Process and Production - Character workshop (part 2)

This workshop continued on from the previous character workshop we had a few weeks ago. For this session we were asked to bring in scans of our final character and the packaging layouts. Although, when we moved on to the computer we only chose one layout to work with in photoshop and illustrator. There was two parts to the workshop which were preparing our scans for use and then creating the actual packaging design.

Changing the levels

First we began by taking a scan into photoshop and cropping it down so that I was only left with one layout to edit. Then using levels I made the page background a brighter white whilst making the pencil marks darker. To make the pencil drawings more prominent I duplicated the layer after using levels and changed the top image from normal to multiply. I already knew how to this from past experience but it was good to go back over it and check that I was doing it right. If your images are well prepared it will make it easier when creating later on. 

Exporting as a JPEG

Once I had finished editing the scan I exported it as a JPEG ready to be    placed into illustrator. 

The edited scan

The packaging net

Then I opened up illustrator and placed a packaging net on to one layer and renamed the layer 'net' so I could keep track of my layers. Then I brought in my scan by placing it; I didn't drag the file in to illustrator as the quality of the file would have been compromised. 

Lining up the scan with the net

I lined the scan up with the net and began creating the box outline that I could use to put my own artwork in to. 

Box created and scan in place

Started drawing outlines 

Here I have the outlines what I drew on a separate layer; the next step was to add colour to the packaging design. This is where I learnt something I didn't already know, Jay told us to put the colour on a separate layer which I didn't understand at first until he explained to me why we have to do it. The reason was due to the way a document is printed and the black needs to be separated from the rest of the colours. 

The progress of the design

Character scan

I have started to add colour to the design and will continue to add more for the next session I have doing character design so that I can move onto the next stage which will be looking at the other sides to the box and then printing and assembling the box. I wouldn't say that I've learnt much from this workshop as I already was fairly confident adjusting images in photoshop and using the tools in illustrator. However, I leant more about the printing process more than anything and this will prove to be useful in the future when sending things to the printers. Below is my character which I may be able to use at a later stage for the other sides of the packaging.