Digital Photography and Imaging | Final Project
Digital Photography and Imaging September 2023
01.12.2023 — 29.12.2023 (Week 10 — Week 14)
Melvin Yung Khun Yew | 0357241 | Bachelor of Design (Hons) in Creative Media
GCD 62104 Digital Photography and Imaging
This portfolio consists of:
Click on the link to jump to that part of the portfolio
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Lecture
Week 10 Intro to After Effects
Adobe After Effects is a 2.5D animation software for animation, visual effects, and motion picture compositing.
This software is used in the post-production phase and has hundreds of effects that can be used to manipulate imagery. This allows us to combine layers of video and images into the same scene.
Tutorial Exercise
Before I used Adobe After Effects to create the motion, Mr Martin instructed
us to use Photoshop to animate the image first to experience how similar it
would be when using After Effects. In the meantime, I also tried various
materials to hone my Photoshop skills better.
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| Creating "Surfing" with multiple layers in Photoshop |
Surfing — 01/12/2023
Yowa, girl floating — 01/12/2023
Yowa, girl over field — 01/12/2023
Week 10 stuff that I learned or revised in Adobe Photoshop:
- Select > Modify > Expand selection by XX pixels
- Make selection > Edit Panel > Fill > Content-aware
- (Still got some black spots/imperfections?)
- Clone stamp tool > Alt-click a layer
- Edit > Puppet Wrap > Create pin
Week 11 Intro to After Effects
Tutorial Exercise
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| Collage animation |
Importing the Photoshop composition into Adobe After Effects, I started to animate each individual layer using the transform sections to change the positions and the scale of the elements while utilizing the keyframe function to create a seamless motion.
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| Layer Panel |
Mr Martin taught us some of the functions inside the After Effects, which is the Motion Blur function
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| Motion Blur |
Final Product
Motion collage — 01/12/2023
Week 12 After Effects 2.5D parallax
In week 12, Mr Martin gave us a brief on how to use the camera layer in Adobe After Effects to create a 2.5-dimensional animation image.
Firstly, it's important to import the Photoshop (PSD) file to After Effects (AE) as composition and editable layer styles.
The learning objective of this exercise is to:
- learn about 2.5D animation
- easy skills: composition setting, keyframing and easy ease, motion blur, 3D in AE, and Export in AE.
- advanced skills: Camera, Orbit around cursor tool, Motion Tile.
I adjusted the composition settings of this project using Shortcut Key (Ctrl + K) to make changes to the framerates and the duration of the video.
Next, I created a new camera layer by clicking on the Layer panel > New > Camera.
For this exercise, I set the camera presets to 15mm.
For now, it's important to check the 3D Layer box for the layers to be visible and editable on the camera.
I changed the amount of camera views to two views to allow me to see another perspective.
To make the background move seamlessly and separate from the other layers, I moved the mountain background backwards using Z-axis movement and later scaled up the background to fill up the camera.
Background position and scale adjustment
After that, I imported a fog video to enhance the visual of the animation, and I adjusted it by making it into a 3D layer, moving it in between the background and the subject and adjusting the opacity to blend into the background.
Later I created keyframes for the camera movement using the position adjustment layer panel to make the whole view look like the camera is zooming into the subject and panning to the right.
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| Keyframing the camera movement |
To fill up the gap (black bar) beside the camera view, I applied the motion tile effects to the background and the subject layers.
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| Motion Tile effect location |
In the motion tile effect panel, I checked the Mirror Edge box and increased the output width and height to fill up the gap between the subject and the view. The same effects are also applied to the background layer.
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| Motion Tile effect controls |
The final step is to export and render it to output the final animation video.
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| Render Queue |
Final Product
Mr Martin gave the class a quick briefing on this whole module and the
module learning outcomes during the class on Friday afternoon.
Task 3 (40%) - Individual: Cinemagraph - Self-Titled
In this third and final task, I need to make a self-titled poster utilizing all the knowledge I've learned during this first semester, including from the Illustration and Visual Narrative and Typography module.
In this third and final task, I need to make a self-titled poster utilizing all the knowledge I've learned during this first semester, including from the Illustration and Visual Narrative and Typography module.
There is a special request from Mr Martin to make the still poster into
an animated image to enhance the narrative of the poster.
Submission
Cinemagraph of A4 integrated poster
Cinemagraph of A4 integrated poster
PDF of final project proposal
Learning goals
- Generate and communicate design concepts and solutions through manual and digital skills effectively and skillfully.
