{"id":22466,"date":"2015-04-08T05:00:41","date_gmt":"2015-04-08T12:00:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/creativemarket.com\/blog\/?p=22466"},"modified":"2024-04-03T22:50:03","modified_gmt":"2024-04-04T05:50:03","slug":"how-to-create-an-awesome-retro-geometric-poster-design","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/creativemarket.com\/blog\/how-to-create-an-awesome-retro-geometric-poster-design","title":{"rendered":"How To Create an Awesome, Retro Geometric Poster Design"},"content":{"rendered":"

Hello Creative Market community! My name is Simon, and I run The Shop, which is both a design studio<\/a>, and a design resources outlet<\/a> here on Creative Market. Today, for my first post here, I will walk you through the process of re-creating a poster I call “Structure.” We will go through all the steps, from conceptualization to execution. I used many resources from Creative Market shops along the way, and I hope this will help see the awesome potential in high quality design inputs. I hope you’ll learn a few tips and tricks that you’ll be able to re-use in the rest of your work as well. Excited? Me too!\n\"The\n

<\/span>Step 0: The Story Behind the Piece<\/span><\/h2>

<\/span>The Starting Point<\/span><\/h3>

\nThe story is convoluted, but the short version is simple. I long wanted to create another piece with Ghostly Pixels’ polygon vector elements<\/a>.\n

<\/figure>\n \nWith that goal in mind, I started thinking through possible visual routes to go.\n<\/p>
    \n
  1. I could play with photos, and use the polygons as masks<\/li>\n
  2. I could still use a base image, but use one or more of the polygons as overlays<\/li>\n
  3. Or I could use the polygon as the main visual element for my piece<\/li>\n<\/ol>

    \nI chose to go with the last of these options, and to make one of the polygon the center of my piece. With that in mind, it was time to start sketching.\n<\/p>

    <\/span>Putting Ideas Down<\/span><\/h3>

    \nI used Wacom’s Bamboo Paper app<\/a> on my iPad, along with a Bamboo stylus. I usually sketch stuff on grid paper with pencils and pens, but this experimentation proved interesting. It allowed me to create some layering, and to use color early in the process. Here’s the result of my exploration.\n\"The\nI used orange and yellow as my main colors, probably influenced by the polygons’ hero image. You’ll notice that I created a border around my piece, because I wanted to give it an enclosing frame.\nThe shape I used from the pack makes me think of a structural element, hence the name of the piece. To further communicate this, I added “Structure” in bold on the piece, broken down in three lines of three characters.\nI also wanted to have a longer text element in the background of the piece, that would contrast some with the bold type used for the title. I figured that using the definition of “structure” would be relevant.\n<\/p>

    <\/span>Researching the Other Assets<\/span><\/h3>

    \nAfter I was happy with my base sketch, I started looking into the assets I would need to put my piece together. Let’s have a look at the full list below.\nGhostlyPixels’ Polygon Outline Shapes<\/a><\/strong>\n

    <\/figure>\n \nThunderPixels’ 20 Dry-Ink Borders Textures – VES03<\/a><\/strong>\n
    <\/figure>\n \nThese will be perfect to create the rough frame around the piece.\nFinck Inc.’s Katahdin Bold<\/a><\/strong>\n
    <\/figure>\n \nHere is our bold primary typeface, with a lovely vintage flair.\nDecade Type Foundry’s Outfitter Script<\/a><\/strong>\n
    <\/figure>\n \nHere’s the lovely script for the definition. It will contrast nicely with Katahdin.\nThunderPixels’ 20 Dusty and Speck Textures – VES04<\/a><\/strong>\n
    <\/figure>\n \nThese will be great to add a little bit of vector grit, prior to using raster textures later on.\nThese are all the assets we need to get started. Let’s get to it.\n<\/p>

    <\/span>Step 1: Piece Layout Assembling<\/span><\/h2>

    \nWith all the assets in hand, we can assemble them together to form the layout for the piece. While I’ll share instructions that are as detailed as possible, I want to encourage you to make the piece your own as much as possible.\n<\/p>

    <\/span>Document Setup<\/span><\/h3>

    \nWe are going to use a canvas that is 18″x24″<\/em>. North-American readers will recognize this size as being rather standard for a poster. For the rest of the world, the closest standard paper sheet size would be an A2 format<\/a>.\nThe first part of the tutorial will have us use Adobe Illustrator. I’m using the CC version, but you should be able to follow along if you have Illustrator CS3 and above.\n\"The\nWe’ll use Photoshop in the second half, when we’ll tackle the use of raster textures. But for now, vector it is.\n\"The\nWe are going to use absolute positioning value for most of the elements, thanks to the handy tools represented below. This will avoid us to have to place guides all over the place.\n\"The\n<\/p>

    <\/span>The Background Elements<\/span><\/h3>

    \nIf we refer to the sketch again, the background will consist of a solid color and a border. We won’t have a need to put the solid color in place yet, but we can tackle the border for sure. Open ThunderPixels’ 20 Dry-Ink Borders Textures<\/a>. Not all 20 elements are suitable for our purpose as-is. Some rotation, and scaling, will need to take place.\n\"The\nWhen creating his file, Iván gave each of the element a unique name.\n\"The\nHere are the three elements we’ll use to create our dry ink border. Their names are:\n<\/p>