New Visual Language Magazine

Form Follows Function Research Document

Photoshop Timeline Workshop

During this photoshop workshop, we were made aware of an easy technique to create simple gifs using photoshop's video timeline feature, as opposed to the more conventional medium of using adobe after effects.

The process is incredibly straightforward by converting the layers into frames. In this instance, I used several layers of coloured circles in different positions across the canvas and converted them into frames to create the animation. It is highly customisable as you can change rate of frames per second. 

I developed on this further, and experimented with the use of animating typography by adjusting the tracking of the type. 

Although I doubt I will use this feature in my design practice, as well as the fact that GIFs are becoming more and more obsolete on the web, I think it is useful to know an easy way to create GIFs. 

We also used photoshop to export a movie made from different frames. This is useful because photoshop could be used to edit the frames before it is exported. In this instance we used an animation of a stick man jumping.

https://vimeo.com/127479843

Type Transcription

Recently, we have been working on creating our own typeface. I designed a futuristic-looking typeface which integrates a variety of curves and right angles in the letterforms. I think the typeface would be more suited to display purposes, rather than body text.

To say that this was my first experience at designing letterforms, I think the outcome was reasonably well. One of the most challenging aspects of this task was to keep the aesthetic of each letterform consistent with each other letterform. In some aspects, I felt like I achieved this in regards to how the P and the Q look, but the weight difference between the U and the W could be improved. 

Typography in Graphic Design

This was the outcome of our physical studio work in which we had to transcribe shapes to form letter forms from a variety of art. We then had to develop this to create a ANESG. First I did some initial transcriptions and then developed them further to form a consistent typeface. Overall I felt like I struggled with this given by limited skills at drawing. 

Kinetic Typography - Where's Wallace

                             

This was the outcome of my kinetic typography work produced on Adobe After Effects. I chose to do an interview scene from The Wire. Because my experience on after effects is quite limited, I felt restricted when it came to animating the type. Because of this, in order to illustrate the context, I felt typeface choice and style was important. For example, I made the type larger if there was more emphasis placed on a word. As well as this, I used a slab typeface for important aspects of the text.

Overall, I felt somewhat pleased with the outcome of the task - I felt the text was in sync, although if I could improve the work, it would be to improve on the composition of the layout. I didn't know how to centre text on after effects, forcing me to manually place the type. 

Animated Character Tutorial

In this exercise we animated a vector based graphic. In this instance, I used a rocket from an earlier tutorial, and decided to develop it by adding thrusters onto the rocket which I would intend on animating. I also created a background of stars which I would also animate. 

First, I imported each individual layer in after effects. It was important to have each layer available to edit on the composition, rather than just the illustrator outcome as I would be animating individual layers.

Developing on my keyframing skills from previous tutorials, I adjusted the scale of the flames coming from the rocket to help to show acceleration, which I combined with adjusting the positoning of the stars layer to show the rocket passing the stars.

This shows how I adjusted the size of a specific flame layer to indicate acceleration.

Overall, I was satisfied with the outcome of the tutorial. I feel the animation of the sky worked better than the animated flames, although if I was to improve the animation of the sky, it would be to make the passing by of the stars appear faster. 

rocket from Jack Barnes on Vimeo.