Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Planning for YOUR yearbook spread

Overview: Now that most of you have finished the yearbook spread we worked on together, getting photos from the internet and sending me a .PDF of your completed work, its time to create your own personal Self-Designed version.

You will be given another size 8 Rough Draft sheet - your job is to create your own unique yearbook spread.

A few things you should know about:

It will be in full color so you are welcome to change both fonts and font colors, as well as the way they are facing.

You will be shooting all of the photos for your spread, so remember that if you decide to put 25 photos on your page. You have to fill all of those spots. Nothing can be "stolen" from the internet. You should be shooting NOW for this assignment. Do not put this off, you need them NEXT class.

RULES:
1 pica gap between every element on your pages
Must have a vertical or horizontal eye-line of some sort
Must have a "dominate" photo
Must have a headline and 1 subhead line
Must have text (story space) which must be at least 2 columns wide and 15 pica (s) tall
Captions should touch the photo they belong too and you must write a caption for every photo on your spread

Things you can alter:
Photo shapes and sizes
Colors
The number of photos
Headline and subhead sizes, shapes, fonts and colors
Size, shape and font of text/story area

Ideas to check out:
Go to PhotoJ drive and find the "PhotoJ Files for Class" folder. Then go to Award Winning examples folder. Open the NSPA folder and begin looking for Yearbook Spreads. So that means folders that begin with YB. I would suggest looking at "Features," "Clubs and Orgs" and "Sports"

Once you find a spread that you like, you can try to recreate it on the blank Yearbook grid paper.

SHOW YOUR SKETCH TO YOUR TEACHER:
YOU MUST show your teacher/sub your spread as you are working. Its on YOU to get up and show your teacher your work. The teacher must sign off on your spread before you begin transferring it to InDesign.

When you are ready to transfer the draft sheet to the computer - open the In Design document called: Yearbook spread #1. Once it is open, save as and change the name to:
Last name_first name_myyearbookspread_period#
Start working.

Getting your completed In Design piece should not take longer than 2 class periods.

Photos for YOUR yearbook spread

Alert for Upcoming Assignment

As I indicated the other day in class, you have to complete your Self-Designed yearbook layout.

To do this you should be using any camera you have access to at home to take photos to fill your spread. I don't care what kind of camera you use and digital cameras have been available to you. You can use your phone, you can use any digital camera, you can even go buy a point and shoot film camera from Walmart or Target.

You need to take photos for all of your empty photo boxes. Be sure you are thinking about whether those photos are vertical or horizontal.

This assignments will be due the Friday after spring break, March 21.

When I say this assignment, I mean the Self-Designed yearbook spread MUST be done by then.

Friday, February 21, 2014

King Pica Yearbook Spread Directions

Overview: Today you will finish your King Pica spread.

In your folder on the server there is an InDesign document called Yearbook spread #1.

Open that document. It should open a new document that looks like a blank size 8 Draft Sheet.

Your job today is to make the appropriate boxes for each of the ones we made together. It is really easy to make the correct box and at the top in the sub menus you can input the correct width and heights. Then all you have to do is drag them into the correct space. Make sure to use the columns to help you position them correctly.

Step 1: Once you get your first box or so made, SAVE AS and rename it: last name_first name_KingPicaSpread_period#

Step 2: Follow these guidelines as you are working on your spread:

  • Remember that everything needs to be exactly 1 pica apart. Also don't forget that the eyelines are not real lines, but will be a white space between objects.
  • When you are finished make sure that you share it with your teacher for the day so they can verify that you have completed the task correctly.
  • Then you need to decide upon a theme and head to google and start finding pictures for that theme. It will really help you to pick pictures that fit the spaces, vertical photos for vertical spaces and horizontal photos for horizontal spaces. 
  • Find 7 total photos. Crop them in Photoshop for the right dimensions - remember we use picas now, not inches.

