Thumbnail Visuals

After the story board and mood boards I then started to create some thumbnail visuals using the Grid system as a guide to create the layout for my story type. 
The boxes with the cross and clear  boxes represent a Image, lines in columns following the grid system representing text.

Thumbnail Visuals

Using this method I feel allows to develop and experiment with the different possible layout outcomes. It makes it easier to set out the composition of the spread.  

Once we did small thumbnail visuals I choose for out of these and created 4 larger Thumbnails A3 size. Still using the grid system I used actual type from my story cut them up in pieces matching the size of the column grid to create a well structured composition of the type.   

Thumbnail Visual 1

Thumbnail Visual 2

Thumbnail 3

Thumbnail 4

I used different fonts and sizes to create different compositions using the grid system as a structure which I worked on top to create columns for my text,  

Newsletter

A small exercise in using Adobe In-design for the first time we went though the whole program with the basics of going over the job of each tool. Learning about the different pages with it having a master page where on that anything you insert on the A master page will automatically appear on every page.

To start with this we added 3 columns and boxes which we used as guidelines for the text images and the headline.Using the type tools we inserted the text changing the size font colour and size to fit it with the appropriate medium.  

Final Magazine Layout Page

To experiment with the Image and how to get the text around the Image you deletes all the background Into Photoshop and transport it over track the edges and then alter the type to go around the edges in the measurements you want. I found this very hard to use as it was my first type so I was trying to get familiar with the tools.

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Experimenting with the different tools

Experimenting with the different tools I drew a shape and inserted text onto the path of the shape but also with the shape to experiment with the different functions the software offers.

On my second experiment I In-versed a image into the type which I would normally do in Photoshop and adjusted the shape of the type which i thought was pretty cool. At the moment i'm having slight difficulty in using this software but as I use this more I hopefully will be able to use this easily with no trouble.

Adobe After Effects

Process and Production - Adobe After effects

Task 1 - Short Horror Clip

To my first draft of the clip I used that to work with to add effects over the Images downloading copyright free effects from cute stock footage.com and downloaded 2 effects which I overlaid on top of each other. A circle bubble effect and a horror grunge effect which creates the horror theme to my mini clip, also i added layer effects playing about with the opacity to get the effect i wanted to create. To overlap the images to create a smooth transition between the changing of the images I adjusted the opacity of images as well as adding key frames. Found this really helpful and loved the final short clip. (Shown Below)

Final after effects clip from Itba Kauser on Vimeo.

Advertising Lecture

Lecture Notes

Lecture Notes

After the Lecture on Advertising I conducted more research to know more about the topic as it is a huge sector of Graphic design and one option of my future career.

Firstly What is Advertising?
It is the activity or profession of producing advertisements for commercial products or services in order to make people aware of a certain product, service, company etc.

Forms of Advertising

I collected a few charts from google to show the different forms of Advertising and which are being used more, which forms are more successful than the other.




Trust In Advertisement

This Graph is measuring the trust ability in each different form of advertising. This shows that recommendations is a more trusting form than a mobile text. As mobile texts people are most likely to click of the pop ups as they are seen as annoying whereas recommendations are from experience and are most likely to be acknowledged.



Similar to the bar graph this shows once again the different forms of Advertising and which is most successful than the other. This however also shows whether the percentage has increased over the years or decreased over the years from 2007 to 2013.


Impact of advertisement in the wider UK Economy -



Infographic of the impact of advertising in the wider UK economy (Jan 2013)

The main findings of the report were:

Advertising and growth

• Advertising adds at least £100bn to UK GDP by raising the level of economic activity and boosting productivity
• Advertising boosts competition
• Advertising matches buyers and sellers more efficiently
• Advertising accelerates the growth of new businesses and ideas
• Higher levels of advertising spend increase GDP
• On average, £1 of advertising spend generates £6 for the UK economy.

Advertising and the creative industries

The UK advertising industry is central to the UK creative industries. Outside of the public sector, advertising is a main source of revenue for both on and offline media:

• 1/3^rd of UK television revenues come from advertising
• 2/3^rds of UK newspaper revenues come from advertising
• 90% of UK Google revenues come from advertising
• Advertising employs the services of other creative industries; from music, fashion, film production and special effects, to animation, games and photography, and provides steady income for some of the UK's most talented artists.

Advertising and employment

• 550,000 UK jobs depend on advertising - 268,000 in advertising agencies and client companies, 83,000 in support services to advertising and 200,000 across the wider economy.

Advertising and export

• Thanks to its international reputation, UK advertising helps to export over £2bn in advertising services each year. In addition, successful advertising enables UK brands to enjoy strong international recognition, enabling the UK to export a much wider range of goods and services.

Advertising Standards

• The UK’s Advertising Standards (ASA) model is the global gold standard for self-regulation.

