Illustration and Visual Narrative / Task 2

23.9.2021 - 21.10.2021 (Week 5 - Week 9)

Abigail Kartika Darmowinoto / 0350525 / Bachelor of Design in Creative Media
Illustration and Visual Narrative / Taylor's University 
Task 2 : Decisive Moment

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LIST

• Lectures
• Instructions
• Exercise
• Feedbacks
• Reflections
• Further Reading

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LECTURES 
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Week 5: Composition III (Rhythm and Movement + Chiaroscuro)

• Rhythm and Movement

Rhythm is the most difficult aspect to achieve in term of making composition. Example of composition with good rhythm:

fig. 1, rhythm, source; lecture, Week 5 (23/09/2021)

GOOD MUSIC = GOOD BEAT = GOOD RHYTHM. To achieve good composition, we should make more than a same pattern, this can make the composition not monotonous. It can be created using basic visual elements and tools, like rectangle, circle, etc. by maximizing overlaps.

fig. 2, overlaps, source; lecture, Week 5 (23/09/2021)

fig. 3, patterns and rhythm, source; lecture, Week 5 (23/09/2021)

Movement / flows can be created by using shapes and lines:

fig. 4, how to make movements, source; lecture, Week 5 (23/09/2021)

These are some examples of mediocre composition:

fig. 5, mediocre examples, source; lecture, Week 5 (23/09/2021)

“Good artists copy, great artists steal.”

- Pablo Picasso

• Chiaroscuro

fig. 6, example of chiaroscuro, source; lecture, Week 5 (23/09/2021)

chi·a·ro·scu·ro (n) /kyärəˈsk(y)o͝orō/ means:

• The use of: light and dark
• To make: illusion of 3D volume on flat surface

Effects of using chiaroscuro:

• Increase dramatic tension
• Create sensational effect
• Pull your attention to a subject in an intense way
• Create a tasteful composition of negative vs positive space
• Also a good study for form and value practise

Week 7: 3 Acts Structure

can be found in the next lecture, Illustration and Visual Narrative / Task 3.

PRACTICAL

Week 5: Using Perspective Grid in Adobe Illustrator

Ms. Jennifer had prepared her movie poster sketch

fig. sketch, source; lecture, Week 5 (23/09/2021)

Then, she started to use the pen tool and finished the subject tracing

fig. 7, tracing 1, source; lecture, Week 5 (23/09/2021)

fig. 8, tracing 2, source; lecture, Week 5 (23/09/2021)

Ms. Jennifer created the floor/ground of the subject.

fig. 9, ground, source; lecture, Week 5 (23/09/2021)

After that, Ms. Jennifer applied the perspective using the perspective grid. Ms. Jennifer used 1 point perspective. To edit the points, we can go to view, and there're options there.

fig. 10, perspective grid, source; lecture, Week 5 (23/09/2021)

Finally, Ms. Jennifer finished the poster.

fig. 11, finalized design, source; lecture, Week 5 (23/09/2021)

Week 7: Creating GIF in Photoshop

In this week, Ms. Jennifer demonstrated on how to create a GIF using Photoshop.

EDITING THE MOVEMENT

(so sorry for the blurry quality of the images :( )

After we finished our artwork, we should make a different layer for each element to create a movement.

fig. 12, element 1, source; lecture video, Week 7 (07/10/2021)

fig. 13, element 2, source; lecture video, Week 7 (07/10/2021)

EDITING THE GIF

After finished creating the movement, we should proceed to the next step which is importing the background to Photoshop. First we have to open Photoshop and create a new file with the same settings as the Adobe Illustrator. Then, paste the background as a smart object.

fig. 14, smart object and timeline window, source; lecture video, Week 7 (07/10/2021)

Create a video timeline. After that, you'll see a purple bar, which is the length of the elements in the animation. To edit it just drag the time to left or right. Adjust the sequences, adjust it per elements, so it'll make a good animation.

fig. 15, editing timeline, source; lecture video, Week 7 (07/10/2021)

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INSTRUCTIONS

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<iframe src="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ZeyEI9ZvcizUdsaL_czufp8L_44zQynp/preview" width="640" height="480" allow="autoplay"></iframe>

<iframe src="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QHbGaffvJa2e9Ch604GCsZE7ZDuxYI2_/preview" width="640" height="480" allow="autoplay"></iframe>

1. Search on a movie/film's decisive moment
2. Draw some sketches
3. Trace it with Pen Tool on Adobe Illustrator
4. Make the GIF

DEADLINE: Friday 29 October 2021 by 11.59PM

Upload these files into your Google Drive Folder under Task 1 [Refer to the folder arrangement in Module details]

• Minimalist poster [800 x 600 pix or vice versa]
• Animated minimalist poster [800 x 600 pix or vice versa] 
• Blog update for Task 2 in your e-portfolio

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EXERCISE

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1. Sketches 

CRUELLA

fig. 16, Cruella movie poster, source; (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3228774/), Week 5 (23/09/2021)

So, I actually got a big inspiration from "Cruella" movie. I want to create the scene where she burned her dress.

fig. 17, Burning Dress Scene, source; (https://youtu.be/8tfHT4TMHqs), Week 5 (23/09/2021)

So, I made my sketch:

I thought it's a decisive moment since I thought it's the moment where she started to do a move, but turns out my understanding of the terms "decisive moment" isn't correct yet. My sketch was considered as a "moment" not "decisive moment". 

