Instruction

Multimedia - Sample Assignment
Principles of Design

This assignment follows The Elements of Design.

Program: PhotoShop
Peripheral: Wacom drawing tablet
Problem 1:
  • Create an example of each of the principles of design
  • Use the examples created for the Elements of Design to illustrate the principles of design:
  • proportion/distortion
  • balance/symmetrical
  • balance/asymmetrical
  • unity, variety, emphasis
  • rhythm/repetition
  • Use a separate document for each elements
Objective:
  • To become familiar with the elements of design
  • To become familiar with the tools of PhotoShop
Timeline: Three 90 minute class periods
Procedure:

Proportion/Distortion

  1. Open PhotoShop
  2. File/Open Elements of Design example of color
  3. Lasso image only, no background-running ants should surround image
  4. Edit/Copy
  5. File/New
    Width.......... 3.5 in. Mode.......... RGB color
    Height......... 4.5 in. Contents...... White
    Resolution... 72 pixels/in
  6. Save as/   proportion_distortion (on your zip disk)
  7. Edit/Paste Layer
  8. Use Move Tool to place

    This should be your large distorted image.

  9. Image/Effects/Scale
    Grab handle and resize to desired size
    Move cursor to center of image and a mallet will appear
    Click once to set image
  10. Filter/Distort/Twirl
    Set angle to 156°
    Click OK
    Save

    Now you can place smaller images to illustrate the contrast of large and small proportion.

  11. Open/Elements of Design line example
  12. Lasso image only, no background-running ants should surround image
  13. Image/Effects/Scale
    Grab handle and resize to desired size
    Move cursor to center of image and a mallet will appear
    Click once to set image
  14. Edit/Copy small line example
  15. Return to proportion/distortion page
  16. Edit/Paste Layer
    Use Move tool to place small image where desired
    You can resize again if it is still too large to contrast
  17. Save
  18. Repeat steps 11 through 16 to add more small images if desired
  19. Select a color and use paint bucket to add a background color
  20. Label drawing Line with Text tool
    Click Text tool, then click on document and bring up text box
    Set desired size and select desired font...type proportion/distortion...click OK
    On Layers Palette click => Make Layer
    Use move tool to place text very close to drawing
  21. Save

Balance/Symmetrical

  1. Open PhotoShop
  2. File/Open Elements of Design example of form
  3. Lasso image only, no background-running ants should surround image
  4. Edit/Copy
  5. File/New
    Width.......... 3.5 in. Mode.......... RGB color
    Height......... 4.5 in. Contents...... White
    Resolution... 72 pixels/in
  6. Save as/   balance_symmetrical (on your zip disk)

    Create 1 large image on each side

  7. Edit/Paste Layer
  8. Image/Effects/Scale
    Grab handle and resize to desired size
    Move cursor to center of image and a mallet will appear
    Use mallet to set size
  9. Use Move tool to place
  10. Image/Effects/Perspective
    Grab handle and change perspective
    Move cursor to center of image and a mallet will appear
    Use mallet to set
  11. Layer/Duplicate Layer
    Use Move tool to place image on opposite side
  12. Save

    Create 1 small image on each side

  13. Layer =>/Duplicate Layer
  14. Image/Effects/Scale
    Grab handle and resize to desired size
    Move cursor to center of image and a mallet will appear
    Use mallet to set size
  15. Use Move tool to place
  16. Repeat steps 12-14 for second small image
  17. Save

    Now you can create a colored background

  18. Layers=>/New Layer
    Use Line tool to draw a line about 1/3 from bottom
  19. Windows/Palette/Swatches
    Choose bottom 1/3 color
    Use paint bucket to fill
    Choose top 1/3 color
    Use paint bucket to fill
  20. Save
  21. Experiment with the gradient tool

    If you are unhappy with your experiment

  22. File/Revert (this will go back to your last save)

    If you are happy with your experiment

  23. Save
  24. Label drawing Line with Text tool
    Click Text tool, then click on document and bring up text box
    Set desired size and select desired font...type balance/symmetrical...click OK
    On Layers Palette, click =>, Make Layer
    Use Move tool to place text very close to drawing
  25. Save

