Wednesday, December 17, 2008

LOGO/IDENTITY LAYOUT PROCEDURE

Letterhead:
1. Save your Letterhead Illustrator File as a PDF.
2. Create a Portrait oriented Letter sized document in InDesign, with .25 inch margins (1p6 margins)
3. Make a Rectangle Frame measuring 8.0 x 10.5 inches.
Use the xy dialogue box to place the rectangle at 0.25 x/0.25 y
4. Place the Letterhead PDF in the Rectangle Frame. You may have to use the Object>Fitting options to make it perfect.

Business Cards:
1. Save your Business Card Illustrator file as a PDF.
2. Create a Portrait oriented Letter sized document in InDesign, with .25 inch margins (1p6 margins)
3. Create guides at the following locations:
Vertical Guides-- 0.5, 4, 4.5, 8
Horizontal Guides--0.5, 2.5, 3.0 5.0, 5.5, 7.5, 8.0, 10.
4. Create a black (or any other color) rectangle measuring 8.0 x 10.5 inches. Use the xy dialogue box to place the rectangle at 0.25 x/0.25 y
5. Label this layer "Guides".
6. Create a second layer called "Cards"
7. Make a Rectangle Frame measuring 3.5 x 2 inches. Place the PDF of your Business Card in the Rectangle Frame. You may have to use the Object>Fitting options to make it perfect. Duplicate by selecting, holding Alt and dragging a copy. Place one card at 0.5x/0.5y and one at 4.5x/0.5y
8. Select both and duplicate again. Use the xy dialogue box to place the rectangles at 0.5x/3.0y. Repeat twice, placing a set of rectangles at 0.5x/5.5y and at 0.5x/8.0y
9. Get a sheet of card stock from me and print! See me for instructions on how to change the page setup for cardstock.


Envelope:
1. Open the document "EnvelopeTemplate.ai" in the ID SYSTEM folder in the Shared Art Technology folder.
2. Move the guides to the 'my artwork' layer in the template and place your artwork inside the guides.
3. Print on Letter sized paper. (Select Letter in Media menu of Print options.) Add Trim Marks from the Marks and Bleed menu in the Print options panel for easy cutting!
Contact info for Clients:

1. Ministry of Youth and Sports
Liberia Ministry of Youth and Sports
S.K.D Sports Complex
Paynesville, Liberia
P.O. Box 9051

The Ministry’s email is: info@moys.gov.lr
Phone No: +231 77817001.
Web: www.moys.gov.lr

2. STEP Radio
STEP Student Radio
1353 West Highway 10
Anoka, MN 55303

Email: david.carlson@anoka.k12.mn.us
Phone: 763-433-4000

3. Oak Land Educational Partnership
Web Only: www.techprepmn.com

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Tuesday 12-16

1. Pick up your Thumbnail/Comp Packet and Concept Board.
2. Turn these in if you haven't. WORTH 50 POINTS!
3. Review the Logo/Identity Rubric before you start working today. Extras available by the projector.
4. If you were absent yesterday, get the Chapter 5, 10 & 11 Basics of Design worksheets/notes from a friend. Review the material in the book as well. It is important information on layout and typography that we are using to create our Logo/ID.

5. Letterhead Size: 8.5 x 11
BC Size: 3.5 x 2
Envelope Size: 9.5 x 4.125

Thursday, December 4, 2008

Concept Board Criteria and Links
Design Challenge:
Create a logo, business card, letterhead and envelope (aka identity system) for one of the following:
* Yourself
* Oak Land Educational Partnership http://techprepmn.com/
* Republic of Liberia Ministry of Youth and Sports http://moys.gov.lr/index.php
*STEP Student Radio 89.7
*Your Own Client

Step 1/The Concept Board:
Begin by creating a concept board to guide your creative vision. A concept board is a collection of elements that provides the overall impression of the look/feel of your final logo and identity system.
It should contain the following elements:
1. The title of your concept: It may be one word or a phrase placed at the top of your board.
2. A minimum of five (5) adjectives that describe you or the client organization,
3. A minimum of ten (10) images that visually represent the adjectives you selected.
4. A minimum of three (3) fonts that complement/support your concept.
* 3 fonts = 1 serif, 1 sans serif and 1 decorative or script font.
* Include the fonts by typing your adjectives with them.
5. A minimum of three (3) colors other than white that reflect your concept.

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Wednesday, 12/3

The following things must be turned in today:
1. Finish Simon.
2. Finish the Peppermill.
3. Do Lessons 5+6 in Chapter 1. Start this by creating a letter sized artboard, make a 4x4 inch square using the rectangle tool, and duplicate the square four times.
4. Do Lesson 4 in Chapter 6. Define the following vocabulary terms. Add them to your Chapter 3 list: Calligraphic Brush, Scatter Brush, Art Brush, Pattern Brush.

When you complete the Illustrator lessons:
1. Do the "What in the World is Graphic Design?" worksheet. Copies available on the projector.
2. Google for interesting pictures of animals, and/or images of things you are interested in.

Monday, December 1, 2008

MONDAY, 12/1

1. Finish and turn in your Connect the Dots project.
*Electronic Copy to the Connect the Dots folder in the StepStuDrop. Make sure your name is part of your file title to get full credit.
*Hard Copies to the Basket:
Original image, Grid with Details, and X/Y coordinates for solution. See the example on the board.

2. Chapter 3 in Adobe Illustrator REVEALED:
This chapter covers pen tool review and adds to your skill. It also talks about assembling illustrations--which will come in handy for our logo project.

A. Lessons span pages 3-2/3-35.
B. Make sure to get the following Vocabulary. Quiz on Friday 12/5!
Marquee, Corner Point, Average, Join, Smooth Points, Direction Lines, Direction Points, Attributes, Stroke, Caps, Joins, Dashed Stroke, Pseudo Stroke.
C. Also do the following skill reviews at the end of the chapter:
Montag: 3-52/3-53
Peppermill: 3-54
D. Print and turn in the following for Chapter 3 credit:
Simon McSnowball (3-18/3-35), Montag (3-52/3-53), Peppermill (3-54)

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Connect the Dots Finale!

1. Complete Dot picture in Illustrator
2. Print and Test
3. Submit Illustrator Document in the AM or PM folder in the ConnectTheDots Folder on StepStuDrop. Be sure to put your name in the file title.
4. Modify image to work on a Cartesian Grid. See the following Wiki about Cartesian Coordinates if needed. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cartesian_coordinate_system

Friday, November 21, 2008

Connect The Dots!

1. Create the dots for your design.
2. Number the dots.
3. Print, test and refine dots.
4. Place copy of final product in ConnectTheDots folder in StuDrop.
5. You can then do the following:
A. Try connecting the dots of other projects in Illustrator.
B. Print, connect and color for old-fashioned mindless art fun.
C. Grab some tracing paper and graph paper and plot the dots. Create a Cartesian coordinate plane--mark where the dots are. See my sample.

Thursday, November 20, 2008

Connect the Dots!

