Abstract

Igbo folktales had been in oral tradition and transformed later by many Igbo scholars into literature. Many other artists explored many of these written folktales in other visual metaphors. This research project experimented with Photoshop CS4, a digital draw and paint software to illustrate popular Igbo folktale titled The Tortoise and the Birds, as written by F.C. Ogbalu. There were fifteen different scenes that made up the whole story. Vector and bitmap techniques of computer illustration were employed. Also basic information on digital illustration with Photoshop was enumerated in the project. The project made visual documentation of F.C. Ogbalus folktales that had been in literary form. Moreover, the research project would serve both aesthetic and utilitarian purposes in archives, museums, offices and schools.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

Modern trends in illustration involve the use of modern tools and equipment to

design and bring images into reality, using digital approach. Illustration is a

picturesque element or aesthetic property of visual designs that gives name for

both the illiterates and literates to easily understand advertisement messages. It

can come in form of stick figure, simple outline drawing, line drawing,

silhouette, realistic drawing, photograph or in form of cartooning Adedeji

Unuigbe, 2002: 175

Thus, illustration aids in easy communication of visual messages. It

serves multifaceted purposes in all walks of life. It utilizes both print and

electronic media for its functionalities. Illustration also serves medical, editorial,

fashion, technical, educational and utility purposes, to mention a few.

Furthermore, illustration could be portrayed as a pictorial material appearing

with a text, which amplifies or enhances it. Although illustrations may be maps,

charts, diagrams or decorative elements, they are more usually representation of

scenes, people or objects related in some manner directly, indirectly or

symbolically, to the text they accompany. It was believed that illustration

started in the prehistoric times, when humans lived in caves.

Centuries ago, before the advent of printing, books were illustrated and

reproduced by hand. The ancient Egyptian papyruses, classical Greek Phoenix ...Get Complete Material.