Speaking from experience - Final moving image

Following the crit I have tweaked some of the moving image.  I have changed the split between the 2D and 3D element in a way which make the effect more obvious.  I have also added a surprise at the end as the "Design Magic' ending was a bit flat.  

If you can, watch the moving image from the MP4 file on the USB lanyard as the quality and sound is much better than through Vimeo.

Step out of your Comfort zone from Lisa Whitaker on Vimeo.
Final moving image for submission tomorrow! Improved on some timing and added a couple of extra bits

Speaking from experience - Method of delivery

Following the crit I reflected on the fact Emily and Ben did not think I had explained how to get out of your comfort zone.  I thought by saying Let go of what you think you know, fear of failure, experimenting etc I was explaining 'how to'.  However their comment meant I had to reinforce this somehow. 


I had toyed with the idea of how to incorporate the research and fact that 50 % of the students I surveyed regretted not stepping out of their comfort zone.  


Also I thought how could I encourage students and remind them throughout the year to step out of their comfort zone.  I thought what would a students have with them throughout the year like maybe printing the rules on a fabric for a pencil case or notebook.  Or maybe digitally such as wallpaper or a screen saver.  


The communication could even take the form of a test/challenge during each brief to ensure the student is hitting the Design magic criteria.


However due to the timescale available I decided to use paper to extend the concept further. I looked at producing some type of booklet or perhaps some laminates for on the lanyard. 


In Indesign I tried to design a booklet which would have 'steps' down the side incorporating the circles however I could not work out how to design the circles so this effect wold be achieved:

As I had decided there were seven steps to step out of your comfort zone the simplest solution was a hotdog fold book.  To link the Moving Image I used the same zone, circle images and messages.  To reinforce what these mean I added various comments, most of which underline what various students quoted to me in my primary research..  To incorporate the 'step' idea I added tabs.   I used Photoshop to design the images then Indesign to design and print the layout.

The final hot dog fold books are reasonably successful I tried printing them out on different stock weights and colours.  Also I tried the format A4 and A3.  The most successful was actually using the A3 paper in the Mac suites as the weight is not too heavy so the folds are neater and the tabs line up the best. I like the contrast of the bright white paper with the vibrant colours.  Although the A4 look appealing I think the A3 ones are more readable.

To take this a step further I use the same design to create some laminates for the lanyard.

Overall I think the lanyard with the moving image and the laminates works the best as a final product.  The USB is a hook (freebie) and the student will carry this around with them which could act as a reminder of the 'step out of your comfort zone'. It also as connotes good times ie Lanyards and festivals.

Indesign - Redesigned layout

The type and grid session with Lorenzo proved really useful.  Looking at how other people in the group had approached this helped me see where my design was weak.  Also printing the actual layout out was invaluable as the font size(12 point) which had looked correct on the screen was actually too big. Also I did not know there was an hyphenation switch 


This is the revised layout I have designed based on the feedback.

I saved the print settings as I found these slightly confusing.

Also to open a CS5.5 document in in design CS5 you have to export from CS5.5 as an .idml document.

Speaking from experience - Moving image

As my crit was in the afternoon I have had time to refine this.  I was not happy with the timing of a couple of the circles and also the blur  effect on the 3d part was making the yellow ball glare.  The end sequence revealed some of the experience in error so I have remove this also.

Step out of your comfort zone v 2 from Lisa Whitaker on Vimeo.

Slightly better timing and got rid of a few niggles

I have also been thinking about how to deliver the moving image.  I have created a small 'card' to insert in a Lanyard with a USB on.  The moving image would be saved on the USB.

I have also put the link and a welcome message on the First year notice board

Speaking from experience - After effects

This is the Moving Image I have prepared for the Final Crit.  I would plan to add to the First Year notice board in the second week after the students arrive as a thought provoking welcome message to think about their approach to their First Year. 
I could also include on the Lanyard USB (If we get them).  I had thought about adding an additional note about the survey results however have not come to a conclusion on how this could be delivered ie 50 % did not experiment, 44% have started and 6% have.





Step out of your comfort zone from Lisa Whitaker on Vimeo.




Leeds College of Art brief 'Speaking from experience'. My first project in After Effects.... Video Pilot tutorials are amazing!

Speaking from experience - Learning After Effects

10 May 2011


Mike spent some time showing me the basics in After Effects.  it helped that I had mastered a good understanding of Final Cut.  


1. Set up a new composition
2.Preset - Pal D1/DV square pixel(or wide screen 1050 x 576) if not video.
3 Duration
4. Background colour
5. Can change in composition settings.

Mike showed me how to create shape layers and how to animate these.


To play back use RAM preview (half resolution if struggling to playback)


To animate
Click layer, transform, Van change position, scale, rotation, opacity by clicking the stop watch


Can add text as through add layers.

13 May 2011


I went away from this and created the Moving image for the progress crit.  This was a really good way to learn as it raised loads of questions which I went through with Mike


Mike then explained anchor points and how to use the pan behind tool.


He explained key board shortcuts for transforming:


Type P for position
        R for rotation
        A for anchor point
        S for scale
        T for opacity


To select more than one press shift then letter.


To see very property press 'U'








Over the weekend I found the Video Pilot tutorials which used the Trapcode plug in then went on to find the lights tutorial.

