2. WHY HAVE I CHOSEN TO DO
A BOOK ABOUT LUCKY?
I have chosen to do a book about Lucky because I want
to visually and non visually explain that I know what it’s
like to loose a pet close to you and show how special he
was to me. Also, to show that I have support and that
the content contains pros and cons of his life that have
helped me to cope with the downfall of his death.
3. PROCESS: MAKING THE COVER
For my final experiment, I wanted to create an autobiography
of my life with Lucky, since all the experiments are dedicated
towards a creature of true love. I started off by making the
cover. First, I uploaded a fresh page by clicking into new and
choosing one of my recent settings, preferably a larger ratio.
With the page uploaded, it was time to edit. I started by
going over the page with a brush tool with a scale roughly
about 40 in size. The colour I used was a bright sky blue
because I wanted the cover to have a heavenly theme since
Lucky is now in peace. After cover the page with blue, it was
time to add the white cloud effect. I used the same tool and
scale to accomplish this. Once this was completed, I then
proceeded to add Lucky to the picture. I first uploaded a
picture form my files by clicking on Open in File. I then used
the lasso magnet tool to outline Lucky and extract him form
the image by copying and pasting him to the page by
pressing the Edit button. Once Lucky was added to the
picture and scaled using the transformation tools, I then
moved onto the part where white mist covers and surrounds
Lucky to show that he is peace. I used the brush tool again
for this, but with a difference, I used a larger around 70 in
size. I used this tool because it gives the image a peaceful
atmosphere and not a rough one with the pencil tool. The
strength of this tool is that it creates a beautiful calm feeling
towards the image and makes it more peaceful. The
weakness however, it’s not easy to control and it’s not
guaranteed to make look the way I want it such as controlling
the size of the brush. I then used the text box tool twice to
type out the name of the book as well who created it: me.
The font I used was Lucida Handwriting because I believe that this is
a touching style as well as peaceful. Once all the cover was
completed, I then clicked into file and saved my image as a
JPEG into my OneDrive, ready to be used in the book.
5. PROCESS: STORYBOARD MIND MAP
Before I start my story, I needed to plan it out so I know what I’m writing. I used
Word to create this mind map. First, I used the rounded rectangle tool to
create a centre bubble that reads out the name of the book: Lucky: My Best
Friend. The first quarter of the mind amp showcases the first chapter of the
story: Bringing him home. So all the factors related to that chapter were
highlighted in green sand presented in a green box, using the rounded
rectangle tool again. First, I describe the number of puppies there was in the
litter and the look of his biological mother. Next, I described the fact that he
had no idea where he was once brought him home, which was very common
indeed for a puppy. I then go onto explaining that he soon got into the gist of
the spirit of the household, but would very cheekily poop in the kitchen instead
of going outside for one, but I guess that was his nerves sticking into place
after getting used to the house. Moving onto chapter 2, also known as The
Eye, I used turquoise rounded rectangles for this section. First, I started off by
explaining how a simple ear infection causes such disturbance within his left
eye. Whilst shaking, the left ear somehow swatted within the eye, causing a
rather gunky appearance overall. Next, I go onto explaining how it was a
lifelong infection and that the operation made no difference. After that, I go
onto describing the colour of the eye, sometimes it is yellow, sometimes it is
red, it varies. Finally, I describe the fact that we put eye drops within his eye so
he can make tears whenever he could cry or the wind is in his eye. After that
was completed, I move onto chapter 3, otherwise known as The Back-
Operation. The colour of the rounded rectangle tool I used on this occasion
was orange themes. To begin with, I went on about when I woke up one
morning and found mum and dad towering over a paralysed Lucky. I then go
into detail of why he is paralysed, it’s because one of his spinal discs in his back
slipped out of position, causing his two back legs to become paralysed I then
explain that he needed to go to Brig House to be operated and that it took a
toll on his overall strength, meaning his age could be numbered in my opinion.
Finally, I describe the fourth and final chapter, name Sating Goodbye and
Death. This entails the final three days of Lucky’s life, where it all began with a
paw infection due to his claws that were curled into his pads, causing an
infection within. I then explain that over the next two days, his health escalated,
resulting in saying goodbye and having him put down. For all of these
chapters, I used the bold version of Calibri. I thought it might be a nice, simple
font for a simple mind map.
