3. Experiment 1 – Process
Applying the 'paint bucket' effect from my library onto my timeline, then using the fill point to
my character, changing its color, opacity (if necessary), and most importantly tolerance to try
and get as much of the figure filled in as possible, this applies an almost cartoony characteristic
to my work; changing the stroke dropdown in the inspector section, there are many options that
change the tolerances perception and style, myself choosing 'stroke' to create an outline as it
particularly suits the scribble animation I desire – as with my other effects applied.
Now, keeping the same applied effects across the whole timeline, I had used a masking process,
in which the 'pen tool' outlines the figure in many individual anchor points, i had done this for
each individual frame ensuring that the mask is inverted by a little tick on a box through the
inspector tab so that everything outside of the person, which is commonly the backdrop or city
in my scenario, is completely invisible and removed so that only the figure is seen with the
scribble outlines; this had taken me a long time because I had to make sure each of these steps
were applicable to each frame throughout the clip at pin-point accuracy, but the final product is
well achieved and very aesthetically pleasing which admires the audience's attention and my
own expectations.
4. Experiment 1 – Strengths And Weaknesses
Strengths -
- The effect can make very strong focal points and an emphasize on the particular things it has
been applied towards, suiting many fast-paced genres for different moods and atmospheres that
somewhat resemble the characteristics present.
- because of its extensive complexity and difficulty to produce well, the effect is rarely seen
across the industry, making yourself a good portrayal and reflection of professionalism and
uniquity to you style.
Weaknesses -
- Almost every time this effect is used or intentionally set into a project, it takes a very long time
to create in post-production: mainly because it is a very complex procedure that needs to be
performed accurately for it to look half decent, using it on people or faster moving objects that
have complicated structures means it will be more difficult and take more time to compose.
- Only personnel's who have a background knowledge or long-term experience with editing and
creating effects for videos would find this possible to do, so if your new or slowly developing
yourself in post-production techniques then it would be incredibly difficult if not impossible for
yourself to follow because of its complex structure and details.
5. Experiment 1 – Influence On Project/Audience
Project Influence –
Having realized that this effect suits particular styles and moods more targeted towards action,
enjoyment and for entertainment purposes, I think this would strongly contradict the
atmosphere I intend when reflecting the covid-19 orientated genres being built upon the
interviews and news report styles being shown, and so because of this I believe it would be
smart to avoid its use and purpose across the project.
Additionally, because it's so difficult and time consuming to create, the effect itself can be quite
distracting to the viewers, something that is useful in situations like music videos where its very
audio dependent, but because my project is determined on primarily visuals to create emotion
and follow the topic, this may not be entirely beneficial to use.
Audience Influence -
I definitely think using the effect would boost the attention and engagement of my
audience because of its unique style and looks to whatever its applied towards, but I find its
inclusion too distracting and obscure to my viewers, possibly hinting at different ideals and
challenging the intentions of my project to be sympathetic, informative and emotionally
compelling, something that can't be avoided given the topic I'm covering because of how
serious and professionally I have to approach the subject of matter (covid-19).
7. Experiment 2 – Process
Firstly, having a clip where either a lot of or big movements are captured in a person's actions or thing makes
this process evermore so easier, as this effect is commonly used to emphasize these movements more than
already visible.
Starting with the clip, moving the play header to just before my significant action, I had then selected the
'pen tool' and then 'rectangle' in the dropdown section for it; using what is now a rectangle tool I had simple
created some long, slim rectangular lines, 3 or 4 for smaller movements, and up to 20 for much bigger,
obvious movements, but it's important that they vary in length to create a differentiational and more
scribble identification to them.
Then adding 'roughen edges' effect onto my pen tool timeline, this gives off the scribble look and can be
increased/decreased to suit; remembering that it's like a pop effect I moved and rotated the rectangles into
an explosion/pop style, as if the point of contact was a small circle which gets bigger the further the
rectangles go out.
Adding now the 'circle' effect from your library, selecting 'blending mode' and 'stencil alpha' in the drop
down, move the circle, however small or large, to the point of movement I'm doing the scribble effect
towards, the scribble lines are now invisible. But by adding a keyframe, by selecting the little stopwatch
beside radius at the beginning of your pen tool timeline, then moving 10 or so frames ahead, increasing the
radius until all the rectangles are now visible, this adds the initial animated effect onto your scribble lines –
making them go outwards expanding from your main point).
By doing the exact same process of adding another circle ect, but ensuring its delay is just after, this finishes
8. Experiment 2 – Strengths And Weaknesses
Strengths:
- It’s a really good effect is you want to emphasize a movement or action that may be important or
significant to something as it help establish and target that particular thing more effectively
- Create different moods and feelings in its audience, the effect gives it a happy, cheerfull and almost
relaxing touch as they tend to fit in comfortable and not so much are forced to be there but work well
- The effect upon seeing it gives off an immediate proffesional and skillfull portrayel for the rest of the video
as its not commonly used amoungst other sources, but more importantly is recognised as a difficult process
for its animation style which is frequently associated with a good ability to create.
Weaknesses:
- It can take a lot of time to do, especially if it's your first time, as everything has to be perfectly done
otherwise it would look significantly worse.