- Use creative thinking skills and methodologies to explore, generate and test a wide range of conceptual ideas.
- Use information and communication technology to source navigate, select, retrieve and manage information.
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Work Process
Ideation and sketching
First thing first, I began to visualize the possible poster outcome with
guidance from Mr Martin to write a biography about myself and then focus
on the keyword of my personality/passion.
To initiate the idea development of the poster, I quickly wrote down my
habits, personality, likings and experiences to find the important keyword
for my poster.
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| My biography |
From the biography, I noted down the keywords of myself such as:
- beauty and wonders of the human mind
- peace
- dreaming
- creations.
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| Statement of my work |
Based on the statement, I commenced searching the suitable references including composition, and colour tones on the Internet, where I found these posters and images somewhat relevant to my ideas.
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| Mood board (Poster Reference) |
Moving on with these keywords, I began to sketch the poster
composition that fits the keywords.
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| Sketch version 1 — 8/12/2023 |
However, I want myself to have the action of creating to match the keywords. Thus, here comes the second sketch:
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| Sketch version 2 — 12/12/2023 |
After my sketch version 2 had been approved by both Mr Martin and Mr Hafiz, I moved on to the digitization process.
Digitization process
Already decided on the final poster composition sketch, I started to
collect materials and elements for my poster through photo taking and
Internet browsing.
Taking portrait photos for poster
I started the photo editing process by first taking some portrait photos
of myself with the helping hands of my wonderful classmates.
Portrait photo taking with different poses and angles
Upon making a final choice of which portrait photo to use, I also get the
chance to take another side face photo of myself for double exposure
editing.
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| Side face of myself |
I also came across different beautiful pictures of the universe (outer space) that correspond with my poster theme.
Outer space pictures
Poster Composition
Combining the use of Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Photoshop, I began to
construct the poster based on the sketch I had made.
What I had done in the Adobe software:
Adobe Illustrator:
- Combining and shaping the blue energy trails (initially water trails)
- Light rays emitting out of the head
- 3D energy orb (using 3D effects inflate) on the hand
- Applying graphics on the 3D orb
- Adjusting the lighting of the orb
- Making gradient background
Adobe Photoshop:
- Selecting and masking out the excess part of the photo (portrait photo, materials)
- Auto-tone and colour the portrait photo to match the background
- Making adjustment layers on the exposure and the curve of the whole image
- Double exposure of side face
- Adjusting blend mode and opacity of each layer.
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| The first version of the poster composition |
In the first version of the poster, I noticed there is something off with the whole poster, it's the colour tone of the poster (blue, green, purple, yellow) doesn't complement each other. Thus, I made use of the colour theory and found out I should use warmer colours like orange, red, and yellow with the cool colour purple to create a better contrast. At the same time, there's a little too much going on in the poster.
Noting down the issues:
- Colour tone
- Composition
Continuing to improve the poster, I made several changes to the
poster based on the persisting issues.
What I had done in the Adobe software:
Adobe Illustrator:
- Creating and enhancing details of the energy trails
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Applying gradient and texture effects (sprinkles
grain effect) on the trails
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Smoothing and blending the edge of the light ray by
adjusting the opacity with the gradient tool
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Illustrating anime eye
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Adding pen trails and applying a 3D effect to it
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Type modification for the title of the poster "endless"
Adobe Photoshop:
- Adjusting the position of the elements
- Make use of foreground, midground and background concept
- Blend the bottom part of the double exposure side face to the background
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| The second version of the poster composition |
After consulting with Mr Martin, he suggested I change the colour of the title to make the text pop a bit more. Thus, here comes the final version of the poster:
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| The final version of the digital A4 poster — 24/12/2023 |
Artist Statement
"There are no limits to the imagination, it’s up to you whether you
can imagine it.” This is a fiction-style surrealism poster, where the
poster presents the grounds of solace you can experience when you’re
in outer space. Through this poster, I hope to portray the message
that creativity is one of our proudest powers as human beings, let us
cherish this overpowered strength and utilize it in our daily lives.
Wonder how much stuff and events we have yet to witness in this vast
universe, with the unknown awaiting us to discover among the galaxies.
It’s endless!
Holding onto an orb symbolises how we can grasp hold of every
possibility just within reach of our hands every moment. Our brain is
one of the vital parts that allow us to perceive information and to
suit ourselves in our surroundings. The black hole represents that we
will never know what happens inside the head, but one can imagine that
there’s an eye helping us foresee every probability and the future.
