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Visual Diary

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Coffee Shop Window Display

I was passing by a coffee shop just off O'Connell St when I saw these hand painted signs in the window. On closer inspection the shop window had a printed vinyl typeface and image of food products. I thought this was a very good combination of authentic and digitally created mediums. Helps give a warm and inviting feel. Simple drawings of the food inside tells exactly what you get, brands nowadays often overlook the obvious- people want to buy food and know what's inside the café before they go in! Even with the shutters down it stood out with the bold white contrasting with the black background.

The font pairings interested me is the serif font and the cursive font were really well executed. The adjective is in cursive, then serif font is if the product type. I though it was an authentic and minimalist design made me want to gravitate to it more than say a Starbucks or Costa coffee. It looks like a local small café without looking cheap or sloppy in their branding.

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Minimalist Design

I've been researching concepts on topics for presentation for visual communications class. in my personal opinion I like clean clear designs that aren't too busy. simplicity in graphic design was always a hard concept to grasp or get right. before I even knew the the concept called minimalist design, I was always persuaded that less is more in graphic design. In my exploration of the concept some of the words it was established unsuccessful brands have been using this more and more.

Its concept has been around along time but I think it's a re-emerging trend. Brands are constantly being updated and added to sometimes appeare paired back and concentrate on the core message.

https://adage.com/creativity/work/coca-cola-feel-it/2237531

Look at the images they speak for themselves; they are so clear in their message. These are a great inspiration for creating my own campaigns for my own company.

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Branding the Beer

I've been looking into the area packaging and how visual design elements work. I've noticed a trend in lot of craft beers to be very bold and flashy in their packaging. The branding and the icons killing the typeface are very loud and projects energetic mood.

Here are a few of my favourite designs on beer packaging then I have found online… or in a fridge.

One thing I really like about the AJ Hackett screamer pilsner is it uses the colour of the bottle to great effect. the negative space around us really compliments destroying blue and pink colour scheme. with only a few shapes draw is your eyes to the name. the logo does exactly what it says screamer pilsner.

Noble Wray brewing Co have been very creative in their packaging. they have a front design which shows the head and, on the back, shows the body of the character. when competing for shelf space in stores this makes very impactful impression. This can be used very well as a window display in an off licence or supermarket.

Brands in comparison such as Heineken or Budweiser can seem quite cliche or formal. Their packaging and branding looks generations behind these craft beers. Also for their positioning strategy I think they can command a higher price as as well as tasting good can look great in a trendy bar or backdrop to fashionable bar.

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Movie Posters

I've been looking more closely on Pinterest boards for inspirations from my movie poster. I find a lot of the work on Pinterest are fan made posters. Retaining the original concept of the movie with their interpretation with their new design.

Lots of them use minimalist design to communicate the core concept of the movie through their new poster or design. Negative space is used in abundance! I picked a selection of my few favours that I have collected on Pinterest over the last couple of weeks.         Here is a great board I came across: https://www.pinterest.ie/artattacks/fan-made-movie-posters/

The major shortcoming of these communicating the concept of the poster is….

Firstly, you need a frame of reference doesn't give enough information about the film it helps to have seen it sometimes he would not get it at all if you haven't seen the movie! The concepts can over some people’s heads, which can be off people. I always think a poster should be attention grabbing for all the right reasons not making you want to look for more from the image. It is OK for the audience or viewer to search for meaning I look more underlying themes. However as commercial posters you want to be able to communicate the message of the movie who's in it very quickly from first or second glance. I feel the tone in some re-creations can't be too far reaching or ambiguous.

I'll keep this in mind when it comes to making my own film poster…

Please be kind, repost and follow! Until the next wave of inspiration hits me, talk soon!

-AC

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Swan Song To Low Lighting

I took a couple of pictures to practice my composition and using symmetry in my photography. I took I took a photograph over the bridge and I took a picture over the bridge and aimed for a converging point where the two sides of the river met. I had the vanishing point picked out and adjusted my focus accordingly. However, I forgot the basics of lighting! where is light coming from where is it in projected onto?!

