Multimedia Projects 2019/20
After Effects Project #4: Animated Lesson of History
Your group's goal is to create a animation that presents a lesson of U.S. history in a highly entertaining way.
You are going to take a minor historical event and create a short (2 minute) video that teaches a lesson (NOT merely illustrating the event).
What do we learn or not learn from this event?
What is your claim about the importance of this event, and its effect on United States History?
To do this your group will create the following:
A script:
Engage your audience with the subject (why is it important, what should we know about it?), explain the details of the subject,
make an apt / interesting comparison or metaphor for your subject, create a fun way of understanding it.
This must be completed and approved before you begin to shoot. The best scripts are efficient, conversational, provides context,
makes occasional observations. Your script will include full narration and dialog, stage direction for characters, objects and backgrounds;
and sound cues. It will be typed.
A storyboard: a visual plan of how your script will be shown on screen: This will include how action will
be depicted (including camera angles), how text and graphics will interact with action, inclusion of sound
effects and music, animation and newsreel.
Leader: Keeps track of all group progress, communicates with teacher, executes storyboard
Animator: Collects design ideas, creates idea board and creates the initial assets for the group to share in Photoshop or Illustrator
Writer Researcher: writes script on shared Google doc
other group members should support
Requirements: Narrator(s) who appear on-screen or provide voice-over (v/o), occasional text on screen, interaction with pictures and video
Hints that will make your 2 minute video more entertainingand more educational:
Multiple camera angles and camera depth
Sound effects which enhance on screen action
Graphics
A logical progression of facts
Good illustrations which help with understanding
You are going to take a minor historical event and create a short (2 minute) video that teaches a lesson (NOT merely illustrating the event).
What do we learn or not learn from this event?
What is your claim about the importance of this event, and its effect on United States History?
To do this your group will create the following:
A script:
Engage your audience with the subject (why is it important, what should we know about it?), explain the details of the subject,
make an apt / interesting comparison or metaphor for your subject, create a fun way of understanding it.
This must be completed and approved before you begin to shoot. The best scripts are efficient, conversational, provides context,
makes occasional observations. Your script will include full narration and dialog, stage direction for characters, objects and backgrounds;
and sound cues. It will be typed.
A storyboard: a visual plan of how your script will be shown on screen: This will include how action will
be depicted (including camera angles), how text and graphics will interact with action, inclusion of sound
effects and music, animation and newsreel.
Leader: Keeps track of all group progress, communicates with teacher, executes storyboard
Animator: Collects design ideas, creates idea board and creates the initial assets for the group to share in Photoshop or Illustrator
Writer Researcher: writes script on shared Google doc
other group members should support
Requirements: Narrator(s) who appear on-screen or provide voice-over (v/o), occasional text on screen, interaction with pictures and video
Hints that will make your 2 minute video more entertainingand more educational:
Multiple camera angles and camera depth
Sound effects which enhance on screen action
Graphics
A logical progression of facts
Good illustrations which help with understanding
After Effects Project #3
Here is the essential tutorial we'll be following
Prep: Find a famous phrase that you would like to animate (check it with Mr K)
Find some instrumental music on an .mp3 file that you can bring
Here is a mashup of excerpts of former student projects
Goal: to create a short piece of kinetic typography that uses a famous or important quote.
It will feature your voice (or someone else's) as a voice over, and have background music
It will exercise the principle of alignment, and intermediate animation techniques. It should use a null (parent) layer at least once.
Use good complimentary colors
This will be about a three day assignment (from February 5-13)
Phase 1:
Storyboard how you would like your kinetic typography to work in your sketch area
Record your quote, once it has been approved. Have your quote read deliberately (it will help with the animation)
Compose each word on a separate layer. Move your Anchor Point to the desired location.
Decide on best font (You can use secondary fonts, but too many fonts make the animation look amateurish)
Move your words into position, into relationship with each other
Phase 2:
Some of your words should be linked together via a null (or parent layer). It will add a nice "order" to your animation
Individual words and syllables should be animated so that they appear with "punch" -- some examples:
o suddenly growing to position.
o moving in from another position
o appearing where the previous word was
o using a preset or effect as it comes in
Here are some additional tutorials here and here
Hints:
Limited use of repetition could enhance your animation. But be careful.
Don't use too many colors or fonts
Phase 3:
Export your animations from AfterEffects -- File>Export>Add to Render Queue
In Render Queue, change output module to H.264, and change Output To to correct destination. HIT THE RENDER BUTTON
Import the movie file of your animation, and the sound files of your voice and background music into Premier Pro.
Include in your edits:
o 2-3 seconds of lead and tail music (with fade in and fade out)
o Make sure the music does not interfere wth your voice. Use keyframing the volume line with the pen tool.
o If it feels too brief, consider repeating your animation in one movie.
File>Export>Media
Change Format to H.264, Preset to HD 1080p 29.97, and change output name to Quote.Class.Name (choose correct destination)
Hit Export button to create your .mp4 movie, which you will turn in.
