Whenever I need to create a project for a class, I think about how to leverage the art. How can I use this art in more than just the one way? How can I make some money with this final layout? I am delighted when I can also submit a design for art licensing and use it to populate my POD shops. This class project, once you complete it, will be perfect for this purpose. I will be submitting it for art licensing, and I will use it for greeting card art.

This class, Noel Placement Print Using AD, illustrates some of the advantages of working in a vector-based program and will also introduce you to a few of the new features in AD2. I will also point out a few of the program glitches I have run into. In the class, I take you from start to finish in creating a complete portrait-shaped placement print. I will explain what a placement print is in the first lesson. The art we’ll be creating is completely editable. One of my goals is to show you how we’ll be able to create an alternate design with a very different background. I am providing you with a bunch of assets to help speed up the process for you. This a vector background you may choose to use, as well as a few of Affinity Designer assets you can import as I demonstrated in one of the lessons.

In this class I’ll walk you through:

• Importing and exporting assets and their subsequent use
• my step-by-step method for setting up the artwork/layout
• tips for creating compositions for a layered look
• my workflow for use of layers and blending modes
• using the re-color adjustment in the Adjustments Studio
• adding texture using the Pixel Brushes in the Pixel Persona

This class should get you started in the world of home-goods design. Designing for the gift markets can be very lucrative as Christmas Goods are in high demand. With the provided assets and the step-by-step instructions, you’ll be off to the races in no time!

The key concepts I will include:

• use of both the vector and pixel personas
• review of my methods starting with sketches
• a look at compositional strategies to lay out your work in an interesting way
• approaches you can take for making use of assets you create and use repeatedly