T-Shirt Designs

Inspiration

Click for Intro Video Clip

Go to threadless.com and browse the designs and titles.  Choose 3 of your favourites from Threadless (incude titles), as well as, 2 from another source and post them on your blog in a single post.  In a few sentences below each design, explain what it is that you like about it- be as specific as possible (eg. colour, simplicity/complexity, style, subject matter, slogan, etc.)

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Assignment

Part 1: Design a t-shirt print.   

Part 2: Create an advertisement for your design by digitally printing it on a shirt.   

Note: Plans are in motion to get actual t-shirts printed as well: cost TBA.

Part 3: Draw in "cut" lines for printed shirts in Illustrator.

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Overall Considerations

Original Design/Idea

Original Elements – use of unique scanned sources

Titled Appropriately

Appropriate use of Colour –minimal is better

Theme is apparent

Marketable

Professional Appearance/ Presentation

Neat/ Clean/ Complete (clean lines etc.)

Measurements Correct

Shows thought

Use of Class Time - keeping up with the timeline is very important

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Part 1 - The Design

Specifications

            Max 10”x10” 200dpi graphic – you do not have to “fill” square

            White T-Shirt (front or back) – design must have transparent background

            Must have a theme – brainstorm as a class

Iron-on: avoid SOLID square designs = stiff

Must be an original design – use pictures to create your design- not pictures as design (illustrations and simple designs work better than photos).  Scanner will come in handy.  This is a BIG project in terms of expectations.  Show me your stuff.  Should be good enough to find in a shop.  Looking for clever ideas.

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Part 2 - The Advertisement

You will create an ad for your print that follows the theme of your design.  (See example within the post).  Preferably, you will be using a digicam to create a setting, pose, backdrop etc. to suit your design's theme.  Wearing a blank t-shirt, photograph yourself in this setting showing enough of the area of the shirt for the design to be advertised.  (If this step is preventing you from doing any work today, please find an image of someone wearing a blank shirt online).  Using Photoshop you will place your design on the blank shirt in your photo (see below).  Using Photoshop and design elements, you will unify the rest of your advertisement.

Document size: 5" x 12" @ 200dpi
(5" x 5" for the design- include design title; 5"x 7" for the model shot - align with theme)
Include some sort of border to define the edge.
Overall ad must be unified in style and colour scheme; choose title fonts/sizes wisely.

"Printing" the Design on Your Digital T-Shirt Using a Displacement Map
To create a realistic advertisement, the design must look like it is unified with the t-shirt.  This is made possible with a displacement map which takes the highlights, midtones, and shadows and creates a contoured map that can be used to assimilate text or a design to its form.

First you must save your advertisement document (with the blank t-shirt on it) as a psd file. 
Import your design on to a new layer and delete any white background that isn't the design.
Place your design in the desired area of the shirt.  Rotate if needed to suit the angle.
While the design layer is selected, go to Filter > Distort > Displace.
          Settings should default to H: 10, V: 10, Stretch to Fit, and Repeat Edge Pixels.
This will mold your design to the image map.
Adjust blending modes (multiply works best) to "print" the design on the shirt.
Use a Layer Mask to fix any inconsistencies or leaked design over t-shirt edges.

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Part 3 - Cutting Paths
This will prepare your t-shirt design for the Printers.

(See Handout)

Typography

Typography is “the art of printing from moveable type, including the skilled planning of typeface and size, composition, and layout, to make a balanced and attractive whole.”

Whether you are using text for communication, decoration, or both in your artwork, you need the tools to do so. Photoshop will allow you to explore the possibilities of text manipulation that suit your own style.





Assignment:

Using Photoshop, you are to create a project that incorporates the manipulation of text in some way.


For Consideration (but not limited to):

Translate an image into text



Incorporate text into an image



Create your own design using text



Arrangement (side-by-side, overlap, morphing, reflection)
Styles, symbols, capitals, italics, punctuation, different alphabets and languages

Your Goal:

Minimum of 10 letters/symbols (feel free to do much more-eg. word/paragraphs)
Minimum of 4 highly manipulated letters/symbols (editing/selection tools, options bar- morphing, adjustments, incorporation of part/whole of an image)
Incorporates a theme/idea
Composition incorporates a center of interest and the rule of thirds
Composition is unified (overall tone, colour scheme etc.)
Effort- class time is used wisely

Quiz Project

What have we learned so far?

Positive /Negative Space imagery (create it)
Juxtaposition
Digital Painting
Make a brush
Clone Stamp
Pen Tool
Quick Mask
Layer Masks
Adjustment Layer (figure out process to apply only to ONE layer!)

