Reflecting on what I have learned.

This is the first day of the next term of my course. Over the last term I have learned how to use the vector tools in Photoshop  which I used in creating my game graphics

Character for scratch game

This is an example of one of the character graphics which I created using only the Photoshop vector tools.
The vector tools included the pen tool which is the main drawing and manipulation tool in the set, it has a sub menu which change the pen tools function to a suitable one in almost all situations. The word tool was the next one that we learned how to use. It quickly and accurately draws out letters in vector and can be quite uses full as a replacement to drawing out the individual letters with the pen. The next tool is the courser/move tool which is used to move entire objects or to manipulate the individual vector points which is required to make certain shapes/graphics. The last vector tool is the shape tool, it is used to draw squares, circles, rectangles etc. It is far easier to use this than to draw out these simple shapes with the pen tool.

Another skill I have learned from last term is programming, in scratch. The learning curve was quite steep at first but after some practice it became clear that programming must be done in a very logical process and must be very clear and very specific in order to get out put.

Scratch Code

This is a screen shot of the programming block I used for my menu. I will be able to reuse this in the future for my future projects and works. That is one of the extremely useful things about games programming, even if it does work fully at the end of the process you will have blocks of code which you can reuse and reuse and reuse over and over again e.g menu coding.
Although I enjoyed learning the basics of programming I found it very tedious to start and very rewarding.

Another thing which I've learned to do is how to maintain a steady and regular blog, this blog. I have learned the value of planning out post in advance and taking and using notes to type up posts. I feel there is huge room from improvement in my posts and I aim to do so.

Game shetches

This is a sample image of my blog.

The most prevalent thing that I have learned is the fact that I am in charge of my own learning and I must be self motivated in all of my endevers.

I have learned that I need to organise myself sefisently before diving into a task head on.

I've learned that I must set goals in order to be able to acheve anything from this course and any further education.

Photoshop tools

The Photoshop tools which we are currently using are the vector based tools.

The includ the pen tool : Used for basic drawing of objects. Can also be used to add and remove anchor points to a line or shaped to change how it looks. The pen tool has one final feature with is the transform tool, this changes the vector from a stiraght line piont to a manipulatable one which can be used to create shapes such as butterfly wings.

Example of pen tool work

Another vector tool we used was the move tool : The move tool does exactly what you would expect, it moves things. Specificly it moves the entire object unless the direct move tool is selected which allows for direct control and manipulation of individual vector points.

vector  tools

The next tool is the shape tool : Its used for the drawing of simple common shapes circles, triangles etc.
Its primary use is to save time in the grand scheme of a design as any vector based object can have vector points added to it or removed from it with the pen tool.

The final vector tool is the text tool : It is used to draw letters or more accurately type letters onto a line that has be designated for such use.

Photoshop--making cartoon faces

We learned the basic of Photoshop by messing around with the tools and seeing what we could come up with. Then once we had become ajusted to the tools we moved on into a structered exercise i.e. creating basic cartoon faces in Phottoshop.

We started this by first drawing a square.

Square drawn in Photoshop

Then we added eyes

cartoon with squares

Then eye browes and a smile.

Finished cartoon square