Platt Portal

The final exam is on Thursday, June 27, at 8am. The exam is a combination of short answers and True or False questions. It will also include a “practical part”: you will be given a printout with a sample ad and specific specs and asked to re-create it. You will turn in the final files, as if you were sending them to the printer. Pay attention when creating the files. You can choose InDesign or Quark to complete the assignment. You can create the document on both for extra credit. You can take up to the full class to complete the exam.There is no make-up for this exam and it is not open book.

One of the best way to prepare for the exam is to go over the list, and try to explain out loud all the topics, like you were talking to someone who has no knowledge of the subject. And of course, review your notes, reading assignments, hands-out,etc. The topic review list is posted in the Exams review page.
Read the list, and make sure to ask me questions during the review if you are confused by any of the posted topics.

Good luck everyone!!

As you all know, Adobe has a vast library of fonts at its disposal. We do have a copy of the Adobe Type Library on the teacher machine, for you to use. However, how do you choose the right font? Adobe made it easy with a section of its site dedicated to type. You can search fonts by name or by category, such as style, use, theme, etc.

It is a great tool to add to your arsenal.

Some of you may have experienced difficulties when trying to copy from a pdf, because it was locked and protected. Scott found a useful workaround.

Open ColorSynch from the Utilities folder. Open the pdf in ColorSynch, and then go to File > Export and re-export the file as a pdf. This should allow you to copy and paste text.

Thank you Scott for finding this out.

Today we will look at creating graphs and charts in Illustrator. Graphs and charts are simply a tool to make numbers more interesting, and to easily compare them. Illustrator has a full set of tools that allow you to create some interesting graphs, but it is often just a starting point: once you have the basic graph, you will change its color, size, text to cloesly match the look and feel of your publication.

You can find more informations as well as tutorial and some tips and techniques at the following sites:

• Adobe Illustrator for Urban Planning
• CreativePro.com
• JCM 327: Corporate publishing
• Adobe tutorial for a 3d pie chart (pdf)

The book Real World Adobe Illustrator has also a full chapter, ch 13, dedicated to it. We have a classroom copy so feel free to consult it as needed.

Remember, you will have to create two graphs or charts minimum for your annual report project.

Just a reminder: thursday is the field trip at Rush Press. We will meet at Platt first at 8am, as always. We will talk about writing proposals and invoices, and how not to get burned when accepting your fist freelance assignments. Then we will drive to Rush Press, and meet there a few minutes before 10am. I will have maps and driving directions. It will be a great opportunity to learn about the printing process, so take full advantage of it and ask as many appropriate questions as you like. By the way, “Are you hiring?” is not an appropriate question. (-:

The field trip to Rush Press, one of the largest commercial printers in San Diego, has been confirmed for Thursday, September20. It will be a great chance to see for yourself all you have learned so far. It is also a great chance to ask appropriate questions about the printing process. We will meet at Platt at 8am, as always. We will start out the day with a lecture, and we will leave at break, and meet at Rush press at 10.15. The tour will start promptly at 10.30 am.

If you don’t have a car, please set up some carpooling with your classmates in advance.

The field trip is NOT optional, nor an excuse to get a day off. Even if you have been to the commercial press before, you always learn something new.

Podcasting, as you probably know, is a method of publishing files to the Internet, allowing users to subscribe to a feed and receive new files automatically by subscription, usually at no cost. You can subscribe to your favorite feeds, and the episodes will be downloaded directly to your computer or iPod.

There a couple of design related podcast I would like to point out:
• Design Matters with Debbie Millman. Weekly, 1 hour podcast featuring interviews with some of the biggest names of design, such as Paula Scher, Stephen Sagmeister, Milton Glaser, Hillman Curtis, etc. Subscribe via iTunes, (search for Design Matters) or to select episodes, go to her site.
• 2 Minutes Photoshop tricks. Subscribe via iTunes, or go to their site. RSS feed is also available.
• Creative Cow Media. The Podcast for Media Professionals. featuring interviews with industry leaders, hardware and software reviews, technology news and more. Subscribe via iTunes or their site.

Of course, more and more podcasts are constantly added, so feel free to explore and let me know if you find some other interesting ones.

The midterm exam is on Thursday, September 13, at 8am. The exam is a combination of short answers and True or False questions. You will have till 9 am to complete it. There is no make-up for this exam.

One of the best way to prepare for the exam is to go over the list, and try to explain out loud all the topics, like you were talking to someone who has no knowledge of the subject. And of course, review your notes, reading assignments, hands-out,etc. We will have a review session in class tomorrow, but this is only an aid, not substitute for, your studying.

The topic review list is posted in the Exams review page. Check the list, and let me know if you need me to review any topic in particular.

As you are looking for freelance opportunities, you should be thinking about designing your own stationery, or at the very least, your business cards. It will make you look more professional and you will be taken more seriously. However, sometimes printing costs may be prohibitive. Fortunately there are some cheaper alternatives:

• Overnight Printing postcards, business cards, letterhead and envelopes
• Vista Print stationery, brochures, marketing materials, cards, rubber stamps
• Acidflyers business cards, postcard, posters, fliers, displays, door hangers, magazines

If you want to print promotional postcard, here is the link for an excellent, slightly more expensive, local company Modern Postcards

Pantone Color Guides are essentials when you are designing for print. They are, however, quite pricey if purchased directly through Pantone. You can purchase discounted Pantone Color Guides online at Designers Discount Bookstore . While still not dirt cheap, the site offers some good savings. For example, the essential kit (similar to what we have in class and containing 6 color guides) cost about $50 less.

The site also offers discounts on the beautiful Graphis Design Annuals, containing the best of Grahic Design in different disciplines.