Illustration & Visual Narrative // Task 2 - Decisive Moment
01.05.2022 - 28.05.2022 (Week 5 - Week 9 )
Emelyne How Sok Hing (0352938)
Bachelor of Design (Hons) Creative Media
Illustration & Visual Narrative // Task 2 - Decisive Moment
LECTURES
Week 5:
We continued our lesson on the chiaroscuro exercise and this time we traced out an image of a man using Mr. Hafiz's instructions. Afterwards, we learned how to use the compound path tool and also how to apply a texture to an image.
For this week's lecture, we learned about the use of fore, middle and background in a composition.
Using those elements in a composition will give to your work a sense of scale to the viewer.
How to emphasize the different grounds in your work:
1. Foreground
By using size differences and colour contrast
2. Middle-ground/ Background
By using size differences and light/shadow contrast
Design flow
It is the way that your eyes move or are led around a composition.
Week 6:
We were taught about how we could use different perspectives in a composition.
Types of perspectives:
1. One-point perspective
2. Two-point perspective
3. Three-point perspective
4. Isometric Grid
After that. Mr. Hafiz taught us some more tricks and tips on how to use the other tools in Adobe Illustrator. This tutorial was mostly about how to use the brushes so as to colour an image.
INSTRUCTIONS
Week 5: Lecture Report Task 4
Visual Study: Fore, Middle & Background
For my lecture report task 4, I chose some scenes from the movie 'Abominable'.
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| Figure 1.0 'Abominable', 9th May 2022 |
In this scene which is from the ‘Abominable’ movies, I think that it is pretty much obvious that the focus is on the characters Yi and Everest (the yeti). In the foreground, we can see Yi and Everest having a sweet moment where they are displaying their affection for each other. The frame itself looks like it was shot from a close-up point of view, and I think that they were able to capture this precious moment in such a way that the viewers might feel as if they were there and experiencing this moment at the same time as them. Additionally, I think that the size difference between Yi and Everest adds more focus to the foreground. Also, the contrast of colours between the foreground and the background plays a lot in this scene. The scene is shot against the light and therefore it creates a tonal contrast between the characters and the background.
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| Figure 1.1 'Abominable', 9th May 2022 |
As you can see there is a lot going on in this wide shot scene. As for instance, Yi playing the violin, the flowers lighting up due to Yi’s little solo moment, the breathtaking background and there is also the adorable fluffy Everest. However, despite all these elements I believe that Yi and Everest but mostly Yi stand out the most even though they are placed in the middle ground. The contrast in size between Yi and the rest of the elements in this scene is quite a lot, so I think that even though she looks quite small and fragile, ironically, this is what makes her stand out the most. Also, I’m not sure if this was done on purpose but I realized that only some of the flowers in the foreground were lighting up and they were close to Yi only which I think also adds focus on her. Moreover, there are those bright rays of light in the sky which are shining mostly where Yi is standing. Everest’s gaze also suggests that the attention is on Yi.
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| Figure 1.2 'Abominable', 9th May 2022 |
I think
that the background here definitely looks dominant mostly due to the contrast
of colours between the foreground, middle ground and background. The foreground
and the middle ground are mostly dark with a slight bluish light reflection on
them. It feels like we can barely see what is happening in the foreground and
middle ground. On the other side, the background is very bright and luminous
mostly due to the billboard which has a very bright colour on it. I also think
that there is a one-point perspective towards the billboard, being the vanishing
point. This creates a sense of depth and perspective into the work which also
adds into the focus on the background.
Week 6: Lecture Report Task 5
Visual Study: Perspectives
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| Figure 1.3 One-point perspective, scene from 'Ao Haru Ride', 9th May 2022 |
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| Figure 1.4 Two-point perspective, scene from 'Fairy Tail', 9th May 2022 |
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| Figure 1.4 Three-point perspective, scene from 'Kyoukai no Kanata', 9th May 2022 |
Colour Basics Exercise
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| Figure 1.5 Outline, 9th May 2022 |
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| Figure 1.6 Coloured exercise, 9th May 2022 |
Task 2- Decisive Moment
Our goal for this exercise is to chose a scene from any animation that has left an impact on us good or bad and create our own poster and also animate it.