1. Open a new, Letter sized Illustrator document.
2. Go to View>Show Grid and View>(uncheck)Lock Guides.
3. Activate your rulers (Ctrl+R) and set the vertical guide X coordinate to 4.25 inches and the horizontal Y coordinate to -5.5 inches.
4. Set the ruler 0/0 mark to the center of the page, where your guides intersect.
5. Find a radtacular JPEG image on the Internet. (Minimum 1000 x 1000 pixels)
6. Place that radtacular image on a new layer in your Illustrator document.
7. Go to Window>Transparency and drop the opacity of the image to 50%.
8. Lock that layer.
9. Start a new layer and begin making dots with the brush tool. Make sure to deselect each dot before starting a new one.
10. Use the type tool to number your dots on a new layer.
11. Save a copy of this in the ConnectTheDots folder in the StuDrop Art Technology Folder.

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

STEP Week Materials

Flier 1:
November 17-21 is STEP Week! This is a time when you will learn about the college admissions process, have the opportunity to participate in a variety of college shadows at Anoka Technical College and win various door prizes.

Flier 2:
STEP Week Theme Days:
Monday: Pajama Day: Wear your favorite PJs
Tuesday: Twin Day: You and a friend dress alike
Wednesday: Vintage Day: Dress like your favorite decade.
Thursday: Teacher Impersonation Day: Dress like your favorite teacher
Friday: Home High School Day: Wear clothes from your favorite school.

Flier 3:
"Welcome STEP Students!"

Flier 4:
"Anoka Technical College Applications"

Monday, November 10, 2008

Q1 Reflection:

1. Answer only one question from the handout. Be sure to include at least two Design Components in your response, or you will not receive full credit.
See Q1Reflection.doc in the Shared Art Technology folder if you need to review the questions.

2. Answer the following questions as well:
  • What project did you like best? Why?
  • What project did you like the least? Give me an idea for how to make it better.
  • What kind of projects would you like to do Q2?
Your answers may be TYPED or PRINTED NEATLY. NO CURSIVE!

Monday, November 3, 2008

Modifications to Chapter 11 Lessons:

Lesson 1:
1. Page 11-6, step 5: The "horizontal skew text box" is the "H" in the top options bar.
2. Page 11-7, step 3: Skip it!
3. Page 11-7, step 5: Turn on the "Stamps" layer to see the effect of the clipping mask.

Lesson 2:
1. Page 11-10, "Create a Path"--use the regular pen instead of the magnetic pen.
2. Page 11-11, "Modify a Path"--Remember to use the Convert Point (^) and Direct Selection tools to modify your path.

Lesson 3:
No Changes

Lesson 4:
1. Page 11-18, Step 5: Just Inverse the selection you made in Step 4.
2. Page 11-18, Step 8: Skip it!
3. Page 11-19, Steps 4-6: Activate your STAMPS Path--Click the "Dotty Circle" in your paths panel--Get the Selection, apply stroke via Edit>Stroke. OR Activate STAMPS layer in Layers panel and just apply the stroke as a Layer style.

Friday, October 31, 2008

Halloween/Autumn Seasonal Fun: Pen tool practice + Skill review.

Time to have some fun with your art, explore something new and review some old tricks.

1. Open Pumpkinz.tif from the Art Technology folder on StepStuShare.
2. Reduce the resolution to 150 dpi right away--this file is 30 MB!
3. Trace the pumpkins with the pen tool--saving each on a separate path.
4. Change the appearance of the pumpkins via converting the paths to selections, creating fill layers and using blend modes/layer styles.
5. Add to the project by inserting relevant themed dingbats--or create a custom brush, or make selections and create fill layers, use auto shapes, etc.
6. Make it spooky using adjustment layers!
7. Experiment with custom patterns.
8. Print a copy for yourself and one for me--hand in to the basket. Attach a paragraph that explains how/which steps you executed from the list above. Happy Halloween!

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Git--R--Dun!

1. FINISH YOUR JACK + JILL ASSIGNMENT. (print, mount and do your write-up)
NO IFs ANDs OR BUTs

2. Make a Photo Cube or a Lenticular Image if you have spare time.

3. If you've made a Photo Cube AND a Lenticular Image--teach yourself something about Photoshop on www.good-tutorials.com. You may also see me for an additional assignment if necessary.

4. Make sure you do the extra assignments. This is how you get class participation points AND is a great way to get extra credit if you have all your work turned in.

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Tuesday, October 28

1. Finish & Mount Jack + Jill
2. Do writing
3. Locate Rubric, attach to materials.
4. Be ready to critique the Jack + Jill project tomorrow. You will turn your J/J in tomorrow.
5. Make sure you have completed all Chapter 4 lessons and have the 4 JPEGS on the board turned in to the studrop folder in the stepstushare server. (Purple Rooster, Gradient Rooster, Aqua Firetruck and Target/Source Color Firetruck.)

If you have extra time: do one of the following projects:
Photo Cube 6 Theme Based Images = 1 Rockin objet d'art!
Your Choice: Six of Your Own Altered Photos
Or
Your Favorite Song in Six School Appropriate Panels

Lenticular Image 2...2...2 Pictures in One!
Show the same object in two different states (My cat as a Muppet and as a Lion)
Show a pair of objects (Hall & Oates)
Show a set of opposites (Day & Night, Good & Evil, Man & Woman, etc.)

Thursday, October 23, 2008

Jack + Jill File Prep and Print

To Prepare Your Files:
1. Open Letter Sized Document.
2. Set to 150dpi/ CMYK/Landscape
3. Place X Coordinate Guides at: 0.25, 4.25 and 8.25 inches.
4. Place Y Coordinate Guides at: 0.25, 4.25, 6.75, 10.75 inches
5. Insert three of your designs in the squares. (File>Place>JJ1.tif)
6. Add an additional picture or dingbat image of your own in the extra space, if desired.
7. Merge your placed designs into one layer.
8. Poke layer in eye and repeat steps 1-7 for remaining designs.

To Print Your Files:
1.
Activate the layer you wish to print. The layer you don't want to print gets poked in the eye.
2. Go to File>Page Setup. Change it from “Letter” to Legal. Make sure it is Landscape.
3. Go to File>Print with Preview. Click on “More Options” if necessary.
4. Set the Drop-Down menu to “Output” if it says “Color Management”
5. Check “Center Crop Marks” then hit “Done”.
6. Make sure there is legal size paper and the printer and print it out.

Art Technology
Jack + Jill Write-Up

20 Points

Answer the following questions, using complete sentences and paragraph structure.
1. Describe your interpretation of the Jack + Jill theme.
(Is it literal or abstract? What items represent the key elements of the story? Why?)

2. What techniques did you use from Composition Slideshow?
Discuss a minimum of three used in your designs, where they can be seen and why you chose them.

3. Name three techniques/tools you used and where they can be seen (Layer Styles, Adjustment Layers, Gradient/Custom Gradient, and/or Blend Modes. Be specific. (e.g.; I used a Stroke Layer Style, A Brightness/Contrast Adjustment Layer, The Multiply Blend Mode, etc.)

