Illustration and Visual Narrative—task1

ILLUSTRATION & VISUAL NARRATIVE | TASK 1: EXERCISES

- April 21, 2025

21/04/25 - 12/05/25 (Week 1 - Week 4) 
Yang Shumeng,0378848
Illustration and Visual Narrative

Task 1: Exercises

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Lectures

2. Instructions

3. Task

4. Reflection

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Lectures

Week 1

During our first tutorial, Mr. Hafiz introduced us to Adobe Illustrator, a powerful tool for creating vector graphics.

We began by exploring two key types of digital images:

• Raster Images
  Made up of individual pixels, these images lose clarity when enlarged. Common file types include JPG and PNG.

• Vector Images
  Constructed from mathematical paths, these can be scaled infinitely without quality loss. Typical formats are AI and SVG.

A key point discussed was the issue of missing links when importing external images or Illustrator files into a project. Mr. Hafiz explained how to avoid this by properly embedding assets.

We also reviewed several important file formats used in Illustrator:

• AI — Illustrator’s native format

• PDF — Ideal for cross-platform compatibility

• EPS — Useful when sharing with page layout software

To wrap up the session, Mr. Hafiz encouraged us to develop our proficiency with the Pen Tool by playing the interactive Bezier Game, which helps refine shape creation skills.

Fig1.1 The Bezier Game

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Week 2

No class this week.

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Week 3

This week’s focus was on further building our confidence with the Pen Tool. Mr. Hafiz provided us with practice images generated by ChatGPT, which served as a basis for our exercises.

Handy Shortcuts:

• Press P: Activate the Pen Tool (click and drag to draw curves)

• Press V: Switch to the Selection Tool

• Press Enter: Complete the current path

Practical Advice:

Rather than striving for perfect outlines in the first pass, it is more efficient to construct shapes with intentional overlaps. The Shape Builder Tool (Shift+M) can then be used to merge or clean up the design. Additionally, holding Alt allows us to subtract unwanted paths during this process.

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Week 4

Today’s class introduced us to Illustrator’s coloring techniques and tools:

• Live Paint Tool

• Shape Builder Tool

• Pathfinder Panel

• Color scheme implementation strategies

Using the Live Paint Tool (K):

• Holding Alt enables quick switching to the Eyedropper Tool for sampling colors.

• Recommended workflow:

  1. Lock and duplicate your outline layer.

  2. Remove any strokes on the duplicate.

  3. Enable the "Convert" option.

  4. Move the original outline layer to the top and hide it.

  5. Select all objects on the color layer and use the Live Paint Tool to apply colors.

• Adding Depth:
  Create additional shapes with the Pen Tool to represent highlights and shadows, then fill these areas to achieve a more dimensional appearance.

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Week 5

Chiaroscuro Technique

This week’s lecture explored chiaroscuro, an artistic technique that uses contrasts of light and shadow to create the illusion of three-dimensional form on a two-dimensional surface. The term originates from Italian, meaning "light-dark."

In traditional painting, chiaroscuro is used to model figures and objects through tonal contrast, giving them volume and presence.

Core Objective:
To emphasize the main subject and enhance dramatic impact through careful manipulation of light and shadow.

Applications:

Chiaroscuro is widely used in various visual media, including film, comics, and digital art.

INSTRUCTIONS

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TASK

Task 1: Character Design

Final Line Art

Colour & Shading

Here is my moodboard

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REFLECTION

Experience of the Task

This task has been an invaluable learning experience, enabling me to delve deep into the diverse array of tools and techniques available in Adobe Illustrator. Guided by the tutorial slides provided by my lecturers, I mastered the art of creating intricate line art and bringing my designs to life through colouring. More importantly, I gained practical insights into translating theoretical knowledge into creative output. By applying the character design principles outlined in the lecture slides, I was able to experiment with Illustrator's tools to craft my own expressive character designs. This hands - on approach not only solidified my technical skills but also enhanced my creative thinking process.

Observations

During the process of character design, I encountered several areas that require improvement. One noticeable issue was the uneven quality of some lines in my artwork. These jagged or inconsistent lines detracted from the overall smoothness and professionalism of the design. I recognize that consistent practice with the pen tool in Adobe Illustrator, as well as continued engagement with The Bezier Game, will be crucial in refining my line - drawing skills. Additionally, I realized that my colour choices, while functional, could be more strategic. To make my character designs more visually impactful and communicative, I need to invest more time in researching colour theory and exploring a wider palette of hues to better convey the intended mood and personality of each character.

Findings

Through this task, I have come to understand that character design is a complex and multi - faceted discipline. A strong grasp of fundamental principles such as expressive shapes, harmonious colour schemes, effective emphasis, and dynamic expressions is essential. These elements work in tandem to breathe life into a character, allowing it to tell a story and connect with the audience on an emotional level. I now appreciate that character design is not just about creating a visually appealing figure but also about imbuing it with a unique personality and narrative potential. This realization will serve as a guiding principle for my future design projects, driving me to continuously improve my skills and expand my creative horizons.