Visual Research
The first thing that came into my mind for this exercise was to choose some scenes from the movie ' The Hunger Games'. This movie is one of my favorite since I first watched it. I searched for the scenes that marked me the most and have stayed ingrained in my brain since. I mostly chose the scenes from 'The Hunger Games: Catching Fire' as I think that the most impactful scenes took place in this sequel. Katniss Everdeen which is the main character is also known as the girl on fire. Using this as a reference, I looked for some scenes in the movie where she was either the one on fire or the one who caused it.
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| Figure 1.7 Visual Research, 9th May 2022 |
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| Figure 1.8 Visual Research, 9th May 2022 |
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| Figure 1.9 Visual Research, 9th May 2022 |
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| Figure 2.0 Visual Research, 9th May 2022 |
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| Figure 2.1 Visual Research, 9th May 2022 |
Sketches
After choosing some scenes which I really liked from the movie, I proceeded to sketch out some of my ideas.
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| Figure 2.2 Sketches, 9th May 2022 |
Sketch 1- In the movie, Katniss is also known to have a deep resentment for the President Snow who is the mastermind behind the arena. Additionally, President Snow always seems to wear a white rose on his clothes which for me can also be his 'trademark'. Hence , I sketched out a composition where President Snow who is represented by the white rose is getting shot by an arrow which you could guess represented Katniss. I added some fire effects in the background so as to represent Katniss's anger and also as she is the girl on fire.
Sketch 2- This composition was inspired from the last few minutes of the movie where after destroying the arena, Katniss is being transported by a giant claw. I changed the claw into a hand which had strings attached around each finger just like in puppetry. This is also to symbolise that President Snow is practically like a puppeteer in the movie since he controls the tributes as he wants. Katniss is the one entangled in his strings. Behind is the background made of trees which are on fire and there are also some branches that are falling down. Additionally, I would also like to try to add a three-point perspective in my composition if possible.
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| Figure 2.3 Sketches, 9th May 2022 |
Sketch 3- President Snow is the silhouette who is being shot straight through in his head by an arrow (Katniss) on fire.
Sketch 4- Since Katniss is also known to be a symbol of rebellion, I drew a hand which was holding up her main weapon that is an arrow. I added a circle behind her which was on the brink of breaking so as to illustrate the idea that Katniss is trying to break free from this system.
Sketch 5- I wanted to try some new ideas and got inspired by Katniss's eye make up which I think that in the movie is lowkey underrated. I used it to create a symbol and you can also see that she is shedding a tear preferably representing blood. Additionally, I added her silhouette from the back where she is in her combat outfit. I put those two elements so as to create a contrast between what she was expected to fulfill in her job from being a winner of The Hunger Games to what she felt in real life and who she wanted to be.
Sketch 6- This is also the silhouette of Katniss from the side angle and I added some trees to create an effect like a double exposure. I also thought that the tree could be on the brink of being burned down which is also a reference to the girl on fire.
Week 7:
After hearing the feedback from Miss. Anis, I decided to change the scene that I initially wanted to go with as my sketches were not suitable enough for the task. So, I did some visual research again based on the scene where Katniss shoots an arrow at an apple which was sitting in a pig's mouth. I believe that this scene was a symbolism towards Katniss freedom and this scene was also the trigger that changed the course of history.
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| Figure 2.4 Visual Research, 10th May 2022 |
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| Figure 2.5 Visual Research, 10th May 2022 |
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| Figure 2.6 Visual Research, 10th May 2022 |
Sketches
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| Figure 2.7 Sketches, 22nd May 2022 |
Based on my visual research, I sketched out other ideas for my poster where I choose the apple being shot by an arrow as my main elements in my composition.
Process
I wanted to illustrate the apple in my poster using the mesh tool. I also did some research on the internet in order to know how to use it.
First Trial
This is my first trial from using the mesh tool in Adobe Illustrator. Honestly, it was as difficult as I expected it to be. I found it frustrating sometimes as it was somehow hard to control the placement of the different shade and light. Sometimes, the gradient did not have a smooth looking appearance and I had to make a lot of adjustments.
