Thursday, 22 May 2014
Wednesday, 21 May 2014
Monday, 19 May 2014
Sunday, 18 May 2014
Final
To start off my book cover I made a collage of lots of different, brightly coloured, busy patterns. This created lots of layers.
I scanned my collage into photoshop where I adjusted the threshold to make my image pure black and white.
Using the magic wand tool I selected all of the black and applied a gradient of warm colours (red/yellow) which also relates to the colour of sunflowers.
I then created a template for a flower petal and placed my pattern within it.
Using a central point I copied the petal and rotated it to build up a flower shape.
I did this until the flower was complete
To further develop my flower I multiplied each of the petals to blend them together. I copied the flower design and layered a larger one behind the original flower and a small one in the middle (which I multiplied). Around the outer layer I added a white stroke. To this white stroke I then added an orange shadow to create depth.
I the remover the pattern within the outer layer leaving the shadow behind in the shape of the petals. This then created white space.
When I was happy with my flower design I pasted it into my book cover template. Using my original collage pattern I used this for the backgrounds for my spine and right and left flaps of the book cover.
I plan to put text on the right flap. As the background pattern is very busy the text may not be legible. I added a white oval which the text could be placed upon. I reduced the opacity of the oval so some of the background pattern was still visible but not over powering. To create a border pattern I hand drew a small flower. I then coloured this and evenly distributed them around the outside of the oval.
I then connected the flowers with a black line by using the brush tool. This completed the border.
To start my title I firstly hand drew it in pencil then fine liner. I then scanned it into photoshop where I adjusted the threshold to make it pure black and white. Using the magic wand tool I removed the white so I could place colour within the title.
Using the magic wand tool to select my desired area I added a gradient to the title. I copied and pasted the title and slightly moved the under layer to give the impression that the text was 3D. I reduced the opacity in the bottom layer so it wasn't too overpowering and multiplied the titles together which gave a nice effect. I then added a white stroke around the text so it would stand out from the patterned background and be more legible.
I pasted my title into my book cover template. Using the hue slider I adjusted the colour of the title to compliment the colour scheme of the rest of my book. I then distanced the stroke from the text which gave a nice outline effect.
I hand drew the second half of my title and repeated the same process as the first.
I added a gradient to the title. I added a white stroke to make the text stand out. I then copied the same text without a stroke on top of the original and added a drop shadow. I then merged these two layers and multiplied them. I then added another drop shadow to the overall title. This then made it very prominent which is what I wanted as sunflowers are the main focus of the book.
To keep consistency I added a hand drawn flower to the spine. I also created an white oval for the text like on the right flap of the book. I reduced the opacity so the text would be legible. To give the text more body I added an orang stroke. Around the authors name I also added a yellow glow so it would stand out more
To fill the right flap I decided to add information about the 'author'. I found an image and edited it into an oval shape to keep consistency. I centre aligned the image and edited it to black and white as it complimented my colour scheme more. I then added the text in the same font as the spine.
For the back cover I created a ring of flowers similar to the one on the right flap which will contain the text. I chose to alternate the colours to make it more interesting and incorporate more colours from my colour scheme. I filled the ring with orange and reduced the opacity so it wasn't so over powering.
I then added the barcode, puffin logo (to the back and spine), price, publisher, website and the country of publication to make the book look professional.
I then added the title of 'sunflower' to the centre of the circle in the flower font I previously created.
Once I added the rest of the text I decided that the flower text didn't look right. Therefore, I used the same font as the spine and right flap to keep consistency. I still wanted the word 'sunflower' to stand out so i made it a larger font. i also added a really thick white stroke. behind this white stroke I then added a red drop shadow to add further emphasis to the word.
After thinking I had finished, I evaluated my work and made a few changes. I didn't like the white space on the back of the book cover. Therefore I used the original collaged background with a red to yellow gradient. I then reduced the opacity dramatically as it was too overpowering. I also left aligned the text in the bottom right hand corner to make it look more professional
This is my final finished book cover.
I hand drew the second half of my title and repeated the same process as the first.
I added a gradient to the title. I added a white stroke to make the text stand out. I then copied the same text without a stroke on top of the original and added a drop shadow. I then merged these two layers and multiplied them. I then added another drop shadow to the overall title. This then made it very prominent which is what I wanted as sunflowers are the main focus of the book.
To keep consistency I added a hand drawn flower to the spine. I also created an white oval for the text like on the right flap of the book. I reduced the opacity so the text would be legible. To give the text more body I added an orang stroke. Around the authors name I also added a yellow glow so it would stand out more
To fill the right flap I decided to add information about the 'author'. I found an image and edited it into an oval shape to keep consistency. I centre aligned the image and edited it to black and white as it complimented my colour scheme more. I then added the text in the same font as the spine.
For the back cover I created a ring of flowers similar to the one on the right flap which will contain the text. I chose to alternate the colours to make it more interesting and incorporate more colours from my colour scheme. I filled the ring with orange and reduced the opacity so it wasn't so over powering.
I then added the barcode, puffin logo (to the back and spine), price, publisher, website and the country of publication to make the book look professional.
