James' Blog

Amazing Animated .GIF

Egg Death

Slow motion and stopmotion animation are powerful video tools that can change the perception of the recorded event drimatically.

Short animated Gif Test

2owfast!

Test annimations

Here are some test animations I set up with help from my friend Rob - Thanks Buddy

Animation Software Instructions

There are many computer animation programs out there but they are all relatively similar.

Virtual Dub Method

1. Virtual Dub will be used for saving the multiple image files as a movie, ready for editing with another program.
2. Have all your pictures in 1 place, all named in the correct order
3. In Virtual Dub go file > open, from the File type drop down select 'Image Sequence'. Select the first image, Virtual Dub will then automatically import all other pictures that follow in numerical order (E.g, DCM1000, DCM1001, DCM1002)
4. Go video > frame rate and choose a frame rate for your movie. The higher the frame rate, the more images are shown per second (25FPS will show 25 pictures per second). Change the frame rate and keep testing until you are happy with it.
5. Change video and audio compression if needed.
6. Finally go file > save as avi. Now your images are a movie sequence, ready for editing in another program such as Windows Movie maker, Sony Vegas or Adobe Premiere.

Windows Movie Maker Method

Please note; Windows Movie Maker does not 'officially' support converting images into a movie sequence, if possible use a different program.

1. Open up Windows Movie Maker.
2. Import the pictures.
3. Click "Tools", then "Options". Do this before placing the pictures into the timeline.
4. Click the "Advanced" tab.
5. Change the picture duration to 0.125 seconds a frame (the lowest setting). This is found under "Picture Options".
6. Ensure that the pictures are in the correct order.
7. Load the pictures into the storyboard.
8. Add titles and credits if desired.
9. Go to "Finish Movie" and click whichever option is suitable.

PIC4 (My Super "Creative" City) Timelapse calculations

Calculations

Example

If 2 buildings are added every frame

Then every frame has a 5^th of a second showing time (set to .2 in editing program)

that would mean  10 buildings would be added every second (video time)

Equalling 600 buildings in 1 minute of video

Conclusion

I need to find the variables and constants in order to get the optimal video length and showing time for each building.

Constant or variable?

• ·         Video Length

• ·         Number of total Buildings made

• ·         Frames per second (length of time each building gets shown)

Methven Visit

Methven is a locally owned and operated tap-wear manufacturer located in the heart of Auckland's idustrial region.

Some aspects of Methvens business practice differ from its competitors. Such as a strong focus on functionality and efficiency. Also the benefit of on-sight manufacturing and testing ensures a smooth manufacturing process and saves on manufacturing abroad.

The present vision of the company is to be the best and largest supplier and manufacturer of tap-wear in New Zealand.
The comanies current market is predominantly New Zealand based - supplying to government based business as well as kitchen and bathroom fitters and installers as well as plummers (Trade Based).

The whole Methven range comes in a standard chrome finish. The R&D department have focused on a simple/minimalistic aesthetic but have used new and innovative technologies as the main selling point of their products.
The 'Celeste' range explores liquid/streamlined forms with a focus on smooth relaxed shapes. The newer range - 'Tahi' and 'Kiri' focus more on singular plain champfers resulting in simple, elegant and more modern forms.

Methven use a variety of advanced production methods resulting in a high quality product. The majority of products start as a piece of cast zinc free brass. The two piece mold holds a cast sand piece to keep the inner form of the waterway intact. Once the resulting piece of brass is made it is then cut up into indevidual pieces were it can then be drilled and bored. They are then (depending on the piece) sanded robotically, machine polished then finally hand sanded and polished to a high standard. The pieces are then washed and coated in a series of chemical baths, first coated in nickel - then in chrome. Components are then added to the pieces ready for testing, packaging and distrobution.

The main materials used are brass, nickel, chrome and a variety of plastics.

