Text within after Effects

Not text as image.
2 options to create text.
Layer>new>Text
'T' tool in tool bar. click onto composition window.. and type.
To change character info window>character.

Every box of text typed will exist as one layer.

What is different?
Anchor point not in centre of text. To change press 'A' shows anchor point details. -not most efficient.
Pan behind tool. Able to drag and move anchor point to where ever wanted.

text specific Layer properties.
- Source text. (stop watch shows it is something which can change over time, no numbers etc next to it so different to other properties.) It allows you to animate text over time.

Animate... Position. Adds animator 1,Range selector 1 and position.
by adjusting position tab - anchor point does not move, just the contents of the layer.
you do NOt have to add key frames to position property.

Use range selector to animate individual letters.... to move from one place to another.

Animating opacity-

Animating Scale - Each letter seems to have its own anchor point. start end... as usual.
Advanced options - character. Can change this to per word/per sentence. etc but currently set to character.
More options>anchor Point grouping>word - this means that although independantly moving each character has the same anchor point.
If you change anchor point grouping to 'all' representation of anchor point moved to centre.

Layer Mask - New solid layer. Size of composition.

when you add a shape to a layer it is called a mask.. which is as though you are looking through a key hole. this is a way to gradually show the layer y using another solid.

Kinetic Typography - Idiocracy from Nathan Campbell on Vimeo.

I think I chose this mainly for the colours and some layout used within the frame. When the type stands on its edge and then falls into place. I like the way just 2 fonts are used.. one for each voice.. the timid-ness of the person replying and the boldness and authority of the computer/telephone automated voice.

The background is also something different to just using white which is interesting. Could consider white type on a coloured background?

Terence McKenna - Reclaim your mind from Olivier Ferland on Vimeo.

Inch By Inch from Hugo Goudswaard on Vimeo.

Air Max AD from Stas on Vimeo.

Session2 with Micheal Flower

Creating assets in photoshop to move over to after effects.

create new file. Choosing film and video for the file type and always make sure it is the same settings as on the after effects file.

There are 2 guides created. Title safe zone ( inside) - any text/titles etc keep within rectangle.

Action safe zone (outside)- for any filmed action or motion graphics

The layers created in photoshop can then be used as individual layers when moved to photoshop.

Illustrator

Setting up a document is similar although of course it does not work in pixels so it will be missing the square pixel setting.

To save in either programme you can use a tiff or psd although if you want to keep the layers and not turn it into a flat document then save as a psd.

to import into after effects. file>import>file chose file go to 'Import as' footage turns file into a flat object.

Make sure when creating document in photoshop create at largest size possible so that all you need to do is decrease size when in after effects. Of course photoshop files do not increase in size with good quality.

You can create layers of the words being 'shattered' etc in photoshop before you import it into after effects.

After the break...

changing the pace of the entire animation.

- can move all key frames closer together. All happens quicker but this is not most efficient..

select all key frames. press alt>first/last key frame then press down.

Keyframe interpolation (effects shape of path and any other settings with the key frames) - animation.

This is how to make a sharp point instead of a curved movement. can also alter how smooth the opacity change is. etc.

change from bezier to linear.

Accelerate and decelerate - animation>Keyframe assistant.easy ease in/out

Similarly to indesign, when saving in after effects its important that the assets(files created else where) are kept with the main file.

file>collect files.

Software session with Mike Flower

After Effects - Whatever you create changes over time.   Technical term for that is -  working Spatially and temporarily. 

Menu at top of screen. Can alter settings for workspace.  

Today using Standard. 

Project panel. Top left (everything you create is called a project)

Store all assets for animation. 

file>import to get assets into panel.  Images need to be prepared else where ready. 

Coloured outline highlights active panel.  

Bottom panel is where assets are arranged within the time frame. When something happens. (time line)

Top Right. Is the composition window - where we will be able to see project playing back.  

Each project has got to contain one composition.  

so... create a composition.  Composition>new composition. 

Dialog box - (preset) NTSC american video standard  frames a second and PAL UK video standard 25 frames a second.  

Working with still images chose a square pixel PAL. if a Video use other. 

For this project working in PAL D1/DV Widescreen square pixel.

If you need to change these settings. composition>composition settings. 

to retrieve assets - another way. Layer>new>solid

Similarities between after effects and photoshop. 

Create a lot of solid assets and arrange on time line using drag arrow etc. 

Ram-preview (highlighted) Plays at the correct rate.This is how to reduce image size.  

LAYER PROPERTIES.

Click on the arrow and then more information is shown about the imported asset.
this information can also e altered manually.
when the image is moved around the composition -  this information will also change.

KEY FRAMES.
A point in time where a significant change occurs.
Click on position.  This then creates small diamond symbol on the scroll bar.
You are then able to move your object from one side of the screen to the other with it constantly being in view.

 

To make the image move more quickly move the diamonds closer together. 

Layer Property Short Cuts.
P = Position
A = anchor Point
R = Rotation
S = Scale
T = Opacity

O = out point of current layer
I = In Point of current layer

B = beginning of work area
N = End of work area.

U = Reveal all animated properties
UU = reveal all modified properties.

To save
composition>add to render Queue
A new tab appears in time line.

click 'best settings' then check time span. usually would be 'length of comp.'
Then check Lossless>format options>video codec> H.264 (for this specific video to go onto the internet)
Click ok
Then 'output to' save wherever wanted.  then Render.

Texture

Although non of these images are designed for within the office I chose these specifically from a design studio called 'Ice Cream for Free' inBerlin due to the amount of texture created in each project. I think this is something I struggle to do but feel it would be really beneficial for this project as it is all about how you feel when you are outside(the things you see,smell,touch) tactile design is perfect for portraying all I can. Also I really appreciated the variety of typography and fonts created by the company. Each is specific to the project in hand and is something I want to get right. Though difficult, I hope I can find a font/design a font by hand that fits in with my nature theme.

I love triangles. They always remind me of trees and these have just made me want to use a pattern within the range of products. I think the right colours and just a hand drawn pattern with the right textures on photoshop would be perfect and give off the more fun side which I am hoping to go for.

Love the way this dog is purely Made of textures from other images. Something I have already considered for my design... something which I could definitely apply to the logo.

Calendars

Now that I am definitely creating a calendar for the workers desk of course it is worth looking into how other people have tried to do this differently.

I have found a mixture of ideas, page a day, separate posters for each month, monthly wall calendars. There are so many out there that mine needs to stand out in the sense that it is fit for its purpose and they my design/colours/imagery is perfect for the theme I want to get across. It is all about making people feel refreshed. Something to de-stress their minds if just for a couple of seconds also something which they may see and feel they want to go outside for themselves. The calendar should signify everything that is good about being outside.

Existing work similar to what I want to produce.

As you can see these are two examples of already existing concepts which work very well as outdoor inspired interior design. I love this light fitting and it has made me think a lot into pop up objects or 3 dimensional paper designs. Although I have pin pointed my concept at offices I am beginning to reconsider the idea of what to design inside and what would be most appropriate for those in an office. A lot of people I have spoken to who work within an office environment have explained that they in fact would not expect their managers to put the images I had suggested on the walls. This, of course, raises an issue into whether I am doing the right thing for the right audience.

Flower light fitting.

Stone print Rug.

Photography

These beautiful images really capture the fresh, simple ambience of the outdoors. The concept of 'clearing your mind' seems to gleam from these images. I want mind design to be as obvious as a photograph would be but without simply using just a photograph as I would never be able to take something quite as outstanding.