WIP Typography.

[Shiny]

Barack Obama won! I'm so freaking happy. This is great, great news. Finally I am proud of a country which was.....

 

 

 

BARACK OBAMA!

 

 

 

[dsavi]

Although I entirely agree with the motive and idea behind this, there are some things to be improved.

 

1. 
    
   [*:44u3h2gi]The aspect ratio. It needs to be quite a bit wider.
    
   [*:44u3h2gi]The text on the top, the font is pretty boring. Try something like Helvetica or Myriad pro, off the top of my head those would improve it.
    
   [*:44u3h2gi]On the bottom there's too much room, or it's too empty.
    
   [*:44u3h2gi]A bigger difference between the minimum and maximum type sizes would be good.

 

I had a typography project planned if McCain won, it was something about being ashamed to be an American. I'd never make it through today at school if he won.

[pryomancer]

Learn to use kerning to properly adjust your text. Kerning is the space between the letters, if you go to the Characters palette, it's adjustable on there.

 

I assume you're using Photoshop, if not, well it's a tip for anyone who does use it.

 

 

 

Overall, it's not the best example of typographic skill.

 

The text is very slapdash and disjointed on the canvas.

 

 

 

Another tip: try not to use, ideally, more than 2 or 3 different fonts on any given piece. This makes it more consistent and streamlined.

 

Lose the exclamation marks, too, they look terrible. Also remove the upside down text, replace the font of the text in the bottom left corner, and the same with the text above it.

 

Also remove 'fnorking', it looks bad. Replace it with something formal, or just leave it as 'Barack Obama Won'.

[dsavi]

Learn to use kerning to properly adjust your text. Kerning is the space between the letters, if you go to the Characters palette, it's adjustable on there.

 

I assume you're using Photoshop, if not, well it's a tip for anyone who does use it.

 

GIMP, which he's using, has that too.

[Sam]

Like Pryo said, try to use 2 or 3 fonts. A very close font to Helevetica for free is called Coolvetica; it looks very similar save a few extravagant curves. You can find it on DaFont.

 

 

 

As for the piece, work on the aspect ratio. And ditch the background stripes, kills the piece.

[pryomancer]

Try using golden proportion, too.

 

 

 

Choose the height of your canvas, and multiply it by 1.618, and make that number the width.

 

 

 

This number was found by the Greeks, I think. You'll notice that a golden proportioned canvas looks so much warmer, more natural and more inviting than one that is just a 2:1 ratio.

[Sam]

Woah Pryo, that greek thing really works. :)