Entertainment Geekly

So far, this has been my least favorite project.  I used In-Design to create a tabloid / newsletter.  The publication was Entertainment Geekly, a play on Entertainment Weekly.

Here's the first page.  I designed the logo using Illustrator, based on the Entertainment Weekly logo.

I couldn't get the exact font (since it cost at least $800!!!) so I used Arial I think, or whatever the suggested similar font was.  Not too bad, almost looked alike, except for the 'E's.  Oh well, if it was exactly the same I'd pro'ly have gotten sued.

The project was to create a tabloid/newsletter, of a theme of my own choosing.  News stories could be populated with already published stories, or I can make them up.  I chose to do both.  The project is intended to highlight our layout abilities, typographic skills, and overall design work.  I used mask clipping, form fitting, object fit, and column arrangement from InDesign.  I used orange as a unifying color throughout.  I used Illustrator to do some mask clipping and graphics and image work.

Entertainment Geekly, pages 2 - 3

Here are pages 2 - 3 of my InDesign tabloid/newsletter project:

Again, using the orange as the unifying color.  I tried to make it look legitimate, putting in categories that I thought 'geeks' would be interested in.  Well, the 'geek candy' was a little more tounge-in-cheek.  But, I did put some thought in the design here and the content.

Entertainment Geekly, page 4

Here is page 4 of my InDesign tabloid/newsletter project:

As you can tell, and I will be honest, this is pretty plain considering the other pages.  You will also notice that there are some column-layout differences.  By this point, I was getting tired of trying to design this thing, and I was running out on ideas of stories and what not.  So I threw a couple of things on there, kind of made it look good, and just said 'DONE.'  I need to go back and make it better.

Lantern Shine

I like Green Lantern.  Maybe more than I let on.  Or in a subtle way.  Not sure.  I mean, it's not like I'm obsessed with the character / comic book.  I follow it haphazardly.  Ask me about the current story arc.  No clue.  The Sinestro Corps?  The battle of the spectrum lanterns?  That was a total surprise.  But you know, I've just always like GL.  I remember one of my first 'fan-fiction' comic book (back in 3rd grade!) was GL, Green Goblin, and a couple of 'green' heroes.  I think we called them the Green Team or something like that.  So yeah, Green Lantern and I go a long way back...

So guess what subject matter I used for one of our projects?

This is an exercise in Illustrator, using Live Trace.  The two GLs are my original artwork.  They are part of my proposed 'fan fiction' story.  To be self-published.  Soon.

The skills involved here are the pen tool (GL title), clipping mask (GL title, GL Corps), pathfinder (GL logo), knife (the subtle shadows), layering, and typography (title).  Also use the eyedrop, gradient, and pencil tools.

Yeah, totally LOVED this project!  This is what it's all about!!!

Damage

A class project to practice Illustrator.  The project is to take lyrics from a song and create art out of it.  The song is Damage by Kosheen.  Unless you're into Europop, you may not be familiar with the group or the song.  I'm not into Europop, but I heard the song on the Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 trailer.

Yeah... I'm a geek.

Anyways, so yeah, tried conveying the idea of damage and broken things.  If you actually listen to the song (or read the lyrics), you'll notice it's actually about a break-up.  So I could have done a better representation.  Actually, I just got an idea...

Who Dat dem know how to Trace!

Oh yeah.  Playing around with Adobe Illustrator and practicing with the Pen Tool, tracing shapes then combining them and all that.  Totally fun exercise.  Check it out:

Not too shabby.  Not as precise as I'd like to be, but hey, it's not that easy with a mouse.  And a Mac mouse for that matter.  Criminy.

And in case you didn't catch that subtle shout out: Go Saints!!!

Who Dat dem won the Superbowl???

My Energy collage

Finally figured it out!  Here's my collage assignment from my Computer Apps class.  The theme was Energy (or sources of Energy).  I tried to put the Springfield Nuclear power plant, but the color scheme just wasn't matching.  Grrr...  Oh well.  I might have to try it again.  I still have all the pictures.

Yes... that is the NCC-1701 USS Enterprise.  Honestly, did you really think I wasn't gonna include that???

ENERGY collage

So totally got done with my collage project.  It wasn't bad, but then I started learning all the commands that would've TOTALLY helped!  And yeah, I could've gone back and applied it.  But you know... there are just days when you feel lazy...  Hey, the whole point was to get familiar with Photoshop, so mission accomplished.

And as soon as I figure out how to convert it to a JPG I'll post it.

I'm seriously not liking Macs at the moment...

And here we go...

You know, I never understood blogging.  I mean really... Isn't it a bit egotistic to think that one's musings and observations about life are interesting enough that a portion of the general public would be interested in it?  I mean, really.

I can understand reporters, politicians, scientists, heck even actors, blogging and people wanting to read it.  It's a glimpse of their thoughts about what they're doing, what they're experiencing.  It would be exotic, different, new... in short - INTERESTING!!!  But John and Jane Q. Public?  Really?


"Today, I fed my cat.  It's cold outside.  And you know, I hate those fat cat politicians in DC!!!  Blah blah blah..."

I think most people have this delusion that when they start a blog, people will care enough to read about it.  I mean, besides their family and friends.  If even.  It's like athletes and actors.  Not everyone who bounces a basketball will be good at it, and not everyone who's good at it will become pro.  It's like 1% of the 10% who are good will become pro.  Not everyone who writes a blog will have a sizable following who cares.

So, I bet you're asking why I'm blogging?

It's for class...