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Chapter 4--Photoshop CS3 REVEALED

1. Make sure all files are flattened, then saved as JPEGS. (timmy_tina_PS4-1.jpg)
2. Put JPEGS in a folder (timmy_tina_chapter4)
3. Drag folder into the following location:
stepstushare>studrop>STEP>Art Technology>AMFall07/PMFall07>Chapter 4

Thursday, October 9, 2008

Friday, 10/10/08

Your priorities are as follows:
1. Finish and Print 5x5 Projects.
2. Mount 5x5 Projects. Make sure to check out xactos from the sub and return them. IMPORTANT: We may run out of railroad board. In the event this happens--skip to Step 4. (Do the writing assignment, then study for the test. You can mount 5x5s Monday.)
3. Make sure you pick up all paper and tape scraps, and put away all rulers, scissors, etc. or you will not be dismissed on time.
4. Once you finish and mount 5x5s, complete the writing assignment. I will only accept responses that are in paragraph format and typed on the computer.
5. If you finish the writing, attach that to your mounted designs, along with the rubric. See the sub's copy of the rubric if you are not sure what to attach. Place whole assignment in the basket next to the LCD projector.
6. Once you turn in the 5x5s, study for the test. (Chapters 1-3 in the black binders, plus the Elements and Principles Slideshow worksheet. See the sub's copy of the study guide if you are not sure what to study).
7. Teach yourself something on www.good-tutorials.com
8. Have a great weekend! I am. :)

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

Personal Symbol/Abstraction

Your symbol should represent three adjectives that describe you.
It should also include the following design elements:
  • At least three types of LINE (thick, thin, horizontal, vertical, diagonal, broken, zigzag, tapered, curved, wavy, etc.)
  • At least three types of SHAPE (Geometric, Organic or a Combination)
  • At least three COLORS (Warm, Cool or a Combination. Think about the mood the colors can set.)
  • At least one TEXTURE (overlap line, shape, colors)
  • At least one type of BALANCE (symmetrical, asymmetrical, radial)
You must show at least three thumbnails to receive approval for your final design.
Each thumbnail must also include a written explanation of how you used at least one fact from the Elements and Principles Slideshow to help you arrange your composition.

If you need practice with the Elements and Principles, check out this website: http://www.artsconnected.org/toolkit/

Monday, October 6, 2008

Priorities For Monday, October 6

1. Finish and turn in your Geometric/Organic Shape Compositions.
2. View the Personal Abstraction PowerPoint in the Shared Art Technology folder. Be sure you have the notes written in your notebook.

3. Complete list of 10 adjectives that describe who/what you are.
4. Select three of the adjectives to be the base of your Personal Abstraction/Symbol.
5. Complete the Elements and Principles Slideshow worksheet.
6. Sketch at least three thumbnails for your Personal Abstraction/Symbol. For each sketch, list at least one way you used what you learned from the slideshow to arrange your sketch.
7. Present your thumbnails to me.
8. Work on your Inspiration File 5x5 and your Personal Symbol/Abstraction 5x5.
Info for Geometric/Organic Compositions

1. Staple your compositions together.
2. Write the following on the back of each:
  • Name
  • Geometric or Organic Shapes?
  • Warm or Cool colors?
  • For the Geometric one: What type of Balance is it?
3. Turn in compositions in basket by projector.

Monday, September 29, 2008

Layout Templates -- 5x5 Projects

LAYOUT can increase the efficiency of your printing job in a number of ways.
1. You save paper by putting more items onto one piece.
2. You are guaranteed accurate positioning of your items through the use of guides. This is especially important for 2 sided printing.
3. Once you make a template, you can use it over and over again. Saving YOU time, Saving ME time...

The template for our 5x5's is as follows:
1. Start a new Legal sized document (8.5 x 14). Reduce the resolution to 150 dpi.
2. When open, go to Image>Rotate Canvas. Choose one of the 90 degree options.
3. Make sure you have the Snap function turned on. (View>Snap. Snap should have a checkmark by it. Underneath Snap, there is also a Snap To menu. Make sure Guides is checked under the Snap to menu.)
4. Make sure your Rulers are on (ctrl + R) and that they are set to inches.
5. Position guides at the following coordinates:
X = 1.75, 6.75
Y = 1.5, 6.5, 7.5, 12.5
6. Save as: YourName_5x5LayoutTemplate.psd
7. Make sure your projects are saved as either flattened JPEGs or TIFFs.
8. Go to File>Place. Select your flattened design and click Place in the menu.
9. Move your project to the desired location in the picture plane. Repeat for second project.
10. Save as>YourName_5x5_LifeDeath_layout

Friday, September 26, 2008

Inspiration File/Independent 5x5 #1

Inspiration File:
Now that we have a bunch of items for a communal scan/photo pile--we need to see what we have. Here comes Show + Tell! Present your favorite item to the class. Tell us the following:
  • What is the item?
  • Why do you think it is good for photographing/scanning?
  • Does the object have personal meaning to you?
Independent 5x5 #1:
Artmaking focus: EXPERIMENTATION
Examine the objects in our communal photo/scan pile. Select at least one item to photograph and at least one item to scan. Create a themed composition based around the two (or more) items.

Thursday, September 25, 2008

Homework--9/25/08--Inspiration File
Chances are you have been mesmerized by the bizarre array of things I have hanging in my classroom. I have everything from a rubber chicken to what appears to be a drawing of David Hasselhoff standing on a planet with a spaceship growing out of his back! WHY? You probably have asked. It is part of what most every creative professional has some form of: An INSPIRATION FILE! What Inspiration Files do is HELP YOU FUEL YOUR CREATIVITY.

We are going to build a collective Inspiration File for the class to use.
To make it happen, you need to bring in
AT LEAST FIVE items that you think are cool and would be good to photograph or scan. You will pick and choose items from this collection as the basis for one of your independent 5x5 projects.

Items must be school appropriate and brought to class Friday, September 26.

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Photoshop CS3 REVEALED: Chapter 3

1. Sewing Box Tutorial (Pages 3-7 to 3-23)
Use the following tools to select each item:
Tape Measure: Marquee
Pincushion: Magic Wand
Thimble: Magic Wand
Thread: Color Range Selection
Scissors: Color Range Selection

2. Skills Review (Never Enough Cats): Page 3-25
3. Project Builder 1: Page 3-26. You can choose to work with the elderly lady on the tutorial page OR follow the same steps and work with this ACNE VICTIM

Monday, September 22, 2008

Sound Project and Related Davinci Homework
The art production focus of the next 5x5 is to illustrate a SOUND. It is preferred that you use a sound from your DaVinci homework assignment listed below.

Da VINCI HOMEWORK:
Page 61 of How to Think Like Leonardo DaVinci lists an "Theme Observation" activity. You must record at least twenty interesting sounds you hear in your DaVinci notebook. I will collect this at the beginning of class WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24.

Thursday, September 18, 2008

Curiosita:

1. Don't settle for YES or NO as an answer...Curiosita focuses on knowing WHY!
2. The more you know, the freer you are.
3. Great Minds Ask Great Questions!

WHAT ARE YOU CURIOUS ABOUT? (Homework Assignment)
On page 59 of How to Think Like Leonardo DaVinci, there is an activity called "A Hundred Questions". We are going to shorten that to "Fifty Questions". Make a list of fifty questions that are important to you. It can be anything from Where do I want to go to college? to Would I rather be stranded on a desert island with Chad Michael Murray or Zac Efron?

Just rattle off a list of the first fifty questions that come to mind in your notebook.
The first ten or fifteen will be pretty random, but after that, themes will begin to emerge.
When you are done, read through the list and highlight any questions that appear to be a theme.
What are the majority of your questions about?

