Project 1

BASICS 

Project Completion: Character Roughs/Thumbnails - due Week 4 

Character ROUGH/Thumbnail Design Variation sheet: 24 or more rough shape concepts/explorations, with radically different shape ideas, whether multiple characters or not. Combinations of human and animal characteristics (physical and/or psychological) are also recommended. 

• Use a variety of shape creation methods for bodies and faces, especially the 5 Shapes method. 

• Use the Character Design Principles checklist. 

  • • Flow, Asymmetry, Functionality, Contrast (Curves & Straights, Big and Small), Distinctiveness, Aesthetics, Personality, Originality 
    • See Week 3 for all Character Design Resources. 

• All face designs require a matching full body design as well. 

• Shape variations must please be of the basic character concept, shape, body, proportion and face proportions, not just props, costumes, hair, accessories, poses, or expressions - these will be done later, in Project 2! 

• No masks of any kind, unless they come off quickly, or are transparent. This includes sunglasses. Facial expressions must be clear on main characters. Supporting characters, creatures or extras may be less expressive.  Be a storyteller. 

• Most designs should be your main character, even if different concepts. Some can be other characters. Be adventurous. Explore different styles, body types, character concepts, and target audience ages. You also have 5 different character ideas to play with, yay!  

• Use acting to develop the way characters move, walk, or talk. Practice this yourself.  Yes, you can!  

• Most roughs should be just filled silhouettes, so that you focus on creating strong silhouettes. 

• At lease some should be lines. When drawing lines, please show (at least roughly) a construction process/method, with construction guide lines (simplified skeleton, and basic shapes) in light blue, not just the end result with ink outlines.  

• Use good, stylized reference, and trace or measure it accurately. Avoid too much realism, as it easily becomes stiff, unimaginative, and boring. The closest we should get to the 'realism' end of the style spectrum is 'semi-realism' - a streamlined, dynamic, animation/comic style, e.g. Batman, Disney, that supports clear, expressive acting, action, and shape dynamics. At the 'stylized' end of the style spectrum, you can be very cartoony with design, concept and demographics. To produce a good quantity and variety of ideas, embrace non-realism, and don't be boring! 

• Your main characters must be reasonably complex: 
  be at least 3 heads high;  
  be bipedal/upright;  
  have a fully posable/functional/bendable body, chest, pelvis, arms, legs, joints, hands, and feet;  
  have an emotive speaking face, flexible eyes, eyelids, eyebrows, and mouth; 
  and pupils to show eye direction. 

• Some tracing is okay. It should be modified and/or merged into your own work. Tracing over geometric shape tools is normal and okay. 

• A few variations should show rough props.  

• Project page: 

  • • Use ONE unique Project page containing all work for each Project only, making it easy to find and grade.  

    • Use a General page for the weekly skills training exercises, as neatly-presented images, with headings or captions. You can also put any short notes here.  

    • Make sure your Project page is visually appealing, with images pasted/inserted/displayed at large size, headings, captions, and text.    

• NUMBER all drawings/variations, clearly and neatly.

  • • Yes, this is required. You must demonstrate good client service. 
    • Use the Photoshop Type Tool, or follow this link, to learn NEAT handwriting: use a ruler to draw light, straight, and level guide lines, top and bottom, and write in-between the lines. 
    • Descriptive labels and written notes can be useful, but are optional. Don't go overboard. 

• Minimum size 

  • • 12 drawings per A4 3508x2480px page, 2 pages, or
    • 24 drawings per A2 7016x4961px page, 1 page. 
    • Larger is better. Make drawings at a large size, fill all drawing pages with work, and display images at large size in your site pages. 

• All students must use an approved template: 

  • • Traditional students, you must digitize your work, import it into layers in a Photoshop template, crop, correct, and cleanup, according to Digital Image Standards. 
    • A4 Template, Photoshop TIF, 3508x2480px, minimum size 12 drawings per page, use 2 pages  
    • A2 Template, Photoshop TIF, 7016x4961px, minimum size 24 drawings per page, use 1 page. 
    • A2 example thumbnails, Photoshop TIF 
    • Non-standard software is not supported, and causes issues. This will affect your grade. All work must be finished using evidenced Photoshop skills, with all special Photoshop features in high quality, editable working condition. 

• See National Exemplars (Basics) and Sydney Student Gallery for more ideas on what to expect.  

• See this Recommended Reference folder for inspiration. 

• Due Week 4  

BASICS 

Master Files, Project Folder and GDrive 

• All students must use an approved Photoshop template, and traditional students, you must digitize your work, import it into layers in a Photoshop template, crop, correct, and cleanup, according to Digital Image Standards. You must supply full resolution Photoshop TIF master files, with all layers, objects, and features in high quality, editable working condition, in your GDrive. 
• Embed your GDrive Project folder as a preview tile at the bottom of the Project page in your Mahara. Always save files to a project folder, save backups of previous versions in a subfolder with a version number, keep all project files organized together, and supply all working project files. Yes, everything. Synchronize your entire shared GDrive folder for this unit and project with a backup device, weekly. 

• Due Week 4 

BASICS 

Reflections 

• Write interesting and thoughtful reflections. Use a spelling checker and a grammar checker for all academic writing. 

• 1x mid-point reflection 

  • • See the Basic Brief - you must have at least 1 APA7 Reference in correct formatting. See the Basic Brief for details. Search this unit's content for APA Referencing resources. 

• 1x completion reflection 

  • • Consider Person, Process and Profiency. 

    • You can use "What, So What, Now What" to prompt your reflection on current and future progress. 

    • You can use Learning Outcomes and Transferable Skills to prompt reflection, such as "I worked on visual measurement and construction," or "I applied a lot of problem-solving, work ethic and time management skills."  

• Due Week 4 

ADDITIONAL REQUESTS 

• • Stretch Goals 

  • For advanced students. 

  • Character FINE Design Variation sheets, done after rough concepts: Around 6 - 7 more-cleaned-up, fine quality, more similar, structural  body/face variations of the same character. This is usually done after a favorite character shape concept is discussed and chosen from the earlier roughs. 

  • Use the Character Design Principles checklist. 

    • • Flow, Asymmetry, Functionality, Contrast (Curves & Straights, Big and Small), Distinctiveness, Aesthetics, Personality, Originality 
      • See Week 3 for all Character Design Resources. 
  • Minimum size A4, 300ppi, 3508x2480px. Larger is usually better.  
  • Preview jpg/pngs in Project page, GDrive folder embedded in Project page, full-resolution Photoshop TIF project files in GDrive folder. 

  • Due Week 4 

Mr Freeze

Fine variations 

Offer even more choices to the client/director.