Tag Archives: InDesign

Computer Graphic Design

Fall 2015 – Final Project – Papercraft Personalities

Objective:

Students will use all of the skills they have acquired throughout the semester to make a very simple form of papercraft that represents them and their personality.

Student-Friendly Learning Target: 
I can produce a printed papercraft figurine using InDesign and Photoshop.
Link:
  • none
Topics Discussed:

  • InDesign Page Layout
  • Digital Photography
  • Photoshop Image Manipulation
  • Principles of Design
Assignment:
Phase I – Designing the Product
To begin, you will need to connect to Student Temp Files> Marmolejo CGD 1-2>Student Pickup Folder>Final Project 2015 and look for “Student Papercraft Template 2015.pdf”. Open this file and examine its contents. You will notice that there are eight white spaces that need to be filled. You will need to place this file in to a standard 11″ x 8.5″ (landscape-oriented) Indesign page (filling the entire page) and use it as a template to create a papercraft figurine of yourself. Use the InDesign tools to draw photo frames the same size as these white spaces and get ready to take some pictures to fill them with.To get your photos, choose a partner and check out a camera. You will need to take eight pictures of your partner: one portrait, two profile shots (left and right), a shot of the back of their head, and four full body shots (front, back, left and right). Use the white or brick walls in the hallway outside the room for an ideal neutral background. Remember your rules for taking great photos as you take these pictures. See me when you finish so your photos can be loaded into your computer.Next, adjust your photos in Photoshop (remove the background and replace it with a color or pattern of your choice) and save them as individual .psd files. Place these in your Indesign template in the appropriate photo frames. Resize, crop and position them proportionally (no squashing or stretching) so they look correct. You now have a papercraft figurine of yourself. 

Phase II – Marketing the Product
Using Photoshop and Indesign, design a logo for your papercraft figure, as if it were a product you were selling. Think of the logos on dolls and action figures for inspiration, and remember the principles of C.R.A.P. as you plan your design. Use at least two different fonts and include either your first or last name (or both, if you choose) in the name of your product. Place this logo prominently on your papercraft page.

Phase III – Accessorize!
Using your favorite image search engine on the Internet, find at least four pictures that represent your favorite things. Make the backgrounds of these pictures transparent and place them on your papercraft page under the headline “Accessories”. Scale the accessories so they are proportional with your figure. These will be accessories for your papercraft figure, so they should be something that your figure can “wear” or “hold”. Keep it school appropriate! Realistic weapons, drug or alcohol-related materials, and anything else not allowed on campus are strictly prohibited! Fantasy weapons (like Excalibur or Frostmourne) will be allowed on a case-by-case basis. See me if you’re not sure.

(Note: Things like “music”, “Hello Kitty” and “League of Legends” are not things your character can hold and cannot be used. However, things like “Headphones”, a “Hello Kitty plush toy” and a “League of Legends Poster” can be used! Use concrete objects, not abstract ideas!)

Final Phase – Assembly and Delivery
Make sure all of your page elements are arranged according to the principles of C.R.A.P. and place the following files into a folder with your name on it:

  1. Your final InDesign file
  2. The eight .psd files you created from the pictures your partner took of you
  3. The four .psd files you created from the pictures you used for your “accessories”
  4. The .psd file (or .indd file) of the logo you created for your figure.

Place a copy of this folder in the “CGD 1 Final Project 2015” folder on the server. I will print out two color copies for you. Using a pair of scissors, cut out your papercraft figurine. Be sure to cut all slits before you begin folding it. Fold and assemble your figurine according to the instructions on the template. Cut out all your accessories as well. When complete, it should look like the examples in my window. Have your completed figurine and all four of its accessories assembled and under my Christmas tree before end of class on Friday, December 11th, 2015.

Failure to turn in the finished papercraft figurine by the Friday, December 11th deadline will result in a zero on this 300-point project. Late projects will not be accepted under any circumstances.

This is your final CGD1 project, and will be graded based on the effectiveness of your use of the principles of C.R.A.P. in your overall design, the design of your logo, and the assembly of your papercraft figurine. You have more than eight full days of class time to complete this project, and late projects will not be accepted, so please use your time effectively and wisely. Good luck and happy papercrafting!

Assigned: November 30th, 2015
Due Date: December 11th, 2015
Computer Graphic Design

Fall 2015 – 18 – Digital Photography: Impossible Images

Objective:

I can use digital photography, selection tools, clipping masks and transformations to make an otherwise impossible image.

Links:

 

Topics Discussed:

  • Photoshop
  • Selection Tools
  • Clipping Masks
  • Transform Tools
Assignment:
Last week, we tested our acquired Photoshop skills by fixing a Photoshop Disaster. Today, we are use our acquired Photoshop skills to create something entirely new, and completely impossible.
  1. Visit the above website for inspiration. Notice how many of the images use scale (size) to make the images impossible: some of the elements are impossibly big or impossibly small. Others place elements in places where they don’t normally belong (a giant mouth where the subject’s stomach should be).
  2. Your goal is to produce an Impossible Image, just like the ones in the example link, with the following restrictions:
    1. You may ONLY use photographs that you took yourself. You MAY NOT use any images borrowed from the Internet, from other people, or from any other source other than your own original photo collection.
    2. You may use your own camera, but you must provide the original photo files as proof that you are the photographer who took the pictures.
    3. You must use at least THREE original images to comprise the final composite image.
    4. Your image should depict a completely impossible scenario, situation or condition, but should look as realistic as possible.
    5. Your image should be 11″ x 17″, (or 17″ x 11″, if you’re making it landscape).
    6. The final image will be placed in InDesign, in a photo frame with a 1″ colored border.
  3. Apply whatever modifications you are necessary to make the image look as realistic as possible. Pay close attention to detail, shadows, scaling and your selection edges. Don’t make this into a Photoshop Disaster!
  4. Save your image as a .psd file before importing it into InDesign.
  5. Create a new InDesign document. Save it with your name and “Photoshop Impossible Image”.
  6. Place the Impossible Image Photoshop image on the page in a photo frame with a 1″ stroke. You may make the stroke whatever style or color you choose.
  7. Place your name (or signature) somewhere on the page. This is your original artwork, so you should sign it and be proud of it!
  8. Save your Photoshop image, the pictures you used to make your Photoshop image, and the InDesign .indd file into a new folder with your name on it, and place the entire folder into “18 – Impossible Images” in the Student Drop Folder by end of day on Friday.
Assigned: November 16th, 2015
Due Date: November 25th, 2015