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| Figure 2.8 First trial, 22nd May 2022 |
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| Figure 2.9 First trial, 22nd May 2022 |
Second Trial
Since I was not satisfied of my first trial, I gave it another go and tried to improve it by using more shade and light. I also tried to add on some details so as to make it look more realistic. I would say that I'm quite satisfied of my outcome even though it's not perfect and at least it has some resemblance to an apple.
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| Figure 3.0 Second trial, 22nd May 2022 |
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| Figure 3.1 Second Trial, 22nd May 2022 |
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| Figure 3.2 Second Trial, 22nd May 2022 |
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| Figure 3.3 Illustration of my poster, 23rd May 2022 |
During the process of my illustration, I tried to apply the new technique that we learned that is using the gradient and creating a mask with it. I used this technique for the shadow of my apple.
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| Figure 3.4 Poster 1 version 1.0, 23rd May 2022 |
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| Figure 3.5 Poster 1 version 2.0, 23rd May 2022 |
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| Figure 3.6 Poster 1 version 3.0, 23rd May 2022 |
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| Figure 3.7 Poster 1 version 4.0, 23rd May 2022 |
For this poster, I mostly used the gradient tool to digitalize my idea. I wanted to put the apple on a podium as a reference to the Capitol of Panem and its high buildings. To do so, I used the shape tool and then applied a gradient effect to it and also added some texture to it by applying the grain effect. I realised I could not cut my apple after using the mesh tool and was a bit annoyed by that. Due to this unexpected situation, I had to create some other additional shapes on the outside of the apple so as to create the illusion that the apple exploded. I also used the dark ink wash brush tool so as to create this water-like exploding effect for my apple.
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| Figure 3.8 Poster 2 version 1.0, 23rd May 2022 |
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| Figure 3.9 Poster 2 version 2.0, 23rd May 2022 |
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| Figure 4.0 Poster 2 version 3.0, 23rd May 2022 |
My poster 2 consists of the same idea as my poster 1 except that I changed the layout and colour scheme of my work. Firstly, I tried to apply a clipping mask on the 'podium' using the texture of an apple since I thought it would match the theme. Additionally, I also tried to use a clipping mask on the headline of my poster by using the picture of a fire camp which is a symbolism for 'The girl on fire' that is Katniss. I also tried to use some complementary colours like red and green for the background of my poster and then applied a gradient effect to it. I like the outcome of this poster as I think it looks more refined and harmonious compared to the previous one.
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| Figure 4.1 Poster 3 version 1.0, 23rd May 2022 |
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| Figure 4.2 Poster 3 version 2.0, 23rd may 2022 |
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| Figure 4.3 Poster 3 version 3.0, 23rd May 2022 |
For this poster I mostly wanted to experiment using another background. I continued with the idea of using a clipping mask for the headline and also some parts of my layouts. I wanted this poster to have a vintage-old kind of vibes. I tried to create a one-point perspective for the background as I thought that it would attract more attention to the apple but also create movement. I also think that the outcome kind of looks like those propaganda posters which I think could also represent Katniss's rebellion against the Capitol.
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| Figure 4.4 Poster 4 version 1.0, 23rd May 2022 |
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| Figure 4.5 Poster 4 version 2.0, 23rd May 2022 |
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| Figure 4.6 Poster 4 version 3.0, 23rd May 2022 |
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| Figure 4.7 Poster 4 version 4.0, 23rd May 2022 |
I had the idea of using a target's pattern for the background. Additionally, I also tried to do a one-point perspective where the lines of the arrow are all pointing towards the centre of the apple. I also played with the gradient tool to create the arrow and the background. I wanted to create my own brush that is the very thin lines which are a bit fluorescent as I thought that it could add a nice touch to my work and wanted to create a fire-like effect. I also used other brush tools so as to add more movement to my work and give the impression that the arrow is going towards the apple.
Poster ( After touch up)
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| Figure 4.9 Poster 2 version 1.0, 25th May 2022 |
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| Figure 5.0 Poster 2 version 2.0 ,25th May 2022 |
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| Figure 5.1 Poster 2 version 3.0, 25th May 2022 |
After receiving the feedback from Miss Anis, these are the modifications that I made for my poster. I ended up choosing poster 2 as this was the best one among the others. I resized the logline and my elements so that they would be more in the central part of my poster. I tried to do multiple ones as I wanted to see which one would be the most appropriate as I tried on different sizes for the logline and also positions for the arrow.
