Digital Photography & Imaging / Final Project : Self Titled

17/11/2023 - 05/01/2023 / Week 8 - Week 14

Lim En Yu / 0354452

Digital Photography & Imaging / Bachelor of Design (Hons) in Creative Media / Taylor’s University 

Final Project / Self Titled

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Lectures

2. Instructions

3. Practicals

4. Final Project : Self Titled

5. Feedback

6. Reflection

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Lectures

Week 9 Lecture Slides:

Fig 1.1 Week 9 Lecture Slides

Download Materials: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/148i0xh5S5O4DvALkDw2qa3NTshtDIOma?usp=sharing 

Tutorial Video: https://youtu.be/tK90UG-9wJ0

In this week, we were going to carry out a flower face effect on portrait. The tools that will be used were pen tool (path & shape), blending options, colour grading (gradient map) and blending modes. Mr Martin has also provided us a tutorial video to refer to.

Week 10

In this week, Mr Martin introduced us the new tools in Adobe Photoshop which are video timeline and content aware fill feature. Video timeline is another way of making animation other than frame timeline. Content aware feature help to recover the background after an object is removed. Therefore, we are able to animate the object in any way that we like.

Link of images for animation: 

https://drive.google.com/drive/u/1/folders/1raE0Rf5nK5TIhXArtNWzYDlm0sXKkmYY

Week 11 Lecture Slides:

Fig 1.2 Week 11 Lecture Slides

PSD composition: https://drive.google.com/file/d/197rXGH_g-lLEt

0K9__mcKrLIYIaXtQp/view?usp=sharing

We are introduced to Adobe After Effects in this week and it is a 2.5D animation software used for animation, visual effects, and motion picture compositing. Through After Effects, we are able to transform still images to moving images and animating layers sequence from various elements and platform.

2.5D Parallax Lecture Slides:

Fig 1.3 2.5D Parallax Lecture Slides

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Instructions

Fig 2.1 Module information

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Practicals

Week 9

First, we have to select and cut out the face part that we needed to extend in front. To proceed with the selection, we use the pen tool to draw the path. After we used marquee tool to cut out the face, use pen tool to create a shape with darker skin colour as shadow at the original place of face.

Fig 3.1 Cut out the face and draw skin shadow, Week 9 (24/11/23)

Next, use Lasso tool to make selection on face, apply layer via cut and switch off visibility. The hole is made for the leaves to come out. After that, apply bevel and emboss in blending option on both shape layer and face layer.

Fig 3.2 Cut out the hole and apply blending option, Week 9 (24/11/23)

Other than that, added the ivy bushes and remove the extra part outside the face.

Fig 3.3 Added the bushes, Week 9 (24/11/23)

Lastly, after adding the bushes and butterflies, applied the gradient map with a colour that you prefer and adjust the brightness and contrast, the flower face portrait is done.

Fig 3.4 Added butterflies and gradient map, Week 9 (24/11/23)

Fig 3.5 Final outcome for flower face portrait, Week 9 (24/11/23)

Week 10

In this week, we have learned about video timline in Adobe Photoshop which is a tool used to make animation. First, we proceed with the picture of a guy surfing. The first thing we have to do is to separate the person and background so it is easier for us to animate. Select the guy and apply layer via copy, after that apply content aware fill to fix the background. To fix the background more clearly, use the clone stamp tool to make it more clean.

Fig 3.6 Apply content aware fill, Week 10 (1/12/23)

Next, create video timeline from window selection tool.

Fig 3.7 Create video timeline, Week 10 (1/12/23)

After that, transform the guy in an anticlockwise direction while the background in clockwise direction to create a motion.

Fig 3.8 Animate the guy, Week 10 (1/12/23)

Fig 3.9 Animate the background, Week 10 (1/12/23)

Fig 3.10 Final outcome, Week 10 (1/12/23)

On the other hand, the second exercise also apply the similar way. Begin with selecting the girl and apply layer via copy.

Fig 3.11 Select the girl, Week 10 (1/12/23)

Apply content aware fill to fill up the background and use the clone stamp tool to fix the minor details. Moreover, create video timeline by using these layers.

Fig 3.12 Apply content aware fill, Week 10 (1/12/23)

Fig 3.13 Create video timeline, Week 10 (1/12/23)

Animate the girl by transform it from down to up while the background in an opposite direction to enhance the movement of the girl.

Fig 3.14 Animate the girl, Week 10 (1/12/23)

Fig 3.15 Final outcome, Week 10 (1/12/23)

The third exercise applying the same method as above:

Fig 3.16 Final Outcome, Week 10 (1/12/23)

There is another way to create minor animation by applying the puppet wrap tool and anchor points. First, importing the picture of the yoga girl and apply layer via copy by selecting it.

