Day 2 (animation) - Goals and Understandings (discussions)

(I've edited this on Thursday afternoon, just prior to class)

Discussion of 'postings' on blog:
1) Did you set up your own Gmail account for access? Do you still need a Gmail account?
2) I only have seen now 2 updated posting (from Kara and Kim) - I've posted replies.
3) Other postings? Other research? How are you planning to share the information you develop for class?
4) Did you view the 1 hour tutorial/preview of how to use Flash to create a character and movement?
- I want to make sure that everyone has 'viewed' the link and is prepared with a character drawing for scanning.
- We will cover Photoshop either at the end of class - or preferably, next week along with 'importing file types'.

Review of last week:
1) Review the various softwares (applications) we are going to cover in class (February 12th 'blog' - click here)
These include: Flash, Photoshop, AfterEffects, GarageBand, Quicktime, possibly: IMovie and ITunes
2) Skill vs. Concept (or Tools vs. Ideas) / Content vs. Context - list in order going down (on board)  ADD: Form vs. Function AND Frames (times must be met: Superbowl :30sec)

3) We covered some basic tools and created a basic animation (but didn't save it)

Keywords (write these on the board):

• Inserting a Keyframe / Control Key (point A to point B for movement), Layers, Objects vs. Shapes, (Classic) Tweening (using the 'control' key), (various) Tools - list the tools used: shape, properties (color), transform (scale and/or rotation).
  
• "Double Clicking the Object" to edit it.
  
• Shift key to a) keep an object proportioned b) Moving an object along an axis up and down or side to side c) selecting multiple objects in a single setting.
  
• Undo key (command+Z on Macs, or control+Z on PCs)
• Pre-Viewing your animation: CTI (current time indicator) and 'scrubbing', 'Return' key to play on Stage, (command+Shift+Return) to play as an .swf file (this is what the viewer will see).  We will 'export' our .fla files into .swf files for viewing (note the difference).

Exercises:
1) Today we are going to pick up where we left off - building a basic animation with keyframes (review vocabulary)
2) Bouncing a ball - (tutorial for 'tweening' - click here)
3) Our animation for today - our inspiration: "A lava lamp background"
Keywords (add to list on board):
fps, browser, .fla and .swf (file types), Quicktime (embedding/looping animations), Consider your audience and 'credibility'.

Goal:
To have a finalized animation (10 sec) background for use as a 'credits' for animations we create in class.
(we'll add 'text' later - our goal is to have an 'embedable' file in both .swf and .mov formats/file types)

Examples of Day 2: "Lava Lamp" animations - click here


'Playing' is encouraged today:

• Gradients (adding a highlight to your shape/give it depth or 'form')
  
• Layers will give additional 'illusion' of depth (scale and speed) / title these / 'copy and paste'
  
• Morphing your object in response to other objects
  
• 10 seconds total - work with each other, ask questions
  
• test the 'rendering' qualities when viewing in the 'browser' (fps, layers, speed of objects)

(taking a break around 7:15)

NEXT WEEK - Make sure you bring your 'drawing' for scanning (Photoshop) / research animation and animation 'jobs' (go over skills needed for the field AND various degrees and locations).  7 week syllabus: Click here