bitmap font

using an object or our choosing the objective was to create an analog font prototype using a grid as the base. The object that I decided to use was a teddy bear, they used to be keychains and I used this form to create an italic font face. I used a grid and tape the backside of the bears to have the same direction and position. Also photographing at the same angle using the tripod in the same lighting settings.

this was the final 4 words created :

Photoshop Layouts

These are some layouts for the website that will be devoted for my the element Caesium:

layout_01

layout_02

layout_03

layout_04

layout_05

Monogram for Caesium

Caesium: Font Ideas

Six typefaces that I'm considering for representing Caesium are :

Sans Serif:

-Helvetica Std

-Gill Sans Std

-Avenir Std

Serif:

-Arno Pro

-Garamond Premier Pro

-Kepler Std

Project 4: Periodically Speaking

I was given the element Caesium ( Cs) from the periodic table of elements, and combine the symbol ( Cs) the two letters into one symbol.

These are some sketches from my moleskin:

Then I took some ideas and created them into digital versions:

Project 4 : Periodically Speaking : Caesium

The name comes from the latin word, caesius, which means sky blue. Caesium is attacked by oxygen, and very explosively when in contact with water and ice in temperatures above 116K.When it reacts with water, hydrogen gas is released therefore making it very flammable as a result of this reaction.Caesium reacts very quickly therefore needs to be kept in dry,still atmosphere or in oil. A metallic element that belongs to group 1 of the periodic table.

One of the three metals which are in the state of liquid at room temperature. Caesium should be considered highly toxic. Caesium is found in the Earth’s crust. It is used in the industry as a catalyst promoter to make special glass, and in radiation monitoring equipment; also in atomic clocks. Caesium was discovered by Robert Bunsen and Gustav Kirchoff in 1860 in mineral water. Caesium was the first element discovered by spectrum analysis, based upon the bright lines in its spectrum.

Narrative Letterform Part II ( Cropping letterforms and Image Integration)

After our selection of the letterform and making lists of words the final animation has come to an end. As mentioned in the previous post after my selection of the letter "f" and the two font styles Helvetica Std and Goudy Std.

In order to get the best compositions, I cropped the letterform using the mask in illustrator and placing it on the 3"x3" frame. The best were chosen from the font faces and these were the final compositions that were going to be use for my image content integration and the final animation in Flash.

Helvetica Std & Goudy Std

Cropping Compositions

Adding content was the next stage in these compositions, found images were intagrated based on my final group words which were Face & Facade and Fur & Fox. The method used to break the compositions and separate the elements with pathfinder and masking it in Illustrator.After this stage I made my final group words to be Face and Facade.

Compositions with Content

Sequences of the animation were made in order to create a smooth transition between both typefaces. The top sequential animation was the final choice, and in the final animation I decided that it will be a better transition to move from a thin stroke letter as the typeface Goudy to the bold, heavy stroke Helvetica Std.

Everything was placed in Adobe Flash , this is my final animation and it has sound of the city and voices to reflect my theme of Face and Facade and the imagery selected.

Narrative Letterform F from Karen Villalba on Vimeo.

A Narrative Letterform

The exploration of the differences of letterforms became more evident in the process of building this sequence animation.

• The first part was to pick two typefaces from the font list : I picked Helvetica Std and Futura Std yet the stroke weight was too similar so I changed it. My final selection was Helvetica Std and Goudy Std to make the contrast between both letterforms evident.

I selected the letter "f" because I felt like I could make an interesting animation using this letter. After seeing Tammy's animation in class, I realized that I wanted to talk about fashion or femininity.

• Then I made a list of all the words such as objects, textures and things that start with the letter "f". (In an earlier post)
• The final group words : 1. fox- fur ; 2. fashion-fabric; 3. facade-face; 4. feds-file; 5. fur-fashion; 6. feminine- fashion; 7. feminine-fashion
• My final selection for the animation : FACE & FACADE

Final Statement

My first book for Visual Communication is done; this project used disparate elements and turned into a cohesive nine-page book. The approach to dot compositions and type compositions, were different and similar. After “mindmapping” over the word “nature” I realized that I wanted to talk about the green movement, and it’s impact in our generation. I brainstormed terms that described the movement and it’s effects. After coming with a selective group of nine words, brainstorming turned into the sketching of compositions, which was essential in the process of this book. I wanted to keep in mind what was told in lectures, readings and critiques as a main source of things that I could implement in this book. The compositions started just like the warm-up, black dots with no images and yet the composition had to communicate the words. Thumbnails were made and then iterations, different designs for the same words. After the small group meeting, I realized the importance of communication how my personal of perception was viewed differently by other peers, more iterations where made so the word was more suitable described. The selection of images was crucial, I wanted to keep a cohesive color scheme and the image selection first started to be very literal and after the group discussions, lectures and readings it became clear the importance of collage and layering. I made my mind that my background should be made out of recycle paper to enhance the theme of my book and the use of color green. My selection of images became more conceptual and abstract, and a color scheme was to develop: green, black and white, diagram, yellow, brown and red, this technique added to the cohesiveness of the book.

The approach of the type composition in the Typography I class was very similar. The same words that we had picked out had to be used in the compositions of text the same size (6”x9”) requirement applied, instead of being a dot it was a typeface. Several compositions were made even though; it was harder because letters have edges than the round quality of the circles. Scaling is essential as well as within the dot compositions, to describe the word. Group discussions were arranged and in the same way as in Visual Communication. In the similar context, my description of the word communicated something different to my peers. More iteration was made until I felt that it was clearly convening the word that I was trying to communicate. During the process of the type compositions, the dot compositions were in my mind had an affect in my final type compositions. By picking the typeface Grotesk MT standard and bold, was a good contrast between is straight edges in comparison to the organic and curvilinear dot compositions.

This book works as a cohesive artifact, by the use of similar elements throughout the pages such as the similar color palette, shape, background and the treatment of each page; as well as the sane typeface throughout. I realized the importance of image selection and creating connection among dissonant images, will carry the overall theme of my book.

Throughout this project, I learned not change my thinking not so literal but using other images of examples that can mean the same thing and have the same effect. I learned the value of layout of text and how it could affect the meaning of a word. By doing this project by hand, made me realized the importance of craft. Even though we could have done this book purely in the computer, I learned about the process which I think is essential in a designer as a solve maker. I learned the importance of different design principles and its effect and how it could change the meaning of a word.
After perusing through my final book, as areas of improvement is craft. The ½” hole puncher that I used gave some circles with rough edges that were difficult to give a crisp round edge. Finding better images for some of my compositions. Using a better paper for my back covers, it kept getting dirty and picking any smudge or mark made on the surface.