Diego Q.Essay/Logo

Diego Lopez
ATS 240
Writing Assignment #1

When I attended Q. Cassetti's workshop she was able to teach the class a few tricks of her own using the adobe illustrator program and a few quick tips working with photoshop as well. With these tips and tricks I believe the class got a good visual experience on how real professional designers work in their field. When designers like Q. Cassetti are put up for a task, they are able to execute them in many interesting ways using simple tricks that are simple yet so effective. 

One of the few tips Q started off with, was her simple three colored object from any image that creates a very accurate illustration of that complex image. So what the class got the chance to see was how she took any complex image that she wanted and brought it up into photoshop, in photoshop she was able to use the Color Range tool to select different colors that she preferred. Once all the colors were exported from photoshop, it was easy to see how she can upload them onto illustrator and put the 3 colors together to make up that image more interesting and make it a better illustration.This is something designers can use when they have to work with photographs, this technique can give photographs a whole new perspective.  

Another technique that she showed the class was how she is able to work with her brushes. To me personally, It gave me a whole new insight on how brushes can work well on my designs. I had already experimented with brushes myself but it was interesting to see how a professional like Q, manipulates her brushes and makes her illustrations using her techniques more easy to produce, as well as making it outstanding and appealing. I thought to myself that the brush is a powerful tool that can help you build a unique style of your own. 

Overall these simple techniques are very beneficial to works of art and designs and they can come in handy at any particular time. I believe confidence in your work is the strongest ability one can have. The more confidence you have in your self and your drawing skills, the more it will show in your art. One is capable to produce anything that  is unimaginable using these simple techniques. 

Inspired by Q, I made this logo using the Envelope Distort tool to make this text a compound path. The logo is for a liquor company called "NUVO". Other than implying that its the letter "o" The hand sign suggests that its a good accessory for any get together. In my opinion.