Illustration & Visual Narrative - Weekly Journal

Jump Link

• Week 1 - Introduction to Illustrator & Visual Narrative
• Week 2 - Public Holiday
• Week 3 - Introduction to Adobe Illustrator
• Week 4 - Create vector and colouring
• Week 5 - Shadow
• Week 6 - Absent
• Week 7 - Composition

Week 1 (24/4/2025)

Today was our first class for this module, and we were introduced to the module information about Illustration and Visual Narrative. Before enrolling in this course, I thought it would focus more on ideation and the creative process. However, after the briefing, I realized that we will actually be learning technical skills specifically using Adobe Illustrator. As a student of Interactive Spatial Design, I haven’t had the opportunity to learn Adobe Illustrator in depth before, since we don't have any modules about it. Because of that, I feel fortunate to finally have the chance to explore it in this class. Apart from using Adobe Illustrator for the final outcome, I also learned that the process—such as research, analysis, moodboarding, and ideation—is equally important. We are expected to update our progress to the lecturer regularly. I'm excited to learn more and develop my skills throughout this module!

Lecture Note

• Aim: to introduce the students to the process of creating visual concepts from ideas and its pictorial communication to an audience in the form of illustrations
• Assessment consists of 4 tasks: Character Design, Composition, Sequential Art, Final Assessment
• Progress is very important: such as research, sketch, ideation, moodboard, rationale
• The module information might have changes depending on collaborating with people outside, or higher expectation of outcome due to most students from design school
• Bezier game: game of introduction of pen tool, using path, anchor point in Adobe Illustrator

Figure 1.1 Bezier game

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Week 3 (8/5/2025)

In this class, we were introduced to the fundamental tools in Adobe Illustrator, with a focus on using the Pen Tool. Since I’ve learned some basics of Adobe Illustrator before, this class was relatively manageable for me. We were also briefed on our Task 1 assignment, which is to create three character designs. I’m very excited to get started!

Lecture Note

• Layout of tool panel: Essential Classic
• Suggestion: Always explore "learn" panel when something new comes out
• Import image: click "file" > "place image" - No need to adjust RGB and CMYK by placing image like this
• Pen tool: click once > to create curve, click and drag to create tangent > if want to continue with straight line, hover the edge point then click on it

Figure 3.1 Adobe Illustrator layout

Figure 3.2 Layout

Figure 3.3 Learn

Figure 3.4 Add new artboard

For today’s class exercise, we were tasked with tracing the outline of a given greyscale character using the Pen Tool. Below is the outcome of my exercise. I found this activity satisfying and it helped me gain a better understanding of how to use the Pen Tool.

Figure 3.5 Pen Tool Exercise

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Week 4 (15/5/2025)

In today's class, we were introduced to various colouring methods in Adobe Illustrator, such as the Live Paint tool, Shape Builder, Pathfinder, and colour schemes.

Lecture Note

• To change the stroke pattern > create a line > select and go to right panel > adjust it under "stroke"
• To make brush texture for stoke > go to "window" > go to "brushes"
• Live paint bucket: click "alt" key to switch to eyedropper > then click on the object to colour it

Figure 4.1 Stoke patterns

Figure 4.2 Creating shapes using different method

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Week 5 (22/5/2025)

Lecture Note

• How to scale without changing the stroke: select the object > right click > select "transform" > select "scale" > tick "scale stroke"
• Make text into vector: Select object > right click > create outline / Select object > go to "object" > click "expand" > might need to expand twice
• Pencil tool: can redraw on top of it, can also use it on font outline
• Shape builder tool: Select the objects > click on the shape to separate
• Knife tool: cut out the shape
• Another way to make shadow: duplicate the layer > switch the upper layer to multiply > erase to make shadow
• Switch from normal to multiply: window > transparency > switch to multiply
• Width tool: to adjust the width of stroke

Figure 5.1 Creating shadow and highlight using different method

• Task 2 Brief: Create a world for the character
• Differentiate foreground, midground, background
• Reference book: Framed Ink

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Week 7 (5/6/2025)

• Foreground, Midground, Background
• Foreground: darkest, midground: between brightest and darkest, background: brightest
• Composition: create a sense of balance and harmony, to draw the viewer's attention to the main subject, create a sense of movement and flow.
• Rule of Thirds, Golden ratio

Figure 6.1 Rule of Thirds

Figure 6.2 Golden Ratio