Very nice, I really like the track list / diagram - it's a neat idea, though the text could be a little more legible. There are a couple small alignment issues that kind of bug me though. The boxed text "File under..." and the boxed text "77'71"30..." are at different distances from the line above them. Both the boxed texts seem to float a little bit, they don't really line up or anchor themselves to any other element in a strong way. For instance, the "77'71'30" doesn't line up with the other boxed texts, doesn't line up with the vertical line a little to the right, and it isn't centered on the text above it, so it is a little awkward. Loose lay-outs can work really well, and yours is working fairly well, but it could maybe work better? The padding between the edge of the cover and the different elements of the design seems to vary as well. For instance the top of the record diagram is much closer to the edge than the right side of the same diagram. This might just be a personal thing, so don't sweat it.
I like the two-tone palette you have as well, but I would be interested to see one more coloured added for a poppin' accent or something. Not sure.
Good stuff.
[QUOTE=mchapra;51724055][t]http://i.imgur.com/UYJcOXv.png[/t]
replacement cover for my wipeout cd[/QUOTE]
Looks nice and clean :D 9/10
hello, graphic design thread. I'm wondering if any of you guys have experience with designing layouts for newspapers/magazines. I work at my community college's student run newspaper and I kinda got assigned to just design the magazine last semester because I took the most interest in it (also since the last one was such an ugly mess)
Here it is if anyone wants to critique/give advice: [url]https://issuu.com/rampageonline/docs/cityzinefixed[/url]
I'm just wondering if anyone has any tips or books to read on such topic because I pretty much don't have much of a graphic design background. Mostly a photographer moving into layout design.
It is really not too bad for someone without much background, but there is a lot that could be improved.
I don't have enough time to really go into now unfortunately, but here are the major issues I noticed:
Be consistent. Using the same colours and stuff has already helped your magazine to seem fairly uniform, but you need to be more consistent in the alignment of page elements and the spacing between things as well. Also, your titles change quite dramatically and in some cases (page 11) have pretty horrible spacing between letters. The spacing between letters in a title should be the same throughout unless it makes sense for a specifically desired effect.
In terms of spacing and alignment, this is the main area I would say you could use some work. The text is all over the place. For beginners in graphic design, I think you need to define a grid and stick to it rigorously. Right now, your text is often too close to other elements (eg. page 14-15), not lining up with other text blocks, not lining up with image edges... it leads to a condition where nothing on the page seems anchored.
(eg. "story" sub-title on page 8-9 doesn't line up with anything, it is really awkward)
(NOTHING lines up on page 6-7, this page exemplifies the main things you need to improve on. The image on page 6 doesn't line up with the right edge of the text, the caption of the image doesn't line up with the text either and is too close to the image, the top of the quote on page 7 and the top of the text on page 7 doesn't line up with ANY of the previously mentioned things.)
Research grids and learn how to use them. This will in the long run teach you the right times to break the grid.
[QUOTE=Smeetin;51731196]It is really not too bad for someone without much background, but there is a lot that could be improved.
I don't have enough time to really go into now unfortunately, but here are the major issues I noticed:
Be consistent. Using the same colours and stuff has already helped your magazine to seem fairly uniform, but you need to be more consistent in the alignment of page elements and the spacing between things as well. Also, your titles change quite dramatically and in some cases (page 11) have pretty horrible spacing between letters. The spacing between letters in a title should be the same throughout unless it makes sense for a specifically desired effect.
In terms of spacing and alignment, this is the main area I would say you could use some work. The text is all over the place. For beginners in graphic design, I think you need to define a grid and stick to it rigorously. Right now, your text is often too close to other elements (eg. page 14-15), not lining up with other text blocks, not lining up with image edges... it leads to a condition where nothing on the page seems anchored.
(eg. "story" sub-title on page 8-9 doesn't line up with anything, it is really awkward)
(NOTHING lines up on page 6-7, this page exemplifies the main things you need to improve on. The image on page 6 doesn't line up with the right edge of the text, the caption of the image doesn't line up with the text either and is too close to the image, the top of the quote on page 7 and the top of the text on page 7 doesn't line up with ANY of the previously mentioned things.)
