DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY & IMAGING - WEEK 10

 

2025-2025(week - week)

FANN WONG JING EN｜0382237

Design Principles | Bachelor of Design (Honours) in Creative Media

Digital Photography and Imaging GCD61204

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TABLE OF CONTENT

MIB      Lecture Note     Practical 

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MODULE INFORMATION BRIEF (MIB)

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LECTURE NOTE

After Effects

After Effects is a software that can make static images "animate", and is mainly used in the post-production of film production. Unlike Premiere, it focuses on editing, but is specifically used for animation, visual effects, and image synthesis.

Whether it is a movie title, lyrics animation, UI transition, or dream-like image, almost everything can be completed through it.

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Summary of common uses

• Dynamic graphics: make patterns made by Illustrator or Photoshop animated

• Visual effects: add smoke, light and shadow, blur, particle effects

• Scene synthesis: combine multiple materials into a complete picture, such as background change, character synthesis into another picture

• Text animation: make subtitles appear, text jump, gradient flashing and other effects

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Preparation before animation (in Photoshop)

The most important step, which is to organize the image materials.

• Each element (such as characters, clouds, buttons) is processed in layers

• Each layer should be clearly named so that it can be easily found in After Effects

• Try to process part of the layer order, transparency, and mask first

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 How to continue after entering After Effects

• Import the PSD or AI file directly and keep the layer structure

• Start setting the animation of the layer, such as moving, rotating, and transparency changes

• Use the timeline to lengthen and shorten the layer, and use "keyframes" to control the changes in the picture

• You can add special effects (Effect), mask (Mask), sound effects, etc. to enhance the overall sense

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Key points 

• AE does not store the image itself, but connects to the original file → So don't move the file casually

• Layer naming & grouping are very important, otherwise the animation stage will be very messy

• The timeline is the key, and each change must be "rhythmic" so that it will not be abrupt

• If you want the picture to have a feeling, in addition to the animation itself, you must also pay attention to light and shadow, rhythm and picture tension

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PRACTICAL

Final developments for Project 2B

After Feedback

After receiving the feedback, I further optimized the details and overall visual balance of the work, with the goal of improving the smoothness and focus of the picture:

Improved character integration

• The original character had a slightly "textured" feel, with a too obvious outline and out of touch with the background.

• After the adjustment, I modified the edge softening and brightness processing to make the character blend more naturally into the background atmosphere while retaining the visual focus. 

•  Adjust the size of the character to make it more focused

Brief for final project (animation)

After consultation, the animations I have in mind are: 

1. The butterfly on the left: 

Flies up slowly from the upper left corner, flies around the character, and finally stops in the flowers and dances 

2. The butterfly on the right: 

Flies towards the character with the flock of birds in the upper right corner, as if attracted by him.

3. The flock of birds above the character’s head: 

Flies out of the book, surrounds the character’s head and then spreads to the upper right, creating a sense of extended thoughts.

4. Starlight lines: 

Flashing, enhancing the dreamy atmosphere and sense of rhythm. There are too many moving lines, so I gave up and let him fly into the picture from the upper right corner

Overall rhythm: The moving lines advance from bottom to top and from inside to outside, creating a flowing effect of the picture “unfolding”.