ArtDM140
Motion Graphics
Syllabus
Spring ‘11
Art and Digital Media
Instructor: Jason Sussberg Phone: 831-345-1960 E-mail:
[email protected] Class Mtg: M/W 4-6pm Office Hours: M/W 3:30-4pm Location: A-303
COURSE DESCRIPTION
RECOMMENDED TEXT
This is an introductory course in motion graphics utilizing digital video and various graphics file formats. The course includes lectures, screenings, critiques and lab studio. Projects will cover best practices in animation and visual effects in broadcast design, film titles video design and effects. The course will utilize industry standard visual effects software including After Effects, Motion and Flash.
After Effects CS5 Visual Effects and Compositing Techniques. After Effects: The Missing Manual. Designing with Type.
REQUIRED TEXT
Creating Motion Graphics with After Effects, 5th Edition, Fifth Edition: Essential and Advanced Technique. By Chris and Trish Meyer REQUIRED MATERIAL
External Hard Drive (50 gigs should be fine). Flash Drive (4 gigs or more).
GRADING
Assignments 50% | Final Project 30% | Participa tion (critique + attendance) 20% | Bonus 5% HELPFUL RESOURCES
creativecow.com, motionographer.com, eduard tufte, informationisbeautiful.com
ArtDM140
Motion Graphics
Syllabus
Spring ‘11
Art and Digital Media
Instructor: Jason Sussberg Phone: 831-345-1960 E-mail:
[email protected] Class Mtg: M/W 4-6pm Office Hours: M/W 3:30-4pm Location: A-303
WEEK ONE 1/24 & 1/26
WEEK 5- 2/21 & 2/23
Course overview, Motion Graphics, Visual Effects, design principles, where are we going? Screening: Man With a Movie Camera
Advanced Layers, KeyFraming and Basic Animation, Rotoscoping. Screening: The Fleischer Toons
ASSIGNMENT
ASSIGNMENT
Digital Art Project Assigned (due week 3)
Continue Type Project.
READING
READING
Introduction and Ch. 1 (CMG). Manovich PDF
Chapters 4, 5, 34.
WEEK TWO 1/31 & 2/2
WEEK 6- 2/28 & 3/2
After Effects interface and palettes. Interfacing with digital software. Vector Art vs. Bitmap Art. Screening: Georges Méliès Shorts ASSIGNMENT
ASSIGNMENT
Type Project Due. Critique!.
None.
READING
READING
Chapter 2. Naomi Klein PDF WEEK 3 2/7
Masking, Motion Masks. Screening: Fernand Leger, Marry Ellen Bute
& 2/9
Early pioneers in Motion Graphics (Cohl), Motion graphics best practices, Exploring tools in AE. ASSIGNMENT
Digital Art Project Due. Critique READING
Chapter 3 and 6 W E E K 4 2 / 14 & 2 / 16
Type, Typography in After Effects. Design vs. Art. Screening: David Carson Documentary ASSIGNMENT
Type Project Assigned. READING
Type PDF. Chapter 21.
Chapter 7
WEEK 7- 3/7
& 3/9
Compositing, Nesting, Pre-composing sequences. ASSIGNMENT
Motion Logo and Background Project READING
Chapter 10 WEEK 8-
3 / 14 &
3 / 16
Frame-by-frame Avant guarde cinema. Screening: Man Ray, Hans Richter, Harry Smith, ASSIGNMENT
None READING
Chapter 18 and 19.
A
ArtDM140
Motion Graphics
Syllabus
Spring ‘11
Art and Digital Media
Instructor: Jason Sussberg Phone: 831-345-1960 E-mail:
[email protected] Class Mtg: M/W 4-6pm Office Hours: M/W 3:30-4pm Location: A-303
WEEK 9-
3/21 &
3 / 23
WEEK 13-
4 / 11 &
4/13
Historical overview of film titles, Screening: Saul Bass Doc. Pablo Ferro Clips
Introduction to Expressions and scripting in After Effects ☺
Logo&BG Due! FilmTitle Project Assigned.
Expressions Skill Share Assignment!
READING
READING
Film Titles PDF
Chapter 37
W E E K 1 0 - 3 / 28 & 3 / 30
WEEK 14
Final Cut Pro Overview, Transfer/Blending modes.