Research grids and learn how to use them. This will in the long run teach you the right times to break the grid.[/QUOTE]
thanks, this critique is very helpful. I have been researching using grids and I'm planning on reading up on it. I do think the way the body is organized through the magazine is the weakest part of it. I was really struggling containing all the stories with the limited pages.
I'm probably going to implement the grid the next time we have to work on the newspaper.
You seem to have a decent knack for it already, there were some spreads that I quite liked, so I think you will improve pretty quickly. Make sure to post your next thing, I'd love to see it. I totally understand the problem of trying to fit all the text in when people send you stuff. I had a similar thing where I was simply given stories and told 1 per page, but some of them were way longer than others.
If you are working in InDesign, this is where you might need to fudge things a little bit by adjusting the Leading, Tracking, and font size enough to fit it all in the page, but without making it too different from other text boxes on the same spread. Also, a hint, using justified text can actually save you a couple lines here and there.
[QUOTE=LaughingStock;51658177][img]http://i.imgur.com/fvxRXYr.png[/img][img]http://i.imgur.com/1xTxfbn.png[/img]
[img]http://i.imgur.com/PkG9snf.png[/img][img]http://i.imgur.com/HIqMSlL.png[/img]
[img]http://i.imgur.com/45cDGZO.png[/img]
i was paid to do a logo for a band and here's some stuff based on what we discussed. it was quite nice since i started posting my stuff on instagram and apparently one of my friends forwarded me to them.
[img]http://i.imgur.com/tn0lM1i.png[/img]
here's some shit that never went through[/QUOTE]
Alright... This is amazing.
[t]http://i.imgur.com/GTZXJsr.png[/t]
thx this is what we settled on today, i got $$$ in my account now. personally not a fan but it's w/e
[QUOTE=Rammaster;51732324]thanks, this critique is very helpful. I have been researching using grids and I'm planning on reading up on it. I do think the way the body is organized through the magazine is the weakest part of it. I was really struggling containing all the stories with the limited pages.
I'm probably going to implement the grid the next time we have to work on the newspaper.[/QUOTE]
some good stuff but definitely focus on making sure the pages are consistent, you have some pages where there's a ton of blank space and then some other pages where all the text is cramped into small boxes with no margins.
[QUOTE=Smeetin;51733283]You seem to have a decent knack for it already, there were some spreads that I quite liked, so I think you will improve pretty quickly. Make sure to post your next thing, I'd love to see it. I totally understand the problem of trying to fit all the text in when people send you stuff. I had a similar thing where I was simply given stories and told 1 per page, but some of them were way longer than others.
If you are working in InDesign, this is where you might need to fudge things a little bit by adjusting the Leading, Tracking, and font size enough to fit it all in the page, but without making it too different from other text boxes on the same spread. Also, a hint, using justified text can actually save you a couple lines here and there.[/QUOTE]
Will do! Thank u for the feedback, I really don't have anyone around me that knows graphic design that much so this is going to steer me in the right direction. I literally have less than 6 months experience with InDesign so I got lots to learn. I really enjoyed designing the magazine tho and hope to properly learn more about design rather than just looking at a lot of magazine spreads and saying "yeah that looks good, I'll try and emulate that lol"
I just want to say kudos. That's not bad at all if you have little previous experience, and that's an intense amount of content to get through which would have certainly made your life harder.
can someone please convince me why InDesign is better for some tasks over Photoshop?
I've just started a design class in school that will primarily be using InDesign. I'm super familiar with the Adobe suite and its UI, but every time I try to work on something in InDesign I am constantly frustrated at how thing I am used to doing in Photoshop very quickly are hidden behind menus and dialog boxes in InDesign. A week ago, I was ready to just say fuck it and make all of my projects in Photoshop instead. But I know that's not a good solution and I should probably hunker down and learn the industry standard.
Does anyone have a list of things InDesign does better than Photoshop? The major grievance I have is that text is so fucking hard to work with and there are less options for editing text than in Photoshop. I can't open a Character tool panel, everything is built into the top bar.
