Animation Monday January 28

1. Export a 2nd or 3rd angle from Maya (see below).
2. Change your still frame duration in Final Cut Pro (see below).
3. Import your separate Maya angle folders into Final Cut Pro (see below).
3. Place your pictures from one angle into the timeline. Make sure the pictures are placed in the proper order.
4. Grab pictures you want from a new angle folder. Select 20-30 at a time. Place these picture directly ABOVE the exact same numbered pictures on the timeline (these will show on Video line 2).

Now when you play your animation you should see these new angled pictures instead of the old angle.
5. Add sound effects, music, titles, and credits.
6. File>Export>Quicktime Conversion>Apple TV format
7. Drop videos into the vidstore server

We will watch videos at the beginning of class Wednesday.
Please note, computers will be wiped Wednesday after school. Grab a blank DVD or use Dropbox to save your work before the computers are wiped.

Exporting From Maya into Final Cut

(You can see the pictures better by clicking on each icon).


1st Click on the Render Settings Button in the upper right hand corner.

Next, change your settings to match the one's listed below.

Make sure you are exporting your pictures as TIFF files and that name.#.ext is used.
Also, don't forget to change your starting and ending frames.

You can export four different camera angles so that you can change angles in Final Cut.
You will need to export four different times to get each angle.

Next, click out of the Render Settings Box and go to Render in the top Maya menu.
First, click Render in the upper left hand corner:

Next, choose Render and Batch Render.

It will take a few minutes to Render your pictures each time you Render a different angle.
Your images will show here:

Create a new folder within this folder for each angle. For example, you could call the folder "Angle 1" or you could call it "Perspective View."



Next, open Final Cut.
In the Final Cut Preferences under 'User Settings' please change the still frame duration to one frame:

Next, import your pictures into Final Cut by going to File>Import>Folder
You will need to import each angle separately.

Finally, place your pictures in the order you want on the timeline. Next, add music and sound effects as needed.
Don't forget to create a title and credits at the beginning and end.

Final Project Treatment

This Treatment is due by Wednesday the 8th (not Thursday the 9th).

1. What is your theme for your final project?Example: My theme project is Old America, Photomerge Seattle, or Man v. Nature.
2. Why did you choose this as your theme? What is interesting about this theme? Be specific. 2-3 sentences
3. What type of locations will you choose to shoot your pictures? Why? Keep in mind that you will need to leave campus and most likely leave Shoreline. Please give three or four examples.
4. What type of pictures do you hope to take? Action, portrait, landscape etc? A good photo essay will have a variety. Give me some specific examples and how they relate to your theme. Yes, I want you to attempt to describe pictures you haven't even taken yet. Visualize...
5. What kind of composition will you focus on in your pictures? You will need at least five composition elements (not counting rule-of-thirds). Yes, again I want to know what you are attempting before you shoot. What will you try that you haven't done before?
5b. How will your pictures convey emotion, either from your subject or from the viewer of the pictures? Why will an audience really enjoy these pictures?
6. How much work will be done at school and how much away from school?
7. If you don't have a car, how will you make sure you get to your locations? Can your parents help? How about public transit?
8. This project should showcase everything you have learned in Digital Photography. How will you ensure this happens? What Photoshop adjustment techniques will you use? Please give three or four examples.
9. Is there anything you are unclear about in terms of composition or shot styles and angles etc? This is the time to ask.
10. What type of camera or Photoshop experimentation will you try? HDR? Photomerge pictures? Aperture adjustments? Shutter Speed work?

Again, Send the treatment to my email account. Please CC at least one of your parents or guardians on the email so they know they extent of this project. They may need to help with transportation etc.

Photo 1 Final Project

Digital Photo: The Final Project

Photo Essay Requirements:

• First pick a general theme. For example, you might pick America, Democracy, or Responsibility. You will shoot photographs centered on this central theme. This may include camera experimentation like shutter speeds, HDR, aperture adjustments, or photomerges.

• Use what you've learned about photographic composition, lighting, color, lines, texture and use your camera to make a statement. Each individual photo will be graded accordingly. It is imperative you showcase your ability to shoot many angles of shots with many levels of camera composition (Review composition elements and types of shots if necessary).

• Your photographs should make both a visual and emotional/political/critical/intellectual statement. Your photo essay should contain at least 9 photographs. Below each picture you will also describe the composition elements used on each photo, what you did to adjust the picture, the photo settings used, why you picked this picture, and where you took the picture.

• Your photo essay should be something unique, new, and your own view of your selected theme.

