Hello All,

Quick reminder next week NOVEMBER 1st is your midterm critique!!!

Please have all your work uploaded to your folders and be prepared to discuss in class. We will start at 11:30!

Book Cover – Combining all the tools from photoshop and illustrator/Clipping masks.

Midterm Project: We will work on this in class next week and your midterm critique is on NOVEMBER 1st

For your midterm project Re-design the book cover to create a new bookcover. You must have read at least some of the book to make a good cover. Please consider how the story influenced the choices you made. You should use both Photoshop and Illustrator.

For your midterm critique you will be responsible for the following:

Below is a list on the projects that need to be presented. Details for each assignment can be found in previous posts.

Logos – design concepts: composition, negative and positive space, design with a message. Introduction and navigating the Adobe Illustrator environment, understanding difference between raster and vector, creating scalable objects, basic vector tools including shapes, brushes, direct select, fills, strokes, text as object, exporting

Silhouettes – Mastering vector drawing with the pen tool (curves and angles). Understanding color information, RGB, CMYK, swatches, libraries, gradient, transparencies

Business card – Kerning, leading, tracking, grids, writing on paths/grids, rulers, guides, smart guides

3 photoshop composites – Downloading large images, understanding resolution and dpi, selecting methods, select and masking, subtracting and adding to and from selections, quick mask, layer masks, custom brushes, adjustment layers (nondestructive), clone tool

1 photo correction

Book Cover – combining Photoshop and Illustrator tools

Here we go!

Specs:

Create the book cover in actual size of book. – CMYK, 300 DPI, export as .png

When you upload your final cover please briefly describe your process and explain why you made certain aesthetic decisions.

We will have a class midterm critique – It will start at 11:30 sharp.

A few notes in preparation for your midterm critique: Per City Tech requirements you will receive a midterm evaluation via email after the critique. This evaluation will reflect your standing in the class. In order to succeed you must present all the projects listed below and be prepared to discuss what you learned, and what challenges you faced. You are also required to speak 3 times about other people’s work. All your work must be uploaded to your site by 11:30 AM on Friday. I expect quality work and nothing less. Your book covers should be professional. If you are absent without prior notification or a doctor’s note this will be reflected in your midterm grade. Attendance and participation are required.

Here are a few lists from 2024: Print Mag

Lithub

A few of my favorites: