Week 5 _ Text in Illustrator

Adding type

Type features are some of the most powerful tools in Illustrator. You can add a single line of type to your artwork, create columns and rows of text, flow text into a shape or along a path, and work with letterforms as graphic objects. In Illustrator, you can create text in three different ways: as point type, area type, and type on a path. 

KEY TERMS

The first step to perfecting any new font is adjusting the leading, kerning and tracking, which affect the line spacing, letter spacing and text to create a smoother flow between letters and lines of a paragraph

LEADING-named because of typesetting printing of the past, leading refers to the vertical spacing between line of a paragraph.   In old print methods, small bars of lead were placed horizontally between the lines to create a distance between text.

KERNING: Kerning refers to adjustments made to horizontal spacing between select letters.  In Illustrator you don't actually select a set of two letters, but place your text selector between the two letters, then adjust.


TRACKING-Tracking refers to the spacing between all letters of particular selected area of text.  Very similar to Kerning, but the effect is applied globally to all the letters of the text area.

CLICK HERE FOR FUN!!! 

In Class Demo:
Type tool (point)
Type tool (area)-linking text to another type area
Placing Text
Linking text areas to one another.
Using envelops to warp text;  make selection, envelope (top right of control panel) 

TEXT EFFECTS VIDEO

Threading text between text areas.


On your own time:  If you are interested in more text effects and unique ways to work with text and text effects,  here is a list of 80 text tutorials with images that might interest you.   This is only placed here as a reference for you after the class.   You might want to research these for your poster design.

Click here to view the 80 Text Tutorials

Other tools:
Blending modes
Magic Wand Tool

scale, sheer, re-shape tool
-width, warp, pucker, etc.... tools
-free transform tool
-live paint, live paint selection (object>livepaint>make) -blend tool
-symbol sprayer tool 

In Class Assignment: Calligrams

Calligram

kaləˌɡram/

noun.  a word or piece of text in which the design and layout of the letters creates a visual image related to the meaning of the words themselves.

-Illustrate 9 of the following words into a Calligram.  You must create shapes and edit beyond normal type. 

*smile 
*drip
*bite
*fall
*fat 
*skinny 
*squeeze 
*fly 
*fire 
*water 
*grow 
*shrink
 *giraffe
 *turtle 
*shrimp 
*zombie 

LIVE PAINT: 

live paint, live paint selection (object>live paint>make) 

MORE TOOLS

-Blending modes
-Magic Wand Tool 

-scale, sheer, re-shape tool
-width, warp, pucker, etc.... tools
-free transform tool
-symbol sprayer tool 

-blend tool

Outside assignment:

Project 05_Poster Design and Typography

Think back to the deco and bauhaus research we did early on in this class. 

Create your own favorite movie poster design or rock concert poster.  A minimum of three lines of text--including: 

1. Band or Movie Title

2. Location or "In Theaters Everywhere" 

3. Dates of Importance

4. Production company

Any other information that should be included such as a slogan or alias..."The King of Pop," "You'll never feel safe after dark again!" 

Do not copy the original poster.  Design your own.  You may use any and all tools that we have gone over in Illustrator. 

11X17 (1/8 inch bleed, CMYK, 300 dpi.) 

1. Consider typography.  How does the type drive your poster?  
2. What about color?  What effect do you want the viewer to have on the viewer? 

2. Does the type fit the poster that you are trying to make?

3. How will you organize the type on the page? 

4. How large does the type need to be?  Should the title be larger than the actors? 

5. When does the movie open?  What other pertinent information do you need to include for your poster design? 

You may research and submit to one of the poster design contests that are available to students online. 

Due MONDAY.