Project2 - Jeff C.

Project 2

I didn't really face any challenges in this project other than trying to not be too obsessed with whether something looked exactly as I wanted it. I did have one problem that took a little time to sort out. I drew the sky layer with the primitive rectangle tool. Then when I went to use the eraser tool to blend the layers it wouldn't erase to show the stage color. So I just had to redraw the sky layer with the regular rectangle tool. When drawing the alien I decided to use the polygon and circle tool instead of the pen tool. The primary reason is because I like the way the shapes modify more than the way a pen created polygon modifies the corners and sides.

The only deco tool I got a chance to use was the tree deco tool. I tried to use the vine deco tool to make the limbs of my alien, but didn't like how it turned out so I used the line tool instead.

I still don't like the pen tool. Not because of how it puts shapes together but how the anchor point modifies the shape. The 'lever' like tool never helps me get the shape I'm looking for. But I did draw the boulders with the pen tool, and they turned out alright.

To create my alien I started with the oval tool and used the free transform, selection, and sub-selection tools to shape it. I used the oval tool for both parts of the eyes as well, and to shape the reflection on the eyes I used the free transform, selection and sub-selection tools. The neck was done with the line tool, as were the limbs (transformed using the selection tool). The torso was done with the polygon tool and and modified using the transform and selection tools.

The folders helped me to keep related layers together in order and in a sort of group, without grouping the objects. Also because I was working on a 13 inch macbook pro it helped me to see more layers on my workspace timeline than I would otherwise be able to.