This workshop targeted development with regards to personal ability to use specific tools, features, and ways of working on the software Adobe InDesign. To achieve this, we recreated a series of spreads, each time focussing on different visual elements.

Documented above is the grid guideline, as well as the provided spreads for recreation.

Embedded above shows how I have kerned, tracked, and used baseline shift to alter the flow, positioning and alignment of typographic content. The first stage was to type out written content in the font provided. I made sure this type was the same size as that in the spread behind. Next, I used the tracking function to adjust the horizontal values and ensure each line matched with that of the image. Then, I had to do some additional kerning to specifically alter individual letter spacing, to ensure it accurately matched. With “Alanis”, I learned about the baseline shift tool. This alters the vertical values of the character(s), which I individually matched to that of the original visual.

This specific task brought knowledge about these typographic functions, where I learnt how to use them in order to induce visual effect as intended.

Within the second spread, typographic content on the left page followed an obscure path around the page for deliberate visual effect. To re-create this, the pen tool was used while applying the shift key to create straight lines. The type function was then selected before clicking on this newly formed path. This meant the text would naturally take the form of this new line, directionally following the path I had created. I spaced text around the corners to ensure it didn’t overlap. The result of this is presented above.

I then focussed on the second page of this spread.

 

For the second page, a large column of body copy was inserted into a text box dominating the space. I positioned a quotation in the top left, in accordance with the spread I am re-creating. Alignment settings were selected so that the body-copy flows around this, achieved through selecting the ‘wrap around’ option for my quotation.

The last stage was to add the rat symbol. The first stage to achieve this was to open the provided image in Adobe Illustrator. I had to convert this into a character before opening the document in InDesign. This formed a vector, which obtained the same working principles as the typography.

Echoing methods used within the initial spread, I resized my rat vector, providing it with the same alignment principle as used for my quotation. I selected the ‘wrap around’ option again, making sure that the main body copy sits around this character.

The rat was positioned so that its tail lined up horizontally with the path of text on the opposing page. This is a stylistic choice made by the original designer to strengthen aesthetic qualities, while breaking up the article for easier reading.

Finally, akin to the original spread, I inserted little rat vectors into the main text. A choice made to break this article up even further, the illustrative symbols subtly highlight the main subject, while serving as breaks or pauses in the flow of multiple sentences or paragraphs. To achieve this, I duplicated my original rat vector, resizing it to 12 point to match my text. I then copied and pasted this into the body-copy.

To finish this workshop, the final task was to explore colour modes, and their influence upon any image. The image I selected for this study is presented above on the far right.

The first stage was to convert the spread to grayscale from RGB. This discards any colour information, instead replaces this with tonal grade, and density values.

We then used the options image – mode – bitmap to create a two tone outcome consisting of only black, or only white pixels. Bitmap completely over-rules any grays, transforming them into either one or the other for tonal printing effect. I experimented with the options to adjust the black: white ratio to achieve a wight I was happy with.

Then, through the application of the colour mode setting, I replaced all black tones/ shadows with the colour red, which transformed the entire look of the image.