I then added the title of 'sunflower' to the centre of the circle in the flower font I previously created.
Once I added the rest of the text I decided that the flower text didn't look right. Therefore, I used the same font as the spine and right flap to keep consistency. I still wanted the word 'sunflower' to stand out so i made it a larger font. i also added a really thick white stroke. behind this white stroke I then added a red drop shadow to add further emphasis to the word.
After thinking I had finished, I evaluated my work and made a few changes. I didn't like the white space on the back of the book cover. Therefore I used the original collaged background with a red to yellow gradient. I then reduced the opacity dramatically as it was too overpowering. I also left aligned the text in the bottom right hand corner to make it look more professional
This is my final finished book cover.
Saturday, 17 May 2014
Final draft
Before producing my final piece I drew out a final design of what I hoped it to look like. I then added colour in photoshop to indicate my colour scheme I intend to use - warm colours linking to my context of the sun and sunflowers
Friday, 16 May 2014
Colour schemes
To help me understand how colour schemes can be used to alter the feel and communication of an artefact I used my final draft and altered the colour schemes to monochromatic, analogous, triadic and complementary to help me explore the different effects they create. This really helped to improve my awareness of colour.
Monochromatic
I liked this effect as it easily creates a mood. For example the oranges in this piece create a very warm, happy mood which was easy to get right. The colours are all soothing and harmonious on the eye.
Analogous
This colour scheme is similar to monochromatic but differs slightly as it brings a few more colours into the mix which compliment the dominant colour (orange).
Triadic
This colour scheme is very contesting. Only three colours are used throughout - and often from opposite sides of the colour wheel. Although it is contrasting it still maintains subtly and harmony whilst the highly saturated prismatic colours provide richness. I maintained the dominating colour as orange
Complementary
These colours have a very high amount of contrast as they are found on opposite sides of the colour wheel. To help it not come across as too jarring to the eye I used a lot of the purple whilst only bringing small amounts of the yellow in to make it subtle.
Thursday, 15 May 2014
Type choices - digital
Before completing my final piece I experimented with a variet of digital type choices which I collected from dafont. I then annotated them to help me understand their asthetics and see what would look best and suit the context of my final book cover design
Wednesday, 14 May 2014
Tuesday, 13 May 2014
C.R.A.P Analysis
Contrast
1. black outline/white bird
2. yellow submarine/blue sea
3. bold black text/ light yellow background
4. white/blue boat
5. white sails/blue sea
6. red text/ yellow background
7. green text/ white sail background
8. white sail/blue sea
9. red/brown boat
10. red/yellow boat/blue sea
11. yellow/white/blue boat/blue sea
12.yellow hat/grey beard
13. black/white/red boat/blue sea
Repetition
1. rocks
2. birds
3. sails
4. people waving
5. same font
6. pattern of net
7. green stripe pattern
8. decking
9. striped sail
10. vikings
11. viking boat stripes
12. red/white pattern
13. pattern in the sea (waves)
Alignment
1. left alignment
2. text boxy alignment
3. centre vertical alignment (through centre of text box)
4. right alignment
Proximity
1. submarine
2. boat
3. boat
4. title box - everything goes
5. fish
6. text in sail - by sea
7. sea monster
8. bird
9. viking boat
10. sail boat
11. speed boat
12. large boat
The Tiny Seed
Contrast
1. red petal/white(ish) background
2. black signature/ white background
3. black title/ white background
4. red petal/white centre
5. red/yellow collage leaf
6. green leaf/ white(ish) background
7. green collage leaf
Repetition
1. petals
2. black text
3. flakes in the background
4. leaves
Alignment
1. left alignment
2. centre vertical alignment (through centre of flower)
3. right alignment
4. text alignment
5. centre horizontal alignment (bottom of flowers centre)
Proximity
1. flower
2. Eric Carle - authors name
3. The Tiny Seed - title
4. petal
5. leaf
Monday, 12 May 2014
Mid point drafting
To collext my mis point ideas I drew out several designs which I could possibly use within my final design. I then addded colour to experiment with possible colour schemes. I like my first 2 drafts and tope to develop these further and possibly combine them within my final piece. I have dicided to have a warm colour scheme to link to my context of the sun and sunflowers
Type choices - hand
I experimented with creating my own hand drawn type. I drew out each letter of the alphabet in inidividual little flowers to relate to my context of flowers. I then experimented with colour/drop shaddows/layering to see what would look best. I hope to use this type within my final piece
Typography mood board
Before beginning to experiment with type I made a mood board by collaborating images and text. I collected a range of images relating to my context which all had intersting textures etc. I then found fonts realting to these on dafont
Emulation 1
Following on from my artist copy I decided to make an emulation in the same style to show I was influenced by the artists work.
I decided to make a night time forest in a meadow of flowers
I started with my original tree design and altered the colours using the hue tool
I then added a hilly background and sky in cool purple tones
I addd more trees to the design in different sizes/colours/contrasts and saturations to create depth within my emulation
I then began to add the flowers to create the meadow
I continued to add flowers to fill the hilly background. I altered the size to create depth (smaller as they proceed into the background) I then added blossom falling from the trees using the brush tool
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