Monday 31 December 2012

Week 14: Presentation of Final Project

This week should be a study week, but we have presentation of our final project. We present our video and animation project.

Below are screen shots of our animation project

Introduction



The weather is so hot on that day



The bird felt so thirsty



The bird search for water


The bird found water bottle


The bird tried to drink the water but failed. He got an idea.


The bird put stones to the bottle


 Moral of the story




Problem faced during this project:

1) Time limit: Both of us busy with our Research Study project, we have limited time to sit down and do the complex animation. So we come out with this simple animation but we do applied some of skills that learned in this class optimally. We hope so.

2) Lack of drawing skills to produce the high quality graphics for character in this animation. But we try our best to provide the simple motion to show the story. If we were given more time to drill the skills, we believe we can produce better animation in the future.





Monday 17 December 2012

Week 13: Discussion on Animation Project





This week, we have discussion with group members regarding the animation project. Our group (Me and Rafidah) have decided to develop  animation entitled "Gagak yang Bijak". We have collect some information for the project, prepare the script and storyboard, and working together to draw the characters. The process is quite tough  because  we think we are not so "gifted" in drawing. But we will try our best to produce the animation based on the technique that have been learned in this class.

This week also, Dr. Jamal give some short briefing about Final Exam format. So, that means exam is around the corner. Have a lot of revision to do!


Monday 10 December 2012

Week 12: Script, Storyboard and Animatics

This week, we have learn about Script, Storyboard and Animatics. I've collect some information about the topic on the web. Fom my search, below are some information about Script, Storyboard and Animatics.


Script

Script is the written document for the animation




The format consists of three aspects:
  1. The interplay between typeface/font, line spacing and type area, from which the standard of one page of text per one minute of screen time is derived. In the United States letter size paper and Courier 12 point are mandatory; Europe uniformly uses A4 as the standard paper size format, and has no uniform font requirement. 
  2. The tab settings of the scene elements (dialogue, scenes headings, transitions, parentheticals, etc.), which constitute the screenplay's layout. 
  3. The dialogue must be centered and the names must be capitalized. A script usually begins with "FADE IN:", followed by the first scene description. It might get more specific, e.g. "FADE IN ON AN ECU of Ricky as he explains the divorce to Bob." A script will usually end with "FADE TO BLACK", though there are variables, like "CUT TO BLACK" for abrupt endings. 




Storyboard





A Storyboard is a sequence of drawings that is used to help visualize the animation and to communicate ideas clearly. It details key events and scene changes in the animation, often accompanied by text notes describing what is occurring in the scene. It is often the first opportunity for others to experience a real impression of the animation before it enters the production stage.

The Storyboard helps to finalize the development of the storyline, and is an essential stage of the animation 
process. It is made up of drawings in the form of a comic strip, and is used to both help visualize the animation and to communicate ideas clearly. It details the scene and changes in the animation, often accompanied by text notes describing things occurring within the scene itself. 



Animatics


Animatics are animated storyboards. They are used for various purposes depending on the medium for which they are being produced. Animatics are used every day in the advertising industry to test commercials. They're used to preview scenes of live-action films before they are shot. 


Up until just a few years ago, animatics were produced by filming or videotaping storyboards. Over the last ten years, animatic production has become much more sophisiticated. Animatics are now produced with the aid of computer animation (2D or 3D), with special visual effects once reserved for high-end Hollywood productions.




Tuesday 4 December 2012

Week 11: Animation Technique using Flash




For this week, we learn about some animation technique in Flash. Dr. Jamal has demonstrate several animation technique such as panning, zooming and fades.


Panning

  1. Panning is moving the camera across a wide background and stopping at significant spots where the action is taking place.
  2. To pan scenes in Flash, simply create a background image that is significantly larger than the stage.
  3. Create a motion tween which moves the image across the visible portion of the stage.

Zooming

  1. Use zooming to bring the camera close to a single object or to widen the visible range to include a larger amount of the content. Zooming in Flash is achieved by using a motion tween and the Free Transform Tool (while holding shift to constrain proportions) and just resizing elements on each layer. 
  2. Select the frame where you want to start your zoom, right-click the frame and add a Motion Tween. Note that when you are zooming multiple layers you will need to add a motion tween to all layers that you are zooming. 
  3. Next move the shuttle to the frame at which you want to start the zoom, right-click in each layer at that frame and Insert Keyframe > Scale (so that it doesn't start zooming prior to that frame). 
  4. Move the shuttle to the frame where you want your maximum zoom, and select the motion tweens in each layer to be zoomed by holding down the shift key and clicking each tween. 
  5. Finally, select the Free Transform Tool, hold shift, and increase or decrease the size of the content as needed.