Notice how the text "endless" is aligned and connects together
seamlessly to represent that there is no end to things.
Post Production
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| Adobe After Effects 2024 |
In After Effects, I applied a CC Vignette effect to the whole
project at the start and the end of the video to focus on the orb on
the hand.
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| CC Vignette effect on the panel with keyframes |
First thing first, I went to try out the camera movement focusing on the parts of the poster after making all the layers into 3D layers. I planned on making the whole video a loop starting and also the ending scene by focusing on the energy orb floating on the hand and quickly zooming out/into the whole picture.
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| Camera movement adjustment |
In making the animation in After Effects, I separated different
sections of the layers to be animated:
- The light ray on the head
- The anime eye frame-by-frame
- The floating orb "Orb of Creation"
- The energy trails around the orb
- The moving hand and pen trail
- The comets flying by
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Headlight ray animation|
I played with the scale transformation and Z rotation transformation on the light ray layers to enhance the visual and strengthen the illustration's purpose as a light.
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The anime eye frame-by-frame animation
I had prepared multiple layers of the eye with different states (fully opened, half opened, fully closed) to adjust the opacity of the eye between 0% and 100% and make the eye animated.
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The floating orb "Orb of Creation" animation
"Orb of Creation" There are two separate layers for the floating orb, one of them is the orb itself and another layer is its light ring.
I adjusted the floating orb's opacity at the start and end of the camera movement with the light ring having higher opacity than the orb itself (20% - 80% opacity level on the orb).A clearer outline of the orb at 80% opacity
I made a keyframe animation on the position of the floating orb to make it have a floating effect on my hand with the help of the easy ease transition.
In the meantime, I also applied a glow effect on the light ring layer to make the lighting a bit more realistic.
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The animation on the orb's energy trails
Energy trails with orange-green gradient
To make the energy trails with a massless and flowing effect, I played with the Z-axis rotation and the left and right movement by also applying the easy ease transition to ensure smooth movement.
Transformation of the layers' position and rotation
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The animation on moving hand and pen trail
Pen-holding hand with trail emitting from the pen tip
To make the whole poster animation look more lively, I included a waving hand movement using the Z-axis rotation and the easy ease transition for smoother action.
At the same time, I also applied the same movement on the pen trail to match with the hand action.
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The animation on flying comets
There are two types of flying comets:
- Overtext (foreground) comet
-Background comets
For the foreground over text comet, I placed the comet layer on top of the title layer and later adjusted the movement of the comet from the right side of the poster to the left.
As for the background comets, I simply placed the comet layers behind the double exposure side face layer.
To create a distance and space effect, I modified the size of the comet which the foreground comet is larger than the background comets.
Final touch-up of the video
To convey the message of the poster better, I searched for music that contains a vast, endless and dreamy feeling.
The music I used here is called Ascension by Kisnou
on musicbed.com It resembles with the feel of solace in outer space
with the echoes, giving a space feel. In my opinion, the music also
fits to person who is the creator with the vast unlimited possibility
and imagination in one’s mind.
I used Adobe Premiere Pro to combine the music and the video together
to produce the final composite video.
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Final Work
Integrated Poster
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| "Endless" — 24/12/2023 |
Cinematography — Animated video
"Endless" cinemagraph video on YouTube Shorts — 27/12/2023
"Endless" cinemagraph video in 16:9 ratio video — 1/1/2024
Link to video: https://youtu.be/P6FIH8xhSDE
Specific feedback
The poster looks nice! However, please change the colour of the title
"endless" from purple to another colour to make the text pop out more. As
the text and the background are in dark colour.
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Reflections
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Experience
For this final task combining all the challenges from different modules like Illustration and Visual Narrative (IVN), Digital Photography and Imaging (DPI) and Typography, I'd say it's quite a thrilling experience for me to utilize all the knowledge I've learned during the first semester and apply them together to produce a integrated poster and a cinemagraph poster. I'm glad that all the skills I've acquired in the class can be put together to create a poster that describes myself using visual means only.
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Observations
As instructed and requested by my lecturer to look at the examples on the Internet, I'm able to appreciate the enthralling work of art by the professionals, they make me wonder how capable our human mind is.
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Findings
Not only the information from the module can help me achieve a greater height in my creative design voyage, but the experiences and samples portrayed by others make me realize that there is always someone more capable and stronger than us, all we can do is not hoping for the best, but wishes for improvement as times goes.
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