Digital Photography & Imaging - Final Project

26/05/2022-30-06/2022 (Week 9-14)

Yong Kai Yi (0352826)

Digital Photography & Imaging

Final Project

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LECTURES:

Week 10: Intro to After Effects

This software is used in the post-production phase, and has hundreds of effects that can be used to manipulate imagery. This allows you to combine layers of video and images into the same scene.

fig xx: Compositing Layers in Photoshop

All the layers need to be arrange and rename accordingly in Adobe Photoshop so that it will be organize and easy to be animated in After Effects. 

fig xx: Compositing Layers in After Effects

Basically we can import elements such as images, video, vector and more into After Effects. After Effects files does not embed its media, it links to it.

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VISUAL RESEARH (MOOD BOARD):

Week 9-14:

fig xx: visual research from Pinterest

fig xx: visual research from Pinterest

fig xx: visual research from Pinterest

fig xx: visual research from Pinterest

fig xx: visual research from Pinterest

fig xx: visual research from Pinterest

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INSTRUCTIONS:

Week 9-11:

Exercise:

Progressions:

fig xx: screenshot of exercise progression 

Firstly we use Photoshop to mask the subject out without cropping the backgrounds following the lecturers instructions.

fig xx: screenshot of exercise progression 

Next, export the layers to After Effects and start adding the effects.

Outcomes:

fig xx: week 10 after effects exercise

fig xx: week 11 after effects exercise

fig xx: week 11 after effects exercise

fig xx: week 11 after effects exercise

Idea development:

fig xx: screenshot of PPT for idea development 

fig xx: screenshot of PPT for idea development 

Idea sketch:

fig xx: 1st attempt idea sketch 1

The first sketch is a concept of creating my own world, it's like a floating town above the skies with places and things I love.

fig xx: 1st attempt idea sketch 2

The 2nd sketch is my side profile with a cut-off of my head to represents that's my imagination and things in my head. I included nature, and trees hanging with the little things I love, example: socks, camara with films. I also considering to include my family and friends hugging/ climbing the tree.

fig xx: 1st attempt idea sketch 3

The 3rd sketch shows me myself pouring purple skies and things I love into the world, the background is a city with darker tone and the things I poured out is like fantasy and dreamy vibe.

fig xx: 1st attempt idea sketch 4

The 4th sketch, I placed the subject matter on bottom left watching upwards to a town on a floating island. The town basically is the world created by my own, a world I wanted to live in. It is filled with buildings (which make is looks like a town) some buildings hung with colorful socks, some have waterfalls, some have horses and so on.

Lecturer's feedbacks:

The 1st one will be more challenging, and the 4th one is kind of interesting, can try go for the 4th one.

Progressions:

fig xx: masking radio

fig xx: masking horse

fig xx: masking cat

fig xx: masking trees

I mostly use quick selection tool and masking to remove all the subjects' background.

fig xx: adjusting buildings colors and brightness

I manually select each building to change the colors and brightness to show depth.

fig xx: adding shadows

Next, I use black brush tool to draw the shadow out and use blur effect + lower opacity to make it more smooth. 

fig xx: adding details and objects

Besides, I added the subjects I wanted to include behind/in front of the buildings.

fig xx: adding subject and clouds

Furthermore, I added clouds to match the background and myself sitting on the clouds.

1st attempt outcome (week 12):

fig xx: 1st attempt outcome

This is the 1st attempt outcome, and I was thinking to find a more realistic building but ended up unable to find a decent one, but I found one it's quite nice but will look weird because of the reflections and shadows on the window. So I ask the lecturer's opinion.

fig xx: building street photography

Lecturer's Feedbacks:

Nice, but the cats looks weird. Can try to use the building ( fig xx: building street photography), if the windows looks weird, just mask the window that is not weird and copy & paste on all the "weird windows".

2nd attempt progressions:

After the 1st attempt, I just found out the canvas size is not in A4 size, so I open a new file and redo it.

fig xx: adjustment layers

fig xx: adjustment layers

I open a new file and scaled all the objects, then I made further adjustments, such as brightness, contrast, hue and saturation. 

fig xx: arrange the masked buildings

I use quick selection tool to select one of the windows without the reflections on it and paste it on the windows which have reflections. Then, I use free transform tool to adjust the height and width, so the buildings can look different.

fig xx: add adjustment layers

fig xx: adjustment layers

Then I add adjustment layers (with clipping mask) for every building, to change the color balance, hue & saturation, brightness and so on. Hence, the building can have contrast, clearly see the difference and layers.

fig xx: mask the waterfall, rocks and trees

Next, I duplicated three waterfalls image with different level( with more whites, original and more blacks) to create more realistic look. Then I apply clipping mask for it on the building. I masked out the trees and rocks and applied them behind the waterfall, use eraser to remove part of the building so the top looks like blended with the rocks.

Unfortunately I think the building is quite complicated and too contrast, it may cause the elements I wanted to apply less obvious. So I decided to use the 1st attempt building.

2nd attempt outcome (week 13):

fig xx: 2nd attempt outcome

Lecturer's feedbacks (on week 14):

The buildings look fake, did you tried the another building you sent before? Use that may be better. The building you said weird it may because of the straight line on the left, make it more organic, tilt the building a bit so doesn't look all straight.

3rd attempt progressions (week 14):

fig xx: 3rd attempt (week 14)

In the 3rd attempt, I mask the building again make sure all the edges are organic and arrange them in a different way. Then, I repeat the same steps as above. ( add shadows, mask waterfall, add elements, add adjustment layers).

3rd attempt outcome:

fig xx: 3rd attempt outcome (week 14)

I maintain the concept and idea, just changed the buildings and the arrangements.

Lecturer's feedbacks:

It's better.

Animate in After Effects progressions:

fig xx: animate in AE

fig xx: animate in AE

I tried using 'Puppet pin' tool to animate the cat's leg and paw, make it slightly move to let it looks more interesting overall.

fig xx: animate in AE

I use the code to loop the key frame.

1st attempt outcome:

fig xx: 1st attempt outcome

This is the 1st attempt outcome, every keyframe is about 4 seconds, the background animation is use the concept and technique we learnt from class, when the lecturer taught us. I tried to make the whole image just a little details moving calmly, not too messy and chaotic. 

Lecturer's feedbacks:

I think is good, but slow down, too fast.

2nd attempt outcome:

fig xx: 2nd attempt outcome

The 2nd attempt outcome, I slowed down to 8 seconds per key frame.

Lecturer's feedbacks:

I think she (the girl) should be in the frame slowly floating.

Final outcome:

fig xx: final attempt outcome

The final outcome is more slowed down and the subject are all stayed in the frame. 

Lecturer's feedbacks:

Nice.

Final outcome (with audio):

fig xx: final attempt outcome (with audio)

Final project PPT:

fig xx: final PPT file

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REFLECTIONS:

For this final project, I think is quite interesting as it is self-titled. It is also my first time approaching After Effects. It is really tricky for me, as there is a lot of technical things to learn, and lots of functions need to explore. The software itself is the most challenging part for me. Before importing to AE, I need to edit the pictures in PS first. So, will be using about 3 software to render a animated poster, as I also used Media Encoder to export the video to mp4 file. Overall, this module I learnt a lot about how to use the software, it is all new to me, and I found it quite useful.