Animation of my poster
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| Figure 5.2 Creating the frames in Illustrator, 25th May 2022 |
For the animation process of my poster, I was advised to try a fade in fade out effect. In total, I made 37 frames for my loop animation and honestly it was pretty direct to do as the action was not that big of a deal. I did it in a shorter amount of time than I thought I would take and I'm pretty happy of the result.
However, during the exportation of my animation from photoshop the gradient effects that I used started glitching and the outcome looked weird.
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| Figure 5.3 Glitch that happened when exporting the GIF, 25th May 2022 |
As I did not want to do it all over again, I tried playing with the settings of photoshop and found out that when I put one of the setting on 'noise', the gradient worked out and even though it did not look as smooth as I wanted it to be, I was satisfied enough of my result.
Final Task 2 - Decisive Moment
- Poster
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| Figure 5.2 Final Poster, 25th May 2022 |
- Animated GIF
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| Figure 5.3 Final GIF, 25th May 2022 |
FEEDBACKS
Week 7:
Initially, I wanted to go with sketch 2 for the decisive moment but I was told that my sketch 2 might describe the whole story plot instead of a 'moment'. So, I got advised to choose another scene such as when Katniss shoots her arrow into an apple which was situated near the rich people.
Week 9:
I asked Miss. Anis for some feedback on my poster. She said that I did a nice job with the gradient and that the contrast between the colours looked good. I told her that I had a preference for my poster 2. The only problem was about my visual hierarchy in my poster concerning the logline and the size of my apple. I mostly need to resize my elements in the middle and change the clipping mask for my headline so that it looks like the fire effect starts from the bottom and reaches to the top. She told me that normally when we do a poster we don't need to use all the space inside the poster. Additionally, for the loop animation I asked Miss. Anis for some advices. She advised me to use a fade in and fade out effect so that my loop would look continuous.
REFLECTIONS
Week 6:
Finding which scenes to choose for the task 2 was pretty easy. However, trying to find ideas on how we could simplify such scenes where there was a lot of details was somehow a bit more complicated than I imagined. It was hard to create and think about some symbols which were not too déjà vu. The outcome had to look minimalistic but also needed to pass on a strong message. Yet, after some more research I was able to come out with some ideas and I pretty much have an idea on how I want to animate them.
Week 7:
I was kind of taken aback when I found out that my sketches were not good enough to start illustrating my poster. At first, I was a bit discouraged by that but obviously I kept on looking for new ideas in order to be able to do my poster. What I learned is that even though you might fail at first does not mean that you cannot keep on improving or that the journey stops here. I think that it was a way for me to improve myself and create better ideas than I would have done if I had gotten the green light.
Week 8:
I struggled a lot at first to illustrate my poster. The thing is that I had the idea of what I wanted to do in my head but did not know how to execute it using Adobe Illustrator. Honestly, at first I was panicking and stressing out a lot but after trying to digitalize my apple using the mesh tool, I would say that I felt a bit more confident. For the background, I still struggled to create the effect that I wanted to get but I think that the outcomes of my posters are not so bad and I'm pretty satisfied with them. I still feel a bit confused on how to use the brush tools and how to blend them. However, I got an understanding on how to use the mesh tool and I felt like I learned a lot by doing this. Having an idea in mind is one thing, but having to illustrate it is another thing. I do think that I still need to learn more tips and tricks so as to be able to design whatever I want just like I imagined and not settle for less.
Week 9:
After doing the necessary modifications for my poster, I felt quite excited but at the same time not really to do the animation part of this exercise. I was excited as for me doing GIFs are quite fun to do and it also gives me this sense of satisfaction at the end. However, I would say that the less fun part would be when I have to export it to Photoshop. I think that this moment is quite stressful because it's at this particular time when you can really see if you did a mistake or not or if you did less frames than you should have done. So, at this point I would say that it is quite frustrating when it happens but fortunately this time it all went well. Surprisingly, I took a short amount of time to do it. I also got a deeper understanding of the gradient mesh tool and how to apply a clipping mask on Illustrator. I feel like after this exercise I did learn a lot and I do think that I'm improving even if it's steps by steps.
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