BA (Hons.) GRAPHIC DESIGN – END OF MODULE SELF-EVALUATION
Module Title: DESIGN FOR PRINT/COLOUR FOR PRINT
Level: 02 Semester: 01
1. What skills have you developed through this module and how effectively do you think you have applied them?
I have learnt a surprising amount throughout this module. I only knew a small amount about colour modes and gamut’s so it has been quite an eye opener as to what possibilities there are with regard to editing an image. There have also been a few rules about designing for on screen that I had never thought about before or taken into consideration. For example, I knew design for on screen had to be produced in RGB however when I designed my poster for the ‘Don’t Panic’ brief I designed it in CMYK with the intention to print out the final resolution. However, I wanted to use the colour overprint effect, which allowed other colours to pass through one another to give a mixed colour effect. So when I tried to upload my poster design it was fine as I had to convert it to RGB to use the effect but when I wanted to print it I couldn’t print the over print effect because it was only visible in the RGB colour mode and the colours were out of gamut for a four colour printer. Little problems like this occurred throughout the module and I really have learnt rather a lot by my errors.
With regard to software, I started the 2nd year with very limited skills in Adobe Illustrator, having spent my whole time shying away from everything but Photoshop in my first year. So I have learnt my way around it reasonably well and well enough to apply those skills in my final product for the ‘What is Good?’ brief. Other skills I have learnt were predominantly in print. For example I knew hardly anything about Letterpress and after having a workshop on it I felt able to do my own work, albeit at a very basic level. I found the workshop interesting but quite laborious and time consuming when in today’s day and age I knew I wasn’t very likely to ever use the process, however I knew it was very beneficial to have the basic understanding about it. The other printing workshop that I had was in screen print. This is a process I have used before and had a basic understanding about, but once there I found I needed to refresh my memory! I wanted to apply my skills in this print process for the Design For Print part of the module but I didn’t feel it was appropriate for the type of resolution that I was trying to produce.
2. What approaches to generating work and solutions to problems have you developed and how have they helped?
Again my problems occurred mainly in print, however I also came across some other problems when trying to edit my images in the Colour For Print part of the module. When trying to transform my images to various colour modes out of the 6 variations I found it difficult to understand the channels and how they affected the final colour resolution. Splitting channels were also challenging for me. By coming across these problems though I learned from my mistakes and over came them. I have generated most of my work through researching into colour modes and print processes, however for the ‘What Is good?’ brief I generated most of my work through trying and testing illustrations or using photography and found images.
3. What strengths can you identify in your work and how have/will you capitalise on these?
Right now I feel that I am more of an image-maker or illustrator than a typographer. Although I am interested in type I am beginning to feel that it isn’t quite my bag. I have tried to develop my skills in illustration throughout this brief by trying a new way of working. For example I produced all my illustrations by hand, scanned them into illustrator and then pen tooled them all. This wasn’t a process I had used with my illustrations before. By doing this I became a lot more confident in illustrator and grasped a better understanding of layers and grouping. I felt by capitalising on these skills my work took a more comfortable route than it has done in the past. I would like to continue working with image and illustration in future projects and develop my skills as an illustrator.
4. What weaknesses can you identify in your work and how could you exploit these more fully?
I need to do more in depth research and read into things a lot more and become better informed about y subject areas. I feel that due to my own laziness this lets me down. By making sure I get that done first and steadily throughout a project I feel that my work would be a lot stronger and I will be able to produce better and more exciting resolutions.
Adobe InDesign is also a weakness of mine, I feel in future I need to try and work in the application more often.
5. Identify five things that you will do different next time and what do you expect to gain from doing these?
1. Time management – Not leave things until the last minute and use my common sense to start things earlier.
2. Try out different paper stocks – Not going the easy route and going with the easy accessible.
3. Research better – Looking back I didn’t do nearly enough in depth research. Primary or Secondary.
4. Consider rules when designing for on screen and print – This module has taught me a lot about designing for both so hopefully by taking them into consideration before working will help me to produce better work.
5. Force myself to use InDesign and not just use Illustrator or Photoshop to produce things in!
Tuesday 25 November 2008
Screen Printing.. What is it?
Screen printing is a printing technique that uses a woven mesh to support an ink blocking stencil. The attached stencil forms open areas of mesh that transfer ink as a sharp-edged image onto a substrate. A roller or squeegee is moved across the screen stencil forcing or pumping ink past the threads of the woven mesh in the open areas.