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

PHOTOSHOP LESSONS
The way our Adobe lessons are set up accommodates the fact everyone is at a different level within what they know about the programs, and learns best in different ways.
For every chapter we look at, I assign some required activities. Look at them first and see what you know. If you think you can do the activity, go ahead! If there are things you don't know how to do, go back and look at the readings. Do the tutorials at the end of each topic to learn the skill.

TO RETRIEVE DATA FILES FOR ACTIVITIES AND TUTORIALS:
Put the CD-ROM located in the back of the book into the CD Drive of your computer, and retrieve the files

CHAPTER 2: Adobe Photoshop CS3 REVEALED.
Required Activities: 2-23: Skills Review
2-24: Project Builder 1
2-25: Project Builder 2
2-26: Design Project

Reading/Tutorials: 2-2/2-7: Working with, examining, and converting layers.
2-8/2-11: Add, Delete, Merge layers.
2-12/2-15: Add Selection From Another Image
2-16/2-21: Organizing Layers by Group and Color

Flatten and save your documents as JPEGs in your server folder.
When finished, work on your Life & Death problem.
Tuesday, 9/16

1. Work on your Life & Death sketches. When you have three ideas, present them to the teacher and decide which one you will do. Work with the teacher until they approve one of your ideas.

2. Ask yourself: "How can I use at least one OUTSIDE SOURCE (Digital Photography, Scanner and/or Wacom tablet) in my design?" Remember: Over the course of this 5 x5 unit, you will have to use outside sources on at least three of the five designs (Life/Death, Type, Sound, Choice 1 and Choice 2)

3. When ready to start: File>New>5 inches x 5 inches @ 150 dpi. There is no need to create guides on your designs this time. We will be placing both of them into one document for printing.

Tuesday, September 9, 2008

What do I do when I finish my Name Design and Personality Collage?

1. Make sure you've done your writing assignment.
2. Set up another letter sized Photoshop document and design 3 spine pieces for your binder.
Place horizontal guides at 0.25 and 10.75 inches.
Place vertical guides at 0.5, 3, 3.25, 5.5, 5.75 and 8 inches.
3. Flood the background with a flat color other than white.
4. Create white rectangles that fit within your wide guides.
5. Make your spine designs on the white spaces.
6. When finished, get a piece of heavy paper from me and print them.
7. Place your fave in the spine.
8. If you still have time, find and complete a Photoshop tutorial on www.good-tutorials.com
Turn it in for extra credit.

Tuesday, July 8, 2008

What Am I Doing This Summer?

Believe it or not, teachers do work during the summer!
I have been doing a lot of curriculum work.
The coolest part of my curriculum work is the internship I have at Vision VanGogh in Anoka.

One of the most fun things I do at VVG is maintain their MySpace page.
I get to design promotional bulletins to send to bands on their Friends List.
Check this one out!



Thursday, June 5, 2008

Typography Test Review

This is what you need to know for the final test tomorrow, and where to find it:

In your typography packets:

1. Type measurement conversions: Points>Picas / Points>Inch / Picas>Inch
2. How to measure LEADING
3. How to measure the line length of different text alignments (Examples A-E)
4. How to use the E-Gauge to measure type

In Basics of Design: Layout and Typography for Beginners
1. 4 Things to Know before starting a design: Page 2
2. Graphic Design Principles: P 12-14
3. Graphic Design process: P 14-19
4. What is VISUAL HIERARCHY & how to establish it P 25-26
5. Different text alignments: P 101-104
6. Type Flavors and Subflavors: P 217-224
7. Type Anatomy: P 205 (baseline, ascender, serif, counter, descender, x height, crossbar, cap height)

Miscellaneous online info:
1. How LEADING got its name: http://lowendmac.com/designer/11.html


World of Letterforms Video:
1. What the letter A originally symbolized
2. Who invented moveable type & what they created with it
3. What did Mantius create and why?
4. What did Bodoni, Garamond, Baskerville & Benquiat create?

Sunday, June 1, 2008

Follow these links for directions to projects:

Photo Cube 6 Theme Based Images = 1 Rockin objet d'art!
Your Choice: Six of Your Own Altered Photos
Or
Your Favorite Song in Six School Appropriate Panels

Lenticular Image 2...2...2 Pictures in One!
Show the same object in two different states (My cat as a Muppet and as a Lion)
Show a pair of objects (Hall & Oates)
Show a set of opposites (Day & Night, Good & Evil, Man & Woman, etc.)



Friday, May 30, 2008

Name Design/Personality Collage, Revisited:

Name Design--Create a groovy design that showcases your first and last name.

Personality Collage--Create a collage using Photoshop that showcases your interests.

When Finished: Compare and Contrast your new designs with those you created at the beginning of the semester. Discuss why the new are better, using at least three Design Components. Also discuss how you included three things you learned this semester.

Design Components Cheat Sheet
Structural (Frame reference, overlapping/cropping/touching of forms, creating an illusion of space, contrast in size/direction/space or position, and/or +/- space relationships)
E’s (line, shape, form, color, texture, value, space) and
P’s (balance, contrast, rhythm, pattern, emphasis, unity/variety)

Monday, May 19, 2008

Monday 5/19

1. Do Test Corrections and turn your test booklet and answer sheet back in. Corrections must list the number of the test question and be written in a complete sentence format. If it is not done this way, you will not receive the half-point credit back.

2. Everyone must complete and submit the Self Promotional Project Planning Sheet today.
Refer to the ideas listed on the board if you are having trouble thinking of something. Again, check out 8 Tips and Tricks from the Self Promo Pros and Photojojo for ideas.

3. PUT IN TIME BEFORE OR AFTER CLASS IF YOU DO NOT HAVE YOUR IDENTITY SYSTEM FINISHED!!!

Thursday, May 15, 2008

Study Guide: Design and Layout Unit Test

  • Review all Mini Quizzes and activities from Chapters 1-9. (Chapters 10 & 11 are on the final.)
  • Be able to identify and discuss the 5 Types of Repetition from Chapter 6. (REFER TO THE HANDOUT I GAVE YOU THE OTHER DAY!! p.126-127)
  • Know the techniques to enhance Verbal Flow from Chapter 7. (Refer to the handout/also listed on pages 151-152 if you misplaced your handout)
  • Be able to identify and discuss the basic and advanced types of text alignment from Chapter 5. (Refer to Pages 101-102)
  • Review the Layout Notes for Creating Thumbnails handout. (On the backside of the Identity System Unit Overview sheet AND the Business Card Thumbnails sheet.
Test Format:
  • 26 True-False Questions
  • 16 Multiple Choice Questions
  • 8 Fill In The Blank Questions
  • One (1) Essay Question worth 10 Points: Naming 5 Changes you could make to improve a layout & discussing how the changes would improve it.

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Self-Promo Project

Follow this link: 8 Tips and Tricks from the Self-Promo Pros
Cool tips on how to get started, what to think about and some crazy fun sidebars, like a website that allows you to generate a free font, and a link to downloading a pattern for a paper purse!
Identity System Layout:

Business Cards:
1. Create a Portrait oriented Letter sized document in Illustrator.
2. Create guides at the following locations:
Vertical Guides-- 0.5, 4, 4.5, 8
Horizontal Guides--0.5, 2.5, 3.0 5.0, 5.5, 7.5, 8.0, 10.
3. Create a black (or any other color) rectangle measuring 8.5 x 11 inches on the same layer.
4. Label this layer "Guides".
5. Create a second layer called "Cards"
6. Paste one of your business cards into this layer. Duplicate and move this using the Move Command (Object>Transform>Move). Remember: positive numbers move objects up or to the right, negative numbers move objects down or to the left.
7. Get a sheet of card stock from me and print!