Fig 3.17 Cut out using layer via copy, Week 10 (1/12/23)

Next, create frame animation and set the time of each frame as 1 second. After that, applying puppet wrap tool and anchor points at her joints to create minor movements.

Fig 3.18 Create frame animation, Week 10 (1/12/23)

Fig 3.19 Final Outcome, Week 10 (1/12/23)

Week 11

We are introduced to Adobe After Effects in this week. First, we begin with a simple exercise which is composition animation exercise. We have to animate 4 objects within 5 seconds while each of them coming from different angles.

Fig 3.20 Final outcome for composition animation, Week 11 (8/12/23)

On the other hand, we proceed with a harder practice which is 2.5D parallax practice that change still photo to animation. First, after importing the image provided by Mr Martin, I have adjusted the composition setting to frame rate 25 and duration 10 seconds. Next, before adjusting the scale of the layer, set up a camera layer with a preset 15 mm wide angle.

Fig 3.21 Create camera layer, Week 11 (8/12/23)

Fig 3.22 Angle from camera, Week 11 (8/12/23)

To create the animation, twist the angle of the background and also adjusting the distance between the subject and background. To fill up the gaps, apply motion tile to “Subject” & “Bg” layers. Check mirror edges, increase output width, output height to fill up the gaps and also check motion blur for all layers. After everything is done, add it to render queue to render.

Fig 3.23 Adjusting the distance  between subject and background, Week 11 (8/12/23)

Fig 3.24 Final outcome for parallax, Week 11 (8/12/23)

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Final Project: Self Titled

Research and moodboard

Before I started to progress with the ideation of my work, I write biography about myself which enables me to learn about myself more.

Fig 4.1 Biography about myself, Week 10 (30/11/23)

Therefore, I started to think about the main concept of my poster. 

Fig 4.2 Statement about my work, Week 10 (30/11/23)

Also, I have found some explorations and references from Pinterest to let myself have a clearer direction on the art style.

Fig 4.3 Moodboard, Week 10 (30/11/23)

Sketches

Below are my sketches for the poster, I have done two sketches while Mr Martin and I both prefer first sketch. The concept of both sketches are similar.

Fig 4.4 Sketch 1, Week 10 (30/11/23)

Fig 4.5 Sketch 2, Week 10 (30/11/23)

Digitalisation

This is the photo that I have taken with the help of Mr Martin on lightning in studio. I decided to make a pose that is similar with my sketch.

Fig 4.6 Portrait taken instudio, Week 13 (22/12/23)

First, I begin with select and mask out myself while adjusting some details of my face at the same time.

Fig 4.7 Mask out selected area, Week 13 (22/12/23)

Next, I have chosen a dark sky background and import it below my portrait. I have downloaded several pictures of different types of clouds and positioned them at different places but mainly upper and lower part.

Fig 4.8 Added background, Week 13 (22/12/23)

Fig 4.9 Added cloud below, Week 13 (22/12/23)

Fig 4.10 Added cloud above, Week 13 (22/12/23)

For the base of the masks, I have chosen two pictures for each side of the mask. Here are the images that I have found on Pinterest:

Fig 4.11 Image for right mask, Week 13 (22/12/23)

Fig 4.12 Image for left mask, Week 13 (22/12/23)

After I mask out the area that I want, I have applied clipping mask on the photo of my face and also adjust some details like removing the hair part and rising up the angle of mouth to create a smiling effect.

Fig 4.13 Import and adjust face for left mask, Week 13 (22/12/23)

Fig 4.14 Added shadow for left mask, Week 13 (22/12/23)

Same goes as the right mask, I have imported another photo that is same angle as the mask and also adjusting the details of it like removed the hair, added shadow of face and curved down the mouth. After I have done with both masks, I have added it into my project by repositioning and resizing them.

Fig 4.15 Import face for right mask, Week 13 (22/12/23)

Fig 4.16 Adjust face for right mask, Week 13 (22/12/23)

Fig 4.17 Added masks, Week 13 (22/12/23)

Other than that, I have added paints not just only on my body but also face and near my hand. I have also added shadow layer for each part of the paint to make it more 3d.

Fig 4.18 Added paints, Week 13 (22/12/23)

Apart from that, for the front view part, I have emphasized on both big brushes by enlarging them and adding blur effect as they are the foreground of the poster. Also, I have adjust the brightness and saturation of the brushes to make them all looked compatible with each other.

