Week 5

Craft:
Continuing from week 4, there are many new functions I've learned in class in addition to the layers tab, colors tab, gradient tab, pen tool, and the select & direct select tools. I've now experimented with the op. tool, which creates different contrasts of transparency in an object; the Shift + Command + 3/4 keys, which captures a screen or allows you to select images to capture in your screen to save a a jpeg and upload it online or to a flash-stick etc.; the pencil tool, which uses lines, instead of shapes like the pen tool, to normally create details for a more specific or fine look on an object.

I have used the Shift+Command+3/4 to capture my image from adobe illustrator and upload it in my blog, which an image has to at least be in a jpeg or other specific picture formats to produce.

I have used the op. tool to create the clear shoe and coasters in my picture and become more identical to the actual photograph. The op. tool give you 100% to 0% variation of the image of an object; the closer an object is to 0% the more transparent it will be and the closer an object is to 100% the less transparent it will be.

In addition, to have my layers appear in the order that they are now, I've had to create a newly ordered system, with the help of Prof. Peck, to layer objects in the photo in a way that is functional, changeable, easier, and simply makes sense. For example, inside my shoe are chips. Some chips are seen inside of the shoe underneath the clear portion of the shoe, while others are seen on top of the shoe. This shows the actual position of the different chips on the shoe, some are on top while some are on bottom.

Then, new details to the table have been created using the pencil tool. I used the pencil to draw the lines in the wood of the table. Here, I started to create a natural wood texture to an otherwise solid colored cartoon coffee table. I also used the op. tool to soften the lines to look more natural rather than like marks on the table. I believe that a better tool maybe available in the feature for this texture. I also created a glare on the table which is supposed to represent the light on the table. Here I used the pen tool, but this hasn't turned out like I expected; like the lines, I used the op. tool to soften the glare, but this hasn't helped. Finally, I attempted to use the gradient tool to create the shadows on the legs of the table first. I lacked the experience with using this tool and decided not to use it this week because of the contrast of black, white, and grey it casted upon my tan table. I did learn that like the op. tool, it has a max. and min. variation that lightens, darkens, and changes around shadow placed on an object.

Composition:
Currently in this piece , contrast and repetition have been analyzed this week. The repetition of the coaster really draw the the eyes of the viewer from the foreground, to the middle ground, to the background and the repetition of similar and like colors adds to this concept; the transparency in contrast to the colors of each coaster intensifies this repetition and brings the eyes past the large clear shoe. The contrast of the chips also differentiates position, and last, the contrast of the transparent shoes and coasters have been altered from high white and gray low white/greys.

Concept:
This piece still captures the leftovers after a party or get-together; however, the new concept here is to get the viewer to believe that this shoe is clear and that the chips served in a shoe, highlight of the party, can be seen in and through the shoe. The coaster also hints at the transparency of objects in this picture.