Category Archives: Illustrator

[inspired?] The Deuce Step

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The Deuce Step Illustrator Vector Shirt Example

I wish I could retrace the steps that led to this, but it was one of those conversations at work that went from point ‘A’ to point ‘JELLYBEANS!!!!’ in a mere matter of minutes (yeah, we ended up on poo … ). I’m sure someone could refresh my memory, but I’m not sure I want to travel that road again. Despite the selective slight amnesia, an idea was born … The Deuce Step.

I don’t want anyone to think that I’m trying to steal the sweet ass dance moves, so I’ll admittedly say that a quick google images search of “dance pattern” was my inspiration/base for the ‘steps’. I’m not planning on selling this shirt, so hopefully no one will have any problems with me borrowing the pattern for this, clearly for-fun, design. In fact, this is a simple photoshop mockup on a t-shirt template. I respect content.

All that being said, let me know what you think. Hopefully it makes you laugh, maybe cry or maybe even remember a nice pair of sneakers you lost to Fido’s happy little accident.

OCMETRO Cover, 1-09 ECOnomics Report

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Title: January OCMETRO Cover, The ECOnomics Report, Special Green Issue

Client: Churm Media, in association with OCMETRO

Program(s) Used: Quark 6, Photoshop CS2

Time Span: 4-8 Hours

About: OCMETRO’s first “Green” issue. They wanted something to capture the feel of the large green movement in Orange County.

Designer Notes: Thanks to online tutorials (via PSD Tuts), this cover was not only fun, but also a huge learning experience. The client loved the idea from the start.

Portfolio: OCMETRO Cover, 11-08 The Hot 25

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Title: November 2008 OCMETRO Cover, The Hot 25: Revealed

Client: Churm Media, in association with OCMETRO

Program(s) Used: Quark 6, Photoshop CS2, Illustrator CS2

Time Span: 6-8 Hours, concept to completion

About: Annually OCMETRO chooses it’s “Hot 25″ business people of Orange County California. This year we wanted to try a fresh new look, with a feeling of anonymity to appeal to the readers and grab their attention.

Designer Notes: I really got to strech my design wings with this cover. Working for a business related publication, design like this is a tough sell. The image pleased enough of the decision makers and i got the green light to go ahead with the cover and cover story.

Portfolio: OCMETRO Cover, 10-08 Obama-McCain

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Title: October OCMETRO Cover, What’s at stake for Orange County? Obama – McCain

Client: Churm Media, in association with OCMETRO

Program(s) Used: Quark 6, Illustrator CS2, Photoshop CS2

Time Span: 4 Hours

About: The cover story told of ways that each presidential candidate could effect Orange County, since we’re a hyper-local magazine media company.

Designer Notes: I wanted the cover to look vastly different than anything we’d produced in the past, bringing techniques and ideas which Churm Media hadn’t explored before. The idea of adding in the Orange slices was to really bring the hyper-local aspect to the cover, and to get a nice bright splash of colors.

Portfolio: Follow the yellow brick [tutorial] road

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My dear love for tutorial doage (yes, that’s now a word) keeps my skills sharp and my knowledge of all things graphic design high. I generally browse through the tutorials pages looking for something to catch my eye that gives me a sense of “how can i incorporate that into one of my Magazine layouts.” On this particular day i was looking through Photoshop Lady’s website to see what new and exciting things the graphic design community had come up with this week. Low and behold, there it was. A Gel Button effect in photoshop to rival MANY gel button tutorials on the “market”. And trust me, i’ve done many of them. Most of them good, and get you to the goal you’re set out for, but this one had so much glamour that i knew i’d have to see how it was accomplished. So, not to bore you with the details or to try and explain the steps i’ll just give you a link so you can test for yourself. All in all, once i got a subject for the ‘logo’, this tutorial took me about 5-10 minutes, then add another 5 for personal tweaks and adjustments.

So without further ado, here’s my rendition of the tutorial (via 3nhanced)…. after the jump [click image for full size].
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Portfolio: An Ode to a Flickr user…

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Playing my own little game of Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon led me to an image, which inspired this little “re-design” or complete design guessing how you interpret it.