Envelope:
1. Open the document "EnvelopeNo10.eps" in the ID SYSTEM folder in the Shared Art Technology folder. Student on STEP Novell (G://)>Shared>Art Technology>ID SYSTEM>EnvelopeNo10.eps
2. Place your artwork in the guides and Go!
3. Print on Letter sized paper. (Select Letter in Media menu of Print options.) Add Trim Marks from the Marks and Bleed menu in the Print options panel for easy cutting!

Letterhead:
1. Place your design within 1/4 inch guides to ensure it all prints.
If you were gone yesterday...
Read chapters 6 + 7. Get the handout materials from me before you start.
Turn in your comps assignment. (Read Friday May 9 entry if you are not sure what this is.

If you are here today...
1. Read Chapter 8. Do the Mini Quiz.
2. When we finish reviewing the answers, staple your Chapters 1-10 materials together and turn in. I will check off participation points for having this complete. I will return them to you before the end of class so you can start studying for the test. (THE TEST IS ON FRIDAY!!)
3. Turn in your Comps assignment. Review the criteria from Friday to make sure you get full credit.
4. I will demo how to do lay-out for your business card, envelope and letterhead.

Friday, May 9, 2008

4 Awesomely Rendered Comps

The thing that will make or break your identity system is the TYPOGRAPHY choices you make.
As you develop your comps, you are required to include each of the following type categories at least once:

Serif, Sans Serif, Decorative, Script, Combination Treatment (A word that is part Deco/script and part serif/sans serif), Bold, Italic

You must also include a contrast of type SIZE, WEIGHT and COLOR in each comp.
Refer to pages 242 and 247-248 for type usage guidelines.

Thursday, May 8, 2008

Business Card: Thumbs to Comps

Take your 16 drawn thumbnails and reduce them to four awesomely rendered comps in the computer. Try to mix and match what you like best about your 16 designs and make it the best they can be! Remember what we have learned about:
*Visual Hierarchy
*Balance
*Contrast
*Alignment

Use your chapter mini-quizzes and/or refer to the books as you work.

Wednesday, May 7, 2008

Business Card Information

16 layouts.
All should include the following:
1. First and Last Name
2. A Title (Student, Designer, Master of the Universe, etc.)
3. Phone Number
4. Home Address
5. PROFESSIONAL EMAIL ADDRESS. Establish a new email like timmy.jones@gmail.com if you have something crazy like the_decapitator@yahoo.com going right now.
Email kely.wakely@anoka.k12.mn.us to verify the email used in this project.
6. Accurate shape of graphic image. (Aren't you glad you have two to work with?)

Monday, May 5, 2008

Independent Study

1. Re-do the icon Mrs. Karbowski chose in any combination of Red, Green, Blue and Orange.
Try to incorporate 3 of the 4 colors in your design.

2. Change the typeface on your STEP design to TW CEN MT.

3. Print your Mastocytosis Tote/Logo comp and mount it on one board with the other designs from your team.

4. Begin developing a 100, 50 and Partner Project Proposal/Contract.

Friday, May 2, 2008

Mastocytosis Project

THIS IS A NATIONAL LEVEL WORK EXPOSURE OPPORTUNITY!

Work in the assigned teams to combine your assigned ideas into one solid concept.
Complete the Roughs-To-Comps planning sheet as a team.
Develop 5 suggestions for what would make the design better.

Each person will then execute the absolute best comp they can based on what you decided as a team.

Look at the MASTO_LOGO_REFERENCE and MASTO_TOTE_REFERENCE files in the Shared Art Technology Folder. A copy of the clip art file is also in there. Ask yourself:
IS MY DESIGN BETTER THAN THIS?

Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Identity System

Create a BUSINESS CARD, LETTERHEAD AND ENVELOPE that represent YOU.

Identity :: Branding :: Message.
What do you want your identity system to tell others?
Who in particular do you want to tell?

As you work on your concept board, remember this about fonts:
SERIF: Have the extra lines at the edges of the letters.
SANS SERIF: Don't have the extra lines at the edge.

Decorative
(Jokerman, Chiller, etc) and Script (Cursive Look) fonts are tough to read in large doses. USE SPARINGLY!

Tuesday, April 29, 2008

STEP Icon Comps

1. Refine your favorite idea.
2. Do a mock-up of it in 3 Color schemes (B/W should be one of them)
See colornotes.ai in shared folder for quick review.
3. Apply a different typeface to each mock-up.
Explore serif and sans serif fonts. Avoid decorative and script selections.
Choosing a Color Harmony:

  • Make sure it is one of those assigned (Complementary/Analogous/Split Complement/Triad/Tetrad)
  • Make sure it enhances your design.
  • Make sure it helps carry the 'attitude' of your symbol. (E.G.; warm colors [Yellow-Orange-Red] are often more energetic, cool colors [Blue-Green-Violet] more relaxed.

Monday, April 28, 2008

Independent Study--STEP Icons & Mastocytosis Society

STEP Icons:
1. Print your icon roughs and place them in the holding area.
2. Look at everyone's roughs and place a Star and a No next to the most effective/least effective designs. Remember: Most/Least is based on what you think will work best when put with everyone else's designs as a unified whole.
3. Once you have looked at everyone's designs, do a mock-up of your most effective design with three different typefaces...Again what will be clear, easy to read, and be neutral to each design?
4. Do your mock-ups in 3 different color schemes. Keep it to under four colors per scheme.


Mastocyotsis Society:
1. Print your thumbnails and place them in the holding area.
2. Make sure your tote design includes the Split Rock Lighthouse as a key component.
3. TMS logo does not necessarily need the microscope.
Printing Your Animal Symbol

1. Start a Letter Sized (8.5 x 11) document.
2. Make sure the Page Orientation is Landscape.
3. Set up the following Vertical Guides (0.25, 5.25, 5.75, 10.75)
4. Set up the following Horizontal Guides (1.75, 6.75)
5. Create two 5x5 inch squares (No fill, plus the color stroke of your choice).
These squares will be your cutting lines.
6. Drag the squares inside your guides that conveniently established 5x5 inch boxes.
7. Copy your artwork from its original document.
8. Start a new layer in your layout doc and paste it there.
9. Use the Scale tool to make your art fit in the 5x5 squares.
10. Bada-Bing!

Friday, April 25, 2008

Animal Symbol
Color Harmony Choices

Complementary
Analogous
Split Complement
Triad
Tetrad

See Color Notes Illustrator File in the Student on STEP Novell>Shared>Art Technology Folder if you need definitions of these terms.

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Art Technology Assignments
1. Complete the "Rough Sketch Checkpoint" worksheet.
BE SURE THAT YOU DOUBLE-CHECK YOU HAVE WRITTEN COMPLETE SENTENCES
AND INCLUDED DESIGN COMPONENTS WHEN ASKED.

2. Many of you have not yet turned in the Rough Sketch checkpoint.
Complete this and turn it in if you are one of these people.