Fig 4.19 Added brushes, Week 13 (22/12/23)

Furthermore, I have proceeded to the font part which I have used the font "Marki" that is a marker pen style font type I have created in Typography classes. The reason that I decided to have the quote "it is design too" is because I want to express that the social masks are also part of the design, not only art is considered as design.

Fig 4.20 Added 3D effect for font, Week 13 (22/12/23)

Moreover, I decided to add a butterfly that fly from foreground to background to create a design flow and also improve the motion of the whole poster at the same time. Here is the photo that I found from Pinterest, after I have imported it into Adobe Photoshop, I have separate it into three parts which are body, left wing and right wing that will be easier for me to animate.

Fig 4.21 Image for butterfly, Week 13 (22/12/23)

Below is the poster after I have added the font and butterfly:

Fig 4.22 Added font and butterfly, Week 13 (22/12/23)

During physical class, I have also sought for Mr Martin's opinion about my poster. Mr Martin think that instead of a darker colour of background, I should find a more dreamy and fantasy background. I have changes the background according to Mr Martin's feedback to a lighter colour of background.  

Fig 4.23 Change background, Week 13 (22/12/23)

Animation

After I have completed the poster, I proceeded to the animation stage which will be progress in Adobe After Effects. First, I started with importing all the layers from Photoshop into editable layers in After Effects.

The first layer that I have decided to animate is butterfly layer which I have already separated them into 3 different layers. I have searched for the tutorial on YouTube and follow the instructions to animate the butterfly. I will need to make them into 3D layers so that I could adjust the Y rotation and orientation to make a flying effect.

Video tutorial for animating butterfly: https://youtu.be/qhQvyjOQeZc 

Fig 4.24 Keyframes of butterfly in front, Week 14 (27/12/23)

Fig 4.25 Keyframes of buttefly behind, Week 14 (27/12/23)

Besides that, I have proceeded to the paint part, there are total five paint part that I have to animate separately which is face part, 2 body parts and 2 hand parts. In order to create liquid flow effect, I have also found tutorial for it which applied the turbulent displacement. There are slightly differences of amount and complexity when I applied to different parts according to the situation.

Video tutorial for liquid flow: https://youtu.be/djTdoHH_nDQ 

Fig 4.26 Keyframes of face paints that applied turbulent displace, Week 14 (27/12/23)

Fig 4.27 Keyframes of body paints that applied turbulent displace, Week 14 (27/12/23)

Apart from that, for the font I have just added slightly movement in it by changing it into 3D layer and adjusting the orientation and Z rotation.

Fig 4.28 Keyframes of font, Week 14 (27/12/23)

Same goes to the brushes, I have applied the same effect to all of them just that there are slightly differences in angle and time so that it looked more natural.

Fig 4.29 Keyframes of brushes, Week 14 (27/12/23)

Moreover, for all the cloud layers I have set two keyframes only in total which are their positions. All of them are moving in a same direction which is from right to left.

Fig 4.30 Keyframes of clouds, Week 14 (27/12/23)

Final Outcome

Fig 4.31 Final Poster Self Titled (JPG), (5/1/24)

Fig 4.32 Final Poster Self Titled (PDF), (5/1/24)

Fig 4.33 Final Poster Animation Self Titled, (5/1/24)

Video link: https://youtube.com/shorts/mvBrDJuSSy0?si=6m93Twm4YNfjk1Gn  

Fig 4.34 Final Project Slides (5/1/24)

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Feedback

After I shown Mr Martin my first draft of drawing, he prefer I proceed with draft 1. I have also asked for his advices during the physical class, he suggested me to change the background as he think that a more dreamy background is more suitable. Other than that, he thinks that the size of both of the masks can be smaller and the big brush at left can be brighter. While for the animation of the paints and clouds do not have much problems. Mr Martin has also helped me to adjust the hue and saturation of my new background to make it looked better.

Besides that, I have also asked for Mr Hafiz's opinion and he has mentioned that the font is too small and not expressive enough, I have made improvements afterward.

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Reflection

After I have finished this final project, I was very satisfied and proud of myself as I have successfully finished it and able to create what I have expected. It was a lot of challenges and problems when I faced during the process like the laptop's problems, animations not smooth enough, hard to find a suitable background but all of these obstacles were important as we have learned a lot from it.

From this final project, we have used After Effects the most which is another new experience for me. I was able to learn more new skills in animation although it was still at beginner level but it also makes me know that I was interested to animation. Therefore, I was not only gaining new knowledges and experiences from it but also know about myself more.

I really enjoyed this assignment very much while having the guidance of the tutors at the same time. For me, it was a big step in my learning journey.