My Illustrator Voyage

Tutorial 6

2008-12-23T15:34:00.003+08:00

The Final Image

1. Create the effect of tree bark using filter > distrot.

2. Lighting effects are used to create that kind of light source is shining from the top.

3. The M curve is created to get the chrome effect.

4. I imported an image that I downloaded from google

5. Feather the sides and add motion blur the the 70's logo.

Assignment 2 the process

2008-12-22T22:15:00.005+08:00

Ta daaa.....

(wait for the animation to kick in)

1. Create a background with some kind of orange paint.

2. I open an image that I shot during mmu convo 2008

3. Magic wand the white areas and delete it. after that use the paintbrush to paint the whole picture black to get the silloutte effect.

4. This button was created in illustrator. The graph is to symbolize Financial engineering.

5. This button was created in illustrator. Shaking of hand are management.

6. This button was created in illustrator. Bag of money is equal to finance.

7. This button was created in illustrator. Calculators are unsperatable with accountants.

8. This brush was created in illustrator. Brush is to put in the wall paper to have that painting look.

9. Imported the e-bee to create the animation effect.

10. Now to create animation for the 4 buttons on the left. Animation was learn by watching a youtube video. From there I learned to create the glowing e-bee, and the 4 icons at the left.

Tutorial 5

2008-12-18T10:27:00.004+08:00

This tutorial thought me 3 more different techniques:Layer Style effects ( I used this before in assignment 1)the use of advanced Blending Effect Techni

ques

Blend two images together using the Layers styles blending options
techniques of applying brush stroke with effects
curve effects techniques

After creating the flames then its to colour it following the tutorial I slide the contrast and to adjust the colour intensity.

2. Liquidfy the flames with the swirl tool so that the flames looks like bending.

3. Finally I add a filter stylize the background to CHROME to get the silver sort of like metal like effect and added the lightnings to kind of spark the flames on his hand.

Final Image :

2008-12-16T01:18:00.000+08:00

Project Charter Assignment 2

2008-12-15T21:42:00.002+08:00

Project Charter Assignment 2

Assignment Title: Digital Wallpaper

Project Start Date: 8 December, 2008

Project Finish Date: 23 December, 2008.

Project Manager: Ng Hsien Ming

Email: hsi3nming@gmail.com

Website: mcg1014-1061103254.blogspot.com

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Project Objective

A learning process of implementing the multiple tools that are available in Adobe Photoshop CS3 in creating a digital wallpaper for MMU FOM Open Day. In this wallpaper, I will be promoting the faculty of Management to the public and provide them with knowledge about benefits of joining FOM and making the smart choice.

Approach

I’m creating digital wallpaper based on the pictures that I have taken via websites and some of my snapshots using the digital camera. I will also be using Adobe Illustrator to make vector graphics which I will be adding in later on.The wallpaper will be in A4 size.

I will promote my faculty which is Management faculty to the public by inserting the FOM signboard to clarify the FOM main theme. Then, some images like FOM building, FOM students.

In Photoshop, I’m using the layering techniques to rearrange and do some edit part to the images.Other tools such as marquee and lasso tool will be used. Filter tools also such as Gaussian Blur, Drop Shadow and the adjustment of the colours (Hue, Saturation, and Contrast) are also being used. Thus, applying the layer mask, crop, lasso tool, shape tool, and etc will make the effect of the wallpaper to be nicer. The insertion of text, will make an impact towards the audience when they read it.

The idea of my digital wallpaper is tmainly of course to promote the faculty. Then, I will put some FOM signs to it for the clearer understanding, plus the addition of the text with some thought in it. I’m also will include graduated students with some kind of silloutte effect created in photoshop.

Roles and Responsibilities

1st Phase: Idea is sketched and images are snap and searching through website
2nd Phase: Images are edited and place inside the wallpaper. Text will be included
3rd Phase: Consult with Mdm Lydia
4th Phase: Final touches are made
5th Phase: Submission of Assignment 2

Comment

Assignment 2 is really though because the idea and concept that needs to be thought of is very tidious and with midterms near the submission date it is very difficult to concentrate. All thanks to the tutor who brought the date forward instead of submitting at 3 january 2009. Everything seems to be in rush.