3. If you were absent yesterday, ask a friend what to do to take your Animal Symbol from Thumbnails to Roughs before turning your Roughs into Comps.

4. FOLLOW ALL PHASES OF THIS ASSIGNMENT IF YOU WANT FULL CREDIT!!!


Independent Study Assignments:
1. Take your 9 STEP Icons Thumbnails and reduce them to 3 Roughs. This is still your ideas. Make it the best three representations of your cluster that you can come up with. Tomorrow we will work to UNIFY our ideas into a COHESIVE group project.

2. DO NOT WORRY ABOUT YOUR COLOR CHOICES AT THIS TIME.
DO NOT INCLUDE TYPOGRAPHY YET
We will negotiate this as a team tomorrow.

3. If you finish your roughs, look at This Link to The Mastocytosis Society website.
Our next project is to:
1. Design a new logo for them, maintaining the microscope and adding excitement.
2. Design a tote bag for their Annual Conference--You MUST somehow incorporate the Split Rock Lighthouse into the design AND make it represent the search for a cure of Mastocytosis.
3. USE THE WEBSITE. IT TELLS YOU A LOT ABOUT MASTOCYTOSIS! Employ any other research methods you can think of.
4. Work towards 9 thumbnails for the logo and 9 thumbnails for the tote.

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

Chapter 7 Reading
2-5
10-11
16-17
22-24

Chapter 7 Tutorials
Free Distort 6-7
Pucker...9
Desaturate 8
Mesh 12-13
Heart 15
Star Ball 18
Warp 21
Blend 25-27
Edit Blends 7-28
Color Efx W Blends 7-29
Shapes 30-31
Poison Pen 33
Cup 34

Monday, April 14, 2008

Independent Study Illustrator Readings:
Chapter 4: 2-7, 12-13, 16-17, 20-23, 30-31

Chapter 6: 4-5, 8-10, 14-15, 20-21, 28-29

Illustrator Tutorials:
Thursday April 10
Clock: 4/8-9
Offset Path: 4/14
Closed Path: 4/15
Gilligan: 4/18
Flower: 4/19
Heart to Spade: 4/24-25

Monday April 14
Compound Shapes: 4/29
Clipping Mask: 4/32
Magnify: 4/33
Text as Mask: 4/34-35
Divide: 4/36
Red Bow: 4/39


Tuesday April 15
Checkerboard: 6/6-7
Starry Night: 6/11-12
Plaid: 6/13
Repeating Pattern: 6/16-19
Brush Sampler: 6/22-27
Scatter Brushes: 6/30-33
Shower Curtain: 6/36
Teen Jewelry: 6/37
Individual Grid Project Tips:
  • Be sure to look for logos that have a strong GRID STRUCTURE underneath the surface.
  • Avoid logos with a lot of letterforms and/or low complexity graphics.

Click Here for links to good logo search engines.

Other places to check include:
http://www.allfreelogo.com/
http://www.allthelogos.com/
http://logosin.com/main.php
http://www.dexigner.com/database/area/logo_design.html

Thursday, April 10, 2008

Tuesday, April 8, 2008

Send That Poster Off!

1. Double-check for poster accuracy.
2. Save as a PDF. (Redo this even if you did it yesterday, we are changing a PDF setting.)
3. In the Save Adobe PDF menu, click on "Compression" in the left-hand menu.
4. Change "Image Quality" from "High" to "Medium High"
5. Look at your file under "My Computer". Right click on it and scroll down to "Properties".
6. MAKE SURE YOUR POSTER IS UNDER 10 MB IN SIZE!!!! If not, we need to compress it.

7. Open your email. If you do not have an email account, set one up at http://www.gmail.com
It should be something like your.name or your_name, etc.

8. Send your poster as an attachment to printservices@dunwoody.edu

9. INCLUDE THIS IN YOUR MESSAGE:
  • NAME
  • SCHOOL (ANOKA-HENNEPIN STEP)
  • LAMINATE CHOICE (GLOSSY OR SATIN)

Tuesday, April 1, 2008

Student Print Day Poster

You have until the end of day Monday 4/7 to complete your Student Print Day poster.

It must include the theme "Print in Minnesota. It's Part of US."
It also must include the Printing Industry of Minnesota and Make an Impression logos.
(Student on STEP Novell (G://)>Shared>Art Technology>Poster Contest)

Make sure to use what we learned in the +/- problem when manipulating your images.
1. Use the Pen Tool to create Paths around your desired object.
2. Load the Path as a Selection...(Click on the 'dotty circle' at the bottom of the paths palette)
3. Go to Layer>Layer Mask>Hide or Reveal Selection. It looks like the rest of the image is gone but it is really just hiding! This is a much better solution to removing pixels from an image, as you maintain the original pic just in case you need it!

Monday, March 31, 2008

Work priorities 03/31:
Today is the last in-class day to work on your +/- designs. We will critique them in class on Thursday. If you do not finish today, you must arrange time to come in before or after class Tuesday and Wednesday.

1. Finish and Mount your Positive/Negative designs.
While there is no set formula this time, you should mount them in such a manner that the board grain is vertical, there is a 2-inch border around the outside of your designs, and a 1/2 inch gap between designs. If you deviate from this, grain should still be correct and spacing should be straight and evenly distributed.

2. Do your writing for the +/- problem.
Use complete setences, paragraph format, and SPELL/GRAMMAR check.
Include the required Design Components.

3. Make a magnet and/or experiment with Desaturate & Recolor.

4. Help others having trouble finishing the project.

5. Explore the Hott Linkkz and learn about an artist or teach yourself something new.

6. Make the April calendar for us. Select the photo theme, etc.

Friday, March 28, 2008

Finishing Your +/- Designs:

1. Fill your paths with black and white on the original.
2. Do your pixel math: End pixel dimensions must be equal to or less than the original, even though you are most likely DOUBLING the resolution.
3. Flatten your image. SAVE AS yourdoc_flat.psd
4. Crop the image two times. Each image must be at least four inches on the height or width.
5. Select one to invert.
6. Select one to color.
7. Print your designs. Drag all of them into either a LETTER or LEGAL sized document that has 1/2 inch guides set up all around. Place strokes around the outside before dragging for easier cutting.

8. Mount your designs.
9. Experiment with desaturating and re-coloring or making magnets if you have extra time.

Monday, March 24, 2008

Pen Tool Pointers/Positive-Negative Space Problem

PEN TOOL BASICS:
1. Use the Pen Practice exercise to hone your skills.
(Student on STEP Novell (G://)>Shared>Art Technology>Photoshop Lessons>Chap 07 Lessons>Pen Practice) You need my approval on this before moving on to the +/- problem.

2. Keep the number of anchor points in your path to a minimum.
The more anchor points, the choppier your finished result.

3. Hold down the SHIFT key to create straight lines between anchors.
Hold down your left mouse button to create curved lines between anchors.
Hold down the ALT key to engage the Convert Anchor Point tool. This lets you 'push in' the handles of your anchor and therefore control your line angles. You can also switch to the Direct Selection tool to do the same thing.

4. Be sure to SAVE AND NAME individual paths in the Paths palette.
Otherwise they are lost and you can't access them later.

