Morphology...

'A morphology is the study of the structure and form of a language system, including inflection, derivation, and the formation of compounds. In this book, a morphology is presented for the study of the language of motion-graphics design...

The functioning components of the morphology are its various attributes and variables. Generally, the variables cover a spectrum of possibilities for each attribute. Some describe a range, others are distinct opposites. Hierbert describes this as a contrast continuum. Barthes used the term "binary opposition". It is a way of thinking not only about design, but about life. For example, considering the human attribute of "feeling", we do not really understand the variable "happy" until we understand "sad".'

Research taken from Motion Design - Moving Graphics for Television, Music Video, Cinema and Digital Interfaces by Matt Woolman.

Designing For Motion...

'All pictorial form begins with the point that sets itself in motion... The point moves and the line comes into being - the first dimension. If the line shifts to form a plane, we obtain a two-dimensional element. In the movement from plane to spaces, the clash of planes gives rise to body (three dimensional)... A summary of the kinetic energies which move the point into a line, the line into a plane, and the plane into a spatial dimension.'

(Paul Klee)

Adobe After Effects Workshop...

The General Interface:

Tip: If a panel is closed by accident, go to Workspace > Reset 'Standard':

- To create a new composition:



- Setting up the Composition:

Choose the Preset: (PAL is the UK video standard - 25 frames per second)


- The updated interface:

- Add a new layer instead of Importing prepared assets:

- Select Solid to make a shape:

- 100 pixels by 100 pixels

- Layer appears in left hand panel:

- Moving the layer timeline, means this layer will appear later on in the composition rather than at the beginning.

And this is what I created in my first session:

First After Effects Session from Gemma Byrne on Vimeo.

Understanding Keyframes...

Keyframes are going to be an important part in this module, they are the term to describe changes in an animation sequence. The frames in between the key-frames are called in-betweens. Digital animation software fills this in for the user.


At first I found this hard to grasp, but after finding this diagram, it really gives a clear visual as to how this works.

Image taken from Motion Design - Moving Graphics for Television, Music Video, Cinema and Digital Interfaces by Matt Woolman.

Team Impression

1 Lockwood Close,
Leeds,
LS11 5UU
www.team-impression.com

I took a variety of images with my Digital SLR at Team Impression, however my memory card corrupted and I have lost them all.
It was really interesting to see the printing presses in full working motion, and seeing examples of the packaging coming out. Especially the Jamie Oliver cutlery packaging, seeing the finished printed version which had been die cut and then seeing a finished, assembled version.

Seeing the women in the handcrafting section was odd for me, as I just expected that there would be some machine that can fold, glue and bind things together, with the fast ever advancing technology in printing, there may be a machine soon.

Our tour guide explained how one of the rooms used to have around 10 people in it, but then pointed to a machine in the corner and said it does the same job as what they used to do.

I found it a very interesting experience, I just wish I had the photos to show that!

Print Analysis

In groups, we have analysed different types of print, in terms of the process used, special finishes etc. To help us with the analysis we had a linen tester, which is a magnifying glass with a scale, and they are used to look at the quality of fabric...

Twenty Pound Note:

- Process:

Some of the images used on other bank notes are engraved by hand on metal plates 'whilst others are created using a Computer Aided Design (CAD) system and are drawn onto film by a laserbeam. When finished, the images are duplicated many times onto printed plates ready for the presses. Specialised inks used to produce the notes are also manufactured on site; approximately 85 are required for the four denominations' .

There are three processes used for bank note printing: Offset Litho, Intaglio, Letterpress.

From examining the note, I believe the letterpress is for the type, as some of the lettering is raised.

Intaglio: this process is used to add the portrait of Her Majesty the Queen and the raised print on the front of the note. The ink rests in grooves engraved in the printing plate. When the plate comes into contact with the paper the ink is forcibly ‘drawn’ from the plate onto the paper under very high pressure. This produces the raised print which is one of the characteristics that gives Bank of England notes their distinctive feel.this process is used to add the portrait of Her Majesty the Queen and the raised print on the front of the note. The ink rests in grooves engraved in the printing plate. When the plate comes into contact with the paper the ink is forcibly ‘drawn’ from the plate onto the paper under very high pressure. This produces the raised print which is one of the characteristics that gives Bank of England notes their distinctive feel.

http://www.bankofengland.co.uk/banknotes/about/production.htm

- Stock:

The stock is a special paper that combines linen and cotton with a gsm of about 80 to 90, the combination of linen and cotton is for durability.
' Using copious amounts of water, the cotton is broken down into individual fibres and reformed into reels of paper of the quality required.The watermark design is engraved in wax and, like the metallic thread, the image is incorporated into the paper at the manufacturing stage.

