arts 10 technology based arts

1. Technology-Based
Art
Patricia M. Pascua, LPT
MAPEH

2. Introduction
• Technology has literally taken over every
aspect of life in the 21st century, and the
creative and visual arts have not been spared.
In fact, for the younger generations, art as
you know it is defined by technology—from
its creation, to its manipulation, to its
reproduction, and even to its distribution.

3. • Technology-based art is essentially
computer-generated and/or manipulated.
Through the centuries, visual artists
used actual brushes and palettes, and a
whole array of paints, inks, and natural
pigments applied to paper, canvas,
fabric, stucco walls and ceilings.

4. • One of the first artists to devote time and
work with new technology was Nam June
Paik. One of his best works is TV Buddha,
an installation in which he observed how in
ancient times, sculptures of Buddha were
carved out of mountainsides of cliffs, or
placed in shrines, and pilgrims meditated
before the religious figure.

6. Haru Ji’s Artificial Nature
Nam June Paik. Fish On Sky, 1994.
Digital Signage by Suite Imagery

7. Computer/Digital Arts
• Origin and Early Stages
– Computer art or digital art first came on the
scene in the early 1960s. Understandably, this
was due to the technology that was constantly
developing and that became available at that
time. Thus, the early experimenters were not
necessarily artists, but engineers and scientists
who had access to and experience with the
hardware needed.

8. • Also understandable was the initial reaction of the
public to computer-generated art. There were
questions as to whether it was, in fact, “true art”
since it made use of electronic and mechanical
devices, rather than the artist’s own hand, to
produce the images and effects.
• Exhibits of computer art became highly popular
and critically acclaimed, as digital artists or
computer art masters or “superstars” came to the
fore in Europe, Russia, and the United States.

11. The Philippine Scene
• In our country, Filipino artists were likewise
influenced by the technology trend in art.
However, this was more in the commercial
sphere. From the 1960s to the 1990s, their
computer-generated works were primarily
geared towards illustrating for international
comic books. In fact, Filipino illustrators
earned quite a reputation for their talents and
were highly in demand in this field.

12. • Eventually, however, the concept of
computer-generated works as a means of
serious artistic expression gained ground
among the younger generation of local artists.
Today, even the more established names in
the field—artists and critics alike—have
come to accept and recognize digital works
as fine art.

14. • There are also institutions offering training courses
on the digital arts, such as the First Academy of
Computer Arts, the Philippine Center for Creative
Imaging (PCCI), as well as the Technical Education
and Skills Development Authority (TESDA)
through scholarships given by the Animation
Council of the Philippines (ACPI). Courses such as
these open up an array of career opportunities for
young Filipinos in the fields of advertising,
animation design, multimedia communication, and
web development.

15. Digital Art in the Hands of
Everyone
• Computer technology has by now invaded
every aspect of modern life. In other words,
anyone with a computer device— from a
desktop PC to a laptop, to a tablet or android
phone—can now capture and edit images and
videos; create, manipulate, and share works
of art; and even compose music. You can
be—and probably already are—a digital artist
in your own right.

16. Assignment No. 1
1. Briefly describe how technology made—and
continues to make—digital art possible.
2. Was digital art readily accepted and recognized
as “true art” when it emerged in the 1960s?
What was the reason for this?
3. What devices can now be used to create digital
art? Do you own one such device?
4. Name one or two computer programs that can
enable you to create an original illustration from
scratch.

17. Mobile Phone Art/
Computer-
Generated Images
Patricia L. Meneses,
LPT
MAPEH

18. Mobile Phone Art
The mobile phone that you constantly hold has
evolved from a mere communication tool, into a
creative device that allows you to generate
original works of art for an entire range of
purposes. These could be personal photographs
and videos that you can manipulate with a myriad
special effects, both visual as well as sound and
music. They could also be school projects or
reports that require you to combine images,
incorporate text, even include simple animation.

19. And the wonder of it all is that you can do all these
right on your own mobile devices, particularly the
new-generation models known as android tablets,
phones, and combination of both called “phablets.”
The tasks that traditional photo editors used to
perform manually—cropping, retouching,
airbrushing—are now just a few of the many editing
effects done for you with split-second ease at the
click of a mouse, a keyboard command, or a few
taps and drags of your finger on a touch screen.

20. You are probably already familiar with the following image
manipulation programs and applications that run on today’s
android devices:
• Pixlr – a powerful, free online image editor
• Pic Collage – allows you to make collages incorporating
photos, stickers, text, and frames
• Photo Grid – a downloadable application for android
phones that allows you to make collages out of images
from your photo gallery
• Doodle Booth – an iPad application (with a free
downloadable version) that enables you to ‘doodle’ on
your images using available stickers

21. • Photo Booth – an application for taking photos and videos
using an iPad or iPad mini (a version for the iPhone, called
SimpleBooth, is also available)
• Magic Mirror Booth – an iPhone application that allows
you to take amusing, distorted images, simulating camera
effects
• Pic Monkey – a free online photo editing tool that
provides filters, frames, text, and effects to manipulate
your images
• Flipagram –a downloadable application that allows you to
‘bring your photos to life’ in short videos set to music of
your choice

22. • Picsart – a free photo editor and drawing application,
as well as a social network for you to share your art
with others
• Snapseed – a photo application that enables you to
enhance, transform, and share your photos; a free
downloadable version for android phones is available
• Instagram – a fast and fun way to share images with
others; snap a photo, choose from among the available
filters, and share via Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, and
more

23. • Picsart – a free photo editor and drawing application,
as well as a social network for you to share your art
with others
• Snapseed – a photo application that enables you to
enhance, transform, and share your photos; a free
downloadable version for android phones is available
• Instagram – a fast and fun way to share images with
others; snap a photo, choose from among the available
filters, and share via Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, and
more

27. Computer-Generated Ideas
If you want to create original images from scratch,
you may make your own illustrations using
specialized programs for image generation and
manipulation. Examples of these would be Adobe
Illustrator and Corel Draw. There are scaled-down
versions of such programs specifically developed for
use on smaller, handheld units like your personal
tablet or android phone. These enable you to perform
virtually all of the tasks that a program like Illustrator
performs but, almost literally, in the palm of your
hand.

