ROP Graphics and Animation

Doug Nunn

Welcome to Graphics and Animation! Our goal this year will be to introduce students to a variety of graphics and animation principles via Photoshop, Flash and perhaps After Effects(if we can get it in the lab!). We will start with basic principles of Art and Graphic design, as well as elementary Photoshop usage. Students will be assigned various poster and web design projects in a variety of styles for the first quarter.

We will then move on to principles of Animation in Flash, and hopefully After Effects. Students will study the history of animation via classic cartoons, and learn principles of animation like storyboarding, compositing, tweening, timing, and squash and stretch. We will also study the related film and video principles of editing and lighting. An understanding of story and plot will be taught as well,  as animation is ultimately a series of comic book panels, telling a story--one panel at a time. Our ultimate goal will be to have students develop web and freestanding cartoons that are entertaining for all ages, are visually powerful, and tell stories.

In addition to studying graphics and animation as subjects, students should gain written, visual, and presentation skills, keyboarding and document processing experience, and career skills related to graphics, design and animation. An aspect of this course will be to coach students on possible careers in these fields so we will introduce students to the work of artists working in the industry whenever possible. To this end, we will aim to have students learn how to produce resumés of reasonable quality. And it is imperative that students learn not merely how to surf the web, but also to improve their internet research and critical thinking skills.

Students will be required to keep a class journal with notes from lectures, film and cartoon reviews, internet research, drawings(timed and otherwise). The journals will be checked over every two weeks. Students should also keep a portfolio of their work on their own flash drives and  submit these drives for grading on a regular basis. It is important that projects follow assigned formats, and that they are submitted on time. Students will be awarded for creativity and independent thinking, but also for a basic ability to follow directions and instructions. Such are the realities of future employment in this industry and beyond. Many people are artistically talented, employable people can follow directions.

Of equal importance in this class and beyond, is to follow the lessons being taught at the moment. There will be plenty of time to surf the net on your own, and to play with your own designs or animations. In fact, I will make a point of giving you occasional free time to do just these things. However, If I am teaching or asking you to do an assignment, please follow instructions. I will award you for paying attention as well as being creative, for helping me and other students as well as doing your own work, and for sharing your creative ideas and talents.

Let’s get going!