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Elfreda Merritt
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1 > 2: movie poster > objective(s): Students will create a professional quality movie poster that effectively markets an existing or fictitious film using integrated multiple images and typography > curricular focus: This lesson focuses on the effective and seamless integration of multiple images into a unified composition, the use of typography to deliver a message, font selection to match mood and advanced typesetting of information. > specifications: save as: Movie Poster_Lastname.psd dimensions: 6"x8" resolution: 200 dpi mode: RGB or CMYK contents: Transparent > instruction: slideshow of professional movie posters, highlighting positive and negative aspects (Movie Poster Examples folder) discuss unification through composition arrangement (see Movie Poster Compostion on page 4) discuss unification through limited color palette (see Movie Poster Composition on page 4) discuss blue-orange color scheme that is common to movie posters (see Blue & Orange Color Scheme on page 6) review movie poster portfolio website (Movie Poster Websites folder: Movie Poster Portfolio onesheetdesign.com) review how color impact moods and message emotive qualities of color red- anger, love, aggressive blue- sad, peace, calm (light) authority, dignity (darker) orange- warm, energetic, cheerful, caution violet- royalty, mystery, spiritual yellow- fear, happy, healing black- death, dark, formal, serious green- life, nature, money, envy, fresh white- purity, light review unifying a design through color scheme and color casting limited color palette: monochromatic, analogous, warm versus cool color casting with full-color images, partially desaturated images and fully desaturated colors review movie poster typography includes tagline or top-billed actors (top), title (top or bottom), production info/logos (bottom) use imdb.com for finding pertinent info regarding movie (tagline, cast, production info, production logos) see Production Credits on page 7 for details how font selection impacts mood and genre all caps used almost exclusively review how to do a cut-out background using a Layer Mask review adjusting color cast using Color Balance and/or Layer Style Color Overlay remove the color from an image partially desaturate- go to Image: Adjustments: Hue/Saturation and adjust the Saturation slider fully desaturate- go to Image: Adjustments: Desaturate adjust color by using Color Balance or Color Overlay Layer Style - go to Color Balance (Image: Adjustments: Color Balance) and adjust sliders to create desired color - go to Layer Style: Color Overlay and select desired color and Blending Mode introduction to adjusting contrast using Levels go to Image: Adjustments: Levels move pyramids for darks, midtones and highlights until desired look is achieved introduction to altering type settings in the Character palette adjusting Leading (distance between lines of text), Character Width and Height, Tracking (distance between letters) see procedures on page 2

2 > 2: movie poster > procedure: select movie title and approve with instructor research potential images online and select (remember to select large format in search tools) try to find images of main characters that best reflect their mood or overlying role in the plot find images of important scenes and settings note: the final poster composition must have a minimum four total images (foreground and background) download logo for movie title (if it exists) as well as supplemental info logos such as production company, distribution house, sounds company, effects company, etc. (see professional posters for examples) put together sketches) of potential arrangements of images and text and approve with instructor minimum two different compositional sketches; must approve with instructor design must be vertical characters may be contour drawings they do not have to be complete drawings with clothes, faces, etc. but cannot be stick figures focus on unity in your design allow images to blend and work together as one unit overlapping, fading adjacent edges so they transition smoothly create dominance through either scale (size) or contrast in color or value limit your color palette (2-3 colors is most common) remember to reinforce mood consider schemes like: analogous, monochromatic, warm vs. cool (blue/orange) sketches must include labels for the following: COB, overlapping, feathered edge, color casting (and color and type), transparency make sure your imagery accommodates appropriate space allotment for text tagline or actors (top); movie title (top or bottom); production info (bottom) begin work on the computer set up file (see specifications above) do all typsetting first so you know how much design space you have for images and graphics tagline or actors at the top, movie title, production information at bottom including logos movie title may be a COB of actual logo tagline or actors must appear at the top and be all caps production credits typesetting obtain info by finding an example of an actual poster produced for your movie, or by finding traditionally included information from websites such as imdb.com or movies.yahoo.com traditional text information includes: distribution/production house (for example Paramount, Universal, Lucasfilm); producer; director; main actors; casting; costume design; music composer; film editor; production designer; director of photography; screenplay (written by) release date appears in larger font and centered underneath production info production credits logos appear on same "line" as release date visually balanced on each side include: production house and/or distribution house, movie rating (required) sound house and effects house (if available) font selection and style choose highly readable font due to the amount of info and the small size see Production Credits Fonts on page 8 all caps with compressed width (go to Window: Character to change width percentage to achieve traditional look) it's easier to use a font that is already naturally tall and thin but you can alter any font review examples of professional posters' information as well as example on page 4 of this lesson plan see requirements on page 3

