Review Week 8

Why must designers pay close attention to how color is utilized within a composition?
The right use of color in a design and can evoke the right feelings in an audience. It can also help to draw attraction to a design and properly convey the message that the design is communicating.

Why is the color wheel an important tool for graphic designers?
It provides graphic designers with all the colors that can be used in a design. It also helps to arrange good colors schemes.

Find an example of neutral colors utilized within a design (hint: google poster design). Near the sample, discuss why you feel the designer included neutral colors within the composition.

The usage of neutral colors helps to bring out the brightness of the green roofs. More importantly, it gives a more serious tone to the appearance of the city.

Briefly describe how we "see" the color of an object?

Whenever light hits an object, each wavelength is either reflected or absorbed by the object. The color wavelengths that are reflected back to our eye are the colors that we see. White is seen when all wavelengths are reflected back to the eye. Black is seen when all wavelengths are absorbed by an object.

Podcast #2 Color Theory

The right use of color can do what?

It can maximize productivity, minimize visual fatigue, and relax the body.

Within the electromagnetic spectrum, which waves allow us to see color? 

Visible light waves let us see color.

Describe white light? 

Equal parts of all colors in the electromagnetic spectrum.

How do we see color if objects "have no color of their own"? 

Objects absorb and reflect the color wavelengths. The colors that are reflected to our eyes are the ones we see.

What is a glass prism?

A transparent triangular object that breaks white light into all the colors of the electromagnetic spectrum.

What seven colors result when white light is refracted through a prism? 

Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet

Describe hue? 

The color itself

When does white light occur?

When all wavelengths are reflected back to your eye.

When does black light occur? 

When no light is reflected to your eye.

How color is perceived depends on what?

The type of light you see it in.

What is a color wheel? 

A visual tool that shows the relationships between primary, secondary, and tertiary colors.

What are primary colors? Name them? 

Three basic colors that can be mixed to create other colors. They are red, blue, and yellow

What are secondary colors? Name them?

The mixture of two primary colors. They are orange, green, and violet.

What are tertiary colors? Name them? 

They are the mixture of a primary color and a secondary color. They are red-orange, yellow-orange, yellow-green, blue-green, red-violet, and blue-violet.

What are neutral colors? How can they be created? 

Colors of low saturation. They can be created by mixing complementary colors.

How can a neutral color help a design?

They help put the focus on other colors or tone down overpowering colors.

What are complementary colors? Name them?

Colors positioned on opposite sides of the color wheel. Examples are red and green, orange and blue, yellow and violet.

What is color value? 

The lightness or darkness of a hue.

What is a shade? 

A color with black added to it.

What is a tint?

A color with white added to it.

What is saturation/intensity?

The brightness of a color.

What happens when you mix complementary colors together? 

A neutral color is formed.

Describe color harmony? 

A pleasing arrangement of colors.

What is a color scheme? 

A harmonious color combination.

Describe a monochromatic color scheme? 

It uses various tints and shades of one color.

Describe an analogous color scheme?

It uses three colors adjacent to each other on the color wheel.

Describe a complementary color scheme?

It uses three colors opposite to each other on the color wheel.

Describe a split-complementary color scheme?

It uses one color and two other colors that are adjacent to its complement on the color wheel.

Describe a triadic color scheme?

It uses three colors that are equally spaced on the color wheel.

What colors are considered to be warm colors?

Yellows, oranges, and reds

Describe a warm color scheme?

It expresses aggression, excitement, and danger. Colors in a warm color scheme are found in the sun. Warm colors overpower other colors in a design.

What colors are considered to be cool colors?

Greens, blues and violets are considered cool colors.

Describe a cool color scheme?

It expresses passiveness and is comforting and nurturing. It gives an impression of calm and rarely overpowers the message of a design. It appears farther away than a warm color scheme and is often used to give the illusion of depth.

Why is important to consider which colors are being used within a design?

Right color choice can convey the right message and evoke the desired response to any form of visual communication.

Review Week 6

What is the pen tool used for?

The pen tool is used for creating organic shapes by creating a bunch of anchors. It can also be used for tracing objects in Adobe Illustrator.

