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Illustration & Visual Narrative / Lectures & Exercises & Tutorials


23/09/2024 - 29/12/2024 / Week 1 - Week 14

Ye YingYing / 0364398

Illustration & Visual Narrative / Bachelor of Design (Hons) in Creative Media / Taylor's University

All Works Here - Google Drive

TABLE OF CONTENTS

LECTURES NOTES 

- Week 1: CHARACTER DESIGN BASICS -

Stylized Design

Figure 1.01 - Lec note Pg.4
- Stylized characters are iconic and recognizable, even as black silhouettes.
- Simplicity in design helps viewers quickly understand the character's purpose.
- This simplicity also makes characters unique, memorable, and impactful for viewers.


Principles of Character Design

Figure 1.02 - Lec note Pg.5
1. Shape
- Used to identify a character from one another (character's silhouette)
- Use the character's persona as the basis of the shapes for design (add weight to personality)
2. Colour
- Colors help define and distinguish the basic traits of heroes, villains, and background characters.
- Different colors evoke various emotions, making characters more relatable for viewers.
3. Emphasis & Contrast
- A strong character design emphasizes and contrasts visual elements to stand out.
- Colors and varied shapes are used to enhance this distinctiveness.
4. Harmony
- Every element in your design should complement each other, with shapes, lines, colors, motifs, and patterns harmoniously combined.
- Consider visual hierarchy and how it aligns with the character's narrative.
5. Expressions, Poses
- Expressive and emotive characters captivate the audience.
- Clearly visualizing behaviors, quirks, and personalities makes characters more appealing to viewers.


- Week 2: CHIAROSCURO -

The use of light and dark to create the illusion of three-dimensional volume on a flat surface.

- Chiaroscuro uses clear tonal contrast to create three-dimensional volume in paintings.
- It increases dramatic tension by highlighting the subject with color or light contrast.
- The technique emphasizes the subject's importance, enhancing visual impact.


Tenebrism
- A painting technique where details like faces and hands are highlighted against a mostly dark background, creating a dramatic contrast.

Chiaroscuro in Visual Arts
- Often used in comics, film, and digital art, this technique highlights the focal point by contrasting it with a dark setting.

Low-Key Lighting
- Common in photography and film, it uses shadows to emphasize contours, with fill lights to control contrast, enhancing emotional impact.

Chiaroscuro in Visual Narrative
- This technique is effective for distinguishing positive and negative spaces.


Chiaroscuro is used in visual narrative because it is an excellent method to 
differentiate positive & negative spaces

Figure 2.01 - Lec note Pg.13


- Week 3: COMPOSITION THEORY 1 // VISUAL TYPES AND SHOTS -

Composition in design = the arrangement of the elements in your visual


Basic composition visual rules



Figure 3.01 - Lec note Pg.5
Figure 3.02 - Lec note Pg.11

Establishing Shot
- Wide shots that set the scene, showcasing the setting's scale and providing context.

Bird's Eye View
- Overhead shot from a 90-degree angle, directly above the subject, offering a unique perspective.

Frame Within a Frame
- Composition technique that uses elements to frame the subject, adding depth and visual interest.

Medium Shot
- Three-quarters shot that frames a character from the waist up, commonly used to balance detail and context.

Close-Up
- Focuses on a character’s face, conveying intimate emotions and thoughts, and drawing viewers into the character's perspective.

Worm's Eye View
- Shot from below, looking up at the subject, often used to make the subject appear powerful or imposing.

- Week 4: COMPOSITION THEORY 2 // PERSPECTIVE -


Figure 4.01 - Different Perspective

Single Vanishing Point (1-Point Perspective):
- Objects emerge from a single point on the horizon.
- Objects shrink as they approach the vanishing point, eventually disappearing.

Two Vanishing Points (2-Point Perspective):
- Place two vanishing points on opposite sides of the horizon.
- Helps create a sense of space and dimension.
- Allows objects to recede toward two points for more dynamic perspectives.

Three Vanishing Points (3-Point Perspective):
- Adds a third vanishing point above or below the horizon.
- Creates a sense of drama and scale.
- If far from the horizon, creates subtle angles; closer placement creates extreme viewing angles.
- Useful for “looking down” into a scene, like a cityscape.

Isometric View (for Buildings/Details):
- Shows three sides of an object without distortion.
- Ideal for presenting clear, undistorted details.

Dynamic Perspective Application

Flexible Use of Perspective
- Perspective enhances almost any illustration or scene.
- It doesn’t have to be applied rigidly; strict adherence is unnecessary.

Mixing Perspectives
- Combining different perspective methods can add energy and uniqueness.
- Example: A crashing spaceship with contrasting ground perspective for added impact.

Creative Freedom
- Dynamic application of perspective allows for more engaging, visually interesting scenes.



- Week 5: COMPOSITION THEORY 3 // FORE, MID & BACKGROUND -

Figure 5.01 - The three grounds

Foreground
- Objects closest to the viewer.
- Typically larger and more detailed.

Middle-Ground
- Objects situated between the foreground and background.
- Helps create depth and separation.

Background
- Objects farthest from the viewer.
- Often less detailed, setting the scene or environment.

Design Flow
 - Leads the viewer’s eye around the composition, moving smoothly from one element to another.
- Achieved by arranging foreground, middle-ground, and background effectively to indicate movement and rhythm.

Visual Influence
- Good flow guides the viewer’s way of understanding content.
- Essential in interface and information design to combine type, lines, contrast, color, and imagery harmoniously.



- Week 6: THREE-ACTS STRUCTURE -

Figure 6.01 - Traditional three-acts structure chart

Theme
- Core idea or meaning of the story.
- Major Theme: Central idea repeated throughout.
- Minor Theme: Subtle idea, less frequent.

