Hello All! It certainly has been a while. Today I am going to be blogging about…
Marketing Ads and Photoshop! That figures with this blog being for an electronic marketing class right? Now let’s get to work!
For all the elements that go into marketing, both electronically, and physically there are few things more captivating or enticing as the image. It does not matter if it is a picture of the greasiest cheese burger you have ever seen, or the apple from Apple Inc. the image can help make or break your marketing campaign.
That said, there are a million and a half ways (Yes I counted… Okay, no I didn’t) to create the right image(s) for your marketing campaign, or whatever message you are trying to get out there. Photoshop is one program that can help enhance your image(s).
Rafael Concepcion’s article: “Create a Marketing Ad Using Adobe Photoshop CS5 Types and Shapes”, gives us a way to get started. So let’s get to it!
When creating advertisements for marketing purposes it is not always essential to use an actual or existing photograph. Often times creating shapes is just as effective, and using programs like Photoshop, you can customize them into just about anything.
To start there is the Shape Tools, which you are able to access by hitting U on the keyboard- note I don’t mean to actually hit it and then break the computer (my apologies, I know a few out there who would)! This tool allows you to create your basic rectangles, ovals, polygons, etc.
From there you may then customize them, or forgo the Shape Tools, and draw the shape on screen. Also note that the Transform Tools under the Edit menu will allow you to drag the shapes so that they may fill the space (scaling up or down) more appropriately without causing pixilation
Layer Styles are another source to make your shapes and images interesting. Some of the layer styles can add shadows, glowing effects, and so on to make your shapes really pop!
The art of words. Well, more accurately it would be more along the lines of what the type looks like and how it lines up with the rest of the image.
Just think of the last time you saw an ad online with type on it. Was it catchy or boring? Were the words and lines so scrunched together that made it difficult to read? These are the questions to consider when adding type to your image. And once again, Photoshop is to the rescue to help you out!
When dealing with the closeness, or distance between letters and word, or ‘Tracking’, I find that the Free Transform tool works well. However, the Transform Tools can feel a bit limited, so when in doubt try using Crtl-A over your selected text to adjust the Tracking.
So with the letters well spaced, now we just have to deal with the space in between lines; which is known as ‘Leading’. Once more you may use the Free Transform tool, but another (more helpful) way to adjust Leading is by holding down the Alt button (for PC’s).
One last thing that can be adjusted for more interesting text is the Baseline. The Baseline is like the lines in a notebook, it is where the bottom of the letters (should) stop. This might not apply to those who write like I do with wavy lines all over the place, but the idea is there. Now then, to manipulate the Baseline in Photoshop you will want to steal into the Character Panel and play with the Baseline from there.
*Be careful how much or little you manipulate the Baseline, because it can quickly make a mess of all the text you worked so hard on!
So now we are all experts at creating marketing ads in Photoshop right? Well, okay, no. My plan for Photoshop world domination has not yet been reached. However, these are just some basic pointers to get you started.
In the meantime, feel free to check out Rafael Concepcion’s article at this link:
http://www.peachpit.com/articles/article.aspx?p=1616793 for more information.
Marketing Ads and Photoshop! That figures with this blog being for an electronic marketing class right? Now let’s get to work!
For all the elements that go into marketing, both electronically, and physically there are few things more captivating or enticing as the image. It does not matter if it is a picture of the greasiest cheese burger you have ever seen, or the apple from Apple Inc. the image can help make or break your marketing campaign.
That said, there are a million and a half ways (Yes I counted… Okay, no I didn’t) to create the right image(s) for your marketing campaign, or whatever message you are trying to get out there. Photoshop is one program that can help enhance your image(s).
Rafael Concepcion’s article: “Create a Marketing Ad Using Adobe Photoshop CS5 Types and Shapes”, gives us a way to get started. So let’s get to it!
- Shapes
When creating advertisements for marketing purposes it is not always essential to use an actual or existing photograph. Often times creating shapes is just as effective, and using programs like Photoshop, you can customize them into just about anything.
To start there is the Shape Tools, which you are able to access by hitting U on the keyboard- note I don’t mean to actually hit it and then break the computer (my apologies, I know a few out there who would)! This tool allows you to create your basic rectangles, ovals, polygons, etc.
From there you may then customize them, or forgo the Shape Tools, and draw the shape on screen. Also note that the Transform Tools under the Edit menu will allow you to drag the shapes so that they may fill the space (scaling up or down) more appropriately without causing pixilation
Layer Styles are another source to make your shapes and images interesting. Some of the layer styles can add shadows, glowing effects, and so on to make your shapes really pop!
- Typography
The art of words. Well, more accurately it would be more along the lines of what the type looks like and how it lines up with the rest of the image.
Just think of the last time you saw an ad online with type on it. Was it catchy or boring? Were the words and lines so scrunched together that made it difficult to read? These are the questions to consider when adding type to your image. And once again, Photoshop is to the rescue to help you out!
When dealing with the closeness, or distance between letters and word, or ‘Tracking’, I find that the Free Transform tool works well. However, the Transform Tools can feel a bit limited, so when in doubt try using Crtl-A over your selected text to adjust the Tracking.
So with the letters well spaced, now we just have to deal with the space in between lines; which is known as ‘Leading’. Once more you may use the Free Transform tool, but another (more helpful) way to adjust Leading is by holding down the Alt button (for PC’s).
One last thing that can be adjusted for more interesting text is the Baseline. The Baseline is like the lines in a notebook, it is where the bottom of the letters (should) stop. This might not apply to those who write like I do with wavy lines all over the place, but the idea is there. Now then, to manipulate the Baseline in Photoshop you will want to steal into the Character Panel and play with the Baseline from there.
*Be careful how much or little you manipulate the Baseline, because it can quickly make a mess of all the text you worked so hard on!
So now we are all experts at creating marketing ads in Photoshop right? Well, okay, no. My plan for Photoshop world domination has not yet been reached. However, these are just some basic pointers to get you started.
In the meantime, feel free to check out Rafael Concepcion’s article at this link:
http://www.peachpit.com/articles/article.aspx?p=1616793 for more information.