Resources
This is the flash tips I bookmark on as my webpage. Sorry to put in here late.
Library Book
I borrowed from NYP library “Flash 3D cheats” that shows me how to make 3D effects. There is step by step instruction which are quite easy to understand.
Online tutorials
To create Flash with a switch between movie clips by pressing on button:
switch between movie clips
(From this web I learn what variable means)
To learn how to simply move and animate object:
move and animate object
(From this web I learn there is release() function that is mouse clicking on release and stop() function pause the at the frame.)
To make flexible and curvy movements in Flash:
flexible and curvy movements
To move movieclips around the stage by pressing a key: move movieclips around
(learn that ._x and ._y coordinate can move movieclip around)
Flash tips
Here are some graphics that I have done throughout the FYPJ period. [Graphics are all watermarked.]
Resource Files
These are mainly illustration of gadgets or pictures which will later be used for posters, wallpapers and so on. It also includes templates, web interface buttons etc.
These buttons can be used for applications or web pages. It enhances the Interfaces instead of having the usual grey rectangle buttons.
These are some illustration samples done from scratch using Adobe Photoshop.
- The first poster you see on the top right is a sample poster I have done for my project multimedia banks with the use of 2 Adobe software- Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Photoshop. I’ll give a brief description of the logo. As you can see, the shape is similar to a seed. Being pioneers of this project, we are like the seed of a plant growing as we learn and adopt new skills. This also explains why I have chosen the color, green.
- This is a mobile application related poster. The phone is taken from the web. While the effects, background etc are all done using Adobe Photoshop.
- This is a poster which relates to Macintosh “Apple”. Using the apple I have done, I did some effects on the words, give it a background and a shadow for the apple and the poster is done.
- I have use the lock that I have done previously for this poster to emphasize on network security. The black background is filled with little bugs/ghosts which represents viruses.
- Another Macintosh related poster. The purple photograph is a photograph of Singapore which I took from the web as well. I enhance it by making it more contrasting by adjusting the levels and sharpening it in Photoshop. I duplicate multiple layers of the photograph and remove squares of pictures from it.
- Using the HTC phone, I created a mobile phone advertisement. Effects are all done using Adobe Photoshop.
Regards,
Charlene
This is the final Flash I made
adobe photoshop tutorial #2
Another adobe photoshop tutorial done by me. All graphics are done using Adobe Photoshop CS2. Please click image to enlarge. Enjoy photoshopping!
Adobe Illustrator Tutorial #2
This tutorial teaches users the basic techniques of using the pen tool and also making of curvy lines. This tutorial is done using Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator. Please click image to enlarge.
Regards,
Charlene
Adobe Illustrator Tutorial #1
This is the process of the making of Multimedia Bank’s logo. It also serves as a tutorial. The logo is done in Adobe Illustrator whereas the tutorial image is done using 3 Adobe softwares, which include Adobe Illustrator, Adobe InDesign and lastly Adobe Photoshop. Please click image to enlarge.
Regards,
Charlene
1st photoshoot session
For first photoshoot experience, we have to take pictures to promote for the new diploma of Financial Informatics and Information Security. We start heading to the correct setting or place to pose. The places taken are at the entrance of level 3 office, NYP pond and at the NYP fountain. It takes a while as we try out test shots of the background before the model came in, some partially due to the hot weather.
Difference between DSLR and normal digital camera
We have to change the aperture, speed of camera, the zoom in and out of the camera, angle of the camera for different shots. We can half press the button before taking the camera shot to check our camera settings.
Composition difficulties
From teacher’s advice, I remember that the model should stand at a position where no obstacles are directly behind them before taking the picture.
The entrance of the level 3 office is at the carpark where there are a lot of trees or signs. We have to find a proper perspective to try to avoid obstacles. We have to arrange where the model should stand beside the IT pole after the various test shots.
The pictures taken at NYP pond is still alright as we need to take in some natural scenes of the pond and trees while student is using the laptop. We also tried some test shots.
The NYP fountain has quite a grey wall behind them and I tried to avoid the wall as the pole the model’s standing beside were stripped blue in colour. I wanted to make the model and the pole more concentrated in the picture.
Exposure difficulties
We have to adjust the aperture and speed of light before taking the shot.
We tried taking some test shots at the entrance of level 3 office. The weather was hot at that point of time. The light was too exposed and we tried to adjust the aperture and speed of light, but it was still over exposed.
At the time we are taking the NYP pond, the weather was still hot. Once the clouds were away and sunlight suddenly beams onto the model. This causes some problem because by the time we position and shoot, the bright light may hit the model’s face too heavily.
With opening of the NYP fountain sheltered area, the light aims onto the models by the side naturally.
Michelle
Adobe Flash (3D character)
I chose to use Adobe Flash and have to work on a 3D interactive flash for my final year project. For first few months, I have to do research to see the different kind of toning and shading from manga 3D characters. I chose to research on manga character because it also can express out the 3D human expression and body. Everything drawn is by lines and reshaping the lines to curvy lines to draw out the character. The drawing can be quite tedious and time consuming if it is a complicated character with many tones and shading on them. I tried my first attempt.
I start a new flash because Ms Chua wants the library of human features re-usable. I was thinking of a drag and drop function on many kinds of features, clothing for male and female. I drew up dummy and so the user can drag and drop over to create the dummy wearing the 3D features and clothing. This is my second attempt.
