Last Friday (26th January) was my last DPers lesson and I will move on to Maths. Digital Perspectives has been all about using digital tools to create an original piece of art or creative piece in order to increase the benefit and enjoyment of ourselves and others. In the first unit, we learned about using Adobe Illustrator to create a logo for a client. The second was all about using a different tool called Adobe Photoshop to create a mandala for ourselves and the third unit as about learning the ways people have used digital tools in a negative way such as in advertising. However, also in the third unit, we learned how easy it is to manipulate photos as well.
FIRST UNIT:
Introduction:
In our first unit, we were required to use one of two different applications to make logos for a specific client. However, before we even started to make logos, we learned how to use both platforms. We started off with using Pages which was an easy application to use however, there were many drawbacks of using Pages such as the inability to type on a path and to find the right colour. Furthermore, we were then required to use Adobe Illustrator which is the industry standard. However, this application is very difficult to use as there are many menus to choose from. This unit was about learning how to use digital tools to create a logo for a client. It is also about being able to do service for a client and achieving (perhaps even failing) a product that includes most or all of the specifications the client asked for. We developed many skills and qualities along the way. All in all, we were required to create a logo for a client and we will either choose Adobe Illustrator or pages to create and design the logo.
Getting started:
Tutorial #1
In our first tutorial, we learned mostly about how to use pages as a page layout tool instead of a word processing tool. Although what we created was very simple, it wasn’t a very nice logo. Nevertheless, we learned how to create shapes and to use the bests fonts for the best occasions. We downloaded our school’s font (Bliss) and learned how we can manipulate text such as turning them sideways or increasing the spacing between each letter. I wasn’t surprised as these were skills I was already able to achieve. I was collaborative and a communicator as we needed to help each other to achieve the same goal.
Tutorial #2
In our second tutorial, we learn out the drawbacks of using Pages. This included the inability to colour with a specific colour in mind such as the UWC green. You could also not type on a path as you can see in the image to the left. In this tutorial, I develop my creative skills as I needed to figure out on my own to create the exact same logo. I was also a collaborator as we needed to help each other to achieve the same goal. Because of this, I was able to develop my communication skills
Tutorial #3
In our third tutorial, we learned to use the industry standard tool (Adobe Illustrator) to recreate the same logo as we did in the second tutorial. Here, we could add the specific colour we needed, in this case, the UWC green. We also learned to use the type on a path tool and learn most of the basic tools on this platform. Once again, I was a collaborator and developed my creative skills as I needed to figure out on my own to create the exact same logo as we did in the Pages application. Along the way, I developed my communications skills by collaborating so that we were all on task and helped each other when we needed help.
Tutorial # 4
In our fourth tutorial, we learned about using SVG files and how they were much cleaner than jpg or png files. I was very surprised at the SVG file was very clean and it was then I changed my opinion from using Pages as my tool for my logo to Adobe Illustrator. Furthermore, we learned how to use the pathfinder tool to create Grey Area logo. I was a lot more creative this time as I explored new tools on my own and communicated along the way.
Tutorial # 5
In our last and final tutorial, we learned how we could manipulate jpg and png files to turn them into clean, SVG files. This helped me to be really confident to make my choice to use Illustrator as my tool to design my logo as bottle turned from an ugly, pixelated png file, to a clean, graphic-looking SVG file. We also learned how to use the eraser tool to create that look as you can see in the image above. I was a collaborator as I was collaborating and communicating with others for help and advice. As you may have noticed, I have mainly developed my communication and collaboration skills as the tutorial stage was a very important and useful time to use these skills.
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