Digital Photography and Imaging - Week 10

25/11/2024 - 28/11/2024 (Week 10)

Chang Wing / 0367807

Digital Photography and Imaging / Bachelors of Design (Honours) in Creative Media / Taylor's University

Project 2B: Poster Design

---

Week 10 

Lecture

Mr. Fauzi introduced an animation software used in the post-production phase, ideal for creating animations, visual effects, and motion picture compositing. He also  demonstrated the steps of animating layers using keyframe techniques: Position and Scale.

Important note: After Effects files does not embed its media, it links to it. Keep the original media files intact and well-organized to avoid broken links or missing assets.

Figure 1.1 Adobe After Effects

Figure 1.2 Compositing layers in Adobe After Effects

---

Tutorial

Mr. Fauzi demonstrated how to make kinetic typography using After Effects, he showcased techniques such as using the Easy Ease feature to smooth animations, applying motion blur for a more dynamic effect and adjusting speed curves for better timing, building a basic keyframe animation.

Figure 2.1 Kinetic Typography Tutorial by Mr. Fauzi. Link: https://youtu.be/qluLUmzPAJE

---

Practical

After Effect Practice

Download the provided PSD file and import W10_ANIMATE.psd into Adobe After Effects. Create a 1080x1920 composition with a duration of 15 seconds, and animate the layers using Position (P), Scale (S), and Masking Path.

Final Animation

Watch this on Youtube: https://youtube.com/shorts/96NuFquRVyM?si=MMRO1R-Ug_xdM5IF

Figure 3.1 Final Animation

Process Video

Figure 3.2 Process in Adobe After Effects

  

Project 2B: Poster Design

Required to create a poster design composition using elements of photography, typography and vector graphics. Photography is from DPI, typography and vector graphics is from IVN.

Design Concept

The quote “The Worst Mistake is To Not Make Any” is all about embracing mistakes as part of the journey in both design and life. In design, it encourages taking risks and trying things that might not work, because those “wrong” steps often lead to creative breakthroughs. In life, it reminds us that mistakes are crucial for personal growth and learning, and we should not afraid of trying new things.

The typography features intentional “mistakes” like misspelled words, a mix of italic and Roman styles, different textures and a color (blue) that doesn’t match with color scheme of the word “ANY”, showing that breaking the rules can lead to creativity.

For the photographic design, a hand holding a mouse are added to tie it back to design, reminding us that trying, failing, and experimenting are all part of the process. It’s a simple but powerful way to say that mistakes help us grow and lead to better ideas.

I chose this quote because it reminds people that mistakes are key to growth and self-expression. We should accept diversity and understand that everyone has their own unique way of showing who they are. Instead of judging mistakes, we should see them as a natural part of individuality and creativity, fostering understanding and acceptance.

Process

1. Removed the background of a photo showing my hand on a mouse using the Quick Selection Tool.

Figure 3.3 Removing background

2. Applied Select and Mask, refining the edges with the Refine Edge Brush Tool to capture fine details and ensure the shadow transitions smoothly, blending seamlessly with the white background.

Figure 3.4 Refine Edge Brush Tool

3. Created a subtle shadow for the mouse’s wire using Gaussian Blur for a realistic effect.

Figure 3.5 Gaussian Blur

4. Enhanced the brightness and contrast of the hand-on-mouse image by adjusting the Curves Adjustment Layer for a more polished look.

Figure 3.6 Brightness and Contrast

5. Posterized the 3D letter “S” and “O” to create bold, flat tones with distinct boundaries, high-contrast colours make the text pop (This approach reflects my experimentation with various typographic forms, symbolising the idea that embracing mistakes can lead to unexpected and innovative results).

Figure 3.7 Posterize

Concept Board

Figure 3.8 Concept Board (PDF)

Final Poster Design

Figure 3.9 Final Poster Design

---

Reflection

Through this week's task and practices, I am excited to have been introduced to Adobe After Effects. I find the animation software incredibly useful, as it allows me to create smooth movements with ease using keyframe techniques. The app automatically generates the in-between frames, so all I need to do is drag and click. With this tool, I can make my images more dynamic and enhance storytelling through movement, which opens up new creative possibilities for my work.

As for Project 2B, the process of creating a poster design was challenging, especially during the ideation phase. We were tasked with integrating both DPI (Photography Elements) and IVN (Typographic Elements), and the photography had to complement, not overshadow, the typography. This created a dilemma for me in selecting the right photos, as I wanted to ensure the photographic elements didn’t detract from the expressive power of the typography. Balancing both DPI and IVN was difficult, and I felt that I didn’t receive enough feedback on my design, as the lecturers were understandably focused on providing guidance to other students. This made it hard for me to refine my approach and fully understand how to improve my work to meet the expected outcome. Despite these challenges, I’m quite pleased with the final poster design. It aligned with the meaning of the quote and captured the minimalistic, bold style I aimed for.