Hogan
Nick Cave
Nigel Mansell
Prince
Willie Thorne



60-69
Billy Connolly 
Carlos Santana
Carl Weathers
The Chuckle Brothers
Danny DeVito
Des Lynam
John Oates
John Waters
Lemmy
Lionel Richie
Mark Spitz
Richard Griffiths
Rollie Fingers
Sam Elliott
Stevie Wonder
Tom Selleck


70-79
Burt Reynolds
Chuck Norris
Englebert Humperdinck
Morgan Freeman
Professor Robert Winston
Ringo Starr
Sir Trevor McDonald
Wilfred Brimley



80-89.
Bruce Forsyth 
Dick Van Dyke
Robert Mugabe
Sean Connery

deceased/ficticious
Albert Einstein
Adolf Hitler
Basil Fawlty 
Borat
Carlton Banks
Charlie Chaplin
Che Guevara
Cleveland
Clark Gable
Colonel Sanders
Daniel Plainview
David Tomlinson 
Dick Dastardly
Dixon Bainbridge
Doctor Watson
Elgar
Frank Zappa
Freddie Mercury
Fredrich Nietzsche
Frida Kahlo
General Melchett
Gandhi
Go Compare! Man
Gomez Addams
Groucho Marx
Hercule Poirot
Hook
Hunter from Jumanji
Howard Moon
Jimmy Edwards
Joseph Stalin
Kitchener
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Monopoly Man
Ned Flanders
Pringles Man
Ron Burgundy
Saddam Hussien
Salvador Dali
Scatman John
Super Mario
Tom Tucker
Vincent Price
Wario
William Shakespeare
Yosemite Sam
Village People- The Biker (Glenn Hughes) 

 Taxonomy on Illustrator...




A bar chart created on the windows edexcel programme, showcasing the different styles of moustache, and the numbers of which they are worn by my 100 celebrities.


An edexcel scatter graph displaying the numbers of moustache owners by their chosen profession.


Here, two three-dimensional pie charts created on edexcel (before i found out how to categorise more than ten subject matters at a time!)



Above, my favourite charts created on my time on edexcel- two exploded doughtnut charts with the styles of moustache, as dictated by their official categories. I really like the mixture of colours on this chart- eye-catching pastel, soft tones- as chosen from a possible selection.




The last two charts made on edexcel- an exploded pie chart and a bar chart showcasing the colours of moustaches, as worn by the 100 celebrities. I'd really like to develop this idea in illustrator- perhaps creating charts such as these, or something a little more abstract, and using the actual colours of the moustaches/styles, etc...





A quick, ordered design using the number '100' to divide up the colours of moustaches as worn by the celebrities in my collection- I quite like the pattern, organised, yet abstract- it reminds moe of a 1970's-esque surface pattern design!




Again, using colours to represent the variation within the collection 100 celebrity moustaches. I liked this design- abstract and playful, I just wish there was more colour!


 A simple venn diagram using a couple of the moustaches from my collection to categorise them. 


Inspired by a playful design that tutor, Fred, showed us in a morning briefing, I really liked the idea of this categorisation- making even the most mundane information creative, witty and light-hearted. Really good fun.