Portfolio

Cameron MacDonald

Contact Info
Cameron MacDonald
235 W 4th S Apt. 314 Rexburg, ID 83440 408.763.6950 cameronfmacdonald@gmail.com

Table of Contents
Montage Event Ad Flier Imaging Brochure Logos Letterhead Business Card Web Page

Montage
Description:
Two The Dark Knight Rises movie posters combined to form a montage of Bane and Batmans upper bodies.

Date:
Oct. 26, 2013

Course/Instructor:
Comm 130 Section 6 Julie Peterson

Program(s)/Tools:
Adobe Photoshop

Objectives:
Learn to manage Photoshop layers. Learn to blend images together smoothly using masks. Use filters.

Process:
I selected the images, trying to find two that had the faces aligned in about the same manner. I used the Bane picture as the background because it had the title of the movie and the RISE in the background. I cut Batmans torso out of his picture, created a layer on the Bane image and inserted the image. I created a mask and faded out Batmans left side. I then made another layer onto which I copied the Batman symbol and THE DARK KNIGHT RISES from the Bane picture. I put that layer on top of the list so it would show first after trying a bunch of different ways to coax the words onto the top of the Batman mask from underneath, which wasnt working. I added A storm is coming to the bottom. I then resized the image so it would take up the whole 8.511 space and ended up having to use the Content Aware filler for the top quarter inch or so. I had to use the stamp to fix a few pieces in there as well as to cover up one of the logos in the bottom left. I applied a filter to sharpen the edges, and I think it came out really well.

Event Ad
Description:
An advertisement for an annual crab feed fundraiser in Santa Cruz. Created with Word.

Date:
Oct. 12, 2013

Course/Instructor:
Comm 130 Section 6 Julie Peterson

Program(s)/Tools:
Microsoft Word, Adobe Kuler

Objectives:
Find, scan and import a highquality image. Create a full-bleed design Use text boxes for layout in Word. Insert and edit images in Word.

Process:
I scanned an image I found in the Ensign and trimmed it to fit the page. The picture was big enough that I decided to just have the picture on one side of the page and the title and all the copy on another side. I tried doing it landscape, but the fit of the picture didnt work for that, so I decided to do it portrait. I first had to decide if I wanted have the picture on the top or the bottom, so I opened up two windows of Word and looked at both ways side-by-side. I came up with a very rough version of the body copy and title for this part, just to see how the words would fit on the page. I decided to go with the picture on top because the page looked more lopsided with the picture on the bottom. From there I put the title, body copy and DTP in mostly how they are now. I made a 12-pt. black line to get my spacing right, and then decided that it looked pretty good between the two lines of the title, so I left it there. I also like how it balances out the fact that Day hangs over the edge of the second line. After the draft, I decided to add the line above the title in so that Id be sure that the benefactor was clear.

Armistice Day Crab Feed

The city will donate proceeds to a new World War I memorial. Tickets can be purchased at www.cityofsantacruz.gov. $20 per person in advance. $25 per person at the door.

The City of Santa Cruz presents

November 11, 7-9 p.m. City Hall: 809 Center St.

Flier
Description:
A flier for a graduate conference put on by Vouant Communication.

Date:
Oct. 5, 2013

Course/Instructor:
Comm 130 Section 6 Julie Peterson

Program(s)/Tools:
InDesign

Objectives:
Apply the design principles and use appropriate typography. Incorporate basic InDesign skills to improve basic flier layout. Retrieve image and logo from links on this page. Create a project folder with image, logo and InDesign document to keep links intact.

Process:
I made some sketches to get some ideas out. I had to copy edit body copy and use InDesign to format a flier with .5 margins in all black and white. Use provided images and logo to create an attractive flier that uses sound design principles.

Graduate

Leadership Conference

Do you want to have the competitive edge in business? Come find it here!
Come learn how at Vouant Communications annual graduate leadership conference. During this dynamic three-day seminar, attendees will: meet with top executives of Vouant Communications discuss breakthrough leadership techniques cultivate attributes of leadership that you can market to any employer. Vouant Communications is devoted to helping tomorrows leaders gain essential leadership skills in the workplace.

October 21 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Lincoln Convention Center

Conference is available to graduating seniors. Space is limited. Registration and more information available at http://www.vouantcommcom/ leaders

Imaging
Description:
An up-close picture of a flower that I took and edited the background of.

Date:
Oct. 19, 2013

Course/Instructor:
Comm 130 Section 6 Julie Peterson

Program(s)/Tools:
Photoshop

Objectives:
Learn basic photography skills. Use a digital camera to take a quality image, then download it. Size and crop the image. 6x6 resolution 150 Adjust image brightness, contrast, hue and saturation levels. Use a selection tool to isolate a portion of the image. Desaturate the selected portion of the image. Use a filter or colorize a portion of the image.

Process:
I imported the picture to Photoshop and cropped it to 66. I used the quick selection tool to select the flower. I had to zoom in and fix it in several places to make sure I got the flower and not the little bits between the petals, etc. I inverted the selection and changed the hue and saturation to be almost black and white but colorized it to have a slight blue tint to it.

Brochure
Description:
The idea and body copy for this brochure actually came from my job as the departments internship TA.