On week 5, Ms Chua discuss with me about my flash project to change to something more interesting. I have to store all the drag and drop features and clothing together. When the user finishes designing their models, they can select to save this model. The model thus will be transferred to another background and do some actions like swaying of body, wave hand, its all depends on what user has chosen the for the action available. I’m still working on it.
Note: I have difficulties in placing the flash into this blog so i did the print screen of the flash I did.
Michelle
Research on 3D features
I have done an example by following the library book to make object 3D by adding its toning, shading, reflection(depends on texture):
A more complicated human features:
A more complicated manga eye features:
A simple manga eye feature:
Different toning on manga characters:
3D Body:
Michelle
Photo Assignment 290908
This is my comments on my 1st photo assignment. Its rather long and wordy. Do bear with me 
Today is the first time Michelle and I on an actual photo assignment. Although there were previous sessions with our supervisor but we didn’t really have the chance to snap here and there with the camera. We were just “dummy models” and learning from aside. This is really new and I’m really happy to be able to actually hold onto the camera for such a long period of time “playing” with it and play professional.
I will talk about my experience using a DSLR manual mode between the usual Point-and-Shoot-camera. Bottom line, DSLR is heavier and more expensive. Due to the weight, our hands may tremble while holding and maintaining the balance at the same time trying to take some shots, especially under the hot sun. So a tripod comes in handy. But personally, I do not like to use the tripod, it sort of hinders my actions, like I need to twist the tripod handle to one particular angle when without it, it’s not so time consuming. A tripod is suitable when the floor is flat, and there is sufficient space, with a fixed lighting, so that one need not move around that much. I was taught the correct positioning of the tripod. The tripod should be positioned in a triangle where one of the tips should be pointing at the angle one is taking. This is to maintain the stand’s balance. Moreover, reduce the risk of the stand toppling over with the camera’s life at stake.
Beginning, I wasn’t used to the zooming function. Firstly, previously was just pressing buttons on a P&S camera to zoom, whereas DSLR requires you to turn the lens. But I understand its advantages. The DSLR gives you the exact zoom one want, how much forward, how much backward. Instead of zooming it range by range, which is what a normal digital camera does. I was quite startled the amount of zoom it could zoomed to. I’m really a newbie when it comes to this. The purpose of the zoom lens actually does not only enlarge things, but also relates to the light control.
A P&S camera is definitely much easier to use compared to a DSLR. A P&S camera just requires you to look through the small LCD screen, and just take the shot, with a few occurrences of the flash flashing here and there due to insufficient light. Whereas, for a DSLR, you have to look through a tiny opening, sometimes straining your eyes to find the correct angle of photography. Although with the ease of use, a P&S camera does not serve the professional standard of photography with its already installed functions. Because the effects are all fixed, one cant really make any drastic changes to a setting taken. But a DSLR can, along with some turning and tuning. Although we cant control the surrounding setting, the light source and so on, but a DSLR can control the intake of light. Different intake results in different effect. Whereas a P&S camera, we are unable to control the intake of light. The amount of light entering the camera is controlled by aperture and the shutter speed. Pictures taken using a DSLR have richer colors compared to a P&S camera. It also allows easier editing on photoshop.
Upon mentioning about the light control, I did face some problems trying to fine tune and get the right exposure level for different settings. When taking the S.I.T. pole near the basketball court, due to the whether conditions, and the movement of clouds, there were times where there were too much sunlight and then it suddenly changes. In addition, due to my negligence, I was too focused on the models walking in the correct timing thus neglecting the surrounding setting. Resulting in taking part of an ugly lamppost. When under the shade, I did some test shots taking the School of Information Technology words on the entrance of BLK L level 3. I had fun trying to adjust the correct lighting but it turns out that they weren’t nice as commented by my supervisor.
Then we move on to the interior outside the lift. There’s where Michelle and I had problems adjusting the lighting, no matter what we adjust, the exposure meter still remains under exposed. We then change the mode to portrait, there’s when we tried using flash for the first time on a photo assignment. I found out one thing about using the flash, your subject is required to be within a certain range so that the picture would turn out alright. So we failed to take any pleasant pictures there thus we moved on.
We chose the area near the pond. Again, I made a lot of test shots, adjusting the lens, the aperture. I really had fun there despite the heat. The setting was nice, full of greeneries, having the fishes as companion and the models look simply great taking their shots there. But due to the trees, where I tried to avoid growing out of one of the model’s head, I had a hard time, or should I say terrifying time when I was so near the pond. I was afraid I will fall off. We were told to take some shots where the models were holding their laptops, and we were supposed to be able to take the content which the laptop screens shows. So there were many adjustments, positioning and so on required to do. In the end, due to the angle of sunlight, we weren’t able to fully capture what was the content. Also due to the sunlight, there were several shots where the female model’s face was too overly exposed. She have rather fair skin, thus with the sunlight, and the wrong angle of taking, not a lot of nice pictures were taken.
Next location was the main entrance, where poles were decorated with different banners representing each school. That area was rather dull, thus the pictures taken, were all focused on one point, which I find unbalanced in some way. The pole was too outstanding. In addition, with the insufficient light, we need to make use of the light shining from one angle. Thus we had problems trying to get a perfect composition. I think a reflector would come in handy at this moment. Moreover, the models were wearing black, thus the pictures taken were kind of dull. I took some shots at the beginning and exchange roles with Michelle. After snapping here and there, we call it a day.
Regards,
Charlene
