Sound as Image-Chalkboard

I don't have very much time to write out this blog because I'm at work until 6, but over the weekend I worked more on the sound as image project and created one that I made up myself. I only used illustrator and decided to create the sound of nails on a chalkboard.

I used the pen tool to trace around the hand, the gradient mesh tool for the coloring of the chalkboard, and the paintbrush tool to write out the numbers. I also used a few different effects for the hand and scratched part of the chalkboard.  

Sound As Image Project-Political Debate

I decided to create the sounds as image political debate part of the project using only illustrator. I first found an image of two people debating and used the pen tool to trace around it and make silhouettes.

I then used the pen tool again to create the republican and democratic symbols to place on each podium, so it would be obvious that the two people in the picture were having a political debate.  

I wanted to show that these two people were having an intense debate with lots of yelling so I added in some lines in front of their mouths to show that they were yelling, and different shapes above their heads to make them look angry. 

Finished Gradient Mesh Project

I am so happy to say that my gradient mesh project is finally finished. 

I started out by using the pen tool to outline each one of the cow's spots. For some of the spots I even broke them down into smaller sections because of the difference in color. I then used the gradient mesh tool to fill in the spots with the correct coloring. I then broke down the body of the cow into three separate sections and used the gradient mesh tool to fill each one of them in also. 

I then used the pen and gradient mesh tool to create the neck, handle, and top of the kettle. The silver part of the handle looked dull, so I experimented with a few different effect to try and make them look shiny like the original picture. The plastic wrap effect worked best for this. 

I moved on to the cows head and bell where I also used the pen and gradient mesh tools. 

The head of the cow was still missing a lot of detail so I used the pen tool, shape tool, brush effect, and changed the opacity on parts to make it look like the original photo. 

I used the pen and gradient mesh tool to create the background line at the bottom, and filled the background with the correct coloring. I then created a small layer at the bottom of the cow, filled it with grey, and used the drop shadow effect to create the shadow under the cow. 

This project was definitely a great learning experience, but I am very glad that I finally have mine finished! 

Sounds as Image Progress

Yesterday I began working on the sound as image project. I first started working on the creating the sound of a car driving across an old bridge, and then the sounds of a spinning fan. I mainly used photoshop for the car driving across an old bridge sound. I started by placing a picture of a car that was moving on the first layer. Then added a mask on it to eliminate the background. I placed the layer of the bridge over it and used the masking tool and skew tool to make it look like the car was driving on the bridge. I then went into illustrator and created a bumpy road sign to place by the bridge and added it back into my photo in Photoshop. I decided to duplicate my car into three separate layers and slightly stagger them to make it look as if the car was going over bumps. Here's where I'm at so far.

I decided to only use illustrator to create the sound of a spinning fan. I used the pen tool to create the image of a fan, then used the blur effect for the blades of the fan to make it look like they were spinning. I placed a blue tile effect as the background of the image, then added in a few swirls that I filled in with a gradient color to try and create an image of a swooshing sound. 

Finished Opposing Posters

I chose to create posters based off the words Alive and Buried. I was first inspired to use the word alive because I wanted to create one that showed a concert. After going through a variety of different words that I could use for my opposing poster, I finally decided on using buried. The concept of these posters were to show the physical and emotional concept of being alive and buried. Alive, as in actually living, and the feeling of great happiness, and buried as being physically dead and buried, or being overwhelmed. I started creating my poster for buried first, and chose these pictures to work with.

I then put each picture into a different layer and began experimenting with the masking tool and opacity. I placed the close up picture of me in the snow onto of the picture with the rocks and water and then created a mask on the picture of me.

I started creating more masks on the other layers and added in the picture of the stone wall and grave stone. I wanted my text to fit in with the feeling of the poster, so I created a layer mask for that too and  used the stylize tool to add the tiles filter to it. 

My alive poster was much more difficult for me to create because I tons of different pictures that I really liked and wanted to use. After creating 4 different posters and playing around with the masking, adjustment, sharpening, and effects tools I finally decided on the poster that I would use. For this poster, I chose these three pictures to start out with. 

I used the concert picture as the bottom layer, the placed the laser picture with a payer mask above the concert picture. I then used the sharpening tool to go over the crowd in the concert picture. I was constantly adjusting my opacity level for the masking layers in this poster too. 

I placed the picture of the green dots on another layer above both of these pictures and added a layer mask to that one too. I added my text to the left hand corning of the picture and used the bevel and emboss effect. I also experimented with adjusting levels and lighting in this poster.

Poster Project Progress

I have been working on my second poster for the opposing poster project today, which is for the word alive. I've definitely hit a creative roadblock on this one, so I'm taking a little break until tomorrow. I wanted my poster to show a concert mixed with a cool light show, because I feel the most alive when I'm at a concert.  The biggest problem that I have been having with this poster is deciding which pictures I like the best. For the past four or five hours I've been experimenting with the masking tool and trying to create a mixture of pictures that can encompass the feeling of being alive. So far I have made about 4 different versions of my poster, but still can't seem to create one that I love. Here are some of the ideas that I came up with earlier today. I really love two of the layers, the green circle wall, and the pink and green lasers, just still not sure about the others. These are all incomplete, and if I end up choosing one of these there will be more added on.

I'm leaning towards the first one as being my favorite right now, but still am not sure.

Progress Update on Gradient Mesh Project

I have continued working on the gradient mesh project for the past 2 days, and have finished all the basics, but now just need to go back through and add a few touch ups. I broke down the parts of the cow into smaller sections to create a better result for the gradient mesh effect. I created a new layer for each smaller section of the cow to make it easier to work with. I then went through and began applying the gradient mesh effect to each one, which was very time consuming. I have realized how difficult it is trying to crate a 3D image to look exactly like a photograph. The bell and metal parts of the handle were definitely the most difficult parts for me to try and create because I haven't been able to get the metal to look the same as the metal in the photograph. Here are a few pictures of my progress along the way for this project.

Where I'm at now

Since I divided up the cow into so many smaller sections the sections don't completely fit together completely. I was thinking of trying to do a large gradient mesh of the body part of the cow and then lay the images over at adjust the opacity for some of the to try and make them all blend together better. Or just moving the pieces around a little. I also still need to go back and add detail to certain parts of the cow, especially the face.