Year 7 Graphics - Making
Making
You should by now have all the skills that you need for starting to draw your CD cover. Remember to get customer feedback on different parts of your design and to improve your design based on your customer feedback.
Lesson 6: Getting Ready to Draw
To Start
Try out some of the copying over games in the files under 'Information'.
Lesson Objectives
- To practice drawing over images in Illustrator to perfect skills.
- To create a simplified version of your chosen image using the Cutout filter.
Key Words
Cutout, simplified, layers, Pen Tool, anchors, Direct Selection Tool, manipulate
Question of the Lesson - Why do we edit our image with the Cutout filter before we start to draw over it?
Tasks
Individual Task One
Work through all the Illustrator practice exercises to improve your drawing over techniques.
Individual Task Two
- Open the image that you have collected of your chosen artist in Photoshop
- Apply the Cutout filter to it moving the arrows as follows:
- Edge Fidelity must be on 1
- Move the Edge Simplicity to a higher number until the edges are simple but the picture is still recognisable.
- Choose your Number of Levels carefully - too many will make the image hard to copy over, too few will make the image hard to recognise.
- Once you are happy with your cutout image, click on OK and then save the image as a JPEG.
Information
Below you will find the different files and information that you might need for Lesson 6.
If You Finish
Make a list of the information and words that you think should go on your poster. Now decide what is the most important message of the poster and therefore which words should stand out the most. Write this down and explain your reasons. Are there any things on your list that you feel could be left off the poster.
Lesson 7: Layers 2
To Start
- Log onto a computer
- Open the 'Justin Game'
- See if you can work out how to make Justin's picture look like Justin
Tips DON'T move any of the layers. Some are invisible - see if you can make them visible
Lesson Objectives
- To be able to move layers around in Illustrator and make them appear and disappear
- To work out which layer is at the bottom of my 'cutout' image and which layer is at the top
- To work out the order of the other layers
Key Words
Layers, paths, order, eye, invisible
Question of the Lesson - How does working out the order of layers save you time eventually?
Tasks
Individual Task One
- Open the Layer Order file.
- Insert your cutout image onto the gap on the page as shown.
- Print your page on AT5 Laser so that it prints in black and white.
Individual Task Two
- Number your layers from top to bottom.
- Put the layer number on all the different shapes that are in that layer.
- Name each layer with a suitable name.
Information
Below you will find the different files and information that you might need for Lesson 7.
If You Finish
- Open the CD Cover Template file.
- Place your image on the page ready to copy over.
- SAVE the file to your documents.
Lesson 8: Starting to Draw
To Start
Make a really complicated shape to send to your friend to practise drawing over.
Lesson Objectives
- To create new layers to put paths in
- To draw over each section on the cutout image and make sure that the paths are in the right layer.
- To be able to move paths and layers around so that they are in the right order.
Key Words
Layers, paths, order
Question of the Lesson - Why not keep all your paths in the same layer?
Tasks
Individual Task One
- Open the Template file on the right.
- Place the Cutout image of your artist onto the template.
- Hold down shift and resize the image.
Tips It doesn't matter if the image goes over the edges of the template. Only what is inside the red line will print.
Individual Task Two
- LOOK at the sheet you did where you worked out the layer order.
- Make sure that you have the Layers Window open. (Press F7).
- Starting with the top layer on your sheet, create a new layer and rename it with your name for the top layer.
- Continue to draw over the Cutout image, making new layers when necessary and making sure that the correct layer for the path you are drawing is highlighted.
Individual Task Three
- Set your fill colour to 'None'.
- Set your line colour to the colour you want the path to eventually be filled with.
- Draw over the shape that is on the Cutout image.
- Make sure that you close the shape by going back to the beginning.
- Click on the 'Swap Fill and Stroke' arrows to swap the line and fill colours over.
Information
Template File
Lesson 9-10: Continue to Draw
To Start
- Open the file called 'Change the Shape'
- Use the Direct Selection Tool (the white arrow) to move anchors and manipulate curves to make the top shape the same as the bottom one.
Lesson Objectives
- To be able to move paths into a different layer.
- To be able to make layers invisible to draw layers underneath.
- To be able to fine tune paths to improve them.
Key Words
Direct Selection Tool, Toggle Visibility, layers. paths, anchors, handles, curves.
Question of the Lesson - Why are layers so useful in Illustrator?
Tasks
Individual Task One
- Make sure that the paths that you have drawn are stored in the correct layer.
- If they are not then drag them into the correct layer.
Individual Task Two
- Try .using the 'Toggles Visibility' (eye) button to make layers disappear so that you can see better to draw over other shapes.
Individual Task Three
Use the direct selection tool on anchors in some of the paths that you have drawn in order to fine tune them.
Information
Below you will find the different files and information that you might need for Lesson 9.
When You Finish
- Make a screenshot of your drawing.
- Put it into the 'First Evaluation' file as shown in the exemplar below.
- Get feedback on your drawing so far and say how you will modify your work in the light of feedback.