Cinema 4D Introduction

In this session we were introduced to the software Cinema 4D a program where 3D models can be captured by static images or made into animations. During this time we learnt the basic tools and did some experiments to get used to Cinema 4D's layout.

In this experiment I created a cube and applied the bend effect to it. In the cube properties I added 10 segments to each of the cubes axises so the cube can become flexible and bend (without extending the segments the cube just stretches into a trapezium). Finally I increased the strength of the bend making the blue box on the outside curl round and because the cube is a child of the bend it follows making the cube bend as well.

The next experiment follows on from the bend experiment with adding the cloner effect to the cube. The bending cubes stacked on top of each other after I increased the copies of the object to 18 and then increased the distance between each object on the Z axis.

In the third experiment I created the RWBY logo with text and colour and then experimented with positioning of the camera and lighting to create some shadow effects. The four letters were in their own text layers so the colours could be changed for the each of them. Changing the colour of an object is easy by going into the basic properties of the object and choosing yes where it asks to use colour and then choosing a colour from the colour bar. Next a floor needs to implemented underneath the object so the light has a surface to cast a shadow on. After this I created a layer and applied a basic light to it so now I could move an object around the object that acts as a light source. Finally I experimented with having the light in different positions around the object and then rendered a static image to generate a shadow that follows the law of physics.



Cone Explosion from Sam Hepworth on Vimeo.

My final experiment was a very short animation of a 3D cone exploding into tiny particles and then forming back into a cone. I started by creating a cone and I applied a material to it to make it a dark blue. Next I added the explosion effect to the cone layer so the explosion would take effect on the cone. Then I clicked 45 frames on the timeline (this was halfway on the timeline because it was only a 90 frame 3 second animation) and then I clicked the circle next to the strength option for the explosion effect turning it from 0% to 100%, this would cause the cone to explode in 1.5 seconds. Finally I went to 90 frames and changed the strength to 0% so the cone would form back to its original self in the last 1.5 seconds.

This session as a whole really interested me and I really enjoyed it. 3D animation is a form of animation I want to follow so in the future I can say Cinema 4D is a piece of software I will want to use more of.

To improve on and something I will do next time would be experimenting with more material and trying to get a realistic surface like a style of wood texture or a metal texture.  

Richard William

In this lecture we watched a documentary about the life and work of an animator named Richard Williams. Richard was a very passionate animator and a perfectionist at most. He started a project in 1964 in his own animating studio which he self funded by making and selling adverts through the years. The animation he was making he named The Thief and the Cobbler and this cartoon was really complex and had masses of detail, also the animation attempted a style that has never being done like having backgrounds and camera movements that would only be seen in a real life movie. Richard was working on his project for about 22 years until he ran out of money where he then worked on the movie Who Framed Rodger Rabbit earning him 2 oscars and the additional funds to continue on his project. He also was given a contract and additional funds from Warner Brothers to complete his animation where the company would then publish it. Unfortunately he ran over his deadline in 1992 and with 15 minutes of footage left Warner Brothers were forced to take and finish the project without him.

This documentary really inspires me to want to create good animations and has taught me not to be perfect and few mistakes are allowed. When given a deadline it is crucial to meet it even if the project isn't the best it can be.



 

Photoshop Tools

In this session we explored the different basic tools in Adobe Photoshop to learn how to edit photos by using the non-destructive editing technique. In the future this would help us manipulate an image without physically altering the photo, which is useful if the contents of the original photo is still needed.

This image was edited using non-destructive editing. Without altering the original image in any way I duplicated the layer and edited that one. I changed the duplicated image into black and white, added noise that gives the slight grain effect in the background, added sharpness to make the image more crisp and finally I adjusted the curve of the image for the shadow effect.

The session has refreshed my memory of using Photoshop and the various basic tools it has to offer. Furthermore I have learnt and realised that it is better to edit a copy of the image above the original image so the original image is always there if it is still needed.

Alphabet Typography Ideas

In this session we had the task of coming up with ideas and plans for our own style of Typography. This would help and improve our creative ability as well as encouraging us to record all of our ideas.

My first Idea was using the Star Wars characters called Pit Droids and have them forming different letters of the alphabet. My vision of this idea would be having the pit droids get into their chosen position to form the letter, e.g. the image above are 3 Pit Droids forming the letter A, 2 are holding hands to make the arch and then a younger Pit Droid is holding on to the stomachs of the other 2 droids to make the bridge that connects the A together.

My next idea wasn't my best idea and was an adaptation of the first idea. I decided to do the same thing as the Pit Droids but use other droids from the Star Wars universe. Above is a image of the letter N formed by C-3PO, a battle droid and a super battle droid. To improve and expand on this idea I would make the droids have more interaction with each other so it looked like they realistically formed the letter than just have them standing there.

My final idea I feel was my best idea and it included forming letters from the weapons lightsabers from Star Wars. My vision for this idea was to have the lightsaber hilts where they are and then the lightsabers turn on one by one to eventually create a letter.

These 2 drawings were my animation plans. I drew every letter and then added arrows to them so I knew which part of they letter would appear first and which direction the would go in.

Typography Camera Animation

In this session we had the task of creating an animation using the camera tool to create the illusion that words were flying away from or towards the screen. before this however we chose some song lyrics or a quote to work with. This exercise was teaching us how to use the camera tool for animations in the future that involved camera transitions and camera movement.

Flying Typography Project from Sam Hepworth on Vimeo.

I have learnt how to use the camera tool on After Effects and I am vey comfortable with it. I can use the camera to transition scenes and move the camera if the animation needs to move around the scene or focus on one specific object. Also I can use the camera now to create the illusion that an object is moving by having the camera move instead.

Overall I am happy with this animation I had a slight problem with positions of text and the position of the camera where I could not make the letters clearly visible and this made it hard for viewers to see the letters made a word. Eventually I solved this problem and the work I resulted with was a success.

Improvements would be including more text and involve different kinds of movement for the text instead of the words coming closer to the screen.

Perception Drawing - 3D Objects

In this session we all sat around a table and drew 3D objects that sat in the middle. This task would help us with our perception and realism drawing.

My first drawing was of 3 boxes stacked on top of each other and this has to be my favourite drawing of the 3 because I feel I got the perceptive of the boxes from where I was sat bang on so it creates the illusion on a 2D surface that the drawing is 3D.

My second drawing was of a really old device which I drew pretty well but to experiment and try out shading I used 3 tones of felt tip grey to show where the shadows lay on the object. This helped with the 3D illusion because it shows where the light is casting down from during the time it was drawn.

My final drawing was a 3D model of the letter 'R' which I like and drew very well my only concern was one particular line which threw me as I just couldn't figure out what angle it should be drawn at to give the finishing touch of the 3D effect. Besides that I was very happy with this drawing.


Overall this session really helped me with perception drawing as I haven't really done any before this and when I come to use this technique in the future I will have some idea how to go about it.