Typography Basics

From the book: Basics of Design: Layout and typography for Beginners

by Lisa Graham 2002


Basic typeface combinations:

* Use sans serif type in headlines and subheads, serif in body copy ( serifs aid in readability)
* Use no more than two type combinations per page.
* Use only one decorative or novelty typeface per page
* Avoid using two sans serif or two serifs together on a page because they conflict
* Emphasize headlines, titles, and subheads more than body copy.
* start your experiments with classic typfaces first.


Classic Serif typefaces: Garamond, Goudy, Caslon, Bodini, and Baskerville

Classic Sans serif Typefaces: Gill Sans, Futura and Franklin Gothic


Lisa Lists 5 typefaces she must have on a deserted island and why:

* Garamond: classy , dignified and easy on the eyes
* Gills sans: It goes with every serif font she has seen
* Bodini: Very readable, Flexible
* Officina Sans: Modern, readable, works with Garamond, Bodini, and Officina Serif
* Officina Serif: Modern Readable serif, works with Gill Sans and Officina sans

Composition

When creating visual art you need to consider the rules of composition so that your work will have maximum impact and clarity. There are some basic things you need to know first before you begin the process of creating your composition. Thinking about these things beforehand will make your efforts more streamlined and efficient because you will move forward with a clear understanding of what you need to do and not waste time on ideas that will not fulfill your objective, or meet the expectations of the client.
Before you start the process make sure you know at least these four things:

1. What is your message?
   
2. Who is your message intended for? ie.Who's your audience?
3. By what means will you display your message. What is your mode of delivery: (poster, television, webpage, buisness card, banner ad, portable device)
4. The basics of the design principles: Emphasis, Contrast, Balance, Alignment, Repetition, Flow.
   

Make sure to always keep it simple.

Saul Bass titles or titles inspried by him

It's a Mad , Mad, Mad world

Charade

7 year itch

Catch me if you can

Thank you for smoking

The man with the golden arm

Psycho


































































Website dedicated to motion titles:http://www.artofthetitle.com/


http://motionographer.com/

Final Project Examples

Final Project Examples:

IgniteLearning.com has some nice educational animation examples:
Example 1: Math equations
Example 2: Circulation
Example 3: Plant Cells vs Animal cells
Example 4: Fractions
Example 5: Volcanoes (youtube clip)




The Crisis of Credit Visualized Part 1: Jonathan Jarvis 2009





The Crisis of Credit Visualized Part 2: Jonathan Jarvis 2009


Creating ECards:
E-cards contain good design, motion graphics, text and composition plus a message. Look at some examples below:

This one uses a popular Madagascar character in a cut out animation technique. Lip sync and choreography.
http://www.hallmark.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ecard|10001|10051|907297|147551;-102001;-102270;265068|ecard|P1R1S|ecards?cardType=premium&template=n&categoryId=265068

Brick House: This card contains nice use of text animation. its creative has a nice palette and has a variety of motion and design.
http://www.bluemountain.com/display.pd?prodnum=3152178&path=106922


This one has old B/W movie with neon contemporary animation added http://www.bluemountain.com/display.pd?prodnum=3152183&path=106922

You Smell Good: Fun Characters, Energetic Music, humorous, good text work.
http://www.hallmark.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ECardPersonalizeView?eo=true&topNav=false&personalizePage=true&categoryId=182069&URL=ECardPersonalizeView&partNumber=hyg1042_DK&s=hyg1042&r=&p=&ssd=You+Smell+Really+Good&n=DEFAULT&st=%2Fproducts%2Fecards%2Fhyg1042_120.gif&productId=876304&tabOn=ecards&catalogId=10051&sn=You+Smell+Really+Good&cardType=free&e=DEFAULT&storeId=10001&date=DEFAULT&mid=7000000000000000051&nv=true&template=o&CatIDsList=147551%3B-102001%3B11443%3B-102034%3B182069


10 Finger Multi Touch User Interface:

Download:

FLVMP43GP

Download:

FLVMP43GP

Download:

FLVMP43GP

Download:

FLVMP43GP

Download:

FLVMP43GP

StoryBoards

Pre-production of animation is a critical stage in developing story. It will allow you to organize shots, Plan the camera moves, and put your story in logical sequences.
Here are some nice examples of some storyboards.
http://www.brianlemay.com/storyboards/storyboard1.html
http://www.storyboards-east.com/sb_mm.htm
http://www.storyboards-east.com/sb_jeep.htm
http://www.storyboards-east.com/animat.htm
http://accad.osu.edu/womenandtech/Storyboard%20Resource/
http://www.thegremlin.com/balto.html
http://motiongraphicslab.com/website/pencil-storyboards.html

When you create storyboards make sure one shot is on one individual piece of paper, 8.5 x11 minimum that way it can be seen from a slight distance.
*Always ink your work with dark lines so that it can be seen from a distance
*Always mount the page on a rigid back so it does not curl and could be placed in the chalk tray and leaned against the white board.
*Always have something with you to jot notes or new ideas you get during the pitch session. Sticky notes work well for this!!

Be enthusiastic when you present your boards so that the audience can get into your story and become connected with your ideas. Allow folks to give you feedback as one idea may spur others and can help develop your story.
Each panel does not have to be a work of art but you do have to make your images clear so we can identify your main concepts.
Take time to think about what you want to say and the best way to say that.
Think about your camera moves, and illustrate those with arrows
It's OK to write notes on your boards to help sync up your work with dialogue, or sound or to help you remember details of the scene.
After viewing the storyboards anyone should understand your story and what you are communicating. If they can not you need to keep refining your boards so that the message is clear.

Review Videos

StarWars Title After Effects Demo
A basic introduction to using After Effects

Puppet Animation: Puppet makers

Premier Puppet makers
http://www.mackinnonandsaunders.com/
check out their Gallery and movie credits.

Puppet Animation

Madame Tutli-Putli Chris Lavis, Macick Szczebowski, 2008 part 1
National Film Board of Canada animators
OSCAR 2008 NOMINATED FILM A timid woman boards a mysterious night train and has a series of frightening experiences



Madame Tutli-Putli part 2


Coraline, Directed by Henry Selik, 2009
Henry Selik newest creation
http://www.coraline.com/?__source=ggl|coraline|MovieTitle|Coraline_Brand&sky=ggl|coraline|MovieTitle|Coraline_Brand

Trailer for Coraline, 2009
http://www.laika.com/entertainment/

Camera-Less Animation

Caroline Leaf
Two Sisters: 1991
National Film Board Animator created this animation using the camera-less technique. She etched directly on the 70mm film.
http://www3.nfb.ca/animation/objanim/en/filmmakers/Caroline-Leaf/film.php?id=9468&idfilm=26014

Animation Basic Skills

Animando: Marcos Magalhaes, 1987 (National Film board of Canada site)
Very explanatory demonstration of various techniques we'll be using in class
Includes nearly all the techniques of hand crafted animation
http://www3.nfb.ca/animation/objanim/en/films/film.php?sort=title&id=16804

Implied Motion

graphic by Minard (1781-1870)
http://www.napoleonic-literature.com/1812/1812.htm
- graphic representing Napoleon’s unsuccessful campaign to Moscow-
combines data and time-series (representing passage of time)
- different pieces of information are represented superbly in one image
- six variables are plotted (army size, location, direction, temperature, date)