Visual Design Fundamentals

by Hashimoto, Alan

• ISBN13: 9781584502593
• ISBN10: 1584502592
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2003-12-29
• Publisher: Charles River Media

Summary

Today's technology makes the creation of brilliant, computer-generated designs and images possible for anyone with the right tools. But before you put these tools to work, you need to understand how to apply the principles of design to ensure that your designs really entertain and communicate effectively. Visual Design Fundamentals: A Digital Approach teaches these principles and provides artists and designers with the foundation and background they need to understand the art of two-dimensional design. This full color book begins with an exploration through the classic elements of design (line, shape, form, value, color, and texture) and their relationship with balance, harmony, variety, and other classic design principles. The theories presented are well-established ideas in all forms of two-dimensional art and design, including drawing, painting, printmaking, graphics, and general design. These principles may also be applied to interior design, architecture, and industrial design. The various ideas covered are illustrated and taught through a variety of projects that use basic computer skills and techniques. The tutorials are designed to address classic tools and procedures common to all drawing and paint programs such as Adobe Illustrator® CS and Adobe Photoshop® CS.

Author Biography

Alan Hashimoto (Logan, UT) is an associate professor in the field of graphic design and computer art at Utah State University

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	xv
Introduction	xvii
Design Elements	1	(24)
Introduction	1	(1)
Line	1	(6)
Line and Design	4	(1)
Line Direction	4	(3)
Shape	7	(10)
Shape and Design	8	(3)
Rectilinear Shapes	11	(4)
Curvilinear Shapes	15	(2)
Negative Space	17	(2)
Volume	19	(1)
Value	19	(2)
Value and Design	19	(2)
Color	21	(1)
Texture	22	(1)
Summary	23	(2)
Principles of Design	25	(26)
Introduction	25	(1)
Gestalt	25	(1)
Unity or Harmony	26	(14)
Unity and Placement	27	(4)
Unity and Repetition	31	(3)
Unity and Rhythm	34	(2)
Unity Using Value	36	(1)
Unity and Continuity	36	(4)
Variety	40	(4)
Variety and Line	40	(2)
Variety and Visual Weight	42	(1)
Variety and Contrasting Types of Shapes	42	(2)
Focal Point and Visual Hierarchy	44	(3)
Balance	47	(3)
Summary	50	(1)
Introduction to Content and From: Problem Solving and Digital Process	51	(16)
Introduction	51	(1)
Introduction to Design Projects	52	(1)
Conceptual Process	53	(6)
Step One: Research and Define the Problem	53	(1)
Step Two: Preliminary Solutions, Organized List of Options, and Thumbnail Sketches	54	(1)
Step Three: Roughs. Refined Preliminary Visual Design Solutions and Alternatives	55	(1)
Step Four: Composites or Comps. The Final Preliminary Step in the Design Process	55	(3)
Step Five: The Final Design or Finish	58	(1)
Production Process	59	(3)
Computer Applications Used in Design	59	(3)
How to Use Design Applications and This Book	62	(3)
Summary	65	(2)
Design Project One: Modular Design Project Part One	67	(34)
Introduction	67	(1)
Content	68	(4)
The Basic Problem Defined	68	(2)
Background	70	(2)
Conceptual Process	72	(1)
Production Process	73	(1)
Tutorial: Steps in Creating the Grid and Circle Patterns	74	(7)
Creating a New Document	74	(1)
Creating the Grid # 1: The 3 x 3 Square Grid	74	(2)
Creating the Grid #2: The Triangle Grid	76	(1)
Creating the Grid #3: The Square and Circle Grid	77	(2)
Creating the Grid #4: The Circles	79	(2)
Tutorial: Steps in Creating Shapes Using the Grid and Circle Patterns as Guides	81	(16)
Using the Pen Tool	81	(1)
The First Design	82	(2)
The Second Design	84	(2)
The Third Design: Using the Pathfinder Palette	86	(4)
