Sunrise and Seashells

Sunrise and Seashells

This ad was created by first using a gradient fill for the background, which was then treated with a texture effect. I set the gradient in the pattern it is in to go with the photo of the sunrise, as if the sun is bright to the right of everything. I only had to crop the other two photos to fit. I thought the bird tracks in the sand was great because it showed that water fowl are residents, and it also brought about images of comfort for those who can imagine walking on the beach as well as those who are comforted by the "Footprints in the Sand" poem. I used illustrator to make the state shape look like a cut out of a shell picture by using a spiral tool and shadows over an orange background. The fish is a symbol from the Illustrator symbol sprayer. 

After it was assembled, I gave everything an outer glow, which I changed in color to match the brilliant sunrise. I adjusted the opacity of the glow, and I also gave the glows a noise blending option, which gave them a grainy quality that helped them blend better with the background (instead of looking obnoxiously bright against it). I also added drop shadows angled to reflect the light source's direction. Last I added photos of shells I picked up at a pet store (was easier and quicker than spending hours at the beach trying to find perfect, undamaged shells), which I gave a shadow but not a glow to break up the brightness from all the other glowing items. Type was added last. 

 

Not Just Concrete and Subways

Not Just Concrete and Subways

For the background of this ad I used a photo of my front walkway. I then used the blob brush to draw the graffiti on, which was later blurred when being assembled in Photoshop. The photo was tweaked in Photoshop, but then in Illustrator I gave it a white paper frame. I also used Illustrator to simulate the paper curl by implementing gradients, warp, and drop shadow. I created masking tape strips with the line tool in Illustrator, and a gradient fill to the state frame to make it look like water. I assembled everything in Photoshop and added more drop shadows to support the shadow of the paper curl. 

 

Paths Less Taken

Paths Less Taken

This ad is meant to appeal to the adventurer who might want to explore new and beautiful places. I used Illustrator to draw the background map with the pencil tool and symbol sprayer, and also applied these techniques to the state frame. I also used illustrator to create a yellowed, worn piece of paper for the frame for the photo and slogan. I made a yellowed rectangle which I then treated with a roughen effect to create the curvy edges. Vertical type along a path gave me the winding slogan meant to continue the feel of winding country roads. Everything was assembled in Photoshop, where the photo was also adjusted to look brighter and more colorful. Shadows were added to almost make it look like this was a picture of the destination laying on top of the map, and to make the yellowed paper stand out from the background. 

 

A Completely Different View

A Completely Different View

This ad was meant to appeal to the country traveler, the bed and breakfast patron. I used a pattern in Illustrator that felt like country wallpaper to create the background, and simple rectangles to create the window frame. I traced a photo of a black cat silhouette wall hanging I have, and added the green eye. I made the New York state look like a window to go with the concept, and then imported everything into Photoshop to assemble. There I brightened the photo and placed it under the window frame layer. I flipped the kitty horizontally to face the way I wanted her to, and then added shadows on the window and kitty to imply the light coming in from the window. This was repeated with the rectangle, state, and type. 

 

Boats in the Harbor

Boats in the Harbor

With this ad I went simpler with art, because I wanted the scenery to do the work. I used four of my husband's photographs from the north and south shores of Long Island to put together an ad that would appeal to lovers of water sports and scenery. Just looking at it and I can almost smell the salt air. 

I used Photoshop to tweak the photos and make them brighter and more intense through adjustment layers like curves and saturation. I used Illustrator to make the state frame look like an island with a sailboat next to it, and put it all together with Photoshop. A few outer and inner glows give the pictures subtle but distinct frames. The blue rectangle created in Photoshop was adjusted to a lesser opacity so the marsh grass would be visible, and the state shape got a shadow and a glow which resulted in helping it look like an island in the water. Type was added last, which received a shadow to also look like it is floating in the water. 

Original Photgraphs

 New York Artwork

 

Artwork in Progress

Artwork in Progress

This ad was created by using a pattern-filled rectangle (daisies) for a background on which I used lines and rectangles to create an easel. I used Live Trace on the photo, but it wouldn't trace the branches so I had to draw them in free hand with the pencil tool. I created a mask of the traced layer to go over the photo, and then blurred the edge of the photo to look like it was still being worked on. The paintbrush was created separately in illustrator using shapes I drew and filled with gradients. I also used Illustrator to draw the frame for the state shape, which I saved as a master. Then I created a layer under the master frame with the paint dabs to look like a palette. 

All the components were then put into Photoshop, where I used the color replacement tool to add the green into the daisy background. I placed everything where I wanted it after adding a blue rectangle at the bottom for the slogan. I added drop shadows to things to show the light coming from the left, because as a right-handed artist I always keep my work light to the left. Last, type was added and also given the shadow effect. 

Final Project - Six Ads to Inspirre New York Tourism

Six Ads for New York Tourism

 These advertisements, created with Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop, are meant to promote tourism in the lesser-known areas of New York. Everyone knows about New York City, and the plethora of cultural experience opportunities, but when most people want to plan a trip to the mountains or the beach New York is not the first place that comes to their minds. These ads are meant to target the average overworked, over-stressed adults who are looking for new and inexpensive vacation ideas. In a poor economy value is key, and areas like upstate New York would benefit from the income tourism would bring. The designs are meant to appeal to people who want to relax as well as those who might be interested in a new adventure, so it should appeal to many.

I used the same font throughout all of them, as well as a similar format. They should be able to be displayed separately, but if more than one is seen by the same person it should be recognizable as an advertising campaign.

This project uses only photographs and artwork that I own or have created, and was done with software I am licensed to use. These aspects address legal and ethical issues. Because these ads promote appreciation for natural settings, they themselves are environmentally conscious. The way I designed them, they can be used in print or electronic media. With today's print media turning to electronic delivery, less paper means more environmental sustainability. This means these ads are environmentally responsible because they do not need to be printed to be distributed. 

Each individual design has its own post with components and description of methods and tools used.