Step 3: More directions on placing images as well as writing your story, captions and headlines:

  • Then start placing the photos into the InDesign spread. Remember how to place? Go to File and Place or Command + D on your keyboard.
  • Once you get the photos into place - you need to write a 1 sentence caption for each photo and write them in the correct places. Font size should be either 10 or 12 for all of your captions. Keep it consistent.
  • Then write three headlines for your story. You can pick the size and font, but you cannot change the size of the box. Headlines must include a subject and a verb. Remember this is not just a title. 
  • Then in the story area, write a story that fills up all three columns about your theme. This story can totally be made up, but it does have to be about your theme. You should leave no blank space in 


If you want to see an example of a finished Yearbook Spread and the correct format of captions, see the image below. However, in your version you need to fill up the entire space for the story.




Submitting your PDF by email; posting yourJPEG on your blog

Step 4: When you are done - you need to export a PDF from your InDesign document file (.pdf file extension) and email it to Mr. Doerr at david.doerr@austinisd.org or Ms. Fleming at Laura.Fleming-Holcomb@austinisd.org.

Finally, you must  convert the PDF version of your file into a JPEG (.jpeg file extension) and post it on your blog.

Here is how you do that:

You must have your Yearbook Spread open in InDesign (NOT photoshop)

Exporting a PDF from InDesign directions:

  • Go to File --> Adobe PDF presets --> Smallest File Size
  • Rename your yearbook spread as follows: Last name_first name_kingpicaspread_period #
  • Make sure to save it in your folder (not your H-drive, not your S-drive, NOT the desktop, your folder)
  • VERY IMPORTANT: You want both pages of your yearbook spread connected together as a "Spread." So when you see the "Export Adobe PDF" window open, you must click the "Spreads" button underneath the option for "Pages."
  • Click "Export" (if any messages come up about outside the clipping area or anything else like that during the .pdf creation process, click OK)
Submission Directions (How to turn it in)
1. Open your email (gmail, yahoo, whatever you use), compose new mail
2. Send your PDF to the appropriate teacher. See addresses above.
3. The subject line is: Last name_first name_kingpicaspread_period#
4. Click attach file (it often has a paperclip looking item next to it)
5. Attach your magazine cover - BE VERY CAREFUL and make sure to send me the one that is a .PDF (It will have a .pdf ending and the file should look like a little grey square) DO NOT SEND ME THE InDesign document which is purple and at the end says .indd.
6. Click send (or mail or whatever your company uses to send mail.

Posting your JPEG on your blog 
FINALLY  -  we want to post these on your blog. To do this you have to convert the .pdf into a jpeg file.
1. Open Photoshop
2. Open the .pdf of your magazine cover (NOT the .indd, it won't work)
3. When the .pdf converter pop-up box appears, click okay
4. File --> Save as
5. Change the format into .jpeg
6. Click save
7. Make sure you save it at the highest file size
8. If you get any other pop-up boxes, click okay 
9. Post it on your blog.

You have two classes to complete all of these tasks. If you get done early you can start your next blank spread.

TAKING PHOTOS

Remember you are supposed to be taking photos for YOUR yearbook spread which you will do next. Come get a camera, buy a cheapie film camera from Walmart, use your parents point-and-shoot or even your phone. These are due in a couple of classes, so please get started shooting NOW.

Sunday, February 9, 2014

Magazine Cover Submission Directions

Overview: When you think you are done with your Magazine Cover you must export it using InDesign to make PDF file that can be easily printed and shared. However, to post your magazine cover to your blog, you must convert your PDF to a JPEG. Follow the directions below to do these two steps.

They are due TODAY. Any cover sent after today is worth -10 points per class until it hits 50.

Directions: Follow the steps below.

Step 1: You must have your cover open in InDesign (NOT photoshop) and then follow these steps.
  • Go to File on top Menu Bar
  • Click on Adobe PDF presets
  • Select Smallest File Size
Step 2: Rename your magazine cover as follows: Last name_first name_magazine cover_period #
Make sure to save it in your folder on the journalism drive (PhotoJ drive).

Click "Export" (if any messages come up about outside the clipping area or anything else like that during the .PDF creation process, click OK)

Step 3: Open your email (gmail, yahoo, whatever you use) and compose a new message.

