Tuesday, 14 August 2007
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Thursday, 26 April 2007
Summary - Pathway project
This project has primarily been a learning experience. Although all projects help me improve my skills, this one was more challenging as it involved quite a lot of practical work involving new processes and equipment. Nevertheless it was quite fun. I'm not sure if I would use the Muio box again - it's quite unreliable and clumsy as a piece of kit but the outputs are more appealing.
The outcome was pretty much as I expected which I suppose is all I can ask for. Most things went to plan and when they didn't it was a case of working around these problems. It took me longer than I expected to get things working but then things generally do. The outcome, though simple, I feel is effective in conveying the message and it functions pretty well. There are a few areas that possibly could be improved should I have taken this idea further (problems with people 'cheating' the 'game' by jumping in front of the light sensor etc.) but as a four-week project I have to be pleased with it.
The outcome was pretty much as I expected which I suppose is all I can ask for. Most things went to plan and when they didn't it was a case of working around these problems. It took me longer than I expected to get things working but then things generally do. The outcome, though simple, I feel is effective in conveying the message and it functions pretty well. There are a few areas that possibly could be improved should I have taken this idea further (problems with people 'cheating' the 'game' by jumping in front of the light sensor etc.) but as a four-week project I have to be pleased with it.
Finalisation of work
The presentations for the pathway project were this afternoon. We do have until Monday to finalise the presentation but I would like to concentrate on making improvements to the previous projects and getting my portfolio sorted and printed this weekend.
Friday
> Go to Partners. Buy some coloured card and a presentation box
> Make changes to portfolio - add the project explanations and select work to be printed. A black and white tester?
> Print off weblog and portfoilo at library
> Redo the DVD sleeve in Illustrator
> Burn work to disc
Also, don't forget to attend the crit.
Friday
> Go to Partners. Buy some coloured card and a presentation box
> Make changes to portfolio - add the project explanations and select work to be printed. A black and white tester?
> Print off weblog and portfoilo at library
> Redo the DVD sleeve in Illustrator
> Burn work to disc
Also, don't forget to attend the crit.
Wednesday, 25 April 2007
A working version
With less than 24 hours to go on this project, I feel I am pretty much finished. The bulk of the work has now been done and it is now a case of refining the flash file and props for presentation. Up to now I do not actually have any props. I was hoping to explore the Uni for some bits that I could salvage but I am trapped in the building until I can get my access card back from the technician.
My piece now has three variations. I could have produced more but decided for the purpose of Thursday's presentation to go for quality over quantity. That said, the continuity is a little dodgy in places but as I have previously stated I am willing to sacrifice some continuity for the variations.
The piece now also has sound. These take the form of some mp3s imported to Flash separate from the video files. Before the deadline I will continue to playtest the piece looking for any bugs and refine the audio further. I will also test this out in situ as I have done this morning, testing out some different layouts of lighting etc. within the screening room.
Some screenshots from the current piece:
Addendum
Did some secondary testing in the screening room, this time with the projector. Seems to be working OK, a couple of issues arising from this:
> Quality of video is not that brilliant. I feel I can get away with this as I am using Flash which is not as good at handling videos as Director. Optimum size before things start to run slowly is about four or five Mb.
> Variations. I have a few hours to spare so it may be worth working on adding some more variations to the final piece. This will be started on tonight and take priority tomorrow.
Thursday
> 9:30AM Add the extra variations and sound to the Flash file
> 12:30PM Last minute calibrations in screening room
> 1:30PM Crit. get advice on portfolio
> 4:30 Start to act on this advice if time
> End of day - Update weblog
My piece now has three variations. I could have produced more but decided for the purpose of Thursday's presentation to go for quality over quantity. That said, the continuity is a little dodgy in places but as I have previously stated I am willing to sacrifice some continuity for the variations.
The piece now also has sound. These take the form of some mp3s imported to Flash separate from the video files. Before the deadline I will continue to playtest the piece looking for any bugs and refine the audio further. I will also test this out in situ as I have done this morning, testing out some different layouts of lighting etc. within the screening room.