To me InDesign feels like a tool you only benefit from if you're extremely used and has lots of experience with it, just to save time and organize better. But honestly it's not worth it imo.
It really does just feel like a demo version of Photoshop to me. There HAS to be something I'm missing. What is its purpose? Why is it around?
InDesign and Photoshop are not meant for the same thing and shouldn't be compared. InDesign is a page layout / publishing tool while Photoshop is for making the images that you would put into InDesign. It is essentially a compiler, you link images and lay them out on spreads and then if you change the linked image it will automatically update the Indesign file.
Don't use InDesign unless you are making a magazine / book or something. If you are making those things it is indispensable, believe me. I have used it SO much.
In regards to text, if you are making large bodies of text like in magazines etc. then InDesign is again WAY better than photoshop. You can make text styles and stuff and you have much better control over everything. I almost never do text in photoshop anymore unless I want to apply all kinds of effects and stuff to it.
If your design class is using InDesign INSTEAD of photoshop rather than WITH photoshop, then they are doing things wrong.
From my experience, once you learn what photoshop, illustrator, and indesign are for individually you won't be able to go back. Even for a simple poster I often have a separate photoshop, illustrator, and indesign file to allow the maximum flexibility in editing.
[editline]27th January 2017[/editline]
[QUOTE=The bird Man;51737736]To me InDesign feels like a tool you only benefit from if you're extremely used and has lots of experience with it, just to save time and organize better. But honestly it's not worth it imo.[/QUOTE]
It is 150% worth it. I have saved combined thousands of hours in my work because of InDesign. Any designer who will be doing page layout NEEDS to know InDesign or a similar tool.
[QUOTE=Smeetin;51738225]InDesign and Photoshop are not meant for the same thing and shouldn't be compared. InDesign is a page layout / publishing tool while Photoshop is for making the images that you would put into InDesign.
If your design class is using InDesign INSTEAD of photoshop rather than WITH photoshop, then they are doing things wrong.
[/QUOTE]
according to the syllabus, the first ~3-4 weeks are Photoshop oriented, and after that, the rest of the projects are required to be submitted as an InDesign file. right now the class has been canceled for two weeks due to the professor having to make an emergency trip back to China. not really sure how the projects are expected to be completed.
speaking of text though, where are all the text options in InDesign? In Photoshop you can open the Character window, like I said before. there is no Character menu in InDesign and the only controls I can find are relegated to the top bar, where I can adjust kerning or sizing. in that top bar, there are about half of the text-related controls that Photoshop has. so where are all these text styles that you say are there? do I need to press a command to get them to open? I guarantee once you point it out, it will be something obvious, but I've poured over the UI so many times and just can't find them
[editline]27th January 2017[/editline]
this class is billed as an semi-introductory level graphic design course. I have a very prolific background in design and am taking it as a major requirement as opposed to an elective so I have absolutely no clue what the scope of the course will end up being. we had one day of class that was really just an introduction to what graphic design is and its been canceled since later that afternoon. guess I'll just hang on and see where it goes
Top menu > Windows > Type & Tables > Character & Paragraph (Ctrl + T, Alt+Ctrl+T)
Top menu > Windows > Styles > Character Styles & Paragraph Styles (F11, Shift+F11)
When you have these menus open (Character, Paragraph, etc.) make sure you click the little drop-down icon in the top right of the menu and click Show Options.
As someone who uses Indesign, its meant for handling things like book layouts and magazines. Handling 30+ pages in photoshop is an absolute nightmare, unlike Indesign. And the text/coloum/layout tools are much better with organizing typography and lets you handle large amounts of text much easier.
Comparing it to Photoshop is weird since they are for completely different things. Indesign isn't for photo-manipulation or graphics creation, it's just for layouts.
[editline]28th January 2017[/editline]
Like in his Rammaster's magazine, handling that many pages with photoshop would be absolute hell. What if whoever you were designing that magazine wanted to change to a smaller text? You'd have to resize every document and change the wording to fill the page. InDesign can handle changes like that in a second.