Camera and 3D Space, Lights
ASSIGNMENT
ASSIGNMENT
ASSIGNMENT
Chapter 13, 14, 15
Chapter 9
WEEK 15
WEEK 11- 10/26 & 10/28
Archival Remix, History of Reappropriation. Screening: Remix and Right-Wing Donald ASSIGNMENT
Remix Project Assigned, Film Title Project Due. READING
PDF: Lessig on History and Media. 4/4 &
4/6
Green Screen, Color Keying, Compositing! Screening: Star Wars and Forest Gump ASSIGNMENT
Remix Project Rough Cut. Chapter 27
4/27
READING
READING
READING
4/25 &
Remix project due! Final Project Assigned.
Continue Film Titles
WEEK 12-
ASSIGNMENT
5 / 2 & 5/4
Computer Animation and the Future of MoGraph. Stabilization and Motion Tracking Screening: Peter Whitney. ASSIGNMENT
Final Project Pitches Due. READING
Chapter 29, 30 WEEK 16-
5 / 1 1 & 5 / 13
Time-remapping, temporal processing. ASSIGNMENT
Final Project. Continued. READING
Chapter 28
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ArtDM140
Motion Graphics
Syllabus
Spring ‘11
Art and Digital Media
Instructor: Jason Sussberg Phone: 831-345-1960 E-mail:
[email protected] Class Mtg: M/W 4-6pm Office Hours: M/W 3:30-4pm Location: A-303
WEEK 17 -
Animated logo &BG: Project 2
5 / 16 & 5 / 18
Particle System Generator. Trapecode!
ASSIGNMENT
Animate a vector logo that you design (be inventive, creative and fresh!). Create a dynamic and visually enticing moving logo that incorporates an introduction, looping body and outro. The logo should be placed in an equally compelling and visual background with motion as well. Project must incorporate frame blending and motion blur. Consider using blending modes and dynamic textures.
Final project
Opening Titles for Film: Project 3
ASSIGNMENT
Final project roughcuts Due. READING
None! W E E K 1 8 - 5 / 23 &
5 / 25
Final project critiques
READING
None! Digital Art: Project 0
Using only AfterEffects, Create a work of digital art without motion. Treat the the software as a static photo editor. Use only motivated effects. Text project: Project 1
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Animate a quote (1-4 sentences) from a film, book or timeless cliche. Using the Type tool in AfterEffects, create a typography project that uses the aesthetic formal elements of type to articulate a broader concept. Consider the typeface, leading, kerning, spacing and color when executing your project. NOTE- Animation must be motivated by the content (don’t just scramble it to statisfy the assignment). Form=Content☺.
Liberate your inner Saul Bass! Create a title sequence (with titles, lower 3rds, etc.) for a film (real or imagined). The sequence should incorporate video elements along with vector art. The text, textures and vector art should eloquently parallel the film’s plot and act as an artistic analogue to the film as a whole. Production must adhere to best practices in lighting, rule of 3rds and photography. Layout and organization is especially important!
ArtDM140
Motion Graphics
Syllabus
Spring ‘11
Art and Digital Media
Instructor: Jason Sussberg Phone: 831-345-1960 E-mail:
[email protected] Class Mtg: M/W 4-6pm Office Hours: M/W 3:30-4pm Location: A-303
Found Footage Remix:Project 4
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Using a piece of found footage or audio as a base, creatively create a work of art that builds on the past! Utilizing the tools and possibilities in AfterEffects, incorporate the found footage into a complex new film using photographs, typography, vector art and effects. Use mostly archival-- more than 80% must be a reimagining, adaptation, remixing or elaboration on the found footage. Expressions Skillshare:Project 5
Presentations will be an informal skill sharing exercise for yourself and classmates. Research a piece of expression code that you will present to class. Expression script can be found in your textbook or on-line in the various forums (creativecow.com, motionographer.com, www.ehow.com). Presentations should be no longer than 7 minutes. Please provide working files and bitmaps/vector images for the class to follow along.
Final MoGraph Project: Project 6
“Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.” Arthur C Clark. “The Future: it’s all we got!” Gregory Benford. For this final project, use the various tools and techniques in AfterEffects (green screen, effects, 3-D space, textures, particle generators, etc.) to create a 3-5 minute film set in a future world. The future is impossible to know, thus your future world can be anything—a utopia, dystopia, or any boring ole quotidian future (make it as mundane, absurd, blasé or fantastic as you’d like!). Project must be developed in consultation with me through the following: completion of detailed storyboards and a pithy pitch presented to the class (NOTE- Pitches shouldn’t exceed 5-7minutes). Consider purpose, audience, and research required for implementation of the project. Project will first be executed in FCP as a rough cut (sans effects and AfterEffects) and critiqued by the class before completion in AfterEffects.
