Two-Dimensional Designs
The two-dimensional design projects displayed in this page have been created with either traditional tools such as markers, gouache and color pencils, or with Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator tools. Most of the computer-generated projects in this page are “mini projects” to learn basic tools of Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator programs, and most of them are pretty simple and “abstract.” For more challenging projects with greater complexity and more practical commercial applications, please visit the Gift Warps and Textile Patterns projects.
For any questions, please send me an email ([email protected]).
Color Schemes - The Happy Multi-colored Clouds and Others
The project below is an exercise on color schemes and compositions, using markers, acrylics and 3D fabric paints, mostly in semi-abstract forms.
The above exercise includes the following color schemes:
Recommended online articles on colors include: Tints and shades, Color, Lists of colors, Color Calculator, Basic Color Theories, and Color Wheel. |
Figure 2D-1D. The completed exercises with black outlines drawn with a Sakura Micron #08 marker. The intended meaning of each color composition is indicated here.
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As shown in Figure 2D-1J, human eyes, mouth and hair could be identified from Figures 2D-1G and 1H.
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Free Flow Organic Patterns with Adobe Photoshop Gradient Tool
The Gradient Tool is handy for creating interesting patterns for digital arts and graphic design. In this exercise, Adobe Photoshop Tool and settings have been used to create free-flowing multi-colored organic patterns, through the following steps:
1. Create a new file or a new Layer in an open file, and select the Gradient Tool (typing "g" as the shortcut); next, click the Gradient Sample menu, select a sample, click at a point and drag in a direction, repeat this "click-and-drag" action to change the pattern until satisfied, as shown in Figure 2D-2A; 2. If necessary, click the the Sample Manu again to open the Gradient Editor window and make desired changes by dragging the triangle on the sliding Color Stop or the rhombus on the color stripe let or right to change the position and width of the color, or by clicking on the Color well on the color stripe to open the Color Picker (Stop Color) window and change the color, as shown in Figure 2D-2B; 3. Use the same "click-and-drag" steps to create free-flowing organic patterns, changing the positions where you click and the directions where you drag to, as shown in Figure 2D-2C, until a desired pattern is created. |
Original Design Ideas
The projects below have been created from scratch, through “normal” procedure from thumbnail sketches to “formal” execution with relevant tools.
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Recycling Old Digital Photos
The projects below have been created through a rather “informal” or “ad hoc” fashion, by “recycling” randomly selected digital images into 2D decorative patterns with unpredictable outlooks using Photoshop Filter and other tools.
Suggested Project:
Select any digital image and use Photoshop Liquify, Oil Paint and other tools to create a squared 2D decorative pattern. Email it together with the original source image to me with a short paragraph stating your request and authorization to publish it on my website’s Student Works Section, including your name and the name of your school; if you want viewers to contact you through email, please indicate so. Set both images to 72 dpi resolution; set the 2D decorative pattern to 5 inch by 5 inch size; save both in JPEG. If your work is interesting to me, I will upload it to my website.
Textbooks
Reference Books
- Richard M. Proctor, The Principles of Pattern for Craftsmen and Designers, ISBN 978-0442266394, ELAC Call Number NK 1505 .P7 1969 (Edward Locke's Note: This is a great book of reference for the study of the application of two-dimensional design principles in real-world commercial graphic design).
- Wucius Wong, Principles of Two-Dimensional Design, ISBN 978-0471289609 (Edward Locke's Note: This book is popular in art schools as a standard textbook for a college-level two-dimensional design course).
Reference Books
- Zhu Liqun Paper Arts Museum, Paper Collage Chinese Style, ISBN 978-1-60220-023-4, Pasadena Hill Lib. Call No. 745.546 PAP
Recommended YouTube Videos: Two-dimensional Design
Edward Locke's SuniSea Studio
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Contact Information:
[email protected] | Phone number for clients only. |