Okay, now let’s explain… I was on my google reader (1), found a link through we heart it (2), Liked what one of the users was “hearting” and clicked through to his profile to find the original photo (3), which was a link through a ffffound site (4), via flickr user shaderlab (5). Pretty fun ehh? So, i have to give credit where credit is due. I didn’t QUITE get my full 6 degrees, but if you count opening the browser as 1 i can cheat my score a little i guess.

On a side note, the Oracle of Bacon website will let you play your own game of Six Degrees. I was never able to get more than a bacon score of 3!! So, if you play around with some names and happen to get a good combo, leave me a comment with the names.

Full size image after the jump.
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New Art: Albert Ornelas – Band of Brothers

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Band of Brothers artist Albert Ornelas
Name: The Churm Media Band of Brothers
Designer: Albert Ornelas
Programs: Photoshop & Illustrator

Albert Ornelas is the Churm Media jack of all trades. Starting as a graphic designer and moving his way though the ranks to land as a web Specialist, Albert is one of “the band”. The “Band of Brothers” is the group of production guys who work in the heavily woman dominated offices of Churm Media. Over the year of the band’s inception, some have come and gone, but the brotherhood still remains. Taking the inspiration from the bond we have, Albert created his interpretation of the band of brothers. Taking the caricature drawings of the brothers and stylizing them with color, shading, and adorning them with helmets, Albert has created a flag to fly proud for “The Band”.

Full image after the jump… wait for it… JUMP!
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Portfolio: HALFrican-american

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In the spirit of the presidential election, inspiration hit me. Up until the election was over no one really heard about the “race issue”, but once Barack was crowned king (figuratively speaking, of course) of our great nation it seems like that was the ONLY thing everyone had to talk about. I understand it’s a great time for our nation’s history and whatnot, but the negative connotation places on the issue of race is just sickening… So, long story short, this little bit-o-inspiration hit me.

Please don’t flame me or send me hate mail. This is NOT a racist message, it’s an observational render.

If you’re a supporter of the arts, like Obama, hate Obama, are half African-American or just feel like scoring some sweet swag… then check out My HALFricanUSA Cafe Press store. All the proceeds will go to keeping my refrigerator fully stocked with Mauntain Dew and Dr. Pepper. Thanks!

Realistic human vector images

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Here’s a small collection of what WallpaperHD.net has to offer in it’s “Vector Images” section. These are some photo realistic vector renders of people! Which means they could be lossless up to any size, IT’S VECTOR. With the use of Illustrator and a ton of time, i’ve come up with some pretty photo realistic stuff, but these look flawless to point. I wish i had contact into for each artist so we could get them on here for an Artist Spotlight, but the site i snagged them from is a bit clunky and a little tough to navigate clearly.

VIDEO: “Science Machine” – 40 hour time-lapse in Illustrator

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In an effort to not litter my front page with flash plugins of videos, i’ve moved this until after the jump. But it’s an AMAZING video. Time lapse of a 40 hour project by Chad Pugh. The detail that goes into the illustration is stunning, and if you really like ti you can order a full size print. Once you watch the video you’ll be considering it, i know i was. It’s truly an inspiration!

Watch the video after the jump, give Chad Pugh some love!
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Free Web 2.0 Gradients & Styles

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One of my favorite blog/design/tutorial sites (Deziner Folio) is GIVING away some freaking ridiculous tools for Photoshop (and some for Illustrator as well, but CS3 only. sorry.) The photoshop styles are as simple as loading them to your library, making a text (or floating layer), then clicking the style. WHAM! BAM! Thank you Deziner Folio!

Using the simple one, two, three step process with these wonderful gradients and styles, i transformed the ninethreestudio logo into a web 2.0 work of art. This took me less than 3 minutes! found the colors i wanted, separated my logo into 4 different layers, and clicked! It REALLY is as easy as that…. not like those shotty Tater Mitts on infomercials!