ARTDM-140 Motion Graphics for Digital Media
Instructor: Matt Volla
mvolla@dvc.edu
Tues 2-5:15 pm; Lab from 12-2 pm
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This is an introductory course in creating animation art for traditional cinematic screenings, installation, or for incorporation into other digital pieces, using Adobe After Effects. We will explore the historical and cultural precursors to digital animation, making links between early cinema, experimental film, and our contemporary electronic milieu.
Class time will be divided between in-class demos, screenings, discussions of readings, and software tutorials. Some class time each week will be devoted to critical readings meant to expand the popular notion of motion graphics beyond the "cartoon" to include political, conceptual, abstract, non-commercial, documentary and other non-American approaches to animation.
Students will be encouraged to create personal narratives, use unconventional or appropriated source imagery and sounds, and integrate non-digital creative skills into their projects such as drawing and collage, music, sculpture, theater, fiction and poetry, etc. While After Effects and animation in general can be an overwhelmingly technical field, the focus of this class is to use the animatin tools to SERVICE YOUR IDEAS and create your own style. Projects will be graded on creativity, resourcefulness, invention, not on technical machismo.
week 1:
Introductions
brief history
screening: motion graphics examples
assignment: 30 frame flip book
week 2:
Screening: Man With A Movie Camera
Lesson 1: Getting to Know the Workflow
working with photoshop and illustrator files in AE
assignment: Customize the lesson project
week 3:
Lesson 2: Creating a Basic Animation Using Effects and Presets
Effects, Bridge, Animation Presets, Brainstorm
assignment: Customize the lesson project
week 4:
Lesson 3: Animating Text
Screening: Movie Titles
assignment: Create a title sequence for your favorite movie
week 5:
Lesson 4:Shape Layers
Screening: George Melies, Triplets of Bellvue
assignment: customize the lesson project
week 6:
Lesson 5: Animating a Multimedia Presentation
assignment: Create an animated portfolio of your work
week 7:
Lesson 6: Animating Layers
Screening: Michel Gondry
assignment: customize the lesson project
week 8:
Lesson 7: Working with Masks
assignment: customize the lesson project
week 9:
Lesson 8: Distorting Objects with the Puppet Tools
assignment: give life to a series of inanimate objects
week 10:
Lesson 9: Keying
Screening: Examples from Cinema
assignment: download green screen videos and incorporate them into your project
week 11:
Lesson 10: Performing Color Correction
assignment: download video and apply color correction
week 12:
Lesson 11: Building and Animating a 3-D Object
assignment: Create a 3-D model of your house
week 13:
Lesson 12: Using 3-D features
assignment: Add lights and moving camera to your 3-D house
week 14:
Lesson 13: Advanced Editing Techniques
assignment: stabilize a shaky video
week 15:
Lesson 14: Rendering and Ouputting
assignment: Final Project
week 16:
Final Projects
week 17:
Final Projects
week 18:
Final Critiques
CRITERIA for grading/evaluation of animation projects:
1) Technical control: quality of images, sound quality and levels, if camera was used: attention to focus and exposure, overall
2) Choice and control of aesthetic elements: composition and framing, lighting, editing (pacing, continuity, experimental choices), juxtaposition of sound and image, etc.
3) Creativity: imaginative use and expressive control of the medium as an ART tool
4) Content: A serious engagement with ideas and issues and the ability of the piece to communicate an idea to the viewer
CLASS REQUIREMENTS:
1. Completion of all assignments
2. Class participation includes participation in class discussions, critiques. Full and punctual attendance.
LETTER GRADE STANDARDS:
A: Outstanding production work on all projects: a demonstrated excellence in production and editing skills; imaginative and inventive use of motion graphics as an art tool; clear and creative concept that is communicated to the viewer; all work finished on time; punctual and regular attendance; an ability to critique the strengths and weaknesses of other projects; outstanding participation in all aspects of the class.
B: Above average work: a proven ability in production and editing; project deadlines met; projects have good idea and/or basic editing but need further refining of either technical or conceptual issues;an excellent attendance record; strong participation in critiques and class.
C: Average production work: an acceptable grasp of editing and production technique; project deadlines met; projects are in need of much tighter editing control and/or clearer concept; 70% average on written materials; a reasonably good attendance record; a basic ability to critique productions and average participation in class.
D: Below average work with significant weaknesses in one or more areas: meeting deadlines; understanding production concepts; critiquing productions; 60% or lower average on written materials; poor attendance; little class participation.
F: Below acceptable requirements of the course.
ATTENDANCE POLICY
Attendance will be regularly checked. Excessive tardiness will not be tolerated.
To be considered “present” you must:
-Come to class on time,
-Come to class prepared to work, with materials in hand
-Speak at least once in class discussions about work other than your own.
3 LATES = 1 ABSENCE, 2 UNEXCUSED ABSENCES RESULT IN AN F GRADE, ABSENCE FROM CRITIQUES LOWERS GRADE BY ONE GRADE.
READINGS AND BOOKS
There is 1 required text for the course. It is available at the the bookstore.
1) Adobe After Effects Professional Classroom in a Book, Adobe Press, 2007, ISBN-13: 978-0-321-49979-0.