How can you manipulate a path/line in Illustrator? Discuss the use of the white arrow tool, pen+, pen-, and convert too.

The pen + tool can be used to add an anchor to the line. The pen -tool is used to remove an anchor from the line. The white arrow tool allows one to use the anchors to change the path and line to change a path or line. The convert tool can be used to convert the anchor of a corner to that of a curve and vice versa.

How can you utilize the layers palette in Illustrator?

The layers palette can be used to trace objects. One layer can be used to hold the image you want to trace, and the other can be used for the actual tracing that you do.

How do you create a clipping mask in Adobe Illustrator?

First, create a rectangle with no fill and no line over the area over which the clipping mask has to be used. Then, make sure that it is brought to the front. Then use a selection box to select all of the objects that are to be clipped including the rectangle in front. Finally, go the Object menu, then to the Clipping Mask command, and then click on the 'Make' function.

Review Week 5

Shape:

In this design, the element of shape is utilized by surrounding the 'Om' signs with a circle. Creating a circle this way creates a sense of protection that can be given by the symbol 'Om'. It must also be considered that circles represent infinity as well. Putting the 'Om' signs in the shape of a circle and surrounding them with one also gives the feeling of the protective power lasting forever.











Line:

The poster is clearly highlighting the relations between Iran and the United States, which have clearly not been stable and are rapidly changing. Therefore, the diagonal lines in the side of this design clearly help the reader of the text feel this change and instability. This utilizes the fact that diagonal lines represent movement. In my opinion, the downward slope of the lines is particularly helpful in depicting the rough and worrying situation.













Texture:

This poster uses texture to emphasize the right side of President Obama's face. This gives the feeling that this picture Obama is not some random photo drawn in a picture book. The texture on the right side gives an impression of depth and also gives a bit power to the image of Obama. This sense of power (that is created by the texture) gives the feeling that Obama really is powerful and will bring progress to America.
















Space:

The negative space in this poster helps the reader relax his/her eyes and focus on only the hand holding the Coke bottle. By using a good deal of the positive space inside the circle to show the Coca-Cola, the audience of this advertisement is instantly attracted to the bottle. This way, a good focal point is set. Therefore, the use of a large amount of negative space keeps the audience focused on the Coca-Cola bottle and lets the audience take in the message about the drink that is being conveyed.












Value:

This poster of the latest Batman film utilizes black and other dark tones to convey a sense of doom and chaos. Using dark shades on the buildings makes it look like the city is in extreme danger. By contrast, the Batman symbol in the center is shown in white color. This use of light value is symbolizing Batman as the savior from all of this darkness. Therefore, the makers of this poster are clearly showing Batman to be a symbol for the triumph of good.

Review Week 4

Why/how can icons be used to communicate?

Icons can be used as an abstract way to convey ideas. Examples of such ideas include comedy, films, restrooms, food, and etc.

Via the internet, find 2 examples of common icons that clearly communicate their message. Post both in this entry.

What is the difference between copyright and public domain?

A work that is protected by copyright cannot be reused or copied by another person. On the other hand, a work that is public domain is not protected and can be used by anyone.

How can you avoid plagiarism in this class? In other classes?

In this class, plagiarism can be avoided by referring to the Internet as little as possible. More creativity can be used this way. In other classes, plagiarism can be avoided by citing sources that you used for an assignment. Also you can also avoid plagiarism by rephrasing information and putting it in your own words.

Review Week 3

1. What is OSHA? What do the letters stand for?

OSHA stands for Occupational Safety and Health Administration. OSHA sets workplace standards for safety and health for workers in any field or occupation.

2. How can graphic designers effectively communicate? In your own words, explain the communication process.

1. Figure out what has to be said and how it needs to be presented. (Research and think)
2. Establish how the visuals (text and images) are going to work together and how they will motivate the audience, buyer, etc. 
3. Make sure all the components are working together.

3. Understanding the history, culture and movements of fine and graphic arts will make you a better producer of visual messages. Why?

Gaining an understanding of art history will help in becoming a better producer of visual image because artworks of the past will provide inspiration for me. I can also learn the techniques which were successful in conveying messages earlier and utilize these methods in my own work.