Random Word Generator: list

I'll cut to the chase; i'm a graphics AS Level student wanting to improve his vector work, and so, after pulling the word "list" from a random word generator, I opened Inkscape in an attempt to create a response based on that word.

Atfer maybe 30 minutes, here is what I came up with:



What i'm looking for is creative criticism. If you feel I did somthing right, please tell me, but more importantly I want a barrage of things I've done wrong; how else will I improve? It annoys the hell out of me on Deviant Art when every single arseing response to whatever crap is on there is "Wow, really nice, great concept".

Tips on vector skills would be nice aswell.

So, shoot. I will make improvements to the picture from your feedback, and if you're very very lucky I may well look up that random word generator again and make another peice.

The the black around the words is too think, imo. Seems like it should be more form-fitting, if you know what I mean.

I also think the group of two dots at the bottom should be moved over a bit to the left.

I think that it's pretty good. I would move all the dots though.

Originally Posted by Ringo Starr

The the black around the words is too think, imo. Seems like it should be more form-fitting, if you know what I mean.

I also think the group of two dots at the bottom should be moved over a bit to the left.

I can see where you're coming from with the black. I intended the offset to be large, but looking again it may be a little much. The dots too; I will expiriment. Thanks.

Originally Posted by Queen Seline

I think that it's pretty good. I would move all the dots though.

All of them? To where? And why?

Originally Posted by Sam250

I can see where you're coming from with the black. I intended the offset to be large, but looking again it may be a little much. The dots too; I will expiriment. Thanks.



All of them? To where? And why?

Variate the size of the circles.

Just noticed the inside of the 'o'. That should definately be more uniform in shape.

What are we thinking now? Only very minor changes, but am I on the way to correcting the flaws?:



EDIT: Ugh, those offsets so arn't the same.

Originally Posted by Sam250

What are we thinking now? Only very minor changes, but am I on the way to correcting the flaws?:

It's certainly better. Now I'd change the font. Move the two "phrases" closer and either make one smaller then the other and/or move them to the top left/right or bottom left/right along with the dots.

Hole in the center of the 'o' is still off-center. I suggest closing it up completely.

I don't so much like the merging of dots in the top right.

Final message tonight, thanks for the responses guys.

Originally Posted by Leminnes

It's certainly better. Now I'd change the font. Move the two "phrases" closer and either make one smaller then the other and/or move them to the top left/right or bottom left/right along with the dots.

I, ah, can't change the font. A font is probaly the first thing I would have chosen, but Inkscape (at least, the version I have) only seems to support one font.

I have to disgagree with making one phrase bigger then the other; they are supposed to carry the same "weight" as each other. If one was bigger, it would read louder, and though it may look better from a purely aesthetical standpoint, it "reads" better this way. In my opinion, of course.

Nontheless, I gave it a try below.

EDIT: No, I was completely wrong, I do prefer it this was.

As for the moving the text, could you explain again; top/bottom left/right of the whole picture? One in the top, one in the bottom?

Originally Posted by Ringo Starr

Hole in the center of the 'o' is still off-center. I suggest closing it up completely.

Done.

I don't so much like the merging of dots in the top right.

It was done so the shape better shows what it represents...which, I hope somone noticed, was a space invader.

Here goes:

Lower stroke on the text massively. Throw in some white for the background text for variety. Make those dots in black and white colliding. You might also want to try a more interesting font. Arial (I believe it is?) is hot, but try some others like Lucida Grande, Eurostile, or Segoe UI.

Originally Posted by Sam250

It was done so the shape better shows what it represents...which, I hope somone noticed, was a space invader

See, I saw that but I thought it was me being silly. <_<

Originally Posted by fratey

You might also want to try a more interesting font. Arial (I believe it is?) is hot, but try some others like Lucida Grande, Eurostile, or Segoe UI.

Originally Posted by Sam250

I, ah, can't change the font. A font is probaly the first thing I would have chosen, but Inkscape (at least, the version I have) only seems to suppose one font.

Go get GIMP or something. I don't even know what this Inkscape crap is.

Originally Posted by Leminnes

Go get GIMP or something. I don't even know what this Inkscape crap is.

Ha, uh no; Inkscape is a vector graphics program, which doesn't save images as pixels but as infomation about shape and colour and hence images are infinatly scaleable. And hence why GIMP, as a rastor graphics program, is hardly an appropriate substitute.

It's a very slick program, actually, it's just it's still in testing stages and hence still has some bugs and can't do everything that other vector programs can.

If I wanted somthing better it would be Adobe Illustrator CS3/4, which is generally seen as the professional vector graphics editor. We use it at school. It's unfortunate it comes with the professional price tag, really. For now I'll stick with the freeware programs and hope for an update at some point in the near future. Honestly though, it isn't far off Illustrator, considering.

I do want to grab a cheap copy of photoshop somewhen and do some practce with that. I think I'll do some fan colourings of comics or somthing, to start with.

Keep in mind that Photoshop is a raster program, too. If you're serious about all this vectoring stuff, you could try looking into secondhand versions of Illustrator - people who work with it profesionally will update to the newer ones as they come out, and you might be able to get an older one for cheap. The student versions are a lot less expensive too, but technically you can't sell anything you make in it, if you're aiming for that.

Originally Posted by Sam250

Ha, uh no; Inkscape is a vector graphics program, which doesn't save images as pixels but as infomation about shape and colour and hence images are infinatly scaleable. And hence why GIMP, as a rastor graphics program, is hardly an appropriate substitute.

It's a very slick program, actually, it's just it's still in testing stages and hence still has some bugs and can't do everything that other vector programs can.

If I wanted somthing better it would be Adobe Illustrator CS3/4, which is generally seen as the professional vector graphics editor. We use it at school. It's unfortunate it comes with the professional price tag, really. For now I'll stick with the freeware programs and hope for an update at some point in the near future. Honestly though, it isn't far off Illustrator, considering.

I do want to grab a cheap copy of photoshop somewhen and do some practce with that. I think I'll do some fan colourings of comics or somthing, to start with.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...aphics_editors

There's something... wrong with a program when you can't do something simple like change font. Feel free to keep Inkscape, I don't care, but only being able to use one font is a MAJOR detriment to your designs.

PS. I know what a vector and raster program are. I am majoring in graphic arts in college. Thanks for the lesson, I suppose. (hint: my signature was created by vectors.)

It's just a bug that doesn't allow other suported font types to be used, it'll be fixed in the next release. Apparently there are ways around it anyway, so I'll expiriment with other fonts.

And sorry, didn't mean to be patronising, I just assumed from your post you didn't know why Gimp wouldn't be suitable for Vector graphics.