ABOMINABLE

So I brainstormed more and find this movie named "Abominable"

fig. 18, Abominable movie poster, source; (https://movieden.net/artikel-joker-zombieland-2-film-oktober-2019/poster-abominable/), Week 6 (30/09/2021)

I want to create a poster based on this scene:

fig. 19, Bridge Battle Scene, source; (https://youtu.be/Btywn5TiBNQ), Week 6 (30/09/2021)

So, I made my sketch:

fig. 20, ABOMINABLE sketch, Week 6 (30/09/2021)

I planned to animate the white flower and the girl when she's dangling in the bridge.

GUARDIAN OF THE GALAXY

I remembered Ms. Anis mentioned to make "sketches" not just "a sketch," so I search for another movie, this time it's form MARVEL. 

fig. 21, Guardian of the Galaxy movie poster, source; (http://cafmp.com/18956/guardians-of-the-galaxy-3/), Week 6 (30/09/2021)

I planned to create a decisive moment when the purple stone got thrown away and both Ronan and Peter want to reached the stone.

fig. 22, Bridge Battle Scene, source; (https://youtu.be/rLM-bmdTuy0?t=65), Week 6 (30/09/2021)

I planned to animate the hand. So, here's my sketch:

fig. 23, GOTG sketch, Week 6 (30/09/2021)

2. Traced Sketches 

Since I was incorrect on week 5, I have to keep progressing on the digitized version, so I decided to traced both of the poster. 

fig. 24, Abominable, Week 7 (07/10/2021)

fig. 25, GOTG, Week 7 (07/10/2021)

Both of the lecturers, Ms. Anis and Ms. Jennifer suggested that I picked the Abominable on since the animating is simpler and the linear is nicely done. So, here're my step by step progression of Abominable:

• Tracing the girl

First, I import my sketch to Adobe Illustrator. While tracing, I adjust some part that I think weird, so here's how it looks like:

fig. 26, Abominable tracing, Week 6 (30/09/2021)

After that, I add elements like ropes;

fig. 27, Abominable tracing done, Week 6 (30/09/2021)

• Background

This is my background sketch for abominable. I planned to make a view of the snow mountain. 

(sorry for the unclean and super rough sketch :( )

fig. 28, BG sketch, Week 7 (07/10/2021)

Then, I traced and adjust it a bit using the pen tool.

fig. 29, bg first attempt, Week 7 (07/10/2021)

I noticed the icy top of the mountain seems like a mistake an it's weird, so I adjust my background more, and here's how it turned out;

fig. 30, final bg, Week 8 (14/10/2021)

This is the final look of my background after I adjust it with blueish tone.

fig. 31, final background look, Week 8 (14/10/2021)

fig. 32, final background look (structure), Week 8 (14/10/2021)

• Title

Ms. Anis reminded us to always make things made by us to be better, so I decided to recreate the title of the movie.

fig. 33, title tracing, Week 7 (07/10/2021)

So here's how my title looked like:

fig. 34, title tracing done, Week 7 (07/10/2021)

Ms. Jennifer reminded me that the "Abominable" has a blueish vibes color, I decided to adjust my coloring a bit, and here's the final;

fig. 35, blueish vibes, Week 8 (07/10/2021)

fig. 36, before after, Week 8 (07/10/2021)

3. GIF

After I finish doing things in Adobe Illustrator, I began to proceed with the GIF making. First, I import all the elements to the Photoshop by copy and paste as a smart object as instructed.

fig. 37, smart object, Week 9 (14/10/2021)

Then, I opened the timeline window and started to adjust the motion.

So, this is a simple motion that I made, with no improvements form the sketch:

fig. 38, GIF draft 1, Week 9 (14/10/2021)

Then, I tried to make something different, I try to do something with the flower, so here's the result:

fig. 39, GIF draft 1, Week 9 (14/10/2021)

Althought the movement is a little bit too much, and the animation isn't really smooth, I think the second one is better since the movement in the first one is to monotonous. So I began to repair the movement again.

Looking up into my timeline, I noticed that I made some mistakes which making it look choppy in result:

fig. 40, timeline, Week 9 (14/10/2021)

Since I made such mistakes and I think I ruined my animation, I tried to make things from scratch, started with making the flower's animation:

fig. 41, timeline 2, Week 9 (14/10/2021)

I tried to check things by moving the red line forward-backwards.

fig. 42, timeline 3, Week 9 (14/10/2021)

Finally after struggling doing some adjustments, I made it to my final (yay :'D), so here're my final:

fig. 43, final poster jpg, Week 9 (14/10/2021)

fig. 44, final poster pdf, Week 9 (14/10/2021)

fig. 45, GIF Final, Week 9 (14/10/2021)

fig. 46, GIF Final (embed), Week 9 (14/10/2021)

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FEEDBACK

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Week 5:

• n/a 

Week 6:

• General Feedback : It has to be decisive and minimalist. Also, don't forget if you were asked for a sketches, don't only make one.
• Specific Feedback : It's not decisive enough. Maybe you can use the final moment of the movie.

