Typography How To

Typography!

We are going to making TYPOGRAPHY designs. These are essentially really fancy Wordles- which means I'll be nice and let you off from Wordles for the rest of the trimester :)

Good typography uses layering, changing of fonts, changing of colors and opacities to really make the image stand out. All of the words used should enhance your subject.

HOW TO:

• Create a NEW document in Photoshop:
• Set the dimensions to AT LEAST 4000 x 4000 pixels and the resolution to 300 dpi. Bigger is better!

• You will need an image to use for this project. You can take your own photo, or use one from the internet. You want something with an empty background, and with an interesting shape that will work with the text. I'm going to use this eagle:

• Open your saved image in photoshop, cut it out if you need to remove the background. Place your subject in a new layer in your empty canvas you made in the first step.
• You should now have TWO layers. An empty 1st layer and a second layer with a guide image in it.
• Resize your guide image. Use the "show transform tools" button to drag the corners and center your subject. It doesn't matter if it's kind of blurry because we're going to delete it at the end!
• Familiarize yourself with the TYPE TOOLS.
• Press the "T" button. Now you should have a type menu at the top of your screen. You will want to use all different font sizes, shapes, colors and styles. Make sure you know how to change these things!
• Create a NEW layer for EACH text box you create. Make one now to begin.
• Create a text box over a section you wish to work on. I started with the Eagle's beak and zoomed way in so that was all on my screen.
• Type in words that work with your subject. Shape, color, and stylize them. Keep doing this until it looks appealing to you.

 

You can check to see what it's looking like by "hiding" your subject layer. In your layer window, "close the eye" on your subject layer and it will show you your words!

This is a LENGTHY process if done properly, but highly rewarding in the end. I expect you all to use your class time wisely for this. In the end, you should have well over 100 words in your typography projects.

These Projects will be due at the end of NEXT week.

On Thursday, May 30th for Period 3, and

on Friday, May 31st for Period 4

That will give Seniors 1 week for their FINAL PROJECTS and Underclassmen a week and a half!

There is no Final "Exam" for this class- but you will have a final project worth the same amount as an exam. It will have a project and written componant. We will go over it at the conclusion of this project.