A one-page reflection is also required. In this paper you need describe what you learned during your project. What did you learn about your subject, Photoshop, and photography in general. What was easy and difficult about your project? What would you do differently if you did it again? Finally, how far along do you think you have come as a photographer this semester?

• You can shoot B & W, Color, or both. It’s your artistic choice.

• You may digitally alter your photos as necessary in Photoshop. You should use all of the landscape style, portrait style, and Instagram styles as needed.

• Your pictures should be printed out either 3*5 or 4*6, two to three pictures per page with the exception of one photo that will be printed at 8.5 *11.

• Projects should be turned in on poster board or in a binder with written with the written reflection attached. Look at examples at the front of the room.

• You will also be dropping this assignment in the Staff server so that we may view each project in front of the class.

Timeline:
Thursday January 10th: Shooting Day 1
Weekend Homework: Shooting Day 2
Monday January 14: Adjustment Day
Tuesday January 15: Adjustment Day/Writing
Thursday January 17: Shooting Day 3
Weekend Homework: Shooting Day 4
Tuesday January 22: Optional Shooting Day if needed, Adjustment, Writing, and Printing Day
Thursday January 24: Adjustment, Writing, and Printing Day
January 29:Projects are due at the beginning of the period.

Self Portrait Adjustements

24 Total Adjustments 
 6 "Anything You Want Except Instagram" Adjustments
 4 Grayscale Adjustments using the specific methods you learned in class 
2 One or more items left in color 
2 Super Cropped Pictures 
2 Super Color Enhanced or Hyper Color (Vivid color) 
8 Instagram Adjustment Actions 
Please turn in a Self Portrait Adjusted Contact Sheet with all 24 pictures and a Best Self Portrait as a jpeg file.

Self Portrait Assignment

"Self Portrait Assignment

The Art of Constructing a Self-Portrait

A self-portrait comes from within. Injecting 'those we love' into the portrait steers one away from the harder task to trying to reveal self without adornment.

If you eat, sleep, and live for speed then your self-portrait should reflect motion and movement as one of its cornerstones.

If you are a reflective type, then reflections and patterns and their intersections should occupy a primary space.

If overall you feel more flawed then whole, then you wouldn't want to go about photographing the most pristine parts of yourself; you would want, instead, to capture your essence in a manner that describes and defines you without complaining. I say that because the essence of self-discovery requires you to be a benign observer of self so as not to hone in too closely on this or that part.

A sense of 'wholeness' is difficult to capture at best. Indeed, wholeness is almost impossible for some people to even understand -- let alone capture in themselves -- because their persons and their lives are so fragmented, so disorganized in general.

But that is what self-portraiture is all about, capturing the whole -- the whole of who you are as a person.

Try to be unforgiving in a benign and neutral way. Study yourself in the mirror and paint what you see there. Then go inside yourself and paint what you see there."

www.drellenrudolph.com

You will shoot four different self-portraits over break. You need to pick four photo types from the following five categories.

1. A self-portrait where color is emphasized. Color may include wardrobe, location, props, or natural objects. Think of your picture as a one or two color concept picture.

2. A picture that emphasizes lighting and shadows. This will be a grayscale self-portrait.

3. A self-portrait that showcases your interests and hobbies. In this picture we learn what you like to do away from school. Think about what interests you and transfer that into a photo.

4. A fantasy self-portrait. Dress up and use costumes. In this self-portrait you can use Photoshop to enhance your picture in any way, shape, or form. Transfer yourself to Hawaii or become a Viking like you have always wanted.

5. The Supermodel self-portrait. Dress up like a GQ or Cosmopolitan magazine model. This can be a grayscale or color picture. You will use Photoshop to airbrush and enhance this photo.

 

Hints for self-portraits:

Use colors or lighting to create a concept.

Costumes or uniforms work great.

Change angles.

Use props.

Vary the lighting.

Try different emotional looks.

Pose in action.

Most importantly for this assignment don't forget your composition rules. Use framing, leading lines, rule of thirds, color contrast etc. to enhance your photo. Fill the frame.

