Week 4 - Inkscape

This week we were introduced to inkscape.

I spent a lot of time working through the tutorials to learn different techniques, creating various pieces of modern art in the process.

The task given was to create a logo for a canned drink. This task proved to be much more difficult than I first anticipated.

Initially I created the can out of a rectangle and two ellipses, formed from Inkscape's drawing and editing tools on the vertical tool bar. Then I used the union tool to create the body of the can, leaving the remaining eclipse as the top. I used the path editing tool to adjust the base of the can shape slightly.

The colour was created using gradient fill and I attempted to create a ring pull using a further eclipse and adjusting the width of the border.

The label was created using a yellow gradient filled rectangle and text was added. The kernelling of the text was reduced to look more label like, using keyboard short cuts. Then the letters Y and Z were raised to produce a designer look using the path edit tool. The whole text was rotated using the rotation tool.

Finally, gradient filled bubbles were added to the can.

As this was my first ever attempt at this type of project I was pleased with my initial results.

Week 3

This week we were given a picture of Austin and had to place a beer in his hand and find him an alternate suitable setting.

I selected austin using the lasso tool and pasted him onto a new layer.

I then found a picture of beer on the internet from the following site http://www.sdluxurytransportation.com/sitebuilder/images/beerglass-223x269.png

This image I imported into a new layer and changed the scale, I then merged it down into Austins hands but I found it hid his fingers, so I undid it and then using the lassoo I selected his fingers and copied them onto their own layer.I mereged the beer layer down onto the picture of Austin and then Pasted the fingers ontop of the glass I found that I had to rotate, flip and invert them.

I then deleted the background layer and added the new more interesting sceen. Obtained from Photo bucket - space stars http://media.photobucket.com/image/space+stars/arthoward/16.jpg?o=65

Week 2 More Gimp

This week in Electronic Content I had to make a logo using Gimp. This proved problematic for me, I'm not sure if this is because I was too tired but I found the tutorial very difficult to follow and had to improvise and restart my work far too often.

So after a whole afternoons work, here is my effort.

This image was created in 4 layers, a background layer, text layer, colour layer and a shadow layer.
The image does have a transparent background, however when it is lifted onto the blog the background appears white. I am not sure why this has happened


The next task was to create a snowman. Well the weather is not that bad yet so here's a couple we created earlier;

I decided that a beach scene would be more appropriate for the snowman at this time of year; he is obviously taking an autumn break.

Using Gimp I used the lasso function to select the snowman, I enlarged the picture to make my selection as accurate as possible. I was unable to use the magic wand for this because there was not enough differential between the foreground and background colours.

I added him to the beach scene using a separate layer. Again using Gimp, I added him to the beach scene photo, obtained from the internet, by opening the scene on as a separate layer. I then copied and pasted the lassoed snowman over.

Week 1

This week we were introduced to the course.




To get us started we downloaded Gimp the GNU image manipulation program. I had a number of problems with the program crashing, once when I had just completed the image but not saved. This was a good life lesson, I have now learned an important life lesson, to SAVE, SAVE and SAVE. Well at least I've learned this at the start of the course.

After finally completing a worksheet I created the image below.

Multi layering was used, together with a range of tools such as painting using gradients, inserting shapes and images, blending, smudging and perspective tools.

The image was then exported from the program and saved as a jpg image.