Module 1 - Digital Media in Visual Arts

Let's start at the very beginning

New Software - P. Camillieri

What`s RASTER?? What's VECTOR??

Since I'm quite new at this tech stuff hearing these two words just left me staring at the lecturer with a blank face. Mr Camillieri explain that RASTER graphics are simply made up of tiny pixels and VECTOR graphics are a series of paths.

For The Replay. (2015). Unreal Engine 4 GDC 2015 Features Demo Trailer.
[Online Video]. 02 March. Available from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1UityXEzDj8.
[Accessed: 24 October 2015]

He also showed us how identify these graphics in 3D work and tutorials and how to use 3Ds MAX, another programme I've been using for the last two years to create 3D objects and projects such as kitchen, offices and products.

render spaz. (2014). Making an Espresso with 3D Studio Max & Corona Renderer.

[Online Video]. 14 August. Available from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EsaPNfH7RHs.

[Accessed: 24 October 2015]

Vector and Ruster programmes

During our lecture we discussed on Vector and Raster programmes.

Vector Programmes: Adobe Illustrator, Logos, Masking, Clip Art.

Raster Programmes: Adobe Photoshop, Corel Painter, Sketchbook Pro.

BeyondTheMarqueeShow. (2011). Dylan Cole Digital Effects Reel. [Online Video]. 24 October. Available from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f3hL6ZAOeNc. [Accessed: 24 October 2015]

Sadaran. (2007). Krieg der Pinsel - Star Wars - Ryan Church. [Online Video]. 18 April.

Available from:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVfO19BQJaw.

[Accessed: 24 October 2015]

Using Photoshop

Time to refresh my memory and relearn some basics on Photoshop (PS CS6). We started off our lesson by learning the names and functions of all the tools and how to change their positions on screen to suit our liking.

Mr Camillieri gave us an exercise regarding layers. He gave us a picture of a doe and a sunset. By using the layer method I was able to create this image. I'm happy with the final result even tough I'm sure that I could have done the mountains and the sunburst effect a bit better.

Sunset image

Deer image

Final render

InDesign Tutorials - R. Caruana

Considering that when I was still a 3D Design student last year one of the software that I learnt to use was InDesign. InDesign is a brilliant software for publishing your work. It served as an essential tool when I had to produce my Portfolio. This software is fast, easy and precise.

Mr Caruana started off our lecture by letting us experiment on InDesign and how to save our work by PDF / InDesign format. This lesson helped me to refresh my memory on the subject. The following is what we covered in class and some extra tutorials that I tried out in my own time.

The following videos are a couple of tutorials that I used last year to help me complete my old Portfolio on InDesign.

TastyTuts | Creative video tutorials by Gareth David. (2013). Adobe InDesign For Beginners - Tutorial Course Overview & Breakdown. [Online Video]. 02 March. Available from:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHDy_nEvgd4. [Accessed: 24 October 2015]

Good Creative Academy. (2013). Wrapping Text in InDesign Tutorial. [Online Video]. 29 December. Available from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zoPuwLpk1TI. [Accessed: 24 October 2015]

Good Creative Academy. (2010). Placing and Formatting Text in Adobe InDesign. [Online Video]. 17 December. Available from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_YO1-CR6UA. [Accessed: 24 October 2015]

Good Creative Academy. (2010). Placing and Formatting Images in Adobe InDesign. [Online Video]. 18 December. Available from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TuB4IKUnLv8. [Accessed: 24 October 2015]

Good Creative Academy. (2012). Working with Shapes in Adobe InDesign. [Online Video]. 19 March. Available from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Amfr-KYCNF0. [Accessed: 24 October 2015]

mstproductionsmedia. (2012). Working with Shapes in Adobe InDesign. [Online Video]. 24 January. Available from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=deUvMBS7jSE. [Accessed: 24 October 2015]

Sarah Zero. (2014). TUTORIAL: InDesign Book Setup. [Online Video]. 21 February. Available

from:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xa5dmi79l1A. [Accessed: 24 October 2015]

InDesign Layouts

Understanding how a layout of a magazine, leaflet, journal or a portfolio works will help me come up and experiment with different layouts on InDesign. In Task 1 I'm expected to experiment with various layout and font solutions before producing my research booklet design. As a class exercise Mr Caruana told us to go online, find an layout then indicate how the layout is formed (row, coloums etc...)

