Photoshop Fun
By Jacob on May 15, 2008
I work for a company that has computer labs in a lot of difference high schools all throughout the United States. Part of my job is to provide technical support for these high schools either over the phone, through a ticketing system, or on the online forums. Another part of my job is to design tutorials in order to help guide and teach the students how to learn a wide variety of software. Of course, most of my tutorials focus around web design, photoshop, Softimage XSI, and other graphics oriented topics.
My most recent endeavor, tutorial wise, has been to teach a few new techniques using Photoshop. In order to teach these techniques I needed a project. I figured that a project that almost any student could get involved in would be a desktop background. I’ve made two backgrounds so far while trying to determine which specific steps and topics to cover.
The first design was basically the result of me playing around with Photoshop brushes and different effects. It took me a while to figure out the direction that I wanted to take the students, but I thought that I would focus on creating and editing brushes. Alot of people, myself included until not too long ago, either underestimate or just plain don’t know about Photoshop’s ability to customize brushes.
I still have to go back and remake the backgrounds in order to document the proper steps and tools used. Hopefully the students will learn enough and be inspired to make their own!
The two final backgrounds are posted below in 1280×1024 and 1600×1200.
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My Life in Photographs
By Jacob on April 25, 2008
I haven’t had time to make an actual post lately. Finals are coming up and it seems that all of my projects are due within a few days of each other. So instead of a nice post, I have a few pictures from my life that I would like to share.
I traveled to Disney World with the family a few months back and got a few great shots. It was great to get away with the family and have a break from school and work.
It’s not too often that we get a heavy snow fall here in Arkansas, but I was glad that I had my camera whenever it all happened.
I try not to overlook the small things in life. This little find was one that I was happen to stumble upon. The horse figure was just sitting my grass waiting for me to find it.
Most people have a yard gnome in their garden or yard, but look what I have! My room mate was coming in from his car and noticed this pink guard dog sitting by the steps. It’s gone now. I have to admit, I kind of miss it.
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Art in Fun Places
By Jacob on February 11, 2008
I just recently saw a commercial for the new Mountain Dew Bottles that are available for a limited time. (Although they lose some points for the website made completely out of flash.)
I love the fun art on each of the cans. They hired six different designers to make their own unique can. I am really loving the work. I know that it’s all about selling the product, but I really respect the marketing! I will definitely be picking a few up.
Do you know if any other companies throwing some nice artwork on a product to push it off the shelf?
Topics: Art | 2 Comments »
Are Web Designers Left-brained or Right-brained?
By Jacob on February 7, 2008
I’ve always heard of people saying they were left-brained or right-brained, but I’ve never really given much thought to the whole concept. This was until I was in psychology class the other day and the professor starts to pass out a quiz that is designed to help us determine which side of the brain we most frequently use. It also had a profile on each side of the brain.
The left-brained people are better at things such as logic, deadlines, knowing right from wrong, having a perspective of rules, and an awareness of time, sequence, details, and order. On the other hand, the right-brained people are known for their ability to tell if someone is lying or joking, understanding the “big picture,” intuitive and emotional responses, and most famously for their musical, artistic, and visual-spatial activities.
After reading about each type of person, this got me to thinking, What about web designers? Are they more commonly left brained (logical) or right brained (artistic)? I think that everyone would agree that it takes both a sense of logic and analytical thinking and a sense of artistic intuition in order to make a great website. I know people who can write in several different languages all day long, but could not compose a poster to save their life! However, I also know people who could paint an amazing pictures, but if you asked them to make a website that simply said “Hello,” they wouldn’t know where to start.
Left/Right-brain Tests
Here are a couple of tests to help you find out which side of the brain you relate to more.
The first one is a famous picture that is a silhouette of a dancer. The trick is, which direction is the dancer spinning?
If you see the dancer spinning clockwise, then this is supposed to suggest that you are right-brained.
If the figure seems to be spinning counter-clockwise, then you tend to think on the left-brained side of life.
Some are able to see both directions, can you? I have been able to look at the figure and see it spin in one direction, and then turn away for a second before looking again to find it spinning the opposite direction.
The next test is a set of questions. Take a pen and paper and write down your answer to the questions and tally up your points with the rubric at the end. (this test was found here along with some other great information about left/right-brained personalities)
Choose the one sentence that is more true. Do not leave any blanks.
- A ) It’s fun to take risks.
B ) I have fun without taking risks. - A ) I look for new ways to do old jobs.
B ) When one way works well, I don’t change it. - A ) I begin many jobs that I never finish.
B ) I finish a job before starting a new one. - A ) I’m not very imaginative in my work.
B ) I use my imagination in everything I do. - A ) I can analyze what is going to happen next.
B ) I can sense what is going to happen next. - A ) I try to find the one best way to solve a problem.
B ) I try to find different answers to problems. - A ) My thinking is like pictures going through my head.
B ) My thinking is like words going through my head. - A ) I agree with new ideas before other people do.
B ) I question new ideas more than other people do. - A ) Other people don’t understand how I organize things.
B ) Other people think I organize well. - A ) I have good self-discipline.
B ) I usually act on my feelings. - A ) I plan time for doing my work.
B ) I don’t think about the time when I work. - A ) With a hard decision, I choose what I know is right.
B ) With a hard decision, I choose what I feel is right. - A ) I do easy things first and important things later.
