Cutting the Magazine
Find an interesting magazine that you don’t mind cutting up that contains at least 30 pages. The more pages—the greater choice you will have. With a pen and your ruler, draw a 2.5” x 2.5” square somewhere on the cover. Then, with your exacto blade, begin cutting out a square. Then, neatly cut in the same location, down through each page until you have finished with the back cover and have dozens of squares.
Finding the Rhythm
In this project we are going to develop a coherent visual flow from one square to the next. Begin by sorting through your squares and see what patterns emerge. Are there any common or repeated elements that you see? Many factors can contribute to establishing rhythm like line, shape, color, texture, and figure/ground relationships. What order creates the best rhythm?
Once you have chosen your ten squares and I have approved your choice, you may proceed with the following instructions:
Find an interesting magazine that you don’t mind cutting up that contains at least 30 pages. The more pages—the greater choice you will have. With a pen and your ruler, draw a 2.5” x 2.5” square somewhere on the cover. Then, with your exacto blade, begin cutting out a square. Then, neatly cut in the same location, down through each page until you have finished with the back cover and have dozens of squares.
Finding the Rhythm
In this project we are going to develop a coherent visual flow from one square to the next. Begin by sorting through your squares and see what patterns emerge. Are there any common or repeated elements that you see? Many factors can contribute to establishing rhythm like line, shape, color, texture, and figure/ground relationships. What order creates the best rhythm?
Once you have chosen your ten squares and I have approved your choice, you may proceed with the following instructions:
1.
Scan the ten squares with the scanner.
- You can do them one at a time or
in batches.
- You should be able to scan all ten
in batches of two on the flatbed scanner at the back of the room.
- Scan your squares at 200% at 300
ppi so that your images end up at 5" x 5" and 300 ppi.
- You may use a de-screening
filter to minimize the printed dot pattern in the images and avoid a
"moiré" pattern.
2.
Open your scans in Photoshop and separate them if needed:
- Use the selection marque to select
an image
- Copy the image – Edit > Copy
- Make a new file – File > New
(when you copy from an existing image, then create a new image
Photoshop automatically makes the new file the same size and resolution of
the selection from which you made the copy.)
- Paste the copied selection into
the new file – Edit > Paste
- Save the new file – File >
Save As and name the file. (It’s a good idea to name it the
position it holds in your design i.e. “seven.”)
- If they are already separate
jpegs, you can also use the crop tool to square them.
3.
Set up your document. This will be your Working File. You will use
this file to layout your ten squares, add text and create a digital file to
turn in. You will also create a second Print File to set up your print
document and to print from.
To
set up your file using InDesign:
- Name you file: “YourLastName_RhythmandBalance”
- Page size: 5" x 5" or
35p x 35p
- Number of pages: 10
- Uncheck facing pages
- In the pages panel, select all the
pages then go to the dropdown menu and uncheck "Allow pages to
shuffle"
- Move the pages into position so
that they are in a line horizontally from left to right.
Or
To
set up your file using Illustrator:
- Number of Artboards: 10
- Select the third icon
"Arrange by Row"
- Spacing: 0
- Size: 5 in x 5 in
4.
Once you have set up your document proceed as follows:
- Place each image in the order and
rotation in which you designed it.
- Add text to you design.
o
You
may use your own writing, a poem or other writing by someone else or text taken
from the web.
o
Your
text can be about something directly related to the imagery or something in
direct contrast to the imagery. What kind of intellectual layering can you
achieve with text and image? What kind of visual message can you produce?
o
As
you apply text to the design use the same process you used for selecting and
placing your image squares. The objective of this assignment is to create
Rhythm and Balance in a design.
Consider:
§ The use of color
(sample from the imagery)
§ Direction of line
§ Use blocks of text to
create visual texture
§ Use size and weight
to give emphasis
§ Mimic the shapes,
lines or even text already in the imagery.
TIPS:
- After you place all your images,
lock their positions and place all text on a new layer.
- Don't get carried away with many
typefaces or use type that is illegible.
- DON'T DISTORT TYPE. Rather, if you
must emphasis or make text fit, select a font style that works for that.
- Is it possible to make the type look like it was in the original image?