Positive/Negative Space Problem
Use Free Association/Mind Mapping/Stream of Consciousness writing to generate ideas for your project. I don't care which, but just need to see some evidence of brainstorming before you can begin your project.
  1. Choose any industrial object (something that is non-living and does not represent a living item.)
  2. Re-create the object as flat, positive and negative shapes.
  3. Crop the design you made, but retain its readability.
  4. Drastically crop the design, to the point where the composition is only abstract shapes.
  5. You now have a total of three designs. Select one and invert it.
  6. Take that same design you inverted and re-work it in color.
  7. Repeat steps 1-6 with a new industrial object.

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

Independent Study Critique

Follow this link to learn more about the Elements and Principles:
http://www.brigantine.atlnet.org/GigapaletteGALLERY/websites/ARTiculationFinal/MainPages/ArtCritiquingMain.htm

Monday, March 10, 2008

Art Technology
Jack + Jill Write-Up

20 Points

Answer the following questions, using complete sentences and paragraph structure.
1. Describe your interpretation of the Jack + Jill theme.
(Is it literal or abstract? What items represent the key elements of the story? Why?)

2. What techniques did you use from Composition Slideshow?
Discuss a minimum of three used in your designs, where they can be seen and why you chose them.

3. Name three techniques/tools you used and where they can be seen (Layer Styles, Adjustment Layers, Gradient/Custom Gradient, and/or Blend Modes. Be specific. (e.g.; I used a Stroke Layer Style, A Brightness/Contrast Adjustment Layer, The Multiply Blend Mode, etc.)

Jack + Jill File Prep and Print

To Prepare Your Files:
1. Open Letter Sized Document.
2. Set to 150dpi/ CMYK/Landscape
3. Drag Vertical Guides to 0.25 and 10.75 inches.
4. Drag Horizontal guides to 0.25, 4.25, 6.75, 10.75 inches
5. Insert three of your designs in the squares.
6. Repeat steps 1-5 for your other three designs.

To Print Your Files…
7. Go to File>Page Setup. Change it from “Letter” to Legal. Make sure it is Landscape.
8. Go to File>Print with Preview. Click on “More Options” if necessary.
9. Set the Drop-Down menu to “Output” if it says “Color Management”
10. Check “Registration Marks”, “Corner Crop Marks” and “Center Crop Marks” then hit “Done”.
11. Make sure there is legal size paper and the printer and print it out.

Thursday, March 6, 2008

Jack & Jill Stuff

1. Incorporate at least three of the following techniques into your designs:
  • Layer Styles (the "F" thingy in your Layer Palette)
  • Adjustment Layers (the Yin Yang in your Layer Palette)
  • Gradient/Custom Gradient
  • Blend modes (In the drop down menu in your Layer Palette. Default is "Normal")
2. Do your Peer Review assignment. Attach a contact sheet/sketches of unfinished designs to your worksheet. (Open all design files, go to Window>Arrange>Tile Horizontally....OR save all files in alphabetical order. Go to File>Automate>Contact Sheet II. Select Open Files as source if you tiled, or Browse for your folder if you alphabetized your files & BLAMMO! You have a Contact Sheet)

Wednesday, March 5, 2008

AM/Art Technology:

Continue work on your Jack + Jill project. I think you should be able to have all six panels finished by the end of today. That is the goal. The sub will record the number you finish today. Give them a reason why you don't have all six ready if you don't meet the goal. Remember to incorporate at least three techniques from the Composition Slideshow. Refer to your notes.

If you stay on track today we will be ready to explore layer styles and color tomorrow and Friday. +/^ with a friend if you have time or get stuck.

PM/Independent Study:

Begin working on new projects, even if you do not have my approval.

Remember the first step to any project is a Proposal and Contract.

If there are students with checkpoints marked on the calendar for yesterday or today, the sub should step through the checkpoint with them. A few students have due dates today. Mount and turn your projects + rubrics in today.

If anyone needs the images for the Paul Foster project, they are in that huge medical tote behind my desk. Sam was scanning these in last I knew. Feel free to visit Mrs Foster if you need guidance.

Friday, February 29, 2008

Jack + Jill Problem

  • Use any combination of the following dingbat fonts (Webdings, Wingdings, Wingdings 2, Wingdings 3, Marlett or MS Outlook) to illustrate the nursery rhyme “Jack and Jill” in a six-panel layout.
  • Panels should be 4x4 inches.

Panels are as follows:

  1. Jack and Jill 2. Went Up the Hill 3. To Fetch a Pail of Water
  1. Jack Fell Down 5. And Broke His Crown 6. And Jill Came Tumbling After.
You can access sample designs and a MS Word document of the allowed fonts under Jack_N_Jill in the Shared Art Technology Folder. (Student on Step Novell (G://)>Shared>Art Technology>Jack_N_Jill)

To begin the assignment, you must submit THREE start ("Jack & Jill") panels for approval.

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Independent Study Project Contract Process:
(Word Documents of PROJECT PROPOSAL FORM and PROJECT CONTRACT FORM available at: Student on STEP Novell (G://)>Shared>Art Technology>Independent Study)

1. Pitch project to me to receive approval.

2. Turn in PROJECT PROPOSAL: (At least one paragraph describing: What the project is, why you want to do it, how you will use the materials/equipment you need, any other pertinent information, and another paragraph that answers: How does this project challenge your skill level and help you grow as a designer?

3. Establish your criteria.
4. Establish DUE DATE.
5. Establish CHECKPOINT dates & what will be done at that time.
6. Sign and submit PROJECT CONTRACT.
I will sign and keep the master copy, then give you a photocopy for your records.

Tuesday, February 26, 2008

Super Duper Neato Contest w/Big Cash Money Prize!

Check out http://www.anokahalloween.com/2008-button-contest.htm
Design the 2008 Halloween button for the City of Anoka.
Win $100 and change the world!

Monday, February 25, 2008

Independent Study
Monday 2/25



Ms. Vazquez will be here at 1:00 to view your CBMF progress.
Here's how to prepare for her visit:


1. Mount ALL Camp Building My Future systems you have developed.
This includes: Icons, Certificate, T-shirt Mock-Up, and Slogan.
If you do not have a complete system, but have made progress towards one, somehow group what you do have in a professional manner.

2. CBMF Client Write-Up
(Mount to the back of your presentation board, or artistically on the front.) :
  • How does your design represent the 4 CBMF categories? (Welding, Auto, Electrical Engineering, Drafting/Design?)
  • Why will it appeal to the target market of 7-8 grade students, particularly girls?
  • What makes your design exciting and easy to reproduce?
Other Irons in the Fire:
1. You will also pitch your Independent or Client Based project proposal to me today. It was your homework this weekend, so I know you are all prepared...

2. Mrs. Karbowski will be coming to speak with us about developing a mascot for STEP tomorrow. Work on your independent project and think of concepts for this commission as well.

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Turn This In!

1. Homework Drawings
2. Type/Sound Brainstorms & Sketches
3. Chapters 1-3 worksheets
4. Patty & Sally Composition
5. Any other missing tutorials, etc.

Also...
6. Inspiration File ASAP if not in. Marked down 1/2 letter grade every day it is late. Must fix your file if scored under 28. Remains a zero in the gradebook until you do so.