Fades

  1. To fade in or out, simply create a new layer, insert a Blank Keyframe at the location you want to start your fade, and draw a large black rectangle over the entire visible portion of your stage. 
  2. Right-click the rectangle and Convert to Symbol and name it Fade. You can now use this symbol any time you want to fade in or out in the future. 
  3. Next, right-click the frame where you want your fade to end and select Insert Frame to extend the black rectangle until that frame. 
  4. Add a motion tween to the black rectangle frame. Now, you merely change the alpha to 0% or 100% at either end of the tween depending on whether you are fading in or out. 
  5. To fade in, move the shuttle to the last frame of the tween. In the properties tab under 'Color Effect' select 'Alpha' from the drop down and move the slider to 0%. Finally, a nice clean fade in.


Tuesday 20 November 2012

Week 10: A Must Have - 12 Basic Principles of Animation



This week, we were supposed to present our findings on Basic Principles of Animation. Some of our colleague (including me) gave a short and brief explanation on animation principle that we chose earlier on the elearning site. So, we manage to get some general overview / information before Dr Jamal introduces the topic in the class session. And, from my search in the internet, basically I will outlined 12 Basic Principle of Animation;



-Ollie Johnston and Frank Thomas in their book The Illusion of Life: Disney Animation (1981).


Tuesday 13 November 2012

Week 9: Mid Semester Holiday


This week we have mid semester break. While enjoying our holiday, we started with our group video project. We prepare the script and storyboard and start shoot footage for our video assignment. Hope that we manage to produce good video ;)

Tuesday 6 November 2012

Week 8: Animation - A moving picture?



This is our first session with Dr. Jamal who will be cover the second part of this course, Animation.In this course, we will learn the 2D animation basically using Adobe Flash Professional. I'm relieved that I have been exposed to this software on the previous course ( Authoring Systems & CD Rom Based Multimedia Development), however there's always new things to explore because in this class we will drill more on animation production. We have to come out with our own animation product by the end of the course, and that is quite challenging process.



So, for the first class of Animation, we actually refresh our memory with a few important animation terms namely;

1. Keyframe - A frame in a timeline where something new appear

2. Tweening - The creation of successive frame of animation between keyframe

3. Onion Skinning - The tool to see through / trace multiple layers / provide transparency

4. Frame by frame - To change object gradually in each frame to create more realistic animation effect

5. Frame rate - Measurement of frequency (rate) at which imaging devices produces (frame/sec)


Learn more about terms in flash in this website :




Tuesday 30 October 2012

Week 7: From Camera to Screen - Video Editing



This week, Encik Johari has discussed about video editing. Video editing is essential part in the video production process. According to Encik Johari, a few basic purpose of video editing;

1. Properly arrange sequence; to give proper sequence so that the audience understand the story nicely

2. To have meaningful program to suit the purpose / objective of the video

3. To make the program more attractive



The Goals of Editing

There are many reasons to edit a video and your editing approach will depend on the desired outcome. Before you begin you must clearly define your editing goals, which could include any of the following:
Remove unwanted footage
This is the simplest and most common task in editing. Many videos can be dramatically improved by simply getting rid of the flawed or unwanted bits.
Choose the best footage
It is common to shoot far more footage than you actually need and choose only the best material for the final edit. Often you will shoot several versions (takes) of a shot and choose the best one when editing.
Create a flow
Most videos serve a purpose such as telling a story or providing information. Editing is a crucial step in making sure the video flows in a way which achieves this goal.
Add effects, graphics, music, etc
This is often the "wow" part of editing. You can improve most videos (and have a lot of fun) by adding extra elements.
Alter the style, pace or mood of the video
A good editor will be able to create subtle mood prompts in a video. Techniques such as mood music and visual effects can influence how the audience will react.
Give the video a particular "angle"
Video can be tailored to support a particular viewpoint, impart a message or serve an agenda.

Loose Vs Tight Editing
Loose editing is when editor have longer period / timeline for the video, while tight editing is when the editor have to put everything in a certain limit of time. The example of tight editing is on documentary program, and the example of tight editing is to produce commercial advertisement.

Video Leader
Video leader is the opening part of the video, usually display the title of the story. The important of video leader is;
1. As the introduction to the video
2. To show the standard of the video (displaying the colour bar for adjustment)

Linear Vs Non Linear Editing
1. Linear ( Tape-to-tape)
2. Non linear ( Computer editing)
Read more on : 




Wednesday 24 October 2012

Week 6: Avid Xpress Pro HD

This week En. Johari is off, so we have class with En. Aziz, technician in FP Video Editing Studio. He showed us some basic editing steps using Avid Xpress Pro HD software.



Avid Xpress Pro HD


Avid Xpress Pro was a non-linear video editing software aimed at professionals in the TV and movie industry. It was available for Microsoft Windows PCs and Apple Macintosh computers.
Xpress Pro included many of the high-end editing features offered by other Avid editing systems, and was closely based on Avid's Media Composer systems. In conjunction with the Avid Mojo hardware, it provided real-time uncompressed video editing at a professional level. Xpress Pro was capable of sharing media files with Avid's advanced Media Composer editing systems making it a capable logging or off line editing system for larger projects.


Screen Features of Avid Xpress

Monday 15 October 2012

Week 5: Visit to DSI Control Room


For this week session, Encik Johari brought us to the control room in the Dewan Sultan Iskandar, UTM to see the process of video production of the Convocation Ceremony.