Being I was very close to the fluorescent glow of the street light lamp. To counteract this I should have turned on my flash or changing the exposure leaving for less light to get in to the shutter.

I'll post this here as reminder to check the lighting forever more!

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Layers and Masks, My Attempt…Don’t Laugh!

I'm finding the labs in visual communication class lately very interesting and motivating. I think I have a good grasp of Photoshop at a beginner level at least. Wanting to not become complacent in is using the basics to the best of their capability. I thought I had a good command of this until I saw the full range of outputs you could use. We looked at hell using masks with blends really work well.

Please look this up if you want to know how and where I learned to use Blending modes:

  https://photoshoptrainingchannel.com/blending-modes-explained/#:~:text=19%20original%20Blending%20Modes%20are,along%20with%20the%20Fill%20slider

So at the risk of becoming complacent I decided to revisit some old work that I had worked on in my spare time. Looking at the visual rhetoric lecture and then the skills that we had practiced in the lab about blending layers and using masks, I gave some bold work a fresh lick of pain so did say!

I made this poster of some of my favourite comedians. I use masks to remove the background of the image and then I put them all into black and white. I know I know easy stuff. a wave of inspiration hit me to change the texture of the image by blending a layer with the multiply setting. You can blend with seamless tones and color by using this process:

  https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/using/combine-images-auto-blend-layers.html

Finishing off a little bit I looked at setting a different tone for each poster.

Can you guess which one is the old rustic nostalgic one? One is a modern take using lights and a bright blueish Hue, could be used as an existing poster, if all these great comics were still with us!

Anyway, take a look, feel free to repost.

Please be kind, repost and follow! Until the next wave of inspiration hits me, talk soon!

-AC

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Great use of typography and simple shapes.

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Adjustments in Photoshop: Lab 4

Lab 4 was very enjoyable I got to explore lot of Photoshop effects and an in-depth tutorial on adjustment layers.

For the image with the overhead pylons, I first used a mask to highlight the Pylons, then used an adjustment layer to amend the brightness and contrast. I then used black and white adjustment layer and over that I use another adjustment layer to adjust the exposure. I also used a noise effect main image to give a dark and sinister tone.

Another example of using the adjustment layers, I use smart filters to create the effect of rising heat from the sun on the horizon. I use the glass effect in the filters panel to give a wavy effect. I also adjust Hue saturation accordingly so the horizon stud out. I also used an adjustment layer to increase the vibrance.

For the image with the Titanic hotel in the background I used the Hue and saturation adjustment along with the levels to give it a hyper realistic look. I align the text with different linear patterns within the photograph.

Overall I found this lab immensely useful, to experiment with the full capabilities adjustment layers to improve photographs either drastically or minimally.

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Grids and Compositions

I have harped on about this a few blogs ago, about grades and composition. I become more disciplined in learning how to balance an image and poster. Structure is important but I suppose it's even more important for a brand is the and remains consistent throughout all its marketing material and promotions. Great article for that here: 

https://99designs.ie/blog/tips/design-composition-and-layout/

I took the plunge and made a poster for work a small flyer for the customer in Adobe InDesign. The spacing and around the logo was very important as well as the font families. We use Gil Sans as the body of the text, and we use Avenir font family as the headings. I thought that would be all to get right- allowing the image I'm told to breathe is a lot more important than squashing everything in and trying to get all these visual elements from the branding guidelines to fit on one page. Previously there was a modular grade but it decided to just use column grades and align everything that way gave me more room. Scale has to be considered.

The blue border on the edge of the document I've had to get rid of in the end. although the colours are in keeping with the brand, they don't allow the image to breathe it's not consistent with the message that we were trying to convey for the brand. clean minimalist and premium. Try to fit the customer logos colour scheme which contrasted heavily with the brands blue and white coloures. I've decided to just get rid of the border this level is for a more structured it balanced presentation. I've also had to pare back the logo so the text was readable. Read more about balance in composition here: https://visme.co/blog/layout-design/

 I spaced out everything with columns make sure everything alliance so there is a clear structure and flow to how you read it. One thing I will not overlook again is adding this space are accounting for the margin around the image. for print this is often overlooked so we cannot forget about the space at the edge and the cut marks.