Text Tutorial for Sequence Assignment

Sequences

If you have overlap, use a layer mask

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ReDRMX2-8n4&NR=1&feature=fvwp

step by step

• import pictures into Adobe Bridge
• Export to Photoshop Layers: Tools>Photoshop>Load Files into Photoshop Layers
• auto align layers in Photoshop
• create a new black layer mask on your top layer (alt + click on the layer mask icon in the layer palette)
• paint in white over your subject (sometimes lowering the opacity will help you see where to paint.
• flatten image
• add shadows as needed
• save

Photo 1: Sequence Assignment

When you’re creating a sequence photo make sure you get all the action you need. This can be done by choosing the action setting on a DSLR. Make sure you have a camera that able to do high shutter speeds. A DSRL that can shoot 3-5fps can get you great results. Then set the camera up in a sturdy location or on a sturdy tripod so movement between frames is limited. Below are some truly amazing examples of sequence photography. The trick is to hold the camera steady and have the action move through multiple frames/photos:

Ray Demski




 

Examples

YouTube Sequence Tutorial 

Weekend Homework:
 Your goal is to shoot 7  sequences over the weekend with DRAMATIC action.  Pick sports or activities that are interesting a action packed.
 Make sure your shot is taken from a creative angle and demonstrates intense action. Each sequence should have 3-5 shots.
 

Editing Portraits

Editing Your Portraits: Photoshop "Vintage" actions

You will edit and turn in 18 of your Portrait photos. Please use at least 7 of the "vintage" style adjustments listed below.
Please make sure you save your work using the "vintage" name at the end along with the "Portrait Hint" that best matches your picture. For example, you might name your picture 4-Mitchellt-Lomo-Change-angle.
Make sure one picture has the hair colored.

 On Thursday the 13thth please turn in a Portraits Adjusted CS along with your Best Picture.

Article: Why We Love Instagrams from Macworld

Photoshop Actions:

• http://webdesignledger.com/freebies/40-vintage-and-retro-photoshop-actions
• http://designm.ag/resources/photoshop-actions-touchups/
• http://blog.templatemonster.com/2011/01/20/35-vintage-photoshop-actions/

"Nashville" Instagram Tutorial

Instagram Video Tutorial 

Cross Processing

Cross processed photographs are recognisable from the unusual colours and tones in the final shot. The effect was originally produced from developing the photographic film using the wrong mix of chemicals. Nowadays, a cross processed style can be simply achieved in just a few steps. Photoshop Support shows us how.

Street Photography

One of the most recognisable street photography shots is ‘Homeless Mike’ by Leroy Skalstad. The gritty, high contrast style of the image really emphasises the nature of street life. Recreate a similar image with this Dramatic Gritty Effect by Photoshop Frenzy.

Lomo Photography

The Russian made Lomo LC-A camera was manufactured a cheap alternative to the higher quality Japanese rivals. It was poorly made and the photographs it produced were just as bad, however as time passed popular culture brought the mis-coloured shots from the Lomo camera into a whole new light, which is now a very sought after effect. Not everyone has the opportunity of trying out the original camera model, but Digital Photography School has some great tips on mimicking the effect in Photoshop.

Vintage Photo Effect

With limited technology the early colour photographs often had poor colour reproduction, with shots having an obvious colour casts and inaccurate tones. Today the effect can transform a photograph, instantly sending it back in time to give the impression of an aged effect. Veerle takes us through some techniques for producing a vintage style photo using a few simple Photoshop tweaks.

Tilt Shift Photography

Tilt Shift is a photographic technique where the image plane is rotated, giving a very shallow depth of field but maintaining sharpness in a specific area of the shot. One of the popular post processing effects related to tilt shift photography is known as miniature faking, where the depth of field manually added to a shot gives the illusion of tiny model figures and sceneries. TiltShiftPhotography.net has this fantastic overview of creating the effect yourself.

The Velvia Effect

Fujifilm Velvia film created highly saturated, largely contrasting and extremely sharp images, which made it particularly popular with nature and landscape photographers. PSHero takes a look at using modern day Photoshop techniques to recreate the Velvia effect.

Dark Grunge Photo Effect

The term grunge has evolved from the music genre also known as Seattle Sound, characterized by stripped down sounds and heavily distorted guitars. The term grunge also made its way into photo post processing, where the key features are muted colours and large areas of texture and grain. PSHero has this excellent tutorial for creating your own dark grunge photo effect.

HDR Photography

http://still-scripts.com/photoshop/faking-the-hdr-effect-using-only-one-photo-and-photoshop/
High Dynamic Range Imaging is a photography technique that produces an image with a much larger range of luminance between the darkest and lightest areas, making it much closer to the spectrum seen by the human eye. More recently the effect has been pushed to the max, with heavy tone mapping producing an abstract and highly stylised photo effect. The genuine effect is created with various RAW images and processing software, but the Nill Photoalbum has this great tutorial for producing a similar style directly in Photoshop.

Movie Photo Effect

Alongside post processing, the video filming of movies often involves a range of camera filters. Ebin has this fantastic tutorial for creating a polished movie-like effect complete with diffusion glow and temperature tweaks in Photoshop.