We have been exposed to several equipment in video production such as video mixer. according to Wikupedia,the definition of video mixer is ;

A vision mixer (also called video switcher, video mixer or production switcher) is a device used to select between several different video sources and in some cases Compositing (mix) video sources together to create special effects. This is similar to what a mixing console does for audio.

The main concept of a professional vision mixer is the bus, basically a row of buttons with each button representing a video source. Pressing such a button will select the video out of that bus. Older video mixers had two equivalent buses (called the A and B bus; such a mixer is known as an A/B mixer). One of these buses could be selected as the main out (or program) bus. 

Most modern mixers, however, have one bus that is always the program bus, the second main bus being the preview (sometimes called preset) bus. These mixers are called flip-flop mixers, since the selected source of the preview and program buses can be exchanged. Both preview and program bus usually have their own video monitor.

Tuesday 9 October 2012

Week 4: Lights, Camera, Action!


This week, we learn about lighting in video production. Lighting is very important key element to produce good video. The use of different lighting will gives different effect to the video.

Several Types of Lighting

1. Main / Key Light
   The first and usually most important light

2. Fill Light
   May be used to reduce the contrast of a scene and provide some
   illumination  for the areas of the image that are in shadow

3. Background Light
    Used to illuminate the background area of a set. The background light 
    will also provide separation between the subject and the background.

4.  Accent Light
    Lighting that emphasize an area of or an object in a room to make the 
    object  'comes out'.


Type of Light Source

1. Natural Light
   natural light comes from the Sun (or other “suns,” in the case of starlight)

2. Artificial Light
   any light that is not natural and depends on an external source of power
   ie: Tungsten, Halogen, Neon, Streetlightts etc..




Monday 1 October 2012

Week 3: Behind The Scene - Basic of Video Shooting

This week, we have been introduced to the several technique of camera handling and types of video shot. Day by day I found that this course is quite interesting because it can open my perspective to explore the things "Behind The Scene".



Common Types of Camera Movements


  













Common Types of Camera Shots

1. XLS/VLS/ES/WS
    XLS- Extreme Long Shot
    VLS- Very Long Shot
    ES - Establish shot
    WS-Wide Shot2. LS- Long Shot

3. MLS - Medium Long Shot

4. MS - Mid Shot

5. MCU - Medium Close Up

6.  CU - Close Up

7. ECU/ BCU
    Extreme Close Up
    Big Close Up

8. POV
    Point of View Shot

9. Two Shot

10. Cutaway Shot

Resource: Find out more from this useful link http://www.mediacollege.com/video/shots/




Monday 24 September 2012

Week 2: Video Production and Terms

For this week, Encik Johari has introduced us to the basic steps of video production. Video production can be deceptively complex. It’s very easy to watch a cool video and get excited about making one like it. 


The video production process is divided into 3 phases:
 1. Pre-production
    Planning, scripting, budgeting, scheduling

    2. Production
        Video shoot, graphics design, gathering assets (which can happen any
         time)

    3. Post-production
        Editing, sound mixing, color correction, approvals, revisions, output.

   These phases can shift around a bit per project, for example, you might be
    in post production and need to go back to phase 1 and re-write the script 
    or maybe plan additional shoots.

[Click Image to Enlarge]


Terms Related to Video Production / Broadcasting Television Systems
Broadcast television systems are encoding or formatting standards for the transmission and reception of terrestrial television signals. There are three main analog television systems in current use around the world: NTSCPAL, and SECAM. These systems have several components, including a set of technical parameters for the broadcasting signal, an encoder system for encoding color, and possibly a system for encoding multichannel television sound (MTS). In digital television (DTV), all of these elements are combined in a single digital transmission system.

Source: Wikipedia.com




Wednesday 12 September 2012

Week 1 : Ice breaking Session and Overview of the Course

This is the first class on the very first week after quite a long holiday. Honestly I'm taking this course as an elective subject to fulfill the credit required for the Educational Technology course. But then, I felt so lucky because have given chance to learn new things. My  expectation for this course is to gain as much as possible the knowledge and skills about video and animation to be applied in the future.

Definition of Video and Animation



Video:

(adj.) (1) Refers to recording, manipulating, and displaying moving images, especially in a format that can be presented on a television.
(2) Refers to displaying images and text on a computer monitor. The video adapter, for example, is responsible for sending signals to the display device.
(n.) A recording produced with a video recorder (camcorder) or some other device that captures full motion.




Animation:

A simulation of movement created by displaying a series of pictures, or frames. Cartoons on television is one example of animation. Animation on computers is one of the chief ingredients of multimedia presentations. There are many software applications that enable you to create animations that you can display on a computer monitor.

Different between video and animation

Note the difference between animation and video. Whereas video takes continuous motion and breaks it up into discrete frames, animation starts with independent pictures and puts them together to form the illusion of continuous motion.



source: Webopedia

Points to ponder: If a picture worth a thousand words..whats a video worth?