Some things i made

[jacambece]

This came out really small online,but its a full page mag cover on my computer

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y33/godmode21/FFXII2.jpg



This is about confusion and finding the way out...once again too big to post at full scale

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y33/godmode21/Sign.jpg



And this is about the cards, hiding behind the truth wont make it go away.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y33/godmode21/Ronni.jpg



Cambece

[max_nhk]

The mag cover has too many colours.

I suggest taking out the stroke effect for the sign work.

The third works is errie as it should be. Try wearing black shirt.
Photoshop away the parting on your hair, it make seems like you're somewhat balding. :p


pls don't sue me!

[MD]

The problem with the magazine cover is you are using all primary colors on a magazine aimed at teenagers. It does not work. Also take out the green boxes.

I like the picture but like max said photoshop out the part and maybe paint out the white shirt completely. play around with it a bit - I think you will be surprised what a few tweaks will do for the photo. ;)

[JaCkinbOx]

That mag is giving me a seizure.

[Whacha]

I wouldn't buy that magazine if it was giving away a copy of FF12, out of principle. I agree with what everyone else has said, and I'll add that the different styles in fonts clash too much, which I'm not a massive fan of in the first place. All in all, it just comes off as a cheap and rushed magazine which makes me fear for the quality of articles inside.

The other too aren't my thing, a bit cheesy, nothing constructive to say about them

[cjoe]

oh lord.

[rockem]

oh my

[typographics]

jacambece,

the guy on the magazine cover has a huge cut on his forehead. he should really have that inspected by a qualified physician. it looks pretty deep and i would hate to see it get infected. (at least put a bandaid on it)

matthew~

[cjoe]

please refer to this thread:

http://www.graphicdesignforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=14317

[EC]

Well how about telling this gal WHY this magazine cover is giving everyone a seizure.

For instance, red and green should not be put together like that because when you do, they "vibrate". Some basic color theory knowledge is in order here.

Also, that yellow background is EXTREMELY bright, throw in a lense flair and it really makes it extremely uncomfortable to look at too long.

The purpose of this magazine is for people to READ it. Therefore, the design should HELP readability, not make it more difficult and uncomfortable.

[cjoe]

^ Yeah sorry EC. Somtimes i get tired of being constructive. anyway, using fully saturated, complementary colours together is a no no. For a start try toning down the colours. I don't really see the point of the other pieces other than that they show that you can use photoshop and a camera.

[EC]

Quit apologizing to me you goof. lol

[cjoe]

i can't help it. I am a passionate designer and will defend the profession with all my vigor, but then i try to be a nice person, somtimes i get carried away trying to do both. Maybe im schizofrenic (sp?). lol

[flutterby nut]

hehe cjoe...manic more likely...unless you're hearing voices...then you're schizophrenic...EC, try not posting for a while and see if he keeps apologizing...then we'll know for sure!...lol

[jacambece]

Thanks...Thats helped...and oh yeah thats not me in the last picture, its my ex-girlfriend...

Cambece

[tZ]

The way we can theretically look at your cover is the following:

concept: Areas of high contrast create focus.

Now... what you have done is created your whole page in high contrast.

Bad thing why?

Let me explan:

The eye needs to rest- it can not take in all that information with one glance.

So the best alternative is using strategically mapping your areas of importance (such as the text) and go from there in "how" you place your values and colors.

For instance, Yellow is a warm hue. Warm hues tend to come forward and coooler hues seem to recede.

However, you also have a green which is generally thought of as a cool hue as a warm one through your change in intensity.

With this in mind what can you do to lesson my seizure?

- make the yellow cooler. This way it pushes the background back.

Think about it this way- what is important within your yellow area- nothing!

There for, why is it planned to visually come forward through its intensty and hue?

No need- decrease the intensity and/or lesson the temperature.

Second, Now what you have is green on a lower intensity yellow.

Well green is right besides yellow on the color wheel- correct?

However, the left side with the blocks of infomation are important information- _ assume??

There for, rather then being in an *** situation tell us those blocks are f**kin important. This can be done through contrast.

By increasing the contrast of those green blocks inj relationship to thier negative space on can create emphasis and say visually they are f**kin important.

How do we create contrast?

Well there are many ways.

However, the most basic logic is the following:

Through the elements

-line
-shape
-value
-color
-texture

In regards to your current siuation the utilization of color needs to better thought out to create contrast.

Since, yellow and green are right next to each other on the color wheel those to values are in the lowest of contrast.

However, you could increase or decrease the value of the green in relationship to that of the yellow to allow for the amount of contrast deemed nesecarry- through the importance of that particular area of information.

This is where the design becomes more so a decision making process based on thoery and ways to manipulate to control the viewers eye.

You could use a contrasting color like purple however, that creates directly opposite contrast and will generally result in a high area of focus or emphasis.

or...

you could use a color inbetween such as blue that would lesson the focus but, still result in some allright contrast in relationship to the hue of yellow.

or...

you could go a totally opposite direction and keep the green as mentioned previosuly but, utilize a manipulation of value over volor to lesson the focus by reducing the current intensity of the green to one with less contrast then currently in relationship to the yellow background.

You could do alot of things.

it all depends on a variety of things.

Its just knowing what to do and how to do it that makes one a designer and one a... software "enginner"

and... thats not to disrespect you or put down your level of expertise but, more so hopefully educate you on the thoery behind design and why it is usefull in this or any instance.

I could go on forever stating solutions to your visual promblem as there is much to be fixed compositionally but have no the time and or computer space to hold such a lenghy script- so i'll end it here.

actually... I have a bit of time before my next class so lets question your typorgraphy within that block.

Again with the contrast. However, in this instance you have seemed to take the important information and lesson its importance through contrast. I can barly read the type due to the display font and areas of high contrast (red on green). Instead you should firstly find a easier to read font. Secondly, you should not use colors of high contrast in in a low contrasting value relationship.

What is happening is that the red is disappearing within the green due to the low value contrast. Since, this is information that you want the viewer to be able to read you need to bring it out.

This can be done through contrast.

Quite simply by increasing the color intensity of the red you could make that god awefull font legible. However, why stop there?

- find another font that I can f**kin read.

Its about time for me to go so I'll end it with that nice thought.

-happy trails

[LancasterJohn]

Yeah, whatever the guy above said...