STARTING YOUR DINGBAT PORTRAIT

1. Take a picture of yourself using the Photo Booth application on the Macs.
2. Save the photo in your server folder.
3. Start a new Illustrator document. Letter sized, Portrait orientation.
4. Place guides .25" around the outside of your document, so you remember your print margins.
5. Go to File > Place. PLACE your photo file into the Illustrator document.
6. Experiment with the SCALE tool in Illustrator until your portrait fills the PICTURE PLANE of your document.
7. Make sure the photo is selected. Go to WINDOW > TRANSPARENCY. Dim your photo to about 50%
8. Name your layer with the picture in it TEMPLATE.
9. LOCK the TEMPLATE layer.
10. Start a new layer called PATHS or DRAWINGS or anything other than LAYER 2.
11. Print the dimmed portrait of yourself and try to split it into big SHAPES.
12. Identify at least 3 areas of VALUE in the SHAPES (lightest, darkest and at least one mid tone)-- creating a VALUE GUIDE to make your life easier when you begin working.
13. Use your VALUE GUIDE when you begin tracing shapes that outline important areas of your face.
14. When done, poke TEMPLATE layer in eye and just print your PATHS. Verify there are 4 clear areas of value.
15. If good, proceed to downloading dingbat fonts that represent you in some school appropriate manner.