Screenprinting is more versatile than traditional printing techniques. The surface does not have to be printed under pressure, unlike etching or lithography, and it does not have to be planar. Screenprinting inks can be used to work with a variety of materials, such as textiles, ceramics, wood, paper, glass, metal, and plastic. As a result, screenprinting is used in many different industries, including:
1 Clothing
2 Product labels
3 Printed electronics, including circuit board printing
4 Thick film technology
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Screen-printing
Screens are made by putting a chemical emulsion on a mesh surface. Vector artwork is taken from Adobe Illustrator or Freehand and printed out on a film type paper or vellum. The screen is then exposed on a light table with the artwork under it. The light solidifies the chemicals around the design, and where the light failed to pass through, the chemical breaks down. The screen is then rinsed out and what is left is the area where the light hit.
When you place an order for screen printed clothing there are two charges:
The first is a setup charge which covers the cost of having the design made into a screen. This charge is 'one off' as the screen is stored for future use. Therefore, if you wanted to place another order in the future with the same design there would be no setup charge.
The second charge is a 'per screen' charge which applies to each item that is customised. This charge basically covers the cost of labour, materials and our other manufacturing overheads.
http://www.indigoclothing.com/screen-printing/
Screenprinting is more versatile than traditional printing techniques. The surface does not have to be printed under pressure, unlike etching or lithography, and it does not have to be planar. Screenprinting inks can be used to work with a variety of materials, such as textiles, ceramics, wood, paper, glass, metal, and plastic. As a result, screenprinting is used in many different industries, including:
1 Clothing
2 Product labels
3 Printed electronics, including circuit board printing
4 Thick film technology
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Screen-printing
Screens are made by putting a chemical emulsion on a mesh surface. Vector artwork is taken from Adobe Illustrator or Freehand and printed out on a film type paper or vellum. The screen is then exposed on a light table with the artwork under it. The light solidifies the chemicals around the design, and where the light failed to pass through, the chemical breaks down. The screen is then rinsed out and what is left is the area where the light hit.
When you place an order for screen printed clothing there are two charges:
The first is a setup charge which covers the cost of having the design made into a screen. This charge is 'one off' as the screen is stored for future use. Therefore, if you wanted to place another order in the future with the same design there would be no setup charge.
The second charge is a 'per screen' charge which applies to each item that is customised. This charge basically covers the cost of labour, materials and our other manufacturing overheads.
http://www.indigoclothing.com/screen-printing/
Flexography.. What does it mean?
Flexography (often abbreviated to flexo) is a form of relief printing and is the method of printing most commonly used for packaging (labels, tape, bags, boxes, banners, etc.).
A flexographic print is made by creating a positive mirrored master of the required image as a 3D relief in a rubber or polymer material. A measured amount of ink is deposited upon the surface of the printing plate (or printing cylinder) using an engraved anilox roll whose texture holds a specific amount of ink. The print surface then rotates, contacting the print material which transfers the ink.
Typical products printed using flexography include brown corrugated boxes, flexible packaging including retail and shopping bags, food and hygiene bags and sacks, flexible plastics, self adhesive labels, and wallpaper. A number of newspapers now eschew the more common offset lithography process in favour of flexo.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flexography
Flexography is the major process used to print packaging materials. Flexography is used to print corrugated containers, folding cartons, multiwall sacks, paper sacks, plastic bags, milk and beverage cartons, disposable cups and containers, labels, adhesive tapes, envelopes, newspapers, and wrappers (candy and food).
http://www.pneac.org/printprocesses/flexography/
A flexographic print is made by creating a positive mirrored master of the required image as a 3D relief in a rubber or polymer material. A measured amount of ink is deposited upon the surface of the printing plate (or printing cylinder) using an engraved anilox roll whose texture holds a specific amount of ink. The print surface then rotates, contacting the print material which transfers the ink.
Typical products printed using flexography include brown corrugated boxes, flexible packaging including retail and shopping bags, food and hygiene bags and sacks, flexible plastics, self adhesive labels, and wallpaper. A number of newspapers now eschew the more common offset lithography process in favour of flexo.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flexography
Flexography is the major process used to print packaging materials. Flexography is used to print corrugated containers, folding cartons, multiwall sacks, paper sacks, plastic bags, milk and beverage cartons, disposable cups and containers, labels, adhesive tapes, envelopes, newspapers, and wrappers (candy and food).
http://www.pneac.org/printprocesses/flexography/
Monday 24 November 2008
Gravure..What does it mean?
gra⋅vure [gruh-vyoor, grey-vyer] Show IPA Pronunciation
–noun
1. an intaglio process of photomechanical printing, such as photogravure or rotogravure.
2. a print produced by gravure.
3. the metal or wooden plate used in photogravure.
gra·vure (grə-vyŏŏr') Pronunciation Key
n.
A method of printing with etched plates or cylinders; intaglio printing.
Photogravure.
A plate used in the process of gravure.
A reproduction produced by gravure.
A plate used in the process of gravure.
A reproduction produced by gravure.
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/gravure
Rotogravure (roto or gravure for short) is a type of intaglio printing process, in that it involves engraving the image onto an image carrier. In gravure printing, the image is engraved onto a copper cylinder because, like offset and flexography, it uses a rotary printing press.