(Above Information from - http://www.thecreativeindustries.co.uk/industries/advertising/advertising-facts-and-figures/how-advertising-fuels-the-economy )

Looking at the facts and figures show that Advertising is a huge economy employing over 550,000 jobs and that's just in the UK. It is a phenomenal aspect to industry which allows it to succeed as every company to be known uses the help of Advertising it is like the middle man between a company and it's customers. It is highly successful making over 100bn a year.



So what is 'Integrated Advertising'? from The Digital Baker on Vimeo.

Searching on What Advertising is I came across what I think is a amazing video describing what Advertising is and how it all started using which technology all in a manual technique using a cardboard box. I think this is brilliant! Love he technique they have used it's effective as it doesn't clash with the advancing of technology within advertisement.

Linking with advertising I researched to see which brand is the most popular and cam across this link.

http://www.bestglobalbrands.com/2014/ranking/

This shows the top best global brands of 2014 and how much they make and profit. This clearly shows how much each brand is being advertised and therefore used depending on the success rate of each brand.

Adobe Illustration

Adobe Illustration

In our First Adobe Illustration session after getting a brief introduction to the software and it's tools. Using the pen tool to draw around each facial feature a layer at a time starting from the face, then hair using simple fill in tools to colour in the pen-tooled areas. Using the circle tools to create the eye with a small pen tool line adding a brush stroke effect to create the eyelashes duplicated the eye and flipped it for a symmetrical eye. Working on the lips using different layers for he red lips the out line the inner colour the teeth and shine. Using the simple curvy pen -tool line adding strokes on the brush effect for the individual hair lines I actually really liked what I came up with.
 

 

Before using Adobe Illustator for pen -tool previously I had always used Adobe Photoshop. Using the both now I find Illustrator much easier and straight forward, as for illustator you create new paths and layers each time have to make selections and is quite complicated and technical.

Below are a few pieces of work I created in Adobe Photoshop.

My first attempt of using Pen tool in Adobe Illustrator I Pen-tooled a pair of googles going with something simple and quite easy to become familiar with the process.

Getting more complex with detail I then pen-tooled a Avatar.

Much more complex and paying attention to detail for My As Level Graphics. I created a Character from scratch using photography and building upon that inspired by Terminator and Medusa along with abit of Anime. This was my end result which took a long time to get all the deatils in the right places.

Adobe After Effects

Process and Production - Adobe After effects

Task 1 - Short Horror Clip

For our first Adobe after effects session we used 10 images which had to be opened as a film and documentary file on Photoshop at the size HDTV 1080p/29.97 save it as a jpeg in the project assets folder. After my images were in line I then found a short backing track to play alongside with my images, I tried to find something with a beat so my images could change as the beat drops to which I then had to add more pictures to match the beat. I used a copyright free soundtrack from royalty free music.

short after effects movie from Itba Kauser on Vimeo.

Colour Psychology

In one of our lectures we were talking about emotion and how colour can play a part, looking deeply into the significance of each colours and what mood they represent. This interested me as I studied psychology I understand that there is always a deeper meaning to what we see and that individuals have their own perceptions on things. Colour plays a huge part in the graphic industry as the choice of colour effects the mood as certain colours are associated to certain branding. I did some more research on each of the colours.

Black and White  -

These two colours are considered as power colours, they're used in official matters and are taken very seriously especially in legal matters as the saying is "I want this in writing write them down in Black and White". 

However these colours also represent the unknown, (fear of) death, innocence, peace, day and night, birth and death, good and evil. 

These colours can also be used in fashion to make a statement of looking smart, cool or classy. 'Black tuxedo with a white shirt black tie, black boots and black sunglasses'.

These colours are also used in clinical based environments, as well as street signage to be informative and simple at the same time.

In China these two colours represent the Yin & Yang symbol. A important symbol represent two opposite forces e.g. male/female, sun/moon, light/dark, North/south, right/left etc. 

Red - 

A primary colour which has a few different connotations. It is positively associated to the colour of Love, lust, romance, sexuality, desire and passion. It is energetic colour full of energy, requires us to take action, some form of movement.

However it also has a negative connotation which symbolizes hate, anger, revenge, blood, murder, destruction, aggression.

In china the colour Red is the colour for good luck.

Restaurants use the colour red to stimulate the appetite as it is known for increasing food cravings.

In the Indian culture red symbolizes purity and marriage as the brides wear red gowns on their wedding.

Warning and danger signs use the colour red to show its highly important and must be followed.

Orange -

A energetic colour merged with the physical power from the colour red and the mental power, cheerfulness and joy of the yellow.

It's associated with cheerful, extroverted, uplifting and rejuvenating the spirit. 

A motivational colour to help keep moving forward during tough economical circumstances or maybe a divorce. 