I watched a video which instructed me to have a preflight check before sending to print checking the colour is in CMYK (for print), check the size is correct for the desired printing space (for magazine or A4 etc.).

One thing also the links documents in an indesign file they may look pixelated this is to reduce processing speed or power needed to look at the image in the programme. after an hour playing with the programme I found this out, what a revelation!

Please be kind, repost and follow! Until the next wave of inspiration hits me, talk soon!

-AC

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Textures in Photoshop

Something that we've built on in the last week is using texture. by texture I mean adding a layer over an existing layer in Photoshop. I've experimented but he was indifferent philtres and effects. All with varying degrees of success.

The image below I created but using a graphics tablet. I drew everything you see here except the background. I find it hard define the time and concentration are to be honest the motivation to draw the background. one thing I find designer more and more is trying to cut down on the time I spend on a piece and use my time more resourcefully.

Something is very simple as texture and contrast can make or break a visual. Although the faces and expressions of the cartoon characters give a distinct visual reference ie disappointment in judgement. I think the background with its sepia or grey colour palette set the tone.

I wanted to make the logo pop something didn't seem right about having a flat logo. We looked in the lab about adding drop shadows and strokes using the effects panel on Photoshop. One of the tutorials had an image overlay over an existing piece of text. I use this here and had a glow as the outline.

https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/using/filter-effects-reference.html

I am creating an animation in another module, whether the image sparks another work of art or story who knows! At least I learned something in doing it, all about the journey not the destination as they say!

Have a look at textures and tutorials how to use in this great guide:

https://www.vandelaydesign.com/photoshop-tutorials-textures/

Please be kind, repost and follow! Until the next wave of inspiration hits me, talk soon!

-AC

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Great rule of thirds being applied here.

I can see the outline in my mind. Helps with the composition of the photograph. The tones and colours really suit the setting.

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Drawing from Colour Theory

I've been looking into colour theory and the principle in surrounding it. combining different pilots has been challenging as I always feel drawn to going to the extremes. rather than opening up Photoshop I'm trying to fill objects with colour such as shapes, I took my hand to the reliable old graphics tablet again to draw something.

I have researched and I have been advised to try find a bright, medium and dark colour scheme. If I stick to one two or three or all of those, I'll have a more purposeful and balanced design. Here I've used the outer frame with a darker palette. Before I move on I have to sing the praises of this great site for Colour Palettes. Canva.com has a colour wheel and some notes on colour theory, very resourceful and helpful when experimenting to find the best colour pallet.

https://www.canva.com/colors/color-wheel/

I used the Triad colour wheel, I started with tertiary colours then adjusted the tones.. I made the background a little more subdued complementing the darker frame outside. This created a visual hierarchy giving the face centre stage.

The use of shadows in an image I often overlooked but I really feel that helps improve and bring to life the character. I turned down the opacity of the brush in Photoshop and change the layer blend to multiply. I adjusted from different clear user angles of light. Although the lighting and shadows may not be correct, I still have a lot to learn but it is a start.

Please be kind, repost and follow! Until the next wave of inspiration hits me, talk soon!

-AC

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Photography on a (very) Smartphone

I have started to create some photography using what I have learned in class. Some of the settings on my smartphone I have adjusted to get better quality photographs. The trick of zooming in slightly is that improves the focus.

I have played around with some settings and improved my output a lot. I turned on the grid setting when I am taking a picture which is lifechanging!  Simple steps and organising where you take a photo first, staging it correctly makes a massive improvement. Rule of thirds, it is one I will follow religiously from here on out!

Trying to line up the grids with a level horizon and getting the photograph to concentrate on certain the focal points within the grid. In good lighting there isn't a lot that you need to do and post editing. However, shadows change in saturation can really add to the image and add focus to the subject and contrast to the surroundings Good lighting is essential to achieving mood and tone. The shadows really make up the composition aim to add focus to the head.

