Sophmore Year: Graphic Design Semester 1 Reflection

Graphic Design Semester 1 Reflection

This Semester I have made three big graphics projects: the Raccoon graphic , the Infographic, and the Vector portrait graphic.

The Raccoon Project

https://www.behance.net/gallery/57157299/Raccoon-Project

The first project I got to design was called the Raccoon project. I learned how to create a Raccoon in Adobe Illustrator. My second graphic project was the second part of the Raccoon graphic. The two graphics together took about a little over a half of a Quarter to complete. Since, this was my first big   graphic I had ever made, so I was still getting used to using all of the different tools. I had some troubles at first with making the head of the raccoon, some of the layers weren't lining up right. However, I found a way to line up the layers almost perfectly. I also had troubles with the mockup for the postcard, it was hard for me to line up the mockup and the graphic. Who making the Raccoon graphic I learned how to use the pathfinder tool, the shape tool, and the anchor point tool. I was told to make the hand type for the postcard more condensed and more simple. I had to re do my type and add that type to my postcard. This project was a okay project, it wasn't my favorite but it was good for a first project.

The Infographic Project

https://www.behance.net/gallery/59050691/Hamilton-the-Musical-Infographic

The second big graphic I got to design was the infographic. This project took about three weeks to complete. Before I could design anything for this graphic, on the computer, I had to make a wire frame layout for the topic I picked. The topic I picked was "Hamilton" the musical. I had to manage my time and collaborate with others to get the final layout of my wire frame layout. It was hard to layout the wire frame and figure out what logos to use with each piece of information. I learned how to make a wire frame. I also learned how to use the rulers and guide to make a layout on the computer. I also learned how to make solo-wets of people by using the pen tool and anchor point tool.   I was told after I had finished my wire frame that the completed graphic, on the computer, will need more logos and less type. One I had finished putting everything I had made on my wire frame already I made more logos to complement the type.  I was surprised on how much I loved this project, it was a lot of fun to create.

The Vector Project

 https://www.behance.net/gallery/59761825/Vectored-Self-Portrait

The last graphic for the semester was the vector portrait project. This graphic took 2 weeks to complete.  To get this graphic done in time I had to manage my time very carefully. I had some troubles with finding how to make my hair into vector form. I also had a hard time getting the eyes the way I wanted. I learned how to manage my time. I also learned how to use only the pen tool to make a graphic. However for the center of the eyes,I used the eclipse tool and used the anchor point tool to warp the shape. I had gotten help and ideas on how to make the hair from my Graphic Design teacher, when I had asked her opinion on how to make curly hair with the pen tool. I took her advice and made the hair the why she said but made more waves in the curl to make it look more like curly hair. I really like the ending product that I ended with, except for the left eye. That eye turned out a little large, unlike the other eye, other than that I loved to outcome.  

How did you use your time in class?What are your areas in need of improvement?What are your strengths as a Graphic Designer?

I used my time in class very well. I stayed on track and if I didn't finish something I wanted to get done in class I would stay after to finish what I needed to get done so that I would not get behind. I also stayed after to add extras, like the flowers on the post card. I also stayed after to make the covers for each graphic project on bechance to make them look nice. I have very good patients to sit down and focus on a graphic for a long time. I also love to be creative that helps me when I need to design a graphic. I need to keep a more constant style on bechance. 

Summary

My favorite graphics have to be the vector portrait and the infographic. I would defiantly change how I set up the raccoon project on bechance. I learned how to use the pen tool well and learned how to manage my time. I want to get better at using Adobe Illustrator and make more complex Graphics. I can not what till I can make new projects.  

Sophomore Year(Animation): Semester 1 Reflection

Semester 1 Reflection 

The Walk Cycle

When making the walk cycle, I learned how to  make a shadow by just using a shape layer and turning down the opacity and decreasing the hardness of the shape. Mr. Olson, my animation teacher, taught me how to make the shadow through one of his lessons.  This project also taught me how to use the text tool by just making a text layer. I learned how to use the text tool, when I was trying to get more familiar with using Adobe After Effects.  I learned how to use the key frames to make the person appear to be walking. The legs for the walk cycle went very well, however it was very time consuming making the the different key frames. I would have liked to have been able to make a different background.  I had ran out of time to spent a lot of time on the background, since I had spent to much time making my character in Adobe Photoshop. I have improved my time manage meant skills. I plaining to be an animator, so I can apply everything I have learned into any future projects.  Overall, my walk cycle was one of my favorite projects. 

The Story Animation

The story animation was my favorite 2D animation project, which is why I have chosen to talk about this Animation. When making this animation,  I learned how to incorporate all what I had learned from the multi plane animation, walk cycle, bouncing ball animation, and the worm animation (Blogs for each down below this blog). I was given three weeks to make this animation. Within thous three weeks, I learned how to manage my time by making what I needed to have done by the end of each week. I learned, from the final project last year in E9, that organization and time management is key to being finish on time with a good product. My greatest strength was getting the animation done on time and completed because of project management. However, I should have spent more time in Adobe Photoshop on the characters and background. I am going to use what I learned with this project and use it on any new projects I will have. If I became a professional animator, I will defenetly use what I have learned, like how to animate a multi plane. I would change the length of my story so that I could spent more time on the design of the characters in Adobe Photoshop. I loved this project so much and hopefully I will be able to do something like this again.  

The Polything

 Maya, is a new software I have just learned to use. Mr. Nuterville, the other animation teacher, taught the basics of Maya first before this 3d image. I was given a document with instructions on how to make the polishing. Within thous instructions I learned how to use the 3 key lighting elements.  A video over lighting also helped me with lighting the shape. I also learned how to use the difference tool to make the holes using multiple cylinders in a sphere.

This was a fun project to do and was my third project in Maya. It was easy for me to make and  color the polything and plane. I had trouble making the shadows using the direct lighting tool. I have learned more tools to use in Maya. I will apply what I have learned, about shadows and lighting, into future projects I will have in Maya. I wouldn't change anything because it turned out pretty great. I can not what to use the lighting tools more in the future.

The Castle

The Castle 3d image was made using Maya. I learned how to duplicate a shape. I also learned how to add colors and textures. This will help me   in the future when I will have larger more complex projects. The knowledge of adding of color and texture will also help me easily color objects faster. I learned to add color and texture from Mr. Nuterville. I picked this 3d image because this was the first project in Maya were I was able to make a 3D building. It was easy for me to make the castle. I struggled trying to find seamless textures. I have much to improve and learn because I have just learned how to use the basic tools in Maya. I am going to apply what I learned from this projects to future projects. I would have liked to have added more towers and a drawbridge to add more to the image to make it more interesting. I can't what till I can use Maya for more larger projects.