- When doing this effect, they will almost certainly come in groups of 2 or more, in unison or sequences
after one another, meaning multiple either different or same scribble pops will need to be created that will
evidently take a lot of time to develop in production
- Dependant on the style of genre and mood being set, these effects can only particularly be used with
happy content moods and feelings, otherwise its won't work and look completely out of place and or cheesy.
9. Experiment 2 – Influence On Project/Audience
Project Influence – Because I'm creating a documentary which I intend of following a serious
and emotive mood in the atmosphere being created, given I'm reflecting a sensitive topic that
some viewers may find upsetting, I don’t particularly think this effect will help much regarding it
characterizes a scrapbook style amongst joyful and happy interpretations which strongly
challenge my desired ideals. In addition to this, I intend on keeping a simpler and straight
forward edit when creating the documentary, so that it both follows similar styles of
documentaries across the industry, as typically not much visual effects and editing tricks are
present because it gives of the impression of distractions to the audience, whilst increasing the
time management on the project for this effect can take a while to endorse effectively.
Audience Influence – Acknowledging the fact that my documentary is talking about covid-19's
impact on education and that I'll be strongly following an emotive structure to my video, I think
the inclusion of the scribble pop effect may be too distracting and challenging in the tones and
vibes it gives off. Even though this effect shows a good ability and gives of the impression of
someone who is particularly skilled because of its difficulty to produce, I think this wouldn’t
work well with the audience I intend on targeting; addressing mostly parents in the age range of
30 – 45 around the topic of covid-19 and their children, this quite sensitive and very serious
subject matter means often a clear understanding and direct approach needs to be
demonstrated, both because I'm sure they're extremely busy at times like these, but mainly
because it will incorporate their own children, something they will take and consider more
10. Experiment 3 – Masking Text
https://jake-whattam-smith.wixsite.com/creativemediawork
11. Experiment 3 – Process
Before the editing process, its essential that your selected clip for this effect in some way has an object,
person, or thing panning across the screen in any direction; this is what allows the reveal of a piece of text or
image behind the thing passing, making it more seamless, satisfying to the eye and attention worthy in your
work.
Now that's been clarified, and your moving onto your editing software, I had identified where my object (the
car) passes and more importantly its trail, making sure that the text I imported, modified and enhanced is at
a reasonable size and position in my car's trail. Now adjusting my timeline to just before my text is revealed
behind the passing object, I'd selected the 'pen tool' to mask around the back shape of the vehicle and then
a large extended rectangle to the right; joining up together the very random shape makes the text fully
disappear and start the more technical aspect in the processes.
A long enduring, sometimes very precise method called masking is the process in which you will go by every
frame, adapting and moving your pen tool shape so that it tracks each individual movement for the whole
duration. In my case, I'll be tracking the back of the car going past, through from each frame until the whole
text is revealed; this is done by selecting the little stopwatch beside 'position' to start a keyframe, meaning
each time you alter/change the pen tool shape around the object it will track it for that specific frame and
the following clip for evermore so, and then go through each frame moving the whole shape or altering the
anchor points until all the text is revealed.
This can take a long time in some circumstances, as such with higher frame rates clips (30+ per second) or
more complex shapes/figures to track, but because the car doesn’t adjust in shape or speed throughout the
whole source, we can do the first keyframe and then skip to the last one where the whole text is revealed,
12. Experiment 3 – Strengths And Weaknesses
Strengths:
- It is incredibly satisfying and captivating towards the eye of an audience, grabbing their attention more
effectively and keeping them intrigued as an immediate sense of skill and professionalism is established –
especially considering that its most commonly sourced use is for opening titles in mainstream moving image
products.
- In some circumstances it can be accomplished to a good standard within a very short space of time,
roughly 2 – 5 minuets dependent on the object, frame rate, and amount of detail you would want to execute
the project in.
- The use of masked text makes production, especially is you’ve got a restricted amount of clips for a video,
very self-sufficient as you don’t need to exemplify a shot just for a title sequence as such.
Weaknesses:
- If a higher frame rate (30+ fps) or more difficult mask on the object (person, things etc.) is present, then
this can sometimes exceed to 1 hour to produce at a high amount of detail, meaning production can often
be extended and time management is more essential to monitor.
- Only if this technique is necessary, the masking title sequence can sometimes seem 'cheesy' when put up
against something less professional, as such with a slideshow where it doesn’t need to be over complicated
but simplified.
13. Experiment 3 – Influence On Project/Audience
The inclusion of this effect would immediately up the expectations from my audience on the
project, as I've established a difficult procedure in my work that only exemplifies a substantial
ability and professionalism towards myself (the director/producer). Furthermore, both a
dramatic and cinematic mood is endorsed at its presence, suiting many different forms of
media, including the documentary style product that I'm going to constitute around covid-19
which holds many impactful perceptions that are only highlighted more in these moods/feelings
being generated in the effect.
Regarding the project and production of documentary more, the masking title effect can be kept
quite minimal and to the point, something that is necessary given that the topic of covid-19 is
incredibly serious, and therefore it needs to be referred towards simply and appropriately –
which may trigger an emotional awareness additionally through giving time to think about and
consider its impacts and information being mentioned in the video.
