Wallpaper
Since I have been using this part of the project as my challenge I thought I would dedicate a whole page to the research and development of this element.
How to design a wallpaper
According to To design your own custom wallpaper, start by designing individual graphics or purchasing design elements from an online marketplace like Creative Market. The author recommends using watercolour floral graphics for a bold, colourful look. Open a new large blank image in a photo editing software that allows layers, such as Adobe Photoshop or Corel PaintShop Pro. Arrange the individual graphics in the centre of the blank image and flatten the layers. Cut the image in half vertically, move the left half to the right side and the right half to the left side. Fill in the new blank space in the centre with more graphics and flatten the layers again.
Next, cut the image in half horizontally, move the bottom half to the top and the top half to the bottom. Fill in the remaining blank space in the centre with more graphics to complete the repeatable pattern. Save the final seamless, repeatable wallpaper design and upload it to a service like Spoonflower to have it printed as actual wallpaper that can be purchased. The key steps in this process are using layered graphics to create a design, shifting the quadrants of the image to make the pattern repeatable, and filling in the gaps to make it seamless. A photo editing software is required to manipulate the layers throughout the design process.
Traditional
(Bewley, A. 2021) this video explains the process of hand making a wall paper. She explains the process as first draing a design on paper which you have folded into quarters. you then cut along the lines and swap the corners with their opposites and draw in the empty space that is now in the middle.
Next you trace your image onto a sheet of lino and start craving out your design with a special tool made just for lino carving. Lastly you choose what paper you would like to print on and paint it your chosen colour and then paint a thin layer of another colour onto your lino and press it firmly and evenly on your paper. Continue until you have covered the paper as much as you like
PROS
CONS
Digital
(McConnell, C. 2022) in this video Christina is designing a wallpaper border that is heavily inspired by an old wallpaper in her home as well as other elements of the space.
She first recreates the border pattern she was able to pull from the original paper, then she draws her mermaid and other sketches on actual paper and scans it into her program. She add in texture digitally by creating multiple layers and choosing the same light source and colour palette to keep everything cohesive. Lastly she adds depth to the piece by adding aging to the piece so that it fits into her victorian house
PROS
CONS
Freedom of colour choices as digitally you can have an unlimited amount of colous in your wallpaper design.
Pixel perfect, since you are working digitally you can line up your designs to be pixel accurate every time
Have to have an intimate knowledge of a digital drawing software if you want to create a wallpaper.
You would need to print the paper externally so you wont be able to match your wall colour perfectly.
Printing
(Contrado n.d.) offers custom wallpaper printing services. Customers can design their own wallpaper and choose from three different paper types: standard, self-adhesive, or premium. The company provides high-quality, full-colour printing with solvent-free, low-odour ink. Wallpapers are available in any size and are easy to hang.
Contrado offers quick worldwide delivery, with products being sustainably made in the UK and shipped within 1-2 days. They also provide discounts for wholesale and student orders. The company has received positive customer reviews praising the quality of their products and customer service.
Additionally, Contrado offers a range of other services, including fabric printing, home & wall art, clothing, bags & accessories, branding, packaging, and more. They also have a print-on-demand service and provide corporate gifts and cut & sew manufacturing.
Testing
I wanted to quickly test the operations of the wallpaper designer.
It took me all of 2 minutes to upload my image, set the repeat type (here I have an offset repeater) the size of the image on the paper and what type of wallpaper you want (I chose just a standard roll)
This came out amazingly and it only cost £47.28 per 3 meter roll (not including shipping) But they also offer self adhesive rolls and mural wallpapers too
Inspiration
Development
Here is the development of my wallpaper design so far, this may change as the project goes on.
Reflection
Experience
I decided after my research to make my wallpaper digitally and spent a great deal of time picking out the different animals and plants I wanted displayed on my wallpaper design. I then followed it up by meticulously sketching them out on procreate and had fun playing around with the layout. I used a few of my inspiration wallpapers and turned them into colour palettes for the design using one of procreates features.
Refection
Upon reflection I can see there are a few drawings that clearly don't match the style I was going for in the design and didn't take me nearly as long to produce. I also learned that procreate has limitations on the amount of layers you have have depending on the canvas size so when I went to duplicate the layers so that I could complete the wallpaper process, I was limited and could not easily create it the way I wanted to therefor having to improvise of the spot and make it a vertical repeating pattern by adding the badgers legs to the top of the pattern.
Action
When creating more wallpapers in the future I may decide to use another program that won't limit my layers or find a way to reduce the canvas size wile keeping the same quality of drawing so that I can repeat the design properly and not have to improvise. I will also limit my colour palette to 30 colours or less as it became a little confusing having around 90 colours being used all at once. I will also create the design in the future to be more reminiscent of symmetrical victorian wallpaper designs as this one doesn't feel very old to me.
References
Bewley, A. (2021) Make your own luxury wallpaper - how to renovate a Chateau (without killing your partner) EP. 9, YouTube. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3pqiBN0j998 (Accessed: 14 January 2024).
Contrado (n.d.) Custom wallpaper printing UK. make your own wallpaper london, Contrado UK. Available at: https://www.contrado.co.uk/bespoke-wallpaper (Accessed: 30 January 2024).
Linauer, K. (2019) How to create your own custom wallpaper pattern (with virtually no artistic ability required), Addicted 2 Decorating®. Available at: https://www.addicted2decorating.com/create-your-own-wallpaper-pattern.html (Accessed: 02 February 2024).
McConnell, C. (2022) Designing my own victorian wallpaper border - from the mind of Christine McConnell, YouTube. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jorXLnLfik&t=1380s (Accessed: 14 January 2024).