COMPUTER ANIMATION
Name_______________________________period__________
Question: What are the "elements" of art? Why are they important?
Answer:The elements of art are the basic components of art-marking; they are sort of like atoms in that both serve as "building blocks." Atoms
combine and form other things… hydrogen and oxygen form water (H2O). In cooking recipes, basic ingredients combined will produce a soup or a
cake.A similar activity happens when the elements of art are combined. In art you've got line, shape, form, space, texture, value and color. Artists
manipulate these elements, mix them in with principles of design and compose a piece of art.
Why are the elements of art important?
The elements of art are important for several reasons. First, and most importantly, a person can't create art without utilizing at least a few of them.
No elements, no art, end of story.
Secondly, knowing what the elements of art are enables us to (1) describe what an artist has done, (2) analyze what is going on in a particular piece
and (3) communicate intelligently our thoughts and findings using a common language and necessary for a formal approach to art critique and
criticism.
The main elements of art used in 3Dimensional Animation are:
LINE, SHAPE (2 dimensions: length and width) and FORM (3 dimensions: Length / Width / Depth) make the 3D Object in LightWave
LightWave Workspace has 4 Viewports (clockwise): Top Perspective Right
in the (zy)RIGHT viewport - X axis – you see from left/right
in the (xz)TOP viewport - Y axis – you see from up/down
in the (xy)BACK viewport - Z axis – near/far
Axis refers to the XYZ coordinates used to for 3D space
SHORTCUT KEYS – just a few
T
A
Y
F
N
/ or ?
Spacebar
comma
Period
Tabs
Top Menu Tabs
Create
Modify
Multiply
Construct
Bottom Menu Tabs
Points
Polygons
Numeric
Surface
Back
Move
Center
Rotate
makes a polygon turn in or out
Numeric Tab
Deselects a polygon or point selection
Deselects a tool
Zoom OUT
Zoom IN
Tools – Change with the Tabs - most commonly used to date (at the Left-side Menu)
Primitives (box,ball,cone,disc)Text, Points,Polygons
Move, Rotate, Bend, Twist, Stretch, Size
Bevel, Extrude, Lathe,Clone
Boolean
Change size (length,width,height) Radius, Segments
Color
3D Three Color Word
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Create a word 4 letters or more - Use TEXT or LOGO
Keep Font simple; sometimes all Capital letters work best.
Extrude the word
Surface change – add 1st color to entire word
Select all polygons on the letter Front side DO NOT DESELECT
Surface change – add the 2nd color to Front of letters
Bevel NOW…the Front polygons are still selected – Slight movement UP and to LEFT
Now the second color is part of the beveled polygons
If you have fancy letters the polygons and points cross over each other and create problems
There is a way to fix some of the problems…see me
It is a matter of selecting the correct points and taking the MOVE tool and moving the points a bit.
Surface change – add the 3rd color to the Front polygons that are still selected.
SAVE as: p__.__.word.your name
(your period #) (your computer #) (correct project title) your name Save As: JPEG send to Drop Box
Screen Shot
1
2
3
4
Use Perspective Viewport, Rotate the Object for best view
Hold down: Command + Shift + 4
Drag cursor from top left to bottom right
Drag screen shot from desktop to Photoshop icon
Photoshop Interface
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2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Create DUPLICATE background image in a new layer
“Select All” in original background layer and delete
Click on the new background layer (blue) to be in correct layer
Use “Magic Wand” tool to select grey color from screenshot and delete (will look white but is transparent)
Google desired image and drag to desktop and then to Photoshop icon
“Select All” copy & paste or use Move Tool to get image to screenshot
Change Layer stacking order to get image behind your project
Resize with “Edit > Transform > Scale” and do any other crative photo image editing
SAVE as: p__.__._______.your name
(your period #) (your computer #) (correct project title) your name Save As: JPEG send to Drop Box
Graphic Organizer: Time Line
10,000 BC
3000
1500
1896
1914
1928
1930’s
1940’s-60’s
1970’s- 80’s
1995
NOW
Cave paintings – Caveman tried to show animals in motion (multiple legs/superimposed positions) attempts at animation
Spinning pottery – Pottery has 5 sections with a goat in each. When the pottery was turned/spun it shows the goat jumping to get fruit from a tree
Leonardo d Vinci, Renaissance artist and painter of the Mona Lisa, attempts to show animation in his drawings
Thomas Edison, famous inventor from NJ, introduces the 1st motion picture projector. This allows for 2D animation to truly develop.
Gerti – the first animated cartoon character
Disney – Steamboat Willie – the first sound cartoon
Disney starts to grow as an entertainment industry- Snow White and the 7 Dwarfs – the first 2D color animation movie
Disney and other companies - 2D animation is a very popular art form
Science and Art - Computer begins to be used – major names: John Lassiter and Steve Jobs
Pixar – Toy Story – the first full length feature 3D animation movie …
The 3D story continues
1995 Toy Story
Character Study
Woody: Cowboy doll – sheriff doll
Characteristics: Leader, jealous, brave, confident; the favorite toy
Memorable Quotes “You’re a TOY” “Reach for the Sky” “that wasn’t flying…that was falling with style”