The Fourth Design	90	(6)
Creating the Fourth Shape	96	(1)
Summary	97	(4)
Design Project One: Modular Design Project Part Two	101	(24)
Introduction	101	(1)
Content	102	(2)
The Basic Problem Defined	102	(1)
Background	102	(2)
Conceptual Process	104	(3)
Production Process	107	(1)
Scanning Basics	107	(1)
Tutorial: Scanning	108	(3)
Tutorial: Importing the File into Illustrator for Tracing	111	(3)
Tutorial: Tracing Your Roughs	114	(9)
Using Guides	115	(2)
Trace your Roughs: Primary Design I	117	(3)
Trace Your Roughs: Primary Design III	120	(3)
Questions Your Should Ask Yourself	123	(1)
Summary	124	(1)
Design Project Two: Letterforms and Shape	125	(22)
Introduction	125	(1)
Content	126	(8)
Defining the Basic Problem	126	(1)
Background	127	(7)
Tutorial: Production Process	134	(11)
Using the Type Tool in Illustrator	134	(1)
Converting Type to Paths: Create Outlines	135	(1)
Using the Transform Tools: Reflect and Scale	136	(2)
The Direct Selection Tool: ``Pulling'' Points	138	(2)
Changing Fills and Strokes Using the Toolbar	140	(1)
Using the Transform Tools: Rotate and Scale	140	(2)
Using the Pathfinder to Divide Shapes	142	(2)
Using Clipping Masks	144	(1)
Summary	145	(2)
Design Project Three: Figure Abstraction and Non-Objective Shape	147	(28)
Introduction and the Basic Problem Defined	147	(1)
Content	148	(9)
Background	148	(3)
Conceptual Process	151	(1)
Design One: Figure Abstraction	151	(3)
Designs Two, Three, and Four: Sequential Designs	154	(1)
Design Five: Asymmetrical Non-Objective Design	155	(1)
All Five Design: Conceptual Process	155	(2)
Tutorial: Digital Production Process	157	(15)
Preparing your Project	157	(2)
Trace and Create the First Figure	159	(1)
Using the Pen and Convert Anchor Point Tools	160	(2)
Using the Reflect Tool and ``Joining'' Points	162	(2)
Using the Pathfinder	164	(4)
Using Group/Ungroup	168	(1)
Modify the Figure Moving Points and Handles	168	(2)
Using the Clipping Mask	170	(1)
Printing the Final File	171	(1)
Summary	172	(3)
Design Project Four: Value	175	(24)
Introduction and the Basic Problem Defined	175	(1)
Content	176	(8)
Background	176	(6)
Conceptual Process	182	(2)
Tutorial: Traditional and Digital Production Process	184	(13)
Preparing Your Project	184	(3)
Creating the First Drawing	187	(1)
Creating the Simplified Drawing	187	(2)
Tracing the Image: Using Layers and Sublayers	189	(2)
The Swatches Palette	191	(6)
Finishing the Design	197	(1)
Summary	197	(2)
Design Project Five: Color Theory	199	(34)
Introduction	199	(1)
Content	200	(17)
Background in Color Theory	200	(17)
Design Project Five: Color	217	(3)
Basic Problem Defined	217	(1)
Conceptual Process	217	(3)
Tutorial: Digital Production Process	220	(12)
Preparing Your Project	220	(12)
Summary	232	(1)
Design Project Six: Typeface Design	233	(42)
Introduction	233	(1)
Content	234	(12)
Background	234	(12)
Typeface Design Project	246	(3)
Defining the Problem	246	(3)
Tutorial: Digital Production Process	249	(11)
Fonts and Your Operating System	249	(1)
Character and Paragraph Palettes	250	(2)
The Type Tools	252	(3)
Path Type Tools	255	(5)
Tutorial: The Project: A Case Study	260	(13)
Research	261	(1)
Thumbnails	261	(1)
Roughs	261	(3)
Composites	264	(1)
Creating Visual Depth Using Value	265	(1)
Color	265	(1)
Transparency	266	(1)
Pattern	266	(1)
A Quick Review	267	(3)
Preparing Your Document	270	(1)
Outputting Your Poster/Design	270	(3)
Summary	273	(2)
Design Project Seven: Digital Montage/Collage	275	(56)
Introduction	275	(1)
Content	276	(7)
The Basic Problem Defined	276	(1)
Background Information	276	(5)
Conceptual Process and the Project Details	281	(2)
Tutorial: Digital Production Process	283	(46)
Preparing the Project	283	(2)
Document Setup	285	(44)
Summary	329	(2)
About The CD-ROM	331	(2)
System Requirements	332	(1)
Windows	332	(1)
Macintosh	332	(1)
Index	333