Guidelines For Scanning Images

Tips to get the best out of scanning images: 

1.)  Capture at the highest quality colour settings offered by the capture device.  Capture at the full colour depth offered by the capture device. This should certainly be at least 24bit (8bit per channel), however many scanners now offer the ability to capture at higher colour depths (30-48bit).

This will be slower, uses more memory and will increase storage requirements. However the archive image will then have been stored at the best possible quality from the device allowing re-use with confidence.

These ‘high-bit’ files will provide higher quality images (increased maximum density and shadow detail) which can then be used to down-sample to 24 bit colour images.

Many scanners also offer a choice of quality levels to the user. The ‘High Quality’ scan provides a higher quality by multiple sampling where the scanner effectively scans twice (or more) and then averages the results. This improves the quality but extends the scanning time. It is certainly recommended as long as the project can justify the extra time taken to capture the work. 

2.)  Capture at the highest resolution necessary for your uses (or larger than your current needs).  Operational specifications should be set that quantify the required file sizes and formats for your project. Images must be captured at a resolution that provides files to this size or larger. Remember that capturing at a higher resolution will provide some extra future-proofing at the price of extra archive and storage costs.

3.)  Visually check each and every image.  Every image should be given a visual check for any obvious faults, re-capturing at time of creation is easier and less time consuming than having to return to the original at a later date.

4.)  Once image is captured, save it.  Save the image within a ‘standard’ open uncompressed file-format. This is normally TIFF. The image file should be saved with a unique name following a standardised name structure that provides enough information to locate the original image.

Designing Logos

I’ve had the fotunate experience of designing a company logo.  Or so I thought I was fortunate.  As I delved into the project, I quickly realized I might be in over my head.  A lot of trial and error and communication with the company and I came up with a design we were all happy with.  Had I only read this chapter and the links provided on the class blog, first!  Wow, that would have really helped! 

Here are some helpful tips: 
1.)  Learn what a logo is and what it represents
A logo is for inspiring trust, recognition and admiration for a company or product and it is our job as designers to create an identity that will do its job.

2.)  Research the client’s industry
A comprehensive knowledge of the client’s business and industry plays a key role in the creation of a logo that not only portrays the correct message, but also helps the client stand out in their sector.

3.)  Create the logo in vector format
Vector applications such as Adobe Illustrator create artwork based on mathematical equations, whereas raster based applications such as Adobe Photoshop rely on the underlying pixels of the document. In order for a logo design to be scaled without the quality of the imagery being affected the logo must be in vector format.

4.)  Keep it Simple (Stupid)
A popular principle in the world of design is the acronym KISS, which stands for Keep It Simple, Stupid. The idea being to aim towards simplicity in a design rather than unnecessary complexity.

5.)  Learn the software and complete the logo
After you have got your design process sorted out, it is usually a good time to begin mastering your software.  Putting this aside, once you have arrived at your initial ideas and sketches from brainstorming, you can then move onto the computer to start digitizing your logo. After you have digitized the great concept(s), your client is ready to review your work, ask for possible revisions, and complete the design project. Thus, you have successfully created a professional logo.

Color Palette

For this assignment, I went to http://colorschemedesigner.com to create a color palette.  It was alot of fun and I found several ideas for future color schemes.  I’ve always been at a loss when it came to putting together a color palette.  This site made it very easy!  I had the choice of mono, complement, triad, tetrad, analogic, and accented analogic types. 

I played around with all of them.  Then, I picked triad to come up with my current favorite color scheme.  To check it out, click here.

I look forward to seeing the palettes you come up with!

Typography

In design, I rely on stylish fonts to convey the right message. For projects like wedding or graduation invitations, I turn to script fonts like Edwardian Script. For quirky blog titles, I use fun fonts like Action Is, Crazy Harold, and Skater dudes. Windows doesn’t come pre-installed with many whimsical fonts, so I look online for new ones.

Favorite font sites:
1001 Free Fonts
Urban Fonts
DaFont
Fonts.Com

If you have a favorite font download site, please share here in a comment!  Thanks!

Good Designers Copy, Great Designers Steal

Cameron Moll’s depiction of Pablo Picasso’s quote, “Good artists copy, great artists steal”.  In Moll’s article, he discusses three levels of design that copy, or rather steal the work of others. 

In Level 1, he focuses on the web design aspect of design.  He suggests copying, not creating an original layout.  Someone worked hard to invent the wheel.  So, why try to reinvent it???  You can take the idea of one site and totally revamp it to make it your own by making subtle design modifications.  In today’s economy, many companies looking for a website cannot afford the time and money to allow a web designer full reign and design of a site.  So, designers use layouts they see and like, modify them, and make them their own. 

Level 2 is all about stealing from yourself.  As a designer, I have several incomplete designs saved on my computer.  Using them as well as successful designs as a starting point is guaranteed to give you many advantages.  If a design of yours worked well once, likely the same layout or structure will work again.  This adds to your overall style. 

In the final level, 3, Moll discusses how to steal from discrete sources.  Open your eyes and look around!  You’ll find inspiration everywhere.  You can copy ideas, just not the work. 

Good designers copy, great designers steal!

Getting the creative juices flowing

Wow.  Just wow!  After reading Jacob Cass’s creative advice, I feel a little more inspired!  I particularly like his “What if” technique!  Designers are always trying to creat the next big thing.  We try to stand out from the crowd.  Following text book instructions will result in similar designs for each designer.  But, thinking outside the box… thinking What if I… will open the box to new designs and techniques.

Gestalt Principles of Perception

Until today, my ideas for design were unorganized or at least missing a standard of some sort.  Andy Rudtledge’s site gave me some great guidance I’ll use from here on out.  Here are some general definitions of Gestalt’s Principles of Perception that I got from Andy Rudtledge’s site. 

Figure Ground Relationship
Elements are perceived as either figures (distinct elements of focus) or ground (the background or landscape on which the figures rest).

Law of Prägnanz
Humans tend to interpret ambiguous or complex images as simple and complete.

Uniform Connectedness
Elements that share uniform visual characteristics are perceived as being more related than elements with disparate visual characteristics.

Good Continuation
Elements arranged on a line or curve are perceived to be more related than elements not on the line or curve.

Closure
When looking at a complex arrangement of individual elements, humans tend to first look for a single, recognizable pattern.

Common Fate
Humans tend to perceive elements moving in the same direction as being more related than elements that are stationary or that move in different directions.

Proximity
Things that are close to one another are perceived to be more related than things that are spaced farther apart.

Similarity
Things that are similar are perceived to be more related than things that are dissimilar.

Reflections

Graphic and web design are constantly changing and updating with new technology.  Designers mutate from caterpillars to beautiful butterflies.  Give no disregard to the designs along this path.  All work is a learning process and something to be proud of. 

I look forward to displaying some of my work and tricks of the trade I learn.  This blog gives me a space to organize, reflect, and learn from my designs.  I think it’s a tool I’ll be using for years ahead.