It's con-notated with the Weather and Summer season, giving a warm exotic atmosphere. Also the Autumn season of the season of change with the orange leaves, a new beginning.

The colour also links with social communication, a two way conversation, as it is warm and welcoming, friendly e.g. tango logo sign is orange.

Linked with a balanced energy between the two colours red and yellow a balance between anger and happiness, It is courageous to take responsibility, a risk representing enthusiasm.

Yellow - 

A bright colour to represent happiness, joy, enlightenment it's illuminating and uplifting being the lightest colour in the spectrum. 

It inspires the though of a new idea (light bulb), original thought, inquisitiveness, a practical thinker to help in doing things. 

Represents the Season Spring with the growing of the Daffodils. 

It is a non - emotional colour as it targets the head not the heart, being optimistic and engaging into social interaction, used as a form of expression. It is used to gain confidence. 

It also helps recall information as it is bright and eye-catching it's more likely to stick into the memory than any other colour, e.g. exam notes (highlighter or colour paper)

As it is a highly visible colour is is mainly used in pedestrian crossing as well as life jackets in neon yellow to be visible to others around. 

Green - 

Emotionally positive colour giving us the ability to love and to nurture. A colour embracing the earth as it is mainly associated with the Nature, life, afresh. 

Main colour for recycling re-using to maintain a healthy life,for growth, re-birth, renews and restores.

The colour of prosperity and abundance a combination of the clarity and mental function of the yellow mixed with the calmness and insight of the blue. 

The colour highlights stability and endurance, a peacemaker the ability to hope and anticipate of things to come.

It also relates to the Business world e.g. the real estate and property department as it gives a sense of safety and assurance.
However there are also negative connotations which link to envy, decay, possessiveness and materialist things.

Blue - 

The colour best to symbolize trust, responsibility, loyalty, reliable, quiet, sincere safe and secure, in control, honest. The colour to represent wisdom, faith religion.A universal colour it is nostalgic and is difficult when comes across change.

Blue is the colour of communication, the freedom of speech the public speaker,(used in politics as the colour of the Conservatives).

Blue is a soothing, relaxing calm colour, the colour of the ocean and sky, it represents tranquility.

It also represents wealth, with all the connotations of the safety it is the colour to represent most banks, e.g. Barclay's, Halifax, Nationwide, Natwest etc. To build the trust foundation with their customers to communicate their message using colour.

Stereo-typically blue is associated with being a masculine colour as it represents the male gender e.g. a newborn baby boy would be dressed in blue.

Also having some negative connotation blue is associated with depression, melancholy, sadness. 

Looking at Black Bear Design

Searching the net for different colour theories I came across Black Bear design a graphic agency who explain there use of colour, it's uses which i found was very interesting to see facts and figures of which colour is most used and how it is used with in the Graphic Design Industry. 

I love how they have included statistics to show which colour is being used more, which brand is more recognized due to their colour as well as breaking down there own theory of what each colour symbolizes.

  

In-depth and more sophisticated analysis of the colour wheels with detailed terminology labeling the positioning of colours.  

  

Writing a Narrative

Process and Production  - Writing a Narrative

Task 2

For futher development of our our second task was to create moodboards where we can visualise imagery from our short stories/narratives. For example the characters or people, the settings and the feelings and moods based within the narratives.

Character Moodboard - Using images of pigeons flying on China's National Day as well as images of pigeons with bombs and in gadgets to set a visual image of what the chaacters in my story would look like.

Adobe Photoshop

Process and Production  - Adobe Photoshop

Task 1 - The lightbulb

Our first session using adobe photoshop after a little introduction to how the software works and its basics we had a small task to do which would help our skills develop much better. As I've used this software previously I had some experience of using the different tools.

To start of with we were given 4 images which we were then to image maniupulate them to create a new image.

Images before editing

  Starting with the main lighbulb image we placed the gold screw image towards the bottom using the basic transform tool to rotate and rescale the image to gain the appropriate angle and perspective. The next step we did was use the patch-up tool to eliminate aspects of the background we didnt want and to give the image a clean look.after this we added the twing in the middle again using the transform tools to get the right propotions and to place it into the right place, to which we added the tree on top of the twig. We then added layer masks and changed the hue and saturation levels of the tree to get a bright green environmental colour and to enhance the olour quality. We duplicated this layer twice faded the opacity and manipulated the shape of the image warping it to create reflections on the lightbulb below and on top of the clear image of the tree. Below is a image of my final outcome.

My final outcome

 

Manchester Christmas advert 2014 from Kilogramme on Vimeo.

A festive small animation clip I liked specifically on my city i chose Manchester. It shows the different activities and places available which can help me in able to do further research. I love the technique of the moving images to show the different locations and atmospheres around the city it brings a friendly, exciting and adventurous atmosphere to the animation.