7. PROCESS: CREATING CONTENTS PAGE
With the cover and mind map taken care of, it was
time to begin making the contents. Around a scale of
36, I typed in the Content title, in the posh font of
Adobe Caslon Pro Bold,. Once the title was
completed, I then moved onto describing the different
contents: the chapters and their names. First, chapter
one is depicted as Bringing him home, which tells the
story of the day we brought him and helping him to
settle in. The second chapter depicts his infected, how
he sustained it and the fact that it is a lifelong
infection. Chapter three tells the story of when he had
to have an operation to fix a disc in his back and the
fact he was paralysed after it went loose. Finally,
chapter four describes that over three nights, his
health took a turn for the worst and therefore, we had
to say goodbye to him. Between each chapter title, I
made a space so that they are not all cramped into
one paragraph but separately as intended. Next, from
my files, I interested one of my favourite pictures of
Lucky which shows how much he means to me and
my family. Finally, I used the empty rectangle tool to
create a blue border around the contents to make it
look more interesting and fancy. Also, I chose the
colour blue because ironically, blue is the most likely
colour that depicts the gender of boys. I also used a
soft edge effect from the picture effects section to
make the image look softer and gentler.
8. PROCESS: CHAPTER 1
With the contents and the cover completed, it was time
to start the story. I began With Chapter one in true
common-sense. I began with asking a couple or three
rhetorical questions about a pet and what is their
purpose is in life. The next point that comes
chronologically is the moment where I counted the litter
of puppies, mothered by a beautiful cocker spaniel
whom she looked like she was in her mid ages such as
her 40’s, so if you do the maths right, she would be 6 or
7 in human years. I then explain that we took him into
the car, where he was trembling and quivering, I don’t
blame him. We took him home where he just looked
around, not knowing where he will be for the rest of his
life. Next, I explain that he eventually got used to the
house atmosphere but he was cheeky: pooping in the
kitchen instead of outside. Finally, I explain that he soon
settled in and eventually adapted to the environment of
the household, where he felt more comfortable and
happy. The font I used within this chapter was the same
as I used as for the contents page: Adobe Caslon Pro
Bold. I used this font because it create a warm
atmosphere to the picture, as well as a representation of
what I believe Lucky’s character was all about. Once
again I thought this is a very nice text, it has a peaceful
element attached to it and so calming in thoughts when
seeing this font. At the end of the chapter, I added the
same image of the cover to make it look more
memorable and touching. Also, it show that I care for
Lucky and miss him so much. Finally, I used a soft edge
tool in the picture effects section to make the image look
more calmer and peaceful since he is now in peace.
9. PROCESS: CHAPTER 2
With chapter one completed, it was time to
make chapter 2, also known as the eye. At the
beginning of the chapter, I explain on an ear
infection he obtained seemingly from outside
factors such as a communicable infection in the
air. However, that infection, that to Lucky
shaking, clatters into his eye when his ear
smacked his eye whilst shaking. The eye
infection was then discovered by vets and
suggested an operation may cure the eye and
make it look a whole lot better. This happened a
few years later when the vet suggested the
operation, years after the diagnoses. But the
operation hardly made a difference, in fact his
eye looked exactly the same in my opinion.
Lucks had to live with this for the rest for his life
and I could tell that he was annoyed with the
infection, I don’t blame him because if it were
me, I would have got so upset by the state and
looks of the infection. I used the same font as I
did for the last chapter. Finally, I included a
picture of Lucky lying across the chair all
comfortable and relaxed so the book can show
he was a relaxed dog and took his time with
whatever the problem would be, he would
handle it. Like the last chapter, I added the soft
edge effect also because I wanted the image to
look soothing.
10. PROCESS: CHAPTER 3
Then comes chapter 3 within the
autobiography. This chapter is also known as
The back-operation, which tells the story of
the horrific operation that Lucky had to go
through in order to save his life. The horror
began one morning when I came downstairs,
only to find mum and dad towering over
Lucky, who was shaking and quivering on his
bed. It turns out he couldn’t move at all. It
turns out a disc in his back had slipped out of
position in his spinal chord. We immediately
took him to Market Weighton Vets to find out
what is wrong with him, and that is when we
found out the disc problem. We then rushed
him to Brig House where they operated his
back and removed the disc. He had to stay
there for at least three or four days. Hen dad
brought him home, he was very rough and
tired from the operation. The funny part was
that he had a blue mark on his back from
where they marked him so they know where
to operate. At the end of the chapter, I added
a picture of the stich where they operated.
