-> 2024 3 May
Artifact Proposal
Presentation Deck Link
Idea:
This is a branding motion reel for a design studio whose slogan is “We create fresh ideas.” I felt the slogan was too abstract, especially the words “create” and “idea.”
To make it clearer, I came up with a new concept: imagine it’s like cooking fresh food. Design is seen as something beautiful and delicious, and the designer is like a chef crafting something fresh.
I did some research and found references from my past work. With my background in branding and graphic design, I want to combine all my skills and create a unique showreel. I’ve always wanted to merge 2D and 3D together. I used to work as a 2D motion graphic designer and know about a technique called morphing, which is very cool in 2D animation. However, it’s rare to see in 3D, likely because it takes more time. So, I decided to experiment with using morphing transitions for a branding reel.
Draft:
Before starting the project, I brainstormed some ideas on how the character will be animated in the film. I came up with the idea of a carrot character because it resembles my name. I’ve made some drafts of how the carrot will look and also thought of using morphing as a transition, like a magical transformation from one character to another.
Previsualization/Storyboard
The project is about a design studio whose slogan is “We create fresh ideas for clients.” The main goal of this video is to visually convey the concept of fresh ideas to the audience. Based on feedback from Sere, who suggested we create a narrative for our project, I developed a storyboard and started thinking about how to represent the concept of “fresh” in this animation reel.
There are a total of four parts to the storyboard:
Introduction:
- The main character is introduced, revealing the main title card.
- The character, a carrot, is depicted as a magic pen that creates fresh ideas.
Morphing Transition:
- This chapter showcases a morphing transition, guiding the audience on how the carrot can help clients solve problems.
- Simple icons are used to visualize abstract concepts. For example:
- A scope symbolizes observing or searching.
- A key represents solving problems or offering solutions for clients.
Emphasizing Freshness:
- This part emphasizes the idea of freshness, the main identity of the studio.
- To maintain consistency, many illustrations related to cooking and food are used as metaphors for the fresh designs created by the studio.
Ending:
- Initially, this part was meant to show various fresh foods simultaneously, emphasizing the multitude of fresh ideas the studio can create.
- However, due to time constraints and concerns about redundancy, this part was removed in the final video.
Regarding texturing, I also want to try a new method I learned from online tutorials. This method uses Procreate to paint the model, making it convenient and intuitive to create textures with brushes. I’m integrating many textures and combining 2D with 3D elements during the composition phase.
I understand that what looks good in 2D drafts can sometimes have a different visual impact in 3D rendering. This discrepancy required me to spend a significant amount of time working on this part to ensure the final composition met my expectations.
My plan is to start by creating 2D previsualization first, which I’ll then use as a reference in 3D. While this approach might take more time initially, it will ultimately reduce the working time in Cinema 4D for composition and animation. Additionally, it will provide me with a comprehensive understanding of what the final product will look like in the future. This method allows me to have a clearer vision and streamline the overall production process.
Some timetable I plan to. ( Hopefully … )
-> 2024 10 May
Session 5
Vicom Import and CleanUp / Touch Designer and UE
In our upcoming session, we’ll explore the fusion of Touch Designer and Unreal Engine (UE), two powerful tools that open a world of creative possibilities. With Touch Designer, we’ll craft interactive visuals, experimenting with effects and animations. In UE, we’ll build immersive virtual worlds, leveraging its advanced graphics and development tools. Additionally, we’ll integrate Vicon MoCap data into UE, adding realism to our projects. Join us on this creative journey as we combine the visual prowess of Touch Designer with the immersive capabilities of Unreal Engine, pushing the boundaries of art and technology.
Key Concepts:
- Bloom Glow: A visual effect that adds brightness and glows to elements in your scene.
- HSV Blur: A tool for adding blur effects with control over colour and intensity.
Practical Applications:
- Try out Palette components to see how they work.
- Experiment with Bloom Glow to enhance the glow of objects.
- Use HSV Blur to add depth and atmosphere to your compositions.
Essential tools available in Touch Designer:
- Comp: The main workspace where you put together your project.
- TOP (Texture Operator): Handles textures and images.
- CHOP (Channel Operator): Deals with audio and animation data.
- SOP (Surface Operator): Works with 3D geometry and shapes.
- MAT (Material Operator): Creates and manages materials for surfaces.
- DAT (Data Operator): Works with text and data for scripting and settings.
- Custom: Allows you to create your own components and plugins.
Testing
-> 2024 1 May
Session 4 – Touch Designer and Sound
In today’s class led by our tutor, Sunny, we’re diving into Touch Designer to create cool animations and visuals using sound. Touch Designer is like a magic tool for making interactive art with lights, colours, and sounds. With Sunny’s help, we’ll learn step-by-step how to make awesome stuff that moves and changes with the beat of the music.
We’ll start by learning how to bring sound into Touch Designer, and then Sunny will show us how to make it do amazing things with visuals. It’s like painting with sound! By the end of the class, we’ll have a mini light show that dances along with our favourite tunes. So get ready to have some fun and make some noise – Sunny’s prepared to show us the way!
Testing result
The portal in TD is insane….
Test:
I’m using Touch Designer to make a cool VJ-style animation with 3D tools. It’s like being a digital artist in a virtual world. With Touch Designer, I can create amazing visuals that move and groove to the beat, making my VJ performances stand out. It’s all about bringing my ideas to life in a way that’s exciting and captivating for the audience.
About the audio analysis in TD
Audio analysis in TouchDesigner offers a portal into the sonic landscape, with tools to dissect sound into its fundamental elements. From low-key to mid-key to high-key frequencies, it provides insights into the nuanced layers of audio. Additionally, it delves into the rhythmic backbone of music, detecting components like kick and snare, as well as the intricate rhythm patterns that drive the beat. These portals into the sonic realm empower creators to craft immersive visual experiences that resonate with the pulse of the music, enriching performances, installations, and visualizations with dynamic audiovisual synergy.
https://forum.derivative.ca/t/audioanalysis-tox/8128
The default image is a banana, which is cool.
-> 2024 24 Apr.
Session 3 – Introduction to Virtual Production
In this session, we will learn how to set up Virtual Production using Live Link cameras and NDisplays. Virtual Production combines real-time computer graphics with live-action footage, allowing us to see and adjust scenes in real-time. We’ll start by covering the basics of Virtual Production, including what it is and the tools and technologies involved. Then, we’ll dive into setting up Live Link cameras, explaining their role, how to configure them in Unreal Engine, and tips for optimizing their performance.
Next, we’ll focus on configuring NDisplays, which are crucial for enhancing Virtual Production. We’ll learn what NDisplays are, why they are important, and how to set them up for seamless integration. We’ll also discuss best practices for ensuring smooth operation and synchronization. By the end of this session, we will know how to set up and use Live Link cameras and NDisplays, enabling us to create and adjust scenes in real-time, opening up new creative possibilities.