–noun
1. an intaglio process of photomechanical printing, such as photogravure or rotogravure.
2. a print produced by gravure.
3. the metal or wooden plate used in photogravure.
gra·vure (grə-vyŏŏr') Pronunciation Key
n.
A method of printing with etched plates or cylinders; intaglio printing.
Photogravure.
A plate used in the process of gravure.
A reproduction produced by gravure.
A plate used in the process of gravure.
A reproduction produced by gravure.
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/gravure
Rotogravure (roto or gravure for short) is a type of intaglio printing process, in that it involves engraving the image onto an image carrier. In gravure printing, the image is engraved onto a copper cylinder because, like offset and flexography, it uses a rotary printing press.
Lithography..What does it mean?
Lithography (from Greek λίθος - lithos, "stone" + γράφω - graphο, "to write") is a method for printing using a plate or stone with a completely smooth surface. Lithography uses oil or fat and gum arabic to divide the smooth surface into hydrophobic regions which accept the ink, and hydrophilic regions which reject it and thus become the background. Invented by Bavarian author Alois Senefelder in 1796,[1][2] it can be used to print text or artwork onto paper or another suitable material. Most books, indeed all types of high-volume text, are now printed using offset lithography, the most common form of printing production.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lithograph
Litho printing is also known as lithography or lithographic printing or planography or planographic printing. Litho printing works on the basic principle that oil and water do not mix. Unlike relief printing and intaglio where the image and non-image areas are at different levels, in lithography there is only one surface.
In lithography a flat stone is treated in a manner so that the image areas attract the oil-based inks and the non-image wet areas repel the oil-based inks. When the stone is pressed against the surface to be printed on, the oily inked image areas leave an imprint of the desired design.
http://www.whatislithoprinting.com/
what is a lithograph?
Basically, it is a print made by using a press to transfer an image that was created initially on stone or metal plate to paper.
Aloys Senefelder, who invented lithography in 1798, preferred to call it "chemical printing", since the process depends on the chemical interaction of grease, nitric acid, gum arabic, and water, rather than the stone from which the name lithography is derived.
http://www.unm.edu/~tamarind/process.html
li⋅thog⋅ra⋅phy [li-thog-ruh-fee] Show IPA Pronunciation
–noun
1. the art or process of producing a picture, writing, or the like, on a flat, specially prepared stone, with some greasy or oily substance, and of taking ink impressions from this as in ordinary printing.
2. a similar process in which a substance other than stone, as aluminum or zinc, is used. Compare offset (def. 6).
noun
1. a method of planographic printing from a metal or stone surface
2. the act of making a lithographic print
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/lithography
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lithograph
Litho printing is also known as lithography or lithographic printing or planography or planographic printing. Litho printing works on the basic principle that oil and water do not mix. Unlike relief printing and intaglio where the image and non-image areas are at different levels, in lithography there is only one surface.
In lithography a flat stone is treated in a manner so that the image areas attract the oil-based inks and the non-image wet areas repel the oil-based inks. When the stone is pressed against the surface to be printed on, the oily inked image areas leave an imprint of the desired design.
http://www.whatislithoprinting.com/
what is a lithograph?
Basically, it is a print made by using a press to transfer an image that was created initially on stone or metal plate to paper.
Aloys Senefelder, who invented lithography in 1798, preferred to call it "chemical printing", since the process depends on the chemical interaction of grease, nitric acid, gum arabic, and water, rather than the stone from which the name lithography is derived.
http://www.unm.edu/~tamarind/process.html
li⋅thog⋅ra⋅phy [li-thog-ruh-fee] Show IPA Pronunciation
–noun
1. the art or process of producing a picture, writing, or the like, on a flat, specially prepared stone, with some greasy or oily substance, and of taking ink impressions from this as in ordinary printing.
2. a similar process in which a substance other than stone, as aluminum or zinc, is used. Compare offset (def. 6).
noun
1. a method of planographic printing from a metal or stone surface
2. the act of making a lithographic print
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/lithography
Sticker Design..
Theses are found images of sticker design that I have researched for inspiration as part of my 'What Is Good?' Brief. I have found them really inspiring even though my final stickers were very different to their style. I love graffiti art and loved the way in which it has now expanded to sticker graffiti. I find it really fun and something I'd love to do in my spare time The illustrations again use the simplicity of plan black line drawings experimenting with different stroke weights against bold, vibrant colors. I love this effect.
I had to go back an edit this post. After i read it back i just realised how much I said the word 'love.' ...slightly worrying, obviously my vocabulary is more limited today due to the stress of my deadline!!!!
Final finals!
The following are photographs I have taken to document my resolutions for my 'What Is Good?' Brief.
