Adobe InDesign Workshops

After viewing the three Adobe InDesign workshops, I felt I had a much more solid understanding of the basic tools used in this program. I'm already familiar with the setup of many programs from the Adobe Suite, but there are certain things about each program that just make jumping into easier. Here are some of those things I learned:

1. Making Selections

• I learned that on the text box, when you select it there are two additional white boxes to import and export text when you want to thread two text boxes together.
• When you want to select a layer that is behind other layers, you can press command or control and click on the layer--with each click you're moving back another layer, until you reach the one you need to select.
• One of the "smart" things about InDesign is that it can sometimes tell based on the nature of the layer what tool you will need to use after selecting it. For example, double clicking on a text box will result in an immediate switch to the text tool.

2. Working with Text

• My name always comes up as being spelled wrong, so it was good to know how to make sure that InDesign recognizes that this is a word in another language, and that it is still spelled correctly.
• I learned that in the Open Type sub-menu, there are options to create symbols such as fractions.
  
• The drop-cap format is located in Paragraph Format, and lets you add that cool-looking larger letter that draws attention to the start of a document. I love this!
• When I make a change to a specific paragraph, such as alignment, and I want this to be reflected in the rest of the document, I just choose "Redefine Style."

3. Working with Text Styles

• I learned how to apply the style of a line of text to all of the other lines so that I don't have to go through each individual line. To do this, I would create a Character Style Sheet and a Nested Paragraph Style Sheet. I can then apply this by using Quick Apply.
  

I thought that all three videos were helpful, especially considering the tools that can be used when I go to create my resume. The first one was more basic but totally necessary as a starting point for using InDesign. I will definitely be using these tools in the near future.

All three presenters were considerably easy to follow, although I felt that the second presenter (Working with Text) packed in a lot of information in the little time he had. I liked the tips he gave on making something more "professional", especially considering my needing this program to write a resume. Also, while I could follow him, his use of language for a person who may not be familiar with computer programs may have been confusing.

Self-Portrait: Creative Inspiration

Since I've already started my self-portrait, to gain inspiration for my piece I looked for artists' work that employ the same ideas I am trying to convey with my project. I want to show in my self portrait how my creative process evolves, and I think these two pieces do the same.

Vik Muniz, Self Portrait, 2003, Chromogenic print, 92 x 72 inches

I think this piece relates to my self-portrait because Muniz is using specific materials--like magazine--to communicate what his inspiration is. Similarly, I am also including in my self-portrait images of those things I am inspired by when I write music. After seeing his piece I may add some elements of collage, since I do this in a lot of my other work.

Gabriela Herman, Self-Portrait, 2007

I absolutely love these photographs--I think they're so lovely! I came across this self-portrait and immediately saw similarities between this photo and my own self-portrait. Aside from the fact that it's a diptych and has a clothing line (I have power lines in my piece), I really get a sense of the artist interacting with her environment and being a reflection of this environment through this piece. In my piece, I am also trying to show my work and my ideas are a reflection of my environment.

The Elements and Principles of Art

When I was taking the photos for my slideshow, I decided to just keep my camera around and capture whatever I came across and was inspired by instead of searching, which is what I usually do. After this process, I found that I instinctively incorporate elements and principles, and I think we all do as artists. Looking through my photographs I could see evidence of more than one principle and element in each image and, again, I think this just happens naturally.

Since I was traveling this past weekend I had opportunities to shoot at many different locations, both inside (with natural and artificial lighting) and outside. I prefer to shoot with natural lighting because I find it more difficult to create good pictures with artificial lighting--I run into a lot of issues with harsh shadows. With these photos, I tried to vary my point of view as much as possible.

Resource for Self Portrait

WebDesignerDepot is a great source for tips on creating self portraits. I chose this site because it covers all of the details that should be considered when creating a portrait, some of which I tend to forget about otherwise. I plan to use this site in the same way I would use a book, going back to specific sections as I go through this process. The great thing about this site is that it covers the entire process, from planning the photo, to setting up the camera to the editing process. 

What is a self-portrait? I think a self-portrait is a piece in which the subject is the artist who created it.

What are the distinctive things that make me "me"? I think one of the most distinctive things that makes me, "me" is my role as a first generation Pakistani American in my family. My exposure to two completely different cultures has been both a struggle and a breath of fresh air throughout my life. I began exploring this topic in my work as an undergraduate at UB and I believe I will continue to do so for awhile.

How do I want people to see me? I want people to see me as a person who is constantly evolving and adapting. I have come to terms with the fact that if I do not accept this quality, I will never move forward in my life.

How can I express my many different sides? I can express my many different sides by having a sort of "code," a key that contains the different elements that define me as a person. Once this is established I can make statements about the different relationships between these elements.

How can I reinvent myself for various purposes or times in my life? I can reinvent myself for various purposes or times in my life by varying these different elements I mentioned above. Depending on the situation, certain traits I carry naturally recede or come forward. I don't think that anyone ever needs to really become a different person...In my opinion it's a matter of finding those traits within us that we maybe are not familiar with yet--they are still there--we only need a little practice to reach a certain level of comfort.

How am I changing from day to day or year to year? I am changing constantly, learning to use my experiences to better respond to the challenges I am faced with, whether it be short term or long term. I think that sometimes we think we feel like we need to be a "better" person. In my opinion, "bettering"  yourself is just a matter of paying closer attention to the experiences we have and learning from them.

Who do I want to become? I want to become someone who is more willing to approach things I am unfamiliar with. I tend to avoid these things--like math (ugh!)--because I'm not good at it. I guess you could say I'm afraid of things I don't understand. I hope to change this about myself, and I believe it will be a life-long process.

Inspiration for Logo

I plan to use the website "LogoPond" as a source of inspiration for this next project. The website has a gallery to which anyone may submit their work to go through a selection process--the top logos are featured in the gallery. It appears that most (if not all) of the designs submitted are professional work...It's neat to look at the logos and understand right away what most of them are about.

I think these logos are effective because the use font, colors and shapes is very specific and pertain to the ideas and aura of the business being represented. I think the most difficult part of designing a logo is that you have to pack a big idea into a simple design. I think that looking at all of these logos and analyzing them will help me to create my own.

Resource for Writing Resumes

In the near future, a teaching job may not be easy to come by, and my resume can make or break my chances.

Resume Help is an online resource I plan to use to polish my current resume. I chose this source because it has everything I could possibly need to know or use when writing a resume, from templates, to writing tips, to developing a unique, individual style. I am also interested in the tips they have for writing a cover letter because I've always struggled with writing these--there's a lot that needs to be said in just about one page.

I think my current resume needs a makeover...I have all of my information, and now I need to make sure that my personality, creativity and work ethic will be noticed by my future employer.