The email address to send your magazine cover is david.doerr@austinisd.org for Mr. Doerr and laura.fleming-holcomb@austinisd.org for Ms. Fleming.
  1. The subject line is: Last name_first name_magazine cover_period#
  2. Click attach file (it often has a paperclip looking item next to it)
  3. VERY IMPORTANT: Attach your magazine cover - BE VERY CAREFUL and make sure to send US the one that is a .PDF (It will have a .PDF ending). DO NOT SEND US THE InDesign document which is purple and at the end says .indd.
  4. Click send (or mail or whatever your company uses to send mail.)
  5. Let the teacher know that it has been sent and ask the teacher to check their e-mail to verify that it was sent correctly. We will let you know that it has arrived.
If you completed a second magazine cover - send it the same way. You can do this in the same email, or send a second email.

If you completed a cut out and you want credit for it, make sure you save it as a .JPEG and then post it on your blog I will find it and give you extra credit.

Step 4: FINALLY  -  we want to post these on your blog. To do this you have to convert the .pdf into a jpeg file.

1. Open Photoshop

2. Open the .pdf version of your magazine cover (NOT the .indd, it won't work)

3. When the .pdf converter pop-up box appears, click OK

4. Go to File --> Save as

5. Change the format into .jpeg

6. Make sure you navigate to your student folder on the journalism drive and click "Save."

7. Make sure you save it at the highest file size

8. If you get any other pop-up boxes, click OK.

9. Post it on your blog.

DONE!!!!

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

Magazine Cover Reminders and Grading Criteria

Overview: You will work on finishing your Magazine Cover today. You have two class periods to complete your magazine cover.

So you should work very hard and diligently to get as much done as you can today. Please take the time to look at magazine covers on the web, just do a google image search for "magazine cover" and find one you like.

All Magazine Covers must have the following:

1. A title
2. Date information (usually month and year)
3. At least two cover lines
4. Pricing info with barcode
5. A photograph

If you choose to do a poster cover, which is an option, please be aware that most poster covers require a really, really good photo, generally of something besides a person so it better be outstanding if you choose to simplify the assignment.

Pictures Married to Type should have multiple cover lines, but remember that those headlines should not touch the main area of interest in your photography.

In the Forest of Words should also have multiple cover lines and the primary one should cover or cross your photograph.

You will receive extra credit for: doing a second magazine cover, magazine title behind your portrait subject or a cut-out.

Some reminders and requirements:

  • Crop your image in Photoshop - 8.5 inches x 11 inches at 300 resolution. To get to those sub-menu choices you have to select the crop tool.
  • Always save as the first time you touch an image and from then on you can just save.
  • Don't forget to do levels one your portrait image.
  • To get the image into InDesign - you need make an X-box to place the photo in. Once you have the box made - you can either command-D or you can go under >file to >place.
  • Use the text tool to create boxes that you can type into. Don't forget to play with colors, sizes and even fonts. Be creative.
To see the full grading rubric for this Major Grade project see the rubric here: 
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1UFIVJD2sBzYUxoZktFWExZVGM/edit?usp=sharing

If you are comfortable using Photoshop to do text or other things, feel free. But remember to make your document 8.5 x 11 inches because you will have to import the completed image to InDesign. You may have to flatten your layers and make sure to save it as a .jpeg.

TEXT OVERLAP TUTORIAL -- If you really want to make your magazine cover look professional, try making the subject in your photo overlap the title of your magazine. Below is a link to a good tutorial to teach you how to add layers in Photoshop to create this effect.



CUT-OUT TUTORIAL - if you are interested in doing some sort of cut-out, you can visit this link for a tutorial. This will walk you through the process of completing a cut-out. Don't forget it still needs to be cropped at 8.5x11 inches.


If you want to practice once using the same image as the tutorial, the link to the cat photo is here:

For those people that finish their magazine cover. You have 2 options, you can do another magazine cover with another image - BUT it must be in a different style and look very different. Or you can complete a cut-out by following the tutorial. I will prompt many of you who say you are done to do one of these two options. No one is every really done!!