Type Journal: Flow

I found this typography featured in a It's Nice That article and I thought it was really intriguing.

Production
It has been created using acrylic paint on plastic, and folds and shadows to create "dimensionality".

Anatomy
There is no identifiable anatomy apart from that it is sans serif.

Identity
It is a personal experimentation using acrylic paint, and it is image used as type (or type used as image). It was created by Sawdust.

Character
This type is colourful, playful and fun.

Studio Brief 1: Backing paper in the frame using photoshop

I have taken a photograph of a photo frame I own. It is simple and has a young style about it, so I think it's appropriate for the style of backing paper I've gone for.

My frame is roughly 8 x 6 inches, so I used my 8x6" design to super impose into it. I used the 'transform' menu to distort the design, which was fairly easy. As you can see, it looks like that is what I've done, when what I want is for it to look as if it really is in the frame.

To capture a natural look, I tweaked the brightness/contrast and hue/saturation in certain areas to affect the lighting, because the design is so bright digitally. I then used the gradient tool to create shadowing around the inside edges of the frame, based on the original image I took. A nearby lamp was coming from the right hand corner of the photo, so I used this to help me choices of shading.
I think that the colours still seem a little off, but this is as close as I could get it without it taking up too much of my time. It gives a clear idea of what it looks like in a frame which is what my aim was.

Studio Brief 1: Paint labels development

I think that this layout is the best, as it exposes the imagery well by leaving the middle blank. It also keeps the paint strokes parallel with the frame edges.

Add caption

I also think this composition is successful, as the paint is in the sky area of the line image which works well. I want to keep the text on the paper minimal. I plan to use 'photo frame' in there, because I think with just measurements it might be too boring, and it needs some more basic information.

In the above two screenshots, I added another piece of text: 'insert photo here', because it adds a little bit of personality and an extra colourful feature to the backing paper. The font I have tried out here is Ostrich Bold, which doesn't work as well with the paint; the details clash.

I have realised that for the different sizes of frame backings, I need to be conscious of the sizes of the text etc, and the composition. I have tried laying out the 6x4" frame backing here, which has two lines for 'photo frame' so that it can be read clearer, because it is the smallest frame.
I want to change the paint that is the background for '6x4', as I don't think it matches the other well enough.

I've experimented with the different brush strokes to see which fit the best.

This layout seems appropriate for the 6x4" frame. I'm not going to use 'insert photo here' because of the size of the frame and it would be too cramped.

Studio Brief 1: Paint labels - development

I want to try to use the paint strokes I created in a simpler way than my last development, by having a blank background like below with the line drawing over it. By doing this I am trying to create a template for the buyer, so they can have a rough idea of how it may look if they put a photograph in it. But by creating a simple outline, it is not overbearing or too bold.

Looking at the strokes above, I am looking for ones that could make an effective backdrop for type.

I have chosen these paint strokes as the most interesting, as they are neat and long. I also think that text looks good on top of them. I want to use white text to match the background, and it stands out very bold against the paint.

I've tried out different looking paintstroke, which is wavy and very bright. I have enlarged it and stretched it across the whole image, which is definitely intriguing but quite overbearing, so I don't think I'll use this idea. 

I made the paint smaller on the page so that it only takes up a corner of the whole image. This way it can be used as a background for the frame measurements, like above. However, I will not use black text.

I'm currently trying to figure out how to place the paint on the page. If placed in the middle, I think the composition will fall apart and will be TOO distracting from the actual frame. I also don't know whether to use the paint strokes that have very contrasting colours in them like above; it makes finding a text colour difficult.

Studio Brief 1: Paint idea further development

I want to try to collaborate the idea of using paint and the idea of a line drawing of a landscape that is a subtle example of a photo for the buyer. To do this I have found a photograph I once took of a beach, and I have altered the hue/saturation etc so that I can see the clouds clearer. From this I've outlined the hill, sea, clouds and beach very simplistically.

I've taken away the original image which has left a simple line drawing. I've discovered I want to make portrait frame backings - because more frames can fit on the shelves - so I have cropped and resized the image as seen below.

Next I have made the selection white and used the paint experiment as the background:

I've found that it would look better if the line drawing fits the whole image, so I've then made manipulated it like below.

design using typeface 'Basic Title Font'

I have mocked up some measurements to see how it could look if taken further. I am interested in using the typefaces Ostrich and Basic Title Font, which are very similar and very light in weight. They have a very modern and contemporary feel about them that I feel suits my target audience.

Overall, I don't think I'm going to stick with this design as I find it too in your face to be used in a frame. I think the colours are too dark, even if the paint has an interesting texture. The white is too hars against the background.