Week 7:

• General Feedback : Beware of copyright! It's safer to create something by "remaking" it instead of copy paste it. (Example : Title, etc.)
• Specific Feedback : The Abominable sketch can go, the tracing is very neat and good. The Guardian of The Galaxy isn't simple enough and it's hard to animate.

Week 8:

• General Feedback : Individual Learning Week!
• Specific Feedback : The art is good, but the movie has a blueish vibes, so should adjust the color a bit. (via Discord)

Week 9:

• General Feedback : n/a
• Specific Feedback : The colors are better! The swinging animation makes her look like swinging not hanging on -> reduce the movement a bit. The second animation, which the flower floats to a close up look is better. The animation is a little bit choppy, should add more frames. (via Discord)

fig. 47, feedback, Week 9 (14/10/2021)

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REFLECTION

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I can't believe I actually made a minimalistic poster (imo tho :/). I never thought I can do this, when I her about the assessment brief, I didn't really have much confidence in doing this exercise, because I never been able to make something "minimalistic." I'm happy and satisfied with my studying process. Because of it, I mastered the pen tool better than before. I also learned more about color schemes, because in my project I have to make the color using bluish vibes. I also learnt about animation. Before I learnt this module, I only learn animation using the frame by frame method in typography module. I think animation is a challenging subject to do, an it requires lots of patience :')

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FURTHER READING

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The New Rules of Minimal Design: 

Best Practices, Examples, and Tips

(https://designshack.net/articles/trends/minimal-design-rules/)

What's a minimalist graphic design?

A minimalist graphic design uses typography and design elements to achieve a simple and usable display. It's not just stripping out all elements from design, but the elements are designed with distinct intent.

fig. 48, minimalist, Week 7 (07/10/2021), source; (https://designshack.net/articles/trends/minimal-design-rules/)

Minimal Design Best Practices and Tips:

• Has a distinct focal point

Focal point should be an interesting, unusual, or somewhat surprising visual element so it'll add just the right modern touch.

• Typeface

Consider using trendy, color, or animated effect

• Stick to these best practices and tips:

1. Stick to one design trick, can be visual or interactive
2. Take a hard look at design elements and remove most of them that does not have specific and intentional meaning
3. Set a streamlined color scheme – a background color, text color, and accent color
4. Consider symmetrical and asymmetrical options
5. Use whitespace liberally
6. Match the brand philosophy
7. Sometimes let the lettering be the focal point of the design by considering an oversized, undersized, or experimental type option to make impact
8. Design an “Easter egg.” These design surprises, most commonly found in websites, add a true element of delight to the user experience. They can also add a modern touch to a super simple design scheme.
9. It’s ok to mix more complex design elements in a minimal design framework, don’t get so caught in the idea of minimalism that the design suffers

• Examples:

fig. 49, minimalist cards, Week 7 (07/10/2021), source; (https://designshack.net/articles/trends/minimal-design-rules/)

fig. 50, Girmit, Week 7 (07/10/2021), source; (https://designshack.net/articles/trends/minimal-design-rules/)

fig. 51, Logo, Week 7 (07/10/2021), source; (https://designshack.net/articles/trends/minimal-design-rules/)

fig. 52, Invitation, Week 7 (07/10/2021), source; (https://designshack.net/articles/trends/minimal-design-rules/)

Making minimalist design may be a fun yet challenging things to do, especially if the designer isn't used to do minimalistic design. When thinking minimally, the goal should be functional and elegant. Designer should use one focal element that sets the tone of the overall design.

Web Reference:

Cousins, Carrie. 2021. "The New Rules of Minimal Design: Best Practices, Examples, and Tips", accessed on October 02, 2021 (20.12, UTC+7), https://designshack.net/articles/trends/minimal-design-rules/

Shading Flat Design

https://youtu.be/2TbzxWploGI

The YouTube taught me faster way of making vector art shading. There's a shortcut on doing it using the knife tool. All we have to do is first making the basic vector color.

Then, using the knife tool, we cut the area we want to give shading.

fig. 53, Knife, Week 7 (07/10/2021), source; (https://youtu.be/2TbzxWploGI)

The next is choose a shading color as usual.

fig. 54, Shading, Week 7 (07/10/2021), source; (https://youtu.be/2TbzxWploGI)

To make a shading, it doesn't have to be a photo realistic shading, just show up the volume you want to show using shapes, either it's circle, rectangle, etc.

Youtube Reference:

Cosmin Serban. March 09, 2020. "Illustrator Tutorial: Shading a Flat Design Illustration", https://youtu.be/2TbzxWploGI