7. Turn in your Independent 5x5 Designs Planning Packet when I approve your ideas.

Tuesday, February 19, 2008

Independent Study: 2/19/08

Priorities:

1. Finish any missing tutorials or other assignments.
2. Continue with Camp Building My Future project.
(4 Icons, 1 Certificate, and a slogan)
Ms. Vazquez may be stopping by. BE PREPARED!
Want at least 3 comps developed in computer.
+/^ with neighbors for ideas on refining your concepts. (Write it down too!)

3. Teach yourself something! http://www.good-tutorials.com

4. Try and profit from your mad skills! http://www.sitepoint.com

5. Start thinking of projects you can complete independently, via having generated your own client. Who is it for? What are you going to do? Be ready to fill out a project contract by Friday.

Thursday, February 14, 2008

Patty & Sally Art Creation Sensation!

Use the tools & techniques you learned in the "Patty & Sally" tutorial to create an art piece.
Refer back to the tutorial packet for refreshers on each item listed.

Your work must include the following techniques:
1. Use of at least three different Pencil and Brush settings for drawing.
Play with the Brushes palette (Window>Brushes) and explore all the variations.

2. Create at least one custom brush in addition to the three used in Step 1. (P142 in packet.)

3. Incorporate at least three shapes from the Shapes palette in your design.

4. Make at least one custom shape in addition to the three shapes in Step 3. (Draw a shape with the Pen Tool set to Fill mode, so the shape is filling with a color as you draw. When finished, go to Edit>Define Custom Shape. Name the shape and it will be at the bottom of your Custom Shape menu, the Amoeba shaped icon in your Shapes palette.

5. For other ideas on how to zest up your design, refer to the last 2 pages in the Patty/Sally packet.

6. Print and turn in.

Thursday, February 7, 2008

Independent Study Projects

1. Spirit Week Posters:
We need posters to advertise the upcoming Career and Technical Education Week at STEP.
Prizes Given Daily for "BEST" outfit in each category.

Monday 2/11: College Day—wear clothes from your favorite college

Tuesday 2/12: Pajama/Crazy Clothes Day—wear your favorite PJ’s, bathrobe or crazy clothes. Also 25 Cent Cookie Special at School Store. Preview of goodies available at STEP Bakery on 2/14.

Wednesday 2/13: Home High School Day—wear clothes from your favorite high school

Thursday 2/14: Dress Up Day—wear nice clothes. STEP Bakery open!

Friday 2/15: Career Day—wear clothes of your career choice. ATC EXPO in College Auditorium

Prizes Given Daily for "BEST" outfit in each category.

2. CAMP BUILD MY FUTURE at ATC
Our next assignment will be to develop a system of four icons and a certificate of completion for Camp Build My Future. Our TARGET AUDIENCE is 7th and 8th grade boys and girls. The icons should represent the four subjects taught at CBMF:
Welding, Automotive, Electronic Engineering and Drafting/Design
Theresa Vazquez is our contact at ATC for this. She will stop by next week.

Wednesday, February 6, 2008

Wednesday 2/6/08

AM Class (Art Technology): Students should finish their Name Design & Personality Collage and writing assignment if it is not done. #1 priority. Finish your Master & Tyrone tutorials if not done. Move on to the next assignment (Life & Death Problem) Begin working on the thumbnails for that.The sub can show you a book (Visual Literacy) with sample designs if ideas are needed. Show thumbnails to the sub and explain how your final choice illustrates the concept effectively. They can draw (drawing supplies located throughout the “center island” type thing in my room) or use Photoshop to make thumbnails. Do not start the final design. Once they have finished, students can go on http://www.good-tutorials.com to independently learn a Photoshop technique. Write a paragraph summarizing the tutorial you have completed, citing the website location and tutorial title.

If students were absent yesterday, extra copies of the Life/Death handout are on the table with the projector. It is the papers bound with a brad. They need a yellow copy and the white copy.
You should also read Chapter 1 of Design for the Digital artist (Black Binders on wall, worksheet should be on projector table w/Life & Death handout)

PM Class (Independent Study in Art): Students should continue to work on their Art Institutes International poster contest. Remind them the deadline is tomorrow, and to get a copy of their high school transcript if they are submitting their design. I don’t foresee anyone finishing today, but if they do, they can also do the http://www.good-tutorials.com thing. I am out of copies of contest criteria, but they can get those from http://www.artinstitutes.edu/Competitions/HighSchoolCompetitions.aspx

Monday, January 28, 2008



Welcome to STEP Art Technology!

Get ready to work hard, learn a lot, and have fun.
Memorize this website (www.step-art-tech.blogspot.com) because you will need to check it often for assignment criteria and helpful hints on how to complete your projects.

If you are absent, sometimes you will be able to find out what we did in class here.
Email kely.wakely@anoka.k12.mn.us any time you have questions.


Thursday, January 24, 2008

Self Promotion Project Objectives:

  • Capture the attention of your chosen audience
  • Persuade them to contact you
  • Clearly communicate how they can contact you
  • Provide them with a sample of your abilities


Do You Think Your Project Met the Goals?

Fix your project if it does not.


Thursday, January 17, 2008

Type Exericse

Make sure to use the Font Reference Table in the Hott Linkkz

Website: http://www.jxenakis.com/cgi-bin/D.PL?d=consul.fonts

Also check out this handy typography glossary:
http://www.careercenter.arlington.k12.va.us/CourseWebSites/art/Typography/NewFiles/glossary.html#anchor

Sunday, January 6, 2008

Important Dates of the Not So Distant Future
There are but three weeks left in the term, and a lot happening during this time.
A handy guide to knowing the necessary.

Something else to keep in mind: We are on a tight schedule these next few weeks. You might need to work outside class. If you don't have Photoshop at home, you can download the free 30-day trial of Photoshop CS3 at: http://www.adobe.com/downloads/?ogn=EN_US-gntray_dl_trialdownloads
I can save your files to a disk or flash drive if needed.

Week of Jan 7-11
Monday 1/7:
Guest speaker from The Art Institutes. Work on study guide.
HOMEWORK: Study Chapters 1-9 Mini Quizzes.
Tuesday 1/8: Work on Test Review Design Challenge.
HOMEWORK: Study Chapters 1-9 Mini Quizzes.
Wednesday 1/9:
TEST--Chapters 1-9.
Collect: Chapters 7-9 worksheets and Test Review Design Challenge
Intro Self Promotional Project. Finish/Print/Mount ID System.
Thursday 1/10:
Finish/Print/Mount ID System. Work on Self Promo.
Friday 1/11: Critique Identity System. Work on Self Promo.
HOMEWORK: Finish crit writing. DUE MONDAY 1/14

Week of January 14-18:
Work on the Self Promotional Project will continue.
We will read and do exercises on typography and layout (in preparation for the FINAL!)
Yes, this includes watching the WORLD OF LETTERFORMS VIDEO!
You should study any material covered in class as homework.

Week of January 21-25:
Monday 1/21: MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY. NO SCHOOL!
Tuesday 1/22:
Self Promotional Project work time.
HOMEWORK: Study for the Layout and Typography test.
Wednesday 1/23: In class review for L&T Test.
DUE: Self Promotional Project. DEADLINE: 2:55 PM

Thursday 1/24:
FINAL TEST: Layout and Typography. Studio clean up.
Friday 1/25:
FINAL CRITIQUE: SELF PROMOTIONAL PROJECT

Monday 1/28: School is not in session, but I will be at STEP.
If arranged ahead of time, you can finish missing work.