Illustration & Visual Narrative: Lectures
7/4/2023 - 7/7/2023 (Week 1 - Week 14)
Seh Zi Qi/ 0355872/ Bachelor of Design(Honours) in Creative Media
Module Name: Illustration and Visual Narrative
Lectures
LIST
Week 6: No Lecture
Week 7: No Lecture
Week 8: Independent Learning Week(No Lecture)
Week 11: No Lecture
Week 12: No Lecture
Week 14: Self-directed Learning(No lecture)
WEEK 1
In-class Recordings:
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Lecture Recap
In this first week, we were introduced to this module and briefed about our assignments by Mr Hafiz, our module lecturer.
Adobe Illustrator:
- Used in graphic design.
- Mainly focuses on vector art.
Raster VS Vector:
- Raster art loses quality when zoomed in, and becomes pixelated.
- Vector art retains quality even when zoomed in/with any type of distortion.
We'll mainly use the Pen Tool throughout the entire semester so he gave us a website called the Berzier game to help us become more familiar with the tool. The knowledge gained from this game can be used in Adobe Illustrator, helping us fully utilise all its functions to its basic potential.
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| Fig 1.1, The Bezier Game |
After the activity, we were briefed about our first assignment which was making a Vormator character using the 8 different shapes given, we also had to trace these shapes using the newly learnt Pen Tool in Adobe Illustrator.
WEEK 2
In-class Recordings:
Illustrator Tools:
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Lecture Recap
For this week, Mr Hafiz told us the importance of character design.
Importance of character design:
- Proportions are an important factor when making characters that are memorable, examples being Mickey Mouse or Spongebob.
- Having a good character design using unique proportions allows us to tell a story through their respective personalities, though we do still have to keep in mind realistic proportions within character design.
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| Fig 2.1, Character design |
We were also taught the Curve Pen Tool in Adobe Illustrator. This tool helps us with manipulating the lines into arcs of our liking which makes it very useful in terms of creating the curves ourselves.
WEEK 3
In-class Recordings:
References:
Workshop's Videos:
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Lecture Recap
For the lecture this week, we were introduced to the different methods of colouring.
Fill Tool:
- Using the group feature, you're able to colour shapes all at once.
- Can change individual shapes by isolating them, double-click to isolate.
Gradient Tool:
- Blends 2 or more colours in the same shape.
- Gives more impact to a design, improving the overall visual effect
Shape Builder Tool:
- Used mostly to connect or subtract different pieces.
Colour Schemes:
- Referencing from the Adobe website.
- Palettes can be exported into the library for personal use, very convenient.
Shadows:
- Significantly enhances artwork by giving it depth and weight.
- Best to determine a light source before starting to avoid inconsistent shading.
- Created by using the Shape Builder Tool.
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| Fig 3.1, Different methods of colouring |
WEEK 4
Examples:
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Lecture Recap
For this lecture, we were taught the various tools used in creating vector illustrations in Adobe Illustrator.
Pencil Tool:
- Shortcut key = N
- Used to design freeform paths, unlike the pen tool
- Utilised mostly for outlining and tracing existing artworks, able to add curves and strokes freely.
- Accuracy and smoothness can be adjusted to personal preferences.
- Can be traced over to create better paths.
Smooth Tool:
- Usually used with the Pencil Tool.
- Helps with smoothing rough edges or paths to create smoother strokes.
Shaper Tool:
- Used to create shapes by using natural gestures.
- Mostly used when there's a pen user.
Width Tool:
- Shortcut = Shift + W
- Used to adjust the width of a stroke.
- Can be used to achieve certain strokes, mostly taper lines.
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| Fig 4.1, Type(outlined), pencil tool, shaper tool, width tool |
WEEK 5
In-class Recordings:
Videos:
_______________
Lecture Recap
For this lecture, Mr Hafiz taught us the 3D functions in Adobe Illustrator.
4 Types of 3D effects:
- Plane
- Extrude
- Revolve
- Inflate
Mr Hafiz gave us 2 exercises to do to try out the 3D functions mentioned. We also learned how to use the Intersect tool which makes 2 different elements intersect whenever.
3D Rainbow:
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| Fig 5.1, 3D Rainbow |
3D Type:
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| Fig 5.2, 3D Type using Intersect tool |
WEEK 9
In-class Recording:
References:
_______________
Lecture Recap
For this lecture, we were taught about Chiaroscuro, which is using light and shade in pictorial representation.
Common uses within:
- Visual depth
- Atmosphere and mood
- Symbolism and metaphor
- Visual hierarchy and focus
- Contrast and conflict
Mr Hafiz gave us exercises during practicals to make Chiaroscuro of our own.
Tools include:
- Knife Tool
- Shape Builder Tool
- Clipping Mask
- Pencil Tool
- Pen Tool
Chiaroscuro of Skull Pear:
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| Fig 6.1, Chiaroscuro of Skull Pear |
Chiaroscuro of Human:
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| Fig 6.2, Chiaroscuro of Human |
WEEK 10
In-class Recording:
References:
_______________
Lecture Recap
For this lecture, we were taught about patterns, drawing modes and Width Tool in Adobe Illustrator.
Paintbrush tool
- Using brush detail, width of the tool can be changed and the ends should end with a rounded end
- meant to use to create beautiful strokes rather than accurate
Pen Tool
- Has a smoother outcome/ a more accurate outcome.
Blob Brush Tool
- Similar to the paintbrush tool but combined with the pathfinder, I merges shapes that aren't together into a singular path.
- Will be mainly using this as the shadow tool.
Width Tool
- Increases/decreases the width of a line/shape.
- Can add nodes to create different widths on the same line/shape.
Patterns and Shapes
- In the swatch library menu.
- Will mostly be using nature patterns.
- To edit patterns, you can go to Object > Patterns > Edit Patterns.
Clipping Mask
- The easiest way to get a clipping mask is to Right Click > Clipping Mask.
Drawing Modes
- You can choose where you want to draw your lines/shapes/patterns.
Different types of draw modes:
- On Top: draws on top of the line/shape that you have selected.
- On the Bottom: draws underneath the line/shape you have selected.
- Draw Inside(Shift + D): drawing inside of the path the line/shape you have selected, basically the same as a Clipping Mask.
We were given exercise by Mr Hafiz to use the knowledge we've gained.
Tutorial - Snake(used all the tools mentioned):
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| Fig 7.1, Tutorial snake |
It was a public holiday so we only got a recording of what to do for our final project. Basically, just watch the recording and do our project from there.
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