COURSE CALENDAR | WEEK 06 CLASS OUTLINE | Homework

Discussion:

• Review homework assignments (Re-worked Bezier Paths, Process and Spot Color)
• Midterm Project: View From My Window or Famous Buildings- Due Week08

Lab:

• Work in class on Midterm Projects
• Choose one of the following projects

1. STEP ONE: Research
   1. Famous Building
      • Choose a famous building, and two alternates.
      • Find out about the history of the building, the architect, the culture, and time period during which it was built and inhabited. Learn as much about the building as you can, until it takes on a personality in your mind.
      • Write a one page essay about the building as if it were, in fact, a person. Describe its appearance and persona.
      • Building Research Sites (just a start):
        • http://www.greatbuildings.com/
        • http://www.teachnet.ie/roleary/bldngs.htm
        • http://www.37signals.com/svn/posts/241-link-it-up-great-buildings
        • http://www.archiplanet.org/wiki/Category:Great_Buildings
   2. View From My Window.
      • Make several drawings of the view out your window, from different angles, and different times during the day.
      • Make note of any objects (people, animals, structures) that you haven't noticed before.
      • Squint your eyes and try to see only lines, then only shapes, then just light and dark. Make quick sketches of each using each of these methods of observation.
      • Write a one page essay about the view from your window as if you were 3 different people with different personalities, ages, cultural backgrounds, in different periods in history. Imagine all the people who have lived in your apartment/house. What would they have seen 10, 20, 50, 100 years ago?
      • Research other people's interpretations of this project:
        • http://www.viewfrommywindow.com/
        • http://images.google.com/images
        • http://video.google.com/videosearch
2. STEP TWO: Template Setup
   1. Make a final sketch of your Building or View. You may use photographs or found images as reference, but the drawing should be your own.
   2. Scan the drawing so the output is approximately 600x800 pixels, 72 dpi.
   3. Save it as a jpg.
   4. In Photoshop, if necessary, increase the contrast, Posterize, add poster edges or cut-out filter or Threshold to create a graphic tracing image with strong outlines.
3. STEP THREE: Specifications and Execution
   1. Setting up your Illustrator file. (we may adjust this later)
      • Size: 8.5 x 11 inches (600 x 800px)
      • CMYK
   2. Next "place" (File > Place) the template image as a template layer (tracing image) in Illustrator. Choose the template and link check boxes and click ok.
   3. Use named layers to organize different elements in your illustration.
   4. Use the Bezier Pen Tool to outline the outer edges of each part of your illustration. You will toggle between OUTLINE and PREVIEW mode in order to achieve accurate curves.
   5. You can approach the illustration in different ways. One way is to outline the mid-tones, shadows and highlights that define the structure of the illustration first. Create broad closed paths to start, then add detail when the main areas have been defined. Another approach (if you are creating a comicbook style) might be to define all the outline areas first and then go back in and add broad paths of color.
   6. Use named layers to organize different elements in your illustration.
   7. Create your own colors in the color palette. Remember to save and label your color swatches. Toggle between Outline and Preview to see your progress.
   8. When you are finished, zoom into your illustration and clean up any stray paths, unnecessary or redundant anchor points.

Homework | Week 6

Work on Midterm Projects.

• Have final drawing finished, scanned and placed as template layer in Illustrator.
• Create color swatches for each part of your illustration.
• Have the initial structure of your illustration created in Illustrator. Come prepared to work in class.