Some screenshots from the current piece:
Addendum
Did some secondary testing in the screening room, this time with the projector. Seems to be working OK, a couple of issues arising from this:
> Quality of video is not that brilliant. I feel I can get away with this as I am using Flash which is not as good at handling videos as Director. Optimum size before things start to run slowly is about four or five Mb.
> Variations. I have a few hours to spare so it may be worth working on adding some more variations to the final piece. This will be started on tonight and take priority tomorrow.
Thursday
> 9:30AM Add the extra variations and sound to the Flash file
> 12:30PM Last minute calibrations in screening room
> 1:30PM Crit. get advice on portfolio
> 4:30 Start to act on this advice if time
> End of day - Update weblog
Tuesday, 24 April 2007
Completion
Spent today working with the Muio box to try and get some of the functionalities working. With aid of tutor found a way of incorporating the variations - these seem to work alright in the tests I have set up. Also it seems that Flash can take larger video files after all so this is probably the best way to go.
Final week checklist
It will be a busy couple of days tomorrow and Thursday morning, got lots to do. In order of priority:
Main project
> Export the video files complete with dissolves and fades (might take a while to export - 4 more videos to create). - Done
> Apply to the Flash file and incorporate into coding for variations. - Done
> Export some sound files for application into Flash. Get these refined. - Done
> Begin setting up in screening room. - Done
> Think about getting a bus timetable printed out.
> Considerations of presentation.
Portfolio
> Get front page mocked up. - Done
> Insert the colour 'polarbearinvasion' jpeg. - Done
> Insert pages for 'Beyond the Mouse' (2) and Portfolio DVD (2) projects.
> Get some preliminary black and white prints. - Done
> Friday - Get the colour prints. Remember to put some money on print account.
> Get as much done for Thursday afternoon but I will spend Friday developing this so it is less of a priority. - Done
Friday
> Buy some coloured A4 card to be front and back covers of the weblog printout.
> Attend the research lecture. (10:30)
> Print off weblog - Library.
> Get bound somehow, if possible. If not, an A4 folder might suffice?
> Portfolio - presentation. Clean up digital files and print off.
> Buy a box to put sketchbooks etc. in.
Final week checklist
It will be a busy couple of days tomorrow and Thursday morning, got lots to do. In order of priority:
Main project
> Export the video files complete with dissolves and fades (might take a while to export - 4 more videos to create). - Done
> Apply to the Flash file and incorporate into coding for variations. - Done
> Export some sound files for application into Flash. Get these refined. - Done
> Begin setting up in screening room. - Done
> Think about getting a bus timetable printed out.
> Considerations of presentation.
Portfolio
> Get front page mocked up. - Done
> Insert the colour 'polarbearinvasion' jpeg. - Done
> Insert pages for 'Beyond the Mouse' (2) and Portfolio DVD (2) projects.
> Get some preliminary black and white prints. - Done
> Friday - Get the colour prints. Remember to put some money on print account.
> Get as much done for Thursday afternoon but I will spend Friday developing this so it is less of a priority. - Done
Friday
> Buy some coloured A4 card to be front and back covers of the weblog printout.
> Attend the research lecture. (10:30)
> Print off weblog - Library.
> Get bound somehow, if possible. If not, an A4 folder might suffice?
> Portfolio - presentation. Clean up digital files and print off.
> Buy a box to put sketchbooks etc. in.
Bus stops of death
The UK's premier Bus Stop site
http://www.topofthestops.co.uk
The kind of stuff I plan to add as 'little extras' that add to the authenticity of the bus stop environment.
Vandalism is an important part of this. Above - the bus stop of death and below "Save are world by doing take drugs".
This one was interesting. There's a bus stop in Essex apparently named after one of its users - someone named Jeffrey. Maybe I could name by bus stop "Dan's stop" or a name the user can input when they enter the room. This would obviously be in a more computerised version of this piece.
The above image is from the Lake District. The timetable claims that 'no buses stop here'. What's the point in having a bus stop then? Why don't all bus stops have this notice? It would be closer to the truth.
And finally the caveman bus stop. Not particularly relevant, I just found it funny.
http://www.topofthestops.co.uk
The kind of stuff I plan to add as 'little extras' that add to the authenticity of the bus stop environment.
