planning

1. George Boatfield, Creative Media Production
Digital Graphic Narrative Planning
Considerations:
There are lots of things to consider in this project. Fill out each section in detail to show you have thought about each one. You should
imagine that this is a live project, so considerations like cost, quantity and codes of practice must be thought about in that context rather
than just as a college project.
Costs: Cost of materials to make books (paper, ink, boxes for shipping, labour), shelf space on shops, employing
a publisher, marketing, transport
Available resources: Computer, Graphics Tablet, DSLR, Photoshop, Internet, Reference Books,
Quantity: An initial market test of 2,500 printed copies as well as digital versions on ereaders etc. If successful,
many more physical copies will be printed.
Audience and Target Market: Audience – 3 to 6 year old children, both boys and girls. Target market – Western, no target on class,
parents of these children looking for an accessible and constructive way to entertain their children.
Quality Factors: Employ focus groups to test the books and survey responses at various stages of the project, spelling and
grammar checking, ensuring that the art style is uniform.
Codes of Practice: Ensure that no offensive or inappropriate content is included for anyone around the age of the target age
group.
“The publisher must give the author sufficiently detailed reasons for rejection. When a publisher requires
changes in a commissioned manuscript as a condition of publication, these should be clearly set out in
writing.
If an author has produced the work in good faith and with proper care in reasonable accordance with the”
publishing proposal and brief, and the terms of the contract, but the publisher decides not to publish on
grounds of quality, the publisher should not expect to reclaim on cancellation that part of any advance
that has already been paid to the author. If, by contrast, the work has not been produced in good faith and
with proper care, or the work does not conform to what has been commissioned in terms of content, level
and style, the publisher may be able to reclaim the advance. The publisher is under no obligation to
publish a work that there is reason to believe is defamatory or otherwise illegal.”
http://www.societyofauthors.org/sites/default/files/PA_Code_of_Practice.pdf , accessed 16/11/15

2. George Boatfield, Creative Media Production
Regulation: Any books falling under the definition of a toy will have to be compliant with the new Toy Safety Directive
2009/48/EC if sold on the European market.
The Obscene Publications Act 1959 and the Equality Act 2010 may also apply depending on the content of
your work.
Copyright: Ensure that any material used is exempt of copyright.
Ethical Issues: Ensure that any forms of discrimination are kept subtle themes told metaphorically, especially
considering it is a children’s book. Anything blatant may be too much for both adults and children.
Resources:
A successful project relies on good planning. Considering all the resources you will need for a project and then assessing which you
already have and which you need will help ensure you are ready to start your project.
If there is a resource you don’t currently have, then consider how you are going to get it before you go in to production.
Resource: Do you have it? What do you need to do to get it?
Computer Yes
Graphics Tablet Yes/No Book it out
DSLR Camera Yes/No Book it out
Photoshop Yes/No Subscription fee for home use
Internet Yes
Reference Books Yes/No Library/internet
Production Schedule:
Each session is a half-day of college.
Session 1:

3. George Boatfield, Creative Media Production
Session 3:
Use source imagery and various Photoshop techniques to create the background designs for pages 1 to 4. Follow the sketched page
layouts completed in the planning stage to prepare for character and text placements within the scene.
Session 4:
Use source imagery and various Photoshop techniques such as rotoscoping and shape warping to create the background designs for
pages 5 to 10. Follow the sketched page layouts completed in the planning stage to prepare for character and text placements within the
scene.
Session 5:
Continue creating background designs, focussing on finishing off all pages. This should be done to ensure that production does not fall
behind schedule.
Gather source images for characters.
Dog – Top-side view for use on page 1, 4 and 9.
Dog – Front-facing view for use on page 2 and 7.
Dog – Back-facing view for use on page 5 and 8.
Dog – Side view for use on page 3.
Market people – Top-side view for use on page 1 and 2.
Shadow – Front-facing and slanted view for use on page 6.
Mole – Side view for use on page 3.
Child – Back-facing view on page 10.
Session 2:
Gather source images for environments.
Market stalls, paving, produce and containers for use on page 1 and 2.
Side view of ground for use on page 3.
Forest environments, trees, muddy paths, bridges, rivers and river banks for use on page 4, 5, 6 and 7.
Grassy plains reference for use on page 8, 9 and 10.
Countryside house examples for use on page 10.
Sky views including the sun and sky at various times of day, clouds, sun shafts, stars and the moon for use on page 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9 and 10.

4. George Boatfield, Creative Media Production
Session 6:
Create rough, template layouts of the dog’s positions on each page. Join together various reference images to create the posture and
angle desired.
Stick to the layout seen in the sketched plans of each page.
Session 7:
Create rough, template layouts of the positions and posture of various market staff on page 1 and 2. Use various reference images to
achieve the desired effect.
Create a rough design of the shadow using reference images for use on page 6.
Correctly position the mole design for page 3.
Design the child as well as the dog warping into the child on page 9/10. This can be done using the source images through ble nding and
warping layers.
Stick to the layout seen in the sketched plans of each page.
Session 8:
Use the rough designs of all the characters to begin converting them to the style of the book/background, matching colour pallets as well
as art styles.
Using shape tools for the majority of the image while employing rotoscoping for added detail and texture work will create an overall
block-colour look for the book in a style that will merge cartoon graphics and realistic styling.
Session 9:

5. George Boatfield, Creative Media Production
Continue creating character designs, focussing on finishing off all character placement within the scenes. This should be done to ensure
that production does not fall behind schedule.
Session 10:
Refine all pages.
Check shape warping and rotoscoping quality.
Check colour pallets, punctuation and grammar.
Check positioning of background elements, scene characters and text.
Health and safety:
Your health and safety and that of those around you is very important. Just like in industry, an accident could prevent you from working.
Whilst we don’t work in a highly dangerous environment, there are still risks. Some are short term, such as trips and spillages whilst
others, such as long term damage to eyesight or back problems, may affect you much later in life.
Consider the risks based on the activities you will be undertaking during the project. Explain how you could prevent them from
happening.
Ensure you reference appropriate pieces of legislation, design to protect people at work.
Health and Safety Issue: How can you prevent it?
Eye strain Correct screen brightness, regular breaks
Repetitive Strain Injury Use of ergonomic equipment e.g. desks, chairs and computer mice

6. George Boatfield, Creative Media Production
Spillages Keep caps on drinks when near computers
Back problems Correct posture, good back support on chairs