I finally learned how to use the pen tool in Illustrator. I have always been intimidated by it because I could never use it properly but this project forced me to be patient and get the hang of it.
What was easy?
Making the pattern was easy and probably the most fun part of the project.
What was challenging?
Using the pen tool was tricky at first and folding up the design into the carton was challenging.
How could your submission be improved?
I think the design could be more interesting. It is very simple so I could add more detail to make it less boring.
How could your professor improve the assignment?
I would not change anything about this assignment. It is great practice for creating patterns, using the pen tool, and creating vector images.
How might you apply your knowledge in future assignments or work scenarios?
Vector graphics is an important aspect in all graphic design. For example, these skills will be utilized for creating logos.
How did a specific reading or video inspire or help you?
I looked at past student projects which was very helpful for gaining inspiration.
I learned how to combine elements from different images into a cohesive layout. I also learned how to creatively incorporate the required elements to work with my portfolio images.
2. What was easy?
The technical aspect of the project was the easiest because we had practiced the strategies several times in class.
3. What was challenging?
Figuring out a way for my images to work with this project was the most challenging. My portfolio is all landscapes so I could not create a typical collage. This forced me to think outside the box and take a different approach.
4. How could your submission be improved?
The masking of the tree can be improved. The edges appear sharp because it is difficult to softly mask branches. These edges could be more carefully edited to appear more naturally.
5. How could the professor improve the assignment for the next class?
I think the assignment requirements are fine, but demoing a few different ways to apply the techniques could be helpful.
6. How might you apply your knowledge in future assignments or work scenarios?
I did not know about the clouds feature in Photoshop and I usually just find an image from Google. I think the Photoshop method is way better and I will definitely use it in the future.
7. How did a specific reading or video inspire or help you?
I was stuck on how to combine my images into a single canvas, but the Mashable article helped me realize I should take a more realistic and subtle approach.
These are some of the images (before and after editing) in my portfolio. It is a collection of my favorite spots in my town.
What did you learn?
I learned effective techniques to enhance the quality of images and make the colors vibrant. I also learned the importance of image sizes and how to use Adobe InDesign.
What was easy?
The process of editing and resizing the images was easy, but time consuming.
What was challenging?
Staying organized was the most challenging. This project contains a lot of files and each image has three different versions that are different sizes. Being specific when naming the files was important.
How could your submission be improved?
I took these pictures on an overcast, grey day when there was icky black snow. They would have turned out better without these obstacles, or with more careful photographing.
How could the professor improve the assignment for the next class?
Removing the background from one image did not fit well with my pictures because most of them contain trees or lamps/street signs. This made the edited photo look strange. It might be a better idea to have removing the background as an option instead of a requirement.
How might you apply your knowledge in future assignments or work scenarios?
Enhancing photos is a useful tool and can be applied in all future assignments. I can also use my knowledge of image sizing to correctly size images for future portfolios and web projects.
How did a specific reading or video inspire or help you?
Looking through previous projects on comdma.com was helpful. I was not sure what the theme of my portfolio should be and past student projects helped inspire some ideas.
The first photo is from unsplash.com and I took the second photo on my phone. The unsplash.com photo has better lighting and proper exposure. The cat’s eyes pop and are the focal point of the photo. It has a higher resolution and is more aesthetically pleasing.
The images on the left were taken with a scanner and the images on the right were taken with an iPhone camera. The scanner images have a higher resolution and brighter lighting. They are sharper and look more professional. The difference in lighting stands out the most, so the iPhone camera images could be improved with proper lighting.