Conflict
- Drives the story, creating tension and audience engagement.
- Essential for keeping the story compelling.

Characters
- Protagonist: Main character with a goal or conflict.
- Antagonist: Opposes the protagonist, creating obstacles.

Three-Act Structure
- Setup: Introduces protagonist’s world and reveals conflict.
- Rising Tension: Challenges escalate.
- Climax: Peak tension and turning point.
- Resolution: Conflict is resolved, journey concludes.



- Week 7: Transitions -


Figure 7.01 - Moment to Moment
  • Creates a slow, immersive experience that draws readers into the smallest details.


Figure 7.02- Action to Action
  • Keeps the story dynamic and fast-paced.


Figure 7.03 - Subject to Subject
  • Allows for quick shifts in focus between different characters or objects within the same scene, enhancing dialogue or interactions.


Figure 7.04 - Scene to Scene
  • Efficiently moves the story across time and space, allowing the narrative to progress quickly.


Figure 7.05 - Aspect to Aspect
  • Builds atmosphere and mood by focusing on various parts of a scene.

CLASS EXERCISES

- Week 2: The Bezier Game -

First, we started by playing The Bezier Game, which helped us get familiar with using the pen tool to create different shapes. This introduction was to prepare us for Adobe Illustrator. 




Figure 2.02, 2.03 - The Bezier Game


Afterward, Mr. Hafiz introduced The Vormator Challenge, explaining that everyone gets the same 8 shapes, called the Elements, and must create a unique design following the Rulebook's strict limitations. 

Figure 2.04 - The 8 Vormator elements

Finally, we practiced tracing these eight elements using the pen tool in Adobe Illustrator.

Figure 2.05 - Tracing by using pen tool

Figure 2.06 - Traced 8 elements.      


- Week 3: Pathfinder -

This week,  Mr. Hafiz taught us how to use the Pathfinder tool in Adobe Illustrator. We practiced by remaking the Adidas and Twitter logos using this method, which helped us understand how to combine and manipulate shapes more effectively.

Figure 3.03 - Remade Adidas logo

Figure 3.04 - Remade Twitter logo


- Week 4: Gradient -

In Week Four, Mr. Hafiz introduced how to use gradients effectively and showed us how to apply them to our backgrounds to add depth and dimension. He explained how gradients can make scenes look more realistic and visually engaging by creating a sense of light, shadow, and contrast.
Figure 4.02 - Final work


- Week 7: Illustrator Techniques -

This week, we learned several illustrator tools. 
  1. Intertwine
  2. Brush Tool
  3. 3D Effect 
  4. Clipping Mask
  5. Expand
  6. Knife Tool

Figure 7.06
Figure 7.07

Figure 7.08

- Week 8: Envelope Distort -

This week, we had an online replacement class and Mr. Hafiz introduced us to the [ Envelope Distort ] tool, which has three different distort types, 
  1. make with wrap
  2. make with mesh
  3. make with top object
Figure 8.01


TUTORIALS

- Week 3: Pathfinder -

How to remake the Twitter bird logo?

1. Use the Ellipse tool to trace the outline of the object
2. Use Pathfinder -> Divide Parts
3. Select all subjects  -> Ungroup them
4. Delete the unwanted parts
5. Or use the Shape Builder Tool to delete the extra part (by moving the mouse, easier)

Figure 3.05 - Steps 1,2,3

Figure 3.06 - Steps 5,6


- Week 4: Gradient -

The simple way to start gradient in Adobe Illustrator 
  1. Choose the Gradient Tool: Select the Gradient Tool from the toolbar or use the shortcut (G).
  2. Apply Gradient to an Object: Click on the object you want to apply the gradient to, then open the Gradient panel to adjust settings.
  3. Adjust Gradient Type: Choose between linear, radial, or freeform gradients, depending on the effect you want.
  4. Customize Colors: Click on the gradient slider to add, change, or adjust the colors in the gradient. This step helps create smooth transitions.
  5. Adjust Gradient Direction and Position: Use the Gradient Tool to drag across the object, setting the direction, length, and angle of the gradient for more control over the light and shadow.

Figure 4.03 - Progress 1
Figure 4.04 - Progress 2

- Week 7: Illustrator Techniques -

This week, we practiced several tools in illustrator

Applied of Intertwine


                                 Brush Tool & 3D Effect                                 


  1. Type in the name
  2. Use the brush tool to draw a flow
  3. Apply the 3D effect to the name
  4. Adjust the flow path
  5. Use intertwine to add depth






Final Work



Clipping Mask


                                      Final Work                                         
  1. Type in the number, and move up the 0
  2. Apply clipping mask to the texture pic
  3. Use the brush tool to draw flow
  4. Apply Intertwine to create depth
  5. Expand the path
  6. Select the path
  7. Apply gradient
  8. Use the Knife Tool to divide the gradient

- Week 8: Envelope Distort -

This week, we had an online replacement class and Mr. Hafiz introduced us to the [ Envelope Distort ]
Final Work



                         Progress of the fish exercise                        
  1. Draw out the shape with the Ellipse tool
  2. Create the point arche with Convert
  3. Use Shape Builder to make the fish
  4. Use the rectangle tool and pathfinder (minus fonts) to select the wanted area
  5. Create the text and adjust the kerning, etc.
  6. Select both the text and the wanted area, and use envelope distort (make with top object)
  7. Expand the text to the path, and smooth
  8. Select a pic with a pattern or texture
  9. Click Trace, then select preset as black and white
  10. Use Magic Wand to delete the white part, and change the black path to white color.
  11. Select the fishtail, by using the envelope distort (make with wrap) tool, adjust its shape
  12. Use the envelope distort (make with top object) tool on the pattern





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