I used these images to document the journey of my project on my 6x A2 presentation boards. Hopefully they capture my product well enough for you to understand what it is and how it works without me having to explain!
I used these images to document the journey of my project on my 6x A2 presentation boards. Hopefully they capture my product well enough for you to understand what it is and how it works without me having to explain!
Wednesday 19 November 2008
Poster Finals!
So here they are as promised. The poster designs which will be printed back to back on my leaflet booklet. The booklets will come in 3 different coloured paper stocks. I have done this so that it adds variation to the booklet. It also means that each colour booklet opens out to have a different poster design on the back of each. The designs are as follows...
Poster Illustration..
I've been looking at various poster design recently and love poster illustration. I was browsing the New Bohemia gig lists when I came across these posters..
I thought they tied in well as part of my research for my what is good brief as not only are they poster illustration but they all revolve around music too! I love the choice of vibrant colour and how effective the bold black line drawings look on them. It's a style that I'm really into at the moment.
The website they are on is: http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewPicture&friendID=35893307
This is the link for the illustrator that produced one of the posters also on that myspace site link above: http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=66581504
He's a Leeds based graphic designer, illustrator and graffitti artist.
Chek it :)
I thought they tied in well as part of my research for my what is good brief as not only are they poster illustration but they all revolve around music too! I love the choice of vibrant colour and how effective the bold black line drawings look on them. It's a style that I'm really into at the moment.
The website they are on is: http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewPicture&friendID=35893307
This is the link for the illustrator that produced one of the posters also on that myspace site link above: http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=66581504
He's a Leeds based graphic designer, illustrator and graffitti artist.
Chek it :)
Tuesday 18 November 2008
Good Brief Mocks..
These are some pictures I have taken of my final resolution mock ups. Hopefully you will be able to get the gyst of the way in which it works. Once folded out it is also a poster. However the pictures only show the boklet and the way in which it works. I'll post up pics of the poster side asap!
Monday 17 November 2008
Saturday 15 November 2008
Suave Sites...
Been wasting a lot of time recently on the internet and these are few of interesting and useful sites that I have discovered:
http://www.underconsideration.com/
(This site is dedicated to the progress of the graphic design profession and its practitioners, students and enthusiasts. I found it very useful and quite interesting.)
http://www.designobserver.com/
(Quite an academic site, about critical writings on design and culture.)
http://www.knickerbockerdesign.com/
(This website is very original and works in a way completely different to any other. As soon as you click onto it I felt automatically drawn to engage and want to learn more about them.)
http://www.uchu-country.com/
(Difficult to understand in parts but shows a good array of works.)
http://www.emigre.com/
(I loved this website, it was really engaging and had a fantastic display of works to navigate through.)
Chek them and enjoy wasting some time on them :)
http://www.underconsideration.com/
(This site is dedicated to the progress of the graphic design profession and its practitioners, students and enthusiasts. I found it very useful and quite interesting.)
http://www.designobserver.com/
(Quite an academic site, about critical writings on design and culture.)
http://www.knickerbockerdesign.com/
(This website is very original and works in a way completely different to any other. As soon as you click onto it I felt automatically drawn to engage and want to learn more about them.)
http://www.uchu-country.com/
(Difficult to understand in parts but shows a good array of works.)
http://www.emigre.com/
(I loved this website, it was really engaging and had a fantastic display of works to navigate through.)
Chek them and enjoy wasting some time on them :)
Thursday 13 November 2008
Colour 4 Print Brief...
Over the past few weeks I've been working towards producing my final images for our colour 4 print brief. It requires us to take an image we collected or took over the summer and edit it to one of the 6 colour modes. I have been experimenting with two pictures as I did a lot of photography for my summer brief and also collected a lot of clothes tags.
The first image is of one of my clothes tags and the second from Switzerland where I visited during our time off.
Here are some of the images I have produced so far...
The first image is of one of my clothes tags and the second from Switzerland where I visited during our time off.
Here are some of the images I have produced so far...
Letter Press Workshop..
Had a letter press workshop today which was quite interesting. A very time consuming process and I doubt if it'll be something I would ever use but I found learning the process very useful and fun to set up. These are some pictures I took at the workshop showing the different stages...
Wednesday 12 November 2008
Mac Book Pro..
Just perchased a mac book pro..yeeeee..so hopefully it will give me more opportunity to bust out work..once i get my head round this new touch mouse pad!
Tuesday 11 November 2008
Change of good...
So after much development I have changed my what is good from specifically alto saxophones to horn instruments in general. I have decided to try and produce a print based product of primarily illustrations and they will all depict humorous alternative uses for horn instruments. The horns that I have chosen to do are: Alto, Tenor and Baritone Saxophones, Trumpet, Flute and Clarinet.
Here are some of the illustrations i will be using...
Here are some of the illustrations i will be using...
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