me vs. Illustrator

[ransom]

So I have been taking a class this semester at the Corcoran, Illustrator I which is about Illustrator CS2. I can not say I am getting the best handle on the program, and at this point I am trying to get a B (le sigh), and at least get a better understanding of the various tools we have to use. Here are some links to projects we have done:

Warning (per FutonBunny's request): these are pretty large files. 56k'ers will hate me.

ad replication (http://www.wecrushyou.com//www_wecrushyou/img/Harry_advertisement_project_003.pdf) [PDF file] : we had to take an existing ad and recreate it in our own way. I saw an ad for this show in the City Paper and did this version.

logo project (http://www.wecrushyou.com//www_wecrushyou/img/modified_logos.jpg) : did logos for the record label my friends and I still haven't started; Modified Recordings (http://www.modifiedrecordings.com).

book cover project - submitted version (http://www.wecrushyou.com/www_wecrushyou/img/Harry_book-cover_04-08-2006.jpg) [updated: 04/11/2006] : we had to design a book cover, and the focus had to be on using some or all of the following tools: gradients, gradient mesh, blend, blend tool, and transparency palette / opacity masks. I did not get the exact effect I wanted (the original polaroid photo I was trying to replicate: polaroid_freaked.gif (http://www.wecrushyou.com/www_wecrushyou/harry/class_spring_06/polaroid_freaked.gif)), but I think I got in all the required tools.

random image (http://www.wecrushyou.com/www_wecrushyou/img/drumfunkexplosion.jpg) : we were introduced to using the Trace Outline tool the second week, and I kind of just got bored and started pulling apart the image I had scanned in (a drum kit).

We have also done a few illustrations from photos, basically turning a head shot into an illustration (think Naked Music record sleeves), which I had a hard time with initially. I think with a lot more practice I'll be better at it, but time is short lately. The next assignment is a two page magazine spread, no ads, with at least two illustrations. I am still thinking about what I will do, but it is not due for about 2 weeks, so I won't be so stressed like I was on the book cover (which I am turning a week late, with permission).

So yeah. School. Ouch.

[FutonBunny]

ack, a little warning next time that it's in pdf please! i'll check this out when i get home

[Liftedtrance]

kewl. stop whining squelia.

[FutonBunny]

bite my ass shteve.

(your name now has a lisp. hah.)

[SCHLiTZ]

talk to logo... aka illustrator extraordinare

[cleophite]

These are cool, Harry. I wanna take a class in Illustrator.

[blazinkikgurl]

damn. i feel your school pain.

[ransom]

Updated this with what I turned in for my book project. Not going to get a good grade on that because I did not demonstrate that I know how to use the gradient mesh tool.

Two page magazine spread due on 4/22, which requires two illustrations. So I will probably do something that uses gradient mesh to show that I know how to use the tool. But I really wanted to walk out of class this past Saturday, was so pissed off.

[tinybinderclip]

I love the gradient mesh tool, but it can be cumbersome at times. Your samples don't look like illustrator work, so maybe that's why you're having trouble with grades. Have you gone through tutorials and stuff- those help a lot. And practice all the time even with mock projects.

[decoy]

book cover project - submitted version (http://www.wecrushyou.com/www_wecrushyou/img/Harry_book-cover_04-08-2006.jpg) [updated: 04/11/2006] : we had to design a book cover, and the focus had to be on using some or all of the following tools: gradients, gradient mesh, blend, blend tool, and transparency palette / opacity masks. I did not get the exact effect I wanted (the original polaroid photo I was trying to replicate: polaroid_freaked.gif (http://www.wecrushyou.com/www_wecrushyou/harry/class_spring_06/polaroid_freaked.gif)), but I think I got in all the required tools.

Please to be pardoning my ignorance but, is the text on this cover in another language? or is it just random letters? I was trying to read it as I tend to have a habit of focusing on unimportant details sometimes.

actually, I was at wendys recently and I was reading the fake newspaper ads all over the counter and tables. there was some pretty weird stuff in there.

[ransom]

Please to be pardoning my ignorance but, is the text on this cover in another language? or is it just random letters? I was trying to read it as I tend to have a habit of focusing on unimportant details sometimes.

It's what they call Lorem Ipsum, essentially fake "filler" text. There are Lorem Ipsum generators you can access on the web, just tell it how many paragraphs you need, and it generates garbage.

I probably would of failed the project if I used the English-to-12-Year-Old-AOLer Translator (http://ssshotaru.homestead.com/files/aolertranslator.html).

[decoy]

WAL IT WUD HAEV BEN FUNY ANYWAY!!!1!111 OMG LOL

:haha:

[ladymaroo]

Illustrator is teh fun. i only know the basics though.

seriously, talk to LOGO on this board. he is a freaking guru. the stuff he creates in Illustrator is mind-blowingly amazing. i'm sure he'd be able to give you some pointers. :thumbsup:

[LOGO]

Yeah, talk to LOGO.
He's kewl.


My #1 suggestion: Learn and live by the pen tool. Understand and perfect your Bezier curves.

[ransom]

Yeah, talk to LOGO.
He's kewl.


My #1 suggestion: Learn and live by the pen tool. Understand and perfect your Bezier curves.

I'm kind of getting it, but then when I get into something that looks like a lot of detail I just end up making a lot of points instead of curves. Maybe so much detail isn't needed? I'll send some questions via PM as I get them though. Kind of slacked on the magazine spread, will start working on it this weekend.