need a critique - DPChallenge Forums

11/22/2002 01:58:09 PM · #1

I need to do a print panel for my photoshop class. Please let me know what you think and what you think I can improve on. keep in mind the image sizes must remain the way they are.

Hummingbird Moth

bod

11/22/2002 02:40:36 PM · #2

I would say you need to align everything.
Distances from the edge should all be equal.
Distances between photos should all be equal.
I would bottom align the bottom left and bottom right photos, then top align the middle bottom with the bottom left photo. This will give you room to bring the top photo down.

I would just keep playing with it till it looked right so I suggest you do the same (save every version so you can easily compare).
Good Luck!

btw - great photos, the top one especially.

11/22/2002 02:56:58 PM · #3

Maybe less obvious banding/ stripes in the background gradient ?
I like that it is colours from the pictures but the stripes are
pretty strong.

Maybe also desaturate them a little bit so the over all impact is
less garish ? The pictures are great - you want the background to
set them off, not compete so much with them maybe ? I think that
between the colours, the strength of the drop shadows and the complexity
of the font you've picked, it lowers the impact ?

Just some thoughts. Often in DTP less is more.

11/22/2002 02:59:47 PM · #4

So would you suggest that the drop shadows be stronger? And what style of font do you suggest?

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

11/22/2002 03:09:29 PM · #5

Drop shadow closer to the originating object/text and less dark so it's just a hint of a more feathered shadow. Fonts for text that work best are usually ones that are wider more bold characters. Thinner more complex ones just seem to get lost.

-danny

Patella

Canon EOS-500D Rebel T1i

11/22/2002 03:27:56 PM · #6

Do they all have to be vertical images, or could you make one horizontal? Can you add maybe one more or take one away (to have 5 images or 3 images)? You can't change the size of any of the images on the page, or the actual size of the finished image?

I have a lot of page layout experience -- but since I'm not entirely sure about the limits of your assignment, I can't help without knowing more.

Some of bod's advice is very good and helps you avoid "trapped white space" (at least that's what we called it). Gordon has some good ideas with other issues.

I mocked something up very fast that ONLY deals with design issues and is only meant to showcase ideas -- I almost hesitate to post it -- I'll give you a link if you want to look, though. Note that I just eyeballed stuff, didn't actually measure it out.

demo

* This message has been edited by the author on 11/22/2002 3:26:33 PM.

Patella

Canon EOS-500D Rebel T1i

11/22/2002 03:32:25 PM · #7

Whether or not that demo is of any use, hopefully it will help you visualize some of the different design elements you might want to think about trying. I know it's ugly -- it's kind of meant to be. :-)

GeneralE

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

11/22/2002 04:05:28 PM · #8

Originally posted by crabappl3:
...Fonts for text that work best are usually ones that are wider more bold characters. Thinner more complex ones just seem to get lost.

-danny

Ditto. Something bold and maybe sans-serif, either formal (e.g. Copperplate) or informal (e.g. Smudger LET) (I think these are common PC fonts -- let me know if you don't have them and want to see them).

Patella -- what's your preferred layout program/platform?

myqyl

Nikon D3100

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G DX VR

11/22/2002 04:20:55 PM · #9

Originally posted by bod:
I would say you need to align everything.
Distances from the edge should all be equal.
Distances between photos should all be equal.

That was my first impression too, but the more I think about it, the less I think you should make it 'uniform'... I like the layout the way it is. Much more so then I would if it was "snapped to grid" uniform...

11/22/2002 04:38:50 PM · #10

The size of the work has to remain the same. The # of images has to remain the same as well as the size of each. I dont have any images that would easily lend themselves as vertical frames. I'm pretty much stuck with what i have there. I can switch them around more if they would look better arranged differently.

11/22/2002 05:04:46 PM · #11

I was suggesting much less obvious shadows and a more subtle background shading too.

11/22/2002 05:14:30 PM · #12

Another thought occured to me.

Have you tried it without the gradient background or the drop shadows ?

Maybe just the green as a muted background, and then pick out the photographs with a darker pink/purple single line stroke frame, and have
the text in the same colour, with a simple font and no shadows ?

You have good pictures, best to show them off.

11/22/2002 05:14:34 PM · #13

Here's my take on it.

Hummingbird Moth

Just my 2 cents.

-danny

11/22/2002 05:24:46 PM · #14

Definitely do not like the red background. It's too 'in your face'.

I'm not up for rotating my images to accomodate a more horizontal view neither. That flower at the top looks like it's growing from off the side of the frame. Not something the prof would like

* This message has been edited by the author on 11/22/2002 5:28:43 PM.

11/22/2002 05:33:54 PM · #15

Just sampled the background color from the hummingbird moth in the smallest shot. The flipping of the top picture was to try and break up some of the size difficulties this arrangement has.

Just trying to help! Sheez!

-danny

Originally posted by BigSmiles:
Definitely do not like the red background. It's too 'in your face'.

I'm not up for rotating my images to accomodate a more horizontal view neither. That flower at the top looks like it's growing from off the side of the frame. Not something the prof would lik

11/22/2002 05:45:22 PM · #16

Sorry :P I didn't mean to be rude.

11/22/2002 05:47:42 PM · #17

No prob.

Best suggestion for your project, is to just play with the background color and fonts. You'll find a match sooner or later.

Good Luck.
-danny

11/22/2002 05:50:24 PM · #18

How about this as an alternative ? Obviously not finished but as a general direction ?

I also tried running the 'Hummingbird' horizontal and then having 'oth' coming out of one of the M's vertically - but the image sizes and relationships are pretty hard to work with as they are given.

hacked up version here

I don't have any good fonts, and the colours/ shading/ strokes need to be changed.

* This message has been edited by the author on 11/22/2002 5:48:11 PM.

11/22/2002 06:07:12 PM · #19

I think I can work with an idea similar to that.... I'd have to rearrange so that the MOTH word is to the right of the hummingbird word... it just looks out of place the other way around...

rll07

Canon EOS-1D Mark II

11/22/2002 07:11:26 PM · #20

Originally posted by BigSmiles:
I need to do a print panel for my photoshop class. Please let me know what you think and what you think I can improve on. keep in mind the image sizes must remain the way they are.

Hummingbird Moth

WOW!! didn't know photoshop could do all that, very good pics, layout and font, i really like this and would like to learn more on how it was done especially the standout of the images on the page....

jimmythefish

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

11/22/2002 09:59:49 PM · #21

if it were up to me i'd do something like this...

Moth pic