Emulation 2

Copy 2

Evaluation

Final

To start off my book cover I made a collage of lots of different, brightly coloured, busy patterns. This created lots of layers. 

I scanned my collage into photoshop where I adjusted the threshold to make my image pure black and white. 

Using the magic wand tool I selected all of the black and applied a gradient of warm colours (red/yellow) which also relates to the colour of sunflowers. 

I then created a template for a flower petal and placed my pattern within it. 

Using  a central point I copied the petal and rotated it to build up a flower shape.

I did this until the flower was complete

To further develop my flower I multiplied each of the petals to blend them together. I copied the flower design and layered a larger one behind the original flower and a small one in the middle (which I multiplied). Around the outer layer I added a white stroke. To this white stroke I then added an orange shadow to create depth. 

I the remover the pattern within the outer layer leaving the shadow behind in the shape of the petals. This then created white space. 

When I was happy with my flower design I pasted it into my book cover template. Using my original collage pattern I used this for the backgrounds for my spine and right and left flaps of the book cover. 

I plan to put text on the right flap. As the background pattern is very busy the text may not be legible. I added a white oval which the text could be placed upon. I reduced the opacity of the oval so some of the background pattern was still visible but not over powering. To create a border pattern I hand drew a small flower. I then coloured this and evenly distributed them around the outside of the oval. 

I then connected the flowers with a black line by using the brush tool. This completed the border. 

To start my title I firstly hand drew it in pencil then fine liner. I then scanned it into photoshop where I adjusted the threshold to make it pure black and white. Using the magic wand tool I removed the white so I could place colour within the title. 

Using the magic wand tool to select my desired area I added a gradient to the title. I copied and pasted the title and slightly moved the under layer to give the impression that the text was 3D. I reduced the opacity in the bottom layer so it wasn't too overpowering and multiplied the titles together which gave a nice effect. I then added a white stroke around the text so it would stand out from the patterned background and be more legible.

I pasted my title into my book cover template. Using the hue slider I adjusted the colour of the title to compliment the colour scheme of the rest of my book. I then distanced the stroke from the text which gave a nice outline effect.

I hand drew the second half of my title and repeated the same process as the first.

I added a gradient to the title. I added a white stroke to make the text stand out. I then copied the same text without a stroke on top of the original and added a drop shadow. I then merged these two layers and multiplied them. I then added another drop shadow to the overall title. This then made it very prominent which is what I wanted as sunflowers are the main focus of the book.

To keep consistency I added a hand drawn flower to the spine. I also created an white oval for the text like on the right flap of the book. I reduced the opacity so the text would be legible. To give the text more body I added an orang stroke. Around the authors name I also added a yellow glow so it would stand out more

To fill the right flap I decided to add information about the 'author'. I found an image and edited it into an oval shape to keep consistency. I centre aligned the image and edited it to black and white as it complimented my colour scheme more. I then added the text in the same font as the spine.

For the back cover I created a ring of flowers similar to the one on the right flap which will contain the text. I chose to alternate the colours to make it more interesting and incorporate more colours from my colour scheme. I filled the ring with orange and reduced the opacity so it wasn't so over powering.

I then added the barcode, puffin logo (to the back and spine), price, publisher, website and the country of publication to make the book look professional.

I then added the title of 'sunflower' to the centre of the circle in the flower font I previously created.

Once I added the rest of the text I decided that the flower text didn't look right. Therefore, I used the same font as the spine and right flap to keep consistency. I still wanted the word 'sunflower' to stand out so i made it a larger font. i also added a really thick white stroke. behind this white stroke I then added a red drop shadow to add further emphasis to the word.

After thinking I had finished, I evaluated my work and made a few changes. I didn't like the white space on the back of the book cover. Therefore I used the original collaged background with a red to yellow gradient. I then reduced the opacity dramatically as it was too overpowering. I also left aligned the text in the bottom right hand corner to make it look more professional

This is my final finished book cover. 

Final draft

 

Before producing my final piece I drew out a final design of what I hoped it to look like. I then added colour in photoshop to indicate my colour scheme I intend to use - warm colours linking to my context of the sun and sunflowers

Colour schemes

To help me understand how colour schemes can be used to alter the feel and communication of an artefact I used my final draft and altered the colour schemes to monochromatic, analogous, triadic and complementary to help me explore the different effects they create. This really helped to improve my awareness of colour. 

Monochromatic

I liked this effect as it easily creates a mood. For example the oranges in this piece create a very warm, happy mood which was easy to get right. The colours are all soothing and harmonious on the eye. 

Analogous 

This colour scheme is similar to monochromatic but differs slightly as it brings a few more colours into the mix which compliment the dominant colour (orange).

Triadic

This colour scheme is very contesting. Only three colours are used throughout - and often from opposite sides of the colour wheel. Although it is contrasting it still maintains subtly and harmony whilst the highly saturated prismatic colours provide richness. I maintained the dominating colour as orange

Complementary

These colours have a very high amount of contrast as they are found on opposite sides of the colour wheel. To help it not come across as too jarring to the eye I used a lot of the purple whilst only bringing small amounts of the yellow in to make it subtle. 

Type choices - digital

Before completing my final piece I experimented with a variet of digital type choices which I collected from dafont. I then annotated them to help me understand their asthetics and see what would look best and suit the context of my final book cover design