Variety

  1. Open PhotoShop
  2. File/Open Elements of Design example of color
  3. Lasso image only, no background-running ants should surround image
  4. Edit/Copy
  5. File/New
    Width.......... 3.5 in. Mode.......... RGB color
    Height......... 4.5 in. Contents...... White
    Resolution... 72 pixels/in
  6. Save as/   variety (on your zip disk)
  7. Edit/Paste Layer
  8. Image/Effects/Scale
    Grab handle and resize to desired size
    Move cursor to center of image and a mallet will appear
    Click once to set image
  9. Use your knowledge of PhotoShop tools to change this image several ways to create a variety of images. Good composition and contrast of color, line, and shape should be the primary considerations.
  10. Save often
  11. Create a text layer and title Variety
  12. Layers/Flatten image when complete
  13. Save

 

Balance/Asymmetrical

  1. Open PhotoShop
  2. File/Open Principles of Design example Balance/Symmetrical
  3. File/Save a Copy
  4. Activate target layers as you move and resize to create an example of asymmetrical design
  5. Magnify any area that needs to be cleaned up
  6. Experiment with changes in the background
  7. Save often
  8. Create a text layer and title Balance/Asymmetrical
  9. Layers/Flatten Image
  10. Save

Emphasis

  1. Open PhotoShop
  2. File/Open Elements of Design example of texture
  3. Lasso image only, no background-running ants should surround image
  4. Edit/Copy
  5. File/New
    Width.......... 3.5 in. Mode.......... RGB color
    Height......... 4.5 in. Contents...... White
    Resolution... 72 pixels/in
  6. Save as/   emphasize (on your zip disk)
  7. Edit/Paste Layer
  8. Image/Effects/Scale
    Grab handle and resize to desired size
    Move cursor to center of image and a mallet will appear
    Use mallet to set size
  9. Edit/Paste Layer
  10. Repeat steps 8 and 9 until you have the number of images you want in your composition

    Activate the layer of the image you want to emphasize

  11. Windows/Palette/Show Swatches
    Use air brush, paint brush and pencil to create an image that will dominant over the other images

    Activate the layer of the image you want to work on

  12. Windows/Palette/Show Swatches
    Use air brush, paint brush and pencil to add interest

    Activate the layer of the image you want to work on and repeat step 12 until all images are complete

  13. Layers=>/New Layer
    Name layer background...make sure it is the last layer on the list
    Use paint bucket and gradients to create a background
  14. Create text layer and title emphasis
  15. Save

Rhythm

  1. Open PhotoShop
  2. File/Open Elements of Design example of texture
  3. Lasso image only, no background-running ants should surround image
  4. Edit/Copy
  5. File/New
    Width.......... 3.5 in. Mode.......... RGB color
    Height......... 4.5 in. Contents...... White
    Resolution... 72 pixels/in
  6. Save as/   rhythm (on your zip disk)
  7. Edit/Paste Layer
  8. Image/Effects/Scale
    Grab handle and resize to desired size
    Move cursor to center of image and a mallet will appear
    Use mallet to set size
  9. Use your knowledge of PhotoShop to repeat this image several times to create a sense of rhythm.  Good composition and effective repetition should be the primary considerations.
  10. Save often
  11. Layers/Flatten Image when complete
  12. Create text layer and title rhythm

 

Unity

  1. Open PhotoShop
  2. File/Open Elements of Design example of line
  3. Lasso image only, no background-running ants should surround image
  4. Edit/Copy
  5. File/New
    Width.......... 3.5 in. Mode.......... RGB color
    Height......... 4.5 in. Contents...... White
    Resolution... 72 pixels/in
  6. Save as/   unity (on your zip disk)
  7. Edit/Paste Layer
  8. Image/Effects/Scale
    Grab handle and resize to desired size
    Move cursor to center of image and a mallet will appear
    Use mallet to set size
  9. Use move tool to place
  10. Layer =>/Duplicate Layer
  11. Image/Effects/Scale
    Grab handle and resize to desired size
    Move cursor to center of image and a mallet will appear
    Use mallet to set size
  12. Image/Effects/Skew
    Grab handle and tilt image
  13. Repeat steps 11-12 if additional images are desired
  14. Save
  15. On the layers palette, activate the layer to which you want to add color.  Click on the layer and it will turn gray showing that it is active.  Each image will be on a different layer and you must activate the layer if you want any action to take effect
  16. Window/Palette/Swatches
    Choose a color
    Use paint bucket to add color to part of image
    Choose another color
    Use paint bucket to add color
    Repeat until you are happy with the image
  17. Activate another layer
    Add color by repeating step 16
    Remember to repeat some of the same color used in the first image so unity will be established
  18. Repeat steps until you have an effective, unified design
  19. Label drawing Unity with text tool
  20. Save

See Grading Sheet for this assignment

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