Finished Poster

Whee~ it's my17th birthday~ Time flies~

Step-by-step Process

First, I load my scanned sketch into Illustrator. Using Selection Tool, I adjust the position and size. Then, I set the layer as template so that it will not show on print.

I copy the sky from my 2nd assignment and paste it into this file and made new layer named "sky" with sublayers "sunray", "clouds" and "base". Brush Tool, Blur Tool, Gradient Tool set at radial, and Flare Tool are used here.

Next, I make a new layer named "cracked earth". I trace the outline of the hand using Pen Tool. Then I use Gradient Tool to apply the colour in the area of land outside of the hand.

Underneath that layer, I make a new layer for the "soil in hands". Using Brush Tool, I set it as chalk brush and draw the brown uneven soil in "ground" sublayer. Then, I make a new sublayer "water" and use Rectangular Tool and fill it gradient blue. Next, i set the opacity lower and add "reflections" sublayer that i copy from the 2nd assignment.


I load a photo from the web as my reference for land cracks into the template layer and set this sublayer as template. Using Pencil Tool with various thickness, I trace the cracks.

Finished with the cracks. Now experimenting with various shades for the cracked earth using Gradient Tool to show drought and dryness.

For the paddy field, I copy the 3 main stalk patterns from 2nd assignment. Then I duplicate and group them accordingly. I try using the Symbol Sprayer Tool with the 3 patterns. Symbol Sizer Tool is used to add more variations to the size of stalks. I use Effects >>Blur Tool>> Gaucassion Blur for further in the distance parts to show depth and perspective.

I use Type Tool for the title and statements. I use effects such as Effect>> 3D >> Extrude and Bevel set at Front position to add thickness for the outer parts of the message. Then, I explore other effects like Effect>>Stylize>> Outer Glow, Effect>> Stylize>> Feather to add contrast against detailed background and nice glow effect. Then I use Effect>> Warp>> Shell Upper for the top statement and Shell Lower for the bottom substatement.

I use Pencil Tool to draw bushes in the distance. Then, I use PaintBrush Tool set at Charcoal-Feather brush to create the texture. After that, I use Rectangle Tool and Pen Tool to draw a hut. Gradient Tool is used to colour. Scale Tool is used to adjust the size of the duplicated hut.

This is a pair of hands cupped a little and close together drawn using Pen Tool. I picked the colour from a photo using Eyedropper Tool. I experiment with the strokes and colour to improve visibility. Meanwhile, I add dried-up irrigation at the bottom left using Pen Tool and Mesh Tool which will be edited later.

Here, I set the opacity of the hands lower so that it don't block images behind. I bring the paddy layer forward. Using Pen Tool and Warp Tool, I edit the irrigation.

Using Pen Tool, I draw a wilted paddy stalk. Then, I Rotate and Reflect the stalks and use Scale Tool to vary the stalks. Then, with the different variations, I set them as Symbol. Using Symbol Sprayer, I distribute wilted plants on the cracked earth. Then, I use Symbol Scruncher Tool and Symbol Shifter Tool to change the shapes of the wilted stalks. I changed the gradient colour for the cracked earth and font colour for the word "YOUR" in `The Future is in YOUR Hands'.

This is the new edited irrigation. The texture on the ground is made using PaintBrush Tool set at Ink Splatter brush. Then, I use Effects>> Blur>> Rdial Blur set at 12. Gradient Tool is used for the base colouring.


I change the font colour for the word YOUR. I want to add more emphasis to the fact that it is people's responsibility to take actions now to ensure bright future.


Using Pen Tool I draw a leafless tree. Then, I use Object>> Reflect and set at Copy to make duplicates. Next, I use PaintBrush Tool with chalk scribbe brush for the furthest trees and Effect>>Blur>>Gaucassion Blur to create depth. More edits are done here. Added darker shade for the hand outline.

Scope Planning

Assignment 3 Title: 'Rice' to the Future, the Future is in Your Hands

Project Start Date: August 19, 2008

Projected Finish Date: September 9, 2008.

Project Manager:

HP: 017-3053382

Email: angie_chongwc@hotmail.com

Project Objectives:

The objective of this poster is to create an awareness amongst people about the importance of conserving rice supply for its abundance in future. The poster calls everyone to rise to the occassion of food shortage for the sake of our own future. It is our responsibility and actions must be taken now to ensure life in abundance. This project relates 3 assignments. 1st assignment is to design a symbol to represent the area of choice in global warming. I designed a symbol that shows the effect of drought to the land and how it affects the global rice shortage. Using cracked rice bowl with grains falling into the cracks of earth and a pair of chopsticks holding on a single grain of rice, I create the awareness of this issue that is not widely known. For the 2nd assignment, I draw an illustration of a section of a vast paddy field with ripe paddy stalks bended under the bright sun and clean blue sky. This is to state that this is how things should be instead of poor harvest and drought. Therefore, for the 3rd assignment, to design a poster of awareness, I will combine these 2 concepts and show that if we act now, the ideal environment can be preserved and ensure life in abundance.