Assignment

8”x10” doc @ 200 ppi
Must use all of the above
Learn 3 New Tools / Processes – Explain/reflect on what you learned in your sketchbook
Must use the Help menu at least once (prove use by taking a screen capture) (ctrl + print screen – paste)

Juxtaposition

 Juxtaposition: the act of placing two seemingly unrelated images side-by-side to create new meaning.

One of the trade secrets or strategies of advertising and contemporary art is the unexpected juxtaposition of things unrelated to attract attention, shock, puzzle, or question people's perception of those things.

It’s important to understand that interpretation comes from the viewer. As an artist, one would create a piece of work that places unrelated images together to communicate their interpretation of its meaning. This, however, does not mean that the viewer would interpret what he/she sees as this same intended meaning.  Any interpretations are formed from previous background knowledge and experiences of the individual.  So meaning doesn't necessarily always come from the work, but from the viewer.

A simplified example would be a Popeye action figure next to an olive fruit. Although these two are unrelated in the type of object they are, when juxtaposed together in the same scene the olive fruit gains new meaning (because of our knowledge of Popeye's wife's name "Olive").  Or another could place an image of an old man next to an image of a clock: a number of possible narratives could come from such a juxtaposition.

Part One: 
Use your image bank to randomly place images together.  Spend a few minutes thinking about each juxtaposition and your interpretation of what the message could be.  Come up with 3-5 juxtapositions with solid narratives- these are to be recorded in your DSB. Share your juxtaposed images with a partner.  See what their interpretations are.  If different, discuss where the ideas come from.

Part Two:
The challenge is to create a unified composition that contains an interesting/shocking/thought-provoking juxtaposition.  Try to create unexpected or almost random juxtapositions, and not simply pairs of opposites, that create new meanings. Digital manipulations allow for very obvious placement of images to communicate your intended meaning.  Try not to completely “spell things out” to the audience; leave SOME interpretation to the viewer. Make the viewer think or try to interpret it in different ways. 

Elements & Principles of Art and Design

Sketchbook Assignment:

In order to fully develop our LTP’s, we need to have a good understanding of the Elements and Principles of Art and Design.  These are the basic building blocks for any piece of artwork.  For this task we will keep it simple.  Later we will learn about the many different branches that stem from these basic concepts.


Using the internet, do some research on the following terms.  Once you’ve got an understanding of each concept, try to find a minimum of one example of each element or principle being used in Graphic Arts.  Put the terms, definition/explanations, and image examples in your Digital Sketchbook.

Terms:

Elements of Art                    Principles of Design

Line                                        Unity
Shape                                     Emphasis
Form                                      Balance
Value                                      Proportion
Texture                                  Contrast
Colour                                    Movement
Space                                     Variety
                                              Pattern
                                              Rhythm

Photoshop CS2 Tutorials

The best way to learn how to draw is to have an example and copy it.  This method will teach you what tools to use and how to use them to re-create a similar looking drawing.  Photoshop is the same.  By looking at Photoshop tutorials, you can explore all the different possibilities that the program has to offer.  By following the directions in the tutorials, you are learning what tools to use and how to use them to get similar effects of the presented image or technique.  Once you learn these aspects of the program, you can take it and put it to use in your own work.

Assignment:

1. Search online through various Photoshop tutorials.  Choose a minimum of 3 that interest you and bookmark these pages.  Be sure that the ones you choose can be completed in CS2.
2. Then choose a minimum of one of those tutorials to try on your own.  Go through the motions to either recreate the tutorial image or use the instructions to apply it to your own composition. 
3. On your blog you will be asked to create a post with links to your chosen tutorials with explanations as to what they are and provide your created image to the appropriate link as a sample.

Line and Texture

Take a look at http://www.adobe.com/uk/print/gallery/loughran/

(I recommend that you copy and paste this link into the web address bar in a new window so that this instruction page is still available.)

Spend some quality time looking at the images at the top of the article.  Click on each image to enlarge the artist's work  Consider how the images were created.

Half-way down the Adobe page, there are some illustrations of the work and a link: “To learn techniques used in making this image, click here.” Click on this link and read the steps the artist goes through.

* (We will discuss all of this further as a class; however, it is basically made of brushes.) *

Once finished, you can do several things (keeping this artwork in mind):

1. Begin a line drawing of a character/object. It is to be done on paper with dark pencil or ink. This could be an elaborated doodle, a new creation, a sketch of an object you have in front of you, or a drawing from a photo or image. (People make great subjects!) Keep it fairly simple and approximately half a page. *Important:  We are mainly focusing on LINES to capture the subject so consider differentiating line weight (thickness/thinness) to add more contrast and your subject will stand out as your center of interest. Definitely add your own personal style!
2. Swipe File: Start collecting found images, patterns, textures, colours. Start by saving them in your file by right clicking the mouse and choosing "Save Image As..." We will also be looking for hardcopy items like this, but for today start looking online. You are looking for any images that interest you. Additionally, you are looking for samples of textures, patterns, and colours. Eg.’s:
   

3. Start making a list of these same types of things that you can bring in from home to scan. (Eg. Cardboard, lace, patterned fabric). Starting to bring in these objects for next class would be a great idea!