B ) I do the important things first and the easy things later. - A ) Sometimes in a new situation, I have too many ideas.
B ) Sometimes in a new situation, I don’t have any ideas. - A ) I have to have a lot of change and variety in my life.
B ) I have to have an orderly and well-planned life. - A ) I know I’m right, because I have good reasons.
B ) I know I’m right, even without good reasons. - A ) I spread my work evenly over the time I have.
B ) I prefer to do my work at the last minute. - A ) I keep everything in a particular place.
B ) Where I keep things depends on what I’m doing. - A ) I have to make my own plans.
B ) I can follow anyone’s plans. - A ) I am a very flexible and unpredictable person.
B ) I am a consistent and stable person. - A ) With a new task, I want to find my own way of doing it.
B ) With a new task, I want to be told the best way to it.
To Score
- Give yourself one point for each time you answered “A” for questions: 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 9, 13, 14, 15, 19, 20, 21.
- Give yourself one point for each time you answered “B” for questions: 4 ,5, 6, 10, 11, 12, 16, 17, 18.
- Add all points. Totals imply:
0-4: strong left brain
5-8: moderate left brain
9-13: middle brain
14-16: moderate right brain
17-21: strong right brain
from The Alert Scale of Cognitive Style, by Dr. Loren D. Crane, Western Michigan University, 1989.
I tested and scored pretty high in the right brain, but I am not lacking too much on the left. I guess you could say that I’m balanced with a preference to the right.
So which one are you? Are you left-brained or right-brained? If you are a web-designer or in any other field where both sides of this cognitive test are used, which side to you tend to favor more?
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What is Graphic Art?
By Jacob on January 29, 2008
Sometimes I get asked what exactly is graphic design. I try to explain the use of words and images to convey a certain meaning or concept, but that seems to just skim the surface of what a graphic designer does.
Graphic design is basically the process of using typography and images to communicate ideas visually (wikipedia). This definition may sound pretty simple, but when you tear the pieces apart you can see the complexity of graphic design.
…process of using typography and images… : the most important and essential tools for any graphic designer. An understanding of these two elements is fundamental. These two factors are well known about all graphic designers. Since the creation of the art type and pictures have been the key elements to design.
..typography and images to communicate ideas…: knowing the most effective method to get the message across. This is where the graphic designer begins to delve into the realms of psychology. Although it may be unconscious, great graphic designers have a knack for really knowing their audience. Understanding how a certain group of people (the people that you are trying to reach) will respond to your design and to the embedded message is extremely important. Everyone translates images differently in their mind. It is important to steer the reader’s imagination towards the idea or message that is being delivered. The same goes for simple text. One reader could see the word ‘dentist’ and think of clean teeth, while a second reader may conjure up the feeling and sound of getting a root canal! Understanding the implications of a word and how the audience’s minds are going to react is essential. It is also important to keep in mind that perceptions change over time. What the audience may see as inviting or interesting now could turn out to look drab or not amusing with the passing of time.
…communicate ideas visually: the only method in which graphic designers are able to reach their audience. Even though there are many things that can be accomplished by displaying information visually, it also becomes a sort of crutch. Unlike the commercials that one sees on tv, most of the works of a graphic artist can only be seen and not heard. This forces the artist to learn and understand how peoples’ minds interpret certain color schemes, patterns, fonts, images, and combinations of these elements. Again, the concept of time must be taken into account here. Anyone can attest that visual styles come and go. However, there are a few staples of design that seem to never tire. Working with both classic and innovative styles keep the designs from aging as quickly as they could.
I could go on about how graphic art is the convergence of several areas of study, but I believe that I have said enough. How do you feel about graphic art? Is there something that I didn’t point out or that you feel is not so important?
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Doodling or Inspiration Overload?
By Jacob on January 24, 2008
I must admit, there isn’t one lecture class that I have ever had where I did not zone out completely and start drawing all over my paper. The whole class would just disappear and it would be just me, my pencil, and my paper. By the time I snapped out of it I had covered up my whole page and sometimes even the few notes I took will be drawn over! Why does this happen? That’s a great question. I don’t believe that it is the professor’s fault or that it’s just a bad lecture. I like to believe that it has something to do with just having a pen and paper available.
I like to call my little moments like these “Inspiration Overload.” Doodling may be a fun word to say, but some really great ideas can come out of the margin of your notes. Even just a simple stray mark can spark a whole design. I find it funny how this just comes natural during class, but it hardly happens so easily when brainstorming for projects.
I often find that if I go back through my “notes” and view the little squiggles, characters, or odd shapes that I have created they can be a pretty nice source of inspiration. It may take a bit to decipher the drawings from the words, but it’s worth it!
Am I the only one who thinks like this? I know I can’t be the only person who constantly ends up drawing in the middle of a lecture! Have any of you ever gotten inspiration from your in-class or lecture notes?
Also, if you have any topics that you would like for me to cover that relate to a student’s life or to learning web/graphic design, let me know!
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Getting Things Started
By Jacob on January 23, 2008
My name is Jacob and I am at college student of web and graphical design. I created this blog in order to share my experiences as a student and to learn from others on the internet. I will be writing on subjects that concern all college students, but especially students in the web and design fields. I hope that you’ll stick around and join in on the discussions!
This is just a temporary site (the “blag.” part) which will soon be at callmecarter.com. I decided to put it up here temporary since this is my first wordpress blog and wanted to work out a few kinks.
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