I think the biggest challenge going from Photoshop to InDesign is trying to find how to do certain functions that's easier to find in Photoshop than in InDesign. Like changing/adding colors for fill. It's kind of a convoluted process of getting creating a new swatch (?) or something like that whereas in Photshop it's real easy.
[QUOTE=Rammaster;51739615]I think the biggest challenge going from Photoshop to InDesign is trying to find how to do certain functions that's easier to find in Photoshop than in InDesign. Like changing/adding colors for fill. It's kind of a convoluted process of getting creating a new swatch (?) or something like that whereas in Photshop it's real easy.[/QUOTE]
It's pretty similar to how Illustrator handles color swatching
Comparing Indesign to Photoshop is like comparing After Effects to Premiere Pro, you can technically do the same things in both programs but they specialise in different areas.
[QUOTE=FFStudios;51737560]can someone please convince me why InDesign is better for some tasks over Photoshop?
I've just started a design class in school that will primarily be using InDesign. I'm super familiar with the Adobe suite and its UI, but every time I try to work on something in InDesign I am constantly frustrated at how thing I am used to doing in Photoshop very quickly are hidden behind menus and dialog boxes in InDesign. A week ago, I was ready to just say fuck it and make all of my projects in Photoshop instead. But I know that's not a good solution and I should probably hunker down and learn the industry standard.
Does anyone have a list of things InDesign does better than Photoshop? The major grievance I have is that text is so fucking hard to work with and there are less options for editing text than in Photoshop. I can't open a Character tool panel, everything is built into the top bar.[/QUOTE]
it's for print. plain and simple
You can technically set up a simple document for print in Photoshop (complete with bleed and what not) but good luck trying to make a whole magazine spread in it.
Also I'm pretty sure Photoshop can't do spot colours, or at least not as easily as InDesign.
[QUOTE=Whomobile;51743573]You can technically set up a simple document for print in Photoshop (complete with bleed and what not) but good luck trying to make a whole magazine spread in it.
Also I'm pretty sure Photoshop can't do spot colours, or at least not as easily as InDesign.[/QUOTE]
And also the type and other vector objects wouldn't scale properly. Photoshop is for pixel pushing and Indesign is for millimeter adjustments, in simple terms. + Indesign saves out PDF's specifically tuned for printing and the appropriate filesizes are way, way, way smaller than Photoshop creates.
You can't export vector stuff in photoshop? not even in a pdf? Never actually thought about that.
[editline]29th January 2017[/editline]
Ok I checked the vector elements in the PDF of the poster I made awhile back, they are defiantly vector mixed in with raster graphics but you should still use Indesign for almost all print stuff anyway.
[img]http://i.imgur.com/oHgTVV2.png[/img][img]http://i.imgur.com/6Vmaqkx.png[/img]
[img]http://i.imgur.com/Prpa0bM.png[/img]
i have to make some fun dinner invites for my lego themed group
[IMG]http://i.imgur.com/HfCD3X6.png[/IMG]
typographic poster i had to make for college a while ago
[URL="http://i.imgur.com/CMwEMkL.png"]full poster cuz its really big!![/URL]
you should get that printed on newspaper
Hello. I've got acess to an old version of Photoshop CC 2015 (doomed to roam the plains of No Oil Painting Filter). I'm trying to use Pixel Bender's filters, but they aren't supported in this version anymore. [URL="https://forums.adobe.com/thread/2267309"]This thread[/URL] showed me how to use the PB toolkit to run a .pbk file and use filters that way, but i still can't find a download for Pixel Bender anywhere, it's like it disappeared from the internet and got replaced by the toolkit. Can someone help me with this? I really need that filter and i spent a whole day trying to get it in various ways, with no sucess.
I'm not 100% on the problem, but would it work if you installed an older version of photoshop?
[QUOTE=LaughingStock;51793008]I'm not 100% on the problem, but would it work if you installed an older version of photoshop?[/QUOTE]
Probably yeah, but i'm hesitant to go through that just to use the filter and later having to upgrade it again
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The Graphic Design Thread - Drop It Like a Hotkey