Vandalism is an important part of this. Above - the bus stop of death and below "Save are world by doing take drugs".
This one was interesting. There's a bus stop in Essex apparently named after one of its users - someone named Jeffrey. Maybe I could name by bus stop "Dan's stop" or a name the user can input when they enter the room. This would obviously be in a more computerised version of this piece.
The above image is from the Lake District. The timetable claims that 'no buses stop here'. What's the point in having a bus stop then? Why don't all bus stops have this notice? It would be closer to the truth.
And finally the caveman bus stop. Not particularly relevant, I just found it funny.
Monday, 23 April 2007
Project paths, to do tomorrow
Main project
Identified two areas for development, for tomorrow at least. I'll see how things go but this is assuming no major breakthroughs are reached in the near future (ie in the next two days before the deadline). In order to do:
1. Create Director file with as much functionality as possible and the full quality video footage.
2. Create Flash file detailing the proposed variations of the piece and including some elements of functionality. A smaller quality set of videos.
Must ask about whether it is possible to randomise a video within Director. If so this may be worth pursuing further. If not, most of this would have to be presented within Flash because of its greater amount of functionality and customisability.
Portfolio - to do
1. Insert the final Photomontage design into the multi page PDF.
2. Find a way of presenting this final project in print format. Will this be necessary? Photographs of the piece in action, complete with person would be good but it may not look that interesting. Instead - produce some Photoshop mockups of the proposed presentation.
3. DVD screenshots. Design and put into the Multi page PDF.
4. Finalise the design. Make sure everything is lined up neatly. First three look OK up to now. Get tutor feedback.
5. Purchase an appropriate folder. Ask if the one I have now will be suitable.
Tomorrow I must remember to print out a preliminary version of this print portfolio before the (kind of) interim presentation in the afternoon. Present these in my plastic folder I have purchased from Partners but remember to ask if I need to buy a more hardwearing one.
Trust me to try and get everything done at the last minute. There is a week left but I am pretty sure I will not be happy with the final outcome - this would only come from a much greater amount of work on the print portfolio. Unfortunately this has been a very frustrating part of the project for me. I don't really like making print portfolios at all and maybe this is why I had pretty much nothing to present up until this week. The fact my initial design at Christmas was stolen and savaged did not help and I never worked on presentation at all after that.
Also for final presentation
> Buy a presentation box From Partners to put sketchbooks in.
> Print off a version of the weblog and get it bound.
Identified two areas for development, for tomorrow at least. I'll see how things go but this is assuming no major breakthroughs are reached in the near future (ie in the next two days before the deadline). In order to do:
1. Create Director file with as much functionality as possible and the full quality video footage.
2. Create Flash file detailing the proposed variations of the piece and including some elements of functionality. A smaller quality set of videos.
Must ask about whether it is possible to randomise a video within Director. If so this may be worth pursuing further. If not, most of this would have to be presented within Flash because of its greater amount of functionality and customisability.
Portfolio - to do
1. Insert the final Photomontage design into the multi page PDF.2. Find a way of presenting this final project in print format. Will this be necessary? Photographs of the piece in action, complete with person would be good but it may not look that interesting. Instead - produce some Photoshop mockups of the proposed presentation.
3. DVD screenshots. Design and put into the Multi page PDF.
4. Finalise the design. Make sure everything is lined up neatly. First three look OK up to now. Get tutor feedback.
5. Purchase an appropriate folder. Ask if the one I have now will be suitable.
Tomorrow I must remember to print out a preliminary version of this print portfolio before the (kind of) interim presentation in the afternoon. Present these in my plastic folder I have purchased from Partners but remember to ask if I need to buy a more hardwearing one.
Trust me to try and get everything done at the last minute. There is a week left but I am pretty sure I will not be happy with the final outcome - this would only come from a much greater amount of work on the print portfolio. Unfortunately this has been a very frustrating part of the project for me. I don't really like making print portfolios at all and maybe this is why I had pretty much nothing to present up until this week. The fact my initial design at Christmas was stolen and savaged did not help and I never worked on presentation at all after that.
Also for final presentation
> Buy a presentation box From Partners to put sketchbooks in.
> Print off a version of the weblog and get it bound.
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