This module focuses on basic photographic and 2D animation; technical production and historical overview. introduces you to image-making technology, methods and genres. The module will be a practical introduction to photography and animation, and will ask you to analyse and emulate key examples to demonstrate your control of the medium and its elements, and your understanding of production methods and styles. Your work is expected to show appropriate analysis and design decisions that make sense, and a commitment to develop relevant new skills

You will work on:
+ Project work de-constructing and constructing images and animations
+ Using digital cameras, available lighting and Photoshop
+ Using Basic 2D animation technology and Photoshop
+ A weekly log-book and digital folder of development work, annotating your progress in practical image-making, and noting and assessing its relation to historical genres and practice

You will attend and participate in lectures, seminars and workshops in
+ Photoshop; cut-outs, overlays and other basic manipulation,
+ the digital camera:
-- resolution, shutter-speed, image-capture,
-- lenses and aperture - depth of field.
-- exposure range and contrast. soft and hard lighting
+ animation pre-production development methods
+ digital animation production techniques

Access to bookable studio space and lecture/seminar room with blackout and digital presentation hardware.
Access to digital storage
Computer workshop facilities and appropriate software
Slide Library
Design Study Collection

Non-specialist computing facilities for email, internet access, word processing, database, spreadsheet and basic presentations will be available through the University's 'Information Services' on-campus facilities - the exception being the 'studio browsers' which are located in base rooms/studios and will provide mainly email and internet access which are provided by the Faculty.

Specialist skills 'modulettes' will be assigned to this module. A comprehensive list of the modulettes is available from the Faculty Office, together with the current operational parameters for the modulettes (instruction description, maximum group size, time allocation, level etc). Some modules will have will have more than one modulette assigned to it and this information will also be held by the Faculty Office.

Sample Projects and Content:
Simple typographic, animated [and interactive] greeting card - Flash animation

Photoshop cut outs -- eg lost consonants leading to professional use of basic image editing and manipulation techniques.

Reproductions of historical images/graphics using current resources and technology OR greeting e-cards, Drawn and collaged e-cards; overlaid typographic and images e-card,- Flash/Photoshop- fonts, vectors, bitmaps, screen and resolution, file sizes, Flash Drawing

Documentary digital Photography - emotions
Photoshop retouching and manipulation heightened emotions
Conversation (what's the relationship) - portraits semiology content
for instance natural light, lenses, aperture, framing, content.

This module is based on a set of practical tutorials and short projects. You will complete several artefacts which focus and develop your ability to take and manipulate photographs, and to create digital 2D animations. You are expected to investigate existing work and current and historical photography and animation with others, but produce final work individually.

1. Production of assignment work focused on various aspects of digital image-making
2. Attending and participating in workshops and seminars covering;
3. Participation in interim seminars to monitor progress, understanding and background development as presented in your own and other log-files

100% coursework
coursework includes a number of negotiated and aggregated components encompassing learning outcomes 1-3.

1/ You will asked to produce a digital log-file of projects including date-stamped written analysis and examples of your progress in set projects and reviews of others work.

The contents of log-files (digital and printed) will be:
+ Digital captures of examples -annotated for methods of construction and for methods of digital emulation and development
+ Captures of work in progress - with technical construction notes and analysis for next iteration of the image or animation
+ Completed project work
+ Highlighted captures of relevant help files or advice obtained online
+ Highlighted and annotated tutorial/lecture/demonstration notes, indicating passages relevant to work in progress

A single assessment grade will take an holistic view of the student?s achievements.

Night and Low-light Photography, Lee Frost. David & Charles 2001
Adobe Photoshop CS Classroom in a Book; Adobe Creative Team Adobe Press 2004. ISBN 032119375X
The Animator's Survival Kit, Richard Williams Faber and Faber 2002
The Animation Book :From Flip-Books to Sound Cartoons to 3-D Animation, Kit Laybourne. Three Rivers Press 1998; ISBN: 0517886022
The Animator's Workbook Tony White, Watson-Guptill Publications 1988; ISBN: 0823002292
Then Is Now: Sampling the Past Cullen, C.D. Rockport 2001 ISBN: 1564967662
Art and Photography, Sharf, Aaron, Viking, Penguin, 1968
Stop Stealing Sheep & Find Out How Type Works, by Spiekermann & Ginger, Adobe 2002 ISBN: 0201703394
Director 8 Demystified, Phil Gross, Jason Roberts, Peachpit Press 2000, ISBN : 0-201-70920-1*
Macromedia Flash MX 2004 Hands-On Training by R Yeung Peachpit Press 2003 ISBN: 0321202988*

*Available online

books available online - http://ard-172-174.staffs.ac.uk/staff/colin/uploaded/UsefulDocuments/ebooks.htm
http://ard-172-174.staffs.ac.uk/staff/colin/uploaded/UsefulDocuments/recommendedSites.htm
A range of books, subject-specific periodicals and journals, newspaper and other related articles, as well as texts relating to the design process and the promotion of design relevant to your course of study should be employed as negotiated with the module manager - together with any subject-specific visual, audio or audio-visual evidence to support your work.
Recommended
You will be expected to take advantage of the extensive library facilities available within the University; keeping abreast of current developments through appropriate periodicals and being aware of the work of major practitioners in your subject.