Visual Communication Lesson 11

In the 11th Edition of Visual Communication lessons, we learnt more about using the Adobe software, InDesign. It is great for creating brochures. But before that started, we learnt a few things. Firstly, we learnt about the 8 factors that makes a good brochure. They are

-Attention seeking cover

-Strong branding

-Strong images and graphics

-Call to action 

-Valuable input

-Compelling contant

-Unique Selling point

-What the client wants

The above 8 are important and as much if not all of them should be found in a brochure, so as for a consumer or a person who reads it can identify the product, and more importantly, want to actually buy it. 

Other than that, we also learnt exactly what is a corporate brochure and the difference it had from a usual sales brochure. A corporate brochure's main aim tell you about the company and sells product INDIRECTLY.  It is mainly an overview of products and company. Its focus lean towards telling about the company and its product rather than advertising and selling. Within a corporate brochure, unlike the average sales/marketing brochure, should include

-Company history

-Attracting investors

-Awards

-Business performance

-Social Outreach

-Products and service

-Call for action (Address and contact info)

After that, we were split into 2 different groups and are required to research on two different things. Our group was given the tasks of finding different stock image sites that requires payment, and those that don't. This is important as when creating the brochure, we are not allowed to use google image's photographs as they could have been copyrighted, and the legal and systematic way of obtaining photos is to either get permission of get it from stock image websites. We found out that those sites that require payment like gettyimages can charge a person to thousands of dollars per photo. And the free ones like inmagine. However, the challenge is that one may not find the desired photograph, and that could be a problem and the only way to rectify is to try other free stock images sites.

After that, we moved on to how to use InDesign, and today's task was to do a brochure for Expedia, the tourism and travel website. It wasn't easy, as like all other softwares, thanks to my clumsy hands. But we learnt the relation of Photoshop and InDesign, and how they can work hand in hand to create interesting thing. Like how if we want the text of the word, but not the background colour, we just have to use the magic wand tool, and shirt key to highlight any parts missed. The tool is also good to single out photographs. One thing I always forget is to inverse it, however, I learnt my lesson this time. It was quite confusing at first, but thanks to my lecturer and friends, I managed, somehow to get it done. At this point, I still need some help here and there. But overall, I think it's ok. The only problem I face is forgetting the dimensions. After hours, this is my end product.

Another problem I had is to colour the text for 'Family Friendly'. However, that's just my own careless mistake.

After that, we had consultation for our corporate brochure, and design. I had certain issues, as it is too repetitive and boring. So I have to try to improvise in the actual InDesign. So that was today. 

Visual Communication Lesson 10

In the 10th lesson of Visual Communication, we tried new things with photoshop, and also managed to start using a new software called InDesign. This is one of the toughest week yet since I meet A LOT OF problems with photoshop. For some reason, it wasn't cooperating with me this lesson!

Firstly, we learnt how to merge photographs and we have to merge a beach and a girl. Firstly, we had to roughly trace her face and hair using the lasso tool. next we have to put it in the beach picture. We have to adjust the edges so it looked more natural, and also the edge to come out a little bit more, so we can blend it to the beach picture. However, the picture of the girl had hair not totally straight. We have to go back, and once again trace the parts of the hair that we didn't include. After that, we copy that to the beach picture, and I was super happy with how it came out.

Next, we learnt how to make a picture look like those nice ones in postcards. First, we cover the whole picture with white, and using solid colour. And then use rasterise so that we can paint over it. After 'painting' it, we can have some parts, the border white, the main the actual picture. Next, we added text. We had to use the rectangle marquee tool and then type in the word 'Heaven and Earth' Next, we had to colour the white parts I mentioned just now. I changed to a blue. It is at this point I faced problem, as I couldn't colour it. Mr Victor helped me. Supposedly, we are suppose to add texture, and most people managed to do it, but I couldn't. The end result was less then satisfaction to be honest.

The next part was to put it in a brochure format. Honestly, I still don't understand how it works because I was having a lot of issues with the photoshop. But this is roughly how it should look like.

Lines and columns to show the panels of the brochure. The words are too small and I just think it looked terrible.

Overall, I think this week's lesson was abit too rushed and I am still very confused about alot of things, especially InDesign, which at this point I have not idea how to work it. Hopefully in the next lesson, we can learn about it again, and I'll try my best to listen and understand! 