Also, like all the pictures, I used the soft edge
effect to make the [picture look peaceful and
calming.
11. PROCESS: CHAPTER 4
Now, it is time for the final chapter, which is also known as
Saying Goodbye and Death, which carefully describes the final
few days of Lucky’s life. It all started one night in the half term of
February where he couldn’t get comfortable within his bed, by
the looks of I, his paw was the main reason. The next morning,
the paw took a turn for the worse where he began limping, but
surprisingly there was no thorn or anything stuck in the pads, in
fact the reason for the limping described by the vet was that his
claws that were curled in cause an infection within his paw. The
vet told my dad that there was nothing to worry about as long as
he kept on taking the antibiotics that were prescribed for him.
The next day, his health took an even deeper turn for the worse
when the limping got worse, he kept on sleeping and couldn’t
move. I thought today was the worst day, as we would have to
prepare for the worst. Mum and dad took him to the vets again
where they said his temperature had risen but they gave him
something to take it down and told them for him to keep taking
the antibiotics. However, day three was the worst day of all, his
health took the last turn for the worse when he couldn’t move at
all, he was too weak, and we feared that we had to say goodbye
to him. I gave him a hug and said that he was the best friend I
ever had. My nana and I waited patiently for the news, I rang
mum to see what was going on. She said that dad was saying his
goodbyes to Lucky, for he was took weak to carry on fighting. I
was in bits. I gave my nana a cuddle and I couldn’t stop crying.
He was then cremated and his ashes are now stored in a tube on
the fireplace, waiting to be buried in the back garden. For the
final picture, I added a picture of him after his operation because
his face looked cute and sympathetic. I then added the soft edge
effect again to make it look soft and gentle. Also, I added to
pictures during the chapter to show my love for him and that he
was truly my best friend. I also added the same effect to the
image to make it look heavenly and gentle too.
12. PROCESS: BLURB
Finally, it was time to make the blurb of the
book. I used Photoshop for this. I began by
uploading a new document by going into File
and pressing the New button and then
uploaded a ratio that I used before that it said
on the recent ratio page of a scale that I used
before. I then added a picture very similar to the
one in the book itself. I found this image in my
OneDrive as I ventured into File, then to Open,
then to my OneDrive like I said. I then uploaded
it to the new page. Once the image was
uploaded, I then proceeded with the white brush
tool with a scale around 17 to create a soft
boarder between the picture and the rest of the
new page. I then used the text box tool to create
the blurb’s text that showcases what the book is
all about. I used the font of Berlin Sans FB Demi
because I thought this was a happy and bouncy
style and the book needed both happy and sad
thoughts to it, making at a biased in feelings.
After the blurb was completed. I then saved the
image as a JPEG into my OneDrive again, ready
to used within the Word document of the book. I
then rescaled the blurb to make it fit perfectly
with the page size, and the story is complete.
13. REFLECTION
• What elements of your
experiments will you include in
your final product?
Within the real deal, I will use the idea of a comforting,
peaceful cover to showcase my creation and show that my life
has both pros and cons. Life has both fair and unfair qualities
and my life so fair is no exception. Also, I will use the structure
of my experiments i.e. paragraphs, start and end to create a
story that is not just personal, but also heart warming,
understanding and acceptable in terms of content. The
biggest strength of the book was that the chapters are
presented out in a typical book style and that the sections are
split so it creates tension and excitement in between. The
biggest weakness of the book however was thinking of a
good easing for the blurb, it looks so simple. I should’ve
planned it out along with the cover so I knew what to design
when it came to it. I will change the whole story to the fact of
my life in the real deal, however, I will not change his
presence, his death will be involved in the fourth and final
chapter. The number of chapters will not change however, the
contents will. The audience will like the bright colours because
it brings out attraction, makes you look twice and if it’s not
dull, it’s worth considering, you’ll remember it clearly.
Extra: Lucky was a huge part in my life and
within the autobiography of my life, I will
incorporate him into my story since he played a
significant role over the years. I loved him so
much and will never forget him. Rest in peace
my little man xxxx.
Editor's Notes
Discuss the tools and processes used in your experiments