We will be discussing project evaluation criteria, ideas, and Photoshop selection, line, and texture techniques to help you with this project throughout the week.  If you have any questions along the way, remember to do some research yourself before coming straight to me.  You have the world at your fingertips...

Student Examples:

Digital Signatures

Every artist needs a signature to sign their work.  Sometimes digital work can overlook this step as it isn’t as simple as picking up a pencil and signing.  However, digital work finds itself at higher risk of theft, duplication, and alteration due to the ease of posting it online. Digital signatures are one way of claiming your work as your own.

You are going to create a series of digital signatures in the form of brushes.  This will allow you to easily sign your work before posting it to your blog.  For internet safety purposes, you will create a personal “nickname” signature that will be used for any work posted online.  However, for printed work and your portfolio you will create signatures using your name.

For this assignment, you must create:

1.  Handwritten and Scanned: 3 using your initials; 2 using part/full signatures

2.  Photoshop text/fonts/creations: 3 using your initials; 2 using part/full signatures

3.  Choice: 1 for online signature of all posted work

Once all of your brushes have been created and SAVED to your H Drive, create a showcase document at 8” x 10” and 150ppi to display all of your signatures.  You will hand this in to me digitally.  Post ONLY your nickname signature to your blog.

Saving Brushes

Due to the setup of the school server, lab computers reset when you log out of your account.  It is very important to save the brushes you create to your H drive in order to access them again after.  You can do this by following these steps:

1.  On the arrow located on the right side of the option bar’s brush menu. 

2.  This will provide a list of options > click on “Save Brushes.”  

3.  Name and save the file within your H Drive.

Smoothing Rough Edges

Adapted from teachtutorials.com  (click to follow tutorial with example imagery)

[1]- Start by saving and opening a merged COPY of your image that is to be smoothed.
          You must delete your background to isolate your image to be smoothed.
          Positive Negative Space Project:  Click Select Menu > Colour Range
          Use the eyedropper to click the background > click OK (this will select the background)
          Click Delete to discard your background
          Click Select > Deselect

[2]- Ctrl+Click on the single Layer in the layer palette.

[3]- Now click on the Channels window and create a new channel.

[4]- Fill the object with Alt+Backspace.

[5]- Now go to Filter>Blur>Gaussian Blur and set the radius to 5.4 pixels.

[6]-Now go to Image>Adjustments>Levels and set the following 

          Input Levels : 139-1.00-160.

[7]- Ctrl+Click on the Alpha1 in the Channels window.

[8]- Now go back to the layer palette and create a new Layer2, and fill the object with 

          Alt+Bkspc.

[9]- Now make the original Layer1invisible by clicking the eye next to the layer.

[10]- Now your image has been smoothed and you’re done.  

          Save a COPY of your new file.

Inside/Outside Self-Portrait (Positive/Negative Space)

Concepts:

Positive/Negative Space: In a two-tone, black-and-white image, a subject is normally depicted in black (positive space) and the space around it is left blank (white – negative space), thereby forming a silhouette of the subject.

Note: Reversing the tones so that the space around the subject is printed black and the subject itself is left blank causes the negative space to be apparent as it forms shapes around the subject.

Self-Portrait: a representation of an artist through visual media.  It can combine any of the following concepts: symbolism and/or literal representations of personality, hobbies, interests, life events, emotions etc.

Assignment:

To create a two-tone self-portrait using positive and negative space.  Using a photograph of yourself, you will create a positive space drawing (silhouette).  You are asked to add and subtract “space” to/from your portrait in the form of elements of art and imagery that illustrates who you are.

Requirements:

• Portrait must be of you.
• Minimum of 10 supporting elements (line and shape designs)/ images.
• Must add and subtract positive/negative space to/from your portrait

Materials:

• Self-Portrait and other found/collected imagery
• Photoshop, Scanner

Considerations:

• Dynamic poses that lead the eye around the composition (arms, legs, torso positioning)
• Adding/placement of imagery that implies continuation of body (ex. tree/leg above.)
• Play with idea of layering your positive/negative “space” and incorporating into the edges
• Varying sizes of elements and imagery to create focal points and variation in the work.