- Format:

British bank notes are all of a standard format. The smallest note is a £5, then the next size up is the £10 note then the £20 and £50.

- Specials:

Raised print, Texture of Paper, Holographic strip, Fluorescent features, Microlettering - all of these features are to make it as difficult as possible to create counterfeit notes.

- Target:

The audience is anyone residing or staying in the UK, maybe even people who collect money.

- Quantity:

Very high production rate, by the millions.

- Competition:

Other currencies?

Design Practice... Edge

newmediachoice was one of the leading design and marketing agencies in the North of England- based in North Kelsey, near Market Rasen in North Lincolnshire. It's a company I have grown up with having taken part in work experience there when I was 16, and I have followed the companies progress ever since. It first began in Sophie Freear's home in Scunthorpe operating from a bungalow, until she moved to North Kelsey, and was lucky enough to purchase a house with a converted barn which she used as her office.

The client list had extended its services across the Atlantic to San Francisco, and due to the amount of demands on the company, another company was selected to partner and help cope with the demands... this is Edge interactive.

One of the things that first caught my attention with the work by Edge is the exciting fresh feel to every single piece of work, one of their clients is the NHS and visually, their brochures and leaflets are quite dull and don't encourage people to pick them up:

For example, this leaflet isn't a terrible design, the colour scheme works well, but you can almost instantly tell its a serious leaflet...

This is an example of one of the leaflets designed by edge for North Lincolnshire's Primary Care Trust intentions:

The whole look of this is much more innovative than the previous example, even the use of text wrap makes the layout look a little more exciting. The use of bright images and colours add an air of positivity, which is something the Nhs really needs to promote with their designs, as there are a lot of people who don't have a lot of faith for it.

This is some more work for the Nhs that edge have done:

This is a much more minimal design, but it's really sophisticated and almost quite elegant, with the swirly organic lines and the varying tones used.

Ever since A-level graphics I have always looked at doing health campaigns, as it has always interested me and still does. I spoke to some members of Edge who have said they would definitely look into giving me some work experience, and looking at the work they produce, it would be perfect.

A list of their services...

• Advertising Campaigns
• Annual Reports, Business Plans
• Company Magazines
• Corporate Gifts
• Corporate Identity
• Copywriting
• Direct Mail
• Exhibitions & Events
• Illustration
• Interior and Exterior Signage
• Leaflets, Brochures, Folders
• List Sourcing
• Newsletters, Newspapers
• Mobile SMS and Bluetooth Marketing
• Packaging Design
• Posters, Point-of-Sale
• Photography
• Press & Public Relations
• Prospectuses
• Sales Promotion Material
• Website and CD Rom Production

Testimonials taken from their website:

Edge has always listened carefully to our brief, ensuring that the opinions of service users have a strong focus on the work they have produced. This work was recently commended by HM Government in the Cabinet Office newsletter –Customer Matters. Crucially, Edge has always delivered work to our exact brief, within agreed deadlines and to budget. I believe that wherever possible we should strive to engage and work with local businesses to help drive improvements within our local economy - the work we have embarked on with edge is the envy of many other programmes and has been replicated in many other screening programmes across England."

Paul Watson
Programme Manager COAST/SHOUT

"Edge and its predecessor companies have produced my Annual Public Health Report for the past 10 years to a high standard. We have also used them to develop publicity and social marketing materials for a number of public health programmes. For all of these they have been creative, helpful and collaborative. Their work has always been delivered on time and to budget. Our long use of the company illustrates this."

Dr Tony Hill
Joint Executive Director of Public Health

A Look At Print...

This is a postcard from a Vernon Street Exhibition, I think it would have been digitally printed due to the low numbers in which these would be printed. The image side has a glossy/silk finish and the back is matte like a traditional postcard. The image is taken from a video by the artist in which a tortoise is on its back