Each week you will need to respond to two questions posted. Your response should be a minimum of 150 words for both questions. You should also include at least one response to your fellow students. The responses are a requirement for participation part of your grade.
Question 01 –
Describe three items you have learned doing the Midterm Project.
Question 02 –
How will you remember what you have learned?
While completing the midterm project, I came across a few new techniques that ultimately increased my skill in Adobe Illustrator. The three techniques I adapted while doing the midterm project were learning how to use the pen-like curvature tool, dim an image in Illustrator and create gradients within shapes. I compared the curvature tool to the pen because the physics of it are similar in the sense that each new point that’s created with each click is based on the last. It took a while for me to adjust to such a tool, because the shapes are curved, instead of straight, but for my midterm project, which included a lot of rounded shapes, I was able to adapt. Starting the assignment in Illustrator was also hard for me because I didn’t know how to properly set up the assignment. Dimming the image was hard for me because I didn’t know how to find that feature, which initially frustrated me, but with the help of our amazing professor, I was able to get what I wanted. Lastly, incorporating gradients onto shapes and then adjusting where the gradient displays itself in the shape was a great new skill I was able to learn while completing this project. This feature can come off as a bit complicated to new users, but with enough constant practice, not only will one be able to remember what they’ve learned, but gain even more skill in the application.
Three items I’ve learned to use while doing the midterm were the Gaussian blur effect, textures, and creating 3D objects. The Gaussian blur tool, while used to reduce detail and blur an object, provided a simple shading/depth effect to an image. All I needed to do was create a black line and apply the effect for details. Although I didn’t utilize the textures, I found it helpful when detailing things such as noise to the image/ background. The same can be said for creating 3D objects, I experimented with this tool but ultimately didn’t use it. Another thing I learned was how to organize layers. When I need to remember something I usually write it in a note. I also save all my files to Dropbox so I need to I can just revisit them and see how I utilized certain tools.
I’m glad to see that you learned so much in Illustrator while completing the project! Instead of just experimenting with tools, you should incorporate every tool you can learn to use into your future projects. You’ll probably increase the output of your next design like that!
While working on my midterm, I learned how to utilize Gaussian blur (and the various other blur tools) to create an almost gradient-like smooth surface to recreate 3D elements, I learned to use effects and textures to streamline the process that would have taken me a long time to make on my own (and to mimic an almost scale-like element to my project), and how to use layer effects (multiply, overlay, add, subtract, etc.)to aid in giving depth, or adding shadows and light to further enhance my project. Other things I’ve learned aside from that is how to utilize the Gaussian blur tool for the faraway objects to create an almost “busy-like” detailed area, I used various layer tools and effects to create clouds, and gradients to create the various colors of the sea and sky..and even the bubbles via opacity! The last thing I’ve learned was how to keep all of my work organized in various layers so that I can only edit and work on one layer at a time without affecting others. In total, I used over 50 layers, so it would have been difficult to keep track of all of it, so having folders (I don’t think illustrator had this but photoshop does) would have been nice, but overall, working on this midterm allowed me to explore the various functions and tinker around with effects and textures, and find workarounds that I otherwise wouldn’t have learned on my own if I didn’t look for them.
I usually don’t forget how I do things if I use them enough, but going back into illustrator and going through all it had to offer, and finding out where they are is how I remember where to find them, and sometimes I do use trial and error to see each effect in action. But a good idea would be to write them down somewhere, with a little description of what they do, and what they could be useful for in terms of re-creating, adding, mimicking, etc. For me, I do this with Photoshop elements, as I work with Photoshop sometimes, and after awhile, it tends to stick in my head the more I use said tools, and the application in general.
When I was doing the midterm, there were three items that I learned while doing this project. The first items I learned were the blob brush tool, and the outer glow. The blob brush tool is good for smooth brushes while the shape tool can add a glow effect to an object in illustrator. Next item I have learned is the mirror tool, you can either make a shape or select an object and then go to the object section. After that move, turn your mouse down to the repeat section and select the word mirror. Now there should be a vertical line that shows the same object on the other side. Finally, the last tool I learned is the gradient mesh tool because you can drag this tool to an object and then use the anchor tool to add more points. Then use the direct select tool to play around with the anchor to manipulate the sides and edges of an object. As a result, a new shape can be born. I will remember all these concepts by placing them in a google document and writing what they do, so I can go back to my document to see how to use the item just in case I forgot how to use it.
Having them in a google document seems like a great idea for keeping track of how each tool works, but also remember that over time, the more you use the application, the more you’ll get used to them and maybe would like to write down what they could be helpful with 🙂