Tutorial 4

2008-12-10T15:00:00.004+08:00

This tutorial teaches about how to create liquid text.

1. First I Chose Gradient Overlay to begin and chose colors in the Gradient Editor & adjust the gradient angle.

2. After that I drag layer into Styles Palette & name it. Click style & apply it to another selected layer duplicate, blur & adjust levels of Green Channel, define as pattern & use it as a texture. Then I used the paint brush to achieve the effect below. Before that I have also created another layer and edited it with plastic wrap wo give it a more wrappy look.

3. Lastly I changed the colour balance and I get the brown effect.

4 . The final image

Tutorial 3

2008-12-02T21:51:00.008+08:00

1. I started of with the original layer then I duplicated the layer and then created a new blank layer. I used the lasso tool, move, and clone stamp tool to get this effect. Oh and feather the lasso selection to so that the edges is not so rough.

2. Now to insert text and create a new alpha channel in the channels tab. Well i created lines with 2px - 8px use the pixelated and gaussian blue effect to get this.

3. Then I use the magic wand to select all the alphabets and then create a new channel 'alpha 2' and this time change the alphabets stoke to 10px and filter it with brush strokes and this is the effect.

4. I also changed the blending option of the layer and thus get this effect as if the words are coming out from the cracked wall.

5. Finally the text below is also done with the same technique as the above. Then I split the canvas to half and transform half into black and white. Changing the american dollar to 100 Euro.

6. The final image jeng jeng jeng...

Project Charter

2008-11-25T11:57:00.005+08:00

Project Charter Assignment 1

Assignment 1 Title: Printout Postcard for the theme “Malaysia, Truly Asia”.

Project Start Date: 20 November, 2008

Project Finish Date: 28 November, 2008.

Project Manager: NG HSIEN MING

HP: 012-3237804

Email: hsi3nming@gmail.com

Website: http://mcg1014-1061103254.blogspot.com/

Project Objective: Students are to create a multi-cultural event for a post card. The theme would be “Malaysia, Truly Asia” which is the official slogan for Malaysia Tourism. Students are to show the multi-cultural aspects of Malaysia culture or life as a positive feature to attract tourist into this country.

Approach: Write down how you create the postcard?

I created the postcard using Adobe Photoshop CS3

Using what images?

I used images that I shot myself and images from google images and flickr. The image of KLCC, fireworks, girls in kebaya is my photo and the rest are founded in the internet.

What tools at Photoshop you use to edit the images?

Move Tool

Elliptical Marquee Tool

Magnetic Lasso Tool

Magic Wand

Crop

Healing Brush Tool

Clone Stamp Tool

Eraser

Gradient

Paint Bucket

Text Tool

Warp

Distort

Alien Skin Blow Up (plug in for photoshop to blowup low res photos)

Noiseware professional (plug in to reduce digital photograph noise)

Write here about the idea of your postcard, is it your own Idea or References (if you refer to someone else idea)?

I did refer to some random images of posters in google images.

Write clearly on the making process from beginning stage until the final output stage. If you are able to sketch, scan in your sketch as jpeg or gif (I must be able to view it clearly at your website). If you can’t sketch, then you will have to write your Approach, that is your making process clearly to me.

Of course the initial stage was to think of an idea, and think of the layout of the postcard. I did use Adobe Illustrator to trace the hibiscus out and the Malaysia truly Asia was done in illustrator. Techniques like wrapping the image to fit in the hibiscus leaf were used to cover up the white portions. I also used the blend layer option in the layer properties which I learned through reading a book that was borrowed from the library. The text of places . people . food . entertainment was inserted to the postcard so that it promotes Malaysia in different ways. Hibiscus flower was use because the flower is the national flower of Malaysia, thus inserting children portrait in the petals of the flower reflects the true essence of Malaysia as a multiracial country.

Roles and Responsibilities:

Describe your time plan here.

Initially was to lasso the twin towers out from the original image and add some fireworks pictures in the background. Then was to design the background of the postcard blue with a gradient was selected. Then the hibiscus comes in with multiple ones placed randomly through the postcard. Then pictures of food and culture were placed at the side of the postcard. And that is almost it fine tuning and some retouches are done too.