Portrait Assignment

Digital Photography: Portrait Assignment

You will shoot portraits over the next two weeks on Thursday November 29  and Tuesday Dec. 4. 

One day you will shoot at school using the lights in the studio and the other day you will shoot off-campus at a predetermined location. 

You will shoot AT LEAST 24 pictures of your subject each day (most of you will shoot between 50 and 75 pictures.

You can, and probably should, take pictures on the weekend as well.

1. Find two interesting human subjects. The people you choose should WANT to be in the picture and they should be willing to cooperate. It's OK to work with people in this class.
2. Talk to your subject. What type of portraits do you want to create? Use colors or lighting to create a concept for your portrait. Costumes or uniforms work great. Imaginary ideas are OK. Choose an interesting setting based on your concept.
3. Change angles between shots. Shoot at least 24 pictures of each subject.
4. Use props if they will help the audience learn something about the subject.
5. Vary the lighting. Use filters, flashlights, lamps, or multiple lights to enhance your picture. Use the different lighting techniques that you will read about in class (see above).
6. Encourage different emotional looks. Pretend you are Austin Powers taking pictures. Tell your subject they are "groovy".
7. Having your subjects "pose" in action is just fine.
8. Most importantly for this assignment don't forget your compostion rules. Use framing, leading lines, rule of thirds, color contrast etc. to enhance your photo. Fill the frame.

Portrait HintsPart 1
Portrait Hints Part 2

More Hints

Even more hints












Here is a list of the different types of portraits photos you will turn in:

• A Vignette Photo
• A Grayscale Method Photo
• A One Item Kept in Color Photo
• A selective Focus Photo
• A minimally adjusted photo
• One WHACKY anything goes portrait (change the colors, use the liquefy tool, and make this as unique and interesting as you can)

Finally, you will turn in your best picture as well.

Lighting!!!
http://mrstorydigiphoto.blogspot.com/2011/12/different-lighting-techniques.html

• Creating Killer Headshots: The Cheap Way! - David Griffin
• A quick start guide to the one light setup - David Griffin
• Back Lighting - Studio Lighting Setup - StudioLighting.net
• Paramount (Butterfly) Lighting - Studio Lighting Setup - StudioLighting.net
• Multiple Light Portrait Setup Hints - David E. Price
• Short Lighting - Studio Lighting Setup - StudioLighting.net
• Broad Lighting - Studio Lighting Setup - StudioLighting.net

Dances for the all-school Video project

Period 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9DSsG5L4fH4&feature=relmfu
Period 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JpZRPCZfz_E
Period 4: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1qN6gLbUMw (start at 3:35)
Period 5: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G67wkgmC_Ck

Import Stop Motion Pictures into Final Cut

Animation: Import Pictures into Final Cut

1. Make sure the pictures are on the server for your whole group to get. Get the pictures.
2. Open Final Cut Pro
3. Go to Final Cut Pro>User Preferences
4. Select Editing>Change Still Frame Duration to 00:00:05
5. Go to File>Import>Import Folder> and select on your stop motion picture folder

Final Cut Shortcuts:
Render Red=Command R
Render Green=Control R
Selection (move tool)=A
Razor Blade (cut clips)=B

Stop Motion Assignment

Your next project is a stop motion animation assignment. You will work in groups of three. You will have two full class periods to shoot your assignment using my digital cameras. You will edit your videos on final Cut Pro and add sound effects and music.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJzU3NjDikY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MtbQ4J3RfQ8&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_HXUhShhmY&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKWdSCt4jGE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBjLW5_dGAM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BpWM0FNPZSs&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2pvO-FEqq4&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5m23bL9AqB0&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYhhfHYZa5s&feature=related

Stop Motion Pre-Production

Please get in your groups and start planning your production.

1. Please use TEXT EDIT and turn in the following information in the STAFF server:

• Group Member names
• A four to five sentence description of your animation project. 
• Please tell me what special "tricks" you will create to make your animation look interesting. What will your characters do that they can't do in real life?
• Also, let me know if you are using props or if the characters are wearing costumes. Who will wear what outfits?
• Most importantly please tell me the story from beginning to end.
• What type of music will you use? Why?
• What kind of sound effects will you add?

2. Create a storyboard of the first 45 frames.

 Each video will need:

1.                 Fade In/Out

2.                 Titles

3.                 Credits

4.                 Music and sound effects

Photomerge Assignment

Your assignment over the next five to six days:

You will create three Photomerge pictures. These are 3-5 pictures that overlap to show a wide landscape or cityscape
Your three Landscape/Cityscape style Photomerges should be taken at two different locations at two different times of day.

