WK01: Welcome to MultimediaMotion Graphics using AE

Welcome to the course....

In fourteen weeks, together we will learn the basics of AE.

We will produce three projects: Bumper; Kinetic Poem; Movie Title Sequence.

The theme for the course is PLAY. When you are playing you are learning. Be playful!

WK01 Play time:
01. Create a YouTube account.
You will post your weekly exercises and three projects here.
 http://www.youtube.com/create_account
02. View WK01 EXERCISE video.
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLlIIdofKZQ
03. Read WK01.PDF which includes the steps to complete the exercise. See Professor's Course Web Site.
04. View WK01 HOWTO video. Coming Soon. Stay tuned!
05. Complete the exercise using AE.
06. Practice, practice, practice... and make notes on a couple of the tips and techniques learned this week.
07. Apply what you learned this week to something of your own. Post this work on your YouTube account.  http://www.youtube.com/create_account
08. Share what you have learned with someone in the class. This will help you remember what you have learned this week.

WK01: EXERCISE video

The Film Challenge... win up to $25,000

make a short film... that's it:
http://www.thereelchallenge.ca/

Everything's Amazing, Nobody's Happy

Mobile Education: What do you think about it?

iPhone learning:
http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2009/12/iphone-university-abilene/

Handheld learning:
http://www.handheldlearning.co.uk/content/category/1/1/60/

iThinkED
http://www.ithinked.com/

Mobile Learning:
http://mlearning.edublogs.org/

The Future of Education:
http://www.xplanazine.com/

iStanford Applications:
http://studentapps.stanford.edu/iapps.html

Student Apps:
http://www.blackboard.com/Mobile/Modules/Mobile-Central.aspx

Is this the future?

Week#15: TITLE SEQUENCE requirements

A title sequence is the method by which cinematic films or television programs present their title and/or key production and cast members, utilizing conceptual visuals and sound. This project is based upon the inspirational work of Kyle Cooper. Kyle Cooper is a designer of motion picture title sequences. His work includes the opening credit sequences of Seven (1995), The Mummy (1999), Dawn of the Dead (2004), Spider-Man 2 (2004), Godzilla: Final Wars (2004), Superman Returns (2006), Across the Universe (2007), The Incredible Hulk (2008), and the video games Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty (2001) and Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater (2004). His work in the credits field is often compared to Saul Bass.
Rationale Text Reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kyle_Cooper

DESCRIPTION AND TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS:
Based on a movie, video game, software, or a book, design a title sequence to introduce the story. Create a video using AE and post it on YouTube.

The project must include the following technical items and criteria:
1. At least 10 lines of text;
2. Use of text animation presets;
3. Use of ease-in/out;
4. Animated type and custom shapes with a motion path;
5. Masking;
6. 3D layers;
7. Multiple lights;
8. Cameras;
9. Puppets;
10. Expressions;
11. Time stretching;
12. Motion tracking;
13. Use of a track matte;
14. Output final to QuickTime file format;
15. Post the video on YouTube;
16. Include music track;
17. At least six special effects;
18. All production and final files must be archived to a CD-R and/or DVD-R.

DELIVERABLES:
CD-R and/or DVD-R including all files: design rationale, production and final files;
In-class presentation with a peer evaluation;
Design Rationale: Include sketches, design process notes, and time management worksheet.

PROJECT EVALUATION:
The Project will be evaluated according to the following:
• time management,
• creativity,
• aesthetics,
• following a design rationale and design principles,
• functionality,
• ease-of-use,
• reliably demonstrating all technical specifications.

Week #14: Expressions

EXAMPLE#1: Pickwhip tool



What is an expression?
An expression is basically a Javascript line of code (scripts, set of instructions, formulas) used to generate and animate property values.

EXERCISE #1: Pickwhip Tool

We will use one layer's properties to control another layer's properties directly,
using the Pickwhip Tool.

STEPS:
1. Create Text
• Create text in a layer: "Blast Off".
• Create a layer with the words "into space".

2. Animate "Blast Off"
• In the layer with the text "Blast Off", in the Timeline Ruler, use two keyframes to animate the Opacity from 100% to 0% over 10 seconds. This will create a fade out.

OPTION and Drag the CTI to scrub through the animation.


3. Link the "Blast Off" animation to "into space" using the Pickwhip Tool
• In the layer with the text "into space", do the following:
1. Open up the property layers, and click on Opacity.
2. Hold OPTION and click on Opacity.
- reveals the expression in the Timeline Ruler;
- reveals a set of switches next to the property Opacity.
3. Click the Pickwhip (the swirl) and drag the Pickwhip to the Opacity property of the layer with the text "Blast Off".
RESULT: This links into space with Blast Off.
thisComp.layer("Blast Off").transform.opacity

4. Repeat this action with the Z Rotation and Scale
• Hold OPTION and click on the Property.
• Click the Pickwhip (the swirl) and drag the Pickwhip to the property .

thisComp.layer("Blast Off").transform.zRotation
thisComp.layer("Blast Off").transform.scale

---------------------------------------

Add a light,
Pickwhip the Light Intensity to the Scale property of Blast Off.
NOTE how the Scale goes from 100% to 0,
Now the Light Intensity goes from 100% to 0%. In other words it fades out.
So, one property value may control another different property value.

thisComp.layer("Blast Off").transform.scale[0]
is now in the Light Intensity expression
---------------------------------------

Add a camera,
Pickwhip the Camera Zoom to the Scale property of Blast Off.
NOTE how the Scale goes from 100% to 0,
Now the Camera Zoom goes from 100% to 0%. In other words, it zooms away.
So, one property value may control another different property value.

thisComp.layer("Blast Off").transform.scale[0]
is now in the Camera Zoom expression
---------------------------------------

Pickwhip the spacemen to the Blast Off property of Z Rotation
NOTE how the Z Rotation goes from 0 to -1x (in other words -360 degrees)
Now the Camera Zoom goes from 100% to 0%. In other words, it zooms away.
So, one property value may control another different property value.

thisComp.layer("Blast Off").transform.scale[0]
is now in the spacemen expression

EXAMPLE #2:Creating motion using an expression:


EXERCISE #2: Motion Using an Expression

1. Enable Time Remapping
Layer > Time > Enable Time Remapping

2. Apply the following expression to the Time Remap property layer
cycle = 4;
f = timeToFrames();
framesToTime(Math.floor)f/cycle) + f%cycle);



EXAMPLE #3: Audio triggering animation using Audio Amplitude:


EXERCISE #3:
SetUp
1. shape on a layer
2. Audio file with variable amplitude
3. Select the audio layer, then Animation > Keyframe Assistant > Convert Audio to Keyframes. This creates an Audio Amplitude layer

4. Apply the following script to the Scale property of the shape

minAudio = 0;
maxAudio = 20;
maxStretch = 4.0;

audioLev = thisComp.layer("Audio Amplitude").effect("Both Channels")("Slider");

stretch = linear(audioLev, minAudio, maxAudio, 1.0, maxStretch);

value * stretch