For example, you should at least show me 80% of your incomplete work on Tuesday 25/11/08 for me to comment. Fulfill Dr. Ken’s requirement. His requirements are as follows:

1. “Students are to submit the original PSD files (DO NOT FLATTEN THE FILE) together with the images used in the postcard. Call the file StudID_asssignment1.psd”.

2. “Place the files in separate folders. One folder containing the PSD file called Postcard. The other images used are to be placed in a folder call Postcard_ref”.

3. Print the postcard. Postcard size is 6x8 inches with 300 resolutions.

Comment: You can let me know the difficulty that you face. How enjoy you are in doing this assignment etc.

There are many challenges that I faced doing this assignment first was of course the software, although I would normally use to do simple editing for my photos, but when it comes to doing this assignment many various tools that I have never used before had to be used in order to complete this task. But I think the most difficult part was getting the idea how to lay the images and design the postcard. After all this course demands great ideas on how to design stuff right? Well I am quite concerned about the printing; I hope that what I see on the screen is what I get on hard copy. I am worried to that photoshop CS2 cant display the font that I used (pristine) was used and this afternoon when I went to the lab to consult Mdm.Lydia an error popped out, but I will include the text font in the Postcard_ref folder.

As seen here the petronas twin towers were edited the background picture of ambank and the maxis tower was cloned stamped out so that the picture looks clean.

Here I magnetic lassoed a picture that I shot during MIFC 2008 team China. I intend to place it at the back of the twin towers.

To place the fireworks behind the twin towers I have to magnetic lasso the towers and copy paste it in another layer.

Here I was using the warp tool to stretch the photo

Here is the changes I used to make the faces of the children to blend in to the hibiscus.

The final output of the assignment

This is the link to download the project charter that I typed in Microsoft Word.
Project Charter

Tutorial 2

2008-11-25T11:16:00.002+08:00

1. This is the original image that was uploaded by the tutor . The image is so flat because it lacks contrast and the lighting is quite harsh.

2. Ok I have increased the contrast in the picture and lowered the brightness in the picture.

3. As you can see the clouds in the picture has increased compared to the original picture. This is done by using clone stamp. And i have also reduced image noise in the image by using Noiseware Professional.

4. I have changed the Hue and saturation in by using the magnetic lasso selecting the pants and the slide section. The cookie monster on the boy's t-shirt is also selected and changed using the channel mixer.

MCG 1024 Tutorial 1

2008-11-19T15:41:00.004+08:00

So basically this is the 1st tutorials to kick start CG2

3 images used to create the final picture that is this one here.

Assignment 3 write up

2008-09-11T15:01:00.001+08:00

Objective of this poster : I have created this poster in order to make people realize that trees play an important role in our life and without them we as human beings won’t be able to survive because there is no oxygen supplied to us. So in order for us to save the planet from global warming and stuff we have to start planting more trees. So I strongly encourage people to participate in tree planting activities. There are a few organizations that organize this kind of activities such as www.plant-a-tree-today.org and so on.

Description of the poster : The poster shows that a boy is try to provide love towards the tree. As you can see the leaves are turned from red to green gradually. I was try to impose an effect the with love and care a tree will eventually be turned in to a healthy and big tree.

Assignment 3 reference

2008-09-11T14:59:00.003+08:00

Assignment 3 the final poster

2008-09-11T01:52:00.003+08:00

Assignment 3 the process

2008-09-11T01:27:00.010+08:00

1. First I open up the jpeg sample poster that I found and open it in illustrator and use it as a template.

2. Then I created the bottom part of the poster which is made of several shapes stacked up together.

3. After that I imported the tree trunk which I did from assignment 2. Reflect it ad position it properly.

4. After that was the tedious procedure of placing the leaves in order and applying a gradient onto the leaves.

5 . I drawn the boy with the pentool and then I applied a silhouette effect onto him.

6. I created the text that looks likes its bent with the type on a path tool on an oval shape.

7 . Finally add the symbol from assignment 1 at the bottom corner.

Assignment 3 presentation

2008-09-04T09:47:00.001+08:00

Assignment 2 Print out

2008-08-20T16:50:00.000+08:00

Assignment 2 the process

2008-08-20T14:23:00.000+08:00

1. First is to open up the jpeg that I have found. Open it in illustrator and renamed the layer as template and check the template box.

