Elephant Page

This image was created in Photoshop. We began by selecting the elephant and positioning him on the bottom right corner of the page. We added the gold color in the background by creating a new layer, selecting the entire canvas and pressing option, delete. This fills the entire plane with the gold color. We then went to the layers panel and moved the elephant above the back round. Next, we again added a new layer and created the rectangle shape with the marquee tool. We lowered the opacity of that layer and went to effects, and selected outer glow. Finally, we added one more layer and chose a crazy-looking purple green and orange gradient swatch to fill cover the entire picture. We again lowered the opacity to about 10%. This gradient gave the picture a little dimension without being too distracting.

Magnolia

The effects on this flower were made by adding layers in Photoshop. I began with a magnolia picture from the internet. I then selected the flower and added a new layer. On the new layer I added a thick orange stroke. Next. I again selected the flower and created another layer. I chose a gradient fill for the shape and then clicked control, T to transform the shape. I held the command key while I transformed the shape to manipulate it to the bottom corner. This gave the flower a nice shadow effect. I then added another layer and selected the entire plane. I choose filter, pixilate to give the image the polka dots. I then adjusted the opacity so the polka dots were more faint.  I moved the flower and stroke to the top layer so they wouldn’t be covered in polka dots. Lastly, I added  noise to the flower to give it a slight texture.

Cedar Grove Advertisement

This ad is for an environmental company that turns food and other waste into garden compost. I believe this ad probably used a combination of Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator. The trowel and dirt appear to be an actual photograph layered on a background created in Illustrator. The leaves on top of the trowel are possibly from a photo that has been slightly filtered on Photoshop, resulting in a slightly cartoon effect. Also, there is a slight shadow in the background that could have been created in Photoshop.

The texture of the realistic trowel contrasts against the smoothness of the rest of the ad, making the trowel the focal point. Also, the ad is well balanced by a thoughtful choice of colors and composition. For example, the green in the company’s logo on the left balances with the green in the leafy stem on the right. Likewise, the type “Cedar Grove” is a similar color of the dirt, unifying the composition.

Three Dogs

These images are examples of how quality can be compromised by enlarging photos in photoshop. I began with three small images that appear on the left side of the page. They have a resolution of 72 and are less than 200 by 200 dpi. I then changed each images’ resolution to 300 dpi and doubled the width and height. This resulted in the images on the right. As you can see in most of these photographs, they are not as defined and slightly blurry around the edges. It is never good practice to enlarge smaller photos, it almost always results in a decrease in quality.

On the other hand, decreasing the size of large photos does not effect the quality of the image. For this assignment we also found three images that were too large for the web. I then scaled the images down to 100 pixels per inch with a resolution of 72. I could not post this image because the file is too large, yet in the comparison I could see the quality of the images were not effected by their downsize.

Fire and Sand

This was one of our first projects on photoshop.We began with two images; one of a photo of fire and the other of an hourglass against a white background. We first opened the fire image in photoshop then placed the hourglass image on top. We then selected the white areas around the hourglass with the direct select tool and deleted them. Next, we copied the fire layer and pasted it on top of the hourglass. We adjusted the opacity to around 25% so the fire appears through the clear glass. Yet, the fire still appeared faintly on top of the sand. To eliminate the fire on the sand we went to the hourglass layer and selected the sand shapes. We then went back to the top fire layer and deleted the selection. Now the fire only appears through the clear glass and the hourglass appears to be in front of a wall of fire.

Eyeglasses Packaging

This Spanish eyeglasses packaging could have been created in Adobe Illustrator. The glasses could be creating by tracing an actual image of glasses. I would trace both the outline of the frames and each individual lense. I then would select them both and choose minus front from the pathfinder toolbox. The rest of the type is pretty straight forward and could be created with the type tool.

The thing that interests me about this packaging is the placement of the eyeglasses. They are positioned on the upper corner of the box with the bridge of the glasses lined up with the edge of the box. This clever position makes me think the box is literally “wearing” the glasses. In addition, the simple contrast of black and white is effective for the complex shape of the glasses. The designer then stays consistent with the black and white color scheme. This gives the product a modern, clean feel.

Cottage Cheese Label

This label could be created in Adobe Illustrator. I would draw the dove with the pen tool. Then I would type the number one in pink overlapping the dove. I could then choose divide from the pathfinder to separate the part of the one that does not overlap the dove. I could then separately shade that shape a darker shade of pink. Next, I would finish the rest of the type using various fonts. I would apply a small arch to the label “all natural.”

This label is effective in its simplicity. The color palette is limited to white and two values of pink. These colors have strong contrast which makes the label easy to read. The label provides all the necessary information in a straight-forward, clear manner. The play on the positive and negative shapes in the overlapping dove and one creates interest and dominance. Also, the designer used various typefaces to add character to the label. Yet, due to the controlled color palette, the design is still harmonious despite the various texts and shapes. The designer also maintains this harmony throughout the product line, only changing the colors.

CMYK Playing Cards

The packaging for this deck of cards could be created in Adobe Illustrator. I would begin by creating the squares in the left. I would draw one square with the rectangle tool, then copy it multiple times. I could then line up all the squares vertically and change their fills. Next, I would create the two circle symbols by overlapping two circles with no fill and two lines created with the pencil tool. After creating the shape, I would group it and copy it to the other side of my page. Next, I would type the letters CMYK. I would first select type, create outlines then I would ungroup the letters. I could then change the colors of the letters individually. Also, I could move the letters so they slightly overlap and reduce their opacity (except for the black “K”). Lastly I would create the type at the middle and bottom of the box and align it to the left. The design of this clever set playing cards is very successful. First, it plays off of the familiar CMYK color palette. The design is unified by its consistent, all capital typeface. Also the simple gradation of the primary color palette creates interest without being too distracting.

Natural Skincare Labels

The packaging for this skincare line could be created in Photoshop. I would begin with a photo of the droplet of the product that looks like a petal. The lasso tool would be best for selecting the petal. If there were areas with less contrast that did not get selected very well I could correct them with the magic wand tool. I could then copy this selection and add it to the gray or white background. Next, I would select the icon that appears in the upper left corner of the bottle. Since there is very high contrast between the black icon and its white background I would begin by using the marquee tool to section off a square around the icon. Next, I would use the magic wand tool and hold down the option key to select the inverse of the square, which would be the icon. I could then copy the icon and add it to my background with the petal. Lastly, I would add type to the labels. These labels are effective because they use texture to sell the product. When viewed from close up, the product seems like an airy moose that would be comfortable on your skin. Also, the simple contrast of the black and white packaging with only one color creates dominance by making the product the focal point.

Aviation Gin Label

This label for the Aviation Gin Co. could be created in Adobe Illustrator. I would begin by overlapping a rectangle and two triangles to create the background shape. I would then select all 3 shapes and group them. I could add the white outline with the pen tool. I would select a thin white stroke with no fill. Next I could draw the airplane with the pen tool. I would choose a gradient fill to give it the dimension shown on the label. I could then make a circle with a gradient stroke and no fill to create the propeller. The type “aviation” could be created by first typing the letters then choosing type, create outlines. I then would apply an arching effect under effects. The rest of the type is simple and straight and could easily be created with the type tool. This label is successful because of its simplicity of shape and colors. The texture on the airplane is united with the rest of the design because of its consistent color palette. The retro style and concept perfectly convey the “all American” theme of Aviation Gin.