State of Flux from Matt Scott on Vimeo.

First session of After effects we were told to create a Vimeo account and were given our brief to create a short 10 second clip at the end of two sessions. As research and inspiration as well as trying to get familiar with Vimeo I searched up City in flux and saw this which I was inspired by. This Inspired me with the idea of photography, light painting to show movement and life. 

Writing a Narrative

Process and Production - Writing a Narrative

Task 1

In our first Physical Studio practical we was  given a task in choosing 2/3 newspaper articles. Using these articles, any personal experiences or external influences, we were to create our own short story or narrative. This task was set to give us a chance to start thinking much more creatively, as a graphic designer to create interesting ideas we need to be able to have a creative mindset which this task achieves. But also this task was to help understand the concept of copyright how copying existing work directly isn't acceptable using existing work for ideas, inspiration and influences is on the other hand acceptable. 

Image of my Articles and Ideas

Using 2 articles on a serious topic about terrorists, bombs and threats to the public I knew this was a rather controversial topic to which I decided to take a comedy approach towards it. So brainstorming ideas I came across as writing my short story from the perspective of the Pigeon as being a Cia agent working during the release of the pigeons on China's National Day. Using influnences from a well known secret Agent James Bond I named my Secret Pigeon agent James Bird, to add hints of banter and comedy within my narrative. Develpoing my ideas futher below is the short Narrative I came up with.

Terrorist In Feathers

The Name Is Bird, James Bird secret agent of the CIAPD (Pigeon Department). For my whole life I have waited to carry out the biggest task of my life 5 years of training and today the day arrives today's China's National Day. My day to finally make History.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Today hundsands hun? hundree? hundrounds? hundeads? ahh hundreds oh feathers, never was good with my science. So as I was saying today hundreds of pigeons are to be released to celebrate China's National day and this my feathered fans is where my duty flies in. To fly over the great wall of China dive down 100ft find the treacherous pigeon beat him black and blue until every feather on his body is broken find the man behind all of this save China and become a hero! *Panting* WOW that's a mouthful god damn if only that was true! No but seriously working top secret undercover and searching pigeons butts for butt bombs now that's a heroic act! For feathers sake whom I kidding let's just get this over with.  

                                                                                                                                                         James bird Badge number 007 reporting for duty sir! Checking pigeons 1's butthole ufff holy godfeather you should be jailed for that what a hazardous chemical this is a butt bomb itself some nasty piece of shhhhhhhh *Looks up* mmmMamaaa Mia that is one fire cracking beauty! Never in my life have I seen a pigeon with perfect white feathers, long sharp wild claws I think I'm in Love!       

                                                                                                                                                                                                             My time to shine chest out head high deep breath, macho time baby."Well hello there, why I must say your one foxy-feathered lady, like my muscles? I call them bob and bob" *winks* She giggled clearly means she loves me too I can feel it we have a connection. "I didn't mention my name did I I'm Bird James Bird and you are?" "Not interested" she said. Huh not interested? ahh I get it she's playing hard to get no problem "Beautiful name just like your eyes so dreamy, so you free after the release maybe we can erm go for a little fly you know like a date in the deep blue sky, between the fluffy clouds you and me ahh how romanti.." interrupting me she said "Mister keep your claws to the ground never going to happen" and walks away. "Oooh Feisty feathers you have I like".                                                                                                                                                                                          So I follow her not going to let you get out of my eyes hmm I'm thinking a nice cloud wedding and oh holy feathers it's time to take off and I haven't checked all the butts! But I can't leave her just like that so I run to her and say "Excuse me hot feathers any way I can give you a bird call" and at that moment the pigeons were released for the big take off. Taking an emergency shoot off I fly super high and fast yeah Bird! Past all the pigeons annoyingly blocking my way and reach out to my hot feathers and got my claw hooked on her feathers what a grab!                                                                                                                                                                                                              But... wait for it my claw hooked onto something and as I looked carefully I see... I see... once more for effect, I see... the enemy butt bomb coming out her BUTT! She broke my heart enemy as hot as her she's blown me up without a bomb. Looks are deceiving my feathered fans so beware, her beauty was her biggest weapon how unfair why does the enemy got to be so hot God feather this isn't fair! Pulled the bomb out her butt I did, oh my so many buttons but my worst nightmare this is in Spanish! Oh no what to do what to do in training they cut the red wire but there's no wire here but a red button I'll just press this maybe I'll work. *Presses red Button which activates the bomb* What's these symbols *turns the bomb other way around*  holy feather this isn't Spanish it's English and I've just activated the goddamn bomb what 10 seconds left! OOPS! "Bomb explodes*

   BAAAAAAAAAAAMMMMMMMMM!!!!!