2. By using the pentool i draw the trunk of the tree and the grass patch. It takes alot of time to perfect the curves so that it looks neat and nice.

3. Adding the leaves 1st I draw a leaf that I think its suitable and nice and from then its just copy paste. Position it correctly and this is it. If you look closely there are a few leaves that I applied some transparency effects and some that I lowered the opacity of the leaf.

4. I apply another layer of leaves. The reason that used 2 layers of leaves is that so that I have the effect of front and back leaves.

5. Now to lighten up the tree trunk I used the pentool to draw a shape and applied a gradient mesh on the tree trunk.

6. Next is to add some random wood carvings / or whatever u call it onto the tree trunk so it looks 'real'.

7. The final step is to include the previous symbol from assignment 1.

Assignment 2 Presentation

2008-08-14T09:37:00.000+08:00

From a JPEG file transformed into a vector image

The final symbol

2008-07-30T21:50:00.001+08:00

Well after explaining the steps that have been used and tools I present to you my final symbol.

Title of symbol: Greening fridge

Meaning of the symbol: The main meaning or the message in this symbol is to alert people about the effects of Chlorofluorocarbons (CFC) that will harm the environment.

Metaphor: CFC gasses that are released by the fridge are the causes for green house gasses

Meaning of the shape of the symbol: The two leaves represents greening for the environment, the white box represents the fridge, the circle behind this two shapes represents the globe.

Meaning of the colour of the symbol: Green obviously represents nature and means that we need to promote greening around the world in order to put a stop to global warming. A gradient is applied to show that there is still hope if we start to realize our mistakes and start the whole go green campaign.

Relation to the area of global warming of my choice: I choose the pollution part of global warming, Chlorofluorocarbons (CFC) is indeed falls under this category and other factors that contribute to pollution are such as Carbon Monoxide (CO) that our vehicles emits. The other factors are such as factory smoke, many factories in Malaysia are not following the standard environment rules and regulations. Open burning that are openly done is also another culprit the burning of used tires releases thick black smoke and these gasses are so toxic that it can instantly kill a person when its inhaled in a large quantity. In a nutshell I personally think that pollution is the greatest threat to the overall global warming issue.

Digital leaf in illustrator

2008-07-30T21:07:00.000+08:00

Well its time to transform my sketch into a digital vector drawing.

1. Obviously its to take a picture of the sketch which I done by pencil and then exported to illustrator and it was set as a template.

2. trace out the leaf pattern on illustrator using the PEN TOOL. ALOT of work and editing has been put in because of the complicated leaf pattern and because I am still a nOOb in Illustrator. Compared to Mdm.Ling which she has used Illustrator for over 10 years this is a piece of cake for her i guess?

3. So we have a leaf shape then its time to apply the gradient and 'clone' another leaf. The other leaf was copied and pasted crtl+c , ctrl+f then it was reflected 90 degrees horizontal. well of course certain anchor points in the 2nd leaf has to be modified with the direct selection tool (A) so that the leaf has that more natural and curvy look. The green gradient was applied so that the leaf look more natural and normally leaves should have this colour.

4. The fridge is drawn. The fridge is constructed with alot of diffrent shapes and sizes tools like elipse tool, rectngle tool, rounded ractangle tool, the pen tool which is extremely usefull is also used in this process to construct the fridge.

5. Creating the glossy bubble. The bubble was created to represent the earth it is filled with the same gradient I used on the leaf. The second circle that is slightly faded in white colour is created with a green and white gradient and I set the opacity to 84% using normal blend mode, the circle was futher applied with a effect. I applied the feather effect to the circle so that the lines were not that visible and somehow makes it blend into the bigger bubble. The whole concept was to create a glossy bubble.

6. So with all the steps done the final outcome looks something like this.

References used for assignment 1

2008-07-29T23:54:00.000+08:00

These are the few illustrations that I got from the web

Research on assignment 1

2008-07-29T23:37:00.000+08:00

Global warming has become a hot topic since many countries are experiencing rise in temperature and the rise of the ocean level.

Here's some info i got from EPA usa...

