Figure/ground: category: digital letter

To Do

1. 1. digitize your letter
   2. bring 3 objects (or several pictures of an object) to class
   3. watch

 

***REMEMBER
The criteria below is not a suggestion:
homework MUST be complete and presented at 8:30 am to get credit.
Homework not completed will affect your grade.

In addition to this assignment, I give a detailed presentation in class.
If you have any questions,

• • • ask in class
    • or email me early, so that you will have enough time to follow through.
      pchilders@citytech.cuny.edu
      
      

1   If you completed your last assignment:

Digitize your letterform

1. 1. 1.  Digitize in Illustrator your approved figure ground example
      2.  Your shapes should have equal amount of white and black
      3.  Image size:  6″ squares

 

PROCESS

Create layers in Illustrator:

Part 1

1. 1. 1. Upload your approved sketch to layer 1
      2. Upload the letter in the font that you used for your sketch on layer 2.
         Position the letter in the same size and orientation as your sketch.
         It should closely match your sketch.
         •••••You can make your layer transparent so that you can see the sketch 
         •••••Once your letter is in the correct position, take away the transparency. 
      3. Hide your sketch so that you only see your letter.
      4. On 4 new layers, add 4 white rectangles, horizontal and vertical.
      5. Use these rectangles to crop your letter.  see the examples below
      6. Adjust to create a figure ground composition
         Remember, you MUST have a SQUARE format
      7. Don’t forget to save!!!!!
      8. Add one more additional layer with an outline to define your crop.
      9. Take a screen shot
         
         

Part 2

1. 1. 1. Look at your screenshot.
         Does it read as figure ground?
         Do you have the same amount of white and black?
      2. Move your rectangles to create a better composition
         Maybe include more white or more black?
         Maybe crop tighter or less tight?
      3. Adjust your layer with the outline to match your new cropping.
         Remember, you MUST have a SQUARE format
      4. Take a new screenshot
         
         

Part 3

1. 1. 1. Repeat Part 2 to create a third cropping.

Part 4

1. 1. 1. You should have 3 screenshots of different square figure-ground compositions
      2. Print all 3 and bring to class
      3. Don’t forget MASKING tape. (not scotch tape)

 

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*** the boxes around the frames are to show how the letter is framed. 
Do NOT add outlines to the rectangular cropping frames.

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For more detail, Read This: Crop your letterform

If you did not completed your last assignment, please present 5 pairs of figure ground letterforms before you digitize.

2   bring your objects to class

We will create an icon based on an object

• • • Choose at least 3 things that have a special meaning to you
    • You objects must have an identifiable shape.
      Make sure that the SHAPE is distinguishable, for example don’t use a round clock if it will look like a circle or a ball. A key has a recognizable shape.
    • Bring the objects or pictures of the objects to class on Monday

 

3 watch