Prep: Find a famous phrase that you would like to animate (check it with Mr K)
Find some instrumental music on an .mp3 file that you can bring
Here is a mashup of excerpts of former student projects
Goal: to create a short piece of kinetic typography that uses a famous or important quote.
It will feature your voice (or someone else's) as a voice over, and have background music
It will exercise the principle of alignment, and intermediate animation techniques. It should use a null (parent) layer at least once.
Use good complimentary colors
This will be about a three day assignment (from February 5-13)
Phase 1:
Storyboard how you would like your kinetic typography to work in your sketch area
Record your quote, once it has been approved. Have your quote read deliberately (it will help with the animation)
Compose each word on a separate layer. Move your Anchor Point to the desired location.
Decide on best font (You can use secondary fonts, but too many fonts make the animation look amateurish)
Move your words into position, into relationship with each other
Phase 2:
Some of your words should be linked together via a null (or parent layer). It will add a nice "order" to your animation
Individual words and syllables should be animated so that they appear with "punch" -- some examples:
o suddenly growing to position.
o moving in from another position
o appearing where the previous word was
o using a preset or effect as it comes in
Here are some additional tutorials here and here
Hints:
Limited use of repetition could enhance your animation. But be careful.
Don't use too many colors or fonts
Phase 3:
Export your animations from AfterEffects -- File>Export>Add to Render Queue
In Render Queue, change output module to H.264, and change Output To to correct destination. HIT THE RENDER BUTTON
Import the movie file of your animation, and the sound files of your voice and background music into Premier Pro.
Include in your edits:
o 2-3 seconds of lead and tail music (with fade in and fade out)
o Make sure the music does not interfere wth your voice. Use keyframing the volume line with the pen tool.
o If it feels too brief, consider repeating your animation in one movie.
File>Export>Media
Change Format to H.264, Preset to HD 1080p 29.97, and change output name to Quote.Class.Name (choose correct destination)
Hit Export button to create your .mp4 movie, which you will turn in.
After Effects Project #2A: Logo animation with one reveal
The second part of this tutorial. The key part here is to understand how a shape layer becomes a masking track matte.
After Effects Project #2B:
Goal: to animate a logo with several animated parts to give it a cool look
Part one:
Part one:
- Import the logo into Photoshop
- Make separate layers from the different colors. Use the Magic Wand tool to select the color. Understand "contiguous" (option bar) to determine how much of a color you want to select.
- Make sure your layers are labeled.
- Save as a PS doc with layers
- Import PS document into After Effects (File > Import > File)
- Select your PS file. In dialog box, import as composition.
- In secondary import box, choose Import Kind: Composition, Layer Options: Merge Layer Styles into Footage
- In broswer, double-click on your PS Composition
After Effects Project #1
After Effects Project #1: 30-Second Name Animation
An original 30-second animation sequence in After Effects, which can feature...
o Your Name, several times
o Images of You
o Imagees of your interests or things important to you
o Random animation
Your 30 seconds can be on one timeline, and exported as an .mp4 OR you can export multiple AE projects and assemble in Premier Pro, and export as .mp4 there
Export your .mp4 as AE1.class.name
An original 30-second animation sequence in After Effects, which can feature...
o Your Name, several times
o Images of You
o Imagees of your interests or things important to you
o Random animation
Your 30 seconds can be on one timeline, and exported as an .mp4 OR you can export multiple AE projects and assemble in Premier Pro, and export as .mp4 there
Export your .mp4 as AE1.class.name
For Multimedia 2: Animatics
In animation and special effects work, the storyboarding stage may be followed by simplified mock-ups called "animatics" to give a better idea of how a scene will look and feel with motion and timing. At its simplest, an animatic is a sequence of still images (usually taken from a storyboard) displayed in sync with rough dialogue (i.e., scratch vocals) and/or rough soundtrack, essentially providing a simplified overview of how various visual and auditory elements will work in conjunction to one another... Often storyboards are animated with simple zooms and pans to simulate camera movement (using non-linear editing software). These animations can be combined with available animatics, sound effects, and dialog to create a presentation of how a film could be shot and cut together. (from Wikipedia)
Homework (due Sept 20/23)
Storyboard a 30-40 second ad, advertising a particular class at Windsor High School, with the intention of persuading students to take that class. This is a drawn storyboard of 8-10 panels. Think about ways to zoom or pan individual panels to give them interest. Take pictures of each panel and email them to yourself, or airdrop them to your computer by Friday. Have music, if you wish to add.
Friday you will quickly produce animatic in Premier Pro, add music, and we'll look at them in class.
Tuesday and Thursday next week you will be helping our partner core AMP with producing animatics in Premier Pro
Homework (due Sept 20/23)
Storyboard a 30-40 second ad, advertising a particular class at Windsor High School, with the intention of persuading students to take that class. This is a drawn storyboard of 8-10 panels. Think about ways to zoom or pan individual panels to give them interest. Take pictures of each panel and email them to yourself, or airdrop them to your computer by Friday. Have music, if you wish to add.
