Course Outlines ACG 162 and ACG 164

Students in this class are encourged to produce unique animated art as part of their portfolio. Another area is to explore the mixing of traditional and computer art techniques. This semester students will study and use the popular animation and graphics programs using vector and bitmap graphics. Use of digital cameras is also recommended for images to be traced ifor animation assignments.

Both electronic files and prints of the work produced for the class must be saved for final grading.

ACG 162

ACG 164

Topics 1. Technical orientation. a. System software user interface. b. Recommended workflow practices. c. Distribution bandwidth and data compression requirements of 2D animation. 2. Digital 2D animation orientation. a. Basic factors affecting the illusion of motion. b. Impact of digital techniques on the craft of film and video animation. c. Professional animation practices and job descriptions. d. Prevailing file format standards and other compatibility issues. e. History and future trends of computer animation applications in the visual arts. 3. 2D animation application software interface. a. Default settings and user preferences. b. Document setup. Import and export formats. c. Document and timeline window features. d. Tools and commands palettes. e. Media-selection tools and techniques f. Asset-management features. 4. 2D graphics-creation features. a. Underlying data type: raster, vector. b. Raster painting and/or import features. c. Vector shapes. d. Vector free-form and control-point placement tools. e. Features specific to the program in use 5. 2D graphics editing features. a. Basic geometric transformations. b. Boolean operations on shapes. c. Object stroke attributes. d. Object fill attributes. e. Shading techniques (blends, gradients). f. Packaged effects (extensions, plug-ins). g. Features specific to the program in use. 6. 2D animation frame-sequencing features. a. Straight-ahead animation. b. Key frames animation. c. Motion paths. d. Applying geometric transformations over time. e. Inbetweening options. f. Looping and palindrome motion. g. Features specific to the program in use. 7. Multimedia and interactive features. a. Audio editing features. b. Incorporating 3D models and 3D renderings. c. Linking digital video. d. User interface building principles. e. User interface toolkit and interaction scripting. f. Embedding completed animations in web pages and other media containers. g. Features specific to the program in use. 8. Motion pictures for visual communications. a. Typology of sound/image relationships. b. Exaggerated action to enhance the perception of motion. c. Constructing meaning in narrative and documentary animations. d. Shot, scene, and sequence assembly. e. Interplay with other Internet-based media and resources, f. Application area case studies.

Topics 1. Hypermedia fundamentals a. Structuring information with clarity b. Eliciting a response from the viewer c. Accounting fully for the user interaction d. Providing a rich and effective experience 2. User interface fundamentals a. Human-machine interaction standards and techniques b. Interface modifications and adaptive devices for disabled users c. Interface building principles d. Interface building toolkits 3. Computer programming fundamentals a. Language "levels" and trade-offs b. Programming tools and environments c. Styles and methods of software development d. Basic building blocks, commands and data structures. 4. Digital media fundamentals a. Text b. Raster graphics c. Vector graphics d. 3D rendered VR graphics e. 3D models f. Audio g. Video 5. Authoring program features a. Information parceling model (frames, cards, pages, tracks, etc.) b. Programming model and development toolkits c. Media acquisition d. Project overview e. Timing and sequencing f. Asset management g. Internal asset editing h. External asset editing i. User interface appearance styles j. Tracing and debugging facilities k. Data compression and optimization l. Security and encryption m. Networking and communications n. Runtime environments and other packaging options 6. Delivery issues a. Network types b. Distribution media types c. Playback hardware and software requirements d. Cross-media development: opportunities and constraints e. Data formats: standard vs. proprietary, patent-encumbered vs. open-source f. Intellectual property and Digital Rights Management issues 7. Demonstration projects and case studies, such as: a. Interactive directory b. Online help c. Arcade-style game d. Public space kiosk e. E-commerce interface f. Non-linear interface to video narrative 8. Quality assurance a. Workflow maintenance principles b. Collaboration and version-control tools c. Usability testing d. Compatibility testing