3 > 2: movie poster > requirements: file specifications are adhered to all layers are named and ordered appropriately minimum four total images used in composition (foreground and background) background must incorporate photography that reinforces plot, mood or location (may include characters as well) composition must show at least one example of each: COB (cut-out background) overlapping feathered edge colored casting COB(s) of subject(s) must be clean and accurate without unnecessary hidden composition (image is tightly cropped) foreground images have the same color cast, contrast and intensity background images have the same color cast (may be more than one color), contrast and intensity design must incorporate effective use of filters, effects and/or styles composition utilizes a limited color scheme (monochromatic, analogous, warm vs. cool) colors selected must support overall message and mood composition utilizes full bleed photography/graphic elements photography/graphic elements do not interfere readability of tagline/actors, title, production info self-created artwork supports the overall composition (not a requirement; extra grade consideration if included) tutorials may be incorporated if only a minor part of the design (at instructor's discretion and approval) any tutorial used in any way must be sited in the metafile description copy and paste tutorial URL into Description field of metadata (go to File: File Info) typography movie title may be COB of actual logo if typeset must have creative use of text (layer styles, effects, warps, etc.) cannot just be color or gradient fill title may be treated as a background element as long as it is still prominent production credits (at bottom) must include: distribution/production house (for example Paramount, Universal, Lucasfilm); producer; director; main actors; casting; costume design; music composer; film editor; production designer; director of photography; screenplay (written by); release date font selection must reflect traditional movie poster trend of tall, skinny, all caps typeface imagery behind text must be subtle to allow easy readability text on top of a busy, chaotic background makes text difficult to read tagline or actor listing font selection must reflect mood/genre of movie or match the production credits font utilizes all caps typeface imagery behind text must be subtle to allow easy readability all text anti-alias is set to Smooth for all text

> movie poster composition Creating dominance The Fellowship of the Ring poster utilizes ten different images of characters, yet it still has a

All of these images are unified through overlapping and transparency. Keep in mind that the centerpiece does not necessarily have to be one person.

Luke Skywalkers and Princess Leia are warm colors while Darth Vader, the Death Star, the X-Wing fighters and Mos Eisley spaceport are all

Unification thru limited color palette Limiting the total number of colors is a highly effective way of unifying a composition that has numerous

4 > movie poster composition Creating dominance The Fellowship of the Ring poster utilizes ten different images of characters, yet it still has a dominant image that keystones the poster. Frodo Baggins is largest and centered while supporting images are smaller and surround him. All of these images are unified through overlapping and transparency. Keep in mind that the centerpiece does not necessarily have to be one person.in the Star Wars poster, dominance is created through color contrast. Luke Skywalkers and Princess Leia are warm colors while Darth Vader, the Death Star, the X-Wing fighters and Mos Eisley spaceport are all monochromatic blue. Unification thru limited color palette Limiting the total number of colors is a highly effective way of unifying a composition that has numerous elements. Smoke Jumpers uses only warm colors. Superhero movie is more chaotic, and thus less effective, because each individual image is a different vivd color. Production Information Here is an example of the types of items that typically appear at the bottom (see requirements for what must be present). Notice how the imagery behind it is subtle and does not interfere with readability.

> transition techniques Color Cast This involves adjusting the colors of various photos to be more consistent with each other, thus helping to achieve unity.

