Session 1: Today we are going to continue experimenting with Flash. Specifically we will be learning how to apply shape tweens. Shape tweens can be used to morph objects from one shape to another (i.e. a circle to a square). This technique is especially useful for animation. Another technique you can use in Flash is to create unique logos by shape tweening between characters in a typeface. This will allow you to create unique logos that would otherwise be very difficult to create. Here’s an example logo that I created using this technique.

For complete instructions download the following Word document:
Shape Tween Logo Assignment (Adobe Flash)

Session 2: Adobe Illustrator can be used for more deliberate techniques. The principal difference between Photoshop and Illustrator is the concept of bitmap versus vector graphics. Vector graphics have a distinct advantage of bitmap images for logo designs because of the ability to print or display at any size without seeing any loss of detail, like you would with a bitmap image.

The next assignment involves creating a set of five vector based logos using Illustrator. For your first logo, use the same technique we used for the Flash logo, then save if from Flash as an Illustrator file and place it in your project. For the rest of the logos make them out of a group of letters and use a different font for each logo. Place all five logos in the same document one after another and align them on the page. Experiment with the kerning, tracking, and type treatments. Use transform and drawing tools to manipulate several of the logos. Use the create outlines function to convert the type into vector shapes. Ungroup your shape to manipulate individual letters using the white arrow tool, scale, and transform tool.

For complete instructions download the following Word document:
Illustrator Logos Project