Friday you will quickly produce animatic in Premier Pro, add music, and we'll look at them in class.
Tuesday and Thursday next week you will be helping our partner core AMP with producing animatics in Premier Pro
Event / Business Ad
Event / Business Advertisement: a photoshop project
Create three (3) full page ads for a local business or upcoming event this year (concert, a fund-raiser, a sports event, whatever). We are emphasizing local importance so you might have your ad used or even paid for.
1) It should exercise the elements of design. What are they again?
2) There should be at least 3 different photographic or graphic images involved in the poster. No previously photoshopped images, please. These images should be integrated into the overall design. (Do not simply cut and paste images - any monkey can do that). Colorize you image, change the hues, try an overlay.
3) Start with a document that is 16" wide, 24" high, 72 ppi. if you want it "portrait" orientation, or 24" wide and 16" high for landscape orientation.
4) Develop your project asking yourself about the four elements of design...
5) The purpose of this first version is how you think the business or event would want to be advertised. Think of their customers or audience, and what their values are. (We'll call this ALPHA)
6) The purpose of the second version is YOUR VISION of how you would like to adverstise the event or business. This is going to be your creative vision of this ad. (We'll call this BRAVO)
7) The purpose of the third version is something outside-the-box, a design unexpected, a design for your ad that uses an approach that is unique. (We'll call this CHARLIE)
Alignment: Is there a relationship between the parts of your design? Are there invisible lines that connect all the main features?
Contrast: Have you created contrasting fonts? Colors? Sizes?
Repetition: Is there a repeating plan for 2 to 3 colors?
Proximity: Is information grouped logically? Do the grouping help create negative space?
Check points
Create three (3) full page ads for a local business or upcoming event this year (concert, a fund-raiser, a sports event, whatever). We are emphasizing local importance so you might have your ad used or even paid for.
1) It should exercise the elements of design. What are they again?
2) There should be at least 3 different photographic or graphic images involved in the poster. No previously photoshopped images, please. These images should be integrated into the overall design. (Do not simply cut and paste images - any monkey can do that). Colorize you image, change the hues, try an overlay.
3) Start with a document that is 16" wide, 24" high, 72 ppi. if you want it "portrait" orientation, or 24" wide and 16" high for landscape orientation.
4) Develop your project asking yourself about the four elements of design...
5) The purpose of this first version is how you think the business or event would want to be advertised. Think of their customers or audience, and what their values are. (We'll call this ALPHA)
6) The purpose of the second version is YOUR VISION of how you would like to adverstise the event or business. This is going to be your creative vision of this ad. (We'll call this BRAVO)
7) The purpose of the third version is something outside-the-box, a design unexpected, a design for your ad that uses an approach that is unique. (We'll call this CHARLIE)
Alignment: Is there a relationship between the parts of your design? Are there invisible lines that connect all the main features?
Contrast: Have you created contrasting fonts? Colors? Sizes?
Repetition: Is there a repeating plan for 2 to 3 colors?
Proximity: Is information grouped logically? Do the grouping help create negative space?
Check points
- Choose color schemes for A, B and C
- Jot down all of your event content: Date/Time of event ticket prices, venue, extra information, who's playing, contact (phone, web, email) Slogan / Tagline, logo, etc
- Jot down all of your business content: Location, hours, special sales, contact (phone, web, email), slogan / tagline, logo, etc
- And what are the HIGHLIGHTED ASPECTS YOU'RE FEATURING?
- Apply Alignment to all of your written elements
Images of Me
Images of Me: a photoshop project
1) Write a list of 9 different words or phrases that describe you or things that you do.
2) On a piece of paper, sketch out how a picture of you might be used to depict that word
3) On a 8x10 photoshop document, make 9 copies of yourself and set them on a 3 by 3 grid.
4) Begin to photoshop each layer with a word about yourself in mind. Ask around if you have an idea for an effect you don't know how to make.
5) Use props, cutout effects, color overlays, filters.
6) A successful project will reveal your personalities and proclivities
Multimedia 2 requirements:
Each background is different.
There are at least 2 props for each vignette
The project embodies a graphic sophistication.
1) Write a list of 9 different words or phrases that describe you or things that you do.
2) On a piece of paper, sketch out how a picture of you might be used to depict that word
3) On a 8x10 photoshop document, make 9 copies of yourself and set them on a 3 by 3 grid.
4) Begin to photoshop each layer with a word about yourself in mind. Ask around if you have an idea for an effect you don't know how to make.
5) Use props, cutout effects, color overlays, filters.
6) A successful project will reveal your personalities and proclivities
Multimedia 2 requirements:
Each background is different.
There are at least 2 props for each vignette
The project embodies a graphic sophistication.