class

Want to start flowing your data into processing, but can’t wait till next week?

I finished the code for our PDF Array reader and it’s very well commented.

all you have to do is plug in your data.

Colin

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I’ve compiled a list of links for resources on the web for Illustrator’s live trace:

1. About.com’s simple overview on Live trace. It gives you the basics of how and why.
2. About.com’s companion video tutorial
3. Creative cow’s tutorial
4. Adobe’s in-depth article (PDF link) on live tracing and vector mapping

You need to choose a photo that has good color contrast or you’ll need to bump up the contrast in photoshop (or directly in live trace) in order to get good results. The biggest most important thing is to “expand” the trace after you’re done fiddling with the initial trace or you won’t be able to edit the outputted Illustrator file.

Good luck!

Folding

We didn’t get a chance to talk about properly folding with a ruler, but use a ruler with a metal edge (or better yet a metal ruler) to score your edges for a perfect fold. You can measure, but you can also touch corner to corner, leaving it slack and then insert a ruler and press on the metal edge moving towards you from the top. Here is about.com’s guide on folding. Scroll down to about halfway the page before you find the useful stuff. The “Fancy French Fold” is in here, but it’s not the same one I showed you–It’s a variation. Use crop marks in illustrator and indesign (in the print window) to get an even more acurate fold.

You are welcome to use any number of these folds, so as long as you booklet is compact and the format fits your message.

Assignment list so far

1. 5 Patterns–French fold book–Minimum. 10 pages, including an
   introduction and a paragraph about each pattern. Due in two weeks
2. Symbols together–Luba Lukova 2 symbols together. Due next class
3. Site–Picture, Logo and 2-page spread Due, refine as you go
4. Annotated Picture–Take a picture of your site and annotate it.
   Patterns, stories, information (historical or otherwise). Due next class
5. Visual Story–Write a story and annotate it with symbols and pictures. Due next class
6. Pentagons & group book–Many many versions Have this done a week from Monday
7. Walk–Annotate the patterns, repetition and flaws in architecture. Post up photos on your blog and title your blog post “patterns from the library” and work on this with your patterns book
8. Two juried symbols with “names” Done, refine as you go