This chapter is from the book
This chapter is from the book
This chapter is from the book
Exercise 05: Directing the viewer with color
In this exercise, we will replace the dot over the i with a red square. Then we will copy the square to the bottom of the composition, near the start of the body copy. By repeating this form on two parts of the page, we will make a relationship between the headline and the body copy. Red is used intentionally to push the viewer’s eye from the headline to the body copy.
To create a focal point in the headline, replace the dot over the i in “Grid” with a red square. Removing one part of a letter is easy, but the letter must first be transformed from a line of editable text to a group of shapes.
With the Selection tool, click on the “Grid Systems” type, press the Option key, and drag the duplicate copy of the text off the Artboard. Select the original “Grid Systems” type on the Artboard and choose Type > Create Outlines. (Fig 4.14)
Fig 4.14 Select Type > Create Outlines.
The outlined type will be grouped together, so that all the letters would move or be transformed as a group.
Ungroup the type by choosing Object > Ungroup. (Fig 4.15)
Fig 4.15 Select Object > Ungroup.
Use the Direct Selection tool to select and delete the dot over the i. When you click to select, the rest of the i will also be selected, so you need to marquee to get just the portion you want. Only marquee over the dot. (Fig 4.16) Zooming in on the type will increase the likelihood of getting this the first time you try it, so don’t be afraid to use the Zoom tool or Command+=. When the dot over the i is selected, press the Delete key until you see that the dot over the i is missing.
Fig 4.16 Marquee over the top half of the letter i with the Direct Selection tool, then press the Delete key.
- With the Rectangle tool, create a square in place of the dot over the i. Change the fill color to a red hue of your choice by selecting the Color Picker or double-clicking on the fill box.
- Duplicate the square and move it to the bottom of the composition, just above the first word in the body copy, by using the Selection tool and holding Option while dragging.
While the copy of the square is still selected, double-click the Scale tool in the Tools panel. Scale the square by 300 percent. (Fig 4.17)
Fig 4.17 With the Scale tool, change the scale of the letters to 300%.
- Finally, position it above the copy at the bottom of the page, to the right of the guide.
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