Tuesday 26 November 2013

Design for web / Group Crit

26 / 11 / 13
DESIGN FOR WEB / OUGD504.
GROUP CRIT.

I presented my ideas and plans for this brief and my website so far. i showed the group the scamps and wire framing i had created as well as explaining the direction i am going in, the aesthetics i want to apply as well as the navigation tools I wish to incorporate.

The feedback I gathered from the group:
- Do not make the pages too complex, create the 3 main pages and propose the rest.

- Start to use the dream-wever software and experiment with what is possible considering your knowledge as well as what you want on your pages.

- Start too look at the pixel measurements, padding and margins.

- Think about a colour scheme as well as making them suitable as web safe colours.

- Think about types and fonts that are available for web.

- think about the inclusion of a landing page and whether enough it is needed or unnecessary.



MY THOUGHTS

I had already realised that I would not be capable of creating the full website I had proposed and had already decided that i would code and arrange the 3 main pages.

I defiantly need to start applying my design through the Dream weaver software to get to grips on the possibilities and the tools needed to create the aesthetics and navigation I would like.

I need to come up with a suitable colour scheme as well as making sure that they are web safe. This is important when creating icons, images, photographs and logos.

I need to sort out patterns and imagery that would be used as accompanying and background images as well as text for the conent of my different pages.


Sunday 24 November 2013

Design for Print / Book Binding

24 / 11 / 13
DESIGN FOR PRINT / OUGD504
BOOK BINDING
CONSIDERATION OF METHODS.

I have tried the method Japanese binding/stab stich binding before and ever though I o like the aesthetic this method of binding gives, i would like to try something that I have not tried before.
With a lot of binding you have to be aware of the effect it has on the inside margin in you book. With the binding I have used before I have made the mistake of not taking into consideration the amount of room on a page the binding can take and how this effects th opening a viewing of the inside pages.

CHOOSING THE RIGHT BINDING TYPE
I found this link very helpful while thinkning about the possibilities I could use for my print book.

Because of the complex nature of my book and the possibility of multiple materials and types of paper, I need to consider this when deciding on how to bind my book.

My initial idea was to use the Tape binding method as this would allow me to work in single pages rather than having the concern of complex pagination.
EXAMPLE OF TAPE BINDING



I made a small example to get an ideas on the aesthetic this binding method would give (the colours use are not an influence for my finished product.
The colour here have no reference on my finished book, just a simlpe test.
I do like the finish of this type of binding and i feel that because my content would be quite complex that having a simple bind such as this would balance the publication out quite nicely.


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After my last crit on the 10 / 12 /13 I was advised to change the style of binding because it was suggested that this type of binding may effect the way in with the book is received.
During this time i have also looked at other binding techniques.

I like the look of the screw binding technique.
I think that this type of binding may suit the hand on aesthetic I am going for and it would also be easy to work around considering pagination as I can bind in single pages.

I went to Vernon street to enquire about this technique to get some advise on what would be best. The technician suggested i look in to a technique called coptic binding. She said it would be beneficial for the type of book I am making because it allows the book pages to open and lay flat.

I started to look further into this.
I had heard of this technique before but not actually looked into it properly. I really like the aesthetic of this type of bind and I think it would really look nice with the ethos of the publication I want to make.



The only worry I have is the fact that the examples i have looked at all have paged that are folded for pagination.

I tried to find some examples of single page binding.


There aren't really that many examples of single page coptic binding online or in any books I had looked in in the library. There are also not tutorials online. The only thing I could find is this link.

http://www.boundarypress.com.au/tuteSingleSheetCoptic.php 

On this page it actually states that this binding technique is best to use when binding pages of different consistencies and materials.

I had a little dabble in the technique to see how easy or hard it would be.

 I wrapped a little magic tape around the edge of the page because the first attempted ripped straight through the page she I tightened the link stitch

Im really impressed with how this looks and even though I found it difficult to make the first link stitch, once you get going it becomes easier to make the stitches when adding each page.


Saturday 23 November 2013

Design for Print / Logo Development

21 / 11 / 13
DESIGN FOR PRINT / OUGD504
LOGO DEVELOPMENT.
IDEAS / SKETCHES.

I feel like I want the cover of my book to just have smile logo on the front that has either been embossed or perhaps de-bossed on.

I have decided to call the publication 'Begin to Print' as it is short and to the point like how i want my explanations and visuals of each process to be.
 I mocked up a few ideas on the computer to see how I could present the title of my book. I like this typeface 'Bebas Neue' as it is very simple and spaces well which may be an advantage when working with emboss and de-boss.

After a while I began to think that these king of aesthetics for a front cover look rather to formal and did not go to well with the 'hand on' feel I was going for.

I decided to look in more scrip like fonts to see how this would appeal instead.

I played around with a few thing, however did not achieve a look that I was satisfied with. Because of this i decided to sit down and draw the type of visual i could see in my head.
 

I have really enjoyed developing and drawing these various logos and feel that I have developed a good solution for a logo that represents and suits the ethos I want to portray for my publication.

I am excited to use this logo for different processes, especially emboss and de-boss. 


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DIGITALISING MY LOGO
I took my sketch and scanned it on to the computer. Using the Illustrator software, I then drew around the image with a pen tool un till I was satisfied with the scale and perspective of the logo.




I am very happy with the outcome of the sketch and digital representation. I feel that there is a goof balance between a hand rendered element, symbolising the hands on ethos, and rigidity which gives the letterforms strength when printed via different methods.


Thursday 21 November 2013

Lino cutting / Ideas / Testing

15 / 11 / 13
DESIGN FOR PRINT / OUGD504
LINO CUT PRINTING
TESTING OF IDEAS

I already knew what I wanted to achieve with the lino cut process as I had the idea a while ago.
I wanted to create a stamp that was hand cut and one the would be laser cut to show a comparison on the prints.


 I was looking at whether to use a script like font or not, in the end I feel that the sans serif type looked more straight forward and easy to read.

 I printed this out, transferred it to the lino slab and cut it out using some tools I had purchased online.


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PRINTING

I went to the laser cutter and etched another slab of lino the same design as I had cut out by hand. I then sarted to test out how these looked taking images along the way that could be used for my book.









I tried to make it looks though in was being applied.


Showing the press from a birds eye view.


 i couldn't get a shot of the press from above.
I really like the lighter ink on the darker stock and thin its a good idea to show something like this as a lighter ink on a darker stock cannot be achieved through digital.

I wanted to also display how beneficial lino cutting is when working with more illustrative designs so I came up with a more illustrative design and cut it out ready to print.