Approach:

1. I use basic tools like Pen Tool, PaintBrush Tool, Pencil Tool, and Shape Tools (eg. Rectangle Tool, Flare Tool), to draw the objects.

2. For objects with a lot of duplicates, I use Symbol Sprayer Tool. Then, I use Symbol Sizer, Symbol Scrunger, and Symbol Shifter tools to create variation.

3. I use Eyedropper Tool, Live Paint Bucket Tool, and Gradient Tool to colour.

4. I use Type Tool for the text in the poster.

5. For extra effects to the drawings and fonts, I use Gaussian Blur, Radial Blur, Outer Glow, Feather, Extrude and Bevel, Warp (eg. Shell Lower, Shell Upper)

Roles and Responsibilities:

Week 9- I started to plan the layouts and how the overall look that I want for my poster. I searched for poster layouts and take note of the type of positioning that attracts my attention.

Week 10- I started sketching while referring to the notes I've taken on layouts. During this week's tutorial session, I referred to my tutor about the layouts of my objects and the texts. After getting the approval on it, I worked on the title and main statement.

Week 11- I researched on my area of choice again for the right message to be shown. From a choice of statements, I finally picked " 'Rice' to the Future, the Future is in Your Hands" as my statement. I updated blog with my progress so far. Then, I start working on the poster in Illustrator until completion.

Week 12- A few additions and edits. Printing and mounting must be done for submission.

Comment:

This project drives me to learn new skills using a vector program. I had fun in the process as I like learning new things, though it is very busy nearing the final submission with workloads and presentations from other classes. One of the toughest parts of the project is the way to convey the right message in the image. The statement must sum up your ideas and gives a strong message.

Sketches

I experimented with various placement and size of the text. What I've done here is landscape showing the topic area in the positive side. This is to create the awareness of the importance of conserving rice supply for its abundance in future. The Future Is In Your Hands shows that it is our responsibility for our own future. I'm thinking whether I should add the outline of hands cupping the positive side while the outer part is the negative side to add more contrast.

Ideation

Statement:
'Rice' To The Future, the Future Is In Your Hands



I use the word Rice in place of Rise in the phrase "Rice to the Future". This statement calls everyone to act now for the sake of our own future. The phrase "The Future Is In Your Hands" is to make people realize and face the fact that our future cannot be decided by anyone but ourselves. If we rise to the occasion and take actions now, we can ensure life in abundance. To create awareness to the shortage of rice supply, I make the poster showing both positive and negative image in landscape form. Paddy field with ripe stalks inside the outline of a pair of hands close together is to show the ideal situation that we must preserve; instead of drought drying up the irrigation and heat consuming the field outside the outline of hands. The main idea here is to create an awareness of the importance of conserving rice supply to ensure its abundance in future.

Assignment 3- References

stories.mnhs.org

http://nymieg.blogspot.com

http://www.thericedrive.blogspot.com/

" 'Rice' to the occassion" uses the word rice in place of rise.
this will be the guide to the message potrayed in my poster to create awareness that we must act now, for a better future.


http://sonche.com

I like how the font colour and design gives a soothing and protective feeling.


http://www.breedingracing.com

I'm planning to use this layout with the top part as the message and the bottom part as main title.

http://www.plexoft.com/

I'll use this perspective on the paddy field.


http://www.panoramio.com/

http://www.rainforestours.com/

Background Research

In Australia, years of drought have seen rice growers' water allocations slashed, and only a handful of producers have been able to harvest crops.
Some supermarket shoppers in America are facing rice rations - as a global shortage of the grain prompts retailers to restrict supplies.

http://news.sbs.com.au/worldnewsaustralia/global_rice_shortage_sparks_panic_545601

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Crop shortfalls from natural disasters

Several distinct weather- and climate-related incidents have caused disruptions in crop production. Perhaps the most influential is the extended drought in Australia, in particular the fertile Murray-Darling Basin, which produces large amounts of wheat and rice. The drought has caused the annual rice harvest to fall by as much as 98% from pre-drought levels. Australia is historically the second-largest exporter of wheat after the United States, producing up to 25 million tons in a good year, the vast majority for export. However, the 2006 harvest was 9.8 million. Other events that have negatively affected the price of food include the 2006 heat wave in California's San Joaquin Valley, which killed large numbers of farm animals, and unseasonable 2008 rains in Kerala, India, which destroyed swathes of grain. Scientists have stated that several of these incidents are consistent with the predicted effects of climate change.

Soil and productivity losses

Sundquist points out that large areas of croplands are lost year after year, due mainly to soil erosion, water depletion and urbanisation. According to him "60,000 km2/ year of land becomes so severely degraded that it loses its productive capacity and becomes wasteland", and even more are affected to a lesser extend, adding to the crop supply problem. Additionally, agricultural production is also lost due to water depletion.

^{http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Food_price_crisis#Crop_shortfalls_from_natural_disasters}