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Digital Illustration 1 • Graphic Designers as Illustrators

Graphic Designers are, in part, illustrators.

The images that Designers create illustrate content and convey and simplify complex information visually, metaphorically, and emotionally.

Most (if not all) graphic design these days includes some type of illustration in it.

Digital Illustration 1 • Introduction

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It is very difficult in the 21st century to separate illustration from graphic design, as they have become integral.

Digital Illustration 1 • Introduction

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Digital Illustration 1 • Contemporary Illustration formats

An illustration can take many forms:

Hand drawn/sketched

• Drymedia:pencil,contés,colorpencils,etc.

• Wetmedia:Inks,paints(spray/brush),etc.

Photographic (photo, montage, photomontage)

Constructed (collage–found/combined art)

Sculptural illustration (Anything 3-D)

Computer-rendered illustration (vector, digital painting, 3D)

Found illustration

Typographic illustration (created with type)

Mixed-media illustration (any of the above)

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Digital Illustration 1 • Types of Illustration

• Editorialillustration

• Product/packagingillustration

• Characterdesign/illustration

• Comicart

• Graphicnovels

• Motiongraphics

• Posters

• Spotillustrations

• T-shirtsandclothing

• Videogameart

• Designertoys

• Skateboardartwork

• Exhibitionartwork

• Bodyart

• Book/magazinecoverart

• Icons

Digital Illustration 1 • Introduction

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Digital Illustration 1 • Introduction

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Digital Illustration 1 • Introduction

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Digital Illustration 1 • Introduction

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Digital Illustration 1 • Class Emphasis

Digital illustration 1 focuses on the following types of illustration methods:

• Photomontageillustration(photoscombined)

• Collageillustration(found/combinedart)

• Sculpturalillustration(Anything3-D)

It is important to find your own way of using technology. Designers all have the same technology available to them.

If everyone used the tools in the same way, nothing would ever stand out as different or original. Seek to be conceptually unique and not copy what you see.

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Digital Illustration 1 • Digital Illustation: static and motion

Digital illustration can be either:

static:notinmotion,suchasinprint,web,etc.

in-motion:web,broadcast,film,games,etc.

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Digital Illustration 1 • Concept vs Technique

In illustration, you must separate concept from technique.

Illustration is conceptual; the method of execution is the tool/technique.

You create the illustration in your head and use tools (drawing materials, computer, software) to execute it.

Illustration, as a stand-alone profession requires excellent drawing skills, as you are sought by your outstanding, stylistic abilities.

As a Graphic Designer, your ability to draw is not as important as your ability to create the visual concepts of the illustration.

In Digital Illustration 1, you will use the following tools tocreateillustrations:sketchbook,camera,scanner,3Dobjects (made or found).

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Digital Illustration 1 • Value in Concept and Personal Vision

“THE IDEA IS KING. ONCEYOU HAVE A STRONG IDEA, EVERY-THING ELSE JUST FLOWSALONG BEHIND IT.”

With fallout from the digital revolution now settled, interest has once again shifted back to ideas, back to what it is that makes an image work, to how the image communicates, and to what it has to say.

Issues and debates are now centered on an illustrator’s own personal visual language than on software tips and tricks.

Discussion about the illustration scene focuses on expressing a point of view rather than decorating a page.