Welcome to Potato Stamp University

For project number five of my graphic design class, I stepped away from the computer for awhile.  And yes you guessed it, I made stamps out of potatoes.  The task for me was to make 5 compositions that either used the design principles or emotions throughout the set.  I like the effort to make this project fun but as a designer, I wish I would have been able to explore other stamping mediums other than potatoes.  Like corn, acorns, leaves, any found object.  Other being limited to a potato in this otherwise open project, it was pretty fun.

Originally I wanted to do potato stamp graffiti.  I carved two potatoes with words in them.  And they looked really good.  Except when went to stamp them on my mixed media paper, turns out I forgot to take into account that carving left to right makes the word backwards when you stamp it.  So two of my compositions only work when you hold them up to a mirror.

After my attempt at graffiti, I decided to stick with shapes and lines.  I found that working with simpler shapes was a little more fun.  I could make multiple compositions with just one stamp or combining stamps.  My compositions turned out well.  My featured image is my anomaly representation.  My composition could also be a representation of asymmetry.  The five compositions represent direction anomaly, radiation, proximity, and similarity.

With those five compositions, I had to take pictures of my final five compositions.  My requirements were to have at least three pictures of each using different lighting.  I liked using the light to manipulate how my composition looked.  I think I had more fun taking pictures of my compositions then actually making them.

Even though I wished the project allowed more freedom with the stamping medium, it was kind of fun.  I felt like a little kid during craft time but this time I could use the knife to carve.  I do wish the class would have been given a class day off or two to work from ones own apartment or dorm because I think two hours for two to three weeks is a little to long for this project.  Granted I did work ahead because I have a busy schedule. I also worked outside of class because I felt more comfortable using paint in my own apartment rather than in a classroom.  Then I did not have to worry about drying time or wet paint in my book bag.  Not sure if my professor will actually read this, but maybe he will take some of the concerns I listed into consideration for next  time he does this project.

Life Lesson: Sometimes you are going to be given specifications with a project/client that you really do not like but that doesn’t mean you can give half the effort.  Always give 100% no matter what.

To use Photoshop or Illustrator? That is the question…

Don’t you worry your pretty little head because I have the ultimate answer, at least for the use of text.  I have done some extensive research on this subject.  Ok, you caught me.  I have done a project on using text in Illustrator and Photoshop but that makes me and almost expert on this subject.  My assignment was to use Illustrator to make five compositions using only type to convey a design principle or emotion.  I then needed to use Photoshop and create five compositions using only text.  I had been told Photoshop absolutely sucked for type.  I wanted to prove everybody wrong and make a beautiful composition in Photoshop. But as it turns out, Photoshop really does suck for using type.  And if you don’t believe me here are the main reasons why.

Reason 1: Layering

Just like all things in Photoshop, you have to use layers.  Layers are frustrating when working on a page with multiple different sets of type.  It gets really tedious when you have to click on your layer and then move or adjust your type.  Maybe I am just being difficult when it comes to layering.  I believe  you should be able to click on the text you want to change and then change it and not have to worry about making sure you are on the right layer.

Reason 2: Transformation

When transforming type in Photoshop, it is also difficult.  Most times you will distort the text.  If you have mastered using the scale tool, you might be better at it than me.  No matter what you use to scale the text or how masterful you are in Photoshop, the text still gets fuzzy edges.  In the marching band, we like to call it “Fuzzy Letter”.  Meaning the letter does not look like it should.  It is not clean and is hard to read.  No one likes to read fuzzy letters!

Reason 3: Filters

Filters are great… for pictures not for text.  Now a days we need filters for every picture we take.  It was hard for me not to use filters for the text.  I was instructed to “use all of the horrible filters for this project because after this project is over you are never allowed to use them for type ever again.”  So you could say I had a little fun with making the worst type in the world.  Being able to use the filters and warping tool made me feel like I was back in middle school again.  It brought me back to the good old days where my friends and I used Word to make poster.  I thought I was the coolest kid on earth and then I learned how to use the Adobe programs.  All I can say is thank God for design software because without it, who knows were society would be.  Imagine all of the posters you see being designed in Word.  Disgusting.

To summarize this rant: Do Not use Photoshop for making posters, type compositions, or anything related to type.  Save yourself the headache and time.

Life Lesson Post: It takes more energy to hate something than it does to accept it.  Just accept Photoshop as it is and don’t use text.

Pics or it didn’t happen

Project three for my graphics class included multiple pictures.  Day one I was assigned to take pictures of of two days in my life.  I realized how boring my day was.  As a student, I am either in front of the computer, in a book, or working on something.  Nothing too adventurous except marching band practice and maybe work.  Fifty photos of forty-eight hours in the life of a design, marching band member, and working college student.  I chose five pictures and modified them in Adobe Photoshop.  As seen in my last blog, five pictures that are Instagram worthy.

Day two of the professor let me upgrade to a DSLR camera.  It was like my kindergarten graduation into first grade.  I learned how to modify the camera settings to get a good exposure for the picture.  I learned the longer there shutter is open the blurry the picture.  The aperture of the camera controls the lighting.  I had to take multiple pictures to get the desired exposure.  I had fun messing around with the camera and the settings.  I have not used a DSLR camera for a while.  It was nice to get back in the swing of things and get to taking pictures again.  In the future, I will be taking more pictures.  Maybe one day I will be a famous photographer.  You will look back on this blog and tell people you knew me.  Anyway, I modified ten pictures with photoshop.  I used the contrast, brightness, and the RGB levels to modify my pictures to my liking.  I decided I really like the color green in my pictures.  I was glad I was able to take pictures of the the trees before the leaves change.  I plan on taking pictures after the leaves change too to compare my pictures!

To further my knowledge of Adobe Illustrator, I was required to use the Clipping Mask tool.  The tool is very interesting.  It is like framing your pictures with the computer.  Being able to use the clipping mask tool will fuller make my future work absolutely amazing.

I think I will use the DSLR camera a lot more now that I put my foot in the door with.  But life lesson for my blog today: Take time to do what you love, to do what make you happy.  Also, Photoshop is used for much more then making models skinnier or prettier.  Photoshop is used to make good photos better.  Photoshop is used to modify pictures to the designer specific needs.