This week, I dabbled in Lightroom photo editing. These pictures I will look to edit it with levels next, it'll be a challenge to get the compromise right I will only make changes if need be, wish me luck!

Please be kind , repost and follow! Until next inspo hits me….

-AC

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I tried my hand at logo design this week. Not for a brand just to test my skills and my own amusement. I paid close attention to the usual structure and principles to designer a good logo.

I thought the typography should be distinct and versatile enough so to be used on other branding such as overhead signage, beer mats, personalized glasses etc. I took some inspiration from brands that I will established. I looked at the Apple logo and thought the silhouette was very striking. I went about emulating or at least embodying something iconic or memorable for my concept would be a good idea.

https://wallpaperset.com/cool-apple-logo-wallpaper

The silhouette before anything is done gives form will there any else being communicated you can make it out. When looking at a logo I always think it should be transformative and have the ability to change I'll be expanded on if needed. I created simple silhouette with some overlay texture in Photoshop.

I have a pet rabbit of my own, so I thought what better name ‘The Den’. My house after all has become his domain! I added the effect of a Grass texture to the typeface. Bevelled and added an inner drop shadow. To make it pop I blended a layer from images online- rough paper texture for rabbit, smoke under water for glass, then this denim image as the pattern on the background.

http://photoshopcontest.com/tutorials/27/more-texturing.html

I was so satisfied with how it turned out, I printed it out and placed it on the counter in the kitchen. In the process I learned how to resize with a cutmarks for printing.

Please be kind, repost and follow! Until the next wave of inspiration hits me, talk soon!

-AC

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WORD OF THE DAY: TYPOGRAPHY

This week I've started look at typography very closely.

I always found the principle of typography very restrictive until i learned more aspects about it. Simple things such as font families and pairings make the process easier, as I follow a principle and structure, rather than browsing aimlessly on fontspace.com or Google fonts!

I have been making boards of old music posters and photos on Pinterest. I am looking very closely the style and inspiration from the 70s music posters.

I think the style is very intuitive fits well within the composition and he keeps looking at the poster for longer which is always a good thing looking for something eye catching. You have to have a clear outline at the start of where the text is going to be placed this is difficult so I'm going to try to outline some from my project before I begin typing the text.

The psychology around typography and fonts and the ability for them to provoke emotion is very interesting. in advertising and marketing, I think this can be a very helpful tool. Really good article on the history of movie poster fonts and their psychology:

https://design.tutsplus.com/articles/what-makes-for-the-best-movie-poster-font--cms-35927

I have messed around with the Text editor and using the Paths tools in illustrator to create something inspired by a 70s music poster of the band Thin Lizzy. I am finding it difficult, but I hope to have more practise in the lab in Visual Communication next week. If I run into difficulty hopefully somebody from the class will save me!

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Blending in Photoshop

I learned a very cool trick on Photoshop to create the attached typeface. The font is called Carrol , which you can download from here: https://www.dafont.com/carrol.font

It's a very strong visually striking Sans Serif font. The kerning or the spacing between the characters are just proportion enough to use for what I had in mind.  I used different channels in the lab to create colour glitch effect. Such a straightforward process yet very effective.

I used the Red and Blue channels to create it. I had 3 separate layers, going into Advanced Blending on the layer panel then selecting one on each layer. I kept the original image centre between the layers not changing any channels. I then moved/ spaced out the layers to the left and right of the centre original image.

It gave me the motivation to look up other tutorials to improve my skillset. Channels is an area I never touched in Photoshop. Glad  I learned it!

I might give this tutorial a go next!

https://www.photoshopessentials.com/photo-effects/3d/

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SWARDT by Edwin De Swardt

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Really clever use of a gradient here. Top image with the linear gradient applied. I especially like soft blur on the last images, it's the little things going the extra mile that really give the image character and take on a new life.

-AC