5 > transition techniques Color Cast This involves adjusting the colors of various photos to be more consistent with each other, thus helping to achieve unity. All four faces are still in full color, but have been desaturated then color overlayed with a golden orange. Overlapping Obviously this technique involves the placement of one image on top of an another. This is one of the easiest ways to unify two or more images. COB COB stands for "cutout background". This technique involves the removal of an image's background so that only the subject remains. Feathered Edge This technique is where an image softly fades out along an edge to reveal imagery or graphics behind only that area. Here, the bottom of the lion smoothly fades out in the castle image underneath. Transparency Transparency is the lowering of an image's overall opacity so that you can see through it to imagery or graphics behind it. This poster does not have an example of a fullytransparent image.

> color casting Color casting is when you alter the colors of images to match each other.

FULL-COLOR color cast In this example, we see most of the real, natural color of the images come through the yellow color overlay to unify them.

PARTIAL-DESATURATION color cast In this example, we see some of the real, natural color of the images come through the orange color overlay on the left and the

6 > color casting Color casting is when you alter the colors of images to match each other. This is usually done with a color overlay but normally requires adjusting brightness and contrast first. FULL-COLOR color cast In this example, we see most of the real, natural color of the images come through the yellow color overlay to unify them. The faces are adjusted for brightness and contrast before being color casted. PARTIAL-DESATURATION color cast In this example, we see some of the real, natural color of the images come through the orange color overlay on the left and the green color overlay on the right. Most often, the images are partially desaturated (removing some of the original color) to allow more of the color overlay through. FULL-DESATURATION color cast In this example, the images of the two faces were completely desaturated before being overlayed in blue. This allows the faces to retreat into the background. Notice how their lights and darks match

7 > blue & orange color scheme Creating color contrast Many action/adventure movie posters employ a blue and ornage color scheme. They are complementary colors, so they enhance each other in the composition. They are also very different in visual temperature (blue being cool and orange being warm). Most often, the designer will make the heros one color and the villains another. This contrast creates visual interest, capturing the viewers attention.

casting costume design music composer film editor production designer director of photography screenplay (written by) release date (usually appearing larger and underneath) > alignment This text is

8 > production credits Production Credits > what to include The information at the bottom is basically like the credits at the end of the movie. Different movie posters have different information, but for our project you must include: distribution/production house (for example Paramount, Universal, Lucasfilm) producer director main actors casting costume design music composer film editor production designer director of photography screenplay (written by) release date (usually appearing larger and underneath) > alignment This text is typically center aligned, but make sure the lengths of the individual lines of text are relatively the same. > font selection The font selection must reflect traditional movie poster trend of tall, skinny, all caps typeface. You may use either serif or sans serif fonts, but be careful in your selection. You may either choose a font that is already very skinny, or you may change the width setting of a normal font to make it skinny. To do this, simply highlight all your text, open the Character palette and change the width setting until you achieve the desired effect. Readability of the font you choose is extremely important here since everything is tiny, squished and all caps. Also, remember to make sure the imagery behind text must be subtle to allow easy readability of the text. Text on top of a busy, chaotic background makes text difficult to read. See Production Information Suggested Fonts on page 8 for ideas. > production logos The logos vary from poster to poster much like the text. But for our project you must include: production house and/or distribution house rating sound house (if available) effects house (if available) Just check examples of existing posters for your chosen movie and see what already appears. These logos are usually one color.

9 > production credits fonts Font Suggestions Below are fonts that you may consider for your production credits at the bottom (and possibly the tagline or actors at the top if you decide to match them). They include both serif and sans serif. You are not required to use one of these fonts. Nor are your required to use the exact settings listed. You are simply required to make sure your typesetting matches the predominant motif described previously. ABADI MT CONDENSED LIGHT (WIDTH 65%) EUPHEMIA (WIDTH 50%) MYRIAD LIGHT CONDENSED (WIDTH 65%) STEELFISH TW CEN MT CONDENSED (WIDTH 75%; TRACKING -10) YANONE KAFFEESATZ (WIDTH 60%) CONSTANTIA (WIDTH 50%) SYLFAEN (WIDTH 50%) TRAJAN PRO (WIDTH 50%; TRACKING -20)

> andy warhol > objective(s): > curricular focus: > specifications: > instruction: > procedure: > requirements:

> andy warhol > objective(s): Students will select a portrait image, crop it tightly and eliminate the background, then uniquely color several times in the style of Andy Warhol. > curricular focus: This