Use a tripod if possible. Remember to manual adjust white balance or select something like "cloudy" or "sunny" on your camera.

Summary

• Three locations
• One Photomerge from each location
• make sure each Photomerge is taken at a different time

Tentative schedule

Tuesday: shooting day, go to an AWESOME landscape location leave at the end of Ti2
Thursday: shooting day, go to an AWESOME landscape location, leave at TAP
Weekend: At least one more location

Note: I would shoot at least eight or nine Photomerges from each location. Shoot each attempt at a slightly different angle. Again, and I can't emphasize this enough, a tripod really helps.

How to Edit and Turn in Your Action Pictures

     Turn in 24 picture Action Contact Sheet
 

·      Start Editing Your Ten Best Action Pictures
Make sure you have 1 grayscale, one one-item kept in color, and two mild selective focus picture

·      Do Not Add Text (yet)

·      Create a Folder with your ten best Action Pictures as JPEGS

·      Name the folder with your name and the name of the sport

·      Drop the folder into the Vidstore Server>Public>Yearbook Action Photos

1. Go
2. Connect to server
3. Vidstore.shorelineschools.org        
4. Name: scvideo
5. Password: Outback23
6. SCvideo classes
7. Public Folder
8. Yearbook Action Photos

·      Add Text to Pictures

·      Use student names and teams when describing action

·      Turn in Action Photos adjusted to Staff Server as a Contact Sheet

·      Turn in Best Action Picture without text

 

Action Photo Practice

Action Photo Practice

Today you will shoot and turn in a full contact sheet of action pictures. 
You should have 10-12 SUCCESSFUL panning style pictures using shutter speeds of around 1/20-1/60 and then 10-12 pictures of regular fast shutter speeds (usually 1/250-1/2000).
Have your subjects repeat the same action over and over.

How many of you remembered to bring some sporting equipment?
Suggested activities to shoot: someone running across the field, someone doing back handsprings or other gymnastic moves, anyone playing catch with a football or baseball, and hackysack etc.  

Crocodile Hunter.
 
Please return to class at 11:35 so you can upload your pictures and turn in the Contact Sheets. 
Your SC Sports pictures are due Tuesday.
We have a quiz Monday.

Creating Action Script

To create a STOP action script do the following:
1. Create a STOP layer on your animation timeline.
2. Control click and select actions.
3. Under TIMELINE CONTROL in the upper left hand corner double click STOP.

To create ACTION SCRIPT for your button do the following:
1. Click the frame that your button appears in the timeline.
2. Select directly on your button you have created down in the work area (not on the timeline).
3. Control Click>Actions
4. Under MOVIE CLIP CONTROL select ON and then RELEASE

5. Move the cursor to the second line

6. Under TIMELINE CONTROL select GOTO AND PLAY and then type in the frame where you want the button to transport the gamer player on the timeline.

 

Note: at the bottom of the Action Script commands your button should be selected under current selection:

Digital Photo 1: Manaul Camera Adjustments

Manual Adjustments:Aperture and Shutter Speed

http://cybercollege.com/tvp012.htm
http://www.picturecorrect.com/photographytips/208/aperture_fstops_camera_settings.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aperture
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F-number


F-Stops and Shutter Speed Hints

Please take detailed notes in your own words on the top two reading assignment. You will using the material you learn this week on the cameras.

Camera simulator:
http://www.photonhead.com/simcam/shutteraperture.php

http://www.kamerasimulator.se/eng/?page_id=2

http://dryreading.com/camera/index.html

htthttp://camerasim.com/camera-simulator/

Animation: Choose Your Own Adventure Assignment

CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE ASSIGNMENT:
For this project you will be creating an adventure of some sorts that pauses periodically and gives the viewer a choice in where the story goes, thus a "choose your own adventure" tale! Your movie must contain:


* Full figures with detailed animation (no stick figures)
*multiple motion and shape tweens
* movie clips
* at least six instances of sound, sound should FILL your animation
* 8 Buttons
* goto and play
* stop
* up, over, down, hit states At least three places where decisions need to be made

Please answer the questions below using Text Edit and drop the responses into the Staff Server>Mitchell>Classes>Period 1
Use complete sentences.

* Who are the characters? List at least two.
*Where does the story take place?List precise location with details.
* What is the main story from beginning to end? What is the main character trying to do?
* What are the options in the choose your own adventure? What are the outcomes?
* How will your animation be more interesting and better looking than your last project?

Flash Tutorials for Choose Your Own Adventure Assignment

Button:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLP7A9IYptU

Action Script 2.0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PdvPEaoU7tg&feature=related

Action Script 2.0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-QkWaY9y1o&feature=related