Laura took a digital techniques class to learn various software programs needed for her degree. She learned Photoshop for image editing and creating mood boards, 3Ds Max for 3D modeling and animation, and AutoCAD for basic 2D and 3D design. While she found it interesting to learn the basics of these programs, the class size was too large and many students missed out on help from tutors who could not get to everyone when the students had to share computers. A smaller class size would have allowed for more individual help.

1. Digital Techniques Laura Mulholland

2. Throughout the Easter term we have been attending digital techniques classes, the purpose of these was to enhance our knowledge of various different software that we will need as we progress in our degrees. The following slides show some of the things I have learnt.

3. Photoshop Photoshop is a graphics editor, it is the current market leader for commercial bitmap and image manipulation. It provides special effects services such as backgrounds, textures and many more.

4. To the left is a costume design experiment I did, using material samples. To the right is a simple mood board I created using the skills I have learnt in photoshop.

5. 3D Studio Max 3ds max is a full-featured 3D graphics application, it is the most widely-used off the shelf 3D animation programme by creation professionals. It had strong modelling capabilities and is mostly used by video game developers, TV commercial studios and architectural visualization studios. It is also used for movie effects.

6. I used 3ds max to create a stage, then I added texture and colour to it, to look like the scenery: Once my stage was complete I used the lighting application and the camera application to get an audience and viewing perspective:

7. AutoCAD AutoCAD is a CAD software application for 2D and 3D design and drafting, it includes a full set of basic solid modelling and 3D tools. We learnt basic knowledge of AutoCAD and how to construct simple objects.

8. These are some experiments we did using AutoCAD to get to know the software better: To the right is the final piece that we did, putting all the skills we had learnt into one drawing:

9. It has been interesting and enjoyable learning about different software and how they help theatre designers with their work. Even though I attended all the sessions I have only learnt the basics, I feel that the class was too big, most sessions we had to share computers and there were far too many students for the tutors to get round and help us all so many missed out on valuable help. As this was the first time I have used any of these programmes I feel that it would have been very beneficial for me to be in a smaller group of students.