During this particular lesson, Mr Caruana introduced us to colour, how we can understand colour, its different cultural meanings and how to apply colour in our layouts on InDesign ina professional manner. Apart from colour we also learnt about typography and how we can apply the different types of text styles together without complicating things in Task 1. I really enjoyed this lesson, especially when our lecturer showed this interesting and fun site about typography mix and matching.

The following images show what we talked about:

This is the site on which we learnt how to mix and match text: http://www.typeconnection.com/step1.php

To prepare us for Task 1 Mr Caruana gave us a little competition during our lecture. We basically had to design a layout on InDesign on the subject of our choice. Whoever won this friendly competition gets their work displayed at school ...... Can't wait to find out who is the champion in our next lesson.

This is what I came up with:

Illustrator

In our next task (Task 2), we have to have a good understanding of Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator. Since we are already learning the basics of Adobe Photoshop with Mr Camilleri, Mr Caruana will be teaching us Adobe Illustrator. Our first lesson was based on how to use the shape tool and the Pathway windows tab. The following shows what we did in this fun tutorial.

Here is what I did:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPP7Nh_waNs

Game of Thrones - logo

My final result

Unit 1 ,Task 2 part 1

RESEARCH

"LO3: Understand and apply post production tools and techniques using image editing and design software.
KU4: Show understanding and the use of the elements of layout design.
AA3: Apply image-editing tools and techniques to improve digital images to industry standard.
AA4: Apply design software tools and techniques to industry standard.
This task requires work from your Module 5: Lens Based Media and Module 3: Visual Thinking.

Part 1:
Using various case studies as reference, discuss the use and implementation of vector elements with raster graphics in your blog. You must cover at least two sources from still imagery, and two examples of moving image overlays.
a. Conceptualize and design abstract shapes and graphic overlays which will be implemented in the digital images and footage produced for your Lens Based Media module.
b. Generate the vector elements (like lower thirds and info screens) using industry-standard software and practices, while maintaining appropriate naming conventions throughout the process.

Part 2:
Use photo manipulation software (Adobe Photoshop) to correct and create image manipulation and compositing with photos gathered in Module 5: Lens Based Media and ideas generated from Module 3: Visual Thinking .You are recommended to combine vector graphics from Part 1a with photo manipulation creatively to create abstract compositions.
Submission Requirements:
• Case studies and sketches in blog,
• At least four properly-named Illustrator files containing vector work,
• At least four Photoshop documents.
All the images produced for this task must be prepared in A4 size, created in the appropriate format for print
and screen, and uploaded to Schoology.com for SUBMISSION"

Still imagery examples:

http://www.photoshoptutorials.ws/creative-inspirations/graphic-design/interview-with-the-designer-behind-the-photoshop-cc-2015-loading-screen/

The following example were created by Alberto Seveso:

Alberto Seveso is a freelancer graphic designer, illustrator and a photographer who created and developed his own style that:

"... seems to let your imagination fill in the blanks"

His work has been published in many international Magazines and companies. In our first example Seveso was given the honor of designing the cover for Adobe's Inspire celebration of Photoshop’s 25th anniversary, Photoshop CC 2015 Loading screen. Seveso was inspired by Adobe Photoshop's WIND filter, breeze effect.

The medium used to create this image was: Adobe Photoshop, a camera and Adobe Illustrator

Adobe Photoshop: to edit the face, using the filter: stylize/wind in stagger mode, mixed with some of the ink photos in double exposure mode.

A camera: to take the photo of the person's face

Adobe Illustrator: to edit and create the wording and its colourful patterns

Second example:

The medium used to create this image was: Adobe Photoshop, a camera and Adobe Illustrator

Adobe Photoshop: to edit the persons' body.
Adobe Illustrator: to edit and create the colourful graphic patterns
A camera: to take the photo of the person.

Here is a video explaining how these images where created. Illustrator was used to create the graphic design which were then photo manipulated on the people in the images.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AkcS8YayxHA

Moving image examples:

What are lower thirds?

"The lower third is simply text that is usually accompanied with a complementary background graphic and is positioned on the lower third of the viewable area."

In my first example I found these Social Media Baloons can be created in Illustrator or Photoshop and are saved as "HDTV preset of 1920x1080" on both.

This is a short video showing how these lower thrids are used in the media industry: