BTEC Level 2 First Diploma in Creative Media Production UNIT 54: Assignment Title: Digital Graphics for Print Date Set:
September 2013
Date Due:
Assessor:
P. Hodges
Learner:
February 2014
Rationale: The inclusion of appropriate graphics in a print, moving image or interactive media product is often crucial to its ability to attract the right audience and to communicate effectively the desired message. Printbased products such as newspapers, magazines, posters, flyers, DVD and CD covers all include graphics and illustrations that are there to grab the reader’s attention and communicate a specific message. Interactive products such as websites, computer games apps will all incorporate some form of digital graphics, and many films, videos and television programmes will include sequences that include some form of digital graphics, particularly in the opening titles and closing credits. Producing and manipulating effective graphics for print and digital media products is a skilled job that requires not only creative graphic design skills but also experience of using the image design and manipulation software that is at the heart of many media production processes today. The increased use of computer hardware and image design software means that a graphic designer working in the industry today needs to be familiar with a number of different graphic files and formats, and have the skills and knowledge to be able to process, control and combine these files into effective and aesthetically pleasing media texts.
This assignment starts by investigating, identifying and analysing Graphic file Formats and their Applications with a particular focus on comparison between raster and vector graphic file formats. You will gain an understanding of these two types of image and the different file formats associated with them. To be able to understand them you will need to experiment with Photoshop and Illustrator making a variety of images and saving them in the different file formats; you will also learn about image compression and how the different images have strengths and weaknesses depending on where they are displayed (online, print…) and what their purpose is. The unit also provides a series of detailed skills based workshops, which you need to document through screen grabs and annotations in order to demonstrate your aptitude with the applications. This process of experimentation and investigation is also carried out in two motion graphics/animation applications After Effects and Flash, but the level of detail and expertise in the Motion graphics applications is not as much as the Print graphics applications. The final part of the assignment involves you designing your own Digital Graphics for a product of your own choice. You will develop some draft designs, create a proposal, make the final Digital Graphics (Motion and Print) and finally evaluate the process and your own creations. Scenario/Brief: You work for a Graphic Design company and have been given a choice of commissions to design in order to win a lucrative contract. You are asked to make a series of Graphic Design products to promote either: ● ● ●
A film, TV show, Product
The final products will consist of: ● a series of Brand Logos in Illustrator (minimum of 4) ● a series of Posters Billboard (landscape) and magazine/bus stop (portrait) in Photoshop (minimum of 2) ● one simple ‘Motion Graphic’ advert, to be displayed in tube/railway stations (portrait) in After Effects or Flash You will need to show the evolving design process and to present the initial ideas as a formal proposal in order to get client and focus group feedback before embarking on the final designs.
Learning Outcomes: On completion of this unit a learner should:
1. 2. 3. 4.
Understand graphic file formats and applications Be able to use appropriate image design and manipulation software Be able to produce digital graphics in response to a brief Be able to reflect on own digital graphics work.
Grading Criteria: Pass
Merit
Distinction
To achieve a pass your work must:
To achieve a merit your work must:
To achieve a distinction your work must:
P1
Describe graphic file formats and their applications with some appropriate use of subject terminology
M1
Explain graphic file formats and their applications with reference to detailed illustrative examples and with generally correct use of subject terminology
D1
Comprehensively explain graphic file formats and their applications, with reference to elucidated examples and consistently using subject terminology correctly
P2
Use appropriate image design and manipulation software working within appropriate conventions and with some assistance
M2
Use appropriate image design and manipulation software to a good technical standard, showing some imagination and with only occasional assistance
D2
Use appropriate image design and manipulation software to nearprofessional standards, showing creativity and flair and working independently to professional expectations
P3
Design and produce digital graphics in response to a brief working within appropriate conventions and with some assistance
M3
Design and produce digital graphics in response to a brief to a good technical standard, showing some imagination and with only occasional assistance
D3
Design and produce digital graphics in response to a brief to nearprofessional standards, showing creativity and flair and working independently to professional expectations
P4
Comment on own work with some
M4
Explain own work with reference to detailed illustrative examples and with generally correct use of subject terminology.
D4
Critically evaluate own work in the context of professional practice consistently using subject terminology correctly.
appropriate use of subject terminology.
What you need to complete this assignment You will be expected to present: ● This needs to contain: ●
Important information about the assignment ∙ You need to complete each of the P tasks in order to meet the requirements for a Pass grade. ∙ You need to meet all of the Pass and Merit grade criteria to be awarded a Merit grade. ∙ You need to meet all of the Pass, Merit and Distinction grade criteria to be awarded a Distinction grade. ∙ Each task is marked independently and you can ask the assessor to assess each task as you finish it. ∙ You should check carefully over each task and look at the assessment criteria before you submit your work for assessment. ∙ If the assessor decides you need to do more work on a task then they will explain what you need to do and set a new deadline for the task. ∙ Students who perform well are those who complete tasks throughout the assessment period of this assignment rather than trying to complete the whole assignment at the end in a hurry! ∙ Remember copying work from another student, a textbook, an internet site or any other source is plagiarism. You need to sign a statement when your assignment is completed to state that your assignment is all of your own work! References
Relevant books:
Relevant Websites: Vector and Raster information: http://www.hongkiat.com/blog/scalable-vector-graphic/ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bitmap http://java.freehep.org/freehep1.x/vectorgraphics/Manual.html http://www.jiscdigitalmedia.ac.uk/guide/introduction-to-the-vector-image-format http://inkscape.org/ Design sites to research for inspiration: http://www.behance.net/
http://www.partofabiggerplan.com/ http://www.dexigner.com/directory/
P1, M1, D1
Learning Outcome 1: Understand graphic file formats and applications Task(s): Create an online presentation in Google which demonstrates your understanding of Graphic File Formats and the associated Applications by carrying out the following 3 tasks: Task 1. ● List the different graphic file formats research and record what the acronyms stand for (H ● Identify which are vector and which raster and which applications they are associated with ● Describe the differences between raster and vector images ● Explain the differences between vector and raster images (raster=resolution dependent, made of pixels, zoom in lose quality. vector=resolution independent no loss of resolution when zoom in represented by equation, scalable forever) and illustrate with examples (using text/type only) in both Illustrator and Photoshop Task 2. ● Create a word of your choice in Photoshop to identify the issues of resolution with raster images zoom in to 100%, 400% and 1600% in Photoshop and screen grab the images then explain why this resolution issue occurs (made up of bitmaps, based on binary code) ● Create a word of your choice in Illustrator to identify the lack of issues of resolution with vector images zoom in to
100%, 400% and 1600% in Illustrator and screen grab the images then explain why there is no loss of resolution (formula behind images) ● Export your ‘word’ in a number of different file formats from both Illustrator and Photoshop PNG, PDF, JPG(different qualities in Photoshop), GIF (both applications) PSD, TIFF, compressed and uncompressed (Photoshop) SVG, AI (Illustrator) Compare resolution and files sizes between the different file formats, illustrate with screen grabs & evaluate formats ● Screen grab the whole of the above process (i.e. what you actually did in the software to export the images and explain Task 3. ● Take a photo of yourself with the webcam in front of a plain background (to make it easier to cut out in Photoshop) Use ‘magnetic lasso’ or ‘magic wand’ tools in Photoshop and cut out the image, place on a transparent background ● Add the image to the text in Illustrator and Photoshop. ● In Photoshop enlarge the photo and export as a PDF ● In Illustrator add the photo, enlarge it and export as PDF ● In Illustrator trace this image of yourself in order to vectorise it zoom this in, to a much larger size than the original image ● Export each as a PDF, zoom in to these three examples and compare the quality and distinguish between them ● Judge which PDF is the better and explain why you think this (one loses resolution the other doesn’t one has vector and raster so loses and keeps resolution) ● Use the above examples to illustrate what a metafile is (PDF) ● Compare the strengths and weaknesses of PDFs and JPGs in terms of the Internet The different file formats and their extensions: ● .JPG ● .PNG ● .GIF ● .TIFF ● .PSD ● .AI ● .PDF ● .SVG ● .SWF ● .BMP The applications: ● Illustrator ● Photoshop ● Preview (Mac)
●
Acrobat Reader
Key terms resolution, pixel, lossless, lossy, compressed/compression, raster, vector, metafiles; file extensions, bitmaps (8bit), resize, scalable
Grade
Completed:
Pass
Not Completed action required:
Date returned: New Date Due:
Merit Distinction
P2, M2, D2
Learning Outcome 2: Be able to use appropriate image design and manipulation software Task(s): Task 4. To demonstrate your knowledge and aptitude with the following programs/applications: ● Illustrator ● Photoshop ● Flash AND/OR After Effects make either: ● a series of 'How to' screencasts tutorials ● a google presentation illustrated with screenshots and annotated in detail You will need to identify and illustrate the different parts of the interface of the image manipulation programs/applications You will need to show step by step how you make the images you create You will need to explain how to use the following ‘tools’ in the programs/applications: ● Palettes (colour, info, navigation, history…)
●
Manipulation (filters, brightness & contrast, levels, hue & saturation…)
You will need to make compare and appraise the raster (Photoshop) versus vector (Illustrator) applications You will need to make compare and appraise of After Effects AND/OR Flash You will need to demonstrate how to save and export a variety of file formats from each program/application to continue illustrating your understanding of vector, raster and metafile You will need to explore the programs/applications and are encouraged to independently use online tutorials to enable your exploration Grade
Completed:
Not Completed action required:
Pass
Date returned: New Date Due:
Merit Distinction
P3, M3, D3
Learning Outcome 3: Be able to produce digital graphics in response to a brief Task(s): Task 5. Research current Brand Logos Posters to inform your own planning for your designs create a ‘mood board’ with some basic annotation to explain how you may be inspired/influenced by your research. Find consistent design elements you can reference and ‘borrow’ ideas from across all mediums (Brand Logos, Posters and ‘Motion Graphics’). You should consider: ➔ DESIGN ELEMENTS such as colour palette & use of tone/lighting, fonts & typefaces, composition & layout, styles. ➔ The ‘STYLE’ of the graphics you research is it cool/trendsetting, bright & colourful, dark and moody, sparse and spacious, busy looking, hand drawn, rough & messy, crisp with clean lines & design, techy/geeky, smart looking? Task 6. Using your research as inspiration create a series of draft ideas of a minimum of 3 different Brand Logos & 4 different
Poster designs. During the process of creating these drafts you should show evidence of experimentation with different layouts, colours & fonts by both screenshotting the process of developing your poster and brand design and by making different layout/colour/font versions of the Brand Logos and Posters
Task 7. Using these drafts create a detailed Proposal setting out your ideas with regard to the following and how they will create interest and promote your film, and create the mood/concept of your film in the posters/logos: ● ● ● ● ● ●
●
Concept. For example you may choose to create Brands/Posters expressing: fear/horror/darkness OR a technological/futuristic concept OR a geek/tech look OR a concept expressing youth/rebellion Purpose. Simply explain what your graphic designs are for to advertise & promote release of film/programme in cinema/on TV. Explain here what your documentary is about and how your poster aims to provide a taster of what it will be about enough to create enigma to draw in target audiences. Content. In other words what images you will use i.e. the miseenscene (props, settings, facial expression and body language) of your posters/logos Design. Explain your use of Colour & Lighting, Typeface & Font, Composition & Layout Style. What style are you aiming for? Cool/trendsetting, bright & colourful, dark and moody, sparse and spacious, busy looking, hand drawn, rough & messy, crisp with clean lines & design, techy/geeky, smart looking? Vector (Illustrator) or Raster (Photoshop). Explain why/ how your idea is best suited to one or the other, make some mention of resolution and of whether you value subtle and complex tones in your images (Raster) or if 'flat' colours suit your ideas better (Vector) and, of course in some ways it simply comes down to whether you are looking for a drawn/illustrated look or a photographic one. Identify your Target Audience and how your Brand Logos, Posters and ‘Motion Graphics’ will appeal to them: i) appeal/engagement/enigma ii) education iii) escapism iv) social relations v) personal identity
OBVIOUSLY ILLUSTRATE your PROPOSAL WITH YOUR DRAFT DESIGNS.
Task 8.
Produce the final products: ● a series of Brand Logos in Illustrator (minimum of 3) ● a series of Posters Billboard (landscape) and magazine/bus stop (portrait) in Photoshop (minimum of 2) ● one simple ‘Motion Graphic’ advert, to be displayed in tube/railway stations (portrait) in After Effects or Flash For either a film, TV show or Product Grade
Completed:
Not Completed action required:
Pass
Date returned: New Date Due:
Merit Distinction
P4, M4, D4
Learning Outcome 4: Be able to reflect on own digital graphics work Task(s): Task 9. Evaluate your end product: ● How effective is your product? ● Does it meet the brief? ● Did you meet your intentions? ● What problems did you have to overcome? ● What skills did you have to put into practise? ● What do others think of your product?
Grade Pass Merit
Completed:
Not Completed action required:
Date returned: New Date Due:
Distinction Important information about the assignment
● ● ● ● ●
You will be marked on each task, But you need to evaluate and review the project at the end in order to determine P,M or D grades You need to complete each of the P tasks in order to meet the requirements for a Pass grade. You should check carefully over each task and look at the assessment criteria before you submit your work for assessment. If the assessor decides you need to do more work on a task then they will explain what you need to do and set a new deadline for the task.
Students who perform well are those who complete tasks throughout the assessment period of this assignment rather than trying to complete the whole assignment at the end in a hurry! Remember copying work from another student, a textbook, an Internet site or any other source is plagiarism. You need to sign a statement when your assignment is completed to state that your assignment is all of your own work!