Some non-monetry values attached to the products could include the 'high end' aesthetic value as well as the way in which the consumer would use the product. For example they may feel a sence of sifistication or class as they use the product.

The future vision of the company is to become one of the best produces of tap-wear in the world. Chellenging rival businesses from china, Italy and Germany.

Methven is a stedily growing New Zealand company with high expectations and a unique outlook on their feild of design.

80's HiFi & Technology

The age of computers was upon us. With a sudden increase of avalible technology product designers took on a new role - fabrication - covering up all the ugly scary things that made the product work. Although this job won awards. But I believe the way in which they designed these cases and covers had no relevance to hi tech equipment or its price tag.

Germany and France, once leaders in design struggled through this period to find their own take on this era and resulted in the underdogs taking the lime light. The Scandinavians grew stronger with there popular simple clean design. But it was Japan who were the real winners, producing desirable products which sold like the ipod of it's time. In piticular - The Sony walkman.  

"The original blue-and-silver Walkman model TPS-L2 (The first commercially available walkman.) went on sale in Japan on July 1, 1979. In the UK, it came with stereo playback and mini headphone jacks, permitting two people to listen at the same time (though it came with only one pair of MDR-3L2 headphones.). Where the Pressman had the recording button, the Walkman had a "hotline" button which activated a small built-in microphone (the Pressman), partially overriding the sound from the cassette, and allowing one user to talk to the other over the music. The dual jacks and "hotline" button were phased out in the follow-up Walkman II model."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walkman

Japan also chellenged the West through its fashion and product design. In the early 80's, Japan made it's move , briging out a new generation of design. Some iconic designers of Japan presented their work in paris and were concidered the founding farthers of avant garde fashion.

Lighting design also played it's part in the 80's as Helogen micro filiment bulbs were redily avaliable. Using this technology allowed the designer to focus on form a lot more as the bulbs were now much smaller.

Neons were seen everywhere as they were used extentivly as commercial signage. Although called this, "neon" the enert gas produces a redish glow - the other flerecent colours seen in tubular form are a series of other enert gasses.

 

80's Design Boom

In the huge party that was the 80's, you could have said "anything goes" but I have learnt there are some rules that the 80's followed which defined the era.

Geometric shapes and straight lines were used extensivly in design along side primary colurs and  questionable accessories. The use of fluid, streamlined shapes were a thing of the past. This industry suited the now design concious society which took to the change as if it was goning out of fashon, (of which it wasn't).

80sFashion

The architecture industry was focusing on reletivly the same thing but had a strong tie with industrialism and form following function.

Picture1

80's PARTY! at the library?

The class was introduced to 1980's Design through a library research session at the hub. We were given limited time to research various 80's design movements and groups in all areas. We were paired up and given a wide range of research material.

I found a lot of interesting information and facts. Here are some examples:

The fashon and design industry exploded. POP culture was popular, David Bowie went from superstar to Megastar, and drugs where now designed and not grown. So it was good times all round.

MTV was launched in 1981, the very first music video broardcast on this channel was "video killed the radio star" by The Buggles. (Ironically)

Neon clours and geometric designs were a huge icon of the era. (Which will obviously never come back into fashon....oh wait).

Technology had arived with the first signs of the internet, Micro chips and Personal Computers. I would list moble Phones but they came in cars or Briefcases. (take your pick)

Outragous and flamboyant the 80's were, but what was acceptable?

Calvin Harris - Acceptable In The 80'S

Memphis Design Group2

"MEMPHIS was a Milan-based collective of furniture and product designers led by the veteran Ettore Sottsass." Roger Bateman, 2009

This movement started by significantly one man inspired and created a following like no other. Memphis focused on geometic shape and form, true form and mathematical and geometic values. Although These values are respected and considered part of good design, the finished products and pieces where frankly impractical and sometimes usless. Seen as a form of art or sculpure though were widely recognised and favourable in their time and even today.

The Life and Times of Ettore Sottsass

Carlton