The Earth's climate has changed many times during the planet's history, with events ranging from ice ages to long periods of warmth. Historically, natural factors such as volcanic eruptions, changes in the Earth's orbit, and the amount of energy released from the Sun have affected the Earth's climate. Beginning late in the 18th century, human activities associated with the Industrial Revolution have also changed the composition of the atmosphere and therefore very likely are influencing the Earth's climate.

Science

For over the past 200 years, the burning of fossil fuels, such as coal and oil, and deforestation have caused the concentrations of heat-trapping "greenhouse gases" to increase significantly in our atmosphere. These gases prevent heat from escaping to space, somewhat like the glass panels of a greenhouse.

Greenhouse gases are necessary to life as we know it, because they keep the planet's surface warmer than it otherwise would be. But, as the concentrations of these gases continue to increase in the atmosphere, the Earth's temperature is climbing above past levels. According to NOAA and NASA data, the Earth's average surface temperature has increased by about 1.2 to 1.4ºF in the last 100 years. The eight warmest years on record (since 1850) have all occurred since 1998, with the warmest year being 2005. Most of the warming in recent decades is very likely the result of human activities. Other aspects of the climate are also changing such as rainfall patterns, snow and ice cover, and sea level.

If greenhouse gases continue to increase, climate models predict that the average temperature at the Earth's surface could increase from 3.2 to 7.2ºF above 1990 levels by the end of this century. Scientists are certain that human activities are changing the composition of the atmosphere, and that increasing the concentration of greenhouse gases will change the planet's climate. But they are not sure by how much it will change, at what rate it will change, or what the exact effects will be.

Sources :
EPA USA

Chlorofluorocarbons (CFC) are compounds containing Chlorine , Florine and carbon only, that is they contain no hydrogen. They were formerly used widely in industry, for example as , refrigerant propellants, and cleaning solvents. Their use has been regularly prohibited by the Montreal Protocol, because of effects on the ozone layer(see ozone depletion). They are also powerful greenhouse gases, in terms of carbon dioxide equivalence (over a time period of one hundred years) between 5000 and 8100 per kg. CFCs have half-lives between 50-100 years, so their presence in the atmosphere and reactivity with ozone is long lived. One CFC molecule typically degrades around 10,000 ozone molecules before its removal, but this number can sometimes be in the millions.

Sources :
Wikipedia

Effects of CFCs on environment
CFCs, when released from the surface of the Earth, rise slowly into the stratosphere. Once there, they are bombarded by the incoming UV light from the Sun, releasing the chlorine atoms from the parent compound, which can then react with the ozone molecules (Figure 1). Eventually the chlorine atom is removed from the atmosphere by other reactions.

Figure 1: The destruction of stratospheric ozone (6)

Chlorofluorocarbons (which are used in aerosols, refrigerants, and other industrial products) are remarkably inert and nonreactive. Indeed, it is because of these characteristics---specifically because they are nontoxic and nonflammable---that they were invented. But when they eventually rise into the stratosphere, they are decomposed by solar ultraviolet radiations into free chlorine atoms:
Chlorofluorocarbon ---> Cl,
Cl + O3 ---> ClO + O2,
ClO + O ---> Cl + O2.
The chlorine atoms are recycled in these reactions, and are then free to attack other ozone molecules. A single chlorine atom, released by the action of UV radiation on chlorofluorocarbons, is capable of destroying catalytically tens of thousands of ozone molecules during its residence in the stratosphere.
The emission of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) from refrigerators, air conditioners, and aerosols attributes to an increasing “hole” in the ozone layer in the atmosphere above Antarctica, coupled with growing evidence of global ozone depletion. (7)

Source : Wei Zhong , Department of Chemistry University of Georgia

2nd attemp on Assignment 1

2008-07-19T17:57:00.000+08:00

Assignment 1 Presentation

2008-07-17T09:04:00.000+08:00

1st day of class

2008-06-26T21:48:00.000+08:00

hmm real blunder... went to fom search up and down running like crap looking for the class then finally came yo FCM and the class was actually in AR 2004 instead of DR 2004 MMU's system is really !@#$%^&*.... I think the Melaka system is much better where they state the building's name infront of the venue...