3. Once the Photo Is Placed. Rasterize It. This Will Allow for Editing

Objective: In this project you will be using your design skills from Units 1-4 (Illustrator basics, elements, principles and typography) along with the new info covered in this unit to make a design that looks like a real magazine cover.

Requirements:

1. Open Illustrator and create a new artbaord. The size of the final design will be fitted onto an 8.5 x 11 vertical artboard (using Illustrator). Save this file as "Last Name Project 5". You will need to edit a photo to use for the cover that fits the entire thing perfectly. Call that file "Cover Photo" and save it as a Jpeg in order to copy/paste it onto the Illustrator page. Make sure it is an 8.5 x 11 as well.

2. To create and edit the cover photo, first, think of a topic. Find a VERTICAL, high-quality, sharp, color photo to use for this. The photo will then be PLACED into Photoshop onto an 8.5 x 11 blank page and be resized to fit.

3. Once the photo is placed. Rasterize it. This will allow for editing.

4. To edit, make several layer copies of the photo (3). Edit the middle photo to be different (black and white, monochromatic, blurry, etc...) and then mask the top photo into it to blend the 2 together. Remember to have the mask selected correctly and to also set the tools correctly before editing begins.

5. Once the editing is done (you can read the details on this in the exercise section of this unit if you need help, or watch the tutorials on my website) save the photo onto your desktop as a JPEG. Then you will need to simply copy and paste it onto the artboard. Don't place as it is already the correct size. YOU MUST SAVE THE PHOTO SEPARATELY from the illustrator file in Dropbox.

6.To begin working in Illustrator, first, lock the photo in place. As you begin to add type this will keep it from moving. Add margins (to help with alignment) around all 4 sides - 1/4 of an inch in from the edges. Your type will not cross these lines.

7. Once that is done, begin by adding the type for the title. Make sure it touches the margins. Be creative. Remember this is the font that is the "Voice" of your work. Make it (the voice) clear. Choose colors for the type by sampling from the picture, then selecting a palette (plus B&W). If you would like for the type to look like it is behind the subject, then flatten the transparency (a setting) and then erase as needed. Make sure the type is exactly how you want it first or you will need to do the title all over again to edit.

8. Decide on a 2nd font to use in the design. This font should be for all headers. You will need something that is more neutral than anything and something that is easy to read in various sizes. Type the headers for your different stories making sure the main article (about the cover pic) gets the most attention.

* Good tricks for headers:

A. Make them BRIEF (5 words or less) but creative or catchy

B. Make them ALL CAPS - It creates emphasis. So will making them bold or black.

C. Look for colors that allow the type to be easy to read everywhere. You may alternate between 2 colors in various headers. Just swap it with colors in the descriptors below.

9. Each header needs a more detailed (but still brief) description under it. It should be a short sentence of 10 words or less and should be smaller than the header size. These tend to be in lowercase. Look for other ways to make these different (narrow, light, italic, etc...). Watch the line spacing between these as they usually go on a few lines. Keep them close together to help unusual spacing. Remember, too, that tracking can help shorten the length of the lines as well. These can be the same font as the header or the other basic style (serif or sans). DO NOT PUT PAGE #'s after these!

10. Magazines also need the stuff that is required for them to be sold in stores - date, price, issue # and website along with a barcode. Design these details to put on your magazine. Remember they are very small so make sure the font is still legible. To get a barcode, download a barcode font from Dafont.com.

11. Look for other designs or type on magazines that make yours look more real and authentic. These may include small thumbnail pics or "stickers" for contests, etc... that may appear in the magazine.

12. Turn it in by saving it as a Jpeg (cropped to the media box) along with your grade rubric and evaluation by the deadline.

- Ultimately, you want to make sure the design is structured and clean and that there is a lot of unity in the type and in the overall design. Be creative but also be accurate. Make the design look good. Have a vision and keep it focused on that. Put it all together!