DSP Midterm Portfolio Write-Up (To Pro. Nelson):
All of the projects featured on my blog currently are projects I chose to include in my portfolio. I believe they exhibit my best work with each program and also show the most growth. I'll write a brief paragraph (or as brief as I can make it) on each of the projects I chose to inform you of the areas of strength, areas that still need improvement and the process of their creation.
I chose my Photoshop "Mood" because I was thrilled when I found that I was able to make COB's easily without bombarding you with questions. This was a really helpful project because I tend to use a lot of COB's in the projects that I like to do on the computer. Before I learned how to make proper COB's, I was using the lasso tool and using copy/paste (bad). I used that technique in the first PS project, the daily map. It obviously didn't turn out too well. With my Mood project, I wanted to create a "wild" mood. I think it still lacks in the design department, but I think I accomplished a decent composition. One of my main goals was to instigate movement throughout this composition with the lines between the shapes of the animals. I think this was also one of the successes of this work. Aesthetically speaking, I feel it is a bit busy and the colors are a bit extreme. I touched up each photo individually to give the final piece a higher quality image.
The second PS project I chose was the retouched photo. I think I utilized the basic tools that PS has to offer well in this work. I mostly used the stamping tool, but I also used the burning, dodge and paint tools. I also went in and altered the color saturation and exposure to try and make the blur a bit less apparent. I feel it is a successful photo retouch overall, but I do believe there are still many things I could have done differently and even better to retouch this photo.
My InDesign project I chose to include in my portfolio was the two page magazine spread. I liked this project because unlike previous ID projects I've done in the past, I had more tools to work with so I wasn't completely lost. It also helped to not have to worry about the design. But I still learned a lot about proper layout design by copying the one I chose from Cosmo Magazine. It helped me to visualize what I need to do in the future to be successful at creating efficient layouts. This project also helped me to become more familiar with the different text tools. I finally figured out how to utilize the tabs properly. And because I set up the columns correctly the first time, it was a lot easier to organize the layout. one issue that I had the first time I turned in this project was the swatches. I don't know why I thought I needed a spot color, so I went back in and changed everything into CMYK like I was supposed to have in the first place. I was glad I figured out how to alter the swatch on my own. I also had a stroke set to all the vector shapes I created, which was very unsightly and wasn't true to the original design. I went back in and changed all those and now I feel like the mag is a lot better than it was when I first turned it in.
I chose to put my Jeep in my portfolio because I think it shows how I was able to come up with something presentable in a short amount of time. I think I used the AI tools I needed properly, though I did have a lot of trouble with the paint tool. I had to use the eraser for the windows, which made them a bit funky looking, but I think they still work ok. My pen tool skills greatly improved with this project and I now know what it takes to make a good traced shape. I also fully understand the importance of layering from this project, though I still need to get better at envisioning what specific objects I'm going to place in the specific layers before I begin future projects. I also learned how to effectively use the gradient tool, which I believe is an important tool for particular works. For my final portfolio, I went in and fixed messy lines and cleaned up some of the small things I looked over when I turned this in the first time.
And my last AI project I chose is the sunglasses rendering. I think I really had a lightbulb moment with this project. I started using the pen tool more efficiently and used the basic black and white gradient tool, which really helped make this project pretty successful. It is a bit graphic and not too realistic, but I think that's definitely something I need to work on. The first time I turned this project in, the sunglasses didn't have lenses. I figured out how to change the opacity on the painted objects which gave the lenses their transparent effect. I also used layers effectively in this project.
I learned a lot about the programs with each of these projects. I think I still have a long way to go, but I think these five projects show that I am at least decently proficient in the basics of AI, ID and PS.
My favorite design is the one labeled "Vladimir Script" with the big chili pot. This design is the most eye catching to me personally because of its large header and simple, large image. When I think of food, I like to keep it simple and focus on the particular food being described, which is why I believe this is the most successful design. 