Visual Communication Lesson 9

So, on the 9th lesson of Visual Communication, we continued on in Photoshop. In this lesson, we focused abit more on enhancement of pictures and editing by adding different elements to it. We are introduced to a new tool, the magnetic lasso tool. This gives a more precise tracing of an object, much better than us manually, trying to trace an object, because it is near impossible to trace an object without any gaps at all. The magnetic tool helps is trace along the line automatically. One of the things we had to do is to add elements into a photo/picture. We have to add in a ladybug, polar bear & Birds to the picture. For the polar bear, to make it so that it doesn't look so out of place, we had to make it seem as if its feet are in the water. We had to first crop is and adjust the clarity and exposure, and carefully put it back so it doesn't look amputated. This gave us the opportunity to use the magnetic lasso tool, which I personally like because it is must easier than having to do it using the lasso tool, which requires us to trace it exactly, and it is not easy. This is the end result.

Personally, for a beginner, I think it's not too bad. 

Next, we learnt how to make a old photograph look brand new. We use the hue/saturation tool and also curves tool. This is basically a practice for us to revise the tools we learnt last week. This is a great trick if we have photos we like but overtime has became old and has a annoying yellow-ish or orange/red sheen over it, we can just use photoshop and correct it, and reprint it, and it'll look good as new. I am quite amazed at it to be honest. Because I thought once it's old and yellow-ish/orange/redish, there's really nothing much you can do.

Honestly, the difference is quite amazing. 

Back to element adding, out next activity is to add a few elements and change the colour/tone. The original picture was a fish bowl with a gold fish, we had to make the water slightly blue instead of it's clear water colour and also add in other elements into the picture, I added another fish and water plant. Initially, To change the colour we had to use the lasso tool, again with the magnetic tool. But before that, we have to crop the goldfish out.  I was panicking and when I changed the colour of the water the area selected just changed colour and it looked like a patch of opaque colour there. But after trying, I realised I didn't adjust the opacity and exposure, however once I have done that, everything else went smoothly. This is the end result.

As you can see, it is definitely not well done. The water opacity was adjusted so that it still looked natural and not as if the fishes were swimming in the ocean water. 

Another assignment was to created a 'Polaroid'. Initially I thought it would be a chore as it didn't seem easy. But it turned out this is one of the easiest of the day. Firstly, we have to choose a background. And I chose stripes with polka dots. Then we have to use the rectangular Marquee tool, and crop out a rectangle and colour it white. Next we have to select a photo and resize it so that it is smaller then the rectangle. Next we fit is nicely in, and using the text tool, we have to caption it. The end result, looks like this. 

Not bad in my opinion.

Our homework was to have a background photo and add elements into it. The background I chose was a classroom. And guess what I added in?

Visual Communication Lesson 8

After 7 weeks of Lessons, technically 4 for me, since I wasn't here for VC for the first 3 weeks due to the fact that I was transferred to NYP, finally we're done with the first CA using Illustrator Software. And now that that's over, we're moving on to another software which I just Super love. PHOTOSHOP. Hopefully by the end of the entire thing, I can make myself super good looking on photos.  

So firstly, we learnt how to make certain edits and changes on our faces. To make a photo fit snuggly into the screen, it's important to change the dimensions of our photos. Also, this can help to make sure the outcome will look natural. We have to adjust the Hue & saturation of our photos, to a colour that counters the photo problem, if it's too yellow we have to put in purple-ish or darker tone to balance. We also can adjust the curves, brightness and contrast of the photo, so if a photo is too dark because it's backlit or things like that, we can rectify the problem by adjusting that. If we wanted to change the colour of our hair, we have to use the lasso tool, it is something like highlighting, where the circled or selected area will be affect. If we want to, we have to trace the shape of our hair and then change it accordingly. After that if our photos become blur after editing, we can slightly make it better by using the sharpen tool. However, if we use too much, it will look fake and obvious that it is edited. 

Another tool that I personally like is the patch tool. How it works is that if you click on a specific area, it will try to change it to blend into its surroundings which is great for people with blemishes in a photo. It can erase issues like pimples, or anything on the face you are unhappy with for instance dark eye circle or eyebags. We can change the size of our eyes also, using the lasso tool to trace your eye shape and then adjust with the tool.

Before and after, Before on top, After on bottom. Took this in the lecture hall with the MacBook photobooth. Made the picture brighter, took away some blemish with the patch tool, and also the contrast.

After experimenting with these tools on our own photographs. We moved on to actual tasks to do more animated editing. We have to merge the mascot for the football/soccer competition, into a road. These are the individual photos.

We have to edit the mascot out without the background and place it in the driving pavement photo of SP. Also we need to use the patch tool to take away an element inside. After trying, though not easy, and not very well done, this is the result.

 Added shadows on it's feet & Took away the painting instructions as well.

Next, we're suppose to mould some guy's hair to David Beckham's face

I'm not going to even talk about it, because its so badly done

Finally, we're suppose to merge the Courtesy Lion & No smoking sign and changing his shirt colour. These are the 3 separate images.

FINAL RESULT

Happy with it, because it looks the most real!