61905S-1 DVC3401S-Digital Visualization Week 4

Semiotics Semiotics is the study of signs that offers an explanation of how people extract meaning from words, sounds and pictures. An understanding of semiotics helps a designer to instill work with references that enable them to communicate multiple layers of information to a reader. Semiotic principles Designers use images to communicate.When images are developed through the application of semiotic principles, a graphic device can be made to mean more than it would appear to be at rst glance.The type of image, its style and presentation, its quality and how it has been reproduced can all add layers of meaning to the overall design, drawing different meanings from the context in which it is placed. Signs Signs are often graphic elements that are used to visually represent an object, person or idea by reducing it to simple and instantly recognizable characteristics. For example, through the sign or signier dog, an image of a dog is conveyed; the letters d, o and g; or a recording of a bark, give the same message. A dog can also be represented by a graphic sign, sketch or icon. An example is the red cross a widely recognized sign indicating that people can obtain medical treatment. Symbols, icons and indexes Symbols are physically recognizable representations of items, while icons rely on a shared understanding. For example, dog could also be a symbol a pictorial element that communicates a concept, idea or object, such as a sign, pictogram or a graphic element, which describes an action, or series of actions, through visual references or clues. A red cross is a universally understood icon, which means help or medical treatment. Indexes are signs that link to an object for example, a horseshoe or an anvil could be an index for a horse. Symbols Icons Indexes

This horse image visually represents a horse because it looks like a horse.

This horseshoe icon represents a horse at its most basic level, but it implies other meanings such as horse racing and even luck.

This anvil is a link or index to a horse or blacksmith, although it depicts neither.

Peace sign

FedEx logo Gradient Apply a gradient to an object; Select an object and do one of the following: To apply the last used gradient, click the Gradient box in the Tools panel or the Gradient Fill box in the Gradient panel. To apply the last used gradient to an unselected object that currently does not contain a gradient, click the object with the Gradient tool from toolbar. To apply a preset or previously saved gradient, choose a gradient from the Gradient menu in the Gradient panel or click a gradient swatch in the Swatches panel. Create an elliptical gradient: You can create linear, radial, or elliptical gradients. When you change the aspect ratio for a radial gradient, it becomes an elliptical gradient for which you can also change the angle and make it tilt. 1. In the Gradient panel, choose Radial from the Type menu. 2. Specify an Aspect Ratio value other than 100%. 3. To tilt the ellipse, specify an Angle value other than 0.
2

Mesh Create a mesh object with a regular pattern of mesh points: 1. Select the object and choose Object > Create Gradient Mesh. 2. Set the number of rows and columns, and select the direction of the highlight from the Appearance menu: Flat Applies the objects original color evenly across the surface, resulting in no highlight. To Center Creates a highlight in the center of the object. To Edge Creates a highlight on the edges of the object. 3. Enter a percentage of white highlight to apply to the mesh object. A value of 100% applies maximum white highlight to the object; a value of 0% applies no white highlight to the object.

Create a mesh object with an irregular pattern of mesh points: 1. Select the Mesh tool from toolbar, and select a ll color for the mesh points. 2. Click where you want to position the rst mesh point.The object is converted to a mesh object with the minimum number of mesh lines. 3. Continue clicking to add additional mesh points. Shift-click to add a mesh point without changing to the current ll color. Exercise Finish the two Illustrator exercises - drawing of object and drawing of animal.