Qualification Level 3 Extended Diploma in Creative Media Production

Unit number and title JL05 - Unit 54 Digital Graphics for print

Start date 06/01/15

Deadline 13/03/15

Assessor name Jo Lowes

Assignment title JL04 – City life Magazine Design

Scenario

The inclusion of appropriate graphics in a print, moving image or interactive media product is often crucial to its ability to attract the right audience and to communicate effectively the desired message. Print-based products such as newspapers, magazines, posters, flyers, DVD and CD covers all include graphics and illustrations that are there to grab the reader’s attention and communicate a specific message. Interactive products such as websites, computer games and CD ROMs will all incorporate some form of digital graphics, and many films, videos and television programmes will include sequences that include some form of digital graphics, particularly in the opening titles and closing credits.

Producing and manipulating effective graphics for print and digital media products is a skilled job that requires not only creative graphic design skills but also experience of using the image design and manipulation software that is at the heart of many media production processes today.The increased use of computer hardware and image design software means that a graphic designer working in the industry today needs to be familiar with a number of different graphic files and formats, and have the skills and knowledge to be able to process, control and combine these files into effective and aesthetically pleasing media texts.

You have been to asked to redesign the Manchester music and lifestyle Magazine City Life and a range of publicity material to promote including, flyers, press adverts and banners for websites.

Through completing this unit you will gain a practical understanding of the principles and conventions underlying effective digital graphic design, and will be able to apply the skills and techniques learnt in a range of different contexts.

Learning outcomesThis unit aims to give you an understanding of the graphic file formats and applications and develop your skills in producing your own digital graphics. On completion of this unit you should be able to:

1 Understand graphic file formats and applications2 Be able to use appropriate image design and manipulation software3 Be able to produce digital graphics in response to a brief4 Be able to reflect on own digital graphics work.

Create a blog entitled Unit 54 Digital Graphics for Print to document your findings, designs and final products.

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Tasks Grading Criteria Mapping

Task 1 – Investigating Graphic File Formats and Applications

Produce an article for a website exploring file formats and applications

Research and document popular file formats and applications used for digital graphics eg raster, vector, metafiles; file extensions.

Include illustrative examples and the benefits / weaknesses of each of these types of files.

Unit 54P1, M1, D1

Task 2 – Use appropriate image design and manipulation software

The same website has asked you to produce online tutorials which explain how you can use a selection of tools in Photoshop and Illustrator.

Produce a portfolio of work using Illustrator and Photoshop which shows a range of skills you have in image design and digital manipulation.This should include:

Manipulating and drawing text to create a new logo for city life magazine in Illustrator

Using layers and range of tools create an Andy Warhol version of yourself in Photoshop

Using a selection of found images of Manchester create a collage which will be used in your magazine in Photoshop

Choosing one of your found Manchester images which features either an iconic building or the Manchester skyline create a traced illustrated version in Illustrator, this will also be used in your magazine.

For each example you need to screen shot the stages and explain what you have done as a set of instructions so other people can learn from your examples.

Unit 54P2, M2, D2

Task 3 – Produce digital graphics in response to a brief

Develop ideas for the redesign of city life magazine and a range of marketing materialsYou must re design the logo and layout of the front cover explaining reasons for your choice. Eg audience, colours style choice ect.You must select a previously created image for the cover

For all of the designs you produce you need to produce a power point explaining the different file formats you will save your files as and why.

Unit 54P3, M3, D3

Task 4 – Reflect on own digital graphics work Unit 54P4, M4, D4

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Produce a report reviewing the design work you have created this should include:

Effectiveness: how did you meet the brief Management of the process: how do you think you developed

your technical skills, creative skills and management of your time.

Finished product: Consider aesthetic qualities; content; style, compare your designs with other magazines and gain peers reviews through surveys and questionnaires.

This brief has been verified as being fit for purpose

Assessor

Signature Date

Internal verifier

Signature Date

Unit 7: Understanding the Creative Media SectorP1 describe graphic file formatsand their applications withsome appropriate use ofsubject terminology

M1 explain graphic file formatsand their applicationswith reference to detailedillustrative examples andwith generally correct use ofsubject terminology

D1 comprehensively explaingraphic file formats and theirapplications, with referenceto elucidated examples andconsistently using subjectterminology correctly

P2 use appropriate image designand manipulation softwareworking within appropriateconventions and with someassistance

M2 use appropriate image designand manipulation softwareto a good technical standard,showing some imaginationand with only occasionalassistance

D2 use appropriate image designand manipulation software tonear-professional standards,showing creativity and flairand working independentlyto professional expectations

P3 design and produce digitalgraphics in response to a briefworking within appropriateconventions and with someassistance

M3 design and produce digitalgraphics in response to a briefto a good technical standard,showing some imaginationand with only occasionalassistance

D3 design and produce digitalgraphics in response to abrief to near-professionalstandards, showing creativityand flair and workingindependently to professionalexpectations

P4 comment on own work withsome appropriate use ofsubject terminology.

M4 explain own work withreference to detailedillustrative examples andwith generally correct use ofsubject terminology.

D4 critically evaluate own workin the context of professionalpractice consistently usingsubject terminology correctly.

:PLTS: This summary references where applicable, in the square brackets, the elements of the personal,learning and thinking skills applicable in the pass criteria. It identifies opportunities for learners to demonstrateeffective application of the referenced elements of the skills.

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