28. Among such programs are:
• Gimp (GNU Image
Manipulation Program)
• Paint.net
• Inkscape
• Xara Extreme
• Artweaver
• Draw Plus
• Pencil
• Picasa
• Paint Star
• Smooth Draw
• Spray
• Karbon
• Adobe Photoshop Express
• Corel PaintShop Pro X5

29. Assignment No. 2
1. What is mobile phone art?
2. What technology has made this possible?
3. What is the raw material or starting point
for creating an artwork on a cellphone?
4. How is this initial material then
transformed into an original piece of art?
5. Name some programs and/or applications
that can be used to create art on a mobile
phone?

30. Digital
Photography
Patricia L. Meneses,
LPT
MAPEH

31. Another means of generating an original
image is to capture it first as a digital file. In
the case of today’s electronic technology,
that would mean recording the image using a
digital camera or a device with a built-in
camera, like your mobile phone, android
device, or tablet.

32. Point-and-shoot vs. DSLR
Today’s users have the option of a “point-and-shoot”
type of digital camera which automatically makes all
the adjustments in lighting, focus, zoom-in and
zoom-out, even removal of “red eye” with the user
being given some leeway for slight adjustments. It
offers image enhancement features like adjusting
color and brightness imbalances, as well as
sharpening or blurring the image. It may even offer
unique effects like “fish eye” or filters that allow pre-
setting of the photo to be taken with a colored tint or
a special texture.

33. A second option is the digital single lens reflex
(DSLR) camera. This also provides the film-
less and instant review features of a “point-
and-shoot” type of digital camera, but gives the
photographer much more artistic freedom and
control to select the camera settings to create
the desired final image with the preferred
visual effects.

34. Basic Tips for Taking Good
Photographs
Whether you are using a point-and-shoot camera or a
DSLR, there are basic guidelines for capturing a good
quality photographic image:
1. Choose a good location.
2. Check that the available background is relatively
simple and not too cluttered, so that the focus will
be on your chosen subject.
3. Natural light in the outdoors or near a window is
usually the most flattering or effective for any kind
of subject.

35. 4. Avoid taking shots facing the light, as this would make your
subject back-lit and most of the details would be lost in
shadow.
5. If you intend to take a posed shot, position your subject
where you want in relation to the location, background, and
source of light.
6. If you intend to take a candid shot, position yourself where
you can capture the most interesting, amusing, touching, or
engaging moment or expression.
7. Take a variety of shots—ranging from far shots showing the
surroundings, to medium-distance shots concentrating on the
main subject, to tight or close-up shots that focus on details of
the subject.

36. Assignment No. 3
1. What is digital photography?
2. What are the two main types of digital
photography in use today?
3. Why is one of them called point-and-shoot
photography?
4. What does the acronym DSLR stand for?
5. Cite two or three differences between these
forms of digital photography.

37. Video Games/
Digital Painting/
Imaging Videos
Patricia L. Meneses,
LPT
MAPEH

38. Video Games
For today’s younger generation that grew up in
a digital world, even entertainment now comes
courtesy of computer devices. A major
component of such entertainment is in the form
of video games of every conceivable genre,
subject matter, and skill level.

39. Similar to image creation and manipulation, it
is now possible for video game fans to become
video game creators themselves. Online
tutorials and guides are available on sites like
e-how, Instructables, and You Tube. Plus there
are available programs that can be downloaded
and used immediately, with no need for prior
knowledge on coding or web development.

40. Examples of such programs are:
• Twine - http://twinery.org/
• Stencyl - https://www.udemy.com/create-
your-first-computer-game-withstencyl/
• GameMaker -
https://www.yoyogames.com/learn

41. Digital Painting
Digital painting is a method of creating an artwork
using a computer. Digital painting still makes use
of traditional painting mediums such as acrylic
paint, oils, ink, and watercolor and also applies the
pigment to traditional surfaces, such as canvas,
paper, polyester etc. But it does so by employing
computer software that drives a type of robot
device (such as a plotter) or an office machine
(such as a printer) that takes the place of the artist’s
hand.

42. Digital painting also refers to a technique using a
graphics software program to create an artwork
that is totally virtual. The canvas, brushes, paints,
and other tools are all virtual, existing only within
the computer. And the finished work is also stored
in virtual format, to be shared through cyber space.
Ctrl+Paint is an example of an online resource for
teaching yourself digital painting for free, via
simple videos and mini tutorials.

45. Video Technology/Imaging
Videos
• Social media purposes - Another tremendously
powerful and innovative field that digital
technology has revolutionized is that of creating
and presenting videos.
• Medical/scientific purposes – Another extremely
valuable use of today’s video technology is that
of imaging videos in the fields of medicine and
science.

46. Assignment No. 4
1. How has computer technology contributed to
the development of video games?
2. Can a young person like you create your own
video game? If yes, how?
3. What is digital painting?
4. How do you use video technology
personally? For school purposes?
5. What valuable purposes do “imaging videos”
serve in the fields of medicine and science?