These introduced me to some really advanced techniques such as 3D effects, cameras and lights but also some basics which were really handy such as created separate compositions to apply effects to and to duplicate a layer then invert to create a reflection.  It also introduced me to Layer effects such as fast blur and also the significance of adjustment layers.  I followed the tutorial to the letter and produced the following:







Test using Video pilot tutorial from Lisa Whitaker on Vimeo.
Teaching myself After effects this is the first tutorial I have followed for After effects and I would highly recommend the Video pilot. Very clear tuition I had only been using After Effects for one week at this stage

I followed this up by adding the word design with more lights.  I also adjusted the camera position so it moved round more.



Untitled from Lisa Whitaker on Vimeo.


This is the first attempt at linking the 2d and 3d compositions.

Test 3 - extending the Video pilot tutorial from Lisa Whitaker on Vimeo




I also experimented with 3d text in Photoshop and decided to use the 'rubber' balloon effect:

Tuesday 17th May

At the workshop on Mike ran over the basics again which was actually useful as I had started to run before I could walk.  

Another useful technique he talked about was importing Illustrator and Photoshop documents.  The technique is quite different from having to produce a 'frame' by 'frame movement as fr Final Cut. The frames needed are just the changes which can them be animated by changing their position on After Effects.

The files can be imported as Footage or as an image sequence and as such need to be numbered sequentially.The sequence comes in as a layer which can then be manipulated in a separate composition.

Key points

Photoshop files for film and video same size as AE file ie 1050 x 576

If want to manipulate chose composition when importing

Fun shop with John Watters

This workshop ran by John had a very different approach to anything else we have done this year.  John was trying to free up our thinking to really just come up with a BIG IDEA.  Once we had an idea then think how to make it BIGGER.  

Most group naturally started getting into the detail i.e. where the event was to take place, practicalities however John asked us to forget this.  He had also put us in large groups deliberately so we had to split work down to work effectively.  Our group ended up being quite small from eleven down to seven.

speaking from experience - After effects MAGIC

I managed to follow the Video pilot tutorial however can't use this as the effect plug in costs £300.  So I looked for a different effect which was purely After effects.

Speaking from experience - Initial After effects for progress crit

This was after using After Effects since Tuesday after Mike had spent thirty minutes with me showing me how to set a Project up and make a composition. 


At this stage I was not sure how this what the beginning or end would be other than I wanted there to be some "magic' at the end.

Speaking from experience - design ideas/notes

The original storyboard for the progress crit.  At this stage I was playing with the idea of balloons and letting things go.

I rewrote the rationale as the original concept had been about ego.  When I carried out the primary research what emerged was ego was not the reason most people did not experiment.  It had more to do with comfort zones, confidence and fear of failure.

Speaking from experience -development

I have spoken to Mike about the best software to make the Moving image and he recommended After Effect so I have booked to have a 30 minute tutorial with him tomorrow.  Hopefully this will set me up to get started with this ready for Friday.

Speaking from experience -development

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Indesign - Layout development

These are some of the layouts I have been experimenting with. 

I tried the Guitar image in colour however I think the colour  distracts away from the purpose of the article

The Black and white image is more subtle. I used tints of one colour with black and white as this was something Chris said he liked.

Indesign - Chris Lawson further research

Given Chris's enjoyment of music I thought I would write the article with a Music/Rock angle.  I asked Chris to give me his top five Albums, songs and bands.  This is the result (79 words):

Top 5 albums

1.       Muse – Absolution

2.       2 Arctic Monkeys – Whatever people say I am, that’s what I’m not.

3.       3. Pendulum – Hold your colour

4.       4. Arcade fire – the Suburbs

5.       5. Metallica – Master of puppets

Top 5 songs

1.       Muse- Born

2.       Metallica – One

3.       Queens of the Stone Age – No-one knows

4.       Kasabian – Club foot

5.       Arcade Fire – The suburbs

Top 5 bands

1.       Muse

2.       Artic monkeys

3.       Kings of Leon

4.       Kasabian

5.       Metallica

To add more substance beyond the inerview I have also been looking at Chris's blog.  This has helped me understand what design Chris likes and also given me some insight into how he feels reading his evaluations.   Chris is drawn to very simple intelligent design.  I am really impressed by the work he did on What is a line and the fact he used his initiative to book himself for a laser cutter induction.  In fact this has actually made me realise how we have all grown in confidence so much this last few months.

Speaking from experience - Brainstorm and Rationale

Five problems I have encountered since I was offered a place:

1. Getting a balance between GD and life
2. Putting things off
3. Not blogging everyday - leads to a backlog
4. New software - No time to practice
5. Keeping the pace

Five things I want to make:

1. Kinetic type moving image
2. Hand drawn type moving image
3. Well laid out double spread
4. A clever poster - intelligent and witty
5. Stickers

Five subjects/themes I am interested in dealing with:

1. FEAR - For everything a reason. Forget everything and remember. Play abot with this Ian Brown song offering advice
2. How to engage /see the relevance in CTS? Timeline?
3. The importance of everything on the course
4. Experiment/make mistakes
5. Top ten tips? Now thats what I call Graphic Design

We discussed our five problems with a partner, mine was Mitch.  It was interesting speaking to Mitch as although we have spoken it has not been on this level.  He was really honest about his feelings of loneliness when first starting.

We then had to discuss five methods of solving the problems and then five methods of deivery (orange).

From this work we then each had to chose two problems which we wanted to solve:

1 Egos - How to stop your ego getting in the way.

2 Getting a balance between GD and life

For each of the problems we then had to write a Problem analysis - rationale.  We swapped these with a partner, mine was Yfet.