Date:
Dec. 7, 2013

Course/Instructor:
Comm 130 Section 6 Julie Peterson

Program(s)/Tools:
Photoshop, InDesign

Objectives:
Set up and align a two-sided, folded document. Create an original company logo and use it in a brochure. Incorporate at least four quality images, not including the logo. One should be clipped in Photoshop and text-wrapped in InDesign so the text follows the cutout shape of the image. Write at least 250 words of original copy with at least three paragraphs. Trim for a full bleed and print in duplex (two-sided) color.

Process:
I first created the body copy for this, which was pretty easy, considering I wrote the body copy myself not too long ago for a separate project. I then made a new InDesign document with two pages and set my body copy in text boxes. Then I looked online for some images that would relate to the information. This took some time, but I eventually found some that go well. I opened a few of these in Photoshop and used the quick select tool to make the selection and create a mask. Then I saved that and placed it in InDesign. Then I used the TextWrap tool to put spacing around the cutout so the text would wrap around it. I had to play around with this some to make sure I wasnt creating any weird spaces or widows. I had to change my colors a couple times to get it to look how I wanted it. I wanted to have a background color, but I ended up just using a white background for simplicitys sake. I also used the paragraph styles tool to make having different headings and body copy easier.

Logos
Description:
Three logos I made using Illustrator for a tech company called Xi3 Industries.

Date:
Nov. 2, 2013

Course/Instructor:
Comm 130 Section 6 Julie Peterson

Program(s)/Tools:
Illustrator

Objectives:
Create three logos to fit a company or personal image. Do not imitate existing logos or use your previous designs. Use only the tools of Illustrator. Setting up a professional display for the company. Arrange three logos on an 8.5 x 11 vertical page / .5 margins and add the company name in simple type at the top of page. Getting feedback from outside sources. Ask ten people to select their favorite logo. List the results, along with your favorite, in your blog post.

Process:
Use Adobe Illustrator to create three logos. I used the text tool for the first two. I made the words into objects and split them so I could move the letters some. I manipulated the letters in the first logo so that they were touching, which they werent originally. The same is true for the second. The third one involved using the ellipse tool to make the mouse and then using the pen tool to make the letters and the buttons for the mouse. I had to group and ungroup the letters several times to move them around.

Letterhead
Description:
Stationery I created for a personal brand that I may use in the future, CFM Editing.

Date:
Nov. 9, 2013

Course/Instructor:
Comm 130 Section 6 Julie Peterson

Program(s)/Tools:
InDesign

Objectives:
Use the basic tools of Illustrator & InDesign. Design consistent layouts for a business card and letterhead. Use your new logo to design two stationery items with consistent design. Letterhead: 8.5 x 11 (full-bleed optional, but trim only .125) Apply typography rules keeping small copy. Applying contact information: Include name, address, phone, and email on each piece.

Process:
I placed my logo in the top left corner because the green line leads the eye from top-left to bottom-right. I decided to take advantage of that flow and put my contact information in the bottom right corner of the page. I decided to add a small green rectangle on the bottom of the page, which also leads the eye gently to the contact info.

C F M Editing

Cameron MacDonald cfm.editing@gmail.com 235 W 4th S Apt. 310 Rexburg, ID, 83440 408.555.6730

Business Card
Description:
Business card I created for a personal brand that I may use in the future, CFM Editing.

Date:
Nov. 11, 2013

Course/Instructor:
Comm 130 Section 6 Julie Peterson

Program(s)/Tools:
Illustrator

Objectives:
Use the basic tools of Illustrator & InDesign. Create a new logo to fit a company or personal image. Do not imitate existing logos or use your previous designs. Business card: 3.5 x 2 Apply typography rules keeping small copy. Applying contact information: Include name, address, phone, and email on each piece. Use periods, bullets, or spaces in phone #; No parentheses/ hyphens.

Process:
Since I was making a logo for an editing company, I wanted to make something pretty simple and minimalistic. Editors deal mostly with type, and I couldnt think of any symbols or shapes that would make an obvious and simple enough copyright logo. So I opted for simple lettering with a green slash behind it. Editors do mark pages up, but its a good strategy to use a color other than red because red is scary. I also tried a red slash behind at first, but I felt like matching it with a red bar on the bottom of the stationery would be pretty visually imposing. So I went for a 50 percent opacity green line instead, and I felt like it worked pretty well. I didnt plan it to do this, but the angle of the letters in the logo, which came before the slash, pointed right at the contact info on the business card. I also opted to make the slash a little rounded on the end with the brush room, since normal lines drawn by hand dont have such sharp corners.

C F

M Editing
Cameron MacDonald cfm.editing@gmail.com 235 W 4th S Apt. 310 Rexburg, ID, 83440 408.555.6730

C F

Editing

Web Page
Description:
Simple web page I designed using basic HTML and CSS. This could be adapted for my potential editing brand.

Date:
Nov. 23, 2013

Course/Instructor:
Comm 130 Section 6 Julie Peterson

Program(s)/Tools:
Notepad++

Objectives:
Size and optimize an original logo as a .png for a web page. Write content to describe the process of creating your logo and how it appeals to a target audience. Design a web page using HTML to display a logo and content. Acquire a working knowledge of HTML. Acquire a working knowledge of CSS. Identify hex colors for web design.

Process:
First, I copied and pasted the sample HTML and CSS sheets. Then I changed the body copy in the HTML sheet to match whats currently there. I used W3 to find the hex codes for the color changes I made. I inserted those into the CSS in order to change the style of the page. I thought about messing with the borders a little bit, but ended up just leaving them how they were. Then, I inserted my logo.